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Cross Country Hangover & Touchdown in NC

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The Desert Doesn’t Let Go

The sunsets. The bugless, bone-dry summer nights. Hiking through saguaros and slipping into pines just an hour north. That strange silence on weekend mornings when no one’s in a rush, like the city itself is still stretching.  And maybe that’s how I know I’m not just someone who lived here. I’m from here—desert-raised, monsoon-baptized. I used to draw pointy mountains and corner suns on every…

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From Kickoff to Cultivation

They may look worlds apart, but underneath the cleats and the gardening gloves, soccer and gardening share the same heartbeat. No, really. On the soccer field, you transmute sweat and repetition into the gold of a perfectly struck pass; in the garden, you turn humble seeds and soil into the green promise of tomorrow’s harvest. Both are rituals of intention—mixing rhythm and timing, listening for…

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The Great Purge, Again

I’m a serial mover – some moves by sheer necessity, others by choice. Some moves were desperate escapes, others wild leaps into the unknown. There’s that haunting chapter in St. Pete, a mistake that clings like a persistent shadow. Even EMDR therapy couldn’t scrub away the memory of the mold house that never truly was—a nightmare etched into my soul when I was four months pregnant, forcing us to…

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The Silence Was An Intense Roar and It Pointed East

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Buzzle Media: August Reader End Shots in Maverick Magazine

Buzzle Media: August Reader End Shots in Maverick Magazine

We made the End Shot section of the Maverick Magazine, a publication in the White Mountains of Arizona and Buzzle Media’s second home. It was a collaborative effort between mom, son & mother nature and the scenery doesn’t get better than the view from the Mogollon Rim Trail in Pinetop, Arizona. The Mogollon Rim trail is a popular spot where you will often see professional photographers shooting…

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There are few things in life I love more than my (our) garden. You know, my kids, husband, a good face lotion, anything pumpkin. Our garden is a magical place – a magical place with bugs I have yet to identify, ant bits, flies, itchy grass and manure – but nonetheless a magical place.

We decided to decorate our magical place with stepping stones because after all, the squash had taken over and we were trampling the vines. Our garden needed a lil personal touch. 

When it cones to creating I’m bad at reading directions and prefer to go off-the-cuff. Fail. Try again. Fail. Try again. Success!

I made the first stepping stones with concrete because that’s what the Home Depot guy suggested. FAIL. The second time I used cinder block mix because they didn’t have concrete. It was OK, but not the best. The third time, I used patching concrete my neighbor had left over. Success!

Items we used to decorate:

Glass rocks (Goodwill)

Pesos left over from when we lived in Mexico

A broken Buddha that my son was OBSESSED with putting in his stepping stone even though I secretly wanted it.

Shells from any one of our trips to the beach.

Beads from a bracelet that had broken.

Bottle caps 

Fossils

A toy truck

Now your turn…

Buy only concrete mix. The fast set kind.

Mix with water to a not too soupy, not to0 firm consistency.

With a spade, fill an aluminum pie tin with the concrete. Smooth the top like your icing  cake.

Let set for approx. 30 minutes to an hour before decorating.

Let dry for 24 hours before removing form the pie tin.

My stepping stone turned out great and was declared by my son to be “the best one!” Awww, he’s the sweetest.

  #DIY Garden Stepping Stones / Slangshot.org #garden #steppingstones There are few things in life I love more than my (our) garden. You know, my kids, husband, a good face lotion, anything pumpkin.

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The Walker wedding in Flagstaff, Arizona was rustic, intimate and a nature loving event that started out under the pines and ended under the starlit sky. The bride seemed cool as a cucumber and the groom couldn’t wait to see his gorgeous bride – I caught his expression at first glance, of course! Everyone had a great time at the reception, even Hank and Mattie the kids…I mean dogs, had a blast at the reception. ,

Thank you for trusting me to capture your special day Kourtney and Nick!

  Under the Pines: Walker Wedding in Flagstaff, Arizona The Walker wedding in Flagstaff, Arizona was rustic, intimate and a nature loving event that started out under the pines and ended under the starlit sky.

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BuzzleMedia.com has Launched

It’s official: BuzzleMedia.com has launched!!!

It’s been busy around here. Raising two young kiddos, starting a business and holding the family together is hard work but well worth it.

I’ve been doing creative freelance work for a while now but made it into an official business late last year. You know, with taxes and everything (:::cringe:::). Living in Florida and Mexico for a couple years…

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Lee Selleck of Lee Selleck Counsel Mortgage needed a professional makeover and I knew exactly where I wanted to shoot him. We headed into downtown PHX – after coffee, of course. The heart of the city is stuffed full of beautiful, tall buildings and business persons scurry to and fro. The front of Hanny’s restaurant is delicious (both in and out) so I had to snap pictures in front of the establishment. The black and white photo in front of the wall drew a lot of attention to Lee as many people commented that he looks like Sgt. Joe Friday from Dragnet. ”

“Just the facts, ma’me.”

  Professional Shoot in Downtown PHX Lee Selleck of Lee Selleck Counsel Mortgage needed a professional makeover and I knew exactly where I wanted to shoot him.

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Preserving First Day of School Memories

Preserving First Day of School Memories

This week was the first week of Kindergarten for my lil man and his third year in Montessori so he’s an old pro by now. WOW how time flies! I can barely remember how he got to 5 years of age. I wanted to preserve the memory in time (and every year after) with photography and a little photoshop action of some of his favorite things. Look’n good buddy!

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Vibrant Cast-Iron Cactus Sugar Cookies

Vibrant Cast-Iron #SugarCookies #foodie Slangshot.org #baking

Coming back to the desert called for an awesome brunch spread amongst friends (can’t forget the mimosa bar!) along with big, chewy cactus cookies – a plate full of pricks in vibrant colors. Each guest took one home as a parting gift! I scored a cast-iron cactus mold at the one of the best Goodwill stores in Phoenix and couldn’t wait to put it to good use. I’d seen a cast-iron sugar cookie recipe…

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Vintage Photo Charm Bracelet

#Vintage Photo #CharmBracelet #diy #mothersdaygift #mothersday #photo

I’ve always been great at creating things with my hands – it’s the time I find challenging.

This year for Mother’s Day I wanted to make my mom something handmade instead of the normal flowers or Harry and David. She is always getting me the best gifts so I wanted to return the favor. 

I especially felt justified about making the bracelet when visiting Arizona this month and my mom presented me…

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Clusters of people – – clusters of buildings. I am home in the city, and everywhere else. Boston: A place where educated meets liberal. Just how it should be —the prefect cup of tea with just the right amount of honey.

I booked an apartment in the center of the city: Chinatown. A nice swanky apartment in middle of the chaos, pho restaurants, strip clubs, broadway plays and liquor stores. During the day my son and I dug the culture while my husband works at the tallest building in the city. All I had to do was look toward the Prudential, and there he was.

We almost missed the plane. Almost.  

From the metal tube in the sky, houses represent tiny block doll houses. My son and I arrived in Boston at 8 a.m. on four hours of sleep just in time to watch everyone scurry to work. The city was bustling and so was I.

After exiting the tunnel we entered an already awake city where people seemed to walk up hills of dirty snow, steam rising off their warm suited bodies. The bundled up leader stands in front of a crowd waiting to cross the street, briefcase in hand waiting in anticipation to cross the busy street. The people are reminiscent of the buildings that surround them: tall, muted and beautiful.

I entered the building just as my husband – dressed to the nines – was on his way to work. He had been living in Boston most of the month and fell in love with the city. It’s hard not to. 

That night we went to the Celtics game, the T dropped us off right at the Garden. Rick had gotten us front row tickets and Celtics shirts – the energy in the arena was intense. Everyone assumed we were locals as we made friends with two rows, giving high fives and chatting it up. One things about Bostonians, they aren’t bad-looking. Hands-down, best basketball game I had ever been to. My son is now a self-proclaimed Celtics fan. 

After the game we stopped for soup pots in Chinatown. Ever since, I’ve had a crazy urge to hop a plane to Boston just slurp one down.

The next morning, I cooked a big breakfast for my husband and his partner before they headed off to work.

We met Auntie D, a Radcliffe and Harvard graduate who never left, at the Top of the Hub where we chatted about the stock market and chomped on Lobster rolls all  in front of a breathtaking view of the city. There is no better view in the city.

At night we ate pho as the underground subway rumbled beneath our feet. I feel asleep with my shades pulled open as the city hovered over me like a bright lit blanket that lulled me to sleep.

Aunt D took us to Cambridge for lunch and gave us the tour of Boston and Cambridge…again. I didn’t mind since it had been almost 10 years since I had been back.

For Hayes, the Museum of Science, the Lego Factory and the Children’s Museum.

That night we invaded The T acting like we owned the city. Glanced at strangers. Ran through the tunnels. Made friends with people we would never see again. Lost Hayes’ glove. In the Boston tunnels there are students everywhere – the air is full of young minds, powerful ideas and the aroma of determined youth that are definitely smart enough to change the world.

We rode to Harvard square and ate at Jackie Onassis’ favorite restaurant, Harvest. The restaurant was tucked away in alley, warm and intimate. We sat by two ladies who crushed over pricey wine and talked about their many visits to Europe, especially France, which, half of their conversation was in. We extended the merriment by drinking nitecaps in the Theater District.

Rainy-day-three led us to Faneuil Marketplace for Ramon. Drunk college kids in tank tops and shorts walked by berms piled up on the busy sidewalk around the marketplace. Lines of people dressed in green wrapped around buildings in honor of St. Patrick’s day.  We grabbed a beer at Cheers.

I bought a Buddha statue that Hayes insisted I take home, and we crushed seafood through glass.

We spend the last day eating oysters and mussels at the Union Oyster House before we blasted off in a snowstorm.

Until we meet again Boston – I’ll think of you often.

Doting On #Boston. #travelblog #travel Clusters of people - - clusters of buildings. I am home in the city, and everywhere else. 

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The Things Hayes Says #thethingskidssay #humor #kidhumor on the #blog Slangshot.org 5-year-olds are smarter than you think. Me: "I bet you all the girls have a crush on you."

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Artist Spotlight: Robin Kavanagh Gallery

#Artist Spotlight: Robin Kavanagh #Gallery #Canada #instagram

Feist your eyes on another gallery of works by Canadian artist, Robin Kavanagh as explained in his words. Following him on Instagram is quite a treat, as he posts at least 2-5 pieces of his unique art a day.

Previous works can viewed by clicking the following links: 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5

  Addiction – digital illustration (iPad)

Never considering the implications of trying to be cool I started…