Last week another one of my friends moved away from Hawaii. I know i've said it before but it kills me to watch my friends go. This time was especially hard. 

When i moved to Hawaii 5 yrs ago. I didn't know a soul. It was a huge scary move and I never thought I would make it out here without my friends. I've always been blessed with incredible friends and they mean the world to me. I come from a super small family so my friends are totally family to me. Leaving them behind was super hard for me. 

A few months after I moved out here my best friend James followed suite. It was so good to have a familiar face around. Hawaii is more then perfect but it's nothing if you have no one to experience it with. It was just me and James for awhile until we started to make a small group of friends. That small but incredible group will always hold a special place in my heart. They helped define hawaii for me, taking this perfect place and making it home for me. 

My second year another close friend from NJ, Skott,  was added to our group.  He has been here ever since then and last week I had to say good bye. 

I've known Skott pretty much my whole life.  We met as two punk kids hanging out at the mall and going to shows in NJ. Anyone who knows Skott knows it's either a love or hate relationship. There is no one like him. He is one of the loudest most obnoxious people I have ever met. It's something I love dearly about him. Anyone who has ever been in the same vicinity as him could tell you that he demands attention and will get it forcibly if he has to.  He doesn't ever care what anyone thinks about him. He speaks his mind and isn't concerned with who it's going to offend. I adore his honestly and boldness. when most people are spending time on their image Skott is just busy being him self. that's what makes him something to be sought after.  He is famous for acting first and thinking later.  But these are all things anyone would know about him by spending 5 mins with him. 

Here are some things I have learned about him by spending close to 15 yrs with him. He never gives up on you once your his friend. He is loyal and caring. He doesn't know it but he is very very smart. I think he could be good at anything he tries to do because he puts all of his heart into it. He is one of the hardest workers I have ever known. He is always down to have fun and having him around is the life of the party.  He is my best friend and I've always had him and James close by me. They are my brothers. I  Have no idea who I would be without them or where I would be with out them. they have both help me get through harder times then I hope anyone ever has to deal with.  With out them I would be lost. 

this is the first time the three of us have really be apart and i hope it's only for a short time. 

i love you guys. 

So sorry I've been missing. The last week and a half has been a blur. I have, gone to a birthday party,  a going away party,  Gotten Jovi's first shots, A youth group lock in, Planned a huge surprise birthday party for jesse, Gone to a bachelorette party, planned a bridal shower, mean while working and talking care of Jovi. As a result I'm the most sick. I'm actually leaving in a few mins to go to the doctors. I just wanted to give a heads up first as to why I've been mia. 

 I'd like to introduce you to my next inspiring daughter of the most high, But first, I wasn't expecting this post to be taking off like it is. Its title was suppose to be a one time thing reflecting on the meaning of Pure beauty.  now that it is a weekly post I dont want to steal my friends name, so from now on it will be titled "Inside Out", because it is what goes on inside us that determines the true value of our outward acts.


And now the good stuff. 
 I'm sure some of you have already been following her blog She Breaths Deeply and for those of you who haven't been you need to!! I cant remember how I found her blog, but I as I read the news of her becoming pregnant I felt a sorta of friendship based or similarities forming.  I wanted so badly to have a friend going through the same things I was as a soon to be mommy.  Now over a year later we have both had our baby girls and I've been honored to get a glimpse into Mandy's life. reading about her faith as it strengths not only her family but all of us. 

This week I thought I share with you some models who I adore lately and would love to one day work with.

first girl on my list....Raquel Reed. This girl is every where and it not hard to see why. I wish I knew which hair dye she uses!!




number 2... Kiki Kannibal.  She makes me wish I could pull off blond hair




and finally I just recently found this model and she is stunning. Erin Belle

Hey guys, So are you convinced that I'm a nerd yet?? no, well in that case let me continue. 

Nerdy fact number 5: I love maps!! sit me down next to a atlas, or a globe and i'm like a kid in a candy shop. I dont know what it is about them I could just stare forever. I love knowing exactly where I am. I think it stems from me having a visual memory. I want to and must see it to know where I am and it's relation to everything else.  But I also enjoy looking at map just to know where places are. I like discovering new tiny islands and cities. 

I thought it would be fun to add some cute nerd style to back up my geekery. 

I love this locket  maybe it could be a map of hawaii or NJ instead of LA

I love the idea of map garland

I did a interview over at Kytia lamour's blog.  She does a monthly feature called Art in Transition. 

I had a lot of fun answering her questions, everything from art to motherhood.

Please check it out and let me know what you think and while you're there make sure to check out how talented she is. 

Jovi is a super spirited baby. She has always been very very attentive, persistence, focused, Intense, super attached, very needy and doesn't like to be put down.  I never had experience with other babies so she seemed totally normal to me just constant draining work. She would cry when ever she wasn't being held. people would always remark on how good she was, and I would remark back that it was because she is in my arms. She refused to sleep anywhere but on me or Jesse. I never got a break If I had to pee it meant taking her with me or hearing her cry the whole time I was gone. Even at night I wouldnt get a break because she had to snuggle up right next to me using my arm as a pillow. If i would let her she could cry for hours and not give in to sleep.   It wasn't tell people started criticizing me and my husband's attachment parenting style that I started wondering maybe Jovi's not like other babies. I was so sick of hearing people say "stop holding her so much you're spoiling her, or just let her cry she'll fall asleep eventually."  I started to feel like a failure as a mom. why was she so needy? Why were my friends babies able to occupy them selfs. I would have given anything for Jovi to be able to self sooth for even ten mins. Was it something I was doing or not doing?  Did I need to let her cry more?

  I did a little research and found out that babies, like adults have many different personalities. We were lucky enough to be blessed with a spirited, or High needs baby. 

here are a few examples of what I read about spirited babies.  

"The cry of a high need baby is not a mere request, it's an urgent demand. These babies put more energy into everything they do. They cry loudly, feed voraciously, laugh with gusto, and protest more forcefully if their needs are not met to their satisfaction. Because they feel so deeply, they react more powerfully if their feelings are disturbed." - Dr Sears 

Mothers of high need babies often say, "I just can't get to him fast enough." These babies convey a sense of urgency in their signals; they do not like waiting, and they do not readily accept alternatives. Woe to the parent who offers baby the rattle when he is expecting a breast. He will let you know quickly and loudly that you've misread his cues. The concept of "delayed gratification" is totally foreign to infants, it must be sensitively and gradually taught when the child is developmentally ready to learn it.- Dr. Sears 

Spirited babies emerge from the womb knowing what they like and don’t like and they never hesitate to let you know it. They are very vocal and even seem aggressive at times. They scream for Mum or Dad when they wake in the morning.- Tracy Hogg

hello guys, I hope you are enjoying my tattoo posts. I keep forgetting to bring my cannon to work with me so the pictures are always from my Iphone and not the best quality. 

this past week was pretty fun. I got to do so fun small tattoos. Some times it feels like all i'm dong are huge sleeves and back pieces. It's nice to be able to start and finish something in one session. 

I had to turn down a client with some really awesome yesterday just because I didn't have to time to do it. Sometimes I wish I had more time to focus on my art work. I haven't been painting at all this month. I dont know when if ever i'll find the time :( I need, well prefer to be completely alone and silent when I paint. I get totally lost in my thoughts and the time just drifts away. It a great feeling, but time is at a great shortage these days and the thought of being alone is even more rare. I know its just for a season, and i'm totally enjoying mommyhood. I just cant wait for a little more me time. 

well here's this weeks tattoo's 

So, I had the privilege of shooting my dear friend Danielle this week. I just want to start out by saying holy crap this girl has talent!! while we were driving around scouting locations she said she likes giving it her all by trying to let go of any bit of insecurities she has, so that the photographer has better pictures and less to edit. Well, that's no easy task but, she kept true to her word.