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Wow.  I can’t believe I haven’t posted on the blog since NYE.  I really took advantage of the slow season this year and took a lot of downtime for myself. (I mean, A LOT of downtime and it felt so good!)  Now my  batteries are all recharged and I’m ready to get some work done, but first I’ll fill you in…

My winter months were spent: visiting family in San Diego, little hikes in the NW winter sun (that has since disappeared), enjoying my new found passion- sewing (and quilting), trying out new recipes, and reading and cuddling with Pip.   Not a bad little winter!  

I hope this season you were able to enjoy some downtime for yourself, too!

♥ Kim

from left to right: 1. Swami’s, Encinitas CA. 2. Seattle Sunset.  3. Picnic Point, Lynnwood WA.  4. Fabric cuts for quilting.  5. Quilt design.  6. A bunny I sewed for my niece.  7.  My niece, Daisy Grace.  8.  Casey + Pip at the Meadowdale Beach Trail.  9. Pip unmotivated for her walk.  10. trees while hiking.  11.  Snowmageddon 2012, Seattle WA  12.  Swami’s, Encinitas CA.

  • Aunt Vickie - The Quilt is Great! I am very impressed on your first one.
    I like the colors. Fantastic job. The bunny is also cute.
    I am very proud of you..Keep up the good work.
    Love you

December 31st is one of my favorite days of the year.  There is something so magical about all of the possibilities and promise that a new year holds.  I love to spend the day going over the year, making mental notes of the ups and downs, and then setting my intentions for the new year.

2011 was a great year, and it flew by so fast!  Reflecting back on it this morning I realized that it was the perfect balance of highs and lows, which in my opinion is the best kind of year.  It was a year mixed with plenty of great vacations, clients, and new friends; sprinkled with tragic loss and some personal struggles.  I’ve learned that life is a delicate balance of good and bad, a balance of tragedy and miracle, and that suffering through the bad makes the good that much sweeter.  If I could sum up my feelings for 2011 in one word, I think that word would be Grateful.  Grateful that I’ve been given this amazing life, grateful for the people I get to share it with, and grateful for the work that I get to do.  I feel so lucky!

But most of all, I’d like to thank all of the amazing clients that let me into their lives this year!  Your humor and inner beauty truly made my year bright!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

2012 holds such promise for me.  I feel like this is going to be a big year, both personally and professionally, and I can’t wait to get started!  I have many lofty goals (as usual) but instead of sharing them here, I’d like to share a little slice of wisdom that I intend to keep close to my heart this year:

“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”   – Mother Teresa

May your New Year be everything that you wish it to be and so much more…

♥ Kim

  • Gina - Thanks for sharing your positive outlook. Been a really hard year for us, and I needed to be reminded to celebrate the positives in my life. Happy 2012

  • Deann B. - Your 2011 was full of so much beauty, I can’t wait to see what 2012 holds for you! xoxox, D

I fell in love with Lincoln before I fell in love with my husband.

A friend and I moved to Mammoth Lakes, CA. right after 9/11 to get away from the city and snowboard for the winter.  The first night in town we met two cute boys at a bar.  They invited us to a party the next evening at their house.  We were eager to make new friends, so we accepted.  Little did I know I’d fall in love that night…

We arrived fashionably late, and while we were searching the crowd for our new friends, an adorable floppy eared black puppy with feet that were seemingly too large for his body emerged through the sea of faces (or feet, really). Lincoln greeted me in the same fashion he greeted everyone for the rest of his life, with huge doggie kisses and unyielding love.  My heart burst open immediately and I completely fell in love at that moment.  I spent the evening playing with Lincoln.  Already protective of him, I kept the drunk partygoers from feeding him nachos and beer.  I also spent the evening with Casey, who little did I know at the time, would become my husband.

Casey and I spent everyday together for the next 10 years with Lincoln in tow.  We’ve been on many adventures together over the years, most of which remain my favorite memories of all time.  I could fill hundreds of pages with the things we’ve done together.  But for now, I’ll keep those precious moments to myself, I’d rather tell you a little bit about him…

Throughout those years Lincoln has eaten (and survived) more things than you can imagine.  You could say he had a passion for food and eating.  He has consumed many unusual things over the years, too many things to list. But some of my favorites include: an entire bathroom floor, a 3×4 ft. patch of wall, rat poison, a box of chocolate bars, almost an entire couch (piece by piece), the contents of our refrigerator (and politely spit the olives into a pile- the only food he doesn’t like) and all kinds of books and clothes.  If you’ve ever been to a party at our house, you’ve undoubtedly seen Lincoln nonchalantly grab some food right off your plate.  He was good at stealing food, so good that you didn’t want to punish him for it, because he’d look up at you with those innocent brown eyes and melt your heart.  My absolute favorite thing he has devoured was a box of tampons.  I came home from work to find Lincoln sitting in the window with what looked like a cigar sticking out of his mouth.  He had the goofiest of expressions on his face.  Upon closer inspection I saw that he had a tampon stuck in his mouth, sticking out in a way that made him look like George Burns puffing on a stogie. I still laugh when I think of that night…

Lincoln passed away last Friday, Aug.5th.  His passing has left a gigantic hole in our hearts; a hole that we’re not sure can ever be filled again.  We’ve never known a life together without Lincoln.  The pain has been so bad that we’ve even talked about never getting another dog.  The thought quickly passes as we remember all the joyous and downright hilarious moments we’ve had with Lincoln.  There really is no replacement for the love and laughter that a dog brings into your life.  Lincoln was a giant goofball, a people pleaser, and a lover- there wasn’t anything you could do to make him angry.  He was a great cuddler, a protector, and a constant office companion to me.  He loved everyone that came into his life, unconditionally.  (He loved you more if you gave him some sort of treat and a butt scratch)  He was a mouth-breather, an incessant snorer, a drooler, and was always underfoot in the kitchen.  The house seems so quiet and empty without him.   Pip is stepping in as head-of-household and is trying her best to keep us happy.  The 3 of us together are slowly adjusting to a life without Lincoln…

I’ve come to realize this past week that life is really just a series of miracles and tragedies and all we can hope for in this world is that the miracles are so bright and frequent and amazing that they outshine the tragedies a million times over.

You will be missed, Stinky Linky, more than you will ever know.  (Below are some old scanned photos and some of my favorite digital photos from over the years.) undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined undefined

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  • GIna - That was a beautiful tribute, Kim. I know how loved he was. Every dog should be as lucky as Lincoln to have parents like you guys. I hope your hearts heal soon.

  • Amy - I’m so sorry for your loss of dear Lincoln, Kim and Casey. August 5th was a sucky day all the way around. :(

  • Keri Pinzon - Tears in my eyes, that was so lovely, funny and heartfelt. Thank you for posting! So hard to lose a family member, time heals.

  • jen - what a beautiful post. so sorry you had to say goodbye.

  • Jess@DestinationInspirations - Kim – my heart aches for you guys right now, I know that very pain but what a beautful piece you wrote for Lincoln, thank you for sharing

  • Jenny J - I’m so sorry Kim, what a horrible loss. I’m grateful to have met him for a brief moment and have always enjoyed your images of him. I hope you’re able to get some peace. xx

  • Aluna Joy - He was all heart! We will miss him as well – Mommie

  • Nicole foster-davis - What a lovely tribute! Beautiful pictures! I wish I had done this for our beloved Sadie. After a year of her passing, I finally can stop thinking how too short her life was with us. I now am so grateful for prescence in our life. So many things you said here really speak from the heart. It’s hard to lose family..thanks for sharing;)

  • Desiree Hayes - Sooo sorry for your loss, Kim! I lost my dog on August 5th too. It’s so sad. :( Big hugs!

  • Deann B. - Oh Kim, I’m so sorry for your loss… but also so happy that you found a best friend in Lincoln and shared an amazing 10 years with him. Thank you for sharing and thank you for reminding me to hug my own pup a little tighter. xoxo

  • Bonnie Turner - Hi Kim – thank you so much for the pictures and the great memories of Lincoln. He was such a character when I knew him as a puppy and young adult.
    Lincoln and his brother, Jake, were very special animals. As young puppies, they were quite the pair – two huge black, loveable lugs of labs that thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. People couldn’t help but fall in love with them.
    they were Fric and Frac – bookends, for sure.
    Whenever I would drive down that street, Jake would start a shrill whine because he knew we were going to see Lincoln.
    Their sister, Jett, is doing well despite losing her right rear leg last summer….the legacy of our sweet, wonderful boys is with her.
    She will be here in Novemeber – I will be sure to send some photos.

  • monica - Oh no, it is so awful losing a dog. I just stumbled upon this, and your photos remind me so much of our girl Esha who we just lost this year. She was also ten and from Mammoth. I wonder if they possibly are related, even though i think maybe not. What is Lincoln’s mix?

  • aga - beautifully written, and although tears are running down my cheeks, and I feel your pain so deeply… your story of his life with you brings so much warmth to my heart.

  • Aunt Vickie - I am so sorry to hear about Lincoln, He was a Great Dog.
    I know how hard it is to lose him. All the enjoyable memory
    of him will keeep a smile on your face.
    He will be with Meiko in doggy heaven.
    He was a awesome dog.Give Casey and yourself a Big Hug.
    He will alway be your Boy.

  • Winnie Forbes - What a beautiful tribute to a loyal lifetime friend. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Hello 2011!

First off, I don’t want to start the new year without thanking all of my beautiful 2010 clients!  Watching you all fall in love, get married, and have babies was the highlight of my year!  I am truly so grateful and blessed to continue to do what I love to do, and it’s all because of you.  Honestly, I’m still not sure how the business keeps rolling in.  Being a professional photographer was a dream of mine since I was very little (like, 8 years old), so it’s still unbelievable to me that it’s a reality.   Thank you!

For me, 2010 was all about slowing down and focusing on what was important.  I took a lot of “me time” and because of that I was pretty quiet on the blog and on social media sites.  The computer ruled my life in 2009, and I wasn’t going to let it run 2010.  I’ve had lots of ideas throughout the past year that are still brewing and growing, and my hope is that they become reality in 2011.

The New Year started for me with a crashed hard drive, some important files lost (and then found!),  and a week long sickness that is finally starting to subside. (not really a great start)  But now that the first week is out of the way, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I’m ready to dive into 2011 with enthusiasm and wonder!  Instead of listing my gazillion goals for 2011, I thought I would share a quote that I would like to live by in both my personal and professional life:

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” – Rumi

Here are some iphone snaps from my 2010.  Looking forward to what 2011 will bring…

♥ Kim