What was I doing going on a surf trip? To Fiji of all places. Did I even know how to surf? I’d lived in Hawaii for years, but loving the ocean and going for runs on the beach was a far cry from getting into the waves off the coast of a tiny island in the South Pacific.

I have always loved the idea that something as simple as a cup of tea can bring family and friends together to create a communal experience. Oftentimes, I find myself getting caught up in the everyday businesses of life that I forget to take a pause and be in the moment. For this shoot, I wanted to capture the essence of slowing down and enjoying a relaxing morning over some matcha tea.

Dominique and Jacob are a long distance couple. Their hectic schedules don't allow for much downtime, so they were happy to escape to the country for a weekend, to a cozy cottage in Niagara, surrounded by forest and farm land.

I learned about Portuguese explorers like Vasco De Gama for example, and their colonization of Brazil. But that was the most I knew about historic Portugal and I’d be a ‘dealer in alternative facts’ if I denied knowing about Portuguese history and culture, or that it was on the top of my European travel to do list. But with low season airline fares and being on only a six-hour flight from New York City, I booked my trip, packed my passport and new film bag (a holiday gift from my dad) and traveled across the Atlantic. Now I have a new found love for this small country hugging the rocky coast along the Atlantic Ocean.

The house itself is a ranch style home built in 1935. The large horizontal windows have a Japanese feel that contributes to the peaceful quality of the home. It is important to respect the original architecture of a home or building, but not restore it to a fault so that it doesn’t function in modern times.

Beautiful. This is how I would describe Shanghai, where old meets new, and where modern structures are kissed with touches of history.

Winter, in it’s own turn, can become a dear friend to us, a natural tug to turn inward. It is a season where we find rest, renewal, and reflection to fuel us. This is a perfect time to give yourself some space and grace.

It was October in Iceland, so the weather was harsh, the wind brisk and snowfall was forecasted for the following days. This journey was going to be Marsha and Ed’s first as a couple, their elopement before their big wedding the following year.

When we stepped out of the train station and into Brussels Center that beautiful summer day, I fell in love. The city is diverse and artistic, young and old at the same time. It’s the perfect mix of everything I love about Europe- innovation and preservation.

Because of all of Amanda's renown beautifully designed cakes (as seen below), earlier this summer, Amanda was also invited by Food Network to design a cake for the show Wedding Cake Countdown with Drew and Linda.

We set off to solve this problem: How to host for Thanksgiving when you have the heart, but no idea how to pull it off. However, it has evolved into much more. We are calling it our "Thanks to You" Soiree.

When Skylar of Pura Soul Photography sent us this home tour of Heather and Troy Balliet's beautiful house, we could not wait to share it with you all! Here are some words from Heather (owner of Amorology):

We're known for creating personalized events that really tell the story of our couples. Our design is romantic and eclectic with a touch of playful, which is also reflective in our modern farmhouse home!

When the opportunity arose to visit Peru I had to jump right in and go! My sister had been studying in the country for four months, after her program, we decided to travel around and visit different towns, cities and ancient ruins and sites. To experience true, raw culture is to take a step back in time, a place where modern technology isn't present at every turn.

When I visited Khandar a few years ago, I was somewhat of a novelty. A ‘videshi’ (foreigner even though I am Indian) called for the entire women folk to come and see who and what I was all about. I did not completely understand what they were saying but bits and pieces of the conversation led me to believe that some of them had gotten up really early to finish their chores and some even wore their school uniforms because it was the only presentable outfit they had.