It All Started on a Sunset Booze Cruise…

***please note: I don’t condone the overconsumption of margaritas...neither does Marlene.

Flashback to Girl’s Trip in Key West: February 17th

The sun was setting in the clear, Florida sky. Sandy men in boat attire repeatedly top off our glasses with their special margarita concoction. “Delicious!” I exclaim, “Margaritas are my absolute favorite”. Good music, good friends, and a gorgeous setting…I’m loving Key West already!

After the booze cruise, we march over to Duval Street. It’s sort of like a mini Bourbon Street, only tanner. As the evening rolls on…my head rolls right on with it. Much to my delight, we find a cute little dive—with a bar to sit at. While my friends dance to the music from Country Strong, or something similar, I take residence between two older Key West locals, Dane and Tad. Deep conversations about life follow…

Flash-forward to the next morning in our hotel room

Still a little hazy from the night before, we take our time getting ready for the beach. My swimsuit change is interrupted by a double ding sound on my phone.

If I could exchange a picture of a flower for a picture of you, there would not be left a single flower on this island uncaptured by my lens…Tad from Alamo Bar

For you…

My focus quickly shifts from my phone to my friends.
“Seriously...which one of you gave that old dude my number?”

ding ding

p.p.s. You, Mary Beth, are stunningly beautiful, smart & interesting. Do not ever let any man take you for granted...never ever.

More Key West flowers for you…


Over a month later, I’m still receiving daily flower texts from ol’ Tad.
I've gotta give it to the man for mastering the art of persistence.

On another note, if anyone needs flower photos, I'm thinking of starting my own stock library.

The Amazing 89 Year Old Fitness Buff, Sal Cappi

Meet Sal.
He's 89...and still showin' off his guns to the ladies on Ocean Drive. After I took his picture, he handed me his business card. This is business card gold, as far as I'm concerned.

CHECK OUT MY VIDEO WORKOUT ON YOUTUBE
I AM 89 YEARS OLD!!!
YOUTUBE.COM
Sal Cappi

Love him!

Don't Show Too Much Skin this Weekend...

...the boys will think you're easy.

Spring Break in South Beach...

...wouldn't be complete without pulsating, vibrating,and bouncing cars rollin' down Ocean Drive.

Kristen & Chris's Wedding Invitations

I found a new printer to work with right here in Miami!
Winsted Thermography~check them out. Lester & Gary rock my world.

(colors are eggplant purple on cream/ecru stock)

Congrats to John John!

Not only is he cool, sexy, and Swedish, he's a really talented photographer!
Check out the final portfolios here: http://mas-miami.posterous.com/

The Editing Process is a Nightmare...

Photography Competition

School is out for the quarter (hoorah!), the beach is filled with oiled and unsteady spring breakers, and i've been busy battling it out with two Germans (Anne & John John), a Spanish girl (Laeticia), and a Californian (Sean) in a photography competition.

EF, a company that offers educational programs and language training to students around the globe, is hosting a photo competition for the Ad School students. For round one, we had to submit ten photos that depict the city that you live in. The winners from that round were flown into Miami to shoot the city, school, and students out here. Heavy shooting schedules and (awesome) dinners have been taking place all week. The winner will be announced at brunch on Saturday and then jets off to LA and Hawaii to shoot their schools out there...did I forget to mention the $3000 scholarship?!

Pretty much the dream job I've always wanted...to travel, take lovely photos, and meet interesting people along the way. Wish me luck!

Happy 90th Birthday to my Lovely Grandma!

Liquor Ads

I apologize for being MIA this past week. It’s always a lil’ traumatic when your computer dies the weekend before finals. The good news is, I’m alive…and thanks to David, Mr. Apple Store Genius, my baby has been revived for the time being.

For photography class, we had to shoot a liquor ad. Here’s what I came up with...

My Very First Photo Shoot...

...with a model and a makeup artist!
For one of my classes, I had to shoot an album cover (story).
Thanks to Jessica and Roselaine for making it happen! You girls are awesome.
Model: Jessica Zoo Campo
Makeup: Roselaine Bienaime-Brizzi

Jin Soo Rocks

Meet Jin Soo. He's a design student from Korea.
I just love his look...so I dragged him into the studio to take his picture.
Seriously, how cool is he?!

Key West

Off to Key West for the Weekend...

The tan starts tomorrow.

Vizcaya

This past weekend, Neighbor Mike and I took a trip out to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. It's a beautiful home that was built in 1916. When you walk out the back doors, all you see is the beautiful bay. Pretty stunning, if you ask me.

Sam & Charlotte

Two weeks ago, while walking down Ocean Drive, I ran into the most adorable couple. I stopped and asked, “How long have you two lovebirds been together?” With a smile on her face, the woman looked over at her husband and sweetly responded, “Many, many moons.” That’s when this photo was taken

Shortly after the sun went down, I returned home, sat in front of my computer, and started to download all of my photos from the weekend. I kept flipping back to the image of the older couple on the bench. Every time I looked at it, I would smile right along with them. I thought to myself…this couple needs to have this.

I spent the next two afternoons monitoring slash stalking the benches of Ocean Drive.
All of the crackheads were out, but unfortunately, the couple that I was looking for was not. I passed by another older couple on my way home, showed them the picture, and started to make some headway on this little case of mine. Shelly and Ellie (I couldn’t even make this stuff up) had spoken with this couple the previous weekend. I found out their names were Sam and Charlotte and Ellie gave me the general area where she thought they lived. Before I ran off, Shelly decided to serenade me with his harmonica. I swear, forget these douchey thirty-year-olds, the next man I date needs to be no younger than 85…that’s when the true charm kicks in.

I walked over to the area where Sam and Charlotte supposedly lived. There was a nursing home close-by, so I popped in and asked the woman at the front desk if she recognized the couple from the photo. She did not. Slightly defeated, I went outside, looked around in every direction and approached two elderly women walking into the building next door. The younger one of the two looked up at me and said, “You’re lucky…Sam just got home.”

I was welcomed into Sam and Charlotte’s little South Beach apartment and walked out feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

Have a Colorful Weekend Everybody!

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days…

…start making internet babies.
I've never been more amused by a pop-up.

Cuban Special

My neighbor Mike and I went to Little Havana this weekend to experience Cuban cuisine. As I walked through the door of Versailles, I noticed that the majority of the dishes were lacking color. I typically prefer food that is red or green, but whatever, living on the edge is just something I do…I’m wild like that.

We skim over the menu and decide to start with spiked Cuban coffee and plantain chips. I’m guessing this is normal in Cuba. For the main meal, Mike orders a Cuban sandwich and I order one of the specials: macaroni with chorizo, ham, corn (something or other) and plantains. I don’t know why I ordered what I ordered, but everything else looked like it came with fried this or rice that and because I’m not a fan of either, I figured the macaroni would be safe. Much to my delight, the macaroni comes out…red. On a separate plate, the plantains are carefully laid alongside a small bowl of white crumbled mystery food. I take a short inquisitive look at it and say with confidence, “Ohh…that’s the corn part of it. I think it’s some sort of cornmeal that you dip the plantains in.” Neighbor Mike agrees. I pick up my knife and fork, dip the plantain into the cornmeal, and grant this new, bizarre food entry into my mouth.
Delicious. A little strange…but delicious.

We were standing up to leave the restaurant when I decide to ask the waiter one more question about Cuban food…”So...what exactly was that crumbly, white stuff next to the plantains?”
He hesitated as he tried to find the English word for it —
“cheese” he said, “erm, parm…parmesan cheese.”

Right. I was dipping plantains, like a dumbass (sorry Marlene), into parmesan cheese. Awesome.
Next time I go to Little Havana, I’m going to wear a pin that says, Cuban Special.

Take a Look at That View...

Miami and I are going through a romantic phase all of a sudden.
If only our love could pay the bills...

Thinking of You...

...and wishing you were super close.
Yes, I'm talking about you...and you, and you.

Perfect Weather. Perfect Weekend.

My weekend went something like this…morning run, met birthday boy no.1 for drinks, experienced Ocean Drive in all of its weirdness, late night, early morning, COFFEE, photo shoot in studio, bike home, photo shoot at SoBe hotel, coffee with neighbor, freelance design whatnots, late night, early morning, brunch with birthday boy no.2, frozen margaritas, more hotel shots, run on the beach, and more coffee.
I kinda love my life.