5 YEARS AGO

Five years ago, I officially become part of a pair.  A duo.  A couple.  My name has been linked to his ever since.

Five years ago, Kurt asked me to be his girlfriend. And after eyeing him for months prior, my answer was easy... "yes!"

By God's grace, we've come a looooong way since then.  Lots of repentance.  Lots of forgiveness.  Lots of grace.  I can barely believe all that has happened since just last year.

Photo credit: Open Door Photography

Kurt,
     You are my best friend and true love.  Not because you still manage to make my heart skip a beat, but because I know you want the best for me even when I don't want it for myself.  You aren't afraid to challenge me to be better, but are always so good to point me to Christ while doing so.  Five years with you has been abundant with love, grace, and joy.

I love you now and always.

xoxo,
Yasmin

ETSY FINDS: iPHONE CASES

Yesterday my iPhone 5 arrived on my doorstep.  Yes, I must confess... up until this point I've been using an Android smart phone... how very un-photographer-like of me.  (I am not hating on Android, so don't be offended, but I personally have been waiting for the day that I could open that little white box.)  So I started scouring the internet to find the perfect phone case.  Disclaimer: Not all of these are actual finds from Etsy... I started there with good intentions of finding some of the best cases from other business creatives, but then expanded my search to the greater internet when these kinds of cases started showing up in my search results, haha!

This first case is by Kate Spade and it's amazing, but I have an iPhone 5 and this is only made for the iPhone 4.  Still, I had to share it because the golden polka dots are so cute!

This next case is one of the very few cases I actually found on Etsy that I liked.  It comes from a shop called Lucy Celebrates.  Her logo is the cutest little elephant and I LOVE her shops tagline: "Magic happens in the little details."  The blue ombre polka dots and gold writing are right up my alley.

This third case comes from my friend Emily Ley's shop.  Emily has a shop up on Etsy, but I personally prefer to purchase items directly from the Emily Ley shop on her website.  I like this emerald striped case with the monogram for an extra touch of personalization.

This last case is my favorite.  As the Rifle Paper Co. describes it, "This classy case features sophisticated stripes in our favorite metallic gold foil!"  I love it!

Although I like all the cases above and most certainly will be purchasing products from each of those places in the future, I think I found the case I want at Rifle Paper Co. :)  I'm actually off to order it right now... thanks for taking that little journey with me, haha!

Next item of research for my shiny new phone... the best apps for the iPhone!  If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments!

QUESTION: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A TRIP TO LA?

Despite being born and raised in California, this state is so very large that there are tons of super cool places, right in my backyard, that I've yet to explore!  I love living in the SF Bay Area (northern California) because you never run out of places to go!  And I've been to many places throughout the whole state and in southern California, but one place I've yet to really explore is Los Angeles!

To celebrate 2 years of marriage, Kurt wants to road trip down to "La-La Land" and see what it's all about.  He's never really been, minus our one-day trip towards the end of last year when I attended the Making Things Happen Intensive.  But since he didn't do anything other than drop me off at and pick me up from the workshop while we were there that doesn't really count!

So I wanted to ask:  Eats, entertainment, sights... if you're familiar with the area, what do you recommend we must check out while we're there? And if you're not, what would you want to see if you were going?

Any input helps with planning a great trip!  I love the print from Rifle Paper Co. below. This is kinda the image I have stuck in my head about what this LA trip is gonna be like... we shall see! :)

GLITTER IS GREAT, BUT FAILURE CAN BE OKAY TOO.

Although I am a strong advocate of glitter, gold, and all things glam, I also recognize that not every moment is filled with beauty.  Sometimes in order to reach beauty we have to work through the ugly things, the embarrassing things, and face the not-so-graceful moments of life.

Take these shoes for example.  What do you see?  Four-inches of fabulousness?  That's what I thought when I first laid my eyes on them.  If I were Dorothy, my Kansas would be California and these gold glittery heels would be my ruby slippers.  And they were such a great deal, I knew I'd be crazy not to buy them.  At least that was the logic I worked out in my head for when I'd show them to my husband :)

My thoughts changed though when I wore them out to dinner to celebrate his birthday.  As we headed back to our car after a lovely night of fondue (yum!), we began descending a grimy concrete stairwell that would lead us to the underground parking lot where we parked the car.  In a split-second decision that I lived to regret, I thought, I should probably hold the railing to brace myself, but foolishly my germaphobe self recoiled my hand, deciding otherwise.  As I reached the last 6 steps I felt my ankle give way and in the most inelegant way possible I fell forward down the rest of the stairs. In a dress. Into a puddle. A dirty, little puddle.

I was humiliated, embarrassed, confused, disheveled and in pain.  I didn't break anything, thankfully.  No one but my husband saw my tumble, thankfully. But my feelings were definitely bruised.  And my ankle was sore for weeks.  But I was humbled too, realizing that I have limitations and that I needed to slow down sometimes.  And that I need to reach for help.

Lately, I've been trying to figure out some stuff related to this blog and have run in to some, ahem, technical difficulties.  And have made some mistakes that have left me pretty stinkin' frustrated.  But I realized last night that sometimes stumbling can be a good thing.  It shakes things up, forcing me to pause, reassess my direction, and make sure that I've got my priorities in their proper place.  To grow in patience.  To question myself about what really matters.  For example, should a blog really be causing me to be that angry?  No.  I have so many things to be grateful for and joyful about, I'd be crazy to let myself sit and stew over this.  The glitter and gold will eventually come, but for now I need to be okay with the ugly. The messed-up stuff. The failures.

You may be wondering, did falling down the stairs keep me from wearing heels again? No way!  These shoes are still utterly fabulous in my book! But next time I am for sure taking my time, being patient, and never being to proud to reach out for help.

VIDEO: TWIST BRAID HOW-TO

This may sound silly, but I firmly believe that one of the absolute greatest things about the internet is hair tutorials.  They not only provide a warning about what not to do (i.e. this poor girl!), but they also give provide dozens and dozens of ideas about hairdos that can be done quickly and easily while still looking ah-may-zing!

This video tutorial comes from my amazingly talented friend Alejandra Vidal of Imaginale Design.  You may recall me mentioning that she captured my headshots last summer. Specializing in capturing stills and motion, Ale has an eye for all things lovely and dreamy. She shared this hair tutorial earlier this week and I wanted to pass it on to all of you!

I'm definitely going to be rocking this hairstyle for my next date night with Kurt... and I'll be sure to post a picture on my instagram when I do!

TUESDAY TRUTH: COURAGE

10 LOVE-INSPIRED PICKS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

It's February... aka LOVE month!  I know Valentine's Day is on February 14th, but personally I think it should be celebrated every day of February!  I like to celebrate all month long :) There is no such thing as too many hearts, too much love, or too much chocolate.  And it's not just for couples either... no, no, no...  I use it as an opportunity to tell everyone I love them!  And there is so much cute stuff out there in the stores to spread the love (helloooo Target!).  So I've compiled a list of lovely ideas to help you out this month.... ♥ 

Here are 10 love-inspired picks, just in time for Valentine's Day:

1. I am in LOVE with this gorgeous card from Rifle Paper Co.  The pink foil writing is the icing on the cake! Give it to someone who appreciates beautiful paper :)

2. These super cute socks can be worn all winter long, but would look mighty festive this month :)

3. A short story is for the fellas:  One year Kurt bought me a box of chocolate-covered strawberries.  And at that moment, after melting into a puddle of pure bliss, I pretty much decided to I had to marry him.  The end.

4.  I came across these adorable tote bags on one of my favorite graphic designer's blog.  And I so want the gold heart one.

5.  This shoulder bag from Kate Spade is just darling.  I love that there are kissing canaries sitting atop it as the clasp! Pretty in pink and perfect for a date night!

6.  Almost anything from Bath and Body Works is a must for me, but the description of their Paris Amour perfume is just perfect for this lovely month: Ignite the magical feelings sparked after a romantic stroll through the streets of Paris! Spray on French tulips, apple blossoms and sparkling pink champagne, blended in our most beautiful fragrance ever!

7.  To personalize a tasty treat for all your friends and loved ones, let them know it was "Made With Love" with this super cute cookie stamp!

8.  For the music lover in your life, give them an iTunes giftcard.  Nothing fancy and sure to be appreciated.  I totally did this for Kurt last year.

9.  A good fondue set is a must.  I mean, who doesn't love chocolate?!? Cause nothing says romance like Justin Bieber's voice in your head singing, "Chillin' by the fire while we eatin' fondue."  (By the way, if you don't love chocolate, feel free to send it all my way pleaseandthankyou.)

10.  Last, but not least, you can book a photo shoot with yours truly to document your LOVE!  This is by far one of the sweetest, most romantic things you can do!

♥ Simply visit my website, fill out the contact page, and let me capture your sweet love ♥

To see more from this lifestyle anniversary shoot, click here!

ME, TODAY.

I AM … choosing to get things done today.
I WANT… to go on a tropical vacation with Kurt.
I HAVE … a sore ankle from falling down some stairs the other day... in high heels.
I KEEP … a stash of candles because I love lighting them when my house is nice and tidy.
I WISH I COULD … be a morning person.
I HATE … being late.
I FEAR … too many things that don't really matter at all.
I HEAR … the heater on full blast.
I DON’T THINK … I will ever get sick of chocolate.
I REGRET … not always listening to my parents when I was younger.
I LOVE … making things happen.
I AM NOT … going to stop taking risks.
I DANCE … like a crazy person sometimes, just to make my nephews laugh uncontrollably.
I SING … at the top of my lungs when I'm in the car.
I NEVER … will be perfect.
I RARELY … purchase new music. If I want to listen to a new song I just play over and over and over on YouTube.
I CRY WHEN I WATCH … nearly any movie with Rachel McAdams in it.
I AM NOT ALWAYS … focused.
I HATE THAT … there is always huge mess to clean up after I cook something.
I’M CONFUSED ABOUT … what is making all the sounds in this song and why I like it so much.
I NEED … to do my laundry... like, ASAP.
I SHOULD … workout today. Scratch that... I WILL workout today :)

Thanks Jasmine Star for the blog idea :)

24

Here are two lists I wrote for Kurt in honor of his 24th birthday. 

First, 12 things I love about you:

1.  You are a man of integrity.

2.  You would rather read a book about theology than watch TV.

3.  You look really good in sunglasses ;)

4.  You are a poet and no one else knows it (except me!)

5.  You are really, really patient.

6.  You’re an awesome “Kuncle” to our nephews and you love kids.

7.  You hurt when I hurt and you rejoice when I rejoice.

8.  You are a great listener and you genuinely care about people.
9.  We make a pretty good team!  You truly are my other half.

10.  You actually don’t mind my glitter obsession.

11.  You’re not afraid of responsibility.  Rather than complaining about a situation, you do something about it.
12.  You are an amazing husband and my best friend!

Second, 12 things I have learned about you this year:

13.  You LOVE anything that’s pumpkin-flavored.

14.  You dig cooking shows.  I actually learned this about myself too, so I’m glad it’s a mutual thing.

15.  Although you don’t like to play video games, you still enjoy playing your Gameboy. Specifically Mario Tennis, haha.

16.  I don’t like the way you cook eggs. But you pour a mean bowl of cereal ;)

17.  Your new favorite activity is disc golf.

18.  You don’t mind driving really long distances. And you don’t mind me singing loudly on said road trips… or at least you haven’t complained about it yet ;)

19.  We’ve definitely got the same sense of humor. And I think you can read my thoughts...

20.  I am getting a little closer to really understanding that you love me unconditionally.

21.  You appreciate my home decorating skills.

22.  You love it when I cook for you and will eat anything I make for you with a grateful heart.

23.  You believe in what I can become and you believe that I am capable of achieving things.

24.  I wouldn't be who I am today without you and God's amazing grace.

12 + 12 = 24! 

Happy birthday to you, my darling love!  P.S. What a cutie pie!

TAKING TIME TO DE-STRESS

For those of you who had the day off yesterday, I hope you had enjoyed an extra-long, relaxing weekend!  My weekend was filled with travel, birthdays, laughter, tears, exhaustion, and rest.  It was a little bit of everything really!

Lately I’ve been dealing with some mild physical consequences of being stressed and I am so not digging it.  So this weekend I made time to rest and get organized.  Celebrating my nephew’s 1^st birthday was super fun and church on Sunday was wonderful.  Also, I’ve been forced into somewhat of an internet fast (as we deal with getting wi-fi set-up in our home) so I’m seeing that as God’s way of forcing me to disconnect a bit.

I’m limited to posting from my local Starbucks this morning, so I’m treating myself to a hot chocolate :) I’ve been filling out my Simplified Planner like crazy and compiling my millions of to-do lists into one master list.  Today my goal is to get things done while also making time for things that fire me up and bring me joy, so I can focus on those things rather than spend time stressing!

Here’s how I plan to work that into my schedule: This morning I started the morning off with time with God, reading the bible and praying.  Today, and hopefully everyday this week, I plan to workout.  I’ll get some photo editing done this afternoon after I go pick up groceries for the week. Later this week I’m going to stop by the mall to pick up some more candles from Bath and Body Works.  A lit candle with an amazing scent in a tidy home can be so soothing!  Thanks to Emeals I’ve got my meals planned for the week and will enjoy cooking a healthy dinner for my love tonight. Lots to do this week but lots to be grateful for too.

So, between time with God, exercise, eating right, being organized, getting work done and making time to relax, I hope to bring down my stress levels.

Here’s my question for you: What are healthy ways that you deal with stress?  How do you relax?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR KATIE

Beauty and grace.  Katie embodies both.  Today she turns 23.  I am so blessed to have her as my friend.  Last year I wrote this piece to commemorate our friendship up until then.  I am happy to report that our friendship has only gotten sweeter since :)

This summer I did a special anniversary photo shoot of her and her husband.  Below is one of my favorite shots of her looking oh-so-lovely.

Happy birthday Katie! I love you and hope you have a wonderful day!

THURSDAY THOUGHT: BE HAPPY. BE BRIGHT. BE YOU.

Hello and happy Thursday to you!  I've really enjoyed getting back into blogging and I've loved reading all your awesome comments this week.  Thanks for reading!  

Today I'd like to share this lovely Be You art print from Sugar Paper, as a short and sweet little thought for the day.  The right font can bring me so much joy.  And, as you can tell from my logo, I am seriously loving me some gold.  Shine bright like a diamond!

This simple message describes exactly how I want people to feel with I photograph them:

If you're interested in being photographed by yours truly, please contact me! :)

BEACH BABES

Before I became an aunt, I knew little to nothing about babies.  I didn't babysit in high school and when people around me did have children, I'd avoid holding them for fear that I'd make them cry. Babies always seemed so very fragile.

Of course, much has changed since my two nephews entered the picture... and boy, I sure am glad it did. Although children can be difficult at times, there is something so sweet, so special, and so exciting about watching a little life form before your eyes.  I get a front row seat to these boy's childhoods.  I get to watch their little personalities unfold.  I've been able to re-experience innocent wonderment, reliant trust, and jump-up-and-down-excitement all over again through these little boys, and those are gifts that I cherish deeply.

Now, being a Californian through-and-through, I LOVE the beach, but of course, familiarity breeds contempt (or in this case, indifference)... until I was reminded of how other-worldly it really is.  Recently my younger nephew experienced the beach for the first time, while the older one got to dig around in the sand and I was able to document those sweet moments below.  Because we were in Half Moon Bay, it was pretty chilly and the fog rolled in quickly, but it was beautiful, nonetheless.  My two beach babes had a great time and I was thankful for the reminder of just how much fun the beach can be :)

IT'S ANOTHER MONDAY MIXER!

It's time for another Monday Mixer!

So what exactly do I mean? Here's a quick definition: Mixer /ˈmiksər/ n. An informal party arranged to give people an opportunity to get acquainted.

How it works: I will list off several random things and you can feel free to respond with comments on how you can/cannot relate or maybe even with your own random Monday list!  Let's do this!

My fingers are double-jointed. 

I am in love with white furniture. It's so chic.

I am the only person in my family who does not drink coffee... even my two-year-old nephew loves it!

My latest obsession is Seinfeld. I find it hilarious and entertaining.

I crave chocolate daily.

I'm slowly learning that less is more and small is the new big.

I finished my Christmas shopping early this year. *High-five myself*

Today is my half-birthday!  Meaning it's exactly 6 months until my actual birthday... Yay!

I believe in the power of prayer.

Mexican food can solve all problems.  It does for me anyway.

My husband amazes me daily with his incredible patience for me.

Brrr! I hate being cold. Bring on the warm sunshine!

Adoption is still a growing passion in my heart. One day, Lord-willing.

I (heart) scarves. Functional fashion!

We now have a television. And it's awesome.

I LOVE getting emails from people interested in photo shoots (yasmin@yasminsarai.com) and bringing beautiful ideas to life. Fun stuff!

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Feel free to post your own fun facts in the comments! Happy Monday y'all!

GOODBYE 2012... HELLO 2013!

2012 was quite an adventure... one that I knew would require courage.

Like last year (and any year, really), whatever 2013 holds for me is a total mystery.  All I know is that there are many changes coming, big and small, some that I'm choosing to make and others that are not my choice but simply a part of life.  However, through it all, I will strive to remember this one thing: God is good.

I'm ready to take on this new year and I am so thankful that I have Kurt by my side to celebrate the successes, endure the failures, and have a few good laughs along the way.  Here's to more kisses, deeper faith in God, and lots of glitter in 2013!

VIDEO: MY SUBMISSION FOR reSTARt WITH JASMINE STAR

Happy Monday y'all!  And yes, it is a happy day because Christmas is upon us and the new year is just around the corner!

I wanted to share a video I made to hopefully be choosen at one of 3 in-studio participants next year for reSTARt, a 3-month course taught by Jasmine Star at creativeLIVE in Seattle!

Making this was pretty fun so I might start making more videos in the future.  I poured all my heart into this and made sure to include lots of gold and teal and glittery goodness.  Hope I get picked!

GRATITUDE

If you follow any of my social media feeds you'll have noticed by now that I've been posting a daily photo via Instagram with the hashtag #30daysofgratitude and have probably wondered what that is all about.  Well, in honor of Thanksgiving being this month, and because there are 30 days in November, I wanted to challenge myself to stop at least once a day and document what I'm thankful for.  That's it, nothing fancy.  It hasn't always been easy but somehow, everyday, before the clock has struck midnight, I've remembered to stop and share something!  It has forced me to realize how much there is to be grateful for and how much I take things for granted or somehow feel entitled to them because I have never had to go without them.

This wasn't some original idea I had, I saw it on the instagram feeds of a few of my amazingly inspirational friends and naturally was inspired to join them in expressing my gratitude everyday.  Hopefully you've also been able to learn a little bit more about my life these past 22 days (and beyond) and what fires me up too.

Today I will be enjoying a Thanksgiving feast with my family and thanking God because He is the one to whom I owe my gratitude.  And He has been so incredibly generous and kind to me this year: in my marriage, in my journey into photography, and in my own personal growth this year.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! -Psalm 107:1

Happy Thanksgiving from me to you!

WHY I WANT TO ATTEND THE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN WORKSHOP

I recently entered a contest to win a scholarship to attend a workshop called Making Things Happen.

The workshop covers many topics, including:

conquering fear, discovering your strengths, eliminating distractions, making bold leaps in life and in turn in business, how your environment and the people around you affect you, living your ideal day, authenticity and action.

Sounds amazing, right?  For me, it sounds life-changing. That list above describes my reasons for wanting to go to a tee.  I know that it would be a great opportunity for me to learn within a creative community and undergo some necessary life changes.  Every time one of the Making Things Happens women post something on social media I am totally inspired!  I'm so grateful for the opportunity to apply for the scholarship.

I am a young woman, an entrepreneur, a wife, a daughter, a follower of Christ, a photography intern, a friend, and hopefully, one day, a mother.  In order to be effective in all those areas, I know I need to learn how to balance!  And I desperately want to reach my full potential because I know life is too short.

If I can learn how to manage my life by crushing my fears and harnessing my passion now, then I know I can make things happen in my future and hopefully inspire others to do the same.  So, here's to hoping that I can win that scholarship! ;)

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