Its been almost 2 years since I’ve blogged and it feels very odd to even attempt to do this again. Even now I’m truly at a loss for words. One thing I do know, however, is I miss sharing my life with people. I miss sharing my photos and experiences online. 2017 and 2018 were a whirlwind and it had a lot to do with the fact that I got into a serious relationship and then got married. But it also had to do with me shifting into a new career, making new friends, enjoying old friends, building out my van… just… life haha. But now that the period of transition seems to be settling a bit I thought I’d get back into sharing my life with all of you! Let me recap 2018 for you so I can catch you up on the goings on in my life… The ups and the downs.

2018

January: Clay asked me to marry him. I said yes :)

February: Rita (my van… my home) broke down and was in the shop for 2 weeks 10 hours away from my usual stomping grounds.

March: Spent the month working and trying to fix what the terrible mechanic ruined on Rita…

April: Started feeling a little more normal. Yosemite. Wedding Planning.

May: Working/Wedding Planning.

June: Working/ Wedding Planning…

July: Quit Job. Moved to the east bay full time.

August: All my camera gear and hard drives were stolen. My best friend from Australia, Oliver, came to CA

September: Uncle Louis passed away… Clay and I got married!

October: Honeymoon in Japan and Korea

November: Started developing myself and own career. Oliver left.

December: Moved into a new house with Clay and some friends. Made goals or 2019.

So those are just the highlights of each month… It was a great year but it definitely wasn’t the easiest either… I’m happy I can look back at it now and am no longer IN IT. I learned a lot about myself and my work in 2018. I made mistakes (backup your computer and its content in two separate places people) and am learning from them. I started this year feeling ready for 2019. I actually felt like I was standing on my own two feet and could take whatever was going to come for me. I’m surrounding by inspirational, supportive, and amazing people that give me life. I’m married to an incredible person and do not know how I got so dang lucky. And I actually feel like I am finding my stride in photo and video.

I can honestly say that right now… I am happy.

I plan on sharing a whole lot more here. Once per week is my goal. Whether its just a small story, an update, or maybe even a DIY project? Who knows! Possibilities are endless. What do you guys want to hear more about?

If you’d like to keep up with me more, I post almost everyday on my Instagram @whiskeyandmud.

If you’d like to work with me whether you’d like some pictures taken, your business promoted, or to just sit down and have a coffee with me, send me an email! I’d love to hear from you all.

I hope you have all been doing well these last couple of years!

1 month into 2017 and this year is just getting more and more hectic.  Whatever is happening, 2017 seems to be the year that I am going to get my shit together. Whether I like it or not. 

I had this feeling of freshness at the start of the year. Inspiration and aspirations filled the depths of my soul and I was ready to take on anything life had to throw at me. I made goals for myself, both creative and concrete, and have been trying to take better care of myself as well. And, though these feelings have not faded, I'm already beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed. I knew this year was going to be quite the transition for me, but its the time waiting thats starting to slowly kill me. Being in limbo is definitely not a fun thing. I'm spoiled to have a certain amount of certainty in my life...at least having some idea of whats going to happen in the next year. But right now I'm kind of living month to month, which never really bothered me before but now I have another creature, besides myself, that I'm taking care of and I need to make sure he is living the best life possible. It is time for me to buckle down and create a solid and consistent life for me and my dog. 

When I began writing this I had intended on talking about all the weird bumps I'd hit in the past few weeks. I was going to complain and whine to get the negative feelings out and try to move on. But is that really going to help? Or am I just fueling my insecurities/nervousness/fatalistic mindset? I think the latter. So instead of focusing on uninspired me I'm going to reread and repost the feelings I had at the start of the year. 

"Entering 2017 with a peaceful mindset. -

I can complain about the atrocities of 2016 and be angry about what has happened these last 12 calendar months, it is too easy for me to resort to negativity. So instead of dwelling on what has happened and wallowing in my self pity, I will practice positivity, today and for the years to come. I am happy to have this society-constructed idea of a blank slate to try and make better habits/choices but I also don't want to rely on the "new year" to continue bettering myself. I have a lot of plans for 2017 and it's already proving to be a transitional year for me. I know there will be a lot of confusion, heartache, and restless nights. I just hope to learn, grow, and be happy this year. I've also been inspired by a conversation with my dear @nikochico who has decided to "turn everything (he) does into something creative" Why can't I do that? Why am I afraid of putting all of my energy into creativity? I've always used my creative side as an escape from the real world, as if it is something that cannot be incorporated into my everyday life. But that stops now! I will take every opportunity I can to create and explore the insides of my mind.

So cheers to a year of growth, happiness, and creativity. Let's celebrate and choose greatness."

Meet adoptable Patton and Powell! These babes are 6 week old bundles of adorable terror. I'm now fostering for a local rescue called Fred's Friends. They focus on bottle baby kitten and puppies. These two are from a litter of six and will be spending the next few weeks with me and my pack until they're old enough to adopt out. My week has been full of sleeping, pooping, playing puppies. Enjoy the photos of these nuggets while I go scoop some poop.

I've definitely had puppy fever for quite some time... and now I don't. :) Picking up poop twice a day and waking up throughout the night to let them poop some more is less than desirable but those faces make it worth it. Fostering is such a wonderful way to go, I get the best part! All the cuteness of puppies and then they get better homes than I could offer! I can't wait until I'm ready to get Ender a new brother or sister but until then, fostering is a great way to meet wonderful puppies waiting for their perfect forever homes.

I know its been ages since I've posted, I've been wrapped up in mediocre events, traveling, and trying to figure out my life, but I'm back now and I plan on coming back strong. I'll try to update you all on what has been happening though I  cannot even fathom the last few months I've had. Life has been a whirlwind of long drives, longer flights, and unbelievable amounts of fun. I'm not even sure where to begin... so here are the bullet points...

• I quit my dog training gig to focus on piano and photo more. 
• I've become an apprentice piano tuner and restorer. It is... difficult and time consuming and frustrating and unbelievably satisfying. I'm slowly falling in love with this world and plan on jumping head first now that I'm home from recent excursions.

• I was in Europe for 3 weeks, visiting so many countries I have yet to fully wrap my head around what I actually experienced.
• After not having consistent work and then leaving the country for 3 weeks, I'm running very low on funds. So scrounging and scraping by... but whats life without a little uncertainty? (Huge thanks to my parents for being extremely supportive and understanding)
• And of course, trying to figure out what the heck I'm doing with my life. Apparently running around screaming, "I'm a grown-up!" does not actually make you a "grown-up" 

Despite the hiccup that is my life, I plan on coming back strong. But I'll need your help. I've got many ideas for future media content but I want to know what you guys want to see. Constantly updating about my life is getting dull and I'd like to mix it up. I want to do things you guys want to see. I want to do things you all would take time out of your day to read/watch/look at. So please, TELL ME!  I'm open to all ideas. You can dare me to do something stupid! I'll record and put it here. haha. Almost anything. Don't get too carried away. haha. You can comment below or email me or whatever I have on my contact page. Do it. Say Anything. 

I've thoroughly enjoyed my week with Jack & Ender. The boys got along swimmingly and we had the greatest time hanging out and enjoyed our hikes/walks. Washington is a gorgeous state and Ender and I had such a great time exploring. My much needed week of alone time is coming to a close and I'm so excited to hangout with my second family for a few days! Much more exploring to be had! Get ready for more photos of Washington and humans! I hope you are all enjoying your May!

Quality time with my pup reminds me how perfect we are for each other, our imperfections compliment each other and he has taught me so much about how to maneuver life and grow as a human being. I'm so lucky to have found such a wonderful creature.

       It has been quite sometime since I've posted anything on this blog and I'm feeling pretty guilty about it. Not to you guys, because I'm pretty sure there are 3 of you who actively check this thing (thanks homies), but to myself for various reasons I wont dig into now. But get ready for some finger puke because I've jumped into this post without any direction really. :)
       So many wonderful opportunities have slapped me in the face recently and it took a few hours in a car by myself to really understand how lucky I have been this year. Ender and I drove up to Seattle from the San Francisco Bay Area a few days ago and 45 minutes into my 13 hour long drive I couldn't stop smiling. Its funny how the second I've got some time to myself I actually start to appreciate the things in my life. I've had so many doors open for me and so many people pushing me and helping me along, so many people picking me up when I stumble, I can't even begin to explain how thankful and appreciative I am for the people who are in my life. That being said... this alone time has been a godsend. I am unbelievably thankful for all of the people in my life but there is something about being alone that is... intoxicatingly invigorating. Having time to recharge my batteries makes me truly appreciate all the people in my life, loving and supporting me. I like to embrace these fleeting moments of pure bliss, because my brain has a funny way of tearing them right from my fingertips, so as the feelings are here and spilling out of me I'd like to take a second to tell everyone in my life that I adore every single one of you and appreciate everything that you do for me. 

So this turned into a quick soppy love note from me to you... I'm not really sure how that happened... but it did. I hope you all enjoy your weekend and this photo of me making Ender cuddle me. Expect more soon.

A few posts back I briefly wrote about a new trade I was picking up. I didn't, however, say what that trade was. Well get ready because I'm now learning how to restore, repair, and tune pianos. What? Why? Honestly, I don't know. The opportunity presented itself to me and I said..."Why not?" I had no idea what to expect when I jumped into this new trade but in the few weeks since I've started I've learned that patience truly is key. I think the universe is trying to tell me something. All of the trades I have picked up recently requires patience. I have none of it.
I'm most impatient with myself, I expect to pick things up quickly and perfectly but apparently thats "unproductive" and "detrimental to (my) growth." Hahaha. Wonderful. So not only am I learning how to tune pianos by ear, I'm practicing patience. Its exhausting. 

This week's challenge was to do a faceless portrait. I had so many ideas in mind and was very excited for this week's challenge but busyness consumed my week and I had to shoot what was available. I am still pretty happy about how these turned out, even though I shot them pretty quickly during a lesson, but I've got to work with what I've got, right? So here is my new teacher working on a piano. I'm super excited to start mastering the art of tuning.