featured

prettychicky.com

latinwed.blogspot.com/

sterling-engagements.blogspot.com

marryyoume.blogspot.com

ruffledblog.com

Just wanted to give a big thank you to all the blogs who have feature the wedding. I've so adored reading all the comments. I hope those posts stir readers to use vendors we used because they were all fantastic. Especially the great Amelia Lyon Photogrpahy and Amorology Weddings.

currently craving

I need that. I do, I really do.

lover of life

I was talking with Carly the other night (which I always thoroughly enjoy because we don't mess around when it comes to girl talk) and I was sharing my giant love of blogs slash blogging and she said ... "I know, that's why I'm surprised you don't blog more!" So now I'm going to blog like this blog has never seen before. Starting with the photo above, a little valentine's inspiration, to set the mood. I also bought my self an amazing Valentine's headband from Ban.do to really get myself in the mood. I recommend doing the same, but first register at Daily Candy so you can get the 30% off coupon!

xo

K.

mixed tape

musical stylings that speak to my soul.
{current valentine playlist}

• I'll Follow You Into the Dark: Death Cab
• Baby: Justin Bieber
• Our Kind of Love: Lady Antebellum
• No Air: Glee Cast Version
• At This Moment: Michael Buble
• Give It to Me Right : Melanie Fiona
• Jump Then Fall : Taylor Swift
• Black & Gold: Sam Sparrc
• Let's Just Fall In Love Again: Jason Castro
• Only You Can Love Me This Way: Keith Urban
• Never Forget You: Noisettes
• Crazier: Taylor Swift
• When the Day Met the Night: Panic At the Disco
• Grow Old With Me: Death Cab Version
• The Story: Brandi Carlile
• My Own Two Hands: Ben Harper & Jack Johnson
• So High: John Legend
• Hey There Delilah: Plain White T's
• I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You: Collin Hay
• Maybe I'm Amazed: Jem
• Blush : Plumb
• Trouble Sleeping: Corrine Bailey Rae
• You and I: Jason Mraz
• Come Rain or Con Shine: Billie Holiday
• Lulaby: Dixie Chicks
• Fallin For You: Colbie Calliet
• They Weren't There: Missy Higgins
• Hungry Eyes: Dirty Dancing Soundtrack
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours: Stevie Wonder
• She Is Love: Losing Sleep
• This Will Be: Natalie Cole

enjoy!

Bakerella

This website is amazing. It's taking over my Valentine's Day dessert menu. I'll be posting the after math, in the meantime check out bakerella for yourself.

three hundred and sixty five: my lastest project

everyday of the year

results to come.

Powers of Heaven

(by Amelia Lyon on 08.14.09)

So I was having a particularly rocky day yesterday, just the kind where you're letting yourself get consumed by what's getting you down. I couldnt stop dwelling on it until I ran into this post by Di. The quote below rocked my world.

"So, as a new year starts and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future."

- Jeffery R Holland

As much as I needed to hear those words in a direct way I think I needed the message of how God works through us to help others in an indirect way even more, if that makes sense. What I'm trying to say is that God asnwers prayers. Yes sometimes he will instill in my heart an understanding or give me direct answer to my prayers, but most often I find the answers to my questions through the exmaples, actions, and expressions of others. Di didn't know I needed to hear those words, that I was having a bad day, or struggling for some good advice. But she did feel impressed to share those words with others because they had an impact to her and she thought they might impact others.

The presence of a higher power is so obivous to me when I see how we are all built with this innate need to relate to one another. {God links us all toghether} It gives me a sense of purpose to know I can impact others and joy to know others can feel that same purpose by impacting me. I feel so loved by God to know he has passed on his divine ability to inspire, even if I inspire on a much smaller human scale. I feel so grateful today for the people in my life who have been an instrument in Gods hands to answer my prayers! I'm gratfeul for those who have inspired me.

elle.oh.vee.ie

His hello was the end of her endings
Her laugh was their first step down the aisle
His hand would be hers to hold forever
His forever was as simple as her smile
He said she was what was missing
She said instantly she knew
She was a question to be answered
And his answer was “I do”
- Carrie Bradshaw

{I adore Valentine's Day, can't wait for V-day 2010}

If you haven't already you should probably join/read our girls blog.

tiffanyteal.blogspot.com

do it.

if you want to be an author email me at twoifbyseaphoto {at} gmail {dot }com

Farewell 2009

12 more months gone by, can't wait to see what 2010 holds.

dyker heights trip

I think the photos speak for themselves.

2010

Starting the year off right...


The older I get the more I'm aware of an inevitable fact of life. There is always going to be someone better than you. Whether it's their talent or their means that exceed your own it is simple truth that there will always be someone better than you. Even the best of the best have insecurities and faults and no one on this earth is prefect. Even the star athletes we considered the best in the past have been surpassed by new comers. In a society filled with constant change and shifting opinion it's a fact one must embrace. In order to succeed you've got to reach for your own potential and try not to constantly compare yourself to others because like I said there will always be someone better than you. Of course there is much to be learned from the example of others. Having so many inspiring resources around me I've decide 2010 will be a year of learning. Learning and growing by channeling those whose inspire me. I'm not going to get consumed by trying to measure up to them I'm just going to take what I can learn from them and improve myself!

inspiration:


channel di bergquist- skin maintenance, a few summers ago I'd had such a long winter in Rexburg, I said hey this is my summer of tan. I'm not even going to think about sunscreen, maybe a little on my face but that's it. And man did I get tan, it was great, but since I'd like to remain wrinkle free this is going to the the year of skin maintenance.

That means hello SPF!! All my face potions contain at least SPF 15 and from now on I'm going to apply extra whenever I'm exposed to the sun. I'll be a real pasty new yorker now. In addition to being covered in SPF part of skin maintenance is proper face washing/nightly procedure. After a consultation with my mom and our friend Ginny as well as purchasing a few new products I'm about to be revolutionized.

1. rosebud salve: smooth lips
2. face washing and sense skin care line: good skin
3. baby powder: freshness
4. baby lotion: softness
5. hydrogen peroxide: white teeth
6. vaseline: long eye lashes
7. bio oil: even skin tone and scar treatment
8. sweet dreams

channel jane fonda- by jane fonda I also mean Heidi Klum! getting up with J at the crack of dawn 4 days a week for an early bird special workout. meaning I've either got to brave the cold for the gym or do a workout vid before I go to work for the day. J is obsessed with P 90 X so it looks like that will be my medium of torture in the early morning. I think I'll be doing my jazzercise more often than not :)I'm ok with that


channel betty crocker- I'm tired of wasting money on food. there are too many shoes to be bought. 2010 is all about about making yummy, healthy, lunches the night before for J & I as well as eating up leftovers before the go bad.


channel heather warren- Its time to read and re-read the classics. Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Phantom of the Opera, Withering Heights, The Great Gatsby (round 2), Sense and Sensibility, and anything else I can get my hands on. Merci Heather for this AMAZING find, OB-sessed. anthro classics collection

channel Amelia Lyon- someone told me if you want to accomplish a goal you have to make it measurable. Well I'm not entirely sure how to measure my photography skill improving but I'm at least making the goal to be prepared for taking spring NYU classes by taking Wendy Schulz online photo class next month! Bring it on Canon!



channel audrey hepburn- grace. {and procurement of all things Tiffany's is a plus too}

channel gratitude-

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

channel by best self- temple time monthly is the goal. Since I've gotten endowed I've been consistent and I want to keep in that way!

my christmas style

Hope you had a holly jolly Chirstmas. I sure did. I miss the California sun already. Stay tuned for posts and pictures of the Ray Family Holiday.

Denver Bound

Well it won't much of an escape from the cold, but it will still be a great vacation. Thank you jetblue for having a fabulous winter sale and making this march holiday possible. I just booked a flight and I can't wait to see everyone. Hoping this last minute plan will come together. I need a little countryside in my life!

holly jolly

http://johnmayer.com/blog

Follow JM's christmas cake blog, so much fun not to mention inspiring

our story

Today J & I have been married four glorious months.
Time seems to just fly by.
Here is our tale.
From them until now and on to forever.

J meets K

By Jordan Ray with thoughts and comments from Kaitlyn Ray

It All Started in Rexburg

The first time that our paths crossed was while Kaitlyn and I were both attending school at BYU – Idaho in Rexburg. My roommate was the first to lay eyes on her. He had spotted her cheering as a BYU – Idaho cheerleader at a school basketball game. He was instantly obsessed with going out with her! We soon learned that Kaitlyn was friends with our neighbor, when one of my roommates saw her hanging out next door. I decided to intervene in my roommate’s pursuit of Kaitlyn by conspiring with our neighbor to play a little prank on Kaitlyn and my roommate. My neighbor called Kaitlyn up and proceeded to tell her that he had just been over to his neighbor’s house (my house) and noticed that his neighbor’s (me) screen saver was a picture of her. She started to freak out, and my neighbor continued telling her that I was begging him for her number, so he gave in and gave it to me. At this point Kaitlyn was pretty hysterical and angry with my neighbor for giving out her number to some creeper (me). Throughout the semester my roommates and I would gather together and I’d make prank phone calls to Kaitlyn. She never answered my phone calls, so I’d leave her creepy voice mails about how I wanted to hang out with her and get to know her better. She of course never returned any of my phone calls. The prank soon escalated when I continued finding myself at the same parties as Kaitlyn. My neighbor helped preserve the joke by pointing me out to Kaitlyn as the creepy voicemail guy, and I did my part by staring at Kaitlyn from across the room until she noticed that I was looking at her. She would quickly look away and all of my friends in the room would look at each other and laugh. By the end of the semester, I had successfully convinced Kaitlyn that I was a total creep, and she had satisfied my roommates and I’s immature humor.


Months Went By...

Semesters went by and my roommates and I had lost interest in our prank and retired the phone calls. My neighbor had admitted to Kaitlyn that it was all a joke. I don’t think she thought it was as funny as we did. I even tried to approach Kaitlyn to validate that it was a joke, but she didn’t seem too interested in what I had to say


Huntington Happened

Before graduating college, I had secured a job in NYC. I graduated in December, but I didn’t have to start my job until that summer, so I decided to spend the next six months in Huntington Beach CA learning how to surf. I loaded up my car with everything I owned and headed off to HB. While living in Huntington I had become good friends with a local resident, who unbeknownst to me at the time happened to be Kaitlyn’s brother. One night while attending a party at his house, I literally ran into Kaitlyn. We were both shocked to find each other there years after the stalker prank. I asked her what she was doing at my friend’s party, and she told me that my friend was her brother! She was much less apprehensive towards me since the last time we talked. I guess she finally accepted the past as a joke. We ended up hanging out later on in the week because Kailtlyn’s brother and his girlfriend really pushed for us to go out on a double date with them. They were unaware of our past history and the awkwardness of me approaching Kaitlyn to go on a real date. Kaitlyn made it easy for me and asked me if I’d like to go out with her brother and his girlfriend on a double date. We had a great time together on our first date, and we stayed up talking all night and into the early morning of the next day. We decided to walk to the beach early the next morning to watch the sun rise, but half way there we remembered that the sun rises in the East. We ended up hanging out again the very next day, and we were rarely seen apart that entire summer. By the end of the summer we had become a big part of each others lives. At that time I had to move to New York City to start my job. I was really sad to leave Kaitlyn because we had had such a fun summer together, and I knew that we had something special between us. Even though I hoped for it, I realistically didn’t anticipate that our relationship would go any further after I moved to NYC and she went back to college.


Then There Was New York and London

After I had left Huntington, it wasn’t long before Kaitlyn and I were missing each other and talking to each other on the phone every day. Kaitlyn came out to visit me in New York a few months after I had moved out there. We managed to squeeze just about every fun thing there is to do in New York into her first visit. While on a carriage ride through central park I turned to Kaitlyn to tell her for the first time that I loved her and instead said “Kaitlyn…..you’re precious,” After seeing the confusion on her face as to how to respond, I quickly got out the “I love you,” to which she replied that she loved me too. So now we had made it to Mormon third base. During her winter semester at college, Katilyn decided to study abroad in London. I planned a trip to visit her over Valentine’s weekend. I had told her that I wouldn’t be able to make it there until the day after Valentine’s, which was disappointing to her. However, I was really planning a Valentines surprise for her. I arrived in London the morning of Valentine’s Day and dropped off roses in Kaitlyn’s room while she was at her morning class. Her roommates helped me with the surprise and told Kaitlyn that a delivery service had dropped off flowers from me. The card with the roses wished Kailtyn a happy Valentines, and expressed my regret that I couldn’t be with her on Valentines Day. Later in the day I had one of Kaitlyn's roommates leave a dress on her bed that I had bought for her in New York. A card next to the dress revealed the surprise that I was already in London and instructed Kaitlyn to wear the dress and be ready for me to take her on a Valentine date that night. Kailtyn and I had so much fun together in London and at that point I think both of us were starting to think about a permanent future together.


New York Again

After Kaitlyn returned from London she moved to New York for the summer to do an internship with a fashion photographer. We were so excited to be together again. We hadn’t lived in the same city since the previous summer in Huntington. We found Kaitlyn a place to live just up the street from me. We had another great summer together and had so much fun exploring NYC together. We ate a lot of good food, and I got more fat and more poor.

More Rexburg

After New York, Kaitlyn returned to college to finish her last year. We’ve managed to see each other about every other month since she left. Dating long distance was challenging, but it always made for such an exciting airport reunion.


Engagement....

On Kaitlyn’s last visit to New York she left with diamond on her finger. (detailed description on proposal page)


We Knew (from both of us)

Jordan-
Never would I have guessed in a million years that I would end up marrying the girl I played the stalker prank on back in college. I don’t recommend using stalker pranks to find a wife; in fact I think you’re probably more likely to be hit by lightning while being attacked by a shark in the ocean on the same day that you’ve just won the lottery than marrying a woman that you’ve successfully convinced you’re a creep. I guess odds were thrown out the window in our case and we we're just really meant to be. I feel so lucky to have found Kaitlyn, and I’m so excited for our life together and all the good times still ahead.

Kaitlyn-
It's true Jordan's original tactics may have been, well unconventional, but it was just all for the sake of a good laugh with buddies. Little did we both know it would turn into much more. Nothing seems as natural as spending my life with Jordan.

Empire State of Mind (from K)

On being married...

Now it has been four months since we were sealed together forever and I for one have loved every minute of it. Somehow we have made a home of our Upper West Side walk-up. It's been amazing to see how naturally our lives have merged... what a testament to the importance and sanctity of marriage. While it was has been wonderful, it hasn't always been easy. It's not always a fairytale, but that's what makes it a real romance. I have found in those difficult times that there is always an opportunity for me to practice a more Christ-like attitude. It has become more and more clear to me that marrying Jordan was the best choice I ever made not because, he is a perfect prince charming, but because he helps me to be a better woman. He practices patience and understanding regularly and he gives me the opportunity to do the same. He supports me while still letting me be independent. He excels in areas that I lack and we truly compliment each other. I can not imagine a life without J as a partner and I feel lucky to have made him mine. As Julie would say,"He is the bread to my butter"

Blessing for a Marriage

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite
excitement marriage should bring,
and may life grant you also patience,
tolerance, and understanding.
May you always need one another -
not so much to fill your emptiness
as to help you to know your fullness.
A mountain needs a valley to be complete;
the valley does not make
the mountain less, but more;
and the valley is more a valley because
it has a mountain towering over it.
May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you entice one another, but not compel one another.
May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another.
May you succeed in all important ways with one another,
and not fail in the little graces.
May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!"
and take no notice of small faults.
If you have quarrels that push you apart,
may both of you hope to have
good sense enough to take the first step back.
May you enter into the mystery which is
the awareness of one another's
presence - no more physical than spiritual,
warm and near when you are
side by side, and warm and near when
you are in separate rooms
or even distant cities.
May you have happiness,
and may you find it making one another happy.
May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

Watch out, the yellow ones don't stop!

happy christmas

The wonderful Carly treated me to an evening out (via a Christmas gift from her roommate) to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Adoring the Rockettes and all things Christmas I naturally loved it! I'd seen it once before, but enjoyed being reminded of it's greatness. The most wonderful part about it was all the holiday goodness. There was plenty of Santa and his reindeer, but they finished the show off with the nativity story! It brought me to tears. I was so grateful to see the real meaning of Christmas celebrated. I hope that we can all remember the real reason we are celebrating the magical time of year!

The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.

We started christma-fying our little NYC apt. Yes I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I basically purchased half of Macy's Christmas section on Black Friday. Literally I made out like a bandit, it didn't even feel right. But then I got everything home and set up and it all looked so fabulous. (more pictures to come) Let the baking of Christmas delights & the singing of carols begin!

Tada! And there he is. Our little treester. He looks so pretty in all his glitz and glam... maybe he is a she!
Jordan conquered the walk home, he's was about to tackle the stairs here. It was of course a success since we bought a baby tree. Even baby trees need to fulfill their Christmas destiny!

Jordan carried him home, truly manly!
I found him, our little baby tree.

xoxo
Happy Christmas!