Tanya Mills Photography Blog

Goodbye old blog!

2011-01-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

While I really appreciate you stopping by, there's no longer anyone home here. Please visit me at the new blog and website. I'd love to say hello! Click here to go directly to the new blog!

Anastasia + Aaron | Wedding

2009-10-25T01:18:00.000-07:00

Second shooting with Richelle

2009-09-13T07:24:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I had a fabulous time taking pictures with the lovely and talented Richelle Dante. I got to hang out with the groom and his best man, which was a lot of fun, since I'm normally with the ladies. Hope you enjoy some of my shots from the wedding.

Jan and little S. | Portraits

2009-08-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Jan was in town with her precious daughter. I'm so glad they were up for a portrait session!

Tanya + Dana | Wedding

2009-08-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Cass House
Venue Coordinator: Grace Lorenzen
Flowers: Lawren Ussery of Manzanita Designs

Ellen & John | Wedding

2009-07-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Laguna Hills Marriott Resort & Spa
Wedding Coordinator: Gail Garceau
Videographer: Mischa Hedges
Venue Coordinator: Sandy Chiu

San Diego by way of the Stone Brewing Co.

2009-07-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

Pat and I spent the Fourth of July weekend down in San Diego. I was so excited that we brought our bikes with us.

On the way down, we stopped by the Stone Brewing Co. just north of San Diego to grab a bite to eat and something cool to drink. We started with the tasting menu of their core ales. Pictured from left to right are the Pale Ale, Smoked Porter, IPA, and Arrogant Bastard.

I love taking pictures of food, so I snapped shots of the three dishes we shared, which were all fabulous. First up are the BBQ duck tacos with pineapple habanero salsa, which remind me of the scrumptious kogi tacos.

The next dish may surprise those of you who don't yet know that I eat lots of vegetables now. Take a look at these beautiful Stone Pale Ale & garlic stir-fried brussels sprouts.

And finally we enjoyed a tilapia ceviche with chile-lime chips.

We had some time before the brewery tour started, so we relaxed in the garden with a beer and a good book.

The tour was lots of fun. We got to taste malted barley and smell hops and learn about the craft-brewing process on a large scale.

I think we might make this detour a regular stop whenever we come down this way. :)

#99 is done!

2009-07-08T12:31:00.001-07:00

Just down the street from us is the bbq restaurant Outdoor Grill. Located next to the Handy J carwash, the Outdoor Grill sits on the peninsula where Washington Blvd and Washington Place meet. Eating at the Outdoor Grill is #99 on my 101 in 1001 list.

Pat and I rode our bikes to the restaurant Monday afternoon and shared the tri-tip plate with a side of mac and cheese. The food was yummy. And we will definitely be going back for more, even though I've crossed it off the list!

J., M., and little A are expecting!

2009-07-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

MARIIKA + SCOTT

2009-05-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

To see more pictures, click here to watch a slideshow!

Shortcut to Nirvana

2009-04-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

That's the name of the Hipcooks class I attended last Thursday. We had a blast making all sorts of Indian dishes like veggie samosas, saag paneer, and chicken tikka masala. We even made all the curries from scratch! And who would've guessed that mojitos go so well with Indian cuisine?

Betsy & Jim's Photo Booth

2009-04-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

Take a look at Betsy and Jim's super fun photo booth pics!

Betsy & Jim got married!

2009-04-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

Betsy and Jim's wedding was wonderul! These two are such amazing people. It was such a delight and honor to spend the day with them and all their friends and family.

The girls got ready at the Viceroy in Santa Monica.

Betsy looked radiant in her beautiful wedding gown. I loved the intricate beading

In the meantime, Jim was getting ready at a nearby Holiday Inn. Thanks to David Mills for hanging out with the guys and being a great second shooter.

Betsy and Jim opted to see each other before the ceremony, and I loved the joy on their faces.

The ladies all wore such fun, colorful shoes!

The ceremony and reception were held at the Smog Shoppe in Culver City.

Betsy and Jim, we wish you all the best as you start your life together!

Mariika and Scott

2009-03-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

I first met Mariika over ten years ago when she was still in high school. I was a youth leader at our church and a first-year math teacher at her school. We recently reconnected through our parents, and I am so thrilled to be photographing her wedding this May!

Mariika is all grown up now, but she still has the same overflowing joy and bubbly smiles that I remember. It was so fabulous to catch up and to meet the man who has captured her heart, someone she's known since high school! I just love it when friends fall in love.

These two were totally awesome during the shoot, even when the weather didn't cooperate. Soon after we started taking pictures, a crazy wind came out of nowhere. For the rest of the afternoon, the wind howled and whipped hair and sand into our faces. And the worst part (for me, at least) was that it was just dang cold. But Mariika and Scott were great sports throughout and up for anything! Thanks so much, you two, for such a great time, and for being so cute inside and out.

Violet's Princess Party Photo Booth

2009-02-22T00:33:00.000-08:00

We brought our photo booth to my niece's third birthday party.

Even the adults got into the fun!!

Check out my gallery to view the rest of the photos!

Sassy and Sweet

2009-02-08T22:32:00.000-08:00

Shots from a senior portrait session over the weekend...

Hipcooks!

2009-02-03T23:58:00.000-08:00

If you live in the LA or Portland area and are looking for a fun, hands-on cooking class (with dinner and drinks!), check out Hipcooks! I visited the East LA location at the Brewer Artist's Lofts near downtown LA for the Romantic Dinner for Two (II) class. Hey, I'm trying to get ready for Valentine's Day, what can I say?

The cooking studio was in an airy loft, and boy, did my loft dreams get reignited. We cooked around this u-shaped table and there was plenty of room for all of us aspiring chefs.

Any and every utensil was at ready disposal. (I think I'd like to put up one of these pegboards in my own kitchen and get rid of my very messy everything-but-the-kitchen-sink utility drawers.)

Bonny, our enthusiastic and unflappable teacher, banned all measuring implements, encouraged us to taste and season, and reminded us to remove our mussels from plastic bags as soon as we brought them home from the store or else they would suffocate. (Oh, that explains why the mussels I bought for my paella never opened when I cooked them.)

Our first course was a peppery and crunchy arugula salad topped with broiled, goat-cheese-and-candied-cashew-stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto. What a delicious mouthful!

I was surprised at how quickly and easily our second course came together. It was a seafood stew called caldeirada made with white wine and saffron. I could have dipped a whole loaf of bread in the broth, it was so tasty.

And when we ended our meal with chocolate souffles, I knew this dinner would be perfect to prepare for Pat.

Thank you to the Arizona Mills for giving me this fabulous Christmas present!

My new niece at two weeks old.

2009-01-26T22:40:00.000-08:00

I got to visit my new niece on Sunday. She is so tiny and precious.

My parents dropped by, so they could get a photo with their new granddaughter. Kinda nice to have a photographer in the family...

And how could I resist taking pictures of the new big sister?

The diva and her parents

2009-01-06T22:19:00.000-08:00

I was so glad to be able to take some family photos of my dear friends who've moved back from Baltimore. And the "diva" is such a sweetheart.

Adorable

2009-01-04T22:51:00.000-08:00

I photographed this precious little one for holiday cards, and she stole my heart.

Ellen & John | Engagement

2008-12-11T23:52:00.000-08:00

I met Ellen and John at Point Dume on a beautifully warm and sunny Saturday for their engagement pictures. We actually started out on opposite sides of Point Dume, wondering where the other person was! Once we met up, we walked to the spot where John proposed and then down a very steep set of stairs to the beach.

We continued our shoot in Santa Monica, and Ellen graciously indulged me by walking and walking and walking--to the pier, to the promenade, to the park.

I love that Ellen's engagement ring belonged to John's grandmother. What an heirloom!

Ellen and John, I am so excited to shoot your wedding this summer!

#70 is done!

2008-12-09T22:00:00.000-08:00

This blog has been quiet, but life certainly hasn't. I hope to get you all caught up with my latest activities, including recent trips and photo shoots. In the meantime, I've been marking things off my 101 in 1001 list!

Tonight, Pat and I had a "what's for dinner?" dilemma, and we decided to make a meal out of ingredients we had on hand. Something we found in the fridge was a delicata squash from last week's organic produce delivery. I had never eaten a delicata squash before. Through a quick internet search, I discovered that the squash was delicious roasted and that the peel was edible. We served the squash on an arugula salad with pine nuts, dried cranberries and a cherry balsamic vinaigrette. It was a fantastic meal, and I got to cross off #70 by eating a new vegetable.

The cutest dinosaur in the world

2008-11-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

Mornings there's a chill in the air. And I've started turning on the heater in the evenings. It finally feels like fall is here. And little man Jack is sure celebrating it in style. The last time I photographed him, he was just starting to be able to sit up by himself. This time, he was scampering about and pulling himself up to standing, getting ready to take some tentative steps. He was the most adorable little dinosaur for Halloween and he's the Kings' youngest fan. Don't you just love the little rolls on his leg and the puck on his behind?

Family Fun Shoot

2008-10-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

What a privilege to shoot this amazing family!

To see more pictures, click here to watch a slideshow!

Rebecca & Chris

2008-10-07T21:56:00.000-07:00

I had been looking forward to shooting this engagement session for a long time. Rebecca and Chris love the outdoors, so we headed out to nearby park just before sunset. The light was a gorgeous complement to the love radiating out of these two. You are both so filled with spunk and love and joy. I wish you all the best as you prepare for a lifetime together. Thanks for such a fun session!

To see more pictures, click here to watch a slideshow!

Housing That Works

2008-10-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

On September 29, 2008, Mayor Villaraigosa unveiled a plan to provide more mixed-income housing in Los Angeles. Two days earlier, the mayor had spoken about the need for affordable housing at a Housing LA summit. Housing LA is a broad coalition led by the Southern California Association of Non Profit Housing that seeks to preserve existing affordable residential hotels and apartments and promote the development of mixed-income housing. I had the marvelous opportunity to photograph the event, surrounded by photojournalists and camera operators from local news agencies.

Still in Love

2008-09-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day to take pictures of my dear friends, Lara and Justin.

#82 is done!

2008-09-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

Pat gave me an early birthday present by taking me to the Tony Bennett concert at the Greek Theatre!

Before the concert, we had dinner at El Cholo on Western. We shared a gigantic combination plate, but each had our own margaritas, of course. Security wouldn't let me into the venue with my "camera with removeable lenses," but I was able to snap a picture with my iPhone.

Even though his voice is no longer at its prime, Tony Bennett is still a fabulous entertainer and a classy fellow. He sang snippets of his greatest hits, and then his top-notch band would improvise and jam. I quietly sang along to the tunes I knew, and Pat didn't mind. And now I have #82 crossed off my 101 in 1001 list!

Mini Shoots for the Holidays!

2008-09-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

Check out my current fall promotion! I'd love to take pictures of you and your family for the holidays.

#62 is done!

2008-09-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

Shortly after college, I spent about a year and a half in Germany. The first time I went to the grocery store there, I discovered they don't give you paper or plastic bags for your groceries, at least not for free. Luckily, I had my backpack with me, and it had enough room for my purchases. Not wanting to reinforce the "ignorant and wasteful American" stereotype, I quickly got into the habit of bringing reusable bags with me to the grocery store. But when I returned home to California, I promptly got out of the habit.

No more! For the last month I have used my own bags for groceries, successfully completing #62 on my 101 in 1001 list! In the beginning, I often had to run back to the car to get the bags, but now I feel like I'm missing something if I walk into the store without at least one bag.

What has really helped ingrain this new habit has been for me to put the bags back into the trunk of my car as soon as possible after I have used them. In the picture above, you can see them laying on a chair right next to the door, ready for me to bring to the car the next time I leave the house.

#38 is done!

2008-09-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

I finally had my car washed, crossing #38 off my 101 in 1001 list! My car is now so clean it looks like I got a new one!

It has probably been over a year since my car has been properly washed. I have to park on the street everyday for work, so you can imagine how dirty it was. (Of course, I didn't think to snap a "before" shot...) The attendant at the car wash convinced me to get the hard water special to get rid of the water spots that covered the roof.

I'm glad I did. Look how my car glows in the sunlight now.

#68 is done!

2008-08-27T19:56:00.001-07:00

When we arrived at Il Forno Monday night for the Wine Expo wine tasting, I was surprised to see so many different bottles of wine (26!) lined up on the table in our private room. Even though we were on time, it seemed everybody else had arrived early and was already drinking the aperitivo, a pear cider. I quickly filled my plate with delicious antipasti (grilled prosciutto wrapped endive and roasted eggplant rounds), and started down the list of sparkling, white, red, and dessert wines. I wanted to taste them all and still be able to drive home, so while I didn't resort to the sip-and-spit, I did do the sip-and-dump. And throughout the tasting, more yummy food was served: a variety of pizzas and pastas, and then a tarte tatin for dessert. What a fun way to cross another item off my 101 in 1001 list!

50 years together

2008-08-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

What an honor to take pictures at this mass and reception celebrating fifty years of marriage.

View the slideshow with more pictures from this celebration.

#52 is done!

2008-08-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

With the purchase of this hard drive, I've successfully crossed another item off my 101 in 1001 list.

I was telling a friend about this list the other day, and almost immediately, she said, "Wow. That's like one goal every ten days." That made the project seem daunting and almost overwhelming, impossible even, and I hadn't yet felt that way about this endeavor. And so we talked through how much your perspective can influence your thoughts, feelings, and actions. I thought about how making this list has really helped me to finally get some things done as well as dream big and little about the next couple of years, and you know what, I'm excited again and ready to tackle the next goal.

I'd love to hear about your experiences with shifting perspectives.

At Witt's End

2008-08-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

This week just flew by, and now we are off to the desert, back to the great house we stayed at last year. I've got so many photos to share with you all. Looking forward to posting them next week. Until then, happy weekend!

J. in action!

2008-08-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

J. is one active eight year old! The day of our shoot he was getting ready for his brown belt, and I got to see him perform his sequence of moves. We also played baseball and tennis on the Wii, shot water guns by the pool, kicked a soccer ball in the park, and hung out on the playground.

Thanks for such a fun morning and the refreshing popsicle after the session!

View the slideshow with more pictures from this fun photo shoot.

#1 is done!

2008-08-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the piano tuner came to tune our little spinet, and so I was able to mark off item #1 from my 101 in 1001 list. It was fascinating to watch the tuner work, from lifting the top off the piano and weaving red felt strips through the strings to tightening and loosening the screws while playing all sorts of intervals on the keys. And afterwards, I was treated to a little mini-concert as the tuner checked his work. I heard snippets of Gershwin and Rachmininoff, among others. If your piano needs tuning, visit the Piano Technician's Guild to find a registered piano technician in your area. Happy playing!

Just a matter of degree

2008-07-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

My new oven thermometer has already come in handy. I knew my oven couldn't be trusted, and now I have proof. Until now, whenever the oven timer would go off, I never rushed to check on whatever I was baking because I knew it wouldn't be ready. Nothing I baked in this oven was ever ready at the time indicated in the recipe. I figured that the actual oven temp must be lower than what the display indicated. I just didn't know by how much. My curiosity and (impatience over the drawn-out cooking times) finally overcame my inertia, and I bought an oven thermometer. I used it for the first time while baking lemon chicken yesterday. To get the temperature to 425˚, I had to set the oven for 465˚! And to my glee, the chicken was done at the time indicated by the recipe. Hooray! Have any of you checked your oven's temperature calibration?

Phoenix

2008-07-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

Pat and I got to visit some family in Phoenix. We were really lucky with the weather. The thermometer never topped 100 degrees the whole weekend of our trip!

The afternoon we arrived, we went to a furniture store to help look for a new table. I got caught up in looking at carvings, sculptures, and tiles.

It seems that whenever I go to Phoenix, I get a pedicure. A happy tradition. This time, I chose a bright color for the summer and even had rhinestones glued on.

Friday night we had sushi at Blue Wasabi.

Yes, the wasabi really is blue.

Afterwards, we played dice cup at the house of some friends. I loved these shoes! I'm not hip enough to wear them though...

You could say it was a weekend of games. On Saturday we introduced everyone to Bohnanza, a German bean farming game.

After church Sunday morning, we got to eat at this really fun and very yummy pizza place called Oregano's. Pat was a little perplexed by all the menu choices.

My two adorable nieces, who had just returned from a trip of their own, met us at the airport before we left.

#2 is done!

2008-07-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to play the cello, and as an adult, I got the chance to start taking lessons. I borrowed an old cello from a sister's friend until I received my very own cello as a gift (thanks, B & A!). I called the new cello "the big-girl cello" because it only had fine tuners on the A and D strings. (Fine tuners are the mini pegs near the bridge that are easier to use for small adjustments than the great big pegs.) Well, this cellist here needed fine tuners on all strings, and and just never got around to bringing the cello to the string store to have it done. But I put this task on my 101 in 1001 list as item #2, and now it's done!

Little Man Jack

2008-07-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

Today I had the chance to photograph 6-month-old Jack. He's an active little one and very strong. I loved watching him scoot around on the ground. He'll be crawling soon!

It was a beautiful day, so we took a little trip to the beach for the rest of the photo session. What luck that we picked the exact spot on the shore where someone had scrawled Jack's name across the wall!

Being in front of the camera made Jack a little sleepy, so we headed back to the car.

Happy and contented on the ride home.

Thank you, Emma and Jack, for such a fun afternoon!

The Daily Click and Your Comments

2008-07-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

When I came back from our trip to Phoenix last weekend (pictures to come), I found out that one of my photos had been selected for The Daily Click at Shutter Sisters:

Shutter Sisters is a collaborative photoblog for women photographers. I am constantly inspired and encouraged by this community of women. And I was thrilled to have one of my pictures chosen for The Daily Click.

Now I may have the chance to be part of a book: The First Annual Daily Click Collection. Photos with the most comments will be chosen for the book. So if you like my picture, please vote for me by leaving a comment on my daily click page. (Voting ends August 1.) And while you're there, take a moment to browse through the many other wonderful daily clicks.

#22 is done!

2008-07-17T21:36:00.000-07:00

I checked the first thing off my 101 in 1001 list. I got a new cellphone: an iPhone! I still can't believe it.

When I arrived at the Apple Store shortly after 9 AM Wednesday morning, I shouldn't have been surprised that there was already a line of eager purchasers. There were about 25 people ahead of me, and my wait was just under two hours. I had fun chatting with other folks in the line, and the time actually passed by rather quickly.

Here I am with a couple of my line friends inside the Apple Store!

I've already downloaded two programs from the App Store: Things, which is a task manager, and Pandora, awesome internet radio.

I have a feeling that I'm going to be using this iPhone a lot, so I'm glad I found these tips from Apple for maximizing battery life.

101 in 1001 List

2008-07-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

I've been looking forward to posting this list of the 101 things I'd like to do in the next 1001 days. I've been wanting do some of the things on this list for years now, and I hope that this project will be the kick in the pants I need to get started! I'll be posting updates to the blog as I complete items on the list, so stay tuned.

Start Date: Friday, July 11, 2008
End Date: Friday, April 8, 2011

~~Get piano tuned.~~ August 4, 2008
~~Get fine tuners put on C and G strings of cello.~~ July 23, 2008
Memorize Chopin Nocturne Opus 9 No. 1.
Complete Flylady’s BabySteps.
Select pictures for wedding album.
Read entire Bible.
Go to Paris with Pat.
Create photo album of family reunion in Germany.
Take a refresher class in French.
Take a refresher class in German.
Finish my master’s degree.
Transfer CDs from jewel cases into plastic sleeves.
Clear my California Teaching Credential.
Eat at Fassica Ethiopian restaurant.
Attend a concert at the Jazz Bakery.
Second shoot a wedding with Melissa Jill.
Perform a song with Pat on banjo and me on cello.
Watch the sunset.
Ride my bike to the beach.
Practice yoga twice a week at least 48 weeks of a year.
Go out dancing at least once per quarter.
~~Get a new cellphone.~~ July 16, 2008
Send out Christmas cards before Christmas
Create website for photography business.
Go to Portland with Pat.
Start a statistics class at school.
Teach AP Calculus.
Have business cards made.
Clear out binders in faculty room.
Upgrade my camera body.
Complete a tutorial on LaTeX.
Create a syllabus for Honors Algebra II using the mastery system.
Be able to have a 15-minute conversation in Spanish.
Memorize Chopin Nocturne Opus 9 No. 2.
Play cello with vibrato.
Memorize all the 2-letter words for Scrabble.
Schedule appointment with a general physician.
~~Get my car washed.~~ August 31, 2008
Drink 32 oz. of water a day for a month.
Clean out closet.
Have pink dress altered.
Sell wedding dress.
Transfer/archive files from old laptop.
Condition leather sofa.
Grow an herb garden.
Clear out email inbox.
File teaching materials in home office.
Clean out bookshelves.
Find a better way to store shoes in closet than a pile on the ground.
Read 50 books, not counting books for school.
Attend a photography workshop.
~~Buy a second hard drive to back up data.~~ August 18, 2008
Join a professional photographer’s association.
Have a family portrait taken.
Blog every day for a month.
Complete Lighting 101 on Strobist.
Update look of blog.
Enter photography into a contest.
Complete a Grateful Daily project.
Become certified in CPR.
Be able to identify 10 constellations without looking at a star chart.
~~Go grocery shopping with reusable bags (no more plastic!) for at least one month.~~ September 2, 2008
Make Gena’s Mississippi Mud Pie without pudding mix.
Create cookbook of favorite recipes with pictures.
Make steamed pork buns.
Make chilaquiles from Doña Tomás.
Learn how to pour liquor by counts.
~~Attend a Wine Expo tasting.~~ August 25, 2008
Cook a 3-course dinner for my parents.
Eat a new vegetable.
Make carnitas and fresh tortillas.
Make tamales.
Make mashed potatoes with a ricer.
Throw a fondue party.
Babysit for my brother and sister-in-law.
Catch up with faraway friends and family at least once per year.
Visit friends and family in New York.
Visit friends in Boston.
Visit friends in Chicago.
Take a solitude retreat.
Memorize Philippians.
~~See Tony Bennett perform live.~~ September 12, 2008
Visit a photographic exhibit.
Join a book club.
See the Christmas lights at Griffith Park.
Go camping.
Compete in a sprint triathlon.
Play a doubles match in tennis.
Play tennis at least once per month.
Help Habitat for Humanity build a house.
Donate platelets.
Write a letter to the child I sponsor in the Philippines.
Volunteer at least once per quarter at the Los Angeles Food Bank.
Have a canvas wrap made.
Organize Yojimbo files.
Donate blood. (I keep getting rejected because my iron count is too low.)
Go to the Hollywood Bowl and enjoy a picnic beforehand.
Choose topic and write proposal for Master’s Thesis.
~~Eat at the Outdoor Grill.~~ July 6, 2009
Attend an opera with Pat.
Floss every day for a month. (The dental hygienist will be so happy.)

Thanks to Melissa of Melissa Jill Photography for the inspiration.

Let me know if you have your own 101 in 1001 by leaving a link in the comments.

Poppers and Procrastination

2008-07-05T21:33:00.000-07:00

I made some fireworks of my own for the Fourth of July: these delicious jalapeño poppers. I was inspired to make these spicy treats by a procrastination tangent to The Pioneer Woman. Speaking of procrastination (yes, I have a paper due tomorrow that has yet to reach outline stage), I found two great articles on procrastination by a Stanford professor of philosophy, who has led a rich and productive life as a procrastinator. If you've ever wanted to peer inside the mind of a procrastinator (like me!), check these articles out: Structured Procrastination and Procrastination and Perfectionism.

Happy Fourth of July weekend!

Daroline!

2008-07-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

Our dear friends Darius and Caroline got married at the Dreams resort in Tulum, Mexico, and we were so excited to be part of the celebration.

When you first arrive at the resort, you get to walk through this grand lobby.

My favorite cocktail of the weekend, the "Preferred Cocktail" was available only at the Rendezvous Bar in the main lobby.

Guests took advantage of the wonderful weather and the swim-up bar.

Caroline's nephew was the reluctant ringbearer. During the processional, he refused to walk down the aisle, so his father picked him up and carried him to the front of the chapel.

The beautiful bride.

I loved the intricate beading on her dream wedding dress.

The bouquet of tropical flowers matched the colorful atmosphere at the resort.

The handsome groom with "normal" hair. I know Darius was itching to do something crazy with his locks after the wedding. I can't wait to see what he comes up with.

A mariachi band provided the music at the start of the reception.

These wedding favors fit the beach setting perfectly. And they were great for guests with sore feet.

One of the funniest cake toppers I've ever seen.

Darius and Caroline, we wish you much love and laughter together for the rest of your lives.

View the slideshow with more pictures from this fabulous weekend.
Music: "The Onliest Love Song" from the album tothethingsthemselves by dariustx (82music, 2006)

Home again

2008-07-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

Pat and I just returned from our long weekend in Mexico. It was gorgeous in Tulum, and the wedding of our two friends was such a celebration. Over the next couple of days, I will be posting pictures from our trip, but here's a little teaser shot: Yes, it really was that beautiful.

A Day in Laguna

2008-06-25T23:17:00.000-07:00

Pat and I spent the day in Laguna with his parents. After breakfast we walked down to the beach to look at the tidepools. Pat scrambled up to the top of the rocks for a better view.

The flowers around the hotel were absolutely gorgeous.

It was so fun to wander around town.

Thank you, Monica and Frank, for a lovely day!

And now we're off to Mexico for a wedding. Happy weekend, everyone!

On the town

2008-06-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

What a busy weekend! Friday I helped my mom with transferring her data from her old PC to her new Mac. Then I met Pat at the Hopscotch Pool Bar and Grill to celebrate the birthday of one of Pat's old roommates. It was so dark that Jason held up his glowing Blackberry for me, so I could get the camera to autofocus.

Saturday we inadvertently became lifelines for our friend Cathy's scavenger hunt team Cobra Kai. We collected IKEA instructions, an origami crane, a completed crossword puzzle, and canned goods. We scoured the Internet for clues and solved math puzzles. And after all that work, they got last place -- by one point! But Cobra Kai was excited about their ranking because they actually won prizes for being dead last. Saturday evening, Pat and I went out to dinner at Pacifico's with some friends. We had steamed mussels and the Huachinango. Delicious.

After church Sunday, I took a nap that lasted the entire afternoon while Pat was productive and went to the office and the gym. In the evening, we met some friends at the new Father's Office in Culver City. The vibe's different from the cozy, close quarters of the Santa Monica location, but the burgers and the sweet potato fries were just as good. We worked off our beers and meal with a game of tennis afterwards. I played really poorly Sunday night. To call me rusty would be an understatement. Thankfully, I've got the whole summer (and a patient husband) to improve my game.

Introducing...

2008-06-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

This beautiful flower is just one of many on a bushy plant just outside of our duplex. And I have no idea what its name is. In fact, I'm pretty useless when it comes to naming things. Don't ask me if you want to know the name of a plant, animal, or musical group--you may never get an answer, although I'll try really hard to give you one.

But here I am starting a new business and I've got to come up with a name for it. So I'm taking the easy way out. Introducing Tanya Mills Photography. Looking forward to meeting you.

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Taking the Plunge

2008-06-18T07:51:00.001-07:00

So I've been thinking about becoming a photographer. A professional photographer. Wow! It's exciting and scary all at the same time.

School ended the first week of June and summer school doesn't start until the end of June, so in between catching up on sleep, I've had some time to explore the business side of photography. Yesterday I had the awesome opportunity to do a mentoring session over Skype with the lovely and talented Melissa of Melissa Jill Photography.

The hour flew by, and I have pages and pages of notes and ideas. Thank you, Melissa, for a great mentoring session. And I'm thrilled that I even made it onto your blog!

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