10 on 10 - June

This month's post is just a bit different from past 10 on 10 posts.

For starters, this post marks the one year mark for the 10 on 10 project!! People from all over the country have come together to participate in 10 on 10 this year, which has been truly fantastic.  When I first came up with this idea, I wasn't quite sure how it would turn out, or who else would see the vision of the project enough to keep it going. I was lucky to find some amazing photogs from all different areas of the country who have been committed to the project. They have all shared incredible work as well as some insight into their own lives. While I have yet to meet any of them personally, I feel as if I know each one individually because of their willingness to not only open up to me but also to all of you. It's pretty darn cool if you think about it. PLUS, next month we will have a few more photogs joining us! Most of the original 10 on 10ers will continue and we will also have a few more newbies to spice things up. So make sure to check back next month to see some great new additions.

The second reason this month's post is a little out of the norm is that I'm writing from Sydney, Auuustraaaiiillliiaaaaa (<---- said like Oprah)!! This year's International Rotary Convention was in Sydney, so my sister and I were lucky enough to tag along with my step-dad (aka "Pops"). He went to the convention and we explored the city. Since the convention has ended, we have been able to discover more of the great things this beautiful country has to offer. It's been a little over a week, and I can tell you that Austrailia is definitely on our list of places to return and explore more. While we have been busy exploring this week, it seems we've just reached the tip of the Australian "iceberg".

Needless to say, I had a difficult time narrowing down which day to use for this post ....and also narrowing down only 10 photos. I'm sure you can imagine, I have hundreds. After taking to some time to think about what I thought most people would like to see, and also what I most enjoyed, I decided on the, perhaps cliche, Sydney Harbor and Opera House. Because seriously, it is an extraordinary site to see. Both the setting and the architecture create an atmosphere where photos will never replace being here in person. That's one of the things I love most about traveling. ...and because it's not in the states where we rope and fence off everything, you can literally walk right up to the Opera House. Did you know that the roof is made of white tile? I had no idea. I always pictured some kind of stretched canvas material.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some photos of the Vivid Sydney Light Festival that was going on the week that we were in town. I'm sure I'll write another post with PLENTY of Austrailia pics that include Vivid Sydney, but for this post I wanted to focus on one particular morning. On our third day in the city, we woke up early to watch the sun rise over the harbor. I think even if you lived here and saw this view everyday, it wouldn't ever get old. On par with the Eiffel Tower, you just can't not look. It's too good!

Keep checking back. I hope to post more photos from our excursions around Sydney, to the Blue Mountains, and to Hamilton Island.

And, if you haven't already, make sure to check out the other 10 on 10ers. As always, they are bound to show you some great work. Also, be sure to check back next month to see some new 10 on 10ers.

CLB Creative

Twinty Photography

Anya Elise Photography

Button Media

Jamilah Photography

Until next time...

10 on 10 - April

Today is a good day, and not just because it's another 10 on 10 post. Today is my favorite sister's birthday! Okay, she's my only sister, but even if I had ten, she'd probably still be my favorite. She's that cool. AND, this last weekend, I was able to take a quick trip for some sister time in the 303.

While I grew up going to Denver on occasion, it was fun to see Syd in her new town, and to actually see the city as an adult. She showed me all her fave spots and we went and toured around downtown. Naturally, we also got some ice-cream, because really, what is a downtown tour without ice cream?

What a pretty sister I have! I'm so glad that I was able to visit this little lady and to see her in her grown-up city. I love seeing the woman that she has become, and can't wait to see the path that she builds for herself. She is even heading back to Tanzania in a few months. Remember when she was still in college and just got back from TZ? She keeps astounding me with how awesome she continues to become.

Thanks for the fun weekend Denver and Syders. Hopefully we can do it again soon.

Make sure to check out the other 10 on 10ers this month. They're sure to have some good eye candy for you to drool over.

CLB Creative
Twinty Photography
Anya Elise Photography
Button Media

Until next time...

Sister Sydney's Graduation

You may remember a few months ago when I wrote this post about my once little sister all grown up. Well, it finally happened. About a month ago she walked across that rickety old stage and graduated from college. It is the first time in our lives that her and I have had the same education level. ...and soon she will surpass me. Curse myself for wanting to change career paths!

Anyway, we all convened to celebrate my sister and her smarts for the whole weekend of graduation. Since for the last year or so I tend to have my camera with me at a lot of events for other people, I find myself wanting to be in the moment instead of taking pictures at my own family events; however, I tried to bring it with me a few different places that weekend. Good times to remember in the future I suppose.

The night before graduation we all met up for a casual dinner at a great local restaurant. If you are in the Spokane area, I highly recommend the Casper Fry. Good food, good atmosphere, and some good company.

My sister's Godfather, Tom, drove into town to celebrate with us. It was so great to have him there and spend some time with him because I really haven't seen him since I was in high school (almost ten years ago). It always makes me a little nostalgic to see people that I used to see fairly often when I was younger. Is this what it feels like to be a grown up?!

And of course the rents made it to town to celebrate as well.

Nabil (my hubby) and his mom (who was in town to visit while we were waiting for my sister-in-law to have her baby ...more on that later) also made the trip to celebrate. It was a pretty epic weekend of family and fun.

The next day we piddled around downtown. We hit up Madeline's (of course) and soon after Sydney kicked my butt running along the waterfront path. Man am I out of shape. Ugh! After I scraped myself off the pavement it was about that time.

No one tripped or fell off the stage and they had great speakers. If I had the program sitting next to me, I would tell you some names. I know one of them was a state representative.... If I can find that program, I'll update the post with some names.

And when the name calling started to drag on a little long, Syd and I texted one another so I could get a very classic thumbs up pic. Nailed it!

These came out a little blurry (my fault for not bringing the good lens), but I love it because I used some big sister peer pressure to convince her to turn around and hold up her diploma after she shook the President of the University's hand. What else are texting and big sisters for if not to provoke and prode the youngsters.

And just look at that pretty face. It's official!

At Syd's school, each of the students decorated their own cap. They can do whatever they want. We saw music notes, spray paint, nursing symbols, etc. Sky is the limit. Syd chose to write a quote from one of my very faves (Man in the Mirror). I mean who doesn't love a little MJ!? And there is a little heart around Tanzania since she spent a semester studying abroad there and will probably go back as part of her grad school program. She also got a lea from one of her friends from Hawaii. They both really help to complete the ensemble, don't ya think?

I knew it, right when you saw that picture (above) you thought "wait, what?! Courtney is being serious in a picture with Syd?!" Don't worry, that quickly faded away. I just can't help myself, silly pictures are so much more fun.

It's official!!!

Congrats Syd! Nabil and I couldn't be anymore proud and excited for you! You have done some amazing things already, and we can't wait to see where your journey takes you next. Love you!!!

Until next time...

Sister Sydney, All Grown Up

You may remember my very sweet sister Sydney from one of my posts about a year ago when she just got back from her study abroad trip to Tanzania. Well, believe it or not, this girl is about ready to graduate college. Yup, you heard read correctly. Sydney is all grown up and ready to face the big bad world. ...well not quite yet. She will graduate in a few short months, and then in August she will move onto grad school. Syd was smarter than I was (or maybe she just learned from my mistakes) and she is putting off the real world for another couple years. That's right children, learn vicariously from us older folk, and avoid the real world for as long as possible. It's a deep, dark hole.

But back to my sister. I can't even express how excited and proud I am for her. This may have happened to me too, maybe it happens to every college student, but it's amazing to see how much she has blossomed in college. She went into college as a fun, charismatic young lady that was ready for a new adventure and the get out of Wyoming. She has come out as an incredibly intelligent, active woman that is ready to take on the world. I mean that literally. Syd is going on to get her master's degree in social change. She is going to be one of those people that helps form the programs that make a dramatic impact on the entire world. Her specific interest lies in working with refugees and victims of trafficking. Pretty intense stuff, but she is so good at it. I'm not sure how someone could manage to still be sweet and funny while taking on the world's problems, but Syd has managed to do it. In other words, she is pretty damn cool.

A few weeks ago, Syd came to town for her spring break. We did a lot of fun things around town, but I also got a chance to shove her in front of my lens and take some photos. Our mom really wanted some photos for Syd's graduation announcements, and I really wanted to bust out my brand new camera.

We took an afternoon to visit Cannon Beach. After practicing our Truffle Shuffle for a bit (a little Goonies movie reference for ya), and scarfing down a bread bowl of clam chowder at Mo's, we hit haystack rock for our second photo-op.

Since I was with my sister, and not a paying client, I forced her to get her feet in the water. Bahaha! What are sisters for if not to get photos like this?

But, I like to think I then made up for it, by getting some "better" ones too.

So, that's all she wrote. In just about a month and a half, I will have some actual graduation photos to share with you all. Now, please excuse me while I go cry in the corner because my cute, obnoxious, embarrassing  and weird, little sister is all grown up and is now only a few of those things.

Until next time...

Sister Sydney is back in the U. S. of A!

You may remember a few months ago when my sister Sydney went off too Tanzania for the semester. Well guess what ladies and gents, sister Sydney is back! This past weekend I drove up to Seattle to pick up Syd from the airport. Before forging onto Spokane, we decided to take a day and enjoy the city.

Syd actually turned 21 while she was in Tanzania, so the night she got back, we went out for her first official drink. It was very exciting.

The next morning we took jaunt down to Pike's Place, because after all, this is one of the best things about Seattle.

I was kinda disappointed that I wasn't driving straight back to Portland. I had no where to store such a delish spread.

We did get some fresh fruit for the road though.

 ...but OMG, all these flowers were SO gorgeous. This is my favorite part about the market. Next time, we are headed straight back to Portland so that I can fill the back seat.

and you can't hit up Pike's Place without getting some mini donuts. SO GOOD!

Then we hit up the first Starbuck's ever.

Sydney was very happy to have real coffee again. It's ironic because she went to a coffee bean farm while she was in Tanzania where Starbucks buys their supply, but she said that all of the coffee in Tanzania left much to be desired.

Lastly, we visited the famous Seattle gum wall. It was... gross.

All in all, it was a great trip. I'm so glad that my little sister is back in the states safe and sound. I mean, just look at that pretty face.

Until next time...