Cancun

My point and shoot broke right before the trip, so these are all from Cobbonisia (otherwise know as DD Cobb).

So last year, we dorked out and made T-shirts. But this year, in honor of my melanoma (that I have since named Benign Bernice), they thought it was more appropriate to make hats. The design was supposed to be emroidered into the fabric. But when they came back, they were basically ironed-on, like something we could have done ourselves. So we figured if we were going to be janky, we might as well really do it right and glue rhinestones to all over them. 

On the way, we got upgraded to first class, which was a great way to kick everything off!

On the plane though, I started this book that my sister gave me. It had been sitting in the basket since my trip to Oregon. And I grabbed it at the last minute while the cab was waiting for me outside at 6am. Not remembering that it was historical fiction about the HOLOCAUST. It's called Sarah's Key. And so on my way to go whoop it up in Cancun, I'm in tears on the plane. On the beach. In the hotel. I knew I should stop reading, but I could NOT put it down. At one point DD asked me about it, and it was right at a particularly horrifying spot. When I started talking about it, I was literally gasping for breath, I was crying so hard. Right there on the side of the pool, next to the cabana bar. Embarrassing. So it's definitely not a vacation book, but I highly recommend it. It's well written, and the kind of book that will stay with you forever. 

Now, back the regularly scheduled drinking, playing, tanning, laughing, swimming, sailing. 

I wonder what these guys were thinking when DeAnna and Robyn sat down to play cards with them, and then totally whooped their asses and won every game that afternoon. Too funny! 

The highlight for me was the spa. We went two days in a row, and it was SO worth it. With every service, you can come early for all kinds of other treatments: in the pool, back and forth between different saunas and water massager thingies. Then you lay on the lounger while they massage your neck and put a hot towel on your face, while you wait for your therapist. And afterwards, you get to drink champagne and eat frozen grapes in your robe, on the roof of the spa. Ahhh, why am I not there right now?! 

The resort was called The Excellence Riviera Cancun, and it was so much better than the place we stayed last year. I really have nothing negative to say about it at all. They had a variety of different restaurants, really good food, the spa was totally amazing, and professional. The beach wasn't crowded, and they had a fun disco tek at night that played 80s. Who could ask for more than that?! Also, DD and I were figuring out the other day that with airfare as cheap as it is right now, if you're in Texas it's cheaper to go to Mexico than to drive down to South Padre Island. 

Today I'm BURIED in editing. That Summer Special has gotten the best of me. It's going to take me a while to catch up. And I think it's going to also be a while before I offer something like that again (if ever). Although, as I'm saying that, I'm remembering that I am offering a Belly/Baby portrait special at Chic Mama next month on July 18th. So if you're pregnant, you will definitely NOT want to miss out on that. Call (210) 545-7217 for details and to schedule. AND, we are cooking up all kinds of ideas to rock out the Hot Mama shoots even more often. More on that later. 

For now I need to get back to work, and then later tonight I'm going to see Wicked. Can't wait! And see you later gators.

Ooooh Mexico...

Oh my. We went there, did that, and brought the T-shirts. Yes, we were "those" mommies on the plane.

Wonder how many times a day the clerks have to watch the stupid tourists do this.  :)

We chartered a catamaran to to Isla Mujeres one afternoon. So fun. We laughed, danced, laughed, drank, laughed, snorkeled.

That is until they rushed us back into the boat, all serious-like. We didn't think much of it until our friend Michelle, who speaks Spanish, overheard them talking about the 2 BULL SHARKS that were in the water. You know the ones that are "more dangerous to humans than any other species of sharks"?  Man, I KNEW I was hard core.

And if you were there, you are laughing right now at the notion of me being hard core. Because half an hour after Jaws almost ate us, I was dangling in the air on a wanna-be Mexican parasail. I don't know what it was called. Only that it had NO BUCKLE, and NO HARNESS. It was a single rope that you SAT in, and hung onto, while an oversized kite flails you all over the sky. And, let me clarify that I am not at all afraid of heights. NOR am I afraid of parasailing. Turns out I AM however, afraid of a crew of Mexicans that think it's funny to watch the white girl scream. It started out as a regular "This is high, but I'm okay" kind of shriek. Which turned into "Wow, my body is now horizontal, this is too high!" Then it shifted to, "Please don't let me DIE, I HATE YOU!!!". And that's when I backflopped onto my sunburn. I made it back like a cat who had been thrown into a lake. All pissy, I sat down and that's when the ever-so-wise Dr. Feinstein (who might know a little something about this situation) says, "You might want to wait on calling someone an em-effer until they DON'T HAVE YOUR LIFE IN THEIR HANDS". Note to self.

So now would be a good a time to show a picture of The Amazing Doctors: Gallagher and Feinstein. Also known as Shannon and Karen. And also known as the hot bodies who had to endure countless skinny jokes and endless teasing about how many tomatoes they were ingesting. Yes, and I do mean raw tomatoes, paired with things like lettuce, and carrots, and grapes for desert. It was a true example of what it takes to look that good. However, for my own purposes of denial, I prefer to tell myself they were just born that way. Nothing I can do about it. And where did I put that vat of queso? 

The crew.

Isn't it nice. All these golden faces, smiling under the warm sun as it airbrushes them bronze.

Then it fries me like a raw strip of bacon being tossed onto a hot griddle. Don't be jealous. You know there's nothing sexier than burning the tops of your feet.

How many ways can Katy flash the peace sign?

This was taken the night we got all dressed up to go out, only to find out that the club OPENS at 10:30. That's practically our bedtime. (Where's my metamucil?) So we spent yet another night outside the hotel, hanging out. Okay, the truth is that we were stalking the guests at a wedding reception and jealously watching them as they danced the "YMCA". Whatever, you know you love it too.

I want to give a little shout out to Mallory who spent the ENTIRE TIME SICK. Poor thing. I hope you're feeling better! 

I will be back again soon. I have a jazillion photo shoots to post just as soon as I can stop talking about my sunburned knees. Until then, VIVA MEXICO!!   :)

Okay, Florida.

Are we ready for a meaningless stream of photos that say absolutely nothing about where I was last week? :) Okidoke. I don't know if it's the cobbler's shoes thing, but it's so hard for me to take photos of my own life sometimes. So, here is Pointless Shot In The Bathroom Mirror, number one.

And number two.

We met some great peeps. My favorites were Sam and Kyle from Maine. They were hilarious. Sam had us rolling with her unfiltered one liners. If you're ever in San Antonio, you guys better stop by!

Here they are on the bus, on our way to the party at the Aquarium.

At the party. Smack that, get on the floor! And yes, I do have every intention of being that old lady. Don't know what to tell ya, life is short.

Chillin' until 3am in the hotel lobby afterwards. WOOT!

And do I have a photo of the actual Expo? Of course not. I do, however have one of our feet sitting on the steps outside of it. Riveting, I know.

My favorite shot of the weekend.

Wow, looking at these photos makes me feel like it was a pretty crazy weekend. I promise I learned a lot too. There was a ton of great information, and so many inspiring people. There's just no way I could even begin to touch on everything. My favorite class was a tie between Laura Novak, who talked a lot about vision and business strategy, and Christa Hoffarth, who talked about design. They were both awesome.

So, I could stop here. But you know I have to include the drama. :)

On our way home...

I missed my connecting flight to get home from Dallas. It was the last flight of the day, which meant I'd have to spend another night in a hotel room. Sounds simple when I write it out now. Like no biggie, whatever. But I was at the END of my traveling rope. You know how that is, when you're so spent you feel like someone has taken a tap to your veins and drained out your life force? I'd had about 8 hours of sleep in 4 days. More information pounded into my brain than I could begin to process. And all I could think about was kissing my babies' cheeks and crawling into my bed. Instead, I found myself running around a vacant airport, with strap burns on my neck, crying hysterically. And begging someone to check me in. The security guy said I had time to make it. But the girl at the counter said she "was off." In that moment, I learned what it feels like to be homicidal. For real. At some point, a nice man appeared and helped me (off the clock) find a hotel and shuttle. I got over the yearnings for my pillow, and was fine. UNTIL I went outside and stood in the dark, murderer's tunnel for AN HOUR. Okay, I will admit that I am a total wimp who has watched way too much Dateline. BUT, I have never felt so unsafe for such an extended period. It was literally me and the Dallas DFW sprinklers. No cabs. No workers. Not one traveler. Just me on the street, and an occasional bus. And the killers in the bushes. And Buffalo Bill in his rape van across the street. I kept trying to remember all those self defense moves, wondering if I really could stick my thumb into someone's eye ball...(welcome to the dark recesses of my mind). Anyway, four phone calls later, my shuttle bus finally showed up and brought me here.

Welcome to the Ramada Inn of Irving, TX. Comes complete with curly, brown hair on the toilet seat (and I'm not kidding) and brown mysterious drips of something on the doors and walls. I set the alarm clock on the table, on my phone, AND had them give me a wake up call. There was NO WAY I would be missing my morning flight. Except for that I DID miss my morning flight. Yep, SWEAR. Apparently when people book your ticket off the clock, they go into the Hollogram file. Moral of the story...don't ever book a connecting flight on two separate airlines, especially when it's really late at night. 

Now, totally changing the subject...if you are one of the lucky girls who is signed up for the Haute Mama shoot this weekend, you are in for such a treat! It's going to rock! I promise I will be sending out all the final details/directions as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact me with any last minute questions. And if you emailed or called about getting in, and couldn't, I am so sorry! The response was crazy. And I wish I could fit everyone in, but it's going to be tight as it is. And I want to make sure everyone gets personalized attention. The good news is that I WILL be doing another one soon. So KEEP A LOOK OUT for dates and times for the next shoot. I have a feeling it's going to book up fast again. 

Okay, tonight is girls night out, and I need to get ready! 

See ya'll tomorrow! :)