Vivid City

A Great Client Referral

2012-01-26T11:40:00.000-08:00

A thank you card for guests

A few months ago, we were very excited to work with some great friends, Lauren and Bryan, on their beautiful Port Townsend, WA wedding. We designed all of their paper goods for the big day, including programs, thank you cards, table assignments, and more. Check out the finished products here and here.

We just received a lovely email from Lauren that we wanted to share.

"How can we thank Jen Lyons of Vivid City for creating our beautiful paper products and signage? By telling everyone we know. My husband and I were thrilled with the creativity and thought that Jen put into creating our programs, guest book cards, thank you notes, and instructional signs. She took the time to sit with me and nail down out the exact vision of how we wanted the end product to look for each product.

I will be the first to tell you that I can be nitty gritty about details but I was no match for Jen. She made sure that everything was perfect, not one feature was missed. We received so many compliments and we will continue singing the praises of Vivid City. We can’t wait to use them for our next big event."

Thanks Lauren!

Sh*t Brides Say

2012-01-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

We've all seen the new "Sh*t Girls Say" YouTube videos, and probably some of the spin-offs and parodies. Well, WeddingChannel.com just came out with "Sh*t Brides Say" and it is pretty clever. Most things are funny because they're (at least partially) true, right? Check out the video below for a good laugh.

(Oh, and pardon the language)

Design work for a cause

2012-01-02T21:52:00.000-08:00

Because of all the design work we do on invitations and other party materials at Vivid City, I was contacted by a good friend to pitch in on another project, Hope for Jess. It's an Etsy site in honor of Jessica Oldwyn. Jess is a friend of a friend (who I actually had the pleasure of meeting last weekend) who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2010.

Jess is an inspiring young woman who has grace, perseverance, and an amazingly positive attitude. Because of this, her friends have donated money, time, and materials to set up an Etsy shop to help raise money to cover some of Jess' mounting medical costs.

Etsy banner, designed by Vivid City

And what's the best part? They are selling prints and unstretched giclee canvas prints that are Jess' own creation, called "Hope".

The prints are available in their Etsy Shop. Learn more about Jess and her journey on the Etsy site, and on her blog, which is a really great read.

Fun table number idea

2011-08-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes here at Vivid City we cook something up that is so fun I can't help but share it right away! My dear Vivid City business partner Jamie is getting married next month, and we've been planning day and night. We came up with a super fun and easy way to make table numbers for her wedding.

We cut out cardboard numbers, and, with camera in hand, hit up some of Jamie and Bill's favorite Seattle landmarks. I love that some of them are classic Seattle (Pike Place Market), but some are more subtle (cheers-ing at their favorite bar, Kells). These will be framed and placed on each table at the reception.

Here's a sneak preview. Aren't they so stinkin' cute? I am loving this idea!

Pike Place Market flower stands

Pike Place gum wall--gross but awesome

A couple more from Lauren & Bryan's Wedding

2011-07-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a few more pictures of our design work featured at Lauren & Bryan's Port Townsend wedding!

Advice for the happy couple!

Programs

Design Work-Lauren & Bryan

2011-07-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

(Here's a picture of the venue, right on the water!)

Last Saturday, our dear friends Lauren and Bryan got married at the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, WA. Talk about a beautiful venue! It was sunny and 75, with views of Mount Rainier, plenty of sailboats in the background, and set in the charming, antique town of Port Townsend. You couldn't ask for a better day for a beautiful, Northwest summer wedding.

Still don't believe me on how pretty it was? Here's the view from cocktail hour!

We were lucky enough to do some really fun design work for the bride and groom. From programs to instructional signs and thank you notes, we were busy! The final product turned out fantastic (If I do say so myself!

The "Hop, Skip & Get Married", their signature cocktail

This is my favorite piece--a thank you card for wedding guests

Congratulations to the happy couple! Thanks for letting us be a part of it!

Willows Lodge - One of our favorite venues

2011-06-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

We've seen a lot of great venues around the Seattle area, but Willows Lodge in Woodinville is one of our favorites. It's a boutique hotel tucked away just a 20 minute drive from Seattle, but once you're there, you feel like you're a world away! The guestrooms and event space are cozy and inviting, with beautiful stone fireplaces, exposed beams and gorgeous gardens.

But, the best thing about Willows Lodge is the service. We've worked with Jenn Wenman, Associate Director of Catering. From questions about the menu, to last-minute rain plans, she is so organized and truly cares about her clients.

I can say all kinds of great things about Willows Lodge, but let's go right to the source. I talked to Jenn recently about her favorite things about the venue.

What makes Willows Lodge a great place to have an event?

It is hard to summarize why Willows Lodge is an ideal wedding and event venue because the list is endless! Located in the heart of the Woodinville Wine Country, our rustic elegance, breathtaking gardens/grounds, and quintessential Northwest vibe attract guests locally and from beyond, based on these physical attributes alone. Once our guests arrive at Willows Lodge, however, they are even further won-over by the friendly yet professional staff, delicious food from the Barking Frog restaurant, and most of all, the genuine, personalized service provided from start to finish of every event.

What kind of events, outside of weddings, do you usually host at the lodge?

Willows Lodge hosts all types of events, large and small, including corporate retreats, team-building off-sites, holiday parties, auctions, social events, bar/bat mitzvahs, pharmaceutical dinners, winemaker dinners, and of course, plenty of weddings!

What do you love about your job?

After working in the hospitality industry for 16 years and spending the past nine at Willows Lodge, it is obvious that I love where I work! I am lucky to spend my days at such a beautiful property and with so many passionate, caring team members that make me look forward to coming to work every day. I also love my job for the other people that put a smile on my face: the amazing vendors we work with and even more so, the clients! We are such a hands-on team that throughout the planning process for events we truly get to know our clients on a professional level and often times on a personal level as well. This connection strengthens my desire to guarantee the success of an event and leaves me feeling more fulfilled after we have provided our guests with an unforgettable experience.

What tips do you have for couples planning their weddings?

The best advice I can give to couples is: know what is best for YOU and trust the advice of your vendors! There will always be sacrifices you must make as a couple when you plan your wedding (think of it as practice for the sacrifices you will need to make once married!) and you must determine what is most important to you. Whether it be date, venue, food & beverage offerings, flowers/decor, entertainment, photography -- or any other wedding service -- spend your money on what you care about the most. This could mean selecting an off-peak date, making your own invitations, eliminating favors...you get the idea! Cut corners on the elements that are not as important to you so that you can spend more money on the elements that matter to you the most.

In regards to vendors, I always tell my clients two things: trust the professionals and trust your gut! As a wedding venue, Willows Lodge hosts approximately 70 weddings each year and after celebrating our 10th birthday last September you can do the math as to how many weddings -- and thus wedding vendors! -- we have accommodated. We can give you the "inside scoop" on all of the vendors we have worked with...the good, the bad...and the unmentionable! Likewise, all of your wedding vendors can direct you to those professionals that do an amazing job but reverting to point number two: trust your gut!! Your wedding is a very personal day and you must have people around you that you are 100% comfortable with and confident in, and that understand your vision.

Great marriage proposal!

2011-05-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

Here at Vivid City, we're suckers for a good marriage proposal, since we work with so many brides and grooms every year. This is one of the best one's I've seen! Check it out.

A letter from one of our clients

2011-03-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

We coordinated Cherisse & Kelly LeProwse's wedding in Puyallup, Washington last summer. Here's what they had to say about Vivid City Marketing & Events. (Photos by Tiffany Burke Photography)

Our wedding…legendary! Many couples probably say that they’ve enjoyed their wedding, but for us, that day couldn’t have been more perfect. The food, the dancing, the guests, the moment; it all came together to be the best day of our lives. My husband and I are so happy and couldn’t have pulled it off without Vivid City experts, Jamie & Jen.

J&J were by our side throughout the entire process. Whether it was designing our save-the-dates, giving advice, contacting vendors, arranging flowers and venue set-up, organizing wedding day logistics, composing ceremony verbiage, or handling any of the game time requests…J&J were the calm of our wedding planning frenzy.

We are truly touched by the service and attention provided to make our wedding day so memorable. We couldn’t be more grateful. We look forward to starting a family and working with J&J on many more celebrations to come.

Cheers!
Kelly & Cherisse LeProwse

Weddings: Everyone has a budget

2011-03-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

Reading wedding magazines or watching shows like "Say Yes to the Dress" may make you think that you're the only one on a budget, and that every other bride (or groom) in the world can spend, spend, spend on an over-the-top wedding.

In real life, however, everyone has a price point. Every couple we've worked with has a limit, regardless of who is paying for the wedding. It's important to keep a little perspective as you're planning.

Here are our top five wedding budgeting tips that we always tell all of our clients.

1. Spreadsheet, spreadsheet, spreadsheet. The very first thing you should do (after calling all of your family and friends, of course) is talk about your budget. No, it's not glamorous, but you must do it. Knowing how much you are willing to spend from the start will help you navigate all of the options in front of you, and be realistic about what you can afford.

2. Stop comparing yourself to other couples. So what if you went to a wedding last weekend where you drank from a Cristal champagne fountain, the bride wore a custom-made Vera Wang gown, and U2 was the live entertainment. Who cares. Your wedding will be special, because it's yours. The rest is just details.

3. Decide what is most important to you. Maybe you love photography so you want to book the city's most famous wedding photographer. Perhaps you love the look of letterpress and calligraphy invitations. Whatever it is, every couple has one or two must-haves on their list. That's great--fit them into your budget if at all possible, but something's got to give. Decide which wedding details aren't that important to you. Maybe you have a friend who can do the flowers. Perhaps you don't even like wedding cake and can settle for cookies from a local bakery. Sit down and make a list, from most important to least important, and go from there.

4. Always ask for discounts. Anytime you are in conversation with a vendor, ask if they have any specials. Many photographers will throw in a free session of engagement pictures. Your venue may give you a better deal if you get married in low season, or on a Friday or Sunday. Ask your florist if they can substitute in-season flowers for exotic ones that have to be flown in. Worst case, they say no, but at least you've tried!

5. Pay for a day-of wedding coordinator. We're not just saying that because we want your business (which we do). You've spent months planning your big day, counting your pennies, and scrutinizing your guest list. Don't let all of your hard work go to waste. Save enough money in your budget to hire someone to handle all the details on your big day. You want to enjoy the time with your new husband/wife, hang out with your wedding party and family, and really ENJOY! You only get to do this once, after all! And a bonus: We provide unlimited phone and email contact to all of our day-of clients. We can help you find great vendors, give advice on budgeting, and more.

Email us today for a quote!

More invitation design

2011-01-16T11:56:00.000-08:00

Here's another example of Vivid City-designed wedding invitations. Email me today at jen@vividcitymarketing.com for a quote!

Great Wedding Vendor Alert: Michael Benson Band

2011-01-08T15:35:00.000-08:00

I just got married in October (with the best wedding coordinator--my business partner Jamie from Vivid City!) and we had some really amazing vendors, some of whom I'll be posting about in the weeks to come.

As my husband and I saw our family and friends over the holidays, many people were raving about our wedding and how fun it was. The one thing they kept mentioning over and over again is how great our wedding band was.

We first saw the Michael Benson Band at a friend's wedding a few summers ago. They were so energetic, emceed the whole night and kept things moving, and played some really amazing music.

At our wedding their five-piece band played everything from "What a Wonderful World" to Lady Gaga's "Pokerface". It was such a sight to see. They were like chameleons who could morph their voices and instruments to sound like whatever song they were playing.

Their can-do attitude and energy make them so easy to work with, and they kept us dancing until late into the night. They even let my dad sing with the band to "Sweet Caroline"!

I've already recommended them to couples I know getting married in 2011, and I hope to work with them again soon. Book them early--they've been voted Best Wedding Band in Western Washington year after year. Thanks, Michael Benson Band!

Need a Vacation?

2010-11-16T16:33:00.000-08:00

Itching to take an extended vacation abroad but it just isn’t fitting in the budget or the PTO allotment? No worries – take this 2 minute vaycay through 4,000 photos.

Photographer Mike Matas and his girlfriend traveled through Spain and Morocco for two weeks. During the trip he captured the 4,000 photos and has condensed them down to this incredible video. We first saw this video posted on NPRs blog and loved the photos and the idea of making a video to share his trip. We just had to pass it on. Leaves me refreshed and ready to pack my bags!

Morocco & Spain from Mike Matas on Vimeo.

Wedding Central!

2010-10-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

As you've noticed on recent posts, it's "all wedding, all the time," here at Vivid City. If we're not coordinating weddings, designing invitations and programs, or dishing out advice, we're working on our own weddings!

Jen, co-owner of Vivid City, got married on October 9th--event management and stationary photos to come, and Jamie, our other co-owner, is recently engaged, and getting married on September 10th, 2011.

Jamie recently wanted a creative way to ask her wedding party to be part of her big day. She decided we should make custom champagne labels, and she'd give each wedding party member a bottle when she asked them!

Best part? She has bridesmaids, a maid of honor, and a bridesman! It went off without a hitch, and we'll be putting together another great Vivid City-designed wedding on 9/10/11!

Check out the photos below, and email us today for info about how we can help with your big day!

Congratulations, Christy and Paul!

2010-09-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

Our good friends Christy and Paul are getting married over Labor Day weekend, and we've done a ton of design work for them. I didn't want to spoil the surprise until all of the pieces had gone out in the mail, but since their wedding is coming up this weekend, I think we're in the clear! I love the simple design and the blue and green. Congrats again, guys!

Distinctive Design Concrete, LLC

2010-06-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, we introduced you to Distinctive Design Concrete, LLC. We're happy to say that, with the help of Eclipse Media Solutions, Vivid City is proud to announce the official launch of DDC.

Here's the final logo, the website is up and running, and Distinctive Design Concrete, LLC is open for business.

Congratulations, Chris and Mike!

Check out their new website here.

Baby Shower Fun

2010-05-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

Vivid City recently designed the cutest baby shower invitations (if I do say so myself). I love the little birds, and the font.

More invitations coming soon!

A Meaningful Memorial

2010-05-08T19:30:00.001-07:00

Vivid City's most recent project was a more somber occasion than the usual. Recently, PJ Livingston, the father of one of Jamie's close friends passed away suddenly, and we were tasked with organizing a memorial reception. Jamie took the reins on the event itself, while I handled the creative side.

PJ was quite the chef, and so his family had the idea of making keepsake recipe cards at the memorial service, instead of regular programs--what a great idea and great way to honor him.

Although I never met PJ, through everything I've heard about him in working on this project, it sounds like he was truly an amazing man, and really lived life to the fullest. We wanted to share the recipe cards we designed here on the blog, so that PJ's recipes can reach even more people! I love the casual, improvisational directions provided on the cards. (You can click on them to make them bigger) Hope you enjoy.

Christy's Bridal Shower Invitation!

2010-04-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting to the blog. We've been busy designing, printing, planning, and more! I'm happy to unveil a wedding shower invitation I recently designed for my good friend Christy. She's getting married here in Seattle this summer (I'm also designing her wedding invitations!) and we're having a bridal shower for her next month. I love the way they turned out, and they are part of our larger decorating theme for the shower! Congratulations Christy!

New Client--Distinctive Design Concrete

2010-03-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

Vivid City Marketing & Events is excited to announce one of our newest clients, Distinctive Design Concrete, LLC. DDC is a new Seattle contracting company. Owners Mike Jellison & Chris Lyons are specializing in residential and commercial concrete, pavers, hardscaping, outdoor design, water features, and more. Mike and Chris have more than 20 years combined experience and their work is truly beautiful. Congrats on the new business.

This logo is the first of our work with Distinctive Design. More to come, including helping with a website launch, marketing materials, and advertising. Stay tuned. And, if you're interested in sprucing up your home this spring/summer, contact Chris Lyons at christopher.lyons04@gmail.com.

Design at the Olympics

2010-02-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

Say what you want about NBC's coverage (or lack thereof) of the Olympics this year, but it's hard to not get sucked into Olympic fever. In fact, I'm watching the Men's Half Pipe Final as I write this.
The Olympics are great not only for the sports, but the fanfare, branding and design, fashion, and the way the host city goes all out with new buildings.
Fast Company has a slideshow about design elements at the Olympics, and is is really interesting. Did you know the Olympics logo was picked as the winner in a contest of 1,600 entries?
The slideshow talks about the interesting new buildings, the US team's uniforms, and even the design of the medals, which are made of recovered gold, silver and bronze from computer motherboards.
What do you think about the 2010 Olympics? Check out the article here.

The Uniform Project

2010-02-02T10:49:00.001-08:00

Here at Vivid City Marketing & Events, we're all about creativity. So when a friend sent me the link to this amazing site called The Uniform Project, I had to share it. I love when people combine their passion with community service. In this case, a woman named Sheena is wearing the same dress every day for a year, as an exercise in "sustainable fashion." (Don't worry, she has 7 different copies of the same dress, she's not wearing the very same dress every day!)

The Uniform project is a fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, which raises money to send underprivileged children in India to school. She is collecting donations online. And, followers from around the world send her accessories to wear each day. She takes a picture of each outfit and posts them online, and all of the accessories will be sold in an auction at the end of her project as a final fundraiser. What a great way to involve people from all over the world. Her year-long experiment continues until May 2010.

Check out the video for the project, and visit the website here.

The Uniform Project Trailer from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

The Rumors are T-R-U-E!

2010-01-27T20:20:00.000-08:00

The myth became the legend this morning when Steve Jobs - Apple CEO unveiled the new Apple iPad. Names, features, costs and size rumors had been circulating for months but now we have real pictures, real features and real prices!

Mashable has done a great job at providing a comprehensive list of all the bells and whistles of the iPad. Jen might be in love, but her hot little hands might have to wait a bit longer – iPads aren’t available until April. Until then, I dare you not to want one by the end of the article. Read on >

I'm in love!

2010-01-24T19:59:00.001-08:00

Mashable just posted some clever detective work about the illusive and yet-to-be-confirmed Apple tablet computer. As a creative professional, I've already had a decade-long love affair with the Mac.

Rumors of the Apple tablet have been circulating lately, but you won't believe the detective work done by Flurry to (semi) confirm its existence. I hope it's true, so I can buy one soon. Here's the story.

Special Thanks

2010-01-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

We'd like to say thanks to Tim at Eclipse Media Solutions for building our new website. We love everything about it--the design, the simplicity, and the way it fits seamlessly into our branding. Eclipse Media Solutions is a Vivid City partner, and they do amazing work in website building, search engine optimization, and more. Thanks again!

Cherisse & Kelly's Save the Date Cards!

2010-01-19T11:28:00.001-08:00

We're so excited to be working with our friends Cherisse & Kelly on their upcoming wedding! The first order of business was their save the date cards--they wanted something simple, classic, and not too flowery. I love the fonts that we chose, and I love that we were able to incorporate an image from their proposal. Congrats, you two!

Seattle Wedding Show

2010-01-17T19:27:00.000-08:00

I just got back from the 2010 Seattle Wedding Show. I was a little hesitant about it, picturing swarms of crazy brides elbowing each other out of the way for cheap wedding dresses. But, since I am getting married this year, and I wanted to make some contacts for Vivid City, I decided I should go.

I was pleasantly surprised! I had a great time and got a lot of ideas for my wedding. Here are my top reasons to check out a wedding show when you are planning your big day:

1. Great vendors. We met vendors from all different areas: DJs, invitation designers, florists, tuxedo rentals, gift registries, caterers, and more.

2. Dresses. We saw a great fashion show, and were able to skim the racks of a lot of dresses. It was so great to see dresses on real people, in person, instead of just in wedding magazine ads.

3. Great deals. Many vendors give away great discounts at the show only. Make sure to pick up coupons and sign up for discounts wherever possible--weddings are expensive!

Don't get overwhelmed! Vivid City can help you navigate the confusing waters of wedding planning. Email us at info@vividcitymarketing.com

Web Trends for 2010

2009-12-09T21:33:00.000-08:00

As the year winds down, not only do we review the past year, but also look to the upcoming promise of the New Year. 2009 brought us many online trends including tweeting and ‘unfriending’ but what will 2010 hold? Mashable is a Social Media blog I started reading about 6 months ago and have seen some great posts from their contributors. Their CEO, Pete Cashmore has some thoughts on what will be big 2010. Not only am I excited to see if his predictions come true, I am excited to try some of them out – especially the flexibility that cloud computing can hold. Check it out

Color!

2009-12-02T12:29:00.000-08:00

I'm always interested in how advertising and marketing uses color to enhance, clarify, and create campaigns. In my past life as a photography buyer, I spent so much time doing photo research that I could pick out where most images in print campaigns I'd see around town came from. I am still on the email lists of quite a few stock photography houses, and I just recently received a case study from Aurora Photos about a campaign they did for a neighborhood bank in Maine. They did TV ads, print ads, brochures, and other collateral. I think the campaign has so much vibrancy and energy that they would have missed with a "quieter" color palate. The bank has even reported a direct return on investment. Check it out!

Photography Searching Made Easy

2009-11-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to post about this website for a while now, but I'm just getting around to it now. For two years, a large part of my job was purchasing stock photography, picking images for marketing campaigns and magazines, and being the general go-to-gal for all things photography at my company.

I'd spend hour after hour searching for that perfect image for a campaign. You cook up this visual in your head of the perfect image, and then it is almost impossible to find an existing image that meets your imaginary criteria.

I recently heard from a contact at Masterfile about their new search functionality. It has been around for a few months now. It is AWESOME. It was actually honored at the Webby Awards. They have tools called "SimSearch" and "Visual Matching" where you can take an existing photo, and it will recommend other images that suit it well. I don't know how they do it. Tiny elves? Magic wands? Some kind of potion? (see why I don't work in tech?) However they did it, they did it well. Check out these examples:

Masterfile has posted a demo video here.

Winter Song

2009-11-19T12:26:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of Ingrid Michaelson. I went to her concert about a year ago, and she is fantastic.

About the same time last year, I came across a song called "Winter Song" that she did with Sara Bareilles. The song is really beautiful, and the video for it is so ridiculously cute. I love the old-time movie reel effect, and the animation is so simple and fun to watch.

Given that it seems like it will never be sunny in Seattle again, this seemed like the right thing to post on a rainy, cold, windy day like today. Enjoy!

Social Media here to stay?

2009-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

I found this really interesting video on YouTube today about social media and its effect on marketing and advertising. As more and more companies are learning how to market their product or service through social media, some experts are wondering if social media is just a fad, or something that will be a permanent change in the way we do business.

This video is really well done, and makes you think about the way social media affects our daily lives. Check it out.

Learn something new every day!

2009-11-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine just passed along this link to Learn Something New Every Day. I think it is so cute and the drawings are really creative and fun. I also love that the writing is British English. I spend a lot of my day at work editing in British English, and I love the way they spell everything. Perhaps because I secretly wish I was British. And lived in London. sigh.

Here is today's.

Drumroll Please............

2009-10-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long hiatus on the blog. I've been cooking up some new ideas lately, and I'm ready for the big reveal.

I've been lacking in creative inspiration recently, and decided I wanted to get back into doing some creative work on the side--writing, editing, design, various artistic endeavors, etc.

The first step in this process was starting this blog. I've since bought the rights to a website, and am turning Vivid City Creative into a catch-all business for all my freelance work.

Most recently I've been working on a line of original, hand-drawn and hand-painted greeting cards. They're the perfect way to combine writing, design, art, and more all in one product! I love them for their simplicity.

Although the website is still in the works, I've posted the first of my cards for sale on Etsy. Check them out! There will be more to come soon! I'm looking into doing hand-painted stationary/notecards as well!

Deeeee-licious

2009-09-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer I did a photo shoot for my friend Kari's website, Bling Cakes. She makes the most delicious cupcakes and sells them all over Seattle.

I took some photos for her website--with the added bonus of getting to eat the cupcakes after the work was done!

Twentysomething Book Publishing Opportunity

2009-09-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

Photo of the Day

2009-09-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

Seattle Japanese Garden, Autumn 2008

Photo of the Day

2009-09-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

Pike Place Market, Autumn 2008

Distant Memories

2009-08-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

Today is officially six years since I boarded the SS Universe on Semester at Sea. I'm feeling pretty reminiscent about those great 100 days I spent traveling the world. It was the time that absolutely changed my life. I met amazing people on all different continents, had some crazy adventures, and formed lifelong friendships with my fellow passengers. I can't believe that six years have already flown by.

I spent a couple of hours today going through my pictures from this journey. They are an amazing collection of prints--African elephants, ancient Japanese Shogun castles, classic cars of Cuba, and the amazing rainforest of Brazil. I feel so lucky to have experienced this trip.

One of the most powerful experiences on Semester at Sea was my day volunteering at one of Mother Teresa's orphanages in Chennai, India. It was such a moving experience that I wrote a piece about it, which won an award in National Geographic Traveler. I thought I would post it here, so please enjoy.

"One Deep Breath"

The air is thick and murky. Sienna clouds choke my lungs and I cough black dust. As soon as I step out of the puttering rickshaw, I spin around and realize that I am alone. Alone in the subcontinent, a crying nation long forgotten by the bastardizing effects of the British Empire. The India of Gandhi and Mother Teresa is covered in a dusty layer of oppression and despair.

Two nuns open a squeaky gate and soon I find myself in a small, dark room. I slip off my dusty Nikes and kneel in silence in front of a tiny altar. Tamil hymns and prayers echo off the thick walls, candle light flickers, and

I take my only deep breath of the day.

The song ends and we walk from the peaceful chapel into the main complex of the orphanage. In a shadowy corner, a little girl sits humbly. She is 16, but the poverty of malnutrition has robbed her of an adolescence.

While the nun’s back is turned, the girl grabs my hand and pulls me down a narrow hallway. In front of us is a waist-high gate that protects the entrance to a nursery. Twenty beautiful white cribs are lined up in neat rows, and tiny babies in blue and pink pajamas sleep peacefully under a warm breeze.

The girl softly reaches her hand through the slats in the gate. She points into the beautiful room and a tear rolls down her cheek. I suddenly realize that the sleeping babies in the back nursery will be adopted. The nun catches up with us and guides me away from the idyllic nursery, without time to contemplate what I’ve just seen.

In an upstairs room, little boys squirm on their backs and cry out, their muscles too weak to sit up. I approach one crib, and as soon as I place a hand on the little boy’s protruding stomach, he is instantly soothed. I immediately think of the little children in the secret nursery, and wonder how they sleep so peacefully in the midst of all the chaos. Maybe they know they have a future. Maybe they’ve already forgotten the day they were left at the doorstep of the sisters’ orphanage.

I take a shallow breath and tears come quickly to my eyes. Goosebumps cover my arms and legs, despite the sweltering humidity. This may be the first time in my life I feel truly alive. Thoughts of the life I left behind slip away, and I suddenly realize that this is real life, this is real emotion.

As the day slips away and the sun begins to drop into the red earth, I have to say goodbye. As I close the gate behind me, I wave goodbye to the nuns, and silently admire their dedication and faith in a project that has no visible end.

Every day I still think of them, from thousands of miles away, and every day, I lose that deep breath again.

Photo of the Day

2009-07-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

Sunrise in Caye Caulker, Belize. April, 2009

Great Washington Wines--Food Northwest Piece

2009-06-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Matt always has a new business venture or website up his sleeve. His latest and greatest is www.foodnw.com. His site is an insider's guide to amazing Northwest wines, beers, foods, recipes, restaurants, and more. You can check out my first piece here.