But then I turned 30. My metabolism slowed down and my weight started to fluctuate and distribute itself a bit differently. Places like Forever 21 and American Eagle were no longer as body-friendly as they’d been before, and I had many frustrating moments with the mirror in the changing rooms. And the styles had changed so drastically that I looked like I was pretending I was still 16. (I sooooo wasn’t.) But the few times I stepped foot into the “women’s” section of a store, I just wanted to cry. The items looked old and dowdy… and I really didn’t want to purchase something that my grandmother might wear. And I just didn’t have the budget to shop in the places I wanted to.

I felt stuck. I found a few “safe” stores and purchased some “safe” clothing. But I felt like I was disappearing. In a strange transitional age and stage of my life, I just didn’t know how to dress to properly express myself anymore.

 And then I met Nicole Longstreath of The Wardrobe Code.

Nicole was in need of some new images for her “thrifted wardrobe” feature for her blog, and so I become her new photographer. And I learned a LOT from her along the way. Soon after the first feature, I was hooked. I excitedly welcomed her into my home (and inside my scary closet) where she performed her Ready-Set-Dress service. By the time she left, my closet had been organized so I could SEE what was there to work with, a bunch of unnecessary (unflattering) items were purged, my outfits had been planned for the next two weeks, and I had a shopping plan so I could fill in the holes of what was “missing.”

A favorite place for Nicole to shop is an Orange County Goodwill store. Because, let’s face it… we’re in Orange County, and people get rid of some pretty good stuff here. And, as Nicole has told me several times before… since the clothing is so inexpensive, shopping at a Goodwill store not only allows you to spend less and get more, but also allows you to take more fashion risks than you otherwise might have if you were paying full price.

I’ve been on several shopping trips with Nicole to the Goodwill stores. The first time inside, I was soooooo incredibly overwhelmed. There was just so much to look at… had I been by myself, I think I would have walked back out. But Nicole was awesome… not only did she go through everything quickly and efficiently, but she taught me a LOT as we went through it together. Look for THIS, leave THAT… the conversation was filled with lots of useful WHYs and BECAUSEs. And now, I feel empowered. I am slowly building up a better wardrobe for myself.

I’m uber-proud to show off my haul from my latest trip to the Goodwill a couple weeks ago:

items purchased: 10 shirts and 1 purse

grand total spent: only $55

I was in heaven! Not only did I pick up a few things I’d been searching for, but some of the items were name-brand and brand new, as well. Here’s a quick casual outfit I put together for the afternoon from some of my fave Goodwill goodies (new orange top, purse and earrings all from the Goodwill):

This might sound strange… but I felt like a million dollars. I’ve come a long way from blending into the crowd. I’ve embraced pattern, color, accessories, and HIGH HEELS! In short, I’ve embraced my powerful charismatic feminine side and I’m giving her a BIG hug!!!

And I feel more like myself than ever before.

 That’s why I’m excited to share this opportunity with you. Nicole is hosting an upcoming workshop where she will be teaching YOU the skills needed to reclaim your wardrobe!

Workshop contents:

• Accept & Love the Person You are Today
• Understand How Your Habits Affect Your Wardrobe
• Identify Your Signature Style
• Organize Your Closet for Stress-Free Mornings
• Curate a Wardrobe that is Stylish and Functional
• Shop Strategically & Save Money
• Build a “Free-Range” Wardrobe
• Maximize Your Wardrobe Without Shopping
• Create Expert Color Schemes
• Make it Work – EVERY DAY!

Click here for all the details.

I promise you, this workshop will totally be worth it. I don’t share something unless I truly believe in it, and I truly believe that Nicole Longstreath of The Wardrobe Code has been a HUGE factor in helping me reclaim my confidence. My exterior finally matches my inner sparkle.

And as a special THANK-YOU, Nicole is offering a special discounted rate to all my friends & fans! Register using code RECLAIM022 for a discounted ticket of $129 (regular price: $150). Click here to learn all about it, or click here to skip right to registration.

And get ready to EXPRESS YOURSELF!

This is a picture of me, just before I turned 17.
Yes… this is my high school senior portrait. (YIKES!)

In REAL LIFE, I never wore oversized denim shirts. Especially paired with vests. And huge sparkly earrings. And while I’ve had some crazy hairdos in the past, I was soooooo not the “big hair” type. (In fact, the day after these pictures were taken, I went right out and chopped my hair into a cute bob.)

Suffice it to say that I look nothing like myself in this picture.

This picture doesn’t capture anything about me, except perhaps my smile. But everything else is fake, fake, fake. (And now that I think back… the smile is probably plastic and fake, as well.)

Please don’t let this happen to YOU.

I want to help high school seniors to avoid repeating my own scenario.  I’m all about capturing the REAL YOU. No black backdrops or cheesy outfits. This is ALL YOU… showcasing who you really are at this moment in your own lives. Because your style should be celebrated.

And I’m looking for some volunteers to help spread the word:

I’m currently looking to enroll a few students in my new Senior Rep Program.

the Details:

You take your senior portraits with me. You spread the word by posting your images and slideshow on your social networking sites, and also by handing out referral cards to your friends. You earn a $25+ gift card to your favorite place (iTunes, Starbucks, etc.) for each referral* that you send my way. For real. And yes, it’s just that simple.

Senior Reps will receive:

• FREE signature portrait session ($175 value)
• 5 low-resolution digital images, for use on your social networking sites
• 15% off all prints & products purchased
• custom gallery app for mobile devices (iPhone, iPad and Android), to easily show off your pictures
• custom Facebook Timeline header image & profile picture
• video-slideshow of your session
  
• personalized referral cards to hand out to friends
• $25+ gift card (iTunes, Starbucks, etc.) for each referral* you send to The Suitcase Studio. (1-4 referrals: $25 gift card each referral. 5-9 referrals: $50 each referral. 10th referral: $100 gift card.)
  

*a referral is counted as someone who books & completes a paid session with The Suitcase Studio and returns one of your referral cards to me. Note: a referral is not limited to someone who books a senior portrait session only; referrals include any type of  portrait session (excluding mini sessions). Earn up to 10 gift cards/referrals.

Nitty-Gritty:

• you must be a current high school student who will be graduating in the year 2013
• you must agree to exclusively promote The Suitcase Studio as the photographer of choice for senior portraits
• your portrait session must be completed no later than July 31 of this year
  
• your portrait session will last 1-2 hours, and will be held at the location of your choice.
• your parent/guardian must be present at the client consultation, as their signature is required on the client contract.
• gift cards for referrals can be earned up until the day of your graduation!

Interested in Signing Up?

Contact me and let me know!  Send an email to michelle@theSuitcaseStudio.com, or simply click “let’s talk” at the top of this page and fill out the contact form. Be sure to let me know what school you attend, as I’m taking a VERY limited number of Senior Reps per school.  I’ll get back to you ASAP to schedule a client consultation for us to meet and get started.

I’m looking forward to meeting the REAL YOU!

Introducing, the incredibly adorable Jillian…

Jenny even supplied her own special pieces of china for the event. Imagine my delight when she pulled these carousel horse pieces from the blue Tiffany’s box.

Appreciating the silly faces that appear at this age.

It helps to have a cheer squad, too. Many thanks to Jenny’s friends for coming to play along… armed with books, toys, and an iphone with a playlist ready to go, we were able to coax lots of smiles out of this little cutie.  And many thanks to my own husband, as well… who has tuned out to be a major babe-BABY-magnet!

Click here to see even more images from her session.

I’ve gotten pretty complacent lately. Spouting pretty words of “finding joy every day,” but not taking my own words to heart. Lost in the hustle of the daily grind, with one day blending into another… waking up to realize it was Friday already when I swore it was just Monday a moment ago. Wondering “where did my time go?” and realizing I had no good answer. Sleepwalking. Full-fledged zombie mode. And just like a grumpy old man, grumbling and shaking my fist at those who dared to cross me.

Where was my joy? My peace? My pocketful of sunshine?

Caught up in my own turbulent whirlwind of daily stressors and activity, I hadn’t even realized they’d gone missing.

Until someone stopped me in my tracks. The story is hers to tell, so I won’t be sharing it here. But suffice it to say that it put me in my place… immediately.

Her own daily struggles trumped my piddly complaints ten-fold, and reminded me, yet again, about the importance of embracing the everyday. Because you really don’t know how many “everydays” you will have. And it would be such a shame to waste them.

I cried for what that woman is currently facing. And then I vowed that those tears would not be in vain. I couldn’t change her situation, but I could change my own.

Since then, my laundry has piled up a bit more. There are plenty of unwashed dishes in my sink. And my to-do list has grown in size.

But that’s okay…

Because I’ve spent time playing softball with my friends. My dog and I have taken leisurely walks. I’ve stuffed myself silly while eating out with my husband. I’ve read a trashy romance novel. I’ve watched Saturday morning cartoons. And I’ve even been caught singing along to the car radio at the top of my lungs, windows rolled waaaay down for all to hear. (And yes, I got caught dancing to the music, too.)

And I’ve found my smile.

—————

I hope you find your joy, too.  Let’s welcome it together. Let’s revel in it. Let’s lie down in the freshly cut springtime grass and roll around in it.

Maybe this will help get you started in the right direction… an image from a session this past weekend:

But stuff like that makes you think. And it really makes you appreciate all of life’s little moments just a bit more. To grasp everything near and dear to you and hold on tightly with both hands.

So when Gracie’s 6th birthday rolled around, her family decided that they wanted to celebrate in a big, BIG way. Because what is a birthday but a celebration of the person? And they had a LOT to celebrate.

Gracie’s party was held at Pretend City, where she was surrounded by the love of family and friends. Lots and lots of friends. And in lieu of gifts for Gracie, donations were made in her honor to benefit the children of CHOC and Health Bridge Children’s Hospital. Because it was a night for celebrating and giving thanks.

 Let the party begin…

This was my first time at Pretend City, and I felt like I was five years old again. I wanted to run and play and touch everything in sight. So excited, I didn’t know where to start. I think I must have pointed and said “ohmygosh” about a million times that night, my voice getting squeakier and my dance getting happier each time.  And that was just ME…. a grown-up.

The kids were fantastic to watch. Lost in the realm of imagination, there was no hesitation. They dove right in and BECAME what each area dictated. Farmer, doctor, grocer, chef, actor… they played all the parts available to them. And then some.

I consider myself privileged to have been a part of the night’s event, able to capture a few pieces of their magical play. There was no interrupting the flow and asking the children to pose or smile. I was a fly on the wall... buzzing from room to room, participating in the excitement, a HUGE smile permanently plastered to my face.

I was even instructed by one child to have a seat in the dentist’s chair so that he could give me a much-needed root canal. (And who knew a root canal could be so much FUN?)

Welcome to Pretend City…

Happy birthday, Gracie!!! May this year be a FABULOUS one for you and your family.

Love Pretend City and want to PLAY some more? I’m offering a FUN day of mini-portrait sessions coming up THIS SUNDAY, April 22nd, which will be “tea-party” themed… a PERFECT gift for Mother’s Day. Click here for full details and to snag yourself a spot.

A couple days ago we got together to snag some FUN engagement photos! There were lots of gorgeous & romantic shots that make you want to ooh and aah over this couple, and even a totally fun and AMAZING finish to it all which will be shared soon.

Here’s just a peek at one of my favorite moments.

Much more glitz, glamour and GLITTER to come soon…

Like what you see and want to PLAY with a session of your own? You’re in luck, my friend. I’m offering a fun day of mini-sessions coming up on April 22nd. Click here for full details.

And so, I invite you to join me on Sunday, April 22 for a day of mini-portrait sessions where we’re having a make-believe tea party! But this isn’t just any ordinary tea party… our table is a tree stump and our tea room is a field of yellow flowers.

There will be plenty of props on hand for your child (or YOU) to play with… including a tea set, mini-treats, teddy bears to use as extra guests, flowered hats & pearls for the girls and hats & ties for the boys. (Please note… no actual tea or food will be served… we’re using the power of make-believe.)

And… hint, hint… the resulting images will make for some FABULOUS Mother’s Day gifts!!!

CLICK HERE to sign up for your very own Tea Party Mini-Session!

CLICK HERE to sign up for your very own Tea Party Mini-Session!

Announcing an extra-special day of Mini-Sessions!

TEA PARTY themed mini portrait sessions.

(Hint, hint…) these photos will make FABULOUS Mother’s Day gifts…

In the name of PLAY I have fully embraced the “stylized” session… because it’s FUN to play dress-up and make-believe.

This unbelievably CUTE set-up will be tea-party themed, and will include lots of props for your kids to play with and make the magic happen. Teacups, floppy flowered hats & pearls for the girls, hats and ties for the boys, and lots more. (Sample pictures will be posted by early next week… but I recommend not waiting till then to reserve your spot!)

For only $75, you will receive:

     – 15 minute photo session

     – 15 creatively edited images to select from

     – 8×10 print

And, as an added bonus, you will also receive a $25 credit towards a future signature portrait session or day-in-the life portrait session, or a $50 credit towards a custom stylized portrait session!

Additional prints and products will be available for purchase. The mini-digital playground package (including all digital images) will also be available for the mini-price of $250. Contact me at michelle@theSuitcaseStudio.com for detailed pricing information.

Mini-Session Details:

Mini-Sessions will take place on Sunday, April 22 in a field located in Irvine (specific location to be shared with participants only)

Full payment of $75 will be required to hold your spot. In the “notes” section of the payment page, please indicate the time slot you prefer. (Available time slots are listed here on the event page.)

Each mini-session can include up to 5 people; there is a $10 fee for each additional person. Your final images will be ready for viewing within one week. Images will be hosted online for 2 weeks, where you will have the ability to purchase additional items directly from the online gallery/shopping cart. *Please note: if you require your item in time for Mothers Day, your order must be placed within 24 hours once your gallery goes live.*

IN CASE OF RAIN: These portrait sessions are scheduled to take place OUTDOORS. If it rains on the day of the mini-sessions, you can either: (1) take your chances and play in the rain, (2) put your session fee towards the cost of a full session to take place at a later date, or (3) receive a full refund of your session fee.

CLICK HERE to BOOK your TEA PARTY Mini-Portrait Session!

This past weekend, I got the chance to explore some hidden gems of the Orange Circle as a few friends and I participated in a walking food tour of Old Town Orange. Just so I wouldn’t get caught up in “work” mode while hanging out with my besties, I left my good camera at home. But I couldn’t resist whipping out my iPhone camera to capture a few highlights as we went along.

Here we go…

First up, I just have to say… I LOVE the Orange Circle. The textures and lines of the buildings are amazing… but I’m glad that I finally got the chance to go a little deeper into the heart of the city.

We met inside of the old Wells Fargo building (which I learned is one of the oldest buildings in Orange County). Just look at the beautiful ceiling.

Jen and I, about to get our grub on…

We began with empanadas and plaintains at Felix Continental Cafe. And having skipped breakfast that morning (oops), I couldn’t have been happier. My husband being Colombian, I am definitely partial to this food, and it did NOT disappoint. (Side note: I also highly recommend their Cuban sandwich. Your stomach will make yummy noises.)

Then a quick stop into The Enchanted Florist, where the owner (Kate) presented each of us with a gorgeous long-stemmed rose. I have to say, I was very impressed with this place… and Kate. This wasn’t just another flower shop. It is definitely unique, as EVERYTHING is custom made. There are no floral arrangements sitting on the shelf just waiting to be brought home or sent to someone. When you call or come in to place an order, the floral arrangement is created from scratch right then and there. It’s pretty magical.

Next up was Paris in a Cup… tea salon, market & boutique. It was the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. I wish I had pictures of the super-cute tea salon to share, but it was closed for private parties. Instead, we sipped on tea and slurped some baked potato soup, then wandered around their market area inside.

We then crossed the street to Francoli Gourmet… Authentic Northern Italian Cuisine & Specialty Giftstore. I will definitely be coming back. Not only was the food delicious, but the place itself was beautiful, and I felt completely taken care of by Luis, the manager. He is onsite 6 days a week, and says he has a knack for remembering faces and favorite foods ordered. He believes that food is to be enjoyed, and that a good meal should last at least an hour to an hour and a half. (No power-lunches here, people.) And I LOVE how community-minded this restaurant is… all artwork in the restaurant is by a local artist who actually has her studio around the corner. We were thrilled when she actually popped into the restaurant for a minute and we were able to meet her in person!

Next it was off to Watson’s Drug & Soda Fountain, which has been an establishment in Orange since 1899. Did you know that it used to be illegal to sell soda water on Sundays? As an alternative on Sunday’s, Watson’s started selling ice cream sodas minus the soda… which led to what we now know as the traditional ice cream sundae! (You can read even more cool facts here on their site.) While at Watson’s, we were treated to some of their famous rice pudding.

We made a quick stop-off in the middle of the Orange Circle, where we learned that the original fountain that used to be here is now resting at the Orange Library & Historic Center. We were also told about how the Orange Circle gets dressed up for Christmas each year, and inevitably… the Baby Jesus gets stolen. So, it’s a good thing they happen to keep a couple “spares” on hand. Ha!

Then we were off to The Bruery to enjoy some beer & cheese. I’m not much of a beer person, myself, which was why I was totally surprised to be enjoying our little sampling. I swear it smelled like citrus and was all kinds of yummy.

Next we popped into The Bite Market, a gluten-free and dairy free community grocery store. Bridget, the owner, told us how she has started this market out of necessity… her had been having medical problems where his lungs were filling with fluid and the doctors couldn’t figure out why. This issue was ongoing for several months. After visiting with a holistic health provider, she was told that her son was allergic to gluten. And after removing gluten from his diet, his lungs cleared up within 3 DAYS! Wow, pretty amazing, huh? Bridget promotes local products in her store, and we were able to sample one of her gluten & dairy free cookies.

Next up was the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Yum! We were treated to a bite of their “avalanche bar” which contained all kinds of rice krispie and peanut butter goodness.

The next stop was the Orange Candy Co. And this was like a blast from the past… all kinds of candies and characters from my childhood surrounded me.  We all sampled a piece of ZOTS candy, laughing at each others’ expressions as the candy started to fizz in our mouths.

We next headed to the Citrus City Grille, where we were treated to french onion soup and their delicious rosemary bread.

Our last stop on the tour was at Cafe Lucca for some gelatto. Because everyone needs to finish with dessert, right? And how sweet it was… I sampled their chocolate-covered banana flavor and was in heaven.

It’s a good thing we ended our tour at this time, because we were all stuffed!

If you’re looking for something a bit different to do, and want a taste of local flavor, I highly recommend taking this food tour yourself. And if you get Linda as your guide, be sure to tell her I said “HI.”

When I was wearing my underoos, I was strong. I was powerful. I was invincible. And best of all (for me, anyway), I wasn’t my SHY self. I was BRAVE, and could express myself and be who I really wanted to be.

But somewhere along the way, we’re told that we’re supposed to put these childish things away and “grow up.” The superheroes we like to emulate and the toys that make us happy are packed away or put up on the shelf where they collect dust. I clung to my childhood for as long as I could, and when I got a bit older, I even decided to reclaim it. Because there were things about it that just made me happy. As a result, I now have a large collection of My Little Ponies, a few coloring books that I still break out on rainy days, and even a fabulous life-like Iron Man/Tony Stark collectible (which was an awesome gift from my husband). And I am still very much in love with the cartoon & superhero world.

And what better place to embrace your inner-superhero than at the pop-culture phenomenon known as Comic-Con… a 4-day celebration of all things “geek chic” held annually San Diego? This will be my very first year attending the event, and I am SO amazingly excited to finally get the chance to go.  (squeal!) Thanks to a friend’s quick thinking, my husband and I were both lucky enough to snag 4-day passes before they sold out a few weeks ago… even though the event doesn’t even take place till July!

JULY?! That’s a long time to have to wait to play…

So when I found out that the company in charge of Comic-Con was bringing “WonderCon” to the nearby Anaheim Convention Center this past weekend, I just HAD to go. A smaller, bite-size version of Comic-Con, it was a great way to get my feet wet in the whole experience. My eyes were boggling and my camera was snapping… everywhere I looked there were people in costume around me. I didn’t always recognize the characters I saw, but my husband tried to fill in the blanks as much as possible. Most of the costumes were absolutely amazing… The time and care that people put into their costumes was phenomenal… it was like viewing living art.

And everywhere I turned, I was surrounded by “my” people… people who still embrace the joy of it all. And with the happiness that bubbled up from being there, I felt free. I could have twirled with happiness. I think I might have even jumped up and down from joy a few times. I felt like I was 6 years old again… brave and carefree and ME… just like when I was in my underoos. Being there, surrounded by all these people, I truly WAS Wonder Woman once more.

On the left… my husband, giddy because we’re about to enter the convention. And on the right… me with my, um, other man?

Iron Man:

Bumblebee. And look closely at the image on the right… he even had a bumblebee car air freshener hanging on his back! Now that is attention to detail.

Joker and HarleyQuinn, and the Martian Manhunter:

Character from Halo (I believe); and a Storm Trooper with Anikin Skywalker:

The view of the crowd as we entered into the actual convention area:

Players in the Star Wars Universe. The person in the Chewbacca costume had actually put in a soundchip so he could sound like Chewbacca, too… it was pretty incredible.

These faux pumpkins were carved by artist Alex Wer and were pretty incredible.

Captain EO with Zatanna; Hawk Man and Hawk Girl:

Dr. Who… old and new:

Batman and Batgirl; Wonder Woman:

Captain America; Supergirl:

Spiderman scoping out the ladies:

Character from World of Warcraft (I believe), with Captain Hammer peeking out from behind; Nightcrawler and Rogue:

A Ghostbuster with Catwoman; the Riddler with another Catwoman:

And a few fun pop-culture references… Angry Birds on the left; and on the right, a scene from Big Bang Theory!

So when it comes time for Comic-Con this July, you’d better BELIEVE that my superhero-self will be coming out to PLAY. Now I just have to figure out a costume that will accommodate the camera. (I’m open to suggestions, if anyone has one!)