J'aime Paris dans l'Hiver... | Chilly, Meandering Thoughts from Paris

And then came Paris.  Ever since I can remember I've wanted to come here. Just my luck, four years of high school French, two in college and I could only remember a few somewhat-useful phrases.  I then proceeded to annoy Nichole by sporadically spitting out words I remembered randomly throughout the day, like I had Parisian Tourette's or something. 

Fun French Fact: Tourette Syndrome was actually diagnosed and classified by French physician and neurologist Georges Albert Édouard Brutus Gilles de la Tourette in 1885.

While our entire 15 day holiday was completely amazing, it was our brief 24 hours in Paris that enchanted me most.  There really is something special about this place. Yes, even with more poop on the sidewalks than I care to remember. For the most part, everyone we met was very pleasant, with the exception of our hotel's night clerk.  If you want to hear the fantastic tale of  L'idiot et les Gendarmes, give me 30 minutes and drinks are on you. I'll only quickly comment that the French Police are jerky doo-doo heads.  Ok, enough of this...  let's get this show on the road.  Here are just a few of my many meandering memories from the City of Lights.

1.    The magic of the Louvre at night, unbelievably breathtaking and completely surreal
2.    Our epic walk from Gare du Nord to beautiful Sacre Couer (seen above)
3.    Meandering through the streets of Paris with a terribly drawn map.  Rick Steves, do us all a favor and stick to writing.  Find yourself a good cartographer and make all of our lives a little easier.  While I enjoyed our misguided wandering through the alleyways of Montmartre, a map's job is not to take you on the scenic route. Thanks. 
4.    Randomly ending up at Au Marche de la Butte, the grocery from Amélie

5.    Escargot and a 2003 Chateaux Garreau Bordeaux at Bistrot la Grange
6.    The beautiful wall murals by Christian Lacroix at La Bellechasse
7.    Sunset from the Eiffel Tower, the coldest place on Earth
8.    The heavy, ethereal feel of evening mass at Notre Dame
9.    Rushing across town to photograph the last Eiffel Tower light show at midnight
10.  The tiny bar off the Champs Elysees where every TV behind the bar was tuned to Fashion Television
11.  A 20 minute frantic search for the Venus De Milo before having to catch the train back to London
12.  Our first taste of chilled vodka shots with lemon in the lobby of La Bellechasse
13.  The Eiffel Tower's beautiful light show
14.  The statue of our good friend George Washington at Place d'Iena
15.  French macaroons at Paul before our speedy (daytime) Louvre tour
16.  Taking lots of silly little videos at dinner and along the Seine on our late night walk to the Trocadero
17.  Our quirky English waiter at Bristrot la Grange who named our 12 escargot: Ringo, John, Paul,...
18.  The bustle and madness of Gare du Nord, while crazy it was amazingly simple to navigate
19.  The vision of local artists and cooking crepes in the open store fronts of Montmartre
20.  Lighting a candle for a loved one at Notre Dame.

Paris, I'll miss you.  Au revoir mon ami, je reviendrai bientôt!

Étreintes et baisers! (xoxo)
Amy

Bonjour!

Mind The Gap | Brilliant Thoughts from England

Cheers!

As many of you know, Nichole and I spent the last two weeks of January in Europe.  While it probably goes without saying, we had a SMASHING time!  We started off in England, took little jaunts to France and Wales, and ended our journey in Iceland. Today we start with the first leg of our journey: London.  There are far too many stories to tell from this trip so I'm not even going to try.  When you have 6 hours free for drinks, let me know. For now you get my rambling, random, sporadic memories...  enjoy.

1.    All of the sparkling lingo: Smashing! Brilliant! Spiffing!
2.    Kitchen Roll = Paper Towels, Girl Guides = Girl Scouts, Jacket = Baked Potato
3.    Listening to English announcers call the Seahawks vs. Bears game at The Sports Cafe... weird.
4.    Eggs Benedict at BAFTA
5.    How the entire city of London is basically grey with splashes of red.
6.    A beautifully chilly sunset at Brighton Pier
7.    The fact that they don't have graham crackers, and therefore have never heard of s'mores...so so sad.
8.    The Tower Bridge and South bank at night
9.    Banofee Pie
10.  Windsor Castle and proper pub food with Jen and Mike
11.  Our wonderful flat in Whitechurch that smelled of fabric softener every day.
12.  Puddle jumping after drinks and a comedy show
13.  Silly photos with Nic in the tube/phone booth/bus/train....
14.  The Tower of London beefeater tour
15.  Chianti and great conversation at Strada with Nic and the Blains
16.  Unintentionally trading two days without hot water for a bottle of champagne
17.  The National Portrait Gallery
18.  The birds at Brighton Pier
19.  Waffles with chocolate and fresh strawberries
20.  Having no schedule or agenda, just going with the flow. :)

I loved London SO much and loved it even more because I got to share it with Nichole, my fellow photographer and favorite travel buddy.  We had such an amazing time and I could not have asked for a better trip.  I can honestly say I wouldn't have changed one single thing about it, quite simply it was AWESOME!  Special thanks go to Adam for our ridiculous puddle-jumping pic.  Stay tuned for pics from Paris coming up next...
xoxo,
Ames

Jen + Mike | Berkshire, UK

As promised, this is the second of Mike and Jen's engagement sessions.

While the weather fares about the same, we now find ourselves in serenely beautiful Waltham St. Lawrence in the English countryside of Berkshire.  We begin our day at the charming Bell Inn and Free House, meeting up with Mike's parents for a pint and a couple of aptly named Bambi Burgers (venison). I gotta tell you, after cringing at the name, I'm surprised to say I really enjoyed it! Our bellies full, we hopped up and wandered through the Inn and neighboring St. Lawrence Churchyard before getting back on the road and heading over to majestic Windsor Castle for a rousing audio-tour.  :) 

I cannot express enough how I adore these two.  I mean seriously, just look at them. If they had action figures I'd buy one in every outfit...except perhaps Mankini Mike. You'll have to ask him about that one. While we only stayed with them for three days of our 15 day European adventure, I felt as if we were with family the entire time. Mike's parents exuded the same charm and whit they blessed their son with.  They are truly lovely people and I am so incredibly excited to join them all again when we meet up for their wedding in Leavenworth this August. Definitely stay tuned for some fun photos to come.

Thanks again to Jen, Mike, and Mike's parents for all of your kindness and warmth.  We love you all!!

Now don't forget to mind the gap...
ames

Jen + Mike | Discovery Park, USA

This is the first of three posts. It begins here in Seattle with an email from afar.

Jen likes to say that she Internet-dated her wedding photographer and I think that sounds just about right.  We started chatting via email back in August and almost instantly I felt we'd known each other for years. The reason for our long distance relationship? Jen and her fiance Mike live in London. That's right, England.  Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, adorable red phone booths, the whole shebang.

Jen is a infectiously delightful person born and raised in Leavenworth,Washington who (after a storybook romance you'll have to ask her the details of) just happened to fall in love with charming Mike the Englishman from the countryside.  Who, the first time we met, described himself to me as "very British".  I later learned that "very British" apparently means tons of goofy-10-year-old-boy-in-a-man's-body energy. 

We corresponded for months and by the time November rolled around Nichole and I each had a ticket to London and a place to crash when we got there with no doubts.  Finally 49 emails, and a couple texts later, passports and plane tickets at the ready, we met for the first time at Red Hook Brewery for a pint.  It felt like meeting with old friends.

Six days later on a cool cloudy Sunday, just weeks before were to meet them again in London, Nichole and I met up with Mike and Jen one more time- this time for coffee in Fremont before jetting over to Discovery Park to jump around in the chilly Winter weather for their first shoot.  Despite the frigid weather we had a great time. Honestly, it's hard not to with these guys.

Another three weeks and we were all together again in front of Windsor Castle in London, ready to do it again. :)  Stay tuned!

xoxo,
ames

Erin + Andrew | Love on Island Time

I honestly cannot believe how long it's taken me to post this awesome engagement session with Erin and Andrew.  Nichole and I will be shooting their wedding this Summer in Leavenworth so together we headed over to Andrew's charming family house on Bainbridge Island for a little fishing and wine on a gorgeous lazy Sunday in November.  Their adorable pup Pete joined us for a little water frolicking and finger licking (there were plenty of treats on hand).  When the sun began to go down we moved the party inside for a wonderful salmon dinner prepared by our lovely couple.  If their families are half as sweet and generous as the two of them, we're in for a real treat come June in Leavenworth!!

Thanks again you guys for treating us to a wonderful dinner and again for your amazing patience with my utter tardiness on this post.  Don't think I don't adore you two (and Pete of course!)  See you in June!

hugs,
amy