What a day in the Valley!!

I must say after traveling just a short 30 minutes from home for one night, I feel like I've been in another world, another time, another paradise!!

I spent last night in the Santa Ynez Valley... a sunny land of ranches and wine, olive oil and art, . . and even miniature donkeys if you can believe it.

My mom is here for just one more day and so we traveled . .north or east . . .heck I don't know . . over the hills for a relaxing getaway. It was AMAZING. My only request for the day, to not have to look at my watch.

So as we took our time driving through the gorgeous twists and turns of the 154. Mom said to me . . hey by the way I used up all your olive oil . . well, good thing I had heard of this great little spot in Los Olivos (Global Gardens) that does olive oil tastings. Our whole day was like that ... unplanned from start to... well,almost finish . . .(I ALWAYS make a reservation for dinner). From there it was off to a sculpture garden and studio (where artist Blake Rankin tears away at chunks of stone to create beautiful pieces of art). Then is was time for a little "Sol" by the pool and relaxation around the ranch just before dinner . . . (my only planned event of the day) at my favorite favorite Italian restaurant Trattoria Grappolo (where you are always met with a smiling Italian and a kiss on each cheek).

Oh . . the donkeys you ask . . . just another one of the adorable charming parts that make up ranch land. . . take a look

I hope you all find mini adventures and relaxing paradises in your backyards!!

Love,
A

Slovenian Food, Girl Friends . . .and MOM

I may be thirty but one thing you never grow out of . . . mom's home cookin!!! I got home late Monday night from Mexico. . .walked into my house being met by my mom (visiting from Michigan) with a big gigantic warm hug . . . and a kitchen smelling of home-cooked yummy goodness!!

Tuesday I had planned for a special girls night dinner. You see my mom has kind of adopted all my friends here in SB. So when she is in town I have to schedule about ten different "play dates" so she can see all of her "California daughters"... so a couple years ago we started doing a girls dinner. . .mom cooks an amazing Slovenian meal for all of us. Its the perfect time for her to see all my old friends and new friends (don't worry Mom LOVES cooking for 15 people . . at least she says she does ;)

It was an amazing evening of love, laughter, sharing and fun! Plus who doesn't love momma's slovenian cooking.

Here are a few pics from the evening (granted photos don't do slovenian cooking justice)!!

some buttered noodles . . .cucumber salad. .. it may look scary but it is my favorite food on earth!!!!

To all my girls (Mom of course at the top of the list). . .you rock!! You are all my inspiration!!!

Love you all...
A

My new portraits . . of ME

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness... I am such a slacker!! I can't believe it has been over ten days since my last blog.... I deeply apologize to all those out there sick of reading the same story now ten times!!

Well.. I'm not much better today... here's a quick re-cap .. I've finished moving, threw a housewarming party, had a corporate photo shoot, attended and/or shot 1 rehearsal dinner, 1 wedding, 3 (yes THREE) bachelorette parties, 1 bridal shower, ... and this past weekend.. met with brides, and had an AMAZING photo shoot for a client (that must be kept secret for now .... shhhh ;) .. but I promise you'll see the pics in a couple months . . .. and then this weekend... it's off to Mexico for a quick trip of R&R before the craziness of summer begins...

BUT the thing I am MOST excited about today .... I had MY OWN photo shoot this past weekend with the AWESOME Mary Jane.

(check out her blog . . . I couldn't have written it better... so I'm not... I forgot we were shooting pics we were laughing so hard the entire time... We had so much fun . . .and that's really what it's all about!!
Janey . . .you rock . . .thank you soooo much!!
(BTW... Did Janey ask me to be cheesy aka jump and twirl ... nope, just me "dancing in the streets again")

(and the tree you ask? . . . just an example of how we'll do ANYTHING to get that shot... :)


I promise no more ten day disappearing acts!!

Love,
A

I'm Purple!!!

I've just redesigned my logo just a bit and decided I AM PURPLE w/ CHARCOAL GRAY!!

Here's the new logo hope you get the same feeling out of it that I do!!!


Purple: Purple is a color favored by creative types (that's me). With its blend of passionate red and tranquil blue (me again and I hope my couples--passionate and peaceful), it evokes mystery (funky & fun), sophistication (classic elegance), spirituality (hope) and royalty. Lavender evokes nostalgia and sentimentality (memories of love).

Happy Sunny Day!!

Love,
A

What Color am I???? . . hmmmm

So, after last weeks PUG meeting I was determined to figure out what color represents Andrejka Photography... boy, it was quite a stressful and emotional task. I went through every color of the rainbow.

At the very beginning of my color journey (when I thought I had it all figured out) I asked my ever-so-wise friend Kirsten what she thought... her answer, "color is a very personal thing and EVERYONE you ask is going to have an opinion" . . . boy was she right... everyone I asked DID have an opinion . . . and they were all different...

So the journey continued... after days of stress, my mom (worried about my lack of sleep) said "honey, just relax, be still and it will find you"... and you know as always it seems... Mom really does know best... again. Well, this morning while in the shower... it came to me... I figured it out what color I am!! I ran to my computer, started fidgeting with the colors and lo and behold ... they worked.

Now that things were ready to go, I decided I needed to check out the "meaning" behind my chosen colors to make sure I wasn't symbolically sabotaging my business (yup, I'm a bit superstitious) . . and yah know... the definition is PERFECT. . . exactly who I am, who I want to be, and how I want my clients to feel... ahhhhhh, what a relief, true validation. My search was over.. now for the fun part.

Check out this site for color info . . even if just for fun:

BRAND.CURVE Color Branding: The Meanings behind Colors

I am sooo excited to get the new and improved Andrejka up and launched so check back here in the next couple days and take a look.

Can you guess what my colors are?

Love,
A

My Big Fat Irish Chinese American Wedding...

This past weekend I had the great honor to photograph my dear friends Emily & Gerry as they tied the knot at the Fess Parker Double Tree Resort. These two amazing people have been a special part of my life for years and to watch them pledge their love for each other in front of 150 friends and family was simply beautiful. The minute Emily stepped out into the rotunda with her father, I began to tear up... it was such a special moment. The entire wedding was a perfect mix of heartfelt emotion and absolute ridiculousness . . . just like Emily and Gerry themselves!!

Let me paint a quick picture for you... imagine Gerry's Irish relatives mixed with Emily's Chinese family, now take their very hilarious friend Greg (the officiant) attempting to speak both Gaelic and Mandarin . . . (sweet and funny all at the same time)... throw in a mish mash of crazy friends (myself included), some dim sum, some BBQ, .. and the feeling of a fiesta...

. . and did I mention the height difference... Emily at 5'6" , Gerry a little bit taller at 6'11".. and yet they fit perfectly together!!

Emily and Gerry, my heart became a little bigger watching the two of you on Saturday... thank you...

May you love and laugh more and more with every passing year... (and Emily we all know you can Laugh)

Love you both,
A