quick stop in Portland

After a few days in Seattle, we headed South to Portland, where we were greeted at check in with wine. Yes, please.

We took a trip back out of the city while we still had a rental car and checked out Multnomah Falls, which is so gorgeous in person.

Back in the city we saw a bunch of people lined up for a doughnut shop, so we figured we should be too. T ate two of these bad boys.

We found a street fair downtown, where vendors had everything from dog raincoats to wooden bowls.

I found these fun leaf-shaped copper earrings. I like supporting local artists, and these were too pretty to pass up.

The Oregon Ducks store was a playground of green and gold.

Then off to the Japanese Tea Garden...

3 days in Seattle

As I mentioned, T and I are vacationing on the west coast, exploring new cities. We spent a few days in Seattle, where these photos were taken. From the first-ever Starbucks to the aquarium to an underground tour of the older part of the city, it was a great few days.

Aquariums are usually one of my favorite attractions. The Seattle Aquarium did not disappoint, with some adorable resident sea lions and sea otters.

Our home team is in the World Series - go Red Sox!

recent happenings

I recently invested in a DSLR camera, so of course I had to try it out on my favorite test subject, Sprout. (Also note the mess of wires in the background - at the top of the house to do list.)

He thinks he's a dog model.

Meanwhile, this room serves as both my office and my closet, so it's easy for me to make a mess. (Think piles of clothes on the floor next to piles of homework... not good.) I went through a closet purge yesterday and then converted a picture frame into a jewelry hanger to get rid of the jewelry mess on my desk. 

I'm also in the final planning stages of my sister's bridal shower and bachelorette party. Party planning is one thing I love - the lists, the logistics! Can't wait to share how both turn out!

What's on your mind this weekend?

guest post: wedding tips from Mary Costa of Mary Costa Photography

Hi there! I'm Mary Costa, one of Alyssa's BFFs from high school, and I'm super excited to be guest blogging for her! I'm a wedding/portrait photographer based in Los Angeles. Wedding season is kicking into full swing for me, plus it seems like every day my Facebook feed is flooded with new engagement announcements from friends (yay!!). 

Weddings are awesome, but they can definitely be overwhelming to plan. Here are six tips for brides from the standpoint of a wedding photographer!

1. Choose a nice getting-ready location: Try to choose a spot with good light and decor for those first photos. If it's somewhere you've been staying for awhile, have your room clean when your photographer arrives. (Photo credit: Andria Lindquist)

2. Have nice hangers: It's always wonderful to get a shot of that gorgeous dress hanging...but not quite so nice on a bad hanger! A pretty hanger makes a world of difference in the photos. This bride made individualized name tags for all of her bridesmaids, making the photos that much more special! (Photo credit: Style Me Pretty/Bloom Photography).

3. Make contact: Wedding photographers LOVE when couples opt to do a first look - it's not only a gorgeous moment, but it usually makes your day-of schedule way less stressful. That said, some couples prefer to keep things traditional and wait until the wedding to see each other. But just because you can't see each other doesn't mean you can't touch! This couple opted to pray together before the wedding and hold hands without looking at one another. If you want to keep things traditional, try something like this to capture a special memory with your partner before your wedding.

4. Involve your guests: Giving confetti, sunglasses, bubbles, umbrellas, or other fun props/details to your guests can add a lot of personality to your day! (Photo credit: Our Labor Of Love)

5. Plan for portraits around sunset: It's soooo important to take light into account when you're planning your wedding schedule. Be sure to check the sunset time for your day and try to plan for portraits around this time. Photographing in the middle of the day often leaves you with bright light, harsh shadows, and squinting portraits. I love shooting during the last hour of the day. If that much time isn't feasible in your schedule, at the very least try to grab 20 minutes of private couple portraits before the sun sets, even if you have to duck out of dinner briefly! (Photo credit: This Modern Romance)

6. Be adventurous: It's true that you paid a lot for that dress, and you're probably going to be tired come portrait time... but don't let that stop you from having some fun! Don't be afraid to trample through the woods, run in a field, or sit down in the sand. Take advantage of the time you have in your dress and make some awesome images (and memories) in the process. (Photo credit: Tyler Branch)