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This is it! You've found it! This is the place to grab up your Spread the Love seat!!
But first, we wanted to answer a few of the frequently asked questions that we've been getting:
How long is Spread the Love? How many hours do I need a babysitter? :)
Great question! We'll aim to start all of the sessions at 3pm (but the time may vary if we have any location restrictions) and then will go til around 7pm. Although I tend to keep going once you get me started, so plan on 8pm just in case!! :)
Spread the Love sounds AWESOME! What is it again? :)
:) :) Spread the Love is not a photography specific workshop. It's a LIFE workshop. So anyone in a service based industry or who works for themselves could attend!! The whole idea is to show you how to build a business that works for you (rather than always the other way around) so you can get back to having a life again. Seriously, when was the last time you felt like you had a life outside of your business? So we focus a lot on building up your business, but we'll also dig into things like building your financial house, taking care of yourself and your relationships with the people you love, and giving back to the bigger picture. It's the feel good movie of the year!!
I'm just getting started....is Spread the Love for me?
Absolutely!! Oh what I would have given for Justin & I to start out with this information rather than having to learn it the hard way. It was a long, hard road for us which is a big reason why we wanted to start these workshops. We figured if we could help just one person avoid some of the pitfalls we fell in to, it would be worth it!!
What are the dates again??
Spread the Love Boston: January 5th
Spread the Love NYC: January 6th
Spread the Love DC: January 7th
Spread the Love Richmond: January 8th
Spread the Love Nashville: January 14th
Spread the Love Charlotte: January 15th
Spread the Love Atlanta: January 18th
Spread the Love Jacksonville: January 19th
Spread the Love Houston: January 22nd
Spread the Love Austin: January 25th
Spread the Love Dallas: January 26th
Spread the Love Phoenix: February 2nd
Spread the Love San Diego: February 4th
Spread the Love LA: February 5th
Spread the Love San Fran: February 8th
Spread the Love Seattle: February 11th
Spread the Love Salt Lake City: February 15th
Spread the Love Denver: February 17th
Spread the Love Kansas City: February 19th
Spread the Love Chicago: February 22nd
Spread the Love Maine: March 24th
Ok, ok.....so how do I sign up again?
Just head down to the drop down menu below, pick your city and click buy now. (You will need to sign up for a free Google account if you don't already have one)
We can't wait to see you there!!
***The not-so-small-print: Since this is your basic homegrown operation and we're paying for everything ourselves :), we won't be able to offer refunds for anyone if you end up having to cancel for a reason on your part. However, if we end up having to cancel a stop either because that city didn't make it to 50 sign ups or because of illness/inclement weather then we will give you the option of receiving a refund, attending another city on the tour or attending the re-scheduled stop. So you'll be all set there!
We piled in to the back of my mom's brand new forrest green Buick Skylark with the tan seats and the power windows. And we hit the road. My mom and my grandma and my bad perm and me. We were on our way to Seabrook, New Hampshire, which by the way and in case you didn't know, is famous for only two things: its nuclear power plant and dog racing.
But those were the kind of vacations we took back in those days. And I loved every minute of it.
I sat in the back with my brand new, crisp Rand McNally road atlas and a fat yellow highlighter pen. I loved the sound the pages made as I turned them one by one, and dreamed about what new adventures each state would hold for us. When all was said & done there were 10 states that we would pass through on our way to Seabrook, NH and I studied them one by one. Maryland.... Pennsylvania..... NEW JERSEY! And ten glorious opportunities for adventure. I took my fat yellow highlighter and I charted our progress onward.
Because I didn't want to miss a thing.
At every state sign, declaring "Welcome to New York- The Empire State" or "Connecticut-Home of the Nutmeggers," my mom would coast that Buick Skylark over to the side of the road. And I would scramble to unbuckle my seat belt and find a nice place on the guard rail to sit & pose with my new state. Because see, they were ALL my states now. And I Ioved each and every one of them. Sometimes I would throw my arms up like Vanna White, sometimes I would sit and grab a knee in a very New Kids on the Block-esque manner. But I always got my picture.
Because I wanted to remember that I was there. And that... at least as far as me & my bad perm were concerned... it counted.
And I guess deep down, that's why I'm still like that today.
So I will have Justin coast the trailer off to the side of the road so that I can pose Vanna White style by a cactus, make Julia & Shyla pretend to be attacked by a giant metal rattlesnake, have all of us go in search of the center of the world. And they do it because they are the world's best friends. And I am so lucky to have them along on this adventure with me.
Because they understand that I don't want to miss a thing. That I want to remember that we were there. And that...at least as far as me & my scraggly hair that's very much in need of a trim & color right now are concerned...it counted.
It always counted.
On the border of Arizona & California just as you cross the state line, there is the small town of Felicity, CA. Population 6. And it has been declared the official, honest to goodness Center of the World.
The man who founded Felicity (and later went on to be elected mayor) named the town after his beautiful wife (pictured right). She is a Wellesley grad. And he went to Princeton.
The official center of the world is marked by a small plaque on the floor in the center of this 20ft tall pyramid. Some other interesting sights at the center of the world are a sun dial in the shape of God's arm from the painting in the Sistine Chapel and a spiral staircase to nowhere from the actual original steps in the Eiffel Tower.
When you set foot on the center of the world, you receive a handshake, a certificate and permission to make one wish. I'd tell you what I wished for, but then it wouldn't come true.
The town of Felicity has one church for its 6 residents. But because they wanted to make it a place of reverence, they brought in 150,000 TONS of dirt to create a hill to build it on.
Perhaps the most important goal for the people of Felicity, is this project that they are working on to carve the history of humanity on to these giant marble slabs so that future generations will always have it as a reminder. I have to be honest, that when we went in search of the Center of the World we were expecting a cheesy tourist trap. But as soon as we started exploring these marble slabs, everything changed.
Whew!! Time has just been FLYING by ever since we landed back from the wedding! Lemme get you caught up! :)
Right before we left for home, we hit up the Big D Dallas. Dallas was SUCH an awesome group and if they were to win a Love award (a "Lovey" if you will) it would be for the group that laughed hardest at my really super bad jokes! :)
A HUGE thanks goes to Ms. Cristina Wisner for hooking us up with her killer space! We love you Cristina!!
The day after the Dallas Spread the Love, we made the EIGHTEEN hour drive from Dallas to Phoenix. Yea....mapquest is there for a reason. From there we flew home for the weekend to shoot Annette & Mike's wedding and then on Monday we flew back in to Phoenix, where we got in around midnight. The next day we got up and got ready to Spread some Love! :)
Phoenix was a really special stop because Julia's husband Mike was in town to visit and got to come out!
It was also extra special because our good friends Gina & Marcus were there, as well as the super adorable Melissa Jill.
A BIG OLE thank you hug goes out to Kimberly Jarman for letting us use her absolutely beautiful space!
And before I go, I'll just leave you with a little sneak peek of some of the fun we got into after Phoenix! Stay tuned....MANY more adventures from the road are on their way!!
After the ceremony, Annette threw on her fabulous faux fur and we rolled on over to the Bushnell Theatre for some fun portraits. HUGE thanks to Cathy Stephens for hooking us up with the in!
What a good lookin' bridal party, eh?
LOVE these!
Time for a little serious...
Fun with Ghost Lights!!
And then we headed outside for some cold winter light. Annette you are truly beautiful!
After that we went to the Downtown Hartford Marriott where the AMAZING Michelle, along with the help of Surroundings Floral, put together these KILLER details! From the very first contact we had with Michelle (when she sent us the nicest email we've EVER gotten from a coordinator), we knew we were going to love her! And we totally did! :)
Love this idea for table numbers! And how cool is it that the centerpieces were designed to look like snowy trees? Pretty bangin in my book!
The cake was made up of lady fingers....are you kidding me? Annette's uncle is responsible for this masterpiece.
Mr. & Mrs!!!
The reception started with the traditional Polish salt ceremony.
And then the first dance! Annette & Mike took dance lessons for weeks leading up to the big day so they could totally rock it out.
And they DID!!
The toasts were just how I like em.....
Hilarious....
AND emotional!
C'mon, how cute are THEY?! Married over 60 years now.
There was a little surprise performance at the reception. :)
Also a HUGE thanks to Ms Nicole Benitez who drove all the way up from DC to hang out with us that day. Nicole you were AMAZING and I can't wait to see all of the incredible things you do with your business! Love you girl!
Sometimes it's the space between. That moment between what you think is important and what really is. That fleeting place where real life happens. Where real love happens. It's the breath before the kiss. The doors before they open. The gaps between her fingers and yours. It's a smile when no one's looking. Your foreheads right before they touch. A dance that goes on just a little longer. It's throwing your arms around his neck, and catching that moment while your hands are still in the air because it makes you feel alive.
Yes sometimes it's the space between. And somewhere along the line you start to realize that it makes up a whole life together.
Married: Annette & Mike
Annette & Mike were married on a day that would make Yukon Cornelius himself go "BRRRRRRRR." (Yes, I did just totally bust out a clay-mation Rudolf reference...go with it!) But nobody there that day seemed to care. Perhaps it was because we all somehow knew what we were witnessing. The space between family and tradition, ceremony and celebration that make up a life together. And we were all there to see the start of this incredible life together. Annette & Mike, it is my wish for you that you always live in the space between. In movies on the couch, garlic in the saucepan, and doing dishes side by side. Live for those moments. Because they are what make up life. Together. A&M, it was our honor to be there with you guys yesterday. Have an amazing time in Mexico, and always remember that margaritas on the rocks most definitely dwell in the space between!! :)
So much love,
J&M
I LOVED Annette's bouquet from John at Surroundings Floral! I especially loved the pine needles and the brooch that they put on the wrap.
As you can imagine, these were a big hit at the groomsmen's gifts :)
Mike was looking pretty dapper that day! :)
The fierce shoes and a jewelry box that Annette's parents had made special for the day.
Work it. Lemme work it.
When we walked into the room and Ms. Naomi Martinez herself was there doing the makeup, I felt like we'd just crashed a celebrity's party! She's like BFF with Tyra! :P
Meanwhile, Mrs. Krasnicki and me coulda been BFF. LOVE her!
Annette, there are no words. Just look at this picture girl!! You are perfection.
Spread the Love
