Go-Go Mommy

Friday's Findings: A Photographer that is Part of the Family

Living in a new area is giving me a chance to meet new people and make new friends.  Sometimes it's overwhelming knowing who to turn to ask those everyday questions like:  Where can I find a good pediatric dentist?; Who has the best sales on party/holiday goods?; and Do you know a great family photographer?

I found the last question, however, easily answered when I met the mother of one of Poppy's newest best friends.  

It's strange when you meet someone that is so good natured and easy-going right off the bat.  Stranger still when you get to know each other a little better and find out that you share the same birthday.  And maybe the strangest of all when, through casual conversation, you find that that person is living and working in one of your ultimate dream jobs: family photography.

Her name is Jessica Galeazzi and you can read her blog here or view her website here.  With two kids of her own (miraculously close to Poppy's and Sweet Pea's ages - yeah for playdate time), she really knows how to just have fun with kids and grown ups alike which allows her to truly capture the personality of her subjects.  One look at her photographs and you'll see when I mean.  

Jessica just has that "photographer's eye" that I wish I had.  Viewing things from a new perspective and getting just the right expression of sweetness and charm in her shot.  If you're in California's East Bay Area and are looking for a good photographer, have I got the friend for you!

Serendipity - Part Two

Reason #1 that I am now glad that my original travel plans were cancelled (see Serendipity). I just scored tickets for KB, Poppy, and I to go and see The Nutcracker this Christmas season. As luck, fate, serendipity or whatever word you prefer would have it, I happened to turn on the noon news and saw a commercial for the ballet. All I heard were the words "tickets now on sale." So...I called and viola! Great seats to this year's holiday spectacular!

I don't know who is more excited, Poppy or I. This will be her first official trip to the ballet and I cannot wait to see her reaction to it. We almost went last year but by the time I called, there were no tickets left for the family performances. I guess things do happen for reasons and I'll continue to see what other fortunate events might come my way. After all, there are still 10 days left in my "cancelled trip countdown" - so you never know!

What have you found when you weren't looking for it?

I also write at Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.

Serendipity

Today should be the day from hell. Today should be the day that I travel on a red-eye flight with my infant and toddler to see all of our relatives. However, that will not be happening today. I will not have to endure checking-in luggage and car seats, hauling diaper bags, bottles, and a double stoller through security. I will not have to explain that it is baby formula in the baby bottles or try mixing dry-powdered bottles on the plane. Nor will I have to figure out how to navigate the airplane bathroom with my toddler and choose which flight attendant is the most responsible to watch my infant while I'm in the bathroom with my toddler.

I won't have to do any of this because I just found out yesterday (the day before we travel) that my return flight has been cancelled. And not just cancelled but totally eradicated from the airline's flight plans. As of the beginning of September, this airline will "no longer be flying" anywhere closer than a 6 hour drive to my airport. So, rather than flying out today and getting stuck paying thousands of dollars to get home (amazingly this airline has no reciprocity with any other airline on this planet), Go-Go Mommy has made the executive decision to Not-Go for once.

Now I know all the typical sayings: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." - "It's not what happens to you, it's how you react to it." Or something like that, and that's when I started thinking, I have now been given 2 and a half weeks of something new and unexpected. Yes, I will miss seeing my parents, in-laws, brothers, sisters, etc. But at the same time, over the next 17 days, I will be exposed to people, places, and things that I would have missed if not for this unfortunate event. Serendipity in the making!

So, I choose to open my heart and mind and see just what is in store for me and my little ones. It just better be really good!

You can also find me at Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.