I met Summer and Kerry Bellessa this past winter when I attended their Alt Summit class (hosted by The Girls With Glasses show). They were extremely generous with their knowledge and tips. So much so that I left their class doing air fist punches as if I'd won the jackpot. I also left very impressed with both of them not only as individuals, but as a couple. They sum it all up better than I ever could, so take a look at their bios and links below!

Thank you Summer and Kerry for being a part of My Better Half!



SUMMER
1) Eats ice cream for breakfast.
2) Is an eternal optimist.
3) Obsessed with Audrey Hepburn.

KERRY
1) Was the fastest 6th grader in the state of WA.
2) Likes to eat sunflower seeds.
3) He dreams big.

THEIR STORY
There was a guy living on Kerry's couch in Pasadena. There was a girl living on Summer's couch in Santa Monica. The couch dwellers went on a few dates, that went nowhere, but it delicately entered us into each other's orbits. After a string of casual meetings, we had an accidental double date (everyone else ended up bailing). It was at the batting cages in Sherman Oaks, we consider it our first date. We both knew, and were married 4 months later. That was almost 10 years ago.

Thank you Summer and Kerry for being a part of My Better Half!

Credits and Bios after the jump!

I am such a fan of Nikaela and her lovely blog Rose & Crown. Her simple yet beautiful posts always take me somewhere peaceful. We've never met in person--only corresponded by email. That said, she is so warm and genuine, that after reading her emails, I often feel as though we've known each other for years. Nikaela and her better half, Thom, live in Winnipeg and will be celebrating their third wedding anniversary this year. Thank you Nikaela + Thom for being a part of My Better Half!



NIKAELA
1) Likes grey days best.
2) Is excited to be old.
3) Wants to own a goat of her own.

THOMAS
1) Happiness = the Saturday Globe and Mail.
2) Two things that make him feel like a kid: ice skating rinks and the ocean.
3) Writes his secrets down in Korean letters.

THEIR STORY (by Thom)
For us, approving of each other's book shelves was a big step. We shared: I lent her The English Patient and If On a Winter's Night a Traveller, she gave me The Satanic Verses and Of Love and Other Demons. Maybe it was, in part, through each other's favourite books that we fell in love. I loved the way Nikaela read her books. She reads physically—creasing the spines, folding corners, underlining. In between the pages are ticket stubs and leaves and the odd smear of strawberry jam.

Nikaela keeps my head in the clouds; I keep her feet on the ground (although we're not as tall as that makes us sound). We like cooking and dreaming and reading and eating breakfast in the sun. In short, we're a match.

Well said Thom. You both have a lovely way with words. Thank you being a part of My Better Half!

Photos taken by a friend.

Three years ago today I made the best decision I've ever made and married my sweetheart.
This morning over breakfast we were reminiscing about the day and Cree said, It amazes me to think how much I loved you then and how much more I love you now.

My heart is full.

Since it's our anniversary week, and I'm feeling extra sentimental....I've decided to post some extra 'My Better Half' features.

PORTFOLIO UPDATE
Finally took some time to photograph a party in a box inspired project I was commissioned to do for photographer Priscilla Gragg last December. She sent it out as a New Years gift to clients complete with jelly beans, confetti, a wind up monkey toy and party straws.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

Alice Gao is a marvelous photographer and blogger who I had the lovely opportunity to meet this past winter at the Brooklyn Kinfolk dinner. She and her better half Jimmy live in New York City. She also wanted me to clarify that they are not married. Apparently I'm not the first to make the assumption. Ooops!  Thanks Alice + Jimmy for being a part of My Better Half!



ALICE
1) Obsessed with looking at architectural floor plans.
2) Dreams desperately of seeing the aurora borealis in person.
3) Remembers dreams in vivid detail every night, without fail.

JIMMY
1) Competed in ballroom dance tournaments in college.
2) Incapable of burping - critically weak to carbonated beverages.
3) Occasional calligraphist.

OUR STORY ( as told by Alice)
We met at a fantastic wine bar in Tribeca. We would have never met were it not for this bar's lamb sausage (one of Jimmy's all-time favorite bar snacks) and a long-time girl friend (hi, Mandy!) of mine who dragged me out that night. She got there first. He tried to talk her up/pick her up. I eventually arrived, remember whispering to her, "Is this guy bothering you? Do I need to take care of him?". We tried to carry on ourselves, but this guy kept butting into our conversation. It's kind of a long story from here, but I'd say we turned out just fine after all, as incredible opposites that we are. Although I do wish everyone would stop mistaking us for married....

(sorry again Alice!!!) And thanks for being a part of My Better Half!

Melanie and Ryan reside in Denver where Ryan works as a tax attorney and Melanie (of You are My Fave) blogs and makes for a living. Soon (!!!) baby Blodgett will make an entrance and they'll become a family of three. Thank you Melanie and Ryan for being a part of My Better Half!



MELANIE
1) Panics if there's no chocolate in the house.
2) Knows several of the Target cashiers by name.
3) Wishes National Treasure was based on a true story.

RYAN
1) Refuses to drink the top of bottom of the carton of milk.
2) Likes Jane Austen more than his wife.
3) Has to cut his hair every few weeks.

THEIR STORY
Ryan likes to tell people we met at one of his rock shows where I was instantly smitten with his rock stance and killer guitar skills. The fact is we met in a musty smelling basement and the first thing I said to him was, "Has anyone ever told you you look like David Duchovny?" When he asked me on a first date a couple months later, I marched around my living room to a lively John Phillip Sousa march in celebration. The next day he made me crepes and I married him 18 months later.

Thank you Melanie and Ryan for being a part of My Better Half!

Check out the new printable I designed for Oh Happy Day. Have you ever been to an around the clock bridal shower? They are so much fun. Also, this is old news, but you can see the latest What to Wear post I did for Oh Happy Day here.

PS. So so busy these days. Counting down the days to Geneva. Still no housing, but we feel like we're getting closer.

**UPDATE: Someone kindly pointed out that I have an 8 where there should be a 9. How embarrassing! I'm the queen of typos. An updated PDF is being uploaded with the correct clocks.

Heather Zweig is a freelance photographer and blogger. She lives in Northern California with her husband Justin and their adorable little boy. I highly recommend you take some time to look through their blog, We Three Zweigs. It's beautiful, heart warming and as sweet as can be. Thank you Heather and Justin for being a part of My Better Half!



JUSTIN
1) Fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
2) Currently studying Radio Broadcasting.
3) Makes the best tacos on the West Coast.

HEATHER
1) Loves being a mom.
2) Prefers winter over summer.
3) Has an extreme case of wanderlust.

THEIR STORY

For the past seven months, we have happily called Northern California our home. Justin studies, Heather photographs and we both enjoy chasing around our sweet little boy. We met and struck a friendship as children and fell in love as adults, marrying on a cold and snowy day in front of six dear friends. We are parents, best friends, partners and dreamers.

Thank you Heather and Justin for being a part of My Better Half!

Click on over to Oh Joy! to see my {casa & closet} feature by Bri Emery of Designlovefest.
I was tickled pink to be featured. Thank you ladies!