Girls Write Now Pair Portraits.

I am extremely fortunate to have had so many amazing mentors and professors. Ms. Sooy taught me how to see, Ms. Morris taught me how to write, and Daniel Joseph Martinez taught me how to think beyond everything I thought I knew. One thing I know for certain is that learning by example and being challenged by mentors I connected with taught me to value my education and my work. 

For about a year I've been volunteering as a photographer for a non-profit called Girls Write Now, a creative writing program that pairs over 60 professional writers with girls in high school, most of them at-risk from New York City's under-funded public high schools. In a city where only 21% of high school seniors are deemed "prepared for college", 100% of GWN's girls are both college-ready and college-bound. With writing portfolios, awards, and scholarships, this fall they head to schools like Brown, Johns Hopkins and Duke. 

Mentees from Girls Write Now were recently invited to the White House on the invitation of Michelle Obama and the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities to attend a day-long celebration of American poetry and prose. (Info from the GWN website and newsletters) 

I got involved with Girls Write Now through Volunteer Match, which is extremely informative and easy to use. I was on the site for about 5 minutes before I found GWN, which happened to be the ideal match. I highly recommend checking it out.  

You can support Girls Write Now by purchasing the 2011 anthology, "Opening Lines" (my photos are in the back!), or by donating directly. Fundraising is a tremendous amount of work. Support organizations that work towards social change! :) Big virtual high-five to anyone who volunteers, mentors, or teaches. You're awesome. 

Breakfast Club/Andrea's Birthday.

Last year I started a Supper Club where every 2 weeks my closest friends and I get together for potluck style festivities. This time was Andrea's turn to host and she decided instead of supper, she'd like to make breakfast, her favorite meal of the day. We stuck to a classic menu with pancakes, omelets, potatoes, biscuits, and bacon. And one GIANT fruit salad.

For some reason I always feel like Supper Club is the perfect time to squeeze in some bad graphic design.

I hadn't done any arts and crafts since my Valentine's Day party. I forget how much i love to cut paper. 

I like my fruit salads like my friends; colorful, diverse, and sweet. :)

I'm glad my hat from Halloween got to see some action. I love it but rarely have an occasion to take it out.

Pancake whisperer. 

Andrea made most of it. Breakfast is her thing. 

I freakin' love these kids <3

Pregnant in Heels.

A few months ago I was asked to create an interview room for Pregnant in Heels, a show about rich pregnant ladies in New York City. The show revolves around Rosie Pope, who owns the premier pregnancy concierge company on the Upper East Side. She designs clothes and accessories, teaches classes, and helps soon-to-be-moms prepare for motherhood in the most glamorous way possible. The show is not just about diamond pacifiers, though. Check it out on Bravo every Tuesday at 10/9c! Big thanks to my awesome art assists, Keith, Lisa, Elise, and Kelley. 

Bogotá, Colombia.

Hi everyone! Forgive my long absence. I was working on a film for 6 weeks that was consuming all of my time. After the film wrapped, I grabbed some friends and flew down to Colombia to see my buddies Kata and JB. For those who have been following my blog for a few years, you may remember that I visited them when they lived in Buenos Aires in 2008. I kind of consider Kata my fake big sister. I copy what she does and follow her around the world. 

We stayed at Kata and JB's place in Bogotá, a sprawling metropolis cradled by a ring of gorgeous green mountains. We arrived during Semana Santa, a holy week of holidays where people commemorate the life of Jesus, then go on vacation.  The city was pleasantly empty and our amazing hosts took us on a grand tour in and out of barrios, and up and down mountain ranges. Highlights include: abundant tropical fruit smoothies, sparkling sacred lakes, and a monkey riding a house cat...

I was kind of horrified when I checked the forecast the day before we left. Weather.com predicted thunderstorms EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. When we got there, it rained for a bit most days, but the ominous clouds provided the most spectacular backdrop so I didn't mind. 

One thing I loved about Bogotá was that no seemed to care that 3 multi-ethnic gringas were roaming around their city. Maybe it's because Colombians themselves are rather varied looking, or because they actually like Americans, but everyone was so kind, welcoming, and polite. No one stared at us in that rude or creepy way. Every time I caught someone someone staring at us, they would just smile and wave :) 

Kata, Gayleem, Andrea