Amanda + James: A Christmas Letter (2014)

I know it's "traditional" to type and print something like this and send it in an envelope to our 100 closest family members and friends, but this year we skipped the whole letter thing because we didn't feel there was anything worthy to force in front of you regarding our 2014.  But the more I think about it, the more I realize 2014 was a remarkable year for us and is definitely something worth documenting.  (Granted, I don't feel like paying the postage to send this to everyone in my address book, but it's here if you so desire to read it.)

As you probably already know, we ended 2013 on a somber note--my mom had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, and after James was laid off in November we were looking for a solution to our financial woes which resulted in us relocating to San Diego to live with my parents.  The plan was short-term; it wasn't supposed to last for any longer than it would take for my mom to heal from her surgery and for James to find a new job, but you know what they say about the best laid plans... So here we are, in December, still living at home and trying to figure out the next steps.  I guess I shouldn't say "we" are living at home, but more on that later.

I like to refer to 2014 as "the lost year," because it was really one big blur that kind of got lost in all the drama going on in our personal lives.  For those following along, my mom was diagnosed last December and underwent a double mastectomy with reconstruction on the last day of February.  Praise be to God that she was only Stage 2 and did not require any chemotherapy or radiation, but that shouldn't discredit the recovery that she did undergo.  I stayed home to help take care of her and bring her to all of her doctors appointments and as difficult as it was to be the caretaker, I know it was much more difficult for my mom.  She is back at work now and doing great; she is cancer free and has also become a vegetarian.

I purchased my first DSLR camera in March and began shooting everyone and anything, knowing I would be shooting my friend's wedding come September.  What I didn't know at the time was how transformative this whole experience would be.  What started out as a photoshoot here or there to test out new techniques soon became a profitable side-business that has kept me busy all year.  I believe I have truly found my passion in life--both photography and graphic design bring me so much joy it doesn't even feel like work.  I ended the year shooting 4 weddings and countless family portrait sessions, not to mention the engagement shoots to go along with the weddings and also a few newborn baby shoots!  I can honestly say creating DOSKOFOTO has been the highlight of 2014, and something I plan to pursue more professionally in 2015 and years to come.  While I have been shooting away, pouring over photography blogs and tutorials, making business cards and shaping my vision, James has been behind the scenes helping make everything possible.  He has taken over the accounting side of our business, built me a website, and is learning code for future DOSKOFOTO expansion.  I could not be doing what I'm doing if it were not for his constant support and encouragement.

Following her surgery, as soon as my mom was healed and back at work, the job hunt began in full-force, for both James and myself.  I started working a temporary office job for a soccer camp--the Berkshire Soccer Academy--whose office is located here in San Diego though the camp officially takes place in East Otis, Massachusetts (in the beautiful Berkshires).  What I thought was a two-month assignment soon turned into a full-time job that then led to the adventure that was our Summer on the East Coast.  After turning down the opportunity quite a few times, I eventually decided to accept a summer position as the camp photographer, so long as I could bring James along with me.  He worked at the camp doing odd jobs, but primarily working as the official camp Driver.  I accepted the position knowing it would give me exposure to a new field--sports photography--and it would also give me the opportunity to meet soccer celebrities from the USWNT like Mia Hamm and Heather O'Reilly.  It was truly amazing to watch (and photograph) them, but the best part of our summer was making new friends and getting away from home and the rut we were in.  We capped off the summer with a trip to New York City for our second wedding anniversary and we had an amazing time.  It was an unforgettable trip, filled with touristy stuff and plenty of new experiences.  I think we would be fine living there if we could afford it, but maybe only for a year or so as it is quite a busy place.

Heather O'Reilly, USWNT

Tisha Venturini-Hoch, Ange Kelly, Mia Hamm, Me, Kristine Lilly

Coming home from camp was like clearing the slate.  We were both unemployed all over again but with so many new experiences under our belt.  During the summer I had been having a lot of pain in my hips (note: I have chronic hip pain and had surgery last March to fix the right side, but it is/was still very painful from time-to-time) so I went to see my hip doctor who confirmed my fears--I would be having surgery again to fix the left side.  What a damper!  So there we were, in the middle of August, both ready to get jobs and move out just as soon as we could, but then being told I would be having surgery October 1st and would be laid up for about six weeks after.  As you can imagine, no one wanted to hire me knowing I would only be able to work for a month, and not again until December, so my job prospects were slim.  A month and a half later I had a left hip arthroscopy and femoroplasty with a little work done on my labrum.  While the surgery was a great success, I have learned that rehabilitation and recovery are no joke.  I should have learned this the last time but instead I overdid it and denied my body the recovery it needed.  This time around I made an earnest effort to take things more seriously with an intensive physical therapy routine 3-4 days a week, home and occupational therapy exercises, and many trips to the doctor to check that healing was going as it should be.  There are so many things I'd rather be doing but I have to constantly remind myself that this will benefit me the most in the future if I can be patient and disciplined now.

In October we had a lot of things happening apart from me having surgery.  Early in the month two of our friends from camp relocated to San Diego to work full time for BSA.  We've had fun helping them settle in and experience San Diego, and it's also been nice having some friends down here for the time we have left.  On October 21st my younger sister, Kayla, gave birth to their first child and my newest nephew, Bradley Shayne Boelter, who is an adorable addition to their family.

In November, James began working in Long Beach as the office manager for his fathers new accounting firm, Doskocil Accountancy.  As you might have guessed, and for those still following along, this means we are officially moving back to Long Beach in the very near future!  James is actually already living there (remember when I said "we" aren't living at home anymore?), and I will be joining him very soon as I finish up my physical therapy program here in San Diego.  On New Year's Eve we signed the lease on our new place and we couldn't be more excited to be moving back and living together again.  What a way to end the year!

So that was our 2014.  It wasn't the most exciting year of our lives, but it also wasn't the worst.  I've gained a lot of perspective this year and have come to value time with family much more than I ever did before.  While a lot of this year felt like a step backward, I know it was more like a springboard for greater things to come in 2015, even if those things are small.  In 2015 I look forward to a healthier year for myself and my family, a new home and new job in Long Beach, and continued pursuit of my passions in photo and design.  For anyone who has stuck with me through this longer-than-anticipated letter, I hope 2015 is a year filled with growth and blessings for you and yours!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Berkshire Soccer Academy for Girls

On March 11th I started working as a seasonal office temp for the Berkshire Soccer Academy for Girls.  I didn't think it would turn into much, but it was a nice part-time gig, close to home, and was enjoyable enough.  Now here I am, not even two months later, working full time, doing what I love (graphic design) and about to be sent on the adventure of a lifetime.  I guess that might be an overstatement, but not by much!

BSA is an elite girls soccer camp that runs 6 weeks out of the summer in East Otis, Massachusetts.  They have 5 week-long sessions with short bridge sessions that connect the weeks for campers staying for more than one session.  They have amazing US Women's National Team stars like Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Tish Venturi-Hoch, and Heather O'Reilly coming to coach, and the rest of the soccer, elective and facility staff are creme of the crop.

When they asked me to come along for the summer I'll admit I wasn't initially interested, but mostly because I didn't want to leave my hubby alone at home with my family for two months.  But when they asked if I would come as photographer, and when they said they could make a place for James to work on campus as well, well that definitely sweetened the deal.

So here we are, 4 days from departure, ready to pack up and ship our lives across the country for the next 10 weeks.  I'm apprehensive and a little anxious (mainly because we found out on a moment's notice and I've hardly had time to even pull my suitcase out of the shed!), but I'm also so excited for this opportunity and chance to round out my photography skills.  I've always said sports photography wasn't my forte, but now that I'll be photographing soccer celebrities I think I can expand my repertoire. ;)

So you can probably expect this blog to be quiet for the summer, due to lack of internet access, and TIME for that matter, but you better believe I'll have some great stuff once I'm back!

Oh, and the sweetest part?!  Since we're all the way on the east coast already, and we end "work" on August 8th, we will be spending our [two-year] anniversary weekend/week celebrating in New York City! :D  I haven't been since I was maybe 10 years old, and James has never even been outside the airport, so we are SO stoked to be tourists and see all there is to see.

The Big One

Right in line with the title of this blog, I feel it's about time to confess this exciting little secret I've been holding onto for some time now. There are so many fears and reasons why I haven't wanted to directly divulge what's been going on behind the scenes but I think it's time to "come out."

I'm gonna be a photographer!

If you happen to read my blog frequently or any time in the last few months you might recall my excitement over my new camera that I bought this year in preparation for our summer vacation. I never wanted or planned for it to become a career, and heck, I didn't even buy a DSLR, just a nice point-and-shoot. But I fell in love with it. I started seeing everything through photo filters, not my own eyes, but in the way it would be captured. What intrigued me even more was the film aspect--making movies and capturing the little moments. I toted my camera around Vermont documenting every moment of my family's reunion (celebrating my grandma's 90th birthday!) and I was totally, overwhelmingly consumed by the end of the trip as I scrambled to put together a little video to send back to the fam.

I never thought much of it, I just headed back to work and my daily tasks, but secretly kept watching my video whenever I thought of it; it made me happy on those long days.  One day near the end of August I was chatting in Starbucks with a friend when it hit me--this is what I want to do with my life. It was crazy. My brain immediately attacked the idea. I went back and forth convincing myself it could never happen. Or could it....?  I told my friend that I would start small, maybe someone would let me take video footage of their wedding for free, if I offered to make a little wedding video for them...   But then that was it. A dream deferred. It was a silly thought, and I have bills to pay, right?

Perhaps by now you can imagine my surprise when I was handed one of the greatest opportunities to ever come my way. I was stopped at a red light when I heard my phone, alerting me of a new email. I opened it up and this is what I found:

(A little backstory, Yessenia and I went to college together and while we took the same classes, I never really spoke with her. Our friendship consisted merely of Facebook and Instagram interaction. She is an amazing pro photographer on the side, and just got engaged this August!)

My heart nearly fell out of my chest and my jaw hit the floor.  Me?! Are you kidding?! I felt guilty even entertaining the thought, in fact I didn't even tell James until much later! But the idea was spreading through my mind, entering every corner of possibility until I couldn't take it anymore.  Then I started asking anyone who would listen what they thought about it. I was unconvinced and I was nervous as all get out. But then my mother-in-law said one thing that really solidified the conclusion I was ebbing towards: "She wouldn't have asked you if she wasn't confident in herself that you would be ready [and able] in time for the wedding." Bam. That was all I needed to hear. I was in.

I guess the rest is history, or at least you'll have to wait to find out. We've been meeting up for photo dates, tutorials and editing sessions whenever we can find the time, and let me tell you it's been amazing. I really love it and I really fear for my bank account (why does camera equipment have to be so darn expensive?!). I love learning with no expectations and I am so thankful for Yessenia's patience with me.

I don't know where this will lead, and for the time being I still don't expect it to be anything close to a new career, but it's still exciting to think of the possibilities!  Jeeez guys... I'm shooting a WEDDING next year!! Yikes!


For the full story, or rather, for Yessenia's take on things, check out her blog post --->HERE

15 Before '15:

11. Pursue my creative dreams

Just Like That

"You never know the biggest day of your life is going to be the biggest. The days you think are going to be big ones are never as big as you make them out to be in your head. It's the regular days, the ones that start out normal, those are the days that end up being the biggest."

--Izzy Stevens

For quite some time I've been looking for a new job, one that means health insurance and a stable, calculable income, and for months I've come up with nothing.  James got hired "temp-to-hire" at Yamaha in September and while we are hopeful his contract will be bought out in December (meaning he will come on board as a Yamaha employee, with all the amazing benefits), I'd rather be safe than sorry.  

Ever since my hip surgery in March I have longed for a job that would get me off my feet. I don't know if I will ever forgive myself for cutting my rehab short and going back to work before I was painfree. I worry I've done more harm than good, working long walking hours to make ends meet while James was unemployed, and I'm honestly too scared to go back to the Ortho doctor, out of fear he will confirm that I've done more damage and that I need another surgery.  

This past Wednesday I was off from work at Stacked, about to start my day which consisted of errands and laundry when I got a phone call asking me if I had time for an interview today or tomorrow for a job opportunity that opened up.  I thought I should play it safe and pick "tomorrow" so that I'd have time to prepare, but in the end I was asked to come in merely two hours later because they had already booked interviews for the next day.  Such short notice!  I printed out the latest copy of my resume and hurried to curl my hair before pounding down an iced coffee and running out the door.  I felt wholly unprepared and a little rusty when I showed up to speak with the President and Vice President, but apparently I wow'ed them nonetheless.  They gave me the usual lip service, telling me they really liked speaking with me and that they'd get back to me the next day.  I drove home thinking I wouldn't tell anyone about this, like it never happened, because I probably wasn't going to get the job, and last time I interviewed for a job I told everyone about it just to let them all down when I didn't get picked.  As I was trudging up the stairs to our apartment I got a text from a number I didn't recognize-- "U got the job!" 

I called them back and it turns out they cancelled their interviews for the next day, and I start on Monday! :)

I wish I felt total relief or excitement at that moment, and admittedly I did a little bit, but if you know me you know that I hate confrontation and all I could think about was how I was going to explain to Stacked that I needed to quit on the spot.  The next morning I walked into the restaurant with as much confidence as I could muster, and in what has to have been an act of God, the one manager I preferred to speak with just happened to be there, and in a great mood.  He took it so well! I was honest and told him I had been working towards this for a long time, that my family needed this and that I needed this, for my health's sake.  He was completely agreeable and actually gave me many congratulations. He reassured me of my strong work ethic and said I am great.  And that I'd be great.  And that if I ever needed anything, including one last free meal, that he'd take care of me.  And most importantly, that I didn't even need to put in a two-week's notice.  And then the relief and excitement really came.  Even in my wildest dreams I could never have pictured that conversation going so well. I bounced out of there and home to my husband to tell him the good news. :)

So today was my last day of part-time life, and I have to say I am a little sad.  I will miss my mornings drinking tea and catching up on chores and tv shows.  I will miss lunch dates with friends and being able to make appointments at non-peak hours (when the working folk get their stuff done).  But I will tell you what I won't miss, I won't miss the inconsistent hours, or financial instability that came of it, I won't miss working on holidays and weekends, I won't miss the girl-drama or the not finding out about my schedule until the week before, but most of all I won't miss coming home with swollen feet and aching joints.  Call me and old lady, but that is truly my favorite part!

Timing is a funny thing.  It's like you try so hard to make something happen, you try for such a long time and you try every avenue possible, and nothing happens.  You wake up expecting to fold laundry and stay in your pajamas most of the day, and the next thing you know you're driving to the next biggest opportunity life has to offer.  One of those times where, in the blink of an eye, your whole life changes. Just like that. I guess everything does happen for a reason, and I'm so glad.

A Time for Everything

Yesterday marked one of my larger recent milestones, my college graduation!  Even though I finished my classes and received my diploma in December, it was a joy to officialize it by walking in the ceremony along with my fellow Human Development colleagues.  It was an incredibly fun and enjoyable day despite the anticipated sunburns and wait times; I was able to spend the day with the ones who love me most, at an unusually relaxing pace.  In the morning we slept in and then James ran out to grab coffee while I ironed my dress and got ready for the day.  He returned with my parents, up from San Diego, and we hopped in the car and drove to school.  Thanks to my almost-expired handicap parking pass we were able to find parking quickly and walk right in, and before I knew it the precessional was going and I was ushered into confetti and cheers as 1,092 of us took our seats.  The ceremony dragged along as they read thousands of names but oddly enough I didn't mind it at all.  Afterwards I reunited with my family, including my older sister Heather and her kids, and then it was off to dinner at Red Lobster where we met up with James' family too.  Dinner was full of laughter, and GOOD FOOD (for me hehe), and then James and I headed home for a quiet movie night in.  Truly a great day!

A few weeks ago my friend Danielle asked if she could take some graduation-esque photos of me for her website, which I gladly agreed to.  I never imagined my last few moments on campus would be spent limping around, but I did, and ended up getting a couple great shots in the process.  This school holds so many memories for me, from each stage of my short life, and graduation seems to mark so much more than just a scholastic achievement.  I'm happy to close this chapter in my life and move on to the next!

Can't Be a Queen Bee Without a Bee Throne

I can honestly say I hardly ever crack open my actual computer anymore; more often than not I just do all of my internet stuffs via my beloved iPhone (which excludes blogging, since Blogger doesn't have an app!).  But tonight I get a night off(?) from most busyness and I thought I'd write a little....

It's been exactly one month since I moved into my new apartment and my fondness of it has only grown.  Sure, it's a long drive to work, but aside from that it is wonnnderful.  I just got a fridge yesterday, so 4 hours and 8 magic erasers later my new-to-me fridge is looking brand new, and I am finally able to buy real food again!  Don't get me wrong, I love pasta, but pasta every other night (along with pop-tarts, bread, and top ramen) is getting old.  Yesterday was an unbearably hot day to be moving a fridge from Long Beach to Anaheim, so we most definitely got to try out our pool for the first time.  Tonight while I was vacuuming James stopped me to say, "Amanda, I love our little place."  And we surveyed it together, from our fridge and new tea station, to the living room that's still coming along and constantly changing arrangements, to our little Ikea table and chairs... It's really an awesome little first home and we can't wait to finally live in it together.

Last weekend was my bridal shower and it was perfect.  I felt like time flew by, but I suppose that's good compared to other showers I've been to that drag on.  My maids of honor, Deb and Kayla, did an amazing job with not only the decorations but also with the events and the whole atmosphere of the afternoon.  I was impressed with how many people were actually able to come, and with how many wonderful gifts we got!  I finally have silverware! And cups! Ahhh!! I wish I had some more pictures for you from the shower, but unfortunately I didn't get to snag any as I was pretty busy.

On a side note, can I just add that I have the best moms?  Both my own mom and my future mother-in-law have been such a huge help to us this past month I don't know what I would do without them.  I guess our wedding countdown is truly winding down (40 days!), but with all of the last minute surprises and stress that's cropped up this month, they've been there for me and helped me through.  I got my wedding dress fitted and sent it in for alterations and seeing the dress on me got me very excited for our day.... that, and all these people getting married and engaged! August just needs to be here already!

[our new coffee/station... PTL for Starbucks benefits]

I've got two big interviews this week but before I jinx it and talk all about them, I'll just say God is good and more than surpasses what I ever feel I "need."

"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly father knows you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

-Matthew 6:31-33

Partayy!!!

As some of you may know, this past Saturday was our long-awaited Engagement Party!  (I think there were some issues with Facebook invites, because I know a lot of people that we invited who said they never saw notice of it, so sorry to you all!)  It was a great night of celebrating and bringing families together.

Bride & Groom!

James' mom and aunt were amazing as they put on the whole thing--food, decoration, ambience and all--and it was soo beautiful!  We even got some sweet gifts, which we weren't expecting at all.  I really love all of our friends and family, and I love spending time with everyone at once, which means a lot coming from someone who hates being the center of attention.  It just makes me even more excited for the Big Day to finally get here so we can all party together again....

Dad and 2 of his 3 son-in-law's.

The cutest little flag I ever did see, marking which house it was!

Wedding Bells!

**And for anyone paying attention, I GOT MY DRESS yesterday!  I went back to David's Bridal with one of my Bridesmaids, Oanh, to get her dress picked out, but I ended up trying on MY dress again and we knew immediately that it was the one.  I got compliments from everyone in the store and I think my smile was about 100% bigger this time around.  We rang the bell, took all the pictures, and sent away for it.  I go in for my first fitting in 6 weeks, woo hoo!!

March-ing On... photos updates and stuff.

Amidst any and all wedding planning I've been getting to spend a lot of time with some pretty great people lately.  Sadly I don't have very many pictures, but I guess that's what memory's are for.

A few weeks ago I went to my friend Amy's birthday party.  We had a nice dinner at her house, then went to a movie theater in Pasadena where we got to sit in reclining chairs with fleece blankets and food/bar service at the push of a button(!!).  We watched Amanda Seyfried in "Gone," and while it was kind of cheesy, it was still a great time with some lovely ladies.

I've also been getting to spend more and more time reconnecting with my dear friends Katy and April.

Melissa and I, on the hunt for a great bridesmaid dress...

The Huber daughters (-1) cooking lunch for Jamanda, Travis, and Melissa.  What a treat to get to see Jody again for the first time in almost a year!

I have meltdowns, he burrows.  

Wedding planning is a little overwhelming sometimes, I'm just glad it's not consuming us anymore...

On St. Patty's day James and I traveled out to Riverside to celebrate his Grandpa's birthday at Creola's.  I got to meet a lot of his extended family and also have really yummy food!

As for us, this week we've booked our DJ, registered/picked out the Groom/Groomsmen attire, planned out our rehearsal dinner, checked out hotel blocks, and on Thursday we are meeting with a travel agent to discuss our honeymoon plans! I don't want to speak too soon, but I think that's the thing we're most excited for in this whole process.

We were supposed to have our engagement photo session this weekend, but due to the REALLY WEIRD rainy/windy/dry weather we had to cancel them.  Luckily, my best friend and Maid of Honor rocks at photography so she saved the day.  More on that later.  Next weekend is filled with some pretty exciting things, so I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again very soon.... Happy Monday!

Some Things I've Been Up To

Sometimes I don't blog because I just don't have the time.  Other times I don't blog because I don't have anything interesting to say.  One thing I know is that people like pictures, so here are some pictures of what I've been doing lately.

With my sister getting married in January I have been coming home for a lot of family weekends.  I have been missing my church family in LB on Sundays, but I absolutely love the time with these people in this picture.  Sometimes being away for so long makes me forget how blessed I am to have the family that I have.  This specific picture was last month (October) on my Dad's 61st birthday.

As 6 months together came and went, this silly guy has kept me laughing and loving life.  I'm so glad we are still able to date and pursue each other regardless of how long it's been--it makes everything more fun  :}  This particular picture is us on the pier at Seal Beach after a Ruby's dinner, just being...us.

(My new "Hipster" App turns my pictures into Hip Postcards! LOL)

This is Carmelitos where I do my Community Service Learning.  I work with children from the Carmelitos neighborhood (low-income housing projects) to mentor them, tutor them, play with them, and provide any other after-school help that they need.  I have also received a specific "mentee"that I mentor primarily..

This is my baby Nebula.

She has melted my heart.

I see her every Thursday and it is always one of the highlights of my week.  Working at Carmelitos has opened my eyes and softened my heart to these innocent children that have so much to give but so little opportunity.  I love to love on her, and the way that she squeals when I have barely walked through the door plasters a huge smile on my face that is hard to get rid of.

Instead of buying overpriced Christmas gifts for everyone this year I began a painting project so that I can paint things that I know my family and friends would like, and have them "mean" so much more than a petty gift.  The only difficulty is finding time to get out all the paints and make a mess.  On Veteran's day we had the day off from school, so I spent the whole day painting.  These are the beginnings of a few of the paintings I did for my little sister's future house (she loves Sanctus Real).

James never drank much Starbucks before we met, but now he's a loyal customer (can I say that?)!  Starbucks gets us through school and work, and those have been two very demanding things lately.  Before-school coffee visits make my day!  On the bright side, today I took my last midterm/submitted my last paper and I am free for the week for Thanksgiving break!  I will be spending the Holiday in Bakersfield with James' mom's side of the family, which should be fun.  I love bonding.  :]

Working Hard or Hardly Working?  Sometimes I'm not sure.  Yesterday I spent 16 straight hours in bed, doing a combination of napping/studying/writing/sleeping/home-working and preparing for this last day of school.  Some days I feel like I have conquered the world, but more often than not I'm just exhausted.  I will be sooo glad when December 15th rolls around and I can wash this semester off of me.  This is my last intensive school semester (5 classes/lab) and after this I think it's safe to say it's all down hill from here. 

 I just picked my Spring classes about 30 minutes ago and here is a look at my schedule:

In case this just looks like gibberish to you non-college people, it just means I have 3 classes and a lab, and from the reviews I've read online, my 8am class is a piece-of-cake elective (attendance is not even mandatory!).  Graduation is lurking...so, so close.....!

Happy Thanksgiving!