Reagan has taking ballet for thirteen years. The little I know about dancing is mostly gleaned from our conversations and the ballets we've attended together. This girl is ridiculously graceful and beautiful, guys, and it had to be captured.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago, the click of the shutter echoed throughout the quiet, empty parking garage as Reagan posed and we laughed in between frames. We probably could have continued shooting all day, were it not for the security guard that threw us out. Yes, that happened. We got the heck out of there, but like many memories, it's ten times more hilarious looking back.

Reagan, I love our late night talks and silly rants and our general craziness. You're the best sister/friend/"enemy"/person ever and I love you so much.

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ps thank you all so incredibly much for your kind words on the relaunch. so blessed to have readers like you!

The longer I've been established and grown in the blogging community, the more something has become increasingly apparent. It's something that can become hidden underneath a thick layer of determination to be the perfect blogger, the perfect person. There is a pressing need to conform into somebody--something--you're not until all that's left is air swirled thickly with falsity plastered behind screens.

One of the things I'm very passionate about is finding your voice and making use of it. It can be easy to get lost in the rules and regulations that, when followed, are supposedly a recipe for success. It can be easy to become so driven to become the perfect blogger that you lose your own voice in the process. But pretending to be somebody you're not isn't what this whole journey is about. There's only one you. Why give up that precious, unique identity in favor of mimicking that one blogger everyone wants to be like?  Don't become discouraged because you have different tastes and opinions, or heck, a whole different life. Because the fact of the matter is: there is only one you, with a very unique heart, mind, and voice. It shouldn't be wasted.

This is the launch of Carlotta Cisternas. This is my voice, coming out stronger and clearer than before, breaking out of its shell. pastor's girl's ponderings has finally been laid to rest and I'm glad to be emerging fresh. Along with my dear friend Hannah--who's also just launched her new site!--I've been working and planning for this day for weeks and weeks...and I'm so excited that it's finally here.

Don't worry though; it's still the same Carlotta, with the same photographs and the same posts--just a different name and different look. Feel free to explore the new site, take a peek at the updated pages, and let me know what you think. I can't wait for the next part of this journey to begin.

I'm currently scrambling to finish up some changes to this space that will launch this Friday the 27th, hence the quietness around here lately. I have so much great material to share and things to finally unveil and I can't be more excited to show y'all--just a few more days! And until I'm back on Friday, I'll leave you with a shot of this boy that can't get any cooler. He inherited my old camera over the weekend and I cannot get enough of having him as a shadow, snapping shots everywhere. He's the best.

Catch ya on the flip side!

I'm convinced that the days between pressing "place order" and the package arriving on your doorstep are the longest days ever. It's always a test in my patience, hah! In the middle of a piano lesson, my sister and I heard the rumble of a truck, looked out the window, and screamed simultaneously. The doorbell rang and there was a pretty box on my front step, containing an even prettier nikon d90. This camera is phenomenal, guys...and is there anything better than that snap happy new camera feeling? I think not.

Adding to my things to be happy about list...

sipping coffee on a thunderstorm-y afternoon | brainstorming for new projects | a blank page and a pencil | chocolate haupia pie | pulling weeds in the garden | chats with friends over caramel mochas | freshly painted nails | sharing a bed with little sisters | muscles sore from working out | group skype calls with best friends | late nights at the movies | writing poetry in the sun | new cameras

What are some things on your happy list?
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are you lucia? if so, you just won yourself a copy of kinfolk volume three! congratulations! please email me to claim your prize.