24.

Yesterday was my 24th birthday, and every year around my birthday I take some time to reflect, and determine what and whom I want to bring with me as I embark on another year of life.

My 23rd year was a year of phenomenal change and adventure. At the start of 2015, I was living in La Coruña, Spain with the most generous, lovely family who I miss every day. Living in Europe I was able to affordably explore much of the beautiful Eastern continent, expanding my global perspective. While traveling and living abroad, I met so many kind and fascinating people. I took thousands of photographs and made countless memories that fill my heart with so much happiness when I think back on it all. My hope is that I am able to continue to fill my life with adventure, to explore more of my own community and country, and of course, to engage with all sorts of interesting people along the way.

This past year I also had the chance to explore my faith more deeply than I ever have. That exploration and spiritual cultivation led me to a church, community, and friends that shine so much light into my days, and bring sweet fellowship in the moments I need it most. My hope is that this year will bring even more progress in my journey of faith, and that through these experiences, I will be afforded the wisdom and strength to live a more full life and to share this truth with others.

In finding my faith and exploring the physical world, I’ve come to learn a great deal about myself. I’ve read and shared and discussed my way to some really important self-discovery that is beginning to look a little bit like self-acceptance. This idea of self-acceptance is huge for me. I’m also realizing that the happier I am with myself, the more that love permeates to those around me.

Yesterday I received a birthday card from one of my nearest and dearest friends, in it she wrote, “I literally could not ask for a better friend in my life! You make me remember there is good in the world. You’re always there for me and I can never thank you enough for that.” As my eyes filled with tears, my heart swelled with pride. It’s rare that I feel genuinely proud of who I am, but knowing that despite all of my mistakes and shortcomings, I make people feel loved and appreciated, is probably one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.

In my 24th year, I will continue to face my days with a brave heart and an open mind. I resolve to earnestly seek a better and deeper understanding of my faith. I will treat myself with kindness and respect, and continue to shine light and truth into the lives of those around me. I will delight in my failures and my successes, because I know that both are steps in the only direction – forward.

I can already feel that this year is going to be spectacular, I just know it.

Gone Fishin’

Happy, happy Friday to you! Today I’m heading to Italy!! I just can’t believe it – I am so excited! But before I head out, I wanted to share some images I made last week. The kiddos I work with wanted to go fishing, so I tagged along with my camera and I’m SO glad I did. Check these out, and for more of my work, check out taylorlaurenbarker.com.

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Thursday Favorites: Folk Pop on Spotify

Hey y’all! I’m dedicating today’s Thursday Favorite to one of my favorite Spotify playlists. I’ve recently fallen just a little bit in love with the Folk Pop playlist – I’m even jamming to it as we speak! It’s great to have on in the background when I’m in the photo editing zone and especially when I’m working at Café Vecchio in Plaza de Vigo. It does wonders to drown out the obnoxious high schoolers and horrifying playlist these people have on repeat over here.

I love discovering new music this way, and who doesn’t love a little upbeat, folk first thing in the morning?! The discover option on Spotify will lead you to perfectly curated playlists with exactly the type of music you’re looking for according to your current mood or a specified genre. It’s like Spotify can read my mind! Despite the scary implications of technology taking over and reading our minds, I actually really love not having to spend hours wading through new albums and charts on itunes to find a few new songs (kind of lazy I know, but I’m a very busy girl!). There is just SO much music out there, that if this feature wasn’t available I’d probably still be listening to Madonna’s The Immaculate Collection  CD on repeat, just like I did for the better part of the 1990s.

I’ve linked the playlist below so that y’all can check it out. If folk pop isn’t your thing or you’re just in the mood for a little something else, check out the other discover options and find something that does float your boat.

Wedding Wednesday: Kamila Harris Photography

Happy Wedding Wednesday! Today I’m so excited to share that this summer I’ll be joining Kamila Harris Photography. I’ve long admired Kamila’s candid and whimsical approach to wedding photography so it’s a huge honor to be in the position to learn and grow with such an awesome and talented mentor.

I reached out to Kamila the same way I reached out to Michael Justin Films, and again my upfront approach proved successful. We video chatted a few weeks after our initial conversations, discussing my experience, her expectations and a little about our lives and love of visual storytelling. I’ll be helping her manage the studio and provide supplementary support during some events. After our emails and our short but sweet video chat, I am so excited to work with her this summer. I can’t wait to post updates from all my wedding adventures this summer, so be sure to stay tuned. In the meantime, check out Kamila’s amazing work!

Website: http://www.kamilaharris.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kamharrisphoto

Being Pamela Rae

I want to give a quick shoutout to my Aunt Pam, who started her own blog this weekend. My Aunt Pam has been like a mother to me, doting and lovin’ on me since before I can even remember. She never had children of her own, which makes me a little sad because she would have been a wonderful mom, but mostly I’m happy to have her all to myself.

I’m really proud of her recent decision to have weight loss surgery. I want her around for a long time, and this is a huge step in the direction of a healthier, happier, and longer life for her. Unfortunately, most of my extended family struggles with their weight, and that’s not a life I want for myself or my children, which is precisely why I’m working so hard to develop new, healthy habits. If you’re interested in her journey, I’d advise you to stay tuned for some beautiful writing and sage advice from an amazing woman.

A Photo a Day: “Adios”

Happy Friday! One week from today I’ll be jetsetting to Italy for ten days and I cannot wait. My friend and I are beside ourselves with excitement. I’ve written a bit about our plans, so if you’re interested in our budget friendly travel trips, check out The Broke Girl’s Guide to Italy. After I get back from Italy, I’ll be heading to Lisbon, Portugal to visit The Volvo Ocean Race on their seventh leg stopover.

Today also marks twenty-seven days until I move back to the states. I’ve been living in Spain, and on June 12th I will be heading back to the great state of New York! It’s a bittersweet feeling, but I’m certainly ready.

As I think about my time in Europe winding down, and all the exciting trips and events on the horizon, I’ve decided to start a little photo a day project. If you’re interested in following along, you can find my daily photos on my Facebook page and on Instagram.

I’ve titled this photo series, “Adios.” Although this is not by any means my final goodbye to Europe, it is a sort of goodbye to the life I’ve been living for the past several months. Once I have time to process all that has happened over the past year, perhaps I’ll be able to write about it. But for now, I’m sharing the best way I know how – through photography. And on that note, I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

APAD on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylorlaurenbarker

APAD on Instagram: https://instagram.com/taylsb

Thursday Favorites: Isopure

If you’ve been following along, you know that I’ve recently resolved to become healthier and more fit. On my quest for enlightenment and a tight booty, I’ve been running like a mad woman, already this month I’ve clocked 30 miles and find myself getting faster every day (be my friend on RunKeeper, look for Taylor Barker or taylsb). At this point, I feel like I’ve really got the exercise thing down, so I’ve decided to shift some of that willpower and focus over to my diet so that I can crush that part of my life as well.

I find it difficult to eat well for the following reasons: I’m lazy, I’m picky, I love bread and pasta and pizza and potatoes, and I have PCOS. Mostly, I have a hard time choosing the right foods because I have 23 years of bad eating habits working against me. However, this is NO EXCUSE! The past few weeks, I’ve been nose deep in all sorts of research, trying to make sense of what I should and shouldn’t be eating. The overall takeaway is that I need more protein and a variety of foods that are low on the glycemic index. If you want to learn more about the glycemic index, check out this resource.

After realizing that I really don’t have enough protein in my diet, I headed to my local GNC to find a protein supplement to ensure that I’m getting the proper nutrition to help my muscles recover and to overhaul my diet. I chose Isopure: Zero Carb in the creamy vanilla flavor and got a cute little protein shaker to go with it. I drink one serving after a workout and just that one serving is packed with FIFTY grams of protein. It’s also packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, and is gluten and lactose free. It’s pretty tasty, and I usually enjoy an apple or scoop of natural peanut or almond butter with it. I love that Isopure offers a variety of zero carb options and look forward to trying all the tasty ones, like Cookies & Cream, and Mint Chocolate Chip! There are also low carb options, but given my insulin resistance from the PCOS, I’m going to stick with the zero carb ones for the time being.

I wanted to write about Isopure as my Thursday Favorite because as silly as it sounds, this healthy lifestyle change makes me excited and happy. It’s pretty tasty and so easy to use, just two scoops, some H2O and a quick shake – be careful not to shake too vigorously or your shake will be all bubbles, you’ll feel bloated and you’ll be burping all day… I may or may not have made that mistake 😉

So far, I’ve feel really good about using Isopure. It could totally be the placebo effect, but as long as I’m feeling good and seeing a healthy difference, I’m a happy camper! I love that I feel like I’m finally in control, and although I’m no medical professional, just a girl on a mission, I really hope that my experiences can inspire someone to do the same.

Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and healthy protein shake tips!

Wedding Wednesday: Jodie & Rob

I have long been a fan of the blog Love24fps, and it was during a recent marathon of watching wedding films, that I came across Jodie and Rob’s love story. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, what makes a wedding film special isn’t the lighting, b-roll, music, or even a gorgeous couple. The wedding films that I love capture a couple’s love and bring it to life. These films personify love, breathing life into the most intangible, bewildering part of our world.

Jodie and Rob’s story is certainly one of love, but it’s also about family and about heartbreak. Threadless Films had an enormously difficult task, but they managed to capture this family’s story with grace and sensitivity. They accomplished their task so beautifully, that even watching it for the hundredth time – I can’t help but shed buckets of tear. Before watching the film, you should read what Threadless had to say. Oh, and don’t forget the tissues!

“Rob and Jodie met 13 years ago and have been lovers and best friends ever since. The past 12 years has seen them become parents to Tyson, Jaxon, Logan, and Grace, and happily settled in Ballarat. Rob was a heart kid at RCH Melbourne but survived to become the steadfast and wonderful father he is now. Jodie nursed her mother through her battle with COPD and she was by her side when Kathy passed peacefully 5 years ago.

Unfortunately for this family, 10 year old Jaxon was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, known as a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, in February this year. Initially he just had a bit of double vision but a week and multiple tests and appointments and scans later was given the devastating diagnosis.

He has undergone a brain biopsy and then chemotherapy and most recently, radiation therapy, and, then, shatteringly, an MRI scan- coincidentally scheduled for Jodie’s birthday- showed that there had been no improvement and indeed, the tumour has grown. There are few options left and the family have had to come to terms with the awful truth that Jaxon will not have long to live.

Jaxon himself has been an absolute fighter through all of this, going to school, and trying to remain as active as he can, being a keen basketballer amongst other sports. However, he has become increasingly dependent on his wheelchair as he has lost control over the left side of his body.

Jaxon has had only a few wishes. One is to see the New York Knicks play in Madison Square Gardens (thanks to the many kind donations this is happening!), the Starlight Foundation have granted Jaxon the other which is to see the Great Barrier Reef. And his parents are going to grant him the third; to get married while they are there.

On the 29th September 2014, Jaxon walked his mum down the aisle and fulfilled this last wish. It was our privilege to be there and capture the day.

Jaxon you are an amazing, spunky, brilliant, clever and funny boy! Enjoy your trip to see the New York Knicks game!”

Wedding Wednesday: Michael Justin Films

Happy Hump Day, friends! So, I’ve decided to jump on the “Wedding Wednesday” bandwagon, and for my first installment, I’m going to talk a little bit about Michael Justin Films. I’ve been working with Michael since 2013 and was recently tasked with finding us a summer intern. With all of the searching, a quickly approaching summer season, and an abundance of free time on my hands, I’ve been able to do some reflecting, some of which I’ll share with you now.

The beginning takes us back to November 2012 when I first stumbled upon “Jackie and Michael’s Wedding Film” on Pinterest. Watch it. Seriously. This was back when the video only had about 100,000 views, now it’s sitting pretty over on Youtube with over 1.2 million – damn. I like to think this indicates my mild psychic ability to predict trends, more on that later.

After doing my due diligence (read: stalking), I reached out to Michael asking if I could intern with him the following summer. I might have been getting a little ahead of myself, but that’s how compelled I felt by their story. It was only recently that I realized it wasn’t the film that was so captivating, but rather Jackie and Michael’s love story.  It’s the kind of thing that gives hope and restores our faith in love.

Anyway, a week or so later, Michael replies to my message and was basically like “Chill. It’s November. Get back to me around April of next year,” except much nicer and more professional. I followed my instructions and in May of 2013 I found myself sitting in the MJF office (aka: Michael and Jackie’s living room on the UWS).

Over the next three months, I worked several weddings with Michael, Donnell, Edison and Kraig. At that point, we were only working on films. It was a three man team and me. Literally. All Michael’s emails started with some variation of “Hey guys… and Taylor.” Honestly, I love being part of “the guys,” but I appreciate the effort. That summer, there was one wedding in particular that I remember. It was a destination wedding and Michael, Donnell and I road tripped to Jamestown, Rhode Island. Since there were only three of us it was an insane amount of running around like crazy. This was the first time I really felt like a really integral part of the team. It was a gorgeous wedding. In fact, all the weddings I’ve worked have been beautiful. I think what really sets the good apart from the best, are the people. In my experience, the least-stressed brides and grooms end up with the best results, and of course, they end up having the most fun.

At the end of that first season I was sad to have to say goodbye. But mostly I was okay, because I was confident that my time with MJF wasn’t over. I had worked really hard and established great working relationships and friendships. Spoiler alert, I was correct – told you, I’m mildly psychic.

A few months later, knowing Michael and the guys had their first dual, photo and cinema wedding coming up, I mentioned that I would be home if he needed me. I was hired to third shoot for the cinema team and that was my first paid video gig. I did a minimum of twenty different things wrong that day, but Michael proceeded to hire me for the following summer and still, to this day, trusts me to do good work for him.

Realizing that someone I look up to, sees inherent value in what I do and in who I am, was a critical turning point in my professional career. I have grown tremendously as a creative professional and storyteller since working with Michael Justin Films and I’m happy to have cultivated relationships that will allow me to continue this growth and development.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to surround yourself with good people. People who are and passionate about what they do, people who are kind and generous. I consider myself so lucky to have found a home with Michael Justin Films, I can only hope that more young people find the same kind of happiness and fulfillment in the work they do.

Donnell, Me, Michael and Kraig

The Broke Girl’s Guide to Italy: Part Two

Italy update! So, my friend and I have now accomplished two huge tasks in regards to our Italy trip… flights and accommodations! Woohoo! The following details the Italian accommodation plans of two expert “broke girls.”

Friday May 22nd – Travel from Santiago de Compostela, Spain to Milan, Italy (Bergamo)

Ciska and I will depart with RyanAir from the Santiago de Compostela airport at 8:40pm on Friday May 22nd, and will arrive into the Milan/Bergamo airport at 11:40pm. This is a late flight, but at the very reasonable price of €110, round-trip, per ticket, we couldn’t pass it up. When we arrive, we will stay in Bergamo overnight at Green Bed Bergamo Double. For €55 for the night, we will have a twin room with a shared bathroom, breakfast included. The guest house recieved a Booking.com rating of 9.6/10 from other travelers.

Saturday May 23rd – Travel from Milan to The Cinque Terre (am)

On Saturday morning we will take an early train to Riomaggiore. We found a studio for rent, only €60 per night, and the woman who runs the property will meet us at the train station to escort us to the studio. We will remain at the studio for three nights, while we explore the area.

Sunday May 24th – Cinque Terre (full day)

Monday May 25th – Cinque Terre (full day)

Tuesday May 26th – Travel from The Cinque Terre to Florence (pm)

Tuesday afternoon we will travel from Riomaggiore to Florence, hoping to arrive in time to enjoy the evening. For the two nights in Florence we will be staying at Wow Florence Hostel. The price for two nights is €84 and we have reserved two beds in a 6-bed mixed dorm. Other travelers gave the hostel an 8.1/10 rating, commenting on the cleanliness and comfort of the property. The location of this hostel was also rated highly.

Wednesday May 27th – Florence (full day)

Thursday May 28th – Travel from Florence to Venice (am)

Our one night in Venice was a splurge, but then again I hear everything in Venice is a splurge. Visiting this city was a non-negotiable for me, especially since I keep hearing it might become an underwater city by the next chance I have to go. We will be staying at Boutique San Marco for one night, which for two single beds in a female dorm is €90. The great thing about this place is the location, right in the heart of Venice, and with only one night here, I think it will be worth it.

Friday May 29th – Travel from Venice to Verona (pm)

While in Verona we will be staying at B&B Santa Toscana in a double room with a shared bathroom. Our one night here will cost €48 and reviewers gave this property a 7.9/10

Saturday May 30th – Travel from Verona to Milan (pm)

Our last two nights in Milan, we will be staying at New Generation Hostel Urban Brera. Guests gave the hostel a 7.3/10 and for two nights, two beds in an 8-bed dorm will be €108.

Sunday May 31st – Milan (full day)

Monday June 1st – Travel from Milan, Italy to Santiago de Compostela, Spain

On Monday we will be (sadly) be heading back to our homes in Galicia. We will depart from the Milan/Bergamo airport with RyanAir at 5:35pm and arrive into Santiago at 8:20pm.

For everyone who isn’t a mathlete out there, this means that the cost of roundtrip airfare and ten nights of accommodation comes to €785.28, less than €400 per person! There are some other costs to consider, like an added tourist tax at many of the properties, travel in between cities and of course all the pasta, pizza and wine we are going to devour, but I still think that’s a pretty phenomenal price for our Italian get-away!

With that, I believe I have covered all relevant details. We used Booking.com, with the exception of the studio we are renting in Riomaggiore. If you would like to get in touch with the owner, please let me know and I’ll be happy to pass along her contact information. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Remember, I haven’t stayed at any of these places, so I can’t vouch for them quite yet. Once we return from our trip, I will be sure to let you know as much as possible about what we thought in Part Three! Ciao!

Find The Broke Girl’s Guide to Italy: Part One, here.