Arguing about music. Gotta love it.

I love Sara Bareilles. I've posted blog posts about her before here and here.

So I hear in the other room while minding my own business, some boy singing her new single "King of Anything". I find my dad watching a YouTube video someone had sent a link to him.



I then argued with him for a good five minutes about how this song was an acapella version and all the parts were done separately and then the tracks were laid together to sounds like the original. He didn't believe me! It was hilarious. He kept telling me there had to music. I told him those dudes are the music. It was pretty funny to argue with one of the main people who has been the foundation for my love of music, aaaaand be right. :) hahaha!

Bun in the oven-mini shoot.

First, a confession.

I am by no means a maternity photographer.

But when one of your closest friends who is prego with her fourth kid and you have not been able to take photos of any of the previous pregnancies or newborn photos, asks you to take maternity shots what do you do?

Welp, you push back your fears of never shooting a gorgeous pregnant woman, maybe hold your breath a few times and snap away.

I love this family SO much. Mama Beth and Daddy Adam decided not to know the sex of the baby. I mean, c'mon, they are boy factory...they have three other cutie boys (that I love). I was willing to bet money they were going to have a boy. Plus Beth was built to a mother of boys. I love her so much for that too. The way she interacts with her kids cracks me up. And I love when Adam calls any of his boys "son".

I'm not sure if I've really said it enough, but seriously, no really...I love this family! :)








See! Isn't she beautiful!!

I love this guy's curly locks. So cute!

I've seen this look a few times. Classic!

I love this boy's blue blue eyes!
My favorite part about this series...the last picture kiiiinda shows where his cute fingers were on his mom's tummy!

All the big brothers together! :)





p.s. I wanted to put this up before she had the baby, but I didn't get it done in enough time. Buuuut that means I can tell you what she had. Let's just say, I was right!! (duh!) haha!

Laughing.

I love laughing. Who doesn't?!

More than anything I love to make my nieces laugh. They are so much fun.

My youngest niece was showing me her pretty dress but she wasn't really working the camera for me like I wanted her too. So I tried to use my charm and wit on an almost three year old and it wasn't really working.

Go figure.

I had to resort to other measures...tickling.

So that finger poking her to get her to laugh, it's mine.

I was going to tickle, step back and take the picture, but then I saw what was happening...the moments we forget to remember.

I'm kinda in love with this series of pictures. Aaaand, yes I know I say that a LOT. But for reals. My cup runneth over for this little girl. It makes me smile and ache at the same time since none of my nieces live in Vegas too.



Now go make someone laugh...or laugh with you. ;)

Sneak Peek: Disneyland!!

The happiest place on earth of course involves fireworks!!!

More on the Wong Family Reunion to Disneyland coming soon!!

(I swear!! haha!)

Quenching that thirst.

I drink a LOT. I am part camel, I'm sure of it. On a good day I can probably drink about 5 liters of water. That doesn't include the glass or two of o.j. I probably drink in the morning, or the can of soda (sometimes two) I drink here and there at dinner.

Well there is a restaurant that my sister has to eat at whenever she is in town. Here is what they serve the drinks in.
I am in heeeaaven when they bring these jars out! And I think, "oh good, I won't be waiting forever for the server to come back around to fill up my empty glass." I can almost guarantee you that I can have probably 4 of those jars in one sitting.

It's the little things in life I tell ya!

Sun bathing.

I was trying to decide if I was one of those people that does blog posts about their pets...and then I realized, I have posted pictures of my dog before soooo, I guess I am.

This is my dog Mandy. When my brother left on his mission in 2004, soon after, to fill my void of lack of a little brother (hahaha), I adopted Mandy from the shelter. She is a sweet dog that loves to hug...literally. I've broken her of the habit of jumping on people, but when it comes to me, she jumps up and wraps her paws around my waist and digs her head into my stomach and hugs me. Since I love hugging, I'm pretty sure we were meant to be! ;)

Well anyways...

The other day, I was walking past the back doors when out of the corner of my eye, I see her sleeping in the sun. She usually does, and in the spot she was in. She loves to lay in the sun to be warm during the winter. Buuuut this time, she was sleeping in the funniest position. I had to double take, and also quietly run and grab my camera.

She looks dead, right?! But I assure you she is still kickin'! You can tell she was sleeping good, she was rolling all around in the dirt!

Pretty funny.

Sooo ONO!!

Ono is a Hawaiian word that means good or delicious...and it's what I'm about to talk about! It is said how it looks, O-NO.

Having a dad that is part Hawaiian that grew up there and has family there, I've been lucky enough to have been able to go there a few times. Granted I was fairly young when we did go and I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have. I hope to have the opportunity to go back there as an adult and enjoy the islands more fully.

The one thing I did appreciate and really loved as a young naive girl was something I didn't realize was the best of the best until I came back to the main land and have never enjoyed anything quite like it.

That little something is manapua. I first tried it when we were in Hawaii from the best place on earth, Libby's.

It is a special sweet tasty bread roll with meat inside. There are different types of meat for manapuas but the best/my favorite is the one with a sweet roasted pork.

Good Driver Test.

I don't know how many of you really know, but I get motion sickness. Sometimes more easily than other times. It's a bit odd. I never know if it will hit super fast or if it will not effect me at all.

There are few people that I call "good drivers" in my mind because most of my motion sickness comes from driving with other people. So if I am road tripping, I have to be the driver or be with someone that I feel is a "good driver" so that I can actually enjoy the road trip. Don't feel bad, my list consists of like 3 people of all the people I've driven with in my life. And they only made that list because consistently I've never had motion sickness from their driving. If I willingly let you drive my car while I'm riding shot gun, you have passed the test. But the true test is when I get off of an airplane and you still don't make me feel motion sick on the drive home.

Well one of those people is my sister Lani. She is just a good driver in general, not to mention she passes MY good driver test. So I am usually a passenger when we drive anywhere, especially on trips.

I remember we were driving home from Utah and usually the sun has already set and it's dark as we drive into Vegas. But this time we hit the sun setting. All I had on me was my point and shoot camera...and the picture is blurry because it was just too dark...but I had to get the colors of the horizon. This is straight out of camera.

It's amazing right?! Plus when I look at this picture (which, though blurry it grows on me every time I look at it) it reminds me of all the times Lani and I drive together. We turn the music up loud. We sing specific songs that we love to sing together. And I'm happy to be sitting in shot gun next to one of my big sisters that I love so much. And plus...I'm not feeling motion sickness so it's an even bigger bonus of awesome!

Happy driving! :)

Blast from the Past! A-woo-hooo!

My niece Kealani, loves to watch the old cartoons that my parents still have. Well when I say 'old cartoons' that means, tapes. VHS tapes.

She usually likes to watch "Bongo".

Which I love/loved this movie too, so I'm happy to watch it with her. I too like to sing along about how bears tell each other they love each other with a slap...but by the 5th time, it gets old.

So I told her to pick a new movie. She picked Duck Tales. So we stuck it in, and just like riding a bike, when the theme song came on I automatically started to sing with it. I had to laugh at myself kinda surprised that I remembered the words like I watched it yesterday.

I thought you might want to take a little trip down memory lane with me too...I found the theme song on YouTube. Enjoy.


(seriously though, this theme song is like the Kenny Loggins soundtracks of cartoon theme songs, right?!)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope that this holiday season will bring some good times and special memories in your life as they already have mine.

I'm very excited to have family here and to enjoy a nice warm crackling fire!

Mele Kalikimaka!!
Lots of love!!
Lori

Another one bites the dust!

Aaaaand another year DOOOOWN! Take THAT life! I made it another year! And though there were some bumps and bruises (literal bruises, mostly on my arms...near veins) I made it pretty much with flying colors to my 29th year!!
I know that I would not be where I am at in this moment in my life if it wasn't for the love and support of my family and friends. This year has helped me realize more than any other time in my life how much I love and appreciate my family and even though they drive me crazy sometimes, I also wouldn't trade them in for any other family.

(sorry, i only have pictures of me with people. i searched and i'm never alone...with my niece Jordan right before my birthday)

Don't ask me why, and maybe I'll change my mind later,(I'm a girl, and I'll play the girl card at that time if called for)but I'm pretty excited to face my 29th year and I'm going to face it head on! I have so many things that I am ready to do as I ride out the last year of my 20's. I never thought that I would be as ready as I am to face my 30's. And even more so, ready to face them single, growing successfully professionally in many different aspects and vastly changing my outlook on life and the perspectives that I have held for so long. I never expected to learn and grow as much as I have this year. Even though I have my moments, like most of us do, I am so happy to be where I am at right now.

I love and appreciate all of you who visit my blog and choose to share in my journey!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

And just for an added fun note...this is what happens after you come to a Lori Wong Party...theme for this birthday party
"Ain't no Party like a Lori Wong Party, cus a Lori Wong Party don't stop!"

(no one was drunk, impaired or harmed while in this shot...they were just tired from all the awesomeness of a Lori Wong Party)

They will reunite...

...yet again! I'm sure Mandy (my dog) is looking forward to it! :)
I'm so excited for next week! I miss my sister and my cutie niece!!


Bonus...all three nieces will be together again next week! Good times all around!
Here they are with Grandma and Grandpa or I mean "Gamma Nila" and "Papa".

My family makes fun of me when I take the stairs...

...but see...it can be fun AND exercise!! :)

I'm addicted to sunsets.

Here is my new favorite sunset picture I took a few weeks ago.

I usually don't get sentimental and mushy gushy on my blog, but I have a memory attached to this photo of how I was feeling when I took it. I just want to express my gratitude for all those who have been a part of my life. This has been a crazy year for me of complete change and growth. I am so grateful to have had the love and support from some pretty amazing people, especially my family. I remember feeling completely blessed with where my life has taken me, even with all the struggles I have faced this year, because there were also some awesome and happy moments too.

I was getting into my car and I looked at the sunset just grateful for where I am at in my life. I took a deep breath and tried to take a mental picture of the sunset I was witnessing. I luckily remembered I had my camera on me...and I am so glad I did. So whenever I see this shot I can remember how I felt when I took it.

I am honestly blessed beyond what I deserve.

You're Hawaiian?!

Yes.

Yes, I am.

And to prove it (which really isn't proof whatsoever, but go with me here), I have been on a Hawaiian music kick lately.

For the past two days I've been listening to:

(sorry for the small size, I couldn't find anything bigger)

iTunes Link

I love this album. It reminds me of my childhood, when we did stuff as a family or especially when my dad had it blaring on the stereo while he played the guitar. It was also one of the first live albums I listen to. I realized because of that I judge the recording quality and flow of live albums to this one a lot.

You all might know one member of the Makaha Sons of Niihau...

Israel Kamakawiwo`ole (mostly known as Iz or Brudda Izzy)



He is best known for "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World"...I found it for you to listen to. He has such an amazing, calming and peaceful voice.



I hope it makes your day better. It does for me whenever I listen to it, or any Hawaiian music for that matter.

Kealani

Here is my oldest niece, Kealani. She is slowly becoming jaded about getting her pictures taken. She is only five. I take most of the responsibility for that. hahahaha! But I loved this shot I got of her in front of my parent's house.She looked a lot like me as a little girl. But I think she is finally coming into her own. I know I don't have those gorgeous light eyes! I'm so jealous! But I did have that curly out of control hair. Poor girl, I feel her pain when it's time to brush out those curly locks!

Texas, here I come!

I am headed to Texas next week to visit this cute girl! I'm SO excited!

(confused at which cute girl I'm talking about? My niece, duh, the one on the right! I don't need to visit myself in Texas! hahaha! I'm hilarious. I know. It's almost tragic! haha)

I won't have much access to a computer, but I do have my trusty iPhone. So you can still email, call or text me! I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

Yee HAW!

Lani

My family are huge supporters of my photography. I love them so much for helping me have faith in myself to take the big leap. Pursing my dreams of owning a successful photography business. One huge supporter is my oldest sister Lani. She will be my test model, my bag carrier, my wedding party rounder-upper, my second pair of eyes, my second shooter, my voice of reason and on and on, basically, she is my right hand.

I don't think I thank her enough. And I'm sure she won't consider me plastering a picture of her on my blog as thanks, but oh well, I like this shot! :)



I love you Ua. Thank you!

The Halloween/Birthday Post, yes I'm THAT behind!

So I've had this sitting in my draft box for a really long time because I have a TON more picture to post, but I've finally decided that it's a week before Christmas and it's about time I posted the Halloween pictures!

Ridiculous. I know. Go ahead, shake your head at me, because I'm doing it right now at myself!

My sister, Landa and my youngest niece Jordan were up from Texas for a visit during Halloween. Isn't she a SUPER cute kangaroo!!
ACTION shot!!! haha! We were all c-r-a-c-k-i-n-g up when she started doing this. I almost didn't get the shot I started laughing so hard.
Awe! Look at the cute newlyweds! Pul-lease! ;) I love them. I hang with them all the time. (too much probably! haha!)
Kealani was a princess! Her mom made her dress for her! Teri did an amazing job!
I rarely EVER catch my dad on camera with a genuine smile. He freezes in front of me and gives me a fake smile. So I was excited when I got this one!
This is the birthday girl, Kaitlin.
I just love that her face is already messy (around her mouth) from eating Halloween candy! haha! Her mom made this dress too! As she gets older she is either going to loooove Halloween, or completely hate it. I hope she loves it, even though this Auntie has never been good at Halloween all together. Her birthday pictures are what I haven't gone through and why I haven't posted this yet. So sorry, this is it for now. :) But I still LOVE you Kaitlin!!!

Kealani is 5!!

What? Yeah. I didn't notice until my older brother pointed them out. They didn't notice they bought the wrong package until they started blowing up the balloons! :) hahaha! I loved it! (hopefully they saved some, Kaitlin turns 2 at the end of this month)

The BIRTHDAY GIRL! And her many goofy faces. I love seeing how she is growing. It's a bit surreal only because it's like looking back with adult eyes now how I looked and sometimes acted as a little girl.

Decorating cookies!

The lil' sister, Kaitlin. In the past she has been a quiet shy thing and then this trip, she was out of her shell, talking and such a fun little girl. I really enjoyed my time getting to know her better (if that makes sense).

Speaking of personality. This was hilarious! Kaitlin was mad at her mom for leaving to go to the store and leaving her at home. When she came back, this was the look she was giving her mom. We couldn't stop laughing. Five minutes later she was over it. But it was so funny that she could stare you down! hahaha!

Kealani has more leg than she knows what to do with! We like to call them sticks! ;P She is going to be nothing but legs when she gets older.

Just two sisters, coloring.

Kealani got "ten WHOLE dollars" for her birthday to put in her piggy bank savings. This is her showing everyone one of her presents from her mom and dad.

I can never get a picture of my older brother. He dodges me like crazy. Well his guard was down when he was hugging his birthday girl. Gotcha bro!

Teri did such a good job on the birthday cake, she always does. SO cute!

Let me preface these last two pictures. Kaitlin from the beginning has not taken well to any guy other than her dad. And sometimes no girl other than her mom, buuut she was more willing to come to a girl, especially to get away from a guy she didn't want to be held by. Slowly but surely she was getting a little bit better with Grandpa. I kinda forgot about all that and I was holding her and I saw something I wanted to take a picture of. Grandpa was the closest person to me, so I just passed her off to him. She sat on his lap and did nothing. She was just fine. No crying, no looking around for an escape she was fine and just as I was about to turn away from the pair to go get my picture my dad whispers loudly, "LOOORI! Get a PIC-TUUURE!" hahahaha. It was awesome.

So Grandpa couldn't help but steal a kiss while she sat on his lap. It's one of my favorite moments of the day.



Sorry, that was kinda long. I cut myself off. I had more! :)