I’ve done a lot of thinking about my Big Birthday, the Over the Hill Birthday, the Big Four Oh. I planned and planned a major trip to Mexico, to swim with whale sharks, to spend time with family, friends…my chosen family.

Friendsgiving Mexico, 2018

I hatched a harebrained idea to spend Thanksgiving in Mexico, and got a great group to commit to renting a boutique hotel for five days…

Jenna Van ValenMay 7, 2019Jardin Del MarComment

On The Road in Chiapas, Mexico

A photo essay of our trip from Cancun (state of Quintana Roo), to Villahermosa (state of Tobasco), to Palenque and beyond (state of Chiapas). DSLR photos, and iPhone snapshots. You can get the gist from the photos and captions, or you can read to learn more about traveling in this unique, beautiful, sometimes overlooked part of Mexico.

Colleen & Justin Say I Do

Colleen & Justin said I do in July at Plaza Del Toro in inner-Southeast Portland, surrounded by their family, friends, with funky oldies spun (on 45!), a sunset walk on the Eastbank Esplanade, and so, so many laughs.

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This summer at a July 4th party I overheard these two stunners were planning a wedding in Kailua-Kona, and I reminded them (only vaguely aggressively) that I love destination weddings…

I’ve done a lot of thinking about my Big Birthday, the Over the Hill Birthday, the Big Four Oh. I planned and planned a major trip to Mexico, to swim with whale sharks, to spend time with family, friends…my chosen family.

I hatched a harebrained idea to spend Thanksgiving in Mexico, and got a great group to commit to renting a boutique hotel for five days…