It was a warm day in May (Photography by Kelli Guinn Olsson)

My twenties are well-documented by creative and beautiful shots like these because I've had the good fortune of counting this photog as a friend.  Kelli (who co-owns Twin Hearts Photography in Athens) did a session on the eve of my graduation.  It's a gift that will always take me back to that sense of accomplishment, to the weekend I triumphed over those fatigued evenings of writing and worrying and self-doubt.  They also document my father's sojourn to Georgia for the occasion, and I'll be able to frame some of these just in time for father's day.

Photoessay: Summer arrives in Austin

Photography has become a new creative outlet for me; I am a writer, but as of late I've discovered that some simple pleasures are best left to the lens.

Things I've learned from the Texas summer heat thus far: Sandwich bags full of fresh fruit are not just for toddlers, water sports require both physique maintenance and consistent pedicures (because Austin has seemingly too many hot people, if you can believe it), French press coffee really does top drip every time, writing at bakeries is my new thang, I could drink fresh salsa, and super-hydration is a very real necessity.