Family: A Klutz in a Resort

Posted on November 23, 2017November 25, 2017 by Milli Stephania in Friends + Family, Milli Stephania

So we have the ceremony, the reception… What comes after??? That’s right, the honeymoon!

Um… No it wasn’t that kind of honey moon, (and if it was, I don’t want to know about it, gross)

Punta Cana, here we come. And we were rolling deep. This was in all its entirety, a family vacation.

So not only was it my parents, my 4 siblings, 2 of their kids, 2 spouses, both of our grandmother’s, 4 aunt’s, 2 uncle’s and 7 cousin’s… Let’s just say getting a table to fit all of us for dinner was a bit complicated.

The drive to the resort wasn’t so bad considering it was about 4 hours. But once I saw the sign for Be Live Resort, I was happy to be able to stretch my legs.

Since our rooms weren’t ready (and really, how could they be with 24 people) we all dashed to the buffet. The many choices of chicken, beef, porkchops, different flavors of rice, mangu, potatoes, stew, name it..it was there. Well… Seafood wasn’t there, what the hell was that about? I wanted some lobster!

We all stuffed our faces and waddled to the front desk to get our room keys.

My brother Luis was upset someone had his car keys, and his luggage was inside. I was upset my room was placed on the other side of the island (or so it seemed). Everyone who was around my age group seemed to be together, while I got stuck with the oldies (sorry guys) How am I supposed to have fun, when the veijos were all around me? Not happening.

After hitting the front desk and playing tradsies with our key cards, I was finally happy. It was time to unpack and to jump in to a pool, which I had plenty of choices on which one I wanted to try first.

First day here and I’m already getting into trouble. That’s what I get for always being the one with the camera, trying to capture everything. My little brother Jeremy is having fun, splashing around and my father is laying pool side with a toe or two in the water. I walk alongside the pool to get a better shot, next thing I know my whole right leg went through the pool filter.

As much pain as I was in… I was grateful for once in my life I was wearing the neck strap. My arm was just clutching the camera with all my might, over the water, all while my leg was busy bleeding.

“Ay Dios mio!” My mother screams. I find a way to stand, and the blood near my knees is dripping over the obvious big ass bruise I’m going to get soon. Ice was brought over and my leg sits on top of another chair, soaking. I’ve only been here for about an hour.

Great.

I limped my way back to the room after some pain killers and told myself I wasnt going to ruin my vacation. I can cry when I get back to NY.

Family: La Hora Loca, After the Vows

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Milli Stephania in Events, Friends + Family, Illustration, Milli Stephania

After the ceremony it’s time to party!

What, did you think we weren’t gonna get get down and dance all night. Ha! You must not know Dominicans very well.

After we left the church, we arrived in style back to El Palacio Royal. Everyone was already seated and waiting for the wedding party to arrive. Mami seemed liked she was in a better mood after the vows. And knowing my dad, as long as Mami is happy, he’s happy.( Plus less of a headache.)

The venue was absolutely gorgeous. The attention to detail was insane. The little trinkets at the table fit right in with the romantic and coral theme.

I was kinda peer pressured into saying a few words, and even though I’m a great speaker—in English. I knew I had to shut this down in Spanish.

Knowing all the up and downs we have all gone through over the years, all the bickering we have all done towards each other, family is family. And even though we don’t always get along, you guys are it. My step dad to me is my dad. He’s the kindest man I know. If anyone ever asks— he’s the real deal. And I know, I’m so blessed to have him in my life, our life, mami’s life. Being her rock.

The spot light was on them, they danced their first dance in the most of bubbles and confetti, and they looked so magical on the dance floor.

After taking a bunch of pictures (I couldn’t really hold my own camera all night, since I had to be posing. I handed it off to my Michelle and she rocked it)

The food was delicious. I wish I had a plate right now and I heard the drinks were on point. I think all the dancing I did was enough to keep me occupied. Everytime I would go up to the bar for water, the bartender made sure he picked on me in a flirtatious way.

After taking all the wedding pictures mami kept hassling us to do (and which we still haven’t received from the vendor) I wanted to change. I had a second dress I couldn’t wait to get into. A mermaid style yellow number that made me feel like “chiquita banana”. I loved it, and apparently so did everyone else, because I kept getting compliments all night.

“La hora Loca” (which translates to “the crazy hour”) happened in a blur. The lights dimmed down, the fog began, and the music changed from soft to party mode. Right on time too. Mami changed into dress number 3. Funky hat’s and glasses were given out , and the crowd goes wild. I even caught Mami playing limbo, and my dad dancing to La Macarena!

This was such a special day for my family. My parent’s looked absolutely gorgeous. We don’t always see eye to eye, but now that I’m much older, I’ve learned to appreciate them so much more. I wish them all the happiness in the world.
And before I go, here’s a little drawing. I wouldn’t be me, if I didn’t create something new!

Family: The Ro’s Tie the Knot

Posted on November 21, 2017November 22, 2017 by Milli Stephania in Friends + Family, Milli Stephania

Well, well, welI, I think I’m doing a pretty good job of catching up if I do say so myself. If you’re walking in this blog blind, here’s what you missed:
I recently traveled to London and Rome on business. I’ve been using my camera and connecting with old friends at the same time.
I’ve drawn cute little cartoons of myself in my room, of a gorgeous melanin queens w dreads, and a cute pair of ankle booties.

Now that we’re all caught up, and back from the UK and Europe….let’s make our way to the Caribbean. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic that is.

Weddings,if you’re a bride, are stressful. If you’re the groom, your job is too pretty much show up. This one wasn’t any different.
Kudos to my mother for planning everything from the other side of the map. Good thing we no longer need calling cards to reach the Dominican Republic, because that bill, would have cost more than the wedding itself. My mother and her dear friend Goonie have been working for months, getting every little detail just right. The invitations, picking out the flowers, the seating charts, well… I think you get the gist of things.
Mami was the first to arrive with a list of crazy tasks to get done, including picking out her wedding dress, and the big day was only a day and half away. Yes, you read that right.

I arrived a day later, and I also knew that my bridesmaid’s dress still needed to be picked out and altered. With my sister and brother’s girlfriend arriving the day of, they really wouldn’t have much of a choice. And with our body types completely different, I knew I had to keep the other girls in mind. I think I did pretty good considering we only have three options in the color my mom wanted.

On the big day, we arrived to El Palacio Royal. We had a huge suite where our makeup artists were waiting. I was ready for a makeover. Since there were only two girls glitzing us up, and 6 who needed worked done, we were running short on time.

When mami spoke to the priest the day before, she assured him she would be on time. He hates performing weddings, she told us. He thinks the bride thinks is all about her. “I have a mass to perform right after, so if you’re late… You’re losing out.” Mami reassured him that that wouldn’t happen.

Well, it happened. Our cab driver decides to drive slow. Goonie, who was in charge of everything running smoothly, was playing no games. She starts to insult him, and everyone is cranky because 1, we’re late and 2, there’s no air conditioner! Mami was even afraid her makeup was going to melt before she arrived to the church. This cab driver heard everyone’s mouth. He hated us.

We arrived an hour and half late. Wow. We didn’t even know what we were doing, wehavent practiced how we were going to enter or anything. We grabbed hands and headed down the aisle. When we got closer to the front, we could tell the priest wasn’t happy.

Too late for pouting. Truly.

The priest began his sermon. I told you guys already, I was not planning to get emotional. I’ve seen my parents together for almost ever. They’ve been together for 20 years… That’s a long time. I got this. I lied.

I didn’t start bawling my eyes out, but my heart felt light and my cheeks were wet. They’re just soooo damn cute!

When the father gave the blessing that the new spouses can kiss, my father went all in. What a kiss… Save it for the honey moon folks.

Photography: Kathy Familia

Posted on November 20, 2017April 30, 2018 by Milli Stephania in Client Photography, Featured, Milli Stephania

I met Kathy when I was about 18 years old. She walked into the retail store I used to work at, looking gorgeous. Always a Fashionista. We quickly bonded when we agreed to share each other’s discounts for all the clothes, shoes and accessories we could afford at the time.

Naturally time passes, and ten years later she’s still a rockstar with style, this time with an afro I fell in love with it. I had to photograph it, her, all of it. In my mind, I thought I was doing her a favor by giving her new images, but in all reality, she was the one who had a bigger and better gift for me.

Our night started off kinda messy. Looking for a place to shoot at night is not my strong suit. I’ve been currently teaching myself manual mode in my camera, so things took longer than expected, but It was so worth it.
We roamed the streets of Chinatown, and instantly I was drawn to all the background lights, making anyone who likes to take a pictures, a dream come true for bokeh (the blurry background with the lights)
We had no specific place in mind, so while roaming I made a turn into a street, it was pretty dark but there was some neon lights that were calling my name, then that’s when I saw it.

A gorgeous old school powder blue Buick. Oooomg, I saw the whole scene come before me. That fro, those boots, that car. I’m one to respect other people’s belongings, so I didn’t want her to lean on the car, and get all comfy then have someone come and bitch to us about it. My mental was all wrong.
The owner came down and noticed Kathy posing in front of the car, he says not one word, takes out his keys, opens the door to the car and tells her to get in, then walks away.
Did that just really happen? I was soooooo ready and so grateful. My camera was working over time. I had to get the right shots and I I messed this up, I could never forgive myself. What a sweetheart!

But I gotta say, Kathy’s aura was amazing and so refreshing. After our little photo session, we went to get some pizza, and her prayer was bringing me to tears. Not only was the food blessed, but she prayed for our encounter, she prayed for me and my well being, for a better future, for the strength to make better decisions and for a better future… she even added a little prayer for God to send me a man who respects and adores me.

Oh, man…. is anyone cutting onions in here!?

You always tend to hear to surround yourself with others who teach you, help you grow, wish you the best, but Kathy was a blessing, and I only hope she’s rewarded everything beautiful in life, like she deserves.

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