Wow. Two incredibly thoughtful gifts in one week. First, Bev from Cake Creations, left me a nice box of her delicious cupcakes at Kit and Gary's wedding. She wanted to thank me for providing her a cupcake photo from a show (and not even hi-res) she has been using since 2009 to effectively sell her trademark cupcake design. Second, after a long and unexpected chilly engagement session with Nerissa and Chris in downtown San Jose, we had a conversation about beers. Chris happens to be a proud owner of a 250+ beer bottle collection in his home. I fired back with a boast of having tried a whopping three types of beer (Budweiser, Corona and Heineken). Today, a six pack of international beers arrived at my door. Thank you Bev, Chris and Nerissa.

Got the creative juice flowing again after Fer Juaristi's workshop. So fortunate to meet and create new friends in the industry: Ari Simphoukham, Cliff Brunk, Buffy Goodman, David Kim, and Manus Chau and more. Much thanks to Cliff Brunk and his wife, Malarie Juricev for being such great hosts.

Before Drew Brees, there was Archie Manning, the most beloved Saints ever without ever taking his teams to the Playoffs. We all watched and enjoyed his two off-springs become Super Bowl MVP's. Though we, New Orleanians, still love Archie and his boys, we are very blessed that Drew Brees came to New Orleans and gave us a Championship. This award could not have given to a more deserving man. Drew may doe snot have to win another game in New Orleans and he would still be the city's  the most beloved athlete of all time.
Congrats to Drew Brees!


Drew Brees and past cover photos: Sports Illustrated

By Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated

For not only leading the New Orleans Saints to the first Super Bowl title in the franchise's history, but also for helping lead the city of New Orleans' rebirth after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, quarterback Drew Brees is the recipient of Sports Illustrated's 57th Sportsman of the Year award. Brees will be honored at a ceremony Tuesday evening in New York City.

The SI award comes as Brees and the Saints have won four consecutive games and, with an 8-3 record, moved solidly into playoff contention in defense of the championship they won a year ago in Miami. Brees, 31, was the MVP of that Super Bowl game, but he wins SI's highest honor for much more than just his ability to play football.

Jessie Aney, a 12-year-old tennis and hockey star from Rochester, Minn., was named Sports Illustrated Kids' SportsKid of the Year. The No. 1-ranked tennis player in the USTA's 12-and-under and 14-and-Under Northern Section, she was runner-up in Minnesota's Class 2A high school state singles championships as a seventh grader. A 4.0 student, Aney school five goals in her varsity hockey debut for Century High.

Nearly five years ago, in the early spring of 2006, Brees was a broken player. After surgery to repair a catastrophic shoulder injury, the Saints were the only team that offered to make him their starting quarterback. Meanwhile, New Orleans was a desperate city, trying to find traction after one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. Brees would later say his landing in New Orleans was much more than just an athlete's change of venue. "It was a calling,'' he said. "We were brought here for a reason.''

Brees and his wife, Brittany, showed love for New Orleans when the city felt abandoned by so many others. Not only did Brees help the Saints make the playoffs in his first year in the city and begin the four-year climb to last year's title, but he also threw himself into helping the city recover, and its people to feel like they were not alone. "He symbolizes the people of New Orleans in many, many ways,'' says NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. "Drew believes in that community. He believes in doing what's right. He's one of the most genuine people I've ever met.''

Upon settling in a home in Uptown New Orleans, Drew and Brittany Brees established The Brees Dream Foundation, with the goal of "Advancing research in the fight against cancer and providing care, education and opportunities for children in need.'' In the ensuing years, Brees's foundation has helped raise more than $6 million, primarily in and around New Orleans, but also in San Diego (where Brees began his career and played five seasons with the Chargers) and West Layfayette, Ind. (where Brees played college football at Purdue, and met his wife in 1999).
"New Orleans was the perfect fit for Drew,'' says Brian Schottenheimer, who coached Brees in San Diego and is now offensive coordinator of the New York Jets. "There were questions about Drew and there were questions about New Orleans. But things happen for a reason.''

The steady revival of New Orleans owes to the efforts of many civic leaders, but none are more visible than the quarterback of the city's beloved Saints, so long lovable losers, but now on top of the football world. "You could see it in Drew from the beginning,'' says Billy Miller, who joined the team with Brees in 2006 and played four seasons. "He had this attitude that just said: `If I lead, people will follow.'''

Most poignant of all, Brees has dug deep roots in a city that opened its arms when he was wounded. He and Brittany have two sons: Baylen, who will turn two in January; and Bowen, born Oct. 19. Two weeks ago Brees held Bowen in his arms and said, "Life is a miracle.''
And some would say the same for what has happened since Brees arrived in New Orleans.

Ba Na Mountains, Danang, Sunrise at 5:30am

August 08, 2010. Hoi An, Vietnam. At 4:05, we had the front desk gave us a wake up call. At 4:10am, I had the front desk gave us a snooze wake up call. Yep. Barely recovered from the duty-free whiskey I bought from Taipei airport, we crawled off the bed and got ready for our day of wedding e-session. Ridiculous? Yes. But not as ridiculous as the haircut I got at one of the top hair-salons in Danang. Well, to get some kind of photo shoot with a little bit of good weather, we had no choice but to wake up early. We ended walking around Hoi An for three 2 1/2 hours. During the session, I marveled at the colors and history that this old trading center in the 16th and 17th centuries between the Japanese, Chinese, Indians and the Dutch. We were tired and running on empty from the stress before the date. However, with the fortune of booking a wonderful photographer and a true photojournalist such as Julian Wainwright, we were never before so excited. Thanks Julian for being our guest for our wedding. We are very excited to see you would tell our story with your camera.