It's All About Me

{ Krista + 3 }- A Family Session Sneak Peak: San Diego Family Photographer

had the opportunity to shoot a family with twin girls last weekend and I can't get over how cute these 2 are... 

 

I had actually taken some Christmas shots of just the girls at a Picture Party I held last December, so when mom contacted me for some family pictures, I could not resist!  Look at them just 5 months ago:

 

Look at them sitting up all by themselves looking sweet and adorable!  I loved being able to shoot the whole family this time!  Last weekend, when they arrived, both girls were asleep so I had a chance to shoot a few minutes with just mommy and daddy... what a gorgeous couple!

 

and one of my favorites of the day...

 

such an incredibly sweet picture!  I would have loved to shoot them for at least another hour, but alas... the girls woke up and the real party began :)  Here are just a few shots I have had a chance to process:

more to follow soon... I was actually in a bit of a car acciednt yesterday on my way from a friends house to pick up Blake from gymnastics.  Totally got rear ended at a stop light, but luckily nobody was seriously injured and the car, although brand new, only had a couple of small dinks on the back end.  However, I did jam my finger and pull some muscles in my shoulder, so Im not quite 100% and have a littler brace on my left hand, makes it a bit annoying to type or be on the computer too long lol!  Hoping to be back to normal by next week!  Will post some more images then  :)  And I also have to post the lemon cupcakes!

I did want to share this little list I found today at Becoming Minimalist.... loved everything on this:

1. Eat a healthy meal.
2. Keep a secret.
3. Send a thank-you note.
4. Give away half of your clothes.
5. Hike a new trail.
6. Offer an apology.
7. Recycle.
8. Refrain from gossip.
9. Write a poem.
10. Refuse to do a thing which is wrong.
11. Pick strawberries.
12. Overcome an addiction.
13. Ride bike with a 7-year old.
14. Kiss your spouse.
15. Give a nice wedding gift.
16. Bring fresh flowers into your home.
17. Exercise.
18. Read To Kill a Mockingbird.
19. Subscribe to Zen Habits.
20. Call an old friend.
21. Forgive a past hurt.
22. Take a day off.
23. Visit the beach.
24. Cultivate spirituality.
25. Say “thank-you.”
26. Take a picture.
27. Find a job you love.
28. Retell a funny joke.
29. Develop more patience.
30. Hand write a letter.
31. Order dessert on a date.
32. Say “I love you.”
33. Take the stairs.
34. Have a tea party with your daughter.
35. Tip generously.
36. Ask a grandparent about their childhood.
37. Stop a scandal.
38. Take a hot bath.
39. Drink a glass of water.
40. Become an early-riser.
41. Wave to a child.
42. Say a prayer.
43. Learn your mail carrier’s name.
44. Smile.
45. Find your passion.
46. Get a routine check-up.
47. Donate to charity.
48. Encourage a teenager.
49. Be optimistic.
50. Learn to cook.
51. Turn off the television.
52. Add ribbon to a present.
53. Pay for someone’s drink.
54. Remove unnecessary possessions.
55. Visit an art museum.
56. Laugh at yourself.
57. Learn a second language.
58. Stay faithful to your partner.
59. Buy local produce.
60. Withhold a lie.
61. Meditate.
62. Break up a fight.
63. Meet your neighbors.
64. Rock a baby to sleep.
65. Practice yoga.
66. Know your child’s friends.
67. Log off the internet.
68. Get out of debt.
69. Save money.
70. Hear both sides of an argument.
71. Get your next book from the library.
72. Show kindness to the elderly.
73. Identify your values.
74. Eat outside.
75. Be more grateful.
76. Appreciate classical music.
77. Don’t send e-mails in anger.
78. Dry your clothes on a clothesline.
79. Compliment a stranger.
80. Increase your self-confidence.
81. Buy lemonade from a child’s stand.
82. Bring your lunch to work.
83. Clean the kitchen.
84. Give up soda.
85. Get trained in CPR.
86. Declutter a drawer.
87. Eat like the locals.
88. Listen.
89. Do your homework.
90. Help a boy or girl find themselves.
91. Have breakfast.
92. Look people in the eye when you speak.
93. Look people in the eye when they speak.
94. Make a new friend.
95. Build a sand castle.
96. Share a recipe.
97. Provide clean drinking water.
98. Worry less.
99. Read to a small child.
100. Become a minimalist

Sweet stuff huh?  I think everything on here is completely noteworthy.  I could not regret doing any of these :)

And in regards to my last post about the wireless trigger, I had a comment/question about it... I bought mine here:

Calumet Photo

I bought this and the adapter for my Canon which was around $10!  For anyone who isn't familiar with what it is, you basically set up the camera like you would if using your built in timer, BUT its connected to a remote and when you are ready to fire, you just press the button and it fires instantly... you can even click half way to focus FIRST and then click all the way to shoot!  Hope that helps :)

  

Kinda in a funk...

Ever have that unsettling feeling in the pit of your stomach, but are completely unsure what it is?  I hate that icky feeling and it's kind of been with me for the past week or so.  No idea where it came from, but I sure hope it disappears and FAST lol!  I haven't had the desire to do anything, like at all... haven't baked, haven't cooked, haven't been playing Super Mario, not knitting, not sewing, barely even watching TV.  I feel like a big ball of mush.  

Like always, I am behind with work, and honestly haven't had this much to do in a long time.  I have 3 sessions to edit, repackaging/uploading to do for ScrapArtist, AND trying to get my own shop set up STILL (how pathetic is it that I haven't even logged onto the store to set anything up lol!!!) It doesn't help that I procrastinate, put things off, and then get stressed out meeting deadlines which makes me not work more (hence me taking a few minutes here to blog right?).  Whoever said that being self employed is the way to go, might have gotten their wires crossed a bit.  Lately I have been telling Joe that I wish I had a "regular" job, a job that I clock in at, do my time, then come home and don't have to think about "work".  He says he wishes he could do what I do and get to stay home most of the time... grass is always greener right?

Bleh, OK, Im so not that girl who complains, so Im pulling myself up by my boot straps and getting my mind together... here I go, I can do it :)

In other news, I treated myself to a goody today...

 

It's a small wireless trigger kit and I love it!  I was getting a little tired of not being in ANY pictures, ever lol!  This way I dont have to ask anyone to shoot, run the risk of a kid breaking any of my gear, or bother with setting up the stupid timer and running over like an idiot to get into position.  Its a brilliant little toy.  As soon as me and the kids came home, Makena went outside and played with it for a bit.  She was so cute snapping away, thought it was ingenious that she could pose and then fire when she felt ready.  These were some of the first shots she got:

Then she was so kind to let me partake in some shots... not too many though, she was very quick to come over real fast if she saw I was trying to do one on my own lol!

and my 2 favorites of the day...

She wouldn't give me control of the remote, but I love this shot "she" got!  Unfortunately, Blake wouldn't have any part of the pictures!  I swear that boy is going to grow up and hate ME because I dont have any pictures of him!  Every time I even ask to take a picture of him, he rolls his eyes and says flat out NO.  Little bugger...

Anyways, looking at these pictures now puts a smile on my face and on my heart, so Im hoping that I can get a good night sleep and start the week over tomorrow!  Am going to try and get back here to post another "cheat" cupcake recipe and this one is a yummy one, not just something to whip up and not enjoy fully!    Here is a little peak:

The best fake out lemon cupcakes... yum :)  Will be back soon enough! 

{ Stacey & Rich }- A Mt. Woodson Wedding Sneak Peek: San Diego Wedding Photographer

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to be chosen to capture Rich and Stacey's wedding!  Mt. Woodson is an amazing venue with a ton of character and the most beautiful scenic spots, really a photographer's dream... 

I'm still working on images, but had to come share a few of my favorite's:

The light coming through the dress on the glass door was perfect...

 

Hands down, one of my favorite shots of the day!  I ADORE this hallway on the 1st level of the castle.  The old door, the exposed beam ceilings, the old rock... yum!

 

Rich had a smile on his face, literally the whole day.  It was adorable!  There even came a point after the wedding when I was doing shots of the couple together, I had to tell him to stop smiling lol! 

 

Pop's came in to fix up his son and get him perfect for Stacey...

 

No session is ever complete without me taking a shot of shoes or feet, so here ya go!

 

While my assistant, Anastasia was hard at work upstairs taking care of important stuff, I was wondering around the castle looking for some neat spots to shoot.  I stumbled upon the old kitchen.  I dont think anything worked in there and was being used for some storage, but when I saw this window, my heart melted... the chipped paint, the exposed wood.  love it.

 

The bride's "something old", her grandmother's watch.  Went perfect with Stacey's newer accessories!

 

almost wedding time!  Just fixing up the train and off we go!

 

the ceremony was perfect...

 

Yah, I DO!!!

 

and now on to the fun part :)  MY favorite part of any wedding, taking the bride and groom off for a break from their guests and getting some shots of just them!

 

 

Lucky to have a great big golf course right behind the castle, what a beautiful venue!  So many different kinds of shots and opportunities you can take!

 

 

love this one...

 

Congratulations Rich and Stacey!  Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of your special day!

Week 13/Recipe 12- Fake out Strawberry Cupcakes

I know... I'm late!  The past couple of weeks have kicked my ass!  Not only have I had a ton of work to do with editing and uploading, blah blah blah, but this game has completely sucked the time right from under me!  

 

 

It's addictive, fun for the whole family, even though I take it pretty seriously and am out for blood when someone gets in my way lol!  It's pretty sad that Joe and I play as much as we do and sometimes we even let Blake play with us (thats even more sad huh?)  Anyways, we are almost done beating the game, so hopefully life goes back to normal soon lol!

Anyways, I didn't really even have a recipe done for last week, but I had a MNI (mommy's night in) with my mom's group last Friday and had to whip up something super fast!  I was also starting to feel a bit sick so didn't have a chance to get to the market, nor did I have the energy to do anything... kinda had to make do with what I had on hand, which wasn't much lol!  

I searched the cabinets and found a hodge podge of crap, but I did find some white cake mix and thought "Perfect, I can make them whatever flavor I want and cupcakes are easy when pressed for time!"  Then while grabbing Blake from school, on the way up the hill to my house (I kinda live out in the middle of nowhere) there is a local gal who sells flowers and whatever produce is in season... well, here in San Diego, nothing says Spring like STRAWBERRIES!  So I grabbed a small carton and made my way to the house....  this is what the white cake mix, the strawberries, butter, 4 oz's of cream cheese, 1 tablespoon of vanilla, 2 drops of red food coloring, and 2 cups of powdered sugar produced...

 

I frost in the pan because it double's as my nifty holder too... I adore this one I got at Target:

 

And of course, I'm never too tired or busy to snap some pics....

 

wait, I have to stop here to share this freaking adorable mini wood treat holder thing I found.  Over the holiday's I was grabbing some home decorating stuff at Pier 1 and Makena showed me this "petit four" cake stand (I love how she gravitate's towards the same stuff I like... how proud I am of my girly girl). At the time I was kind of in a rush and thought it was super cute, but didn't buy it (what restraint I showed huh).  But a few weeks ago when I went prop shopping for a newborn shoot I was getting ready for, there is was again, only 1 more left AND it was on CLEARANCE.  Beat still my heart :)  Got it for like $5 and I love it!

Ok onto another pic, ADD moment over.

 

Not the best cupcake's in the world, but good, easy, and they look pretty lol!  

All I did was prepare the cupcake batter with the directions on the box (any white cake mix).  Before I poured them into the cupcake liners, I mashed up about 1 cup of strawberries in the food processor then added that to the batter until it was all mixed in and no more white showed.  Baked for 20 minutes or whatever the box says, then let cool.

In the meantime, I whipped up the frosting.  I only had 1 stick of butter and half a package of cream cheese, so figured that would be enough to get me by.  Mixed until it was super fluffy, added 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and then slowly added about 2 cups of powdered sugar (wait, another ADD moment... it might be cute to sprinkle some more powdered sugar over the tops of these too :) ).  I also added a couple of drops of red food coloring to make em pink, just how I like it!  The frosting was pretty thin, so I put it in a piping bag and let it set up a bit in the fridge.  I guess you can also just slather your frosting on the cupcakes too and put them in the fridge, but I wanted to make em neat and pretty like :)

Once the cupcakes were cooled completely, I frosted them with a big fat circle tip, then topped each one off with 2 slices of fresh strawberries.  

How's that for a quickie!