June 25, 2009
YES this is a food post! I know it’s been a while, but my thoughts have not been far from the kitchen. Summer is the ultimate inspiration for me and s’mores are another rite of passage like the Drive In!
Here’s a twist on the same ol’ treat: PEANUT BUTTER S’MORES. Need I say more?
June 23, 2009
I’m thrilled to share some very special images from the first of Joi ~ Weddings! Graham and Carissa are such an awesome couple, so outgoing and friendly, and I’m very thankful for them for trusting me to shoot their big day. A wedding photographer is invited in to some of the most intimate and memorable moments of peoples’ lives and it was an honor to be there to record those moments for these two.
Plus, isn’t it SO amazing how G obviously adores his new wife? Yup, he’s definitely in deep for this woman… <3
If you would have asked me ten years ago if I’d ever shoot a wedding, the answer would be unoquivically NO WAY! Talk about a job with a lot of pressure to do a great job and not screw up! Throughout the past year, however, my outlook has changed on what being a wedding photographer means. It started by returning to the first reason I fell in love with photography: photographing people. Last year brought up more and more portrait opportunities, and ultimately had me begin to photograph families and couples. I was taken back by how incredibly rewarding it was to give such a special service to people….capturing and recording a moment in their lives which they will always look back on for years to come. One of those light-switch moments, you know?
Well, this year has obviously brought a lot of great things my way and this is how I stumbled into adding weddings to my repetoire. Having our wedding day captured by a great photographer (and fellow Brookie), Rachael Short made me realize how valuable those photos were…. your wedding day can be such a blur that I was so grateful for someone to show me what I missed at my own wedding! I’m so happy that I can do this for others now and can’t wait to do more and more! (and yes, one of those WILL be when I’m 9 months pregnant….I’m crazy!) Thank you to everyone reading for humoring me with my hiatus from the kitchen….I promise to get back in there ASAP! ~ Jen
June 18, 2009
I love supporting the local artists of the Central Coast, and this blog is a great way for me to do just that! I recently spent a really fun afternoon chatting it up with super talented locally-based artist Shannon Len, of Len Designs. Shannon has a long and well traveled history creating beautiful jewelry, which is greatly inspired by the natural beauty of the Central Coast, as well as her trips around the world.
Oh, did I mention that I was shooting some of her jewelry collection while all this chatting was going on? Here are some tidbits from the afternoon.
Shannon also does an amazing job running our local Art in the Park, which takes place the first Sunday of each month from May through November at Shell Beach’s Dinosaur Caves Park. This is such a great place to go to see and support local artists. Running the event is a monumental task, a great resource for our community and should definitely get your support! Maybe someday soon you’ll see yours truly at her own booth there….hmmm…
Can’t wait to shoot some more ~ thanks Shannon!
Visit Shannon’s website for her full line (soon to be updated and added to) and for retail locations. Len Jewelry Designs are available in tons of places such as Hands Gallery in SLO and of course, Art in the Park. And yes, you’ll see me rocking some of this beautiful jewelry myself, what a lucky girl!!
June 9, 2009
I just wanted to say a huge congratulations to one of my best and oldest friends, Nicole, and her fiance, Antonio ~ they just got engaged this weekend!!! They are a beautiful couple and I can’t wait to be there when they tie the knot. Much love!
June 7, 2009
Since I’ve already OFFICIALLY announced the start of summer, what could be a better summer activity than the Drive In? San Luis Obispo has one of the few Drive In Theaters that remain in business today: The Glorious Sunset Drive In! From what I can tell, California’s Drive In Theater count is said to be anywhere from 8 to 20 that are currently in business…I feel lucky to have grown up with many nights at this landmark through out the years.
There is nothing better than packing the car full of pillows and blankets, candy, popcorn and your favorite beverage, with a double feature in front of you and a night time summer sky above.
YES, you’ve got to brave the crowded rows of mini-vans, trucks and roaming children to find your perfect spot. YES, you will forget to run to the bathroom or snack bar before the intermission, forcing you to wait in lines that rival free ice cream day at Ben & Jerry’s, while those precious interim minutes tick by. And YES, you will inevitably spill popcorn, candy or your favorite beverage (or all 3, ahem…) in the darkened cavern that is your car. Drive slow. Meet new friends in line. Bring extra napkins.
Did I mention the awesome cartoons during intermission? I was hoping to see the classic ones they still showed when I was younger, “Let’s all go to the Lobbbby” with the dancing hot dogs! (What they showed was still pretty awesome in it’s 70’s glory.)
These are small prices to pay for an experience that at one point could have rivaled baseball as a national past time. (Another “small price” is the mere $6 charge for two brand new movies.) So pack the cooler, load up the car and get the heck out of your house to take advantage of a classic summertime joy.
May 27, 2009
Whoa, things have been busy lately! Besides joining the 3rd Trimester Club, my photography work has picked up quite a bit (forcing me to neglect my cooking). Just wanted to share a recent photo session with a lovely local, who is on her way to great things on the East Coast. More to share soon, including the first of Joi Weddings!!
May 11, 2009
Actually, it looks like Spring has sprung away!
Some of you out there might still be getting those spring greens and flowers in your town…not out here. I’m officially calling it, Summer is here on the Central Coast. (My evidence? Buttery gold hills, the fire season starting off with a bang, and the Ice Cream Man has cruised our street at least 4 times so far…)
May 8, 2009
Just a reminder to all of you out there to mark your calendars for an awesome Locally Made event! Author Cathe Olson (no relation!) will be launching her new cookbook, Lick it! Creamy, Dreamy Vegan Ice Creams Your Mouth Will Love AND giving ice cream making demos on Saturday, May 23. The event will take place at the Arroyo Grande Library (800 W. Branch St.) from 2-3 p.m. Dairy and dairy-free ice cream methods will be shown. Yum!!!
May 6, 2009
A favorite question to ask a pregnant lady, especially one so obsessed with food like I am has been:
Are you craving anything??
Yes, despite my best efforts to stay on a healthy menu I’ve gotta admit it… Sometimes all I want to eat is a gigantic bag of Ruffles! Not one of those 3-4 serving size bags either…I’m talking Costco-sized, feed a family of 4 for a week-sized bags!
My fight against these cravings has led me to make my own chips, (of course, No Deep Fryer Required). These are best eaten fresh out of the oven, warm and crispy, and the plain ol’ potatoes can be substituted with anything from sweet potatoes to parsnips! The key to Homemade Chips is to slice them very thin (a bit before paper thin).
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, spray a lined cookie sheet with oil, lay your chips in a single layer, spray again with oil, then sprinkle with some coarse salt and pepper (we also added dill to these, and the other options are endless…just picture all the flavors in your local grocery store’s chip aisle). Depending on moisture content, how thin you’ve sliced your chips, and how crispy you like them, these little ones can take anywhere from 25-45 minutes.
I advise you to make a couple trays at a time as they disappear quickly! Enjoy!
April 27, 2009
One of my favorite benefits of living on the Central Coast is the ability to completely “get away” from it all by driving just a short distance. We have so many different climates and landscapes in this sweet spot of California that you are sure to discover something new with each weekend trip!
I wanted to share a bit of our time at a fantastic Santa Ynez restaurant, Trattoria Grappolo. This bistro specializes in country regional food with an elegant flair without feeling stuffy (you know, that “I’d better sit up straight and keep my hands folded in my lap” feeling you get at some nice restaurants??). We had a refreshing caprese salad, among other dishes, and everything was fresh and beautiful and served by very nice and helpful wait staff.
So the next time you need to leave it all behind for an afternoon, take the scenic (vineyards abound!) drive to a not-so-far-away place that allows you to pretend you’ve gone much farther!
