Orange County, CA

B Family

2012-02-28T20:11:00.003-08:00

Last week I met up with the B family for a photoshoot at the beach. The day was beautiful and perfect and I had a great time taking photos of their little family. Their baby was super adorable and at my favorite age for photos. Enjoy these few!

Newborn Christiana

2012-02-20T17:42:00.002-08:00

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to meet 2-week old Christiana and the rest of her family. She was just as sweet as can be, and I loved how dramatic she was but how easily she was comforted by her mom. I can tell there is lots of love in this family and had a blast spending Sat am with them. Enjoy!

Gavin is 1!

2012-02-18T08:10:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I met up with my friend Lisa and her husband for a photoshoot of their family and their son, who just turned one. Gavin is such a sweet little boy and we had fun doing silly stuff to make him smile. I also love the candid shots of this family - they just all photograph so well. Here are a few.

Newborn Shepard

2012-02-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet up with this sweet family to capture photos of their newest addition. Baby S was just so cute and fun to pose. Hope you enjoy the sneak peek!

Newborn Everett

2012-01-23T16:26:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I got to take photos of 11-day-old Everett. He was such a charm to work with and a super mellow baby. I was also able to grab some sweet photos of him with his older brother, and of course mama. Enjoy!

Newborn Jett

2012-01-13T20:25:00.001-08:00

The other day, I had the opportunity to capture some pictures of baby Jett. He had such a sweet personality, and was very content throughout the session, whether awake or asleep. He also has two older brothers that love him lots. Here are a few of my favs.

Shafer Family

2011-12-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I met up with my good friends, the Shafers, to do a quick photoshoot at the park. We went to Laguna Niguel Regional Park which is my new favorite because it still feels like fall there! Their daughter Hayley is just so adorable and I love her little personality. Here are a few of my favorites from the session.

She is so loved

Daddy's girl

Sweet Hayley

Family Pic

Having some fun

White Family

2011-11-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

Ahh . . . I meant to blog about this photo shoot awhile back. In October, Dan and I visited our best friends in PA, and I got to photograph their adorable daughter, Sadie while we were there. She definitely made us work for her smiles, and thank goodness her favorite, Dan, was there to make her laugh! Sadie is so full of energy and just has a great personality. She was making us laugh the entire visit.

Another on the way!

Besties :)

Christmas Photos

2011-11-27T23:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I met up with our good friends for a photo shoot with their adorable daughter. Who knew it would be 80 degrees at the beach on a Sunday afternoon in November?! We were able to work our way around the crowds and other photographers to grab some shots. Here are a few of my favorites so far.

Dera Family

2011-11-13T11:45:00.001-08:00

On Friday, I had the opportunity to take photographs for a friend, whose husband is in the army and away serving. They have two little adorable girls together and I wanted to capture some photos to send to their dad while he's away. Here are some of my favorites from the day.

Noelle - you have the most beautiful daughters and I admire you for making such a huge sacrifice while Marcel is away.

Avala is Two!

2011-11-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends, Stephanie, and her family came out to the OC for a visit a few weeks ago. During their stay, I was able to get a few photos of their cute daughter, Avala. Here are a few of my favs from the session.

Asking for some smarties!

Beautiful blue eyes. No photoshop needed!

She loves her "doe-doe"

Love her hair!

Family photo. This was cracking me up!

Newborn Alexis

2011-10-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I got to photograph one of the most beautiful babies! Alexis is just 10 days old and such a sweet baby. She slept most of the photoshoot and was just a dream to work with. Congrats Sarah and Derrick!!

Lukic Family

2011-10-22T12:10:00.001-07:00

A super sneak peek from our session today . . . I love getting to see how much babies grow in just a few months. I photographed sweet Emma when she was just a newborn, and she has grown so much in the past 4 months. Her grandparents were in town from Sweden so we got some fun shots of them with their latest grandchild! Here are a few of my favorites so far . . .

Sinnett Family

2011-09-28T21:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I met the Sinnet Family down at the beach for some family photos. It was overcast and cold-ish, but I was still able to manage to capture some fun moments (it helps when the subjects are so cute!). I Here are a few of my favorites from the session.

A girl and her dad. Priceless.

Love this

Beauties!

Sweet Ava

Harper Family

2011-09-25T17:05:00.000-07:00

I have been taking photos of this family since their oldest was 4 months old, and I absolutely love getting to photograph them. This could be my favorite session to date. The girls were super cute and cooperative and the weather was perfect. Here are a few of my favs!

Adelyn, 1 year old

Sweet Alethea

Sister Love

Cutest dress!

Fun moment between sisters

They love their dad

At wood Family

2011-09-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

The other night, I met up with the Atwood family for some beach photos. The sisters were so cute together and I loved seeing each of their personalities come out. Here's a few of my favorites from the day.

Atwood Family

2011-09-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

Super sneak peek . . . more to come!

Avala turns 2!

2011-09-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

My sweet honorary niece just turned two, and during a visit out to California, I was able to take pictures of this cute girl. She is full of life and energy, and has so many words and expressions. Here's a few of my favorites from our little session.

Pregnant Sarah

2011-08-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a super quick sneak peek of a photo shoot I had yesterday at the beach. Sarah is 8 months pregnant and stunning. Here are a few of my favorites from the session so far . . .

S Family

2011-07-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I met up with some of our best friends for a photoshoot of their growing family! They had done some family photos when the oldest was about 9months, and now their second is around the same age. Both kids did super well and had plenty of smiles throughout the session. Here is a sneak peek of some of my favorites!

'Love'. Such a cute photo of the both of them.

Family Shot

Here's the little guy at about 1 week old

And now at around 11 months. Isn't he cute?

Their oldest, at 9 months

And now

Sibling love

A editing take with an antique look. What do you think?

Newborn Emma

2011-06-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

I met Erik and Elaine just over a month ago when they contacted me for some pregnancy photos. I was so honored that they called again to document the arrival of their first child, Emma. Emma was super sweet during the photoshoot, and let us bend and shape her for the photos. She even opened her eyes for a few of them. Congrats Erik and Elaine - she's beautiful! Enjoy!

Adelyn 9 mos

2011-06-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

Super sneak peek from yesterday's fun session with one of my favorite families!!

So happy!

Um, hello lashes!!

Big sis

Pregnant Elaine

2011-05-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

Last night, I met up with Elaine and Erik for some pregnancy photos. I love getting to do shoots at the beach and thankfully, it turned out to be the most beautiful day in Laguna, which was perfect for pictures. Elaine and Erik are expecting their baby girl very soon, and I was honored they chose me to document this precious time in their lives! Here are a few of my favorite photos from the session.

Simple, yet beautiful

Isn't she stunning?

I could tell they are very much in love and are going to be great parents

Love the way his arms are wrapped around hers and the baby!

Beautiful mama!

Orange French Toast

2011-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love, love to cook on the weekends, especially breakfast. Here is a typical weekend morning in the Dreyer household.

Start with a little of this:

Equals this:

Bacon is essential

End result

Happy Tax Day!

Baked Eggs

2011-04-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

The other day, I picked a new recipe to try from my Williams Sonoma breakfast cookbook. It went a little something like this:

First, saute vegetables (I chose swiss chard and onions). You could do anything you like.

Place veggie mixture in ramekins and top with an egg. Glaze egg with some milk and sprinkle with s&p.

Bake in oven until egg is done to your likeness.

Finished product:

Coffee on the side

Family Wine Trip

2011-04-05T06:51:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my family met up in the Pismo/Paso Robles area for a weekend of wine tasting, good food, and fun. Well, it was mostly fun. Dan and I left early on Friday to miss the rush-hour traffic, however, we got a flat tire, and were delayed several hours. Not to mention we then got stuck in that traffic we were trying to avoid. It took us 8 hours to get to Pismo!

So, we made the most of our tire stop and had lunch at an Italian deli. We also bought a GPS because, well Best Buy was across the street and why not? We clearly needed one as we had to call my co-worker to find us a tire store.

Yum. Sweet Potato fries. A nice alternative to potato chips. The sandwich was just okay.

We arrived in Santa Barbara at about 5pm on Friday. Is it always 75 degrees and sunny there?

Ah . . . much better. Wine tasting at our wine club, Le Cuvier!

The fam

Second stop: Thatcher Winery

Feels like we are far from home

Third stop: Pomar Junction

A little fun

Protesting diets

My parents

We certainly ate our way through the weekend. Dinner on Friday night was at Firestone in SLO. They have the BEST tri-tip ever. My mom and I shared a sandwich and a big garden salad.

Saturday, we had a picnic for lunch, and then for dinner we went to AJ Spurs. Now this place can really fool you. Inside, the decor is um, very different. Like animal heads on the ways, and very country feeling. Despite that, I had one of the best steaks of my life!! It was about $25 for a meal which included cowboy stew with meat and beans, garlic bread, salad, rice pilaf, a 6oz bacon-wrapped filet and a root beef float. Beat that!!

Sunday, we went to SLO for brunch at Big Sky Cafe. The food wasn't quite as good as I remembered back in college, but still tasty. My favorite part was the bread basket for breakfast, which included some delish coffee cake and cornbread.

Breakfast on Sunday: mushroom benedict

After breakfast, we walked around downtown SLO. It was perfectly warm and wonderful.
We said our good-byes and headed home. What a fun weekend!

Newborn Jade

2011-04-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, I had the opportunity to photograph beautiful baby Jade, just 11 days old! She was probably the easiest baby I've ever photographed: slept the whole time, allowed me to bend and shape her without complaint, and of course, gorgeous with her blond hair and sweet face. We even tried to wake her up at the end for some open-eye photos, but she was having none of it. She was content to enjoy snoozing in the warm house. Here are 4 from session.

Chocolate Sauce for Breakfast

2011-03-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

Every month,my sister and I pick a recipe from our favorite cookbook to make on the same day. Today was my day to pick. I really like making sweet things for breakfast because it my mind, it's not dessert if it's breakfast, right? So I picked pancakes, but not just any old pancakes. Ones topped with homemade chocolate sauce, bananas foster, and fresh strawberries. And a side of bacon just for good measure.

It all started with this: scharffen berger chocolate. It's supposed to be one of the best brands.

I had to resist eating it all before the sauce was made

The sauce. It had chocolate, corn syrup (gasp), half and half, cinnamon and the secret ingredient . . . chili powder.

The bananas were sliced. Anyone know how hard it is to make a straight cut on a crooked banana?

The beginning of the bananas foster - brown sugar and butter

Browning the bananas.

My attempt at flambeing. It's a skill I need a little more practice with.

I think I cooked the bananas a little too long. They are not supposed to be mushy. But they were still delish, so I guess it didn't matter too much.

Plating - chocolate sauce base

The end result. Yum Yum.

And one fun pancake for fun.

Adelyn is 6 months!

2011-03-27T17:06:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I got to meet up with one of my favorite families to take some pictures of their adorable girls. We went to one of the prettiest spots in Costa Mesa and it didn't disappoint. It was full of spring bloom and absolutely gorgeous. You can tell that this family has a lot of fun together and I love being able to capture a moment in time for them. Here are a few of my favorites from the day:

Adelyn, 6 months

Alethea, 3 years

Sweet sisters

Aren't the flowers in the background just amazing?!

She's so advanced for her age

Family pic!

You can't get much cuter than this

But this is a close second

We played a version of hide and seek. Made for some great photos.

Sisters again. This bridge is my favorite.

Beautiful baby blues

Love this setting

Colbypup

2011-03-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when all of your friends have kids and you don't. And you have a very spoiled dog. Because you don't have kids.

Anyway, our sweet pup turned two today. That's a big milestone in dog, if you didn't know. It's supposed to mark the end of the puppy stage and into the big dog stage. While our dog is huge at 98#, he still acts like a pup, tripping on himself and such. Maybe he will always be a puppy at heart.

So why wouldn't we throw him a birthday party to celebrate?

I decorated

And made a cake (dog friendly, of course)

The guests:

Man of the hour

Lucy (a 4-year old golden and Colby's girlfriend)

Lily (a 3 month old pup that lives across the street)

Opening a present from Lucy (and Lily brought him a gift card, so fun!)

The guests enjoying the dog peanut butter ice cream

Enjoying the company

Tuckered out. Thanks everyone!!

Two Bunch

2011-03-15T08:52:00.001-07:00

I miss being here

Sangria

2011-03-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Wikipedia: Sangria is a wine punch typical of Spain and Portugul (and now the Dreyer house). It normally consists of a light, dry, inexpensive, unoaked red wine. It includes slice fruit, some sort of sweetener (juice, honey), a small amount of brandy or triple sec, spices if you like (cinnamon) and ice and/or soda water. It's really a vessel to experiment with and I'm excited to perfect a recipe that we love. Here's my second try:

1 bottle red wine (I used Pentimento from our fav winery, Le Cuvier)

Juice of 1 lemon + orange

1 apple, cut into small bite-sized pieces (trust me, wine-soaked fruit is delish) + 1 ripe mango + 1 orange

The final result - soak in refrigerator for about 24 hours for best flavor results. And don't forget to eat the wine-soaked fruit!

*Next time I'd like to try adding some spices - maybe star anise and cloves for some spiciness

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

2011-03-06T19:39:00.000-08:00

You know that go-to dinner that you don't need a recipe for anymore and can mindlessly collect all the ingredients at the store without a list? Well, mine is spaghetti sauce. I used to buy the jar version and liked it good enough, but wanted something lower-calorie and more dense. I knew it couldn't be that hard, so I played around with a few different recipes and came up with my own version. It tastes a little different each time because of the seasonings I have on hand or the mix-ins, but the base is a hearty, low-calorie sauce that is EASY and belly-filling. Here you go:

The base:
1 large can of crushed tomatoes (I like the kind with Italian seasoning)
1 small can tomato paste
2 cloves garlic
3/4 c. red wine (I like good, strong reds like Zin or Cab Sauv)
1 T. sugar
oregano to taste (or sometimes I use a few shakes of the pasta seasoning from Trader Joes)

The add-ins:
sausage
ground beef or turkey
kale, mushrooms and broccoli (sauteed first in 2tsp olive oil, dash of salt, and a little water)
or anything you like!

Topping:
fresh parmesan cheese

The end result (paired with whole wheat pasta and 9-Grain bread). Oh, and a glass of wine that was opened for the sauce. Hey, my grandma always said 'we don't waste wine in this family'.

Banana Muffins

2011-03-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

Last night, I found 5 severely brown and bruised bananas sitting in the fruit basket, so I needed to make some emergency banana bread. I started making the batter, only to find out I didn't have enough flour, so substitution number 1 was born: I used half whole wheat flour and prayed for good results. I also thought the final result needed a boost - so I melted some white chocolate with a little coconut butter and drizzled it on top. Yum Yum.

The recipe: http://www.joyofbaking.com/muffins/BananaMuffinsWithWhiteChocolate.html

German Night

2011-02-28T19:12:00.000-08:00

Once a month, Dan and I get together with our friends to do an international dinner out. We've been to India, Thailand and Japan so far. Last Friday, we decided to visit Germany at a place called Valhalla Table in Costa Mesa.

The menu

We started with this: house-made soft pretzel. Um, okay!

The closest I could come to beer: pear cider. It was delish.

Look how happy I am!

The main course: house made sausage! Leave it to Costa Mesa to provide a German restaurant with a no-nitrate, organic, hormone-free, and all-natural sausage!! Dan had the traditional bratwurst and I ordered the turkey sausage with sundried tomatoes and Romano cheese.

And some Belgium fries with a variety of dipping sauces

The crew

Creamy Tomato Soup without the Guilt

2011-02-19T13:49:00.000-08:00

This recipe was adapted from Cooks Illustrated's 'Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup' recipe.

3 T. vegetable oil (I like to use grapeseed oil)
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
3 garlic cloves, chopped
pinch red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf
2 28-ounce cans whole tomatoes packed in juice
1 T. brown sugar
3 large slices white bread, torn
2 cups water (or low sodium chicken broth)
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

1. Heat 2 T. of oil in Dutch oven until hot. Add onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Cook until until is clear, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and their juice. Stir in sugar and bread. Bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and discard bay leaf.

2. Transfer soup in batches to blender. Cover blender with towel and don't fill more that half full (otherwise you will have red tomato soup everywhere). Transfer into clean pot, add remaining 1 T. oil and 2 cups water. Return soup to a boil and season to taste with salt and pepper (I like kosher salt). Sprinkle with olive oil and chives.

I've estimated that 1 cup of soup is about 60kcals. You can beat that. And you won't even miss the cream!!

Happy Birthday Sister!

2011-02-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

My sissy turns the big 2-9 today. Happy Birthday to my wonderful little sister. I'm so glad that as we've grown up, we've become friends that enjoy each other's company. I admire the person you've become and have nothing but respect for what you do as a teacher. Looking forward to our 2011 Sister and Sister Adventures! Hope this is your best year yet!!

Valentine's Day 2011

2011-02-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

So as luck would have it, my husband is gone again on Valentine's. I think this is the 4th year in a row. But, I decided to make the most of it. I had a yummy lunch here with friends from work, a wonderful walk and coffee with my good friend Amanda, and an afternoon of naps and movie watching. For dinner, I decided to treat myself to dessert-for-dinner. Here's what happened:

These +

This

And this

equals this (plus butter and chocolate chips)

Yum

Colby got a special Valentine's treat

So I made him wear a special bandana

Not to forget the cat

The final product . . . best dinner ever!

Newborn Cassie

2011-02-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

Wow. I just got home from one of the easiest newborn photo sessions ever. Sweet baby Cassie was born to our good friends, Tim and Katie, just a week ago. She was so mellow and easy to pose, and let us do pretty much whatever we wanted. It's also fun seeing our friends as new parents - they are doing great! Anyway, enjoy these fun sneak peek photos!! (more to come too)

Ugg, could she be any cuter?

New parents doing great!

Love the light and how she is looking up at her mom

Sleepy princess

Gorgeous mamma!

Eyes open

Eyes closed

Why I love a good CSA

2011-02-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

I am so excited! On Thursday, I got my second box from 'farm fresh to you'. It's a local community-supported agriculture project, that collects the freshest, organic, seasonal fruits and vegetables and delivers them to your doorstep. For a good price. What??

Here's why I love this idea so much:

1. I get a variety of fruits and vegetables weekly. I tend to stick with the same fruits and vegetables because, well, it's easy and mindless. And while I usually love most of them, it's become a routine to get apples, bananas, carrots, squash and onions. So, with this new box, I get different fruits and vegetables every week and I'm forced to try new recipes and such. So exciting.

2. I also love that I am getting different vitamins and minerals by eating a variety of produce. We all know that we are supposed to get a variety, but how many of us do? With this box, I am forced to get variety. Love.

3. I love eating organic, but let's face it, it can be expensive and sometimes a hassle. With this place, I feel like the prices are super reasonable, and the quality of organic is just unmatched. And it makes me feel good that I'm doing something so healthy for my family.

And because posts without pictures are boring, here is one of me cooking my favorite soup :)

What about you? Have you tried a CSA before? If so, what do you think?

Newborn Kasen

2011-02-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

Remember that cute family that was on here from the other day? Well, I got to go back and take some pictures of just baby Kasen. He was a little past that brand-new-newborn stage where you can't wake them up for anything, but I loved being able to capture his beautiful blue eyes and sweet personality! Here are a few from that day . . .

Check out those blue eyes!

Sweet moment between brothers

LOVE this hat!

Little hands

Clinton Street Blueberry Pancakes

2011-02-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

Now I'm not sure if I can post this recipe due to copyright stuff, but I will tell you these were incredible. My mom, sis, and I went to New York City last March, and my sister was adamant that we try the Clinton Street Bakery for breakfast. After a few subway tries, and a walk through maybe not the best part of town, we arrived to this little restaurant. The wait wasn't too bad that day and we were seated fairly quickly. My sister ordered the famous blueberry pancakes and they didn't disappoint. They were incredible. So for Christmas, my sister and I bought each other their cookbook and have been working our way through the recipes. The other night, I tried their blueberry pancake recipe. Yum yum. My suggestion would be to buy their cookbook here and start cooking. For now, you'll just have to salivate over these yummy pictures!

From our New York trip

Apparently one secret is to place the blueberries on the pancakes rather than mix in the batter

The final result . . . and ps I used half whole wheat flour and they turned out great. Hey, I've got to feel somewhat healthy eating this goodness :)

M Family

2011-02-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

Meet the 'M' family. I was scheduled to go to their house to take photos of their brand new baby boy and got sick on both Saturdays, ugg! I was still up for taking photos but didn't want to be super close to the kids, so I suggested we meet at the park instead. And amazingly, they were up for it. Now I don't have kids, but to pack up two under two and be ready in about 20 minutes seems amazing to me. I was able to grab some sweet family photos in the park setting and some cute ones of the kids individually. Can't wait to take some more of just baby Kasen too. Thanks M Family for being so flexible!

Um, hello sweetness!

Aren't his little newborn jeans amazing??

Their older son, Kyler

Love this face

One more!

Katie is Expecting!

2011-01-26T13:30:00.000-08:00

My friend, Katie, is pretty much my pregnancy hero. She is 38 weeks pregnant here in these photos, which is much later than the 32 weeks I recommend for photos, but you'd never be able to tell here. Maybe because she did bootcamp throughout most of her pregnancy. Or that fact that she is still doing yoga. Whatever she did, she is looking fantastic. Here are a few favorites from our little mini session (at halftime during the Steeler's playoff game!) And let's not forget, we had to climb down, and then up a 4-foot wall to get to the grass area - and I struggled more than she did! Ha!

Cute little baby bump

First yoga pose . . . warrior, and cropped. I LOVE how this looks.

Wow. I definitely can't do this one either.

I STRUGGLE to do this for two seconds on a good day. She held this pose for awhile. Amazing!

New Recipe: Curried Vegetables over Rice

2011-01-25T12:26:00.000-08:00

So for some nights of the week, I like to make vegetarian dinners (much to my husband's dismay). Last night, I tried out a new recipe from Cooking Light. I've also been a little obsessed with curry powder lately, putting it in everything from soups to tuna and chicken salad. The recipe was delicious and filling. I served it over brown basmati rice I found at Trader Joes. And even my husband liked it (although commented it would be better with chicken). Try it out and let me know what you think!

Fall Vegetable Curry

Embrace Indian flavors by making this vegetarian meal that only takes 30 minutes from start to finish.
Total: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup curry and 2 tablespoons yogurt)

Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup diced peeled sweet potato
1 cup small cauliflower florets
1/4 cup thinly sliced yellow onion
2 teaspoons Madras curry powder
1/2 cup organic vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (I did not use this)
1/2 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt

Preparation
Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sweet potato to pan; sauté 3 minutes. Decrease heat to medium. Add cauliflower, onion, and curry powder; cook 1 minute, stirring mixture constantly. Add broth and next 3 ingredients (through tomatoes); bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with cilantro; serve with yogurt.
**I did not use cilantro. I hate cilantro. I instead poured in just a tad of coconut milk to give the curry some creaminess. I was not disappointed.
**I also added a bit more onion than called for and next time I will omit the tomatoes. I didn’t feel like they matched. I would add a different vegetable. Just not sure which one yet. Maybe brussel sprouts. Yum.

Richey Kids

2011-01-23T19:57:00.000-08:00

Um, hello beautiful children! Sneak peek . . .

And ps. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new lens. Will be buying soon :)

Hayley 6 months

2011-01-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

My friend, Sara, has one of the cutest babies around. She is now 6 months and just adorable. We went for coffee and a walk the other day and an informal mini photo shoot. They are both super photogenic. Here are a few of my favorites from our date!

Um, hello beautiful baby!

Love those lashes!! (I'm a little jealous)

Cute baby in the sand

Newborn Audrey

2011-01-21T14:22:00.000-08:00

My good friend, Heidi, was just blessed with her second baby, Audrey, about a week ago. They already have the cutest toddler, so I was so excited to take photos of their new addition. Audrey is already full of personality. She definitely knew what she did and didn't want to wear for the photos. And while she catnapped throughout the session, I was able to grab some cute photos. She is an adorable baby and I'm so glad I got to document her first week of life. Congrats Heidi and Matt!!

**Oh, and for you photographers out there, I rented at 50mm 1.4 lens to test out, so that's what I used on this session. Not sure how I feel about it yet.

My favorite photo of the session. I just love the combination of the tutu and the beautiful headband Heidi made

The 'classic' newborn pose kicked up with a homemade headband, which I'm in love with!

Love, Love taking feet photos

Sweet closeup. My favorite style of photo.

Sound asleep

How adorable is this? Heidi made the tutu. Love her little smile and dimples!

Adelyn 3 months

2011-01-20T07:25:00.000-08:00

I am hugely overdue on this post . . . I took these photos back in December. Dave and Christena have been great clients of mine over the past few years, so you can imagine my excitement when they had another little girl - and wanted me to do photos! 3 months is probably one of the harder stages to photograph because they usually don't give smiles up like the 6-9 month-olds do, but we had a great time and got some great photos of all of them. Here are a few!

Gorgeous eyes, just like her sister

Here she is!

Sisters

Older sis, Alethea, and her dad. So full of joy.

Sweet family photo. Love this location!

More to Come

2011-01-19T09:18:00.001-08:00

I just realized I haven't posted anything in a Loooong time. I blame it on the holidays, although it's probably just me being lazy. Stay tuned for some recent photo shoots and fantastic new recipes!

Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut and Ginger

2010-11-09T08:01:00.001-08:00

Since fall is FINALLY here in Southern California, I decided to kick off the festivities by making a homemade soup for dinner last night. I'm obsessed with all things pumpkin/squash right now, and had bought a giant box of pre-cut butternut squash at Costco the other day. I'm trying really hard not to waste so much food, so when I saw it in the fridge last night, I thought how perfect. I found a recipe online that I ended up adapting to fit with the ingredients I had on hand. It was sooo yummy. Even my husband liked it!

**Recipe adapted from Food and Wine and Jeanette Peabody.

Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut and Ginger
5# butternut squash, chopped in large cubes
Olive oil to drizzle
s/p
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion
1 leek, white and tender green part only, thinly sliced
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger (I used about 1 tsp. of ground ginger instead)
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 cup dry white wine (I used chicken stock)
6 cups water
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (I used the light coconut milk from Trader Joes)
*can garnish with pumpkin seeds or any nut of your choice

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place squash in bowl, drizzle with olive oil and toss with salt and pepper. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until soft.
2. In large soup pot, melt 2 T. butter. Add the onion, leek, shallot, ginger, and curry powder and cook over moderate heat until lightly browned. Add the wine and cook until evaporated.
3. Add the cooked squash, water, coconut milk. Simmer over moderately low heat for 15-20 minutes.
4. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender until smooth. Season with s/p. Ladle into bowls.
5. Top with a little creme fraiche and/or toasted nuts or seeds. I put a handful of walnuts into a pan with a little butter and salt, and cooked until fragrant.

Delicious and healthy. Enjoy!

Harper Family

2010-10-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

The other day, I got to do photos for the Harper Family. We went to one of my favorite park locations in Huntington Beach, and the weather was just nice enough for some fun fall photos. It has been so fun seeing this family grow over the years and I've enjoyed getting to capture them at different stages. Here are a few from the session. Enjoy!

Newborn Cole

2010-10-04T16:11:00.001-07:00

My good friends, Kimi and Greg, just welcomed baby #2 to the world a few weeks ago. I got to capture his sweetness when he was just about a week old. We also used some fun props, which made the photos unique and special to them. Congratulations on the new addition!! Here are a few!

Big Sister

Newborn Hayley

2010-08-31T19:55:00.001-07:00

So, wow, it's been awhile since my last post, and I don't really have a good reason, other than it was summer and I was lazy. I didn't go on any big trips or work any different hours, just took some time off I guess. But now I'm back into the swing of things!

I never posted photos from one of my favorite newborn photo shoots ever. My good friend, Sara, had a baby girl this summer and I got to photograph her when she was just a few weeks old. Sara had an abundance of cute outfits and bows and we had a blast dressing her up and posing her. Here are a few favorites from the session.

This is another favorite pose of mine, but Sara make it look extra amazing. She's beautiful!

Sweet baby in her daddy's arms. Precious.

One last shot of cutness :)

Sophie is 10 months!

2010-06-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

Meet Miss Sophie. She is about 10 months old in these photos and just adorable. I loved her calm and mellow personality. I took these photos in and around their cute house. Here are some of my favs from the session.

I also photographed her brother when he was about 7 months old, and look at him now!!

Signing for 'more'

Cute together

Comparisons

Newborn Cameron

2010-05-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, I got to do another newborn photo session. This time, it for 2-week old baby Cameron. He was wide awake for most of the photo shoot, but slept for a bit at the end so we could grab those oh-so-cute sleeping baby shots. Jimmy and Megan are already great parents and were so patient with him. Here are a few from the session:

Proud parents

Wide awake at just 2 weeks!

Newborn Zephaniah

2010-05-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

One of my besties, Amanda, just had her third kid, a baby boy named Zephaniah. I went to take her a meal and brought my camera along to snap a few photos of his cuteness. I love newborns less than a week old. They are the perfect models and pretty much sleep for anything. He was adorable and squishy and here are a few of my favs.

One of my favorite pictures ever - all Amanda's idea for a prop and positioning!

Using a fun action from Kevin Kubota called 'modern antique'

Baby Julia

2010-05-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

Sweet 9-month old Julia helped me finish up another season of the yellow mustard flowers. We met bright and early for our shoot on Saturday morning, only to be greeted with a Civil War Reenactment spanning the front end of the park. How crazy is that? We managed to get by and walk to the other end to get some great photos. Julia is just so cute and all smiles, which is why I LOVE this age. Here are a few photos from the session.

Loved her girly skirt

Those cheeks!!

My rustic Orange County location!

Sweet expression

Watch out Gerber baby!!

Wolf Family

2010-05-02T21:12:00.001-07:00

Today, I had another opportunity to photograph some beautiful girls at my favorite Fairview Park. I'm still trying to make the most of the yellow mustard season. Anyway, these sweet sisters were just so fun and cute and I had a blast wandering around the park and grabbing photos in different locations. Hope you like them!

Stella 5 mos

2010-04-25T23:06:00.001-07:00

Remember baby Stella? Well she is growing quickly and I had the opportunity to photograph her again at 5 months old. She is still as cute as can be and it was fun hanging out with Jessica and Brian during the shoot. Here are a few . . . enjoy!

Newborn Stella

Look at her now

Ramos Kids

2010-04-19T18:05:00.000-07:00

I've been working with Nancy at Davita for awhile now and I always love hearing stories about her kids. So when she asked me to take their photos, I was super excited. We met up at one of my favorite parks in Costa Mesa where the yellow flowers are in bloom and had a blast capturing each of their personalities. Here are a few!

Jen is Pregnant . . . with baby #2

2010-04-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

I met Jen through my friend, Ana, for some pregnancy photos in the mustard fields. Jen is full of life and energy, and I had a blast getting to document her pregnancy. We were on snake look-out the whole time after we walked by a sign stating 'Rattlesnake Habitat', but we managed to make it through without any sightings! Enjoy the photos.

Connor is Almost 1 year old!

2010-04-18T12:49:00.001-07:00

Well, well, well. The yellow mustards are back in bloom. My allergies are attacking in full force, but I just can't resist the lure of the beautiful yellow mustard fields in Southern California this time of year. They don't last long, so I always jump on the chance to do some sessions out there.

This first session was of an adorable 11-month old boy, Connor. I've been working with his mom for a few years now and I was excited to get the opportunity to do photos for them. He is just the sweetest little boy, and I love how Kelly isn't afraid to let him be a boy and get dirty. Oh, and I just loved his little hats. Enjoy these photos!

Avala, 6 months

2010-04-10T17:52:00.000-07:00

While we were in Arizona a few weekends ago, I took the opportunity to photography my friend's beautiful baby, Avala. She is such a cutie, and I had fun getting to capture all of her expressions. Enjoy!!

Newborn Belle

2010-04-10T15:57:00.001-07:00

Meet sweet Belle. She was born just two weeks ago and is so beautiful! I met her parents almost a year ago when we were looking for a trainer for our pup. And my looking, I mean desperately needing help with crate training before our neighbors reported us for a barking pup in the middle of the night! Vince came to our rescue and has been training and boarding our pup ever since. We are so thankful to have found Vince and Nicole and I was honored to be able to take some photos of their new baby. (and if you are in need of a great dog trainer or boarding, click here)

New York, New York

2010-04-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

Wow. NYC is AMAZING!! I've always heard people talk about it but never really had a sense of urgency to see it. Until this year. My sister, mom, and I thought it would be fun to take a first-ever girls trip to Manhattan, so we arranged everything and went! We spent a fabulous 4 full days there, and by full, I mean packed to the brim with sightseeing, walking, and of course, EATING. I feel like we just barely skimmed the surface of this wonderful city, and I can't wait to go back again. Enjoy some photos from my trip!!

View from Staten Island Ferry

Top of the Rock

Central Park

View of Central Park from Top of the Rock

My fav coffee in NYC

Another Top view

Central Park

Colby Turned 1

2010-04-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

Our puppy, Colby, turned 1 on March 21st, so of course, being the ridiculous dog-mom I am, threw him a little party. He got a big cookie that said Happy Birthday and even wore a party hat for the occasion. It's crazy that he's already one. It's been fun raising him, and a lot more work than expected, but worth it.

Newborn Shalia

2010-04-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

So, I did these photos awhile ago and posted them on facebook, but they never made it to my blog! Whoops. Anyway, my co-worker had a beautiful baby girl and wanted me to take her photos, so of course, I jumped at the opportunity. She was just 1 week old for these and so bendable and mellow. I never heard her cry once. Enjoy!

Healthy Eating Update

2010-04-07T12:28:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been some time since I last commented on this topic. I have continued my eating healthy for 3 full months now, and am seeing great results. I have lost of total of 15#, putting my BMI at 24.6, which means I'm not longer officially overweight!! I feel great and like I have made lifestyle changes. Desserts don't tempt me the same way anymore, but I will indulge if I feel it's worth it, instead of the every day 2-3 times per day routine I was doing. People telling me they've seen a change and my feeling great is more than enough willpower I need to keep going.

I'm also continuing with my weekly organic produce. It has forced me to try out things I would never have bought (beets, for one) and I feel super healthy getting a variety of fruits and vegetables. This week I got oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, kiwi, 2 types of lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, parsnips, spinach, artichokes, asparagus, and herbs. So fun!!

Very Quick Sneak Peek!

2010-03-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

Meet baby Jagger . . . did the photoshoot in about an hour, which is unheard of with a newborn! He was just so sweet and sleepy the whole time. Here are a few from the session.

Saturday Lunch

2010-02-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

I love relaxing on Saturdays and this one I had all the ingredients for a unique pizza for a fun and different lunch.

I bought pre-made dough and rolled it out on my new dough mat. Next, cover the dough in pesto sauce (about 1/4 cup), and top it with 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (also leftover). Cook some bacon slices (I used 6) and crumble those on top, as well as some baked some butternut squash, then top the whole thing with a 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven at 450 for about 20 minutes, and here you go:

It was a delicious and different way to use leftover ingredients.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

Alright, so I am planning my menus for this week, but first, I want to give a shout out to yesterday. It was a glorious day filled with great food, none of which I even considered calories for. I made it to my goal of not eating sweets until Valentine's Day, and yesterday I got to indulge. Now on to the next goal: no dessert until my New York trip at the end of March!

Yesterday's menu:

Brunch with friends

Best Blueberry Muffins

Canadian Bacon and Leek Quiche (Williams Sonoma)

Fresh Organic Oranges

Coffee

Various Treats

Homemade Organic Lemon Bars

See's Candy (3 pieces!!)

Dinner

Swiss Cheese Fondue with Vegetables, Apples and Bread

Filet Mignon with a Zinfandel Mushroom Sauce

Roasted Asparagus (on baking sheet, drizzled with olive oil and salt, roasted at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes = amazing)

Wine (Zinfandel from Still Water)

Homemade Chocolate Decadence

Mia

2010-02-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

Our good friends, Glenn and Amber, came down the other weekend for a quick visit. It was a beautiful day, so we decided to walk to the park and I brought my camera along. They have the cutest daughter, Mia, and I was able to snap a few photos of our time at the park, as well as a few cute ones of my 10-month old puppy. He is growing up way too fast, but he still acts like a pup, so I'll take it!

Enjoy the photos!

Oops!

2010-02-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I got off track a little from my posting for the last few weeks - sorry! I have been sticking with my new diet plan and things are going well. My husband has been out of town, so instead of my cooking healthy dinners, I've just been eating more simple things, like a baked potato with cheese and loaded with fresh vegetables. Or grilled salmon with lemon dill sauce and a fresh, organic salad.

My fav dinner - baked potato, fresh vegetables, topped with a little cheese - yum!

In related news, I joined a co-op for organic fruits and vegetables. I go every Saturday to pick up my order and I get to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables all week long. And let me tell you this. I have never 'bought' in to the whole organic thing, mostly because it's ridiculously expensive, BUT this is the same price I was paying AND they taste incredible. I have never been so excited to eat vegetables in my whole life. Another upside is that I get stuff I wouldn't normally buy, like beets and rutabags. Who knew I liked beets so much?

Box from week one

Broccoflower

Dinner at Flemings

Tired after a day at dog day care

Last Week

2010-01-23T05:17:00.000-08:00

Whoops! I kind of forgot to post last week. So, I'm officially on day 22 of my 'no eating out or sweets' deal and I feel great! It takes 21 days to make a habit, so I'm thinking the hardest part may be over. Here's what we did last week for dinners.

Sunday - Actually, I wanted to share that in the future someday I want to open a Bed and Breakfast. So I'm practicing now. We had some friends over for brunch last Sunday to test out some recipes. I just love breakfast, plus it gives me a chance to eat something on the sweeter side.

We had Stuffed French Toast, Sausage and Spinach Frittata, and fresh pineapple rolled with prosciutto. And, the best part, all light recipes!!

That evening, we had pre-marinated lamb tips from Trader Joes, a rice medley (also from TJ's) and a fresh spinach salad with homemade viniagrette dressing.

Monday - Leftovers from Sunday night

Tuesday - Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta. This dish is one of my favorites. I make it into 8 servings so it isn't quite as high in calories. It tastes so rich, and is actually quite light. I served it with a spinach salad and homemade dressing.

Wednesday - 'Potato Pizzaz' (a baked potato, filled with steamed broccoli, leftover bacon, cheese, and light ranch). It's super filling and not too many calories. Feels like a treat.

Thursday - I'm not going to lie. I had a long afternoon and we had to eat quick before Bible study. So, Dan made himself a delicious bowl of Mac and Cheese, and I had cornflakes and a egg. Hey, I can't cook EVERY night!

Friday - Roast Chicken with Balsamic Bell Peppers, Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes, and Fresh Cantaloupe slices.

I'm currently planning out next week's menus. Plus, I joined a co-op this week, which I'm very excited about. Every Saturday, I will be getting a box of all organic fruits and vegetables, grown from local farmers. It will be different every week, so I'm excited to try it out. Here's the website in case you're interested: https://www.abundantharvestorganics.com/

Week of Menus

2010-01-12T08:42:00.000-08:00

Ah . . . week 2 . . . it's going well. I survived my first week of no sweets and not eating out. It was challenging at times, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I'm still allowing two of my favorite vices: coffee and wine, in moderation of course. And fresh berries make a wonderful dessert, if I do say so myself.

Last Friday, I stopped by the fancy local market by our house and picked up some fresh halibut. It wasn't on sale, but still cheaper than our normal Friday night dinner out. I wanted to make it super simple, so I wrapped it in foil with salt/pepper and a little butter and cooked in the oven. My only complaint is that I cooked it a little too long, but it was still good. I served it with a twice baked potato with ingredients I had leftover from the week (light sour cream, bacon bits, chives), and fresh steamed green beans. I also picked up some fresh berries. They were expensive but totally worth the splurge.

Saturday - it was tempting to go out to eat, but no can do. I went to Trader Joes for my weekly shopping trip and picked up some chicken breasts stuffed with apple cranberry stuffing. I decided instead of a vegetable side dish I would have wine and cheese as an appetizer. Totally worth it.

Sunday - I roasted a honey-glazed ham (yum!) and served it with baked sweet potato wedges (sprinkled with a little olive oil and Lawry's seasoning salt) and a fresh spinach salad.

Monday & Tuesday - Spinach Calzone (cooking light) - this has got to be one of my favorite recipes. It's so delicious! My only struggle is that I can never get the dough rolled out right, and it never seems to cook all the way. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Wednesday & Thursday - Corn and Potato Chowder (cooking light) with homemade bread. Last week I made the Gruyere and Walnut Wheat Bread, which was good, but didn't cook all the way. I will try something smaller and lighter this week.

Friday - whatever is fresh and on sale at Irvine Ranch Market

Saturday - homemade chicken nuggets (cooking light) with spinach salad

I am also determined to make homemade healthy granola bars. Searching for the perfect recipe . . .

Sabatoge or Human Nature?

2010-01-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

I am almost a week into my New Year's resolutions, and it's going pretty well. I've definitely wanted to eat out, but then made something just as tasty at home. I do miss my chocolate, but not as much as I thought. And I really haven't been all that hungry in between meals, so that's a bonus as well.

The real challenge is sticking to my New Year's Resolutions this time is other people. It seems as though everyone around me is trying to get me to cheat. "oh, you can eat out just this once, or one salad isn't going to kill you". You know what, they're right. I can eat out and be healthy, but that's not the point. And, I'm guilty of doing the same thing. When someone is dietiting, it's hard not to encourage them to cheat or as a dietitian, explain why that certain diet won't work. I don't know why that is, maybe jealously that they are sticking to the goal, or selfishness to have someone else indulge in whatever it is I am doing.

Sticking to a resolution or goal is hard enough as it is. Why don't we try and encourage each other instead of sabotage, even if we don't agree with what they are doing? I'm going to try it, how about you?

Fancy Breakfast on a Random Sunday

2010-01-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love making big breakfasts on the weekends. In fact, it may be my favorite meal of the day! This past Sunday, I had some 'tropical' ingredients lying around, so I decided to try coconut pancakes. They were delicious (although my husband later relayed that they weren't better than regular pancakes). Here's the recipe in case you want to try them :)

Coconut Banana Macadamia Pancakes
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 T. sugar
1 c. buttermilk
1 large egg
2 T. melted butter
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1/2 c. sweetened shredded coconut
1/4 c. mashed banana (about 1 large)
1/4 c. chopped macadamia nuts

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
In a separate bowl, beat together milk, egg, butter and almond extract. Stir in coconut and banana, then pour into the flour mixture. Add the macadamia nuts and stir well.

Drop batter by heaping spoonfuls on hot pan and cook about 2-3 minutes per side.

I topped these bad boys with a relish of fresh banana and pineapple and a little OJ to keep the color.

Also tastes great with a side of bacon. I mean, what doesn't taste good with bacon?

Yummy Salad Dressing

2010-01-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to make my own salad dressings lately, and found this recipe from Jessica Strand, which I altered just a bit. It's so delicious! It may not be super healthy, but it's homemade and fresh, which is the next best thing. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Blue Cheese Dressing
6 T. olive oil
6. T. plain yogurt
2 medium garlic cloves
3 T. balsamic vinegar
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c. (2 oz) crumbled blue cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together and season with salt and pepper. Keeps refrigerated for 5-7 days.

We enjoyed this dressing on a salad with spinach, yellow bell pepper, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, bacon bits and croutons.

Week of Menus

2010-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

I am kicking off the New Year with a week of healthy dinners. Here's the plan:

Friday & Saturday - Fried Cajun Turkey (no skin); Asiago, Potato, and Bacon Gratin; Salad with homemade mustard viniagrette

Sunday - Dried Cherry-Toasted Almond Turkey Salad Sandwiches (compliments of Cooking Light online)
I am using leftover fried turkey (don't worry, it's not many more calories than roasted) and instead of pita bread, I am making homemade beer bread.

Monday & Tuesday - homemade pork enchiladas with homemade Mexican rice and salad.
For the pork, I bought a whole tenderloin and cooked it in a crockpot the whole day with a bottle of green enchilada sauce. I shredded the meat when done, put a handful in a flour tortilla, and covered with more green sauce and cheese. Baked in the oven at 350 until the cheese melts, and voila, you have a easy, healthy meal!

Wednesday & Thursday - Curried Butternut Squash Soup with homemade Whole Wheat Walnut Bread (yum!)

Friday - TBA (I'm thinking some fresh fish from the market, we'll see what they have)

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's 2010! I can't believe we are starting a new year all ready. One of my resolutions is to start blogging more, like maybe once a week. It may be about photography, recipes, or anything else that comes to my mind!!

First and foremost, a couple of photos . . .

Our 2009 Christmas card (I feel as though I should have been more creative with this, but I just didn't have the time) Hey, at least I sent most of them out before Christmas!

Dan and I doing our traditional Christmas photo in front of my mom's tree

And, how could I leave out our cute puppy?

I know weight loss is the traditional New Year's Resolution, and I with the crowd, have that goal in mind. I turn 30 this year, and while that is still young, it's definitely a big milestone. And if I can't look good at 30, the rest is downhill, right? Here are my goals for this month:
#1. Start P90x with my husband
#2. No eating out for a whole month (this will help the budget too)
#3. No desserts for a month. This is going to be tough, but I feel like I need to detox from them after the holidays! I mean, I can't go on eating peanut butter balls for breakfast, now can I?
I am a registered dietitian in addition to a photographer, so the eating healthy part is pretty easy. It's just the extras that get me.

So here's to 2010 and the month of January. What are your goals?

Cousins

2009-12-15T06:29:00.000-08:00

Boys will be boys. They have so much energy, and yesterday's shoot was no different. These two guys were full of smiles and fun. Here are a few sneak peeks from the session.

Cousins (they totally did this pose themselves)

Climbing a tree. The focus of that proved to be a good attention-grabber!

Sweet Kyler. He was so happy in that bucket.

More to come . . .

Nailed it!

2009-12-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

So every once in a while, my dinner turns out better than expected, and as a joke, I turn to my husband and say 'I've really outdone myself tonight'. Well, last night was one of those nights. I guess when you combine pasta, lots of cheese, and sauce, there's not much that can go wrong. Here's the recipe for a slightly healthier mannicotti!

Baked Mannicotti with Homemade Meat Sauce
1 box Mannicotti/Canneloni Shells

1 pot homemade sauce (so easy!!)
1 large can of crushed tomatoes (I like the kind with Italian seasoning)
1 small can tomato paste
2 cloves garlic
3/4 c. red wine
1 T. sugar
oregano to taste
*add 1 pound cooked ground meat (I used 96% fat-free beef)

Filling
1 lb. ricotta (I used lowfat cottage cheese, and it turned out great)
1 lb. grated mozzarella
1/4 c. bread crumbs
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 c. chopped Italian parsley (I actually didn't have any)

Prepare sauce and add meat. Let simmer for at least an hour. I like to make mine a day in advance to let all the flavors combine overnight.

Cook Mannicotti according to instructions on package (I boiled mine in salted water for about 8 mintues). Drain and rinse with cold water.
Spray 9x13 casserole dish with non-stick spray. Fill mannicotti with stuffing, about 1/4-1/3 c. of stuffing. Pour sauce over filled mannicotti and top with fresh parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 for about 30-40 minutes. Enjoy!

Newborn Stella

2009-12-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to do some newborn photos for Brian and Jessica's new addition, Stella. She is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever worked with, which made photos a breeze. Here is one of my favs from the session that I couldn't resist posting right away!

A few more . . .

New Addition

2009-12-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not pregnant! I thought it would be fun to incorporate my dietitian world into my photography blog, you know, combine my loves. I really enjoy cooking healthy and trying new things, so I thought it might be fun to add some recipes and pictures of some of our meals.

Tonight, I was busy working on photography, so I asked my husband to cook. This is something he doesn't do often, so I gave him tasks that weren't too hard: pumpkin waffles from a mix and turkey sausage. I don't know about you, but I love breakfast for dinner!

Pumpkin Waffle Mix from Trader Joes

Jenni-O Turkey Breakfast Links

The finished product!

More new recipes to follow later this week :)

JT is 18 Months!

2009-12-05T17:39:00.000-08:00

My good friends, Matt and Ana, have the most energetic little boy and I was so excited to have the opportunity to photograph him! He was really busy the entire shoot exploring, but I guess that what little boys do, right? Ana was great at getting him to pause and smile, and she definitely got a workout. But in the end, it was worth it for some great photos and memories for their family. Here are a few of my favorites from today!

Pajak Family

2009-12-01T15:19:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I got to meet up with the Pajak Family. I met them last year and took some newborn photos of little Luke. Well now he's a year old and as cute as can be. Plus their other two kids are adorable and so well-behaved, so the shoot was so much fun. Here are a few of my favorites.

Alethea is 18 months!

2009-11-09T20:35:00.000-08:00

Wow, time sure flies. It feels like not that long ago when I first met the Harpers at Alethea's 3-month old photo shoot. She is now about 18 months and just as photogenic as ever. Here are a few of my favorites from the session so far.

Around 3 months old

Now look at her!

Triplets!!!

2009-11-09T18:19:00.001-08:00

I have never photographed triplets before, so I was excited when my former boss informed me she was pregnant with three and lived nearby. The session went so smoothly and it was so fun catching up with an old friend. It's crazy how each baby has a different personality. Here a few sneak peeks from the session.

Lindsie is Pregnant!

2009-10-26T23:11:00.001-07:00

I met Lindsie and Alex a few years ago at a New Year's Eve party through a mutual friend. They are such a fun couple and are expecting their first baby in a few months. They agreed to let me do some 'urban' pregnancy photos for something different. I'm loving how they turned out! Here are a few . . . more to come!

Atwood Family

2009-10-26T23:03:00.001-07:00

After a long photography break for knee surgery, I am back in action! I have know the Atwood family for a bit now and always love the opportunity to photograph their cute family. We met up at Huntington Beach Central Park and found some great spots for photos. Enjoy these few as a sneak peek!

Callie 9mos

2009-09-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

A sneak peek . . . let me re-introduce you to miss Callie. I did her newborn pictures about 9 months ago, and look at her now! She is just as cute as can be and a super mellow baby. Here are a few favs from the session so far!

Inabinet Family

2009-09-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to photograph a great family from Virginia. They were out here on vacation and wanted to get some family photos done at the beach. We waded through the crowds of people (hey, it was the Saturday before Labor Day) and made it just in time to catch the sun going down and some great family shots. Enjoy!

Lily is One!!!

2009-09-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

I have had the opportunity to photography Miss Lily multiple times throughout the first year of her life. And now she is one! I can hardly believe a year has gone by already. She is such a sweet baby and is growing up to be the cutest little girl. She is walking around like crazy and is so fun to watch. Here are a few favs from our session the other day and a little look back.

Newborn photo

And now at 1 year!

It's Been Awhile!

2009-09-07T07:06:00.000-07:00

So, it's been awhile since my last post. At the end of July, we went on a family vacation to the Dominican Republic. The beaches and island were absolutely stunning. I enjoyed laying out for 10+ hours/day and getting in the warm, turquoise water every 15 minutes or so. It was glorious!

View from the lounge chairs

My husband, Dan, and me

A view of the country-side

More beach

My family

The day after we got back, I had knee surgery. I've had knee problems since playing soccer in high school, in addition to two past surgeries, so this one was a breeze in comparison. But it definitely put me out of photography for a few weeks after because I couldn't get around too well.

This is my mom's friend who came to help take care of me!

And, in addition to those two major events, my husband and I got a puppy about mid-June and have been busy training and loving on him.

The first day we had him (3 months old)

4 months old (he loves his stuffed cat)

Playing at the beach (5 months old)

All this to say, I am back!!!

The Bairds are Expecting!

2009-07-14T22:22:00.000-07:00

Wow, I am really behind on posting. A few weeks ago, my good friends the Bairds came out to CA for a long weekend to visit friends. While they were here, I was able to do some pregnancy photos for them. I loved how they turned out. And I can't wait to meet the newest addition to their family! Here are a few of my favorites from the session.

Figueroa Family

2009-06-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to photograph the Figueroa family at the beach. Rachel's kids are so beautiful and I had a great time meeting all of them. It was high tide at the beach, but that didn't stop us. Enjoy the photos.

Salon Shoot

2009-05-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

On Monday, I had the opportunity to photograph some fun pictures for my client, Lorraine. She owns a beautiful salon in Huntington Beach called The Parlor at Del Sol Salon that offers a wide variety of beauty services including hair, makeup, nails, etc. She wanted to capture some of those services for photos, so we did just that. And if you are looking for a fun thing to do before or on your wedding, or even just a girls day/night out, definitely give them a call. Here are some favs from the afternoon.

Glascoe Girls

2009-05-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

My beautiful flower season is fading, so I wanted to do one last fun photoshoot amongst the yellow mustards. I met up with Dana Glascoe and her girls and we had a blast capturing some photos in the park. Here are a few favorites from the day.

Baby Dylan

2009-05-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, I met up with baby Dylan and his mom and dad at Irvine Regional Park for a 9-month old photoshoot with the little guy. When babies are 9 months, they are super smiley and so fun to photograph. He was no exception. Here are a few of my favorites from the session that day. Enjoy!