San Diego County Portrait Photography
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It’s hard to believe that Eliza is two! Especially since it seems like yesterday that I took her parents maternity pictures. When I first showed up, Kelsi gave me a look and said, “She didn’t nap.” We were afraid that would completely ruin the day, but (thankfully) we were so wrong. What a precious and thoughtful little beauty Eliza is! And we even scored some awesome pictures with her baby sister, Nöel!
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My sweet cousin Bethany drove down from Orange County and gave me the pleasure of photographing her GORGEOUS daughter. Anna is only ten days younger than my son, so it’s fun to see them run around the back yard together. I am so in love with Anna’s pigtails, her precious dress and her serious little personality. Please come down again soon, Bethany, so we can have the kids all play together again!
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I made this cake for a dinner party a couple weeks ago and it was super yummy. Many people have requested the recipe, so I figured it’d be easiest to post on here. It is incredibly easy to make, but be warned it is pretty sweet, so you might want to have some coffee or milk nearby to drink with it. Enjoy!
Quick Italian Cream Cake
(from Cake Mix Miracles book)
Ingredients:
-1 (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix with pudding (I used Pillsbury Moist Supreme.)
-3 large eggs
-1 1/4 cups buttermilk*
-1/4 cup vegetable oil
-1 (3.5-ounce) can flaked coconut (I had a big bag, so I just measured 3.5 oz on my electronic scale.)
-2/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted
-3 Tablespoons rum (optional…I skipped this.)
-Cream Cheese-Pecan Frosting (see recipe below)
*I poured a little bit less than 1 1/4 cup milk in a bowl with about 1 Tb of vinegar in it and let it sit for about five minutes until it curdles.
1. Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes. Stir in coconut and pecans. Pour into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
3. Sprinkle each cake layer evenly with rum, if desired; let stand 10 minutes.
4. Spread Cream Cheese-Pecan Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Chill 2 hours before slicing. Yield: 1 (3-layer) cake.
Cream Cheese-Pecan Frosting
Ingredients:
-1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
-1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
-1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
-1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar (I ended up using about half the box), beating until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla and pecans. Yield: 4 cups.
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I am on summer vacation for the next month and a half. All I plan on doing is hanging out with my boys and doing fun things. Everytime I think of something new I add it to my list. So far some of the things on the “to do” list are:
-ride the Sprinter to the beach
-go to the library
-camp in the backyard
-make homemade popsicles
-etc.
So far we have been hanging out and drawing in the giant cardboard box I snagged from the Whirlpool guys making a delivery to my neighbors. I love summer.
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I think this little girl has the SWEETEST face there is. We had a fun time running around the park. She is incredibly busy (although aren’t ALL 1-year-olds?!), adventurous and athletic. There is a very good chance in a couple years, she is going to be tearing up the soccer field.
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I’d like to start off by saying that I’m not the gym-membership-kind-of-owning person. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve owned a couple gym memberships, but each of them has ended up with two or three visits, well intentioned nonetheless, but then not used for the following six months (that I continued to pay for until finally getting around to canceling). I’ve always been the kind of person that starts off with full steam, excited and ambitious and end up crashing or giving up about a week later (most likely distracted by something or other). So goes all of my work-out or eating-right endeavors.
After having two kids, one right after the other, I am fiercely trying to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight (or better) and decided that the thing I’d like to change the most about myself is to become a more consistent person in life…starting with working out regularly. Since I work full-time and have two kids, I never really feel like I have the time to devote to working out. I’ve tried waking up early, before work, to do it, but that was easily given up . The gravitational pull below my bed is strong and I DID NOT want to get up until the absolute last minute. After being inspired by my sister (shout out to the amazing Renata!), I set my mind to doing the Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred in 30 days. Even though I have never seen an episode of The Biggest Loser…I am a big fan of hers. It’s an intense workout that’s only thirty minutes, which I figured I could work into my day.
Again, like ALL things in my life, I started out with gusto and went 12 days straight, in a row, before I decided to take a few days off to give myself and my muscles a rest. I have now gone 17 days (that’s 510 minutes of work-out time…in case you were interested) and am sincerely hoping this becomes a habit. I realize though how easy it is to give up, especially when I am going through my day on little sleep. I know that I need to put on my serious work-out clothes (see picture below) and start the video and then I don’t quit. It’s the starting part that’s difficult. It also helps me to put it on my calendar (thank you iPhone for beeping to remind me to get my butt in gear). I figure now that it’s out on my blog, that I will have more accountability and hopefully change my nasty habit of giving up.
This picture is a good representation of how 75% of my work-outs occur. What is it about mommy laying on the ground that attracts the children like bears to honey?!
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While we were out taking pictures of her daughter, my sis-in-law, Heidi, asked if I could get “some” shots of her. Always up for a portrait session, I agreed. I had no idea how good Heidi would be in front of the camera. She was super comfortable and has the “no smile, model face” mastered. I am super impressed!
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My beautiful niece is turning 2!!! How can that be already?! We headed out to Discovery Lake to capture this milestone and Addie was quite the little model! I just LOVE her!!!!
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My amazing cousin, Jodi, came over today to give me a break from potty training hell. In exchange I took her adorable daughter outside to breathe some fresh air. While we were out there, I thought I’d capture a few shots of her exploring. One is such a fun age!
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My beautiful friend Jen gave birth to the most precious baby girl a little over three weeks ago and we finally got around to taking some pictures of her, although I’m sure I’ll be taking many more over the years to come. I really hope she and my son will be best buds someday!
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