Welcome Baby Owen - Bjerke Sneak Peek {Davis Newborn Photographer}

You are duly warned, this is a picture heavy post :)

Two people making a new, perfect combination of themselves and in a moment life is changed forever! Each child brings change, but the firstborn turns lives upside down. Never did time fly so fast and so slow simultaneously. Sheer exhaustion and elation.

It is an amazing thing when a child is welcomed and loved and a family is created. The chance to finally understand, in the smallest of ways, how our parents must have felt, the chance for relationships to change and grow.

It was so great to visit Jenny and Mark and see them as parents! Crazy in some ways, yet perfectly natural now that it has happened. I loved his little room they worked on, with all the owl details. I wonder how many hours were lovingly put into making each little owl perched on the branches of the tree and hanging from the mobile?

Owen is the cutest baby, all 9lbs 2oz of him. Just look at his adorable lips and chubby cheeks. If I was his Mama I would be kissing and squeezing him all day long.

Of course there was even an owl hat!

 They are a family!

  

Congratulations again Jenny and Mark, Owen is just perfect!

A Day In The Life - July 2012

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I have chosen the first day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

July 1st was a Sunday; we headed to church and that Sunday we also went to a Creekside Picnic. My kids love to play in the creek and it's always fun to hang out with friends. These are memories being built and friendships being strengthened. Thanks again to the Burtts for sharing their space with us all!

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

Happy 4th July

Happy Birthday America! This is the country I call home, and have for over 13 years. I am blessed to live here and to get to appreciate the freedoms it shares. Of course I miss England and the people I left behind there, but I have nothing to complain about. I have made amazing friends, I get to live in the beautiful Bay Area and I do not take it for granted.

I skipped the parade this morning but will be celebrating, with friends and family tonight. Stay safe and don't forget to be grateful everyone!

Blackberry Chocolate Chip Scones

I recently found a recipe for White Chocolate Raspberry Scones, which looked and sounded delicious. Unfortunately, I had no raspberries OR white chocolate chips, but I did have blackberries and dark chocolate chips. So I set about making my variation. I'm posting my version here as the recipe I followed was way, way, too wet (I had to add almost a whole cup more flour) and I also had to increase the cooking time. They turned out pretty well. I like scones, not so light and cakey, not too sweet, no need for perfection, they are deliciously rustic.

Blackberry Chocolate Chip Scones

Prep time: 15 mins    Cook time: 20 mins    Total time: 15 mins    Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or use 1/2 Tbsp vinegar and add milk to make up to 1/2 cup, let stand 10 mins)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup blackberries
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp milk
• Sprinkling of granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees/F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and sugar. Whisk together.
3. Using a pastry cutter, two knives (or if your butter is hard enough- a cheese grater) cut in the butter into the flour mixture.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk.
5. Add the chocolate chips to the flour mixture and stir to distribute.
6. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Mix until it is consistent in texture. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle in another tablespoon or two of flour, or if dough is too dry, add another tablespoon of buttermilk. The dough should be able to come together to easily form a ball but without being overly sticky. Do not overmix as the dough is delicate.
7. In a small dish, smash the raspberries with a fork just to break them down a bit.
8. Incorporate the smashed berries into the dough.
9. Using your hands, roll the dough in a ball and flatten slightly into a disk shape, about 7-8 inches in diameter.
10. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut the disk into 8 wedges to form the scones.
11. Transfer the scones to a baking pan lined with a silicon mat or parchment paper.
12. Using a pastry brush, brush the scones with the tbsp of milk and sprinkle the granulated sugar over the tops.
13. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
14. Once they have cooled slightly drizzle the tops with melted chocolate (because you can never have too much chocolate). 

I enjoy these for dessert, a snack, or even breakfast...how can you go wrong?

Happy Father's Day

These three have got to have one of the best fathers out there! I am so grateful for the father my husband is and the relationship he has with our children. They know they are loved, they know they are safe, there is no fear. I do not feel like a single parent, we are parents together. My children are so blessed (as am I) with the love and encouragement that is poured into their lives - every day!

James you are appreciated and loved by us all! I hope that is something you will never, ever doubt. Thank you for who you are and all you do. Happy Father's Day!

Just for fun, here are the previous three years :)

2011

2010

2009

A Day in the Life - June 2012

Often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. This is my 'Day in the Life Project'. I have chosen the first day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month I am guaranteed photographs of my family and my life.

June 1st was a regular school day, but I then headed out to a Women's Retreat and my husband headed out to take the kids on a mini-camp out.

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life. If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!

Click here to see May.

Bjerke Maternity Sneak Peek {Mill Valley Maternity Photographer}

 
If you have been following my blog for a while, no doubt you will recognize this beautiful Mama to be. I met her as a child, she babysat my children, I was there taking photographs on her wedding day in 2009 and now she is about to have a child of her own.

Yes it makes me feel old! But I feel privileged to have met her and to continue to be a part of her life and to be the one who gets to help her document some of these important milestones. In just a few short weeks there will be newborn photos and I cannot wait!

Enjoy your sneak peek Jenny and Mark, so looking forward to meeting your little guy and watching you grow as parents.

Better Than Chocolate Chip Cookies

In our house, this cookie is the favorite, hands down. Why have a plain old chocolate chip cookie, when you can have a chocolate chocolate chip cookie? Just as easy to make, with the addition of unsweetened cocoa powder to the batter. I made some today with my youngest and thought I would share our recipe (from Real Simple) with you.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk-chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Cream the butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed. Lower to medium speed and add the egg and vanilla. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. On low speed, add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.
2. Form the dough into approximately 1 1/2-inch balls. Place on parchment- or foil-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
3. Bake until the centers are just set, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

Mmmmm...delicious!

Nelson Family Sneak Peek {Marin County Family Portrait Photographer}

We all mean to have family photographs taken on a somewhat regular basis. We know our children are growing and changing daily and that by next year they will be in a completely different stage. It will be harder to remember exactly what our family is like now, a year from now. Life does not slow down and before you know it more time has passed than you would have liked.

I love looking at our family photos from over the years, seeing the changes and the progression. I love helping to capture that for others. These are important memories and times worth capturing!

This lovely family have had a tough year. An adoring mom, who truly found real joy in her family; her children, who cherished being a stay-at-home-mom like few I know, was forced to return back to work. I know it was not what she would have chosen, but sometimes difficult decisions are forced upon us. She and her husband are a team though and she recognized that this was what had to be done. It's at times like these when we cling to what matters most: our faith, our family and friends. Life is not always going to be easy, we were never promised that.

I love the love that they have for each other, that at the end of the day, they are each others safe place. I am so glad that this shoot finally took place. It was a beautiful evening, with gorgeous light, for this beautiful family.

It was hard to narrow down a few for this post, but here is a sneak peek. Enjoy!

Sunburst Lemon Bars

I don't do it as much as I would like, or used to...but I love to bake. You will have to believe me when I tell you, I am a huge chocolate fan, but sometimes a hot day calls for a light, refreshing, zingy treat.

This weekend I was given lemons so off I went to Pinterest to find something yummy to make. I found these sunburst lemon bars, glazed instead of just sprinkled with powdered sugar and decided they would fit the bill perfectly.

Click here to see where I got the recipe from.

Sunburst Lemon Bars

barely adapted from Pillsbury, Easy Meals, Picnics & Potlucks, August 2005
makes 36 bars
per bar: 150 calories, 6g fat, 22g carbs, 0g fiber, 2g protein

Ingredients:

Crust
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp. grated lemon peel

Filling
4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. grated lemon peel

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Note: You'll need about two lemons for the juice/peel in this recipe. If you don't have enough lemon juice left for the glaze, add water until you get the right consistency.

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl with electric mixer, beat flour, sugar, butter, and peel on low speed until crumbly. Press mixture evenly in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown.
2. Meanwhile, in large bowl with wire whisk, lightly beat eggs. Beat in remaining filling ingredients except lemon juice and lemon peel until well blended. Beat in 1/4 cup lemon juice and peel.
3. Remove partially baked base from oven. Pour filling evenly over warm base.
4. Return to oven; bake 25 to 30 minutes longer or until top is light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
5. In small bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar and enough lemon juice for desired spreading consistency until smooth. Spread glaze over cooled bars. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator, but allow bars to come to almost room temperature before serving.

A Day in the Life - May 2012

I recently read a blog post that totally resonated with me. It was all about how often photographers end up neglecting the documentation of their own families. Sometimes it can be due to being too busy with client work, or a lack of inspiration, or just not being able to balance everything. The photographer went on to say that she now chooses one day each month to document, from morning to night, so that each month she is guaranteed photographs of her family and her life.

I felt challenged and inspired, so I am starting it too! May 1st was my first attempt, as I figured the 1st of each month would be the easiest to remember. I haven't made any rules for myself, but will try to post by mid-month a few of the photos from that day.

These are not technically perfect (far from it), or portrait-worthy, this is just real life (try not to be jealous of my laundry and dishes!). If you are doing something similar leave me a comment with a link to where I can follow along with you, I would love that!