When I first met Daniel we had many “discussions” about whether corn and potatoes count as vegetables.  If YOU consider those vegetables, then we have always eaten a lot of vegetables.  I consider them to be “carbs” not vegetables.  To me a vegetable is something that actually has vitamins and minerals in it.  I know, call me a snob.  One of the things that Pollan pushes in all of his books is “Eat more vegetables!” Since we are such fans of him,and in light of the fact that we now have a child and have decided to be a better role models,  we try hunt out more vegetable recipes and grace our table with them.  We started a couple years ago with a CSA box.  (I had never heard of it either, but it changed our life!  Talk about getting vegetables in your diet!)

Today’s Food Friday is in honor of the fact that I can proudly say that now I no longer cower in fear as I put rutabaga or turnips or kale into our shopping cart.

Today’s Feature: Leek and Root Vegetable Au Gratin

“I can’t stop the rain, but I will hold you until it goes away”

From “When the Rain Comes”, by Third Day

I snapped these two shots of my Dayla in downtown San Diego yesterday. The light was incredible with the storm clouds looming on the horizon. The perk to scouting locations for my clients is that I occasionally get a shot or two of Dayla that I just love.

I can’t wait to use this location again someday with another family! It was beautiful!

Brie Cheese with Fig Spread on Whole Wheat Butter Crackers

This is just a DELICIOUS treat that we sampled one day at  Beverages and More (one of our favorite stores…I suppose you will start to notice that as I continue to reference our trips there!).  Immediately I was smitten with this INCREDIBLE combination of food and had to bring it home to consume at my whim.  You too can try this delicacy with just a snap of your fingers (and, well, a trip to the store).

Dayla touched snow for the first time (and declared  it cold and crunchy), got scared when she walked in it (“I am sinking mama!”), built her first snow man (carrot nose and all, with mom’s help), made snowballs (with dad), went down a hill on a snow disc for the first time (and did NOT like it), and enjoyed the Moonridge Zoo (where you can see bears and bald eagles and foxes about 4 feet from your face!  BEST. ZOO. EVER.)

We just spent a WONDERFUL weekend with great friends, eating great food, enjoying great company and great weather (a light snow storm and 36 degrees, but no chains needed.  LOVE THAT.) and of course had to take a photo or two.

Dayla trying her first icicle. I am loving the light pouring in on this image.

I have never done a portrait session in the snow before….and the light was A. MAZING. I wish I could do portraits in the snow every. single. day. But then I guess I would have to live in the snow. Yeah, I am not okay with that. A warm weather girl through and through. But the white cavas and the light it made….oh snow…how I loved you.

Introducing Dayla and her daddy.

This next one of Ben and Ellie is my FAVORITE.  Love this moment.

Ellie LOVED going down hills on the snow disc.

This picture is from the Moonridge Zoo. Bald eagles about 4 feet away from you! I tell you, this zoo is a MUST SEE if you are in Big Bear. Small, but very cool.

So thankful that Julie suggested a family portrait! This is US!

Steamed Artichokes with Chili Aioli. Hummus and Grilled Pita

This is not so much a “recipe to share”, as it is just a meal we ate for dinner, but to be honest I just thought it was both delicious and incredibly photogenic.  :)

To make: trim and steam artichokes, buy some yummy hummus (we prefer the extra garlic-y hummus at Fresh and Easy)l, brush a mixture of garlic, salt and pepper and olive oil on pita bread and grill until golden brown.  Chili aioli is pretty easy too (and delicious!).  Mix mayo, lemon juice, minced garlic, and 1/4 tsp. of chili powder.  DEELISH. Hope you enjoy!

I don’t ever want to forget this Dayla. The one that laughs deep with her belly at absolutely nothing at all. The one whose heart is so big that she cries when others are sad. The one that is so tender and sweet that after being scolded she will put her hand on my cheek and say “I am so sorry mama. I love you.”

That is our Dayla.
The greatest blessing I have ever received.
And my cup runneth over.

Some may call it “type-A” and some may call it “detail-oriented”, but we all know what it means.  You may think we are  crazy, and chances are if you don’t then you are one  like me.  We are list people.  We are neat people.  We are the type of people that excited at the prospect of having a day off, not so we can relax, but so we can GET THINGS CROSSED OFF THE LIST.    But I am okay with it.  I own it.  I embrace it.  It is me.

So when my family in-law offered to take my two year old daughter for the day on Friday, I was so excited.  A million things raced through my head…a million projects that is.  Things that I have had on my list for months, that I just haven’t been able to tackle with toddler in tow.  I had no idea where to start!  But as the end of the week neared,  Daniel thought the idea of taking a day off sounded pretty good too.  And that is when I knew the list wouldn’t be touched this Friday.  I knew you see, because that is one of the reasons I fell in love with my dear husband.  He is the yin to my yang.  When I get all wound up and am drowning in a sea of  post-it notes, he comes in and whisks me away to a nice dry island with sunshine, a cold bottle of beer, relaxation, and absolutely no post-it notes.  So on Friday we had what he announced as “The Day of Yeast”, and nothing but relaxation and buckets of fun was had.

The “Day of Yeast” consisted of taking a tour of a beer brewery, doing 3 beer tastings at 3 different beer spots, and ending the day making some homemade bread (making homemade bread has become a new joy of ours since finding out you don’t need a bread maker to make AMAZING bread from this book.  We were enlightened by our awesome friend Jen!)

The Day’s Adventures:

We  have been wanting to take advantage of the fact that San Diego is one of the top craft brew cities.  There is a ton of breweries here, and plenty of good beer.  I am not a big beer person, but I am a sucker for a “behind the scenes” tour, so I was stoked for this adventure.  If you want an amazing behind the scenes tour from some of the nicest people I have ever met, check out the tour at Ballast Point Brewery right here in San Diego.   That was our first stop, and by far our best.  The second stop was Stone Brewery in Escondido.  This was not really my cup of tea, but worth the visit because of it’s breath-taking beauty.  Stunning.  All the pictures from our journey are from there, because to put it plainly, I was blown away by every detail, nook and cranny, and wanted to do nothing but take pictures.  (If you want to do your photo shoot there, I would LOVE TO do it!) Our last stop was none other than across the street from our house, at BevMo.  We love BevMo and just found out that they too do tastings of the yummy things they carry at 4pm on Fridays!  (And of course had to take advantage of their 0.05 wine sale while we were there!).  And then the bread was made.  The best loaf we have made yet!  Fluffy, buttermilk white bread.  YUM.

Here is our adventures in the form of pictures (cause as much I as I love to write, I know that this IS a photography blog!)

I am in LOVE with this rust wall (hence why my loving husband posed for me in front of it! What a guy.) Can’t you just imagine an awesome family portrait in front of it?

Then the bread making commenced.

Baking…

The baked loaf in all it’s glory. Ain’t it pretty?!

The End.  Hope you have a HAPPY Tuesday! Have a beer and a piece of bread…and you too can have your very own “Day of Yeast”!

[By the way, sorry for the delay in this week's Food Friday!  We played hookie today...and I forgot to put up my post first thing.  Daniel took the day off work, we dropped off Dayla with Grandma, and we enjoyed a "Day of Yeast" today!  Stay tuned for stories and photos of our day's adventures.]

Today’s Feature: Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins

I am SO excited to share Part Two because not only do I get to share with you more of these cute adorable little girls and the moments we captured their sweet love for one another, but I also get to feature another wonderful photographer! Kristy has been a good friend of mine for 4 years (or 5? Drat…this memory of mine!) and has over the past couple years has begun to walk the journey of learning photography with me.  It has been such a blast to have friend sharing this love of mine (i.e., understanding the obsession with lens and unceasing reading of  photography blogs) and she is a very talented girl with an amazing eye (and humble too)!  On this shoot she was not only my helper, sun blocker, kid corral-er, but also stepped in as a second shooter, and I can’t wait to share the pictures she got!  So without further ado, I give you the rest of our little girl-pink-fluffy-tea-party-fantasy-dress-up-picnic-photo shoot!

Beginning with Tabby…the ADORABLE Tabby! Her puppy-dog eyes melt my heart every time and I was so excited to catch it on camera. (see below right)

Kristy caught these next two sweet moments below. LOVE.

Trying to get the girls wrangled together again…

so I asked for a little love. And  two friends who love each other, well, they just gotta hug.

Then I brought out the ever popular lollipops so we could buy a little more time…and some more fun images!

(Below shot caught by Kristy too! I simply LOVE Dayla’s profile, so I LOVE this shot.  Really, I love everything about it.  My sweet girl.)

Then WE just had to jump in on the fun! Below…Kristy and Tabitha!

This next one makes my heart smile. I am not sure I know a mom who adores her girls like Kristy does, and I feel like this moment is just so her. Having a blast, and oozing with love.

Then Kristy snapped me with Dayla:

AND THIS ONE. Oh this one! This is one of my favorite shots of all time! I overflow with joy and love when I see it! (Thanks Kristy!)

These next two caught by Kristy after I had put my camera in the car (rookie mistake!) The best shots ALWAYS seem to happen when everyone thinks the photo shoot is over. Exhibit A:

And exhibit B. This one below might win for my second favorite of the shoot! I feel like it looks like a greeting card! Amazing Kristy strikes again!

I have to end on another shot that just makes my heart smile. Tabby and her beloved bear. I have been trying to capture a picture of her and her favorite bear for about a year…and I finally got one that I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Sweet sweet Tabitha and her bear looking like an angel.

Thanks so much for visiting and sharing in this journey of this girly pink photo shoot with me! If you want your little girl-y girl to have a shoot like this, or a boy’s boy one for your little guy…just shoot me a line! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to do this again!

Today’s Feature: Green Salad with Roasted Pears and Fennel, Topped With Caramelized Onions and Avocado

Recipe:  Throwing together some things in the kitchen!  If you want to know how to prepare, just leave a comment in the comment box!