Every year I look forward to the spring mini-sessions at Rascals to Rebels. It’s a parade of sweet dresses, gingham and bow ties. It’s so much cute that my cheeks get tired from smiling so much! This year, I decided upon a variation of the moss wall that I’ve made in the past. It’s a lot of greenery with sticks and little sprouts of leaves mixed in, to give it a bit of a whimsical feel. I’m also bringing along this antique green velvet chair for those that want to use it. Don’t forget to go by the store to sign up….these spots go quickly!
Last night I was sitting on the couch telling Brent about how Valentine’s Day isn’t for married people. I went on for a bit until he’s all…you say that every year. I do!? Apparently I subconsciously feel strongly about Valentine’s Day. Then he went out and bought Jillian and I each a bouquet of flowers today. Over-achiever. I baked some blueberry scones that count for Teacher Appreciation Week, Valentine’s Day annnd after school snacks. I multi-tasked that business.
Scones are a delightful combination of flour, sugar and lots of butter. The fresh fruit makes you feel like you’re eating something healthy, so just don’t even look at all that butter. Oh and that crazy picture above? Free lensing. It’s my new favorite thing. You take the lens off your camera body and then tilt it this way and that to get different looks. It’s like a make-shift tilt-shift.
Smitten Kitchen Berry Scones
Makes 12
2 3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces of butter, in 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup blueberries
3/4 to 1 cup buttermilk (use the smaller amount if using fresh fruit, the larger if using the raisin-caraway combo)
Turbinado or sanding sugar for sprinkling (optional)
Preheat oven to 375°.
Place cubed butter in freezer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, measure other ingredients (except buttermilk and fruit) and mix in the bowl of a food processor.
Add butter to processor bowl and mix until the butter and flour mixture are the texture of coarse cornmeal. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a mixer and add buttermilk and fruit, mixing on the lowest speed until the dough just comes together.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently a couple times. Roll dough out to approximately one-inch thickness (I skipped the rolling pin and just patted it out with floured hands) and cut into squares. Cut those squares again on the diagonal, creating triangles. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if you’re using it.
Bake on an ungreased baking sheet (mine stuck ever-so-slightly, so I might line it with parchment next time, though no biggie if you don’t) for 25 to 30 minutes, until lightly browned.
This year I want to bring you more of my favorite spots. Even if it’s a little hard to get to or a little bit further than I’m used to going…I want to spend time on the things I love. This beach in Laguna is a recent favorite and I’m going to be offering extended mini-sessions on Saturday, February 23rd. Here are the details: $150 for a 40 minute session and you get a free digital image with your purchase. There is a bit of walking over rocky coral, so I wanted to allow some extra time. But, this is such a special place…you won’t be disappointed. A few of my favorite highlights are a succulent trail on the way to the beach, tide pools and a mysterious old castle! **These sessions can be just the kids or the whole family.
Available times are: 3:30-4:10 4:10-4:50 4:50-5:30
Call me 562-980-6480 or email info@kristineldridge.com to reserve your spot.
The internet is a big place. It’s big and it’s full of very talented people. Sometimes one can get lost admiring all that talent. Every once in awhile it’s good to just take a tiny internet break and focus on what’s right in front of us. And try not to feel so tiny in this big ocean of talent.
Hopefully this doesn’t read as a pity-party, because it’s not. Just a gentle reminder to myself and anyone else who feels just a bit intimidated every once in awhile. I’m so blessed to get to work with awesome people…and hopefully I’m doing my part to contribute beautiful things to the big ol’ internet!
//child and family photography taken in Los Angeles County parks
We’ve eaten our weight in grapefruit after visiting my grandma a few weeks ago. Her backyard grapefruit trees are overflowing with fresh fruit. Southern California spoils us with seasonal fruit and each season seems to be better than the last. I decided to whip up a facial mask with some of our extra citrus.
Here’s what’s going on in this mask…anti-oxidants from the grapefruit fight free-radicals, which cause fine lines and wrinkles. Who wants those!? The citrus also works with the egg white to even color and tighten the skin. Oatmeal softens skin and gently scrubs away dead skin cells. It’s also anti-inflammatory. Honey is added because it’s anti-bacterial, which means it fights acne!
Here’s my recipe…juice from 1/2 a grapefruit, 1 Tablespoon raw honey, 1 egg white and 1/2 cup oatmeal. If you have a mini-food processor, puree the mixture. If not, just stir it together…it will be lumpier this way. Leave it on your face for about 15 minutes, then wash it off. As with anything you put on your skin, if you are sensitive, test a smaller patch of skin before putting it on your face.
Halloween and Valentine’s Day are just a clever excuse to eat more sugar! But, that’s okay with me and my sweet tooth. I put a little spin on homemade marshmallows, by rolling them in colored sugar. Valentine peeps! To see all the specifics on how to make these, head over to the Little Skye Blog, where I’m guest posting today!
By the way, these marshmallows are a great treat to use with my free valentine templates! Head over to my facebook fan page to download the template.
PLAY DATES are back! Here’s how it works: invite 3-4 friends to meet at the park with their kids. I show up with my camera and capture priceless moments of each of the children. No posing, no ‘cheeeese,’ just kids being kids. Each family will be presented with an online gallery of images of their child/children from our time at the park. The approach will be photojournalistic…truly showing who they are at this stage of life. This isn’t a time to get all gussied up and take them kicking and screaming to a ‘photo shoot.’ This is a time to play with friends and be a kid!
**If you prefer to be inside, I will happily come to a home instead of a park. Also, I love to incorporate the play structures into the photos, but we can keep it simply green if you like that better.
The details:
You choose the park that your children love to go to…I will stay for approximately one hour photographing the children.
This is for weekdays only…during the day or after school for children that are school aged.
Your friends each pay $25 for the session. Your session is free.
Your will receive access to special digital packages if orders are placed within a week of proofing. Please email me to receive all the specific details.
Offer is valid until March 11. Email info@kristineldridge.com or call 562-980-6480 to reserve a date.
Hey friends! I’m over on Modern Parents Messy Kids today posting about how to make candy bags with custom photo toppers. This year, I wanted to make a few templates so those of you that have photoshop could join in on the fun! I made 4 templates for boys and girls and the link to download is over on my Facebook Fan Page. Kristin Eldridge Photography Haven’t seen my fan page yet? I’m finally jumping on the bandwagon and branching away from my regular facebook page. I have already been sharing sneak peeks, new locations, promotions and plan to do giveaways like this one! So, ‘like’ me and join the fun!
To read all about the details for how to make the candy bag, head over to the blog post!
Cortés told his men to ‘burn the ships.’ I’m sure you’ve heard the story…he was on the final leg of an ocean voyage that was to take him from Cuba to the shores of the Yucatan in search of treasure. He was up against the impossible with the treasure being hoarded by the same Yucatan army for 600 years. But, when they were ready to invade, he told his men to burn the ships. There would be no going back. They were all in.
I heard this story yesterday in a message at church as an illustration about being more bold in our faith…what we believe. It was so inspiring. I want to live without regret. If you’re interested, you can listen to the message here.
It also made me think about other areas of my life where I live passionately. In 2007, against better judgement I dropped a few thousand dollars I saved on camera and lens to become a photographer. There was no back-up plan. It was go big or go home! So, thank you for helping my leap of faith become my job. I’m really blessed to have clients, that I call friends, that hire me year after year. Thank you!
//child photography taken in Huntington Beach, CA
Devin is an aspiring photographer, so she came prepared with hats, suitcases and the like! I told her it was like having an assistant on the shoot. She knew the ins and outs of what I’d need and was right there to pitch in. The result: amazing photos. I’m just swooning over Devin’s third baby! And what a fantastic big brother and sister she has!
//newborn photos took place at my studio in Long Beach
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