I’m just emerging from a crazy weekend, in which I didn’t even get time to tell you about what I was up to LAST week! So, here it goes…
This year’s Easter mini-sessions with the sofa are filled, so I’ve decided to put an extra two dates out there! March 17th and March 30th I’ll be in Huntington Beach and a local park with an amazing long grass field. These will be sunset photo sessions with times starting at 5:30 and ending at 7:00.
I loved this location last year…so I’m excited to bring it back this year! The details are the same: $100 for a 20 minute photo session. As an extra incentive, if you sign up with a friend, you both get a free digital image of your choice! Email me at info@kristineldridge.com or give me a call to book your session! 562-980-6480
One of the perks of my job is the convenient excuse to craft. Sometimes I need props that just aren’t something I can buy in a store, so I break out the scissors paper and glue. This time it was paper flowers. I was shooting for Oilily, a European brand, so wanted something the girls could hold.
I based the design off what I had seen on pinterest, but changed things up because I needed it to have a stem so the girls could hold a bouquet.
After digging through my pantry, I decided to use a jar of natural peanut butter and a jar of vinegar for my circle templates. The peanut butter jar was about 5″ across and the vinegar jar was 3 1/2″ across. I traced one big circle and five small cirles.
Cut out your circles. Then take one small circle and one big circle and cut about halfway to the middle.
Twist the circle to make a slight cone shape and hot glue in place. Glue the small cone inside the larger cone. Then, take your four small circle that are left and glue them around your cone, evenly spaced.
Final step is to put a dab of glue in the middle and sprinkle with glitter.
You could end there, or you could keep going and make stems. I took a strip of green paper and folded in half a few times and glued in place. Then I cut about an inch down on the top, so it split the strip in half. I glued that to the bottom of the flower.
I made enough for a bouquet and tied it with a pretty ribbon. Now that the photo shoot is over, the cute little bouquet is sitting on Jillian’s dresser.
And there you have it. A bouquet of glittery paper flowers.
Mar
06
2012
The southern California weather lately has been like a cranky two-year old. One day it’s hot and sunny, the next day stubborn clouds refuse to move out of the sun’s way and the shade is so chilly you thought you might have somehow forgot you moved to Canada. On those cool spring nights, soup is kind of a comfort thing. It’s not wintery enough to merit a hearty stew, but you don’t really feel like barbequeing either. So, a warm soup satisfies the soul and mixed with a salad, it reminds you that summer is just around the corner.
Today I’m making baked potato soup for dinner. Partly because I have a big bag of potatoes I need to use and partly because it’s chilly today. Either way, it’s a great reason to make soup.
First things first. Load up your potatoes onto a baking sheet and pop them into a 400 degree oven for about an hour. You know they’re nice and soft when the skins get all wrinkly.
Once they’ve cooled, you’ll want to peel the skins and mash them up.
While this process is going on, you can take your bacon and place it on a foil lined baking sheet. Have I told you how much I hate cooking bacon? Splattering grease is never a good thing. INSTEAD…cook the bacon in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes and then wad up that tin foil and through it away. The result is perfectly cooked bacon and a perfectly clean kitchen. Boom.
In a big stock pot, add your milk and flour…stir, stir, stir. Then add your mashed potatoes, salt, pepper, grated cheese and sour cream. Done. Seriously done. Can dinner be any easier!?!
Whatever you do, do not forget to add the bacon you cooked, some more cheese and sliced green onion. It’s pretty much delicious.
For the official recipe, head over to Cooking Light, by clicking on this link.
This time last year Bethany and I were hustlin’ this white sofa to and fro. One of my favorites from last year was this wonderful repeat client. Her boys are so cute and go from drop-dead gorgeous serious looks to smiles that will light up a room!
Play date photo sessions are in full swing and here’s a bit of what I’ve been up to this week!
Sometimes you mull over an idea that’s just that…an idea. a concept. Until all the stars align and that idea has blossomed into reality. The whole process starts with scouring all the usual spots. Craigslist, thrift stores, estate sales and the flea market. I’m looking for a piece of furniture that speaks to me. Something that will inspire me to create.
A whole slew of other things has to happen. The price has to be right. The best-husband-ever has to go pick it up. It has to fit inside a sequoia. I have to convince best-ever-husband to load it back into said sequoia for a series of practice shoots. Does my location work? What time of day will it work best? What will the children wear? What will I bribe them with? Can you hang a chandelier from a tree? Oh you know, all the things you check of your list at the end of the day.
Soooo. All the stars aligned and I think I’m more excited about these mini-sessions than any others before. You guys, the location is just. Well, it’s perfect. And it’s in Long Beach. The sofa, it is also perfect. Vintage yet modern- in rich velvet. The chandelier. Hello, gorgeous!
I’m loving Target knock-offs. Colored denim, kitschy florals and neon everything! If I want to try a trend, Target’s the place to do it. Over the past few years, it’s been my go-to for summer sandals. Most are $10-15 and super cute! I’m kinda picky about shoes, but with sandals, the quality isn’t as important because there’s so little material.
Here’s a pair from their website knocked off from Sam Edelman…love!
And here’s a few pairs I own from Target that will be making a reappearance this summer!
I’m easing back into life home from vacationing someplace tropical. And these blustery days just aren’t making it any easier! In lieu of sunbathing on the sand, I decided to make vanilla pudding. It was multi-tasking if I’m going to be honest. I wanted something warm and smooth and delicious…and the kids are always begging to buy Jello pudding in the grocery store. I just can’t bring myself to buy those yellow-hued plastic cups. So, with a few simple ingredients, yesterday afternoon filled my home with the comforting aroma of vanilla.
I snagged this recipe off Smitten Kitchen’s website, because, well…you just can’t go wrong over there. Here’s the link: Vanilla Bean Pudding
It’s amazing how a little unassuming brown stick can have so much more depth of flavor than vanilla extract.
See those little brown specks? So. So. Good.
I decided to make a little extra for lunches. Three little blonde heads were bopping around with excitement to hear they would have vanilla pudding in their lunch bag. Only when they’re older will they thank me in the not the plastic-flavored kind from the pudding aisle.
Here’s part two from my photo sessions last week in Hawaii! If you want to see part one, click here.
