Fall 2010
The weather was still balmy…so warm that the sweaters might have been a little uncomfortable. But, having a new puppy seemed to distract a little!
I love a good close up…especially in black and white.
I recently read a quote that said, “I don’t want to survive– I want to thrive.” To be honest with you, this week was not a week of thriving. It was survival. It was photo sessions every day, sometimes two…lots of designing albums and planning for future shoots. I’ve said it before, but this week drug me by my hair! I am taking a little time this weekend to take a breather and start off this next week a little better than the last!
So, here’s what I was up to…
Another fun weekend at Rascals to Rebels!
Attention photographers: I’m selling this backdrop for $100…email me (info@kristineldridge.com) if you’re interested!
Oh and then there were the one year olds! I think I lost a pound this week running after one year olds!!
And some ADORRRABLE family sessions!
Cheers to a great weekend and an even better week ahead!
Kristin
Sep
22
2011
Wow. Can I just say that you guys are amazing! I put out a few ideas and boom. You jump right on board. You book a session, tell your friends and they book sessions. Everybody’s pumped…they’re planning and shopping and getting everything ready. And you know what, that fuels my fire like no ones business. My wheels are turning and I’m already thinking of what’s next.
I bought this gold velvet settee about a month ago off Craigslist. Since then it’s been siting in my garage and every time I pull my car in, I get excited just thinking about all the gorgeous images we’re going to make. I can’t wait!!
Here’s some more images that I took with my own kids on the settee out in the woods. LOVE.
I’m also really into the texture that’s created when I convert to black and white!
Oh and I’m selling my fall backdrop…$100 and sold to the first person that wants it! It measures about 53″ by 57″
Sep
21
2011
Color is something I tend to shy away from…especially in the main living area of our house. I just don’t know what to do with it and how a variety of colors can happily live together! When I walked into my friend Heather’s house for the first time, I felt YES. THIS. This is how lots of different colors coexist…and it’s not overwhelming or obnoxious. It’s PERFECT. So, I asked Heather if I could stop by and snap some pictures to share with you on the blog. I hope it inspires you to use color if you don’t already!
I actually met Heather one day when she showed up at my house to buy a chair I sold on Craigslist. Of course the chair was bright turquoise! We ran into each other again at church and our daughters are the same age…so we struck up a friendship. A lot of what Heather uses is vintage found at thrift stores and on Craiglist. I love thrifty girls!
I think part of what makes the colors in her living area mesh so well together is the clean slate of white walls and the neutral couch. It balances out all the colorful accents.
I also love the way she uses photography as art in the home. TO PERFECTION.
Oh and this wallpaper! My friend Laura his it in her house too. It has me itching to put up some wallpaper in my house!
…so modern yet vintage at the same time. I hope this inspires you to thrift and find color!
Sep
20
2011
This is one of my most favorite things to make…and eat! I grew up in Montana and having an avacado was a huge treat. I remember thinking that the green mush looked pretty disgusting and my parents would respond with…great, more for us! When I finally got around to trying it, I was hooked. Now, I can’t have Mexican food without it.
The absolute best version of guac that I’ve tried comes from Lottie and Doof. (a food blog I stumbled upon…check out their mac and cheese too!)
- 4 haas avocados
- 1/4-1/2 red onion, diced (about 1/2 cup diced red onion)
- Bunch of cilantro, chopped
- 2 limes
- 1/2 habanero/serrano chile, stemmed and seeded (depending on how hot you want it you can add seeds)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper
The best chips to eat with this are the blue corn tortilla chips from Trader Joe’s. They are so salty…and the perfect hearty chip to stand up to the guacamole.
And since you’ve bought limes, you should go ahead and make limeade. We have a lemon tree, so my kids are lemonade making pros. I suggested swapping limes in for the lemons and it was phenomenal!
Spring 2010
It was so rainy and windy, we had to duck in for shelter in the cars a few times. You wouldn’t know it from the bright cheery spring colors. But, we were determined to make it work!
I’m packing up again for Rascals to Rebels this weekend…this time the Huntington Beach store. Last weekend was amazing. So many cute kids, so many cute outfits. I mean these parents BRING IT.
I also got to photograph several adorable little boys who braved the heat with me!
I also photographed a big extended family and all their kids…here are some of the sweet girls from that photo session…
And finally one of the cutest pregnant girls I’ve ever met. Seriously, so cute.
Sep
15
2011
To give you all an update on the holiday mini-sessions…17 spots were filled in the day and a half after I sent it out to my mailing list. Can I just say, my clients are awesome! Last year the ivy wall was super popular, but this year people are gravitating toward the other locations. So, I made the executive decision to cancel the ivy wall and replace it with another session at the field in Long Beach. So, tonight I’m opening up sign ups for October 4 at 4:40-6:10 (the golden hour!) Here are some more pictures from that location: (as you can see this location has a huge variety of backdrops!)
I also have openings at downtown Long Beach on September 29 (4:00-4:20 and 4:20-4:20). All other locations are filled with a waiting list…
I love this location so much! It has the perfect amount of grunge to contrast with a fancy little outfit…I also loooove the velvet chair against the bricks. LOVE.
Okay and the painted buildings…so cute. The perfect pop of color! I only have 2 spots left at this location, so give me a call or email if you want to book!
Sep
14
2011
I love a nicely made piece of clothing. There’s just something about the fit, the quality of materials used and attention to detail. But, sometimes you just can’t justify plunking down a bunch of cash and that’s where bargain hunting comes in! There are so many stores out there that have made themselves a name by knocking off pricey labels. (Hello, Target.)
The key to a good knock-off is simplicity. I don’t need the look-alike WITH a giant embroidered flower added on. Here’s the perfect example…boots. Jillian is rough on her shoes. I was considering spending money on a cute pair of leather boots for fall, when I stumbled on these from Old Navy.
I got them online about 2 weeks ago and they were marked down to $15. Now, they aren’t real leather, but you really can’t tell. I could have spent much more, but then I would have been heartbroken after she scuffed up the leather the next day. These work perfect for how much we wear boots in southern CA. My favorite thing is the hot pink zipper up the back. It’s enough detail to add interest without making them look cheap.
My other favorite thing as of lately is this H&M fur vest. At $15, I won’t be sad if it’s out of style next fall. She loves layering it over everything from tees to dresses. It’s so Rachel Zoe!
Speaking of clothes…I just wrote a little article for Tiny Oranges about what to wear for your family pictures! Tiny Oranges is a gem of a site with every day tips for moms. Love that! And here’s Jillian in my favorite new boots and fur vest…
Sep
13
2011
This is one of those simple recipes that takes up about 15 minutes in the kitchen. Once you make it, you become a little addicted and as my friend Lori puts it, her husband ‘can’t go without his granola’!
Look at all this good stuff that goes into it…
You basically combine all your dry ingredients in one bowl, combine all the wet ingredients in another…then put the two together! Put it on 2 baking sheets and use a silpat if you have them. It will help with clean up! Bake it for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 250 degrees, stirring every 15 minutes so it cooks evenly. After it cools you can add raisins, or if you’re grossed out by raisins like I am, you can add chopped dried bing cherries from Trader Joe’s.
Click here to the link to this recipe: Alton’s Granola
My kids come home from school famished, so I like to have healthy snacks on hand. For a fancy little snack, I make parfaits with plain yogurt, in season peaches, honey and this can’t-stop-eating-it-granola. Of course it’s good with milk too for breakfast. And I may have been known to grab a handful when I don’t feel like making myself lunch!