• 15 minute posts,  domesticity,  Lemon Week,  photography

    Get Better Tea

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    I’ve caught some kind of weird viral bronchitis that’s going around (don’t worry in the scheme of illnesses, totally not a big deal) and Payam sent me this recipe. It instantly inspired me and I had to make some STAT. I can’t take any credit for this recipe at all. I just spend a lot of time on pinterest for my job and I’ve been more and more inspired by food photographers lately so when I see beautiful raw ingredients in the sunlight from my kitchen bay window, I can’t help but want to pull out my 50mm lens and try some test shots. Even if it means getting my camera all sticky.

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    I didn’t have any lemons but we have a lime tree in our front yard that has been making the biggest, juiciest limes ever. It’s kind of a shame that it’s winter and margaritas are not my go to drink anymore. Good thing limes stay fresh on the tree for a very long time.

    I sliced up all my citrus with my fancy new knife from that cooking class I took. I chopped up a big piece of raw ginger (because I love it spicy) and pounded it to a rough paste with a mortar and pestle. Then I dumped everything in a bowl with honey and a heaping tablespoon of turmeric. The recipe says to go light on the turmeric because it can be a lot to handle but I didn’t. More spice = better in my eyes. Big chunks of ginger, lime seeds, tons of turmeric…bring it.get-better-tea-3

    Then I slopped my magical concoction in the only jar I have on hand right now, a pickle jar. Good thing it had been through the dishwasher a few times already and didn’t smell like pickles anymore.

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    Before I put my jar of super tea juice in the refrigerator, I spooned a sloppy spoonful into my favorite clear glass tea mug and poured hot water over it. Mmmmmm…. it smelled good. And tasted pretty good too! I refilled it twice and drank it all down to even munching on the lime and orange rinds at the end. Good stuff!

    I don’t know if it will make me feel better in the long term but the aroma therapy and fun of photographing it certainly made me feel better in the short term!

  • Beach Bits,  photography

    Beach Wedding!

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    I shot the prettiest wedding the other day. It was quick and simple and probably lasted no longer than 20 minutes. They said their vows at the top of the bluff overlooking the ocean, popped some champagne and then we walked down to the beach for photos.

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    Of course it helps that everyone in the wedding party was drop-dead gorgeous. I should have been paying them for modeling instead of them paying me. But I’m not going to complain!

    How cute is that little flower girl giving me the evil eye? She did not like me and even though I tried to coax a smile out of her she was convinced that I was not supposed to be there. I don’t blame her. She’s little and her mom had a camera too so she probably wondered why this strange woman was there taking pictures too. Plus, I didn’t speak Lithuanian like they did.

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    If you want to get married on the beach, this is the way to do it. I don’t even think they had a permit to use the space but it happened so quickly it didn’t matter. Everyone we passed said congratulations and smiled. The happiness was contagious.beach-wedding-6

    Even the lifeguard got in on the fun.
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    I know very little about the bride and groom. Are they ballerinas? Famous soccer players? Models? I don’t know but they sure do know how to pose. They were a hoot.

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    The Hari Krishna masks were some inside joke with the officiant who I think might be famous. Do you recognize him? I don’t know who he is but some friends of mine say he’s an actor.

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    And that was that! I always thought weddings would be too stressful to shoot but this kind of wedding is just my speed. Quick, casual and so so fun!