Sugar Cookies

It's been a while since I made sugar cookies and I just realized why.   For those of you who's made them before know what a mess it is to make.  The dough is really easy to make but the rolling with all the flour and sugar everywhere.  What a mess!  I thought I'd share with you the mess in my counter.  I finally gave in and made some for my son who's been begging for me to make some.  Especially the dinosaur kind.  I used to make them in dinosaur shape when they were younger when they ate and breathed dinosaurs.  However, this time, after I tried one dinosaur cut out, I went to my old standby--- the heart, star and butterfly shapes.  The dinosaurs had too many little pointed nooks that I kept losing the arms and legs.  I made one and made them happy.

I found a great tip I'd like to share with you. Instead of using flour to roll the dough, I used powdered sugar instead.  It'll keep the dough from getting hard like mine use to.  I used to keep adding flour as I rolled and as a result I ended up with tough cookies.  My kids still loved them, though.  I guess they really didn't know better.  Isn't it great having kids?  They always think you are the best at everything.  They haven't yet caught on.  Thank God!

  

Children's Portrait Session with Maddie

Maddie was a  joy to photograph.  She is so charming and loved to talk, smile and laugh.   Take a look at those cute dimples!!

Senior Portrait Session with Malia

Malia and I had a great time spending the late afternoon photographing and then head off to my studio for more fun.  She such a sweet girl and very cute smile and laugh.  We got some gorgeous shots.  Check out the video below.

Pampered Chef Fruit Tart Recipe

I was so amazed at my masterpiece I put together at our family gathering this past 4th of July that I thought I'd share.   Look at my fruit tart decorated as a flag.  I was so proud of myself after I finished.  The kids were reluctant to try it at first but when they did, I got so many yummy compliments.  It was actually really easy.   The crust is made of Pillsbury crescent roll and the rest are easy ingredients.  It was delicious.  It got eaten up very quickly.  If you want the recipe, please contact Clarissa French at 916-716-3146 or go to www.pamperedchef.biz/pamperissa

Senior Portrait Session

I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to photograph Kayla.  She is such a beautiful girl who was a little shy.  I'm glad she opened up and relaxed with me and I was able to get these great shots of her.  

another cute children's photography session!

I'm so excited to share these photos with you.  She is so cute and wide-eyed.  The sunshine and the grass as a backdrop....perfect.  Top it off with this cute little girl in a white dress.... priceless.   Photographing children and being able to capture their innocence in these images is an amazing experience.    I photographed her when she was just 3 months old .  This was taken a couple of months ago and I just photographed her one year old photos.   Oh my, how time flies!

Spinnakers in Sausalito

I'm so behind with this blog. I have a ton of fabulous photos to share with you.  First, I will start with the wedding of Honor and Leah which took place a few weeks ago.  We started at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel at Union Square.  I met Leah and her bridesmaids there.  The room was  filled with fun and joyful women two of which are Leah's older sisters.  They were all so sweet and funny.  It was very calming for Leah, I'm sure.  Leah was beaming and on time.  She thanked me for the timeline I drafted for her.  As we were leaving for the ceremony, I didn't realize that the hotel had a mezzanine area with a beautiful windows and chandeliers.  The photographer in me was so excited to see the empty ballroom and asked Leah to come with me.  Wow, it was so beautiful.  I kept telling Leah, I wish that Honor was with us to take advantage of the elegant setting.  I got some really great photos there of Leah.

So, we head out to the ceremony which was held at St. Dominic's Church in San Francisco.  I photographed a wedding there about seven years ago.  I still remember how beautiful that church was.  After the ceremony, we headed out to the Palace of Legion of Honor.  This location is very popular with many wedding groups.  The columns are gorgeous and for photographers the lighting is perfect.  When we were walking toward the museum, I noticed that there were several wedding parties that were on the grassy area.  I knew something was up.  As we walked up, there was this lady right at the entrance telling us that we are not allowed to photograph inside.  Bummer, we didn't have much time to go somewhere else, but no worries, I've photographed outside of the museum and still produced great photos for the Leah and Honor.  They are such a sweet and loving couple that I had no trouble getting authentic photos of them together.  

After this location, we set off to go to the Marine Headlands.  We photographed quickly because of our time constraints.  We, then, headed to Spinnaker in Sausalito where the couple had a great time celebrating with their friends and family.  One of the highlight of the evening is when Honor's beautiful daughter serenaded the newlyweds with a couple of songs.  Another hightlight was when Leah's dad got out of his wheelchair to dance with his daughter.  Not the slow kind either.  I love being part of something special in people's lives and I'm lucky to be part of it even in just one evening.

Honor and Leah, you both are such a loving couple and authentically beautiful inside and out.  Best wishes to a great marriage.  Click here to view their wedding slideshow.