And what a day!   It was gorgeous.

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UPDATE:  Photos from Laura + Tom’s wedding will be posted soon!  Go HERE TO REGISTER.  Password is Laura’s maiden name.

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Venue:  Del Coronado

Coordinator Extraordinaire:  Kelly Aull at Mint Weddings

did i mention they’re a stunning couple as well???

i also want to make mention of this super special couple- tom’s grandparents.  they’ve been married for over sixty years!  they are also the cutest couple EVER.  sorry, to all of my other couples, but it’s true.  his grandma, especially- that smile is on her face 100% of the time and it’s as contagious as the little kisses she blows to everyone.  and they’re still so in love!  i asked them how long they’d been together and she started teasing him and signing “you love me.. you love me.. don’t you papa?”.  throw in the cute french accent.. i thought i was going to melt.

congrats again to you two.  i had a GREAT day and am so privileged to have spent this huge day with you.  more photos to come, and I hope we get a chance to hang out some time again soon!  and happy holidays!!

so if you’re looking for something hearty and healthy, give it a try.. it’s one of my faves!  and of course it’s super easy to make (except this time around my blender decided to toss it’s entire contents all over me, the walls and the ceiling..).  it’s cheap.  and it’s high in fiber, iron and vitamin C,  and is low in fat with no cholesterol.  yay!

Black Bean Soup

Serves 8,  prep time is about 30 minutes

1    cup black beans (or two cans, though sometimes i use 3!)
1    spray oil
2    onions, diced
2    cloves garlic, minced
¼    bunch scallions (optional)
1    cup carrots, diced
1    red pepper, diced

½    tsp cumin seed, toasted (optional- I’ve never used it!)**
½    tsp sage
1    bay leaf
1     Tbsp vegetable broth powder***
1 ½    tsp salt
¼     tsp pepper
1/8    tsp cayenne
¼    tsp oregano

3    cups water
3    cups tomatoes, diced, canned

In a large pot of water, cook beans  until tender.

Saute onion in spray oil and/or water for a few minutes.  Add garlic for a few minutes more.  Add scallions, carrots, and red peppers and sauté 3 more minutes.

In a dry skillet, toast cumin seeds until browned and fragrant (about 5 minutes).

Add cumin, sage, bay leaf, salt, vegetable broth powder, pepper, cayenne and oregano to sauté.

After a few minutes, add the cooked (or canned) beans, water and tomatoes.  Simmer until vegetables are soft.

Remove the bay leaf and blend half the soup in a blender.

** I’ve used a “small” amount of red pepper flakes instead of the cumin for a little kick.  Maybe ¼ tsp?

***Also, with many of these soup recipes, everyone’s idea of vegetable broth varies. When in doubt, I look at how much water I am using, and use the appropriate amount of vegetable stock according to the package instructions of what I have on hand

best wishes to everyone in their holiday travels.  be safe if you’re driving!  for those of you heading through the midwest, enjoy your weather outlook, provided by the funny, amazing Quinn.  Her doodles put a smile on my face every week.

Ceremony: The Immaculata

Venue: Lowes Coronado Bay Resort

Coordinator: DeShai Roberson at Oh So Chic Events

Tunes: RPM Productions

how cute are they?

we hit up all sorts of great spots!  and in style.. the immaculata, balboa park and the beach!

i looved this wedding party!  it was a big FUN group!

best wishes to you guys!  thanks again for an amazing day!  hope you had a GREAT time on your honeymoon!

congrats to Mindy + Dave!  I had the great pleasure of shooting their wedding at the lovely falkner winery and it was a pretty rockin’ party.  don’t let the over abundance of Phds in the room fool you - these folks with majors in fields you will never understand (and if you did they would have to kill you) can ROCK the house.

lovely day, lovely venue, lovely couple.. and to think it was all brought to us by a game of beer pong.

the stepladder cracked me up.  but seriously, some of these things are just so hard to get into.

hooray for first sights!!

and hooray for vineyards!

i love this shot not only because are they are obviously all less than enthused to catch the garter, but because one guy can’t be bothered to even put down the beer.   an instant fave for me. points to you, my beer drinking friend.

this shot below is one of my ALL TIME favorites.

thanks to everyone for such a great night, including the fab folks at the Winery, and DJ Mike for keeping the great tunes flowing.

Venue and Catering: Falkner Winery

DJ: Mike Farmer

my poor computer has simultaneously been uploading weddings, burning discs and exporting edited images for three days solid and the little CPU activity monitor is flashing at me telling it can’t take much more. my two DVD burners have quit in protest and i went to staples and brought in some scabs yesterday so that production may continue.

so, while my processor crunches away i’m starting to think about my new year resolutions- which really, it looks a whole like lot a to-do list.  but i am excited about having time to finally work on some of this stuff!  not sure my resolutions count as resolutions, but they’re things i really want to do!

have i missed anything?  anyone want to join me???

check out these digs!!

and as if things couldn’t get any better, my fantabulous friend and fellow photog Mary Kate is joining in the celebration!  we’re going to have several fun days of shooting combined with some sight seeing.  and if i have anything to say about it a scooter ride around cozumel..

“but wait, you’re taking a vacation NOW?”.  yes and no.  it’s a working vacation. while there WILL be fruity drinks involved, MK and I are both in the same, “omygodihavesomuchworktodoinsolittletime boat” and will be working away- it’ll just be from a balcony with a slightly better view.  and  as you may, um, have noticed, i haven’t been blogging and do apologize for that.  but the good news is i’ve been cranking out the wedding editing like nobody’s business.   while i love love blogging, it can take me a good day to get a blog post out.  i’ve taken that time and dedicated it to editing- which i’ve been doing like a maniac.  i plan on getting EVERYONE’S wedding out by December 9th.. yes, even you who got married in November!  hopefully this will be a fair trade off.  I WILL get to the blog posts eventually but i’m racing to get your photos done for you to share by Christmas.  I might try to sneak in a few teasers in between margaritas… um, i mean wedding editing.

I was also going to use this opportunity to share my next adventure with everyone.  I booked my tickets to Burma this week and am planning on flying out December 10th.  however with the world in an uproar and a possible coup in bangkok brewing, the plans may be in jeopardy. i will keep you all posted.  regardless, i’m going to do my best to stick to the Dec 9th deadline.

I will have internet access in Mexico, just not sure how fast and if I’l be able to upload any events from there.  but please email me if you have any questions.  I may be able to Skype ya back even.

Happy Holidays everyone!!!!

i am headed back to the good old mid of west tomorrow for  a week for my mom’s bday and to get a bum tooth worked on (yay, vacation?) and will have limited internet access- my mom still hasn’t quite figurd out what a WEP key is yet, so when i do get online you will either get a garbled message from my iphone with it’s ever-so-helpful auto spell correction (go ahead, try and type “texting”), or a quick but well-written email from the corner of our unfinished basement where my computer will be proped up on a mountain of boxed star wars figures, linkin logs and other assorted toys from my childhood (as good as place as any to put a router, right?).  i will be available by phone as usual unless i am so traumatized by the dental procedures that i find a way to knock myself out for a week and prentend it never happened.

i couldn’t wait to meet lauren and steve.  prior to meeting them at the woodend, all of our contact had been  over the phone and through email.  from our conversations i knew this was going to be a super sweet wedding and a really wonderful couple.  they wanted a quiet celebration, good food and fun with friends and family over a big brunch bar, mimosas, and a little baseball.  all of this was set amongst the trees and charm of the lovely woodend.  i’d have to say it was quite perfect.

Venue:  The Woodend

Catering: Danielle Couick  at Windows Catering

Flowers: Amaryllis

Strings, Rythm, Brass and Vox: Bialek’s Music

Officiant: Rev Bill Chochran, Say I Do Your Way

Thanks so much for having me!  I had a wonderful time, with a wonderful couple and at one of my favorite places.. it was great.  Hope you guys had a blast in Italy!  Can’t wait to see photos!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM LAUREN AND STEVE’S WEDDING.  When photos are ready, you’ll be notified! the password is Lauren’s maiden name.

venue: Rose Hill Manor

catering:  RSVP Catering

DJ:  Michael Rease

florist: Darla Creekmore

officiant:  Rev. Norma Jean Peyton

katie’s mom, getting misty eyed!

we were able to sneak outside during dinner to catch the last few moments of the golden hour- so glad we did!  it was gorgeous.. and so is katie! 

it was katie’s dad’s birthday so they brought him out a special cake, topped with some “special” candles.  it was hillarious- haven’t seen the non-blow-outable candles in YEARS.  his reaction was cute.

i thought this was really sweet.. on top of the mantle they placed photos of both of their parent’s and grandparents weddings.  both sets of parents sat and smooched underneath.

and the final send off!!! it was a great end to a great evening. congrats you two!!!

Click here to register to view Katie and Brian’s pictures!  When the event is ready, you will be sent an email notification.

(note: password is Katie’s maiden name)