Bird Rock Foundation Online Auction

Hello everyone! Today is the last day for the Bird Rock Foundation Partners in Education’s online auction. This year I donated a gift voucher for a family portrait session to be auctioned off with the proceeds going towards the students at Bird Rock Elementary. There is a big gap between the funding provided to schools and  what it really costs to educate children. I feel particularly sad knowing that the arts are usually one of the first things cut when budgets are proposed. The auction has some really great items still available; bidding is open for some categories as late as 10:15pm. From health and beauty, wine and spirits, to amusement park tickets are still ripe for the picking. You can even bid on my portrait package under the photography listings until 9:00pm tonight. Give the gift of education and get the gift of photography

Go to their web page HERE and start your bidding.

With Love

Like you, my heart aches for all the victims and their loved ones in Boston right now. At the same time something so sad was happing, the world was able to see love, compassion, and heroism in Boston. Thank you to the first responders and all of those who helped their fellow man. Though we are so far away here is San Diego we can continue to show the same love and compassion demonstrated by the people of Boston. Those who suffered injuries have a long road to recovery ahead of them and there are many ways we can help. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino had started a fund so everyone can help those affected by this tragedy. Go to The One Fund to donate. Many of the runners at the Boston Marathon were running for causes while their family and friends supported them in their goal. Pick a runner’s cause and donate in the spirit of what the they were accomplishing that day. Closer to home you can donate to a local blood bank.

Running a marathon is about indomitable spirt in the face of weariness and pain. The insurmountable becomes attainable as people cheer you on and encourage you from the sidelines. Tomorrow morning chase away the darnkness with light. Lace up those running shoes and run, with love in your heart, in honor or everyone affected, and with fearlessness.  

emBARKadero 4K 2013

I took a break this last Saturday to run in the emBarkadero – Run, Walk, Roll, Wag with my family. The event benefited Canine Companions for Independence whose mission is helping people with disabilities.  Since this event was a doggy friendly one we made a team for our Verbena. The 4K is about 2.5 miles, which was the perfect amount of milage for Beans. Not too far of a distance that she would decide to revolt and plop down, refuse to move and exhibit her innate her hound stubbornness. It is just long enough that she could run the whole way and be ready for a nap afterwards. We made team shirts to wear for all us human pack members. The race organizers provided race bandanas and small doggy bibs with their own race numbers to all the dog participants. They were so freakin cute on all the dogs, I’d love to see it at other dog friendly races. We also bought some jazzy race socks for us ladies to wear. Gotta go all out for the Beans.

It was a cool-overcast morning but running along the bay was still awesome. The Hub and I shared camera duties together, so one of us would run ahead to get to a photo-op spot first then the rest of us would catch up and get some shots taken as we ran by or posed. Verbena was so excited she galloped like a puppy for the first mile. She was a little jumping bean again. because we matched when got separated we could still find each other pretty easily. We were still together even if our pace didn’t always match. I’m so proud of my mum who is working towards a longer half marathon later in the year. My family always try to find a race to run whenever we visit each other. You know the old saying, “A family that runs together, survives the zombie apocalypse.” Now on to some race day photos!

There were lots of human and doggy racers. It wasn’t so packed that if a dog needed some extra space they could find some extra room to hang out before we started off. Verbena sniffed a few tails but was mostly concerned with posing for the camera.“When do I get to run mom?” – Verbena

Almost time for our pack to head out.

And we were off! Click on the “Play” button on the right to watch a clip of us running along.

There were water stations for people and pups all along the race route, which Verbena made quick use of. The area around Newport Village is super dog friendly, with doggy waste stations available everywhere. It’s not usual to see people running with their dogs everyday. I love that San Diego is so K9 friendly.After the race there was a mini festival where everyone was invited. We got some all natural treats for Verbena and tried out the agility course from the Zoom Room Encinitas. Vebena had such a great morning she could barely stay awake on the trip home. Sometimes it’s just so hard to keep those peepers open. I hope to see more of you out there for next year’s emBARKadero 4K. Who wants to Join Verbena’s Pack for our next race?

If you are interested in learning more about Canine Companions for Independence check them out on their website HERE, their blog HERE, and on Facebook HERE.

What a lovely Sunday

We hope your day is wonderful! Despite her face Verbena is a very happy bunny today.  

Briseida + Joe ❤ San Diego Wedding Photography

Briseida + Joe’s wedding was FUN. This fantastic couple did what some consider to be impossible, plan a wedding in a little  over a month. The ceremony at Corpus Christi Church was intimate and beautiful, the reception at the top of Bertrand At Mr A’s as spectacular as the view. Getting to know this couple, I’m not surprised that every last detail was perfect. Your big day was lovely, congratulations you two.

 

Fun in the Sun ❤ San Diego Pet Portraits

If you live in San Diego you have probably heard of Fiesta Island. It has a great big area for off leash doggy fun. There is lots of space for everyone to be as chill or as energetic as they want. With a clear weather report it was the perfect time for group Fiesta Island adventure. My assistant Verbena came along to help socialize little princess in training Bonita. See, Bonita is looking for her forever home and in the mean time learning to be a proper little lady. Along with Verbena, a few puppy friends were invited to teach Bonita manners while I captured some Bonita “in action” images. An image can make or break an adoptable pet’s chances of finding a forever home. Want to meet Bonita and her doggy mentors?

Bonita, the pretty little princess in training.

Her mentors, and some of the fun moments from the day.

Bonita and digging, like peanut butter and jelly.
All the dogs were a little tired and just a little sandy by the end of the day. As a puppy my Verbena learned that if she got too cold in the water she could warm up/dry off by rolling in the hot sand. I’m sure she thinks this is brilliant, and this is what the process looks like.

And this is what we affectionately refer to as the sugar cookie.

No one else has figured this out yet but I have a feeling this look will catch on. To see more pictures and learn about Bonita and her training adventurers check out her blog, http://adoptbonita2.wordpress.com. Bonita is still a puppy but her foster parents are none other than the awesome trainers from LEAPdogtraining. This means that not only would you adopt a cute little ball of furry love but she will know basic obedience and have the manners of a princess. Not to mention you will be a super, fantabulous, big hearted, and good looking adopter. See where i’m going with this? We can even set a date for a Fiesta Island Portrait session all your own. Now who’s up for a doggy portrait session at the beach? Doing the sugar cookie is optional for you or your pup.

Paleo Banana Pancakes ❤ San Diego Food Photography

I don’t know about you but I love breakfast. It’s the one meal that I will go out of my way to cook from scratch during the day, every day. Maybe it is the waking up and running with the pup that makes me energized and really hungry. It is also the only meal when you can basically eat desert and get away with it. I’ve been doing the veggie and meat omelets for a few weeks but had a hankering for some pancakes. That and I had three bananas that were dangerously close to becoming liquid bananas. We make them flour less. So that means with fruit in our household. I put fruit on top of them so why not just add them into the mix right? Normally the Hub takes over the pancake making but this time I took a crack at his Paleo Banana Pancakes today. Usually Paleo bread products are a bit on the dry side but these are very moist. There are a few tweaks you can do to really make them to your taste so I will start you off with the basic recipe.

PALEO BANANA PANCAKES

Ingredients

3 bananas

3 eggs (One egg for each banana)

1 tbs coconut flour

½ tsp pure vanilla extract

¼ cup almond butter

Steps

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. If you are fancy pants use a hand mixer. If you are lazy like me a potato masher works just fine.

I use an cast iron skillet with melted butter or you can use coconut oil. Turn your burner to med-low and make sure it has heated up when you pour your pancake. These suckers can burn fast on the outside without really cooking through so experiment with the first one to make sure it is not too hot.

Scoop ¼ cup of the batter for each pancake. Look for the pancake to bubble a little and puff up slightly. These pancakes will not expand as much as a flour based pancake.

When I’m ready to serve I add chopped walnuts on top of my stack them warm all natural maple syrup. You can add blueberries or your topping of choice. Add a couple pieces of bacon for more protein in your meal. And let’s face it, bacon makes everything better.

Now I said you can tweak this recipe. Try using a little cinnamon and pumpkin spice in place of the vanilla extract. If you like a sweeter pancake try adding a tablespoon raw honey melted. You can even add the walnuts to the batter in which case I would toast them before hand. Waste not want not. This is perfect for those bananas no one wants to eat because they got to brown. I hear the kid voice in my head, “Eww I can’t eat that banana, it’s almost BLACK!” finished off with a pouty lip. To which my dad would say, “You’re gonna trip on that lip if it sticks out any further.” Ahhh memories. Now I see the smoochy-er the banana the better for you and your potato masher.

Yes I ate this stack of six pancakes. And they were delicious! Get your pancake on today, breakfast for dinner anyone?