Is this seriously becoming a food blog????

I ask myself that question all the time and, honestly, I don't know.  Maybe?  Probably not.

This blog has had a life of its own, full of twists and turns.  Originally, I wanted to show my pictures to the world in order to promote my business.  Business went great.  And then a year and many thoughts later, I decided that the photography business just isn't for me after all.  That decision had nothing to do with anyone that I worked with or any kind of weird disaster stories... it was just a matter of what I enjoyed and didn't enjoy.  I enjoy people.  I enjoy weddings.  I enjoy taking pictures.  It just took a while for me to figure out that I didn't like the combination of all of those things in the context of a profession.

So, when 2010 came, I decided to take a break... and recently, I decided that I'm really done for good.  And I have no regrets.  I'm loving the process of learning what I do and don't enjoy and what I do and don't want my life to look like.  My photography business helped me along in that journey of constant discovery.

Do you want me to get specific about why, for me, photography wasn't the best choice?  Ok, no problem.  I want to live a simple, quiet life - filled with people that I love and the joy of new experiences.  I want to have ample freedom
to try something new
to read
to cook
to talk to a friend
to spend time with God
to watch a movie with my parents
to take my dog for a walk
to fail at painting
to be able to take a deep breath and truly relax
to travel
to plan
to stay at home
to sleep
to read The Pioneer Woman's recipes
to daydream
to be with my love
...
you get the idea. 

The life of a photographer is a busy, stressful one. Don't get me wrong, there is SO MUCH to love about it!  It's a creative profession - how incredible is that?!  But I think, as in any profession, there are some people who are cut out for it and some who just aren't.  I just aren't.  And I'm 100thousand% OK with that.

Anyway... I'm not saying that you care about why I've chosen not to do any more professional photography.  I'm just kind of talking.  Like I do with any blog, I guess.

And let me also say... as long as I'm writing a novel here: I know life isn't simple and it isn't quiet and any job I will ever have will have it's own set of stresses and burdens... and then I'll have a family someday and that will be far from simple and quiet...

I know.

But, I suppose, if I'm going to leave the simple, quiet life behind, it will be for something that is worth the trade (worth it to me and to those I love).

Oh - and maybe you're wondering why I still post on this blog from time to time?  It's no longer to promote my business.  Now it's just a fun way for me to share things I'm thinking about or working on or making.  Things that I think someone out there would enjoy or might want to try, too.  Aaaaand... I've already paid for the blog to run until next year this time sooo...

You've heard enough.  I know.  Me too!  I'm boring myself now.

The funny thing is, I wasn't going to write about that at all.  I was going to write about cupcakes. 

Yes, cupcakes.  Let's get there.

Friday night was my dear Mommy's birthday party.  My sister Kensey is an amazing chef-in-training at Le Cordon Bleu -- and so, of course, she was in charge of le menu.

The main entree was Lomo Saltado -- a Peruvian dish (delish): stir fry served over white rice and fried potatoes.  Yes, I did luck out in the sister department.  It was AMAZING.

Dessert was just as brilliant -- and we have Martha Stewart to thank.  My mom recently bought her book all about CUPCAKES!  Every. Single. One. looks absolutely delicious. 

[THIS LINK will take you to amazon where you can buy it.  And I recommend that you do.  Cupcakes are always such a hit -- and are so simple, they'll be sure to save the day in a dessert emergency.  Not that we had one yesterday or anything...]

Ok, so we did have a dessert emergency.  Kensey wanted to make cheesecake but didn't realize that we don't own a spring-form pan... nor did she consider the fact that cheesecakes need to set overnight.  It's ok, she's got a lot on her mind (trust me, I just read through one of her textbooks... wow!).

Enter: Martha's Black & White Cheesecakes (page 72 for those who have the book).  Personal cheesecakes with an oreo-like crust that doesn't need a spring-form pan OR an overnight nap in the fridge.  Downsides?  Zero.

They were so good and so perfect and so easy --- I just have to share.  Here's the recipe!

INGREDIENTS

FOR CRUST
3/4 cup crumbled chocolate wafer cookies, such as Nabisco Famous Wafers (about 18 cookies)
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

FOR FILLING
1 pound cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
Pinch of salt

1. Make crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners.  Stir to combine chocolate cookie crumbs and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar, then stir in melted butter. Press 1 tablespoon crumb mixture firmly in the bottom of each lined cup to form crust. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until set, about 7 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool. Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees F.

2. Make filling: With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese until smooth.  Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, followed by the vanilla. Beat until well combined, about 3 minutes. Drizzle in eggs, a bit at a time, stopping often to scrape down sides of bowl. Beat in sour cream and salt until combined.

3. Pour batter into crust-lined cups, filling each almost to the very top. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until filling is set around edges but centers appear soft, 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely. Refrigerate (in tins) at least 4 hours (or overnight).

4. To finish, bring cheesecakes to room temperature and remove from tins. [At this point, Martha adds an apricot glaze... but we just melted some chocolate and drizzled it on top along with some fresh berries.]



The perfect size - and SO scrumptious.  Just right for a dinner party.

Let's see, what else can I talk about? 

Nothing.  You're welcome.

Enjoy - muah!

[I realize I haven't blogged in forever.  I'm working on it!  Here's my first attempt at catch-up.]

Pretty, pretty, pretty Jess and I had a quick sip at Peet's last week.  We chatted about life, ambitions, motherhood, adoption, marriage, anthropologie, racial ambiguity, mamacitas, and the delicious pink iced tea blend she was enjoying. 

Jess is just all-around striking... but what really gets me is her intense green eyes and her adorable freckles.

I can't wait to spend more time with you, Jess.  You're as brilliant as the brightest star.

Took a splendid little trip down to 4th St. on Tuesday night with my dear Rachie (friend & designer).

Originally the whole point of the outing was to find new ideas for my room... but it turned into an excuse to shop and be girly.  Works for me!

Paper Source (for pretty cards), Anthropologie (for a new purple dress(!)), The Gardener (for a look at succulents and a taste of ginger candy), Castle in the Air (for magic, magic, magic). 

I've always adored succulents -- and one of my only desires for my room was that it have lots of succulents inside.  The Gardener had plenty of pretty little ones to look at...




We were back home by dusk... just in time for a photo of Rach with her sweet little bug.

Here's to mid-week field trips... evenings in Berkeley... and the countless joys of being a girl!

I think it's a good day for you to read a story.  And I think you'll like this one...

Roman Fever is a short story by Edith Wharton.  It's basically a catty, shallow conversation between two life-long girlfriends that eventually reveals some serious underlying tension and unspeakable secrets. 

Girls like me will love the way Wharton's story recognizes the way we females use language with smiles on our faces and malice in our hearts.

From the table at which they had been lunching two American ladies of ripe but well-cared-for middle age moved across the lofty terrace of the Roman restaurant and, leaning on its parapet, looked first at each other, and then down on the outspread glories of the Palatine and the Forum, with the same expression of vague but benevolent approval.

Continue reading here...

Rachel Elaine Green is my new found old friend.
I've literally known her for her entire life - but during the past month, I feel as though I've met Rachel for the very first time. 

Ray works at this chic, quirky little shop in downtown Oakland called Urban Indigo, where she envisions and produces incredible window visuals.

Recently a little bird told me that Ray was trying to build her design portfolio.  I looked around my rather boring, yellow, bare-walled room for 20 seconds and hurried right over to email my new designer. 

Tall, pretty Ray and I met for our first date at Peet's -- where we discovered that we're basically the same person.

"You love succulents too??"

"I've always wanted a 4-post bed also!!"

I knew it.  She was perfect for me.  And for my room.  I've given Ray complete control over the whole project.  So far, she's done amazing things... and I'm so excited to see the process unfold!









I love changing my room -- and I am so excited to have Ray's beautiful mind working to transform it for me.

More to come...