Love & Photography

There is nothing better than being in LOVE. 

A couple weekends ago, I had the pleasure of assisting my friend Jillian Rose on an engagement shoot for a couple that is very much in love.

Meet soon to be Mr. & Mrs. Hogan! 

Check out a sneak peek of their engagement shoot here.

Looking so forward to assisting on their wedding in August! 

XO,
S

The way to a man's heart...

... is through his belly. 

 

The more I cook, the more he loves!  

I made these and they were YUMMY!

XO,
S

P.S. My heart can be reached through my belly as well...  Think sweets.

Garage sales and at home hair "colour"...

The accumulation of junk over the years of me moving from place to place, finally getting married, etc. and my mom's collection had grown out of control.  My parent's garage was only fitting one tiny Mercedes that is so small it hides amongst large SVUs in most parking lots.  JUNK was taking over our lives!  OKAY, I'm being dramatic, it wasn't even bad, but it was time to Spring clean, sell stuff and donate the rest.  So that we did. 
My mom, being her cute self, researched how to put on a successful garage sale and we gave it our best shot.  We advertised in local papers, put up signs, started out with high prices and worked our way down. Shane gave us a few chuckles with his Spanglish and salesman skills. We got rid of a lot, but still have quite a bit to donate and most of all we're all just glad IT'S OVER! Operation get the second car in the garage is almost complete!

On another note, the domestic diva in me decided to do a little at home hair color!  I did a consumer testing focus group last week for John Frieda's Precision Hair Colour (note: Colour, not color, fancy schmancy huh?).  It got me thinking that my hair could really use some brightening, it had become faded and brassy and just needed a good all over color.  If you know me, you know I don't like going to the salon and getting my hair done.  For me it feels like some form of torture, although I'm glad when it's done and my hair looks great! Plus I really love my hair dresser, but she's in Thousand Oaks and I really need one on the Westside (suggestions welcome). 
It's been years since I bought a box of at home hair color, but after my focus group, I was ready to brave it and try out this new and improved foam colour that was supposed to be easy to use.  I chose a medium brown and it was SO easy, no mess and I'm really happy with the color.  In about 30 minutes,  I was done and came out pretty fantastic (if I don't say myself).

Happy Do It Yourself Monday!

XO, 

S

Super Powder?

I've been wearing Bare Minerals loose face powder for several years, until I recently ran out while I was on a business trip.  In a pinch, I ran to the Dillard's across the street from my hotel with hopes that they carried Bare Minerals.  No such luck, but I stumbled upon a trusty Clinique counter that was having a GOP (gift with purchase), and a good one at that.  I noticed they had enhanced their line and added loose mineral powders to their everyday pressed powder we all know and love from our first days in wearing make up. 
To my surprise I tested out the Superbalanced Powder Makeup with SPF 15 and I LOVE it.  It does exactly what it's advertised to do, takes away the shine, balances out skin tone without giving you that makeupy look.  It comes with an antibacterial brush (whatever that means) and it has this handy click system where you shave off powder each time you go to use it, so it's not messy like loose powder. 

We've got a WINNER folks!

$34.95 and should last quite a while. 

Here's a picture of it open with a few clicks, so you can see the shaves of powder makeup.

 Check it out!  

Off to snap some photos with my fabulous friend Jillian Rose!

Happy Saturday!!

XO,

S

I found the Jew in me!

It's been a rough couple of weeks, but once again my favorite food blogger Siri came through!

Visit her, read her, follow her, laugh with her...
here:

www.siriouslydelicious.com

She used this recipe and added sauteed carrots and shredded chicken.

 After trips to two different markets, I attempted to make my first ever Matzo Ball Soup!

(bad Jew, I know)

I cannot believe it took me 31 years to do so.  

It turned out perfect, fluffy matzo balls with the perfect amount of spice and flavor!
I was so glad to share and warm the bellies of my dear friends Ady and Jill with the finished product.

COMFORT.FOOD.

P.S. Since we are talking about food here, I can't leave out mine and Shane's latest find.

I ask you this: 
Do you find yourselves fighting over the small almost un-popped kernels in a batch of popcorn?  

These little guys.

We do NO MORE.

Gladcorn?  Who knew.

Get yours today at San Vicente Foods.

XO,
S

A string of events worth praying for...

I'm not a religious person, but in times like these, I wish I was.  I take a more spiritual approach and hope that the prayers I say are heard and answered.
In the recent weeks, I've learned of illness in loved ones and a tragedy taking a dear childhood friend's husband, leaving behind her, a two year old baby girl and twins on the way. 
I wish my blog had thousands of followers, so I could truly spread the word for those in need. Instead I'm circulating the ways to help through every medium I know. Two incredible websites have been set up and are a great start to making life just a little easier for my friend and babies that lost their husband and daddy. 

The first website is called Take Them A Meal, and while I don't think just anyone should sign up for this, it's probably best to keep it to friends, family and coworkers, it's a site I wanted to share because it's absolutely BRILLIANT.  It creates organized meal plans, so that everyone can bring meals to the family or person in need.

Here's the site:

http://www.takethemameal.com/

The next is a way anyone and everyone can help Kristi, Chloe and the twins on the way, immediately and even years from now.  An account has been set up at diapers.com and she will received gift certificates that are good for thousands of necessary baby products that never expire.

Please go here for simple instructions on how to help the Kaplons!

https://sites.google.com/site/kristikaplon/

Please help spread the word!

Lots of love and prayers to Kristi, Chloe, the babies and their families!

Hold your loved ones close tonight and always!

XO,

S

HOT DEALS Ya'll!

I'm always on a mish for good deals!

Check out these two buys. 

Knock off Ray-Ban's from mall kiosk, $10 (with cloth bag, doubles as lens cleaner)

Compare to Ray-Ban Wayfarer at $139

Super fun for poolside or the beach when you might ruin them (or should I say, I might ruin them)

Do you always need a little something for your I.D., business cards and cash to use when you carry a small handbag?  

Check out this little gem I found at H&M

Only $3.95 - can't beat that!

 Retail therapy at it's finest!  

Finds that made my day and still left money in my bank account.

XO, 

S