To Capture the Moment

 Photo taken by Laurel Powell

I love the moments in-between shots. The ones that happen naturally, unposed and vulnerable. Our true selves not prepared for the lens. I find myself releasing my shutter constantly while I shoot, just to capture those moments. I don't look for them, mostly I concentrate on getting a great shot, but by taking two or three pictures on either side of the intended I find these moments when I go back and look. These moments grab my heart, these moments tell the story.

California Knows Coffee

Am and I met Laurel in Santa Monica one afternoon. We ate a late lunch at the library, found some fun things at the thrift store (including a chevron striped dress that I love), and ducked into a little bakery for some hot chocolate when the spontaneous rain found us.

 Beth and I got up early one morning for breakfast here. Isn't that little cream elephant to die for? 

This is how I love Bethany the most--we both kinda rolled out of bed that morning. She is AMAZING and it was so refreshing to talk with her. Just like my favorite mornings on Wilson Street.

 French toast, granola, strawberries--does life get any better?? Oh yeah, coffee.

J.C. Beans in Dana Point with my soontobe brother and sisters. They spoiled me all weekend with their time and birthday presents. We laughed and talked for a few hours here before going to pick up some great dinner down the street.  

Thanks friends!!

Things I Love About

Texas.

1. My fiance lives in Texas.
2. It rains and gets foggy in Texas.
3. My bed.
4. The sky, the sky is absolutely bigger and more blue.
5. Our house is full of warmth, Christmas and family.
6. Gas is under 3.00 a gallon in Texas.
7. The air is clean.
8. I can dress however I want and not get funny looks.
9. There is space enough to garden there.
10.

Miss you guys.

11. Texas doesn't know a thing about traffic. 

Christmas Smells Sweet

This rainy afternoon I went and baked Christmas cookies with a friend. She lives in one of those amazing homes with crown molding, old hardwood floors, a cozy sage-green clad kitchen--home to two baby bunnies and a pup named Taquito-- and fantastic windows. We baked shortbread and coffee cookies, decorated sugar cookies and munched on cheese, crackers, prosciutto and raspberries.

It was lovely to talk with the girls and not have to make mocha backups or Caramel Macchiatos. To have an intelligent conversation without stopping for a costumer or a coffee timer. I made these cookies and they turned out great! I changed the recipe a little at the end, and dipped them in dark chocolate.

Coffee Bean Cookies

ingredients:

2 tsp instant coffee (please use Starbucks VIA)

2 tbsp milk

3/4 cups butter, softened

1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

process:

1. Combine the coffee crystals and milk. Stir until the coffee crystals are dissolved; set aside.

2. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, vanilla, and milk-coffee mixture. Beat until mixture is combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in four with the mixer.

3. Cover and chill about 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.

4. Shape dough into 1 -inch balls. Shape each ball into an oval. Press the thin edge of a wooden spoon into the top of each so they resemble coffee beans. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

5. Bake at 350 for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned.

Their bunnies names are Asterisk and Ampersand, how lovely is that?

Happy December!

James is apart of a decorating project at work, and was sent home with this little bread man to decorate. With his limited amount of time and love for sleep, I was more keen to tackle the assignment.

Look!

I love him.