Author Archives: Momma J

My Fun Filled Full of Photography Weekend (phew)

13 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Photography

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I told you my schedule was about to get busy, right? Well, last weekend was the start of it all, and it was soooo much fun!

I started out my weekend with an engagement shoot at Cal Poly with Ashley and Chris. If you think you’ve seen Ashley before, it’s because she’s an actress who has worked as an extra on a few popular television shows. It was fun getting to work with her, in fact…I didn’t really feel like I was working. I just had to watch them be cute together and snap away. 🙂

Towards the end of our shoot it began to rain. Fortunately, Cal Poly had a beautiful hallway (used in the movie Gattaca), that we were able to duck into.

On Sunday, I got to meet Rosanna and Steven. It was the first time we met in person and our shoot began with a great big hug. Always a fun way to begin. Steven and Rosanna met at my house ahead of time so Rosanna could have her hair and makeup done by Jenna Murray. We had bagels and chatted while our dogs played together in our living room.

Hair and makeup by Jenna Murray.

Steven works in the film industry and they’re both huge movie buffs, so I’d arranged for them to have their photos taken at the Laemmle Claremont 5 Theatre in Downtown Claremont.

It. Was. Awesome.

My better half, Trevor Henderson, set up the lighting while Jenna kept Rosie’s hair and makeup looking perfect. Here’s a sneak peak of a few pictures, I can’t wait to share the rest with you!

 

and we finished our shoot at The Last Drop Cafe…where we may or may not have snuck in some time for a Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip cookie. Heh heh, I hope my trainer doesn’t read that.

After our shoot, we went back to my home to see what trouble our dogs had been up to, and we wound up talking for another hour or two. I’m really looking forward to their wedding, I know it’s going to be as beautiful as they are.

That was my weekend, I hope you all had a great one!

Michelle and Hay

11 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by in Photography

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I always go and check out the location of a wedding before it happens. Yesterday, I went to meet with Michelle and Hay, a super awesome couple that will be getting married at the Diamond Bar Center. I can’t tell you how inspired I was by this beautiful location and this sweet couple. I can’t wait for their wedding day, when I get to photograph all of them for real! 😉 Here’s a picture I snapped from last night. Isn’t this place amazing?

Happy Sunday

05 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in Photography, Quick Snippets

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This is the first time since I’ve met Big T that I haven’t done anything special for the Superbowl. But then again, I’m painting my nails a peaceful shade of grey, sipping some chocolate almond-milk with a cinnamon stick, and I have the entire house to myself for a few hours-so maybe it’s a special day after all. Besides, I’m not completely missing out on the fun. Our neighbors to our left, right, and directly behind are watching the game and I can hear a chorus of cheers every time something exciting happens. 😉

I’m recuperating from a family trip to Disneyland. We had a great time, but I’m exhausted! Instead of going to watch the Superbowl with the two T’s, I’m working on a blog post with a few tips on what to do with toddlers at the Park. I’m going to keep developing the list as time goes on, so please let me know if you have anything for me to add.

In the meantime, here are a few quick pictures that I snapped last night! I *hope hope hope* this area is open for an engagement shoot I have at the end of the month. It’s one of my favorite areas of the park, but I think they’re going to do construction there in the near future. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

To my American friends, have a great Superbowl Sunday! To my non-American friends, have a great Sunday, Sunday!

Happenings Via Instagram

03 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Photography, Quick Snippets, The Family, vegan

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Helping out backstage for a beautiful Disney Wedding in the Animation Building:

Leaving ransom notes in exchange for my all time favorite vegan cookies from The Last Drop Cafe ;):

The moment where you think, “do I help him out??? Or do I let this play out for a few seconds more while I take a picture?” mwaha

Speaking of Little T, he loves to copy me lately. His favorite mommy thing to do right now is throw on a scarf and pretend to take Miss Piggy on a walk.

He’s also training to be a news reporter, didn’t you know?

Meeting with some beautiful girls about a bridal portrait shoot:

Every once in a while, we drive by Mother’s Market. It’s a good thing this is rare, because vegan junk food is inevitable when we make this stop:

*pictured below* Tofurky Frozen Pizza, Vegan Cookie Dough, Butternut Squash Ravioli, Coconut Yogurt, Oatmeal Cookies for our DL trip this week, and fake mac and cheese (we throw in some green peas and make this for Little T when we’re in a pinch).

To even out the junkiness, we also shared some yummy beet juice. Note to parents: beet juice makes for a very interesting diaper change.

And my *zomgsquee* thing of the week! One of my fancy new camera lenses arrived, with it’s beautiful red ring and everything!

Unfortunately, this moment was short lived, because it was followed by Little T grabbing my 50mm lens and smashing it onto the floor. The good thing is that of all my lenses, he smashed the cheapest. The bad news: it was my favorite lenssssss. Gah!

But what can you do? He didn’t know what he was doing. It was a good lesson to learn that we need to make sure we keep our camera equipment away from sweet Little T. 🙂

And that was my week, I hope you had a great one!

I’m all grown up and stuff…

01 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in All Others

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When was the moment you realized you were an adult?

I thought I’d feel like an adult when I moved out of my parent’s house, but I didn’t.

Then I thought, when I become a teacher I’ll feel like an adult…but that didn’t do the trick either.

Then I figured I’d feel like a grown up when I got married, because what’s more grown up than getting married? But no, I still didn’t feel like an official adult.

When my husband and I bought our house-and we could paint our own walls with whatever color we wanted (I was so tired of white apartment walls), I was certain I’d feel like a grown up-but I still felt like a youngster at heart.

I knew that when we adopted our son, I’d finally feel like an adult. But, no. I still didn’t feel like a grown up.

I started my own business, and that got me on my way to feeling a little more adultish, but…

I was talking to an old friend the other day about how weird he felt carrying a briefcase, and I came to the realization that I officially felt like an adult when I purchased my first purse a few months ago. I’ve never owned a “purse” before. I’ve carried around backpacks and wallets, but never a purse.

I felt like a lady, all grown up.

A purse, who would have thought…?

Miss Lou

27 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by in The Adventures of Little T

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Have I talked about Miss Lou before? She’s a friend of ours who has been helping out with babysitting every once in a while. She’s also our consult on black hair care, which is something that has proven to be challenging for Big T and I. She’s awesome because she’s going to be taking Little T to some events during black history month, and took him to the library and park today. Little T adores Miss Lou and her grandson, and has been known to cry when she leaves the house.

While they were at the park, I guess Little T saw someone from a distance that looked like me. He ran up to this woman with a huge smile on his face, and started shouting, “Momma, Momma!” When he got to her and realized it wasn’t me, he threw himself onto the floor and started crying. Miss Lou told the woman that she looks like Little T’s Momma and then scooped up Little T and walked away. She was laughing so hard when she told me this story, because I guess the woman looked completely confused as to how this black baby with this black woman, could have a mother that was white with red hair. 😉

Meeting Friends for the First Time

26 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by in The Adventures of Little T, The Family

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A few days ago I met up with Kari from Chasing Starlight. We bonded a while back over our crazy adoption stories and love of animals. I was so excited to find out she was taking her family to Disneyland, so I packed up Little T’s things and went to meet Kari and her family that I’ve read so much about!

Little T greeted her cutie pie daughter by bopping her on the head. Oh man, I was totally mortified. Thankfully, Kari forgave his enthusiasm and things went smoothly from there. Note to self: teach Little T how to greet a lady. Kari is beautiful, inside and out. She handled motherhood with ease, while I chased Little T around and pondered buying one of those baby leash. I’m not sure where he was running to, but he seemed determined to go somewhere. When I got home, I asked Big T if he spiked his bottle with caffeine.

I could have stayed and talked with Kari for hours and was sad when we had to say goodbye. I hope she plans another trip out this way soon *hint hint*. Maybe after she’s completed the adoption that she’s currently in the process of, which you can read about on her blog.

Here’s a few pictures from our visit:

Kari and her cutie pie daughter, that could easily be a baby model:

Um, yes. That would be my son crawling around all the benches and running amok.

And playing peek-a-boo:

Circle of Moms

25 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by in All Others

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Our blog was nominated for one of the top vegan blogs over at Circle of Moms! If you’re liking my blog, please share the love and send a vote my way:

In honor of our vegan nomination, Little T scarfed down an entire container of blueberries. That kid and his blueberries! I wish we could grow them, but they never survive with all the birds around our house.