good morning. quick shoot before yoga.
jamaica was freezing at this point so we went inside - my little attic corner has cool window light.
[caption id="attachment_861" align="aligncenter" width="590" caption="last shot, favorite shot"]
a few more from a very short shoot with my friend brie - not only was it raining but it was also sundown. but underexposures, although difficult to work with, convey a specific mood that works for me in this instance. teaches me not to be slavish to perfection. photograph anyway, even if the conditions aren't ideal. this graveyard is one that we will have to revisit on a more picture-taking-y type day. and there will *hopefully* be some film from this day as well.
i spent thanksgiving and the first part of chanukah in bellingham with my family. as chaotic as it is to have all of us together, i wouldn't have missed this trip for the world. it took us 9 hours to drive there from corvallis because of the weather - reason #1,000,000,000 why i am not a snow person. but at least we had a day to play in it before it melted away like it had never been there at all!
i was the lame one who took pictures while my sisters and the pups raced about. they tried to get me to have a snowball fight and i ran away squealing like the grinch i truly am.
i have some beautiful sisters!
[caption id="attachment_812" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="my parents"]
one of the nicest parts of the trip were the walks my little sister and i would take with our dogs.
i'll end the post with a cute chalk drawing from a bookstore in fairhaven - it pretty much sums up what the holidays are about for me. even if you've got family drama (show me someone who has a perfect drama-free holiday - i don't believe it exists!), move past it. spend time with the ones you love. don't get too hung up on what things are "supposed" to be like - just remember what matters.
i hope everyone has a wonderful, wonderful holiday and many blessings in the new year.
let me preface this by saying i am by no means a baking expert. i love unique cupcakes, and i love cooking, so i wanted to try a few recipes and see how i did! my friend kate and i made 4 different kinds of cupcakes, and even though they aren't as good as my favorite (rocket queen - if you are in the corvallis/albany area, try them immediately, they are addictive), they'll make nice chanukah presents for my dear family.
[caption id="attachment_780" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption=""red" velvet with buttercream frosting // flourless chocolate with cream cheese frosting"]
the first recipe was for red velvet cupcakes with buttercream frosting (modified from ming makes cupcakes). My dad hates red food coloring, so I used beet juice, which turned the cupcakes into "purple velvet". still pretty!
the flourless chocolate cupcakes (recipe from ming makes cupcakes) were amazing! the batter was so good that i barely even wanted to bake them. if i use this recipe again, i will fill the cups more - they are a bit flat. the recipe calls for fresh whipped cream to serve - but i'm waiting to try that until i get them to my parents' house in bellingham on wednesday.
[caption id="attachment_781" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="pumpkin's pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting"]
i can't remember where i found the pumpkin cupcakes recipe - but it sure is delicious. i would add a lot less honey, however - they are almost too sweet for me. the frosting also calls for powdered cactus honey (which i have never heard of, and decided not to bother with). i also used rice flour for this recipe instead of wheat flour.
i used the same cream cheese frosting recipe for the pumpkin cakes as for the carrot cupcake recipe (also from ming makes cupcakes, and might i add, the very best cream cheese frosting ever). i am shamelessly plugging ming's site because a) the recipes are delicious and b) there are very few ingredients, which i always appreciate.
[caption id="attachment_782" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="carrot cupcakes, unfrosted"]
i used rice flour instead of regular flour for the carrot cupcakes as well.
[caption id="attachment_783" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting"]
i am a big fan of homemade presents. fun to make, fun to give, and from the heart. i'm heading to my parents' house on wednesday for a much-anticipated mini-vacation during thanksgiving and the first night of chanukah. happy holidays, everyone! <3
