photographer branding: Jesica Allen

I did this photography branding a while back, but i am just getting around to posting it. This was a really fun project and jesica was great to work with. We did a package that included: logo with branding fonts, branding pattern, branding background, home page slide show template, blog post separator and watermark. We ended up designing the logo off of her beautiful signature.

twig mini caramel apples

So I was in the mood to make some kind of fall treat for a group of our friends. Where we live there are a couple of wild apple trees so I thought maybe mini caramel apples would be fun. No one can ever finishes a whole caramel apple anyway. I didn't have any sticks to put in the apples so when my husband was picking the apples I picked up a couple of apple branches from the ground and cut them into small sticks. I soaked and scrubbed the sticks to make sure they would be clean enough to use. I also cut the ends at an angle to make them sharp. Then in between naps and poopy diapers I managed to stick the apples, make the caramel and dip them. My favorite thing was that a lot of the apples still had there leaves on them.

owl lamp: before and after

Well i haven't quite finished the nursery so I thought I would post a couple of small details here and there until the nursery is done...
... So I got this lamp at a thrift store it was supposed to be $8 but it happened to be 50% off. Yes!!! I was so excited I grabbed it right when I saw it and kept it close by my side I was seriously worried someone might try to steel it. Then when i got to the counter they could not believe I wanted such a ugly thing. Even my husband thought i was crazy, but now I think it is beautiful. He still thinks it's "whatever".

my sweet baby boy

Well I haven't posted in a while because on August 21st our sweet baby boy August Michael Baker was born. It is hard to take my eyes off of him long enough to get anything done.

1 week

8 weeks

prego photo shoot

You may remember Kristin Eldridge from a previous post. I did a branding package for her earlier this year. She recently came to visit and offered to do a maternity shoot with me and my husband Rich. We were so excited. She is so talented and it was really fun to get to see her work. Here are a couple of the photos. You can see more on her blog.

watermelon salad

So I have always wanted to make a watermelon salad so tonight I tested it out. Wow was it good. I decided to pair it with a grilled cheese with orange bell peppers. If you want to make this salad it is just watermelon, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and balsamic glaze from Fresh & Easy (if you don't have this you can reduce your own balsamic vinegar into a syrup). Got to love summer cooking.

nursery and me

Here is sneak peak of the nursery. My mom took this photo... I think using my 5D has started her off in her photo carrier.

Baby Shower #2

Take a look at my 2nd baby shower. This shower was complete with waffle bar, iced coffee and quiche. So much fun and full of details I absolutely loved.

bird themed baby shower

My sister just through me the most adorable bird themed baby shower. I thought you all might like to see some photos. This was my first baby shower and it was so cute. Thank you Kim and the rest of my family for making me feel so special.

My cousin and her husband now own an event rental company so we were able to use their beautiful chairs.

wedding...weddings...weddings

I have been to a wedding every weekend this month... it has been crazy. I had the opportunity to second shoot one wedding with my good friend Sean Walker. Here are just a couple of the image from the wedding I will try to post more soon.

napa inspired wedding reception invitation

Here are some invitations I designed for a small northern California wedding reception. The reception is themed with lavender and Napa Valley combination. I hope you like it.

anthropologie inspired planter

I want to the anthropologie in Carlsbad a couple months ago and was completely inspired by how they used moss in there store displays. So when i found this office storage box on sale at target and I knew just what I wanted to do with it. We'll see how long it lives for... I don't exactly have a green thumb.

baby shower invitations

I designed these baby shower invitations a little while ago but for some reason I could not find the time to photograph them. I hope you enjoy. If you would be interested in having me design invitations for your wedding, baby shower, birthday party or anything else you could invite somebody to email me for pricing.

Orange Chocolate Mini Cupcake Recipe

ORANGE CHOCOLATE MINI CUPCAKES
1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix
Replace Water with Orange Juice
Replace Oil with Grape Seed Oil
1/2 Orange Zested
Follow box directions with the added and replaced ingredients. For parchment cupcake papers cut 3 1/4” squares and squish down into cupcake pan.

ORANGE ZEST ICING
4 Cups Powdered Sugar
8 Tablespoons Butter, Softened
3 Tablespoons Orange Juice (add more juice if needed)
1 Orange Zested
Mix all the ingredients until smooth. Use a round piping tip to pipe the icing. Zest an additional orange for to garnish and sprinkle a little sugar on top.

Baby Baker Cupcakes

So I wanted to think of cute way to tell my coworkers I was pregnant. My last name being Baker "Baby Baker Cupcakes" were the first thing that came to mind. So I made chocolate orange baby cupcakes with orange frosting. I went all out real sugar and not gluten free. They were so good. I didn't have any cupcake papers so I used square pieces of parchment paper, fortunately my friend came over and helped me cut out the papers. I think I like them better this way, it kind of gives them an organic look. I also made my favorite detail, cupcake flags, that said Baker No. 3. They went over really well all the boys ate multiple cupcakes, one girl thought I was starting a new business and another thought they were so cute she didn't read the flag. I got one hug for the cupcake and another huge hug once I explained I was having a baby. I might need to be a little more clear next time.

cupcake flags

My two other friends and I through a 30th birthday party last summer and I designed these cupcake flags to help celebrate the day. I love how they turned out. I think a cupcake flag bring a fun charm to a cupcake. My friends made most of these yummy goodies. I just designed some other cupcake flags I will post that soon.

gluten free banana bread

So I have been on a gluten free diet now for about 6 months. I just recently made this banana bread and I love it. I also cut out refined sugar so I try to bake with agave. I cheated a little bit though and put in organic dark chocolate chips.


Gluten Free Banana Bread recipe
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup agave
2 eggs
3 ripe banana
1-3/4 cups Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup organic dark chocolate chip

Beat together butter, agave, eggs and banana. Add remaining ingredients and mix together. Pour into a large greased loaf pan. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 1 hour, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.