Friday Roundup

Happy Friday!! And a three-day weekend to boot, yippee!

What are you up to this weekend? I'm going to a Mariner's game tonight and then headed out to the Puget Sound for some R&R. I can't believe September is almost here, where did summer go?!

I'll start off this week's Roundup with some shameless family-promotion, check out this hilarious new music video my brother just put out...and don't miss Jenny's awesome cameo pushing a shopping cart! (Congrats to Jason for his photo on EW.com!)

This drink would be great for the last weekend of summer.

How to stop worrying.

What it's REALLY like going gluten-free, plus great GF recipes. 


So funny and true!

Will you go without the internet this weekend? 

Lyrical fun.   

Love this graphic about steps to creative living. Jenny, Alt Summit 2013?

Want this and these for the fall wardrobe.

Something fun to do this weekend in WA.

(photo credit here)

Camera Throwback

Hello! We got back from New York yesterday and so I wanted to share a unique view of our trip. Our friend Johnny (of Mazagran Photo) had the brilliant idea to bring a random old camera and rolls of film. So on top of four Nikon DSLRS, and the iPhones we never leave home without, we also had this little gem. We called it the Official Trip Camera and everywhere we went, we snapped a few shots the old fashioned way, on film.  

When we got home yesterday, Johnny immediately ran out and got it developed. We were all so excited to see the results. 

I can't tell you the last time I used a film point and shoot camera. It was super fun to experience the quirks of film. Instead of taking hundreds of digital shots and checking to see how they turned out on a D800 or iPhone, we'd take one or maybe two shots on the film. After all, you don't have an endless supply, just 36 images per roll. 

I'd forgotten what it was like to not have that instant gratification of digital. The photos are more special when you have to wait to see them. And look at how differently things turned out in different light, without having the ability to control shutter and aperture. Better results than instagram filters. 

The funniest part, handing the camera off to a stranger on the street or our waiter to get a group shot and watching them fumble with the camera, looking for a large screen on the back, forgetting what it's like to look through the view finder! 

Friends!

The weekend cannot come soon enough! I'm so excited to enjoy one last summer hurrah hanging out with girlfriends from college. The five of us (Chelsea, me, Brittany, Jenny, Tracy - pictured above at my 22nd birthday in DC) were roommates while attending UW and haven't all been together since I got married over four years ago. We'll be spending the weekend catching up over good food, getting to know each other's guys, and splashing around on the Puget Sound. Oh, and we need an updated photo Jason!

Homemade Granola

A few years back I learned that homemade granola is SO much better than the stuff you buy at the store. Have you ever tried making it before? It's actually super easy. 

The other biggest benefit- you know what you're putting in it. So that means, you can flavor it however you like, add extra healthy things and you can also control how much fat and sugar goes in. 

I started out with this Nigella Lawson recipe adapted by Orangette. And have tweaked it a bit on my own. This is what I did this time: 

Dry ingredients:
5 cups rolled oats
3 cups raw almonds
1 cup hulled raw sunflower seeds
¾ cup chia seeds
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. salt

Wet ingredients:
¾ cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/3 cup brown rice syrup
¼ cup honey
2 Tbsp. canola oil

Preheat the oven to 300°F.
In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. Stir to mix well. In a small bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients. Stir to mix well. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ones, and stir well. (Sometimes I'm lazy and just throw the wet ingredients on top of the try and have found if you're willing to get your hands a little dirty, you can mix it up just fine without having to dirty another bowl!)
Spread the mixture evenly on two rimmed baking sheets. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until evenly golden brown. Set a timer to go off every ten minutes & stir it around. When it’s ready, remove the pans from the oven, stir well – this will keep it from cooling into a hard, solid sheet – and set aside to cool. The finished granola may still feel slightly soft when it comes out of the oven, but it will crisp as it cools.

Scoop cooled granola into to a large zipper-lock plastic bag or other airtight container. Store in the refrigerator indefinitely.

Also, I love to give granola as gifts! This time, I used these mason jars. 

Listen Here: Shovels and Rope

As you can probably tell by now, I'm not much of a country music fan. I grew up listening to alternative rock and then "indie" music in college. But recently I've been listening to a lot of music that would be categorized as folk or bluesy...even edging on country. I never would have thought I'd get into that type of music but I'm LOVING Shovel & Rope's new album, Oh Be Joyful. Check it out and let me know what you think, it crosses many genres of music so I think a lot of people will enjoy. 

Wedding Wednesday: Wedding Sparklers vs. Not Wedding Sparklers

Did you know that wedding sparklers and Fourth of July sparklers are two very different things? Wedding sparklers last longer and hardly smoke or throw sparks. Trust me, the last thing you want to worry about at the end of your reception is smoke inhalation and burning holes in your dress as you're running through a line of friends and family waving fire at you. 

One time, we were shooting an exit and just as the bride and groom pulled away, all of the sprinklers inside of the venue went on! The smoke from the sparklers had wafted back into the building and tripped the fire alarm! 

Anyway, wedding sparklers are definitely going to be little bit more expensive than Fourth of July sparklers, especially if your were planning on hitting up firework stands on July 5th. But seriously worth it because you can get cool shots like this one. Notice there isn't any smoke in the shot!

Here are the sparklers used in the photo above. 

All images by JKoe Photography. You can see more of Megan & Peter's wedding here. 

An Ombre Birthday Cake

Isn't this cake awesome?! Even the inside is ombre! Our friend Rosanna, who lives in LA, made it and we thought it was so cool we asked to put it up on the blog. 

Here's a little blurb from her on how it came about:

The cake was for my friend and surfing buddy's birthday. The design on the top of the cake is the logo for our surf club. If it had been less than 102 degrees in my house as I was frosting the cake, I perhaps could have drawn the logo better than a two year old, but as it was 102 degrees in my house, this will have to do : ) The cake is an almond cake, and the frosting is an Almond Swiss Buttercream frosting. Super tasty together. Yay for cakes inspired by the ocean!

New York Getaway

So...funny story. A week ago Jason and I booked a commercial shoot for this week in Brooklyn and then two days before we were supposed to fly out, we were told that the shoot was off (something to do with permits and zoning...). But the company had already bought our plane tickets so we decided to use them anyway for a little getaway! So here we are for a few days in New York, wandering the city with our friends Johnny and Jill. 

Honestly, I think it turned out better this way. We've been working so much lately spending a few days together not on a shoot was exactly what we needed. Although Jason still did manage to take over 900 pictures on his iPhone today...

So a couple of these last ones might need a little explanation. 1. Subway, self explanatory. 2. Me trying on a hat (which I bought) and making a scared face for no reason. 3. Johnny & Jill. 4. CREEPER! No actually, this wasn't a real person, but a painting in a window. Still creepy though.

The Cat's Meow

Look at my poor baby! Rafa got in a fight with a mean neighbor cat this weekend and had to get a few stitches in his foot (check out that little polka dot wrap). Now he has to wear the "cone of shame" until he goes back to the vet next week. He is not a happy camper.

In happier news check out these the kittens I got to play with at the vet! They are only six weeks old and were sleeping in a pile on top of each other. So cute. They are up for adoption, message me if you're interested in the info.

Hope you had a great weekend, can't believe the summer is coming to a close. Jenny is in NYC this week, looking forward to seeing the great photos her and Jason snap on their trip. 

Monday Motivation

Friday Roundup

Well, what do you think of our new and improved blog?

I thought it was fitting that I finally use this awesome Friday Roundup photo that I've been saving for a while now. Basically whenever I say "roundup" this is the image I see. It's my grandpa, rounding up his cattle. A photographer happened to be driving by one day (many years ago) and saw the potential for an awesome shot, pulled over and snapped this.

And now, some fun things from around the web to start of your weekend...

AMAZING ball-point pen drawings. Seriously, these look like photos.

Love this fall campaign. It features a cat (and cute clothes too)!

I want to try this Cookie Butter from Trader Joes.

Would you pay $100 for a hair brush? What if it's amazing and the only one you'll ever need?

Earlier this week, Teresa emailed me this story about a groom making his bride's wedding gown. My response, "No way! I know them!" We're actually shooting a wedding designed by this amazing couple today.

"10 Photos That Will Make You Want to Fall in Love" on Hello Giggles or, in my case, photos that I want to pin and did.

Did you know that Jeopordy! is on twitter? They post a clue everyday.

Did you know you can put a couple of stamps on a flip flop and mail it? Ideas for all sorts of creative things to mail here. 

Drink of the Month: Grapefruit Basil Gin Fizz

Our friends Brittany and Victor whipped up this refreshing summer drink during a sunny evening BBQ in their backyard. It's relatively easy to prepare and deliciously fresh on a hot day. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and lime
Gin
Simple Syrup
Cointreau
Muddled Basil
Soda

Another recipe here if you're interested in variations.

Project Pinterest: DIY Hair Ties

Welcome to the easiest DIY project ever! Can you use scissors and tie knots at a kindergarden level? "Yes!" you say. Well then you've already mastered the skills needed for this project.

I used this tutorial from Simple Medicine. They suggest buying the 5/8 fold over elastic from Elastic by the Yard, which I did and I'd recommend that you do too. They have every shade you can imagine and my 10 yards of colors I'd chosen came within a matter of days.

Wanna take your newfound DIY skill to the next level? Measure out enough elastic to fit around your head and you've got yourself a super comfy headband perfect for keeping those pesky bangs out of your eyes while doing downward dog. 

Our New Look!

We are excited to officially unveil our new look!! Big thanks to our friend Rosanna over at Iron Curtain Press (check out her fun card above) for the redesign, isn't she talented? Also, thanks to Jason for taking the lovely photos on the main page and "about" page. We are loving the new design, thanks for reading our little blog!

(image of cute card from Iron Curtain Press)

Win a GoodWeave Rug!

Patrick and I recently signed a lease on a little bungalow in the Wallingford area of Seattle, we'll be moving in October! The place has mostly hardwood flooring so I'm trying to find a couple of large rugs for the bedroom and dining area. When I lived in Washington DC I was introduced to a great rug company called GoodWeave that specializes in certifying beautiful rugs as child-labor free. Apparently, over 250,000 children are exploited in the handmade carpet industry.

And it's our lucky day because they are raffling off two gorgeous rugs TOMORROW! Enter to win by clicking here and buying a raffle ticket that's proceeds go toward providing educational opportunities to at-risk and rescued children. I entered for the beautiful Summer Ikat rug from Nepal pictured above.

PS. A great GoodWeave dealer in Seattle.

Wedding Wednesday: Details

Oh you guys, I have a lot of good things coming for you in the next few weeks. We've shot FOUR weddings in the last two weeks and and have SIX more coming in the next two weeks. I am full of ideas, tips and pretty pictures. Today, gorgeous details from Jason & Erika's wedding.

In leu of a guestbook, guests were asked to write the couple a note on a vintage postcard. 

I love, love, love these succulent boutonnieres! 

Adorable save the dates with custom artwork.

Grey bridesmaid dresses offset by coral heels.  

Lemons everywhere! A great way to add a color pop. 

Custom hankies included withe the programs. 

Mini pies for guest who didn't want cake. 

Take home your own succulent party favor. Each individually planted in a cute little egg dish. And Glassybaby for an added little bit of happiness. 

Wands with bells and ribbons for saying goodbye to the couple at the end of the night. 

All images by JKoe Photography. You can see more of Jason and Erika's wedding here. 

A Weekend In: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island

Patrick and I had the pleasure of ticking off one of my summer bucket list items last weekend with a little visit to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. We woke up early and drove up to Anacortes where we walked onto the ferry for a beautiful hour long journey to FH. We slept at a fabulous little place called the Bird Rock Hotel, just a couple of blocks from the ferry terminal in central Friday Harbor (We stayed in the Sucia Room which I would HIGHLY recommend, great views!).

On Friday afternoon we went out on a little whale watching trip with Captain Justin. Although we didn't spot any orcas (tear) we did see Dall and Harbor Porpoise, Harbor and Stellar Seals, and lots of birds. It was a gorgeous day for boating and we had a blast out on the water. I definitely want to go back and try again to see the whales. 

We enjoyed some tasty seafood in FH, including oysters, salmon, and fish & chips at Downriggers, a hearty breakfast at the Rocky Bay Cafe, and pub fare at the Hungry Clam. I'd love to try out the Market Cafe and Backdoor Kitchen next time we are up there.

Have you been to San Juan Island? What did we miss? Would love to hear your suggestions for next time!

Hair How To: Easy Beach Waves

On top of giving us some great summer beauty tips while at the lake, Teresa's talented sister Laura, showed us a really easy summer look.

1. Give yourself some really awesome braids. Part your hair as you normally do on top and divide your hair into two braids.




2. Use your flat iron to heat the braids evenly. Rather than pulling the flat iron down the length of your hair, hold it in one place and then move it.



3. And now, for the very important part, leave your hair in the braids as it cools down. This will help the style to set. You can be nice like Laura was and do you friends makeup while you're waiting...(Thanks!)


4. Once your hair is cool, take out the braids and gently run your fingers through.




5. Re-braid pieces in the front and re-iron. This will give the look more variety and randomness to the waves making it more natural looking.



6. Go through the rest of your hair and pick out any other areas that could use a little help, re-braid and iron.





Ta-da! The results are carefree waves, perfect for vacation.

Unsubscribe from Anything

How you you organize your inbox? Mine got a little out of control last month.  I'm the type of person who ALWAYS gives out their email address when asked. I suppose I should get better at not doing this. The Anthropologie clerk probably won't get her feelings hurt if I say, "No, I would not like to sign up for your mailing list."

I recently  discovered Unsubscriber. Have you heard of it?

Basically, it does the work of unsubscribing to anything you don't want. All you have to do is put the unwanted email into a folder. My inbox is practically empty right now and I am overjoyed.

Any other tips or tricks to keep my inbox manageable are welcome though!

Image Via

Monday Motivation

Love this new video for the song "I Was Here" by one of our favorites, Beyonce. It was filmed in front of a live audience at the UN in support of World Humanitarian Day.

Friday Roundup

Happy Friday! Are you enjoying August so far? We are having a heat wave here in Seattle with temperatures reaching over 90 degrees! (I can see all of you East Coasters rolling your eyes). Patrick and I are headed to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands this weekend. Really hoping to spot the baby Orca that was just born up there! Here are a few links to kick things off--cheers!

Amazing swimming pools in the sky.

The fascinating world of cat fashion.

Thank you note etiquette.

These boots for fall. Drool.

Cute article about growing old and in love. 

This SC farmhouse is a dream.

Great hairstyles for wet hair and long hair. 

One of my favorite food bloggers reflects on Julia Child's birthday.

These would look good on my wall. T&P forever. :)

GF Chocolate Financiers. Yummm. 

Smartphone apps for your pet.

Stunning photographs.

Downton Abbey is almost back...eeeek!

(Photo via bethespark.)

Project Pinterest: Pretty Tray

This has been one of the projects on sitting on my pinterest board for MONTHS, and it's such an easy one. I'm so glad I finally took the time to do it.
Here's the tutorial I used. It suggests buying an unfinished wooden tray from Ikea. I happened to have a tray lying around that I used all the time but definitely needed to be freshened up. A couple of coats of spray paint and one raw silk scarf from Cambodia later and we have something that I love!

The project itself took under 30 minutes. Basically, paint the tray. Because my tray had a design on the top, I went ahead and painted that part as well so the design wouldn't show through my scarf.

While the paint was drying, I worked on cutting the scarf to the correct size. I chose to cut it a little bigger and trim off the edges later.

Once the paint was dry, I painted on a layer of Mod Podge and carefully put the fabric on the top. Once I got it situated how I wanted, I added a layer of Mod Podge to the top.

After the tray dried over night, I went around the edge with a razor blade to trim the excess and voila! 

I'm not the only one who likes the revamped tray. 

The Perfect Game

So I lucked out big when one of the two Mariners games I happened to make it to this season was yesterday when Felix Hernandez pitched a perfect game. If you're not a baseball fan, a perfect game is when there aren't any hits, walks or errors and none of the batters on a side make it to first base. In the history of major league baseball, this has only happened 23 times so it's kind of a big deal.

Jason's brother Jeremy, his wife, Stephanie, and their five month old, Gracie, were visiting and it was Gracie's first game! Jason and Jeremy are HUGE baseball fans and grew up stalking baseball players for autographs so naturally they were beyond thrilled to see this. Seriously, I kind of thought one of them might have peed their pants when it happened. Instead, Jason took lots of photos on his iPhone and Jeremy called their dad.

Afterwards, Jason snapped that creepily awesome photo of Gracie peeping out from behind a Felix Hernandez cutout above.

If you want to see how big of a Mariners fan Jason is, here's a music video that Jason directed last year. It's basically his childhood in song. It wasn't hard to find props for this shoot, Jason already owned all of the memorabilia that you see and more. My basement is full of baseball bats.

My Summertime Playlist

Kid Cudi - All Summer

Jack White - I'm Shakin'

Beach Boys - Do You Want to Dance?

Beat Connection - In the Water

DJ Jazzy and Fresh Prince - Summertime

Alabama Shakes- Hold On

Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound

Madonna - Borderline 

Santigold - The Riot's Gone

Rod Stewart- Maggie May

Passion Pit - Hideaway

Edward Sharpe - Man on Fire

(Image from here.)