It’s refreshing to go back to the beach, especially as summer approaches.  The one reminder I wish I would remember, as the warmer weather approaches, is to check for high tide when photographing the beach.  Luckily, the Knox family are natural swimmers and could save me, if they had to.  We met in Laguna and it was fabulous June gloom weather…no sun = perfect photo weather.  Perfect photo weather makes me a happy girl.

We tempted the high tide a few times and made it through, whew.  No casualties, except for maybe a pair of flip flops or two.  The Knox family (immediate and extended) are no strangers to me…Tracy & Dave were married three years ago and I was their lucky photographer…and Debbie is my aunt-in-law, which works out perfectly – they are all family!!  They decided it was time for an all-family-in photo sesh and it worked out great…they were up for anything and everything!!

What I love the most about having a connection to my subjects is that you have the opportunity to watch them grow together, as a family…from birthday’s to weddings to family gatherings…simply the best!

Check out the family fun at the beach…

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The hubby and I have always tried (really hard!) to be healthy eaters.  We get comments from people in our lives about the food decisions that we make all the time.  I admit, eating healthy is very difficult, especially when other food choices are available at every corner.  All of my friends and family know that my downfall is ice cream…anything that ends with cream, actually, would be the harbinger of any of my many diets that resulted in “falling off the wagon.”

We’ve often perused through the countless stalls of veggies at our local UC Irvine farmer’s market (every Saturday across from UC Irvine’s campus – highly recommended!) and we decided, during one of our visits, to figure out just how we could make the farmer’s market a part of our daily routine.  In comes Local Harvest, a website which connects the community to nearby farms that supply their harvests to the public!

We have currently become a part of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.  Want to know more about CSA?  Per Local Harvest, here’s what they’ve got to say…

Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

CSA is an amazing program!  We pick up our basket from South Coast Farms every other Thursday at our favorite local restaurant, which coincidentally was a drop site for our farm.  The baskets are fabulous – full of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, with some flowers on the side!  I’ve learned that fresh fruits and vegetables don’t look as pretty as the fruits & veggies that you buy at the supermarket, which kind of makes you think…OH, and the hubby laughs every time I see a caterpillar in our greens (I’m not so good with animals…haha).  We have taken on the bi-weekly challenge of identifying fruits & veggies that we have never seen (or eaten before).  It really makes you think about what we eat and what is truly in season as Mother Nature has intended!

So, check it out, if you’d like!!  :)  Maybe some photos from our last basket will set you on your way…enjoy!

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Commencement….graduation….you can smell the anticipation in the air…it starts months before the actual ceremony and you get into a “mode.”  It’s similar to when the high school kiddos start to lose focus right around May, knowing that their last day of school is around the corner.  It’s the same with the hubby, a teacher…he goes into “summer hubby” once June begins and then, there’s no turning back.  Summer takes over and we’re in full summer mode.

One of my favorite corporate event clients is the crew from the UC Irvine Graduate Division.  I have worked with them for a few years now, helping them document their events…from symposiums to last Saturday’s Graduate Hooding Ceremony.  As I walked through the blue doors of the Bren Events Center, my graduation day memories flooded into my mind.  I too, was feeling the anticipation of walking down the center aisle in my cap and gown, to the “graduation march” song.  I looked around at these graduate students and they had so much to be proud of…getting a Masters or PhD degree is a huge achievement in life and I was proud of each and every one of them (despite not knowing a single soul there!).

So, CONGRATULATIONS to the Graduate Class of 2010!!  To much success in your futures!  Cheers!

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