Featured Friday: Jasmine Star

In the midst of me chowing down on what could possibly be the BEST sandwhich ever made from Potbelly's, I feel inspired. Inspired to write about my absolute favorite photographer who is from California, Jasmine Star. (I have a local favorite photographer as well).

I have dreams. I mean, c'mon. Who doesn't? But seriously, I have TONS of dreams when I sleep. I think I have ADHD dreams. I also have dreams to attain in my life too...but that's another story. My dreams are SO. WEIRD. (btw, I just finished my Potbelly's sandwich in less than 2 minutes. Yeah, it was good.) I still remember a lot of my dreams from my childhood. There's this one (it's my favorite) where I was sitting on a dock on a lake playing with my Rainbow Bright horse (which I had just gotten that day) and then all of the sudden, it came alive! It was flying around, because yes it does have wings...all the good horses do, and then it picked me up! We were just flying around in the air, and I loved it! And then a gorilla appeared on the dock out of nowhere and the Rainbow Bright horse saved me from it! Then we landed on the dock and it went back to being plastic and the size of my hand...and I went back to reality.

My dreams are often not related to each other either. For instance, last night I had a dream that I was preggo and Brian was the last to know and he found out through Facebook. hee hee...oops. Not to self...tell hubby FIRST when/if I am every preggo. Then, suddenly I was in a room and Jasmine Star was there! I was getting ready for one of her super fantastic fabulous workshops she holds a few times a year. I was blow drying my hair and she came up to me and said "I'm intimidated by you." PA!!! And then my hair dryer broke (I think it's a sign. My actual hair dryer has been spitting sparks at my head...it's out to get me.) Then I went over to JStar with my wet hair and asked if I could borrow her hair dryer. She let me. And we were friends after that. It was a funny dream. :) But it went from being preggo to meeting Jasmine Star at one of her workshops. Random, I tell ya, random.

Someday, I hope to meet her! I admire her skill in photography so much especially the way she can make her clients stand in front of a camera and feel so comfortable. Her pictures are just genuine. I appreciate that she doesn't manipulate anyone's face or body type in photoshop. I appreciate how she can take six different fabulous pictures from one pose out of six different angles. Her wonderful tips and behind the lens blogs are so helpful for me, especially because I have so many questions about the photog business. She is talented with the camera, but it's also mostly her personality. To be a great photographer, you must have a fabulous personality. It takes a great deal of patience to work with brides and their families. You really have to put yourself out there to talk and listen to what they want in their photographer. When a bride and groom are looking for a photographer, they are not only looking for great and quality pictures and a creative eye, they are looking for a personality. The photographer is the one person that you will spend the most time with (besides your groom) on your wedding day. It's important to build a friendship with clients. That's what Jstar does. She is full of life and creativity. She's always thinking about her business and how to make it better. There's a lot more to learn from this girl.

In my ideal life, Brian would get a job somewhere out in Cali so we could be in the warm area, and I would study under Jasmine Star. We'd be like Dr. Cox and JD on Scrubs. Plus, we wouldn't be in the frigid cold any more. (No more white stuff! It is cold. I have to wear boots, gloves, scarves, and hats, and I can't play outside! Boo!) Brian and I often talk about moving out to Cali someday...or at least going somewhere warm for my birthday (which is NEXT Wednesday, btw...hint hint). Since my bday is smake dab in the middle of winter, I have to have a coooooooold birthday and nobody has any motivation to celebrate anything in the cold. Anyway, we were talking about going out to Cali for my bday. He found tickets to L.A. for $80 each! Say what??? Yeah...but alas, there's not so much with the profit right now so my dream of a warmer birthday will have to wait. Anyway, Brian knows I AD.ORE. Jasmine Star. Being the kind and sweet and thoughtful (ok, and hot!) hubby he is, he emailed JStar to ask that if we ever make it to L.A. in the next few months, we could meet up with Jasmine Star and her hubby JD...and ok, their cute dog Polo too. :) Awwwwwwwwwwwww (times infinity)! JStar's hubby, JD, emailed Brian back and below you can see his response. So. Sweet. Both JD's response and Brian for asking. (the bold words are my added two cents.)

Hi Brian,

Thank you for contacting Jasmine regarding meeting up in L.A. It's really sweet to see you support your wife as she pursues her dreams. (Yes it is, JD, it is.)

I'm also excited to hear about Jenny and her passion for photography and can't wait

to see what the future has in store for her!! (ME TOO, JD, ME TOO!!!) We are currently a bit overextended juggling a few new projects and wouldn't be able to meet up. (I hear ya!) Feel free to drop us a line anytime! Thanks again and we wish you all the best!

Best,

JD

Someday Jasmine Star and I will be friends! Someday I will go to one of her workshops and drink in every advice she gives. Seriously, one hand will be typing on my laptop and the other will be writing hand written notes. Someday, Brian and I will move out to Cali where it's warm and the white stuff is non-existent and I can wear flipflops all year. Someday I will be like a protege' under Jasmine Star, and I will second shoot with her. I will become her project to teach me to be the next big photographer traveling across the world to shoot fabulous weddings. We will be friends. She will show me tricks on the camera. And I will bake her cupcakes with my Sexy Kitchen Aid.

Baking Nook

This is my baking nook. I love it.

This is where recipes come alive...ALIVE!!

Our kitchen isn't very big and doesn't have a lot of counter space. So when we were looking for furniture, I found this little stand on craigslist and it was perfect!!

We had a very busy Saturday. We rushed out the door (because of course we woke up late) to church for a marriage seminar. From there we met our small group for the first time and from there, we headed over to a gym so Brian could kick butt in Basketball.

From there, we headed to Ikea...mmmm...So I'm not a BIG fan of their furniture since I don't think it will last very long. BUT I do love their textiles and picture frames that are really cheap.

So I got some new frames for something I'm working on in our bathroom, a new shower curtain, and some pillows cover for our couch. AND...this wall hanging rod thing (pictured above.) I LOVE IT!! It saves so much space on my counter tops and the attachments for my sexy Kitchen Aid (it's red. Red = sexy) aren't falling from the top of the fridge to the floor and whenever I need my mearsuring spoons and cups, they are in an arm's reach. My mom gave me the roller. It was my grandma's. It's vintage. I love vintage. zzzzzzzzzz...(oops, left my pinky on the "z" button thinking it was the shift. I was gonna take it out, but I think it's kinda funny. Plus, when you read it, your mind will go from words to zzzzzzzzzzzz. haha)

Brian was kind enough to hang it up for me.

So, later that evening after church, I wanted to spend some quality time with my sexy Kitchen Aid. Plus, Brian was watching football. So I decided to make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. My mom got Brian America's Taste Test Kitchen recipe book. I flipped through it to find out how they made these cookies and decided to do it that way.

I turned my iPod on to Meredith Andrews. (fellow Liberty University graduate)

And I began to bake.

I realized I didn't have enough white flour for a cup and a half so I used about 3/4 of whole wheat flour. Then I realized I only had steel cut oats instead of rolled oats. So I found this "Hot Cereal" from trader joes that looked like rolled oats. The batter tasted pretty good (come on, ya'll know you lick the spoon, laddle, and bowl.)

Brian and I rolled the dough and plopped them on the cookie sheets. When I took them out they didn't form how I wanted them to. They were flat and ran into each other. How rude.

BUT they still tasted good and that's really what matters, right? Right. I'm glad we agree.

(My sexy Kitchen Aid)

Dear Sexy Little Kitcken Aid, I love all the delicousness to give to me.

Love, the chubby little girl inside.

Jenny

Featured Friday: Elle Street

So I've only done ONE Featured Friday in the past. Woops. I am planning on doing more this coming year. I can't WAIT to write the one about my BFF and her little business with Shaklee. She was so kind to send me a sample of their product. I just have to try it out first. :)



I want to introduce to you my friend, Mrs. T. She is the wonderful little blogger at Elle Street.

You can find her blog here: Elle Street



Mrs. T. is a stay at home wife with creativity gushing out at every corner. I've enjoyed reading her blogs with tips on how to find cute and savy things at a thrift store and then turning them into something unique and new! They way she took fabric from a thrift store to turn them into an apron or curtains for her sewing knook. They way she is wise in spending her money on clothes and shoes and then adds a bow here, a ribbons there and VIOLA' it's a completely different outfit! She'll give you tips on how to make delicious meals or snacks from scratch, how to properly hem or take in a dress, and how to pretty much make a dress from scratch. It's a great way on learning how to use your money and other resources wisely.


I loved her latest blog on putting cute bows on shoes to make them more...unique and cute.



Mrs. T. LOVES God and LOVES being married. She's been a wonderful example of a Proverbs 31 woman: "She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. she is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple."

It's a puzzle, but it makes sense.

Isaiah 41: 17-20

When the poor and needy seek water,

and there is none,

and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the Lord will answer them;

I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

I will open rivers on the bare heights,

and fountains in the midst of the valleys.

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

and the dry land springs of water.

I will put in the wilderness the cedar,

the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.

I will set in the desert the cypress,

the plane and the pine together,

that they may see and know,

may consider and understand together,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire (FIYAH!) it's been too long since I made a blog post. Sorry fans! (All two of you!) But it's been a slow month, photography wise. Last Sunday, I handed off a wedding album to some clients and that was the last of my work load. I'm done. I've got nothing. I do have to say, the album I handed to them was SUPER nice! I loved designing it for them. It was like putting together a story. I've realized a few things about myself lately...one: I thrive off being under pressure. For instance, when I was studying at Liberty and my 10 page paper was due in two days, I thrived! I locked myself in my room or in a coffee shop for hours and knocked out an "A" paper. (Seriously, I got A's on my papers...YAY!) Or when I used to be a waitress and the rush time hit, I thrived. I loved taking care of 3-4 tables at a time. It was fun! My mind was constantly thinking and going and it kept me sharp. And two: I thrive off being creative. I love it!! If I had unlimited resources (i.e. money) I would spend the entire day getting creative, finding cute fabric, or frames, anything to make my house more decorative...or I would spend the day using someone to be my model and take pictures of them. I still have this ONE vision in my head that I really really really need to take a picture of. It will win an award. It's THAT good. :)
Anyway, I loved making that album for Nick and Wensa. I loved giving it to them. I loved watching Wensa's face as she flipped through the pages. I love having a finished product where I worked with my hands and my head. It's a satisfaction I hope to capture more of in the future.
SoooOOooOOoo, if you know of anyone getting married in the summer time, or spring, or tomorrow, send them my info! (please)





Ahem, ANYway, these pictures are simply of the past month for Brian and I. The Needhams (pictured above) had made their way to Richmond for a wedding and on their way back, they decided to stop in the favorite city (their word, not mine) for a detour. Brian and I accidentally woke up late that Sunday (alarm didn't go off) so Bethany callled me and we met them at the Natural History Museum. I'm so glad we got to see these sweet friends and their adorable kids. Bethany was one of my bridesmaids and Andy played music in our wedding. They hail from Massachusetts so we only get to see each other few times a year. Boston spring trip!! Yes, please! I also appreciated having their son Josiah around to show Brian whose the best baseball team EVER!! (RED SOOOOOX!) The first thing Josiah said to Brian was something about how awesome the Red Sox are...totally blowing off the Yankees. :) Loved it. Sorry, Hun!




This past weekend, we had Brian's family come to town. It was super nice. His sister Jess and her boyfriend Anand came Friday night. Saturday morning we all woke up late. The boys wanted to hit the courts to play some Rock, as Anand calls it. Basketball for the rest of us white folk. Unfortunately, none of the gyms were open. Soooo, in my pursuit to get a dog, I suggested we visit the pound near our house. And we did. And I fell in love. :) And I realized that we can't get a dog right now. :(

This is Carrot. I wanted her. She was SO hyper though and a pitbull which required two hours of exercise a day. YIKES! But I sooooo wanted to take her home. Ugh! Puppy!!


Later that day, Brian's 'rentals came in. Yay! We opened our Christmas gifts to each other.
I got a bread maker!! Woot! Excited to try my hand at making bread. Yes!
And some way awesome gray converse shoes! Score!!
After a while, we decided to take everyone to one of my favorite places in Alexandria, Buzz. It's a coffee/cupcake/cocktails shop. I LOVE this place. When I was studying with Liberty, I spent most of my days here sometimes until they closed at midnight.


Hee hee...creepy, Jess.

I swear, they are brotha's from another motha.

And I got creative with the coffee sleeve.

Sunday after church, we went downtown to some museum's. I love this spot for pictures, so we stopped. :) If you'll notice my hubby in the middle acting like Superman and that he is protecting everyone behind him. I married a comicbook.

]

And our way to Potbelly's we stopped in the middle of the street to take couple's pictures in front of the Capitol.

This is Dan and Pam.

Anand and Jess.

They get two pictures. :)

And the hubby and I. (Photo credit: Jessica Bosak)

Whilst in the Natural History Museum, I took the opportunity to play with the slow shutter speed. Do you see all the ghosts?

And this is what Brian does during church. :) I don't mind.

So I know this post is really...well...nothing that compliments each other. At the beginning I gave you a verse. Then I talked about my friends the Needham's. Then I talked about creativity and my ability to thrive on deadlines and adrenaline. Then I talked about our weekend last week.

It's a big puzzle, but it makes sense because it's my life. :)