Truckee

Checked out in the mind, tucked in by the fire... The cabin days in Truckee were the best blend of relaxation and... sleeping? Those two things are different, right?

Truckee, CA 2013

Being chased by a killer remote-control helicopter while trying to cook a five-star Christmas meal...

“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Truckee Jax Diner

The food at the Jax on the Tracks Diner is absolutely divine, and with service that is unbelievably fast and friendly considering how busy they are.

And the vintage snowshoes on Linda's wall make me yearn to try snowshoe-ing! Look, Kaufmann Mercantile has these swanky versions available... would I dare?

I'm sure my mom would document that train wreck, (I mean, totally competent adventure!)

Welcome to my yard! Would you like a tomato?

OH, how to describe the spunk of little Ella? She just bounced around this gorgeous back yard for the entire time I visited! She loves to chase bubbles, eat tomatoes (and ONLY tomatoes!) and was so adorably inquisitive about my camera! She loved how she could see her reflection in the big glass face of my lens, and peered into it every chance she got. I can't wait to see this one grow! P.S. My friends Julie and Matt are the proud (and LUCKY, i might add!) parents of this most delicious little peanut! <3

Twins are a blessing! Wait, where'd he go...?

This little set of peanuts is one very close to my heart, the double-trouble-double-fun children of a great friend and awesome mom in Santa Cruz, CA. At 16 months, when they both run in opposite directions, it's very easy to lose one or the other, at any given time, but thanks to these pro parents, I can proudly say I did NOT lose any twinsies on my photo shoot! TINY VICTORY!! <3

Lauren and Devin: The Secret Garden…

As if I wasn't excited enough about seeing these girls again (I used to babysit them when they were infants!) I got an EXTRA BIG THRILL after arriving at the girls' gorgeous Scotts Valley home and seeing their positively magnificent backyard! It was a true secret garden, of the most magical kind. The hazyness of the day just made the surroundings that much more twinkly! I couldn't help but throw in a BUNCH of garden details, to help you grasp the EXPERIENCE of this day...sweet things all around!