July 2011 - Fab You Bliss

A Unique Brittish Columbia Wedding + Some Pics of Our Vacay

This wedding has already been featured by some of my favorite fellow bloggers and normally I don’t like to publish something if it’s been shown even a few times, but I just couldn’t help sharing this one with you because I think it is so different…and I LOVE different! Also, the bride included their background story and that always makes me more interested in featuring a wedding…hint, hint ;-) Photographed by Anastasia Photography, Ashley & Christopher were married in Squamish, British Columbia. Love it! Even the name of the town is unique. Anyhow…here we go!

From the bride Ashley:

We met six years ago at a summer camp working together, hit it off and became friends. We starting dating three years later, then got engaged on a remote beach at night lit up with candles and a bonfire in Pemberton BC. The dress was the first one i saw and the only one i found that i liked!! I absolutely love it. I wanted something simple and beautiful. It was surprisingly hard to find something without sparkles. I hate sparkles! Just lace, love it.

Photographer: Anastasia Photography

Reception Venue: Furry Creek

Cinema and Video: Joshua Bauer

DJ: DJ Rich-A

Shoes: John Fluevog
Submission via Two Bright Lights

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Just thought I’d share a few more images from our Mammoth/Tahoe trip. Here’s one of me and Q on our attempt to get up to Laurel Lakes in Mammoth. Unfortunately we couldn’t get all the way up because there’s still so much snow.

…my HAPPY toes…

…my beautiful sister on a hike up Shirley Canyon…

..and finally the Pupp-Awg running with the hubby. She cracks me up!

Have a Fab You Bliss weekend ya’ll!

xoxo,

Stephanie

July 29, 2011 Posted In: Real Weddings 1 Comment

A Blue & Orange Wedding at The Hollywood Schoolhouse

I have a problem. I freely admit it…I am an image hoarder. Plain and simple. Do you think they make support groups for this? Then again, maybe it’s not a problem. I mean, I run this blog to, among other things, promote photographers and their work…so why not post as many images as possible, right? I mean, you don’t mind do you? You come here to see great images and that you shall get. Case in point, today’s wedding submitted by Amelia Soper at Amelia Soper Photography. There were just so many really good story telling images, I’m pretty much going to show them all.

Nicole and Matt were married on May 14, 2011 in Woodinville, Washington with a lovely reception at The Hollywood Schoolhouse. I’m really liking the blues and oranges, such a happy combination. And the Lady Bug that landed on Nicole’s dress sash…so perfect! Finally the image of Nicole’s friends hugging her at the reception, L.O.V.E…so special. Go on now…enjoy!

Photographer: Amelia Soper Photography

Floral Designer: Laurel’s Floral Decor

Reception Venue: The Hollywood Schoolhouse

DJ: Jay Productions

Makeup Artist: MakeupByJustine

Jewelry: Erin Mcdermott Jewelry

Have a Fab You Bliss Thursday!

xoxo

Stephanie

July 28, 2011 Posted In: Real Weddings Leave a Comment

A Stunning Downtown St. Louis Missouri & Stone Hill Winery Engagement Session

When Cory & Jackie Phillips from Ada Photography sent me Lindsay & Nicolas’s engagement session shot on June 25, 2011 in Downtown St. Louis Missouri and the Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, I started jumping up and down like a little girl who just got her first Barbie Doll. I swear…I wish there was a video camera pointed at my office then I could show you. Seriously, I was so excited about this engagement session I even re-arranged my schedule to get it to you sooner, that’s how great I think it is. And I’m pretty sure you’re gonna agree.

Lindsay & Nicolas will be married in the Ozark Mountains this winter. Alrighty then…let’s waste no more time…go on, check em out.

Photographer: Ada Photography
Venue: Downtown St. Louis & Stone Hill Winery
Submission via Two Bright Lights

What do you think? Gorgeous, eh? I’m lovin’ the 4 outfit changes. Seriously ladies, if you can talk your guy into changing four times for your engagement photos…you’ll end up with a lovely mix of images like this. And your photographer will love it too

Have a Fab You Bliss Wednesday!

xoxo

Stephanie

July 27, 2011 Posted In: Engagements 2 Comments

Fab You Bliss Wednesdays: Fried Green Tomatoes with a Nice Pinot Grigio

Last week the hubby, Quinley and I went to Lake Tahoe to spend a milestone birthday with my sister and her husband. I won’t tell you which “milestone” it was since we are only 17 months apart and that would give away my age…wink, wink.

Anyhow, on my sister’s birthday we had a celebration dinner at a restaurant called The River Ranch which overlooks the Truckee River between Tahoe City and Squaw Valley. The River Ranch is also a lodge and if you haven’t been there, I’d highly recommend it.

So if you follow this blog you’ll already know I lived at Lake Tahoe for 10 + years and now when I visit I always run into someone I either used to work with or somehow I knew during my time there. And on this visit I ran into an old friend/co-worker who just so happens to now be the Executive Chef at The River Ranch. Cool, huh? It’s always fun meeting up with old friends and finding out what they’re doing now and seeing Julia, all-grown-up and doing so well…it was really a treat!

Long story short…the night of my sister’s birthday, Julia made us a batch of Fried Green Tomatoes that were simply delicious and I’ve been thinking about them ever since. So today’s post is one of the BEST recipes I’ve found. Mind you, I’m not from the South…California girl here through and through so I’m sure there are some fantastic recipes out there that I don’t know about…yet. And unfortunately this is not Julia’s recipe, which I asked her to send me and I’m hoping she will. But if you like F.G.Ts, try this one out and let me know what you think. I’m betting you’ll be hooked.

Ingredients

4 large green tomatoes
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 quart vegetable oil for frying

Directions

1. Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Discard the ends.

2. Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl.

Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat.

3. In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.

And presto…yummy goodness….

PS…we paired this with a nice Rodney Strong Pinot Grigio which I highly recommend.

This recipe is from Allrecipes.com. Hope you enjoy!

Have a Fab You Bliss Wednesday!

xoxo

Stephanie

July 27, 2011 Posted In: Foodie Fridays Leave a Comment

An Intimate COLORADO Wedding + Pupp-Awg’s First Trip to The Lake

I adore an intimate event held at a private residence. And this wedding is just such a celebration. Photographed by the marvelous Christina Kiffney atChristina Kiffney Photography, Laura and Rob were married at their beautiful mountain home in Colorado which they lovingly prepared months ahead of time to create the perfect lush surroundings with a natural feel for their intimate celebration. The colors of brown and green compliment the environment and even the happy dog looks to be enjoying the event. I love everything about this wedding from Laura’s beautiful dress by Priscilla of Boston to the sweet flower girls, the Hydrangea filled center pieces from Boulder Blooms, the floating candles and that gorgeous cake byGateauxBakery.

So go on…let the eye candy begin.

Photographer: Christina Kiffney Photography

Floral Designer: Boulder Blooms

Reception Venue: Private Residence

Dress Store: Priscilla of Boston – Denver

Cake Designer: Gateaux Bakery

Submission via Two Bright Lights

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So, if you follow my blog you know my husband and I returned from our Lake Tahoe vacation yesterday. And as much as I hate leaving there and my sister and brother-in-law, I must admit it’s nice to be home. So here are a few pictures I took of Quinley one day when we took her to the lake to see if she’d like to swim. Mind you, she is part Golden Retriever, part Standard Poodle…both water loving dogs.

Here she is with Daddy giving her a pep-talk.

…not really sure she wants to venture in there…

…nope, not this time…

…nah, I think I’ll stay right here with Daddy.

Next time we’ll get her to go swimming and I bet we’ll have a hard time getting her out. Funny dog!

Have a Fab You Bliss Tuesday!

xoxo

Stephanie

July 26, 2011 Posted In: Real Weddings 3 Comments

Leaving Lake Tahoe + A Coconino National Forest E-SESSION

Sorry for the later than usual post today. We are driving home from Lake Tahoe and my mobile Internet connection keeps losing signal. Ah the perils of working on the road ;-) So anyhow, our vacation was mostly wonderful. Aside from my husband’s 4Runner getting totaled on the first day we arrived, I can’t express how happy I am that we are alive and we got to spend some time with my sister and her husband over her birthday week. Also I must say how thrilled I am that my sister has such wonderful friends who are always so welcoming when we visit. They are truly an exceptional extended family. And as usual, it is always hard to say goodbye. But we will be back soon!

Now…to today’s engagement session sent to me by Melissa Dunstan, the AHHH-MAZING photographer who’s images I always have a difficult time condensing because ALL of them are always so good. But you don’t mind a lot of really GOOD images do you? Because every single one of these engagement images of Kristen and Adam, and their two doggies, romping around Coconino National Forest are absolutely stunning…don’t you think?