Oh wait. It actually does.

And it's totally messed me up. Jeff and I were in Kona, Hawaii, for a week and we let ourselves unplug from our email, phones, blog, and internet. It was delicious. We beach-hopped and bar-hopped our way around the island and for a few days my body didn't believe me that I was actually serious about the whole relaxing thing. I still felt hyped up and tense. But I think my body was being protective, 'cuz apparently I don't just relax when I've been going non-stop for the past year. I shut down. My body got the whole "we're on vacay" message mid-week, and before I could say 'aloha', I slept in until noon (3:00pm in San Diego), took a two hour afternoon nap, and then went to bed at 9:00pm. For the rest of the week.

The sleep fog didn't let up when we got home last week either. We were both soooooo exhausted from our relaxing vacation that I could barely catch up on work, much less think about writing. I've been sleeping for hours every night and afternoon. It's like my soul has a vice-grip on island time. Which wouldn't be a terrible thing except that I have to be productive and all... sheesh.

After that, my parents were in town for the next week. My mother breeds Norwegian Elkhounds and there was a specialty show in San Diego, so we got a visit from a few of her little ones. I grew up with a kennel of these dogs - usually 10 to 15 of them - but I have apparently forgotten how to walk them...

After the doggie caravan left to go back home to Idaho, Jeff and I photographed nine yummy recipes for Recipe Sunday coming to the bloggy-blog over the summer. We've got Brie en Croute with walnuts and brown sugar, an Avocado Mango Salad with Grilled Chicken, the best chili I've ever tasted in my life (it's even better than Jeff's famous chili, which even he admits), and a Nut Encrusted Chicken straight off of the diet menu of Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels.

These are some of my all time favorite recipes that I've ever posted because they're easy and crazy delicious. Plus, most of them are actually from Jillian Michaels meal plan, and I can't believe how incredibly yummy these healthy recipes are. You'll freak out. Buh-lieve me.

Stay tuned to Recipe Sunday every other weekend, and check out past recipes here.

Hugs,

Erin

Cute, cute, cute!

I'm loving this series with Michael and Jennifer.

Love, love, love!

Awww yeah!

A big church wedding just isn't complete without a rockin' classic car waiting out front!

I loved all of the little touches at the reception. Jennifer's sister designed the custom J + M logo that appeared on the place cards, menu, programs, and invitations and tied the entire decor together.

The logo even appeared on the cake! So perfect!

Michael and Jennifer have made it a goal to visit every California mission, so they named the tables after each special trip and memory.

One of my favorite cake toppers of all time. Heck yes.

This was such a cute idea - guests blew bubbles during Michael and Jennifer's first dance which made everything so soft and romantic.

You know how I mentioned yesterday that Michael is a die-hard fan of Metallica? I wasn't kidding. Michael had been planning this surprise from the moment he proposed, so during the wedding planning process, he had a secret mission to pick a venue that would go along with his plan. They played a slideshow with a recording of Michael playing one of his favorite Metallica songs as the background music - super sweet right? But then Michael walked out actually playing the song, and then he started singing the entire thing to Jennifer. Aren't you falling in love with this guy?

But Michael didn't stop there. Halfway through the song, the doors behind him swung open to an entire band made up of his buddies and brother-in-law backing him up, complete with an entire drum kit! They ROCKED it!

The final touch - custom guitar picks.

Michael was the MAN after that! Ha!

Father/daughter dances are always my favorite part of the day. They're SO SWEET.

After dining and dancing and toasting the day away, we headed out after the reception ended for a few photos in the creamy sunset light.

Michael and Jennifer: We were so honored to be a part of your day and meeting your friends and family was just as welcoming and amazing as you said it would be! You are such blessed people to be surrounded by such deeply committed folks, and your marriage is going to be wrapped in such love! We love you guys!

Hugs,
Erin

Wedding Photography : The Youngrens | Ceremony Location : The Church of the Immaculata | Reception Location : Sheraton Harbor Island | Floral Design : Whimsey Florals | Cake : Flour Power | Make-Up : Mish Mucho | Hair : Mish Mucho | DJ : DJ Mark James. Magical Moments | Officient : MSGR Dan Dillabough

And what I love the most about Michael and Jennifer is that they could tap into the calm of that river while the flowers arrived and family asked questions and grandma gave a hug. When the moments quieted between group photos and guests arriving, these two stepped outside of the wedding activities - like swimming to the bank to rest in the sun while everything else floated on by - and you could feel each other in their eyes even though they hadn't seen each other yet. They glowed.

Michael is a deep, thoughtful, sensitive guy with a heart that thrives on significance and an undying love for Metallica. Jennifer is a spunky chick that knows what she wants with a fierce loyalty to her friends and a family. Together, they're the kind of pair that makes your heart melt into a pool of buttah.

Their day began at the Sheraton Harbor Island where Jeff spent a few minutes with Michael.

Jennifer sent an envelope to Michael and Jeff played messenger. So cute!

Michael's late grandfather left his watch to Michael who absolutely loves watches. When it came time to pick one for the wedding, there was no question which one he was going to wear.

Meanwhile, the girls were putting on the final touches.

The necklace is Jennifer's great-great grandmother's and will be passed down to her. But her grandmother says that she still loves wearing it, so Jennifer could wear it for the wedding, she's not officially passing it down just yet! Ha!

So stinkin' lovely.

The Immaculata is a gorgeous Catholic church on the University of San Diego's campus. I'm drooling over that buttery morning light!

Yeh-yah! I love me some adorable girls!!

An enormous thanks goes out to Diane of Whimsey Florals for crafting the lovely textured spring florals. Jennifer RAVED about her bouquet the entire day - we absolutely love working with Diane because she makes our couples sooooo happy!

Spring is totally in the air - the sky, the flowers, the sun, and the breeze were all so perfect and the gorgeous Jennifer took it over the top!

While I was kickin' it with the girls, Jeff hung out with Michael and his boys.

It was so special how much this watch meant to Michael. It felt like his grandfather was with him the entire day.

Lookin' GOOD.

Ok, how amazing is my hubby? I love this series of images that he made with Michael.

My favorite.

Guests arriving...

Lining up for the processional...

And walking down the aisle.

I love the reverence and tradition of Catholic ceremonies.

Married!

What amazing people huh? Tomorrow we'll be posting the rest of Michael and Jennifer's wedding at the Immaculata, along with the reception at the Sheraton Harbor Island. See you then!

Hugs,

Erin

Wedding Photography : The Youngrens | Ceremony Location : The Church of the Immaculata | Reception Location : Sheraton Harbor Island | Floral Design : Whimsey Florals | Cake : Flour Power | Make-Up : Mish Mucho | Hair : Mish Mucho | DJ : DJ Mark James. Magical Moments | Officient : MSGR Dan Dillabough

Yeah, he's pretty stinkin' awesome.

Soooo romantical.

Awwwww! Love it! We wanted to take a few photos with Nicole riding on the front of the tandem bike, but we didn't have the tools to adjust the seats. So Nicole had to take a practice run with the longer pedals.

Rockstar!

These ones are totally my favorites!

Look at Chris' long legs! Too funny!

It was tough to put away the bike, but these two had another gorgeous outfit waiting and the day was slowly fading into a super romantic evening.

Who doesn't love a girl in a red dress?

You guys are ridiculously out of control.

Lovelovelovelovelove!!!

I know, I know - I have so many favorites, but I LOVE this one too!!

Just look at those beautiful lights... perfect!

Chris and Nicole: Never ever ever lose your awesome zest for life! The way you guys have adventures together is so inspiring. Whether it's in your backyard or in the jungles of Belize, I love that you're up for anything and you're up for doing it together. Promise me that you'll never stop going on adventures together ok? K. Love you guys!

Hugs,
Erin

But he really was feeling sick and for him it couldn't have happened at a worse time. He had been online dating for a little while now and was ready to throw in the towel. But he decided to pursue this one last profile - this adorable girl with a sweet personality.

This was Nicole's first date in the online dating scene. She was nervous about the entire thing - she gave a friend her backup number and told her the places she would be that night and the time she should be home. But none of it was necessary because this guy made her laugh and smile almost instantly.

And then he had to leave. Bummed, she walked with him outside where he kissed her goodnight and left. A few minutes later, she got a text from Chris that read, "That was awesome."

It was then that she knew he wasn't playing it cool, and she was so happy he really was sick.

When I asked Chris and Nicole about things they do together, I received a laundry list back with activities that they love to do around San Diego (and around the world too for these uber travelers). But the two things that stuck out to me the most? Board games and bikes. Bingo. So we headed to one of their favorite oh-so-San Diego spots - Balboa Park - and laid out a blanket to play some of their favorite games. I have to give these guys a standing (blog) ovation for rockin' the props. They brought the cutest blanket with stacks of games, playing cards, and old books, their favorite wine and a brand spankin' new red Schwinn tandem bike. Suweeeeeet!

These two love playing Scrabble together - and they're definitely competitive!

Apparently, the official Scrabble dictionary has come in handy many, many times.

Nicole LOVES the game Risk. In fact, I've never met a girl that loves playing Risk so much. According to Nicole, "Who wouldn't want to systematically dominate and take over the world?" Ha!

I love me some old books!

According to Chris, the smart and savvy Nicole ALWAYS wins. So he'll take the little victories when he can!

Another favorite game - Bananagrams.

Good grief you guys - could you just be a little less cute? It's making me jealous.

After getting our fill of board games, we hopped on their sweet tandem Schwinn. Fair warning: if you thought Chris and Nicole were adorable playing Scrabble, the cuteness factor is about to fly OFF. THE. HOOK.

My favorites!!

I know it's hard to believe, but these guys are going to get EVEN CUTER. We've got tons more tandem bike action plus downright adorable-ness coming your way to the bloggy-blog tomorrow. See you then!

Hugs,
Erin

But that's not all we have for you today. We have a winner for our Klutz Chronicles and Sur La Table giveaway! I have to say that your stories about your mishaps in the kitchen made me laugh to tears and then totally squeal with some SERIOUS heebie-jeebies. I don't feel so alone in my hair-brained attempts at kitchen godlessness anymore, so I thank my dear wonderful readers for that.

The comment that made me laugh the hardest was the one from dear Lorrie. As soon as I saw the words 'pressure cooker', I knew it would be a good story. Then the hammer got involved and it went to a whole 'notha level!

My mishap came from a pressure cooker. I had inherited this cooker from my mother, and thought I knew exactly how to use it. I grew up watching Mom use it and though she told me I needed to read up on it a little, I just didn’t. I mean, how hard can it really be to put the stuff in, the lid on, and then let the jingly thing on top jingle until it was done, right? Well, that is exactly how it all went down…until the end. I didn’t know, nor remember, that you had to wait for it to cool down and depressurize. I tried to get the lid off, but it wouldn’t budge. Thinking that the cooker was defective, I pried harder…still not coming off…then I KNEW it was defective! My whole goal at this point was to get my beans out of that cooker. I took a hammer and began to try and beat it off. Well, it came off. The lid flew off, hit the wall, the beans exploded all over my stove, walls, ceiling…just everywhere. I now know I was lucky to not get hurt and badly burnt, and I never use a pressure cooker anymore. They scare me to no end.

The prize for 'something-I've-totally-done-way-too-many-times' goes out to Danielle:

I think my worst mishap definitely deserves this particular prize… i’m also learning to cook and starting to enjoy it but i think i shouldn’t be doing too much in the morning since all my gross motor skills aren’t fully functioning…or my brain apparently. so i was making an apple german pancake thing and you cook ingredients on the stove in a frying pan, then move that into the oven to bake. so after it was done baking, i put the pan on a trivet and left the room, when i came back like a minute later, i grabbed the frying pan with my bare hand completely forgetting that it was just in the oven and burned the whole inside of my hand! yowza! the food was yummy but my hand was throbbing…lesson learned.

But the random winner of the contest goes to Molly, who also gets the 'Crazy Heebie-Jeebies' prize for seriously grossing me out:

Have you ever seen a movie with a torture scene where they stick bamboo shoots under someone’s finger nails? Yes, my skin is tingling just thinking about it. Well one night while washing the dishes I was in a hurry and reached for the disposer switch which was right behind our dish rack. My hand was gliding swiftly over the freshly washed dishes and the switch was almost at my fingers when all of a sudden my gliding hand jammed to quick halt. Second one: Confusion. Second Two: Screaming bloody murder pain. I had skewered my finger on a fork prong. (The prong was wedged between my fleshy finger and my nail.) So there I was, torturing myself in the kitchen with a fork. Lots of blood, time, and one new grown-out nail later I still make sure the forks point toward the wall. Ain’t gettin’ me twice P.S. You make bandages look cool/artsy/vintage/hipster haha

Congrats Molly for winning the oven mitt set from Sur La Table! And please don't ever jab your finger again - just the thought is making me cringe!! Until next time...

Hugs,
Erin

The back of the tag has a big caution warning: "This glove is cut resistant and not cut proof." So basically it's just Erin-resistant but not Erin-proof... I'll still take it.

Which reminds me, don't forget to enter the latest giveaway at this post here to win the most darling oven mitt set from Sur La Table. Happy commenting everyone!

Hugs,
Erin

Because we specialize in weddings, our weekends are reserved for those special events, so we don’t schedule any other shoots on the weekends – no engagement sessions, no random projects – nothing. Weekends are for two things and two things only – weddings and normal life.

So if we’re not shooting a wedding, Saturdays are scooter days. They’re laundry days. They’re cleaning, organizing, grocery shopping days. They’re randomly drop in on our friends for wine and bocce days (our friends have learned that if The Youngrens aren’t shooting then they need to watch their phones closely ‘cuz we may drop in at ANY MOMENT for hang out time).

In short, Saturdays are the kind of days that help our work-from-home-selves feel like everybody else, so Jeff and I actually make an effort to fit in with the rest of the population. We’ll stroll through Costco on a Saturday afternoon, not because we have errands to run, but because we want to feel what it’s like – the normal. We relish the busy parking lots and shove through the crowds to the sample tables of mini-pizzas and kielbasa just for the thrill of it. We check out the sales on chuck roast and wander the aisles of home goods to play with the one-cup Keurigs.

We don’t buy. We just play. And people watch.

Then we’ll wander to the grocery store and pick up a basket of veggies for the week and ingredients for dinner that night.

It’s not about doing anything in particular. It’s only about us - one hand laced through his fingers, and a basket of veggies in the other. It’s in these spaces between the deli and the produce that our minds let work slip away, and we can stretch our lungs with the air of normalcy, slowing our insane daily pace to the peaceful rhythm of our lazy, plodding flip-flops through the toilet paper and condiments.

What do Saturdays mean to you guys? Especially those of you who don't typically have normal weekends?

Hugs,
Erin

Just an example: Jeff and I were on an intense green smoothie kick for a while, where we would drink smoothies made of spinach and fruit. We even bought one of those commercial grade Blendtec blenders from one of those salesman guys at Costco near the frozen foods and wine. (Hey don't judge. If you saw how the guy made made hot soup from raw tomatoes and oregano using only a blender, you would have bought one too.)

So we would pack our brand new high-powered blender half full of spinach, then fill the rest with frozen strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and peaches, throw in half a lemon (with the lemon peel), an avocado for good measure, flax seed and protein powder, then blend it up and sip it through a straw.

Yep, they sound disgusting. But they are oh so tasty. And they clean out your body's systems real good, IF you know what I mean...

But the morning that I over-filled the blender and sticky green, spinach smoothie exploded all over my face and hair, vaulting across the kitchen and leaving a trail of half-blended produce in it's wake was the last morning I blended anything. Scrubbing foul-smelling brown smoothie chunks from the top cabinets on the other side of the kitchen in smoothie covered pajamas was not my idea of healthy morning rays of sunshine.

But my Klutz Chronicles continue still, and the other day I chopped my finger. Like real bad. I lost part of my fingernail and now have a small hole in my fingertip. I burn and cut myself fairly often in the kitchen and have learned to keep a stack of bandages handy in the pantry, but this was a doozy. I'm actually missing part of my finger! But as I wrapped my finger in gauze  and ran to Jeff for help, I actually have to admit that I was smiling.  When I was shooting for the Food Network in February, the host of the show we were filming actually cut her finger the same exact way on set so I can't help but feel like this cut was a little less klutzy and a little more profesh (short for professional - new word folks, use it this week.)

So I'm slightly proud of my bandaged finger. Even if it's a nasty cut that makes me feel an ounce of solidarity with the cooking world, this five-foot-nine hot-aired klutz will take it.

***Giveaway Alert***

Now I want to hear about YOUR kitchen mishaps. Tell me in the comments all about a time that things just went desperately wrong or exploded to pieces. And please tell me that you actually have these stories and that I'm not alone in this! We'll pick a random winner from the comments and the prizes are these two adorable oven mitts from Sur La Table. Some protection, you might say, from the perils of the kitchen...

The contest will end next Friday on April 27, 2012, so happy commenting! I am beyond excited because your comments are always so incredibly awesome!!

Hugs,

Erin

So this is officially new territory for me - the dated for two years part - which is maybe why it’s taken me so many months to post this installment. But it’s also one of the memories that has become dearest to my heart.

It begins with a quiet drive up to Mount Soledad on our second date.

Mount Soledad is a really tall lookout hill with a nearly 360 degree view of San Diego County. After the homecoming game, Jeff drove me up the dark, winding residential roads to the top of the hill, and I felt nervous. I was consumed with anxious thoughts about my hair and my outfit and I fell silent for much of the ride.

So we arrived at Mount Soledad in relative silence, and Jeff picked a spot facing south towards downtown. Jeff had instructed me to dress warm, so I stretched on my beanie (thankful that I could finally cover up my hair) and Jeff pulled out a small but thick comforter, a thermos, and one of those thermal lunchboxes out of the trunk of his Mustang.

If you’re thinking what I was thinking, then you would be right. This Mount Soledad was totally a makeout spot. But I have to come to Jeff’s defense here. I really don’t think he took me there for some heavy makeout action. He knew that I had only experienced my one small part of San Diego down in Point Loma, a small secluded neighborhood that was beautiful, but that didn’t represent all that this city had to offer. He wanted to show me his San Diego. The place in which he grew up and had spent his best years.

I could see that he loved this place. The city sparkled in his eyes.

Jeff wrapped the comforter around us, and we sat down on a bench looking towards downtown in the distance, our legs and hips pressed against each other in order to wrap the blanket all the way around us. Jeff’s musky-sweet cologne mixed with the scent of fabric softener from the blanket, and I had a quick vision of a clean cozy home. I suddenly wished that I had a nicer perfume than my raspberry body spray.

Jeff poured two cups of hot chocolate from the thermos, handed me a cup and then pulled out a package of graham crackers and a jar of vanilla cake frosting from the lunchbox.

“Have you ever made frosting sandwiches before?” he asked.

I stared down at the frosting, dumbfounded. It was my first guilty pleasure in life. Seven-year-old me would sit on the kitchen floor next to the lower corner cabinet where Mom hid the sweets, and layer frosting between two graham crackers. I was certain that nobody else ever did this same thing. I was so stunned, I’m sure I looked frightened.

“You make frosting sandwiches?!” I suddenly gasped. “I LOVE those! I used to make them all the time!”

Jeff looked surprised and then laughed. “Really? Aren’t they awesome?”

I shuffled in closer. Between gloved hands and holding the comforter, we somehow managed to frost two sandwiches. The next hour or so was spent leaning into each other to stay warm, munching on the sandwiches, and Jeff pointing out the landmarks of the San Diego urban sprawl. The 5 freeway snaked below us (I reminded myself not to call it I-5), and the dark line of the coast drew away south until it finally hit the bright, glittering lights of Mexico just beyond the U.S. border. Downtown seemed small straight off in the distance. Point Loma was barely distinguishable.

Eventually, Jeff ran out of landmarks and our conversation fell silent. Jeff’s arm had been around me the entire time, but as I let myself stare at the glimmering city below us, I became aware of his embrace. I leaned my head on his shoulder, my body resting against him, and sighed.

Jeff would later tell me that this was the moment - when he could smell my raspberry body spray in my hair - that he knew that I was the one he wanted to marry.

(To be continued... This is just one part of the story of how Jeff and I fell in love. You can read the entire series, or start at the beginning here.)

Hugs,

Erin