Sundin Photography

Food Friday: Kale Smoothie

Ginette — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:58:40 +0000

In January I toured a nearby gym, fell in love with its small-rinky-dink-cozy-homey ways, adored how the manager knew every person that walked through the door by name, and knew I had found the gym for me. Yesterday I signed up. Yes, yesterday. I am not so good with motivation when it comes to working out.

It seems that everyone I know who works out and is into fitness also loves kale. I have always known kale is good for you but recently I have had some renewed love and interest in the dark leafy green. I think with things like Pintrest kale went from wearing bottlecap glasses and hanging out with the nerds to being in the cool crowd, so I figured I would jump on the kale train too (I always wanted to hang out with the cool kids). One of the things to do with kale I keep seeing pop up all over is “Green Smoothies”. I was extremely skeptical I would like such a thing, but we have a huge crop of kale in our back yard so I thought it was worth a try. I have tried a few versions now and the only tip I have: don’t put too much kale in (not good); make any type of smoothie you want and keep the amount at about 1/2 cup and you can’t taste it at all!

Here is to working out and green smoothies!

Today’s Feature: Kale Smoothie

Coming soon to Food Friday is my FAVORITE kale recipe: Fettuccine with Sausage and Kale

Sunny Smiles | San Diego Family Photography

Ginette — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:53:38 +0000

There is just something about family, isn’t there? We all know that with family there comes quirks and idiosyncrasies and moments when you wish they were NOT your family, but there is still something special about having people to call yours. There is just something about having people in your life who share your nose, eye color, or maybe just your bizarre sense of humor. Something about family that fills your heart in a way a friend never can. And something about knowing at the end of the day, they will always be called your family, no matter what.

Tony wanted to celebrate his 60th birthday with a family photograph. I have a feeling Tony knows what I am talking about; how there is just nothing else quite like the blessing of having a family to call your own. And rightly so, his family is an awesome family. Their smiles so sunny that it didn’t matter that the sky wasn’t.

And finally one of my favorite shots…the two love birds themselves….

Thank you so much C family!! Your smiles are still brightening my days!

Food Friday: Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding

Ginette — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:09:22 +0000

When I confessed here how I usually don’t like bread pudding, Lexi told me about a Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding that I just had to try. Because I am a good friend, I decided to try it, for her. Yes, for HER…cause I am a good friend.

Today’s feature is the most unhealthy, sinfully delicious, decadently sweet, scrumptious bread pudding you will ever try. This is now the second bread pudding that has stolen my heart. Maybe, just maybe, there is hope for bread pudding.

Today’s Feature: Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding

Food Friday: Artichoke Chili Dip

Ginette — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:40:15 +0000

When I publicly confessed my lack of inspiration in the kitchen recently, I got lots of love, support, AND IDEAS from friends. [Yay for people like YOU who keep me inspired!]

One friend suggested that I do a salsa recipe. I don’t really have an awesome salsa recipe to share (although that might soon change, Daniel did just plant 10 tomato plants!), but it did get me thinking…”Maybe just maybe Food Friday doesn’t have to be DINNER. I think I will share my favorite appetizer!”

This one is for you Sarah; thanks for the inspiration!

Today’s Feature: Artichoke Chili Dip

[This dip is SO good and SO easy. It is basically just one of everything. One can chopped up artichoke hearts (drained), one can green chilies, one clove garlic, one cup parmesean cheese, one cup mayonnaise, one cup sour cream. Mix it all up (reserve 1/4 cup of parm cheese for the top), then heat uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 min.] Enjoy!

Food Friday: Grilled Butternut Squash Sandwich with Balsamic Caramelized Onions and Parmesan Cheese

Ginette — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:09:33 +0000

Sometimes inspiration flows like love in the 1970′s and sometimes it stalls out like a radiator in a VW going up the grapevine on a hot day. I would say my inspiration for thinking up and looking up new recipes is more like the latter.

Luckily I visited my good friend Beth in Minnesota a couple months ago and she fed me like a queen. So I can’t take the credit for this recipe, but I bring to you photographs of one of the world’s best sandwiches and the inspiration for a new sandwich for your kitchen. Thanks Beth!

Today’s Feature: Grilled Butternut Squash Sandwich with Balsamic Caramelized Onions and Parmesan Cheese

Food Friday: Banana Bread Pudding

Ginette — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:12:08 +0000

Too bread-y. Too bland. Too raisin-y. All sorts of complaints I have regarding bread pudding. No, I wouldn’t consider myself a connoisseur…just picky I guess. And don’t even think for one minute that it counts as a dessert. Dessert is for chocolate.

That being said I had an Easter brunch on my calendar last week I thought I would throw my hat into bread pudding ring. Oh man, am I glad I did. This one passes my bread pudding test. Sweet and rich and no raisins. Yum.

Today’s Feature: Banana Bread Pudding

Laundry Day | San Diego Candid Family Photography

Ginette — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:51:36 +0000

How cool are people that they say “aye” and “about” that sounds like “aboot”? Every person I have met from Canada is just plain awesome. Canada, some people may call you “America’s Hat”, but I want to kiss you. Your awesome people and awesome words and awesome beauty are just the beginning of the reasons I love you. So Canada, you have my heart. I will only refer to you as America’s hat if you are the kind of hat that makes America part of the cool crowd…the hat that America wears to school to fit in with all of the other cool kids…you know…an awesome hat.

Nina and Punit brought all sorts of awesome to this photo shoot. Not only are they from Canada and say spectacular Canadian things, they also stepped out of the car on a cold, wet, early morning with all sorts of energy and smiles. (Yes please!)

AND Nina and Punit were willing to try an idea that I had never done before. (Love when my clients are pioneers!)

Was it because I am all too well aware of the piles of laundry having a baby brings? Or because I knew that Nina would want nothing more than to lie down and take a nap on a nice cozy blanket, no matter where she was? (Having a two month old will do that to you) Maybe all of that was in the back of my head, but really I just love the idea of bringing a bit of our home life outside into the beauty of God’s creation. Nina loved the idea too….and so the idea “Laundry Day” photo shoot was born.

I loved having an idea that was both soft and comfortable for 2 month old Reyah…

…while also satisfying the need of energetic Saiyrah to play, dance, pretend, and run.

Of course, no matter where we are, or what it is we are doing for the photo shoot, the best part of the day is always capturing a family’s love for one another, their snuggles, and their joy.

Thank you SO MUCH “D” family! I had so much trouble narrowing down “favorites” for this blog post…there are so many more I am dying to share with you! You are the best. Dads who love to play with their kids, moms whose love for their family is like a rushing river, and kids who are sweet, beautiful, and fun….all of these things steal my heart in a major way. You are THE BEST. I had an absolute blast with you and can’t wait for next time!!

Food Friday: Easter

Ginette — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:34:50 +0000

During a lot of my growing up years we had powered milk and the sweetest cookie in our house was a fig newton. Even for Christmas we got an orange in our stocking, not candy. I have learned to love that about my mom; I really value the way she taught us about how to save money and how to be a nutritious eater. But for whatever reason, Easter was a whole different world in our house…and if you ask me…the best day of the year.

There it would be at the end of my bed when I woke up Easter morning. Like a crown with it’s jewels, my Easter basket would be filled with truffles and the long-awaited-well-loved Bordeaux Egg. I can remember many Easters in which I had a tummy ache by breakfast, but the older I got I learned to space out the consumption and savor the the joy of the candy. Sure, we had Cheeps and Cadbury creme eggs, but for whatever reason Easter was also the holiday that my mom would go all out and buy See’s candy to help fill our basket. Yes. See’s candy. And to this day Easter is still my favorite.

The Holy Grail | San Diego Candid Family Photography

Ginette — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:40:32 +0000

The word I keep hearing over and over again as if it is the holy grail of secrets: balance. Everyone everywhere in every which way says the secret to having a perfect, happy, wonderful life is this thing called “balance”. I am not sure if I will ever achieve true balance in my life, and I am certain I will never achieve the perfect life, but I do agree that there is something great and pretty magical about balance. You bring a little bit of this, and I bring a little bit of that…and together we can make something great. That is what I kept thinking this last Saturday on the beach with the S family. They were each so different from the other, yet together they just had the most incredible dynamic…the perfect balance.

Vico and Dominic are like trains and cars: both totally boy, but both have completely different ways of getting there. Vico is a comedian, a ham if you will, with the sweetest heart, and Dominic the dare-devil-strong-man. Vico clearly adored his mama in the sweetest of ways, and Dominic couldn’t wait to be thrown around by his dad. Both of them fully stole my heart and made me want to go home and snuggle with my own little guy and dream of days ahead with him.

Charlene and Vince are also a bit of yin and yang: he the talker, her a bit more soft spoken and shy….a brunette married to a beautiful blond…him the tall strong man who stole the heart of a petite sweet angel.

Each family member is so sweet, so fun, so unique, and best of all: they all fit together so perfectly; balancing each other in the best of ways!

S family, I had so much fun with you! Charlene…should I tell the world how I coaxed your son to splash you, chase you, tackle you, throw sand, and do all sorts of stuff no mom should let a son do to another mom, let alone encourage him to do it! You are truly an angel! Thank you! (and I hope the pictures are worth the torture I had you endure) Hugs to you all!

Food Friday: Cucumbers

Ginette — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:58:57 +0000

Maybe I am a bit lazy, but I would like to think of it as creativity, ingenuity.

Jumping back into the working world with kiddo AND baby has kept me busy to say the least, so dinners have been simple and quick (read: more and more macaroni and cheese), but I don’t mind….I am just so excited to be back with you all….and it has brought out my creativity regarding today’s Food Friday. (After all, our seedlings will eventually become our food, will it not?!)

This is a very exciting time in our household: year TWO of gardening. Lessons from year one are still fresh in our memory so we feel a bit more confident that we can have more success than last year, but we are still well aware of our naivety in the world of gardening. Nonetheless, we are excited. Dirt on the floor and the seedlings by the window; you can feel spring in the air.

Today’s Feature: Cucumber Seedlings

If you want to start a vegetable garden in your backyard, or even on your apartment patio, let spring get ahold of you too….now is the time to plant those seeds!