There is no greater thing than living life. I am talking about ALL of it. The hurts, the pains, the joys, the laughter, the mistakes, and the lessons learned. It is ALL so beautiful if you stop and simply think about it. Think of the people in your life today, think about the friendships gained and the friendships lost. Think of how you have grown into the person you are right now. The wisdom you wear like a string of valuable pearls. The heartaches you carry on your back like Santa’s bag-of-toys on Christmas. The dreams you wish into reality. Think of the boyfriends (or girlfriends) you have had, and what they brought into your life. What about the nights you’ve partied so hard that you lived to regret it in the morning. The music you have danced to, the music you have cried to, the music you have sung on the top of your lungs to (in your car.) I know I wouldn’t trade any of my experiences or memories for anything in the world. I would never wish for a different life. I love everything I have been though so far (even the biggest mistakes.) It has molded me and shaped who I am. My experiences, in a way, define me. And honestly, I think it has turned out to be quite a beautiful ride (and I haven’t turned out too bad either.)
Heather Elizabeth-I don’t think there is anyone in my life that I have met with as much spirit and happiness in them. I hope you had a truly amazing birthday, Marin
It has definitely been a strange summer up here in Northern California. The weather has been oddly chilly, with cold front blowing in from the San Francisco Bay. We have had only a few days of 100+ temperatures, and honestly, I have been loving the cooler weather. If you happen to live in my town, you know that yesterday was a HOT one… the kind worth melting the rubber off the soles of your shoes and not wanting to step outside. So with that said, in honor of summertime and scorching hot days – I woke up this morning and wanted to share one of my all time favorite recipes with you. And, technically I made it up… so bare with me.
The Story goes like this :
I was in the stunning Mendocino area, near Fort Bragg. I had spent the past few days near the ocean in a cute little cabin, hanging out with good friends, fasting to spend time together and get closer with God. It was beautiful and nice to get away. I love being around good girlfriends. But, after 3 days of not eating… you get pretty darn hungry and everything in the world sounds fabulous to chow down (even some liver and spinach.) After everyone had taken off to go home, it was just my best friend and I, all alone and abandoned to roam the streets of Mendocino… STARVING. We found this healthy little cafe (you always want to break a fast with something healthy) and I saw this rice-dish staring at me through the looking glass. It was making flirty passes at me, so I bought a little for lunch. OH YEAH, it’s yumminess hit the bottom of my belly with satisfaction. I absolutely LOVED it. After licking my plate clean (literally) I skipped back inside the cafe to dissect the ingredients to pieces. So what you have before you, is my version of this fabulous favorite Mendocino dish, discovered in a nameless cafe. I personally like to call it :: Marin’s Mediterranean Concoction
Details
Start with cooking the two cups of wild rice (which will take almost an hour, because wild rice takes forever to cook.) When it is done, put it to the side. Then cook up your cous cous. That takes only a few minutes. Combine your rice and cous cous in a large bamboo dish (ha ha, just a bowl – it doesn’t have to be bamboo.) Add in your cranberries and green onion. If you haven’t roasted up those almonds yet, now would be the time to do it. I like to buy them raw, chop them up, and then broil them myself… This way they are super toasty tasting. That is honestly one of the best parts of this dish, those toasted almonds make it GREAT! Make sure you watch the almonds though, because they will burn before you know it! I have done it soooo many times. Throw those in after cooking them up. Pour in the oil, honey, and lemon to taste. It shouldn’t be too sweet or too sour. It should be a perfect blend of both. You might need more of one than the other. I just taste as I go along and gave you a rough version of the ingredients. Make it your own! Add more of one thing than another if you like… Put in the fridge for 2 hours. Eat cold.
Well, that is it. Good luck. Let me know how you like it… I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
katie zaboy-ok, i’m not fasting, but i’m starving and this looks like my kind of food! (rabbit food as chris would call anything healthy i eat) hahaha mmmm marin, i cannot WAIT to try this (and trick chris into loving it hee hee…thanks for sharing!
My name is Marin Kristine and I am a Northern California wedding photographer. I am located between the Sacramento and San Francisco area and I mainly serve the stunning Napa Valley region. I love traveling and getting the opportunity to visit different locations and wedding venues (like this wedding located in San Ramon) so if you are headed into Mexico feel free to give me a call. Contact me for further details on pricing or booking a consultation to view products. I look forward to meeting you and hearing all about your event.
Lafayette Wedding Photography
Joelle and Drew – got married on a perfect Saturday afternoon at Saint Mary’s College Chapel in Moraga, California. As I approached the groom’s house, I was welcomed not only by the groom, but by a fun group of lively men. Some dancing in the living room, another tinkering at the piano, and the groom playing tricks on his groomsmen. It was GREAT! Nothing beats a crazy bunch of guys to start my day off right (Thanks boys!) The bride in all of her splendor, was tucked away at the charming Layfette Park Hotel. As I walked in and met Joelle for the first time, I noticed how piercing her eyes are… aren’t they amazing!?! She was so sweet, and greeted me as part of the group. Every single one of the smiles and “warm welcomes” I received that Saturday touched my heart. There is nothing like a wedding! Nothing quite like love and the union of souls. I was honored to be there helping out Kara Layne (a colleague of mine) for this destination wedding.
The day was absolutely amazing, and it ended perfectly with the sun setting on their reception at The Bridges Golf Course in San Ramon, California. Such a stunning local venue, it almost feels like you are in Beverly Hills when sitting out on the patio. As the night closed and the festivities came to an end, it was time for me to slip out the door… but not before I could give the bride and groom a BIG squeeze. Thank you again Joelle and Drew, your wedding was perfect! I wish you both the best in love and in life, God Bless.
Becoming. Changing. Growing. Those 3 little words pretty much sum up the last few years of my life, and it has been a beautiful ride. From attempting to “brand” my company, define my shooting style, discover who I am and share it with you, blog regularly, update my facebook and twitter, educate myself via workshops and mentors I admire… and more. It can be crazy. It can sometimes drive me to an emotional edge where (unfortunately) my husband and daughter pay the price. It is definitely a challenge, and any photographer out there, that is passionate about what they do, will tell you that their keyboard and mouse pad have been dusted by the mist of teardrops (I know mine have.) The stress and pressure that comes along with building a business is undeniable. It is talked about in hushed tones and only to VERY close friends. It is one heck of a ride, a roller coaster of ups and downs. There are those days of discouragement, and then there are the days filled with successes and joys….
But, doing what I love and witnessing a “dream” slowly come to life is worth more than a couple thousand tear drops. I get to create. I get to bless people, and touch hearts. I get to make new friends and see smiles that become a greater reward than a pay check. I have experienced honest growth: even just as simple as this blog post because I remember my first blog post (oh my goodness) I sat there staring at the computer screen not knowing where to begin. I didn’t know what to type, nor what to share with people that (I believed) weren’t even going to read it. I probably only ended up with about one sentence. Now, on the other hand, I just type away whether my grammar is correct, or punctuation perfect, or whether anyone is even reading. I just express myself and who “I am” and I’m slowly getting to a point where I know 5 years from now – my blog posts are going to be better, my stories will bring tears, and my images will move souls.
I love being inspired by others, and I hope to bring a little inspiration by the art I make and the things I say. I love that this photography voyage is never obsolete. It is always changing, always moving and growing. So what have I been doing lately? I have been fine tuning my business and putting the ‘finishing touches’ on my office. I have been getting organized, ordering studio samples, and preparing for the future. I am looking ahead and NEVER EVER stopping. This fun blog post is simply – a collection of FABULOUS images taken this afternoon. I love my “little space” to pieces, and wanted to share it with you! I know most of you have never been into my office (or haven’t been here lately) and I wanted to give you a little peek inside the doors. My office is where I spend almost every moment – from my morning coffee to talking with you guys on Facebook. And, as you can tell, my office is overflowing with “french boudoir” inspired knick-knacks that motivate me and sum up who I am as a business owner. Each item screams (loudly) about all the things that I love. I love soft romantic images with stunning light, boudoir and the beauty of women, vintage items and antiques. Oh, and lets not forget Anthropologie (clothing store.)
I am also inspired by little birdies, (like the ones below.) Just like the quote at the top of this post. I honestly feel “like a tiny bird with a BIG song” – and I know I’m not alone with this overwhelming emotion. I think most of us feel as if our song (dream; vision; message) over powers the size of how we see ourselves. I believe we put “a limit” on our ability by doubting what we can actually accomplish and how strong we really are. I am at the point (in my life) of daring myself to understand that no matter how tiny I feel, or how gigantic my song is – I know God is bigger and nothing is impossible with the Lord.
If you are considering booking Marin Kristine Photography (that’s me!) for a wedding, engagement, or boudoir session please come by and meet me. I love making new friends, and hearing sweet love stories. I think that every human soul has something beautiful to offer, and I love beauty – that means YOU! Even if you are not interested in booking a session, I would love for you to come by and see me – just say to say hello – because on most days I am editing (and going nuts) behind the computer! I look forward to meeting you soon ~ XOXO
Angelo. Where are the words to describe him? First off, he is such a little heart breaker (even I was thrown a few flirtatious winks during our session together) and he just has such a great personality to match, full of confidence and self assurance. He held down a conversation with me better than most adults do at age 30. He was inquisitive about my photography business, and genuinely seemed to care about life and people. What an incredible and amazing young man, full of wisdom beyond his years. It is sessions like these that make me want to become a full time High School SENIOR photographer, but unfortunately, it is not what I have chosen as my specialty photography. Just like family sessions, I shoot only a few Seniors a year… so if you are interested in booking your 2011 High School Senior session look for the contact button below this post and get in touch with me via email. Below are a few favorites from Angelo’s Session, enjoy!
If you would like to see a little bit more of Angelo’s SESSION, check out this slideshow below::
Vanessa J Pack -Marin, YOur words about my son seriously made me cry. You understood in the small amount of time that you spent with him how special he is and what he is all about. Thank you for everything!
August 11, 2010 - 9:29 pm
Marin Kristine-Vanessa, I cannot even begin to explain how awesome I think your son is. I can only HOPE that my daughter has such a ‘head on her shoulders’ when she starts her senior year. He is just already such a man beyond his years… It was on honor getting to meet the both of you. Thank you again.
Hello, and welcome to my blog! Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. My blog is definitely my pride and joy - and basically where I spend most of my time updating my work and keeping things fresh and new. If you are looking for recent photography sessions this is the place you are going to find it, and where you need to be!
There is everything from families, high school seniors, weddings, and personal projects... basically a ton of stuff you just simply will not find on my website. So, if your ready, start scrolling down and digging into all the fun and beautiful images, or if you are looking for something more specific, just check out the "categories" button above. I look forward to hearing from you -- whether you leave a comment or book a session.
There is no greater thing than living life. I am talking about ALL of it. The hurts, the pains, the joys, the laughter, the mistakes, and the lessons learned. It is ALL so beautiful if you stop and simply think about it. Think of the people in your life today, think about the friendships gained and the friendships lost. Think of how you have grown into the person you are right now. The wisdom you wear like a string of valuable pearls. The heartaches you carry on your back like Santa’s bag-of-toys on Christmas. The dreams you wish into reality. Think of the boyfriends (or girlfriends) you have had, and what they brought into your life. What about the nights you’ve partied so hard that you lived to regret it in the morning. The music you have danced to, the music you have cried to, the music you have sung on the top of your lungs to (in your car.) I know I wouldn’t trade any of my experiences or memories for anything in the world. I would never wish for a different life. I love everything I have been though so far (even the biggest mistakes.) It has molded me and shaped who I am. My experiences, in a way, define me. And honestly, I think it has turned out to be quite a beautiful ride (and I haven’t turned out too bad either.)
hee hee…thanks for sharing!
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