Happy Birthday to me some more!

I have such thoughtful & generous friends.  And my food passion is so clear.

As I try to pursue food photography as a more legitimate side job/serious hobby/freelance opportunity I am beginning to realize there is a lot I don’t know.  My friend Katie gave me a gift that will help me bridge that gap! It’s a great book full of food photo style tips and camera lessons.  I’m so thrilled to have this and am planning on creating some homework for myself.

Food Photography book from Katie

And to make sure I have food to take pictures of…my friend Alex (and his wife Sandy) sent me this!  It is the most architecturally interesting food scale I have ever seen.

Isn't it the coolest?

I have been finding more recipes that include ingredients measured in grams.  And since I’m on my vegan kick, I like to measure portions more appropriately.  Thanks, friends!  I feel a little bit like every Star Trek fan ever should get one, also.  Doesn’t it look like the Star Trek ship a little?

And, as promised, here is a shot of me wearing the necklace from Cyndi.  I make silly faces when I take pictures of myself.  Deal with it.

Focus on the necklace, not my silly face.

I wrapped up my birthday “weekend” with a walk over to the Missouri Botanical Gardens where the Best of Missouri Festival was going on.  More than 100 local artists, food vendors and farmers have stands at the gardens.  It was perfect weather, just a little on the chilly side.  I walked over, wandered through each stall.  Seriously eyed up some pottery vendors, a glass artist and stopped for a considerable amount of time at a pewter maker’s table.  I love pewter.

How cool would it be to have a wax seal??!

The only thing I caved in and bought was a soy candle that smelled like blueberries.  Blueberry pie to be more exact.  I caved.  I love blueberries.  I admirably, if I do say so myself, passed every Missouri wine vendor.  It was 9:30am in the morning after all.  I’m also trying to limit the wine intake during vegan month.