Have you ever noticed the trunks of citrus trees – lemon, grapefruit, oranges are painted white?  Well, I decided to give our grapefruit trees a new fresh coat of tree trunk paint!

So, why do people paint the trunks white you ask?

No, it’s not for bugs.  Basically it’s to prevent your trees from getting a sunburn, especially when they are young.  They will get a sunburn, and it’s no doubt about that in this Arizona sun! The reason is because the leaves/branches aren’t long enough to shade the trunks.

The paint is basically non-toxic latex paint but you can buy special tree trunk paint anywhere. I bought two quarts of Arizona’s Best Tree Trunk Paint at Home Depot in the garden department.  One quart of paint is enough for one tree trunk and is $6.  It will take you maybe 45 minutes to slap on the paint if there’s already paint on there, adding another coat doesn’t take long.

Now, our trees are 50+ years old, actually a neighbor told me they were closer to 80 years old.  Woah. My neighborhood sits on a former citrus grove, so almost all of our neighbors have a citrus tree on their land.  So right now painting really isn’t necessary since they are mature trees, but it definitely looks great and so people still paint them for that reason.  And you all know I like to keep things pretty around here!

Before the front yard grapefruit tree:

Before, backyard grapefruit tree:

I’m not sure when the last time it was the trees got painted, but since I moved in almost a year ago I haven’t thought about the tree trunks until now.  So, off to paint I went!

After, the front yard tree:

And, the backyard tree (I also did some pruning afterwards):

Yes, I decided to paint our baby orange tree too since he definitely needs to make sure he doesn’t get sunburnt! After all, that was the real purpose of the paint, right?

Diana Elizabeth did wear her orange straw Anthropologie garden hat as she did this.

I love this quote.  I’ve mentioned it plenty of times over the course of years, but this little card reminds me how big God is.  It reminds me of how amazing His plan is, how perfect it is, and how incredibly idiotic and ridiculous my prayers were for things to go my way.

If all those stupid prayers of mine were answered, well, I wouldn’t be where I am today.  I’d be stuck living with my young, uneducated and spontaneous decisions missing the bigger picture, and yet never knowing this.  I look back and I think, thank you Jesus for not listening to me – boy was/am I bad at thinking what is good for me.  So, when things don’t go the way you want, be reminded that  the highest counselor, the controller of fate, your creator, Lord God is allowing every event to pass through His kingdom and go through Him before it touches you.  His plan is better and with his counsel, plenty of prayer, you can put all your faith in Him and allow Him to control your life.

I promise it will all work out.  I am reminded of this every day when I see Mr. Wonderful.

Diana Elizabeth has realized that sometimes an event can serve more than one purpose and to more than the people involved.

Lizzey was a giddy bride, laughing and savoring every moment.  She told me she couldn’t wait to see the pictures before I even started taking them.  Her family was everything that cotton candy is made of.  Trevor, incredibly laid back, full of joy and smiles was eager to see his bride.  Together Lizzey and Trevor are a happy, enthusiastic pair.  I’m convinced that through life, with their optimistic outlook, nothing can ever rain on their parade .

Trevor adores Lizzey.  You can see it in the way he holds her and pulls her chair out.  She is his princess.  Lizzy giggles a lot when Trevor is around, you can tell he’s her best friend.  Whenever I switch lenses I tell my couples they can rest. “Oh, we’ll just kiss,” giggled Lizzey.  They are my affectionate, kissy couple.  Since our Biltmore engagement session last fall, I had looked so much forward to seeing them again, that even after eight hours, neither Amy or I wanted to leave.  When you find yourself smiling on the other side of the camera and sighing when you edit, you know you captured a lovely event.  This was most definitely the hardest end of the night goodbye.

Congratulations Lizzey and Trevor, welcome back from the Bahamas and Trevor, hope you enjoyed wearing the pink flamingo board shorts!  I absolutely adore you both, your families, and this event you trusted me to capture.  Lots of love.

To see more images, VIEW THE SLIDESHOW!

Venue: Arizona Biltmore / Bride’s Dress: Diana by Vera Wang / Sash & shoes: Vera Wang / Makeup: Lizzy Marsh / Hair:  Jade Hatch Shultz / Maid of Honor dress: DVF / Maid of Honor shoes: Christian Louboutin / Groom’s suit: Hugo Boss / Invitations, all signage:  The Paper Place / Flowers and rentals:  White House Design Studio / Wedding cake:  Classic Cakes & Confections / Wedding bands: David Yurman / Band:  The Sonoran Jazz Project / Second Shooter: Amy Gallagher

Diana Elizabeth didn’t want to leave this wedding.  Honestly.

My husband is teaching me more and more about how to be patient, kind, loving, yet also keeping me accountable for what I say.  He makes me stronger, he helps refine me in such a loving manner.  I couldn’t have married a better man.

I’m still learning every day, but this is what I’ve learned so far:

• Don’t do things for people with the expectation they have to reciprocate.  Do things because you genuinely want to.  Expectations will only burn yourself and in the real world, that debt can almost never be repaid.
• If having to choose family or friends, always choose family. You’ll never regret it.
• Most of the time when you’re upset at someone, you might really just be upset over how you feel or how it has affected you.  Selfish feelings, really.
• Try not to preach one thing then do another.
• In order to let go of things, you need them/it to disappear from your life completely.  It can be hard, but it’s the only way to get on the road to recovery.
• Old friends are treasures and absolutely priceless.  Not many make it that far through life, but the good ones often do.  But continually make new friends since you are growing as an individual.  You don’t want to stay friends with someone just because of longevity when they’re still stuck at the same age you met them.
• You can never say thank you too much.
• A handwritten letter is becoming extinct, don’t let it.
• If you are newly married or become a mother, your life should change.  Don’t feel guilty about it, if your life doesn’t, you are either being an inattentive wife or mother.
• And for those looking on the outside in, it’s easier to say you won’t be certain things, but until you’re in that boat, it might be best to not say anything at all.
• Before getting mad at someone for how they didn’t serve you, why don’t you ask how their day went? Maybe they are going through things you don’t even know about.  Make it more about them and less about you.
• Be a person of class and don’t curse, no matter how mad or upset or stressed you are.
• It’s OK to say goodbye.  And it is possible to wholeheartedly not have any ill feelings once said.
• Constantly write your goals, and acknowledge when you achieve them.  Then add on more.
• If you’re single, especially as a woman, don’t be in debt.  Or if you are in it, get out before you are married.  Once you are married hundreds of thousands will pass through the wife, her hands is where the family money passes though on how daily money is spent.  Start showing your future husband you are responsible now.
• You can never ever spend too much time with family.  Ever.
• It is OK to say nothing at all, just to keep the peace.
• Leaving a party early graciously is very much acceptable.
• It is OK to constantly refine your inner circle as morals and life changes and, as time allows.
• Go on road trips or vacations with your girlfriends instead of boyfriends (until they become your husband).  You’ll never regret those photos with your girlfriends, but you will if that relationship doesn’t pan out.
• Learn how to say no politely to keep your sanity.  Say it often.
• Actually apologizing first means you’re the winner.

Diana Elizabeth just thought of her lovely long time friend Rachel while writing this.  Love her and miss her dearly, it’s time for another vacation together she thinks.

First, know that my photos don’t look anything like hers because I don’t know how to properly pit a fruit.  I also think some were too ripe so they turned to mush in my impatient hands as I was pitting.

However, I do know how to take a photo to trick you that it looks more beautiful so I used a low aperture.  Ha-ha!

Second, I do nothing in moderation.  And, I do mean nothing.  So, I probably overused the amounts of atriums.  Life is meant to be indulgent, right?

Apricot (really ANY fruit will work) Clafoutis

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of apricot (or atrium in my case, peaches, cherries, plums, or pears), halved and pitted
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp of heavy cream OR milk
• 6 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of fine grain sea salt OR salt
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• Confectioners sugar for dusting

The steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Lightly butter an 8×8 baking dish (this means taking a butterstick and rubbing it on the sides, not just spraying).  You can also put them in ramekins for individual cups if you are entertaining :)
3. Spread halved apricots evenly in baking dish.
4. Combine the eggs, cream/milk, sugar, lemon zest, vanilla, salt and flour in a bowl and blend.
5. Pour batter over the fruit in the baking dish.
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the clafoutis is a golden color and firm.  Should be cooked all the way through.
7. Let cool then dust confectioners sugar on top.

Serves 4-6 or however many custard cups/ramekins you use.

Diana Elizabeth was thinking about all of her friends who bought the kitchen stuff for her wedding while she cooked!  Spatulas – Kat and Gary, measuring cups & baking dish – Gannon and Jayme, Martha Stewart mixing bowls – Melissa and Greg, and zester – Michelle and Mike.

We live in a 1952 brick home that sits on a former citrus grove.  While the house isn’t really historic, apparently the area, Central Phoenix is.  Remember, I’m from California so Arizona isn’t my home state, but as the years are adding up (8 in Phoenix + 4 in Tucson while at college), I’m sensing and happily thinking this state is really where I’ll be calling home.

So remember when I bought the house almost a year ago and I thought I had a grapefruit/lime hybrid tree in my backyard only to find out that they were just baby grapefruits?  Yeah, I’m still learning.  And also I was told that one tree was a pear tree that didn’t give fruit, and the other was a crab apple only to now discover that one is actually Asian Pear and the other non-fruit bearing tree in fact does bare fruit.  In fact, look at these!

They were falling every day.  I wondered if they were due to the pesky birds – I practically live in a tree house it seems sometimes, but then I thought, no way.  They must be so ripe they are falling off!

So I immediately sent pics to Caroline of Boho Farm and Home, my old mentor and a good friend.  She is everything domestic. She even has chickens and they have a chandelier in their coop and I want one too!  She told me they were probably apriums, and then the googling began.

And then, I found a recipe online, you can use this recipe with any fruits!  I had to ask a lady in the baking aisle where to find heavy cream – Is condensed milk in a can the same? I asked.  And I can’t pit a fruit to save my life, either.  Hey, I’m learning and maybe you want to learn with me.

Benjamin calls my domestic side “nesting” and “bringing sticks back to the nest” like when I buy new furniture, containers, organizing and cooking at all.  Hey, if I’m a bird, he’s a bird.

Diana Elizabeth won’t eat the fruit until it’s cooked.  It’s this weird unknown thing she just can’t do it with unfamiliar food.  She knows it’s weird.

The top row are already mine.  I sorta had it on my wish list that moved to “immediate want list” and then is now “must have now” list.  Go figure.  The second row are camera straps.  Yes, the top 3 that I can’t decide which I want by the ladies of Simply Bloom Photography.  So adorable, right?  I need to think hard about it.  Then, there are these skirts that a high school friend’s younger sister makes.  So adorable! I’m leaning towards navy.  I’m seriously dying at all of this cuteness I can barely contain myself.  Oh Diana, one thing at a time!  First, I’ll dress my home, then my neck, then my bottom half.  Yes, see there’s a strategy.

Oh, and if I could, I want Olive (that sounded creepy, maybe I should say I want a little one that looks like her).  Olivia belongs to Angel Swanson of Events of Love and Splendor. We recently had a Skype date and I told her though I’m not wanting kids anytime soon, just looking at Olive makes me want one, badly.  So I’m wondering what this all means.

First Row: Linen-lined Wire Baskets in Medium, $19, Distressed European Wall Clock, $59, and Grand Cupboard, $1500 (then went 50% off), all at Wisteria / Second Row: Bloom Theory Straps $120 / Third Row: Awning Skirt by Cori Lynn, $115

Diana Elizabeth is nearly done with the house furniture.  But now that it’ll be summer soon and she’ll want to stay indoors, she has to find something to do inside.  What does this mean?  Kitchen? …

Mr. Wonderful and I headed to Buckeye, and we photographed Andrew, Meagan and Anderson on their field, where soon, their custom home will be built.  The floor plans are in the works, and the dreams are to the sky, it will be a lovely vision.  Mr. Wonderful and Andrew get along perfectly, like best buds, which makes it very easy for MK and I.  Andrew loves classic cars, and so he brought along another family car for this perfect maternity session.

Part of this session reminded me of The Notebook, the suspenders and the water.  Congratulations Meagan and Andrew, love you both!

Diana Elizabeth is teaching Marketing Momentum next month for 4 weeks online.  It’s a class for those who want to set up their photography business! 

We headed to The Felch House Inn in downtown Phoenix with floral headbands in hand created by Designs by E.

I’ve said it more than once and I’ll say it again.  I love pageant girls.  It’s the ambition, community service driven, talent, and beauty that is just in the air when I’m around one. And some of my closest friends I’ve met through pageants.  Jennifer was not only easy to shoot, but she was fun.  We probably could have shot together for a few more hours if the sun didn’t disappear behind the clouds!

I love the Miss Arizona Organization, having been a local titleholder and semi-finalist in my early 20′s. I have received lots of scholarship money for school because of the organization. If you are interested in entering, visit the Miss America Organization website to get information.  Entering a local level Miss America pageant is free, and yes, a talent is required.  You must win at a local level before you can compete for a state title such as Miss Arizona.  Then if you win, off to Miss America, baby!    The Miss America Organization is open for young women ages 17 to 24.

If you are 18 to 26, you can compete in the Miss Universe Organization (Trump’s company), which is what Miss USA is a part of.  There is no talent required, just an entrance fee and you can complete straight for a state title.  I also participated in this system, placing as a semi-finalist and had an amazing experience.

Diana Elizabeth says to get over stage fright, to speak eloquently, to be community service oriented, try entering a pageant.  You’ll find the experience rewarding no matter what the outcome.

Stephanie was a calm bride, and incredibly elegant.  It’s something about the way she sits up, stands, and speaks that you know she’s not only classy, but incredibly intelligent.  James, also known as Jimmy, works in the tech field, and I’m pretty sure their children are going to be geniuses.  While Stephanie was getting pampered upstairs in Jimmy’s parent’s Arcadia Estates home, Jimmy was hanging out outside, helping set up for the reception, ensuring everything was in place.  ”Regal” is the term I’d use to describe not only this couple, but their wedding.

The all outdoor wedding gave the most perfect light as the sun rays peeked through the pussy willow trees.  Amy and I were in awe, it was unreal, as you can see.

The details were incredible, thanks to Angela of Angela Saban Design who is AMAZINGLY talented with designing and also creating gluten free desserts and cakes.  Her vision for an event and gorgeous cakes are so unique to this industry, I felt so blessed to have finally worked with her after our concept shoots.  She can handle anything, this amazing lady.  Mariana Marie offers gluten free and cruelty free makeup applications and did a beautiful job with Stephanie’s makeup.

Venue: Private Arcadia Estates Residence / Event Designer, Coordinator: Angela Saban Design / Gluten Free Desserts: Angel Cakes Bakery / Makeup: Mariana Marie / Wedding Dress: Sue Wong / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Groom’s Suit: Bar III / Groom’s Tie: Hugo Boss / Bridesmaid dress: Ann Taylor / Florist: Designs by E / Caterer: Jennifer’s Catering / Bartender: Pourmasters / Rentals: PRO EM / Event Music: Apperson Strings / Wood Sign: My Soul Speak / Second Shooter: Amy Gallagher