Family Session | Hidden Villa, Los Altos, CA

Wow, how have I not visited this spot before?!  Thank you to the C family for introducing me because I will definitely be back!  Hidden Villa is a nonprofit organization with beautiful grounds that also operates it's own organic farm and it's in Los Altos!  There are hiking trails & animals galore, even 1 month old piglets nestled with their Momma when we visited last week.

These boys brought the fun and I was just the lucky one able to run around with them and capture their pure joy!  

enjoy 

xo mary

Also, thanks to Weingarten Children's Center for connecting me with this awesome family!

Brews & Brats

Adding hops

Today's post is a bit off topic but we had so much fun making beer and sausages (both from scratch) that I had to share!  Yesterday was the epitome of Sunday Funday, we had some friends over to break in the new meat grinder attachment for our Kitchen-Aid mixer.  Let's get a hooray for wedding presents ;)

Admittedly, it's a pretty gross process making sausage.  Unless you are someone who truly enjoys playing with raw meat...I've never met such a person but to each his own :)

We were so excited we made THREE different types of sausage!

• Maple Breakfast Sausage
• Cheesesteak Sausage
• Chicken Bacon Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage (say that three times fast)

After careful taste testing we voted that the cheesesteak sausage was the true winner so I've posted the recipe for you below.

Cheesesteak Sausage

• 3 lbs beef chuck (Cut into 1 in. cubes)
• 2 bell peppers
• 1 onion
• 5 garlic cloves
• salt & pepper to taste

Sauté the peppers and onions.  After coarsely grinding the beef combine all ingredients and put in the freezer for about a half an hour then grind again through the fine plate on your grinder and into the casing.  Make sure that you chop or grind your garlic before the fine grind or you'll end up with pockets of garlic love as we did, which was interesting but luckily didn't ruin the overall flavor at all!

Round it all out with a delicious red pale ale and you too could have an awesome Sunday Funday with friends!

Chicken Bacon Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage

Wardrobe Wednesday

With the Valentine's Day just around the corner I thought it fitting to do a couple's Wardrobe Wednesday!

Whether it's an engagement shoot or just a great gift of professional portraiture this look screams sweet & sensual.  Two adjectives that go hand and hand with the day of love.  The looks works great even just for date night, coming in under $50 for the whole look!  Thanks ModCloth :) 

Men's look from J.Crew.

Enjoy!

xo mary

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We've got this adorable Valentine's Day Card design and many more.  Book before February 1st and receive FREE Valentine's Day card design plus 25 free cards with any session!

What are you waiting for? Book Now!

Wardrobe Wednesday

This is a great shabby chic look that doubles as both fashionable and cozy in case the wind starts blowing.  If the wind isn't crazy you pull off that cowl neck sweater and incorporate it as a prop in your shoot.  This would be a great look for a mod Senior Session.

These looks and more can be picked up at the Gap & Old Navy.  Where are your favorite booties from?

Enjoy

xo mary

Wardrobe Wednesday in the New Year

Here's to 2015 being the year where Wardrobe Wednesday stays consistent!  This is my promise to you all to hold myself accountable for making sure this blog post makes it up, ahem, that's right I said EVERY week! We've all got our resolutions, right? What is yours?

Although the Blog has been pretty silent through the Holidays that is changing now, get ready everybody!

Back to the important things here, who loves the pink pops in this weeks What to Wear - you know I do!  It's great how the pink is really used as an accent color and to help things pop in this more blue dominated family look.  Place a live family in these duds at Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto and you've got a home run shoot for sure.

Enjoy

xo mary

Wardrobe Wednesday

This grey, yellow & denim combo is a wonderful mix of bright & comfortable!  Squeeze this look in before the chill of Fall takes over :)

Check out these looks and more at Old Navy, Gap & Piperlime.

Call or e-mail Mary @ Mary Bea Photography today to book your holiday family photo session before it's too late!

Family Session | Huddart Park, Woodside, CA

Surprise!!!

Check out this adorable family/maternity session from up at the gorgeous Huddart Park in Woodside.

This little princess just can't wait to be a big sister!

...and she's all smiles :)