Did you think I disappeared? I’m finally back and I apologize for the radio silence.

In honor of this warm weather I got together with my friend Lisa again to shoot a beautiful selection of colorful produce for her newsletter. By the way, her chocolate cake is to die for. By far, the best chocolate cake I’ve ever tasted.

Today I am featured on a favorite interior designer’s blog of mine, SB Long Interiors. Topic up for discussion? In-home photo galleries. Please join us!

SB Long Interiors Blog

Lisa and I met about 8 years ago when we were both NYC residents. I remember coming across her wonderful Cocoa Crayon website and calling to place an order for a baby gift. We got to talking and before I knew it we were arranging photo shoots of her girls, and once Conner arrived, playdates. She was a big inspiration to me when I was starting my business and even though she has moved to California, we will still keep in touch. Because Lisa makes ordering through her SO easy, I always order baby gifts for my long distance friends from her (which arrive beautifully wrapped, with a gorgeous note) and often add in few extra items for myself. I’ve also purchased ALL of the boy’s Dwell bedding through her. Lisa’s helpfulness, attention to detail and customer service is unparalleled and keeps me coming back every time I need something special. A few of my favorite items include:

Wallcandy Arts Wall Decals, I especially love these polaroid-style frames

Lafco Candles

French Bull Melamine Tableware

Swoop’s Play Mat/Toy Bag

A variety of Dwell items including bedding, towels and toy storage

A little bit about Lisa and Cocoa Crayon…

How long ago did you launch Cocoa Crayon?

I started Cocoa Crayon in 2003.

What gave you the idea?

I have always had a passion for cool, modern, unique things. When I had my first daughter in 2001, that passion naturally transferred to cool, modern, unique things for babies and young children.Some of the best baby gifts I received were from friends in Australia, England and Italy. They were things that weren’t available here in the United States. Similarly, there were great things for babies and kids here in the United States that I knew weren’t available elsewhere.  People were starting to shop more and more on the Internet, but traditional shopping cart sites didn’t (and still don’t) allow for much flexibility with how things are wrapped and where things are sent when ordering numerous items. And it’s impossible to find a US website that will ship anywhere in the world. I created Cocoa Crayon to fill that void. I do beautiful gift wrapping that is no charge. I ship anywhere in the world and I am totally available by phone or e-mail to offer assistance with selections when needed.

What did you do before Cocoa Crayon?

I had careers in marketing and advertising and then moved into editorial work for Condé Nast for many years before starting Cocoa Crayon. These previous roles were ideal platforms to jump into e-tailing from.

How do you find all of your amazing products?

Various sources. Searching on the Internet and trade shows are a big part of it. New designers send me their product information all the time. But one of my favorite sources is from customers. I have customers e-mail me regularly to let me know about something really great that they received as a gift or found while travelling somewhere that they think would be a good fit for Cocoa Crayon and I always really appreciate that.

What do you enjoy most about Cocoa Crayon?

I get to speak with interesting people all over the world and help them in making the perfect purchase whether it’s something for them or a gift for someone else. I truly love everything that I sell on my website so what I do is true to my heart.

What do you think is most important to Cocoa Crayon’s success?

Offering stellar customer service, being meticulous about details and communicating well. Over the years, I’ve had customers ask for some pretty tall orders and I always do my best to be a “yes” gal. I’ve chased UPS trucks down the street to get something to someone in a pinch. I’ve driven miles to someone’s house to help with birthday gifts for their child’s party. But it’s never a pain – it’s my pleasure as I’m just wired that way. I love helping people.

Do you have any plans for Cocoa Crayon in the future?

I sure do! Cocoa Crayon will be expanding in the next few months. The best way to stay informed and in the loop on all the exciting news is to “like” Cocoa Crayon on Facebook  and/or e-mail (lisa@cocoacrayon.com) me requesting to be added to my e-blast list. That way, you’ll be the first to receive special offers and exciting product news.

LISA IS OFFERING 15% OFF ALL PURCHASES FOR MY READERS THROUGH 3.15.12.

www.cocoacrayon.com

Before we head off into the weekend I’ll post another shoot from last year of my dear friend Sloane and her fam. We were neighbors in the city and coincidentally we are neighbors here in Chappaqua as well. Crazy. They were just finishing up renovations on their house when we had our shoot, hence the dumpster. We had to take advantage! This was the chosen photo for their holiday card which read “Happy Holidays. Keep It Clean.” I can take no credit, it was all Sloane’s idea. Clever, right?

I recently switched gears and photographed food. Say what? Yes, carrot soup, chocolate espresso biscuits and sea-salted bourbon vanilla caramels were my new eager subjects. At first I felt a little out of my element not chasing around a toddler or trying to get my subject to look at my camera, but I got used to it very quickly. Although it was very nice not having to pull tricks out of my back pocket to provoke a smile, food photography sure isn’t easy. You need a whole new bag of tricks, good light and props, props and more pretty props. I quickly learned pretty props are key. Props and multiples. Can you tell we liked multiples?

I got together with my dear friend Lisa Nicklin, who recently graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC, for a little shoot in her newly renovated house. She offers private catering as well as private cooking and baking lessons to individuals and small groups, either in your home or hers. These photos are for her first newsletter, which of course I will share here. In the meantime you can reach her by email:  lisa@lisabillarddesign.com.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day this year with my boys, I’ve pulled together a few items below that I know they will love.

I came across these adorable Valentines for Conner and Tyler’s classmates on Dandee-Design’s blog, and knew they would be a big hit. We made them yesterday, pairing them with candy and wrapping them in cellophane bags sealed with bug stickers.

Brendan picked up strawberry frosted donuts last tonight for their breakfast today. They are my absolute favorite. I know, not so healthy but when else can you eat a pink sugary donut?

I spotted these foam pirate sets in the toy store while picking up the plastic bugs for their valentines. They are obsessed with pirates right now so I figure these will be a big hit too. And the colors were perfect for Valentine’s Day.

And for the husband? I’m surprising him for lunch in the city with one of these in hand.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

This was a beautiful birthday party held at Del Posto in New York City. An elegant evening filled with alot of love and laughter. A performance by the Princeton University Tigertones topped things off. Jessica and her husband Bryan both attended Princeton and Bryan used to sing with the Tigertones. So sweet.

Since it’s a cold and very grey day here in New York, I decided it would be a good time to post some of our photos from our vacation this past August in the Hamptons. These photos brightened my day. Hopefully they will do the same for you.

This was taken the night before the hurricane arrived. Available for sale in my new Etsy store.

One of my favorite gifts this Christmas was a book my husband gave me, Vivian Maier’s Street Photography. Inside he inscribed a sweet note, saying her photography reminded him of mine. Sigh. While my photography is not quite on par with Maier’s, I sure was inspired to dig out my Hasslebald and shoot black and white medium format film again, just as she did. The book blew me away.

This past Friday I picked the boys up from school and headed into the city. We met Brendan at the last day of the Vivian Maier’s exhibit which was everything I expected and more. I soaked in her rich black and white fiber prints, ranging in price from $1800-$8000, and was so inspired and reminded why I am a photographer. You never know who will look at and appreciate your work one day when you’re not around. To leave something behind, is often why I take out my camera. To inspire someone like myself, in a small museum in midtown Manhattan is more than a dream for most photographers. Maier passed away in 2009 and I can only imagine how she feels looking down from heaven today.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Maier’s story, she was a nanny for close to 50 years in Chicago and New York, all the while taking photos with her Rolleiflex. Her lack of self esteem held her back from ever pursuing photography as something more than a hobby. Luckily John Maloof purchased many of her negatives through a local auction house and has since collected many of her negatives, prints and videos, making it possible for us all to be inspired be her amazing body of work.

What impressed me the most was when I read Maier often took only one frame of each photo. To be that quick with your focus, framing and exposure and for all that to align on the first try is truly impressive. Especially with street photography. To be able to seize the moment with a Rolleiflex, in my mind, is pure talent. Remember, this is not the day of the automatic focus digital camera with a zoom lens and a little work in Photoshop afterwards.

Next we took the boys to FAO Schwartz and then moved onto to PJ Clarkes for my favorite burger on the planet. I’ve decided we are heading into NYC, Fridays after school once every few weeks. I miss it there.

A few of my favorite Maier photos…

A few nights ago I was doing one of my favorite night time activities, browsing Pinterest, when I came across this amazingly simple and delicious recipe for chicken tacos. I made it last night for all of us and was so surprised how not only easy it was, but how good it tasted, and knew I had to share with you asap.

3 Ingredients:

6 boneless chicken breasts

1 jar of salsa – I bought homemade from our market in town

1 packet of taco or fajita seasoning, low sodium if possible

3 Steps:

Get out your crockpot or slow cooker

Throw in all the ingredients

Turn on low for approximately 6 hours, or high for approximately 4 hours.

The chicken shreds very easily and tastes great piled into a tortilla with guacamole, black beans, sour cream and cheese. I didn’t take a photo myself because the light in my kitchen during the winter is pretty awful so I will borrow one from Chocolate Therapy, which is where the recipe was featured. The best part is it leaves plenty of leftovers for tortilla soup. My favorite recipe can be found on bakedbree.com.