crystal garcia

Meet Jennifer: Class of 2015

A few weeks ago I packed up my littles and headed over to the Kitsap peninsula to spend a few days with my big sister and her family. Her oldest daughter Jennifer is about to begin her senior year of high school and she asked me to take her senior pictures! First of all, I can’t believe my niece is a going to be graduating high school this year, that she is driving and that today she started her first job! Secondly I was so excited to photograph her! I normally don’t photograph many seniors. To be honest, it is because I didn’t feel cool in high school and senior photography intimidated me because I still feel pretty uncool. But, when I began to look at senior photography, I was  saddened by the overuse of make up and accessories and often sexual poses. This made me feel like I had the chance to photograph my niece being herself and looking her age in places she loves and poses she felt comfortable and confident in, one that didn’t over sexualize her.

The best part is, we had a great time together and I loved spend a couple hours hanging out, talking about life and growing up and shooting-it was a blast!  Thanks Jennifer for showing me how much I love photographing people of any age and spending  a morning with me and letting me be your senior photographer. I love you and I am so proud of the woman you are growing up to be-beautiful, strong, hard working and bright!

 

by CrystalPosted in My Life, Other

Bellingham Bucket List: Summer Concerts in Elizabeth Park

I am so behind blogging all the fun we are having this summer! Last year we moved here in June and I was 30 weeks pregnant and wasn’t really up for exploring with all the nesting and unpacking I had to do, so I am really feeling like I have a lot of catching up to do. The Bellingfam blog has this great bucket list that we have been checking things off of, in addition to some other fun things we have done in the area. It’s no secret that I LOVE the Columbia neighborhood, where we live in Bellingham! I love the school, the houses, the neighbors, the email newsletters and alerts, the location and the parks…oh Elizabeth Park! During the summer in my neighborhood the Eldridge society hosts the Elizabeth Park Concert Series each Thursday evening from 6-8pm. It is such a wonderful, family friendly event! There are a few food and ice-cream vendors, including Mallard’s Icecream, and great (and I really mean GREAT) local bands, dancing and of course children running around playing everywhere. Many people pack a picnic dinner, while some purchase food form vendors. The first week we went my family ate ahead of time and packed dessert (a strawberry pie using the strawberries we picked from Barbie’s Berries) and this week I made pulled pork sandwiches and packed a picnic. Here are some tips I thought I could have used before my first Thursday evening concert:

  1. Bring a blanket to sit on
  2. Walk or ride bikes if possible (parking is limited and fills up fast)
  3. If you eat ahead of time, bring snacks for the kids (and yourself). With everyone around you eating, you will be ready for second dinner!
  4. Get to the food vendors early to avoid lone lines (especially at the Mallard’s Icecream tent!).
  5. If you have kids that will want to play at the playground sit between the gazebo and the playground, unless you want to keep them off the playground, then sit at the opposite side.
  6. Bring toys for toddlers. I packed my 10 month old’s stacking blocks and that and the music kept him busy when we weren’t walking around with him in the Ergo.
  7. Bring a little cash, especially if you want to buy lemonade from the kids across the street with the stand, or the kid who peddles around a bike trailer with a cooler filled with sodas and popsicles .

The below pictures are form the first concert featuring the Legendary Chucklenuts. This week we hear Clearbrook Dixieland Jazz, both bands were wonderful!   Dates for the rest of the summer concert series are:

  • July 17 “Prozac Mountain Boys” – Keeping the PNW safe for bluegrass
  • July 24 “Yogoman Burning Band” – Jamaica-New Orleans dance riddims
  • July 31 “Maggie’s Fury” – Melodic Celtic folk-rock
  • August 7 “Dana Lyons” – Political folk
  • August 14 “Luke Warm and the Moderates” – Rock, soul, funky fun covers
  • August 21 “bandZandt” – The east county’s favorite dance band
  • August 28 “Penny Stinkers” – Folk cabaret

 

by CrystalPosted in Families

Cornwall Spray Park and Creek Play: Bellingham Summertime

bellingfam-bellingham-bucket-list-logo1This weekend the kids and I chose #49 off the Bellingham Bucket List and did half of it! Haha! We did the visiting the Cornwall Park Spray Park and didn’t do the Fairhaven one in the same day-but here’s why: Cornwall Park is just SO awesome! It sits on 65 acres of land covered in green forest, creeks, 1 play grounds, a spry park, tennis courts, bathrooms, disc golf course, tennis courts, trails and more! This weekend we played in the spray park, the playground, walked some of the trails an played in the creek, finding fish and crawfish (yes it is crawfish, not crayfish you yuppies! 😉 ). The creek the runs under the bridge directly behind the spray park runs through a cluster of perfect fairy little pools and down into a calm spot. It was was the perfect play for my kids and other around their age and older to explore the wildlife and play in the little waterfalls until the sun was setting.

We like to park in the lot that utilizes the traffic light at Meridian and Squalicum Way, when it not too full. Here the city’s website with more info on the park. The spray park is open 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Labor Day! Here are some pictures from our day.

by CrystalPosted in My Life

Anticipation: Bellingham Maternity Photography

I had such a lovely evening photographing Melissa and her husband around her home, yard and during sunset at Marine Park in Fairhaven. Here are  some of my favorites form her session. I can’t wait to get to be a fly (with a camera) on the wall during her birth!

by CrystalPosted in Pregnancy
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