envelope portraits

January 9, 2012

Kind of mesmorized by these. Love the randomness of the envelope ephemera mixed with the portraits.

Hi! I'm Sarah.

This blog is where I share inspiration for creating an oasis for body, mind, spirit & space.

It's an extension of Very Sarie- my creative studio that combines Design, Art Direction, Illustration, Styling & Content Creation.

I'm thrilled you're along for the ride.

ARE YOU A KINDRED SPIRIT? Then we should definitely get to know each other.

Hit me up your favorite way below.

MY ADVENTURES ON iNSTAGRAM

Wanna know one thing (besides the weather) that never gets old in California?
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Citrus trees! For real, if you grew up in the midwest (or someplace else equally un-citrusy) seeing an orange, grapefruit or lemon tree just chillin in someone's front yard is pretty much the same as seeing a unicorn walk by.
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Which means the first time (and every time) Spring comes around the citrus blossom fragrance stops me dead in my tracks. I may even be known to lean over someone’s fence to get a nice deep wiff.
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When my lemon tree started blooming this spring (which, BTW still feels very crazy to say even though we've lived in this house for 6 years) an idea struck me: Citrus blossoms + matcha. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you head to the blog (Link in bio) you'll find this beguiling concoction: Orange blossom matcha latte with cardamom honey oak milk. Commercially available orange blossom water stands in for those deficient in the citrus tree department 😉
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#matchalatte #matchaholic #matcharecipes #orangeblossom #matchalove #oatmilklatte #oatmilk #foodfluffer #foodtographyschool #ourfoodstories #thechalkboardeats #thenewhealthy #goodmoodfood #foodsforthought #iamwellandgood #feedfeed #feedfeedvegan

The #kentuckyderby is just a few days away, and in my (and everyone else's) opinion, it's the perfect excuse for a #julep.
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This version includes strawberries and ginger for an extra spring-y kick. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Click the link in my bio for full recipe on the blog. And then join me in sipping these and wearing extra ridiculous hats all weekend long!
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#gardencocktails #cocktails #cocktailoftheday #springcocktail #tastingtable #Craftcocktails #feedfeed #thefeedfeed #mintjulep #drinkstagram #whiskeycocktails #whiskeylife #foodtographyschool

You know that Steve Jobs quote about not being able to connect the dots until you look back? Well, that's the way I feel about food photography. It combines so many of my passions and skills + experience: graphic design, prop styling, creative direction, thrifting, scenic painting... I could go on and on.
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And having all this experience + a deep understanding and passion for branding is why my clients love working with me so much too. It makes the process seamless from start to finish. I'm able to help them tell visual stories for their brands like never before.
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Do you have a similar story of connecting the dots looking backward? Let’s discuss. 👇
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. #huffposttaste #feedfeed #eatingfortheinsta #igfood #food52 #globbyfood #feedfeed #eatingfortheinsta #foodography #thefeedfeed #tastingtable #foodgawker #forkfeed #buzzfeedfood #food52gram #foooodieee #eeeats #foodgasmic #kitchn #tastethisnext #hautecuisines #makeitdelicious #myopenkitchen #foodfluffer #foodtographyschool #ourfoodstories

Can I tell you a secret?
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I'm HATED tomato soup growing up. Like really, really hated it. And there was a lot of it because I was raised Catholic, and there were only a hand-full of lent-approved, meatless meals in our household: Tomato soup, fish sticks, and PB&Js. Plus, we weren't exactly flush with cash, and a couple of cans of doctored soup could feed a family of 6 quite nicely. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The only good thing about tomato soup night is that it also included grilled cheese. BUT in order to get the grilled cheese, we had to at least dunk a corner of it into the foul, foul tomato soup.
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So, I would bravely endure- plugging my nose and gagging through the tiny bite of soup hanging from the grilled Wonder Bread.
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When I became an adult, I actually discovered tomato soup didn't just come from a can. I know, right?? In fact, you could make your very own from scratch- which I promptly decided was not worth my time because I would, of course, hate it.
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Turns out I was wrong. Tomato soup is delicious! And don't worry, I discovered this long ago, so it's not like I've been living a savage, no tomato soup existence all these years. I did recently discover the easiest, most delicious recipe, however. And wouldn't you know it, it came from @gywenthpaltrow. (Thanks Gwennie!)
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I'm dishing on this recipe + the secret cooking method for a @traderjoes staple on the blog today. Click the link in my bio to check it out!
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#foodtographyschool #slowlivingforlife #slowlivingrevolution #seekinspirecreate #capturequiet #daysofsmallthings #smallmomentsofcalm #whimsicalwonderfulwild #tinytinymoments #capturequiet #thewildnesstonic #the_gentle_manifesto #thechalkboardeats #nourishyourbody #wholefoodplantbased #plantbasedfood #thenewhealthy #goodmoodfood #foodsforthought #iamwellandgood #healthylifehappylife #huffposttaste #feedfeed #food52 #globbyfood #foodography #thefeedfeed #tastingtable #foodgawker #feedfeed

A few things that might surprise you about me? I’ve got three:
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1) I love superhero & sci-fi movies. I know, right?? Probably the last genre you'd think I'd be into by looking at my feed. (Who else is seeing avengers this weekend??) But... I also love movies that make me cry. Like the ugly, WHAT ARE ALL THESE FEELINGS cry. And superhero/ sci-fi movies rarely do that. So I guess I need both sides of the coin. I blame it on being a Gemini.
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2) I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to matcha tea. I love that it's popping up at big coffee chains, but I'm THAT person badgering the barista with questions about how it's made/ what's included. @thecoffeebean has the best version. It's unsweetened (key- then you can sweeten to taste with honey), and has a nice natural earthiness that doesn't just taste like dirt. Other places use lower-quality powder and mask its imperfections with a mega-dose of sugar and sweeteners. And super sweet lattes are not my thing. (I'm also a no sugar w/ my coffee girl. In fact, I go through phases where I will only drink it black.)
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3) When I was in my early 20's I was working as a scenic artist, and I got laid off from my job. I spent months looking for steady employment and finally decided to take a job as a receptionist. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but it was a funky design/marketing agency, and I was basically out of options. I figured I could do it for just a bit until I could find more scenic/prop artist work.
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Little did I know, that job would introduce me to the world of branding and design, and open up a career path I previously had no idea existed. That one little choice- to take a job that I honestly didn't want- completely changed my life. But I did it because I had a "feeling" when I walked through the front doors for my first interview. It was a feeling of: "this is where you need to be right now." Have you ever had a “nudge” like this??
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Now it's your turn- What are some surprising fun facts about you??
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#risingtidesociety #sheinspires #inspiredwomen #choosejoy #dowhatyoulove #thehappynow #fridayintroductions #fridayintro

As I get more and more serious about food photography, I find myself falling down all sorts of rabbit holes. The possibilities for learning and growing fuel my curiosity and creativity.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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One thing I'm finding that can be tricky for foodies is keeping a cohesive look in your IG feed. You want the food to look real, not filtered, but also be reflective of your personal shooting/editing style.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So- I tapped into my years of branding and design experience to put together a little guide (that I'm using myself too!) that lays out steps to help you find + cultivate a signature look. Once you have a few "rules" to work with, it makes it easy to curate a feed of your work you'll be proud to share.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Click the link in my bio @sarahehlinger to head to the blog post.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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. #huffposttaste #feedfeed #eatingfortheinsta #igfood #food52 #globbyfood #feedfeed #eatingfortheinsta #foodography #thefeedfeed #tastingtable #foodgawker #forkfeed #buzzfeedfood #food52gram #foooodieee #eeeats #foodgasmic #kitchn #tastethisnext #hautecuisines #makeitdelicious #myopenkitchen #foodfluffer #foodphotographyandstyling #foodphotoaday #foodtographyschool #ourfoodstories

Los Angeles looks like a firecracker display right now with all the blooms. Definitely one of my favorite times of year since we don't get the lush green summers like the midwest or east coast.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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All this new life makes me feel particularly inspired and productive too. #ontheblog I did a post about how to cultivate inspired action- a method I've found far more effective than trying to muscle up motivation to do things I'm almost never in the mood to tackle.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Click the link in my bio @sarahehlinger to find out more.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#risingtidesociety #sheinspires #inspiredwomen #womeninbiz #futureisfemale #talentedwomen #inspiredtothrive #creativehappylife #femaleentrepreneurs #solopreneur #femaleleaders #leaveyourmark #communityovercompetition #beingboss #femaleentrepreneurs #femaleentrepeneur #entrepreneurlifestyle #creativelifehappylife #creativeentrepreneurs #mycreativebiz #dreamersanddoers #hustlewithease #girlbosslife #hersuccess #girlpreneur #wearethecreativecommunity #girlbossmoment

So you prefer your healthy snacks to taste like a candy bar? Do you eat peanut butter with a spoon straight from the jar? Then this one's for you!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Vanilla #chiapudding layered with creamy Greek yogurt, an insanely decadent peanut butter caramel sauce, sliced bananas and a little crunch sprinkled on top.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Click the link in my bio @sarahehlinger to find the recipe⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#eattolive #cleaneats #feedfeed #globbyfood #feedfeed #foodography #thefeedfeed #tastingtable #foodgawker #forkfeed #buzzfeedfood #thechalkboardeats #nourishyourbody #goodmoodfood #foodsforthought #iamwellandgood #foooodieee #eeeats #foodgasmic #kitchn #tastethisnext #hautecuisines #makeitdelicious #myopenkitchen #smoothielover #chiaseedpudding

Did you hear that at the beginning of the year grocery stores in LA were running out of celery because of the celery juice trend?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I know, bonkers, right?? Well, thankfully that has passed, and celery is once again a ubiquitous sight in produce aisles. Especially because you need to make this roasted fennel and celery soup.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I was frankly shocked at the complexity of flavors, and will definitely be experimenting more with these star ingredients!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Click the link in my bio @sarahehlinger to find the recipe.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#eatrealfood #eatyourveggies #eattolive #cleaneats #eatclean #huffposttaste #feedfeed #eatingfortheinsta #igfood #food52 #globbyfood #feedfeed #thechalkboardeats #nourishyourbody #foodforfuel #foodmatters #wholefoodplantbased #thenewhealthy #goodmoodfood #iamwellandgood #eatwholefoods #balancedliving #healthyvibes #fuelyourbodyright #wellnesswarriors #healthychoicesmatter #makehealthychoices #souprecipe #souptime

Have you heard the news? I've started posting recipes on the blog.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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These little gems are Carrot Coconut Bliss Balls, and they've been the perfect afternoon pick-me-up lately. Click the link in my bio @sarahehlinger to go to the recipe.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#vegan #veganfood #veganfoodshare #cleaneating #plantpowered #wholefoods #whatveganseat #huffposttaste #feedfeed #eatingfortheinsta #igfood #vegansofinsta #instavegan #noanimalisharmed #letscookvegan #food52 #feastagram #damnthatsdelish #makeitdelicious #saveurmag #hautecuisines #foodfluffer #thecookfeed #food52gram #eatprettythings #sodelicious #foodtographyschool #kitchn #

I've found (and continue to find) my groove while snapping photos.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And something I love capturing just as much as food is nature. The two go hand-in-hand, right? Drop me in the middle of a farmer's market and it's a double whammy of ingredients + nature. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Long before digital cameras arrived, I would take my point and shoot outside every year about this time and burn through rolls and rolls of film taking pictures of leaves, buds and grass unfurling after the long midwest winters. Oh, how I wish I had some of those images now. I can't even imagine how terrible they must have been, but that ritual gave me LIFE every spring.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I had a good friend who would chuckle at me because I'd repeat "grow my pretties" to all the fresh sprouts as I walked around the yard. (And yes, I still talk to my plants.)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This spring, we were once again wowed by a #superbloom in California. As we walked along the path I kept saying to Mr. Gooder "how lucky are we??"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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How lucky indeed. To share this human life with mama earth, year after year, day after day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#califonia #californialove #Californialife #wanderlust #lakeelsinore #californiasuperbloom #creativityfound #thatauthenticfeeling #seekthesimplicity #verilymoment #theartofslowliving #aquietstyle #momentsofmine #thehappynow #simplepleasures #abmhappylife #darlingweekend #livesimple #thislifetoday #ofsimplethings #finditliveit #alliseeispretty #pursuewhatislovely #creativeentrepreneur

Is there such a thing as too much soup? Cause I’ve been cranking it out by the potfuls. Still loving this cauliflower creation done up all “loaded baked potato” style with bacon, chives and Trader Joe’s everything seasoning.
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#cauliflower #cauliflowersoup #lowcarbrecipes #ketorecipes #whole30recipes #souprecipe #soupseason #feedfeedpaleo #feedfeed #foodtographyschool #paleorecipes #paleolifestyle #paleomeals

Slowly getting back into the low to no grain lifestyle. My body just functions better without them. 🤷‍♀️
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Honestly- a lot of Keto and Paleo “bread” type recipes are pretty hit and miss. But not this sea salt and rosemary focaccia bread from @gnomgnom.yum. TOTAL winner 👌👌👌
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Have any other recipes you’d like to share with me??
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#focaccia #grainfreeliving #ketorecipes #ketorecipe #ketobaking #paleorecipes #paleolifestyle #paleobread #foodtographyschool #healthyrecipes #ketodiet #f52 #chalkboardeats #sunsetkitchen #kitchn #foodphotographer #foodstylist #losangelesphotographer

All this “cold” weather lately in LA has me reaching for tea and lattes ALL day long.
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Unfortunately, my nerves can’t take a day-long drip of caffeine, so I’ve been getting creative with my selections. I’ve been a #goldenmilk devotee for a minute or two now, but I’m not always (translation: practically never 😜) up for making it from scratch. (Listen, I KNOW it’s easy to do- I’ve made it. Just let me revel in my laziness a bit, K?)
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My lazy-gal go-to “recipe” of sorts has become @gaiaherbs golden milk + frothed @oatly . It’s 👌👌👌. Sometimes I add a dash of honey.

Recently, I topped with pink peppercorns- only because I thought it looked pretty. Turns out, pink peppercorn + golden milk is pretty damn tasty.
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Give me a “right on” in the comments if you’re all for taking “short cuts” with your #wellness recipes too. 😉
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#goldenmilklatte #gaiagoldenmilk #oatly #oatlymilk #goldenlatte #goldenmilklatte #foodtographyschool #tumericlatte #healthydrinks #healthydrinking #latte #turmericmilk #hotdrink #oatmilk #oatmilklatte

It’s cauliflower gnocchi for dinner every night now that I discovered the secret to cooking the @traderjoes version from @lizmoody. (Basically, ignore the directions and just pan fry from frozen.)
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And I’m back to making things out of one of my fav cookbooks “It’s all easy” by @gwynethpaltrow. I’ve made this tomato soup about 4 times now, and it never disappoints. This time I topped with some leftover horseradish sauce ANNNNND now I have to keep said sauce in the fridge all the time just for situations like this.
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#f52 #tomatosoup #soupseason #souprecipe #gnocchi #cauliflowergnocchi #foodtographyschool #eatcaptureshare #tomatobasilsoup #itsalleasycookbook #traderjoes

Time for another #30days30flatlays tip: Let’s talk about props. Props can make or break your flat lay. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I like to think of them like accessories to an outfit. Sometimes you just need a little sparkle, sometimes you want to pile both arms high with bangle bracelets. The key- just like in fashion- is to have balance.
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Coco Chanel was said to advise with the following when dressing with accessories: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off”
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As much as I love them, I feel the same way about props. Look over your scene and ask yourself “is this (x,y,z thing) helping or distracting from the story I’m trying to tell?” And if it’s not helping- as beautiful as it may be - kick that darn thing to the curb!
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Show us all your favorite props in a scene! Tag me and #30days30flatlays.
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#storyofmytable #thechalkboardeats #f52 #foodphotographyprops #losangelesphotographer #foodstylist #feedfeed #foodfluffer #onthetableproject

(Scroll down for #30days30flatlays tip.) Happy Friday loves! Hope you have some special time planned with friends and family this weekend. I have a couple of different dates with girlfriends this weekend and I’m really looking forward to catching up. AND we have some family in town staying with us- so it’ll be a full schedule.
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Wanted to leave you with one last #30days30lays tip for the week. This one is all about white space- something I LOVE playing with (I think it’s my graphic design background 😊.)
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Don’t feel like you have to fill the whole frame. Where can you find pause or space for the eye? By doing this, you actually draw more attention to the area you want the viewer to focus on.
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Let me know in the comments if white space is something you’ve ever played with before. Or you know, just tell me what you’re up to this weekend. That works too. 😊💖