WHO’S THE NEW SENIOR EDITOR OF NESTING NEWBIES MAGAZINE?
(Chorus of Angels)
ME!!!
But seriously, I’m very proud to announce that I have just been named Senior Editor of Nesting Newbies Magazine, in addition to being a contributing photographer.
Nesting Newbies Magazine is the brain-child of Lea McIntosh and Jodi Murphy and is aimed towards newlyweds who are just learning how to design their homes and entertain. But don’t under-estimate the content of this magazine. I’ve been told by several design pros and well-established foodies that they devoured our premier issue in one sitting and were left begging for more.
Well, design enthusiasts and foodies–buy your coffee beans this weekend and get ready for the next issue of Nesting Newbies Magazine, which is due out any day now!
PREMIER ISSUE OF NESTING NEWBIES ONLINE MAGAZINE RELEASED
Take a minute to flip thru this sleekly designed digital magazine of which I am proud to say I am Photography Editor. See the articles I photographed above.
Nesting Newbies Magazine aims to inspire readers, making them feel comfortable about home-keeping their way. “Our goal is to celebrate home and show readers ways to cook, entertain, and decorate in affordable, fun and stylish ways,” says Jodi Murphy, Editor. In every issue, Chef Lea McIntosh shares her expertise and original recipes. Designers stage table settings and show readers how easy they are to recreate. Iconic nesters give their sage decorating advice and real home makeovers are covered in the Design Chronicles. Profiles of favorite foodie peeps, new products, resources and favorite bloggers round out the content. In the Fall 2009 premier issue, Barclay Butera is the Iconic Nester, Kathy Goodman, the foodie peep, and Shelly Amoroso’s transformation of a San Francisco basement garage into five separate living spaces is featured in the design chronicles.
the editor | jodi murphy
the creative director | lea mcintosh
the photo editor | natalie wi
the copy editor | betsy rose
CONTRIBUTORS
Kathy Goodman, Lea McIntosh, Jodi Murphy, Barclay Butera
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS
Dean Birinyi (djbphoto.com), Steph Dewey (refleximaging.com), Michael Soo (soophotography.com), Natalie Wi (allurewest.com), Fu Wong (fcwongweddings.com), Jed Wormhoudt Photography
FRONT AND BACK COVERS
Michael Soo (soophotography.com)
SPECIAL THANKS
Special thanks to Christopher Peacock for the use of their San Francisco Showrom for the Thanksgiving to Go photo shoot.
Nesting Newbies Magazine is another creative endeavor by McIntosh & Murphy. For additional cooking, entertaining, and decorating ideas, go to
nestingnewbies.com
FROM A MONTEREY WEDDING TO THE NESTING NEWBIES
Monterey Plaza Hotel Wedding Ceremony
Monterey Cannery Row
Monterey Plaza Wedding Reception
Jung and I photographed Wendy & Michael’s wedding at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. They are such a lovely couple and their infectious kindness and sincerity warm our hearts invariably.
As you saw in our previous post, Wendy and Michael graciously allowed us to film their engagement session to use as a promotional video for our studio, which our friend and colleague, David Ethridge of A Video Reflection artfully shot for us.
And now most recently, Wendy and Michael joined us on the set of the Nesting Newbies. Again, their personalities warmed the room and you will no doubt enjoy Newbisode #2.
Lea McIntosh, the host of Nesting Newbies, asked me to create a few layouts from Wendy and Michael’s wedding to be shown in the intro of Nesting Newbies Newbisode #2 and I remembered the complimentary disc I received from graphicauthority.com a few weeks back and decided to use it for these layouts. There are tons of graphical elements in each of the layouts and I really enjoyed taking the template and making it my own to showcase Michael & Wendy’s wedding uniquely.
See the templates and Wendy and Michael in action in our newly released Newbisode #2.
SHAZAM! A SNEAK PEAK AT NESTING NEWBIES NEWBISODE 2
Sneak Peak into Nesting Newbies Newbisode #2
by Jodi Murphy
Nesting Newbies™, Newbisode 1, has launched and is already getting some buzz! Newbisode 2 isn’t far behind and the team outdid themselves as we all begin to get in the newbie groove. Chef Lea McIntosh is at her best when she’s teaching and in this Newbisode Michael and Wendy Mantilla ask her lots of questions (we like to call them Newbie Q’s). They are a lively couple and the set was full of fun and laughter as they learned how to cook Chef Lea’s Moroccan-style Seafood Stew over a Saffron Risotto. Michael kicked things up a notch when he used “SHAZAM!” – His own newbie twist on a famous exclamation while adding an ingredient to the pot. It was a hilarious and unexpected moment.
On the set in the Rutt of Los Altos kitchen, everything is laid out in preparation, including the plump Christopher Ranch Garlic cloves.
Teachable moments include how to use a professional knife, while James Burkart captured all the antics on film!
Michael and Wendy are creating something together in the kitchen and are confident they can do it on their own the next time and the seafood stew simmers for just a few more minutes before tasting.
Chef Lea uses a Calphalon stock pot and answers Wendy’s question about what kind of pots to use. Calphalon was so excited about the show’s concept and this unscripted Newbie Q, they became a sponsor! Chef Lea also taught Wendy and Michael how to use the leftover risotto in crab cakes. Everyone Allure West Studios › Edit Post — WordPresson the set enjoyed a taste when the segment was over – we were chirping about it for hours.
The Newbisode segues into a Mediterranean seaside table top designed by Jodi Murphy and David Braddy using items from Bloomingdale’s Stanford, fresh flowers, lemons and seashells proving once again that you can entertain in style without breaking the budget.
Vanessa Rockey, the show’s hair stylist brought make-up expert Julie Acosta and together they primped and prepared Chef Lea and Wendy to look their best under the harsh camera lights. Natalie Wi of Allure West Studios was on hand to document the happenings (she photographed all of these images) and take her stunning food shots. For more details, images, recipes…and soon the Newbisode…go to Nesting Newbies. Bon Appetweet ™ – JM
NESTING NEWBIES™, A BEHIND THE SCENES PEAK AT A VERY TWEET SHOW & ITS “HOW TO” COMPANION
As told by Jodi Murphy
It’s time to tweet about two exciting project in the works – Nesting Newbies and The Lea Show. A team of very talented people have been working to produce two internet shows. Nesting Newbies is a cooking, entertaining and decorating show featuring Lea McIntosh who is using her culinary training to teach newlyweds and those newly out on their own how to cook great food and entertain in style…and on a budget.
We always say “Leave it to Lea” when we need to find great resources for, well, anything and we’re showcasing her discoveries in The Lea Show. Experts and interesting talents show Lea how to do what they do on each episode. Lea asks the questions and the audience learns great insights, tips and “how tos” right along with her.
On Sunday April 19th the team – James Burkart of Burkart Video, Lea McIntosh, Natalie Wi of Allure West Studios, David Braddy of Vine-agra, Vanessa Rockey, Pat Campbell and Betsy Rose (best crew ever!) and I – took over the Rutt of Los Altos showroom to re-film the first episode of Nesting Newbies and the second episode of The Lea Show.
Lea and Vanessa arrived bright and early to begin hair and make-up while Pat and Betsy started food prepping and setting up. Natalie Wi was there to photograph the day’s events, including all the behind the scenes pandemonium. I arrived with the items on loan from Bloomingdale’s Stanford so that we could create our featured “Bella Notte Bistro Chic” tabletop. I had challenged David Braddy, a florist extraordinaire, to come up with something magical. I was doing the “happy dance” when he arrived because he had woven curly willow together anchored by two urns to create an arch over the table with a lantern attached in the center. It was beautiful, easy to make, and inexpensive! Perfect, since the goal is to show “newbies” how to stylishly entertain without breaking their budgets.
Diane Phillips of DK Designs dropped by to deliver two of her floral creations for the set of The Lea Show. Diane was the first guest artisan featured on The Lea Show (soon to be aired) and it was great to have her beautiful work decorate this episode’s set.
We learned so much from the first taping of Nesting Newbies that we decided to redo it and asked our first newbies, Lacee and Tejas Naik to come back again. The energy was high and when it was time for “Quiet on the Set” we were all in awe of what we were seeing. The chemistry between Chef Lea and the newbies was fantastic and the interaction, inspirational. Lea invited the Newbies into the cooking process and I think we all learned something new. Personally, I discovered how to properly cut an onion and hold a knife properly…and I’m not a newbie!
Jonathan Murphy dropped by to meet everyone in person as he will be doing the voiceover opening for the shows.
Soon Jung Wi, Natalie’s husband arrived with their three adorable kids who were quickly called into “crew” duties while Jung prepared for his segment on The Lea Show. Jung and Natalie own Allure West Studios and Jung, a master photographer, also teaches people how to get the most out of their digital cameras. He busted so many “megapixel myths” and taught Lea (and us) what to look for when buying a digital camera. With so much valuable information, Lea invited him back for a future episode to teach her (and the audience) how to take better digital shots.
By the time we wrapped it was a long day but one that was fulfilling and fun! James is editing the shows, the opening illustrations are being created and soon we will launch the first episodes of Nesting Newbies and The Lea Show. Sweet! – JM
THE FILMING OF TWO INTERNET SHOWS, PHOTOGRAPHING FOR A COFFEE TABLE BOOK, TABLESCAPING, AND A LOS ALTOS POWER ANOMOLY…HOW WAS YOUR SATURDAY?
As told by Jodi Murphy
The Filming of Two Shows
Leave it to Lea McIntosh to bring a talented team together to each focus on and do what they do best. It begins at 7 AM when Lea and her faithful crew, Pat, Betsy & Aunt Lonni, arrive at the beautiful Rutt of Los Altos showroom to begin setting up a cooking segment for an exciting new internet show (to be announced soon!) aimed at newlyweds, almost weds and those who are living away from mom & dad’s for the very first time.
James Burkart of Burkart Videography shows up with his lovely wife, Amy, to set up cameras and lighting. Filming will take place in three separate areas of the Rutt showroom. Meanwhile, Vanessa Rockey – a rockin’ hair stylist from Updo Artistry/Hair by Ness starts taming Lea’s raven tresses, and Tiffany Chiang, DesignHer Image , gets Lea’s face camera ready. Lacee and Diane (more about them later) wait in the wings for their turns.
Natalie Wi – incredible photographer and co-owner of Allure West Studios – is snapping shots at every turn, documenting the day. She is collaborating with Lea on a future coffee table book. I arrive around 9:00 AM in Penelope (my MINI Cooper) filled to the brim with china, crystal, flatware, & linens I borrowed from Bloomingdale’s Stanford , along with seashells and tea lights for staging a fresh take on a Mediterranean seaside table setting. Just as I show up, David Braddy, floral designer , pulls up – thank heavens, because I need the help to unload. He’s made lovely arrangements for the kitchen set display and tablescape.
It’s a happy pandemonium inside, and you can just feel the creative energy everywhere. Carl Mindling, Lea’s on-air co-host for the cooking show, is working with Betsy to get everything prepped and ready to go. Lacee and Tejas Naik, newlyweds, are joining Lea and Carl on camera. They’re getting miked so they can ask questions while Lea and Carl demonstrate easy ways to cook and entertain. Amy Burkart, the director, is reviewing the script and making last minute notations.
Diane Phillips of DK Designs is setting up in another area. She’s arranging her custom clay floral pieces and laying out her tools to get ready for the filming of the “how to” show. She’s so organized! She’ll be teaching Lea how to create a dendrobium orchid favor box. Diane will be the premiere guest on Lea’s new show (to be announced soon!) featuring creative people & their work..
By 11 AM it’s LIGHTS! CAMERAS!…and NO action! We all hear ‘bleep’ just as the power goes out. I know what you’re thinking…we blew a fuse; but on this sunny Saturday morning there is an anomalous power outage in downtown Los Altos. There’s an estimate of TWO hours until it’s fixed…oh, and did I forget to mention that Lacee and Tejas have to leave for the airport by 12:30?
Well, as the rest of the gang try to figure out a Plan B, Natalie takes shots of the tablescape, and I take advantage of her downtime to do a kitchen vignette shot with sock monkey for Rutt of Los Altos…part of their new ad campaign Lea & I developed. It sounds like an odd idea, but it’s really getting a great reaction after the first ad we recently launched : )
Lea is about to release the newlyweds and send them on their way when – ‘bleep’ – power’s back on! Cooking segment begins, and even with several takes (it was the first time, you know), Lacee & Tejas get out the door at 12:30…okay it’s 12:38, but who noticed?
Diane and Lea are up now and the rest of us watched in awe at how adept Diane is at making flowers out of this unique soft clay. Lea was an impressive first-timer but it is clear that Diane is a master artist, especially when you see how she hand-crafts each flower one petal at a time. It was a great session!
After some pick up shots, a short segment describing the table setting, more photographs, lots of clean up, the day was a wrap at 6 PM. The two new shows will air on The Wedding Chat and soon Newbies will learn to nest and we’ll all learn insights into others’ creative pursuits…yes, Leave it to Lea – JM
WEDDING WALKERS
Wedding Walkers
This morning I went for a 6-mile walk with Stacie Tamaki of The Flirty Guide (see us on the Flirty Guide), Lea McIntosh of Lea McIntosh – Extraordinary Events & Weddings and Lea’s sister, Christina, who was visiting from Sacramento.
We met at 7:30 am and walked the Los Gatos Creek Trail in Campbell. It took us a little over 2 hours to walk 6 miles, but it literally felt as if only minutes had passed. It was such a great opportunity to catch up and share ideas while doing something healthy for ourselves.
After our super calorie-burning walk, we indulged ourselves in a sumptuous breakfast at Stacks in Campbell. While Lea was smart and ordered the yogurt sundae, I went with the crab crepe. Well, the way I see it is that it evens out and makes it as if I didn’t walk or eat this morning. Sound good? Works for me!
