IT'S OFFICIAL!

If there is one thing I've learned in my life it is this....God has amazing things planned for us if we put our trust in Him. When it comes to photography I've decided to do just that. Trust Him. I feel pulled....I feel called....and my heart skips a beat with excitement and anticipation at this amazing journey.

And today my friends....it's official.

My Little Helpers...

Fall is upon us...which puts this Mama in the mood to bake!! Good thing I have my two little helpers eager to lend a hand!

And this year Eva and I decided Jaden was old enough to teach him the basics of "power tools"...kitchen style. Gotta love it.

Mmmm....mmmmm....goood.

I made a new recipe Wednesday night that was insane good. I had to share! This recipe is out of Cooking Light magazine, although I made a few of my own adjustments which I included below. Enjoy!

Fresh Tomato, Sausage, and Pecorino Pasta

16 oz. uncooked Penne pasta

8 oz. sweet Italian Sausage (I used zesty instead)

6 Teaspoons Olive Oil

1 cup vertically sliced onion (I used less)

2 teaspoons minced garlic (I used more)

1 1/4 pound tomatoes, chopped

6 tablespoons grated fresh pecorino Romano cheese

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves

1. Cook pasta according to directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.

2. Heat large skillet. Remove casings from sausage. Add oil to pan. Add sausage and onion to pan; cook 4 minutes crumbling sausage. Add garlic, cook 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, cook 2 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and stir in pasta, cheese, salt, pepper, and basil. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and basil.

This is soooo good with fresh goodies from the garden, and it was super simple to make too! I love it when a new recipe ends up being a keeper!!!!

Fall is in the air....kind of.

So, today is the first official day of fall. As much as I loooove summer, I always enjoy all that fall has to offer us too! Just a few random things that have been on my mind as this new season approaches...

1. Time to change the candles!! Does any one else have specific candle scents they use for the various seasons? I'm kind of a fanatic about it.

2. I looooove Halloween....the kiddies Halloween outfits are already ordered and are here. We've tried them on and put them away for that special night! So fun! I've also started getting my Halloween decorations around (although I haven't put any out yet). I think it's fair to say that the amount of Halloween decorations I have comes in second only to Christmas decorations!

3. I'm getting in the mood for warm homemade soups...that is a sign of fall for me!

4. Christmas gift shopping has begun!!! I loooove to jump the gun on this one and get it done as early as possible....usually before thanksgiving. It's not even so much that I don't want to mess with the craziness of Christmas time shopping as it is the fact I can never find a suitable gift when I am rushed. I enjoy shopping for people....I love to really think about something they would enjoy....I love to put some thought and time behind it. If I'm rushed it just doesn't work.

5. Pumpkin Spice Latte's are here....enough said.

6. Again, as much as I love summer clothing it feels good to pull on a pair of jeans, a warm sweater, and break out the Uggs. Although in our neck of the woods it's still a little too warm to do that yet.

7. Our children have started their Christmas lists. My darling daughter put "a motorcycle...the real kind" on her list. She wanted to ensure that Old Saint Nick didn't try to give her a toy motorcycle or anything like that...she wants a REAL one. Hmmm....we might have to sit down and have a little chat with her about that one. It kind of reminded me of when my sis and I were little and she asked for a $2000 robot for Christmas.

8. I'm slightly concerned that football watching is going to take over my house in the coming months. Considering the fact that when I hear the name Tony Romo I immediately think of Jessica Simpson and not the Dallas Cowboys, you can tell I'm not a big fan of the sport.

What fall treats are all of you starting to enjoy as the seasons begin to change??

Simple Joy #21

Now that Eva is in school Jaden and I have some quality time together - just the two of us. It's fun to give him my undivided attention and he seems to really enjoy it too. One of our little traditions we have started is occasionally making a little trip to Starbucks after we drop Eva off at school. Sometimes we just go through the drive-thru...and other times we go in.

Today we went in.

I ordered my chai tea and Jaden his apple juice. I told him he could pick where we sit and he picked the big over sized chairs. Together we sat all snuggled up in the chairs and enjoyed our drinks, talked, and laughed. At two years old, Jaden is at one of my favorite ages and so many things he does, as well as his interpretations of what goes on around him, continuously have me smiling. Everyone else in the restaurant seemed to fade away as I just soaked in my time with my favorite little guy in the whole wide world.

So raise your tea or juice and let's have a toast (as Jaden and I did this morning) to special times, laughter, and the joy of a two year old!

Our first gardening season comes to a close...

We officially have our first season of gardening under our belts! It's been a fun experience and I have definitely learned a lot! There are some things I would do the same, as well as some things I will do differently next year - but that's the fun part of learning something new!

Our onions were A-MA-ZING and I will definitely plant more of those next year! On top of that our Amish friends taught us a trick to storing them so that they last all winter!

We had a lot of potatoes, but again I wish I would have planted more! They taste amazing and it's so nice to have them fresh out of the garden. Again, our Amish friends had us pick a variety that will last all winter if properly stored.
Part of the fun of planting potatoes is digging them up - especially for little ones! I told Eva and Jaden is was like a treasure hunt and we had to dig for buried treasure! They had a ball! Also, on a side note, I never had a problem with rabbits - not sure if it was the marigolds or not but my neighbor did have a problem and did not have marigolds planted.

Our tomatoes were minimal this year (although I've heard it was just a bad year for them) but our grape tomatoes did great! The kiddies loved picking them, washing them off outside, and popping them in their mouths!

And yet again, my little guy gets sidetracked in his gardening duties!!! This time he spotted an airplane and was mesmerized! He's so stinkin' cute I'll let him get away with it! Ha!

In all, the whole experience was awesome and I would encourage those of you that are considering having one next year to do it. It felt good to be out in the garden with my little ones and know that we were all kind of learning together....and growing some good food in the process!

Eva's First Fieldtrip!

Eva recently had her very first fieldtrip and I had the honor of going along! I have to be honest, I'm not sure who was more excited...Eva or ME!! Enjoy a few pictures of our special day!

This was Eva's first time on a school bus and she was beside herself with excitement! I loved watching her and her friend Jordyn as they anxiously waited for the big school bus to start moving!

We went to a local apple orchard and picked apples, enjoyed a hayride, went on a corn maze, and sipped on some apple cider! Afterwards we ventured to a local park. Eva's favorite part of the whole day?! APPLE PICKING!!!!
After our special morning I treated Eva to APPLEbees for lunch (I figured it went along with the whole apple thing, and on top of that Eva loves it)!! Eva was pretty excited to see that her meal came in an APPLE basket!

I think it is fair to say that we both enjoyed a very fun morning and a lot of special memories were created!

Why didn't they think of this sooner????

While recently grocery shopping I was looking for a good cracker for my children...as many of you know I try to keep their consumption of High Fructose Corn Syrup to a minimum and I can be a bit of health nut about their nutrition. Anyway, I found these crackers and knew I just had to share with you...


Yes, Cheese-It's make a "Scrabble Junior" variety....and the coooooool thing is that Eva is in the process of learning all of her letters. So, to put it mildly, she is allowed to PLAY with her food!!!


We had so much fun working on the alphabet, as well as spelling various words (and then changing one letter to make it a whole new word)!

I know, it may be the teacher in me.....but this Mama was soooooo excited about it!

Added bonus - they are baked and contain no High Fructose Corn Syrup! Soooo....your little ones can munch on something yummy, play with their food, and you can be content that it's good for them!

"You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives."

--Clay P. Bedford

Trusting God's Plan...

Isn't it funny how certain things fall in your lap when you are least expecting it? This past weekend has left me with my mind racing and my heart full of excitement (and a little anxiety).

Let me explain...

When I first started playing around with photography my intentions were purely to do it for a hobby. I've loved it since I was a little girl...and since I am a full-time stay-at-home mom I just decided I needed something that was "mine" - a hobby of sorts. I decided it was the perfect time to start studying photography.

Over the course of the year I have taken numerous classes, read books, studied Internet sites, and been privileged enough to get one-on-one lessons with a fantastic photographer in our area.

Still, my desires were focused on learning all I could because I loved the hobby. I purchased a better camera, got a few lenses, and continued to practice.

Then friends started asking me to photograph their children. I would politely refuse explaining that I still had way too much to learn before I could do something of that sort.

More friends started asking.

I decided to photograph one good friends children so I could chalk up some more practice on subjects other than my own little beauties. I enjoyed photographing them, and somewhat hesitantly decided by the end of the night that I would be willing to do this for friends - people that I know and that would love me anyway if the images weren't exactly what they were looking for.

But then something kind of crazy happened.

After seeing the pictures, other people were interested in me photographing their children and families. People that I don't even know. People that have never met me.

I am putting it lightly when I say I was flattered....but also completely caught off guard. My mind raced with insecurities....was I ready?....do I know enough to do this?....what if they don't like the images I take?....the list was endless.

In the end (after a lot of thinking and praying) I decided that you miss 100% of the shots you don't take - and I may never have this opportunity again.

I decided to go for it.

So the weekend was busy for me as I set up professional printing services, came up with a name for my business (just saying the word "business' sounds crazy to me), called my photographer friend freaking out more than once, and ultimately booked my first photography session!

Although this weekend was a whirlwind I am taking it slow...very slow. I am not too proud to say that I have a lot I still need to learn....A LOT...but my heart tells me that beautiful things could be just above the horizon if I trust God's plan.

My First Try....

I took some pictures for a very dear friend this past week. She and her husband have two absolutely beautiful girls and it was an honor to spend an afternoon photographing them! On top of that it was wonderful practice for me as I still have so much to learn!!! Just thought I would share a few of my favorites...

Emily and Reese

Make-Up Application 101

Dearest Eva,

I know that as you grow you will perfect your make-up application skills....but for now Mommy is just enjoying your current....hmmmmm.....talent......

You are the best daughter in the whole wide world and I am so lucky I get to be your model as you master make-up application 101!!

Love,
Mommy

Testimony of a Stay-at-Home Mommy....

Note to Readers: The following article is by Carolyn Hax of the Washington Post. As a stay-at-home mom I am often asked what in the world I do all day...this letter pretty much sums it up!

Dear Carolyn:
What exactly do stay-at-home moms do all day? Don't give me a list of library, grocery store, dry cleaners, etc. I do all those things AND I work nine hours a day. I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy!
--Tacoma, Washington

Dear Tacoma:
I keep wavering between giving you a straight answer and giving my forehead some keyboard. Since it is validation you seem to want, the real answer is what you get.

When you have young kids your typical day is: constant attention, from getting them out of bed, fed, cleaned, dressed; to keeping them out of harm's way; to answering their coos, cries, questions; to having two arms and carrying one child, one set of car keys, and supplies for even the quickest trips - including the latest-to-be-declared-essential piece of molded plastic gear; to keeping them from unshelving books at the library; to enforcing rest times; to staying one step ahead of them lest they get too hungry, tired, or bored, any of which can produce checkout-line screaming.

It is needing 45 minutes to do what takes others 15.

It's constant vigilance, constant touch, constant use of your voice, constant relegation of your needs to the second tier.

It's constant scrutiny and second-guessing from family and friends.

It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense.

It's doing all of this while concurrently teaching virtually everything - language, manners, safety, resourcefulness, discipline, curiosity, creativity, empathy. Everything.

It's is also a choice, yes. And a complete joy.

--Carolyn

All I have got to say is a big AMEN Sista!