This & That

Texaco, Texaco

2012-01-15T05:04:00.000-08:00

Warning: This is a totally random post.

Yesterday I was sitting in the truck waiting for my husband to get out of the bait store and I saw this sign across the parking lot and it made me smile. Maybe it was because I had spent the previous 24 hours selling Buick's to my toilet or maybe it was because I have some really fun childhood memories which have this word in it. I will let you decide.

Girls, you know what I am typin' about, come on sing it with me:

Ovah head to Mexico!!

Another totally random point, this is same picture, the first one is SOOC (straight out of camera) and the other is after being edited in Photoshop. As you can see I did some cropping, straightened the image, cloned out the building in the lower right and some poles in the lower left, added a Boost of color, and then added a texture to the image (Dirty Diana from Totally Rad). I am by no means a Photoshop editing professional, but I am thinking of posting a few before and after images on this blog just to show you how much a little (or sometimes a lot) of editing really enhances a photo. More on that later. For now, have a Happy Sunday and if you are in Maine - stay warm!!

I hab it Momma

2012-01-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

For Christmas this year, one of my favorite gifts was a Canon Point and Shoot camera from my parents. For those of you who are not familiar with the term 'point and shoot' it is a digital camera that does not have interchangeable lenses, it doesn't weigh five pounds, and it fits it my coat pocket. I own a DSLR and that is what I use for my photography, but sometimes I just want to take something with me (like on the boat) that is a little easier to carry around. I loved this camera from the moment I saw it, unfortunately I wasn't the only one who experienced love at first sight.

Yeeep, she loved the camera and as soon as I took it out of the package, this little arm was reached out and all I heard was "I hab it, Momma". So what did I do. I let her have it. She was in heaven! She snapped photographs all morning, 87 to be exact. I had almost forgot I let her use the camera until I popped the memory card on my computer and saw her images. Her vantage points were low, the focus and white balance was off, but the photos tell a story; a story of Christmas morning from the eyes of a 2.5 year old. Perhaps I am a little biased, but I thought she did a great job, and what does every proud Mom do, they share the story! So here I present to you Christmas by Baby E.

First she starts off capturing the location, including Memere's new curtains.

A little lower we find the nativity scene, Christmas cards, and wait?!

What's that to the left?

Owwww, it's the most beautiful Santa baby on the planet.

Who rocked it out all morning.

Nice action sequence Baby E!

On to the Christmas tree... humm not quite in full frame...

Change locations and adjust the zoom and there you hab it!

Working the room and getting shots of people opening gifts.

Including close ups of the loot.

Then like a true professional, she worked the room photographing guests looking beautiful, overly excited to be there, and brushing off shoulders because that's how Mommy rolls on Christmas morning.

I am pretty sure she posed him, why else would he make that face - haha!

And then, with a quick rip of some Santa paper, 412 twisty ties later; baby Santa, the Christmas tree, and all the guests were no longer on the photographer's agenda.

I will spare you of the 52 photos that were taken of .... the twins!

In for the close up, or as I like to call it, the "Mommy Shot"

Getting those cute little toes on film.

Okay, I will spare you the rest, because literally there are 47 more pictures of these babies.

Pretty impressive right?! I laugh every time I look at them. For 2011 I did really well printing photographs and putting them into an album, I will have to print this series and include a little write up, because well... it's too funny not to and what a great memory these images will resurrect each time we look at them.

Happy Tuesday!

I Simply Resolve

2011-12-31T09:58:00.000-08:00

Resolution - A firm decision to do or not to do something.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a New Year, a day when many people make a firm decision to drink more water, lose 10 lbs, go for a new job, pay off debt, and spend more time with friends and family. But for anyone who has ever made a 'resolution' like the ones above, we all know come March, if not sooner, that little thing called life gets in the way. Next thing we know, it's 4p and you realize that you haven't even taken a sip out of that water bottle, it's July and there is no way you are squeezing into that two piece you bought in January, and before you know it it has been two months since you called your best friend or your Mom.

Life happens. So this year I am keeping my resolution short and sweet. I am making it something only I can control. I am not going to let anyone mess up this decision, deadlines are not going to make me miss it, and chocolate cake will not be my down fall, for in 2012:

I told you; short and simple and easily attainable AND sustainable.

Happy New Year Everyone!

The $100 Dilemma

2011-12-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

First of all, happy day after Christmas. I am going to go out on a branch here and say this past Christmas was my favorite! Baby E was at the perfect age and loved every single one of her gifts, I got to see everyone who is near and dear to my heart, I ate more food than I should have, and best of all, it snowed on Christmas day!! I hope everyone reading this had a wonderful weekend and got everything they hoped for this holiday season. Now on to my dilemma.

For Christmas I received a $100 dollar bill. Yahoo! One hundred dollars to spend on me, myself, and I. Sounds pretty easy right? Wrong! You know when I first opened it, I thought groceries, or maybe a Sam's Club card L.A.M.E. I know!! But then I thought, no, I am going to spend this money on something for me, all me. But what? I am toying with a few ideas, but none really stand out as a must have.

Here are things I am toying with:

1) A new pair of Dansko's (kind of lame),
2) Paint and a new light for the kitchen (but is that really for ME?),
3) A new camera lens (but do I really need another lens),
4) Shades for E's room (wait, that's not for me),
5) Christmas decorations that are probably on Clearance (and who exactly would that be for?)
6) A Sam's Club Membership (errr, read above),
7) A new purse (Amy, you already have 1,548 purses, 1,546 of them you never use),
8) A grill insert for the Jeep (not something I can really use, it will just look super cool to that one person, other than me who will notice),
9) New framed prints for the living room (for living room which is not ME)
10) Oil Change and gas for the car (okay, this is getting ridiculous).

As you can see this seemingly thoughtful gift is wreaking havoc in my brain. Why is it so hard for me to spend $100 on myself? Don't get me wrong, I am sure I will have no problem spending this money, two minutes inTarget and I assure you, the $100 and probably a little more will be spent - BUT will it all be spent on ME.

I am going to throw it out there: What would you spend if you have $100 to spend on YOURSELF??

We have a winner!

2011-12-21T14:44:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Paula Clark

you are the winner of a

$5 Starbucks Gift Card!!!

Hugs & Shrugs - Holiday Edition

2011-12-19T15:27:00.000-08:00

HUGS:
1) Hair tinsel; a wispy strand of tis the season strategically placed in my hair which makes me feel all Holla-day without having to wear an ugly sweater, 2) I was debating putting this one as a shrug, but if you think about it... it's a hug a really, super, great big HUG; Husbands who hands you cash and say 'go get what you want'; it is a sure way to avoid the disappointed look on your face when you open a gallon of windshield washer fluid... or ice creepers... or snow shoes... or a bar of soap... you get the hint, 3) Holiday shopping commercials and there are some super funny ones this year, like Wal-Mart's "Ringadingding ringadingding Ring ME UP!!!!" gets me every time, oh and what about Best Buy's commercial where the women are out doing Santa - bwahaha!

SHRUGS:
1) People who wait to the last minute to do all their shopping and then complain because they can't find the time or the gifts people want, ummm HELLLO Christmas comes on the same day every year, every single year, so there is no reason to act all surprised when someone tells you Christmas Eve is tomorrow, 2) Strands of lights that choose to stop working after you have them up on the tree, really what happened in those last 8 minutes that made you stop working? 3) The possibility of NOT having a white Christmas, devastating to say the least.

Happy Holidays!

Oh and don't forget to leave me your comment on this post for a chance to win a $5 Starbucks gift card!

The Search for the Best PML

2011-12-17T11:49:00.000-08:00

Peppermint Mocha - the delectable combination of refreshing peppermint with smooth chocolate mixed with a shot or two of espresso and you have one flavor combination that could persuade me to do about anything. Usually, the only place (by place I mean a chain coffee shop in with a drive thru) that offers a Peppermint Mocha Latte (PML) is Starbucks. But this year, it seems like everyone and their brother is offering a PML. So what is a die hard PML lover to do? Try them all!

For the last four weeks I have been on a personal voyage to find out who makes the best PML. I have sampled PML's from the following institutes: Tim Horton's, McDonald's, D&D, and Starbucks. I have singed taste buds, consumed extra and unnecessary calories, and with all the extra caffeine I have produced some of my most productive afternoon working hours, all in the name of PML.

So Amy, what did you find out. Well, I found out that two were a waste of coffee beans, calories, and a paper cup. Dunkin and Timmy let me down... hard! I couldn't even finish one of them ay' it was that bad. Mickey D on the other hand surprised me, in a good way. The latte was scrumptious, the flavor and texture were good and the price, well you can't beat it.

But I have to say the best of the best, the foam on the top of my latte goes to Starbucks. I don't know what they put in it, but you can't beat this PML with a candy cane!! I love this drink so much, I am going to give one lucky reader a $5 Starbucks Gift Card so you can buy one for yourself and let me know if it is not the best PML you have ever tasted. To enter all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your beverage of choice is this time of year. The lucky winner will be randomly drawn on December 20th. Good Luck!

Bake, Cook, Eat & Repeat

2011-12-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

I love to bake, cook, and eat! Here are a few recipes I must try before the end of the year... You know, before the New Year when I will falsely promise myself to drink a gallon of water, eat 17 vegetables, 6 fruits, and walk three miles a day. Yeeeeah, I have 24 more days to bake, cook, and devour things like THIS:

Kevin & Amanda's Frosted Candy Bar Stuffed Cookie Cups

Photo taken from their web-site.

Picky-Palate's Oreo and Peanut Butter Brownie Cakes

Photo taken from her website

Eighteen25's White Chocolate Popcorn

(I made this last year, it was addicting! So consider yourself warned)

Photo taken from their website.

Eighteen25's - Sugarplums

(super easy to make and a big hit with the kiddos!)

Photo taken from website

Swamp Hallow Designs Sweet Salty Cashew Brittle

Photo taken from website.

Enjoy!! Happy Wednesday

Top 10 Annoying Things your Co-Workers Do on a Daily Basis

2011-11-30T16:09:00.000-08:00

If you have ever worked in an office type setting with more than two people, you know that things are going to happen that just plain drive you NUTS. They will be small things which you brush off at first, but then they happen again, and again, and again and eventually you can' take it anymore and you being to resent the people, their careless actions, and inconsiderate habits in which you are forced to deal with 40 plus hours a work week.

With a little help from two friends, we have complied a list of the Top 10 Annoying Things your Co-Workers Do on a Daily Basis:

#10 – Lunch/Break Thieves – Nothing burns my bread more than hearing “I know you are on lunch, but it is just a quick question”. I just sat down, opened my magazine and bit into my sandwich, now all I want to do it bite off your head.

#9 – Slamming around computer equipment – I know you are born in the stone age, but hitting things will no longer help it to work.

#8 - Smokers - just because you smoke doesn’t mean you get longer and more frequent breaks than non-smokers. That would be like a coffee drinker getting a break every time they get a new cup and not coming back to work until they are finished.

#7 - Ask me if I am busy – “No, I have been here for two hours, but haven’t started any work yet because I knew that you would need my help”

#6 - Chew food violently at desk ALL morning long - you get a break eat then.

#5 - Eat while talking on the phone - I sure has heck don’t want to listen to it and good chances are neither does the person on the other end.

#4 – Put their food in the microwave and then go back to their office to do more work. Hey your Lean Cuisine has been sitting in the microwave for 7 minutes now and I know for a fact that Fettuccine Alfredo only needs to be in there for 3.5 minutes.

#3 – Don’t pick up printing jobs off the printer/photocopier. Really, you just printed 65 pages and you don’t want to come and get it?

#2 – Don’t flush - yes fellas this happens in the ladies room too.

#1 – Clip fingernails – at my house you do that in the bathroom OVER the toilet!

Ahhh, all three of us feel so much better now that we have these off our chest. Is there anything we missed?? If so, please leave them in a comment so we can all read it and go "OH I hate that!"

Happy Wednesday!

I have to ask...

2011-11-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

Despite having hundreds of TV stations, our TV rarely leaves what ever station Nick Jr is on. I have been watching A LOT of Nick Jr. over the last 6-8 months; my daughter loves their shows and other than dumping out laundry baskets full of clean, folded clothes, it is about the only thing that will hold her attention for longer than 2.6 minutes.
I have to say though there are a few things about these shows that just doesn't add up for me. For example:

1) Why doesn't Dora's shirt cover all of her belly?

2) Where are Max & Ruby's parents?

3) How old are the Fresh Beats? They act like they are in junior high, dress like they are in high school, and look like they are out of college?

4) Why hasn't Dino Dan's Mom brought him to see a Psychiatrist? The kid "see's" dinosaurs'?

5) Can someone please explain to me Yo Gabba Gabba? Anyone??

6) Do Olivia's parents fight? Ever? Three kids and Mom gets all dressed up to stay home all day and no one raises their vioces? And how do 4.5 pigs fit in that little car?

7) What is Uniqua?? Is she a salamander? Wait?! Is 'she' even a 'she'?

8) Why did they make Milli & Geo's heads so big? It just looks weird.

I could keep going... but then you would start to question my sanity. But I can't be the only Mom out there watching these shows and asking these same questions. Right? What are you kids watching that make you go "huh?"?

source

Fall Family Photos

2011-11-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

Ahh, the fall season has arrived. It is by far my favorite of the four seasons; apples, warm days and cool nights, and the best part of all, foliage! Lurrrve foliage; not only is it beautiful to look at, it also creates a beautiful backdrop when taking photos.

Unfortunately this fall, I have done little to no photography due to that little knee issue I had back in September, more on that later... But a few weeks ago I did photograph this adorable little family. You see Mom and I had tried to set a date for these pictures starting back in the Spring, one thing happened and another thing came up and we could never seem to sync our schedules. But a few weeks ago, with the understanding that I have only one fully functioning leg, we finally scheduled a time for a mini family session.

I had so much fun photographing this family. This little guy is really good friends with Miss. E.. They are sooooo cute together; I am not sure how 'cute' we will think they are together in 16 years, but for now he just melts my little heart.

Little man!

Love.

Deb - you are gorgeous!

Don't you just want to squeeze him?!?

Well, that would mean you have to catch him first!

Love, love, love these next two.

That little look right there will break a lot of hearts some day, as long as one of those hearts does not belong to my daughter - haha! No really...

I always enjoy the reaction I get when I tell couples I am going to have them make out. They laugh, and then I tell them I am not kidding and the laughter usually stops.

But once I give the order to start kissing - I usually have to tell them to stop!

Dad has my dream truck; an old Ford Bronco! When I saw it in the driveway I knew I had to get this little guy in there for some pictures.

I may be a little partial to the truck, but this maybe my favorite shot of the day!

I was looking through these pictures and I just had to include this series of photos in here. Photographing two year olds CAN BE challenging, trying to photograph parents alone while their two year old is running around IS challenging.

But with a little creative cropping of the camera, a photographer always gets her shot!

Deb - thankfully we were finally able to catch up! Thank you for all your patience and understanding over the last couple months. I hope it was worth the wait.

Happy Monday

Hugs & Shrugs - Adele and Pumpkin Coffee

2011-10-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

HUGS:

1) Adele. I purchased 21 approximately 2.5 weeks ago and am pretty sure I have listened to it 2,578,661 times, LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! If you don't have it go to iTunes right now and download it, if you are not happy with it, well then we can't be friends anymore -haha! 2) My physical therapy girl; I say girl because I am sure she is at least a half decade younger than I am and now that I am 30, pretty much every female 0-29 is now a girl to me, anywho she is super nice, smart, and is helping me get this leg back into shape, 3) The flat frying pan my Mom gave me for my birthday. For years I have been grilling up two toasted cheeses at a time (you may call them 'grilled' cheese, but in this house that cheese melted between two buttery pieces of bread is TOASTED), that was until now! The other day I was able to toast up four, yes four sandwiches enough for the hubs, the babes, myself and one to spare.

SHRUGS:
1) D&D has never, ever, ever once made an appearance in this category, oh wait there was that one time about that really slow one, but never has a product made it on here until today. The new pumpkin iced coffee. I ordered one yesterday took one slug off the straw and wanted to spit it out all over my steering wheel. Some of you wait all year for this coffee... you must drink it hot because iced it tastes like *&%! 2) The return of weather that requires the one item of clothing I loathe... SOCKS! Anyone with a two year old and a husband can understand this one with no further explanation. 3) Not being able to drive the Jeep because it is a standard and I only have 32 degrees of bendage (yes that is a word) with my clutch leg. Say.no.more.

Happy Wednesday!

Strawberry Coffee Cake

2011-10-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

There is something in the fall air that makes me want to bake. And eat. The two definitely go hand in hand September-November.

Well this morning I was feeling like something different, something with no chocolate (WHAT?! I know...) something sort of light, and sort of out of my comfort zone. So I picked up an old cook book and found a recipe for Raspberry Coffee Cake, I looked through the ingredients, yep I have that, yes that too, I will have to look for that one... YES I have it. Luckily for me, I had everything but the Raspberries. So what was a girl to do? Improvise!

I am not a huge fan of Raspberries so the Strawberries were a welcomed substitution. I start assembling the ingredients on the counter and then I hear "Mommy, what ah you doin?" and entered my little 'helper'. Lately she is my little shadow, 'helping' me with everything I do from cooking, brushing my teeth, to cleaning and do my hair and make up, I always have a little 'helper' around where ever and for what ever I am dong and this morning was no exception.

We get all the ingredients for the coffee cake measured and poured and we all step back and let the mixer do it's thang.

Once everything is moistened, the recipe called for me to stop, so that is what I did. The dough looked like this.

I am not used to making much homemade, let alone cake, so I was a little skeptical on the consistency of this dough. But this was me stepping out of my comfort zone so I just folded in the berries and spread it in the pan like I was told.

I popped that baby in the oven for 25-30 minutes and then had to clean up after my little 'helper'.

After 30 minutes (I put timer for 25 minutes, but the cake was not set in the middle, so I popped it back in for another 5 minutes and that seemed to do the trick), I pulled the cake out of the oven and could not have been more happy at what I saw.

What could possibly make this look better?

GLAZE!

Oh yeah, there is GLAZE!!

Now you are talkin'. Look at this mater piece. Not only is it pleasing on the eyes, but it also does wonders for your taste buds. Look at that big pile of berries. Now you see them...

Now you don't!!

And for any of you out there who would like to step out of your baking comfort zone, here is the recipe for this fabulous (HOMEMADE) Strawberry Coffee Cake!

The Advantage

2011-10-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been taken advantage of? I am sure in one way or another we all have. It doesn't feel good when it happens; especially when it is being done by those you love the most. In the last couple of weeks, I have been taken advantage of by more than my fair share by one person in particular and one other living being of the canine type. A.K.A. These two!

In this picture they look seemingly innocent, but what you don't know... is the story.

Once upon a time, there was a Mom, a Mom who had a really, really, really bad month which landed her with a bum leg and two super clunky, annoying, and loud crutches. This Mom also lives in a house full of stairs and let's just say that going up and down these stairs is a huge pain in the knee cap. Did I also mention that it is the beginning of hunting season so on any random Monday-Saturday night, Mom is left in a house full of stairs, a two year old and a yellow lab. One night the yellow lab was looking at the Mom with large brown eyes while circling the kitchen like an eagle circles dead fish on the ice. This is Dog for "lady, let me out I gotta pee". So Mom gathers her crutches and begins the 16 stair decent to the ground level. Dog pushes past Mom almost knocking her over. Mom tells the two year old to "wait there I will be right back" which prompts a "NOOOOOOOOO, NOOOOO, NOO" response from the two year old. So knowing she is already defeated, Mom sighs, tells baby to be careful and finally makes it to the ground floor. She opens the door to let the dog out and is surprised when the two year old pushes her out of the way and is now outside with said Dog.

Okay, okay, so what's the big deal? So the dog has to pee and your kid follwed him out. Okay, I see your uneducated point of view. Did I also mention that it is the beginning of October, it's cold outside, dog is peeing on the grass, which baby is running through with no shoes on.

After about eight minutes of watching them outside I do the whole "okay, come inside", but these two know that 1) I don't have any shoes on, 2) I have crutches,and 3) there is no way in in h-e-double hockey sitcks I can run and/or ever catch them if I decided to try it... so what do they do... they take advantage of me and my situation and refuse to come inside.

That's until I pull out the ole "want a snack" trick! Unfortunelty that only works on one of the culprits.

Orrrr did it....

Yep... it did...

So then I get all 'Mom' and yell her name and throw her the middle name, because we all know when that happens MOM MEANS BUSINESS!! Yeah... we can all see how affective that trick is on a two year old!

So I stand to the side to make her think I have left. To my surpirse that worked like a charm!!

At this point, now she realizes it's cold outside and that there is a snack involved.

So she gets all cute on me.

I kid you not, this went on for almost 20 minutes. Phew! I know what they were doing, taking advantage of Mom! I could be mad, frustrated, or upset, but with a face like this how can I be anything but entertained!

Happy Wednesday

Stupid Phone

2011-10-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

Smart phone, iphones, that phone, your phone, everywhere you looks its phone phones. Not real phones of course, I am typing about cell phones. There are certain things I refuse to buy generic or cheap; coffee, mac and cheese, soda, and camera accessories to name a few, but cell phones… I could care less.

I was in town a while ago and the ladies in front of me were each talking up their phones, I have no idea what kind of phones they were but this one had this and that one did that, it was like a sit down peeing contest, only we were all standing in line.

I have a cell phone, have had one for a number of years, however I have never had the latest and greatest cell phone. Today I make my outgoing calls on a Razr phone, remember how cool those were five years ago? Don’t lie, you had one and I bet it was red. My phone rings when someone wants to get a hold of me, charges in a jiffy, and it receives text messages… wait I have to rant about text messages for a second.

Call me prehistoric, but I do not have a calling plan that includes texting. Why? Because I hate to text! Probably because I don’t have a keyboard on my phone and it takes me over 35 button pushes to text “what’s going on”. But unfortunately for me, my thumbs, and my calling plan, everyone and their sister’s cousin’s co-worker texts. It costs me $.25 each time I send out a text, when in reality my carrier should PAY ME $.25 a text because it is that labor intensive. And why does everyone feel the need to text anyway? If you want to know what we are up to tonight or you want my recipe for chocolate chip cookies, CALL ME! I am not going to put that in a text!! Oh and what is up with you people who send you a text but then don’t answer your phone? Really, what happened in those 13 seconds it took for you to hit send and me for me to press call? Sigh…

I realize that my phone (and calling plan) is ancient, or as I like to call it Vintage, I know that 90% of the kids at my daughter’s daycare have cooler phones than me, I see you pointing and laughing at my phone and me while I try to text and I am cool with all that. In comparison to your Smart phone, mine is dumb, but it serves its purpose and I use all that money I save from my monthly calling plan and my initial super duper better than your phone purchase to buy all that name brand coffee, mac and cheese, soda, and camera accessories!

Happy Weekend.

The Big Three-Zero

2011-09-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

Today is the day I enter the third decade of my life. Back when I was 18 I would have shuttered at the thought of turning 30, but then again, I probably would have done the same at the thought of turning 25. Growing up I remember one of my Aunt’s turning 30; I remember her being so depressed that entire day, she made us kids pop all the balloons in the house and wouldn’t even eat her cake, I also remember a different Aunt hitting the high road to Florida the day she turned 30 so no one would have a chance to sing to her or have her walk into a Legion Hall just to have 130 of her closest friends and family yell “SURPRISE”. Funny I don’t remember my Mom turning 30 though.

A lot of people have asked me ‘what do you think of turning 30?’ A wise lady I used to work with always said that being able to celebrate a birthday always beats the alternative, so that’s what I have been telling them.

Every time I think of 30, I keep hearing that Tim McGraw song, In My Next 30 Years. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have had a lot of time alone lately to think about that… my next 30 years and here are just a few things I have come up with.

In My Next Thirty Years:

I will care less about the label on the inside of my purse and more about whether or not I actually have it with me,

I will not try to keep up with the Joneses; instead when I invite them over to dinner and ask them to bring the champagne,

I will drink more coffee and less Mt. Dew in the morning,

I scrutinize the circumference of my mid section less and what I put into that area more,

Instead of being the perfect wife, mother, and friend, I will do the absolute best I can and will not beat myself up if everything doesn’t work out the way that book, her Mom, or I said it would,

I will care less about what those who do nothing for me or my family think of me and put that all that caring into those who do,

I will pay more attention to the lives of people I actually know and less time on TMZ and X17online,

I may write a book, a children’s book or submit an essay for publication,

I will learn to say No,

I will travel,

I will learn to become a better baker and cook and depend less on Hamburger Helper and Betty Crocker for all things delicious that come out of my kitchen,

I will take the long way home, because some days that extra six minutes to me, myself, and I makes all the difference,

I will say Thank You more and truly mean it,

I will leap and find my net.

Happy Wednesday!

Oh, Oh, Oh, and we have a winner with the staple count: ASHLEY GOFORTH!! She guessed correct with 23 staples (I must confess I had a different number in mind and had to do a re-count this morning to confirm and yep there are 23 of them suckahs in there)!! Thanks for all of you who took a stab at it - haha!

Home!

2011-09-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

Home, home again, I like to be here when I can. – Pink Floyd

After spending four days and three nights in my beloved Boston, I am finally home. Last Wednesday I was scheduled for surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital to have a Chondroblastoma (bone tumor) removed from my distal femur bone (that is your thigh bone, the end of it that is near your knee.) This is my third surgery on that knee, this one being the most serious, but none the less this is my third go around. Let’s hope what they say about the third time being true, because I am not as young as I was yesterday.

I am told that the surgery went well, no complications which is the best you can hope for. I had to stay in the hospital an extra night because my blood pressure was having some issues readjusting post surgery, but come the following day me and my distal femur bone were read to come home, thankfully all the Dr.’s and nurses agreed.

So now I am home. It is Monday, I am out of work for a few weeks, Miss E. is at daycare and the Mr. is at the end of road sawing lumber. It’s me, this computer, my passed down set of crutches, my new book The Help, the dog, and my first cup of coffee in almost 6 days. On a scale of 1-10, pain is about a 6, yesterday I thought I was Wonder Woman and made some banana bread and did a load of laundry and at 4p if you would have come to my house you would have heard the howls of a wounded Wonder Woman coming from my bedroom. Yes, Mom, lesson learned, I need to take it easy.

So over the next couple weeks I have no plans but to read, watch TV, probably do a few blog posts since this is about the only entertainment I can do for myself that doesn’t include the use of my leg, but most importantly I plan to heal.

And because this post is kind of a bummer and because I am almost done my first cup of coffee in 6 days let’s make it a little fun. If you can guess correctly by looking at the below picture how many staples are in my leg, I will send you a $5 gift certificate to Dunkin Donuts.

Rules – you have to leave your number in the comment section of the blog and you have to leave me some way of knowing who you are, like your name or leave me your e-mail address so I can notify you, if you enter the correct number! Once the correct number is commented the giveaway will be done. (Sorry in advance to those of you who may puke after looking at the below picture :o(

Happy Monday!

New Obsession!

2011-08-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

People. I have a new obsession. I know, I know... I have many, but this one is definitely worth sharing. It is edible, vanishes in two and half bites, can be made in under 10 minutes, and is something the whole family can enjoy.

Here is what you need:

1 Loaf of French Bread, sliced
1 Ripe Tomato
1 Mozzarella Cheese Ball
Buitoni Pesto Spread
Oh and an oven, you need an oven.

Set your oven on broil and while that baby is warming up, commence on spreading the love... ah hem... the pesto.

(Doesn't the lighting in this picture makes the pesto look scary... perhaps even a little evil...

but it's not, I promise)

After you have all your bread covered in spread, stick those babies on a cookie sheet and broil them for about 2-3 minutes, or until the edges start to look a little brown, not brown, a little brown. And because, like me, you are a master at multitasking, while those are toasting in the oven, you can cut up your cheese ball and tomato.

Once your bread is a 'little brown' pull the cookie sheet out of the oven and place a slice of cheese on each piece of bread and then pop them back in the oven until they look:

Now top each one with a slice of tomato, add a sprinkle of salt and enjoy!!

Happy Tuesday!

Carrie & Devin - Sneak Peek!

2011-08-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

For their 10 year wedding anniversary Carrie and Devin decided to mark the event by renewing their wedding vows in a beautiful intimate ceremony in Tenants Harbor. I am going through some of the pictures right now and am just GA-GA over the location Carrie picked!!!

I can't wait to go through these images in their entirety, but here is a small taste of what is to come.

Balloon Festival!

2011-08-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

My alarm went off this morning at 3:30. My initial reaction was "NOOOOOOOOO!", but then I remembered why I was getting up this early, I was going to the balloon festival!!

Each year around this time, my friend Debbie talks about leaving at break of dawn on the first day of the Great Falls Balloon Festival to photograph the 6am launch. She has been to this event before, but never in the morning. So this year we hit to hot top first thing in the morning with cameras in tow and iced coffees in the console and we were off.

Did I mention it was early?

We got there a around 5:30am and people were already getting ready!

We walked around and checked out some of the equipment.

At 6:09a a fog horn blared and all the pilots gathered and watched the black balloon. Someone releases a black balloon and all the pilots track its progress, they also talk about the weather and then use a bunch of balloon terms I don't understand.

Then it was time to initiate the launches! First, they use fans to get air into the balloons.

Then they use FIRE to get the balloons off the ground!

This year's theme is "Critters in the Clouds" so these two guys and little lady fit right in.

Some of the other balloons.

After the initial launch, we ran to the bridge where the balloons were flying by.

Imagine driving to work and seeing this in your path!

How do you like my vantage point here?

Two balloons or one?

This is what it looked like on the other side of the bridge.

Flying overhead.

Some pilots lowered their balloons to touch the water - it's amazing the amount of control they have!

Fun with photoshop :-D

I am so happy I dragged my sorry beehind out of bed this morning to go to this. It was awesome, it was free and it is something I would highly recommend. If you are looking for something to do this weekend make the trek to Lewiston and watch these take off! If you have kids, they will love it too. I can't wait to bring Miss. E next year!

For more information on the event click here.

Happy Friday!

Camp Road Etiquette

2011-08-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted this as a facebook status:

"Attention Flatlanders: The first rule in camp road etiquette is "wave back when waved to" - it doesn't mean I want to invite you over for dinner, it is a simple friendly gesture. If you don’t take note of this rule, for the rest of the summer I will address you with a different, more direct, hand gesture."

23 people 'liked' it. I think that is an all time record for people 'liking' one of my updates, or at least publicly admitting it. So I thought, what the heck, let's take it to the blog and list a few other bullet points.

1) Okay, we can all agree that first and foremost, wave when waved to.

2) Just because I drive a beat up rusty, trusty Subaru and you have a shiny something or rather, that doesn't give you the right to take up the entire road. Yeah I know, it's a bit more narrow than your I-93, but there is enough room for both of us to make it, trust me, there is. Now move ovah!

3) Don't park in my driveway. I don't care that you are only taking up 27% of my opening to the road, it's still my driveway. Perhaps you should have done a little research on the parking situation before dropping $250K on your 'camp'.

4) Oh, and tell all your friends they can't park on my driveway or the side of my land either, that's so annoying! How would you like it if someone double parked at the end of your driveway??

5) Ohhhh this one really gets to me. Firecrackers. Really?!! Last night, which was a Sunday I might add, 11:32 PM I am woken up by firecrackers popping next door. Are you kidding me!! Not only is that totally unacceptable, but inconsiderate to those of us who are not on vacation and have to work in the morning.

6) Don't put your trash in my dumpster! Unless you want to tape a $20 and a thank you note to the side of our CMD trash bin, don't bother! You can buy trash bags at the local store like everyone else and leave your trash at the end of the road on Tuesday night.

7) Fires. What is about being at camp that makes people want to start a fire? It's is 98 degrees outside! Think about your neighbor that just hung two loads of laundry out on the line to dry, she doesn't want to sleep in a bed that smells like burnt hot dogs.

Obviously, I can go on and on ... Please tell me I am the only one out there who has these issues June-September?? If you have an additions to the Camp Road Etiquette "Book" I have going on here, please leave a comment!!

Maine Children Photography

2011-08-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

Plato once said "Of all the animals, the boy is most unmanageable." I think he was on to something there. I don't have any sons of my own, but I did have two brothers growing up and boy oh boy were they full of it! Which brings me to my latest photography session with these two little guys.

I had the pleasure of photographing these two brothers and this picture sums up most of the shoot.

Busy, busy, busy!! But most of all, absolutely adorable! Mom's lock up your daughter's because these boys are going to be breakin' a lot of hearts in the next 12-15 years!!

How cute are their matching shirts!! And love the hat!!

Look at that FACE!

This is one of my favorite photos from the day.

Oh and this one.

This one too...

What a little ham!

And I had to sneak one in that included their beautiful Mom.

Friday's Question

2011-08-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

I believe in:

Eating dinner together as a family,
Mowing the lawn every weekend,
Little girls looking like little girls,
Kids playing outside,
Treating people the way you would like to be treated,
Dancing, even when all your friends beg you not to,
Date nights with your husband.

To name a few.... Which leads me into this week's question:

What do you believe in?

Wall Worthy

2011-08-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted about a project and that is mostly due to the fact that it has been a while since I actually completed one! That's not to say that I don't have a few laying around the house (I actually have a small quilt taking up my dining room table as I type that I should really be working on... but between me, you, and this monitor, I sort of hit a snafu and am waiting for it to magically work itself out).

Here is a small project that I actually started and completed during one nap time. It involves one super sonically ugly frame with some pictures I took back when I thought I was going to be the next star photographer for National Geographic (orrrr something).

The frame came off the wall long ago and has since been kicked around from closet to closet. There were a few cuts and bruises, but with a little TLC, I knew one day, it would be worth displaying again.

"Brought back to life with what exactly, because it's looking like pretty banged up?"

With what else!? Spray paint!! Sigh... I thought there would be an instant attraction between myself and the indoor/outdoor spray paint. However anything that advertises itself to be "Exceptionally Smooth" should also come with a disclaimer to "proceed with caution"! First of all it is messy!

It has a tendency to drip like the nose on a teething toddler.

And, like George Clooney, attracts any and everything that happens to fly by.

Disaster!! Luckily for me and Martha Stewart, there are TWO SIDES to every story.

With the a twist of the rist, I went from novice spray painter to semi-expert and was ready to commence on the spray paintage.

I let the frame dry, reassembled, added in a few new pieces of art and wallah!! My once beat up picture frame is once again wall worthy!

Happy Wednesday!

One Track Mind

2011-08-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

Fishing. Not something I would drag my butt out of bed at 5am for, not something I would list as an interest on facebook, and certinetly nothing I would look forward to. My husband on the other hand... Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, he has a one track mind! So from time to time, we all go fishing.

Now don't get me wrong, I love to sit in the boat while soaking in some UV rays. Back in the day we used to spend hours and hours on local lakes, ponds, and rivers. He would fish, I would lay back with a good book, the both of us would be happy. Notice how I said 'back in the day'. These days, there is a new captain in town.

Usually she jumps from one thing to another; one minute she wants to drive, the next she wants to lay on the floor, touch the water, play with the fishing rods, but on this particular day, like her father she had a one track mind.

This bobber. She HAD to have it with her the entire trip. "Bobbah, Bobbah??" It was (is) disgusting, I am pretty sure those are worm guts, but whatever, it kept her entertained for 1.5 revolutions around the lake.

I hate to admit it, but I too had a one track mind on this particular trip.

Wouldn't these Dave Davis fishing lures make fabulous earrings? Maybe a little much for earrings, so how about a pendant? Seriously, I could not stop thinking about it. My plan is to wait until open water fishing season is over, swipe two of these from the tackle box, attach a couple of earring hooks and see if my husband notices.

Although the boat contained three minds in three different places the most important thing is, is that we were there together!

Happy Monday!

Sneak Peek

2011-07-31T11:34:00.000-07:00

Boy it's been a busy photography weekend! I photographed two handsome fellas on Friday, had a wedding yesterday and today is a day for relaxin'... well sort of... EJB is napping and I have begun going through the all the photographs I have snapped in the last few days - WOW, I really do like to take pictures, I am going to be here for a while...

Well, here are a couple that I have to share right away, how adorable are these brothers!!

Hope you all are enjoying the weekend!

Over the River

2011-07-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago my husband and I packed up the truck, loaded the Jeep on the trailer and we were headed. Headed where you may ask, well Up Naaath (for those of you unfamiliar with that term, we went Up North.)

We went to a place in Maine where some people do not have indoor plumbing, or electricity, but boy oh boy do they have some good cell phone service.

Ever since I found out that the American Logger's opened up a restaurant in Millinocket I have wanted to go. If you don't know what American Logger's is/are, then that means you probably don't know what the Deadliest Catch, Ax Men, or Swamp Loggers is either, and to be honest that disappoints me just a little. American Logger's is a Reality Show on the Discovery Channel that highlights a Maine family and their logging business. It's quite entertaining and I think you should tune in if the opportunity presents itself.

Once we arrived at the place we were staying, we unloaded the Jeep and hit the high road to Millinocket.

I kid you not, this is the road we took.

Luckily, we brought tha Jeep!!

While over the river and through the woods, we saw some nice scenery.

Once we hit the tar road, we found this amazing store that is open 8 days a week!!

Talk about a convenience!

Finally we arrived at our destination!

I must say that I was a little surprised at the location of the establishement. For some reason I envisioned the building in the middle of a log yard, well it's not, it's right off a Main Street.

The inside is really nice, they have chainsaws all over the place as well as old logging pictures covering the walls. I wish I would have taken a picture; but the bathrooms are labeled Lumber Jack and Lumber Jill - I love that idea and am pondering replicating them and then hanging them over the his and hers sinks in my bathroom... (thoughts?)

The food was very good, the beer was very cold, and they were super creative when naming the food in their menu so this place gets a B+ in my food book. If it would have been smack dap in the middle of a log yard and if there would have been a pine candle burning somewhere, it would have received an A+!!

Happy Friday!!

Friday's Question

2011-07-22T14:50:00.001-07:00

What is your favorite summer beverage??

Friday's Question

2011-07-15T10:18:00.001-07:00

What is your all time favorite TV sitcom?

Dinner Plans

2011-07-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

The room was silent except for the sound of sizzling cube steak in the cast iron skillet, the room was filled with the warm glow from the unscented pillar candles on the table, rose petals scattered up the stairs, through the kitchen, leading toward the table that was draped with the finest linen minimum wage could buy. I poured myself another glass of wine from the box in the fridge and waited anxiously for my husband to get home. SCREECH! HUH!??! Who just wrote that?? I don't eat cube steak!! HAHA!!

Remember those days when you simply cooked dinner. You cooked what ever you felt like, you cooked it when ever you were hungry, ate it in silence, or perhaps you watched the news, put your dishes in the sink and that was it. Just like brushing your teeth, you don't plan it, you don't look forward to it, you probably don't even remember the details of the event the next day. BUT, and that is a big BUT, when you have kids, what was once just another task you did to get though the day, all of a sudden is a major production.

First of all, you have guests to attend to, many of them show up unexpected and sit in other people's assigned seats.

Which is a huge inconvenience; as it leads to increased mobility and greater access to distractions.

You remove the distractions and think for 3.6 seconds your dinner will once again resume.

That is until... someone else shows up.

Now, you have to be concerned with the unsanitary sharing of food.

And then you realize that two seconds ago she was dipping her snot in the ketchup and think, oh what the heck!

Dinner around here is nothing short of a chore. What was once a simple, mindless task, now requires our full attention. "Amy, just make her sit there and eat it, you are the boss." Yes, I know, I have told myself this a million times, but then I see this and we are right back to square one.

As frustrating as it can be, at least I remember the event in the morning and often share the story with co-workers the next day. One way or another she eats, my husband eats, I eat, even the dog eats and life is good!

Happy Monday!

Cake Pops!

2011-07-02T03:59:00.000-07:00

Cake Pops! If you never heard of them, let me be the one to introduce you. They are a delectable combination of cake and frosting, covered in chocolate, need a say more? I first heard of cake pops a year or so ago when I started following Bakerella, this lady makes ah-may-zing cake pops, she decorates them so beautifully, she even has a book filled with all kinds of fun cake pop ideas. I have read about her book on her blog, but when I was at A.C. Moore buying the ingredients for my own cake pops, I actually saw her book on the shelf, how cool is that! But I got this recipe from my friend Angie at work!

Cake pops are a simple combination of cake, any kind of cake, and frosting, any kind of frosting, covered with chocolate, any kind of chocolate. Below are the simple directions on how to make your own cake pops.

First, gather all your ingredients:

1 Box of Cake Mix
1 Tub of Frosting
Melting Chocolate
Sprinkles
Small Baking Cups
Lollipop Sticks

Prepare and bake cake mix as directed:

Well Hello there Little Friend.

While the cake is still warm, break it up into 100,255,000 pieces and place into a large mixing bowl. On top of your now mashed up cake, dump the entire can of frosting on top. I know, I know, it looks kind of gross, unless you are on your 16th day of your menstrual cycle, then this looks irresistible. Am I right ladies?? Haha!

Now mix the cake and frosting together until you get sort of a 'mush' mixture.

I used a small ice cream scoop to scoop out the cake balls. I put them all on a large cutting board, once they were all lined up, I used my hands and rolled them smooth.

Once they are all rolled and smooth, stick a lollipop stick into each one. Place them in the freezer long enough to cook, serve, and clean up supper, work through a two year old's temper tantrum, a 36 year old's temper tantrum, a bath, dishes, two loads of laundry, book time, bed time, and two sips of wine - a.k.a. 3 Hours.

Before removing your cake pops from the freezer, melt the chocolate that you will use to coat the pops with. I haven't experimented enough to know, but I assume any kind of chocolate will work.

Once you have everything melted, take each pop, one by one, and dip until you can't dip no more!

If you plan on sprinkling anything on to the pops, I found that it was best to do so right away. Because the cake is frozen, it doesn't take long for the melted chocolate to set.

After everything is decorated, display and devour!

See how easy these are!! Well, actually they are a bit time consuming, but trust me, they are worth the effort. If you want more ideas on what you can do with these, check out Bakerella's web-site, I provided a link on top and if you look over to the right there is another link there. If your creative juices are following, you could do some really cute cake pops for the 4th of July. Just think, white chocolate drizzled with blue and red chocolate, or sprinkled with stars, OR you could do little flags on each one!!

The possibilities are endless. If you try these on your own, let me know how it went and what you did with them!

Happy Birthday!

2011-07-01T04:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my little pal,

my little side kick, shadow, and favorite gal.

730 days I have been with you,

each day learning something new.

Today you are one year older,

another chapter complete in your baby folder.

You make me so happy and proud,

just like me, funny and loud.

I look forward to the years to come,

Daddy, You and Me will have so much fun.

You are the apple of my two green eyes,

enjoy your day peanut pie.

What a difference a year makes huh?!

Rick & Tessa - Family Session

2011-06-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

Back in December I posted on facebook and on this blog about a Free Photography Giveaway. I wanted to give away a free session to someone who would never hire someone to take their pictures or could never afford to have them done. I was shocked when I received eight truly heartwarming nominations - WOW! I was thinking I would get one... maybe three if my Mom nominated herself twice - hehe, just kidding Mom. But there was one that really pulled at my heart stings and had me at "He is a single Dad to a beautiful young girl" This nomination came from Jenn and I knew right away this was the one! To read Jenn's nomination click here.

On Father's Day, I traveled to the home of Rick and Tessa. Rick lost his wife, Tessa's mother, just three short years ago to cancer. Rick is a single Dad, and from what I could see in just two hours, is doing an amazing job. He is raising a spunky, independent, warm, friendly and incredibly funny little lady. I had so much fun getting to know both Tessa and Rick, it truly was an honor to be able to photograph these two together.

Here are a few of my favorites from the day!

I love the flare captured in this picture.

A-dorable!

I don't know exactly what it is about this photograph, but it is my favorite one of the day!

I saw this car when I was photographing Tessa, I asked her to stand next to it. She squealed and said "No WAY!!", surprised I asked "why not?", she exclaimed that Woodchuck lived under it! YIKES!

So when Dad came out, I asked about the validity of the 'woodchuck claim' and was pleasantly surprised when I was informed that little problem had been "taken care of a while ago" YES!

Woodchuck - 0, Photographer - 1

I am so glad I doubled back to the car, because I was able to get these!

Move over Tessa, it's Daddy's turn!

I don't care who you are - this picture is AWESOME!

Rick, thank you so much for welcoming me into your home and letting me photograph you and your daughter. You are raising one remarkable young lady, who loves you to the moon and back.

Happy Tuesday!

That's What Friends Are For

2011-06-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

Friend’s; they are great to talk to, laugh with, and have fun with. The song says “In good times, in bad times I'll be on your side forever more Oh, that's what friends are for.” Now that’s all warm and fuzzy, but let’s talk about what Friends are really for!

They are for telling you not to wear that strapless dress because your back fat is hanging off the sides. They are good for telling you when your shirt tag is up, that your kid is being a brat, and suggesting next time you don’t go so ‘blonde’ with the hair color. Although I saw a picture of myself last summer, when I was in my blonde…let’s call it ‘phase’, and I have to wonder where the h-e-double hockey sticks my friends were alllll summer. Seriously girls, NOT FUNNY!

They are there to tell you what no one else will. I was at a work lunch not too long ago and one of my co-workers had a piece of his spinach salad adhered to his left incisor. Now let me say that I was by FAR the youngest, most underpaid, and probably under appreciated person sitting at that table, but I was the ONLY one with enough decency to let him know that Popeye called and wanted his spinach back. We have all done it; enjoyed a nice dinner with friends, excused yourself to the rest room only to find a piece of pepper between your two front teeth, or worse a booger hanging off the side of your nostril. Then you have to do the walk of shame back to your table and act like nothing happened all while wondering, why the heck didn’t anyone tell me?!! Don’t let your friend be that person, because next time you could be that person.

If there were more ‘friends’ in the world there would be less:

1) Adults with mohawks

2) E-mails titled “The People of Wal*Mart”

3) People driving PT Cruisers

4) Karaoke Bars
So there, the next time you see your BFF walk out of the house, tell her she has two different flip flops on, tell her that she has a bad case of static cling, and let her know her five year old sent you a friend request on facebook! Tell your friends what YOU would want to know. Because that my friend; is what friends are for.

Saturday Morning At Our House.

2011-05-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

I haven't done a post like this since October! WOW, time goes by fast. Here is a small documentary series of Sweet Pea's morning.

I took off my pj's while Mommy made a coffee.

With my pj's no longer restricting me; I climbed a chair.

Or two.

I ate a waffle and got sticky syrup all over me so I got to take a bath!

Then I played outside with Daddy and my doggie!

One of my friends had a really fun birthday party where we got to bounce all over things.

I was a little hesitant at first...

But that didn't last long!

I had a blast and fell sleep as soon as Mommy strapped me in my car seat!

As I was working on this post, Taylor Swift's song, Never Grow Up started playing on my itunes and for a second there I stopped typing, stared at these images and almost started crying. Can you believe that someday, some boy will break this little girls heart, some mean girl will make fun of her, some co-worker will say something behind her back? Ahhh, if she would only stay this little...

"You got nothing to regret, I'd give all I have, honey If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up, Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up, It could stay this simple"

Happy Saturday!

Wondering Why

2011-05-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder why?? I wonder why people do the following:

Drive mini-vans when they don't have kids.
Jay walk and then don't give you a 'thank you' wave after you slammed on your brakes, saving their lives.
Have more kids than they can afford.
Order a coffee with more cream and sugar in it than coffee.
Kiss their dogs on the mouth.
Talk to their 5 year olds like they are 1 while talking about themselves in the third person "Mommy said..."
Go to Target completely by-pass Starbucks!
Don't mow their lawns.
Go shopping in their pj's.
Prohibit their wife from turning up the heat in months May-October!

Anything you would like to add?

Momma, TOP IT!

2011-05-13T09:49:00.001-07:00

Today IT happened. I knew it would happen one day, I just wasn't expecting it to come so soon. Looking back, I can't believe I was so naive to think it would never happen to me, but it did.
It all went down on our way home from daycare. The drive began like every other ride home with some bribing to get into the car, followed by 'can you hold on to this' in an effort to divert attention away from yet another car seat strapping in battle, lastly a package of fruit snacks was opened, I started the car and we were homeward bound. I turned on radio and wouldn't you know it, one of my favorite songs was just beginning, so what did I do? What any other music lovin' Momma would do; I cranked it up!! I looked in my rear view mirror to see my little beat-boppin baby nodding her head in rhythm with the music. That's my girl!!

I wait for the intro to finish and then knowing what is coming next, wait for it, wait for it... "She's a hot little number in her pick up truck, Daddy's sweet money done..." When all of a sudden, I am interrupted by my little baby beat in the back seat yelling "No!!" I look in the mirror expecting to see something amiss, to my surprise everything looks good, so I continue "She's a raging cajun, a lunatic from
Brunswick, juicy Georgia..." when I am interrupted again "NOOOOOO!!" Whhhhat!?!? I think to myself and look in the mirror, only this time that little head that was once bouncing up and down to the beat of the music is now thrashing side to side! "What?" I ask. Her reply was a loud drawn out "NOOO" complete with her little index finger pointed... at me. I look ahead assuming she is pointing at something in the windshield, but the only thing I see is a pothole ridden road. I pick up where I left off "She's country, from the songs she plays to the prayers she prays," for the third time I am rudely interrupted, only this time with a "Momma, TOP IT!"

GASP!!

There must be some confusion here; my own flesh and blood could not possibly be telling me to... I can't even type it... stop singing! She loooves my singing, I mean who doesn't? Okay, so I can immediately think of a few dozen people who don't, but my own daughter?! NO! So I test her one more time "She's all about the..." Yep, cut off again by a blood curdling scream from the back seat and just like that, like stone around a patio, I am crushed.

I guess this is pay back as I can think of a few times when I told my Mom to stop singing, but I was like 8 and she was being totally embarrassing. I mean, what if the complete strangers in the next car over heard her?? And now look at me, I have a two year old who can't even recite the alphabet and probably never will because I am not allowed to sing to her and she is already telling me to stop singing. Sigh...

Looking Forward

2011-05-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

A few Friday's ago, I posted the question "What are you looking forward to?", I received a few responses, one in particular was from Carolina from The Muse of the Day who said: "Amy - don't you think YOU should comment as well and answer your own question? I, for one, would like to know your answer. Carolina" Well, Carolina, your wish is my command and here, in no particular order, are some things I am looking forward to.

The End of Black Fly Season:

Seeing this bike surrounded by flowers:

My bee-hind plopped in one of these on Moosehead Lake:

(these are boat seats)

My husband making up his mind; charcoal or gas?

EJB growing into shoes that I can borrow:

An upcoming Birthday Party and BBQ!!

Watching more memory making miles rack up on this truck:

When the motor from this truck:

Goes into this truck, so my driveway no longer looks like a

used junk truck lot...

Meeting my new baby niece:

Beginning a new project:

So there, in no particular order are somethings I am looking forward to. The only down side to looking forward to something is that we are, in a since, wishing time away. I heard this great quote from the turtle in Kung Fu Panda (I can't remember his name) which really struck a cord with me and is mildly appropriate for this post.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present."

Enjoy today and everyday! Happy Tuesday!

Hugs & Shrugs, Mother's Day Edition

2011-05-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

HUGS: 1) No longer needing an excuse to buy Handi-Snacks! 2) Pats on the back; when they come from your child it's reassurance you are doing a good job, 3) The reason I get to celebrate this day; my beautiful, funny, talented, sometimes manipulating, smart, wonderful, the best thing that has ever happened to me, daughter!

SHRUGS: 1) No matter how big or how small, never, never, never being able to finish a cup of coffee, 2) Baby/toddler socks; seriously where do they all go??, 3) Rips in the diaper genie bags... when a rip has ripped, my entire house smells like a State Park outhouse on the hottest day in August!

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful, wonderful, amazing Mom's that read my blog!

What is That?!

2011-04-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

So I am going to come clean as to where I have been the last couple of weeks. I wish I would be confessing the GPS coordinates of a top secret tropical island or that I could type that I hit the Powerball and have been shopping my life away, but I haven’t. For the last three weeks, I have been on a roller coaster ride I hope none of you ever have to pay admission for.

Some of you already know what I am going to type, you found our through me or from someone who thought it was their story to tell, some of you will be reading the details for the first time, I am sorry that I didn’t call you and tell you myself, but the thought making more than three calls having to tell this story over and over and tell you ‘I don’t know’ to all your questions, was and is too much to bear. So here I go.

Three weeks ago I made an appointment with my Dr. to discuss some pain I have been experiencing in my left knee. Back in high school I had two knee surgeries to remove loose bodies, so naturally I internally concluded this was the same issue, I would need a simple day surgery to have them removed, I would be out of commission for a couple days, and that would be it. My Dr. seemed to agree and referred me to the same Orthopedic Dr who performed my last two surgeries. The following week I had an appointment with the Orthopedic who reviewed my chart, felt around my knee cap, asked about my pain, which I described as a dull pain I would feel behind my knee cap when climbing stairs, sometimes when I walked, and definitely when I was shaking my groove thing with Miss. E in the living room.

He too had pretty much reached the same conclusion I had, but sent me for an x-ray just the same. So I moseyed on over to the next room and had some x-rays done. Went back into his room to review them (I have to chime in here and just comment on how awesome that is, instant x-rays!). So we sat there together and looked at the x-rays on the monitor. He kept zooming in on what looked like a ‘whiter’ spot on my bone. I asked ‘”what’s that?” to which he responded “I don’t know, but I am going to send you for an MRI so we can find out.” Still no reason to pull the alarm, so we scheduled the MRI for that Friday and scheduled a follow up to go over the MRI for the following week.

So the following week comes and next thing I know it’s time for my follow up appointment. I get out of bed the same way I do everyday, get ready, drop E off at daycare, my car breaks down in the driveway at daycare, I catch a ride in town with one of the Mom’s from daycare, and I am sitting at the Dr.’s office waiting for them to call my name. I sit there mad at my car, cursing my decision to wear shirt I put on, wondering whether or not I took the chicken out of the freezer before I left, how am I going to get home, and then they call my name.

I enter the same little room I was in before and the same Dr. comes in, looks at me and goes “why are you here”, haha not really, but I tell him and he logs on the computer and brings up my MRI. I am sitting beside the computer monitor and am trying to look at the screen out of the corner of my eye. Now, I am no bone doctor, but what I saw on that screen I knew… was not right and by the way he scratched his head and kept clicking on the screen, I knew the thought the same thing.

So I asked what any of you would have asked, ‘what is that?!’ what he responded with ripped the stomach out of my body and smacked me upside the face with a 2”X6”. “You have a tumor in your femur bone.” He went on to talk about the location of the tumor in my bone, biopsy, and then he used the “C” word... it's all fun and games until someone pulls out the "C" word. No, not that “C” word, jesh, you kiss your Momma with that mouth!! Cancer.

Just like that, done, D.O.N.E.. I was done. Checked out, bill please… Just like that, my world changed forever - cancer. In that split second I couldn’t have told you what I had on, what kind of car I drove (or didn’t drive) and if you asked me about supper I would have just stared at you totally blank. Cancer.

After I came back to, I heard the Dr. say that he was going to refer me to another Orthopedic in his office for a second opinion because to be quite frank, he said he hasn’t seem many of these. Gave me my papers and I walked out of the office. (yes, I made arrangements to get back to work and thankfully my Mom drove me home after work.)

I said this earlier, I am no Dr. but if I was, after telling a patient they have a tumor in their bone, I would immediately contact their internet service provider and insist on their internet connection be terminated until a proper diagnosis has been made. In a time like that, google + finger tips = the devil!

I had an appointment with the second Orthopedic who went over the MRI with me and gave me some more information. He did point out that the tumor had a nice black ‘wall’ around it, which indicated that it was slow growing and that cancerous tumors typically have ‘tentacles’ that reach out. Mine didn’t have any of that - phew! After seeing the MRI for the second time on the screen, it sort of erased any of the denial I had been experiencing in the days before. Your mind plays crazy games on you… maybe they got the MRI mixed up with someone else, cancer - that doesn’t happen to ME, only to someone’s step-mom’s cousin in Utah. I have a birthday party to plan in couple months, OMG my hair is going to fall out, I can't miss my daughter's wedding… seriously you can only imagine.

This past Tuesday I had a needle biopsy performed and after two painfully long days received the results of my biopsy. I am so happy to type I do NOT have cancer. My eyes fill with tears of joy and despair of what it could have been. This one hit way too close to home. Now I am still not out of the woods yet, I have another follow up appointment this week to see what my options are, I have already been warned that one of the options is major surgery that could put me out for 6-8 months, which will stink. But you know what, ANYTHING ANYTHING ANYTHING will be better than what it could have been.

Side Note: I really debated whether or not to type about this on my blog (of all places), but I wanted to set the record straight and update you on what is going on in my life. Maybe you have had something similar happen to you or someone you know, maybe you can e-mail me and we can chat about it. The older I get, I am finding out that I am never alone, someone is/has/or will go through similar things I experience, maybe this is one of them. This is not going away overnight, so I will warn you now that you may see some more posts about this. In the mean time, go live your life, hug your baby a little tighter, tell you husband/wife that you love them, call your grandparents and tell them what you did this week (they would love it), take 10 minutes out of TODAY and do something you WANT to do. Life is too short to do anything else.

Friday's Question

2011-04-22T07:05:00.001-07:00

What is your favorite part of Easter?

Friday's Question

2011-04-15T05:15:00.001-07:00

What are you looking forward to?

First Best Friends

2011-04-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

Most of my fondest memories growing up were created with a little help from my cousins. I am lucky in the sense that I have many cousins; in all age groups. I have some that are many years older than me, some are around my own age, and then I have some that are young enough to be my children. Cousins are the best!

Cousins made camping, snow days, summer vacations, Christmas, sleepovers, and Sunday school FUN! Ahhh, we had so much fun. My brothers and I grew up right down the road from some of our cousins, we did everything together, I don’t think I have a single memory from ages 5-12 where they were not in it. We lived on the same camp road and knowing that at any time of the day, they were willing to meet us half way, was awesome!

Many years later I find myself living, once again, on a camp road not far from my sister and brother-in-law and my niece and nephew, aka Miss. E's COUSINS!! Sweet Pea is getting to the age where she loves, loves, loves playing with all her cousins and now that she is upright and mobile, her cousins love, love, love to play with her. It is so fun to watch them play, it brings me back (ah-hem) many years ago when I would play with my cousins... I can't help but to smile when I think of the memories they will create in the years to come.

Cousins are the best!

They make the best play pals.

They are the best keepers of inside jokes.

They teach you new things.

They are encouraging.

They are there to give you that little push you need.

They are your best cheerleaders.

They are your first best friends.

Happy Sunday!

Plop, Drop, and Kurplop

2011-03-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a glass jar that sat on a shelf above my washer and dryer. Everyday, pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and the occasional one dollar bill would plop, drop, and kurplop in the jar. The loot would mound with each passing day. After a few months the cha ching would spill over the sides of the jar! Antsy as a 4 year old ready to tear open her birthday presents, I would bring the container into the kitchen to dump my reward all over the table and then I would commence to Rollllll… Rolllll… Roll up my laundry loooot! Yep, every couple of months I would roll anywhere between $75-100 of ME money. That’s right, some call it pocket change, I would call it a facial!

That was until… someone in the house got a real piggy bank…

Darn piggy bank is cutting into the only thing that motivates me to do the laundry. But I have to admit, since this pig was carried into the house and devoured its first $.57 of MY pocket change, it has been so much fun watching Miss. E learn how 1) beg for money and 2) to put the change in the money slot.

Each night when my husband gets home, one of the first things he does is empty out his pockets on the counter. She will be in the other room and come running out at the first sound of change hitting the surface. She will run up to him, hands spread out, and will go "money, money" which sounds like "honey, honey" it is simply the best (boy that's my second Tina Turner music quote of this post, was anyone else counting?). Then watching her run to the piggy bank and concentrate on putting the tiny piece of change into the equally tiny money slot, is priceless.

opt, I dropped it...

oh man... where did it go?

got it!

See what I mean? Too cute to be jealous right? I guess I can go another 16 years until my next facial.

Happy Tuesday!

Cookie + Another Cookie = Amazing

2011-03-22T17:10:00.000-07:00

One of the best wedding gifts I received is not sitting on a shelf, hanging on a wall, or accumulating interest in some bank, but can be found in the Betty Crocker Cookbook, Bridal Edition (B.C.B.E.). Located on page 146 is the best Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe I have ever used. It wasn’t until about a year ago when I found this recipe and it forever changed my life… You see, in the past I have tried baking chocolate chip cookies, but they have never been easy on the palette. They have either come out too hard, too flat, too crumbly, or just plain too gross! So for years I forwent feeding my trash can another batch of cookies and resorted to the practical refrigerated cookie dough you can buy at the store. No complaints, they were good. They got the job done, but I longed for something more.

So a year ago I opened my B.C.B.E. cookbook and while perusing the cookie section I saw a “Learn with Betty - Softening Butter" tutorial on page 138. Come to find out the secret to the perfect cookie is all in the BUDDAH! Yep, the butter. I had always thought that the term ‘softened’ butter meant melted butter, PFFF, I was such a novice back then. Come to find out ‘softened’ means like soft to the touch - DUH! I flipped a few more pages and on page 146 spotted THE Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe that is exactly what my taste buds have been longing for and my jeans have been dreading!

I make this cookie at least once a month, sometimes I make too many and send a batch or five to daycare with my daughter, other times I share the calories at work, and every once in a while I will hoard the entire loot for myself - hehehe!

I saw in a blog where they had baked a chocolate chip cookie on top of an Oreo and thought "I have to try that." So this weekend I did. And this is how it went down.

PLUS

Followed by a little scoop of dough on top of an Oreo:

For the record, eating them like the picture above is equally as satisfying as waiting until they are baked. Trust me... I know.

Put them in the oven for 13-14 minutes and this is what will be staring you right in the face:

Walah! Put them in a tupperware dish, bring them to work and your status among your co-workers goes from zero to hero before you even log into your e-mail.

Okay, Okay, I know you are all dripping in drool for the B.C.B.E. recipe, so here it is:

Pre-heat oven at 375.

3/4 c. granulated sugar

3/4 c. packed brown sugar

1 cup butter - softened (which means soft to the touch)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 bag of chocolate chips

Beat sugars, butter, vanilla, and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt (dough will be stiff). Stir in chocolate chips. Bake for 8-10 minutes. BUT if you are going to try making these with the Oreo's, you need to bake them for about 13-14 minutes or until the cookie oozes over the Oreo.

Happy Monday!

Friday's Question

2011-03-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

What is your favorite fruit?

Just because they are covered in decadent milk chocolate, does not compromise the fact that underneath all that silky smooth cocoa this a fruit!

"irdies, irdies!"

2011-03-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

Excuse me, but where in the world does time go? My baby is going to be two in three months and I am having a hard time beleiving that is possible! The other day I realized it has been a while since I have taken Miss. E's pictures, so on a whim, I dressed her up in a cute little dress, placed her hair in adorable little pig tails, transformed my house into a instant 'studio' and I was ready to shoot! Unfortunately, I was the only one in the mood for doing pictures. Photographing children can be challenging, photographing your OWN child IS challenging, especially when you are in your home.

You see at home, there are distractions... such as the dog, the TV, her Tickle Me Elmo doll who spontaneously combusts in hysterical laughter at any given time of the day... which for the record is NOT hysterical to anyone over the age of 20 months! Pretty much anything can be a deal breaker for a little ole' Mom with a camera trying to capture her daughter before her second birthday.

So I got smart and turned the TV off and shuffled the dog downstairs, I was in the clear right? WRONG!

While I was busy taking care of the distractions, my little photographer in training found a new model for me to photograph. I thought 'huh, child's play', so I appeased her and took some picture of the doll.

After each click of the shutter she would grab at my camera to see the image and would laugh at what she saw. Having taken almost 30 pictures, it was now time for Mommy to take charge, so in my most excitable Mommy voice I said 'how about YOU go sit with your baby and Mommy will take a picture!!!' It worked!! She walked over and sat down with her baby, but not before fixing baby's posture.

FINALLY!! I got her sitting there, looking at me, and smiling. Snap, Snap, Snapping away until...

Down goes baby E, down goes my background, down went the camera... But I was determined not to let his rustel my game. I quickly sprang on my feet, picked up the baby, fixed my very sophisticated studio and was ready to keep shooting. But who was I trying to kid, at this point, she was done, I was close to being done, and her hair... well it was definetly done.

So we called it quits. As I was putting everything away, some birds flew up on the deck and I heard baby E screaming 'irdies, irdies' so I picked her up and we watched them flutter around outside the window. She looked so beautiful gazing out the window, eyes wide with excitement and wonder. So I put her down and grabbed my camera. Luckily for me, when I came back the birds were still there and I was able to snap this picture. It's not posed, it certainly was not planned, it just happened and it is my favoirte picture of our whim shoot.

Happy Saturday!

Friday's Question

2011-03-11T06:11:00.000-08:00

What is your biggest pet peeve!?

Yeah, how gross are those. Nothing irks me more than driving down the road and seeing the person in front of me flick their used butt out the window. How come you don't put that thing out in your car's ash tray, it is because it is disgusting and will stink up your car. Ohhhh, okay I get it. So throw it out your window and litter on the ground. Or better yet, wait till you are at the Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru and bounce it off the side of the building before you get to the window. Seeing them trailing up to the window is such a nice addition to the landscape and nothing smells better than a wet cigarette butt.

Another Productive Nap Time!

2011-03-06T17:00:00.000-08:00

Instead of me typing to you a big long drawn out post about my latest little (nap time) project, I am going to let the pictures do all the talking.

In case any of you are wondering, the chair came from the same Great-Uncle who made the cute little baby cradle you read about here, and yes, I would consider special orders.

Happy Sunday!

Friday's Question

2011-03-04T04:57:00.000-08:00

What is your favorite game show?

What I am Reading

2011-03-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

As some of you may have noticed, I am a bit of a blog fanatic. Well, actually, as a matter of factly, I am getting better. I don't click on every link that links to a blog like I used to, but I still peruse a fair number of blogs on any given night of the week.

I found a few in the last couple of weeks that I particularly like and think you should, at the very least, click on the link and check them out.

One of my all time favorite blogs is Ashley's, Under the Sycamore. She posts everyday of the week and chronicles her life as a Mom to four busy children, wife, housekeeper, and DIY extraordinaire. If you are looking for a Mom blog you can relate to, check this one out. If you are looking for inspiration on projects to do this weekend, check this one out.

Then there is eighteen25. I found this one about three months ago and have been hooked ever since! The blog is run by three sisters, each more crafty than the next, they blog projects anyone can do and often contain supplies you actually have in your house and one of the best parts of the blog, is when they blog about a project, they often offer a free download, so your project looks just as fabulous as theirs do! They share recipes too, Oh and they offer giveaways, who doesn't love a giveaway every now and then!?

Another new addition to my blog list is Bakerella. Cool name right! I am still new to this blog, but have poked around a bit and this is one to definitely follow. They have neat how-to recipes where they photograph the baking step-by-step. I like looking at their photography and watching the recipe rise into something spectacular. This is one worth bookmarking fo sho!

May I also suggest you check out Kevin & Amanda. This blog is so much fun. They blog about photography, their two adorable dogs, recipes, and for those of you with photoshop or elements, they have free fonts! The fonts are really cute and fun to play around with, plus they are FREE! Oh and as you peek around the blog you will see that Amanda has a passion for everything sweet, you should see the places this girl travels to and the pictures of the sweets she eats!

Lastly, is a blog for an old high school friend, Lynn. She started her blog, The Coupon Crusader a few weeks ago. It is a blog on how to use coupons to their maximum potential - trust me, they have one! She also does posts on what products are on sale that week and how you can use them in conjunction with a coupon making the product pretty darn close to FREE! Oh, and did you know that if a store is having a great sale on an item, you have a coupon which makes the deal even better... well you get to the store and they are sold out of the product, did you know you could request a RAIN CHECK and they will honor the special AND your coupon (as long as it has not expired) when the item is back in stock? Neither did I till I read that in Lynn's blog. So go check it out here and learn more!

So what are you reading!

The Baby Cradle

2011-03-01T16:11:00.000-08:00

This summer, my husband's Great-Uncle made our daughter an adorable rocking cradle for her babies. It is adorable and she loves to use it, mostly to rock herself in, but none the less, she uses it all the time. I loved it from the moment I laid eyes on it.

He gave it to her unfinished and I knew this cradle had the potential to be a stand out. I didn't know exactly how I was going to make this structure a one of a kind, but I knew one day I would. Until the inspiration hit me, the cradle was placed in playroom with all her 58,986 other toys.

Then one day while at A.C. Moore, one of my favorite places on the planet for those of you taking notes, and noticed a whole section of Home Decor Rub Ons. I saw these and my mind took off from there.

Home Decor Rub Ons 4"X12"-Sherbert Dots

I thought, ohhh I can paint the cradle white and put these on the sides, so I grabbed two.... THEN I found myself in the unfinished wood section and found a wooden "E", THEN I went to the paint section and found a green paint that matched the dots perfectly, THEN I called my Mom and told her my grand plan, she said she had leftover primer and white paint, so THEN I stopped over at her house, picked up the primer and the paint, THEN went home, brought the cradle downstairs took out all my supplies and THEN... everything sat there.... for almost two months. No kidding. Isn't it funny how you can go from being super amped about a project and then just like that the inspiration is gone. Orr is that just me?

One night I went downstairs and under two inches of dust saw the poor little unfinished cradle sitting there with all my supplies. They looked abandoned and sad. So I went over and decided to at least start the project, I did a coat of primer, went on the computer for a little bit, then came back and applied the first coat of while paint. It looked pretty good and all of a sudden I could feel the excitement of the project beginning to amp up again.

Over the next few nights I applied another coat of white paint and did some touch ups, by the third night of the project I was ready for the Rub-Ons. Having never applied 'rub-on's, I was scuuuurd of them. What if they don't go on right, what if I tore one, what if they peel, what if, what if, what if - EKK?

But I was pleasantly surprised how well they transferred onto the wood and how good they looked.

Before I knew it I was a dot rubbing machine; one here, one over there, then I got super crazy and started cutting them in half and making it look like the dots were going off the wood. Yep, beleive it, I am that crazy annnnd that cool! Don't hate!

Once all my dots were dotted all over the cradle, I painted the wooden "E" and glued it on the end of the cradle. After the glue set, I picked up my masterpiece and thought "thereeeee, the potential has been released!" I am very pleased at how it turned out!

I pulled out the potential I knew was there all along. Now my daughter has a true, one of a kind, stand out of a crowd baby cradle. The kind of toy that cannot be mistaken or missed... or not.

Happy Tuesday!

A Drooly Ball of Cuteness

2011-02-27T11:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we received a special visit from our good friend Ed and his beautiful 4 month old daughter, baby S. Owww, a baby!!! Sweet Pea and I were so excited!! I was even more excited when the guys went downstairs to tinker on a truck and left ME to watch over this drooly ball of cuteness. EKK!

Ed and my husband have been friends since they were little kids, they grew up riding dirt bikes, four wheelers, pretty much anything with a throttle. When we found out him and Nancy were pregnant we were excited that our kids would have an opportunity to grow up together just like they did. When we found out they were having a girl we were even more excited!! One day my husband and I went shopping and he picked out a cute little outfit; a shirt with a motorcycle on it and a pair of cameo pants. He threw them in the cart and said 'that's for Ed's baby' I looked at him and said 'you know they are having a GIRL right', he said 'yeah, but Ed will think it is funny.' So we bought the outfit. You should have seen some of the looks I received at the baby shower when she opened it in front of everyone... let's just say I felt obligated to tell everyone the story you just read.
But he was right, Ed thought it was funny and when he took her jacket off yesterday, Guy was excited to see that she was wearing his outfit. She looked pretty happy about it too.

Look at that perfect skin!

How cute is this little hat!

Talking to me and Sweet Pea

Are we almost done??

Love the drool!!

Happy Sunday!

Friday's Question

2011-02-25T04:57:00.000-08:00

Name the Best Rock Band ever!

Hello Kitty & A Box of Crayons

2011-02-23T16:49:00.000-08:00

A few posts ago, I posted a few items Miss. E. received for Christmas that she is just ga-ga about. I have one more to share, this item has proved to be a creative outlet for my little sweet pea and a release of me, yes you read that right, a release of me, so I can get stuff done!

They are two simple items, each I am going to guess you too had growing up; a coloring book and a box of crayons. I don't know why, but when we came home Christmas day, I packed them away. Not really thinking it through, I put them up in her closet and thought when she is a little older we will take them out. It wasn't until a couple weekends ago, when she was tugging at my pant leg for attention that a light bulb went off and I thought "the crayons!". I sat her up in her highchair, opened the Hello Kitty coloring book and handed her a few crayons. I was astounded when she started coloring!! I have no idea why I stashed in her closet for the last two months?? Why didn't I think that my 20 month old would be interested in scribbling all over the faces of Hello Kitties. (sorry if that is not the proper terminology of Hello Kitty, but we are still stuck on The Wonder Pets, I am sure in just a few months, I will be you local subject matter expert on the Hello Kitty.)

Come to find out, she loves to color. She is mostly interested in getting more crayons, I only give her a few at a time, she will scribble with one then motion for me with her little hand for another. It is so fun to watch her experiment with the colors, watch her flip through the pages, with each one evaluating its artistic relevance before leaving her signature mark. Once she finds a worthy page she will scribble, color, grab at the paper, laugh, color, and then flip to another page.

I remember when my niece was little, my sister-in-law would mail me and my husband pictures that she had colored, I loved getting them in the mail and would hang them on my refrigerator for all to see. So after E was done with this session of coloring, I extracted a few of the most colorful pictures and mailed them to my parents.

So if you have a little one running around and you don't know what else to do to entertain them, grab some crayons and a coloring book, they will love it. I will warn you though, they will try, who am I kidding, they will EAT the crayons, throw the crayons, try to feed them to their dog, they will crumple the pages, rip out the pages and try, again with the kidding, they will EAT the paper.

But perhaps the best part of this whole experience has been for me. A learning experience that in her life, I should never underestimate her abilities, because she will, most likely, prove me wrong.

Happy Monday!

Sorry

2011-02-09T14:57:00.000-08:00

I know no explanation is needed, but I feel the need to apologize to the readers of this blog. I am sorry you keep checking in here looking for something and keep finding... nothing. So far this year, life has been hectic; I have started a new job and am trying with my best effort to be the best mom I can to a exceedingly busy toddler, trying to allot sometime in the day to catch up with my husband and let's not even talk about what this house looks like. So give me a couple weeks to get things under control, mostly my laundry pile, and between sweeping up dog hair, singing "the wheels on the bus go round and round" and making time each week for some 'us' time, I will start blogging again. I have a TON of pictures I need to work on and some great stories I need to put on this monitor.

Thank you for the continued support.
Peace Out A Town!

Hugs & Shrugs - Wellies & Dust

2011-01-30T16:17:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since we have done one of these, so here we go!

HUGS:
1) Makoto Ginger Dressing - Years ago there was this great little Japanese restaurant in town who had the BEST ginger dressing, it was so good I could have drank it by the glass. Unfortunately the place closed and ever since I have been longing for that sweet salty ginger glaze to once again coat my lettuce and shredded carrots. Well friends, that search has come to an end, my taste buds are once again graced with the tangy combination of soy sauce and ginger. Alas!

2) Yo Gabba Gabba - If you just said 'what the heck is a Yo Gabba Gabba', friends you are not alone. I have no idea, all I know is that it is on Nick Jr and my daughter LOVES IT!! It is on right around the time we get home at night and it entertains her long enough for me to figure out what I am cooking for supper.

3) My new L.L. Been Wellies - having endured 29 winters and mud seasons in Maine, this girl can appreciate a good rubber boot when she tries one on. I have 'invested' in cheaper more trendy rubber boots in the past and needless to say they have all left me, well my socks really, out to dry. They have all cracked, leaked, and tore around the treads, so this week, enough was enough. If you are looking for some good rubber boots, get yourself a pair of these. If they are a little too 'functional' looking for your taste, invest in some Wellie Warmers, they look adorable folded over the top of your boots, plus they are made of fleece inside!

SHRUGS:
1) Ladies in Wal*Mart who feel the need to tell their pregnant friend and everyone else at the check out line about their 17 hour labor. No body cares how long you were at 5cm and nobody, certainly not your pregnant girlfriend wants to hear about how many stitches it took to 'zip' you back up!! Yes, this really happened.

2) Dust - where do you come from anyway. Can't you just find somewhere else to hang out??

3) My iPod - which keeps freezing. I 'googled' a remedy the other day and when I did it resynced my ipod and my itunes and I lost 80% of my music, does anyone out there know what might be the issue causing it to freeze?!? Until a remedy is googled, commented, or suggested my once Hug of an iPod is permanently on the Shrug!

Happy Sunday

D.O.N.E. Done!

2011-01-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

D.O.N.E.! DONE! Yep, I am done, done with Old Man Winter. Old Man here is your bag, your boots, and your gloves, now don’t let the door hit you where the good lord spit ya! Yeah, I know, a post ago I was all about the snow. But that was over a week ago, before I started a new job 28 miles from my house, which I can only get to by driving on back roads. Yep O.V.A.H. it!

Specifically I am sick of the following, in no particular order:

- every time I hit the button to defrost my back windshield something interferes with my radio signal making every station sound like fingernails scratching on a chalkboard

- my window ‘scraper’ yeah, that thing is about a useful as an O’dules in Lindsey Lohan’s refrigerator. When there is a foot of snow on my car and three inches of ice on my windshield, what I really need is an industrial sized sweeper and a jack hammer, neither of which will fit in my car

- everyone out there who think that because there is .25” of snow on the road, you need to drive .99 miles an hour WITH YOUR HAZARDS ON?!? Hazards? Really? I will tell you what is a hazard, you in front of me driving .99 mph at 6:42 in the morning when I haven’t stopped to pick up my coffee yet, yep you are what is standing in the way of ME and MY COFFEE, I would be issuing caution with flashing lights too! (just for the record, I don't drive like a speed demon in the snow)

Hummm, what else!

- trucks with snow plows, no not the great big ones who are plowing for the state with my tax dollars, I am talking about the people out there who just because their truck says 4X4 on the side, they feel the need to throw a 9’ plow on their trucks and drive down the middle of the road. Yeah buddy I got it, I am driving a little car and you have a great big truck with a great big plow, owww so impressive, now get on your own side of the road before your plow (pun intended) into my car which will result in ME owning your great big truck with a great big plow!

- getting up and leaving the house an hour early hoping to make it to work on time, only to arrive 15 minutes late

Holy, that felt good! Phew, I guess driving to and from work all week on snow covered grounds builds up a little tension. I can't be alone out there, all you Mainer’s reading this, what are you SICK of??

Snow Place Like Home!

2011-01-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

Winter is in full swing around here; the lakes are almost completely frozen, sandals are no longer part of the wardrobe, there is more salt on my car than my dinner plate, and this morning it was 2 degrees outside! TWO DEGREES!! As much as I sometimes complain about it, I don’t really mind this time of year. Sure, I miss my flower gardens, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the mornings where I don’t have to wrestle baby E to get in her snowsuit, but if we lived in an area where we skipped this time of year altogether, I would miss it.

I walked out of our local store last night and lined up at the gas pumps were a half dozen snowmobiles, as I walked by I got a whiff of exhaust mixed with the gas infused with the crisp cold January air and it smelled like 'UMMM'. Call me crazy (crazy) but I just looooooove that smell. It brings back memories of snowmobiling with my brothers and cousins on the ice when we were kids.

I am also a huge fan of snow storms… I love everything about them, not so much the driving in the them, but I love the hype before a storm hits, seeing the first snowflake fall from the sky, being at home all snuggled in on the couch with the lights turned off and the lights on outside showcasing the beauty of the weather event. During a big snow storm there is snow place like home.

Can you believe that some people will go their whole life without ever seeing snow!!? Never driving in snow, never eat it, never feel a snow flake fall on their face?! It almost seems unbelievable doesn’t it?

Well, we just so happened to have a snow storm this week, here are some pictures I shot from inside my car while I wanted for my husband to plow me a path up the driveway.

Happy Saturday!

The Gee-tahh

2011-01-10T17:08:00.000-08:00

I know, it's spelled wrong, but doesn't it looking way cooler spelled that way?! And don't event ry to kid yourself, it felt cool saying it that way too.

Among dumping out cereal boxes, spitting out raisins, pulling on the dogs ears, and laughing at her burps, baby E looooves music! I tell everyone she gets that from her Momma. On the weekends while I am dumping load after load in to the washing machine, vacuuming up the never ending abyss of dog hair, and picking up every blanket, towel, and t-shirt E has stashed in some random spot, I have the music justah blaring in the background. I am not picky either, sometimes I have CMT on, sometimes I peruse the 800's (directv stations) until I hear something I like. Among my best attempts of cleaning, I will stop for a mini-break down session. I bustah move on my dirty floors and let my arms fly around like the dog hair on the floor and right beside me is Baby E. She is the best dance partner I have ever had, she claps, squeals in delight, and when I stop she will sometimes cry.

Not only does she love to listen to music, she also loves to make music. Just a few weeks ago, I heard her singing in her bedroom, I stopped in the kitchen and just listened; it was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. My husband and I don't play any particular instrument well. I can play "when the saints go marching in' on the harmonica and my husband has a gee-tahh. Every once in a while he will take it out and play us a little "Crazy Train", "Stairway to Heaven", and per my request he will do a little "Love Song" by Tesla. When he plays for us, Baby E can't get enough; she will dance, laugh, and try to play it herself. It is a riot! So when Christmas came around, I just had to get her a little gee-tahh of her own and when I saw this little gem at the Christmas Tree Shop for a whopping $8.99, it was in my cart faster than a spray tan on the Jersey Shore!

Just as I predicted, she LOVED it! As soon as she unwrapped it she started playing. It was too cute for words, so I will let these pictures do the talking.

Bending the strings just like Daddy showed her.

Happy Monday!

Baby Pictures!

2011-01-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

Back in August one of my best friends gave birth to a gorgeous baby boy. With the addition of another boy to their little family, her and her husband decided baby J would be their last. Not long after he made his grand entrance into this world, Mom asked me to do some pictures of her and her last *sniff* baby. She told me she never had them done with her first born and often regrets not making the time to capture him at such a young age. Like a good friend, I vowed I would NOT let her make the same mistake twice!

I will admit, it did take us a couple weeks to nail down a date and time, but I am happy to say that this weekend we MADE IT HAPPEN! We met at her house on Sunday, I had my 18 month old running around and she had her two year old running around too, it's funny because these pictures look so peaceful and serene... you would never know there was a screaming 18 month old pulling at my leg and a two year old begging for a clementine. I should have taken pictures of that to include in this post, but I probably didn't want anything to remind me of that time, as no such pictures exist!

Here are a few of my favorites of the day.

And be absolute FAVORITE of the day!!!

Happy Thursday!

2010 Blog Review - B

2011-01-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

On May 10, 2010 I took to the plunge with my first blog post, “Toes in the Water“. Reflecting on that title I realize how fitting it was as I was ‘testing’ the blog water for the first time. You see, I had never considered having a blog of my own, I mean I love blogs and all, but who in the world would give a hoot about what I had to write about. I mean come on really… I am not a professional anything (coffee drinker maybe), but I am not a professional photographer, not a celebrity, not a stand up comedian, so what would I have to offer world of bloggiders?

That was until April 20, 2010 when I received this message though facebook:

“I think you could start your own blog now with your photo skills for sure, but more than that you have a unique talent ... you like words. I am not being silly here. Forever since I have known you, you have had a gift with words, a real gift… Many people have a sense of humor, but yours is ultra clever and never annoying. Do not take this gift lightly. I am sure you want to read this message so I will send it to you and plant the seed. Wanting only the best for you"

This message came from one of my favorite teachers and one of the most inspiring human beings I have ever met, Mrs. Ellis. Her message literally came out of no where and caught me off guard. Wait?!? What?!? ME? Noooooo. I didn’t respond right away, but kept her message (obviously). That night I thought about it and thought about it. The thought process went a little something like "Really a blog Amy, no one would read it, I know… but what if one person read it… don’t do it the only one that will read it is your Mom… what tha heck, I am gonna do it!" So on May 10th, I with my eyes squinted tight, I hit “publish” on my first blog post!

I was shocked when I received six comments on that post!! The next day I was like a blog writing machine, I had four posts in the queue and they just kept coming. Then in the spring when the ground dried up and the trees began to blossom I started sharing my photography and the blog has evolved from there. This has definitely been a learning experience for me, I still look at this place and think I wish it looked more like ‘me’, how do I get those fancy icons on the side, I should really change that banner, trust me the self-blogging critiquing is a constant thing around here...

None the less, I think the first 8 ½ months of this blog’s life has been pretty darn good and has surpassed my expectations. I am proud to report that 4,539 people have clicked into my blog, when most of you get in here you start clicking around, like on the pictures and other links, as matter of fact you have done that 7,718 times!!! WOW! I also have 16 followers which is something I never thought that I would have, so a huge THANK YOU to each of you, it means more than you will ever know.

Fun Blog Facts:

Most Popular Posts:
1) A Christmas Miracle
2) Sneak Peek - The Worth’s
3) I Have Homework…
4) Winner of the Photo Shoot Giveaway
5) Maine Family Photography

Top Referring URLs:
1) http://www.thisandthatagl.blogspot.com/
2) http://www.themuseoftheday.typepad.com/
3) http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/
4) http://www.go4prophotos.com/blog/

Most of you (3,026 as of this evening) find my blog through face book. :-)

A lot of people find me through ‘google’ too. I wish they were googling “funniest girl in Maine’ or ‘amazing Maine photographer’, but no, they are googling Pampered Chef Lemon Gingertini Recipe… close to 200 people stumbled on to This & That by searching for that delish sparkling beverage!

People from all over the world have viewed this blog from places like England, France, Australia, Germany, India, Netherlands, Ireland, Japan, and many of the States! Can you believe people on the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD have read this blog, unreal!

Wow, this post is getting really long. In wrapping up this 94th post, I am going to grade the first year of this This & That a B. Just a B, no minus no plus. There is still a lot of room for improvement, such as making this space truly reflect me, I need to stop comparing my blog to all the 'perfect' blogs out there and just let this space take on a life of its' own. That probably sounds uber crazy to most of you out there, and you know what it even sounds a little crazy to me too.

In closing I would like to thank Carolina Ellis. She is the one that sent me that message on April 20, 2010 and she has been the backbone of my blogging experience. She consistently comments on all my posts, she sends me encouraging messages, sends me ideas, she keeps me inspired. Thank you Carolina, Thank you!!

Also, a huge thank you to all of you who take time out of your busy lives and read this blog, I hope you enjoy what I have to share and will keep coming back for more in 2011!!

And because posts are better with pictures, here is the scene out of my front door last Monday during a stay home from work snow storm. Gotta love it!

Sledding!

2011-01-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

Today we went sledding and it was quite the adventure. Let's just say the last time I went sledding I was in a one piece snowsuit and my dad pulled me up the hill. A lot has change since the mid-80's, most notably my age and the addition of a 25lb baby in a sled that I have to pull!

It was the perfect day to go sledding, the snow was nice and soft, the weather was pretty warm for this time of the year and we had five children under the age of six who couldn't wait to slid down a hill... okay so really there was only one kid, and she was the six year old, the others probably would have shown some excitement or hesitation, but they couldn't move in all their snow gear - HA!

Here are some photos from our first trip up the hill; there was crying, a lot of huffing and puffing, and I am pretty sure someone asked if we were done yet; I will not disclose if that came from the kids or the Moms.

Let the fun begin!

These two cracked me up. Neither could really move in all their snow gear, so there they sat, watching only what was directly in front of them as they could barley more their heads. Every once in a while they would motion their hands with their upside down mittens for some snow to eat. If they could talk I am sure they would have said something like:

O: "Hey, look at your hat, why is your visor flipped up like that?'

E: "Because my Mom is a weirdo. This playing in the snow stuff is way overrated"

Happy Saturday!

The Stroller

2010-12-28T16:09:00.000-08:00

How many of you have children who received more gifts for Christmas than calories you devoured on Christmas day?? Holy cow, there are still presents I have yet to unpackage and put away. Side Note: what is UP WITH ALL THE PACKAGING! Seriously, how many super thin wire tie-thingies does it take to keep a baby doll in place. And don't even get me typing about the little kitchen set we bought her; apparently every teensy-tiny item requires its' very own little plastic baggy which of course is thrown in another baggy, which of course needs to be encased in a Styrofoam shell surrounded by larger tie-thingies... my word! By the time we would get one gift unpackaged, she had already moved on to the next one - MAN!
Okay, done with that rant... In all the wonderful gifts she received there are a few that she just absolutely loves. One of them being her baby stroller. This is a stroller for her babies (that seems pretty self explanatory, but for those of you who don't have toddlers, that may have been a "huh?"). As you can see, she adores this toy... for herself!

I told her the stroller was not for her; evidently the news of that was shocking!

A close up of the disbelief:

I told her it was for her babies.

So what does she do, she goes and gets one of her babies

and plops back down in the stroller.

I will share a few other of her favorites over the next few days.

CLUE: another one of her favorites is showing in each of these pictures :-D

Happy Tuesday!

A Christmas Miracle

2010-12-26T17:55:00.000-08:00

Sixteen months ago I was at home on maternity leave when I received a frantic phone call I wasn’t expecting. It was from my friend Nicole who had just shouted “a baby is being placed with us in 45 minutes!” I couldn’t believe what I just heard. Months earlier, Nicole and her husband went through all the paper work, house inspections, and so much more that I couldn’t even begin to type about, in an effort to become foster parents. I was so excited for her and bombarded her with many questions she didn’t have answers to. All she knew was that he was a boy, eight months, and would be there within the hour. I wished her luck, told her if she needed anything give me a call, and hung up the phone with goose bumps all over my body! I was so happy for her!!

A few days later I packed up my own new bundle of joy and went to visit Nicole and meet this new little guy. When I saw him for the first time he was a ball of adorable sitting in the middle of the living room floor, he had the whitest hair that could grow out of a baby with the bluest eyes you have ever seen. I could tell he was confused, looking around trying to grasp his new surroundings and become acquainted to all these new faces. But one thing that I noticed right away was the connection he had with Nicole. I noticed when she picked him up, how he laid his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes in comfort and warmth, with her he knew he was safe.

That was sixteen months ago. In those months there have been more questions, tears, triumphs, ups and downs than any one person, or one family, should have to endure. But how far would you go to fight for something you new was yours? How far would you go for your baby? The persistence paid off and last week it was made official during an Adoption ceremony. When Nicole asked me to photograph the event, I was so thrilled, as a friend I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, but to be able to photograph and memorialize the day in images, I couldn’t have been more honored.

Here are a few images from the big day!

Getting ready

Considering it was a blizzard the day these two were married, it only seemed fitting

that this day too would consist of blizzard like weather.

So handsome

Helping Pepere open the M&M's

Enjoying the M&M's

IT'S OFFICIAL!

Big Brother

Family!

I asked Nicole the day after the ceremony how it felt now that he was "officially" theirs. She told me it really didn't feel any different because she always knew he was theirs. She said that probably didn't make any sense, but I told her it did. And she is right, from the first time I saw them together, I knew he was home and you know what... even at 8 months old, I think he did too.

"I'll never forget the day he was placed in my arms. I was terrified. He didn't cry, he didn't protest, he just looked at me and laid his head on my chest. From that moment on, I knew I was his Mom. 16 months ago this roller coaster ride began and today it ends with the adoption of my precious child.

I love you, .... I carried you in my heart..." - Nicole to baby M

Happy Sunday!

A Quick Snack!

2010-12-20T17:12:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is in full swing around here and between last minute shopping, Starbucks Peppermint Mocha latte sipping, wrapping, removing baby E from under the Christmas tree, laundry, dishes, and what ever else may come up; there is barely enough time for anything... including this little blog. So here is a quick post on a super easy, remarkably quick, "MOM, I have to bring a snack to school tomorrow" (at 9:00pm) holiday snack anyone can pull together.

Candy Coated Pretzels!

You will need:

1 Bag of mini pretzels
1 Bag of Hershey Kisses (I used the Holiday White Chocolate Candy Cane kisses)
Colored Sugar
Oh and wax paper or tin foil
and a Cookie Sheet

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with the wax paper or tin foil. Line up as many of those little pretzels as you can fit on a sheet. Unwrap all 529,358 kisses (yes, I know there are not that many in there, but after the 10th one it will feel like there are). Place each kiss on top of a pretzel, carefully transfer cookie sheet into pre-heat oven. Bake for 4-5 minutes or until the kisses are melted. Remove from oven and sprinkle colored sugar. After each kiss is sugar coated, place the cookie sheet in the freezer for a few minutes until the chocolate has set. And there you have it - you are suddenly the Mom/wife/girl friend/co-worker of the YEAR!!

There are many other variations to this recipe, some people substitute Rolo's for the Kisses and I have seen recipes where they use M&M's on the top instead of the sugar - to each is own! In my book when you have chocolate melted over a pretzel, you can not go wrong!

Happy Monday!

It's A Family Tree-dition

2010-12-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

I have recently read some blog posts about family traditions around the holidays, specifically Christmas. Growing up I can think of a few traditions we had, for instance I would always be the one to put together the nativity scene, usually one handed while using the other to back hand one of my brother's who wouldn't leave me alone (even back then I was a fantastic multi-tasker). Another one I can think of was me always being the first one up on Christmas morning. I would tip toe out to the living room with the innocent anticipation of catching a glimpse of the Big Guy, I would scope out the loot and go wake up my brother's. Together we would go wake up my parents and then we would all sit in the living room and open our gifts. Even today while typing this I can feel the rush of excitement I would feel as a child in that living room playing Santa handing out every one's gifts.

Family traditions don't have to be big things, expensive items, or amazing spectacles; they can be simple things too, like all being together in the same room for one hour, one morning, or one day.

This will be our second Christmas with our daughter and to be honest I CAN'T WAIT!! I can't wait to see her little face on Christmas morning, to see her tackle boxes and devour wrapping paper, but most of all I can't wait to create the moments which she will remember for a lifetime. Okay, so she probably won't remember this Christmas, but I will.

I am hoping over the years we will create our own Christmas traditions, ones that she will remember year after year and will hopefully one day want to share with her own family. One tradition I hope to carry on is us going as a family to pick out and cut down our own Christmas tree. Last year we did this and this year we did it again, and has been something I have looked forward to all year.

I am happy to share with you some images of our little Family Tree-dition!

So I just realized I have no pictures of the actual tree... my bad. I guess watching a toddler and a yellow lab in a Christmas Tree lot takes precedence. But I can tell you one thing, it is tree-riffic!

Happy Monday!

Winner of the Photo Shoot Giveaway!

2010-12-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

The nominations are in!

I have read them, re-read them, and then read all of them one last time. I will admit this was a lot harder than I thought it would be. In all, I received eight amazing nominations, but I kept coming back to one. It brought tears to my eyes the first time I read it and I am sure when I am done with the shoot and am sitting in this very chair editing the photo's, I will cry again.

I am pleased to announce the winner of the Photography Session Giveaway was nominated by e-mail from Jenn who wrote:

"I have a friend I work with everyday. He is always willing to lend an extra hand for what ever task is put on his plate. Meanwhile in the back of his mind he is planning things that most men wouldn't dream of doing. He is a single Dad to a beautiful young girl (6 years old). A couple of years ago he watched his beloved wife battle cancer. She was a tough lady but unfortunately this horrible disease took her too soon; before she could watch her daughter grow, before she could grow old with her husband. Now Rick, works full time, travels about 40 minutes to and from work everyday, and has to do all of the household chores that would normally be completed by 2. First things first always is his daughter."

It will be an honor for me to photograph this father and his daughter!! A huge thank you to all of you who took a moment to nominate someone for a free photo shoot, this giveaway is definitely something I will be offering for years to come.

Maine Children Photographer

2010-12-05T11:43:00.000-08:00

Burrr! Yes, that is right, Burrr, it is getting cold here in Maine. But too not cold to stop me and one of my favorite six year olds in the world from getting some fabulous pictures. My sister-in-law called me up and asked if I wouldn't mind photographing this little aspiring model and with a face like this, how could anyone resist?! It was cold and yes there was even snow, but that didn't stop us from getting some stunning photographs. Enjoy!

LOOK AT THAT FACE!

This could be an ad for gorgeous!

This last one was too fun not to share!

Happy Sunday!

More Thanks

2010-11-29T18:17:00.000-08:00

November 23, 2010 - PJ Pants
You are the first thing I think of when I get home and are exactly what my legs ordered after a long day of being suffocated by dress pants/nylons/tights.

November 24, 2010 - My iPod
You make the morning commute bearable. There is not one single tolerable morning show to listen to during the 37 minute drive.

November 25, 2010 - Thanksgiving
The night before Thanksgiving we watched a show that debunked everything I thought I knew about this sacred date of gluttony. None the less, I am thankful for this day and all that it brings. Most importantly I am thankful for my supportive, caring, loving, Ranch and hot sauce loving family. If I didn't have them, all of them, I don't know what I would do. I really should donate an entire day of Thanks to each and everyone of them as they are all amazing in their own right, but that would take forever and honestly there are not enough hours in the day, days in the month, months in the year where I could whole heartily put in a blog how much they all mean to me.

November 26, 2010 - Shopping at Home on Black Friday
HA! While some of you are out at 2a.m. fist fighting in parking lots and trampling old ladies over a $40 markdown; I sit at home, in my warm office, snuggled my pj's, hair a mess, sipping coffee while eating scones (okay, I really don't eat scones, but it goes with the scene...) shopping on-line! I didn't go crazy, but I did purchase myself a HOTT new bag of Actions from Totally Rad Actions. Which I love and didn't have to pull any hair to obtain!

November 27, 2010 - Sharpie Fine Point Pens
Ahhh... when you have a good pen you can conquer the world!! Okay, perhaps that is a little dramatic; but am I the only one who thinks their handwriting improves and the words just flow from your fingertips when holding a specifc type pen? Although, come to think about it, I get the same feeling when holding a blue Bic or a blue Paper mate.

November 28, 2010 - Starbucks
Mmmmm, that is me sipping on a Peppermint Mocha Latte from Starbucks. I love this time of year, but somehow it seems a little sweeter while sipping on a PM Latte (no fat, no whip).

********
Side note: Have you nominated someone for a FREE photoshoot yet?? If not, send me an e-mail, you can even nominate yourself (psst. I won't tell) :-D
********

It has been super duper cold in Maine lately and the worst part is... it will get worse before it gets better. So, to help me cope, I reminisce of my trip to St. Thomas in October, flipping through images like these, make me feel warm, hot, sandy... Actually nope... I am still cold.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Photography Giveaway!

2010-11-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

If you 'like' me on facebook, you may have seen a post I put up the other day that read "Everyone deserves a picture of themselves they love!" I truly believe that statement and I hope after I complete a shoot, after all the images are edited, and my clients look at their pictures, at the very least, I hope there is one picture they absolutely love. If this is the case, I have done what I was hired to do, and if they have more than one picture they love then that is just another cherry on the sundae.

I am beginning to realize that what I do with my camera is pretty cool. I had a bride tell me she cried when she saw her images and that made me cry. To think that something I did, could touch someone like that, is an amazing feeling.

Okay, okay, so what are you getting at? I want to give away a FREE family, individual or senior session next year to someone who would never hire someone to take their pictures or could never afford to have them done. What are you giving away exactly? Glad you asked, I am offering a free session, a free 4X6 proof book of the images, and a free CD with the images (over a $200 value). Do you know someone who deserves a FREE session next year? If you answered yes, keep reading!

1) Send me an e-mail with their story aleemanphotography@gmail.com, tell me why they deserve a FREE session.
2) The shoot will take place in Central Maine.
3) Deadline for submissions, December 8, 2010.
4) The submitter of the winning nomination will be notified via e-mail.

This is the first time I have offered something like this and am really excited to see what kind of feedback I get. So get those thinking caps on and send me an e-mail. Feel free to e-mail, link to this post on your facebook, tell everyone you know about this giveaway!!

Happy Friday!

Once Again on the Thanks...

2010-11-24T19:14:00.000-08:00

Holy! I am taking this as a note to myself, that if I assign myself an assignment, keep it inside and not share with the world, because obv I will not prevail.

Here I am once again, catching up on the thanks:

November 17, 2010 - Coffee
I really shouldn't have to elaborate on this one as it is self explanatory.

November 18, 2010 - My Hands
Can you imagine for two seconds what life would be like without your hands? How would you type, drive a car, pick food out of your teeth, diaper a baby, eat a sandwich, brush your hair, dial the phone to call your Mom. Wow, sometimes I forget just how lucky I am.

November 19, 2010 - My Car
Ahhh my car. Six years ago it was my drrrrream car. I bought it the first day gas hit $3.00/gallon, I went from a gas guzzling SUV to a little, all-wheel drive, 4 cylinder car, that was/is totally (in my husband's words) nutless. Pfbt! I didn't care, I could fill up on $35 and climb the drive way in the winter! As the years went by, so did the lust for my ride. It was no longer the ride of my eye, as a matter of fact, it's turning into quite an eye SORE. As my friends and family upgraded to newer, flashier whips, I drudging made another payment on the Ru. Then the A/C went in it two summers ago. Now when your A/C goes, it is because of one of two problems; one involves a small withdrawal from the savings and the other cleans it out! And because my lucky stars are hardly ever in line... mine was the clean out the savings issue. For some odd reason, I feel the need to have some sort of a positive balance in my bank account, I have gone two summers with no A/C. Good thing we live in Maine and only have three days a year when you REALLY need to use the A/C anyway - HA! Anywho, despite sweating out the last two summers, a few rust spots, a defunct trunk latch, rattling heat plate, burnt out dash light, and the peeling tint on the back window, she starts every single day! Yep, before this car the longest I owned a vehicle was 2-3 years, and some of those spent 60% of the time in the garage. (knock on wood) I have never had a major issue with this car and I can still fill the tank for under two Jackson's, which is a good feeling!! Although I loose that feeling as soon as a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee pulls up next to me at a stop light with all that chrome blinding me, or when I see a gorgeous BMW in a parking lot, but then I find my car or the light turns green and I think "HA! NICE PAYMENT SUCKKKAH's" because one of the very best, best, best things about my car is that it is paid forrrrrrrr. And for all that and more, I am thankful.

November 20, 2010 - Come backs
And NO, I am NOT typing about the Back Street Boys or New Kids on the Block, I loveD them both BACK in the day, just not today (or even tomorrow). I am typing about trends; more specifically leggings and headbands. MAN, why did these EVER go out of style? Who made that call, who printed they were no longer cool? I want to talk with them ASAP and ask what the heck were they thinking. I mean come on now, leggings are the perfect accessory that help you look cute, while still being able to run up stairs or sit Indian style in a chair while wearing a dress and headbands, again with the come on now, they turn bad hair days into okay hair days with no effort what so ever.

November 21, 2010 - Wood Heat
Seriously there is nothing like it.

November 22, 2010 - Curiosity
Huh? I know sounds a little odd, but I am thankful for all the wonder in the world. Think about it; if we weren't curious about things, we would never do anything different! Think of all the things you have done because you wondered "what if" or thought "how" or "why".

Curious. I thought of this the other night while reading to my daughter. She is at a great age and is so curious about everything, she loves to read, look at pictures, explore, use her voice, dance, everything to her is so new and everyday she is learning something new. So while we were reading the phone rang, I got up to answer it and when I came back into her room I didn't immediately see her, then I did!

What is she doing?!?! It's hard to see, but in that 'cubby' is where her books are. The shelf is pretty deep and normally she can only grab the ones that are right in the front. Well, if you look closer.

You can see how she piled up her books, used them as a step ladder (if you will) and then pulled herself up on the shelf where she was able to reach the back layer of books. Unbelievable! I can only imagine what her thought process was when she was stacking one book on top of the other. Because the spark of curiosity was lit, she now knows how to use her books as a means to reach more books and because of that 'wonder though' we have a new norm. Now I can only wonder what it will be next!

I know, I still have a few more days to catch up on, but I am tired and it is Thanksgiving tomorrow and it is getting late... so to be continued....

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Maine Family Photography

2010-11-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

This was my last family session of 2010, so needless to say it was a bittersweet event. This family was a lot of fun to work with. Mom is the cousin of a good friend of mine from high school, I remember these two kids when they were just little, like toddler little, now they are all grown up and almost in high school, which makes me feel ... old. They were very easy to work with too, it's amazing what you can get a couple tweens to do when bribed with Mt. Dew and Slim Jims :-) Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

Maine Children Photography

2010-11-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

The other day I photographed these a-dorable children. We all met at a local park, skies were clear (albeit a little too sunny, yes in photography there is such a thing), the air was brisk, and the ground was a tad soggy. As Mom’s and Dad’s gathered in the parking lot with their warm D&D coffee's snuggled in their hands, me, my camera, and eight kids began the quest for family pictures.

In case you don’t notice, and I am going to point it out right now, handsome and beautiful runs in this family. The linage must go back generations and with each new limb on the family tree it only gets better. Some of these children may look familiar as I photographed them earlier this year. I had a hard time picking and choosing which ones to post; so I am warning you there are are a lot of pictures, so grab your own warm D&D, sit back, and enjoy.

Look out little ladies!!

Eyeballs and children do not get more gorgeous than these!

My seasoned professionals!

Photographing these two made me wish I had a sister.

For those of you who 'Like' me on facebook, you may recall a post about me tripping over a metal stake AND bench during a recent shoot. Welll, you are looking at the shoot. So what do you do when you trip over a bench, a huge bench, and try to look cool and smile through the pain... you keep snapping pictures and if you are lucky you will get a shot like this. For anyone who doesn't read my blog or doesn't like me on facebook, I am going to tell them that they thought I was so funny, I had them in stitches the entire shoot!

Happy Thursday!

Change

2010-11-17T18:05:00.000-08:00

November 17, 2010 - Change

No not what I find in pockets while doing laundry. There are many different forms of change and for the most part change is good. It can be hard to grasp at times and difficult to adjust, but if you believe that everything happens for a reason, change is something to be embraced.

Speaking of change, what do you think of the new blog?

November 16, 2010 - Crock Pots

2010-11-16T18:29:00.000-08:00

November 16, 2010 - Today I am thankful for crock pots. There is nothing better than coming home to a dinner that is fully cooked and ready to serve! Now... if only I could teach the crock pot how to do laundry... hummmm :-D

And although this picture has absolutely nothing to do with a crock pot, it is so cute I have to share. Plus his Mom is waiting to see this picture and has threatened our friendship if I don't hurry up and post it. So here it is.

Maine Children Photography - Sneak Peek

2010-11-15T17:51:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you have 8 kids + a metal stake + a bench + a photographer who doesn't look where she is going? You get a banged up photographer, laughing kids, and some really good pictures!

Happy Monday!

Catching up on the Thanks!

2010-11-14T17:34:00.000-08:00

Just because I have skipped four days of thankfulness, does NOT mean that I have run out of things to be thankful for, it just means... I am busy. SO, in an effort to redeem myself, to myself, and not to fail at my self prescribed challenge, today I am going to list four items of thanks in one post. So sit back and enjoy.

November 11, 2010 - Today I am thankful for all the Veterans and for those currently serving our Country in the homeland and overseas. You risk your life, miss birthdays, holidays, and home cooking for millions of people you don't even know. For that and so much more, I say "THANK YOU!"

November 12, 2010 - I am thankful for my camera. This tool I hold in my hand captures moments in time that would otherwise be forgotten. All the messy dinners, pig roasts, boat parades, flower gardens, silly faces, derby days, Christmas mornings, gosh so many things. Events that we would probably remember, but the faces, objects, and details in the pictures are forever.

November 13, 2010 - My Alarm Clock. Some of you may be thinking, you have lost your mind! And you may be right. But for me, getting up in the morning is the HARDEST thing I do all day. I am pretty sure my body naturally wakes up at 8a and anything before that is almost unbearable. So for this reason, I am thankful for my alarm clock, that I set 30 minutes fast to subliminally make my brain think it is later than it really is. I thank it for going off the same time everyday assuring that I get my beeeehind out of bed so I can get to work on time. Owww, I forgot about the snooze, I am thankful for that too... but that probably deserves a day of its own

November 14, 2010 - My Grandparents! I am very thankful to be able to say I knew both sets of my grandparents. My mother's parents passed away years ago and I miss them both very much. I miss my Memere's hands rubbing my temples as I would fall asleep in her lap, I miss the smell of their kitchen in the morning, I miss my grandfather's love of baseball, his laugh, and trying to figure out what exactly the tattoo on his arm was! I miss a lot about them and that makes me sad, but I am thankful that I have things to miss because that means I knew them.

My father's parents are both still alive. I love them very much and try to visit them whenever I can. I love how my Memere kisses me on both cheeks when I see her and when I leave (we are so fab like that), I love how my Pepere is always genuinely interested in how I am doing, how my husband is doing, and always asks about baby E. They are both so full of life and their social calendar makes mine fold itself up and cower under my refrigerator.

I am lucky to have so many memories of my grandparents, on both sides, as there are so many people out there who don't. Now that I have a daughter, I hope that she is as lucky as I am and will be able to create many memories with her own grandparents.

Happy Sunday!

Sneak Peek - The Babnaw's

2010-11-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

Another sneak peek - how gorgeous are all these girls?

Sneak Peek - The Worth's

2010-11-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a sneak peek of a recent session with one of my favoirte little families!

November 10, 2010 - My Washer & Dryer

2010-11-10T16:21:00.000-08:00

November 10, 2010 - My Washer & Dryer

I could not live without this pair. Last winter my washing machine broke, we still don’t know what happened to it, it could have been a $2 part that broke for all we know, but none the less, it broke. So for the first time in my life, with garbage bags of dirty clothes piled in the car, I went to a laundry mat... I know I said it was the first time there, but what I didn’t mention is that it was also my LAST. Seriously, kudos to those of you who 1) can afford to do your laundry there and 2) can stand sitting there watching your laundry dry, I’d pick paint over laundry any day. Not to mention the place had a washing machine ‘malfunction’ that day, which meant during the last cycle on my 6 loads, something went amiss and all the machines had to be reset. This experience alone has made me look at these standard box machines in a whole new light, a rosy light surrounded by an aurora of ahhhhhh!

November 9, 2010 - Pocket Change

2010-11-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

November 9, 2010 - Pocket Change

We have all been there; you arrive at home after a 9 hour day at the office, the baby is crying, husband is hungry, phone is ringing, and the real cherry on top of the sundae, you forgot to take something out for supper. So you reach in freezer for the meat that will thaw the fastest, throw it on the counter, rush in the bathroom, but afraid of what your toddler may do in the 48 seconds you are gone, you ask her "Do you want to help Mommy with some laundry" with a high pitch squeal and a super cheese ball smile. To your delight she nods yes and follows you in the bathroom. You open the door and trip over a pile of laundry, you start sorting through the stack(s), lights, darks, towels, oh what the heck, you throw everything in at once. As you are checking your husbands pants pockets you feel... what, what is this?? Could it be?? Could it really, really be?!? YES, It is!! YES! YES! YESS!!

Do you see it?? Yep, it is two dolla, dolla bills y'all! All of a sudden everything is right in the world! You may think, big whoop, it's two bucks. But I say, add in $.45 and Momma's got a Med. Iced French Vanilla Coffee with 1 and 1 in morning. Which makes me one happy little laundry lady.

Oh and don't you love it when you pull out a $5 or a $10, it's like winning on a scratch ticket without the scratching orrrr the trip to the store. Although I have to admit, I have a moral dilemma on anything over $20 and confess to the rightful owner of what I found. Usually I am rewarded for my honesty and get to keep it. Some other laundry ladies I know call my confessions utterly ludicrous, I call it karma.

Happy Wednesday!

2010-11-07T15:21:00.000-08:00

November 7, 2010 - Bills

No, No, No, I am not thankful for my bills. As a matter of fact, I would do (almost) anything to get rid of my bills!! But none the less, I have them. I just finished writing out checks and placing stamps on the bills I have to mail. Am I thankful that I have to pay these? No, but today I am thankful that I can pay them; because we all know in a split second things beyond our control can happen, making this task almost impossible. So today I am thankful.

Oh and bonus thanks! I am thankful for my Mom for making us lunch today! Free Food Sunday's is my new favorite thing!! LOL!