It's All Good: Good Music & Good Reads

When I discover something good I can't wait to share it with someone. Whether it's a new restaurant, a new movie, new music, or a new book. If I am loving it I am usually bursting at the seams to have someone else love it with me. Hahah
So on that note, Tuesday night I went to Come on Speak Up - Jesse Morrow's CD release concert. I recently heard one of Jesse's songs and I was an instant fan. I love finding new music, it just makes me happy. I don't know why but when I discover it I automatically try to figure out where it fits into my life's sound track. (Yes I know that is weird) Tuesdays concert was my ideal set-up, simple and intimate. There were quite a few talented performers, Nicholas Pidek and Mike Mains & The Branches were two that I had heard before and really enjoy.
Below are a few of my favorite shots from Jesse's set.







Be sure to check him out, Jesse Morrow: http://www.jessemorrowmusic.com
You can also purchase his cd on iTunes. So convenient, right?!



Another new discovery for me this week was the series by Suzanne Collins called "The Hunger Games." Jasmine Star recently posted about this series and I was instantly intrigued. I picked up the entire trilogy yesterday on my lunch break and settled in around 10:30pm to start reading the first book last night. Within the first few pages I knew I was hooked, which is a very dangerous thing for me. I get so lost in a good book that I can't stop reading until I've completed it. And that is exactly what happened last night. I was even tempted to start the second book around 3:30am but I knew I wouldn't be able to function, so I did the responsible thing and went to bed. (I know going to bed around 11pm would have been more responsible but I am who I am.) I am super excited to dive into "Catching Fire" tonight. I can't wait to see what awaits Katniss. If you are in the mood for an easy, entertaining, suspenseful read...this is sure a trilogy you will want to check out. They are a bit violent but those scenes are not too graphic, they leave most of it to your imagination. If any of you start to read or have read them, let me know...I'd love to talk about them with someone.



Hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year! See you in 2011 :)

Merry Christmas!

"For unto us a child was born. He is our Savior and King. It’s the time we celebrate the day of his birth and the blessings his love does bring. May the magic and wonder of the season bring joy and happiness to you. May it be a season you will always remember and stay with you, your whole life through. May the timeless message of Christmas fill your heart and home with love. May you and yours be forever blessed with the peace of the snow white dove."

Merry Christmas Friends!

Sunday Citar: Silliness is the Best

(I love this girl.)

"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are."

This IS Your Life.

I love everything about this. It motivates me, inspires me and encourages me. A beautiful and simple reminder.

Happy Friday!

Life is a song ... sing it.
Life is a game ... play it.
Life is a challenge ... meet it.
Life is a dream ... realize it.
Life is a sacrifice ... offer it.
Life is love ... enjoy it.
~ Sai Baba ~

Say Yes

There are times when you know something isn't good for you even if you want it, times when you have to walk away from an opportunity or a person, times when you have to say no. If you think about it, when you say no to one thing you are saying yes to something else. You may not know what it is but in time the fruits of that decision will be revealed. Today, I am focusing on the half glass full and looking at the little things that have the power to reroute my day, my week, my life. I am saying yes.


(I got the idea for this entry from the amazing Natalie Norton she inspires me.)

This week I say yes to making time to hang with good friends.

I say yes to laughing until my eyes are leaking and my stomach hurts.

I say yes to setting new schedules and changing my mornings.

I say yes to 6 am.

I say yes to good thoughts that energize me, uplift me and encourage me.

I say yes to getting off the computer and reading a good book.

I say yes to making lists and getting things done.

I say yes to creativity.

I say yes to smiling at strangers.

I say yes to singing and dancing in the car.

I say yes to 7 hours of sleep every night.

I say yes to encouraging others and being a supportive friend.

I say yes to paying it forward.

I say yes to God. Yes to sincere worship.

I say yes to truly loving this life I've been given.

I say yes to my dreams.

I say yes to love.

What are some things that you are saying Yes to?

Family Cookie Extravaganza

Yesterday was our family cookie day and it was an eventful one to say the least. We weren't 2hrs into making the cookies when the power went out. My dad went out to get the generator and set it up to where we could use the oven and have a couple lights on. So we got back to work. The night was filled with lots of laughs, candles, crazy fire alarm noises and cookies. Our generator gave us its all and we were able to bake 6 of the 8 kinds of cookies we had planned to make. Below are some of the pics I took of our creative light source :) It was a great way to start a new tradition, we will never forget it.

Sunday Citar: Yumminess

"Three things are needed for a good life: good friends, good food, and a good song." Jason Zebehazy
Talking about good friends and good food, this past Saturday my mom and I hosted book club and we set out to have a good spread of food for our guests to enjoy. We decided to create two kinds of yummy scones, fruit salsa and cinnamon sugar chips and an apple salad. We had a lot of fun with the whole process. However, my mom was a little annoyed with my constant need to document each step. It was slowing things down, but in the long run everything came out fantastic. My stomach was not complaining. Below are just some of the pics I was able to take.


I thought I'd share the recipes for all the yumminess. They were all pretty easy to make and they were definite crowd pleasers.

Fruit Salsa
1 Cup finely chopped Strawberries
1 can of Mandarin Oranges
3 Medium Kiwi
1 can crushed Pineapple
1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
1-1/2 teaspoons of sugar

Cinnamon Chips
10 flour tortillas
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine the first six ingredients in a bowl, cover and refrigerate until serving. For chips brush tortillas with butter, cut each into eight wedges. Combine sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle over tortillas. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10min.

Apple Lettuce Salad
1/2 Cup unsweetened apple juice
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
4-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash of ground nutmeg
1 medium red apple, chopped
1 medium green apple, chopped
6 cups torn green leaf lettuce
6 cups torn red leaf lettuce

In large salad bowl, whisk the first 10 ingredients until blended. Add apples; toss to coat. Place lettuce over apple mixture
(do not toss.) Refrigerate; toss just before serving.

Scones: Salty and Sweet
Dough
2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup whipping cream, divided

Salty: Bacon, Cheddar and Pimiento
Omit sugar
Stir in 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped cooked bacon
3 tbsp. finely chopped pimiento with the cream

Sweet: Chocolate-Cherry
Stir in 1/4 cup dried cherries coarsely chopped
2 oz. coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate with the cream

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Stir together dough ingredients (not the whipping cream yet,) cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until crumbly and mixture resembles small peas. Freeze 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. cream, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto wax paper; gently press or pat dough into a 7-inch round (mixture will be crumbly.) Cut round into 8 wedges. Place wedges 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush tops of wedges with remaining 2 tbsp. cream just until moistened. Bake at 450 degrees for 13 to 15min or until golden.

Wordless Wednesday: Smile

There is something so contagious and powerful about a smile, no matter my mood if someone smiles at me I can't help but smile back. Share a smile with someone, you may change the course of their day.

Sneak Peek: The Swartz Family - Family Session Portraits

We had a fantastic shoot this past Saturday with the gorgeous Swartz Family. I had been working on building the set of this shoot for a week and I was so excited to see it all come together in our studio. On top of that I couldn't wait to take pictures of Derek and his adorable little red head. He was a pro in front of the camera, all eyes were on him and he knew just what to do. The shoot was filled with lots of toothy grins and sweet little laughs; we loved every minute. Erika, Kurt and Derek we had an absolute blast spending the morning with you!



To see a few more fun pics of this session check out Tabitha's blog.

I love the Smell of Snow in the Air

Yesterday was the first of December and the first snow of the season. When I opened my door that morning I was a little caught off guard but I thought it was a perfect way to start a new month and a beautiful intro to the chilly winter we have ahead. I am not the biggest fan of the cold but I do see the beauty in freshly fallen snow. Ever since I was little I've been able to smell coming snow in the air,(yes, I did just say that.) I've kind of secretly thought of it as my own mini-super power, I don't know how it benefits me or others but that doesn't matter because it makes me a lil' special (or weird.) Haha Ok, so back on point. One of my favorite smells aside from a good spring rain is the smell of coming snow fall, whenever the scent hits me it has the ability to make me stop and look up, it steals away a small moment and it gets my imagination thinking of the beauty that is coming.



Now, I am ready to make snow angels. What's your favorite thing about the winter season? Do you have the same super-power as me? Haha