Vacation in the Desert

Our family was lucky enough to go on vacation in the wonderful state of Arizona.  We rented a home  out in Peoria and we had a blast.  This was our first major family vacation with all of us there.  My sister Tara and her lovely family joined us and we enjoyed ourselves from sun up to sun down.
Aside from the gorgeous pool and hot tub in our back yard, we stayed in a lovely, spacious rental property owned by some fellow Canadians.  We had our fill of shopping and did some local touristy things too.  We spent a day at the Safari out north of Peoria and also took in the Aquarium at the Arizona Mall.  All in all we had a great time.  Here are a few pictures I was able to take.

We really enjoyed ourselves and would definitely return again.....maybe without the kids next time  :)

Week 12 - {{Books}}

Books

Something I used to be able to enjoy a lot more than I am able to now.  Kids, Family and business seem to take up more time than there are hours in a day.  I never imagined that I would be so very busy as a stay at home mom of one feisty little boy, but I am .    I guess running my business as well as my husbands business from home has been a challenge also. The quiet, un-interrupted time you get from a typical 9-5 job are few and far between as a home based business. I always thought I'd have skads of time to accomplish the day to day things, you know laundry, cleaning, banking and the likes, but it just isn't so.  I'm lucky to get a load of washing done, folded and put away in a 24 hr period. The reality of it is; I am more likely to have 6-8 heaping loads to do by weeks end and then I am scrambling around to get it all done, so I have clothes to wear as well as my hard working husband and my rough and tumble little boy.  ***SIGH***  Like I said just not enough hours in a day....which leads me back to these.

The pile of books left sitting on my dresser since last summer,waiting to be held, read and enjoyed.  Someday I will get around to picking them up again, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

Now you can continue on through our blog circle and check out the entries from everyone else.

You will find Christine Blaylock up next  :)

Thai Inspired Red Curry, Chicken and Coconut Soup

So lately I've had this great affection for coconut.  It began with my discovery of the Mediterranee, Liberte brand greek yogourt.  I have been enjoying a bowlful of this rich, creamy and delicious product on a daily basis.
After the yummy coconut and lime bundt cake I made , I figured I should make a more savoury dish with the super versatile coconut.  So a Red Curry, Chicken and Coconut soup seemed a great next step. It was super easy to make and delicious to boot.  Even my uber picky husband ate some and liked it!  If you'd like to enjoy this wonderful dish you can find it HERE

Enjoy some of this yummy Thai inspired cuisine, I encourage you to. 

Splash, Food Photography & Styling - Month 3

Hard to believe we are already into the month of March, my how times flies.

So onto our 3rd challenge in our Bloom Forum Group this was a fun and very challenging thing to do.  We all set out to capture the perfect splash.....seems like it might be easy, but it was tough.  I really struggled to get a perfect shot that was exciting and appealing while trying to perform all the necessary tasks myself.  Have you ever tried to drop an object into a glass full of liquid, while timing your shutter release to capture the precise moment for that perfect splash......I will tell you  it was not easy!
My son really wanted to be a helper, but lets face it a 2 1/2 yr old's aim is no better than my own and truthfully all he wanted to do was drink out of glass.  Oh well I tried.

I did learn some valuable lessons though, while trying to pull this off.

1. Make sure your camera is out of splash range.....mine took a little bath on my first day of shooting.  :(
2. A tripod is an absolute neccessity (at least it was to me).  Having your camera perched atop a wobbly table that itself is perched upon a dining room chair...not a great idea. 
3.Doing an exercise like this is better if you can do it outside.....my floors ended up with the majority of the liquid on them, which meant I had to mop up.  Oh well at least my floors are now clean....that's a bonus
4. Lots of light makes capturing the "Motin or Movement" of the splash better, you can see every little drip and drop when you have great lighting.
5. And just go with the flow, your not going to get a perfect shot on your first try.  Keep at it, we all started somewhere.  Have Fun!

Now I challenge you all to go out and try this yourself.  I'd love to see what you come up with.

This was my best  shot in my opinion.  I wish I'd have had more room at the top of  it  to get that entire splash  in the frame....








Here are a few outtakes from my sessions.

Not such an exciting splash.

Should have mopped up the table for this one....


I am having such great fun with this wonderful group of ladies.  Be sure to click on the link and continue around the circle to see everyone else's Splash pictures.

Here's where you can find Alison Jacobs, Orange CountyPhotographer and her Splash images.  Enjoy!

52 Fridays Week 11 - {{Green}}

So with St Patty's day around the corner I decided to make a fun cake with some "Green" inspiration.

I had some limes that needed to be used up so I went on a hunt to find a new and different recipe.  I wasn't after the typical Keylime Pie or Keylime Cheesecake....no I wanted something else.
 I am a frequent follower of the Honey & Jam Blog and found a Cake that used Limes & Coconut, so I gave it a whirl.  The cake itself is good and it was a great way to use up those poor pitiful looking limes.

And for those of you who might want to make this yummy cake for yourselves....

Key Lime Coconut Cake
Gourmet, March 2009 via Smitten Kitchen, Honey & Jam

I didn’t have key limes, so I used regular limes and they worked perfectly.
Serves 8.

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon grated Key lime zest
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups self-rising flour (or just add 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt to all purpose.)
3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup fresh Key lime juice, divided
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon rum (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Generously butter an 8- by 8-inch square or 9- by 2-inch round cake pan and line bottom with a round of parchment paper.

Toast coconut in a small baking pan in oven, stirring once or twice, until golden, 8 to 12 minutes. Cool. Leave oven on.

Beat together butter, granulated sugar, and zest with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir together flour and 1/2 cup coconut (reserve remainder for topping). Stir together milk and 2 tablespoons lime juice. At low speed, mix flour and milk mixtures into egg mixture alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour.

Spoon batter into pan and smooth top. Bake until golden and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool to warm, then turn out of pan and discard parchment.

Whisk together confectioners sugar, remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice, and rum (if using, if not use milk) and pour over cake. Sprinkle with remaining coconut.

Lets see what Kimberlee Edwards - Cary NC Photographer came up with for this week.

52 Fridays - Week 10 {{Your Season}}

March is here, but spring isn't.  I was wishing, hoping that we would see an early spring this year.  Our winter was so mild compared to other years, I thought for sure we were going to get lucky.....  I was wrong

Although the temperatures are relatively mild, the snow fall in the last 2-3 days has been unbelievable.  My husband the sled head is utterly thrilled, but me not so much.  The following picture is a typical shot of what we have been up against for the last 5 days or so.  Not crazy exciting, but a little glimpse into my backyard.

Now lets go to Kimberlee Edwards, Cary NC Photographer to see what she came up with for this week.  You can find her link  HERE

Week 8 - {{Time}}

Time......Time has taken it's toll on my Valentines Day Bouquet

Let's see what my friend  Erin Dahl, Memphis TN Lifestyle Photographer came up with for this week
HERE  
Make sure to check out all the great entries in our circle for this weeks theme.

Food Styling Month 2 - Vegetables

So we are on our second monthly shoot for  our fabulous Food Photography group.  Have I mentioned how much I adore these ladies.  They are so Fun and energetic, there wisdom and encouragement is inspiring and I am so freakin' happy that I am lucky enough to be part of there little posse.
So our theme this time around was Vegetables.  I found this subject a bit tricky, it's hard to make broccoli look enticing, trust me I tried.....really hard.
I ended up with a few shots that I was happy with and feel like I did my best to emphasize the loveliness of the humble broccoli.  And when I was done showering it with attention, I chopped it up and made it in to a delicious Cheddar Broccoli soup.....Yummy!  If you would like to make this delicious, creamy and hearty soup you can find the recipe HERE

Now lets see what Kim Kelly of Liv Life, came up with HERE

52 Fridays - Week 7 {{Pink}}

Pink.  Not a colour I am particularly fond of.  I don't own or have many things pink in my home, so this weeks theme was a stretch for me. 

I decided to put my culinary traits to work and whipped up some Lemonade cupcakes with a Strawberry butter cream frosting.....sounds yummy right!  I am part of another group and our sole purpose is to perfect our Food photography and Food styling talents.  So I thought I could sort of kill two birds with one stone this week.

These little cupcakes are delicious.  If you would like to try them out for yourself you can find the recipes HERE

 Enjoy this sweet little piece of my home.

Now lets go see what Jenny Singleton, Frisco, TX Photographer came up with this week. You can find the link to her blog HERE

52 Fridays Week 6 - {{Love}}

Love, what is love.  Love can be many things, it can be your favourite chair, a special pet  and of course your spouse and children.  I love many things.  I love life, I love a cold can of Diet Coke, I love a big fat scoop of ice-cream too.

For this week when I saw the theme I knew what I was going to post.  I took the following picture a few days ago, but I just think it's a great example of what a sweet little  guy I have.  And a bonus ..he LOVES to dry the dishes...

 Now on to Christa Paustenbaugh, Manassas, VA Photographer and her take on this weeks theme HERE

52 Fridays- Week 5 {{On the Shelf}}

This weeks theme for our blog circle was a puzzling one to me.  I think my problem is I always over think everything.  Everything has to be perfect, but as we all know that hardly ever happens.....especially in photography.  There isn't a whole heck of alot to look at these days and the shelves in my house are well.....Boring to say the least.   So in  an attempt to try something I have never tried before I came up with this  weeks entry.  Here it is "on the Shelf"........the fridge shelf.

Thanks for tuning and  be sure to check out the other talented ladies in this weekly group by following th elinks at the bottom of everyones post.  So now lets go see what  Amy Schilling of Austin Texas came up with you can find her HERE

52 Fridays - Week FOUR {{Warmth}}

Wow another week has come and gone.....it's hard to believe how quickly time flies. 

As part of my 52 Fridays weekly Photo project we were supposed to come with an image that represents warmth.  Yes, Warmth.....tough one eh!   To me warmth is a hot cup of Tim Horton's French Vanilla or a piping hot cup of Earl Grey tea.  Or maybe it means cuddling up on the couch with your sweetheart.  My husband hates having his picture taken, so scratch that.

The one thing that does play a big role in our house and does provide us with warmth is our wood burning stove.  So the next trick is to make a plain ole' wood stove look wonderful and inviting, this is what I came up with.  I hope you feel the warmth right through your screen.  Have a great week everyone.

And for more inviting images on this weeks theme please check out Karol Quinn, Baltimore, MD Photographer

52 Fridays - Week 3 {{Words}}

This weeks subject was tough.  I kept thinking what on earth I could possibly do to make this entry appealing, not boring or dull.  I thought of taking pictures of various words that grace my walls.......Boring!   I thought of spelling things out in a somewhat creative fashion.....didn't pan out.

Then the winter we have been waiting for arrived, and plunged us into a Deep Freeze......and I mean Deep.  We have had a high of -32....now that's cold.  Even my house is feeling the affects of this terrible blast.  The windows are full of condensation and even a little frosty in places.  Then I had an idea.  I figured I could use this yuckiness to my advantage.

This is what I captured, I am pleased with the results and the little bit of creativity I seemed to find hidden way deep inside..  lol

Hopefully it's not this cold over where my friend Liza Hall resides.  Check out her interpretation of this weeks theme HERE

Food Styling - Wk 1 - on White

I am so fortunate to be part of  a great group of ladies that shares a love of Food photography and Food Styling.  We have embarked on a monthly challenge to improve upon our Food photography skills while receiving valuable feed back from one another.  I am so excited to dive in head first into this genre of photography.

Our first "Assignment" was a single type of fruit on a white background.  Sounds simple right.....Wrong!  It was very challenging.  Placing your fruit so that it is bathed in the perfect light, and then there's composition......this is something I am really not very good at I'm afraid, another reason I am so psyched to be a part of this group.


Here is my selection for the week.  :)  Ok I couldn't choose just one.....

Now lets see what my friend Kat Clark was up to, you can find her Blog Entry  HERE

52 Fridays - Week 2 {Landscapes}

So we are on week 2 of our 52 week challenge and this weeks theme was {{Landscapes}}

The landscapes around here at this time of year are usually filled with alot of white.  It is after all the middle of winter.  This year however has been un-seasonably warm....very warm.  In fact we have virtually no snow left at all in our yard.  This is very upsetting to my husband the die hard sled head...lol    Me though I quite like it.
No 4 ft piles of snow to clear, no huge snow drifts up around my front door to shovel out......so, No I don't mind the lack of snow this season.

This morning the sunrise was AMAZING! I had been fretting over what on earth I was going to take as a Landscape shot today, and then the sun rose.....**AHHHHH**  I raced over to find my camera, cranked up the ISO(because I didn't have time to pull out my tri-pod) and started snapping away.   I was pleased with the results and I hope you all are too.  Enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.  :)

Be sure to head on over to my friend Cathy Kuhlman, Philadelphia, PA for her interpretaion on this weeks theme......Here

Resolutions....

Every year we all "resolve" to do something.  Whether it be, read a particular book, become a better person or get more active.  I would estimate that the majority of the population resolves to do something in the new year.

My resolution this year is one that I seem to think of.....every year.  Each January 1st I resolve that I will eat better, exercise more and with any luck shed some of this excess weight.  This year is no different.  Although my approach to it this year is.......different I mean.

As of this week I have faithfully exercised 5-7 days.....pretty good right!  For me that's a good start, but the problem is by week 3 I am bored tired and not feelin' so motivated anymore and that's where my resolution falls apart.  So as part of a photography challenge I took this picture

I am hoping that by looking at it regularly it will motivate me on those days that I am not feelin' so darn motivated.  Think it will work??
I hope so  :)    Wish me luck, no on second thought keep me in line.
  Until next time.  Check out this great resource for all things photography!
http://bit.ly/mcp-project12

Week 1/52

Well the New Year has finally arrived, and thankfully my house has been returned to normal  (somewhat)
All the decorations have come down and just when I think I have gathered them all up......I always find ONE more.  And this year was no different.  It was a wreath I had hanging on the laundry room door, but it too is now tucked away until next year.

For 2012 I have decided to take on a 52 week project with some other fabulous photographers from over on "The Bloom Forum".

The first weeks post was titled  NEW

I had to really think about what type of shots or subject I could use for this theme.  My son was colouring on his oversized table cloth that he received as a Christmas gift, he was so content with what he was doing I thought that these were the shots I was looking for .  After all it was a new toy and and New experience for him and Me.

He was quiet, he was happy and he was content......this is definitely a New occurance in our house hold.    :)



And let's see what my friend Karol Has in store for this week.