The Foodie Girl...

I seem to have turned into quite the "Foodie Girl" since the spring began. Every day I get online like an excited student, anxiously awaiting her new assignment. I keep receiving comments on my FB postings from friends asking where I am finding them all? To be completely honest with you , they have been almost all from Pinterest. :)

I love Pinterest!!! When ever I am at a loss for what to wear together, cook together, pack together, etc... I head on over to this site for some quick inspiration.

This last week I made some new and creative things in my kitchen. A little something for the dogs, a little something to help cooking go faster, and a whole lot of yummy looking goodness for my hubbys Fantasy Football Draft Party. And I wonder why he can't ever lose weight? :)

Here they are...

One of these days I am going to actually take some good shots with my nice cameras instead of my cell phone. Might just add how it's all done as well? Turn this blog into a photo/food/craft/design blog? Now there's a thought!!!


Raspberries stuffed with white chocolate chips & a splash of blueberries...



Caprese Salad with Buffalo Mozzarella, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Purple Onions, Cold Pressed Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, sprinkled with sea & garlic salt and white pepper...



Breaded Chicken Breast. Pressed and rolled with Cheese and Scallions/Garlic & butter...



Blueberries in a mold of mixed berry yogurt then frozen...



Monterey Sourdough Bread, cubed, place sliced monterey jack cheese slices in between, pour over whipped butter/garlic/& steak seasoning...



Cheese cake filled Strawberries...



If you take fresh herbs and cut them into an ice tray. Fill that ice tray with olive oil, you have ready made olive oil florets...



Mini Apple Pies made in muffin tins. Perfect little snack size...



And not to be left out... Here are my home made dog food treats!!! Oats and Peanut Butter with Parsley and Flax...

For the Love of Cooking...

It's no secret that when my husband and I looked at homes I was pretty adamant that I wanted a gas cook top in the kitchen. I love gas, and truly think there's nothing like cooking with a flame verses an electrical coil.

As a foodie, I dream of a day where I can have a huge gourmet kitchen filled with all those little things that make it a devoted cooks dream.

Things like: An 8 burner commercial grade range with a beautiful vent overhead. A pot filler behind that range. A double oven. An extra deep trough sink with a commercial faucet. A sit at center island with a prep sink, a garbage hole, a microwave, wine cooler and cooled veggie drawers. Chocolate cabinets with quiet close drawers and built ins like utensil drawers, an extra deep pot drawer, and a bread drawer. And just for the heck of it, a computer station situated so I can read online recipes. :)

Ah, a girl can dream...

Until then I figured that I will work on my culinary skills with the mind set that if I become such an amazing cook my husband can't help but want to assist me in expanding on my new found talents... therefore, the perfect kitchen makes perfect sense! I have been trying to take pictures of some of my dishes that I have prepared (Although all but 2 were captured on my iPhone)

So far I think I am doing pretty darn good!!!

Enjoy! And try not to drool on your keyboard! :)


Mongolian Beef with Peanuts and White Onions over Sobi Noodles



Multi nut Panini with Apple Butter and Smashed Bananas. Sprinkled with powdered sugar and Strawberries.

Mini Chicken Pot Pies. Made in muffin tins with Pillsbury Grands Dough, Cream of Chicken Soup, Mixed Veggies, Chicken Breast, and Sharp Cheddar Cheese.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with Walnuts, Organic honey, Apple Slices, and OJ.
1/2 Everything Bagel with Apple Butter.

Ground Turkey Chili with Great Northern Beans and a hint of Lime. Corn Bread drizzled with honey and a Sprinkle of Sugar.

Baked Oatmeal with Almond Milk, Agave Nectar, Almonds, Bananas, Strawberries, and a hint of Brown Sugar. Yummy breakfast!

Grilled Chicken Breast with Raspberry/ Walnut Vinaigrette over Spring Mix with Fresh Raspberries and a pinch of White Pepper.

Carob Dipped Bananas. Rolled in Coconut and Stuffed with Organic Peanut Butter topped with a White Chocolate Chip. Side of Sliced Strawberries and Mint.

Cuban Steak topped with Pineapple/ Cilantro and Tomalitos. Spicy Organic black Beans and Sweet Corn.

Fresh Watermelon Lemonade!!!!!!

Grilled Chicken with Grilled Corn and Black Bean Relish Flat Bread Pizza & a side of Grilled mango.

Home Made Tortilla Chips with a Sprinkle of Sea Salt with a Martini glass of Fresh Ceviche.

Oranged Sherry Walnuts. GREAT party snack!!!

Peppered and Seared Ahi Tuna with Wasabi Vinaigrette. Pickled Cucumber Salad with Asian Noodles and Sesame Seeds.

Grilled Portobello Mushroom with Orange Zest Marinade and Garden Veggie Shish kabob.

Fresh Salmon with Cherry Tomatoes, Fresh Basil with Buttermilk/ Dill Dipping Sauce.

Cucumber Mint Spring Water...

Our Home Made Thanksgiving Dinner (Find it HERE)

My Christmas Gingerbread Village...

Pink Lotus Yoga Center Celebrates its First Year!!!

"I can't believe it's been a year already..."

That's the first thing I thought of when my girlfriend Nicole told me that she was preparing to celebrate the first year anniversary of her yoga center, The Pink Lotus Yoga Studio in Lexington, SC.

Nicole and I met when I was sent to photograph her studio for an article in a local magazine I was working with. We became instant friends with an array of past life experiences in common. Since that day we have spent countless hours doing nothing but laughing. I mean rolling on the floor, cry your eyes out laughing. And I haven't had a girlfriend that I could be my complete self with in much too long.

I love how I don't have to be anything other than me. If I want to curse, I curse. If I want to cry, or bitch, or scream, or plot (lol!!!) I can do it with her, and it feels so liberating.

I have captured many images of my friend since that fateful day, and today just added to my growing Pink Lotus Yoga file...

Thank you Nicole. Thank you for your friendship in this town that is so hard to make friends in. Thank you for taking me just as I am, and for not judging. Most of all thank you for just being you, and for loving those in your life with such grace.... I am forever grateful!!!!

Congratulations on your first year of success! Here's to many-many-many more.

Namaste.....

As the Olympics draw near...

It's 9 days until the Olympic Games of 2012 begin in London. I'm sick at the thought that we could have attended if we were still in Germany right now. :(

I can't wait to watch our United States athletes compete for gold. As most might assume, my favorite sport to follow is surely Gymnastics. Each and every year these little ladies perform routines that we were not even imagining back in my day. I am never not amazed at their talents.

Awhile back a commercial came on our tv from P & G that thanked Olympic Moms for their dedication to building our next round of Olympic hopefuls. I was on the couch in tears. I mean the "UGLY CRY" tears. My husband was lost??? "What is wrong with you baby...?" I couldn't even answer him, I just pulled the video up on YouTube and pointed to the screen.

This commercial is so my mother and I. She was the one waking me up early for practice, prepping meals, cheering me on from the side lines, crying with me at the failures and screaming with me at the successes. I never did make it onto the Olympics, but my dreams of that accomplishment and those of my mother still haunt me to this day.

In our own little ways I don't think either of us ever got over the loss of that dream. And although we have not spoke but 3 times in well over 10 years now, she is always in my thoughts and prayers and a video such as this just touches my heart.

Those were the happy days between her and I...

Much Love

Because its more than a simple picture I'm being asking to take... I am honored~

On Thursday of last week I traveled North by 7 hours to Kentucky to be with my friends Tracy & John. Last Sunday their son Jackson passed away, and I was asked by the family to speak a few words at his funeral and to take private family images for them to hold tight.

I've never before been so humbled...

Here is what I wrote for Jackson.
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My husband Eric was not able to attend with me this weekend, but he shares with me much of what I speak of and sends along all his love and prayers.

The other evening, a dear friend and fellow Army wife wrote the emotional news that her precious son had gone to fly with angels. I was crushed beyond words...

Tracy, John and little man Jackson were our neighbors to the left while we were all stationed in Texas. Our husbands played ball with the dogs out front while us girls would sit on the stoop talking about anything and everything. When the day came that she shared with me the news that she was expecting I was overjoyed. A first born, and it was a son.

As my photography business grew, Tracy became my first ever Maternity Portrait Shoot, and Jackson was my first ever Newborn Portrait Shoot and I have since shared a bond through images that I will never be able to describe. I am honored.

Unexpected complications during delivery left Jackson one of Gods little warriors. And what an amazing warrior he was. And though Eric and I had since PCS'ed to Germany, I always enjoyed keeping up with all of Jacksons triumphs and accomplishments over these last 3 years.

And through all the trials and all the hurdles, I never once saw this amazing mother break. She studied Jacksons treatment plans and disabilities endlessly. She consistently educated herself on how to provide the very best for her son. She spent countless hours working with him, caring for him and loving him. She is the epitome of what I call Super Mom.

Tracy and John share the bonds of both love and loss. And where other marriages fail, theirs have not only survived but has shone as a living testament to what real love is all about. This is what Jackson takes with him. This is all Jackson knew of his short time with us was love, and in return he gave love. When he would smile, or giggle, or reach out to his new baby sister or big brothers, or the new friend at Morgans Wonderland. He gave us all so much love....

No one ever knows why God make the choices he makes? Why he takes home the ones we love so very much?

But me... I have my own little belief about Jackson, and his purpose and plans. I believe that Jackson was born to Tracy and John because God knew that no other family would love him or care for him deeper or stronger. And I believe that God brought sister Sarah along at just the perfect time. I think that all those hours Jackson and Sarah spent cooing and cuddling on their blankets were actually spent preparing Sarah for her new role. I think that Jackson waited until he was home, home in Kentucky where his mommy and daddy would put down roots. Where other family could be nearby. I think that Jackson felt comfortable in how he lived his life. How he strengthened the bonds of love in so many. And I think he just wanted to make sure that everything here on earth was placed "Just so", So when he took his last breaths he did it right here where he knew he would be safe... Forever.

Jackson, you are never far away.
I love you......

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