Family Inspiration!

 

With the family special under way I get asked often for outfit suggestions, so I thought I would pull up some images that have inspired me with color combos and just downright cute clothing! Some of these images are pulled from some of my favorite photographers that I draw inspiration from, hopefully they will also inspire your outfit choices!

Squeezed Daily

Ain't that the truth!!??  These little jewels get so much love and affection I thought this was the perfect way to throw a little twist on the lemonade stand, and on such a hot day it was quite refreshing too! 

Freezing Time

The title of this post has many meanings!  Sometimes I wish I could freeze time, not just in photos but literally freeze time as I realize my babies are growing up way too fast!  Come tomorrow Bria will be 6 months old, halfway to one year and Miss Mailee will be halfway to 5 years this month also.  Hoping that I can get her 6 month photos done this week, it's kind of crazy being a full time mommy and full time business owner.  You may say to yourself, you can't be full time with two things, but I am, home with my kiddos any second that I am not shooting sessions, and working when they nap, or have some down time.   It's absolutely crazy but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Often times on Sunday evening I wish I could freeze everything and have enough time to just spend with them relaxing before the work week begins again yet there is so much work to catch up on, especially this time of year!
Averaging about 8 sessions a week right now (by choice, much more than that and I would not be able to keep my head above water editing, I mean I am only one woman!) we are deep in the senior season and keeping up with several "Lil' Star Sweepers" along the way.  Throw a few older kiddos, and an engagement session mixed in with some wedding editing and we have a good variety to keep me on my toes!  I had some super fun seniors this week with lots of neat unique shots and loved on two little newborns as well!  Got to do a promo session with Karen's Massage Oasis here in town for her new Ashiatsu massage, I haven't got those images ready to post yet, but I cannot wait to share them with you, this massage looked AMAZING! Finished up the week with an engagement session with two of my dear friends, one of which I have known since Kindergarten and grew up with in 4-H and school who is marrying another of our classmates that joined us in Middle School (for those of you out there who went to Griswold MS/HS you will know the Lewis/Elliott rivalry, Lewis rocks!) Either way, they are both amazing people and I am excited to join them for their wedding this fall!

Also excited to get started on a couple new specials, the school picture special and bookings for Sept family special!

Another meaning to freezing time: Freezer meals!  I got hooked on doing freezer meals when I was pregnant last winter.  Ive done about 4 rounds of freezer meals since then, each time I spend a weekend making about 2-3 weeks worth of food.  Of course we don't eat a freezer meal every time we eat, but on those busy days when you get home and are super hungry they are the BEST thing to have!  We had run out of meals about a month and a half ago and have super missed having them, so I made some this weekend and have planned to make a few more next weekend.

My top choices for freezer meals: (with just 2.5 of us eating each meal I make a normal batch but split it into two 8x8-9x9 pans for each meal, less waste and more umph out of each meal prepared!)
-Meatloaf
-Chicken Lasagna
-Beef Lasagna
-Enchiladas (beef or chicken)
-Shredded Chicken (I usually stock up when chicken is on sale, buy the breast with ribs then boil them with carrots, celery and spices, then you can separate the meat from bones, and better yet, you have broth!  Just strain the veggies off and voila!  I freeze as many 2 C bags of chicken broth as I do 2 C bags of shredded chicken each time I make it, then you have that broth for any recipe you ever need, no more buying the store broth that tastes like plastic)
-Beef Stew
-Just add noodles Chicken soup (use of broth again! and the carrots and celery that you didnt boil with the whole chicken pieces!)
-Meat Balls
-Twice Baked Potatoes
-Campbells Cheesy Chicken and Rice
-Pulled pork or beef
-Sweet Corn!  (of course this has to be in season!)

If you want recipes on any of those, let me know I'll be glad to post them, and if YOU have any yummy freezer meals, leave me a recipe in the comments!  Im always looking for new stuff to add to my stock!

8 is great

6 seniors and 2 babies this week made for a full week!  In the full swing of senior season right now which means I am to the point of shooting all day, coming home, dumping files, burning back up discs, posting sneak peeks, then cooking supper and getting the kids bathed and settled in then back to the computer to spend a few hours in silence editing until the wee hours of the morning all along hoping it will be an 8 hour night of sleep for the 5 month old instead of a 5 or 6 (because Ive already used 3-4 of them to edit!) then get up and do it all again tomorrow!  But I'm having so much fun with all these sessions, the outfits, the props, the amazingly gorgeous and handsome seniors keep me going!  Love love love my job and pour my heart and soul into creating unique images for all my clients!  Here are a few sneaks from this weeks sessions!

EDIT: last night as I was updating the blog hoping for good baby sleep and she slept from 11-8!!  NINE hours!  Aaaaaahhhhhh sleep! 

 

On another note my older girl got to attend her first year of Bible school this year and she loved it!  Cant wait til both girls are old enough and I can help out!  I have fond memories of creating plaster of paris imprints and cross crafts while meeting and finding new friends each year!

Rockin out!

This session was so fun, we hit up some sweet locations that meant a lot to Gentry and we had a blast doing it!  Heres just one for now, I'll update some more when I get through more!

Yumm-O!

Why is it that when we are leaving the house for a day or two I feel like I am packing for a whole week?  Can you imagine what I would have to pack if we were going to be gone a whole week!?
We spent last weekend spending a little (much needed) time camping together as a family, with no computers, TV only in the evening, grilled food and quality family time!   Of course I had to make up some yummy treats to go along so I thought I'd share one of my favorite (healthier) snacks!

These little treats are a favorite around here, homemade granola bars!  I always double the recipe, because, lets be honest, goodies don't last long around me! Oh and I add sprinkles, because everything is better with sprinkles, right!!??

Here's the recipe! 

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Healthier and cheaper than the store bought kind!

Yield: 10 bars
Prep Time: 2 hours including cooling time
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups quick cooking oats {not rolled oats!}
1 cup crispy rice cereal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Directions:

In a large bowl, stir oats and rice cereal together. Set aside. In a small pot, melt butter, honey and brown sugar together over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble. Reduce the heat and cook 2 minutes. Pour in vanilla and stir. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients. Pour into lightly greased small jelly roll pan {about 12x8x1} and press out to be about 3/4 inch in thickness. {If your pan isn't small enough, pack the mixture into one side. You really want to press them down so they stick together.} Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and press down lightly. Cool on a countertop to room temperature for two hours or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
Recipe Notes: If your granola bars don't seem to be staying together when you cut them, you may have not boiled the mixture long enough...you want it to make it just past the softball stage. OR you made them too thin or you didn't pack them in tight enough. Stick them in the fridge for 20 minutes and that should help keep them together. {Be sure not to keep them in there too long or else they'll become super hard!} The next time you make them, try boiling for an extra 15 seconds or so.


My Tips-
Use a piece of saran wrap over your hand to press into the pa, then top with chips and press in quickly before they melt!
Make sure you get the small quick oats, NOT the old fashioned oats, the big oats wont stick together!

Miss Kinsey!

Precious baby girl Kinsey I've had the pleasure of watching grow, her parents were seniors my first year and I feel blessed to have been through their senior pics, wedding and now their baby girl with them.  Much <3 to these three!!

Divine Light

Headed out last night as the beautiful sun crashed into the horizon with this gorgeous gal (inside and out!) The lake was steamy, the light was gorgeous and I could have stayed there all night to take thousands of photos, but unfortunately the big burning giant eventually fell and night was upon us.  But not before we got a BUNCH of AWESOME images!  Here are just a couple, I'll add some more when I get to them!

Oh my favorite!

This delicious treat is my all time favorite!  My hubby went out and picked a bunch of raspberries for me and I was determined to put them to good use!  Oh is it delicious too!  Raspberry jelly!   Of course right as I poured the juice and pectin together in the pot big sis decided to wake up little sis.  So for the remainder of the cooking process poor Bria was screaming bloody murder. But she survived, and the outcome is delicious!