Parker's "Dorothy" Mini Shoot

I just have to share these adorable pictures of Parker! My mother-in-law made the dress.

The LA Shop

Recently I was contacted by a representative from The LA Shop. She said she had seen my blog and thought that I would like some of the items they have on their website.  I had never heard of The LA Shop before, so I went on their website and was shocked by the variety of items they sell! Pretty much, if you name it, they have it! Gardening and outdoor supplies perfect for summer time, tools and hardware for Father's Day gifts... a little bit of everything!

What caught my eye immediately was, of course, the PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT!! I was in heaven! Backdrops, soft boxes, and umbrellas abound on this website.  For our photography business Image 1:27 Photography, my partner and I have been looking to purchase some basic equipment.  Normally we shoot outdoors, but recently there has been a baby boom, and for newborn portraits, we shoot indoors in the baby's home.  For backdrops, one of us has to hold the fabric up while the other one shoots.  Needless to say, this is not the best way to get it done.  I selected the 8x10 Portable Backdrop Stand.

It is extremely light weight, yet incredibly sturdy.  It comes with a free carrying case to make it even easier to tote around to our photography sessions.  Now instead of being stuck behind a backdrop, we can capture sweet baby faces like this one

It was quick and easy to assemble and disassemble. We attached the blanket at the top and draped it over the beanbag, laid this sweet angel down, and took her picture. So much better than what we had been having to do.

I will definitely be ordering from The LA Shop again soon! This time, I'm thinking LIGHTING!

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

 

Ingredients:

2 cans condensed tomato soup

1 tsp minced garlic

butter

1 beef bullion cube

2 tbs cream cheese

1/4 c Shredded cheddar cheese

salt

pepper

Italian Seasonings

1 package dry tortellini pasta prepared according to package

 

 

Directions:

Brown the garlic in the butter while preparing the tomato soup according to the directions on the can.

Add the garlic to the soup, along with the beef bullion cube, cream cheese, and shredded cheddar. Heat until the cube has dissolved and the cheese has melted.

Add salt, pepper, and Italian Seasonings to taste.

Add the cooked pasta.

Serve with garlic bread and more shredded cheese on top.

PEP Talk- 3 months

Wow, do I have a lot to fill you in on about last month! It was filled with vacations, growth spurts, and everything in between. I guess I should get started...

I have been getting extremely good at holding my head up! I'm still working on it when I lay on my tummy, but if you hold me by my sides, I can sit up and look all around.  That's  my favorite thing to do.  I don't like to be held like a "baby;"  I'm a big girl! I want to see the world around me. Unless I'm sleepy.  If I'm sleepy, I want my mom or dad, and possibly my paci, and I like to sway back and forth. Other than that, I want to sit up, and sometimes even stand! My legs are getting so strong.

After mom and dad got out of school, we left to go see Aunt Marijane, Uncle Nick, and their little boy Stephen; he's four.  They're not really my aunt and uncle, but Dad has known Aunt Marijane for 13 years, so they're practically family.

This is me with Stephen. Check out my awesome Batgirl pajamas! Stephen really liked to help Mom and Dad take care of me. He would bring them my bottles or my Pooh Bear. He told Uncle Nick that only my mom, dad, and he could take care of me. He's going to be so fun to play with once I'm older!

Uncle Nick and Aunt Marijane live in Mobile, so while were visiting, we got to go to the beach! Dad and Uncle Nick filled my bath tub up with water and left it in the sun. Then, when the water had warmed up a little bit, Dad put it back under the canopy, put me in it, and I loved it! It was just like a bath at home. Mom carried me down to the water and let me put my toes in it. It was a little chilly, so we didn't stay down there. When I started getting sleepy, Dad wrapped me in a towel and rocked me to sleep. I really loved my nap on the beach!

 When we got back from our vacation, I wasn't feeling my best.  I was sneezing and coughing, so Mom called my doctor and we went for a visit.  Turns out, I have my first cold.  I don't act like I feel too bad, but I want to be held more often, and since my nose is stuffy, it takes me longer to eat. It's hard to suck and breathe at the same time.  Also, I have a tooth coming in! I know I'm only just now three months old, but it's coming in! The doctor said it's not normal, but it's no cause for concern. I'm just ahead of the game.  Also, I weigh 13 lbs, 6 oz. Almost time for size 2 diapers! There's just a lot going on with me right now.  I hope Mom and Dad can keep up!

On Saturday, Aunt Ryan took some pictures of me.  I was starting to get sleepy, so I wasn't in the best mood to take pictures, but she's such a good photographer that she still got some good ones.  Mom is going to take some pictures of me one morning this week.  I am definitely a morning person!

Also, I have recently discovered that I am famous. I am a cabbage patch kid. See the resemblance??

Anyway, I hope you are all having a wonderful summer. Until next time...

Parker

Oven Roasted Whole Chicken

This last weekend, my mom and brother came into town to visit, and the weekend before was my husband's birthday, so while they were here, we invited his parents over to eat a birthday dinner to celebrate!

I bought a whole chicken since it was a lot cheaper than just buying the breasts (only $0.89/lb!), and planned to cook it in the crock pot.  I've done it that way before, and it always comes out really well.

The only thing about making a whole chicken in the crock pot is that it tends to fall apart.  I wanted my chicken to come out whole, so I roasted it in the oven instead.

I buttered the entire chicken, including under the skin, and threw a few tablespoons of butter into the cavity. Next I coated the chicken inside and out with seasonings: salt and pepper, onion powder, and seasoned salt. I put a few cloves of garlic into the body cavity.  I baked the chicken at 350 for 1 hour and 50 minutes (20 minutes per pound... my chicken was 5.3lbs).

The whole house smelled absolutely delicious, and the chicken came out beautifully.  The skin was nice and crispy, and the meat was incredibly juicy! I'll definitely be making more of these!

The Deal

For our wedding, my grandmother bought me a bread machine.  She makes the most wonderful bread and has since I was little.  I can't smell bread baking without thinking of her. So for her to buy a bread machine for me? I was just a little nervous.  That thing was big and shiny and intimidating.

 

My husband, whom I love dearly, mocked me recently because I had never used it. We recently celebrated our 3rd anniversary.  For three years, this bread machine has stared me down on my countertop, taunting me. 

 

Second part to the story:  I want to paint our kitchen.  Pinterest has taken me over, and my house is seeing the ramifications of this.  I am hoping to paint it over the summer.  My husband had previously made a "deal" with me.  Until I use the bread machine three times, I cannot do ANYTHING to the kitchen.

 

That deal sat untouched for several months. Until this week.  This week, I summoned up my courage and bought 3 packets of yeast.  I found a French Bread recipe that seemed nearly fool proof, and I dusted off the old bread machine. We eyed each other for a moment, almost in a standoff (insert tumble weeds and wild west music).  I got to work.

 

3/4 cup of water + 2 tbs water (slightly warmer than room temp).....  Into the bread machine pan

1 tbs oil..... Done

1 tbs sugar....... Easy. Next?

1 tsp salt........... Got it.

2 and 1/4 C bread flour........... (Does All-purpose flour count?? Yes?? Moving on then)

Make an indention in the four and add 1.5 tsp  of active dry yeast into the indention (don't let it touch the water).

 

All the ingredients were in my machine.  Next step? Select loaf size (1 lb), crust color (medium), and press start.

 

Really? That's it? THAT WAS SO EASY!!! Why had I been so scared?!

 

Look how pretty that turned out! And seriously, it was so simple.  I made another loaf two days later that was even lighter and fluffier than the first one!  One more to go, and I get to paint my kitchen =)
I can't believe I put it off!

Dressed-Up Rice Crispy Treats

I recently made these dressed-up rice crispy treats for a friend's baby shower.  You can either make the rice crispy treats from scratch, or if you have an 11 week old baby *ahem* you can buy them already made =)

 

I melted down white almond bark, dipped in one end of the treat, and topped it with sprinkles.  I also wanted to make chocolate ones, but had no chocolate chips. I did have Hershey's Kisses, though, so I melted those down and dipped the other treats, topping them with sprinkles as well.

 

They turned out really cute =)