Here's a favorite from this morning... Gotta love it when the present is almost bigger than the girl!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas!!
The presents have been opened, the Cinnamon rolls have been eaten and the Sammie-dog is asleep under the dining room table. We had a great morning! Hope your Christmas is wonderful and Santa brought everything you asked for!
Here's a favorite from this morning... Gotta love it when the present is almost bigger than the girl!
Here's a favorite from this morning... Gotta love it when the present is almost bigger than the girl!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Mmmmm... cake balls
Ok - so they might not sound like anything special, but I can assure you that these little treats are heavenly! And easy to make too!
So here's how you make your own!
1 box of cake mix (whatever flavor you like best!)
1 container of frosting (or make your own!)
Almond Bark or Chocolate for dipping
Make the cake as per the directions on the box. Bake until done. Let cool. Take cake out of pan and put into a large mixing bowl. Add frosting to the cake and mix together until you get a dough-like consistancy (the amount of frosting you need is different depending on how moist the cake you baked is.) Put the dough in the freezer for 15-30 minutes. Take out when the dough is cold and form into 2" balls. Put balls into freezer for an additional 30 minutes (this will help the chocolate adhere to the balls and because they are frozen they will be easier to dip.) Melt chocolate. Dip 1 ball at a time into melted chocolate, making sure to evenly coat. Garnish with whatever you like!
The fun part is deciding what type to make. For Christmas this year I made devils food cake with chocolate icing. I crumbled some candy canes and added that to the dough. Then I dipped some in white chocolate and some in milk chocolate. I sprinkled the remaining crushed candy canes over the chocolate coating before they cooled. The options are totally up to you! You could try spice cake with cream cheese icing and white chocolate and walnuts (yummy), chocolate cake with chocolate icing and dark chocolate or vanilla cake, vanilla icing with milk chocolate. The options are endless and it's really up to you and what you like! Enjoy!
So here's how you make your own!
1 box of cake mix (whatever flavor you like best!)
1 container of frosting (or make your own!)
Almond Bark or Chocolate for dipping
Make the cake as per the directions on the box. Bake until done. Let cool. Take cake out of pan and put into a large mixing bowl. Add frosting to the cake and mix together until you get a dough-like consistancy (the amount of frosting you need is different depending on how moist the cake you baked is.) Put the dough in the freezer for 15-30 minutes. Take out when the dough is cold and form into 2" balls. Put balls into freezer for an additional 30 minutes (this will help the chocolate adhere to the balls and because they are frozen they will be easier to dip.) Melt chocolate. Dip 1 ball at a time into melted chocolate, making sure to evenly coat. Garnish with whatever you like!
The fun part is deciding what type to make. For Christmas this year I made devils food cake with chocolate icing. I crumbled some candy canes and added that to the dough. Then I dipped some in white chocolate and some in milk chocolate. I sprinkled the remaining crushed candy canes over the chocolate coating before they cooled. The options are totally up to you! You could try spice cake with cream cheese icing and white chocolate and walnuts (yummy), chocolate cake with chocolate icing and dark chocolate or vanilla cake, vanilla icing with milk chocolate. The options are endless and it's really up to you and what you like! Enjoy!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Tips for taking better pictures...
I get a lot of e-mails asking for photography tips, and since I have a little free time while I enjoy my break, I thought I would take some time to answer some. Try these out and let me know if they help you create better images!
Tip #1 - Get down on the child's level
This is probably the most important thing you can do to improve your snapshots. If you get down on the floor, you will be on the same level as the child. Not only will this make your little one happy and get their attention, but you will also create more of a connection with the camera. I only rarely take a picture from above the child's eye level, and usually that's when I stand on a ladder and shoot from above.
Tip #2 - Try turning off the flash
Nothing says "snapshot" like using your on camera flash. It gives most kids a "deer-in-the-headlights" look and unflattering shadows. But next time you are taking pictures, try turning off the flash and look at the difference. The red eye is gone, the shadows are more flattering and softer. As long as you have sufficient light (especially next to a window or doorway) you should get good results!
Tip #3 - Capture the little details
As your taking pictures on Christmas morning, take a minute to notice the details around you. The bow that the kids stuck on the dog's head. The doll that your daughter won't let go of. Your son with icing all over his face from the special cinnamon rolls. It's those moments that really matter. Don't ask the kids to look at the camera - just shoot. Those are the images that make it into our family album.
Tip #1 - Get down on the child's level
This is probably the most important thing you can do to improve your snapshots. If you get down on the floor, you will be on the same level as the child. Not only will this make your little one happy and get their attention, but you will also create more of a connection with the camera. I only rarely take a picture from above the child's eye level, and usually that's when I stand on a ladder and shoot from above.
Tip #2 - Try turning off the flash
Nothing says "snapshot" like using your on camera flash. It gives most kids a "deer-in-the-headlights" look and unflattering shadows. But next time you are taking pictures, try turning off the flash and look at the difference. The red eye is gone, the shadows are more flattering and softer. As long as you have sufficient light (especially next to a window or doorway) you should get good results!
Tip #3 - Capture the little details
As your taking pictures on Christmas morning, take a minute to notice the details around you. The bow that the kids stuck on the dog's head. The doll that your daughter won't let go of. Your son with icing all over his face from the special cinnamon rolls. It's those moments that really matter. Don't ask the kids to look at the camera - just shoot. Those are the images that make it into our family album.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Christmas Belll
We've been reading "The Polar Express" every night. So Colin was thrilled when in our Christmas Decorations he found a bell. He keeps telling us it's a bell from Santa's Sleigh. He is absolutely fascinated by it!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Happy Holidays!
With Christmas is just around the corner, holiday orders have been placed and now I'm taking a little break! The rest of December will be spent making Christmas cookies, decorating the tree and just generally enjoying the holidays with my kids, husband and the rest of my family! Appointments will be available again during the first week of January. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
