The Long Road to China

Sunday Snapshot - "Adventures in Grocery Shopping"

2012-05-27T06:15:00.000-04:00

After yesterday's trip to the Berry Farm, we had to make a quick stop at the grocery store before heading home. When we got to the front of the store Sarah was disappointed to see that there weren't any "Car Shopping Carts" available. One of the young employees overheard her and he offered to check all the collection areas in the parking lot.
Within minutes, he appeared with a car shopping cart fit for two!

He totally made Sarah's day!

In true Reags fashion, she was a little skeptical at first, but as soon as the wheels of that cart were put into motion, the fingers came out of her mouth.....

And that big beautiful smile appeared!!

There were lots of giggles coming from the front of the cart and they caused quite a stir as we made our way up and down the aisles.

Usually, I do not take my camera to the grocery store but I happened to have it with me because of our trip to the strawberry farm. When I saw the look on the girls faces in that car, I knew the camera was going to come out of my bag. The very first aisle we hit in the store was completely empty so I acted quickly. That top photo was totally caught in the moment and makes me laugh every time I look at it! I also love how the seat between the two girls almost resembles a heart.

Camera: Canon 5d Markiii
Lens: 85mm f1.4
The settings for the top photo were:
f3.2
SS 1/160th
ISO 800

All photos in this series were processed with a touch of Florabella's Classic Color and then they were laid out using her new Color Matte and Design Kit.
And just for fun, I applied a radial blur to the top photo to give the illusion of motion.
Kind of looks like the cart is toppling over, doesn't it?

Make sure you swing by Stef's blog and check out everyone's super Sunday Snapshots.

Strawberry

2012-05-26T07:56:00.000-04:00

We have been waiting....

and checking in weekly with our local berry farm.

Yesterday they updated their website and today is the first day they are open for picking!!!

We have our baskets ready and our favorite strawberry pie recipe on hand.

To the strawberry fields we go!!!

~Happy Memorial Day Weekend~

Just Around the Corner

2012-05-25T07:24:00.000-04:00

The other day I had mentioned that Nick has been busy with lots of end of the school year activities and last week was one that he was really looking forward to. The 8th Grade dinner dance.....which required them to get dressed up in their finest. He looked so handsome and grown up.

Things are changing so very quickly for him. I can hardly believe that high school is just around the corner and in about a year and a half he will be behind the wheel of the car.

About two months ago when we registered Nick at the high school, we had to go through and select all of his classes for his Freshman year. GOSH, things sure have changed since I went to high school. The choices these kids have are endless. I could not believe the selection of electives available to our children. We are fortunate to live a a great school district where the high school is new. It is so big it looks more like a college campus than a high school.

The catholic school that he goes to now only has about 65-75 kids to a class so it is very small and he knows everyone.... and the local high school probably has about 700 students per grade. I personally thought Nick would be somewhat nervous about this kind of change but he is really very excited and cannot wait to attend the new school.

We met with the guidance counselor to give him Nick's class selections and he spent a good deal of time telling us all the things that would be available to him. Nick was very excited to hear about all the extra curricular activities and clubs they had in place. I anticipate that he will be very busy come Fall.

For now, I think he is looking forward to a summer of fun with his friends.

On Saturday he met up with a group of "friends" to play some mini-golf and when I pulled into the parking lot, he jumped out of the car faster than the speed of light. Thanks to the camera on my Iphone, I was able to capture the two photos above. Check out the one on the right. Notice two of his "fiends" approaching at 11 o'clock? Yes, we are ALL ABOUT THE G!RLS right now. The little boy who never cared what he wore or looked like, is all about his appearance and how he smells. I open his bedroom door holding my breath most of the time so I don't inhale half a bottle of cologne. He has also started working out daily thanks to Mimi and Coachie who set him up with his own gym equipment in our basement. He goes down there and lifts weights, uses the punching bag, and occasionally runs on the treadmill.

Whether I am ready for it or not, there is no denying it, my baby boy is growing up.

Summer Days Are Almost Here

2012-05-23T14:25:00.000-04:00

This week is flying right by and as you could imagine, life is quite busy as the school year is quickly coming to a close. This month has been packed with all kinds of events and activities for Nick who is about to graduate from the 8th grade. Add to that, keeping up with the rest of the family, my job, photography, and the new boutique......and it leaves little time for anything else. Including sleep.

I have been daydreaming about our summer trip to the beach and I can't wait for things to slow down so we can think about heading North and putting our feet in the sand. The kids are ready too. Sarah has started a "Cape Cod" bag in her room and she is already packing all the things she wants to bring along. Bless her little heart. I didn't dare tell her we still have another month or two to go.

I am sure I am not alone when I say that May is one of my least favorite months. Next to December, it is probably the most stressful due to all of the activities and exams.

We are officially counting down the last days of school and highly anticipating our summer break. I will still have to work, but it will surely be nice not to have to worry about the hectic daily schedules and getting everyone up and out each day.

Hope everyone is having a great week. I am happy it will be a short one with the holiday weekend upon us. Nothing like a 4 day weekend:)

Sunday Snapshot - "Morning Light"

2012-05-20T13:23:00.000-04:00

We had company again this weekend and they headed out bright and early this morning. As we walked them to the car to say goodbye, I noticed how GORGEOUS the early morning light was reflecting on everything around me. Their car was no sooner out of our driveway and I was already in the closet grabbing my camera bag.

I thought I would share some of the beauty that surrounds us.

This field is up the street from our house and the sea of wheat grass(I think that is what it is) looked so pretty blowing in the wind.

This little patch on the side of the road caught my attention because of the beautiful backlighting!

Around the corner the grapes are beginning to grow. Eventually they will be turned into wine:)

We live in an area that is surrounded by farms and lots of cornfields.

Right now the corn is sprouting up everywhere....

Including the farm that is just behind our house.
Actually, this is the first photo I took this morning right in our own backyard.
With all the rain we have had, it is growing rather quickly this season!

Once I got close enough, I realized that there were actually little water droplets on all the stalks that made for a few more interesting shots.

It's rare that I have my camera in hand so early in the morning, but after today, I am thinking I might have to do it more often.

Happy Sunday Everyone!
Feel free to ask any questions if you have them. I am always happy to answer.

Shot with a Canon 5d Markiii
The close up shots of the cornstalks were taken with 100mm Macro and everything else was taken with a 70-200mm. Settings varied from shot to shot. The only thing constant was my ISO that remained at 100.

Make sure you stop by to say hello to my friend Stef and check out more fantastic Sunday Snapshots.

Scenes From a Small Town Carnival

2012-05-18T06:30:00.000-04:00

Last Friday my parents took all of the kids to a carnival that is run
by their local fire company each year.

Sarah, Aidan, and Ashton have all experienced the joys of this carnival in the years past so they knew what to expect, but this was Reagan's first time!

She was a little overwhelmed and hesitant at first, but she absolutely LOVED the rides!
I think we have another thrill-seeker on our hands:)

The cars were a huge hit with all 4 of the kids and we had visions of them at "16" swirling in our heads as we watched them go round and round!

There were a few rides that Reags was still not tall enough to go on by herself and she had a mini meltdown as she watched her sister and cousins making the long climb up the stairs of the big yellow Super Slide while she was left standing at the gate with us. Pat came to the rescue and told her he would go with her..... The tears disappeared and that frown was instantly turned upside-down as she came zipping down the slide safely in the arms of her Daddy!!

After many trips to the ticket booth, we told the kids it was time to head back to Mimi and Coachie's house. Reags got "one last ride"..... and I'm thinking it was the best "ride" of the night! I love the beautiful sunlight coming through the trees and how she is holding onto the side of her Daddy's head. A very sweet Daddy/Daughter moment!

The Cleanest Car in Town

2012-05-14T06:41:00.003-04:00

The weather was absolutely beautiful this weekend and the girls spent most of it playing outdoors. On Mother's Day Pat decided to wash his car and someone decided they wanted to wash mine too....even though I had taken it through the carwash the day prior:)

My girl worked that big sponge like no other.

And she would not stop until she had touched every inch of the car...well, at least the areas that were within her reach!

She was so stinkin' cute in her ruffled bathing suit and her rain boots, not to mention she was having a lot of fun playing in that big bucket of bubbly water!

Sarah had been playing with her friend next door and said she did not want to help wash the car, but once she saw Reags up to her elbows in suds, she decided to join in the fun!

You know I couldn't help myself and had to throw at least one finger sucking photo in the mix. They were extra clean yesterday:)

The bucket and sponges kept them busy for a long time, but then the hose made it's appearance......and that is when I decided it was probably best for me to put the camera away and stay out of the line of fire.

Thanks to my two ruffle bottomed cuties, I think it is pretty safe to say that I am now driving the cleanest car in town.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day relaxing with my family... I hope your day was special too!

These photos were taken in the direct sunlight which I usually don't do, but I could not resist capturing the cuteness, so pardon all the harsh shadows. Secondly, I need to give a shout out to Kimberley, the owner of Sophia Jane Boutique. If you are looking to adorn your little in one of these adorable ruffled bikinis, stop by her boutique by clicking HERE! She's got all sorts of beautiful things that any little girl would love!

"Fingerprints"

2012-05-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

Sarah came home from school yesterday with a special surprise that she could not wait to pull out of her backpack and hand to me.

"My dirty little fingerprints I've left on every wall
And on the drawers and tabletops, I have really marked them all.
But here are some that won't rub off, I'm giving them to you
Because I am thankful to have a Mom that's just like you!"

Sarah's piece of art totally made my day and when I clean my house, I don't think I will ever look at fingerprints quite the same way.

Hope you all have a Happy Mother's Day!

PS. If you are trying to figure out what she wrote on the project it was to say "2012"
I think we need to have her practice her 2s :)

Precious

2012-05-09T05:40:00.001-04:00

I don't always get to post my sessions here on the blog, but could not resist sharing this precious little one and her adorable big brother.

There is nothing like the joy a newborn baby brings.

Those itty bitty hands and feet....you know they were all that tiny at one time, but somehow you forget until you are holding another sweet baby in your arms.

I absolutely adore this family, especially the new big brother! I have had the pleasure of photographing him the last two years and he is always there with a big smile and his larger than life personality.

This visit to their house was no different:)

He could not wait to introduce me to his new baby sister.....

She is a sweetest little thing and she stole my heart the moment I laid eyes on her.

As I drove away from their house that afternoon, I felt happy and blessed to have been able to capture so many special memories for such a special family.

Thank you "S Family", it was truly a pleasure.
Congratulations on your new beautiful baby girl.
I hope to see you all very soon~

Sunday Snapshot - "Tender Moments"

2012-05-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

"Only an Aunt can give hugs like a mother,
can keep secrets like a sister,and share love like a friend."
~Author Unknown~

This weekend Pat's sister came to visit and Sarah just adores her..actually we all do! She has a heart of gold and the patience of a saint. She knows that from the moment she walks in the door, Sarah is going to be attached at her hip...literally. Sarah was counting the hours until she arrived and had their entire evening planned out.

We had some friends over for dinner and once everyone left and we got everything cleaned up, Sarah sequestered Aunt Mary Pat up in her bedroom playing games, reading books, and putting together puzzles. It was starting to get late, so next on the list was movies in bed with their "royal" friends!

I was the last one awake Friday night and after I locked up the house and climbed up the stairs, I popped in to say goodnight to Sarah and Mary Pat. It was around 11:30pm and it was pitch black in her room. The only light was coming from the television and they looked SO CUTE.

The old me would have never attempted to take this photo because of the extreme low light conditions, but the new me decided to go for it anyway. I dashed down the steps to my office and grabbed my camera to capture this tender moment between Sarah and her Aunt.

Photography is a journey and in my opinion, in order to grow, you have to be willing try new things and step out of the box and out of your own comfort zone every once in a while.

I was so glad I did... I absolutely love this photo. Some may view it as just a "Snapshot", but I see so much more when I look at it. I see a photo filled with love and emotion. A very sweet and unforgettable moment between a loving Aunt and her niece.

Aunt Mary Pat left this morning, but it is safe to say that she will be getting a little gift in the mail very soon:)

Shot with a Canon 5d Markiii
50mm f1.2 Lens
Aperture: f1.2
Shutter Speed: 1/100th
ISO: 10,000

Very little was done to this photo in terms of processing.
I used Florabella's Clean Black and White to convert it and then I added just a touch of her Milk Haze to soften it a bit.

Make sure you stop by and say hello to my friend Stefanie and check out some more fabulous Sunday Snapshots.

The Best Part of a Tea Party

2012-05-03T23:30:00.000-04:00

A few days ago the girls had a tea party in the family room and drinking "air" just didn't cut it so they decided that goldfish floating in grape juice was more to their liking:)

Things got, well....a little sticky, so I told them to head to the sink and climb up to wash off.

While they were washing up to their elbows, I gathered all the pieces to the tea set and brought them into the kitchen.

Sarah looked at me with big excited eyes and said, "Mommy can we please wash the dishes?"

And wash the dishes they did...... for over an hour!

The water was EVERYWHERE, but the good news was there was no sign of sticky grape juice ANYWHERE!!! Once I convinced them that everything was more than squeaky clean, they reluctantly agreed to turn the faucet off and back away from the sink.

According to the girls, their favorite part of the tea party was the clean up!

I told them they could help "clean up" anytime they wanted:)

Our sink is against the back wall of our home and it has a window above it.
At one point, I walked out onto the deck with the intentions to shoot through the window to get their faces, but I forgot about the screens. I gave it a try anyway and I actually liked the way the photo turned out. It is the one in the collage directly above that looks like it has a texture on it. Just thought I would mention it in case anyone wanted to give it a whirl!!

~Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend~

April Showers Bring May "Flowers"

2012-05-01T06:38:00.001-04:00

The last few Saturday mornings, the girls and I have headed over to the new boutique to meet with my partner and the previous business owners to go through some minor details before we officially get the keys, which btw, happens to be today(insert very large scream)!! The girls love going and Sarah decided accessories were a very necessary part of her outfit.

After we finished up, I promised the girls a trip to one of their favorite parks that is filled with lots of beautiful bridges.....

A long walking path that winds through the woods and a big open field where they can pick"flowers".

Sarah was very selective about the "flowers" she chose...

while Reags was just worried about standing up in the high grass without toppling over:)

We were on the hunt for some more purple flowers to add to their little bouquets, but couldn't find any along the way.

I told the girls to they might need to settle with the pretty yellow ones and we would try to find the purple ones another day.

Out of nowhere, Sarah decided to break out in jumping jacks and really cracked herself up.

We were just getting ready to head back to the car and we had to cross one last bridge to get there. It appears Reags, has a little fear of crossing these bridges, when you can see the water below. I noticed it when we visited the red covered bridge a few weeks ago, and it happened again on Saturday. Sarah needed to give her a little nudge and tell her it was going to be okay to help get her across..... such a sweet moment between sisters!

It was a good thing we were headed to the car, Sarah was growing very concerned about her "flowers" because they were starting to wilt. Her face really says it all, doesn't it?

She said that she picked these for her Daddy and she didn't want them to die before we got home and he could see them. Needless to say, her "flowers" were put into a bud vase and stayed on the kitchen table for 24 hours before I could convince her we needed to throw them away. She reluctantly agreed that they did not look as "happy" as they did when she first picked them, but made me promise that we could go pick more very soon. Of course I said yes.... but I did not have the heart to tell her that her "flowers" were really just weeds!

I know I say this all the time, but it truly is the simple little things that mean the most to them........and I absolutely love watching them find the joy in everyday life!

Sunday Snapshot - A Little "Spring" In Her Step

2012-04-29T08:43:00.000-04:00

There is something about this photo that just makes me want to smile!
I am not sure if it is the the bright vivid colors, the rockin' rain boots, the way Reagan is holding the buttercups in one hand and making a fist with the other, or if it is the element of mystery because we cannot see her face!

No worries though.... this is just one of many photos to come and you will see a lot of that sweet little face. Actually you will be in for a double-dose of cuteness!

I took the girls out mid-day, which I don't normally like to do because that is when the sun is super high in the sky and produces a lot of harsh shadows, but this park has a lot of trees that help diffuse the sun light.

Shot with a Canon 5d Markiii
70-200 f2.8 Lens with IS
Focal Length: 200mm
Aperture: f3.2
Shutter Speed: 1/250
ISO: 100

This photo was shot as is, no crop tool used here.

Processed with Florabella Classic Workflow Set.
Classic Color and Warm Color Pop.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask, I am happy to answer:)

Enjoy your Sunday!

Make sure you stop by and say hello to my friend Stefanie and check out some more Sunday Snapshots.

Super Heroes to the Rescue

2012-04-27T06:10:00.000-04:00

The "Two Finger Sucking High Heeled Bandit".....

along with "Super Serious Sarah"

had a secret meeting this Sunday at 0800

where they made grand plans to use their secret powers and gain control of the house taking down one parent at a time:)

It has been one of those weeks and I really could have used a Super Hero Cape and some Super Hero Powers to help get me through. I had a project for work that was thrown at me at the last minute that bumped the stress level to all time high.

I have also been spending my evenings glued to the computer in my private photography forum helping out a group of phenomenal ladies that signed up for the most recent photography class, "Push Past Your Comfort Zone". The class started two weeks ago and everyone is having fun and doing a fantastic job with the lessons they are receiving each week. These ladies are definitely keeping me on my toes! They are producing some amazing images and asking so many terrific questions. They have already made their teacher proud and we still have 6 weeks to go.

If you were wondering where I have been and why you have not seen hide nor hair of me around facebook or blogs, this is why! I have not had much spare time online......and honestly I have not had much time to take any new pictures myself(other than the snapshots you see above), but that's okay. I am having a blast teaching others.

These super hero capes came in a kit and were a rainy day project for the girls. I purchased them last year for $5 each and we had a great time putting them together and designing the masks. The girls were not very patient waiting for them to dry, but once they got the green light to put them on, they sure did have a great time letting their imaginations run wild!! If you are looking for a fun project with the kids, check out"Sew Plain Jane" You can click HERE to visit her website.

The beautiful ruffle rompers can be found at my friend Kimberley's awesome online store, Sophia Jane Boutique. To visit Kimberley and browse her collection of clothes and accessories fit for a princess, click HERE.

TGIF.... Have a wonderful weekend!

Good Morning Sunshine

2012-04-23T06:25:00.000-04:00

Even completely disheveled after a long night of sleep, she is as cute as a button!
I have never seen someone wake up so happy and ready to start their day. There is nothing better than walking around the corner to see that adorable little face staring up at me from the crib. The moment she sees me she says, "Good Morning Mommy". Her hair is always super wild, and she is usually half dressed or stripped down completely. That is one of her new tricks which doesn't always end so well:)

I am always taking photos of the girls when we are out and about, but it is the simple moments like these that mean the most. They totally melt my heart and I want to cherish them forever and ever.

Coming Soon

2012-04-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

2 Hip Chics LLC
Fashion, Photography, and Furnishings

This has been in the works for months, but things are finally coming together, so I thought I would let you all in on some of what has been on behind the scenes here!

My long time BFF Shelly and I are taking the plunge and opening a boutique.
We are both Career women and DO NOT plan to give up our jobs. We both very much need our full time jobs, but fortunately, hers can be done anywhere, as long as she has a computer and a phone. So she will be the one manning the store on weekdays. I will be there mostly on the weekends and evenings. We just secured the location and we officially get in there May 1st to start getting the place ready.

It is the most charming little place...... I wish I could let you see behind those doors. We were there on Saturday and the former business owner is still moving their stuff out, so I didn't really want to take pictures inside until the place is empty. It is an old historic home that somewhere along the line was zoned for business. It was built in the 1800's and still has the original hardwood floors throughout with the original moldings and details. The minute we stepped into this place, we knew it was the new home of our boutique. It just felt right!!! Not only is it cute inside, the physical location could not be better. It is in a neighboring town, just minutes from both of our homes. It is a downtown area where people come park their cars and walk from store to store. It is also very safe, which was really important to us.

Shelly and I have been through a lot together......Marriages, Children, Cancer, Divorce.... you name it, we have been through it together. The two of us are a lot a like. We are both Type A and extremely driven to be successful. Our careers and jobs are very important to us, but we are also big dreamers. For years, we talked about doing something like this, but the timing was never right.

About 8 months ago, she really started to talk about it again and she kept saying that I needed a "home" for my photography. I was really on the fence about it and kept brushing it off.. thinking we were still just dreaming.

After a lot of long conversations where all my fears and limitations were put out on the table, we decided to forge ahead. Even though I am her partner in this, she is really the majority owner and that is the only way I agreed to move forward.

It took us longer than expected to come up with a name because everything we chose, was already taken. I think the name we ended up with, 2 Hip Chics, is cute and kind of catchy.... and now that we officially have a home for our baby, we will spend the next few months getting the place ready and securing our inventory.

There will be fun accessories, handbags, along with some clothes(women and children), some small furnishings, like picture frames, candle stick holders, funky serving dishes, etc.(and PS. we plan to have an online store as well so we can ship to those that cannot come visit) The place has 3 floors. We plan to utilize the first two floors for the boutique and the third floor will be my studio. OH MY THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHT..... it has windows front and back that get both morning and afternoon light. It needs a little paint and fixing up, but nothing too major. It will be just PERFECT for a small studio. I cannot wait:)

When we went to visit on Saturday, I took the girls with me to show them the new place. Shelly brought one of her daughters(she also has 2 girls) to help keep an eye on them while we talked with the former business owners. Not only did Sarah and Reagan go crazy for the place(they were running around and checking out every room), they absolute adore Shelly's daughter, Delaney.

After all the business talk concluded, we walked up the street and had lunch at the new "Creamery On Main". The girls enjoyed getting rides from Shelly and Delaney!!

After we left, we came home so the girls could play with their sidewalk chalk(I had been promising since Easter). Then just before Reagan went down for a nap, Sarah said to me, "Mommy, that was my best day ever". I have been hearing that a lot from her lately, and it always makes me smile!!!

I am happy that they are happy about Mommy's new venture. I am sure we will be spending a good amount of time in there this summer preparing. I already told Pat to get his paint roller ready..... Shelly and I are going to need some of his best handyman skills.

I will post more details as we go..... right now our logo is in the design stage. We got a sneak preview of the first round of drafts and we are more than exited with what we see!!!

3D Sidewalk Chalk

2012-04-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Easter Bunny did not fill the girls' baskets with as much chocolate and candy this year, but he did include a few fun things for them to play with outside. They got those new colored bubbles, which were a hit with them, but not really for me who had to clean up the pink and purple all over the deck and on the outside of the house. I think we will be sticking with the traditional bubbles from here on out. After they made their way through the bubbles, they decided to check out the new 3D Sidewalk Chalk.

It kept them busy for a very long time.

They both love to draw and color and we did A LOT of that this winter indoors, so they were more than thrilled to take their art skills outside to the driveway last Saturday.

We had some issues with the 3 D Glasses. Reagan could not get them to stay on her face, but she found that wearing them upside down was the best solution:)

And Sarah, she preferred to not wear them at all! She is a very serious artist and the glasses seemed to get in her way.

For a while they were each making their own sidewalk art....

but in the end, their creativity came together and they created what Sarah called their "Flower Power Hopscotch Court". She asked me if she could pick the "flowers" growing in the yard and use them for their game. I told her she could pick every last one:)

It was a gorgeous day to be outside and I see many more days like that in our future.
The outdoor fun is just beginning and we are already counting the days until school is out and the careless days of summer are upon us.

And the Winner Is........

2012-04-13T20:50:00.000-04:00

It has been an exciting week around here with lots of activity and people stopping by in hopes of winning this very generous gift card!! I enjoyed reading all of the comments and hearing what you would do if you had the opportunity to splurge on camera equipment.
It is always fun to dream, isn't it?

I could barely stand it last night. I was an anxious as some of you, so I made my through all the comments and got rid of any duplicates so that things remained fair and everyone had only one entry. Each comment was assigned a number in the order in which it came in. I then went to Random.org and punched in the number of entries and it populated the winning number......

CONGRATULATIONS SANDY!!!!!
You are lucky number 46!
Looks like you are going to be able to upgrade that camera.
We cannot wait to see what you choose to replace your Rebel!

I wish everyone could have been a winner, but don't fret, something tells me that this is not the last we will hear from Cardinal Camera. I am thinking there could be future opportunities down the road:)

Please remember if you are in the market for Camera equipment of any kind, stop by a Cardinal Camera location or their online store. When you checkout use the discount code "HALFSKY" and 5% of the proceeds will go back to the foundation that is near and dear to my heart, Half The Sky! They make a huge difference in the lives of so many children waiting in China...... I stare at a pretty little face every single day that is a constant reminder of all the good that comes of their programs.

Another huge THANK YOU to Kurt at Cardinal for this incredibly generous giveaway and to my lovely friend Karin for making it all happen!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and Congratulations to our winner, Sandy!!!

Just For Fun

2012-04-13T07:06:00.001-04:00

Reagan has been on a huge blueberry kick. She absolutely loves them and will eat an entire pint in one sitting if we let her. We just cannot keep enough on hand. If it's not blueberries, then it is red raspberries. She is a berry lovin' girl:) Whatever it happens to be though, I am a little over the top when it comes to washing it. I worry about things that may have been sprayed on the berries while they were growing, so they hit the sink for a very good "shower" before they ever make in into Reagan's bowl.

So the other morning I was getting Reagan her breakfast and the two containers of blueberries were in the bottom of the sink. The water cascading down on them caught my eye. I ran to my office and grabbed my camera.

I love to photograph food and flowers, but when you add some water, it just adds an extra element of fun!

I usually take my food shots on the kitchen table where I get a lot of natural light. These shots were taken in or around my sink where it is not nearly as light. In fact, there was very little light at all.

Remember my new friend Kurt from Cardinal Camera?
Well, he recently worked some serious magic and got me into the new Canon 5d Mark iii and this week I had a little fun testing the limits of this camera! I am still not quite ready to give a full report and I have only scratched the surface of what this camera can do, but I will say this...... The 61 point focus system is nothing like I have ever experienced. It is as FAST as can be, and if that is not enough to make you swoon...... the ISO capabilities on this camera are through the roof. It was definitely made to work flawlessly in low light conditions.

For those that are photography buffs, would you believe that the first two photos in today's post were taken at ISO 8000 and the third and fourth photos were taken at ISO 5000? YES, they were....and I could hardly believe my eyes!!
Even with the high ISO settings, the grain and noise is minimal or nonexistent!

I know a few of you mentioned wanting to upgrade to this camera should you be the lucky recipient of the $1000 Cardinal Camera Gift Card giveaway. Trust me when I say, you will not be disappointed and you will never want to put this camera down. It is my new baby and it will go everywhere I go:)

Speaking of Cardinal Camera and the ever so generous Kurt, Stay tuned...... the Gift Card winner will be announced bright and early tomorrow morning!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend....TGIF!

Highlights From Easter Sunday

2012-04-11T06:30:00.001-04:00

The girls did not wake up super early, but when they did wake up, they were super excited!
As they walked down the steps, they saw that the Easter Bunny left a trail of jelly beans for them.

The trail started at at the bottom of the staircase and took them right to their baskets. Sarah started running and Reagan.....well, she took her time and stopped to savor a few jelly beans along the way:)

Once they reached their baskets, it was only a matter of minutes before they began taste testing their favorites. I am not sure Reagan remembered too much from last Easter, so she was watching and taking cues from Sarah. "Are they really going to let us eat this right now, we have not even had our breakfast?"

From the kitchen table, there was one more trail that led them to our bar room where they found two hula hoops, 3D sidewalk chalk, and pavement paint! There were some loud screams followed by a lot of hip shaking..all while eating candy. Look closely, Reags has something green in her mouth.

The hula hoops were a big hit with both of the girls, even though they landed on the floor more often than they stayed around their waists!

Even though the sun was shining, it was not that warm.....and the wind, oh the wind!
We tried to hold off on the Easter Egg Hunt hoping it would warm up, but it didn't, so the girls just embraced the wind(hence the crazy hair in almost every photo) and combed the backyard in search of colorful eggs.

Reagan hit the ground running and was not going to let a little wind stop her, it was GAME ON!!

Sarah had her heart set on finding that "Golden Egg".....

but still helped to point her sister in the right direction of some of the eggs that were not in plain sight!

It might have been the quickest egg hunt in history(because we were so cold)but that is okay, the girls could not wait to bring their baskets inside and count their money!

So many precious moments to remember from our Easter holiday, but I still think this my favorite!
Nick, at 14 years old, has outgrown a lot(like Easter Egg Hunts), but he will never be too old to stop and show his little sisters how much he loves them and if you can't tell, they both adore their big brother!

A Little Easter Preview

2012-04-09T08:17:00.000-04:00

I am just beginning to sort through all the photos I took yesterday and thought I would quickly share two of my favorites! By the time we went outside to start the egg hunt, the sugar had definitely kicked in.....

add some strong gusts of wind and it turned into a complete giggle fest!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter Holiday, we had a great one and I look forward to sharing more of our day very soon. Maybe by tomorrow:)

~Happy Monday~

Do You Need to Add to Your Bag?

2012-04-06T07:50:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow will be exactly four years that I started "The Long Road to China", and while I thought that the cookbook was going to be my celebratory giveaway, I was wrong!! Just an hour after I posted that my four year "blogiversary" was around the corner, I received an email with an offer that was....well, almost too good to be true!!

You see, this blog thing has not always been smooth sailing, I hit a few bumps in the road, so to speak, and learned some valuable life lessons, but during this four year journey, I have also been extremely blessed to meet so many wonderful and truly genuine people. Some of you I have never met in person, but feel as if I know from our bantering on line, others I have had the pleasure of meeting in person and have become a part of my life, and then there are those that are as close as family.... like Marla, who got on a plane and left her family for two weeks to travel halfway around the world with me to meet my daughter for the very first time and Dita, who was there to meet us in the airport the day we arrived back home.

My long winded point to all of this, I am amazed how this blog has weaved people into my life that I never would have met otherwise. I have crossed paths with so many talented and kindhearted women, and today's big surprise is a true testament to that.

When I announced my first photography weekend workshop in Bethlehem a few years back, I received an email from Karin, who was a Mom just like me, but was also just finding her passion for photography. She had seen a photo of mine that was featured on I Heart Faces and that is how she landed on my blog. She felt an instant connection because she grew up in the area in which I live! She wrote to me often about how excited she was to improve her photography skills and was anxiously awaiting the weekend workshop. Two years later, she has a very successful photography business of her own and I could not be more proud of how far she has come and all that she has accomplished in such a short period of time. Karin is about as sweet as they come and has a heart of gold. She is always checking in here to see what is going on in my life and we will email back and forth about our families and of course, photography. Since the day I met her, she has told me about one of her lifelong friends that owns a chain of Camera stores and not only does he guarantee his prices, he provides excellent customer service. So much so that she travels from Virginia all the way to Pennsylvania to shop or to have her camera cleaned and calibrated. The last time she came up to visit his store, she even popped in to visit me:)

Through Karin, I have been introduced to Kurt, who is the owner of Cardinal Camera, a 3rd generation family owned camera store(now stores)celebrating 75 years in business!!!
That says a lot, doesn't it?

Kurt has stores popping up everywhere and recently, opened one at my favorite mall just minutes from our house. IT IS GORGEOUS and I could spend HOURS in there walking around, testing equipment, and picking the brains of his very knowledgeable staff.

He carries everything you could imagine and then some, and in the rare circumstance he doesn't have something you want in one of his stores, he will order it for you in an instant!!

He worked some serious magic for me(more on that later)and if you are looking to add to your camera bag, keep reading....we are getting to the good stuff, the details of the email that came through my inbox last Friday!!

I realize that most of you are not local and don't have the ability to stop by his beautiful locations and that is OKAY, he has a website where you can order online and he will ship to your door!!! www.cardinalcamera.com

Not only that, if you enter the discount code "HALFSKY" when you check out, he will give 5% of your sale back to Half the Sky....... Isn't that fantastic? He will be leaving this code in place throughout the 2012 calendar year, so if you are doing any shopping, please remember to punch in the code when you check out or if you happen to be in one of his stores, tell the person who is waiting on you.

But hold on, it gets better.......

Not only is he going to help me, help the Children in China through Half the Sky, he is going to give one of my lucky readers a GRAND PRIZE LIKE NO OTHER!!!!!!

Karin, Kurt, and I brainstormed a little bit this week and the first thought was to offer a beautiful new Sigma 85mm f1.4 lens that would work for both Canon and Nikon users. This is one of my favorites lenses for....

getting in close to capture the details....

or taking tack sharp portraits....

with creamy dreamy bokeh!

But then I started to think about the beloved 100mm Marco f2.8 with IS that I love to get creative with for things such as food...

Flowers.....

and even a portrait once in a while!!!

We quickly realized it was going to be a touch choice, and ultimately we did not want to leave anyone out on this giveaway.

So this is what Kurt decided to do being the SUPER GENEROUS GUY THAT HE IS.

Whether you shoot with Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc..... You could be an avid photographer looking for a new lens or maybe you have always wanted to get into photography and just don't have the funds to get that dslr camera.......NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!!!!

ONE LUCKY READER IS GOING TO RECEIVE A $1000 Gift Card from Cardinal Camera(you read that correctly, $1000)to purchase whatever it is you need or you are lacking in your camera bag from.

Are you completely blown away?
I was in complete shock myself:)

Here is what you need to do to enter....

1. Leave me a comment and just for fun, tell me what you would want to purchase should this $1000 Gift Card happen to land in your hands. Make sure I have a way to contact you should you win, IE: an email address.

2. Go to Cardinal Camera's Facebook Page HERE and "like" them so you will begin to get updates and alerts when he is offering specials or sales. Who doesn't love a great sale?

You can enter through Thursday, April 12th at 11:00pm Eastern Time. The VERY LUCKY winner will be announced next weekend!!

Okay, so leave a comment, go like their page, and don't forget if you need to purchase something camera related anytime this year, go to Cardinal Camera, use the discount code "HALFSKY" when you check out so we can continue to give back to the children in China.

Best of luck and thanks for continuing to come back each day. You all make my life extra special!!
To Karin and Kurt, I cannot thank you enough for your friendship and your extremely generous offer. I am thrilled and honored to host such a fantastic giveaway....... and I am looking forward to working with you in the months to come and again when we roll out "Fill Their Stockings 2012"...wink wink;)

Have a Happy Easter Everyone!!

UPDATE- For some reason, as soon as I hit 200 comments, blogger will no longer show them. It is counting them and I am getting them through email, but they will not show up here on the blog. Luckily, I have been saving every single comment via email so I can put them in a spreadsheet for the drawing. Continue to leave comments even though they are not showing here..... I AM RECEIVING THEM. Hopefully I can get this issue resolved tomorrow. Thank you~

Favorite Photo Friday - "The Covered Bridge"

2012-04-05T06:30:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we had a lot of rain and cold temps and we found ourselves indoors for the better part of it, but we did have some relief on Sunday, so I took the girls out so they could run around and get some fresh air. I am thinking everyone else had the same idea, because when we pulled into the Parkway, we noticed lots of cars in the lot.

Many people come here to walk, run, or ride their bikes along the path. Reagan saw an adorable little boy approaching on his tricycle and got very excited and started waving to both he and his Daddy!

There is a very old but beautiful, covered bridge in this Parkway. At one time you could drive though it, but now they only allow you to cross by foot or bicycle.

Sarah thought it was the coolest thing because it was so dark inside....

And the only light came in through the windows.

She had a grand time running in and out of the darkness!

While Sarah totally loved the bridge, little Reags was not a fan. I am not sure if it was the darkness, the small cracks of light coming up from the old wood floor, or the fact that she knew there was water beneath us. Either way, she did not feel safe unless she was in my arms. For the most part, Reags stayed out of the bridge altogether......

and much preferred to run where her feet were firmly planted on the ground!!

It happened to be the first weekend of the fishing season, so there were a lot of men with "lines" in the water. The girls sat for a few minutes hoping to see someone catch something.

But that didn't last long. They sat still for all of 2 minutes....

And then they were up running around again. These two are always on the move!

Well, I realize that today is not really Friday, I decided to post a little early, because I have a SUPER SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY that is going to be presented tomorrow morning. I know it is a holiday weekend and everyone is busy, but you will DEFINITELY want to check back to see what it is all about. I am busting to tell you all about it, but you will have to wait just one more day for all of the details.

Last Friday, I received an email an hour after I posted about my four year anniversary cookbook giveaway....... and while I just LOVE Giada and her new cookbook, the GIVEAWAY that was offered definitely takes the cake! I have never had a prize like this. Some might even call it a GRAND PRIZE, so make sure you come back tomorrow..... I promise, you will not be disappointed!!!

If you know me well, you know I cannot keep a secret, so I will give you one small hint.
It is heavy and it is something that I carry around quite often;)

Okay.... that is all you are getting from me until tomorrow morning!!!

Feel free to start linking your Favorite Photo Friday posts.

Marinara, Puttanesca, and Eggplant Parm

2012-04-03T06:30:00.000-04:00

This recipe has been in draft for over two months. I don't know why I have procrastinated so long. I think sometimes it is difficult for me to post our family recipes because of the whole measuring thing or lack there of. It makes it difficult to write out the recipe, but I did my best!!
So here goes.....

My Mom and I made a big tray of eggplant parmesan a few months back. A lot of the dishes in our family start with a simple marinara, not to be confused with our "Sauce" that I posted with the meatball recipe. They are slightly different.

Marinara
Olive Oil(Extra Virgin)
4 Cloves of Garlic
3 28oz Cans of Crushed Tomatoes
Pinch of Sugar
2 tsp of Salt(Kosher)
1 tsp of Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1/2 Cup of Chopped Italian Parsley

Use enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pot. Turn on the heat and then add the garlic and stir for about a minute or two, but be careful not to burn it. Next, add the 3 Cans of Crushed Tomatoes, Pinch of Sugar, Salt, Black Pepper, and Parsley.
Simmer it so that all of the ingredients will marry together. Usually for at least an hour.

We decided to kick it up a notch and turn our marinara into a puttanesca.
(If puttanesca is not to your liking, then go no further and stick with the simple marinara)

2 Anchovies
A handful of Black Olives Pitted and Chopped
Approximately 1 TBSP of Capers in Salt(Rinsed and Choopped)
3-4 Cloves of Garlic
Red Crushed Pepper Flakes(Optional)

In a separate pot from the marinara, use a little olive oil and then add your ingredients above and cook through for about 3-5 minutes. It will become fragrant and you will see the olives and capers start to breakdown a bit. Then, you want to add this mixture into your pot of marinara and continue to let it simmer.

Before we started the sauce, we peeled and sliced 3-4 large eggplants. We placed them in a shallow dish of water, covered them with wax paper, and then placed a heavy dish or pot on top. After about 15 minutes you will see that the water turns a purple-ish color. We then drained the water and placed the eggplant on papertowels to dry off. Once dried, we set up two bowls, one with egg, one with seasoned breadcrumbs. We dipped each piece of eggplant into the eggwash, then into the breadcrumbs. After we finished we began to pan fry in Olive Oil. It only took a few minutes on each side. Once you see the edges start to turn a little brown and crispy, you know it is done.

As quickly as we were pulling them out of the pan and putting them onto a papertowel lined plate(helps absorb the oil), someone was doing a little pre-dinner tasting......

It was the first time she tried eggplant and she LOVED it. We had to cut her off after three pieces:))
She kept licking her fingers and saying, "More Mommy, More!" I wish my Grandmother was still here with us.... she would have truly appreciated Reagan's love of food!!

By the time the eggplant was all fried up, the sauce was done and everything was ready to be layered in a large lasagna pan. We started by coating the bottom of the pan with the sauce, then we spread a layer of eggplant, then a little more sauce, then we topped it with shredded mozzarella cheese and pecorino romano. Then it was another layer of eggplant, sauce, and cheese. We kept repeating until we reached the top of the pan. I believe it was three or four layers in total. Then it was into the oven at 350 Degrees for about 40 minutes. You will see it start to bubble on the sides and the cheese will get brown on top.

This recipe takes some time and prep in the kitchen, but it is SO WORTH IT. I promise you, it will be the best eggplant you ever tasted. We all enjoyed this one..... even the kids and the best part, there were plenty of leftovers!
If you are an eggplant lover or just looking for something different, give it a try!!

And since we are talking "FOOD" today, I thought I would go ahead and announce the winner of Giada's new cookbook, "Weeknights With Giada". Random Number came up with #74. Congratulations Tammie T, you have a new cookbook headed your way! Just email me your address and I will get it in the mail to you.

Have a Terrific Tuesday Everyone!

Sunday Snapshot - "The Field of Dreams"

2012-04-01T07:58:00.000-04:00

Every Spring people come from near and far to visit Lockridge Park because of the bluebells that grow for about two weeks. No matter what time of the day you visit, there are photographers and families vying for every inch of the bluebell patch.

This year they bloomed quite early and the day I drove by and saw they had already popped up, I put out an all points bulletin on facebook alerting the masses they were here!!!

We happen to live about 5 minutes from this landmark park, but I have a few friends who live a little further away and have been trying to get up here the last two years, and unfortunately, missed the window of opportunity each time.

They did not waste any time this year and both of them decided to meet me and the girls in the park the very next day!

It was so cute to watch them all frolic in the field and every once in a while, they would stop and pose for a shot.

But most of the time, they just did their thing, totally oblivious to the cameras.

There was such a sweetness in the way the girls interacted with each other.

The pretty light beaming down between the trees made the most simple moments.......

almost appear to be magical!

It was a beautiful afternoon in so many ways.

The girls did not want to leave because they were having so much fun.

But, the littlest one of the bunch, skipped her nap that day and seemed to be hitting the proverbial wall.

So this Mommy knew it was time to pack up our things and head back home!
We had to say good bye to the both the bluebells and to our friends. The bluebells won't come back again for another year, but fortunately we will get to see our friends many times between now and then!

Stefanie has made some exciting new changes to Sunday Snapshot!
Make sure you stop by to see what it is all about. She will be picking her favorite photo each week to be entered into a monthly contest. You can post as many photos as you want, but she will only be judging the first photo in your post.

As always, I had a difficult time choosing and in the end, the expressions on all of the girls faces and the "girl power" feel of that first photo, won out!

Stef shared all of her photo info in her post, so I am following suit and will do so each Sunday as well.

These were shot with a 50mm f1.2 lens.
My settings varied a little as we moved around the park.
Aperture was anywhere from f2.0 to f2.8
Shutter Speed was from 1/640th to 1/1200th
ISO was the only thing constant in all photos at 100

Processed with the talented Shana Rae's, Florabella Classic Workflow Set.
Classic Color, Honey Haze, and Brush On Color Pop.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask, I am happy to answer:)

Enjoy your Sunday!