Coffee Talk!!

Welllll hellloooo my sweet lovelies!!! I'm super duper EXCITED to get down to business today. Let's get gossiping! ;)

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Ok, so you all must have been doing a BABY dance because the STARS aligned and YES, I am an AUNTIE again!!! Aubrey Leigh was born at 4:32 PM this past Sunday and she is absolutely PERFECT! I was soooo beyond ecstatic that I was able to be in the delivery room to experience this beautiful little princess coming into the world. Um, helllooo my sister loves me and I got to do ANOTHER birth story shoot! It all goes by so fast (especially when you are lucky like her) and you quickly forget all that happened so getting to document those memories for her was priceless! (Once my whirlwind crazy life slows down there will be a peek on here!)
But for now....here is a beautiful moment shortly after she made her entrance into this world!

2 - I was a bit of a CRAY CRAY lunatic these past few days! Seriously, I was ready to SNAP. Sessions needed to be edited, my house (let's not even talk about it), the laundry, my challenge groups, etc. etc. everything was PILING up and trying to get it all knocked out before vacation was proving to be a CHALLENGE! I needed to keep breathing and telling myself it would ALL be ok and I would get it done. I swear sometimes you just want to cry UNCLE when it comes to being an adult!!! I was able to conquer everything on my list yesterday and it feels like a HUGE weight is lifted from my shoulders and I am ready for VACATION . Do you all ever get to that point? PULEEZE tell me I'm not the only one!!! ;)

3 - Sit down on your BOOM BOOM for this one....Oh YES, this girl order the Brazil Butt Lift program from Beach Body!!! Are you crying laughing...because if you aren't you WOULD be if you saw what it entails!!! I'm honestly looking forward to incorporating it into my workout program after I get back from vacation and I can see LOTS of tears from falling on the floor laughing at these moves. Let's see if this little chick can GROW a boom boom! (hey a girl can hope, can't she!?)

4 - Is it just me or does anyone else feel like summer is FLYING by already??! It could be because we are literally gone every weekend but I just feel like there is something planned from now thru August and before you know it, it will be over. For now, I am soaking up all the memories and fun that we are having as a family and with our friends.

5 - My Challengers - I don't know where to begin! They are kicking some serious BOOTY!!! 20 Pounds in 35 days.....WHAT?! Yep, I know, it's unbelievable! 5 pounds and 6 inches in 2 weeks!!! I can't EVEN! There are sooooo many changes happening for ALL of them physically as well as mentally and it's the most rewarding feeling to receive their messages when you can literally feel how HAPPY they are just from READING their message. My next group is starting up June 29th! If you are interested in seeing what all the hype is about and see where this journey takes YOU, message me! I would love to have you along!

Ok, that's it for today! The vacay countdown is on. I will PROBABLY be a little "MIA" next week, but I will TRY to get on here. XO

Parmesan & Herb Crusted Baked Salmon with Cilantro Lime Brown Rice

Hey loves!!!! I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off doing last minute vacation get ready stuff, but wanted to share this super EASY dinner I threw on the table tonight. We all have crazy BUSY lives so anything to make it even a teensy weensy bit better is WELCOME in my book! The family all gave it a thumbs up so I'm doing pretty good so far with introducing lots of new dishes....I'm waiting for the shoe to drop and they all HATE something! LOL!

Anywho...here is the recipe! If you make it please let me know how you like it. XO


INGREDIENTS:

1 to 2 lbs Salmon


PARMESAN HERB CRUST:

3 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup shredded parmesan
- Mix these three together in a small bowl and set aside.


1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

2. Place salmon, skin side down onto lined baking sheet. Cover salmon with another piece of parchment paper. Bake salmon for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and remove top piece of parchment paper. Top with the Parmesan Herb Crust mixture. Return to oven uncovered and bake until topping is melted and lightly browned.

3. Let it rest for about 5 minutes before you serve.

I served this with a side of my infamous roasted brussel sprouts and broccoli recipe found here and cilantro lime brown rice. :)

Coffee Talk!

It's Thursday LOVES!!! I feel like I'm running on a hamster wheel and can't get anywhere! LOL I have way too much to do....so let's get to it!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Phew! Just got back from our weekend away celebrating the 21st Birthday of a super special lady!! We had so much FUN! I definitely ate toooo much, drank too much, laughed too much (WHAT!?)...just checking to see if you were paying attention! No, we seriously laughed our butts off. It is always a fabulous time and I just feel so darn lucky that they all came into our life! We have our next couple visits planned already. I CAN NOT WAIT! However, this weekend it will be nice to just be H O M E and enjoy going to a BBQ to catch up with some great friends.

2 - It is FINALLY warm, ok, it's hot, but this girl is not complaining! Not after this past winter's FRIGID cold temps! So I'm just enjoying that I'm not covered knee deep in white stuff with icicles hanging off my nose. I heart SUMMER, in fact we made a little pit stop at the beach on our way back home last weekend and I was in HEAVEN! There's just something about the sand, the water, the whole feeling of being at the beach that just makes you RELAX and SMILE.

3 - The countdown to VACATION is ON!  Only 8 DAYS to go!!!!! Eeeekkk. I am soooo ready! Ready for dancing, eating, drinking, laughs, city life, country life, family time, shopping. Now if I can just finish editing my last couple sessions and have an EMPTY plate before I go I will be one happy little lady! I am pretty motivated to get it done, so challenge ACCEPTED!

4 - I may or may not have stalked the mail man this week. I was seriously waiting like a kid on Christmas for this little lovely to arrive!  

Yes, yes I realize that I am a LOSER! Again, it only takes very little, simple things to just blow my socks off and excite me! Here was the newest one! I am trying so hard to really up my water intake so this new infuser bottle not only tracks my water intake but I can add fruit to it, PLUS it has an awesome motivational message on it! (Be Strong, you never know who you are INSPIRING) I am head over heels in love and so far I am tricking myself into drinking more! SCORE!

5 - It's been a week of learning. Learning to ignore the negative and embrace the positive. I think it's always hard when those closest to you don't support what you are doing or worse yet make "comments" that would probably be best to just keep to themselves but somehow they think it's good to just let them out. It's important to remind myself that I am doing everything that I am doing for ME and MY FAMILY and if others don't agree with it, that's ok. Sometimes it's hard but I can't let them derail me with negative talk. Remember to do what you LOVE. Don't listen to anyone and go ahead and live the life you want!

Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekend loves! I will be back with more sessions soon! Muaah! XO

Oh my....Meet the BEAUTIFUL Lyndsay!!!

So that moment when you show up to a shoot and ugh, the weather is looking LESS than promising! THEN, before you know it, the skies CLEAR, it's pretty out and every so often you see a glimmer of SUN!! What the?! YES, that is EXACTLY how this shoot went. Lyndsay and her super cute Mommy were perfect clients/models. Mommy was game for whatever I threw her way and let's just say I don't think I EVER heard that little sweetheart of a baby make ONE. LITTLE. WHIMPER! (I may or may not have been told that she cries when she's naked!?) Ummmmm, LIES! Lies I tell you!  LOL! Ok, fine maybe she does on a "normal" day, but for her photo debut this DIVA had it going on! Thank you for being so accommodating and for letting me share in Lyndsay's FIRST ever shoot! OH, and for sticking it out and waiting for the weather to clear! It couldn't have been more perfect! I had such a blast capturing all of these photos...here are a few of my favs!!! XO

Slow Cooker Mexican Casserole

Helllllloooo lovelies! Ok, all of you busy ladies (and gents) out there, especially you busy moms!!! I found my SUPER quick, easy go to dinner to share with you!  Who doesn't LOVE a crock pot dinner?! I threw everything in there on my way out of the house, came home 8 hours later to the DELISH smells of YUMMY mouthwatering MEXICAN greeting me at the door! The family gave it 5 stars!!!! One more reason I LOVE it...I served it over some brown rice with lime and cilantro, but you can TOTALLY throw this into soft tortilla shells and eat it like a burrito. Definitely give this a try if you are in a HURRY and need something on the fly.  Let me know what you think!  (I need to start sneaking my camera out before my family sits for dinner so I can get some nice pics..not these phone ones!!! LOL)

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup / 240 ml black beans
• 1 cup / 240 ml corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 1 small jar salsa (your favorite variety)
• 1 Tbsp / 15 ml cumin
• 1 Tbsp / 15 ml chili powder
• 2 cups / 480 ml cooked brown rice

Everything in the crock pot before I left house. 

Preparation

1. Add to slow cooker: chicken breast, beans, corn, salsa, cumin and chili powder. Mix and cook on low 8 to 10 hours. Serve with cooked brown rice.

If you want to make a creamier version, add ½ cup plain Greek yogurt the last 30 minutes of cooking.

8 hours later....home to this! YUM! :)

ENJOY!

Coffee Talk!

OMG loves...it is JUNE!! What the?! How did that even happen? Well what are you waiting for....fill up your coffee cup and let's get to it! ;)  (I'm a feisty little thing this week)

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Where do I even BEGIN with all of the shoots I have been having?!!! WOW! I have said it before but I will say it A. G. A. I. N.  Thank you, thank you, thank YOU for the referrals and of course for the repeat clients. It's CRAZY to me how busy I have been and I am trying to get it ALL wrapped up before our BIG vacation this month. My heart is so full and happy and I will be getting some more of the sessions up here soon. (which reminds me, if you are interested in a session for July or August, please message me. July is almost completely booked and August has limited dates)

2 - Speaking of vacation....is it TIME yet? Another plus of being on this coast....regular vacations to CHICAGO!! That is by far, my absolute FAVORITE city! I can not wait to soak up every single minute with laughing, drinking and eating with all of our family.

3 - It's unbelievable but this weekend will make the THIRD weekend in a row that we are away. I swear we are like little, crazed, penned up animals ALL winter long and spring comes and it's like..'We're Free, We're Free!'  This was a totally sporadic decision to do a quick getaway to go celebrate a VERY special lady's 21st Birthday! It will be an AMAZING weekend with our favorite family for sure! (I'm just thrilled we didn't have as long to wait for our countdown to see them again! LOL)

4 - My sister is getting VERY close to her due date. PULEEZE cross your fingers that she delivers BEFORE I go on vacation. There will be a very disappointed Auntie if I miss the birth of her second bundle since I got to be in the DELIVERY room with my niece. Stars please align and make this happen. Thank you.

5 - 21 Day Fix Extreme.....yes is EXTREME! I am slowly getting better at this beast of a workout and I am DEFINITELY seeing changes but whew...I am a MESS afterwards. A HOT mess and not in a good hot way! ;)  My next Challenge Group is June 15th, spots are filling up. If you are interested please message me! I can promise you that you won't be the same person who started on Day 1. Take the leap of faith and trust the process.

XO

Grilled Chipolte Avocado

Hellllloooo all my lovelies!!! Are you looking for a quick, YUMMY Snack?! Well I was lucky enough to score this one from a friend at work and I couldn't WAIT to try it! Get ready for your taste buds to give you a big SMOOCH for this one. Seriously, they will heart you for this! 

Cut avocado in half, remove pit

Season with sea salt & chipolte seasoning

Spray pan with olive oil or use tsp of olive oil on med/high heat

When pan is hot, put flesh side down and cover with lid

Cook for 3 - 5 minutes until you see a nice golden crisp color

Eat as is or cut up and throw on a salad

WHAT?! That's it?  YES, yes it is...Voila! Enjoy my loves, ENJOY! XO

Blackened Tilapia/Chicken with Avocado Cream Sauce

Hi loves! Another yummy dish went down!  I did it with tilapia, but any white fish or chicken would work perfectly!!! :)
It ended up being a WINNER!!! The sauce is soooo refreshing, it's a perfect summer dish! Let me know what you think! I served mine with the roasted brussel sprouts and broccoli because I think I may have a serious obsession with them! They are just soooooo yummy! Here's the link to the recipe for those here.

Ingredients:

Blackened Fish (or chicken)

4 - fish fillets
1 Tbsp blackening seasoning


Avocado Cream Sauce

1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 avocado, chopped up (I may or may not have used a whole one!)  ;)
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
Put all of the cream sauce ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy! :)

1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Season the fish well on both sides with blackening seasoning..(it may take more because this depends on your "hot" tolerance

2. Bake fish for about 15 - 20 minutes until it's cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. (if you are cooking chicken you will need to adjust the cook times)

3. Top with a dollop of the avocado cream sauce. (um, I may tend to put a little toooo much on mine, it's just sooooo delish!!!)

ENJOY!!!!

Here's my obligatory cell pic!!! ;)  (come on you know you are starting to heart them!)

Ryleigh Rose is ONE!!!

So this little luv bug is very special to me!!! She is the little to my lovely cousin so of course she's a regular client!!! I really couldn't ask for a happier, more easy going, flexible, go out of her way client than this little chickie! The day of her shoot was "brisk" to put it mildly. Um, I seriously give this little girl props for rocking this shoot (just as she has on EVERY OTHER shoot), but really to smile and not look like a Popsicle and not be a crying blubbering mess!!! YES, Ryleigh...you get BEST. CLIENT. EVER! Ryleigh I can't tell you how absolutely thrilled I am to be able to photograph all of your memorable moments. You are a doll! Here are a few of my favs from that day. XO

More to come this week....It's BUSY BUSY BUSY and I couldn't be happier or more grateful! XO