Coffee Talk!

Coffee, Coffee......COFFEEEEEEE!!! Man do I need it! Let's get to it!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Our weekend away = PERFECTION!!! From start to finish we had an absolute BLAST! The Burlesque show was Ah-mazing! We started the evening at Izakaya, a fabulous restaurant inside the Borgata. There are no words for how absolutely DELISH the food there was! We packed A LOT into that 4 day getaway (Boardwalk fun, the beach and just good old relaxing) but most of all we made lots of memories with very special friends!! The countdown is ON until our next visit! ;)

2 - I am hoping to be able to BREATHE this fall! I started scheduling for my sessions and I am almost completely BOOKED! Helllllllllooooo happy heart! It's such an amazing feeling and I am so absolutely grateful! If you are on my list, have no fear I will be sending out messages with dates and times available.

3 - Every day that I wake up with a fresh outlook on life I pinch myself and think 'yes, this is real'!!! I can't say ENOUGH about what this company has done for my whole well being. Yes, it's unconventional, no, not everyone will like it or understand it, BUT that's the beauty of it. I believe in the program, Shakeology and it's benefits and just the company itself. I know what it has done for ME and my family and that's what is important to me. There are LOTS of people out there harping about pyramid schemes....here's my thoughts on that.....Show me a company who doesn't have the 'BOSS' at the top and levels of employees below? The only difference is a time clock and a desk and I for one LOVE being able to do this from the comfort of my home, in my jammies, late at night, early in the morning...whenever or wherever I want! So to each his own. If you are part of a "network marketing" company - AWESOME, if you aren't that's good for you too. It won't be for everyone and that is A-OKAY!

4 - Summer DON'T leave me....school starts in only a few weeks!!! GASP!  That is all.

5 - I have an appt with a new Dr's office tomorrow. I have had a lot going on which requires follow ups, testing etc. It is so very frustrating for me because I realize when you LOOK at me, I look like I'm the picture of perfect health!!! Unfortunately it's not the case and at this point I'm starting to get a little freaked out about what could happen, so I am FINALLY taking the initiative to shop for a new Dr and start there to get myself in check. I am having more of the eye issues but mixed in with a numb arm....do photographers REALLY need eyes and arms??!!! Nahhhh I didn't think SO!!!! ;) Did I tell you I HATE going to the Doctor???!!! Ugh!

Alright loves...I am off to finish some last minute cleaning. We have very SPECIAL visitors coming this weekend and I can't WAIT to update you next week on their visit! Have a fabulous rest of your week! XO

Helllllooo Miss McKenna!!!

It's time to play some catch up and get my sessions on here!!! Let's get started with sweet little McKenna! This little diva holds a special place with me because she literally was my very FIRST newborn that I had the privilege to shoot when I moved back to PA! Her Mommy & I were friends back in GRADE SCHOOL!! What the?! I know, I know....I keep getting younger wiser OLDER! ;) Life is such a fun journey because you just never know where you are going to "land" no matter how well planned out you THINK you have it! I am so lucky to be back in contact with a dear friend and her adorable family!

Go ahead and check out some of my fav's from McKenna's beautiful session. This little one is full of spunk and personality! Just a reminder I am now booking for fall/holiday sessions with limited dates from September thru November. Please message me if you are interested in setting up a shoot.  XO

Coffee Talk!!!

OOOOOMMMMGGGGG!!! Where has this week gone!?? Ok, this is going to be a super quick chat sesh, because this girl is running on EMPTY and has a TON to do!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Got to have some quality time with one of my brothers from Florida this past weekend! Um...hellloooo CHEF! We ate some super DELISH food and of course enjoyed many wines together! He always keeps me laughing! If you have a brother, LUCKY you! If you don't....GET ONE!! Just Kidding!!! ;)  But seriously if you have any siblings consider yourself lucky. When I was younger I DID NOT feel so lucky! There may or may not have been some pulling of the hair! (They try to say that is why they had their heads buzzed, but I think they are LYING!) LOL!

2 - Of course I got to end that fun weekend with a beautiful family sunset shoot! I totally HEART summer light!!! It was DESERT hot out there, ok, well not quite because I was DRIPPING with sweat and we all know the desert is a DRY HEAT!!! ;)  But still, it was stifling HOT! They were troopers and we ended up LAUGHING a lot!!!

3 - I am running around like a raving LUNATIC packing for our Shore GETAWAY weekend that we leave for today!!! EEEEKKKKK! How did we get soooo LUCKY to have met the world's greatest friend/peeps/long lost family!!?? Now if the traffic gods would be on our side life will be PERFECTION. (hey a girl can dream, can't she!?)

4 - My week was kinda "off". I started to let others bring me down and I HATE when I let that happen. When you start to fall back into those old bad habits. It felt like the universe was against me and why was I even doing what I was doing. That ABSOLUTELY wasn't what was happening but I just wasn't myself. It only took a day or 2 of that and I was OVER it. Nothing is ever going to be perfect but that doesn't mean everything is horrible. Soooo I'm BACK and feeling like my old "new" self again!

5 - Which leads me to this....I am so over the moon elated, excited, speechless (is that possible with my loud mouth), grateful, and every other fabulous descriptive word I can possibly muster up for all of the photo shoot inquiries & referrals I have been receiving as well as all of the people reaching out to me to start a new fitness journey. It means the world to me that you believe in ME whether it's to capture wonderful memories of your families or to help you start a journey to a new, healthier you. My heart is full and happy and I am beyond thankful to have each and every one of you in my life!!!!

Now it's time to go get ready for another fabulous Summer weekend away!!! XO

Coffee Talk!

Hellooo my coffee guzzling loves! Happy Thursday morning!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - How is it even possible that we are half way thru July ALREADY??! Please slow down. Summer is going by at warp speed! It's one week from today and we are off to our weekend at the shore so the countdown is ON!

2 - This past weekend I had some pretty ah-mazing shoots! Loving all the new and repeat clients and am overwhelmed by the interest in FALL shoots! Um, the fact that I even have to say that word already makes me twitch. Yes, I know, I know I will be screaming PUMPKIN everything as soon as September hits, but right now I just want to enjoy summer and all it's beauty! If you are interested in a shoot from September thru the end of November please message me as soon as possible. I am doing limited dates this year so I can enjoy some of the season with my family. :)


4 - We have another busy weekend upcoming up! It's time for some family bonding with one of my super adorb brothers from Florida! We start off with dinner at Ruth Chris on Friday and then it will be a relaxing Saturday by the pool with some yummy food, music and catching up with the family. It's funny when you're young how siblings are such a pain in the "you know what", but the older you get you just cherish your time with them. I try to tell Hayley that one day she & Casey will be super close...she's not buying into that just yet! ;)

5 - I have been staying on track with my new healthier lifestyle and am feeling 100% better. I have an appt with a new doctor this month to get some second opinions and get some tests scheduled that I have been putting off. Speaking of healthy, my next Challenge Group starts July 27th. My challengers are getting some incredible results inside & out. If you are interested in making a change message me and we can get you started on a journey to a healthier, better version of YOU! If you still aren't sure what a challenge group is...read all about it HERE.

That's a wrap for today! Have a wonderful Thursday and a beautiful weekend!!! XO

Cilantro Lime Chicken with ZOODLES!!!

Ok, so first off, I have been EXTREMELY curious about zoodles! It's ALL the craze but I didn't have the necessary "tools" and then whammo...one day I was LUCKY enough at work that my lovely boss had an EXTRA "tool" and I jumped on that baby!!! I didn't tell my family what I planned on making for dinner this particular day! I just had all the ingredients out and they turned their noses up at even that!!!! WHAT!??? However after the dinner was complete and plated this meal was a HUGE success! Every ONE of them LOVED it! They couldn't even believe that they liked it! EXCUSE me.....my feelings are in jeopardy here! So try it out and see if you and yours like it. I'm guessing it's either a love or hate kinda thing so don't be disappointed if you don't have the same reaction. For us, it's going to stay in the rotation but that may not be the case for everyone! (I did use a mix of squash and zucchini for this but next time I would ONLY use the zucchini..it held up better and was firmer!)

5 to 6 zucchini
1.5 pounds of chicken cut into 1" cubes
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 limes (juice of)
3/4 cup cilantro, chopped

1. Using whatever zoodle tool you have, make noodles, transfer into a large bowl and set aside.

2. Preheat large non stick skillet on high heat and add chicken. Saute until golden brown, stirring occasionally.  Add cumin, 1/2 tsp salt and pepper towards the end, stir and cook for another minute.  Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

3. Spray the pan with cooking spray and add zuchinni noodles. Saute for 1.5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat and add previously cooked chicken, lime juice, and cilantro. Stir gently and serve hot.

Coffee Talk!!!

Thursday Thursday....Oh how I love thee! Hellloooo my loves! Summer is in FULL swing! Let's not prolong this ANY longer!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - The "DOWNER" to vacation....having to play catch up when you get home!!! I am STILL trying to catch up on editing sessions that I did while I was on vacation PLUS I still haven't touched my sister's Birth Story. I feel like I am DROWNING in editing and I see LOTS of late night/early mornings in my future! It's such an AWESOME "problem" to have so I'll take it!

2 -  Speaking of photos to edit, this past weekend I FINALLY got to have baby snuggles with my brand new niece when I did her newborn session. This session reminded me WHY I have the first 7 - 10 day rule (which let me just say, it was completely MY fault that her shoot was NOT done in that time frame, BAD AUNTIE who went on vacation only a couple days after she was born) Seriously though I know all new moms say their baby sleeps all the time but inevitably if it's much more over 10 days they are starting to stay awake more and more. Those first 7 - 10 days are the sweet time! They sleep MOST of the time and you can generally get them into many different poses without any issues. Soooo just a TIP...if you or someone you know is pregnant and wants newborn photos done, the time to book is while you are still PREGNANT. :)  (yes, you won't have the exact date but at least you are tentatively on the calendar for around the time you are due)

Here's one of the shots we captured of little Miss Aubrey this past weekend!

3 - I can't believe the 4th of July has come and gone already! How does summer just seem to WHIZ right by and winter can DRAG on endlessly??!!!  Our calendar is so PACKED I feel like we are going to blink and it will be over! So for now I'm just going to soak up EVERY. SINGLE. MOMENT with family and friends.

4 - Our next little getaway is coming up! We will be heading to the shore for a few days with our lovelies in New Jersey! Soooo looking forward to yummy boardwalk treats, relaxing on the beach and just enjoying beautiful weather!!! It went from us seeing each other once every 3 months to almost once EVERY month! LOL! I'll take it! We always have such a blast with them and the beautiful thing is our kiddos all get along so it's a win win!

5 - I am slowly getting my office space all PRETTY!!! I LOVE having a creative space that is completely ME!!! I got another new addition this weekend and of course I am CRAZY excited over it. Here is my new Inspiration/Vision Board! I totally adore a mix of vintage and new things in a space together, so this old window turned Inspiration Board fits in there perfectly! It's going to be full after a bit but for now it has my monthly goals on it, my WHY for my healthy fitness journey, lots of positive motivation quotes and MORE!

Ok that's a WRAP for today!!! I am off to work! Have a fabulous Thursday and come back and see me next week for more coffee talk! XO

Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce

Ok, my faithful loves....I will start by apologizing!! I SWEAR I don't ALWAYS eat those darn roasted brussel sprouts and broccoli but every time I have a fabulous new recipe to share somehow that was the side dish AGAIN! So pretend you don't see them on the plate or if you are new here and you haven't been subjected to the brussel sprouts...HERE is the recipe!!  Anywhooooo, I absolutely ADORE salmon! Like LOVE it, could eat it a MILLION different ways, but here is my NEW summer LOVE! The sauce literally MELTS. IN. YOUR. MOUTH.  I have served it with basmati rice and used the sauce on that too and yep, SCRUMPTIOUS!

Here is the recipe for the sauce:  (for the salmon, since it's summer and we are in GRILL mode, we just seasoned them lightly with salt, pepper and lemon, put them on cedar planks and onto the grill they went! I can't say enough about the cedar planks they give the fish a nice smokey taste, if you never tried them, give me a shot and see how you like the flavor)

Ingredients:

1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup dill
1/4 cup cilantro
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley
1 clove garlic
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp EVOO
dash of salt
dash of pepper

Put it all into a food processor until it's smooth and creamy. I like to make this a few hours before I'm serving because I like how the flavors all combine together when it sits so long. So after you take it out of the processor if you aren't serving right away, put it into a dish, cover and put in fridge! Voila! A perfect patio summer dish!!!!

The Woolard Family!

I was lucky enough to spend an evening with this beautiful family at a picturesque location. They were referred to me by a very sweet client and I couldn't be more grateful! Each boy had such a different and fun personality and Mom & Dad.....well look at them. The bond and love they share just radiates and I couldn't have asked for a better shoot. (okay, well maybe LESS bugs!) LOL! We were able to capture some great shots even with teenage boys, who I KNOW could think of a MILLION other places they would have rather been! ;) That little guy though...he was ready to HAM it up! Thank you Woolard Family for trusting me and letting me capture these memories.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all the referrals. It melts my heart and is by far the biggest compliment! July is completely booked and August is close behind so message me if you are interested in a shoot so we can get you scheduled before your date disappears. :)

Here are some of my favs from this session! XO

Healthier Cowboy Caviar!

Happy 4th of July weekend my loves!!! I know you all have probably been going to LOTS of cookouts, parties, get togethers etc. I wanted to share this AWESOME dish that is sooooo yummy and EASY to throw together. I have had it before but it was a little "heavy" with oils etc, so I really want to find one that was a little cleaner.  I tried this one yesterday and it turned out AH-MAZING! It's so refreshing and light. I'm all about an easy to throw together dish when I need to bring something and this did NOT disappoint! Try it out and let me know what you think!!!

Ingredients:

1 to 2 Avocados chopped up
1 can of black beans drained
1/4 cup of cilantro
1 can of corn drained
1/2 tsp garlic powder
the juice of 2 limes
1 can of pinto beans drained
1/2 of a red onion diced
1/2 tsp of chili powder
1/2 tsp of cumin

Throw it all together in a bowl, mix well and serve with tortilla chips!!!! Voila!!!

Coffee Talk!

I'M BAACCCKKKKK!!!! Phew I HATED having to miss our coffee talk last week! Seriously, it's a definite HIGH point each and every week. So let's not waste any more time, pour that java and let's get to it! :)

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - 12 hour drives that seriously are 12 hours = happy face
     12 hour drives that take 16 HOURS = CRAZY WOMAN (and kids & hubby)
Ugh! The way to Chicago...piece of cake! Is it because we were so excited and vacation was just starting or are we just that unlucky that we would hit STAND STILL construction traffic on the way home. DON'T. EVEN. GET. ME. STARTED. On the positive, we made it in one piece and it's over and in the PAST now...Onward & Upward!!! ;)

2 -  Vacation - Where do I start?! It was an ABSOLUTE blast from start to finish! Toooo many things to even remember. There was a wedding, there were cocktail nights, there was a cooking class, there were day trips into the city for shopping and festivals....hey there were even a few different photo shoots. (I'll be getting those up here in the next week or so)

3 - Speaking of vacation ending....WHY?! Why does it have to!? This was my first week back and it was a short week at that and my booty is DRAGGING. Dragging like I quite possibly need an IV of Coffee!!!! I feel so very lucky that we are able to do these trips with our kiddos. Making memories is the absolute MOST important thing to me and this vacation did NOT disappoint. Now we are on our countdown for our "Shore" getaway. (Um, that still never gets old to me....East Coasters call it the Shore, my kids are still baffled by that!)

4 - I am overflowing in Editing again but that is such an AWESOME problem to have!!! I am almost completely booked up for summer! WHAT?!!! I LOVE it!!! Speaking of which I FINALLY get to do a newborn shoot of a VERY special little lady who chose to come before I went on vacation like a perfect little niece but now I'm late doing her shoot!!! I can't wait to squeeze the jelly out of her!!! Auntie love NEVER gets old!

5 - So while I was away I did try to get my workouts in and watch my eating but let's face it.....I was NOT perfect and I'm not going to pretend that I was. Life is REAL. Obstacles are REAL. Things happen and you miss a workout, or there are NO GOOD menu options, hey I get it. The point is TRY your best and know that if you slipped up, it was just that...a SLIP UP, Not a FAILURE! Get rid of the negative talk. So this week I am back at it 110% and I may or may not be able to walk tomorrow since incorporating the Brazil Butt Lift in with my 21 Day Fix Extreme. That BOOM BOOM is NOOOOO Joke!!! Again, grateful I am in the privacy of my own home when this nonsense goes down...Hot MESS Express up in here!

Ok loves, thanks for patiently waiting for me! Love you all!!! If you or someone you know is interested in a shoot please message me ASAP so we can get you scheduled!!!! Happy Summer!!! <3

A Scrumptiously Cute Little Man - Meet Cameron!

Hi loves!! I am catching back up after my vacay so this is WAY over due!!! I met up with Cameron and his GORGEOUS Momma a little over a month ago! It was absolutely PERFECT weather and he was, well....PERFECT (did you really think otherwise, look at HIM!)  I had been looking forward to this shoot ever since sweet Katie found out she was pregnant!!!! See her stunning maternity shoot here. Between the red hair, the little lips, the absolutely sweet disposition this little man is an absolute DOLL! He may or may not have Mommy wrapped around his finger, but can you blame her!? I can't thank you enough Katie for letting me capture these priceless memories. XO

Here are some of my favs from our session! I will be on here catching up on more sessions the rest of this week! :)