Back To the Heart

It's getting closer! One week from today, all of my earthly belongings will be loaded onto a moving truck. I'll spend one last night in Texas before heading home to Oklahoma. While cleaning/purging/packing and then repeating everyday for the past two weeks, I have found so many little treasures tucked away in the back of box or hiding in the bottom of a forgotten handbag. One such treasure was my very first business card from over 13 years ago....

Clearly a homemade cutie as the edges aren't even. Ha! My OCD has since gone into hyper-drive. Nonetheless, I teared up a little when I found it and realized that I am moving back to the very same area code where it all began. My advertising has changed quite a bit as have my cake designs...but I couldn't be happier to be heading back to a city I'm crazy about with a business I never stopped loving. 

One Last Girl's Weekend

We have been so blessed to live right across the street from my daughters best friend. They've been pals for the past three years, study ballet together and spend most weekends hanging out. I have loved knowing that a like-minded mother is nearby with the same standards, rules and beliefs that we have in our household. We will truly miss their friendship and nearness. I can't imagine any other relationship being more perfect for my daughter. In an effort to spend one final weekend together before our family departs for Oklahoma, we packed up and headed out to enjoy a mother/daughter weekend. Our neighbor has a family farm about 30 minutes outside of our little city and took the opportunity to share a relaxing evening away and to give our girls a chance to play their hearts out. Fortunately, the environment also provided an excellent backdrop for a girlfriend photo shoot. They were more than willing models for me. Here is a peek at their crazy fun...

  

Time Flies...

I recently had the privilege of making the wedding cake for one of the cutest people I know. In fact, I've known her for quite a while and when I moved away from Oklahoma nearly 10 years ago...well, she had the nerve to grow up!  I choose to remember her like this in my mind....

The first Christmas after my husband and I were married, Lael and her brother stood side-by-side and sang "Silent Night" at the family Christmas Eve party. They were adorable...she has never stopped singing. 

Lael recorded the gift list for me during my first baby shower when I was expecting my oldest child...a whopping 13 years ago... 

When she became engaged last year, I was more than thrilled to work with her on the design for her wedding cake. Lael (Louthan) Ewing has grown into adulthood as a fabulously faith-filled young woman who I admire - someone I hope my own daughter can grow up to emulate. Lael is pictured here alongside her groom, Reed Ewing...with the cake, of course. 

Lael is a member of Warr Acres, a group of talented musicians based out of Victory Church in Oklahoma City. You can visit their YouTube page or Facebook page for more info and to hear their music. While the majority of their melodies are faith-based, occasionally they record a cover of a popular song. If you love Ellie Goulding - as I do - you're sure to love their cover of "Anything Can Happen"....

Follow Lael's blog, High Heels and High Notes, for her impeccable taste in fashion and outfit ideas. In her posts, Lael lists where she found the pieces she is wearing and true to her DNA (I know her budget savvy grandmother well) the girl can find a bargain with her eyes closed. I'm thrilled to be moving closer to her and even more thrilled that she has agreed to don her beautiful wedding gown once more and model for my new advertising in the OKC area. 

I Will Praise You in the Storm...

And Suddenly It Becomes Clear...

I'm working on photo's from our last mother/daughter girls weekend in Texas. I can't wait to share all of the pics! I have to say, though, since venturing down this road of occasional photography...man, editing is A LOT  of work! However, it is so enjoyable to watch the shots come to life and I can hardly wait to get back to OKC and capture the sweet babies of all my friends. A picture truly is worth a thousand words and bringing out the best in each photo brings me so much happiness. Stay tuned for more...

{Beautiful Ballerina} - Photo Session

Photo Friday #44 - Blow Baby Blow

Jalapeño Poppers

Sometimes a girl has to indulge in something cheesy, gooey and rich. I've been trying to eat clean as often as possible, but let's face it...I'm a girl who loves her food. I will admit to feeling absolutely awesome when eating clean, but sometimes I just need to satisfy a craving. Before moving to Texas I rarely, if ever, had any dishes containing jalapeño. Believe it or not (ha!) there aren't an abundance of Mexican restaurants in Michigan. Go ahead and laugh out loud at the obviousness of t
hat statement. I've come to really love jalapeños and I think I am officially that girl that adds a little jalapeño to her scrambled eggs, stir fry, sandwiches - you name it, a little kick makes it better. Giving in to my recent craving for a snack with a little richness to it, I made these jalapeño poppers. I ate more of them than I should confess here...let's just say I could use another detox fast. Oy vey. 

Start with about 12 whole jalapeños, halve them and remove the seeds....

Mix together an 8oz package of low-fat cream cheese with 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar (for the record, always shred your cheese by hand - it melts better and is smoother. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with an agent that prevents it from sticking to itself. Unfortunately, that prevents pre-shredded cheese from melting as smoothly as hand-shredded. Bummer, I know). Add to the cheeses, 3 cloves of minced garlic, 8 slices of crispy cooked bacon, salt and pepper to taste. Combine well.

Fill the peppers with the cheese mixture....

Dip each pepper in milk and roll in flour. Allow to dry and then re-dip in milk and roll in bread crumbs. 

Heat vegetable oil in a large non-stick pan and fry the jalapeños over medium-high heat until golden. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Attempt to exercise patience as they cool slightly and eat while warm. Leftovers are excellent the next morning for breakfast. Just sayin'. 

Photo Friday #43 - Best Weekend of the Year

In Case You Missed the Memo...

I'm moving....again. After 7 cross country moves in my 35 years, I am sincerely hoping to remain in the same zip code for the rest of my life. It's been a journey for sure and I'm so very thankful for each and every person that God has brought into my life. I've learned many lessons and look forward with anticipation to whatever may be around the corner. That said...a few months ago, my husband and I took a good close look at where we were and where we wanted to be. We looked at what situation would be best for our family as a whole and for each member individually. We contemplated, prayed, contemplated more and hit our knees even harder. It may be the toughest decision we've had to make for our family in our 16 years of marriage. There are so very many people we have gotten to know during our 6 years in East Texas and it truly is difficult to leave relationships without clearly knowing what may be around the bend.  We pray constantly that God's will be done and we feel certain that we are being led by Him as we prepare to relocate to Oklahoma City. After recently earning tenure and promotion with his university employer, my husband made the extremely brave decision to resign from his position in order to move our family to an area that would present each of us with greater opportunities.

He. Is. My. Hero. 

Every move has brought mixed emotions. Excitement about the future. Tears for the past. Pain at letting go of those we care about and those we see so often they feel like family. Each time it becomes more difficult. Each time the desire to grow roots becomes stronger. A rolling stone gathers no moss and this girl's stone is smooth and polished.

I need to grow me some moss.

When I reflect on the places I have lived and the people I have met, I feel the overwhelming urge to shout "Thank You!" from the rooftop. Thank each and every one - both far and wide - for being a part of my life in some form or fashion. I may not have been afforded the opportunity to live and grow in the same area for my entire life, but I've come to realize....you are my roots. My transient lifestyle has allowed me to know such diversity. Each relationship built has become part of my history - I've learned something from everyone who has crossed my path and while I may not be able to boast of a hometown per se, having you in my life is just as good as physical roots...

Perhaps even better. 

xox,

A

Photo Friday #42 - Enlightened Editing