Adventures in Editing...

I've been settling in over the past three weeks and thoroughly organizing life before my cake boutique opens and my two oldest offspring begin middle school this fall. How do I have two children old enough for middle school?! Doesn't seem possible, yet I'm struck with the reality every time I converse with my oldest and find myself nearly eye-to-eye with him. Wowza. 

I'll be back to sharing recipes later this week and am super excited to reveal more about all of the amazing things happening with my business - I've already decided to post before, during, and after pics as we build-out and makeover the studio space that I have recently located. And no, it's not the original space that I was so excited about - long story - I'll bring you all up to speed soon. Keep your fingers crossed that my meeting this week with my commercial plumber won't break the bank as we draw out the plans for the kitchen.  *Investors Welcome* All the free cake you can eat! ...I think I'm funny....

During my cleaning/organizing as I unpacked our family of six, I found an entire computer folder of pics I shot last fall yet failed to edit and file. I should be thankful they weren't lost in the move and maybe I should file them unedited, but I can't resist tweaking just a little. I don't like to over-do the enhancements yet I think almost every pic can use a little sharpening and color editing. Here's a sample of what I've spent my Sunday afternoon doing. In the midst of my looonnnnggggg to-do list this doesn't seem as though it should be a priority...but she's too cute to walk away from.

p.s. - have I mentioned how stinking thrilled I am to be back in Sooner country?! Sweet Home Oklahoma....

xo,

A

Let Freedom Ring - Happy Fourth of July!

Impromptu Photo Session

It would be difficult to number the reasons I love being back in Oklahoma City - there are simply too many to count. However, being close to great friends is at the top of my list. One such friend in particular is like a sister to me and despite looking absolutely nothing alike, we are very similar in many other ways. Recently, we were goofing around and I captured these photos of her - I love each one so much - we spend a lot of time laughing together and they perfectly capture her personality. 

     

Turning Thirteen...

Shut the front door - I have a teenager. Do you remember turning 13? I do...I remember feeling so grown up. I also remember thinking how "old" my parents seemed. You know, like ancient. They were all of 38. Whew. So when my oldest offspring hit 13 last week I couldn't help but wonder if I seem old to him. He is a very honest child so I refrained from asking...not sure I could've handled it.

Thirteen years have never gone by so fast. I couldn't be more proud of the young man he is becoming. Thoughtful, kind, full of humor, possesses strong morals, and is an excellent decision maker (let's hope that holds true throughout his teen years). Here is a peak at his 13 year photo shoot....

       

First OKC Thunderstorm

My blog is undergoing yet another makeover. The name will remain the same, but finding time to redo the layout and header are proving difficult. Amongst the mountain of cardboard boxes, four kids and the professor, I'm brewing extra pots of coffee and taking lots of deep breaths. In business news, I finally found the perfect bakery space and - if all proceeds smoothly - we will be rocking and rolling by fall. A slightly later date than I anticipated, but as the saying goes...good things come to those who wait. I'm terribly excited and a little overwhelmed with everything there is to do.....making it necessary to spend some days simply playing in the rain. One of the things we have missed so much about OK (aside from the dry heat and glorious wind) are the rain-showers and thunderstorms. My baby had not experienced such a thunder shower before and though we probably shouldn't have been outside during one (bad mommy award is waiting for me) I couldn't resist letting him stomp around a little on the patio. Each time the thunder rolled my little sweetie-pie ran behind my back and hide his face. That boy is precious. Here are a few shots we captured from his first OK rain-shower....

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.