Get The Shot!

Want to get a shot like this?  Let me tell you how.

First, if you camera has a zoom, use it. Note I said CAMERA!!! You cannot get good photos with your cell phone. You really do need a camera for your precious family photos.  Invest in a decent point and shoot if you can't afford, or don't want, an SLR.  Just try to get one with a physical zoom and not just and optical zoom.

Second, zoom in as closely as you can, fill the frame with everything you want to see and nothing you don't want to see.  Sure you can crop out later, but the more you crop the more clarity you will be losing. 

Third, always, always, always run it through some type of retouching program!!!!  ALWAYS!!!   Did I say always?  Just about every photo needs something, either some adjustment to the exposure, colors, or blemish removed.  If you don't have one on your computer, go to picmonkey.com.  It's free for a lot of stuff and cheap to subscribe to for a year.  

Here is another shot for inspiration.

Easter 2014

What our family did this year for Easter in photos.

The newlyweds

The newly enlarged family.

Mama bear and her first-born.

The happy parents.

Looking fabulous and loving her baby boy.

The new addition.

Everything Is Just Ducky!

I found this project on Pinterest: Mason Jar Duck and I thought it would be a great craft to do with my grandson!

I decided it would be a cute little gift for him to make for his new baby brother.  (Of course the candy inside will NEED to be eaten by big brother!)

Here are the supplies we used:

1 glass jar with a screw on plastic lid, Duco Cement, scraps of fabric, 1 cupcake paper cut in half, black Sharpie, some yellow and white jelly beans, and 1 package of Peeps.

I cut out feet from brown fabric and a beak from some green gingham.  I folded the cupcake paper in half and then cut it in half again. So the "wings" are the size of 1/4 of a cupcake paper.  I folded the paper so that is would stick out when glued on the jar.

Then we glued the feet on first.  Next we glued on the beak and drew on the eyes with the Sharpie.   After that it was wing time!!!  Then, it was just time to fill it with the jellybeans!!!

After that, we filled the remaining space with the Peeps and put the lid on nice and tightly!!  

He's so proud of himself!!!  Kids really get something out of making crafts and art projects.

Yep, little brother can have the jar!  He'll take the candy!!!

What Is A Brother?

 What is a brother?

My grandson is about to find out very soon!!!

His little brother, Nicholas, will be here next week.

Today, he went with mommy to her last doctor's appointment before his baby brother arrives via repeat C-section.

To help him get involved and excited, the nurse practitioner has allowed him to climb up on the exam table and measure mommy's belly as well as use the stethoscope to fine the "bump, bump, bump"!

If you are expecting a second baby, please take your older one along on your OB visits!  It's one way for them to bond with the new baby even before they arrive.  The transition will still be hard I'm sure, but we are hoping it will be just a little bit easier.

Baby Box

I made this keepsake box for my new grandson who will be here on April 9th.  What it lacks in finesse, it makes up for in love!

This is based on a very expensive box I saw in a baby store several years ago when my daughter was expecting my first grandson.  I made one for him and so I had to make one for his brother as well!  For Joseph's box, I used tiny envelopes which I couldn't find again.  So I purchased small gauze bags from the bridal aisle to use for the "First Tooth" and "First Curl" holders.  I wrote on them with a Sharpie.  I slipped some card stock in the bags so that the ink didn't leak through the fabric.

I lined the box with some stretch velveteen.  I wrapped it around some cardboard first and then glued it in to the top and bottom of the box.  

The entire box was first painted yellow, the letters were David Tutera letters and were a little too green so I put a light coat of yellow on them as well.  My spacing is a tad off on those.  I would recommend laying out your letters before gluing them down.  My glue is messy because I was using a new glue gun.  Also a tip, try out your equipment if it is new.  The triggers on glue guns are different and the pressure you need on one is different than another.  I used some scrapbook embellishments which were also David Tutera for the decorations.  

Here are all of the items I used to make this:

To make this an extra special keepsake, I added this on the back with a black Sharpie:

Let me know what you think!  Let me know if you try it, if the tutorial is a good one, give me your feedback!!!

Everything's Coming Up Roses!

A friend gave me this beautiful teapot for Christmas, but it had no lid.  She knows I love pretty little things even if they are less than perfect.  What to do, what to do?  Well, my darling hubby brought home these gorgeous roses and I thought, "Why not use the teapot as a vase?"  

I cut the stems nice and short and varied the lengths of the stems so they would form a rounded appearance.  I used the little bit of babies breath that was in the package too.  

So pretty!!!

Now I just need a constant supply of roses!

Oven Fried Onion Rings

Oven Fried Egg-Free Onion Rings

Directions:

2 Medium Sized Onions sliced in ½ inch slices

3 ½ Cups Buttermilk

2 Cups All purpose Flour

4 ½ Tablespoons of Sour Cream

2 tsp. Paprika

1 tsp. Garlic powder

1 tsp. Black Pepper

2 tsp. Kosher Salt

2 ½ Cups Panko bread crumbs

¼ Cup Cornmeal

Directions:

In a casserole dish, place sliced onions and cover with 2 ½ Cups of Buttermilk. Cover dish with foil and put in fridge to soak for at least 5 hours.  Overnight is better. 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Remove onions from fridge and set aside.  In a large bowl, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.  In a separate bowl, mix together remaining 1 Cup Buttermilk and Sour Cream, whisk together.  In a third bowl, combine Panko and Cornmeal with a pinch of Salt.

Dredge onion rings in flour, then in buttermilk and sour cream mixture and then in Panko mixture.  Place on a cookie sheet sprayed with Cooking Spray (Olive Oil cooking spray works best).  Repeat until all onion rings have been coated.  Bake onion rings for 7 ½ to 10 minutes and then flip.  Bake for an additional 7 ½ to 10 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. 

*Optional Dipping Sauce*

6 Tablespoons Salted Butter

3 Tablespoons Flour

1 Cup Chicken Stock

½ Cup Milk

¼ Cup Chive & Onion Cream Cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

In a small sauce pan, melt butter.  Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute until a brown color is achieved.  Whisk in Chicken Stock.  The sauce will then thicken.  Add Cream Cheese and stir until melted.  Whisk in milk, salt and pepper and whisk through.  Cook for 2 minutes until all flavors have combined. 

Serves 4.