Friday, July 24, 2009

show us your life...it's friday!!!

This week is show us your life friday and if you have no clue what I'm talking about, hop on over to kelly's blog to see what it is all about. I LOVED the home tours and am thrilled about all the other themes that will be hosted! This week is wedding dress preview! YEAH. Has it really been 8 years since I wore this amazing dress?? Yep, next month we will celebrate 8 years of wedded bliss, (with some not so blissful moments in there too). :)
I had my wedding portraits taken in City Park in New Orleans. Unfortunately it wasn't the best photo shoot. First, my veil blew off and into the muddy water of the second picture when I was on the bridge. Then is started pouring down rain and we had to take all of the pictures inside. I was very disappointed and only have 1 or 2 pictures that I like from that day.
I

I had to opt for straps and scoop next front dress, (instead of my dream dress that would have been strapless just like hers, because when I get nervous I break out in red, splotchy hives on my chest and shoulders and didn't think that would look too good in my pictures!)


we won't go into the drama that occured when I saw my ORANGE flowers the day of the wedding and burst into tears because that was NOT what I had ordered. It was all I could do to dab my mascara and take this awful picture with the gladiolas that should have gone to a funeral home. But at the end of the day I was still married to the man of my dreams so I got over it.











sorry for the poor quality pictures. well before the digital craze, these pics had to be scanned in, (the horror), and just didn't come out very well!





Here I am with my twin sister (left) and my little sister! Don't they look beautiful?!



Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

photoshop class homework!

I've been taking an online photoshop class and I love it!! Wanted to pass on the info for all of you out there who like taking pictures like me but just don't have the eye like becky or mcmama. Or you may want to hop over to maggie's blog and check out her amazing photo actions you can buy to apply to your photos to make them look great!! This first picture is one I did using maggie's extreme color pop action for photoshop elements 7.0. LOVE it!
If you are feeling a little brave, like I apparently was when I signed up for the class, you can jump over to jessica's site and be wowed and amazed like I was. I am 6 days into an amazing class called textures and special effects and am floored at all you can do with photoshop elements. (she has it for the big photoshop too!) I am a slow learner and the class has already concluded for this session but I am still plugging along at my own pace. She has a ton to choose from and I lucked out and got in on a FREE class thanks to elias' mommy who advertised it!




This is lesson 6 with a combination of several different effects used together! Loved the pics from last year's christmas card attempt photo shoot so I decided to bring back a few old ones to work on! What do you think? I am so excited I can't stand it. Just what I need, another reason to be on the computer!

Same concept, different look, took all of the color out of this one! Still experimenting here.



Vintage look with hand tinting, bringing back color in lips! Logan wasn't happy about being my subject that day but you would never know from this ralph lauren look, huh?!


Stamping and adding text, just grabbed any picture to work with for the word celebrate!




frames and borders. still have a long way to go, took some color liberties with this one and I think he looks pale and unhealthy, will have to work on that a little.




This one was adding texture after working with turning it sepia!

And that, my friends, is 2 weeks of hard work and still so much more to learn!






wordless wednesday










Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Blog Hop, The Easiest Mexican Dip EVER (and it's fabulous)

Mexican Layer Dip
1 container (16oz)Lite Sour Cream
1 packet Taco seasoning
1 can refried beans
1 small jar medium salsa (i use Pace picante)
2 cups grated cheese (i use mexican blend pre grated)
1 small can diced green chiles
mix the taco seasoning in the sour cream, set aside
mix the salsa in with refried beans to desired consistency ( i use most of the jar)
In a 9x13 pan layer the refried bean mixture in the bottom
then the sour cream and taco mixture next,
followed by the cheese and green chiles
(optional: add black olives and tomatoes if desired)
place in fridge and serve with tortilla chips or freetos
YUMMY! and so easy!

uugghhhh...

update
jackson had a 4 hour nap this afternoon only to wake up and crawl into my bed. I went to work out and left him with daddy. When I got home jackson was sound asleep in my bed and hadn't moved since I left. When I woke him up he complained that he was just too sleepy and asked to go back to bed. I started to get worried that he was so lethargic. We forced some fluids in him but he still refused to eat, actually gagging when we made him put a cracker in his mouth. So daddy unfortunately put his work skills to use and gave him an IV with some fluids to help perk him up. He still has a fever and just can't seem to shake this.
Just as we got jackson settled and to bed, Logan started complaning that his tummy and back hurt. We chalked it up to needing attention since big brother was getting so much being sick and gave him a bath and put him to bed. After Logan asked me to rub his belly, I could see that he really wasn't feeling good. He then sat up in bed and puked the entire contents of lunch and dinner that had been sitting in his tummy. A trip to the tub while daddy cleaned up the mess (thank you daddy) and logan spiked a fever and started with chills and chattering teeth. All I can say is being a parent is the hardest but most rewarding job there is. I just need to babies to get better soon! Thank you Jesus that my migraine responded quickly to medicine and I was able to nap with the boys this afternoon and am feeling much better.


sick kids, i have a migraine today, 11 days to go until my triathlon, this isn't shaping up to be one of the best weeks. hopefully we can all recover quickly. jackson is having an awful time with the croup, ear infection and medicine that makes him nauseated. He hasn't eaten real food since last wednesday and we are trying to push fluids as much as possible. He crawled to my room this morning because he said his legs weren't working (leg cramps again) so I am sitting on the couch forcing sips and chips every few minutes to get some fluids into him. All this while logan tries to navigate the finer art of construction with lincoln logs. Why can't kids just "play" and not get shown how to do everthing. he isn't doing very well with teaching himself. Anyway, I'll be back when everyone is feeling better!!

Friday, July 17, 2009

show us where you live...err..how to party

This is my youngest son's 1st birthday party! (he is now almost 4) but I LOVE the cake and cupcakes we did! My twin sister was just getting her cake business up and running and whipped up this masterpeice for us! We LOVED it and so did Logan! Her website is linked below!



One very happy 1 year old!!!


...and yes, the cake was as big as he was!

I wanted to send you guys to the best cake lady's site EVER! Her cakes are AMAZING and they taste just as good as they look. If you don't live in Louisiana, I really feel sorry for you that you can't order from her, but you can ooohhh and aaahhhh over the cakes!

Check out http://www.sweetlittledesigns.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!



Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Monday, July 13, 2009

to cook or not to cook...

Everynight is a major struggle over the decision...do I cook or not? There is always cereal or maybe tuna. Or I could talk my amazing hubby into taking us out! That is always an option. I remember the single and dating days when we had not a care in the world and we came and went as we pleased. A midnight meal at waffle house or wendy's was a normal thing for us. Then came kids and I wanted to be the picture perfect family.



Well, I don't enjoy being in the kitchen. I might even go so far as to say I hate being in the kitchen. I can whip up a few things here and there. Taco soup, throw a stouffers lasagna in the oven, a quick salad, etc. John would probably say that jambalaya pasta is my specialty but don't tell him it's just zatarans! My poor youngest, logan, would eat spaghetti and pizza every other night but I don't ever think to make it because he is the only one in the family who would eat it. And then there is jackson. He actually didn't even eat yesterday. Yep, that's right, just decided food wasn't for him. (of course for anyone that knows us, you know this is our ongoing struggle and issue with him). Today he made up for it but only ate his accepted foods, to the extreme. 10 peices of turkey bacon, extra crispy, 5 strawberry Nutragrain bars, 5 Wendy's chicken nuggets, extra hot, and almost a whole box of grahm crackers (only the ones that weren't broken of course!)


So here I am, mother of 2 boys, wife to an amazing guy, gal who wants to eat healthy who could (and SHOULD) make meal planning, preparing, cooking, and serving a FULL-TIME job. But I don't, and haven't, for so many reasons. I'm tired for one. Not tired as in worked all day, just home from the office after a full day of board meetings and then fought through traffic to get the kids from day care tired. The tired that creeps into my body and soul. The tired that robs me of sleep at night as I toss and turn trying to find answers to what my family needs and how I can provide it. The tired that is there after researching, reading, searching for food therapy solutions, trying out the ideas I've learned, given it my heart and soul only to have my 5 year old either gag, cry, or decided to not eat for 24 hours after I've tried everything I can to relate to his sensory processing disorder self. I find myself exhausted just thinking about all the food ideas I've come up with and all the food I've wasted and thrown away after a 30 min food session that only resulted in jackson sniffing the newly introduced item. The baby steps I am taking are so minute, I don't even thing we are actually moving forward. And that is just jackson!!

On the days I actually do cook and pretend I have a "normal" family, a certain brilliant author I know comes home and would rather just have cereal. You mean I stood up for an hour trying to read a recipe for healthy fish cakes and slaved over preparing them and side items only to be met with, "i'm just not up to that tonight". (although I have to give him credit for always trying what I make). Tonight was "make what you have in the freezer seem like a great meal night" Main ingredient, Jennie-o lean ground turkey, mmmmmm. Left over from my Biggest Loser inspiration shopping trip. So I google turkey recipes, find one that look appealing, and dive in with zeal! Spicy turkey burgers with things like cumin, garlic, soy sauce, and about 12 more ingredients. I decide tater tots would be a quick and easy compliment to my attempt at something out of the ordinary so I preheat the oven and get to work. The turkey burgers were ready to hit the grill just about the time Mr. wonderful was ready for dinner, perfect! As I call the family to the table I of course hear the usual "I'm not hungry" from jackson, logan chimes in with "I just want cookies!" and John is ready for anything. 2 bites into my 'semi-gourmet' turkey burgers, I'm not impressed and my other half is scarffing the tater tots!! I gave the recipe 2 stars out of 5 but that was probably generous. sigh. At least we didn't go hungry, the tater tots were really good!! :)


All of this to be said, I feel like a failure as the wife and mom in this family. My oldest won't eat. My youngest eats everything, all the time, and probably too much junk. We spend way too much money on going out to eat, and I am at a loss for figuring out what I want to cook and then hate cooking it only to NOT enjoy eating it. So, my few and faithful blog readers, I need a few easy and tasty meals that I can rotate with my family so I can start being budget friendly, somewhat healthy, and not feel like a total LOSER! Thank you so much!

Friday, July 10, 2009

show us where you live fridays!!!

Today is entry ways and foyers! I love my furniture peice, it was my 5 year wedding anniversary present! Yes I am practical and that is what I asked for! I keep placemats, napkins, candles, magazines, garden flags, and few other odds and ends in there! I LOVE it!

This is the view from the dining room.


Looking into the living room right when you walk in the front door.



Logan asking to be in the picture!







Wednesday, July 8, 2009

almost wordless wednesday...

what do you do on rainy days?
we blow up the jumper...
IN THE LIVING ROOM!!!
WWOOOHOOOOO!


Monday, July 6, 2009

just for fun...doin' the blog hop!

This week, on TUESDAY, 7/7/09, the theme is A FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH.




Logan Maxwell at 6 weeks old in his daddy's arms. Makes my heart melt!

Jackson Scott at 18 months old. Where has the time gone?

I have thousands of pictures so to say I have one favorite would be impossible, but a few stick out in my mind. My boys are growing up so fast and I miss them as my babies. My friend becky has captured so many wonderful memories for us! Here are just a few!

MckLinky Blog Hop



4th of JULY

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