Rock the Shot Photo Challenge

www.rocktheshotforum.com

Rock the Shot Forum is having a photo challenge for "Favorite Photo of 2012". I spent the past few hours going through all my photos, trying to decide exactly which one I should enter. Finally, narrowed it down to my Top 5 then Top 3 and a #1 favorite....at least for this challenge :)

For this photo, I went a step further and challenged myself. It was actually more full of white so I went for my favorite actions, and just had fun with it. I just loved the look in Heather's eyes. I love the way she just looked far off into the distance towards the sun, as if she were daydreaming. Whether she was thinking of her two adorable boys, her baby on the way, or her sweet fiancee, I'm not very sure. It was just a moment I had to capture. She also is very special to me. I always call her my daughter by heart so being able to spend the day taking photos was just very special to me. We are looking forward to another day of a session, and hoping the next time we can get her fiancee in on the photos....he will be a fun challenge :)

Week 2--Innocence

Photographer's Connection Week 2 of the 52 Week Photo Challenge is Innocence.

When I think of innocence, I think of sleep. Children do have pure and innocent hearts, but as they are drifting to a land of dreams their innocence just seems to really show. It is that moment when they are snuggled up in my arms when I just admire those sweet faces even more. A moment to feel so blessed to be their mommy. My oldest son Kaden fell asleep on our bed a couple nights ago, still in his clothes from the day. One thing he seems to enjoy doing his tormenting his little brother. I often wonder if he torments him in his dreams, too? Seriously, chances are he is dreaming of playing on a day full of sunshine, friends, and riding his bikes to anywhere he pleases.

My darling 13 year old cat Bubbles, who is a sweet and well behaved cat who I swear has manners. I call her my little queen diva. The only water she will drink is from the bathroom faucet....right from the faucet. She will stand on her back legs and wave her front legs when she needs loving, drink, or food. One her favorite spots to lay down is on my desk. If another one of our cats dares to jump on here, she is quick to hiss at them. She will not attack them, but give them a warning hiss. Bubbles is a kitty full of innocence and love...the perfect pet.

Now, for my niece by heart who I call Bumble Bre--she prefers Butterfly Bre. Enjoying a beautiful December day, just innocently gliding in the tire swing. After I took the photo, I asked her what she was thinking about. She replied she was "just relaxing". Decorating cookies and playing is, after all, a lot of work :)

Adventures in Cooking: Week 2

With the rain, then not feeling too well, and a photo session, I either did quick fix dinners or take-out. This recipe I tried was a huge hit with my family so I made it two nights in a row. It is absolutely delicious! A majority of my recipes come from Life as a Loft House This one is Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken with Fried Rice

Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken

Coating for Chicken

3-4 boneless chicken breasts, rinsed and cubed salt + pepper 1 cup cornstarch 2 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup canola oil

Sweet & Sour Sauce

3/4 cup sugar 4 tbs ketchup 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar 1 tbs soy sauce 1 tsp garlic salt

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9x13 cooking dish with cooking spray. Heat your canola oil in the pan. Dip the chicken breast into cornstarch then egg and fry until golden brown. Do not heat all the way through. Place in cooking dish.

For the sauce, mix all ingredients together and drizzle over the chicken. Cook for one hour, turning chicken every 15 minutes.

Fried Rice

3 cups cooked white rice 3 tbs sesame oil 1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed) 1 small onion, chopped 2 tsp minced garlic 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1/4 cup soy sauce

Heat oil in a skillet. Add the peas and carrots, garlic, and onion. Stir fry until tender. Add your eggs and scramble together. Next, add your rice and soy sauce. Stir until heated through. Easy!

My version did not have the peas and carrots or the sesame oil. These were items I failed to get at the store. Instead, I used canola oil and just had the onion and garlic powder for seasoning. Still turned out really yummy!

52 Week Photo Challenge: Week 1

Last week, I decided to start doing the 52 Week Photo Challenge at Photographer's Connection I know I am a little late on posting the photo for week one, but I am still proud I managed to get Week One done, which is New Year's Resolution. Usually, I am not one to make resolutions. The fact that I made two is a miracle in itself...one of them cooking more recipes and the second one...

Organize my personal photos! I wish I could say this was the only stack; in fact, that is not even all my 2012 pictures. Those sit in my desk drawer waiting to be put into a photo album. In my room on shelves are two baskets with photos. I have an extra filing cabinet that has photos. My husband teases me that we need to build an extra room just for all the photos. Sometimes he says we just need a whole extra house. Please know he does love to exaggerate! All I can say is that it is a good thing I have a whole to complete my resolution. We shall see where I am on December 31, 2013. In the meantime, I do have some put on a neat little photo mobile I got for Christmas :)

Session of Love and Family

Yesterday, I had a remarkable session with someone who is an old friend from high school. I was honored when she chose me to be the photographer for her and her family. She stated she hardly has any updated photos, and her expression of excitement showed when I arrived. We had the session at Callie's mother-in-law's place which is located by a golf course. It was absolutely gorgeous out there! It is always an adventure whenever I get to photograph in a new area. This family has an incredible bond, full of fun and laughter, and just being able to capture those moments of love was truly amazing.

Valentine Mini Sessions

Love is in the air, and we will soon be upon Valentine's Day. Pursuing Eden in Longview, TX will be the place for mini photo sessions that will include vintage props. Photos will actually be with props and without props. Limited spots available! All sessions will be done outside.

30 minute session CD of 15 edited images with print release 25 Valentine Cards 1--8x10 Photo Online Gallery $60

Payment due upon booking. Please email me at kathrynbaker76@gmail.com to reserve your time slot. Payment will be made via PayPal

Cooking Adventures

As of the first day of 2013, I vowed to get brave and try cooking new recipes more often. I wish I was more creative and be more like the chefs on Chopped. Still amazes me they can cook some fabulous dish from grape juice! So, I decided to venture to my somewhat neglected Pinterest. From that moment, I was lost somewhere in the depths of pinning, pinning, pinning. Now, not all--wait--two meals cooked this week were from Pinterest. One out of the two were from my little head :)

Country Fried Pork Chops

This is something I decided on my own a few years ago when I had no cubed steak, but I wanted country fried steak. I opted to use boneless pork chops on hand. Very simple! Whisk together eggs and milk (sorry no measurements) and put your favorite seasonings in with some flour. Cover chops in flour, dip in egg, back to flour and heat in a skilled with hot canola oil. Approximately 8 minutes on each side.

I served this with mashed potatoes, mustard greens, and Velveeta Shells and Cheese.

Barbecue Cups

These are so simply easy to make! Justin and I actually used to make these quite a bit when we were newlyweds. A quick and easy meal after a full day of work! Over the years, I managed to forget how to make them, so I was delighted to find the recipe at Life as a Lofthouse (Food Blog.

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 12 oz. can refrigerated biscuits (I used Honey Butter Biscuits)

1 cup BBQ sauce

1 cup cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook ground beef then add BBQ sauce and heat through. Spray muffin pan with cooking spray. Separate biscuits and pinch up along the sides of the muffin tins. Add beef and BBQ mixture to each biscuit. Sprinkle with cheese. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.

No cooking for me tonight! After running errands all day with my boys, it was a simple meal night with pizza. Tomorrow, I plan on trying Sweet and Sour Chicken with Fried Race. Each Thursday, I will post any new recipes I have tried.