Archive for April, 2008

A hilarious follow-up!

Ah, I love my friend Kellie for many reasons, and one of them is her constant way of challenging me with her inherent creativity. I love that she is always thinking outside the box, and always doing something new, creating something great, or planning her next project. She is not a dull person.

And so, when Rich and I left Alana with Kellie on Thursday night (as I explained in my previous post, to model for a group of photographers), Kellie went to work on this fabulous project…which she surprised me with yesterday.

Rich saw her email first and, grinning, brought the computer to me so that I could share in the fun. Kellie had attached the following photos in her email, telling us to be sure and open them in numerical order for maximum impact. We did, and I died laughing.

I am thrilled that we will always have such a fun, creative way to remember the first time we had Alana officially babysat by someone other than family.

So, while Rich and I were doing this:

photo2

Kellie and Alana were doing this:

01 left

02 coming back

03 she is

04 have fun copy

05 wait

06 hours

07 long time copy

08 what if

09 you feed

10 not working copy

11 wait

Oh, Kellie! I love you and I love these photos. You are the best! Thank you for not only babysitting, but documenting the process for us! We are grinning from ear to ear. :)

date night modeling…

Last night was momentous…and quite fun!

Rich and I officially left Alana to be babysat for the first time! Of course, it was with a very good friend, my Kellie. And it was only for a couple of hours, being that it was the first time.

The reason we left our little angel in the hands of a trusted one for the first time? Because our good friends, the Holritz’s, asked if we would be willing to model for the Chattanooga Photographers Guild. The group was being led by the kind and talented Greg Beasley on a photo session and needed some willing subjects.

I agreed, and we made arrangements for our first ever, leave-the-baby-and-drive-away…

The following images are from the ever-gifted Amber Holritz , and we LOVE them! Thank you for these incredible photos, dear friend!!!

And thank you, local photographers, for allowing us the honor of modeling for you!

142_amh_5337-1

142_amh_5467-1

142_amh_5477-1

142_amh_5489-1

142_amh_5380-1

142_amh_5388-1

Hamming it up…

142_amh_5367-1

More silliness…

142_amh_5399-1

Greg at work…

142_amh_5425-1

The wonderful Liz and Terry Power!

142_untitled-2

self-portraiture, by Amber.

142_amh_5437-1

Fun! We love you guys!

142_amh_5438-1


OSP April Lunch…

Wednesday was our monthly OSP lunch, and this time, we all gathered at Ichiban for food, fun, and flames! The group was just as fun as always, and Rich and I had the pleasure of sitting next to Beau and Daisy of Daisy Moffat Photography. They were a blast, and we look forward to seeing them again soon!

Here is the group, followed by several more fun photos from our time together!

P4230049

I love this one of Nathan and Alana…

P4230020

The wonderful, beautiful…Amber

P4230052

Apparently, she and Alana were having a moment…and I did not get the memo.

P4230053

Add little Addison to the picture, and it just becomes ten times cuter! She is getting so big and growing up so much!

P4230054

And a totally silly succession of family photos:

P4230041

P4230048

P4230043

P4230055

P4230057

{Totally random side note: I have to give full credit to the beautiful, sweet, Brittany for telling me where to get this adorable outfit for Alana! I saw it on her precious little Ada and loved it so much I had to know where she got it! Love the earth tones…you don’t see too many like this for babies!}

Saying goodbye to Amber! Isn’t she gorgeous?

P4230060

Recap of our week

Ah, how I cherish these evening hours when the baby has been put down, and Rich and I quietly go about getting things done.

Dinner has been cooked, the dishes (usually) done, things straightened up, and music plays in the background while I sit, euphorically, and type. The sound of the keys resound throughout the dining and living room while Rich silently processes the latest photo shoot on his Mac.

These quiet, simple times are when I realize how blessed I am. I contemplate my joys. A loving husband, a sweet little angel who exhausts me, dear friends and family, and a wonderful place to call home.

I also love to recount my life via this lovely little thing called a weblog. I have managed to get a full week behind on my blogging, and I don’t even know why.

It’s been a full, fun week, beginning last weekend with a visit to our dear friends home, Jason and Kellie. We love these two, so we jumped at the chance to come for dinner while Kellie’s super cool brother, Brett, was in town from his home in Oregon. We met, chatted, laughed, and enjoyed the ever-consistently tasty dinners that Jason and Kellie manufacture.

P4130028

Then on Wednesday, Rich and I scrambled to the hospital to welcome our brand new niece, Adeline Elizabeth into the world! Jeff and Jackie are going to be such wonderful parents, and we were so excited to meet this new addition to the family. She is perfect, and has a miniature cry that will melt your heart. At exactly five months old, Alana now has a new little cousin. There are more (and much better) photos on Rich’s blog.

P4170040

P4170041

Saturday was also a highlight, since Rich and I got to meet some new friends. Sarah and Blake live in Kentucky but visit Chattanooga often. A fellow photographer, Sarah became familiar with Rich’s work and wanted to meet! We love enjoying the company of new friends, and these two were great! We got to know them a bit and truly enjoyed every minute! Blake has his own successful career, but it was so awesome and refreshing to see his wholehearted support and interest in Sarah’s new business venture!

I love these fun shots of us after our lengthy lunch at Panera! I also think Sarah would be great in front of the camera in addition to behind it! Check out her stunning eyes!!!

IMG_9871

IMG_9873

Sunday brought more fun and more new friends! I blogged recently about the talented and beautiful Tobi Weldon of Ivey Handcrafted. Rich and I had the pleasure of attending a get together at her lovely home (the girl has a serious affinity for art, and fabulous taste!).

Rich and I are complete nerds for failing to take a photo with Tobi. Ugh. Nonetheless, we were honored to join many of Tobi and Corey’s longtime friends at their home, and were once again blown away by Tobi’s genuineness and zest for life. She is a contagious person and we love to be around her!

Here I am with Brittney and little Ada, and Shannon with little Foy. It is such fun to compare mommy notes. :)

P4200084

There was a little flirting going on. I am going to have to keep tabs on this girl :)

P4200082

Ah, I am all caught up on my blogging. Thanks for stopping by!

art district fun…

Well, Saturday night was one inconvenient night for a photo shoot, but we stuck it out anyway. Rich had scheduled a shoot with our dear friends, Tim and Steph, and their three little men…and Alana and I went along just for fun.

The first obstacle we encountered was heavy traffic on the interstate. Then we got downtown and realized there was some kind of bike event and multiple roads were shut down. Then, as we finally made our way into the art district, it occurred to us that it was prom night for many schools, as high school students permeated the area. It was a beautiful day, but there was a strong wind, which is also a bit of a deterrent to ideal photo session conditions.

Nonetheless, just a half hour after the scheduled session, Rich was shooting away and the results, in my opinion, are stunning. Check out this incredibly sweet, beautiful family. We are blessed to call them friends. These are just a few of the photos, and you can check out more (and larger) ones at Rich Smith Photography.

2417289885_c76a19fa72_o-1

2417289935_7e0cfe3fec_o-1

2417289993_99fa12bb1f_o-1

2418106966_3c26ee69c8_o-1

2418107070_762261cb51_o-1

2417290241_ef87f44a4f_o-1


chicken fajita tostadas and cilantro-lime rice!

Okay, so I am always in search of recipes that meet 3 lofty criteria: Tasty, healthy, and easy.

You might call it an ambitious pursuit, since the majority of meals are either quick and calorie-laden, or void of fat and taste, or healthy and tasty but mandate the purchase of twenty-five ingredients and that you remain in the kitchen from dawn till dusk in preparation.

Okay, that may be a tad over-dramatic, but you get my gist.

When I got married, my mom passed on her fabulous recipes to me, and I have enjoyed making them…but am always looking to expand my repertoire.

I consider myself a picky eater, which doesn’t help matters. Rich is easier to please than myself, and I truly wish I had more control of my pallet! Wouldn’t it be nice if we were able to choose what caused our taste buds to respond with a resounding “yum!”? I’d pick all kinds of healthy, earthy, organic things to enjoy. As it is, I enjoy many healthy…and many unhealthy…things.

So, my goal is to capitalize on the healthy things I like by eating them often, and try to subdue my urges and limit my intake of those things that are at odds with my desire to live a long, healthy life. :)

And so I jumped at the chance to make this yummy recipe when my dear friend Kellie passed it on to me! I think she got it from Martha Stewart. Try it, and maybe you, too, will find that it meets all three of the happy recipe criteria above!

Happy cooking!

Chicken-Fajita Tostadas with Cilantro-Lime Rice

Ingredients:
1-2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1-2 bell peppers, (ribs and seeds removed), thinly sliced
1 box (10 oz.) frozen corn kernels
1 cup prepared fresh salsa
2 tablespoons olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
4 corn tortillas (6-inch)
½ cup shredded sharp cheddar

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 450. Line a baking sheet with foil. On foil, combine onions, bell peppers, corn, ¼ cup salsa, and 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper.
2)
Roast mixture, tossing occasionally until vegetables are tender and lightly browned, 15-20 minutes. Add chicken, stir to combine, and continue to roast until warmed throughout, about 5 minutes more. Transfer chicken-vegetable mixture to a serving bowl and discard foil.
3) Arrange tortillas on baking sheet. Dividing evenly, brush with remaining tablespoon of oil. Top with cheese. Bake until edges are golden and cheese is melted, about 5-8 minutes.
4) Dividing evenly, top tortillas with chicken-vegetable mixture and remaining ¾ cup salsa. Serve with Cilantro-Lime Rice, if desired.

Cilantro-Lime Rice

Ingredients:
1 cup long grain white rice
Coarse salt
½ cup fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic glove

Directions:
1)
In a medium saucepan, bring 1 ½ cups water to a boil. Add rice and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cover, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until water is absorbed and rice is just tender, 15-18 minutes.
2) Meanwhile, in a blender, combine cilantro, lime juice, oil, garlic, and 2 tablespoons water and blend until smooth. Stir into cooked rice, and fluff with a fork.

ah, the entertainment…

Well, my expectations were definitely too high!

I was soooo excited about Alana’s first rice cereal feeding, since I thought she’d be so eager to eat! She always watches me eat with such enthrallment that I assumed she would thrive on her chance to taste something new. I thought she’d eagerly gobble down the newfound taste sensation and leave the bowl empty.

I was wrong.

She was positively entertaining, though, so I was only mildly disappointed. All she wanted to do was gnaw on the soft Gerber spoon…not eat the rice cereal. In fact, her little tongue just pushed the foreign substance around a bit before letting it dribble back out of her mouth.

Here she is in her new high chair for the first time. A bit too little, a bit too slumped, and just not entirely ready for cereal. Alas, we will keep trying.

IMG_8029

IMG_8027

IMG_8030

Alana’s first bite

By the time we turned off the video and I took over trying to feed Alana, she was thoroughly annoyed by the whole process, so Rich grabbed this shot and then we concluded. Until next time!

IMG_8031

I hope you’ve all been entertained as much as we were :)

amber’s back!

We have missed our good friend Amber Holritz since she has been touring with Corey McNabb for the past three weeks, and last night, we got to welcome her back!

Rich and I met up with Nathan and Amber (and their incredible kids, Austen and Addison) and Keith and Becca at Macaroni Grill.

img_8037

We had a blast and enjoyed some incredible food, and then said goodbye to Keith and Becca before heading to a nearby park with beautiful light!

Rich grabbed these shots of Austen, enjoying the swings!

img_8041

IMG_8042

img_8045

Alana got a bit upset at one point, and I love Amber’s expression here.

img_8054

Thanks to Nathan for this shot of Rich playing with Alana! I’m not sure if this helped her mood or not…

img_8065

And I have no idea what was so hilarious to me:

img_8072

Welcome back, Amber! We love you and are (selfishly) happy you are home. At least for now!

little blue eyes

Alana constantly gets comments about how beautiful her eyes are.

Having hazel eyes, neither Rich nor I can take credit for this lovely feature. They are to be credited to my dad, her grandpa. Here are a few photos Rich took lately of her sparkly, beautiful eyes. Maybe they’ll stay this color, we’ll have to wait and see!

2402513116_a9396b759c_o

2402513148_03fdaf5afd_o

This is Alana with her “grandpapa”…Rich’s dad. I love the way she is looking at him!

2401682953_de408eb18a_o

More Alana photos soon to come…she “ate” rice cereal for the first time this week, and we have a thoroughly entertaining video clip to share. :)

simple pleasures…

I love weekends.

I have always savored the luxury of a weekend off. Off work, off school, off whatever.

But now I love weekends for a different reason. Now that I work around the clock (as a mom) and not just Monday through Friday, I don’t personally sense a distinction between a weekday or a weekend. But on weekends, Alana and I get to spend two glorious days with Rich. We love to have fun plans or to do just everyday, mundane things together.

This past weekend was enjoyable for a variety of reasons. Life has so many small pleasures, and I love to enjoy the little things with the people I love most.

One of the simple pleasures we’ve had as of late is to listen to Alana “talk.” Yes, we have decided that she is going to be quite verbal…as indicated in this brief little video clip:

Alana Talking

Saturday afternoon was perfectly beautiful and we decided to try a brand new restaurant near our house called Fresh to Order. We had one of the best salads we’ve ever had there! Excellent lettuce with almond slivers, cranberries, candied walnuts, sliced apples, mandarin oranges and rosemary-almond crusted chicken skewers…with incredible balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Um, ya, we loved every bite of that baby!

Here we are, a fun little self-portrait outside! We hope this place does well - we love having tasty healthy options nearby!

P4050020

Then on Sunday evening we enjoyed a business meeting for Rich Smith Photography at Olive Garden. We planned and organized, and talked about goals for the year. And we got a little distracted with a few family photos!

P4060026

P4060034

Alana did great for a while, but then got sleepy.

And when Alana gets sleepy, everybody knows about it! She shrieked a few times, and as I pacified and distracted her, we paid the bill and cut our productive discussion short in order to get her home and in bed.

I’ve also enjoyed the simple pleasure of watching Alana grow and learn…and even watched her roll over for the first time over the weekend! Yes, we have a video of that, too, but we’ll spare you as I’m sure no one would be quite as excited about it as we are!

Here she is, having some tummy time:

P4080001

And going for a walk (in the gorgeous spring weather) in the Baby Bjorn!

P4080037

Yes, she is eating it!

P4080039

Then on Tuesday night we met at Sushi Nabe to celebrate Bri’s birthday!!! Unfortunately, I’d been battling a horrible headache all day, so I only lasted for about an hour until I felt like I had no option but to go home and go to bed. I was SO sad to miss out on the celebration. Before I left, I managed to grab a few photos of friends!

Bri and Trevor:

P4080052

Bethany took this one of Alana and I. Thanks, Bethany!

bri bday 016

Tim and Bethany:

P4080048

Kyle, Heidi, Avery and soon-to-come baby posey!

P4080049

Bri, I love you and hope that you had a wonderful birthday!