Fisher Family ... life and more

Happy Easter Turtles!!

2012-04-08T21:51:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a very Blessed Easter!

Wow! It was so beautiful today, I was thrilled! This is how Spring is supposed to be (as opposed to the summer days we have had lately!) So, as far as Easter Sundays go, you just can't get much better than today!

So, it was a really crazy, busy day. Really though, what holiday isn't? Plus, when you have kids the hoopla is magnified by ten.... per child!

So, we started out at Church this morning. (We were late, as usual...) I figure that getting everyone there, with teeth and hair brushed and clean (mostly not wrinkled) clothes on is mostly what matters, right?

The service was great! It always is.

After a pit-stop at home to let the dog out, we headed over to my parents' house. It is the usual gathering stop for holidays. Great big yard and finished basement where the kids can play, be loud, whatever... without giving all the adults a massive headache.
Seriously. There are 4 boys, and one sweet little girl who manages to keep up with the boys.
The stink of them alone will knock your socks off, so the location is perfect!
Luckily I managed to snap a few pics of some of them before they ran off to play in the dirt!

Well, I got 3 of them at least. Getting all 5 kids to hold still for a picture in their nice clothes is tough!

So, we had a nice lunch with all the usual fillers!
We had barely made it into the coffee, but the kids couldn't stand it. So, my sis and I headed outside to hide the Eggs.
There aren't too many places to hide them, so we have to be a little creative.

They don't care, it's all about who gets the most (the fastest)!

As you can see, we have to give strict instructions before sending them out. Can't have a brawl breaking out (if Lilly sees one she wants and a boy snatches it... yeah, it has happened.)

And they are OFF!

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the eggs get picked up compared to how long it took us to hide them!
Why can't this principle work for toys??? If only.

We also had a few guests with us today!
Meet Timmy, Pedro, and Pokey.

We seem to have acquired a lot of turtles lately. There is a creek behind my sister's house where some seem to live and they manage to make their way to the back door. It's over at that point, the boys always want to keep them!

Poor Pedro showed up once before, but managed to escape (thanks to her dog, Barnaby..) Still, he came back. He still had his name painted on his shell.
Some turtles just doesn't learn.

Finally, after playing with their new pool sprayer toys and a bucket of water in the driveway (which was a great, cheap form of entertainment that lasted a while!), the kids treated us to a show!

Not sure how best to describe it, but they practiced and had a good groove going....

I'm still here!

2012-04-03T22:27:00.000-05:00

Yes, that's right! I am still here!
I keep wanting to apologize for my lack of blogging lately, but really... do you want to hear that?
Probably not.

So, this is what I have been up to. It has been a crazy, crazy life since the cupcake business launched!! Wow, I am so blessed by all the wonderful people in my life! I have had so much support from friends and family, and have made so many new friends in the process! I really love it. (Did I say that already? sorry.)

I can't even tell you how much I love what I do!!! It is so rewarding to make a product that people enjoy!

One thing I have made myself do, though is make time for me. Since I am working almost non-stop lately, I decided that I had to set aside time for myself to relax. Even if it is only a few minutes a day. That has made such a difference! Every night, after the house is quiet and everyone is asleep I give myself about 30 minutes to curl up with a good book.
Love it! It gives me a chance to unwind, and frankly I sleep better because of it! I love to read, so this is the perfect stress reliever for me!

So, on that note, I want to know about The Hunger Games movie! I am still reading the books (I am currently half-way through book 3). I am curious how people have felt about the movie after reading the books?

By the way, if you have not read it, it is a must-read! This is something everyone would enjoy. My 10-yr old is even asking to read it! Go get it now if you haven't, you won't be sorry!

You know, if you see a movie without reading the book first you will come out with a totally different reaction from someone who has read them.
So far I am loving the books! I just don't want to be disappointed if the characters and storyline is not in line with the book.

Thoughts?

Now, on a TOTALLY different subject! My sweet yellow lab, Dixie, is growing so big! She is quite hyper (still technically a puppy) and does not do too well when I am out working a lot. She stays in her kennel while we are not home, so there is a lot of energy to be spent when we let her out!
(This is a VERY old picture of her, but trust me she is getting BIG!)

My point (there really is one!) is this:
We have found the most WONDERFUL thing to burn off all that energy!! Plus, it doesn't take what little energy you have left after working a long day, either!

I guess this falls into the "I Recommend" category.
It is called a "Chuck-It"! We found this little gem at Target recently, and it is worth every, single penny! I think it cost around $8.00, but I could be wrong....
Listen, IT IS WORTH IT!

All I have to do is show it to her and she is bouncing up and down happy!
This long, plastic arm-looking-thing holds a tennis ball at the end. You simply put the ball in it, then reach back and, well.. chuck it! It seems like it sends the ball flying for miles! It certainly goes a lot farther than I could throw it!
My sweet Dixie can't help herself... she runs after it.

Now, normally when she brings back a tennis ball that she has so diligently retrieved, she doesn't want to drop it right away. However, I take an extra ball out with me and have it loaded and ready to "chuck" when she returns! Therefore, she drops the soggy, dirty, messy ball she just went after!

Now, the real genius is this! I don't have to touch the nasty, drool-covered ball! You can reach down with the "chuck-it" and use it to pick up the ball! So, while she is running the marathon to get the prize I am loading up for the next round!

After 15 minutes of this.... well, all that puppy energy is spent and I don't feel quite as guilty for having left her home alone that day. She immediately comes inside, gets a gallon or two of water, then collapses over the nearest air vent and falls asleep.

(Now, I just have to find friends who will give me some old, used ORANGE or RED tennis balls. Those yellow balls turn a nasty shade of green once she has had her turn with them, which blends in with my grass....)

We bought ours at Target, but you can get them so many places!
Here is the link to Amazon:

If you have a retriever-type dog, this is something you need... trust me!

Okay folks, that is all for now! Time for some sleep, but I promise to be back soon!

A little pampering!

2012-01-23T14:16:00.000-06:00

The holiday were crazy this year!
Of course, the holidays are crazy every year. I don't think I am alone in this dilemma.

Between work, kids, school, church, and all the activities that go with them I felt like I was sitting in the middle of a tornado with no way of hanging on.
When it was over, I started feeling a little under the weather.

That, I expected.
Sadly, it happens every year. I think when the craziness ends and I finally slow down, my body is confused and doesn't know how to respond. Luckily this year it came only in the form of a cold, rather than the severe case of the flu I got last year (on Christmas Day, no less!)

This year I decided that when January rolled around, I would set aside a day to do something for myself. I rarely ever do anything like that! Partly due to time constraints, and partly (mostly) due to cost.
However, on this occasion I was given a gift certificate and I could not wait to use it!

If you live in the Donelson area, you have probably seen the Seraphim Salon and Spa.
It sits just off Lebanon Rd in a beautiful old stone house.

My gift certificate was for a Natural Elements Massage. As I stated above, it could not have come at a better time. I could feel the tension and stress from my increasingly-gray roots all the way down to my toes!

I have to give them kudos, because it was by far the best Salon experience I have ever had!
First of all, when you go in, you are automatically taken over by something that smells really good.
It didn't smell like color and bleach the way some salons do. First impressions are so important.

Second, the ladies at the front desk were all smiles, knew my name and greeted me warmly! Before I could get a word out of what I was there for they asked me if I would like to relax with a cup of coffee or hot tea before my massage!

Hello! Can you say GREAT SERVICE!?

Next, I was taken upstairs to the area where the massage therapist works. It was the most comfortable, relaxing atmosphere I could imagine outside of my own home!
Before she came in, the massage therapist gave me a cup of the most delicious Aveda hot tea I had ever had, while sitting on a comfy sofa in a bath robe, with my feet in a hot bath.

Of course the massage was awesome too!
It lasted about an hour. Afterward, she refreshed my tea and gave me a glass of cold water to sip on before leaving. I was surprised at how much the glass of water helped to "wake me up"! (I was so relaxed, I really didn't want to go anywhere, so this helped.)

So, if you are in the area and want to treat yourself, go for it!
The ladies at Seraphim will take great care of you, treat you like family, and you will leave feeling like a whole new person!

Another recomendation!

2012-01-08T20:33:00.003-06:00

Hello!!!!!

Yes, I know it has been months since my last post. I am most definitely ashamed of this since I truly love keeping up the blog, but as you can imagine things have gotten a little.... uh, hairy in the months since my last post.

I'm sorry.
(does that about cover it? If not, well....)

Anyway!
I wanted to start the new year off with another recommendation for you!
You probably know how much I love to read. It is one of the few things that I almost always manage to make time for in a day.

Usually at night, after everyone has gone to bed, I will snuggle up in my favorite chair and enjoy some peace and quiet for a little while.
This is usually only 20-30 minutes, or until I nod off, whichever happens first.

Really it is therapeutic! I find that it helps me sleep because I am able to completely take my mind off of the hectic, craziness that has become my life lately before going to bed.

As I have said before, I love a good suspense novel.
Most people who know me think that it means I am reading horror stories, but that is actually not the case.
I do love horror movies, but books are different. Most of the time you cannot translate something that would be surprising and frightful onscreen into something that would deliver the same effect in a book. On the other hand, a good suspenseful book could easily be turned into a horror movie, simply by the extra effects and features, music, etc. that a film can add. I always love seeing a book that I have read turned into a movie.
Then, when people talk about what a great movie it is, I remind them of how I was teased for reading the book....
oh, nevermind!

Anyway, I typically read books that are suspenseful. I love the page-turners that wind a story and keep you guessing until the very end.
I have read MANY of these over the years, from John Grisham to James Patterson. All the big names you think of when you enter a bookstore. I have even read a good variety of Stephen King. That is a story for another day, though. His are typically suspenseful, but in a more supernatural way.

Then, last summer when I went to Florida with the family I was in need of a new book. I took one along that I had picked up at a yard sale.
My first day by the pool I realized I had discovered a lemon in the book world. One that sounds interesting and exciting on the back cover, but is slow and stupid once you get 50 pages in.
Ugh.
There were NO bookstores, I was an hour from the nearest Wal-Mart, and the Piggly Wiggly close by had zip.

Luckily, my little sis has the same taste in reading and had brought a few extra books along.
When I told her of my dilemma she was happy to loan me one of hers.

I looked on her bedside table to choose my new read and came away with one from an author I was unfamiliar with.
My sister told me that once I read some of his books, I would be spoiled. I would find it hard to read books written by other authors because they just didn't have that extra "umph!" I figured she was being dramatic.

WOW!!!

I am totally hooked!
The author's name is Harlan Coben.

He has been writing for years, I just cannot believe I did not stumble upon his work before now. My sis was right. I just hope he keeps writing.... what will I do if he every quits?

Regardless, I picked up the book and started reading.
I could NOT put it down. I managed to break for dinner, but was soon buried in the story once again.
I have no idea what time I finally fell asleep that first night, but I do know that I soaked up a good tan the next two days. That is because I spent the next day and a half by the pool with my nose buried in that book!
I read it all the way through, in record time considering the fact that my 2 kids, 2 nephews, and my niece were usually splashing in the pool right beside me!

That first book I read was called "Just One Look".

I have since read 5 or 6 of his other books. Each one was fantastic! Obviously I have my favorites, one of which is that first book I read.

As with some other authors, he has a series of books that follow a main character (Myron Bolitar) through each. Therefore, those need to be read in order. So, before picking up one of his books, I recommend you check to be sure you are not starting in the middle of the series. It might be hard to follow if you don't start with the first one.

Among my favorites so far, if you are looking to try one (aside from the one mentioned above):

* Caught

* Tell No One

* Play Dead

All of his books are available on Amazon. I got most of mine that way. Just click on the links above if you want to try one of these, it will take you right to it.

You CANNOT go wrong with any of these! You will find yourself whisked away into a suspenseful mystery, trying to determine if you have it figured out!

Isn't that the best part, after all?

I recommend...

2011-08-06T10:23:00.007-05:00

So, this was such a well-received post the last time, I decided to post another one.

Today I am going to recommend a book I just finished.
Now, I read a lot. I love it! There is no way I could blog about all the books I read, it would take too long. If I did that, I would never have the time to actually read them!

But, every now and then, I know that a book I have read would be something everyone would want to know about!

Most people who know me are aware that my taste in books and movies is different than most women my age.
It's OK, i'm a big girl, I can admit it.

I DO NOT like love stories, or your typical "feel-good", mushy book. I don't take book recommendations from Oprah, sorry.
I like true-crime, mystery, and "who-dunnit" type stories. The real page-turners that keep you reading to find out the twist at the end. I like to be entertained when I read, and have a break from reality, etc.

But, occasionally I will read something that interests me that could somewhat fall into that "mushy" category. Sort of.

The book I am talking about is called "Heaven is for Real". It is a true story, written by the father of a little boy who became very sick, very quickly, and while in surgery experienced Heaven for (in earthly time) a few brief moments. To him it lasted longer and he had some amazing stories to tell.

This child was only 3 1/2 years old when this happened to him. In the book he talks about things that a child that age would have no way of knowing on his own.

I had tried several times to get this book from the library, but there were about 150 people on the waiting list in front of me! No way could I wait that long!

So, I ordered it from Amazon (it was only about $9).

It is one of the most amazing and wonderful books I have ever picked up! It was not long, only about 165 pages, but I could not put it down.

I had read the entire book in less than 24 hours!
Trust me, this is one book you will want to get right away! Even if you do not read a lot, or if you say you don't "have time" for it. It won't take you long, you can read it with your morning coffee or while you eat your lunch.

If you do, post a comment and let me know what you thought!!

What have I been up to!?

2011-07-28T14:28:00.008-05:00

Can't tell you how many times I have answered that question lately!

I have had many people ask me "What is going on with you?, something is different."
Yep, it's true. I have had quite a few changes in my life recently.

For starters, I have been asked quite frequently "are you still a photographer?"
Me: "Yes, of course."
I am simply adding to my "repertoire"! I have been blessed with great clients, whom I love working for and photographing. That has not changed.

However, the large amount of my time lately has been spent doing other things.
Other things that I love!

If you have been here before, you have seen my post images of the cakes and cupcakes, etc that I have been doing for a couple of years now. Actually, I have been doing this long before I began blogging about them.

Recently, my husband and I had a long talk about everything swirling around us in our life at this point. Actuallly, we were driving home from a family vacation to Florida so we had about 9 hours of talking to pass the time.

The kids were both involved with video games and iPods to keep themselves occupied during the long drive, so it gave us some rare time to talk with little interruption.

What we discovered was that we were on the same page. We usually are. We both had decided in our heart that we had something else bigger we wanted to do. We had tossed the idea around for a bit, but during that long drive we came to the conclusion that this is the direction God was pointing us.

So, we got to work, got permits and licenses, etc. and made it official.

I am now the official owner of Dixie Belle's Cupcakes!

We are very excited about this venture! All the initial plans have been made. We are still working out a few of the "kinks" of a new business, but so far things have been great!

Our biggest part of the business is the fact that we will soon be mobile.
If you have seen the news stories about the Food Trucks growing in popularity, you can add us to the list!
We will bake the cupcakes and then bring them to you! Imagine needing your 2pm sugar fix and not having to go out and get it! Just walk outside to the curb and find fresh cupcakes waiting for you!

Currently, I am taking orders and will deliver cupcakes anywhere in the range of Nashville and some surrounding counties.

Once our mobile cupcake truck is ready (it is still under construction, but will be ready soon!) we will travel the streets of Nashville ready to serve all those in need of something sweet on the go!

We will regularly tweet and post Facebook alerts as to where we will be and when, so you will have to be sure and follow us so that you do not miss out!

I cannot even begin to tell you what a blessing this has already been in our lives. I pray that it will continue to be.

Our temporary website is up and running, so make sure to check it out for more information on what we have to offer!
www.dixiebellescupcakes.com

Then, head on over the Facebook and "Like" our page at Facebook.com/dixiebellescupcakes
If you want to tweet with us, we are happy to have you @DixieBelleCakes

Now, don't think this means I will not be blogging any more! I enjoy it too much to stop! While I have been on a bit of a "hiatus" lately I am planning to be back to my blogging self in no time!

So, don't wander off! I will be rattling off more tales of life shortly!

Sweet Cupcakes

2011-06-09T13:56:00.009-05:00

I always love to share when I get an order for something I am excited about.

It has taken me a while to get the pictures off my camera, but these are some cupcakes I made recently for a ballet recital.
It was a big job that I did with my neighbor. We were baking and decorating for 2 days straight, but they turned out so great!

We actually had a wedding reception to provide cupcakes for the same weekend, and sadly I did not get time to photograph them all.

Let me just say, It is really hard to bake all those yummy things and not eat them.

Man. That was really hard.

Anyway, back on track now. So, we had a wide assortment of flavors to do for this one. I have had many cake orders, but never so much variety in one event.

For the wedding we did:
Carrot cake with cream cheese and pecan frosting
German chocolate with german chocolate frosting
Strawberry with buttercream frosting
Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting

Now, for the ones I did manage to photograph....
I thought it was a pretty good idea for the customer having the ballet recital to offer 2 kid-friendly options, with one of them appealing to whatever boys would be there.
No self-respecting boy wants a frilly, pink cupcake no matter how good it tastes!

This is what we provided for the boys.

It is a devil's food cupcake with cookies and cream frosting, made with real Oreos.
Aren't they cute? These were a big hit!

I have also prepared these with a slightly cocoa flavored cookies and cream frosting for those of you who want something with chocolate that isn't too sweet.

Finally, the one I personally chose as my favorite.

This is a simple white cupcake, with sweet pink buttercream rosettes. They looked like a florists box of pink bouquets when we were finished!
In addition, we added a little glittery touch to the top for a little "girlie sparkle!"

Now, there is one thing I want to point out. Did you notice something?

As cute and kid-friendly as these are, there is not a pound of frosting on top waiting to send your kids into hyperspace-sugar-shock.
They are cute and tasty, and have plenty of frosting to suit any kid's taste, without being too much.

These are a great option for any occasion and much easier than carving a cake. If you have a birthday party, or some other event coming up give me a call!

With the exception of the German Chocolate, you can get these delightful treats for only $3 each or a dozen for $27.

Who can resist?? I'm having trouble myself.....

Summer Special!

2011-06-08T14:22:00.004-05:00

Wow! It is hot out there!

Can you believe it is already summer? Time has just flown by, hence it being a month since my last post.

As busy as the school year seems to be, it is multiplied in the summer it seems when the kids are out of school and I am playing "Taxi" to all the various camps and activities, in addition to working!

I am tired just talking about it!

So, some customers asked me recently if I had any good specials coming up. So, here you go!

This will be good for the months of June and July, so don't miss out!

Keep in mind that summer shots, while warm out, make beautiful portraits. If you book a morning appointment, the heat is not bad and right now everything is in bloom. Contact me now before the summer is all booked!

Before you know it, school will be starting!

Enjoy your summer while it lasts!

Wordless Wednesday...

2011-05-05T15:18:00.005-05:00

Ok, almost wordless.

This is stunning.

I wanted to post a few more cake pictures today. I love all of these and would love to give them a try!

Remember....

2011-05-03T21:35:00.014-05:00

Today has been a day of remembering for me.

I know, that seems like an obvious statement right?

Of course the first thing on my mind today was the same thing on most American's minds. You can't get away from it.

The historic news of how the Navy Seals went in, fought, and eventually killed the world's most sought after terrorist is unforgettable.

Just like 9/11 I will never forget the moment when I heard the news. It made me remember those days right after the attacks, and how the news coverage was constant and overwhelming but I couldn't pull myself away. There was always the thought that if I walked away or turned it off, something else horrible would happen. Hard to believe it has been ten years.

At least we got him! I want to say a very BIG THANK YOU to our amazing military. They do such a wonderful, selfless, courageous job every day. Their performance on this mission was flawless. They came away completely unhurt, having nailed the bad guy, and gained a wealth of data and intelligence in the process. Way to go guys!

The other thing I keep thinking about today is the way my house looked exactly a year ago.
As was the case last year with an incident in New York, Nashville has gotten lost in the shuffle behind all the major news coverage today (Not that I blame them, I know getting Bin Laden was a much bigger story in the grand scheme of things.)

Today marks exactly one year since the big flood, May 3, 2010. It actually began before that on May 2, but things became especially bad on May 3rd when the dams were released to relieve the pressure and many areas of Nashville were submerged.

I was one of them.

My children's school, Donelson Christian Academy was badly flooded, as well as downtown and many other areas.

We have come a long way since that day and I am so thankful for it. I really think we have become a better place because of it. I can't speak for all of Nashville, but for myself and what I have seen from the school things couldn't be better!

So, despite the fact that I am home sick today (strep throat, yuck!) I have been extremely thankful. These 2 events "flooding" to mind on the same day was a little overwhelming, yet proved once again how good God is. He always makes something good come from something bad.

My heart and prayers remain with those who lost loved ones on 9/11, may they finally feel some bit of relief and closure.

Or at least something close.

I recommend...

2011-04-15T14:10:00.008-05:00

Well, this is something I have considered adding to my blog for a while now. Coincidentally, it is also the "Show us your life" topic today over at Kelly's Korner.

Every now and then we all come across something that is either a good deal, a good read, great movie, and so on. I don't know about everyone else, but I love getting recommendations from friends when they come across something like this. Obviously you won't always have the same opinion or taste as someone else, but just think about the times when someone gave you a tip that you really enjoyed! You come away excited and grateful for it. At least I do.

For example, my sis and my friend Beth both told me for months that I needed to get the Pioneer Woman cookbook.

I admit that I hesitated, from the sound of it I was worried that it would involve too many things that make my skin crawl.... like lima beans and turnip greens. (shutter...)

BUT! After my sister repeatedly told me how good the Chocolate Cake recipe was I had to try it. I ordered it from Amazon for Christmas and when I finally dove into it I was thrilled!! In fact, on one of our many snow days this year I jumped in and tried several of her recipes, you can read about it here.

Lesson learned.

I was very grateful for the tip as I have made many of the Pioneer Woman recipes that I dare say I would never want to go without again!

So, here is my first recommendation for you (Ok, I guess this would technically be the second).

My husband told me about a book that someone had referred to him at work. He works in an office with lots of women, they talk a lot.
Anyway, he knew it would be something I would enjoy reading.

The book is called 90 Minutes in Heaven.

Wow. Let me tell you, it was great! I got it from the library and was done reading it within a few days.

It is written by a Baptist preacher in the south who was involved in a horrible car accident and died, squashed in his car on the side of the road, after being struck by a tractor trailer.
As you can guess from the title, he was later revived.

I have always had a fascination with "near death experiences." I have no idea why, but I love to sit and listen to someone tell of their experience. Even though there are times when some stories I read about or hear seem a little too "hoaky" or made-up, there are always the ones you can tell are absolutely for real. This is one of those stories.

As a Christian I know for a fact that Heaven is waiting for me, so there is not a problem with doubt. I guess you would call it curiosity, plain and simple. Quite obviously, most people do not go there and then come back. So to hear someone tell of his experience there is captivating.

It was one of those books I will never forget. His descriptions alone leave you thirsty for more detail.

I got mine from the library, but you can also find it at Amazon for about $8-10.
So don't wait!

I assure you it is worth reading.

For those of you who have read it, let me know what you thought about it!

Internet hiatus...

2011-04-11T14:35:00.009-05:00

Whew! Let me tell you, it has been rough the last couple of weeks.

I had been having trouble with my laptop for about a year now, but kept hoping it was nothing.

Silly me. Laptop problems are rarely nothing.

So, I took it to a friend to have him wipe it clean and re-load it with Windows XP. I just like XP better than Vista (but that is a whole other issue, I won't bore you with that now!)

It was bad enough to be without my sidekick while it was being worked on.

Then the bad news came...... "Your computer is toast." They actually said it in a nicer way, but you get the idea.

Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!! How am I supposed to get anything accomplished without my computer?
I was completely speechless. This meant I had to buy a new one. Ugh... my stomach sank.

I hate computer shopping!! As much as I feel like I know when it comes to using computers, I instantly feel like a moron when I have to shop for a new one.
Luckily my husband is better with all the technical "lingo" than I am. I just say "I want it to be fast and hold a lot of stuff." and he translates that into what I need. Love it!

So, long story short I have been without a computer for roughly 2 weeks!

I feel completely cut off from society. Isn't that crazy!? It is amazing how dependent we are on our technology. I think I even began having withdrawals....

And, as much as I love my Droid smartphone, it just isn't quite the same. My eyes begin to go crossed trying to Google on it for too long. Plus, let's face it, there are some things those smart phones just weren't meant to do, at least until Adobe figures out how to put Photoshop on there..... ooooh, now that would be cool!

Fortunately, the new computer I ordered arrived a couple of days ago. Naturally, being a different system than what I was used to there is a bit of a learning curve, but I am happy to say that I am finally back in the land of the "informed"!

So, hopefully I can get caught up on my work and be blogging again within the next few days.

I did a session with some great girls and their cousins a few days back and let me tell you the Spring is the perfect time! There are really some great places to shoot and right now everything is blooming!

They looked beautiful, (although I can't share them quite yet since they want this to be a "Mother's Day Surprise." I will post a few after, though!)

Call me now to book for spring before we get into the "Africa Hot Summer" we seem to always have here in the south!

I will probably have some more specials coming up so stay tuned!!

Spring Proof Special!

2011-03-22T15:54:00.009-05:00

Well, once again the springtime holidays are sneaking up on me!

Wasn't it just Christmas?? How time flies!

Before we know it, it's going to be Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day.

I always struggle with what to give my mom and dad on these holidays.
Doesn't everyone?
I mean, the traditional tie for Father's Day or a bouquet of flowers for mom just seems tired to me.

I like to do things a little bit different. Don't you?

To help you out a little, I am offering a special spring sale through the end of March.

You can get an entire set of proofs from any previous session for only $25!! This is half price and a great deal!!

They are the perfect size for a cute desktop frame and for giving as gifts.

Just think, you could put a few in a great frame and give them to Mom, put them in an album to keep for yourself, or give Dad a couple of great pictures to adorn his desk at work!

Plan ahead and give them a gift this year they will really get excited about!

Contact me now to order!!
www.tammyfisherphotography.com

Pics for the day!

2011-03-17T19:55:00.007-05:00

Well, I had hoped to have a new post ready today.

However, Christian had other plans. In what feels like De Ja'Vu (sp??) I was home today with a little boy, throwing up. Therefore, my plans for today went out the window.

So, instead I am going to post some pictures I found that I really like. These are all cakes that I am anxious to make. They are all either really beautiful or just plain cool.

Hope you enjoy!

Awesome!!

Sweet Baby blocks - petifores

Simple, elegant. Love it.

What a cool idea. The hydrangeas and pears are great.

How fun! Although, I must say I did not get a cake like this when I turned 16!

I could have posted way more, maybe another day.

I can't wait to try some of these!!

In the blink of an eye...

2011-03-11T10:57:00.010-06:00

Things can happen so fast.

One minute everything is normal, fine, average. We go about our daily lives, doing our chores and complaining about the little things.

In the blink of an eye, things can go very, horribly wrong.

This is the theme of all news stories today. One horrible tragedy turned into two, and it doesn't seem to have stopped yet.

Japan has suffered a record-breaking earthquake, followed by a tsunami. Both have cost the lives of many.

This just shows us how fortunate we are. We are blessed with so much, and it could all be gone within a moment. We need to offer up our prayers for all the people affected by this horrible event. It is absolutely devastating.

It should teach us some very valuable lessons, though.

We should live our lives as if today were the last and be thankful for everything God has given us. We shouldn't put so much weight on the little things that get us so uptight.

Mostly we should tell those we love how much they mean to us.

Because, what if they were gone tomorrow?

We should make sure that we are living our lives as Christians, and not waiting to do it tomorrow.

Because, what if WE were gone tomorrow?

Sick boy

2011-03-08T12:27:00.007-06:00

Today has been one of those days...

You know, those days when you think you will get lots of chores, etc. done around the house, errands run, work, and all that. Then all that goes out the window when you get a sick child.

Yep, its been one of those days. I just hope it's the last.

Yesterday I got the call that no parent likes.

"please come and get your child, he threw up all over the place." Ugghh.... OK.

Poor Christian.

I got to the school and he looked so pitiful. He was sitting in the bathroom, just waiting for the next round (or for me to show up, whichever happened first.) So, I took him home and put him in pj's, after which he curled up on the couch.

(He has the "pitiful" look down to perfection. I think he knows it works in his favor, even when he is clearly feeling better.)

He was able to sit up and eat this morning. He asked for cinnamon toast. I figured that was probably safe...

So rather than my endless "to do" list, today has mostly been spent cleaning, disinfecting, giving meds, and snuggling to endless movies. We have watched everything from 2012 to the minions of Despicable Me.. LOUD.

In the process I have discovered a thing or two.

1. Watching loud movies makes you feel better sooner.

2. Mom's cinnamon toast makes everything better.

One day 5x7 sale!

2011-03-07T15:00:00.003-06:00

Good afternoon folks!!
Today's post is about saving you money!

I am all about saving some money!

My lab sent me a message today saying that all 5x7's are on sale for 24 hours, so I am going to pass the savings on to you!!

Contact me now and order some 5x7 prints, with FREE linen texture. Plus, when you buy one 5x7 you will get another one for FREE!!!

Now get this cool little detail!
Most of the time a sale like this will specify that the second print must be of the same image as the first one.

NOT TODAY! Choose any prints from any of your previous sessions.

Just order before 2pm central time tomorrow!

mmmm.... cupcakes!

2011-03-04T13:16:00.013-06:00

Well, once again this will probably be fairly short.

I posted here the other day about making the leap into Cakes as Dixie Belle's and have since started a Facebook page for those of you interested in seeing my cakes.

Thank you to all those who have visited and sent me sweet messages. It is so exciting and rewarding to do something fun with my time that people actually enjoy.

I realized when I posted that day that there were no pictures of cupcakes, only the cakes. Oops!

So, here you go! I am so excited about some of these, they are just delightful!

Now, I just have to concentrate on NOT tasting every single thing I bake....

That's gonna be tough. I LOVE CAKE.

Anyway! Here are some recent cupcakes I have done. They were quite cute and I am currently working on new designs.... (oooh, this is FUN!)

These were really beautiful! No matter what angle I shot from though I could not seem to find one that did justice to these. All gathered together it looked like a bright flower garden on my table.

I love how sweet and simple these are. I dusted them with some sweet pink, sparkly color and added some edible pearls.

Very girlie.
I have 2 boys so I don't get to do much "girlie" stuff, so these really appeal to me (and my need for some pink occasionally...)

These are so cute! When you put a whole bunch of these together you have a whole bouquet of daisies! They are smaller than a typical cupcake, perfect for the small child with small hands. Perfect for a springtime tea party!

Let me tell you, these did not last long at my house! Yum is all I can say about this one. I made some similar to this and gave them out at Christmas. They were a big hit!

I have to say that this is one of my favorites. It's elegant, but not over the top. I love the little rose buds in the bright green, but I think they would be awesome in other colors too! Imagine this for a bridal shower in her colors..... very cool!

I must add that I would have posted these sooner, but my life as a photographer would not allow me to just snap a picture on my kitchen counter.

Some of the added enjoyment I get out of this process is figuring out the color and presentation. I want them to be tasty, but they also need to stand out and look good!

More designs to come...

Before and after....

2011-02-28T22:20:00.006-06:00

It's late at my house, so forgive me for keeping this short tonight.

We have had a pretty big week around here, though.

Aside from the fact that my children had yet ANOTHER short school week!
Monday was a holiday and Friday the school was closed because they had no electricity.....

AAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhh!!!
Seriously, people. What is going on this year? It has been so strange, they just can't seem to keep the kids at school.

Who would have thought, after all the snow days we have had, the flood this past May, that we would have another day out for electricity?? I know it isn't weird to have the power go out. It happens a lot with spring storms, but usually it comes back on within a few minutes or hours.
This time is was more like 36 hours. Since the storm was Thursday night, that meant the school was forced to close on Friday.

I guess they can't have class in the dark.

Hmmph....

Well, anyway! The rest of our week involved the following little guy.

Yep, that is Christian. He is doing his best to give me a smile that shows all his teeth.
It looks a little unnatural... it isn't his normal smile.
But, the point was not to get a perfect portrait, it was to show his sweet smile (almost) with all those baby teeth.

Before.

He lost his first tooth.
Obviously, this is the After.

See the little red dot? That is where his tooth used to be. You can probably even see the big tooth that had already popped through behind it.

He was so proud he could hardly contain himself.

I was ready to cry.
My baby.

My last baby, is not a baby anymore.

The End.

What else can I say after that? Sniff...

A new sort of creative....

2011-02-20T22:16:00.016-06:00

I think it probably goes without saying that I love all things creative. I always have.

From childhood that has been my outlet. I was never the softball throwing, soccer-playing sort of girl (despite how hard my poor dad tried). I wanted to color, paint, take pictures, ~~sew~~...(wait! I never said I was good at all the things I tried....a seamstress I am definitely NOT!)

My sis was the same way (She DOES sew). Her talents manifested early and it was clear what she was meant to do. Mine built a little more slowly, took longer to show through. Better late than never, right?

I love what I do! I am so blessed to have the perfect job for me. It honestly just gets better and better. Look at this sweet baby I photographed this past week.

So sweet! Love her.
(rambling, sorry...)

Anyway! Do I really have time to venture out in other directions with all that I have going on?

Not really.

Has that mattered up until now?

No.

Well, regardless I am jumping in with both feet!!

Whee......... here goes.

For about a year now I have been working on a new hobby/trade/passion/love.... you get the idea.
In ADDITION to my life as a photographer.

CAKES.

Now, I am hooked. I mean totally hooked. I LOVE IT!! Even when I spend hours in the kitchen and wash endless dishes I just can't seem to get enough.

I started small, making some cupcakes for a baby shower my sister had for a friend and getting rave reviews. Then came Christian's birthday, when he asked specifically for a "spooky Scooby Doo" cake (how could I say no??), and then mother's day.

Then, one weekend we went to our friend's farm, see my post about it here, for the weekend. I made a cake to take, since we all contribute food. It was a hit. In fact, it didn't last long enough to get a picture.

Who knew!!? I had so much fun with it and people actually like it!? Wow.

Shortly after, a friend who was there that weekend asked me to make a cake for a mutual friend's baby shower.

Then she ordered another for a bridal shower.

Before I knew it, it was November and I was delivering my first wedding cake and groom's cake.

Now THAT was fun!

I think this is what people talk about when they say an opportunity "fell in their lap."
Honestly, I think God places those opportunities and talents there and I would be crazy not to do what I can with it. Plus, I enjoy it. (did I mention that??)

Here is my latest. I did this one for a baby shower this past weekend. They gave me the invitation for inspiration and let me have creative freedom from there (those are the BEST!) It was for a young lady who does not know whether she is having a boy or a girl and wanted a cake that was neutral, yet represented the possibility of either. I think it turned out lovely.

Am I crazy?

Probably.

Need a cake? Cupcakes?
Chocolate covered strawberries?

Portraits?

Call me, we'll talk!

Now, be on the lookout. I have had lots of people ask to see pictures of the cakes I have done.

Therefore, I am starting a Facebook page to show my cakes, in case you too might want to take a gander...

"Dixie Belle's cake and cupcakes" coming soon....

Life and times with Buster

2011-02-17T14:43:00.012-06:00

This is Buster.

He is the class pet in Christian's kindergarten class.

Cute, huh?

This past week it was our turn to have Buster for the weekend. We tried to keep him entertained.
(I think he had a good time. )

I know Christian enjoyed him. Of course, Christian has a thing about stuffed animals.... I can't tell you how many currently live on his bed. It's a scary number. They could take over if they wanted, we are seriously outnumbered!

So, basically everywhere Christian went, Buster went.

They watched movies... I think this was during "Daddy Day Care."

They went to a friend's birthday slumber party.
I didn't get pictures of that, it wasn't my party. (A bunch of kindergartners full of pizza and cake... NOT sticking around for that!)

We took them to my late grandparent's farm where my husband keeps his bees.
We tried hard to keep Buster out of the honey. He likes honey.

He is a bear, after all...

Then, we went up in the barn to feed the cows. Christian always loves going to see the cows and figured Buster would, too.

I think he was a little intimidated....

Then, we took him to the duck pond. We threw them stale bread and watched them chase after it. That was fun, up until the part where Dixie (the fat pup) chased all the ducks away.....

Overall, it was a good time! We enjoyed having Buster around, and now he has now gone home to the DCA classroom where he spends his days, at least until next weekend when he will go somewhere new.

So long, Buster!

Valentine Prep..

2011-02-10T22:24:00.020-06:00

Ok, is it just me or does Valentine's Day become more about the kids and their parties once you're a parent?

Not that I ever really got into the holiday that much before I had kids (in my adult life at least, I did as a child), but now it seems to be all about them.

Seriously folks, if you love someone you should show them how much you love them every day. You don't need one day set aside, only to go out and buy WAY OVERPRICED flowers, etc. I would be pretty ticked off if my husband came home with roses and I found out he paid $40 or $50 for them! Next week you could buy those same flowers for me for about $10!!! It's just a racket, but hey that is just my opinion!

Anyway! Back to the kids... There are the school parties, the nasty little hearts that taste like chalk, the valentine cards (and what character will grace their cover this year - heaven forbid we repeat a year past), and the chocolate kisses.
(Ok, I admit I like the chocolate and will readily raid my kids' treats when they come home...)

It's a lot of work! This year Cameron was given homework to build his own box in order to receive his valentines at their party on Monday. Since we were out yesterday for yet ANOTHER snow day (I won't even go there.. been there, blogged that already) I figured we would spend the day doing all the prep work involved in getting them ready for the chocolate-covered holiday.

So, Cameron set to work on his box. I must say when he returned an hour or so later I was really impressed with what he came up with! Obviously, gift-wrapping a shoe box was not going to do it for him, it had to be unique.
He found a piece of cardboard in the basement, cut it into the appropriate sizes and formed it together to make a mailbox! (You can see here that LOTS of tape was involved in this process....) It is complete with the flag on the side, our address, and a door that opens with a latch to receive his mail! I know, I'm the mom and I will be biased, but I thought that was very creative!!

Next, we set out to do the cards. Christian chose Scooby Doo (big surprise - yeah, right.)

Cameron asked for a superhero theme. Since Target did not have any superheroes he had not previously handed out we decided on dinosaurs. NOT just any dinosaurs, mind you.

These little darlins have a hologram!

First you see the dinosaur, then you see the skeleton. Cool, huh!?
I know not very romantic, but he's only 9 romance isn't the point quite yet. He wants cool. We achieved that.

Naturally, since we were home all day they asked for a snack that I normally would not have time to make. So, I figured I would make it fun and festive! They have been begging for rice krispie treats.
I don't have any rice krispies...
but I DO have Fruity Pebbles! They were super cheap at Publix yesterday, so I made them fruity pebble treats. You know, I think I like them better! They are fun and colorful and they taste much better! The kids thought they were just the best thing ever, and they sort of went with the whole Valentine theme so it worked!

So, the best part now is that we are all set for the kids' Valentine's Day parties at school Monday!
The prep work is done. At least until the next holiday.

I hope you all enjoy your Valentine's Day. Whether you celebrate it big or not at all, be sure to tell those close to you how much you love and appreciate them!

With love,

Love these frames!

2011-02-04T13:20:00.009-06:00

First of all let me just scream for a minute.....

"Triple Yay, Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!!!!"
My kids actually had a FULL week of school this week!
That hasn't happened since early December.
Now it is almost Valentine's Day.

Wow.

So, I have actually been able to get some work done this week! Last night I had a customer come to my house to pick up some prints she ordered. I had photographed her family during my fall promotion. They are such a cute family, their portraits turned out really great!

I knew she was waiting on some frames, which she had ordered from Littlebits, so I kept them and put them in the frames for her.

Let me tell you, AWESOME is all I can say! I sell portraits regularly, and I am always happy to sell you a frame. I have tons and tons of styles to choose from.

HOWEVER! I will tell you now that these are the BEST looking frames that have ever walked out of my front door!

Notice that they are NOT all exactly alike. But they do compliment each other.

You may also notice that these frames are unlike anything you can buy in a frame shop. They are hand made, painted, distressed, etc. They have that extra touch that most places will also charge you extra for.

This was the largest of the bunch. The photo here does not do it justice. This is a 16x20 portrait! It is obviously going on a large wall, where it will definitely stand out and become her new conversation piece.

See the chunky texture? You can see that the frame is old, made from some really old wood, but it is not falling apart by any means.
(Seriously, this sucker was solid..... I hope she anchors it to a few studs.)
I really love it's character. It's stuff like this that makes a house turn into a home.

These were the only two matching pieces out of the 4, they turned out beautiful.
Having 2 beautiful kids to put in them helps, too.

Last, but certainly not least. I LOVE THIS ONE! Ok, I actually loved all of them or I wouldn't be writing this, but I think this one was just so cool.

Bottom line is, if you have something you want framed you need to call Kim at Littlebits. I have seen her do this in a soft baby pink and a sweet robin's egg blue, too. Nothing is ever really alike, they are very unique. Who doesn't love that?

Finally, you don't have to spend a lot to give your wall a makeover, or freshen up your fireplace with a new look! I have seen frames like these in a few of the designer booths at Christmas Village, they are always a big hit. (They also come with a very big price tag at most of them.) Kim will make you a deal like you wouldn't believe!

Seriously, you need to call her.

Then you can call me for a great portrait to go in them. :)

The Brighter, beautiful side...

2011-01-27T22:44:00.012-06:00

Well, with all the yuck and frustration over all the snow days lately I figured I would post something on the brighter side. Sometimes we get caught up with worrying what on earth can possibly keep the kids entertained during yet ANOTHER snow day, I think we fail to see the beauty in it all.
So, Wednesday as we sat in the house doing our usual snow day stuff, I grabbed my camera and headed outside.

This was the first thing I saw when I went outside. It reminded me of the first movie in "The Chronicles of Narnia." It was so peaceful and still.

I love the fact that, even when there is no snow, this is what I look at when I step out my back door. No matter what is going on in my life, this is always a nice site to see.

As I kept walking, there were many things that caught my eye. The first was the sight of my kids' tire swing. It was perfectly motionless and showed exactly how much snow had fallen. It was almost eerie.

I didn't have to stay outside long to see the many beautiful things that surrounded me. This is an old storage barn belonging to my neighbor. I thought it looked cool.

There was also this antique bell with "USA" printed across the top.

And this birdhouse.

This is the same birdhouse I remember seeing back in May as I watched the flood waters coming closer. It was a measure of sorts... I could look out at it and gauge how much closer the river had come since the last time I checked. Eventually, I couldn't see it at all. It looks so different now.

Finally, there was the sight of my kids' school. Most everyone will remember the news and my posts here about the school being completely under water during the now infamous May flood. It is a nice, refreshing sight to see the look of the school with all the gorgeous snow, as opposed to what we saw then.

It is so much better. It reminds me of how powerful God is. Bad things can happen, but if you look around every now and then you will see how He turns things around.

Even after a tragedy, He makes things beautiful again.

Too deep? Sorry!
Blame it on the .... well, snow.

January Sale!!

2011-01-24T14:24:00.004-06:00

Ok, so Christmas is over....
Whew! I love it, but I am always glad to get back to a somewhat normal life. I am also excited every year to see what sort of good sales are out there! I think most retailers know that with all the money we spend in November and December, it is only fair to offer a break in January when things are tight once again. I did this last year and it was very popular, so once again I am offering my January/February sale.

Each year I have a ton of customers come out for my fall promotion. Many of them will buy prints, albums, etc. to give as gifts and then say "I hope to buy something for myself after Christmas." Boy, do I know how you all feel!

So, I hope to make it easy on all of you who wanted to buy yourself a little something!

That's right folks! That is a good deal!

Let me tell you, the proof book is pretty cool. It is an 8x10, spiral bound "thing" with 6 images on each page. It has a cover page with your favorite image and your family name, kids' names, the year, or whatever you would like it to say!

You can easily put this on the coffee table to let your guests tell you how cute your kids are!!