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
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!
As Nashville continues to get hit with more and more snow, I find myself needing a bigger variety of ways to keep us busy. This has proven to be quite a task!
Even little Dixie is itching for something fun to do...
Lately, every time we get even the smallest flurry the kids are out of school! Luckily this coincides with the typical slow-down I experience in January. I get so busy and crazy with work in the summer and fall, it is a welcome break to slow down just a little the first of the year. This allows me to get some things done around home and spend time doing things with the kids.
Yesterday was one of those days..... again.
This time I had something different to keep me busy. The kids were busy playing Wii, and actually NOT fighting..... (Mark that down on the calendar since, let's face it, that is rare with two boys!) I got a new cookbook for Christmas, but had not gotten to even look at it, much less cook anything out of it. Yesterday I broke it open and let me tell you I fell in LOVE!!!
My friend, Beth, and my sister had both told me about it. They raved and raved so I knew I had to have it!
It is called "The Pioneer Woman Cooks". It is a neat book, which journals the life of a city girl who married a cowboy and ended up living on a ranch. She had to change the way she lives and cooks to feed her cowboy husband, ranch hands, and 4 kids!! She shares not only her stories but her recipes, made to feed many with even the picky eaters in mind.
PERFECT!!
I haven't gotten all the way through, but this was our beginning! It is basically a muffin rolled in cinnamon sugar.... What better way to begin!?
Cameron came in occasionally to help me.
(Pay no attention to the tv in the background.... Yes, I think that is Shelly Long. There was not much on tv yesterday and besides we were too busy baking to notice what was on!)
Anyway, Cameron did a great job rolling the muffins in the butter and sugar.
Maybe too good. There was not a bare spot on them when he was done!
Let me tell you, these things were divine!!! They were so easy to make and the boys (husband included) sucked them down as if they were about to be stolen.
I then made her Chicken Spaghetti for dinner. It was really good, really easy, and it made so much I could have served an army. That means leftovers, which is always good! (Sorry, didn't take a picture of it.... you'll just have to buy the cookbook. But trust me it was good!)
If you have never seen or heard of this cookbook, now is the time to get it! Most people I know took advantage of the Amazon gift card a few days ago. What better to spend it on!
You can click on the link below to go get it from Amazon!
As far as cookbooks go, it is really cheap! Trust me you will not be sorry! Tonight I will be making her chocolate sheet cake, which I hear is amazing and it looks incredibly easy. I just love those two things when you put them together!
So, THANK YOU to Kim and Beth for insisting I buy this book! Now, I am insisting.... Go Get it!!
Wow, guys I can't believe it was Halloween when I last posted something. How time flies. I can hardly believe it is already into December. Feels like I have been in the middle of a tornado the last couple of months!
So, here is a quick post with some recent updates on what I have been busy doing the last couple of months!
As I wrote earlier in the fall I have had the opportunity to photograph some great families lately! Recently, many of them have come to me to design their Christmas cards. Typically when someone asks me to do this for them, I come up with 3, 4, or more designs for them and they can choose the one that best suits them.
So! Since I don't want to spoil the surprise for any one of you who may be receiving a card from one of these families, I will not post the ones they actually chose. I will post, though some of the other samples I did for them.
This is something I really enjoy doing! As much as I love my work as a photographer, the part of me who studied graphic design in college, really loves getting to create something from scratch, just a plain white screen, and see it turn into something beautiful.
I always love to see how a card shows the personality of each family. You can tell a lot about them by the card they choose. Whether it is classic and simple or modern and trendy.
Some choose color and others like the look of black and white. Personally I love them all. I always have a hard time creating my own because I just can't decide.
Well, it is back to the drawing board for me now! I would love to go on and on, but I am going to have to hold off on my ramblings until...... well, probably January.
I still have a lot of work to do! (If you are one that is waiting on me to finish yours, I promise this post didn't take me away for too long!)
Until then, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!! Enjoy the time with your family and friends, and never forget the REASON FOR THE SEASON!
Wow! I have been a bad blogger this summer! I am sorry, my life has been a total whirlwind it seems since May when my kids were officially at home ALL THE TIME! I don't know about you, but summer seems to be so exhausting! I remember summers as a kid being fun and relaxing. You know, sleeping late, sitting by the pool, maybe a part-time summer job. Not anymore. I honestly don't know where it went! One day I am making plans to try and figure out how I will keep the kids busy, the next I am buying school supplies.
We were blessed with many family members, who came to visit from New Orleans, many activities, and one family vacation to Florida. Whew!
So, last week the kids started back to school. Not just that.... my youngest started Kindergarten!
Ouch.
I have to say that with Cameron, my oldest, I was a little more prepared and relieved because I still had a baby at home. Not that I wasn't sad, I was. Everyone cries a little when you take your child to their first day of school. This time is different. Now, when I drop the kids off at school, I drive back home and there is NO ONE there.
Yes, I do enjoy the quiet and the fact that I can get some work accomplished! But, at the same time it scares me because I really realize now how fast they grow. They will be grown before I know it.
So, now I am pledging that I will do better! I will get more posts up, more often. So, stay tuned!
I also plan to start the "Photoshop How-To" posts again. Let me know if there is something in particular you want to know and I will try to address it.
I am going to try and get some more Flordia photos up soon, too. So stick around and I will try to keep it interesting!
I was standing in my home studio Saturday baffled. I have tried repeatedly to figure out how to get things better organized in there for months. I had a general idea of what I wanted to do, and how I imagined it would look. But, for some reason I couldn't get it there.
I have a variety of things on hand for work. I knew I had to keep these things, but had run out of storage space and could not figure out the best way to store them without letting my new work space look like a junk storage room! Then the light bulb came on.....
I remembered my sister's post here on her blog from several months ago where she had a very similar problem, with a pretty cool (and cheap :) solution. SHE IS A GENIUS!
So, that took care of my dilemma for storage. BUT, I still did not have a place to put my new organizing system! I needed something to put them on. A shelf, a unit, SOMETHING!
SO, my husband suggested I head to Lowe's after I stop for the materials I needed for my organizers and see if there was anything on sale. He knows I will NOT buy anything at full price. It had to be a bargain. When I got there the only "bargain" was a 3 foot mahogany shelf for $20. NOPE. Not gonna do it. I had to get really creative.
I decided I could do much better than that myself. I headed over to the lumber and found a 2"x10"x8' piece of wood for $6.63, some spray paint for $3.87, and a couple of $1.29 brackets. Now, that is MUCH BETTER! I had the nice man at Lowe's cut the wood in half, giving me two 4ft. pieces. That's enough for TWO SHELVES! Plus, I had only spent around $18 so far.
I was so excited! I went home with my finds, my husband just shaking his head at me (wondering if I could really pull it off.) I got right to work!
I spray painted the brackets and gave each piece of wood 2-3 coats as well. While they dried, I went inside out of the heat and made my "Littlebits" inspired organizers.
Finally, everything started to come together. When I brought in the new shelf I managed to distress the edges like my sis has shown me, although I must say I don't have her particular talent for this. I did my best, though.
I then recruited my husband to hook up the drill and hang my new shelf. It was so exciting, knowing that I started from nothing.
But, once I got my new organizers loaded and put on the shelf, then hung my backdrops in their new home it really made a HUGE difference.
Finally, my studio is beginning to look like just that. I already have customers booked to come in tomorrow, and I can't wait to show it off. Maybe soon I will run a new special just so I can take advantage of my newly re-designed space!
It's time for the Friday Fives again! Today's topic is the top 5 things on my wish list. I am going to go off the assumption that since it is a wish list, this means that I can really dream, so here goes....
1. A Maid!!!Wow, this was an easy one. I cannot express enough how much I hate cleaning. I don't mind it occasionally, but I can't imagine how bad my house would look if I only cleaned occasionally. Sadly, I prefer to keep my house spotless, with everything in it's place. LIKE THAT EVER ACTUALLY HAPPENS!!! I do try, but such is life I guess.
2. Unlimited home improvements! I have an older home, built in the 60's. I love the old houses, they have so much character. I wanted a house that I could change and work on. I LOVE working on my house. Probably too much. I could spend all day (and way too much money) in Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.... Since I am blessed with that creative brain I am always coming up with new things I would like to do to my house. At the moment my list is getting quite extensive (pave the driveway, new patio, new sidewalk, deck, shrubs....). Thankfully, my goal of painting my brick exterior in under way right now, so I can check that off my list soon. (Although not until the heat goes back down a little...) If only I could just have a carpenter on staff I would get it all done!
3. A million dollars? Or two?? Don't we all wish for this? Who doesn't have things they could use a little extra cash for? Save for kids' college, retirement, MAID!
4. A new camera! Being a photographer, I always have a wish list of stuff I would like to get for work. Right now at the top of my list is a new camera. My current one works fine, but I have my eye on a new one. It's the Canon 50d and it is AWESOME!
5. Cricut cake! Have you seen this thing? It is amazing! It's made just like the Cricut scrapbookers use, except it's for cake. It cuts fondant, etc. into anything you can imagine for decorating a cake.... Oooooooh, I would so love to get my hands on one of these! With my new hobby of decorating cakes this would just be awesome!! "The icing on the cake", you could say....
I know, I have been mostly absent from my blogging duties this summer.... Sorry! It has literally flown by before my eyes.We have had so much going on, from activities to out of town guests, it hasn't left me much time on my computer.So, today I wanted to at least get a photo of the day up while I had a few minutes.
Isn't she a doll! This is Roxy.
I was tasked a couple of weeks ago to be the "official photographer" for VBS at our church. I basically walked around taking pictures of everyone and everything that would stand still long enough (and some that didn't!)
I came away with a ton of great shots. Lots of kids having a wonderful time. I can't deny that this is one of my favorite shots from that week. She was running around in her pink princess swimsuit between the water slide and bouncy house, taking a quick break for something cold to drink.
I just love that she wasn't posing, she simply turned around and smiled at me when I called her name. Then, she was off again.....
Thankfully, as I write this, the temperatures here in Nashville have dropped just enough to still be hot, but not feel as though we are living in a great, big oven. This will make enjoying Independence Day much easier!
I love this holiday. Not for what we get to do, although that is fun, but for what it means to me. I am the child of a VERY military family. I have so many family members who have served, it's hard to count them all. I also married a man in the army, whose family is equally full of military service.
So, for me it's hard not to think about the meaning of the holiday. It isn't about having the day off or going to a barbeque, although I welcome the chance to do any of those things. I just try to keep in mind what we are celebrating. So, having said that, here are my 5 things I like to do to celebrate the holiday!
1. Fireworks There have been plenty of times that I have headed downtown to see the enormous fireworks display. But, if you have read this blog before, you probably remember that I am not a big fan of crowds. I love the fireworks downtown, but it gets pretty crowded. So, for me, just sitting at my parents house watching the men shoot fireworks and seeing the kids enjoy the sparklers is all I need!
2. BakeWhile I probably will not get the opportunity this year, I usually love to bake some cool cake or other food that shows patriotism in a yummy fashion! Since cakes are my new found passion, I have found one that I am excited to try. I am putting this on my to do list for next year!
3. History Marathon
Have you ever noticed over the Independence Day holiday there is a bunch of cool stuff playing on a variety of channels? There are rarely times that I choose not to pour myself into housework and just watch something on TV, but I have found that on holidays like this one you can actually learn a lot if you sit and watch some of the holiday programming. Last year the History channel did an interesting series called "The Presidents". You could basically pick a president to learn more about and watch an entire hour documenting their life, both in and out of the White House. Obviously, I did not sit and watch TV for 44 hours straight, I simply set my dvr to record a few that I found interesting. There is all kinds to choose from, from historic movies like "The Patriot" (awesome, by the way) to Band of Brothers (another great series), all the way up to documentaries about 9/11. OK, call me a nerd. That is fine. I like History, and I think that the more you learn about what our ancestors did for us, the more you appreciate the holiday.
4. Rest!! Did you notice above where I mentioned how RARE it is for me to not spend my days working or cleaning house? Seriously, I stay pretty busy. So, I have decided that one way I celebrate is to take a day off. I am determined to enjoy myself this weekend. Let's not get crazy, I will not completely ignore my chores, but I promise to slow down a bit.
5. Thank a Soldier I won't have to look far. As I mentioned before, my family is full of them. The latest is my husband's younger brother. We are so proud of him, he just graduated from Lousiana Tech and has been commissioned into the Air Force. I also want to refer you to my sister's blog. She did a great post today that talks about this.
