Too Cute Not To Share

I spent a good chunk of today taking and editing pictures just to get some practice. Luckily for me I had a willing model waiting in my living room! The amount of pictures I have of this puppy is borderline ridiculous :)

Introducing...

We finally found our puppy! After a lot of researching and looking for the perfect breeder, we have brought home our very own miniature dachshund. We got him on Monday and this week has definitely been an adventure. Never having owned a dog before, I am at a great disadvantage but I feel like I have already learned a lot and we are getting along pretty well. He is now 8 1/2 weeks old and about 3.4 pounds. This breed is extremely small so he will only grow to be about 10-12 pounds as an adult. I am so happy and really feel that we have made an excellent choice :) Ethan and I are both huge fans of the show E.R. (even though it's been off the air for quite some time), so we decided to name him after our favorite character on the show.

Meet Dr. Archibald Morris, M.D. (Mini dachshund!)

 

Photog In the Making

I have really been trying to add to my portfolio and jump-start my photography career. I recently shot an engagement session for a couple friends of mine and this morning I got to spend a couple of hours with an adorable newborn baby. I've decided that I'm going to spend the next month or so practicing and adding to my resume and then it is time to start making some money! I have updated my photography website  and I plan to add a lot more in the next few weeks. Please let anyone and everyone you know that I am going to be looking for some new clients :)

I will be specializing in engagement and family sessions, but I also have experience with weddings so please just ask! Keep checking back for new updates and samples of my work.

It's That TIme Again!

Time for New Year's Resolutions! I did pretty well last year with my goals, but this year I want to step it up. My husband has decided to lose weight this year as part of his resolution so it will be much easier for me to stay on track. We also ordered a recumbent exercise bike yesterday afternoon and we will be getting a puppy in 2 weeks! How's that for motivation to get up and move?

My Resolutions: 2013
- Lose 30 pounds by June 4th. I know I did this exact resolution last year, but I want to do it again! I ended up losing and keeping off a total of 23 pounds last year and it feels so great that I want to continue!
-Grow my photography business. I love what I do and I want it to become my full time job in 2013! I will be booking family, engagement, and infant sessions this year as well as working as an assistant photographer on some weddings.
-Read 25 books. Again, this is a repeat from last year. I found that reading really is one of the best ways for me to unwind and it helps to spark my creativity, so I'm doing it again. And yes, last year I DID read 25 books :)

Easy Green Bean Casserole

I have to share this super easy way to make one of everyone's favorite holiday sides. I love green bean casserole and so does my husband, so I decided that I would bring that as my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house this year. Since we would be visiting his parents first and I didn't want to have to put it together at their house and take up their oven I decided to try a crockpot version. It worked great and tasted just like the baked type! 

Super Easy Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

2 10 ounce bags of frozen green beans

1.5 cans of cream of mushroom soup (I know- annoying, but I didn't want it to get too soupy)

1 can of French's crispy onions

In a large Crockpot, combine both bags of green beans and the mushroom soup. Add 1/2 can of onions and make sure to mix well. Cook on high for about 4 hours, making sure to stir occasionally. Turn heat down to warm until ready to serve. About 10 minutes before eating, top with remaining onions. Enjoy!

I told you it was easy :)

A Beautiful Quote

I was looking at some blogs today and I ran across this quote by my favorite controversial figure, Madonna. I love it and wanted to share. I think it sums up my life and marriage pretty well :)

“It's not easy having a good marriage--but I don't want easy. Easy doesn't make you grow. Easy doesn't make you think. I thank God everyday that I am married to a man who makes me think. That's my definition of true love.” 
― Madonna

2013 Resolution

I have almost completed my New Year's resolutions from this past year. My goals were to read 25 books by the end of the year and to lose 30 pounds. Originally I wanted to lose the weight by our first wedding anniversary (June 4th) but that ended up not working out. Now I am working hard to lose my last 7 pounds by the end of the year though! I know I can do it and I desperately want to lose the weight so I can set a new weight loss goal for 2013. I also have to read 4 more books to complete my goal of 25 for this year :)

I have already started thinking of what I want to accomplish for 2013. Obviously I will continue to lose weight and get myself into better shape. I also want to take on a project though. I want to take one photo every single day for the year 2013 and then at the end of the year compile them into an album. I want the pictures to reflect every day life for me. They won't all be family photos or even pictures of very important things. That will be my goal for the new year- to record the everyday things that happen for a year.