These are a few of my favorite things

Don't we just love after Christmas sales. These are a few of my favorite buys. My house just smells oh. so. yummy.

Chicago I love you

 Excuse me for posting so many of my photos of thee lovely Chicago; but as I said, I love Chicago. Raised in the mid-west.....I was born in the beautiful state of Wisconsin. City-girl, country-girl, all in one. All these years and I can't decide which I claim, nor which I like better. Yes, I am a Wisconsinite. Yes, I am a Cheesehead. Go Packers.  I can correctly spell and pronounce Milwaukee (lived there, shopped there, have relatives there). I can correctly spell and pronounce Oconomowoc. Yes, my parents idea of "landscape" was having a dairy cow next to the Blue Spruce. Yes, I have driven a snow mobile. I've skied, ice-fished, shot a rifle, turkey hunted, deer hunted, stood in a deer stand, shot a bow, rode a toboggan, milked a cow. I've been to a Brewer's game, a Packer's game, a Badger's game, the state capitol (go Mad-town), shined for deer (anyone need an explanation of that one?), ice skated on lakes, did donuts in cars on lakes (don't know WHAT we were thinking) and ate Friday night fish fries. I learned to drive a tractor before the training wheels were off my bike. True Wisconsinite. High Five. Holler.

 Growing up, we also did a lot of driving South. South took us to thee hoppin city of Chicago. I still love that great city. My favorite time to visit is this time of year. Michigan Avenue to be precise. Filled with snow, oodles of holiday decor, holiday lights, shopping, museums, restaurants, lot's of  busy people drinking lot's of coffee busily walking down Michigan (that's Chicago talk for Michigan Ave). Culture. Diversity. My favvvvorite. Now, just how did I make my home 1300 miles South of Chicago....to the Sunshine State....where there is no snow? That my friends, is a story saved for another day. I must like to drive South. :o)

Rockin Around The Christmas Tree

My family on Christmas Eve.....

Merry Christmas Eve

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas. May you have much joy, peace and love as you celebrate Christ's season with your family and friends. ♥

Happy Friday!

Hello there and Happy Friday!  I wanted to share this very cool-homemade-gift idea with you! If you are in need of a last minute gift for this holiday season (or at any time of the year for that matter)...consider this Vanilla Sugar Scrub. My daughter actually made these for all her (female) co-workers for Christmas gifts.  It's very easy, super cute, smells so good and is extremely cost effective! Most ingredients you probably have in your home and if not, you can find at your local store.

Vanilla Sugar Scrub
2 cups of brown sugar
1 cup of white sugar
1 cup of sunflower oil
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

Thoroughly mix sugars together until well blended and no lumps are visible. Add vanilla. Add oil. Blend all together. Place in jars and label. Ta-da! There you have it.

We went for an all natural look in gifting them....brown paper gift bags, natural brown raffia filler instead of tissue inside the bags....a very earthy feel.  These she just simply labeled "Vanilla Sugar Scrub" on the inside of the Season's Greetings tags. You can also write with a permanent marker on the jar itself, or on the jar lid. I think it would be nifty to recycle an old candle jar with the metal lid. If you place an almost-gone candle in the freezer for a while, the candle will freeze and you will be able to chisel out the remaining candle and recycle the jar!

Of course now, I am wanting to make more and different kinds (and I'm even considering a salt scrub). You can basically use 4-5 drops of any scent of essential oil in place of the Vanilla Extract. I also want to add, this gift is not just limited to the female clientele....change up the Vanilla to a Sandalwood or Patchouli oil for that special  guy. Happy Holidays & Happy Gifting!

Foxy. Please focus.

What nerve. I find it a little rude when my clients ignore me. This girl seems to do this a lot. I think maybe we should send her to modeling etiquette school. Good thing we love her. ♥

Cousins

These beautiful (more baby blues!) young ladies are cousins and growing up way too quickly. I have known Emi since kindergarten and she is now in her freshman year of high school and a cheerleader. Go Emi! I will be shooting a session with her family soon....ranch style. I can't wait. Stay tuned!

Cuteness

This little angel was such a joy. Those cheeks and baby blues were just too much. I am thrilled to be shooting her first birthday party in January!

Oh. My. Goodness.

Time flies. 30 days since my last post. Where have I been? I honestly have no excuse...but time does fly a little faster as we get older (what? did I say older??) it seems...so here we are. October is gone. I promise to sit in one spot long enough this weekend and catch up a little on my postings. Until that time, here is Foxy on Halloween night. I could not get this girl to cooperate and look at the lens for nothing. Not even for Sponge Bob Krabby Patty Halloween Gummies. Nope. She wanted no part of it. So she chose to ignore me. She still looks cute...at least I think so. The little stinker.

On this 1st day of October....

 We woke up to cooler temps and a beautiful breeze this morning in Florida....and believe me, it was welcomed...here's a glimpse around our home on this first Saturday in October...(yay, I love autumn!)....our Little Peanut enjoying the backyard view from the patio this cool morning...I spend a lot of time sitting right there in that chair, it's my favorite place for coffee with my laptop and devotions.....I'm in love with the horses down the road...oatmeal scotchies out of the oven (notice the stoneware...I love stoneware & bake everything that goes in the oven on stone...I never use metal pans...I highly recommend stone if you have never used!)...yummy chocolates...our mini pumpkin that will sit on our counter until I absolutely HAVE to throw it out..probably around March sometime (it's so cuteee!).....my weakness this time of year- pumpkin spice...and Miss Scarecrow, that finds her place outside our front door.  Thanks for looking!

Lazy Dog Days..

Every now and then I have days like these...where I want to hide under beds and sleep all day...wouldn't it be fabulous...just every now and then???  Wake up, eat and go back to sleep. (This girl has a freckle on her nose...do you see it?!  Lower, left side).

Jordyn, Jordyn and Ryan!

I put on my cowgirl boots and spent some time this weekend in the country! On the banks of the Caloosahatchee River...out in good ol' Alva. The property is absolutely beautiful...surrounded by Spanish Oak Trees, magnificent homes with their grazing horses, plenty of nature...... I was in love!! I got to enjoy a little of my niece Jordyn, her friend Jordyn and my nephew Ryan (also my Godson!) too....who's momma treated me to a good old fashioned-southern bbq! When the weather cools off, I will be heading back out and we will be lighting up the bon fire! For some southern history on the Caloosahatchee River.....go here:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caloosahatchee_River