sweet families that I l♥ve!!

Stephanie and I met in 7th grade track and field! It has been so fun to get to watch her family grow and also become friends with her sweet sister and family! We continue our dinner dates at Chilis and share a passion for running. Her 6 year old and mine were born at the same time AND day! I love these people. Thanks again for asking my to capture these beautiful smiles! xo

 

Ch♥c♥late chip zucchini bread

This is my fav to make this time of year! My kids gobble this stuff up so quickly! And it's a great dessert to send in their lunch boxes! :)

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 cup applesauce
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1 1/2 cups finely shredded zucchini (about 1 medium)
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• Cooking spray 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Place first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at low speed until well blended. Stir in applesauce.
3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 4 ingredients (through salt), stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating just until moist. Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips. Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack and remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Elizabeth Alcorn, Cooking Light
JULY 2004

Hair doo-dads

With 3 girls in the house, the hair thingies are out of control at times!  Bows and headbands and "ponies" and clips and claws and ribbons and bobby pins...oh my! I made this. Easy peasy ---scrapbook paper (2 sheets) strong adhesive glue and ta-dah!...a place for headbands and all the other randoms :)

sneak peeks

This weekend was filled with photo taking fun! Sunday was spent with two adorably sweet families! Beautiful new clients that were such a gift to my heart... and some very special returning! It's been so great to get to be with them as their lil family has grown. Thank you all for the honor, AND for hanging in there in this heat!! :)

 

mi familia!

 I got to spend the morning with my brother and sister (in-law) and kiddos! It was so fun, and they are so stinkin' beautiful!! I feel so blessed to have them in my life! Love you all more than words!! xoxo

almond sugar cookies (and a special celebration!)

One of my very best friends is moving to California next month. Yep, I will miss my sister like crazy, but I'm overjoyed that she has found the love of her life....who happens to live in California :) We had a little surprise engagement party for them on Friday night, so I made these tasty lil cookies. My sister LOVES almond flavored anything & this recipe is THE best! They are chewy and fabulously almond flavored, just how she likes 'em!       *RECIPE  BELOW....keep scrolling :)

 my pretty sister and her man Duncan (D.O.)

 The day they got engaged! :)

 The kids all LOVE Uncle D.O. He is so amazing with them! :)

 Love you, Dree and Duncan...so excited for your future together. You light up one another's faces. I couldn't be more happy for my baby sister to have such an amazing love in her life. We will miss you both, but you know there's always lots of love waiting here in Minnesota! :) XOXO


Oh yes, and the cookies :)

Almond sugar cookies

 3/4 cup butter, softened

3 oz sour cream

1 c. sugar

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. almond extract (I used closer to 2)

2 3/4 c flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

mix butter, sour cream, almond extract and sugar til fluffy

in medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt

add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, stir until soft dough forms.

No need to refrigerate, just roll out on floured surface and cut with cookie cutters (3/8" for soft cookies!)

bake 8-10 min

ENJOY!!!

Turkey bacon pesto sandwich

This is our new family favorite! I found something similar to this on pinterest, but I decided to add turkey bacon and purple onion to jazz it up :)You can grill it, or drizzle a little olive oil in a pan on the stove top! So scrumptious!

fresh mozzarella, purple onion, fresh basil leaves, tomato, pesto, & olive oil to drizzle on top of your favorite bread!