Angel Face {Salisbury, NC, Children's Photographer}

I just had to post this photo I took of Gracie awhile back because her eyes are just captivating.  What a little cherub.  Thanks for viewing.

Summer Art Camp 2013 {Salisbury, NC}

I decided to take on a week of teaching art camp this June to make some side money.  I titled the camp, "Painting a Masterpiece."  I bought canvases and acrylic paints so campers would have a real art piece to take home and proudly hang.  I had a total of 7 students, all under 11 years old, and they kept me on my toes but I am so thrilled with their art that I had to share and brag on them.  

Below is Van Gogh's "Starry Night", painted by Madelynn, age 10.  Can you believe this?  I MAYBE painted like this in college.  This gal is only going into 5th grade.  

This below was painted by Jessica.  She is only a rising 6th grader.  Pretty impressive, huh?

Two campers took on Monet's "Water Lily Pond" and below is a version painted by Leah, only a rising 3rd grader.  Darling, no?

Kaylan (7 yrs old) painted this version of Monet below.  Wouldn't you love to hang this in your home? I sure would.  Did I mention she is only 7 years old???!!!!!

Below is Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painted by Gray.  He is 6 people!  6!!!!!  Isn't it impressive?  I would SO hang this in my home.  His parents are lucky lucky because in addition to the Sunflowers, they also get to hang Miss Madelynn's Starry Night (image 1).

There were two other students who left before I got a shot of their paintings but I can assure you they were adorable and impressive as well.  These were taken on my iPhone; next time I will have the brains to bring my Nikon.  

I'm looking forward to another art summer camp in June 2014; it'll be here before I know it.

Lemon (Coconut) (No) Sugar Cookies {Gluten Free AND Vegan}

Sorry for the wonky title.  I found this recipe on "The Vedge" a vegan blog I highly recommend for delicious, fresh tasting recipes.  This vegan blogger is gluten-free too.  Ugh, imagine facing THAT difficulty each time you're hungry, no gluten AND no animal products!  I watched a great documentary last week, "Hungry For Change" ( www.hungryforchange.tv/ ), and upon learning some new disturbing facts, set out on a quest to create far more plant-based and gluten free meals as possible for my family.  I even pledged to my family that I would have healthy treats each week so no one would feel deprived.  After researching vegan AND gluten free cookies I found "The Vedge" and have already made three of Shea's recipes which my family, even carnivore hubby, LOVES!  

"The Vedge" titles these cookies "Lemon (No) Sugar Cookies" but I felt I had to add Coconut to the title because it's really the first note that my daughter and I tasted.  Fortunately for us we LOVE coconut!  They came out great.  This recipe only made a batch of 12 cookies so next time I will double the recipe.  I will also add one more TBSP of Coconut Sugar and a 1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract.  Other than that, they are divine little cookies and would work perfectly with a cup of tea.

One thing I would love to mention before posting my version of the recipe is I decided to use Organic Coconut Sugar instead of just 100% pure maple syrup.  I was afraid I would taste maple and I did NOT want to taste maple in my cookie.  For those of you who are new to Coconut Sugar you are in good company; this is my first time using it.  I went to my local health food store to find it.  Coconut sugar is a natural sweetener with a carmelized taste.  It is unrefined, sustainably grown, Non-GMO and is produced from the buds of the coconut tree.  Not only is it delicious and great for recipes, it also contains naturally occurring nutrients including magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, B vitamins and amino acids.  

Try this recipe and let me know what you think.  I can't wait to make another batch.  This recipe makes about a dozen cookies so double it if you have a family that will devour half the cookies the first night leaving only 6 for tomorrow (sigh).  

Lemon (Coconut) (No) Sugar Cookie {Gluten free and Vegan}

Ingredients:

2 cups almond meal/flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 TBSP of pure maple syrup

2 TBSP of Coconut Sugar

1.5 TBSP lemon juice

1 TBSP lemon zest (about 1 lemon)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp lemon extract

Method: 

1.  Preheat oven to 350 F/ 175 C

2.  Combine almond meal, baking soda and salt in a food processor and process until fine.

3.  In a separate bowl combine coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut sugar, lemon juice and zest, and lemon & vanilla extract and mix well.

4.  Add wet ingredients to dry in the processor and process until a dough ball forms

5.  Scoop out one full TBSP of dough, roll into a ball and gently press ball down onto baking tray.

6.  Bake for 6-8 minutes (mine took 7) until just golden brown (they darken further after baking)

NOW THIS LAST STEP IS IMPORTANT

7.  Let cool for 15-30 minutes (or they will fall apart).

http://thevedge.org/2013/05/lemon-no-sugar-cookies-gluten-free-vegan/

My Summer Backyard View

I just had to post this photo of our backyard this morning.  Rob and I sat sipping espresso and watching a hawk on a nearby tree decide what to catch for his breakfast.  The weather here in the south east has been perfect for all of June, and July is looking up!  Sorry my iPhone photo is blurry, I guess the two double espressos caused my hands to shake a bit.  You get the gist.  

Oh, and my fabulous lounge pants are from Anthropologie, flip flops: Old Navy, thanks for asking.

Our New Sunroom (post tree crash)

Remember this?  On January 17th a HUGE tree crashed into our home taking out our screened patio, chimney, and sunroom roof.  The first photo is just a fraction of the tree showing.

Because of really good home insurance (insert Cincinnati Insurance Company plug here), everything was replaced and updated.  While we always loved our sunroom, it was not the wall color or flooring we would've selected.  

The chocolate wall color was just a bit too dark for our taste, especially since this is a sunroom and should be bright.

I actually always liked parque floors, it's the flooring in almost every apartment in NYC, but since it didn't match the rest of the house, we knew we would change it someday.

Below is our new sunroom... ta da!  We love it.  I need to post a better photo someday, this was taken with hubby's iPhone.  The contractor chose oak floors to match the rest of the home and stained them perfectly to the rest of the home's wood floors.  They had to create the stain to match and titled it, "Long Island Iced Tea."  Our wall color is a light linen color. They repainted all of my trim a creamy white AND washed my windows, score!  

 We use our sunroom as our family room where we watch TV, use the computer and play!  We just love it now.  It's so light and bright and with the blinds open almost feels like we're in a tree house.  

What do you think?  

Stay tuned for the new screened patio shots.

Spring is Here! 2013

Spring is blooming here in North Carolina so I just had to share a few photos.  This Weeping Willow just started budding little pink flowers last week.  They have faded now but are still gorgeous and lacy. I didn't even know that Weeping Willows bloom flowers in spring.

Oh, and remember that giant 85 ft tree that crashed into my house?  Here is my new 30 year roof, all paid for by an excellent home insurance policy.  Now THAT is God's favor!

Here is a view of our neighbor's front yard from my front yard.  Because of the rain here the grass and leaves are neon green.  It's unreal.

If you noticed a flowering white tree in front of my neighbor's, it is their Dogwood.  It usually blooms by Easter but Easter was early this year.  I had to snap a picture close up.  I just love Dogwoods.  We didn't have any in Southern California.

By next week these Azaleas will be full and neon and cover most of my backyard.  Today they are just budding.  Seasons are so much fun!

This is the root ball of the 85 ft tree that crashed into my house from the cross-section top view.  The tree guy cut the rest of it away, but no way to take out a 2-3 TON root ball.  It's a bit of an eyesore but these pretty yellow flowers help camouflage it. 

Here I am aiming my camera up to the sky through my front yard trees.   These small budding leaves  were not even here 4 days ago.  They sprout overnight practically.  By summer we won't even be able to see the sky through the trees they will be so dense.  

Check back next week when all the flowers and colors will be in full bloom.  It's like a fairy land looking outside.  

Happy Easter 2013

Wow, has it been forever since I last posted?  I've been a bit busy learning a new career in Art Education. 

 I love Easter!  Today is the first day of Easter vacation for both Gracie and I so we decided to stay in and dye eggs and make cupcakes.  I just had to share how colorful and darling it came out.  It's so much fun having a little girl!  She makes everything in my life more enjoyable and memorable.

Aren't these bunny toothpicks cute?  Nana sent them with matching polka dot cupcake liners.

Here's the trick to really colorful dyed eggs, cleaning them with vinegar first, rinsing under cool water, THEN boiling, OR drying off raw eggs before dipping in dye.  We opted for raw since no one in my family really eats hard boiled eggs.  I think they turned out great!

Here is Gracie enjoying the fruits of her labor.

Happy Easter!