This week in Photos.....

So this week has been kind of a blah week.  BUT one of the highlights of my week was finding a few great pieces at my local antique shop.  I LOVE antique shops.  AND they just got in a whole new selection of vintage dresses from the 1950s-1960s.  At first I was determined to never eat again to fit into these, but I love food too much and I have never been a size zero.  Not even when I was a baby.  I can't stop thinking about this one black dress they had, I may just have to go back and either find a skinny girl to wear it so I can take pics, or find an awesome tailor and add lots of fabric to the back so I can wear it.  We shall see.  Another highlight from this week is that I received my Elle Magazine, White House Black Market Catalog, and my Anthropologie Catalog.  I have a sketch/scrap book in which I cut and paste pictures out of magazines/catalogs that I love and really inspire me.  Any techniques, notes, inspirational quotes I find I also jot them down in my sketch book.  I love to go back and flip through it, especially before a photo shoot for some inspiration.  So of course I was ecstatic to get 3 new "inspirational" pieces this week to flip through.  And I kind of really like the smell of Elmer's Rubber Cement....which I use as glue.  But anyways.  I just wanted to share a few pics I took this week and a few pics I found in magazines/catalogs.  I would also like to give a big shout out to Valerie, Jessica, Courtney, and Candi for an awesome time at the The Wine Tap Friday night.  Again, another highlight of my week.  :)

Have a fabulous day!

I found this awesome camera case in the basement of an antique shop.  Everything in the basement is 50% off.  So this cost me a whole $5.  Can I get a what what?!?!?!?

And inside of the case was a camera!  What?!?!?!?  The "Big Swinger 3000".  I did some research online and it is from the 1960s and was the first "affordable" film camera.  It's a tad dirty....but a fabulous find!

I bought the cutest 1920's looking hat last weekend (for winter) and wanted to jazz it up a bit.  This is the main reason I went to the antique shop, to find one awesome chunky vintage brooch.  I found one in the $7 bin but then turned around and saw this one is the display case.  I was in love.  I shelled out a good $14 but I think it was worth every penny.  LOVE it.

I think it completes the hat.....what do you think?

I also ventured out to TJ Maxx and found this little beauty.  Well actually, my mom found it then gave it to me.  Thanks mom!  The DH and I are planning on painting our room next month and this gorgeous cashmere throw blanket will look awesome with our deep silver beadspread and "Serene" colored walls.  And it was only $10.  Stay tuned for that!

We really needed some kind of coat rack for our back door.  I had a shelf type of rack in mind then found these awesome hooks in the 70% off aisle at Hobby Lobby.  They were originally $10 each and I got all 3 for $10.  I love how they look and they get the job done.  Awesome find.

My breakfast, Special K, blueberries, and honey.  The blueberries were on sale at my local farmers market for $2.99.  They were delish. 

Of course I have to include a pic of my baby....Gracie Mae.

My new reading material for the week.....

I love this photo from Anthropologie.  The texture from the rope really brings out the jewelry.

Another fabulous photo from Anthropologie.  LOVE the texture of the lace against the lace.

Really like this photo from White House Black Market.  Catalogs give me ideas on how to position my subjects during a shoot.  FYI....looks like coral nail polish is really in for Spring.  :)

Finally, I love this photo from Elle Magazine of Jennifer Lopez aka "Jenny from the block".  I love how the light hits her face and the texture of the wall and the lines in her dress.  Very cool.

i ♥ faces- texture

Hello everyone!  This weeks theme for  i ♥ faces contest is texture.  I was VERY excited about this one, then remembered you had to have a face in your photo.  Come on Kristina....so after looking at what I have shot in the last 2 months, I decided.  I chose this picture of Jessica because of all the different textures.  Jessica and the sky look so classic and soft in the middle of this muddy and tangled field.....I love it!  And yes, I am VERY excited about this picture. :)  Hope you all had a fabulous day! 
Vote for me! (again you can't...) hehe...

New Recipe...Sticky Lemon Chicken

SO part of my 101 things to do is to try a new recipe every week.  This week, thanks to my friend Michelle, I found this awesome recipe website called Food Gawker.  Let me just tell you, this website is AH MAZING.  You just go to the website and you will be sucked in for hours, at least I was anyways.  The DH and I decided on this Sticky Lemon Chicken recipe.  We also decided to to add a side of white rice and a side of steamed broccoli.  My review, YUMMO!  The sauce was very asian/lemony/tangy...which I love.  I even added some of the flavorful juice to my rice.  It was very healthy, light, yet filling.  A keeper in my book!

Have a fabulous day! :)

Bread....

So the other day I got this crazy idea.  While I was reading my February edition of Martha Stewart Living (which is pink by the way), I found an article on "How to bake bread".  SO I decided to bake my own bread!  OH YA!  I even planned ahead, "tomorrow I am going to bake bread"....so I had to go to the store and get some yeast.  Thanks to my mom for helping me find it!  I had no clue....  I started at 12:30pm.  Let me tell you...I had NO CLUE it would take me SO LONG to bake one loaf of bread!  Okay I have to admit, when I "read" the article I didn't really read it, I just looked at the different pictures of the different kinds of bread and said "OOOOHHH I want to bake bread!"  After covering my counters in flour, almost breaking my little hand mixer, giving my arms the best work ever, waiting for the dough to rise, then waiting some more....and some more....I finally got my first loaf of bread in the oven by 9:30pm!  GO ME!  The smell.....absolutely heavenly!  At 10:30pm my husband and I were sitting in the living room, watching Conan, and enjoying not one...but two slices of fresh homemade bread.  I put strawberry jam on mine.  Then my friend Melissa decided to shed some light on my situation and informed me that there is an easier way to make homemade bread.....it's called a bread maker.  WHAT IS THAT?!?!?!?  ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?  I had no clue this little invention existed, but I do now.  I will never bake bread again.... until I get myself one of these bread makers.....don't get me wrong, it was a great learning experience...but this bread maker thing sounds SO much easier.  NOTE TO SELF!  Here are a few pics from my "experience".  I'd like to give a big shout out to my girl MARTHA STEWART!  Really enjoyed your 8 page article on cake plates this month!  I just love her.  LOVE MY MARTHA! :)

Have a fabulous day!

Kristina :)

Looks SO easy doesn't it???......

Please excuse my ugly counter tops....just imagine granite.... :)

According to Martha it should rise in 45 minutes.....um not exactly....Martha......

SUCCESS!  I baked 2 loafs....SO GOOD!

Post It

This past weekend my mom and I went to lunch at Bread Co.  FYI, they have the best greek salad!  I ordered first and then went and sat down.  I chose the table closest to the window, with the view of the street.  I like people watching.  I seriously could sit on a bench or at a table in bread co all day long and just stare out the window and watch people.  I guess I'm just weird like that.  As my mom and I began to dig into our lunch, I looked over and saw a picture placed in the side of the wall right next to our table.  It was a picture of an old man talking to a small child.  Attached to the picture was a small yellow post it that read,
"In remembrance of Dorman Bazzell Sr. 9/6/30-12/8/09.  His favortite spot.  Bread Co."  I looked up at my mom and we both said "Awwww!".  We were sitting at Dorman's favorite spot. I could just see him eating his lunch, reading the paper, and looking out that same window people watching.  Yes, I am easily amused, laugh very loud, always find beauty in small things, and believe that everything happens for a reason.  I believe Dorman and I had a lot in common. 

Thank you Dorman for sharing your favorite spot with us, you are obviously missed! :)

And yes this picture was taken with my Blackberry.  :)

Have a fabulous day!  Enjoy the small things! :)

Kristina

101 Things in 1001 Days....

Happy Saturday everyone!  I love Saturday mornings!  I get up, throw on my "grandma" sweater (it's super cute by the way), make a pot coffee, turn on some good music, and browse the internet.  I love reading other blogs, stalking people on FB, and printing off coupons for the weekend (Michaels, Target, Archivers).  This morning I was reading Amy's blog A Slice of Domestic Bliss.  Amy and the fabulous ladies of our Oct 09 nest board are participating in 101 Things in 1001 Days Project .  At first I must admit, I did not want to do this.  Honestly because I was being lazy and did not want to sit down and come up with 101 things.  But after seeing the different lists and then reading Amy's blog this morning, I did.  Thanks to Amy for her inspiring list.  After reading her list I sat down and created mine.  A lot of things on her list were right up my alley, so thank you Amy for inspiring me this morning (she probably has no clue I read it....lol).  Here is my list of 101 things I will complete in 1001 days, starting today!  Helmet on....huddled up...slapping my helmet and grunting (yes Nicole I know we are the only two in the huddle...lol) LETS DO THIS!  I encourage you to sit down and make a list of your own, it really put things into perspective for me.  I hope it does the same for you.  And feel free to join our huddle! :)  Have a FABULOUS weekend!

101 Things in 1001 Days....

SELF

1. fill up my photography/inspirational journal

2. take boudoir pictures

3. learn to love my arms

4. see a movie by myself

5. watch the sun rise

6. rock a strapless dress without stressing over my arms

7. get a psychic reading done

8. learn to speak some French/Italian (complete sentences)

9. buy an awesome vintage piece of jewelry

10. clean and preserve my wedding dress

11. make a new list of 101 things
MARRIAGE

12. write H a love letter

13. choose photos for our wedding album

14. start monthly date nights with H

15. take weekend trips with H

16. eat dinner together in dining room, no distractions (no television)
FRIENDS / FAMILY

17. call my dad at least once a week

18. host a dinner party at our house

19. host a game night at our house

20. host a holiday meal for one or more sides of the family at our house

21. create a wedding album for my grandma and give it to her in person
HEALTH / FITNESS

22. become CPR certified (again)

23. reach and maintain my goal weight

24. wake up at 530 AM to exercise for one (work) week straight

25. go on a bike ride through our neighborhood/bike trail across the street

26. get a bike

27. walk/run more with Gracie

28. go snorkeling

29. go dog sledding in Canada (our original honeymoon idea)

30. take a Spinning class (I’m terrified)

31. take a ski lesson

32. try water skiing
HOBBIES

33. take an art class

34. take a cake decorating class

35. learn to knit

36. Create a photo album for each (wedding/honeymoon/family/traveling)

37. Book and photograph 10 weddings

38. make a piece of art (collage, painting, etc.) for our house

39. make our holiday cards instead of buying one year
ENVIRONMENT

40. decrease my use of non-environmentally friendly cleaning products

41. buy mesh bags to use for produce instead of plastic bags

42. get into the practice of unplugging appliances/devices while not in use

43. replace all light bulbs with low-energy bulbs as needed

44. ride my bike to work three times (0/3)

45. go to a farmers' market for produce instead of the grocery store at least 5 times per summer (0/15)

46. keep thermostat at 2 degrees warmer in summer and colder in winter than it is now

47. maintain a vegetable garden every summer (0/3)

48. plant a flower garden

ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT / CULTURE

49. read at least 5 Danielle Steel books (0/5)

50. see all Best Picture winning movies (0/84)

51. visit the Guggenheim

52. visit the Louvre

53. attend 15 concerts (0/15)

54. see a play on Broadway

55. attend four Cardinals games (0/4)

56. join the local public library

57. attend a community festival

FOOD / COOKING

58. try one new recipe per week (0/143)

59. try five foods I've never had before (0/5)

60. make homemade pasta

61. maintain an herb garden

62. buy whole coffee beans more to grind in coffee grinder

63. make and bottle five different healthier salad dressings (0/5)
HOUSE / DECORATING

64. paint master bedroom

65. paint bedroom furniture

66. find rug for family room/office

67. finish/paint vanity guest bathroom

68. paint exterior front door red

69. paint all baseboard trim white

70. replace all ceiling fans in house

71. landscape our front yard

72. have the series of B&W photos I took in my college photography class professionally matted and framed

73. redo kitchen cabinets/counters

74. hang wedding pictures/art throughout house

75. decorate master bedroom

76. buy a piece of antique furniture from an antique shop
TRAVEL / ADVENTURE / NATURE

77. go eagle watching with my dad

78. go parasailing

79. go star-gazing

80. have a picnic in the park

81. travel out West

82. take a unplanned "where-ever-the-road-may-take-us" road trip

83. visit three states I've never been to before (0/3)

84. build a snowman in front yard

85. visit a town in MO I’ve never been to

86. go to the driving range with H (like we used to do in college)

FINANCIAL / LEGAL

87. create a will

88. pay off half of remaining student loan debt

89. continue to contribute to company 401k plan

90. pay off all credit card debt

91. increase emergency fund

92. put $10 a week into savings
PROFESSIONAL / WORK / COMPUTER

93. clean out, decorate, and bring some cheer to my corner at work

94. finish Masters degree (frame BS degree)

95. upgrade photography website to unlimited space

96. join photograph viewing website for clients to view photos

97. import all photographs to CDs and file

98. maintain my blog (at least two posts per week)

FOR OTHERS

99. volunteer my time 15 times (0/15)

100. give a compliment to a stranger twenty times (0/20)

101. pay for someone behind me in line

AND because a post is always better with pics, here are two from this morning.

Banana Sour Cream pancakes....my breakfast...HOLY CRAP!  I need to stop eating so much bacon!!!

Maybe I should put that on my list before I give myself a heart attack?  Jeez Kristina.....That's terrible!!!!

Our baby Gracie napping with her Koala...or I call it her "Quawly....get your quawly! get your quawly!"..

Thanks for reading!
Kristina :)

Oh red velvet cupcake....

SO I always get coffee cravings late at night.  It's strange....  I only act on this craving on the weekends when I don't have to wake up oh so early.  Well I got the craving the other night.  I had just finished shopping with my mom and we pulled into my driveway at about 10pm and it hit me..."I want coffee...wanna go to Starbucks?"...  Because my mom LOVES me so much and understands my randomness completely, she agreed.  So we drove up to Starbucks and needed some sugar on the side as well.....because it was so late they were out of our usual choice, the iced lemon loaf.  SO I asked the nice voice behind the ordering board "well what do you have?"..Chocolate cake "ooohhh", and then she said the magic words "RED VELVET CUPCAKES.."  WHAT WHAT WHAT?!?!?!  Red velvet cupcakes?????  SOLD!  I LOOOOOVE red velvet ANYTHING!  My mom bakes me a red velvet cake every year for my birthday.  Red Velvet was also my wedding cake.  So of course when the nice starbucks voice behind the ordering board said red velvet cupcakes my response was "OH YES, I'll take that please!"...  Then they handed us our coffee and my mom her snack in a mini paper bag and then they handed me a little box.  A gift????  FOR ME????  My red velvet cupcake came in a box!  HOW CUTE IS THAT?!?!?  My mom said it is because I am special.....  (she was being sarcastic) and I know she was a little jealous.  ;)  So we get back to my house and I was VERY excited about my red velvet cupcake AND the fact that it came in a box.  SOOOOO I decided to capture this moment with a few pictures.  And who else to share them with, but you fabulous people.  If you haven't figured it out yet, I am easily amused....  Enjoy! :)

Here is the box....just for me!  PS: I hate taking pictures with no natural light, but it was 11 o'clock at night!  Sorry....

There it is!!!!  Oh red velvet cupcakes....

Look at the cute little red sugar crystal things!  So pretty....  :)

Thanks Starbucks!  See you soon! :)

i ♥ faces - "Best Face Photo" Contest

 

So I stumbled upon this AMAZING little website today which is called i ♥ faces .  Each week they have a photo contest in which anyone, ANYONE (that means you) can enter the "themed" photo contest of the week.  And yes, of course there are prizes!  AWESOME prizes!  i ♥ faces is celebrating their one year anniversary ( HAAAAPPY BIRTHDAY!) in which they are asking anyone and everyone (yes that still means you) to submit their "Best Face Photo" which needs to be shot in either December or January.  Hmmmm.....so many photos to choose from....but after MUCH thought I decided on this one......

"DRUM ROLL PLEASE?!?!?!?".......(the noise of a drummmmmmmmm)...Crash?

This is the lovely Amy.  I chose this photo because it is full of awesome light and happiness and is oh so lovely.  Thank you Amy for letting me capture your awesome face and awesome smile! :)

VOTE FOR ME!  :) 

(you can't vote....but I'm just sayin....) 

St. Louis Modern Portrait Photographer - Amy

Happy Monday everyone!

I recently spent some time with the lovely Amy.  Amy is a drama teacher and an aspiring actress.  She recently got the urge to start going on auditions again (YAY!), so she called me up and asked me to take some new headshots for her!  I jumped at the chance!  Amy is OH so gorgeous and full of sassyness (is that word) and such a peach.  I knew that her shoot would be so much fun!  Amy really knows how to work the camera AND the camera loves her.  She's a PRO!  Here are a few pics from Amy's "portrait" session. 

Lights....Camera.....ACTION! (ya I'm a dork....)

Isn't she gorgeous???

Love me some natural light!

One of my favorites.....so pretty....

Gorgeous eyes Amy!

I SO want this little outfit, very boutique chic!

OH how I heart this wall.....

I love this set....LOVE these columns!

UH love this one.....

THE END!

Thank you so much Amy for letting me shoot your headshots! 

You are OH SO fab and I can't wait to see you under the "BIG LIGHTS!"...  :)

Jewelry and Dishes..these are a few of my favorite things....

SO this week has been pretty much up and down.  Of course the day I post my "Zumba" post in which I am determined to get up and dance....I get a migraine.  That evening when I got home from work I felt it coming.....my head hurt, my neck was stiff, and my pupils were really really tiny.....yup...a migraine was coming.  I took some meds and then it hit me like a train.  I locked myself in the darkest room in my house, the bedroom.  It's crazy how even the smallest ray of light shining in front the street can make your head want to explode.  Or how the noise of the heater or your cell phone can make you want to cry.  That's where I stayed for a good 18 hours or so until it went away.  Uh......hate them.  I have kept a journal in the past to try and figure out what triggers them such as certain foods etc.  Once again, hate them.

Then today we received about 4-5 inches of snow thanks to the "ARCTIC BLAST".....So every school was closed, including the one I work at.  Tim had gotten home from his four day trip late last night, so it was very nice to be home on a snow day with my dearest husband.  I also ventured out in my backyard to take some pics of the snow.  Then I got bit by the creative bug and decided to host a little photo shoot in my dining room.  Hence the new profile pic above....  :)  I also ventured into my "jewelry bag" and photographed a few of my favorite pieces.  I LOVE chunky antique/antique looking jewelry.  I also LOVE antique glass and dishes.  I currently have my set of "Green Manhattan Glass" and "Green Moon and Stars" on display in my china cabinet.  It runs in the family, this whole obession with dishes.  My mom also LOVES dishes and has a huge collection of "Red" glass dishes...the square ones, not the round ones.  We both could spend hours in an antique shop just looking at dishes.....and we do.  :)  SO I thought it would be a great idea to incorporate jewelry and dishes......two of my favorite things.  Here are a fews pics from today.  You may want to grab a blanket and some hot cocoa, cause baby it's cold outside. :)  Enjoy!

That's my Gracie.....she loves snow....

She looks like a wolf...the cutest little furry wolf in the whole wide world!

We also had 45mph winds which are no fun.....poor little boo boo....that's what I call her...
my "little boo boo"... :)

This was the snow blowing off the roof.....

Brrrrr....

Then it blew into the back door....where I was standing.....not cool.

Then I moved inside and held a little photo shoot of my own....this piece is from my

"Moon and Stars" collection.

This pitcher was a gift from my Aunt Kim.  It is from our "everyday" Lenox "Butler" dish set....LOVE them....

This blue cake plate is one of a three piece set given to me by my Aunt Bobbi....it's oh so pretty.....so is the bracelet...I wore this to my bach party.  :)

These are our "Tiffany" toasting flutes from our wedding....I stored all of my wedding accessories in the Tiffany box. :)

My grandmother gave me this cameo that I love SO much.  This is the cake plate that matches the pitcher and our "everyday" dish set.  I love cake plates.....I have 7!

This is another piece from my "Moon and Stars" collection.  It was used to hold bananas. 

Every girl needs a set of pearls....

This is my "Joan Rivers" jewelry bag.  I ordered it from QVC and had to wait on the waiting list for 4 months in order to get it!  This is one of Joan's hottest items.....well I have it....and it's awesome! 

Thanks to my DH (dearest husband) for holding that up. :)

Thanks to my AWESOME and AMAZING husband for taking my perosnal portrait.  I am very passionate.....ok very bossy when it comes to pictures of me....Tim did a great job! :)

AND finally...while eating dinner in the family room tonight I got this AMAZING idea to move my office into the family room.  Tim was VERY excited because now he could have his very own "hobby room".  He builds model airplanes etc.  So after removing the legs from my desk and rearranging a few things...

TAH DAH!!!!!  My new, cozy, and oh so fabulous office!  :)  Love it!

Hope you had a fabulous day!  Stay warm!