Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Mama Giraffe!






I am in love with making these, I am going to be selling them!  If you are interested email me or call me!

Granola



3 C quick cook oats
1 C mixed nuts
1/4 C flax seeds
3/4 C unsweetened shredded coconut
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 C dried fruit (I use a mix of dried bananas, orange flavored cranberries, and dried apples)
8 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
5 Tbsp olive oil
Preheat oven to 350. Put dry ingredients, including coconut and cinnamon, but not the dried fruit on a sheet pan. Stir well and smooth out. Drizzle maple syrup and olive oil and stir again. Place pan in oven for 20-25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. While it's toasting, roughly chop up any large dried fruit. When granola is golden remove from oven and stir in dried fruit and let it cool.  Watch closely at the end, it will burn fast.
This recipe is from my good friend Amy, I modified it a bit.

Wheat Bread


I have been searching everywhere for a wheat bread recipe that I liked.  This one is by far my favorite! This recipe comes from my Grandpa Walker's mother.

4 cups scalded milk
2/3 cups honey
2/3 cups oil (I used olive oil)
2 TBSP yeast
2 TBSP salt
6 cups white flour
6 cups wheat flour

Mix together liquid ingredients in mixer, add half of the flour and then add the yeast.  Once everything is incorporated, knead with dough hook for 10 minutes.  Raise until doubled, punch down, separate into pans and allow to rise again until doubled.

This recipe yields 4 loaves, I have to half the recipe because my mixer can't take that much.  (It should because I have the biggest Kitchen Aid, but it can't handle it...so disappointed in it, it dies and I haven't even had it for 6 months! ...don't buy a Kitchen Aid!)

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes and then lower the temperature to 300 for 30 minutes (the recipe says 400 for 15 and 300 for 35, but it was too long, so I decreased it.)

30 Things To Do Before I Turn 30!!

So remember when I made my 25 Things To Do Before I turn 25.... I didn't complete them all, partly because I accomplished number 10!  So I decided to add to them and finish them all by the time I am 30.  I turn 27 in April, so hopefully I have given myself enough time to accomplish them this time.

Since being married I feel like I don't have time like I use to.  I have slacked on a lot of things in the last few years.  I have been constantly trying to get back on track, but I keep coming up short.  Something was said by someone in my ward that really hit me hard and has been a huge reality check.  Last spring I was called to be in the Stake Relief Society Presidency, I was extremely overwhelmed by this calling. I have never had a calling in the Relief Society, so I had no clue what to do.  Once in the calling we weren't really trained, so I felt like I didn't make a difference.  Everything was already decided and it didn't matter what my opinion was.  I was told that I would be in the calling for a year.  One day Cole got a call to meet with the Stake President and we thought he was getting a stake calling too, but it was me, I was being released after 6 months (the other counselors were also released, so it wasn't just me).  I took it really hard, I felt like the president was not pleased with our service and that I wasn't given a chance to make a difference.  It took me awhile to get over it.  Several weeks later we were hanging out with some people from our ward and the Relief Society President from our ward told me that after I got called to my position, some girl in the ward came up to her and expressed her concern with me being in a Stake Relief Society position.  She didn't think that I was fit for the calling, at first I thought this was really funny and then it really hit me.  When I was in college I had regional callings and institute callings where I was in charge of huge activities.  In all of my other wards, I have always been someone that the bishop could go to for anything and they used me all over the ward.  I felt needed and everyone thought that I was a really good person.  I have always believed myself to be a great person, spiritually and personally.  When this girl questioned me for this calling, I had to step back and look at myself.  I have not got involved in our ward at all, I have had a hard time feeling like I belong.  No one knows that I have a strong testimony because I haven't shared it.  Sorry for the long story, but I really need to make changes in my life.  I used to love making goals and I was so good at keeping them, I have to get back to my old self.  Hopefully I can stick to it!

I have 30 Things To Do Before I am 30 and my Goals for 2013.

{Left over goals from 25 Things To Do Before I am 25}

1. Have a Summerfest Booth

2. Design my Own Fabric with Spoonflower

3. Go to Nepal

4. Go to the East Coast in the Fall to see the Leaves

5. Read the Bible Dictionary

6. Train for a Triathlon or Half Marathon

7. Do a Personal Photo Project

8. Visit all of the Temples in Utah.
     Temples that I have left to visit:
          Timpanogous
          Provo
          Vernal
          Payson
          Monticello
          St. George
          Brigham
          Provo II

9. Learn Illustrator

{New Goals}

10. Hike Half-Dome in Yosemite, CA

11. Photograph a Ghost Town

12. Oregon Coast- Clamming and Crabbing
     Cole and I went August 11-15, 2012, see our trip here. 

13. Salmon Fishing

14. Make the Nieces a Quilt

15. Finish Applique Quilt
     Finished December 2012

16. Do a High Fashion Photo Shoot

17. Read Jesus the Christ

18. Apply to be a Documentary Photographer

19. Take Piano/Musical Instrument Lessons

20. Learn Book Making

21. Make a Meal from the Land

22. Cross Country Ski Bryce Canyon

23. Go to all of the National Parks in Utah
     Bryce Canyon: May 30, 2012
     Zions
    Arches
    Capitol Reef
    Canyonlands
    Glen Canyon

24. Perfect Bread Making- Artisan Breads and the Chemistry behind it

25. Perfect Cake Making

26. Design an Inspiration Wedding Shoot.
     August 24, 2012- It was published on the Top Wedding Blog-Style Me Pretty!!

27. Perfect Cheese Making

28. Learn Print Making

29. Master Machine Quilting

30. Make 30 Things for an Organization in Need; Toys/Animals/Dolls


I am really excited to start on these goals!  I hope that I can accomplish them!!


{2013 Goals!!}

Spiritual
     Go to the Temple Once a Week (I am trying to go on Tuesdays if any one wants to join!)
     Find 1 Name a Month in Family History
     Write in Journal Once a Week

Business
     Make over a Certain Amount
     Get a Bigger Social Media Following
     Set Hours and Stick to Them

Physical
     Workout Once a Week
     More Outdoor Activities; Cross Country Skiing, Biking, Climbing, Hiking...
     No New Clothes until I loose 30 pounds

Financial
     No More Big Purchases until Everything is Paid for
     No New Clothes of Fabric until Summer

Wahoo!  I am doing good so far!  Hopefully I can stay on track and become a better person!
   



Valentines Special {Utah Photographer}



Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Cheese Making!

I would love to learn how to perfect cheese making. This was out first attempt, it was pretty fun. My brother and I love to cook and it was a fun night, homemade mozzarella and homemade French bread. Delish!

Photos at The Crepery!

I have always wanting to pursue fine art photography more. I love it and wish I could do more of it. My work is now hanging at The Crepery until the end of February. Go enjoy some great food and some photos of some beautiful places!

Cole's Man Projects

Cole has been wanting to do more wood working and refinishing. He has been collecting furniture from the DI and this is his first master piece. I love it! He is trying to sell it, so he can make some more. Let me know if you are interested!

Tree Appliqué

This is my first appliqué quilt. I love how it turned out, this fabric has been collected from antique stores and thrift stores. I hand quilted it, Cole and I had a bet that I could do it in a few weeks, I won this one, but I missed my first deadline, so I had two projects to finish and I only got this one finished... So I lost!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

I love this tradition of chopping a tree down. We only had a little bit of time, so by the time we got there we had a bout 15 minutes of light. Good thing we found the perfect tree in such little time!

I still haven't decided a theme for my Christmas tree. I think I want to do vintage ornaments and homemade ones, but I am not completely decided yet. And I think ornaments are so expensive, so we only had about 10 ornaments! Haha, oh well.

I love wrapping presents, this year Ijust went simple with brown wrapping and cute string. When I was little my mom would always sing the song from The Sound of Music to me when I was sad. So these packages made me think of those good memories with my mom! "Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things!"













Christmas Presents!

Every year I think I will have time to make all of my gifts for friends and family. And every year, I start making stuff a week before and only finish a few and end up last minute shopping a couple of days before.

I have such a hard time finding a balance with my business and my personal life. My business takes up my entire life and sometimes takes priority to anything else. I made a deadline for orders this year, but I don't know how to say no to those ordering their photos last minute. I ended up taking orders all the way till Christmas Eve! Yes I printed photos for clients on Christmas Eve. Because of this presents for my family did not happen. I am constantly working and don't have any hours, I need to set a schedule and stick to it! I can't work 10-12 hour days, I do love what I do, that is why I can't stop working. But I must find a balance!

So anyways... These are the two present that I finished for my sister-in-law Melissa. I think they turned out so fun! They both have a reason. My brother shot two Elk this year, so that is why I did an elk or deer head...not sure what the silhouette is.




I did a chicken because this year they started raising chickens. There's a pretty funny story to the chicken...

During October Cole and I had a little bit of time to go on a hike. So we went to our favorite trail in the Wellsville's. When we got out of the car I heard some rustling in the bushes and I got curious.... So we started looking around to find out what it was. As we were looking in the bushes three chickens appeared. They were so pretty, and they didn't scare when I got close. Cole and I joked that we should catch them and take them to Melissa, their chickens had been killed by something in their neighborhood, so they had an empty chicken coop. I really wish that I could have kept them... I don't think my HOA would have approved! I called Melissa on our way up the trail and asked her if she wanted us to catch them and bring them home. She just laughed at me and thought I was crazy! The entire way up the trail Cole and I thought it would be so fun to try and catch them and we wondered if we actually could and how would we get them home. When we got back down the trail it was getting dark, but we still tried to look for them. We looked for about 15 minutes and couldn't find them, so we headed back to the car, and then I looked up and there they were!!! All three of them were perched in the tree! We both burst out in laughter and we started after the chickens! Cole climbed the tree and grabbed them and passed them to me. I wish this could have been recorded! It was so funny! We were laughing our heads off the entire time. We made a make shift cage in my car and eventually got all three in my car! Cole had to catch them all twice because I kept freaking out and let them go! As we drove to my brothers house which was a good 20 minutes away, they didn't make a peep! We got them to their new home and they loved it! A couple of weeks ago they finally recovered from their mountain adventure and they have started to lay eggs again! I was so proud when Melissa showed me their first egg! I wish I had a big yard for them! I think I could be a little farmer. I have a bit of granola in me! I take a lot of pride in living off the land! Here are some of the photos of them!












Thursday, November 22, 2012

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Le Jardin Inspiration Wedding Featured on Style Me Pretty


Head over to Style Me Pretty to view this amazing shoot!


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Fall Family Photos

Poor Cole!  I torture him way too often, he knew what he was getting into! :)  I love my camera remote!















Giraffe

I love this little guy!  I am a little obsessed with making these little animals.  I know I am a nerd, but I love it.  It is so nice that my schedule is starting to free up, so I don't feel guilty when I sew!



Love his little tail!