Guest Blogger: 5 Tips for Photographing Children

My guest blogger today is a friend and an amazing photographer. Sharon has been photographing my kids for the last couple of years, and my only regret is that we didn't meet sooner! I'm an avid amateur photographer, and by that I mean, I'm nut about taking tons of photos! When my son was a baby and I was scrapbooking heavily, I took his picture everysingleday - I love photos (and his sweet little mug) that much. Things are a little different now that he's mobile... and has a mind of his own... and a little sister! Capturing the perfect photo can be challenging, but oh, the reward of getting that great expression is just so priceless. I hope you find these tips as useful as I have!

5 Tips for Photographing Children

With children around there are so many photo opportunities. It used to be that cameras would only comeout on special occasions, but now with so many of us having digital camerasthere is no reason why we shouldn't be snappingaway frequently. Some people have an eyefor taking a good picture - getting the composition right - but even if you arenot one of those people, practice will certainly make you a better aphotographer and here are some handy hints for getting better images of yourchildren.

1. Always have your camera ready - You never know what may arise. In the minute it takes to go and get yourcamera a moment can be lost. Capturing that special instant when your child'sface is full of emotion is what makes a picture. Remember that it is not whatthey are doing when you take the picture, but more how they are reacting to it.The elation on their face when they achieve something, realization when theyfigure out how their new toy operates, so remember emotion makes the picture,not the action. Emotion usually happens early on in an activity with children,especially toddlers, so keep the camera at the ready.

2. Be spontaneous - Some of the best pictures of children are when they don't realize they are beingphotographed. Let them settle in, letthem play then take a step back and watch them. I love those times when I amwatching my children and they don't even know I am there. When I pick them upfrom day care/school, I see them interacting with their friends. This is the time for me when I see them in adifferent perspective, I see another facet of their personality. A qualitymoment I want to capture. This is the time you want to stand back and use yourzoom to get in on the action.

3. Find the light - Children move fast - take it from me; it's hard tokeep up sometimes, but don't let the environment hold you back. The more lightyou have the better equipped you are to take a good picture. Even if you have a point and shoot or your camera phone, having the knowledgethat light is a camera's friend is very advantage in achieving a great picture.All of those fast action shots need good light for your camera to stop themotion. In this photo of my daughter, I used a fastshutter speed to capture a crisp trampoline jump. With any camera,being outside in daylight will allow you to stop the action. Your camera willautomatically use a fast shutter speed.

4. Say goodbye to 'cheese' - 'Cheese' and 'smile' are two words that leftmy vocabulary a long time ago. I can instantly tell those children who havebeen 'prepped' by Mom the night before pictures. I take out my camera and thechild will give me a false grin and say 'cheese' without any prompting from me. Don'tget me wrong, it is good to prepare your child for pictures, but practicingsmiles is not such a good idea. It is a guarantee for a fake smile. The samegoes for those snap shot pictures you are taking at home or on vacation. Tellthem a joke, play peek-a-boo with them, make a funny face or even ask them tosay something funny. You'll get a genuine smile and be happier with the result.

5. Know when to throw inthe towel! I never give up ongetting a picture, that is, until it comes to my own children. I spend much moretime with them, than I do with my clients, so when it comes to photographingyour own children know when to quit. If they are not co-operating... put downthe camera... interact with them, play with them and try again later.

Here's a great example of one way to get your camera-reluctant kiddo to relax a bit: At our last session with Sharon, Ethan refused to cooperate. Instead of pushing him to smile, we asked him to sing (which with Ethan means also acting out) one of his favorite songs - "Three Little Monkeys and the Alligator." While my husband and I sang along, Sharon snapped these great images and really captured his personality!

If you would like to see more of Sharon's work, and other photography related articles visit her blog at From Behind the Lens - My Moments and check her out on Facebook!

DIY Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub

At Christmas time, I was searching for a few easy homemade gifts that I could put together for my sisters.  I have a big family, and holidays can get expensive fast!  Now, I have two toddlers and work full time, so let me repeat that I was looking for something easy!! I was browsing Pinterest for DIY gifts and came across the idea of a sugar scrub.  It is super easy and quick to make, and chances are you'll have most of the items needed right in your pantry!

DIY Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub

 

Ingredients & Materials:
1 16oz jar (I used these)
2 cups brown sugar
1/4-1/2 cup of olive oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions:

Pack the brown sugar into the jar and then slowly pour olive oil in a tablespoon at a time until it has reached about halfway down the jar, letting each tablespoon seep in before putting in the next. Once the olive oil has reached halfway down the jar, add vanilla extract. Orange extract would also be nice with the brown sugar - in fact, you could switch it up for any extract that you like. 

Click this image to download the template

Now my gifts were totally last minute, but had I planned a bit more, I would have given them with cute little spoons for scooping. I tied a pretty ribbon around the jar and wrote on the lid with a Sharpie.  

I've since found these great labels - they are stickers that will fit perfectly on the lid of these jars.  I thought you might be interested in this little template I've created... just click the image to download the file.  Or go click here to download a blank template.

To make this gift even more special, you could create a little DIY gift basket with some inexpensive items from a dollar store... bath salts or beads (that's my next DIY bath project!), a scented candle, bath gloves, etc.

 

Special thanks to my sister, Kacey, for these photographs!  (I gave all the jars I made away, so she snapped these of the scrub I gave her.)

 

Banana's for Bread

I love making sweet breads with fruits and veggies, but you know this, right?  I think that there is something so wholesome and basic about making a bread like this - and what is more classic than banana bread?  It's one of the first recipes I can remember making without my mum, but instead with my Aunt Heidi. It's a sweet memory and one that's stuck with me, perhaps because it's when I first learned that you don't have to like all the ingredients that go into something to like the finished product (to this day I'm not a fan of peeling and taking a bite of a banana).

It's a great recipe for making with Ethan because it's quick, doesn't have a lot of ingredients, and, of course, smashing bananas is super fun!  And when Livi sees food, she comes toddling over, so many times she sits happily in her high chair munching on part of the ingredients.  She loves banana's, so this one is a real hit before and after the bread is baked!

Ethan's always a big help when it comes to cooking.  He's learned from my mum that you break the yolks before you can whisk the eggs (this is, of course, after Mumma has 'hatched' the eggs into the bowl).  He loves to sift the flour, and knows how to level it off just so with the knife.  Yes, he's become quite a whiz in the the kitchen and I keep hoping that will translate into him broadening his horizons, but so far, no luck...

Anyhow, this recipe is based on Aunt Heidi's with my own spin on it.  Enjoy it fresh from the oven with a pat of butter for breakfast, or chilled and cubed for a tasty snack!

Banana Bread

Ingredients:
1 cup milk

1 cup sugar

2 2/3 cups flour

½ stick butter

3 large Eggs

3-4 ripe bananas, mashed

2 tsp grated orange peel

1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

3 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking Soda
1 dash Salt

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan .

Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in milk and cinnamon.

In a third bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Add the banana mixture to the butter mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears. Do not over mix.

Pour batter into prepared pan. The men in my house do not like nuts, but you could top this with some chopped walnuts, if you like.  Bake 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool on a rack for 10-15 minutes. Remove bread from pan and cool completely before serving.

Now if you've got the banana's on hand, I'd recommend that you double this recipe and freeze one of the loaves for later (just double freezer bag it; to thaw, stick it in the fridge overnight).  The bread keeps really well in the fridge and is super tasty. Enjoy!

 

Snapshots: Butterfly

I'm introducing a new little feature on my blog - Snapshots - just a few photos I captured I want to share with you. I hope you will enjoy!

Kids Craft: For the Birds

Happy Memorial Day weekend to you,  my friends!  I hope that you are enjoying this weekend with family and friends.  We are most grateful to be spending sometime with some of our most beloved.

Long weekends are the perfect opportunity to tackle those big projects, but here's a great quick craft for kids I recently saw on Pinterest that you an squeeze in between your to-do list!  We made these one night after dinner, then hung the outside the next day.

Peanut Butter Toilet Paper Tube Bird Feeders

Materials:

toilet paper rolls

peanut butter

bird seed

string

scissors

Instructions:

Using a butter or plastic knife, spread the peanut butter on the toilet paper roll.  Ethan was so excited that the answer to his 'Can I use that knife?' was Yes for a change!  I helped him to hold and turn the roll while he slathered the peanut butter on - now, I'm telling you this is a quick craft, not a neat craft!  Ethan definitely had fun licking the peanut butter off his fingers.

You'll need to swipe off any globs and make sure the tube is evenly coated.  Next, dump some birdseed onto a plate, then roll the tube in the bird seed until coated. Ethan wanted to sprinkle it on the top - just to make sure there was enough sticking to the role.

Cut a piece of string (I used butcher's string because that's what we had on hand) about a foot long.  Then pull the string through the tube and tie a knot with the two ends. 

Ethan hams it up for the camera

Now to find the perfect hanging spot... At first Ethan thought we should plant some of the birdseed in the front yard, and then we could grow a tree to hang the treats onto... I had to explain that I thought that might take too long... and also birdseed doesn't grow trees...

But what we do have is a sweet little bird house in the back yard, complete with a family of birds nesting in it.  Nearby, my forsythia bush (which badly needs to be staked) made the perfect spot to hang our treats.  From Ethan's bedroom window, he can look down on that spot perfectly and watch the birds flitting back and forth, feeding their babies.  

Just a note for those allergic to peanuts - soy nut butter would work just fine for this, too.

Reflections: Franklin Park Zoo

On Saturday morning, we decided - somewhat on a whim - to take the kids to Franklin Park Zoo in Boston. 

My first real zoo experience was as an adult (but not as a parent) at the National Zoo in D.C. with my half-sister, Jen, and her two small children.  It was the perfect zoo experience!  The animals were pretty easy to see - including the new baby panda.  My nephew was very small, maybe about the same age as Livi now, and my niece was so interested in all the exhibits, so well-behaved attentive to her mother's words.  It was a wonderful experience and I treasure that memory (and the photos) of that day. 

And so, as we started off, I had this illusion of taking amazing photos and crafting a great blogpost documenting our perfect little outing. But life, is not an illusion, and certainly is not perfect...

Little did we know that it was the Kite and Bike Festival at Franklin Park, right next to the zoo.  Traffic was horrific, parking was non-existent, and by the time we made it through the zoo gates, Matt and I were already feeling pretty irritable (okay, so it was mostly me, Matt has more patience).

What's more, Ethan was bossy, disrespectful, ungrateful, and more than a little grumpy by the time we got there.  He had no interest in the kangaroos or ostriches (in his defense, there were kind of far away).  Matt put him on his shoulders to see the zebras and giraffe and he was suddenly afraid. We began to wonder why were were there... I mean, Livi was happy enough, but did she really know what was happening?  And were we condoning Ethan's behavior by trying to push through his mood to explore the zoo?  Why couldn't we have a perfect day at the zoo?

And then I remembered poor Jen driving in circles as we attempted to find the zoo.  I remembered the scorching heat and our tired feet (no rhyme intended!)  That day, wonderful as it was, still wasn't perfect.

Gorillas eating their lunch:Daddy is in the forefront, and baby behind and to the right of him.

We watched the gorilla's eating their lunch and interacting... so human-like... the daddy looking around for danger, the baby scampering around... the whole family unit acting just like a human family.  We stood rather in awe of them for several minutes, Matt and I both snapping photos and Ethan sitting on Matt's shoulders pointing their different features and behaviors.  That was my one moment of perfect - a bright spot in the afternoon.

Soon after that, Matt and I looked at one another and said, let's go home!  We did manage to get a few neat photos and I hope you will enjoy these.

 

Ethan & Daddy checking out the Savannah Exhibit

Silly Smiles!

Catching a snack between exhibits

Mumma & Livi watching the Giraffe

Ethan taking a break for a dino ride

5-Minute Magnets

I hate to throw things away... I'll admit that in our house we even have a room that we jokingly call the 'hoarders room' in which I stash that which I cannot find another home for when I'm cleaning up the rest of the house... Matt dreams of it becoming an office someday, but for now, it's got a mish-mash of craft projects, piles of mail, photographs and bills and a hodge-podge of toys, books, and things that the kids have outgrown.  When Ethan was born, I began scrapbooking, and I now have four years of scraps built up - such pretty papers, and I think, oh, I might need that little piece for an accent or border or something, so I save it.  And then when some new craft idea strikes my fancy, I'm sure that my husband inwardly groans at what mess will follow.  Well, let me tell you that I have found the perfect craft project!

Since I had left over magnets from the Clothespin Caterpillar Magnets that I made with Ethan, I was trying to think of a little project I could do with them.  Browsing Hobby Lobby (my creative heaven!), I came across some little clear acrylic sticky circles and suddenly this next project dawned on me - 5-Minute Magnets!  And the best part?  I got rid of some stuff!  Ok, so not much, but still, it was something and I got my little creative fix for the day!

5-Minute Magnets

Materials:

1/2" Circle punch

Clear adhesive acrylic circles

1/2" self-adhesive magnets

Left over scrapbooking paper

Directions:

Select two or three coordinating papers and use the punch to make the circles.  Stick the clear circles to the paper (be sure the pretty side is showing on the smooth side).  Then just stick the magnet onto the back of the acrylic circle.  Volia! 

Now, if you can't find the self-adhesive magnets, you could use glue, but then they take time to set up, of course.  I got such satisfaction out of this quick little project that took almost no time and left little mess (I did toss the scraps of paper from this project since there wasn't much left over... though I wonder what I could do with a long strip of paper with circles punched out of it... hmmm....

Anyhow, Ethan helped me punch out the papers, but once that was done, got bored and wandered off. (Admittedly, this project is more suited for older children.) I dug through a box of his stickers and came up with some cute smiley faces and made a set of magnets that he could give to a friend.

And then just I couldn't stop!  I grabbed a colored pencil drawing that Ethan brought home from school.  Now sometimes I cut these down and use these to make cards for friends and family, but this one was done on scrap paper and the back had text on it... so I punched away and came up with some cute little keepsake magnets of his artwork. 

 

I  just love these!  The magnets are so simple, yet pretty, and would be a cute little party favor or stocking stuffer, too.  Hope you will enjoy this quick project as much as I did.

Please note that these magnets could be choking hazards for small children and should be kept high up on the fridge for those with infants/toddlers in the house.

Creamy Tomato Sauce with Tender Pork

Now I know what some of you are thinking - Ang's Sauce?? - Yes, its true that Matt is the Italian one, and growing up, I wouldn't touch red sauce with a ten-foot pole... but Matt has converted me to a red sauce lover.  And this is one sauce that I adore.  It's Matt's recipe, just tweaked a tad to add a rich creaminess that I enjoy so much.  And cooking the pork in the sauce for several hours leaves it fork-tender and completely scrumptious.  

My favorite way to serve this is over fresh linguine or fettuccine from the deli section of the grocery store, with lots of cheese, of course.  Yes, fresh pasta is more expensive than dry, but I help offset the cost by scouring the meat department for sale or 'manager's special' packages of pork chops and stock my freezer up when those deals are available.

Now this recipe will give you plenty of sauce to feed the whole family, plus some!  It freezes wonderfully and is an awesome meal to stick in the crockpot on a rainy day.  I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!

Creamy Tomato Sauce with Pork

Preparing the Pork:
4 pork boneless pork chops
1 Tbls Olive Oil
To Taste:
    Salt and Pepper
    Basil
    Garlic Powder

Heat olive oil in a very hot skillet.  Season the pork and sear on both sides in the pan.  (If you have a bit of red wine, you can deglaze the pan with it, if you like.  When the pork is seared on both sides, remove it from the heat and let it rest 10-15 minutes.  Then slice each piece into two.

Sauce Ingredients:
1 green pepper, minced
1 Vidalia onion, minced
1 Tbls garlic, minced
2 Tbls olive oil
2 29oz cans tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
To Taste:
   Salt and Pepper
   Basil
   Garlic Powder
   Sugar
1/2 pint heavy cream

Directions:

On medium-low heat, let the olive oil and garlic cook for a few minutes, taking care not to burn the garlic.  Add green peppers and onions and cooking until soft.  Season with salt, pepper, basil, and garlic powder.  Add tomato sauce and bring to a simmer on medium-high heat.  Add the tomato paste, stirring to incorporate.  Add sugar, to taste. 

Add pork and cover.  Simmer on low for 4-6 hours.(You could also pour this into a crockpot at this point, and cook on low for 4-6 hours.)

About 30 minutes before serving, check flavor and add seasonings as desired. Using a fork, break up the pork.  Then add heavy cream and stir. Serve over pasta.

New AngelFlowers on Etsy!

Yahoo! I've finally had a chance to post some new items in my Etsy shop, AngelFlowers.  Please check it out, and email me if you're interested in any custom items!

Here's a sample of some of my items:

 

 

 

Please like me on Facebook to stay up to date on specials, coupon codes and new items!

Sweet Potato Bread

Sweet potatoes were on sale this week, so in addition to Olivia's 'sticks,' I decided to make bread with it.  This recipe has more ingredients than some of the others I like to make, but it's so worth it... even with the sour cream - which I never thought I'd cook with, let alone bake with!  This recipe is adapted from Food Network's Mix and Match Quick Bread and I definitely recommend you check out all the possibilities! The bread is moist and delicious, and especially good chilled.  Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Bread

Ingredients:
2 cups sweet potato puree
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp.baking soda
2 tsp.salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
4 eggs
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp. citrus zest

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter and flour two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans.


Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl.

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, cooled melted butter, applesauce, sour cream, vanilla extract, citrus zest. Stir the sweet potato puree into the egg mixture, then fold into the dry mixture until just combined.

Spread the batter into the prepared pans.  Bake until a toothpick comes out lean, about 55 minutes. Wait 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool.

Yield - 2 loaves 

Sweet Potato Sticks for My Sweetie

My sweet Olivia will eat just about anything - except cantaloupe. She's my good eater, but don't let that fool you into thinking she's docile. She is Miss Independent, thankyouverymuch. I'm not sure what I love most about this recipe. It's simple - I love simple. Its a great addition to a meal, or a quick snack that she can easily feed herself, despite her lack of teeth. Since I want them to be mushy, they reheat perfectly in the microwave.

Sweet Potato Sticks

Ingredients:
1 large sweet potato, peeled
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Salt and Pepper
Cooking Spray

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375-degrees. Spray a baking sheet with a cooking spray.

Slice the sweet potato into 1" sticks, then line them up evenly spaced on the baking sheet. (I square off the potato, then make a puree with the odd pieces, which I use for making meals for Livi, or Sweet Potato Bread - stay tuned for that recipe later today!)

Spray the sticks with the cooking spray, then sprinkle cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Bake 20 minutes, then flip the sticks over. Sprinkle with a bit more seasoning, then bake another 5 minutes.

Note - these will be a bit soft, as they're intended for my semi-toothless baby girl! If you'd like to crisp them up, cook them at 450 degrees until they are cooked through and crunchy.