Picking A Photographer

This can apply to any occasion; wedding, newborn photos, family photos, etc.

You really want to do some good searching and researching. If you like photos of friends or family, ask them who they used.

If no photographers have been recommended to you and you're searching on your own, then there is something important you need to know.
Make sure the pictures you're looking at come from the photographer listed. Let me explain. There are individual photographers and companies with multiple photographers. The companies post the best pictures on their website. If you choose to use a company with multiple photographers, make sure you find out which photographer belongs to which pictures, then make sure you book the photographer you like the most.

Once you have it narrowed down to a few photographers, there are a couple of things to compare to help you make your final decision. The two main things are package options and cost.
These days it seems customary for photographers to offer a variety of packages, especially for weddings; most photographers have a package that includes engagements, bridals, and wedding day coverage.

Packages will also include different amounts of time, locations, and clothing changes.
Once you have looked at all the photographers and their packages, compare the prices and decide which one gives you the best value.

Another thing to keep in mind; how much experience does the photographer have?

And finally, give the photographers a call. Ask them questions and make sure you're getting what you want.

Good luck finding your photographer!

P.S. For my engagements, bridals, wedding, and newborn photos I used Darla Roze Photography. Her work is wonderful and she's great to work with! http://www.rozephotography.com/

Fresh Bean & Corn Salsa and Salsa Chicken

I have two recipes for you this post; the salsa could serve as the appetizer and the chicken as the main course.

I'm sure you've all made, if not had the fresh bean and corn salsa. There's got to be a million recipes out there for it, but this is the one I use. I don't follow it to a T; I like to go by look (it's so colorful and pretty) and taste.

Fresh Bean & Corn Salsa

1 15oz can Yellow Corn

1 15oz can White Corn

2 15oz cans Black Beans

2 lg. Tomatoes

¼ cup Cliantro

5 Green Onions

1 sm. Red Onion

1 Tbs Garlic – minced

¼ cup Lime Juice

1-2 Avocados

2 Tbs Olive Oil

Directions:

·     Drain & Rinse: Corn & Beans

·     Chop Tomatoes

·     Finely chop Cilantro

·     Cut Green Onion into thin slices

·     Dice Red Onion

·     Cut Avocado into small pieces

·     Add ALL ingredients together and enjoy! 

The last time I made it I used all white corn, added more tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. I used half a red onion and 3 green onions. I also added some salt and pepper.

I got this simple Salsa Chicken from my mom. She just came up with it one day. It's super simple and easy and just a good way to spice up chicken.

Salsa Chicken


Ingredients:
Desired amount of Chicken Breasts
Salsa of choice
Cheddar Cheese
Avocado


Directions:

• Broil your chicken breasts on low for about 30 minutes.
• Lightly grease a sauce pan. 
• Once the chicken is cooked, put it in the pan and cover with salsa (haha, I use Pace), then cover with cheese.
• Cover the pan with a lid to let the cheese melt.
• Once the cheese has melted serve it up with some avocado.

We don't have a grill and I'm horrible at cooking chicken in a pan. I discovered that broiling chicken on low is awesome! It keeps the chicken tender and juicy. Besides the slow cooker, it's the only way I cook it. Just a little tip.

I hope you enjoy these recipes!

The Best Baby Socks

If you're a mom, then you know that it's nearly impossible to find baby socks that stay on. I've found one brand that do; Gap.

They have the nice tight elastic at the top, so they don't slide down and off those little feetsies. But they do leave the elastic indentation, but what do babies know? You also pay the price for stay-put socks, but it's worth it, because you don't have to keep replacing all the lost socks.

Have you found any baby socks that stay on? If so, please share!

My Mom's Fabulous Spaghetti Sauce

My mom has always made the most delicious spaghetti sauce! If I'm being technical, it's Ragu sauce. You can really use it on any type of noodle, but I've always known it as spaghetti sauce. Everyone that has it really enjoys it, if not loves it. So it's your lucky day: I'm sharing it with you.

Judy’s Deliciously Famous Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients:

1 6oz can Tomato Paste

1 15oz can Stewed Italian Tomatoes

2 15oz cans Tomato Sauce

1-2 cans Water

To Taste:

Dried Parsley

Italian Seasoning

Garlic Powder

Brown Sugar

Parmesan Cheese

1 lb Hamburger

Directions:

• Blend or puree Stewed Italian Tomatoes.
•  Cook Hamburger just until cooked. Leave it a tiny bit pink because it will cook the rest of the way in the sauce.
•  Brown Tomato Paste with a little bit of Olive Oil in big pot.
• Add ALL ingredients, including the Stewed Italian Tomatoes and Hamburger.
• Let the sauce simmer on low for a couple of hours before serving. Don’t cover with a lid that will make it runny. Cover it with a screen to avoid splattering.

The trick is to let it simmer for a few hours so it's nice and thick. Enjoy, it's so yummy!

Sharing of Recipes

So it has been WAY too long since my last post. We've had a couple of changes happen within our little family (I quit my job, sold my car) and I've just been doing a little adjusting and enjoying. Now onto the real reason I'm posting.

A while back I decided I wanted to share my favorite recipes on this blog and I came up with a way to incorporate them. But I really didn't need to think of some creative way, because this is also a blog for mothers and mothers want to be good cooks, right? This means I can simply post a recipe when I want, without having a reason. So that's what I'm going to do. I will continue to run with the themes that I have already started; dessert party and breakfast party, but I will also just throw in my other tride and true favorite recipes here and there.

So if you try out any of the recipes I share, please feel free to let me know what you thought of them.

P.S. I will be posting on a regular basis once again!