Family
Let it Snow!
First off, let me just say that I hope you had an AMAZING Thanksgiving. My family visited me and I’m so thankful for it. I’m also thankful that know one got killed in the process, seeing as this was the first time we tried this! LOL!
While my family was down, I decided to have some fun and take their family pictures. I love fun, creative pictures, so I searched and searched Pinterest for some great ideas. I stumbled across the idea of using glitter.
The idea is to stand in front of the camera and blow the glitter towards the lens. The end result is supposed to give a cool effect. However, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of glitter getting stuck on my lens so I bought some big fake snow flakes to play with instead. They were only $5 from Target.
We thought it would be fun to act like the snow was falling down on everyone. So one by one, we had my sister’s husband sprinkling the snow from up high down onto whoever was the subject.
I wanted them to look like they were standing out in the snow and just loving it coming down on them. I think it turned out so sweet.
The trick to getting these shots were to use my 50 mm. I’m not sure the look would be the same if I had used my regular lens. The 50mm blurs out the background better and concentrates on the person or object in front much better, making the picture pop more!
My poor niece got it on her eye lashes and being the good Aunt that I am…………….
told her to sit still so I could take a picture of it!
Doesn’t that look cool? Of course, I helped her afterwards. LOL!
For my sister and her husband, we thought it would be sweet to make it look like they were kissing in the snow. I love how this turned out!
If you could have seen what it really looked like throwing those flakes, you would have died laughing! I was standing on the back of Z’s truck while my 9 year old daughter was literally throwing the snow by the handfuls at them while standing next to me. Let’s just say I have a new major appreciation for what goes on behind the scenes of a photo shoot! Haha!
He decided to dip her and I think it came out ADORABLY! 🙂
The snowflakes are in the Christmas decorations at Target. I wasn’t smart enough to take a picture of them before I threw the bag away. 🙁 They are only $5 like I said before, so for an inexpensive price, I think you can have such a cool look for your Christmas pictures this year.
The only downside to this is that because the flakes are so large, you look like you have MONSTER size dandruff flakes afterwards! LOL! Just make sure you shake a lot afterwards or go home after the shots.
Oh yeah! And don’t eat it either! I’m thinking you might get a big tummy ache! LOL!
Isn’t she cute? Um, I should probably add she didn’t really eat them! 😉
I definitely do NOT claim to be a photographer by any means, but this was so much fun to do and I just had to share them with you all!
Happy Holidays!
XOXO,
Esther
Chili Mac and Cheese
The other day, I was thinking back to when Z and I first got together. I was a young new bride and didn’t know much about cooking.
So, I did what any other sane person would do……..
I went for the man’s heart and I bought Hamburger Helper! Awe yeah! You know you do did too! Right????
I remember being in the grocery store and thinking……..”Man! They have a million different varieties! They have Cheesy Hamburger Helper, Hamburger Stroganoff, Bacon Cheeseburger, Cheesy Broccoli.” *It was like I was in that scene from Forrest Gump….. Shrimp creole…..
One for every night of the week! I had totally SCORED!
Fast forward 11 years later and the man can hardly look at a box of it without his stomach turning.
I have to say though, this homemade Chili Mac and Cheese recipe conquered his fear had him coming back for more. Your’s will too…. not to mention your kids will love it as well!
From the cheesy macaroni,
To the diced tomatoes with green chiles. Your family will be hooked with the first bite.
The only thing I can suggest is that you may just want to double the recipe!
*Now, the only thing I need to work on is his fear of Shake-N-Bake!
Recipe: Chili Mac and Cheese
– 1 lb. Ground Beef
– 1 tsp. Canola Oil
– 2 tsp. Chili Powder
– 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
– 1 tsp. Cumin
– 2 cups Lower Sodium Beef Broth
– 1 cup Water
– 1 (10oz) can Mild Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles, Undrained
– 12 oz. Uncooked Elbow Macaroni (*Go for whole wheat if you can find it!)
– 1/2 cup Fat-Free Milk
– 4 oz. 1/3-less-fat Cream Cheese (about 1/2 cup)
– 4 1/2 oz. Reduced- Fat Finely Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Directions:
– Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add oil, and swirl to coat. Add beef , chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin. Cook meat until no longer pink and cooked through. Drain Meat in a colander.
– Return meat to pot and add broth, water, and tomatoes. Bring to a Boil.
– Stir in macaroni, cover and cook 10 minutes or until macaroni is done.
– Heat milk and cream cheese in a saucepan over medium heat.
– Cook 4 minutes or until cheese melts stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
– Stir in cheddar.
– Add cheese sauce to macaroni mixture and toss well.
– Serve immediately. Goes great with Roasted Broccoli or Salad!
Guess what happened on Mother’s Day?
Aint no party, like a Wall Family Party , ’til a crazy lady comes out to play!
That’s right!
How was your Mother’s Day? Did you have your family over?
Did you go to your own Mother’s house and spend time with her and tell her how much you loved her?
Did you travel out of town to do that? You did?
Me too!
I love my Mommy very much! So much that I travelled 3 hours to get to her to my hometown of Raleigh.
Did I mention how much I love Myrtle Beach now? Not to say I dislike Raleigh……… that much. LOL!
You see, it’s just because I was reminded of how CRAZY Raleigh can be when I visited.
Now I know every city and town has their own kind of Crazies running around. I know this.
However, I didn’t even have to leave my parent’s doorstep to see the next Showtime for the Crazies in Raleigh.
Would you like to hear the story? You would! Ok, let me clear my throat.
In fact, I’m not going to just tell you the story…… No way! Instead, I think I will tell a poem.
Here it goes.
To Mom on Mother’s Day:
Mom, we love you so much, this you can plainly see,
We fixed you ribs, yummy desserts, and even homemade sweet tea.
We all gathered in your honor to rejoice and give thanks,
‘Til a crazy lady showed up next door to bust in and break thangs!
Her eyes were red with rage, she was barefoot and all sweaty,
But we didn’t pay much attention to her until she pulled out her BIG FAT MACHETE!
So daddy got “ole trusty” and even though it was dusty, starting waving it around in the air,
Things started to shatter and we were all lookin at her when she decided to come out of there.
Daddy yelled “Call the Cops!” cause I’m gonna shoot me somebody if that crazy lady comes over here!
She took off in her little red coupe and high taled it out of there, I’m guessing purely just out of fear.
So the cops showed up, about seven or so,
They asked us what she looked like and asked “which way did she go?”
Then they called CCBI up in there and hung around a little bit longer,
See, there was a real bad smell coming from in there and it was getting a whole lot stronger!
Not sure what they saw in there or if they ever found that lady,
I’m not one to talk, but if you ask me, it all looks shady!
Whether she left because she was done or because my daddy was waiving his gun, I guess we won’t ever be quite sure,
I guess the bottom line to the story is even though my parent’s street is crazy, one thing it will never be is a bore.
Happy Belated Mother’s Day!
XOXO,
Esther
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