Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Officially Open for Business

So for those of you who are interested in a photo session with yours truly, I have finally put together a price list. SO EXCITING. I would ordinarily post this on my Entertaining Angels Blog but it is currently under construction.
So here it goes.

$125.00 for up to 5 people ($15 for each additional person)
This package includes:

  • 1 hour of shooting time
  • maximum 3 locations
  • 25 4x6 proof images
  • 1 8x10 of your choice
  • 2 5x7s of your choice
Additional photos/products A La Carte
  • 4x6- $2.00
  • 5x5- $5.00
  • 5x7- $5.00
  • 8x8- $10.00
  • 8x10- $10.00
  • 10x10- $15.00
  • 11x14- $15.00
  • 12x12- $25.00
  • 16x20- $35.00
  • Bound Photobook- starting at $60.00
  • Package of Announcement/Holiday Cards- starting at $25.00
  • More sizes/styles available upon request
If you are interested in booking please contact me at Shan.anderson07@gmail.com

Anniversary Weekend Recap

Matt and I headed to Indianapolis last Friday to celebrate our Anniversary in style. We stayed downtown on the Canal (gotta love those hotel points, I knew traveling so much would pay off some day) and ate at the Melting Pot. The food and atmosphere were awesome. Our waitress even brought out cheesecake donning a candle because she knew it was our anniversary (like we needed any more food!!!). Although we promised not to get each other anything, I surprised Matt with Mario Kart for the WII. I am slightly embarrassed about how much we have played it over the last couple of days... but ohh how fun it is. On Saturday morning we headed to the eye-candy that is Anthropologie. This was one of the real reasons we decided to go to Indy in the first place. Matt bought me the following: five latte bowls, 5 mini latte bowls, and the most precious tea towel EVER! (I have a slight thing for tea towels).After watching our wedding video last night we got out our wedding china, the sparkling apple cider, and attempted to eat our 1 year old wedding cake... EWWWWW. Truthfully, I think Izzy was the only one who enjoyed it.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Here's to One Year, Dear!

I remember... coming down the isle, seeing you for the first time on our wedding day. You were crying. Your vibrant blue eyes were enriched by the red that surrounded them. You read to me your vows, I read you mine. We slipped rings on ring fingers, yours enscribed with "Us Against the World." We prayed, we cried. My veil was blowing in the wind, my flowers were perfect, and your chocolate brown tux looked stunning in the Autumn sunlight. We had a perfect sunset, to-die-for food, and an overall magical night.

But I would give it all up to have YOU, just you, for the rest of my life.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Progress and Quirks

I am extremely excited about my Limelight Hydrangea’s evolution over the last few weeks. I feel like a proud mother, disregarding the crunchy-yellow leaves at the bottom of the plant. I tend to kill things that grow from the ground (or in pots for that matter) but look at her go. I am hoping for some full-size poms by the end of fall; just one or two would do. Praise God for his beautiful creation and giving grace to the nurturer!!

On another leaf, the lovely Mrs. Lew tagged me to list 6 quirks about myself. (Upon reading I thought to myself 6, only 6?? Maybe I should list the 6 things that AREN’T quirky.) But here it goes.

Here are the rules:
Link the person who tagged you
Mention the rules on your blog
Tell about 6 quirks of yours
Tag 6 fellow bloggers of yours to do the same
Leave a comment to let them know

1.

I love to make lists. To-do lists mostly. There is just something so satisfying abou1. t crossing items off. However, many times I add things to my lists that I have already done just so I can cross them off. That way by the end of the day I have a full account of what I accomplished. At work, I even use a straight edge to cross off my items (I know I am crazy). Then my list looks pristine.

2. I HATE going to Wal-Mart. It seriously gives me anxiety just to think about it. We have a local IGA in the small town that we live in and I would rather spend double the money than step foot in that firestorm. Avoiding it altogether is virtually impossible, but I try to avoid it at all costs. I guess I am a boutique shopper.

3. When I clean I have to throw everything in the middle of the room and then reorganize it, piece by piece. This is only the case when things are REALLY BAD, which truthfully hasn’t happened since I got married. Maybe Matty has had an impact on me.

4. I rarely eat a real lunch. I tend to just snack during the day. Usually something like cheese and crackers, popcorn, or cookies hold me over until dinner. (This could partially be caused by the attention-seeking Izzy who hardly lets me sit down for 5 minutes over my lunch hour).

5. I am obsessive about washing kitchen rags/towels. After I use them once I can’t stand using them again. It makes for a whole lot more laundry, but in my opinion it is worth it.

6. I crack my neck and back A LOT. I know some people find it disgusting but I think it feels amazing. Matt swears he isn’t going to pop my back any more but somehow I get my way.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Happy First Day of Fall!

Here is a list of the ample justification in why I adore Fall (with my whole heart).
1. Of course there is this (happy almost anniversary my love.)

2. Delightful Autumn treats:

Carmel Apples

Candy Corn and Spanish Peanuts

3. Amazing Autumn outings with those you love.
4. Halloween
5. Hot Apple Cider6. Anything involving pumpkins.
Don't worry there will be many more Autumn favorites all Fall long...

Monday, September 15, 2008

Vintage Earrings

My vintage earrings from this adorable online shop came in the mail today (have I mentioned how much I love getting things in the mail?). I bought them in support of her recovery. I can't wait to wear them. Maybe I will don them on Matt and I's romantic anniversary getaway in a couple weeks (I think Stephanie would have liked that).

Thursday, September 11, 2008

To: My Izzy, My Girl.

Dear Izzy, You bring me so much joy.

I bet you didn't know that I really wanted a boy dog named Deacon.
But don't worry, because 4 months ago a little 8 week old girl puppy came into my life and she has become quite the companion. I love you because you lay in bed with me when Matt is away and you let me put my arm around you like a big fluffy (smelly) teddy bear. You are my pace setter on our morning runs (please stop pulling my arm off when a car drives by, thanks). You greet me at the door, everyday, without fail,adorned with licks, jumps and occasionally an excited tinkle. I have even become accustomed to you laying your (usually wet) chin on my lap whilst I use the facilities.

Thank you for not throwing up (forcing Matt to leap out of bed in the middle of the night and hold your head over the bathroom floor) for a couple days now. Do you feel better? I hope so. Truthfully it doesn't really matter, I'd mug on you anyway, even if you do eat your own vomit.

I still plan to take you to obedience class. Maybe then you will STOP barking at me when I brush my teeth & mawling everyone who comes through the door. I would really appreciate that.
Thanks for being so cute.
I love you

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Butterflies like this.

Thanks to the awesome "Plant Expert" and lots of sales at Prairie Gardens Matt and I got to exercise marital teamwork at its finest over labor day weekend. I don't even think dirt was flung.
He did the digging, I did the planting, Izzy did the barking.Now I just get to sit back and enjoy the butterflies who are enjoying my Limelight Hydrangea.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Love looks like this...

Love means a tray of homemade fettuccine, a blanket, a romantic veranda under a starlit sky (more like a concrete slab outside our back door), and spending time eating and canoodling on a perfectly chilly September evening.

I suggest you try my Mom's fettuccine and have a romantic rendezvous yourselves.

Fettuccine Alfredo

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 7/8 cup heavy cream (7 oz)
  • 1 pound fresh fettuccine
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus extra to
    serve
  • salt and pepper

put 5 oz. of cream in a large saucepan and melt butter

bring mixture to a boil over medium heat

reduce heat and simmer for 1 and a half minutes or until slightly
thickened

meanwhile bring lightly salted water to a boil and add
fettuccineand olive oil and cook until tender, but still slightly firm to the
bite

drain fettuccine

pour the cream and butter sause over fettucine noodles

add the remaining cream and parmesan.

(it actually calls for twice the ammount of sauce but my mom and I
liked it a little less thick)

Serve and Enjoy!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Day 6 and 7

By Thursday morning this was what we saw. My family decided that tropical storms are much like our blizzards in the Mid-West. Crazy winds, the shops and schools close, everyone is advised to stay indoors, etc. Although the weather was icky Matt and I decided to brave it. After much family deliberation we decided to leave on Thursday instead of Saturday. All of us were so sick of the howling wind and rain. Since Matt and I were back in town a full 2 DAYS before we planned we stayed with his parents Thursday and Friday night. We were both very excited to see Izzy who was staying at the there. I think she had a GREAT time with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson and of course Uncle Pat. Friday we headed to the Art Museum. (Below: Matt appreciating an ancient Chinese sculpture). Saturday we laid by the pool. Even though the trip was cut 3 days short by a stupid tropical storm we still had a fantastic time.
THE END!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Day 5

Kellen and the Chocolate factory.
On the second all-day-rainy-day we went to a local chocolate factory and went on a tour. They even gave us free chocolate at the end. I think that Kellen enjoyed it.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Day 4

I forgot to mention that on Monday night the whole bunch of us went out to dinner. While we were waiting for a table Florence Henderson walked right in front of me and said "excuse me" (you know the mom from the Brady Bunch?). It was CRAZY-COol. She was totally down to earth in her sweatshirt and jeans. She was out to eat with her grandchildren. I wish I was brave enough to ask her for her autograph.
Any way... on to DAY 4.
Tuesday morning we woke up to this.

Tropical Storm Faye decided to grace us with her presence early Tuesday morning. The employees at the resort tossed the lawn chairs into the pool, closed the pool deck, and locked the gates to the beach. In fact, just as I snapped the last of these images I was forced to leave the pool deck. I was thinking "come on people... this stupid storm has caused my 'beach' vacation to screech to a halt and I am not going to be in the middle of a tropical storm and NOT take her picture. Let a girl live a little.

After my dance with Faye, the fam decided to head to the indoor putt-putt course. Thank goodness for rainy-day activities right?

That night we celebrated my Mom's birthday. We practically risked our lives driving around town to find her a Coconut Cream pie while Dad kept her occupied back at the condo. I still haven't given her her gift, with good reason mind you (of course I can't discuss that here). It is coming soon Mom!

Although the wind was howling we stayed up way too late playing cards and watching the Olympics. Ahhh vacation. When will you visit me again?

:)