Pictures from This Week

I've really been enjoying the moments I'm capturing on my camera. I realize that I'm in a lot of the pictures this week, but that's an intentional move on my part. As much as I want pictures to document our life and moments as they are now, for years down the road when I'm showing my son what our family was like. I'd like to be in these pictures. I want my son to see what I looked like when he was just a year old. It's just a good reminder to step out from behind the camera every once in a while.

The best part is that all the pictures of me are accidents. They weren't planned, (even though they might look staged a bit), the moments were quite real. In return (thank you timer on my camera), I got some natural shots and expressions. The close up of me "Shadow" was one of those, point it at my face and click the button. It wasn't intended to make my "photo of the day." I wanted something more artsy than that, but it gave me a chance to play with Photoshop and I ended up really liking the result.

Anyways, here are the photos from the past few days!

"An Ordinary Moment"

"Two Things"

"Ready"

"Shadow"

Bonus Picture From the Week!!

This picture has absolutely no editing in it. It was another "mistake." I didn't even know what it was until I went searching through my pictures. This is my cat Ezra. Ezra is a girl and I think this picture is so beautiful of her. She's the sweetest cat I've ever had and hope to keep her around till I die. 

Just Playin' Around

I've really been working hard on my photography recently. I want my photos to be thoughtful and meaningful. I really want them to be pictures that will mean a lot to me in the future. My son is probably the most amazing and funny kid I know. He makes me laugh and melts my heart. As a result, he gets to be my little guinea pig :)

Looking for Daddy

Making those lips silky-smooth! 

Roast and Lazy Gravy

One day, a while back, I ran out of some ingredients I normally used for making my roast. I decided to just "Wing it" and make my roast with somewhat of the same ingredients as I normally make my turkey. It was such a hit! I actually have never gone back to making my roast the old way. There's just nothing better than a roast that's tender, juicy, and completely falling apart. It's the kind of roast that doesn't require a knife!! On top of this delicious hunk of meat, is the gravy that makes you think you've died and gone to heaven. The first question you'll ask yourself when you taste this meal?... Am I in paradise? And the answer is YES! Food Paradise, that is!

Here's how to make a little bit of heaven on your dinner plate:

Roast
1 1/2 T Seasoning Salt
1/2 T Onion Powder
1t Minced Onion (or more if you wish, I just happened to run out)
1/2 T Parsley
2t Black Pepper
Roast (The one I used was 3lbs)
Water

In a crock pot big enough to fit your roast, put the roast, seasoning salt, onion powder, minced onion, parsley, and black pepper. Add water until it completely covers the top of your roast. That's it!

Cook on high for 8-10 hours on high.

Note: I normally do just 8 hours, but every now and then we'll get caught somewhere unable to come home on time. I added the "to Ten" hours because the roast is still amazing and not dried out at that time. So don't fret if something prevents you from getting to it at 8 hours.

Lazy Gravy
** Do not start making this until AFTER the roast is done!
Juice/Water from the Roast
Flour

After your roast is done , ladle out as much of the "juice" as you'll want gravy, into a small pot. Cooking this over medium high heat, whisk in flour by the TABLESPOON. Add a few tablespoons of flour at first. Once the gravy starts to boil, it will start to thicken. Add flour until you reach the desired consistency for your gravy.

Breakfast Burritos

Every now and then I get a craving for McDonald's Breakfast Burritos. It's a crazy craving for me because I used to work for McDonalds and pretty much think the idea of getting a breakfast burrito from them to be pretty nauseating. So... one night, I decided to make my own breakfast burrito. I think the real key to these ones are to BAKE them. They're amazing when they're a bit crispy rather than soggy. There's a real taste difference!

The recipe I came up with turned out to be the MOST AMAZING breakfast burritos I've ever had. It's true people, homemade trumps store bought every time! Give it a try! Enjoy!

Breakfast Burritos
16 oz Breakfast Sausage
1/2 cup Onion
1/2 cup Green Pepper
1/2 cup Picante Sauce
8 Eggs
1 Cup of Milk
1 1/2-2 cups of Shredded Cheese
12 Tortilla Shells
American Cheese slices (or more shredded cheese)

Preheat the oven to 350*

Brown the Breakfast Sausage. Add the onion and green pepper, cook until they are soft. When it's done cooking, add the sausage mixture, Picante sauce, and half the shredded cheese to a large bowl.

In the same pan that you browned the sausage in, combined the eggs and the milk and stir until you have made scrambled eggs. Make sure that they're done. They'll be a nice, light and fluffy consistency. When done, add the scrambled eggs and remaining shredded cheese to the bowl with the sausage mixture. Mix everything together.

Take a slice of cheese, split it in half and place it in a line on a tortilla. Spoon on the sausage and egg mixture. Fold up the tortilla and place in a pan.

Bake for 5-10 minutes or until the shells are slightly crispy.

** Note: I baked only five burritos for the husband and myself. The rest I didn't bake and I wrapped them up in plastic wrap to put in the freezer.
** If frozen, bake at 350* for 20-30 minutes or until the tortilla is crispy. It's recommended to flip the burrito over halfway through baking.

Photo A Day

There was one time I was meeting with a few of my friends and we were talking about each other's strengths. They told me that I'm a "Surger." This means that I have moments when I'm really excited and passionate about something, and then it slows down, and then I find a new thing to be excited and passionate about and I continue this cycle. I'd say it's pretty accurate. Everything in my life seems to happen in seasons. In one season I'm super crazy excited about photography, then it's cooking, then it's something else. 

Recently, I've been working on my photography. I'd like to one day go into business doing it, but I really don't think I'm good enough to do a business yet. Which means, it's time to practice. I've so enjoyed doing this Photo A Day type challenge. Well, for me it's a pretty big challenge. This is the specific challenge I've been doing. Since I discovered this a few days into the new year, I just started on the day and didn't feel the need to catch up. There's no need to stress myself on this :)

Here are my results:

View from Here

Movement

Mine

Street

Something beginning with "T"

Paper

One O'Clock

Water

Surprise
** It was a surprise that he climbed up on the chair all by himself.

Circle

Yellow

My goal is to make it through January with this photo a day thing, but I'd love to do it for a whole year straight. I've so enjoyed taking these pictures so far. Some of them really surprise me with how great they look. It helps that my subjects are so handsome! :)