Tuesday's Top 5

Bet you think you know what this week's Top 5 is going to be, don't you? Bet you think it's going to be the Top 5 things I'm thankful for. Well, if you think that you are wrong. Do you seriously expect me to narrow it down to only 5 things that I am thankful for? Psshaw! I am way more blessed than that. No siree, Bob. Not gonna do it. But what I am gonna do is something just as good (and much more yummy):

MY TOP 5 FAVORITE THANKSGIVING DISHES

(You so didn't see that coming, did you?)

5. Dad's Gross Salad. Here's the thing about Dad's Gross Salad. It is not made by my dad. It is not gross. And it is not really a salad. Dad's Gross Salad is more of a fruity, jelloey, cream cheesey concoction created by my husband's aunt's boyfriend (got that?). The only thing is, his kid's all hate it (hence the Dad and the Gross part). Good thing he hooked up with our family, though, because we all think Dad's Gross Salad is da tastiest!

4. The Cake. What? Cake for Thanksgiving? Aren't you supposed to eat Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie and Apple Pie? What are you unAmerican? Well, I'll admit those are the tradish Thanksgiving desserts and you are supposed to eat those things if you eat pie. Me? I'm not so big on the pie, so I personally take it upon myself to make sure that there is a non-pie (preferably chocolate based) dessert at every Thanksgiving. Purely selfish reasons, really. One of my favorite choices is "the Cake," a delightful boxed cake concoction suupped up with sour cream, pudding, and chocolate chips to make it extra dense, then topped with cream cheese icing for that extra layer of diabetes. Mmmmm.....

3. Casserole. Any casserole really. For me casserole (or hot dish if you're from Minnesota, where I'll be spending turkey day) = Family Gathering. And while I'm quite sure the pilgrims did not have broccoli casserole at the first Thanksgiving, I'm equally sure that if they had tasted the broccoli casserole recipe perfected by my relatives in Fort Meade they would have made several trays worth of it. Thankfully, I am not a pilgrim, and therefore will be working my way through a casserole or two on Thursday (and probably Friday).

2. Mashed Potatoes. Let's face it. Thanksgiving is all about the carbs. Turkey? Sure, turkey gets an honorable mention, but you know it's the carbs you're really wearing those stretchy pants for, and mashed potatoes are like the piece de resistance of carbs. Make sure you throw real cream and butter in with them and maybe some chives and sour cream. Don't forget the salt. Remember, elastic is your friend!

1. Daniel Family Cornbread Dressing. This last thing is very special. It is not just any Thanksgiving dressing (by the way, do not even mention the phrase "sage dressing" in my presence). This is the Daniel Family Secret Recipe Cornbread Dressing. Like, if I told you the recipe I'd either have to kill you or marry you, kind of recipe. Handed down from my great grandmother to my grandfather to my mother and now to my husband (now you know why we got married), this recipe is so so special, and I've never met anyone who doesn't love it. But don't ask me for the recipe. It won't end well for you.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Don't forget to take stock of what you're thankful for!

The Freshest Newborn on the Block ~ Schaumburg Baby Photographer

How long is a baby a newborn? In the real world, at least a month or two, right? In photography, though, the window is very short. Newborns make the best models within their first two weeks of life, and at six days old, this little guy was easily the "freshest" baby I've seen to date. And didn't he do a great job? Sleepy, squishy, and oh so sweet!

Aside from being so fresh and new, Baby Colin has a lot else going for him; not the least of which is the oodles and noodles of love he's got coming from his parents, and from his "Auntie Em," who gave Colin's parents this newborn shoot as a gift.

(I'm a gift! HOW TOTALLY FREAKING COOL IS THAT?!?!?)

Yep, Baby Colin is off to a pretty fantastic start in the world, which is good because he's going to have to do something to make up for being a Bears fan. (Oh yeah. I went there.) Thanks, Colin for letting me stick you in a helmet. And thanks Colin's family for the honor of capturing Day Six!

What to Wear Wednesday ~ Senior

Teenagers, and high school seniors in particular, are a lot of fun to shoot because they are so young and fresh and stylish. Part of the fun of a senior shoot is getting to create several different wardrobe options with them, complete with outrageous accessories like cowboy boots and high high heels. Oh to be 18 again.....

Who can resist a little more Christmas?

As Max would say, "Not meeee!"

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!! ~ Libertyville Baby Photographer

At least, it was looking that way at my house this morning when six-month-old Noah came to see me. He was such a sweet baby and totally rocked his session even though we were so intruding on his nap time. We got some non-Christmas stuff in there too, but I'm just in love with these first holiday shots!

Thanks for bringing Noah out to see me. It was a privilege to capture his six-month milestone!

What to Wear Wednesday

One thing I hear a lot is "I'm thinking about what we should wear, but I'm not sure. I want to coordinate but not be matchey-matchey."

I totally hear you! Most importantly, I think you should be comfortable and confident in whatever you're wearing, and your wardrobe should complement the setting. But still, a little visual guidance is always nice. Here are a couple of ideas for a family look that coordinates without being too match-tastic.

Tuesday's Top 5

The hubs turned 35 last week. He's so old. And this year he took a page out of my book and stretched the birthday celebration out for at least a week. I had intended to post this Top 5 last week to go with the birthday revelry, but in the spirit of stretching things out, we might as well keep on celebrating today. Sooooooooo...........

THE TOP 5 REASONS I HEART MY HUSBAND

5. He got me my first DSLR camera. I'm pretty sure he did it just to shut me up about wanting it, and I'm quite certain he didn't know what he was getting us all into when he bought it. But he did and the rest is history (or picstory? Bwahahaha!)

4. He is passionate. Sure, a lot of the time this manifests itself in a tv remote thrown across the room during a Vikings game, but his passion transfers into other, more positive channels as well. Like spending time with our families. Adventuring around the world. Raising our child in faith. Certain political parties taking back the House. Keeping our house clean (have I mentioned that I never have to vacuum?). And maintaining important personal convictions, like: Disney beats Universal, Coke beats Pepsi, Oh Holy Night beats Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, and Oatmeal Creme Pies beat Swiss Cake Rolls (not so much that one, actually, but you get the picture).

3. He has been known to let me sleep late (on occasion). He does his own laundry. Irons his own clothes. Unloads the dishwasher. Puts the toilet seat down. Pays the bills. AND he takes out the trash. Oh and did I mention about the vacuuming?

2. He loves me. He LOVES me. He loves ME. Suh-weet!.

1. He is the BEST dad. I mean the best best best dad. The saturday-morning-cartoons, wrestling-match-in-the living-room, read-a-bedtime-book, give-me-another-hug, don't-tell-mom-we-had-taco-bell-for-dinner type dad. The let's-watch-football, make-mom-breakfast-in-bed, carve-a-pumpkin, fix-a-boo-boo, snuggle-together type dad. The best dad. And I am a lucky mom to have him by my side.

Pumpkin Carving Time

Just sharing a few of me with the fam jam. Lovin' these pumpkins!

Tuesday's Top 5

THE TOP 5 REASONS THERE IS NO TUESDAY'S TOP 5 TODAY


5. I am lame.

4. I took Monday off work, so this is technically like Monday for me.

3. I got up really early to go vote today and am, therefore, too tired to be witty.

2. I am crazy busy at work (the real job) right now.

1. I am crazy busy editing all of those beautiful people I've photographed over the last month, and I figure you'd rather have your gallery than a moderately insightful and barely useful list from me.


Forgive me? Next week. I promise. Muah!


Maybe I need some place quiet like this to write next week's list: