thanks rachel!

So my great friend Rachel from RLR Photography took some pictures of Ridge when we were in Alabama for my bro in-laws college graduation. Its been a few months since they were taken but I just wanted to share.

He just turned 7 months in these pictures and here a some of my favorites...

where have I been?

So I have falling off the face of the blog world so I just wanted to say hi and hopefully I am back. Here is a picture from about a month ago of Ridge and I. Its not the best pic of me but I just wanted to share. He has changed so much since then but he is still the cutest little man ever. He has so many teeth and is saying mama, which I just love!

We have a busy weekend ahead and hopefully I will post some pics next week. Happy Memorial Day to everyone!

Yum-o Peanut Butter Cups

Yesterday was Daniel's birthday and he asked for nothing big so I decided to make his favorite candy of all... Peanut Butter Cups! It was a labor of love but Ridge and I enjoyed every finger licking minute, well I did but Ridge liked watching. All I have to say is chocolate is one messy ingredient! I used a recipe I found via design sponge and I modified it just a smidge. I used 4 cups of milk chocolate chips instead of 3 cups of bittersweet chocolate.

the ingredients

1 :: melt half the chocolate in a double boiler

2 :: all melted! getting ready to paint the inside of the paper cups

3 :: be generous with the chocolate, this is where it becomes a labor of love! I used a spoon and a pastry brush.
when done, refrigerate while mixing the peanut butter

4 :: after mixing the peanut butter mixture, spoon in equal amounts into chilled cups

5 :: repeat the double boiler step with the other half of chocolate, spoon over the cups and chill for 1 hour

Happy Birthday! He is excited to take a bite...

yum-o! He loved them... look at all that peanut butter

I am always excited to see someone dig into a treat I made just for them. Daniel really enjoyed his peanut butter cup and needed a huge glass of milk to go with it. These babies are not for the weak hearted, they are really rich but super delicious!

I just love birthdays...

Rifle Paper Co. in Martha Stewart Living

So I received my May issue of Martha Stewart Living, probably my favorite magazine I take and was so happy to see Rifle Paper Co. featured. Anna, owner/ designer for Rifle created a wonderful suite for the book themed baby shower. The entire shower is too cute and would love to have a book themed shower for my next little one, whenever that happens... You want to know the best part? You can download the suite for free via Martha Stewart.

image via Martha Stewart

featured artist :: Greg Davis International Photographer

While at the Bayou City Art Festival I met a photographer that happens to be friends with my mom. If you didn't know, my mom sells nutcrackers at shows around the southeast. She is The Nutcracker Lady and meets all kinds of great people.

Greg Davis is the featured artist this week and I hope you enjoy his photos as much as I did. He has a wonderful story of how he got started and I was thrilled that he took the time to share it with me.

Talking with Greg was great, not only did he take beautiful photographs and travel the world, he is now a National Geographic Photographer. Let me tell you, I never thought I would actually meet a photographer for National Geographic, let alone a friend of my moms.

Here a some of his work and please check out his website Greg Davis Photography. All images of course were taken by him... enjoy!

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Spain

Mexico

Veitnam

The photos taken in Papua New Guinea are my favorite if I had to choose some. He has a way of capturing people that makes you feel like you understand the complexity of their lives. Don't you feel like you are connecting with the subjects? Including the dog?

You can order prints or check out many more photos on his website

kate spade wedding belles collection

Introducing Kate Spade's Wedding Belles Collection. It features everything you need for the big day and I must say, I love everything about it. Here are just a few of the beautiful things...

Wedding Belles Elenore Dress

Sea Glass Twisted Statement Necklace

Charm

[all images from katespade.com]

featured artist :: Bayou City Art Festival

A few weekends ago I went with my sister, mom, and niece to the Bayou City Art Festival here in Houston. It was refreshing to see such creativity in all mediums of the art world. Many artist were local but a lot came from all over the nation. A few of my favorites were Greg Davis Photography, Blake Street Glass Studio, Kathleen Green, Deckas Pottery, Augusta Glass Studio, Cater Pots, Newbury Wooden Toys, J. Stirling Barrett Photography, and DiStefano. There were so many more artist featured so please visit their website here to find out more.

Here are a few pics from the weekend...

Ridge :: 6 months

I am completely shocked that Ridge is already 6 months old. Time has flown by and he has changed so much since he was born. He is almost sitting up on his own, rolling all over the place, loves to eat, loves his dog, has his two bottom teeth, and is already saying "dada". Here are a few pictures from this past month...

Check out those muscles

Hanging with Uncle Tommy and Aunt Catherine in Austin

Future Auburn Tiger, he loves his Aubie

Stroud giving him kisses

So here's to the next 6 months. I am looking forward to what he's going to be up to!

featured artist :: Bridget Russell

I decided that I would like to do a weekly post entitled "featured artist". Art is so subjective and its always interesting to hear/see a different perspective on complex or common subjects. So to kick things off I am going to start with Bridget Russell.

Bridget is a Memphis, Tennessee based artist and a great friend of mine from college. She graduated from Auburn with a BFA and I must say, is one of the best artist I know, in my biased opinion. She has a way to create such vibrant paintings using oils, a difficult feat for me personally and is not afraid to work on a massive scale. I love that her series reflect normal tasks that we do day to day and don't pay much attention to. I was happy to receive one of her paintings as a wedding gift ( I believe it was her first in the Subconscious Series she did in college) and it hangs proudly over my dining room table, it is a great conversation piece.

Here are a few of her pieces, enjoy!

From the Ordinary Time Series 2010-2011

One o' One PM
42" x 60" mixed media on panel 2010

Two PM
24" x 18" acrylic/watercolor on paper 2011

Noon
48" x 36" oil on panel 2010

From the Subconscious Series 2007-2009

Twelve Twenty-Three PM
72" x 72" oil on canvas 2007

Nine Thirteen AM
36" x 36" acrylic/watercolor on paper 2008

Ten Fifty-Four AM
60" x 40" acrylic/watercolor on paper 2007

Please visit her website bridgetrussell.com to see all of her work. She would love for you to check it out and to hear from you!

[all images from bridgetrussell.com]

Under construction...

this time for real, i am working on some changes to my blog so bear with me! Thanks and Happy weekend

a day of silence

Please take a moment to pray for the people of Japan. They need our prayers and support during this time of suffering.

[via forjapanwithlove]
[via utterlyengaged]
[via ever-ours]

bikes!

So every year I tell my hubs that I want a bike either for Christmas or my birthday. Since Christmas has already past and no bike appeared this year I am asking to get one for my birthday. I have spotted a few over the years but this year I would love one of these...

[via bikesdirect.com]

Check out this beauty, the 2012 Windsor Essex Deluxe Bike. She comes in cream and that is my color of choice. All she needs is a little basket attached to the front and I will be ready to hit the grocery store to pick up a few things.

[via madsencycles.com]

WOW! I am loving this Madsen kg271 Bucket Bike. I can see Ridge riding in the bucket clutching a picnic basket filled with delicious goodies... too bad its a bit to pricey for this lady but wouldn't it be awesome.

Design Sponge has posted about bikes today but there is a past post, bike madness, that is all about bikes and their accessories. It's worth checking out if you are wanting to get some wheels for the summer time!

tasty tacos

In my family taco night is a pretty big deal. Not only do we fry our own shells we usually make a bunch of tasty sides as well. My grandmother has taught the entire family well so I am happy to share with you taco night Daniel and I had the other night. We had spanish rice, grandmother's recipe along with homemade fried shells. I would have loved to had beans but the hubs isn't into them so they didn't make an appearance, but over all it was yummy!

This week I am heading to Birmingham for one of my great friends wedding so I will not be around. Have a great week! Until next time...

It's Rodeo time

This weekend is the start of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The bbq cook-off is what gets it started and my hubs and I couldn't be more excited. The rodeo was a huge part of my life growing up so I am ready to be a part of it again. We are heading out with the little man on Saturday to see the sites and enjoy some bbq.

This is not your ordinary rodeo, this is the world's largest livestock exhibition and one of the best ways to experience Houston. Not only does the community get involved by volunteering on different committees (shout out to the Rabbit Committee), Rodeo Houston is the opportunity for young people to receive scholarships and further education. This year it starts March 1 and runs through March 20. Check out their website hlsr.com for a lot more that I didn't mention and see the line-up of country artist coming this year, I'm going to Rascal Flatts!

In honor of the rodeo I wanted to share the delicious pulled pork my hubs made this past weekend. Since we have lived in Texas he has been missing his beloved pulled pork bbq from Alabama and has been wanting to make some himself. I must say, it was so delicious and I am super impressed with his bbq skills. Here is a step by step of what he did...

1 :: brine overnight

2 :: add the rub

3 :: smoke on the pit for hours

4 :: pull the pork

5 :: eat!

Way to go Daniel, it was awesome and I am looking forward to many more of you pulled pork sandwiches. I hope yall have a great weekend... I know I will!