Food Gawker

Food Gawker...have you heard?? LOVE this website!  I have made many many things off of this site in the last month and everything has been fabulously delish!!  I found the site through Pinterest (that's another post in itself)....

http://foodgawker.com/

Smiling

Hi!  Happy Sunday!  Today I am smiling.  I have been all sorts of lazy today which is totally against my work-aholic attitude.  I feel like I deserve it.  I am almost caught up with my photo sessions!  I have 2 weddings left to edit from this fall and a couple of portrait sessions I am waiting to hear back on as far as client edit choices but thats it!  YAY!  I have been staying extra focused and motivated to edit 2 or more sessions on normal work days and it has payed off.  This week I have 2 senior girl shoots which I am so excited about!  I love love love LOVEEEE working with seniors!

So yes...here I sit smiling.  Because I am caught up, I am healthy, I feel loved, and I have a large cup of my current obsession sitting in front of me.  A peppermint mocha.  I am in love!  And have probably had 15 of them in the last 3 weeks.  I hope your day is as blissful as mine!

My friend Kandis of of Wish Photography took this photo of me last weekend and I edited it!  We had all sorts of fun.  Hadn't seen her in 3 months.  We laughed a lot.  I am so fortunate to have her as a friend! 

happy monday friends!!  what a crazy week I had last week!  my dad and a friend came in the thursday before last from my hometown in iowa to hunt elk and after they both had a success last sunday, they spent a majority of their time with me.  they put me to work with packaging the meat, making arrangements to buy a freezer, picking apples and pears to take back to Iowa, going out for breakfasts, and visiting pawn shops.  on top of that I have 5 shoots and a rummage sale to prepare for and carryout!  it was the busiest week i've had in a long time to say the least but it was so nice to have my dad here.  still crossing my fingers that he'll retire and move to utah one day! :)  today I am trying to catch up on email and getting orders processed.  i am behind because of last week and feeling so overwhelmed.  i wanted to take a quick sec though and at least leave a small, more so, un-interesting post (ha) because i made a vow to get better at this.  even if my life is boring and "un-interesting" i still want to record things here and there with hopes that once in a while i'll have more exciting things to talk about.  :)

wanted to share this amazing artist i stumbled upon a few weeks ago.  this song is so sassy and although it may not explain my life at the moment, i still love it for her beautiful voice and amazing skills on the piano.  it makes me mad that i quit piano years back.  maybe one day i'll pick it up again.  i can still read music and play basics, just not as fast as i used to.

Love my job

i loveee shooting and working with couples!  is it apparent??  i'm not sure who reads this blog of mine but if you need some photos with your hubby or have a friend who does, please contact me!  i'll travel anywhere in utah, go back to the midwest quite a bit, and would love to book your destination wedding!

Insanity

so i recently jumped on the insanity train and holy hell....i am so sore!  i am on my 5th day today as far as the workouts go.  i wanted to start last week but was so sick and almost coughed up a lung doing the fit test so i decided to wait until this week.  i did however start following the nutrition plan last week and am already noticing a difference in how much energy i have and how i feel.  not a diet, a nutrition plan.  its so easy.  5 meals a day that are around 300 calories.  all very tasty and easy to make.  lots of whole grains.  i have thought for the last year that it was a gluten issue that i have but maybe not.  i have felt fabulous for the last 2 weeks.  i have eaten so many veggies and am so happy about it!  

back to the sore part.  so yeah!  ouch!  i hate my life during the workout but feel so good after.  i haven't sweat this much since high school basketball.  if you know me, you know that i'm not really a "sweater" but this workout proves different.  as of now i would recommend it but only if you are serious.  it's hard.  you will want to quit. i dread doing it.  but after 4 years of being miserable about my weight, its time.  thankfully i have a hubby on board the fitness train as well.  he and i bought a gym membership on july 3rd and have been going. has been working out like a mad man.  in a little over 10 weeks he has lost 40lbs.  i know.  nuts!  he looks so great and feels so good about himself.  its so much easier when you have someone to help push you.  i'm excited to see some changes and am looking forward to a continued "more healthy" lifestyle.  

to find out more about the insanity workout, check out this link to for more info:

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/insanity.do

i am the worlds most horrible blogger...

...seriously!  as much as i want to blog, i never have the time.  i need to make myself find the time.  i want to write down memories, or in this case blog them, so i can keep them forever and ever.  time is flying.  its been over a year since i've even posted.  how stinkin sad is that?? i cannot believe how fast this year has flow!  it feels like new years eve was just a few weeks ago when in reality it was more than 9 months ago!  heres to (crossing my fingers) trying to get better!

today is my birthday.  i am 28 today and i am happy.  my life is so wonderful and so beautiful.  i can't complain about a thing.  except that i had more time in a day.  but who doesn't wish that.  i am healthy.  i have amazing family and friends who i love.  i have the worlds most incredible husband.  i am busy with photography--very--.  and i am seriously so so happy.  i have a lot on my plate but my stress levels are a lot lower than they were last year...even though i have much more going on.  i've grown so much since turning 27.  i've embraced the fact that i am not a "business minded person" but i work on it every day.  i push to improve artistically and try new things behind the lens.

here's to another year of a fabulous life.  and working hard to keep up with this blog!  happy friday and happy birthday to me!


xo-  amy

I can't lie....

I cheated...this last weekend. At my brother in laws surprise birthday party. I love love LOVE chips and salsa. A few of those turned into a hamburger--NO bun though, then a couple of bites of pasta salad, then a piece of cake. Shame on me I know!!! I paid for it too. I didn't lose over a period of 3 days. Ask me how disappointed I am in myself. VERY! Since Saturday I've had quite a few instances in the last couple of days that I've been surrounded my sweets and other tempting food. But I've said NO. I've been good. Shoot, I even made Tony crepes with brown sugar syrup for breakfast the other morning-one of my favs-and I didn't have one bite.

So just to check in, my weight today is at 167.4.

Also wanted to share a recipe that I made last night for dinner.

3.5 ounces of chicken breast
3.5 ounces of bell peppers-any color-I like red and yellow
McCormicks Southwest Seasoning
Franks Red Hot Sauce to Taste

Cut up the chicken and peppers into chunks, sprinkle with the seasoning, and cook on the grill. I just used the George Foreman. Then I put it in a bowl and dripped some Frank's over top of it. Delicious!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Day 5

Yesterday was super easy! Except for when my hubby came home from work and made a chili dog. Never in my life have I had my mouth water over a chili dog...but yesterday felt like I had a water spout attached to the roof of my tongue. I cured the cravings though by making chicken with Frank's Red Hot Sauce on it. YUM!! Franks is great because there are no carbs, sugar, and 0 calories! Yes zero!!! I love spicy stuff and Franks is perfect because its not blistering hot!

Yesterdays lunch consisted of lemon peppered shrimp I grilled on the foreman and put over top of lettuce with balsamic vinegar. Delish! I have been pounding the coffee this morning to keep my stomach filled up.

I probably won't share my weight every day...but today I am down a bit.

Down is good right?

169.2

Whoopiee!!!

Ultimately I'd like to be at around 155. For my height and age, its a very healthy weight. Being 5'10'' doesn't mean I need to weigh 180.

Stay tuned as the battle to fight off chocolate m&m's and buttery carbs continues.

Ive gotten quite a bit of grief from people already in the last day, but again, its my body right? Not that I plan to stick to a 500 calorie diet forever, but I feel this is a great way to get into the habit of portion control.

My Battle With Vanity

Weight! Every girl has some problem with it. Mine being like most girls is the fact that I feel like I carry way too much of it! I want to lose about 15 lbs. Easier said then done right?

My senior year of college I lost 30lbs no prob. Healthy eating, switched to diet pop, and cut out beer. I barely even exercised! Well I gained it back after about a year. Tony and I moved to Ohio for my job. I was super sad, homesick, worked around 60 hrs a week, and large meals around 10 and 11 at night, and basically ate like a HOG! I lost around 12 of it for my wedding. Then gained it back! Seriously??

A couple of months ago I was introduced to the HCG diet. For those of you HCG hatters, don't even begin to lecture me on it. I'm sure that some day it will be linked back to cancer or something but what hasn't??? It's MY body right? And I know that if I exercised and ate right I could lose it the normal way. I though, am the type of person who craves instant gratification. If I don't see results right away I quit. And this diet produces results RIGHT away. I have a handful of friends and family members who have done it and have kept it off.

The first time I did the diet I lost 14lbs in 21 days...and gained 6 back. Mostly because I cheated during the maintenance stage. So here I am again. At a healthier weight but wanting to lose more. I want to fit into all of my old fall and winter clothes. Including jeans. This time I am DETERMINED. I am on day 4 and its been so much easier the 2nd time. But because I am determined and really really want to do this, I am going to hold myself accountable by blogging. By letting all of you follow me in the next couple of weeks to make sure I stay on track.

So day 1 and 2 consists of taking the drops and loading up. I did that this past weekend. Lots of naughty wedding cake, some beers, lots of cheese, and lots of corn casserole! For the next 14 days I'll follow a very STRICT 500 calorie per day diet. The diet consists of lean meats such as chicken, shrimp, and a steak here and there as well as fruits and vegetables. I can drink all of the black coffee, water, and tea that I want.

So here it goes...never thought I'd give out this info...my starting weight on the first day of drops was 173. Yikes!!! I know!!! As of this morning I am down to 170. Each day Ill continue to weigh myself and fill you in on whats for dinner! :) Wish me luck!

Train - Something More

I have been loving all of the new music Train has been coming out with but in turn those songs have pushed me to go back and dig up some old goodies. I ♥ this song. Happy Wednesday!

If...

If I was a season, I’d be fall.
If I was a piece of furniture, I'd be a vintage red couch
If I was a country, I'd be italy
If I was a food, I'd be a sugar cookie


If I was a flower, I'd be a ranunculus rose
If I was a song, I'd be Adele- "to make you feel my love"
If I was an instrument, I'd be an acoustic guitar
If I was a color, I'd be yellow
If I was a letter, I'd be a love letter
If I was a book, I'd be "firefly lane"
If I was a time of day, I'd be dusk-- warm and golden
If I was a drink, I'd be limeade


If I was a holiday, I'd be halloween


If I was a store, I'd be a consignment shop


If I was a word, I'd be passionate
If I was a person, I’d be me
If I could know the future, I'd want to see all of my dreams come true


I saw this darling idea on a friends blog .....
If you could be anything what would you be.


xoxo
{A}

Small Town USA

So I'm sitting here listening to a country radio station on Padora and "Small Town USA" by Justin Moore comes on. I know its been on the radio for a while and I've always liked it, but this song just earned itself a new meaning in my heart.

How true, at least from my perspective. And after living in Omaha for years, I swore I'd never go back to a small town...like EVER! But now living in one again, my thoughts are different. Even as I sit here at my dad's dinning room table editing my heart out, back in my small HOMEtown, I am content. Their is a big bay window for me to watch the street. An older man has ridden by on his bicyle a couple of times per day for the last few days. He looks happy. Cars putz along rather than fly by. The Zahnley boys next door keep us entertained, mostly during meal times. Two typical young brothers. The younger one pesters the heck out of his big brother but it makes me smile because it totally reminds me of Katie and I when we were growing up. Growing up right here in this house.

And now I have made my own home, in a small town, that I swore I'd never live in. And I don't know if I could go back to a big city again. Maybe the outskirts of one, but not the heart of it. I can't wait to raise a family in a small town, like how Tony and I both grew up.

One of the lines from the song says "Give me a Saturday night my baby by my side, a little Hank Jr. and a six pack of light, an old dirt road, and I'll be just fine." This is my life now. With my baby by my side. So maybe not Hank Jr...we prefer Brooks & Dunn's classic hits CD. Usually IT IS light beer when we drink, and the dirt road is more of a campsite for us. I'm smiling as I type this, Internet, and I know that we'll be just fine. I love my life right now. I wouldn't change one single thing.

Recipe: Black Bean Brownies

I am not lying when I tell you that this is the easiest pan of brownies you will make. But, if you are the type that likes the really crispy corners, ya know the type of person who bought that "all corners" pan from an infomercial, then you probably won't like these. They are the most moist, chocolatey heaven I have ever experienced!

What you need:

One box of brownie mix (any brand), I go with the low fat

One can of black beans

1 Cup of water

Directions:

Rinse and drain the black beans. Poor them in a blender with the cup of water and mash up until you've got a runny mixture.

Grease a regular baking dish (I think glass is easier clean up) and pour the mixture into the pan. Follow the directions on the brownie box for temperature and bake time.

THAT'S IT! No eggs, oil, etc!

Bet ya can't have just one! Enjoy!

Ashley's Bachelorette Party

I had an amazing time a few weekends ago with the girls in KC. Another big reason I came back to the Midwest is because my friends Ashley and Drew got married! YAY! More on the wedding day to come. Until then here are some fun shots from KC. What a super fun night! Ashley wore a pretty purple dress and everyone else black. We went to the Power and Light District in downtown KC. It takes up at least 2 blocks if not more with bars surrounding the entire outside of the block(s) with a huge dance floor in the middle. Basically you walk out of the back door at any of the bars and there you are!

The BEAUTIFUL bride!


It was so good for me emotionally to surround myself with some of my bestests and grow closer to those who I didn't know as well. Love my girly friends. This little trip made me realize how much I miss them but how lucky I am being able to come back. Bliss!!!

OneRepublic

I think I'm going to have to buy their new album. I heard this song yesterday, and I like all of the others too, and I feel in love. The lyrics are great and the orchestra music at the end melts my heart. I also adore the voice of the lead. So unique. Just wanted to share! I have a whirlwind of a weekend planned. 1 photoshoot tomorrow, 4 on Sunday, and one from last night. I am a busy girl! Happy Friday!!!