Crafts

Jeanna from Jeanna Hayes Studios

– I am not a great writer (that’s why I’m using bullet points!).

– I love dry humor.

– I sleep with the UGLIEST blanket known to man. It has a bright rainbow pattern on one side, and an “ABC” pattern on the other. But it is the most comfortable thing I’ve ever touched. I stole it from my husband when we got married, and I’ll probably sleep with it until I’m 90.

– I’m very sentimental.

– I love photographing shoes, but have no interest in them at all other than that. I hate the shoe section. I only shoe shop when I HAVE to. When I meet someone, it doesn’t even occur to me to look at their shoes!

– I sing the harmony, not the melody.

– I’m not a good actress. I wear my heart on my sleeve and probably spill too much information sometimes.

– I laugh LONG after the “moment” is over. When everyone is done laughing and has moved on… I’m still going! It can get a little embarrassing. Everyone’s looking at me like, “Ummm, it’s over.”

– I get along with people who don’t take themselves too seriously.

– No matter how much I love when other people wear nice things (and plan on getting cute outfits myself), I will always feel like “me” in jeans and a solid shirt.

– I adore seafood. And if anyone can tell me of a place here in Vegas that has great clam chowder, I’d love you forever!

– I constantly feel like everyone else in the world has their act together more than I do.

– My husband and I fell in love through letters. Old-fashioned, snail mail letters.

– I have two beautiful children who look exactly like my husband. If I wasn’t there when I had them, I’d wonder if I was really their mother!

– I’d rather be surrounded by a beautiful garden, than the beach.

– I love reading stuff like this about others! 🙂

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I have to say that I am the luckiest girl in the world!!  Jeanna is a true friend who I cherish dearly.  She has such an amazing talent for photography… I just wish I had half of her talent.  You MUST go to her site and go through all of her amazing work, especially the Love is in the Details field trip and last years Sugar & Spice field trip! I look forward to MANY more years of fun collaborations with her along with some FUN girls nights out!!!

I had the out of this world opportunity to help {a very tiny bit… but I got to assist the true geniuses} with the Jeanna Hayes School of Photography Field Trip styled by Susanne Johnson from She Paperie a few weeks ago and thought it was high time to share all the fun…

The theme was {Love is in the Detail} and it truly is!!

How do you like the garlands?  Those where one of my tiny details… the rest was designed by the aaaamazingly talented stylist, Suzanne Johnson from She Paperie. This woman is a pure genius!!

There were several stations set up all with a little piece of the overall theme.  Click on the following links to see Jeanna’s amazing photographs from the field trip… mine truly don’t do it justice!!

• Addicted to Love and Details
• P.S. I love you
• Love in Bloom
• Love makes the world go round
• Labor of Love and Love Letters
• Love Bug

Just in case you want more… here are some more of my photos!

Here is another of my tiny contributions… Rosemary & Sea Salt Rolls in a Jar {I’ll have the secret to this little gem soon!}

We even had fabulous models who were just stunning and so fun to work with!

aaahhhh and the flowers, I can’t say enough about the flowers… they were heavenly!  The brilliant artist behind this work is Kylee from Stylish Stems here in Las Vegas.

Aren’t they divine?!

This Love Bug could quite possibly be the icing on the cake!

Isn’t it all so luscious?! I will have the recipe for my rolls and a tutorial for the garlands in the next few days.  They were soooo fun to make and I have to say… I was truly honored to be asked to participate!  Stop by this afternoon… you may have a chance to learn more about one of these amazing ladies, Suzanne or Jeanna!  You’ll have to some back to see who…

In honor of her birthday {all be it a day late} here is the fabulous Lara from Less Cake {More Frosting}…

Well gosh. That’s kind of the million dollar question….isn’t it? I think it’s a lifelong search, that comes in pieces as we age and experience life.

It can’t really be taught.

It can certainly be ignored, if you choose to disregard the clues.

But answering that question is probably the quest of most people.

And certainly a quest I have been on, and will be on, for some time.

• I am a woman. Most definitely. I like being a woman. But I don’t always like what womanhood brings with it. Mostly PMS and boobs. I don’t like either one of those.

• I am also a mother. And I have the CRAZY stretch marks to prove it. Getting my children to this earth pretty much messed me up big time. (LOOOOONG story) But I’ve never regretted it.

• I am a wife. And not always the best one. When I married my husband, after 3 years of dating, my Mom told him, “you know exactly what you’re getting. And there will be no returns.”

• I am the daughter of the most amazing woman on the planet. The End.

In addition to those things, here’s what else I am….

• I am loud with people I know, and shy when I feel uncomfortable.
• I am scared of Thunder, and natural disasters. I’m pretty sure I will meet my demise in some sort of natural disaster. I have the funeral music planned. Not morbid. Just good planning.
• I am addicted to sugar and Diet Coke. And not always in that order.
• I am an insomniac. And have been known to leave blog comments after taking an Ambien, and then not remembering it in the morning. Possibly embarrassing.
• I am the star of my very own shower concert at least 3 times a week. (not that I only shower 3 times a week. Gross. Just that I take a really long one, with a soundtrack, at least that often)
• I am not a fan of the telephone.
• I am pretty fantastic at making up rhymes on the spot.
• I am a news junkie. I will watch the news 3 or 4 times a day.
• I am obsessed with big earrings and tall shoes.
• I am a blogger. But it doesn’t define me, in full. It’s just part of Who I Am.

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I have been sooooo blessed to have met and spent some time with this wonderful and amazing woman!  She entertains and inspires me everyday.  She is one of those people who I have been through blogging, but with or without the blog I know we could be life long friends.  Ellieg… Miss Lara, Love ya dear!!!

We are soooo excited to have Oksana from Order Matters with an aaaamazing guest post today!  You’re going to love her and her fantastic recipe for Pavlova…

Hello, I am Oksana from Order Matters blog and I am super excited to share one of my favorite dessert recipes with you. One of the things that makes my entertaining simple is having a few trusted dessert recipes that I can turn to at any time. If entertaining overwhelms you, I encourage you to identity and master a handful of dishes. With a short prep time of just 20 minutes and a huge wow factor, this Pavlova is one of my go-to recipes.

Pavlova is an Australian dessert named after the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. Indeed, it is as delicate and light as a ballerina. My children request Pavlova year-round and especially for their birthdays. It is a simple and versatile recipe. It can be made dairy-free (or pareve, as those who follow the Jewish dietary law call it) for those who are lactose intolerant or simply avoid dairy. It is also a Passover-friendly recipe. This recipe serves 6 people.

Ingredients:
5 large egg whites at room temperature*
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch or potato starch
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 cup heavy cream or non-dairy whipping cream (like Nutrawhip), whipped
2 cups sliced berries or mango or kiwi, use whatever is in season

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. With a pencil trace the bottom of a 9-inch pan or pot on a sheet of parchment paper. Transfer it to a baking sheet and set aside. Do no apply a non-stick spray or grease of any sort.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk, beat eggs whites until glossy peaks begin to form.

With mixer going, add a touch of salt and sugar in small portions.

Beat the egg whites until meringue is stiff and glossy.

Add cornstarch (or potato starch), vanilla, and vinegar and mix on slow speed.

3. Spread the meringue gently in the 9-inch circle outlined on the parchment paper. The meringue should not touch the edges of the circle.

Put the baking sheet into the oven. After 15 minutes, reduce the temperature to 275 degrees and bake for another hour. Do not open the oven during baking. Upon completion of the 1 hour and 15 minutes of baking, the meringue should be firm to the touch. Turn off the oven and leave meringue in the oven to cool (another 45 minutes or so). The meringue can be made a day in advance. Store it uncovered in a dry place.
4. When you take the meringue out of the oven, it should be dry to the touch and it might crack a little (it will be covered with cream, so do not worry about how it looks.) Transfer the meringue carefully with your hands onto a cake stand or platter.

Spread the whipped cream on the meringue. Add fruit shortly before serving.

5. Enjoy!

* The room temperature requirement is very important. It takes several hours for eggs to come to room temperature. Plan on taking eggs out of the fridge at least 4 hours prior to making this recipe or, as I learned from Ina Garten, you can take them out right before going to bed and then make a Pavlova first thing in the morning. ___________________________________________________________

Thank you so much Oksana!! I can’t wait to try this amazing recipe that my Mom used to talk about all the time but for some reason I don’t think she ever made it for us girls!  Love ya Mom!!

Oksana is also sponsoring a giveaway today for…

Enter to win this intoxicating Classic Toile Three-Wick Candle from Seda France. This hand-made candle combines the pineapple fruit and sweet coconut for a decadent tropical base with hints of leafy citrus cilantro, aromatic apricot, soft musk and vanilla. 60-70 hour burn time. $42 value.

To enter…

• Head on over to Order Matters and become a follower
• Like Order Matters on Facebook.
• Leave a comment for each item completed!

Giveaway closes Sunday, May 29th and the winner will be announced Monday 30th!!