Photography Venting 101

Half of the reason I started a blog was to get back into my most passionate hobby: Photography. Blogging forces me to take more pictures and I love it...even if it is just taking pictures of uncooked cornbread or Christmas decorations.

 I went to school for 3 years for photography/retouching but was highly discouraged that when I finished that EVERYONE with a DSLR camera (or the instagram app on their phone) was also a photographer. And they were taking pictures for almost nothing and ruining the market for everyone, especially when people would rather pay $25 for a photo shoot and be happy with their barely mediocre pictures.  My husband is actually a FULL TIME WORKING PHOTOGRAPHER (commercial and wedding) which is pretty rare as most photographers hobby never becomes anything more than that...a hobby. 

He almost never gives me credit but when we first started dating his dreams topped out at "touring with his highschool band" and had absolutely no intention on going to college. I simply told him I wasn't going to date someone that had zero ambition and he could either go to school at ACC with me or kick rocks. 

He became my copy cat and entered the photography program and just so happened to be amazing. And I will be the first to admit that I am totally jealous and have just a tiny bit of resentment that he gets to do what I LOVE on the reg. We have two cameras: Canon 5D and Canon 5D MarkII along with about 8 lenses, 2 flashes, a vagabond, 2 profoto lights, endless varieties of soft boxes, backdrops, and many other things that I have never even heard of let alone use. While Travis uses these things all the time, we are totally opposite in the fact that I use only natural lighting 99% of the time.

The intention of this post was not to talk about photography, but I just can't hit the delete button on the semi-novel I just wrote. I simply wanted to share some photos I took the other night of my favorite Christmas ornaments. Something about them looks so angelic- pun intended.

 

And then I took these photos at Bajas house. The cross in her backyard is so beautiful and I just had to take pictures of it. 

 

Once I was taking pictures I tried taking some out of focus because Christmas lights are just so beautiful when they are photographed that way. I started messing around with the shutter speed and came up with these: 

Even though I will never use them for anything, they turned out cool! 

Please visit our photography blog: Tankgoodnessphoto.blogspot.com and my husbands website: Travistank.com

Cheesy Garlic Cornbread!

Jiffy is amazing. Not only because it's dirt cheap but because the possibilities are endless! Something about this little white box is so nostalgic; maybe because I know Baja has been using it for years or maybe its just the old school font that looks like its the original box from 1930. 

I don't look for recipes on the internet, Pinterest (in fact, I have never been on the site even though everyone tells me I would love it) and am simply motivated from old cook books and watching shows like Top Chef and Chopped. (side note: my TV almost never leaves Food Network)

I know this isn't an original recipe and I am not trying to show you some radical recipe you have never heard of...I hope to just be the little birdie that inspires you to take a recipe and put YOUR own spin on it! With that being said, I almost never measure or keep track of what I am putting in my mixing bowl so most of my recipes are "pinch of this" "dab of that"... but BEAR WITH ME!

You'll need the following ingredients:

-Jiffy Corn Muffin mix

-1 large egg

-chopped garlic

-salt/pepper/garlic powder

-shredded cheese (I used cheddar jack)

-sour cream

-1 can of corn

 

This recipe is too simple. You basically just dump everything into a mixing bowl :) 

The back of the box calls for milk but I used sour cream instead and I think it makes all the difference. A heaping tablespoon of sour cream, a handful of shredded cheese (whichever you prefer) and a teaspoon of chopped garlic (I used the "ready to use" jar). Add seasoning to taste!

Make sure you grease your pan well and set your oven to 400º. Cook for 18-25 minutes (depending on your pan) or until its cooked all the way through!

 

Watch out, these babies closely resemble Red Lobsters cheddar garlic bisquits and are soooo scrumptious! 

N.T.C Easy Peasy Handmade Christmas Gifts!

As we grow older we realize what Christmas (and all other holidays for that matter) is really about. Christ, family, friends, love, food and a good glass of wine are far more important that getting presents. It's so easy to get wrapped up in materialistic things...the holiday sales at the stores are slamming and you want your decorations and meals to be perfect. 

We had our annual TankMorenoPAGE night and this time we let the husbands attend. We always have a gift exchange and this year the gifts had to be handmade and under $10.00. I stuffed all these things in a bag and called it a day...Here are a few ideas if you are looking for a last minute gift that you could put together without leaving your nest...

Fab Frame:

SO SIMPLE and you probably have the materials at home! *SEE N.T.C TUTORIAL BELOW!*

 

Raw Tea with Coffee Mug:

Place raw tea in plastic baggie and tie with cute ribbon. Stuff in coffee cup in a coffee filter (this would also be adorbs in a tea cup. I got these at Goodwill)

*The Tea is from Magnolias Cafe and is their signature Hippie Tea...amazing.

 

Felt Flower Clipmaglace:

Ok, so this is a magnet but I have also made these for hair clips and necklaces as well! (When I make my next one, I am definitely taking pictures!) They only take a strip of felt and are too freaking easy. You can also attach a hair clip to your Christmas gifts for a present topper. Two. Gifts. In. One....love it.

Scrumptious Magnets:

I made these magnets out of felt and hot glue. They turned out super cute and possibilities are truly endless (my mom suggested making a "paper doll" magnet set for Amelia to play with...such a good idea!) next, I am going to try and make a collection of sushi/california rolls!

 

 N.T.C: FAB FRAME

Materials:

-Frame (any size!)

- Ribbon (preferably wired/thick)

-Twine

-Hot glue

-BLING!

First, tie the prettiest bow you can....really tight. 

Next, wrap twine into a circle form. I glued the ends and then flipped it over and glued the back all over.

 

 Glue twine disk to bow and then glue directly onto the frame. I glued on the corner but it looks cute in the middle as well!

Add a rhinestone in the center (or button/shell/decorative item) and remember to leave some twine showing!

TA-DA!!

Camp Lisa: Katy or bust!

Last weekend my mom and I decided to make a spontaneous trip to see our dear friends Lisa and Chelsea (a mother daughter duo who we just both happen to be best friends with since '94). We watched old home videos from kindergarten karate classes to spilling our hearts and troubles out until 5am. It was a hellofa time. 

The car rides were a breeze. We played peek-a-boo in the car and Amelia made her famous face (see below) on command the whole trip. They had 5 dogs in the house but they didn't scare her one bit! It was so fun and refreshing to get away and just laugh for 48 hours straight.  I didn't get my camera out except for when we first arrived and then it was left sitting in the corner for the remainder of the trip.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

It's officially Christmas...

 It's officially Christmas season because Amelia visited Santa today!!!!

 

Don't let this adorable picture fool you....she was pretty terrified at first, however she NEVER cried...I was impressed! We went to the Domain and in case you haven't been, there is a cute little "Santas Workshop" house RIGHT by Maggiano's and there was absolutely no wait....highly recommended. Those Santa's must BANK because it was a pretty penny ($30) for this ONE image on a CD. Thanks Gigi :)

She was dressed in the cape and dress my mother in law made and you can see better photos of it here. I'm glad my mom convinced me to dress her up because I got some other photos that will work for our Christmas cards!

For those eager to see some photos from the wedding we shot this past weekend, please visit my new photography blog!  

Last Moreno standing....

This weekend is so bittersweet for me. One of my dearest friends is getting married...

I have mentioned the pair of sisters in numerous posts, Re"bekah" and Elizabeth are my family, and we constantly remind each other of that.

I say this weekend is bittersweet because Bekah (left) is getting married, and she is the last Moreno left. I am SO happy for her and LOVE her fiance, Alex, but it's like a slap in the face of how fast we are aging and  how time is being robbed from me. The oldest sister, Jennifer, married right out of High school when we were still young and it was the very first wedding I ever went to...and I remember lighting the candles at her ceremony and feeling like I was such a big part of her day. One Moreno down, two to go.

When Elizabeth got married in March of 2010 it almost felt like it should have happened years ago, she had been with her Sam for like....6 years by then! Still, I remember being sad but not near as emotional as I have been thinking about Bekah getting married...Two Moreno's down, one to go.

Ahh, and here we are- Bekah's wedding weekend! I have the honor of shooting her entire wedding festivities, from the engagements to reception and am SO EXCITED about taking the pictures tomorrow!

With all the excitement, I have tears welling up in my eyes just over the fact that I will have no more Moreno's left!!! I know it's just a last name, but since 1996 they have been "my moreno's" and quite frankly, I DON'T WANT TO GROW OLD and this is just a reminder of how life is flying by at lightening speeds (don't even get me started on thinking how Amelia will be ONE next month!!!)


Bekah & Alex: You are the peanut butter to ones jelly. I wish you all the happiness and love in the world and am so honored to be able to capture your special day. And although you are not married...yet, please jump on the baby making train as soon as possible :)

Looking forward to sharing some of their wedding photos!