11.28.2011

And the lights were set to twinkle...

After a wonderful week in Florida, I have come back to Christmas lights everywhere! I know I've said this last year, and I'll say it again. My absolute favorite thing about this season is all the twinkling lights.


After we returned from the airport, I told Mike we just had to go out and walk through the trees in downtown Wayne. We did just that!

Today is the last day of my 40% off print sale in the shop as well as free shipping over on Society6 which includes iPhone cases/skins & laptop skins!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday. Are you looking forward to Christmas? Are you ready for Christmas?! I don't know if I ever am....but at least Starbucks Gingerbread Lattes are back!!

11.18.2011

Black Friday & Cyber Monday


Starting Friday my shop will be offering 40% off all prints November 25 - November 28.

Whether you are really into surfers this year,  vintage cameras, you're a bird nut like myself, or you're looking for that last minute Christmas sparkle to add to decorations - there is something to find and love for everyone!

My favorite thing about this sale? No lines. Oh...my god....the lines!

All orders will contain special goodies, and a discount code for your next purchase.
Happy Black Friday!


-
So many other talented people are offering sales, too. Check out the Female Photographers of Etsy blog for more info.

11.14.2011

The next few days are all about organizing, list making, and digging out summer clothes. Where did I put all of my flip flops??
3 more days until Florida.  ( as I sip on a grande Gingerbread latte... )


Here are some Floridian-life inspired photographs, now available in the shop.




11.05.2011

Apple Cider Rules!



Need a pick me up? Recently I was told (by a doctor, of all people. What does he know?!) I should lower my caffeine intake. This morning I made myself a hot cup of apple cider, with a twist of course.

Add an orange slice to organic (or homemade) apple cider, and a sprinkle of nutmeg to amp up a cup of yours. The spice adds an extra note of flavor, and it makes you feel super classy. Or takes your mind off of not having the usual coffee (like myself).





I plan to sneak in as much Autumn-loving recipes and activities in these next few weeks, because I'll be spending Thanksgiving in Florida! I'm very excited to see my mom, grandparents & spend time with the new adoptive pup, a retired greyhound named Bull! 

My mom is still recovering from her recent hospital stay (happy to say she sounds great on the phone!), which has put our whole family in a sort of tittering over the edge emotional state, so I am anxious to see her and squeeze her face. We have been sharing recipes over the phone (which helps keep your mind off things), and taking ample time to describe techniques & flavors but it really doesn't compare to being in the kitchen with this woman. She can cook her ass off. This trip will surely create long-lasting memories. 

PS - Thank you to those who twittered, messaged or emailed good vibes our way. It has not gone unnoticed :)


11.02.2011

My weekend through Instagram. 

10.27.2011

new stuff

Just recently I've decided to make another home at Society6!


I love, and I mean I lurrrvvvv offering iphone cases & laptop skins to customers. So much so, I just bought myself my first (and I don't mean like an upgrade, I mean my VERY FIRST) iphone case.

Check out this little beast of a case named Scales!

Sexy, right? I can't wait to get it on my new iphone. Oh, I should probably buy that....
Yeah, I bought the case before the iphone. So?! Don't judge me...

I just finished packing some prints that will be headed in all directions within the US, and that is seriously amazing. It still shocks me that people, strangers even, are loving my prints. This feeling comes in particularly handy when I start feeling like everything I shoot is crap, and I should give up. Then I get a ridiculously nice email, or a special print order & you guys remind me why I'm doing this in the first place. Thank you so much! 

Come see me on Society6 and check out the iphone cases & laptop skins featuring my prints!

10.17.2011

middle - october






I had quite a few things I wanted to do in October and I hate to admit, I haven't done any of them. Slacker, I know. I don't even have a right to complain, because I know it. Does it feel like this month is just slipping through your hands? October feels like it doesn't belong to me this year, it's kind of depressing.

This weekend was busy busy (with another wedding just right around the corner!), and I woke up Saturday and thought "Ok, seriously. This is ridiculous, I need to do Fall-like things today." So to the farm we went.

I picked up lots of pumpkins and gourds for our porch, as well as a few big luscious mums & I'm starting to feel a little bit better, a little more like I'm living in this season. Instead of watching it from a distance.

A list seems to be in order. These are things I need to do let's say....before I leave for Florida (and the insanely hot climate) November 20th.

- find a farm, pick some apples
- make pumpkin churros
- drink lots of pumpkin spice lattes
- watch The Frighteners, The Last Exorcism, the original House on Haunted Hill
- finish The Passage
- um....work...out


Who is doing awesome Autumn inspired things this month? What are you cooking? What is your Halloween costume? Any good scary movies you would recommend?  I need to live through you people!

10.10.2011

Silversands & Maroma - Mexico part 1

Our Holiday has ended. Our Trilly is back home, and I've got a few photos to share with you! It didn't cross my mind until after I started editing that I didn't concentrate on the ocean as much as I usually do. It may have to do with the lushness of the jungle, or the fact that I spent most of my time jumping waves (and obviously that's too dangerous to bring a camera along...), or the ridiculously hardcore ping pong we played, but nonetheless I appreciated it's colors and vastness. Even if I forgot to photograph it :)

                                     








To be continued...
     

10.05.2011

Donde estas tu pantelones?

I totally forget to tell anyone that I was going to Mexico! Opps. A much needed vacation was in order, and it just so happened that our good friends needed a honeymoon destination so wah-la! Montamos un avión a México!




Just dropped by to say a quick hello, and back to the beach we go :)

- T

9.04.2011

Winner!

Congrats to Amanda Zahn for winning our end of summer giveaway! Thanks to all who entered, and please remember I am still offering 30% off in the shop. Thanks again to Kaelyn for offering a free print!

I am going back to enjoying this relaxing weekend Holiday, anyone have Labor Day plans?

PS - Has everyone seen all the Halloween decorations already out in the stores? PPS - I think I need to start compiling my scary movie list for October...

8.27.2011

end of summer giveaway!

With summer coming to a close, I thought it would be a great idea to offer a giveaway! Oh and Kaelyn Michaels is in on it, too.
Here's what you'll win!






8x10 -  The Island
8x8   -  Emerald Coast

Both prints will be on that luscious metallic paper we just can't seem to get enough of.

And this is how you enter:
1. Follow me on Facebook - Here
2. Follow Kaelyn on Facebook - Here
3. Come back to the blog, and leave a comment with your name (plus email!) and a favorite summertime memory.

The winner will be chosen using Random.org

This giveaway will end September 1st at midnight EST! Winner will be announced the next day.
Good luck to everyone, and I look forward to hearing about all your summer memories!

8.08.2011

Candied Lemon Cake - successfully failed

I seriously considered not posting this recipe because it really was a disaster. But I didn't know that then.

With each successful recipe, I think a lot of bakers will admit there is always one that goes horribly wrong. I've burned a few cookies in my time, which totally frazzles my mood and turns the situation into a competition with the oven.

Here is the recipe (my notes on how I'm an asshole, to follow):

Candied Lemon Cake
original recipe from Donna Hay

candied lemon slices
1 1/2 cup superfine sugar
2/3 cups water
4 lemons, thinly sliced

cake
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375˚F. Butter an 8-inch cake pan; dust with flour, tapping out excess.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg. Add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk.
Pour batter into prepared pan, and smooth the batter out. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes. Let cool slightly.

To make candied lemon slices (from Donna Hay)
Place sugar and water into a saucepan over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the lemon and bring to a boil. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until syrup has thickened and the lemons are translucent. Pour the syrup over the cake and top with the lemon. Allow to cool before serving.

-

ALRIGHT. So. Everything had worked out smoothly in the cake baking department. I love this buttermilk recipe and I use it often. I don't really remember why, but I choose to use it instead of the cake recipe Miss Donna had given (Mistake #1)

The lemons. Dear God, those lemons. They were sliced, ready to go, and it's a given I have only made a syrup (caramel) once before (which didn't ...um...come out right.) but I am tenacious and went along with it like it was per usual.

I gingerly placed the slices into the pan, watched it closely, kept the boil even, and felt pretty damn satisfied with myself. Then in a matter of, oh I don't know, 25 seconds the syrup became way too brown and I had to jump ship and save those lemon slices! It happened pretty fast but I think I caught the whole thing in time. (Mistake #2)

The recipe calls for pouring the syrup onto the cake, then add the slices. No directions on getting the slices out of the pan and where to put them so they don't become sticky and not move from whatever it is you put them on! It was tricky, but I managed clearly breaking a sweat at this point.

Pouring caramel, not easy. Let's leave it at that. It's also really important to know exactly where you want to place a lemon slice, because once it's there it's there for good!

NOW. Cake is done, and it looks like this.





It's kind of gorgeous, and I was so excited while shooting it. Oh - is there more photographs you ask? Yeahhhhh, no. No, there isn't. 

I formatted my card thinking everything from this shoot was saved (Mistake #3). There it is, there is the super assholey move. 

But we're not finished yet! It's time to eat the cake! I think it was a mash up of mistake #1 and mistake #2 that made it hard to er, well eat. The candied lemons were so chewy and hard, while the cake was light and fluffy, it wasn't quite magical in my mouth. Like most cakes are supposed to be. 

I mean my family still ate it, but it was a super let down to me anyway. So if you want to make this recipe (cause after I just destroyed it, why wouldn't you?!) please follow Donna's cake recipe & watch your lemons. If I try it again (errrr...) I think a studier cake, like pound cake, would be perfect.

7.15.2011

Louisiana BBQ Shrimp

I have a feeling I am going to be making this dish all summer. It's just that good, and super easy. It's going to be a scorcher on the East coast this weekend, I hope to find myself in lots of air conditioned rooms.


Louisiana BBQ Shrimp

1 lb. deveined, peeled shrimp
3-5 strips bacon, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
1/4 - 1/2 cup white onion, chopped
1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons creole seasoning (whichever you prefer)
1 tablespoon flour
3/4 cup low sodium chicken broth

In large saucepan, cook bacon pieces until just about crisp. Remove and let excess grease drip onto paper towel. Add green pepper & onion to pan and saute until halfway cooked. Remove vegetables to a bowl or plate. Season the shrimp with salt, pepper, and creole seasoning. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan , sear shrimp. About 2 minutes on each side. Push shrimp aside, place the green pepper & onion back into pan, add 1 tablespoon flour & chicken stock. Stirring, bring to a boil then reduce to a low simmer for 10-12 minutes or until sauce thickens. Add in bacon, stir and serve in a bowl with a french baguette.


The sauce gets it's smoky bacon flavor from reusing the bacon fat to saute the vegetables and shrimp. This is kind of a one pot wonder, and since it's Summer and seriously hot in my kitchen I'd like our dinners to be as simple as possible. I hate sweating in the kitchen, don't you?








I know I'm late in the game but I just started Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  It will be quite a feat if I can keep away from all the spoilers from the movie on social networking sites until I finish the book.  I'm 2 chapters in, and I'm already heartbroken about this being the last of the series.

Who has read it? Any suggestions on what I should start reading after Harry Potter? I have a feeling I'll need a rebound book when I am finished.

7.08.2011

Into The Forest

I've been taking the long way home from the studio this week. The roads up and through the encampment trails of Valley Forge are my favorite. Yesterday I got stuck in a thunderstorm, in the middle of a mountain with not a soul in sight.

It was so effing awesome.




6.27.2011

Drink Up

What a long, beautiful, and eventful weekend. My childhood friend is now married. His bride was gorgeous, and the wedding was so insanely beautiful. It couldn't have been a more perfect day. Especially those extra strong Hurricanes we drank long into the night. I have not had a hangover like that in a seriously long time.

One down, two more weddings to go! One bride to be is my good friend Kaelyn Michaels, who is a photographer, and you should visit her shop to see her gorgeous work.




I'm working from home today, thought I'd share this photograph pair (which is presently a contender for my mini food portfolio). It's obvious I have a thing for fruit in my drinks. See other fruit in drinks here.

This is kind of different, and maybe better. Fresh raspberries in a Woodchuck's Hard Cider. Ummmm, yes please. With some pistachios to munch on. I can sit on the porch all evening, drinking these &  popping nuts in my mouth. What- Ok. Obviously that was....not at all how I meant to say that. Whatever. I'm not deleting it.

I'm also reading Tim Gunn's Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work. It's hilarious, insightful and the overall lesson is just to be nice to people. Have manners, for crap's sake.

I may swear, more than I should, I know this, but I do believe in having a decent set of manners. I open doors for people (no, not only men need to do this), I say hello to anyone who makes eye contact with me, and overall I am nice to my waiters and tip them generously. It feels good to be nice to strangers, and especially when it seems everyone is in such a freaking hurry and kind of mean this type of behavior is unexpected.

I hope you don't read that last paragraph and picture me wagging a finger, because I'm not. I swear. It's always a good thing to want to better yourself. Being nice to others (animals, too) is a good place to start.

This week I am dog/house sitting. You guys know Chester, right? Just me and him all week, it's going to be glorious!

6.21.2011

Solitude

Sometimes I really wish I lived on an island. Something smallish, with a community of easy going, easy talking people who don't feel the need to rush through their days & drive like maniacs on the road. I'd have a garden, definitely some fruit trees and loads of books (shipped from Amazon, no doubt).
This photograph pretty much sums up that entire feeling of solitude. But in a really, really good way.


By nature, I am a solitary person. It may have something to do with the dueling aspects of being a Gemini. The whole two personality thing could have different meanings, and in my case it can be applied to my moods which then affects whether or not I want to be bothered by anyone. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, but it can be misconstrued as such. It's really not that weird to be alone, and enjoy it. I can entertain myself pretty easily, and it must have been a skill I picked up as a kid. I really like driving around by myself, and I really like seeing moves alone, too.

I think a lot of photographers, especially those who enjoy landscapes, can relate to the I'm all by myself, and it's awesome! feeling you get when it's just a landscape or scene, you, and your camera. We (the loners) have a companion that travels with us in silence and that's totally fine.

But admittedly, this feeling doesn't really apply when checking out abandoned buildings. I'm a serious pain in the ass about the whole thing, and there are even rules about staying in small groups when exploring a new floor. It's a safety thing, and more importantly I do not want to come up on a 100 year old crazy spirit by myself.






This past weekend my birthday was celebrated with friends on the beach, and I've got the ocean and sky on my mind today. Is it obvious? 

the island - photograph available in the shop
mexican holiday - new print set
the sea life - etsy treasury



6.10.2011

Scones to Die for

I'm back with an impromptu foodie post! Did you miss me? I'll be honest, I've been lurking around the blogs like a ghost. Have you felt that prickle on the back of your neck while updating a post? Probably me. But it feels good to stay connected with all your wonderful blogs. I've received great support for the I hate blogging, I'm taking a break break, and like with anything, sometimes too much isn't a good thing.

It's been ungodly hot in Philadelphia. It makes me ridiculously sluggish, and I only come out of the coolest room in the apartment to either eat, sleep, or watch Netflix. It's terrible to work out in, and I don't even want to talk about cooking. Our kitchen is south facing, and small. It feels like what I'd imagine the inside of pizza box would feel like. Sticky & steamy. Gross.

I promise to only complain a few times about the heat this summer. Maybe. No, I'm probably lying.

Anyway.

I did happen to make some wonderful scones, and they literally are the best ones I've ever eaten. It's a mixup of a sweet & savory all wrapped up in a buttermilky goodness.
So here we go with the recipe, feel free to switch out dried fruit of your liking, or whatever flavor dried meat (or bacon) you might find to be delicious.

Scones to Die for
1 box plain scone mix
1 stick unsalted butter, chilled & cubed
20 dried apricots, cut into small pieces - about one cup
6 ounces cooked maple favored bacon, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
1 cup buttermilk, chilled

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make sure a cooking rack is in the center of the oven. Spray a baking sheet with non stick cooking spray. Set aside.

In large bowl, combine scone mix and butter. It's easier if you have a food processor, if not you can surely use a beater or good ol' fashioned arm power! The mixture should be coarse and bumpy. Add cut pieces of apricots, bacon, and thyme. Stir. Add the buttermilk and mix until a sticky dough forms.

Place about 1/3 cupfuls of the dough onto prepared baking sheet (if you like a more casual looking scone). Bake until the tops start to brown slightly, about 16-18 minutes.

Place on cooling rack for about 20 minutes.









I fed these babies to my landlords (initially to butter them up before I asked to paint the dining room walls dark grey...which I chickened out of.) and they were talking about them for a week! I also got an email from my brother asking to overnight him a scone package. So, major party pleaser.

It's Friday, and this weekend's forecast is scattered thunderstorms. I'm super pumped about that, and fully intend on watching the clouds roll in while reading Harry Potter.

A great weekend to you all!





    5.16.2011

    Time Travel

    I'm only kind of back to say that I'm reading The Time Machine & it makes my life feel lackluster. How did H.G. Wells ever imagine this magical world of his? You should read it, right now. Go ahead, I'll wait.


    It only makes sense that The War of the Worlds is read next. I'm half-tempted to walk to the library in the rain to get it in my grasp.



    5.06.2011

    the definition of vacation - aka saying laterz to the blog....for now.

                                      vacation:
    planned time spent not working
                                 few days off
                                             fiesta



    "Never say anything that 
    doesn't improve on silence."


    I've run out of things to say for the time being. I've lost myself
    in this social networking shuffle (or circle jerk, as I like to call
    it) and it's really not doing any good for my good karma.


    Taking a nice, long break from the blogosphere seems like the
    key. I have been so thankful for everyone who has been so
    supportive of my work, and the changes in myself.


    I want to know who I am, as a photographer (and as a person) 
    without the daily influence of blogs, tweets, status updates.


    You can still find me on flickr, I really hope by going back
    to my roots (flickr!) it will improve my mood, and let me
    figure out where my life is going at this point.


    I'll catch up with ya'll eventually, but right now I need some
    focus in my life. Thanks all! 


    Tina

    4.23.2011

    Hide-Out

    I've been keeping low key these days...trying to lesson the grip
    social networking has on me. It sort of becomes ridiculous when
    the first thing I think of in the morning is to check my Facebook &

    Damn it! See? I just shamelessly plugged myself.

    Anyway...

    I love hiding in plain sight. I feel like my camera does me this 
    service perfectly. It seriously is a stress reliever after a really 
    long day.





    --
    Do you have Easter plans? What's for dinner? Does the Easter
    Bunny freak you out? He seriously is the scariest thing.
    Ever.

    Happy Easter weekend!


    4.12.2011

    {...a place for twiggs}

    Hello, hello!
    I am in the middle of a very intense pretzel shoot (oh my) but
    wanted to stop in quickly to thank Twiggs for interviewing
    me about my fine art shops. 

    If you've got a moment check it out on her blog and stay
    tuned for more great shop owner interviews!

    4.10.2011



    Nothing is better than a dog.
    Seriously. No, for real.





    ---meet Chester on Facebook

    3.24.2011


    ‎"I've become a simple souvenir of someone's kill. And like 
    the sea, I'm constantly changing from calm to ill."


    Souvenir available in the shop.







    3.17.2011

    Love for Japan

    It's so difficult feeling so helpless. The little bit we can do
    could mean the world to someone.




    All 3 photographs are offered in 3 different sizes to fit the donation 
    amount that is comfortable to you.
    These are limited editions that I've chosen from my personal
    archive.

    I will be donating 100% of your purchase (minus shipping) to

    Purchase prints at Love for Japan

    3.13.2011


    "Yet it is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the 
    submerged truth sometimes comes to the top."
    Virginia Woolf

    3.11.2011

    Paris - a flower show


    The Philadelphia Flower Show was truly magical. Insane, really.


    See more photos at flickr
    --
    I have a lot of movies to see this weekend.
    Plus a comedy show.

    How about you?

    3.07.2011

    Hmmm, tea?



    Officially, I am a coffee drinker.
    But with the decision to cut sugar out of my diet, I wanted to 
    somehow lessen the grip that the bean has on me as well.

    Sorry, Starbucks.

    Right now, I have been sipping green tea. But to be
    honest, I'm not the biggest fan of this hot drink.

    Any recommendations?

    This morning, I resorted to a hot water, lemon &
    honey creation. That was delicious.

    3.01.2011

    First of March!


    It felt super good to see the sun shining today, on the first of
    March. I'm feeling inspired, and hopeful for the warm weather
    and I wanted to share that with all of you!

    Coupon Code: 25MARCH 
    (entered at checkout)