Wedding Photography

My cousin got married over the weekend and my Aunt asked me to bring my "awesome photographic skills" (gotta pat myself on the back sometimes :-p). They hired a friend who was brand new to wedding photography; admittedly, I am no professional either. My Aunt was nervous about getting good pictures and sent me a message saying, "if I know you will be there with your camera, I will feel much better." Such a nice compliment!
I used my reliable, 4 year-old, digital camera (Canon PowerShot SD890 IS), along with my sister's new-to-me camera (Canon EOS Rebel T3i). We love Canon! My sister's was fun to play with and I got some amazing shots that my smaller camera would be incapable of producing; but I knew every button and setting on my camera to get some other great shots with just seconds to snap.

I thought I would share just a few of the best!

Giving away the Bride

The Rings

A Bridesmaid's Bouquet

Releasing the Doves

The Wedding Cake

The Maid of Honor

My Sister's Family

I helped my sister with her hair. 

(left)

I also got a great shot of my other sister with her husband & son.

(right)

Coffee, Mochas, & Lattes

What better way to start out a crisp fall morning that with a delicious, frothy, hot latte? I can’t think of much else; and this owl mug tops it!

Yes, I am a part of the current owl trend; although, I have to say, I started my owl collection a while before you could find something in every store. I found this fantastic mug at my local salvation army and couldn’t pass it up!

It wasn't until my senior year of college that I started drinking coffee. Growing up, I was used to the smell due to the routine pot my parents brewed in the mornings; but I had never cared for the taste. That senior year - when I had to be up around 4:30am to get ready for student teaching >_<  - I decided I'd need something more than a shower to wake me up. My roommate got me hooked with a lot of french vanilla creamer. 

Then I started branching out to the mochas and cappuccinos and lattes - oh, the delight! Tim Hortons! Starbucks! Wegmans! (Sadly, I have never been impressed with Dunkin' Donuts. I say sadly because where I live that is the closest drive-thru.)

My bank account, however, wasn't as delighted... So, after a while, I started experimenting at home to try to copy the delicious frothiness. I heated the milk on the stove and used egg beaters to make it frothy; and it was pretty good. And then, last Christmas, my sister gifted me something wonderful:

Now, perfectly steamed and frothy milk every time!

It's gotten a lot of use on the chilly mornings that I don't have to rush off to work. I haven't bought the fancy flavor syrups, yet, I just mix creamer and milk together for a sweeter taste. I cannot wait for eggnog to be out so I can make my favorite eggnog latte!

Jump into Crafting

My favorite season is, without a doubt, fall. I love to see the leaves change to their brilliant colors. I love the sound of the crunch beneath my feet. I love warm, breezy days and cool nights.

Here’s my “nephew” jumping off the sidewalk in front of my apartment. He loves to be outside whatever the season!





Fall is a wonderful start to a craft-full season. Autumn decorations, Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving foods, paper snowflakes and other Christmas trimmings are all perfect opportunities for creativity!
This year I decided to make a wreath; did you see it (above) hanging on the door? Here’s a close up:

I absolutely love the way it looks!

I got the idea while browsing “DIY” on Pinterest; and found one on Etsy for $35. But it didn't cost that much to make mine - $5 for the grape-vine wreath, $8 for the sunflower (I found others a bit cheaper, but liked this one best), $3 for the ivory “bead” string, and around $6 for a roll of 2” wide burlap - I bought all on sale and/or with coupons and have leftovers. I started out attempting to make burlap flowers, but I have a short supply of patience and after just two I didn't want to make any more… 

So, if you like to save time, buying it on Etsy is a nice option:

(Rustic Rancher Wreath by The Creative Gypsy)