Betrothal: Jenni ♥ Lance

So I went to visit Jenni at the end of May because I love Wisconsin so much. Ha.


Actually I love my sister so much so I went for a super fast wedding planning/ engagement photo shoot.


Life was crazy.
1-She was trying to move (she had to be out of her apartment by the 1st of June). I love her but she's a pack rat. I don't know how she fit all of that into the little apartment. At least her couch was super comfy.

2- She was dealing with medicine that was making her sick- like really sick.

3- She wanted to do everything with me. Go everywhere. Plan everything. See everything. Discuss everything.

4- We were trying to squeeze in a nice length photoshoot in between rain, wind, eating, Lance's work schedule, my limited number of days, outfit changes, sleeping, light, muddy ground, eating, headaches, wedding dress shopping, eating, registering, and Jenni's crashing.

5- All the wedding dress shops were in Delafield or Milwaukee area.

6- The medicine makes her hungry. And if she doesn't eat, well, you'd better watch your toes. Or your fingers. Or pretty much anything you don't want her to eat.



But when it came down to it, we managed to get quite a few nice pictures.

I get a kick of telling non-photographer people that I took roughly 800 photos in all. *giggles*


And hopefully I helped Jenni feel a bit less stress and slightly accomplished. We did find the wedding dress. Do you wanna see the dress?

Here it is........











Really??? You actually thought I was going to post a pic of the dress? Ha. You'll just have to come to wedding or see the aftermath pictures.

Until then- you can look at the engagement photos.

They were so cute I could throw up.


Definitely need a bucket over here.



I think if she smiles any bigger her face just might crack.


Awww...

Proof that Lance is a goofball. Not as bad as Jenni but maybe he can hold his own.

And this is why I should get an assistant to help. I barely had a hand for my camera.


(yes, that is Lance's bribe for sitting still and smiling- donuts. And believe it or not- they actually worked....... *ideas for future shoots*)

There are lots more photos but I promised I wouldn't put all of them up so you'll just have to wait to see the rest when Jenni posts them on Facebook. :)

I loved having the practice of an engagement shoot, even if it was kinda weird to be doing my sister. Bring on the engagement shoots!!!! I've got lots of free time now!!!




Standing by for *your* photoshoot,


Ti-Ti

Brainstorming: Change

Why is it I keep coming across things that are telling me to change? To get out of my comfort zone?
I can't even read a christian novel without coming across “Sometimes, to get God's very best, we have to let go of the mediocre we hold to so tightly.” And then I think of the song by Brandon Heath about trust. There's a line that says “It’s never easy changing my direction, It’s so unnatural to loosen up my grip."

I'm not a person that likes change. Who does, right? For those of you that know me you would never think that I'm quiet. That's because you know me. (That sounded redundant) I take about a month or more to get comfortable with people. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule. At Tynan's, I'm known as the “quiet girl.” They are constantly walking by my desk and telling me to “keep it down over here” or “I don't even want to hear it. Keep it quiet.” It's because everything and everyone is constantly changing there. I feel as though I'm getting close to being comfortable enough to poke my head out of my waxed-shinny-hard-as-a-rock turtle shell (I wax my shell with turtle wax- “made FOR turtles, not FROM turtles.” Direct quote from Crush. Of course, most of you didn't know Crush ever said that because I talked to Crush personally. Ha, so there. Be jealous......Sorry, I digress). As soon as my head comes out, the people inevitably change and back I go. I hate change.

And yet- in Beth Moore's book, So Long Insecurities, it feels like she's writing down exactly how I feel. “Maybe I just get bored easily. I'm forever wanting to go someplace with God. I forget that in order to really want to go, something has to happen to make me want to leave where I am.” (I like this book- I'm only on page 12 and already I've found a few epic quotes.) Again, if you know me you know that I'm ADD and like my brother, I can't sit still. I'm like that with God. I want to keep moving and growing. I hate it when I feel like I'm still in the same place I was a month ago or even a week ago. I feel like I'm such a contradiction. I can't stand change and yet I can't stand still. (I'm a mess people. I don't even know if I'm coming or going. :))

Maybe God created me to have a feeling of discontent to keep me moving, but a fear of change to keep me leaning.

Remember that post a while ago about my sister praying for change in my life? Ever since then it feels like my life has become like a messy peach upside down cake- but not half as sweet. Don't tell her this, but I'm actually kinda glad she's been praying that. (No, seriously, don't tell her, because I'm still sending her a bill for all these so called “changes.” If she's gonna pray like that she has to except the consequences.) I can already tell that God is using these changes in my life for good.

But I'm still holding on tight like a kid- kicking and screaming as his mother pulls him off the merry-go-round. Like the previously mentioned song said- It's hard to me to open up my hands and let things go. It makes me feel venerable and bereft. But, with the risk of making this whole blog simply quotes (sounds like what I did in school to fill up my papers with fluff), in Matthew West's song Strong Enough, he says “Maybe that's the point, to reach the point of giving up. Cause when I'm at rock bottom, well, that's when I start looking up and reaching out.” And the one thing that I can keep my hands gripped firmly around, is the thought that “You are God and you are strong, and I don't have to be, strong enough.”


Living life with open hands,

Ti-Ti

Because

Because I'm weird. Because I love puppy chow. Because I felt the need to have a photoshoot and didn't know what to shoot. Because I read too much Pioneer Woman Blogs. Because I haven't really tried doing food photography. Because I love puppy chow. Because I'm insane in the head to do this when we don't really have a kitchen. Because I'm even more insane in the head to do this under the influence of latex. Because I needed a new blog. Because there is a thousand other things I should be doing but am avoiding. Because I love photography. Because my Aunt thought I was literally eating dog food when I said I love puppy chow. Because I'm crazy.

But ultimately it comes down to this- because I love puppy chow and photography.

So here it is. My own attempt at a food blog.

I would normally start with the putting on of an apron on but ummmm well...... they're somewhere.... else right now so bring on the mess!!!

Thank goodness I know where to find the chex mix, peanut butter, and chocolate chips..... now where did I put the powered sugar and vanilla??? And where in the world is my glass bowl- created specifically for puppy chow??? Okay, so it's not created specifically for puppy chow... but it's awesome!


First rule of thumb in making puppy chow: ALWAYS, always, always double the batch. Don't start it if you can't make 2 batches. It's not worth it. You just get into the groove of chowing when you discover that the bowl is empty. And then you cry. And blame your mother for not getting enough chex. And feel awful that you did that. Then apologize. Then cry again as you rock and lick out the bowl.


And by doubling the batch, maybe, just maybe you will feel like you might have enough to share with your family and friends. But probably not.


Second thing you must do is invite your friend Aubrey over to help you cook. If you don't have a friend named Aubrey, you live a very sad, depressed life void of ADD-ness.

Thirdly, you make sure you actually have a recipe for Puppy Chow. If not, print it off the computer, realize that you're not connected to the printer after your computer's memory got wiped, write it on a JCPenney receipt and then discover that it's on the box the whole time. This takes approximately 10 minutes.

Measure out a heaping bowl of chex mix. I prefer the rice or corn chex. Wheat is too thick and takes away from the light fluffyness of the powder sugar. Besides, it would probably be too healthy anyways.

Combine chocolate chips,

peanut butter and butter in microwave safe dish.

(Do they even make un-microwavable dishes anymore??? Maybe fancy dishes.... but why in the world would you put chocolate and peanut butter in a fancy dish...and then stick it in the microwave???? Ignore me.)

After a minute in the microwave, add the vanilla. I once accidentally forgot the vanilla. The whole bowl just seemed off. Like it was missing it's best friend. Like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the jelly. Like coffee without the creamer. Like Gilligan without the Skipper. Like Tiffany without her camera. Like a computer without internet connection. Like a person without a friend named Aubrey. Like Puppy Chow without vanilla. And it's really hard to add once you mix the chocolate with the cereal. I don't recommend that method. So don't forget the vanilla......

Pour the chocolate/peanut butter mix over the chex, making sure you refrain from licking your fingers..... yet.

Mix until evenly coated.
(And why did I think a messy dish like this would be good to photograph while I made it????)

Scoop into zip lock bags.

Pour in powder sugar. Don't follow a recipe for this. Just pour to your hearts content. I like mine with lots and lots of sugar....

Now comes the fun part....
1- Lick your fingers.
2- Lick the bowl.
3- Watch Aubrey lick the spoon.

Next- shake up the plastic bags.... good and hard. I find it pretty stress relieving.

Pour back into the cereal bowl- you can wash it out or just pour it all back in..... I'm for the easier version of not washing. It's just going to get dirty again with the same stuff....

And then the best part. Eat it down so you can close the lid. You must have a lid. How else will you be able to hide the puppy chow sufficiently???

And there you have it. My perfected method of puppy chow making.

Now please excuse me. I have..... a job..... I must complete.

Possessively hugging a bowl,

Ti-Ti