Stacy's Stuff
Traci's Stuff
Posted on October 31, 2009
Fun Facts
* Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
* Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
* Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.
* Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
* The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
Start a new tradition!
Halloween Pumpkin Pancakes
{my favorite fall breakfast}
2 1/3 cups pancake mix (such as Bisquick®)
2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
1/3 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Nutmeg whipped cream
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons white sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions:
1. Whisk together the pancake mix, white sugar, cinnamon, the 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg, and ginger; set aside. Beat together the eggs, milk, pumpkin, and vegetable oil. Combine the two mixtures, stirring just until all ingredients are moistened.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Bubbles will start to form in the pancakes. Cook until the edges of the pancakes start to look dry, and a bubble popped near the edge holds its shape. Flip the pancakes over, and continue cooking until the other side is golden brown. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more oil to the griddle if necessary. Stack the pancakes on a plate and keep warm until serving. For larger batches, keep pancakes warm in a single layer on a cooling rack positioned over a baking sheet in a 300 degrees F oven (150 degrees C).
3. Place whipping cream in a small, deep, chilled bowl. Add the 2 tablespoons sugar, vanilla, and nutmeg; beat using a mixer with chilled beaters on medium-high speed until soft peaks form.
Posted on October 30, 2009
Posted on October 29, 2009
Tori might look a little familiar to you. Tori was one of our free session winners this past summer. I really enjoyed shooting her then and was more than thrilled when I was contacted by her mom to not only book Miss Tori for a full senior session but for a family session as well. This post is dedicated to the lovely Miss Tori so her family shoot will be a later post.
Tori was looking for something different than ordinary. She wanted something unlike any of her other friends and something that truly represented her. When I was told about her request to do part of her shoot in a cemetery with her prom dress, I was really stoked. She wanted something original and I was certain I could do this for her. She also wanted part of her session to represent her spirituality. Stephanie and I took an afternoon looking for the perfect locations for this beautiful young women. And when I say beautiful, I don’t just mean a pretty face, that is obvious, but inside as well. It always gives me great hope in the world when I meet my seniors and get to know them. She is intelligent and caring and so much more. Her parents did an amazing job raising this gal, and her two amazing siblings as well.
Tori, I hope the wait was worth it. Here is your blog post. 
) I hope all that view this are moved and impressed by such an amazing young women!
P.S. Tori, I too have been perfecting my signature since I was twelve. ;o) {Gotta love facebook} and I picked up To Kill A Mocking Bird, once my Holiday break kicks in my reading list is going to be tackled!! {Jane Eyre will be finished as well lol}
Posted on October 27, 2009
I was recently featured on Rock and Roll Bride. Check it out and be sure to take a look around. It’s one of my favorite places to look and be inspired at.
Posted on October 27, 2009
Apple Pie!
I love apple pie. I love apples period. There are so many things you can do with an apple. Growing up we had numerous apple trees and I loved it when they were ripe for the picking. I knew there was going to be fried apples for breakfast, caramel sauce for dipping, and homemade apple pie. It was also a reminder that the Apple Festival was around the corner and that was the big thing to do in Jackson County Ohio!! Oh how I miss those Apple Festival Days. We even got out of school for a day for the Apple Festival! Yep, it was that important to us southern Ohio folks.
So a few weeks ago I made a spontaneous trip to Eckerts and came home and made a pie. There was about 20 other things I could have been doing, but when the urge hits, GO FOR IT! It was little Andy’s first trip out on the tractor, he loved every minute of it. And he was a pro when it came to picking out the perfect apples. I just had to be careful letting him place them in the bag, he likes to throw. 
It was a great time and I am glad I remembered to bring my point and shoot that day, or else these moments wouldn’t have been captured.
When I got home Stephanie, my hubby and I peeled and chopped enough apples for a deep dish apple pie. It was delightful. The boys of course were tickled to see a train was on their pie.
I am the queen of using a recipe and making my own adjustments. So here is what I used:
Apple Filling:
12 large cooking apples, peeled, cored, and cut
¾ – 1 cup(s) sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
small fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Placed apples, in bowl, squeezed lemon and tossed. Then added sugars, flour and cinnamon. I was throwing it together, next time I think I will mix all the dry ingredients together before putting it with the apples. I used a Pillsbury pie crust. I cooked it at 400 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes. I made a foil tent for the pie and the last 20 minutes of backing I took it off so the crust could get golden. It was YUMMY!! And you know, I forgot how easy it is to make an apple pie.
Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!!
Posted on October 26, 2009
We got to take a drive out to Alton this weekend and if you haven’t been up that way yet, GO!! Run don’t walk, well I take that back, driving will get you there quicker. The drive up there is beautiful. The leaves are on fire, who doesn’t love the colors that fall brings?
I got to meet up with this fantastic family at Gordon Moore Park. I had no idea this little gem of a park even existed. I can’t wait to go back and shoot there again! This family was great! Dad’s drum sticks were going, the kids were loving the guitars and mama looked hot. I absolutely loved the colors and look she picked out for her family! I had a “classic meets rolling stones” idea in my head and I think I pulled it off with a twist of me in the mix. I am always excited to see it come together how I imagined it, sometimes ever better than I could have thought it would be.
This park is not only beautiful, it has a great sentimental value to these two. This is where they got married, in the Rose Garden among family and friends. I knew I had to get something that they would treasure, and I hope I got it.
I met Mama last year shortly after she had Miss K. And she looked great then after just having a baby then, but to see her now that Miss K is 15 months old…. WOW! Is she not smokin? She has such a classic look to her but with sizzle! The candy sign in with the kids, I loves signs, old ones, just about as much as I love chairs. Ok so I love chairs more, but signs do rate right up there! I found this at a consignment shop and it is the inspiration to my retro and wild kitchen I am hoping to have together soon. I also thought it would make a great prop for Christmas cards!! It’s in my head and it looks great, can’t wait to create it!
Thanks so much y’all! I hope you love what you see just as much as I do!
Posted on October 25, 2009
I don’t know about you, but lately we have been bombarded by ladybugs. I’ve been dodging and flicking these lovely ladies off me for a week now. Folk lore says ladybugs are good luck, well if that is the case then everyone in the St Louis area should go out and buy a lottery ticket!
I got to meet up with a couple of cuties recently, and those pesky ladybugs helped me to capture a tender moment between a big sister and her baby sister. The bonds we make are priceless, and it was a true pleasure to be able to witness the love big sis had for her baby sis.
Thanks Stephanie and Aaron, your girls are adorable!!
Random Ladybug Facts
- While flying, a ladybug beats wings 85 times in a sec.
- While eating, ladybugs chew from side to side and not up and down like humans.
- Ladybugs produce a chemical substance that smells and tastes horrible. It prevents them from predators and birds.
- A ladybug bites if you squeeze it, but the bite doesn’t hurt.
- The spots on the body of the ladybug fade, as it gets older.
- In winters, ladybugs do not eat and survive on their stored fat.
- The size of male ladybug is smaller than the female.
- In many countries, like Iran and Switzerland, ladybugs are considered auspicious and symbols of good luck.
- Ladybugs are found in many colors. Some have spots, while some do not.
- Ladybugs even use their feet to smell.
Posted on October 23, 2009
If you are like me I start my holiday shopping early. I always try to give myself a date to be done, and that date usually comes before Black Friday. But it doesn’t stop me from being out amongst the crazy on America’s hottest shopping day.
When it comes to my holiday shopping I am always on the look out for gifts that are from the heart, personal and touching and that can be and will be used. I decided that this year I am offering very special gift certificate that you can give to those you love. Not only is is a great gift but will be a pleasure to receive.
Why give a gift certificate for pictures? Why not? Who doesn’t love beautiful portraits of their kids, grandkids and family? Do you know someone who is getting married next year? How about a gift to get their engagement pictures done by us? How about your co-worker who is expecting her first baby the first of the year? What would be better than one of kind portraits of her precious bundle of joy?
Also buying a gift certificate now is a great idea for those who know they are wanting to get pictures done sometime next year, but don’t have a definite date in mind. All gift certificates purchased for the holidays will also receive a special offer that the giver can give or they can decide to receive. With every $50 you spend on a gift card you will receive a $20 print credit card from us. Next year Molto Bella has big changes in store, and you won’t want to miss out on the excitement. So contact us today to get those gift cards now.
Posted on October 23, 2009
is a song from the Cure that I loooove, click below to listen and get your Friday really moving!
I LOVE THE CURE
And I am in love with candy bars at weddings… not the ones that come in a wrapper… the tables at weddings that are colorful, sweet and delightful.
I shot a wedding as a 2nd shooter last month for the lovely Ms. Donna. I got to hang with the guys and take in the little things of the day. Brad and Angel had a fish themed wedding. brad was even caught fishing the morning of his big day. And to top off this wedding I GOT A PLACE CARD SETTING WITH MY NAME on it!!! Talk about being excited! It was nice to feel like a guest. I sat had a very yummy dinner, still craving their spinach salad! And then had the pleasure of enjoying a bite of cake. When our time was done I even got on the dance floor (of course I was invited lol) and cut loose a little. It was a great time!! Here is something I threw together to get on here so I could share! Enjoy! And who ever it was who came up with the candy bar – THANK YOU!!!
Posted on October 22, 2009
This past weekend Stephanie, Traci and I loaded up and headed to Fayette County Illinois. We had the pleasure of meeting up with Ashley and Kyle for their engagement session. To say the backdrop for their session was beautiful is such an understatement. Fall by far is my favorite season of the year, and October hands down is my favorite month. The drive out there we got to see some breath taking scenery, fall was really beginning to peek and the weather was perfect. After a week of off and on rain it was nice to be outdoors and being surrounded by God’s beauty. Thank you Ashley and Kyle for having us, we truly enjoyed your session. Here is your sneak peek, more to come soon!
