Why do Photography?

I have run my own photography business for about 5 years now. Maybe longer. At this point it is at a when wanted manner. If someone wants photos done, I'll do them. I really enjoy photography. I love taking photos of nature, animals, and people. I'm good at it.
BUT!!! There are so many "photographer's" out there now that it is hard to distinguish between the professionals and the amateurs. The professionals are the ones who went to school for photography and who are very experienced in what they do. They have been professionally taking photos for many many years. The amateurs are those who have been told that they take amazing photos and just try to make a profit from it. I'm a little of both. I have taken the classes but don't have the certificate. I also have been doing this for a long time.
Does this mean that I'm going to quit because there are so many photographer's out there? Nope! Not happening. As a matter of fact, I support the other photographers out there and encourage them and praise them and help get them more business. For me, I am in an as you need me mentality.
I'll keep doing it but it won't be my main way of making money. Here is a sample of what I have done in the past.

If you are on Facebook, check out my page: Northern Maine Exposure. It has a cute Yorkie on the front.

How do you Clean your Carpets?

When my kids were little, we researched high and low for the best vacuum on the market. My mother in law had a Rainbow Vacuum. It was great but I hated using it because I had to always empty the water from it. This is what it looks like :

 Photo courtesy of home depot

What I really like about this one is that it had scents that you could add to the water to make your whole carpet smell better. It sure did help with emptying the canister after vacuuming too.

When the motor in that died, we continued to look for a good reliable vacuum. One that would last us a long time. We used regular canister vacuums, but they seemed to be dying a year or so after we had bought them.

Our final purchase vacuum was a Dyson DC33 vacuum. It has been the best vacuum we have ever had. This is what it looks like : 

 photo courtesy of Amazon

We have had this vacuum for over 10 years now. It has been the best vacuum ever! My favorite part about this vacuum is that it can come apart in many different sections to find out where a clog could be. The filters are machine washable. The wand is great for reaching high places. The hose is replaceable if you need to replace it. It's awesome. Any issue we have had with this vacuum, it has been easily fixable and parts are cheap.

If you ever need to invest in a vacuum, choose a dyson. You won't be disappointed!

Grammy's Cookies

When I was younger and my grandmother was still alive, she would make the most amazing food. Her chicken stew was to die for. Turkey dinners and mashed potatoes were delicious. My favorite, always, was the desserts. There would be pies and cakes, and brownies, and cookies. My absolute favorite was Raisin filled cookies. I have sworn that I will never taste another Raisin filled cookie, ever again. And so far I haven’t. I don’t think that any one could compare to Grammy Jo’s rasien filled cookies. As I told you earlier, I am making a delicious dinner tonight. I am also making my dad’s chocolate chip cookies. 

My dad is an amazing man. He grew up by the river as the oldest of nine children. He, in my opinion, is my hero. He always took care of everyone. When we were young, he would make sure that we would visit my grandparents often and have fun doing it. He is a retired Air Force Sargent. He is now one of the most amazing custodian/bus drivers that our town has ever had. My dad takes time for everyone, even though some times people don’t realize it. He makes the most amazing molasses cookies. Now… I don’t have the recipe for these. Nor do I want them. He is the only person that makes the most absolute perfect molasses cookies I have ever tested. Nobody else has compared, except my grandmother. I’m pretty positive that my dad gets his cooking skills from his mom. I really wouldn’t doubt it. I do however, have his chocolate chip cookie recipe. I have never tasted a chocolate chip cookie recipe quite like his either. They aren’t caky and they really just taste divine. I can’t really explain it. It is a simple recipe too. You just mix all the ingredients and cook it for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are brown and the middle looks cooked. It’s the most simple chocolate chip cookie ever...

 

 

 

If you find that you want to try these cookies and you like them too, leave me a comment.

 

Have a fabulous day!

 

 

Sunday Happenings

It is chilly here in Northern Maine today. I started off the day with a sermon from my church that I missed a few weeks ago. One of my favorite parts of Framework Church is that the sermons are online in case you can't make it or missed a week. It's also nice to go back and re-listen to a sermon that you've listened to before. You always hear something different.

I had a membership class that Tatty and I went to yesterday and we received these amazing mugs from Framework also. 

As you know, if you read my blog, I am currently in college for Medical Assisting. I have decided this year that I am double majoring in Medical Coding and next year, I will begin the Registered Nurse degree. My ultimate goal is to be a traveling nurse with a side job of medical coding on the road with my husband. He is taking the Medical Coding Certification right now. I am so excited for him right now.

So I began by telling you that I was having coffee, watching a sermon and attempting to do my homework. I also made two types of corn chowder today. Tatty is becoming a vegan so I made her a vegan corn chowder. I'll post my notes and the original recipe further down. I am also making corn chowder in the crockpot. A little later, I'll be making either pumpkin chocolate chip cookies or just chocolate chip cookies. With the feeling of fall in the air today, I feel like baking and cooking up yummy stuff.

So the vegan corn chowder. I didn't follow the recipe to a "T" because Tatty is allergic to garlic and I used frozen corn instead of corn on the cob. However, It still has amazing flavor. This recipe calls for coconut milk and coconut cream. I used almond milk and no cream. It still is thick and smells delicious!

Here is the original recipe: I used the recipe from Loving It Vegan

So instead of using the coconut milk and coconut cream, I used almond milk. I used chicken broth because we didn't have the vegetable broth, and I used frozen corn instead of fresh corn on the cob. I used the same amounts of these but tailored it to her needs. She can't have garlic so we didn't put any in. I didn't have a full bay leaf so I put ground up in and left it in. It thickened up nicely and tasted delicious.

I made a separate corn chowder in the crockpot for everyone else. That is currently cooking and smelling amazing as well.

The recipe I used for the rest of the family comes from Half-Scratched

You can find the recipe here or check it out below

I hope you enjoy this beautiful football weathered day. I know I will.

Hey!

Good morning! So I haven't been posting anything at all because I have been very busy knitting a quilt for Tai and healing from knee surgery. This week, I am working hard to get back to eating healthy and exercising. This morning I made homemade pumpkin yogurt. It was delicious! I didn't take a picture. However, I made so much that I was allowed to have that I am saving half of it for later to have as a snack. I took 2 cups of vanilla yogurt, 1/3 of a cup of pumpkin and sprinkled on some pumpkin pie spice. It tasted just like noosa yogurt and was only a fraction of the calories!

Stay tuned because I am going to be bringing you more of my daily getting healthy goals as I go on. I promise. Also it's senior year for college and senior year for my baby in high school. I am super stoked about these!

Have a fantabulous day!

The Reveal

Tonight, I shared the contents of the box that I received today from It Works! I'm becoming a distributer for them and trying their products. I am so excited to check this company out. I've heard a lot of great things about them and thought it was about time to try it.

The Reveal is here. It is public. Please check it out, comment, and let me know if you are interested.

Thanks!

It Works!

I have been excitedly awaiting a new package in the mail. It will be here this afternoon. I am so excited to see what this new company is all about. It Works has been around for a long time. However, I am just starting to learn how it works and how it will work for my family.

A few weeks ago, I signed up to be a distributer. Tonight, I will be revealing what is in the package. I can't wait to unveil what is in the package. I also can't wait to begin trying the products and promoting them. I will be promoting them here on my blog, but also on Facebook. If you have any questions about how It Works! works or what it does or who it can help, comment below or check me out on Facebook. I'd be happy to help you get started too. You can also check out my It Works! website. There is a lot of information there too!