Free Gift Box Template

Put together this simple little box template for you to download for free! Check out the full instructions and pdf at You are My Fav!

All Natural Lemon Lime Jello Shots!

It's finally getting really warm around here. Perfect time for jello shots! I've recently put together a pretty easy tutorial for the cool new website Sadierae+Co.! It's a super light and refreshing snack for a party or just anytime. 

What's nice about the recipe is that you can exclude the alcohol to make it just layered jello, or switch up the flavors by using other fruit (or veggie) juices!

If you'd like to find the entire recipe and tutorial check it out on Sadiera+Co.

Koali & the new Soft Box!

This photo of Koali is funny. One because she looks a little chubby, but I assure you, she's not, her Dr. says she's perfect, and two because she absolutely did not want to model for me, but could not resist me bribing her with Salmon treats to sit for a few minutes. That's her, give me some treats face.

I just purchased a large new octagon softbox! I've been wanting one forever now but always hated studio lighting. I obviously prefer natural light, but I believe with some practice, it will be an amazing tool to be able to recreate light indoors that looks like nature made it.

So I will shoot more and hopefully become better at it.

Copy Image Transfer Tutorial

I haven't done this in quite a while, but thought that it would be a great project tutorial for You Are My Fav! It's super easy and only requires very little supplies. Read more on how to make your own Image Transfers over at You Are My Fav!

Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

1/4 cup butter

1 (10 oz., about 40) pkg. regular marshmallows or 3 cups miniature marshmallows

6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. At this point, continue to cook butter until is begins to brown as light or as dark as you like. Make sure not to let it burn.

Add the marshmallows and continue to stir until the marshmallows have completely melted. Remove from heat.

Stir in the Rice Krispies cereal, coating them well with the melted marshmallow mixture.

Press the mixture evenly into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan which has been buttered or sprayed with non-stick spray or lined with wax paper.

Cut into squares when the mixture cools.

Mother's Day Discount

If you still need mother's day gifts this year, please use our 10% discount code to pick up a few things from the shop! Use MOMSDAY10 at checkout for your discount.

Thank you.

2013 Calendar On Sale

Now just $15 for our 2013 Screen Printed Calendars. We have a few left.

Cloth Portfolio Tutorial

I put together this simple Cloth Portfolio for Melanie at youaremyfave.com. It's perfect if you are giving a gift of photos and need a cute display. Check out the Tutorial here.

Easy Donuts

In high school I participated in a Kiwins fundraiser where we sold malasadas at the county fair. To my surprise, instead of homemade dough for the donuts, we used biscuit dough from the can (the kind that pops when it's opened!). We fried them up in oil then tossed them in plain granulated sugar. And they were so perfect warm. I now use the same idea for different types of donuts.

I used a pastry tip to cut the hole in these donuts and fried them in canola oil. After draining, I toss them in glaze while they are still warm, so they absorb it better. And that's where your creativity with this can be endless. This is my glaze recipe (no measurements, just taste)

Plain Glaze

Confectioners Sugar

Almond Milk 

Vanilla Extract

Honey 

Melted Butter 

You can make all sorts of variations to this recipe. Add melted chocolate, or strained fruit, lemon zest. You could even dye the glaze a color to match a themed baby shower or wedding.

New Letterpress Business Cards

I just received the most wonderful package in the mail today! I contacted a friend of mine to print some new Letterpress business cards for the Photo Business. They are so simple and the perfect shade of grey. Letterpress really makes the simplicity stand out. Macon York, did a wonderful job and I'm so happy to have them. 

Easy Onigiri - Rice Balls!

My grandma ALWAYS had a snack for us ready after school. Some days it would be donuts or cupcakes, others Subway sandwiches, another day Onigiri or Musubis, a Japanese rice snack that is very popular in Hawaii. Always something delicious.

Although my grandma usually mixed her rice with shredded carrots, and a can of tuna, I opted for something a little more simple.

White Rice

Rice Wine Vinegar 

Shoyu (Soy Sauce)

Shredded Carrots

 Furikake

Nori Seaweed to wrap

Mix everything together to your taste. You'll need a Musubi mold, or you can use your hands, to shape the rice balls. Wrap them in Nori and you're done. These are great for picnic or travel snacks. This mix in possibilities are endless. 

How to Prepare Ginger Root

Ginger root is used often in Asian cooking. I use ginger for all sorts of things, making marinades,  stomach soothing teas, and for salad dressings. My grandma always taught me to keep it in the freezer so it will last for a long time.

Now, instead of putting the whole root in the freezer skin on, when I bring it home, I use a spoon and some water to peel the skin off. I cut the root into perfect sized portions and then slip them into a ziplock to freeze. Makes life just a little easier.

Softening Butter

I rarely use the microwave for anything, including softening butter. A really great way to make the job go by quick is cutting your butter into bite sized pieces and letting is sit at room temperature. It should soften quickly!

Best Creme Brûlée French Toast Ever

This is probably the best french toast I've ever made & had! One day I thought, why don't I try soaking old bread in Creme Brûlée cream and frying it?

Amazingly yummy, moist and perfect! I used Alton Brown's Creme Brûlée recipe, but instead of pouring the batter into ramekins I poured it into a large pan to cover a loaf of old (semi-hard) ciabatta bread, cut into slices. I let it soak over night in the fridge. The next day I melt butter and a little sugar (for the brulee part!) in a pan and fry each slice until golden. 

Ingredients

1 quart heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped (or a TBS of vanilla extract)
1 cup vanilla sugar, divided
6 large egg yolks

1 loaf stale bread, sliced

Directions

Place the cream, vanilla bean and its pulp into a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and reserve for another use. (if using vanilla extract, do not put it in yet)

In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and the egg yolks until well blended and it just starts to lighten in color. Add the cream a little at a time, stirring continually. Let it cool, then add vanilla extract into the mixture. 

Line a large pan with bread slices. Pour egg mixture over bread and cover with plastic warp. Refrigerate. 

In a large frying pan melt butter and a sprinkling of sugar. Fry each slice of bread in butter & sugar mixture until golden brown. 

Top with maple syrup, or fresh fruit.

SO GOOD!

Paper Supplies

If you are in need of somer simple glassine or brown paper we have a few new sizes in the Paper Supply Shop here.

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