Archive for Fort Wayne Photography Blog

March 20, 2012
By april
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in Fort Wayne Photography Blog

Prom Sessions | Fort Wayne Photographer

It's that time of year again - Prom Season!

I have seen many of you ladies post pictures of your dresses, or dress possibilities on Facebook. They are all so lovely, I am not sure how you decide on which one to get!

Right now I am offering mini sessions for your prom day...because I know you didn't spend that much money on a dress to not have beautiful pictures of you in it! And let's face it, Mom and Dad, wouldn't it be nice to have someone else capture that moment instead of worrying if you have enough batteries in your camera and enough memory on the card, only to have to then mess with getting it on your computer?

Book a mini session before Spring Break is over and this is what you get:

A short but sweet 15 minute session at the location of your choice
A free 5x7 print of the photo of your choice
Your photos posted to Facebook before the end of the evening for you to share with friends and family

All of this for $30/per couple

Going with a group of friends? You save $5/per couple when we photograph everyone in your group!

You can't beat that - but I will...

Book your senior session with me and get the Prom mini session for HALF OFF!

Now that is a deal!

Book your date now, there is a very limited number of sessions per day.

Email me - april@blueowlphotography.com

Or find me on Facebook - Blue Owl Photography

{Fort Wayne Photographer, Mini Prom Sessions}

March 15, 2012
By april
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in Fort Wayne Photography Blog

Inspired by Pinterest, brought to you by Amanda

Pinterest is a great tool. I love how it sparks inspiration.

It is proof that if you put forth the effort, you can do things you might not have done otherwise. Sometimes inspiration only goes so far though - with somethings you need real talent.

Amanda Filler, my friend and co-worker, works her magic with cakes. I've seen baby shower cakes that she has made and even a New Year cake. They are truly beautiful.

Last weekend, I was able to see one of her cakes in person. She was a gracious host of a baby shower for Lindsay, a co-worker of ours. Not only did she let all of us invade her home for the afternoon, but she made this oh-so-cute cake.

{all of us moms can appreciate the little foot poking out at the bottom, most of us have had our insides throttled while our sweet bundles were still in our bellies}

Not only was the cake super cute, but it was delicious too!

She didn't stop there either, being the good hostess that she is, she also put together this fantastic present for Lindsay to take home. Lindsay is having a boy and this is a cute spin-off of the diaper cake.

Seriously, how cute is that?!

If you are in need of a beautiful cake, keep your eyes open for Amanda's work. I have a feeling she isn't going to keep her talents just for her friends and family for long.

March 12, 2012
By april
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in Fort Wayne Photography Blog

YumMee’s bakery is Yummy

Months ago our then 3 year old son told us he wanted a dinosaur cake for his birthday.

Then he told us that every day for three months.

I spoke to the amazing Lauren Shewman who makes amazing cakes to see if she would be up for the challenge. She said that her schedule was very busy this year, so she was taking a break from cake construction, but she referred me to the bakery YumMee's on East State St.

I took her up on her suggestion and ordered my son's cake from YumMee's. I was immediately excited to do so. I grew up going to that bakery when it was under a different name. Going to that bakery is one of my favorite childhood memories. I was saddened when it went out of business, but it wasn't a surprise with the economy being what it is.

I had heard great things about YumMee's and they didn't disappoint. The bakery itself is this wonderful little modern-styled place to sit, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy one of their beautiful cupcakes or another one of their tasty treats. I was even more pleased to know that when I was placing my order, I was placing it with Terry, the man that was going to make the cake. I was delighted by the wonderful customer service I received with Terry. He asked me what flavor I would like the cake to be. I felt a little foolish for a second. I had never been to their bakery. I wasn't sure what flavors they had and there was no way I was going to refer to a flavor as "white or chocolate", no...this bakery held much better flavors than that.

My choices were:

Terry Mee Su - Chocolate cake filled with coffee flavored pastry cream, topped with mascarpone buttercream

For the love of chocolate - Chocolate cake with chocolate chunks topped with milk chocolate buttercream and dipped in dark chocolate ganache

Peanut Butter Cup - Chocolate cake filled with peanut butter ganache, topped with peanut butter buttercream and garnished with a peanut M&M

Salt of the Earth - Dark chocolate cake filled with salted caramel topped with a caramel infused buttercream

Simply Red - Southern red velvet cake topped with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting

Simply Vanilla - Vanilla bean cake filled with vanilla pastry cream topped with a vanilla bean buttercream

Snickerdoodle - Sugar & cinnamon are sprinkled on the cake before baking, giving it a crispy crust just like the classic Snickerdoodle cookie.

Sweet Oinker - Pecan cake topped with maple buttercream garnished with candied thick cut Ossian bacon {how fun is that?!}

The Great Pumpkin - Pumpkin cake topped with a chai latte buttercream

My goodness...how was I to choose?! Because our family isn't really into chocolate cake...I know, it's a sin...I went with the Snickerdoodle. Again I say, Terry did not disappoint.

When I picked the cake up, I think Terry was as excited to give it to me as I was picking it up. He opened the box, grinning ear to ear and asked if I thought my son would like it. I assured Terry he was going to love it!

And he did!

I did have to wake the birthday boy up to have cake. Apparently we had worn him out throughout the day...and he was asleep by 7:00.

The cake was delicious!

I am pretty picky about icing. I don't need a whole lot. I am that person that scrapes half of the icing off. I think there are icings that are gross and ends up ruining the whole cake. Their icing was perfect, not too sweet...and not slathered on an inch think.

The Snickerdoodle...well...if you are a fan of Snickerdoodle cookies, trying one of their Snickerdoodle cupcakes is a must.

This won't be our last trip to YumMee's, that if for sure.

*a little bird even told me that they are doing so well they are going to open a shop out southwest.

I love when local businesses thrive. Support your local businesses!

Thanks, Terry for helping make our son's day even more special!

March 11, 2012
By april
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in Fort Wayne Photography Blog

Daylight Savings {Spring 2012} | Fort Wayne Photographer

What?!

I was supposed to adjust my clock last night?

Spring Forward...Fall Back??

All I know is that I lost an hour of sleep.

I'm going back to bed.

Hope the transition to the new spring time is an easy one for you!

{Fort Wayne Photographer, Photos of Pug}

March 9, 2012
By april
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in Fort Wayne Photography Blog

Berry Crisp

Last week I posted a Cornbread & Chili Bake recipe and got such amazing feedback on that and requests for more recipes.

So, here it is!

This Berry Crisp recipe is so delicious and easy - you will have no reason not to make it.

I even have the gluten free version. My husband's side of the family has issues with gluten. I love having this recipe to make for family get-togethers so everyone can enjoy the dessert.

What you need:

Fruit mixture:

2 cups blueberries

2 cups raspberries

2 cups blackberries

{you can also use chopped strawberries as an alternative. really, whatever combo of berries you like - just amounting to 6 cups}

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour {HERE is your Gluten Free alternative - use Rice Flour instead of All Purpose Flour}

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons lemon juice

For the topping:

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup all-purpose flour {HERE again with the Rice Flour for Gluten Free alternative}

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

pinch of salt

1/2 cup (one stick) cold, unsalted butter cut into small pieces

Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you are feeling saucy.

To Prepare:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 9 inch pie plate.
Gently combine the berries with the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice; place in the prepared pie plate.

Prepare the crisp topping: Combine oats, flour, both sugars and salt in a bowl. Use a pasty blender or 2 knives to work in the butter until it resembles coarse meal. It doesn't have to be perfect, just combine well. Sprinkle mixture over the berries.
Place pie plate on baking sheet. Bake in center of the oven until the top is golden brown and the fruit is bubbly - about 50 minutes - 1 hour.

Enjoy!

{Fort Wayne Photographer, iPhone photo, Berry Crisp}

March 8, 2012
By april
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in Fort Wayne Photography Blog

Birthdays are for Everyone

As a wife and mother, I have learned that birthday celebrations aren't just special for the birthday girl/boy.

When my husband's birthday rolls around, I have my own reason to celebrate. My life as I know it (from age 16) would not be the same. I celebrate his life and our life together. When my children have birthdays - not only do I celebrate their life, I celebrate my accomplishment of giving birth to them and raising them everyday...{and not choking the life out of them when my patience runs thin}.

Today I am celebrating my best friend's birthday.

Kristie is my cousin Robert's wife. We met years ago. She was gracious enough to allow us into her home, to stay with them while we visited...and then to stay again after my grandfather passed away. I believe that my grandfather's death directly affected our relationship, bringing out the best in all of us. And many years later....here we are.

I love her for many reasons. Too many to count.

We like many of the same things - like music.

And that fact alone has sent us on MANY adventures.

And with each adventure, the tie that binds us together grew stronger.

Most of all, my favorite quality about her is how she cares.

She loves me in spite of all my quirkiness.

She helps me get through life's everyday obstacles.

She loves my family. My kids call her Aunt Kristie and they have since a very young age. That wasn't prompted by anyone. I think they naturally feel love from her the way they would from an aunt. They miss her when we aren't with her.

She has cared for some of the people that I hold near and dear to my heart.

The reasons why I love her are countless.

Today, even though we are twelve hundred miles away from each other, I am celebrating the birth of my best friend...

And counting the days until I see her again.

Happy Birthday, Kristie! I hope your day is filled with relaxation and happiness.

March 6, 2012
By april
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in Fort Wayne Photography Blog

Happy 4th Birthday to my baby

Today is my baby's 4th birthday.

I can't believe it's has been 4 years already.

It seems like yesterday we were celebrating Easter, almost 3 weeks after his birthday - and he was still this tiny.

I am not sure if I will get over his size compared to my father-in-law's hands.

I have miracle babies. All babies are miracles, yes, but for my kids (especially the boys) it is a miracle that they are here.

When I was pregnant with Vinny, I was diagnosed with placenta previa. It is a complication in pregnancy where the placenta grows in the lowest part of the womb - making it impossible to have a vaginal birth because the placenta is basically blocking the opening. I was going to have to have a C-section.

I was not happy about this diagnosis. I had a pretty good idea that he was going to be my last child, my last birth. There is some satisfaction in giving birth to your child. It is a lot of work. It gives a sense of ultimate accomplishment. And that had been taken away from me. Even worse, I knew I wouldn't ever give birth again. It also freaked me out that I was going to have a C-section, that I was going to be cut open and gutted like a fish it seemed. I made the mistake of looking up a video online of a C-section while I was still pregnant. I couldn't even finish the video, it made me woozy. I did end up watching it after I had him, just to see what they actually did to me. I made my husband watch it too because during delivery he wasn't watching what was going on. Him and I were having a drugged up conversation about how I felt like Violet on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...getting bigger and bigger.

The C-section was a success not only for the obvious reasons, but my doctor told me what a miracle it was that I had to have a C-section. There was a true knot in the umbilical cord. If I would have given birth to him vaginally, the knot would have tightened - cutting off his blood and oxygen supply during labor and he would not have made it. This is why he is a miracle baby.

He has been a joy.

{Photo courtesy of Kristie Kulik}

He is our constant entertainment.

He often makes my heart melt.

And we could not love him more!

Happy Birthday, Vinny!

February 29, 2012
By april
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in Fort Wayne Photography Blog

Cornbread & Chili Bake

I often find myself making the same things over and over for dinner. I can cook, but I am not a creative cook. Tell me what to make and I will make it, but tell me to come up with something new to make and I have to do my homework.

Recently my best friend and I were talking about this. I told her I had found an awesome new recipe that contained cornbread...and really, who doesn't like cornbread?!

She immediately informed me that it was my duty to tell her when I stumble across something new and good. So when I made this dish again, I thought it was probably my duty to share it with all of you too.

I quickly snapped a couple pictures of it, before my family dug into it.

{"you ain't never had my cornbread, a little bit of heaven and a little bit of hell yeah" - Dave Matthews Band, Cornbread. You didn't really think I would post something about cornbread without mentioning one of my all time favorite songs, did you?}

The great thing about this recipe is you can use different things and it turns out great no matter what.

What you need:

{For those of you who need "exacts", no worries...I am very much that way and this recipe really does work with "whatever"...so hang in there}

28 oz (or two small cans) of kidney beans

28 oz (or two small cans) of petite diced or crushed tomatoes, undrained

half a package of Cincinnati recipe chili mix OR 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, 3 tablespoons chili powder, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Now the rest is up to you...I have added

6 potatoes, baked and gutted - use the guts

1 lb lean ground beef, browned {Note: My family is trying to go meatless, so if you are using beef, maybe use less potatoes so the dish isn't overflowing}

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 can of corn

1 can of green chilies

1 heaping tablespoon of sliced jalapeno from a jar

1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese of your choice

3 packages of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

You can seriously use whatever your family likes...or whatever you have in your cabinets at the time.

Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 casserole dish.

Mix all of the ingredients except for the cheese and corn muffin mix in a large pot on medium heat.

Pour mixture in casserole dish.

Mix cornbread according to the directions on the package, remember to let the cornbread mixture sit 2-3 minutes.

Sprinkle shredded cheese onto mixture in casserole dish to cover.