Happy Lady on the Blog today.

Hey there, I'm struggling to type this morning because I just had a fabulous time with my sister getting our nails done for the wedding! So I'll probably have a million type-o's, just be prepared.

So this past week I've been moving into our new townhouse apartment thingy and I've been trying to pick out things to decorate with, easy, quick meals, homemade cleaning supplies, etc. These are my best finds and I wanted to share them! :)



First up, (my latest obsession) Chalkboard paint! Have an old frame? A piece of wood? Poster board? Food tray? Spray it with chalkboard paint and have the cutest little home decor you ever did see! Not gonna lie to you, I have a TON of chalkboards, white boards, etc. ALL over my house. I think they are SUPER cute and it's a sweet way Thayer and I can surprise each other with cute little notes :) VERY inexpensive. I think I got a can of chalkboard paint for less than $5 at wal mart. :)







Next up, a yummy, healthy snack!
I thought this looked delicious! And definitely not hard to do. I'd explain all the steps to you, but the pictures say it all! :) I might have to make this tonight when I get home...  ;)







Here's what you need to make this homemade Laundry Detergent!


3 bars Fels Naptha, grated - (I have no idea what this stuff really is, just what the recipe said!) ($1.33 x 3)
1 box Borax  ($5.85  -  76 ounces)
1 box Washing Soda ($4.07  -  55 ounces)
2 cups of baking soda ($0.53 cents)
2 containers of Dollar Tree Oxyclean (I bought mine at Family Dollar store…SUN Brand…$4.00 each)
1-2 containers of Purex fabric softener crystals ($6.97  -  28 ounces) 

Grate the bars of soap, and mix all of the ingredients together. The best way to do that is to put it in a big trash bag (probably double trash bags, just to be safe.) and shake it all around. Once you're all mixed up, you're good to go! 

Enjoy homemade laundry soap that is supposed to last you a WHOLE YEAR! (At least that's what the recipe told me.) 

I hope all my finds are things you find nifty too! :) 

Next in line for discussion, today's Beauty Product! :)


I had to think about this one before I chose it for today's beauty product. It's not the cheapest thing I've ever bought, but I do have to say that I LOVE it. It works so good and stays on for hours!


This is Victoria Secret Lipstick! I found it on my last venture into that store! :) I have that exact color and I am in love with it. It's girly, fun, and a little bit edgier than what I was used to. Go out on a limb for once and grab a daring color at the store! You're lipstick and lip gloss can say a lot about you so don't be afraid of trying new ones and seeing what looks best on you! I was a little scared to wear this the first time I did, but I got more compliments on this color than I ever have on any other color I've worn. :) It's so worth it.
Promise ;)

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And last but DEFINITELY not least, my favorite part of the blog, some words from God. :)

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

If that doesn't make you want to join God's side, I don't know what will!
God does give us strength. Through our words, our actions, our faith, conquering our fears, and little everyday dramas. Walk with God, and you won't walk alone. He has your back, just let him catch you! And he will always give you the strength to get back up and keep going. When you feel like you've reached rock bottom, reach up! God will grab your hand and pull you up with Him.

I hope that inspired you beauties. Always remember that God loves you and no matter what hard things you come to today, He is right there. Always within reach. :) Have a great day! Love, Steph

P.S. I got all of these images from either Pinterest or Google. I do not own these images, just using them as an example. :)

Photo Blog

Good morning lovlies, and I do mean morning. Unfortunately, on my Saturday, I was woken at about 5:30 am. It's opening day of deer season and my house was in a rush. I feel like basically the whole town could have been awake from all the racket. So, while I'm awake and staring at the wall, I decided to do a photo blog! :)

The past couple of months have been the busiest photo months I've ever had. I've managed to take pictures of some amazing, funny, beautiful, and wonderful people. I have had some interesting experiences though.

I'll just share this one with you.

Setting the scene:
It's a beautiful Sunday morning. The birds are chirping, there's a crisp breeze flowing through the trees, and a rabbit scurries along on it's way. (There may not have been a rabbit.. I may have lied about that.) I take my camera ever so gently out of my camera bag and begin to assemble the fragile pieces together. Walking side by side with my clients, we reach a lovely field under the largest of walnut trees. The walnuts have just recently fallen and  they decorate the ground with bright colors of green and a dull brown. I'm setting up the background when my client carefully picks up a larger walnut, looks at me with question in their eyes and says, "Are these pears okay to eat?" .....................

I felt like laughing out loud, but luckily I kept my composure. I simply responded with, "Well, that's a walnut. Not a pear. So I don't think you would want to eat that at the moment.

Quite literally one of the funniest things that has happened to me thus far.

I've also been asked  tons of times if there are ticks in the field and if my camera will make that beeping or clicking sound "the whole time."
I must say though, my favorite will probably always be, "Are these pears okay to eat?"

Let's just say I love my job.

That's half the fun of being a photographer, you get to meet tons of new people and learn things about them that a lot of people don't know. They tell you special experiences, memories, or stories of props with sentimental value. It's probably only the coolest job in the world.


Okay so enough about me and what I think. Let's see some of my favorite pictures from the past few months! :)

 Through My Lens Photography By Stephanie

Photos from the past few months :) 

That little boy right there is absolutely adorable! He did so good during that shoot and that's quite a task for some little ones. Props to you little guy! :)

 

This is one of the cutest pictures in all the land. Seriously, I love it. Not to mention I got to catch up with one of my old teachers! Such an awesome laid back family. LOVED getting to spend some time with them! :) Plus, we got a good picture or two. :)  

 

This girl is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
She has such a sweet smile and a wonderful attitude! We had an awesome time and her momma is just as sweet as she is! :)

Let me just say this, if I am HALF as beautiful as this bride on my wedding day, I will be doing good. She is GORGEOUS! This is just the sweetest photo ever. We couldn't have timed/angled/dressed that any better! Absolutely perfect. She was such a beautiful bride. Congrats by the way! :)

I also had a wonderful time taking this fellers senior pictures! We got to use some new locations and try some different lighting. I think it went quite successfully :) I also might add, that was a nice choice of shirt!

 

If you haven't noticed yet, I love this bridge. I use it soooo often and it never fails to give the best pictures! This girl was absolutely beautiful. She has the sweetest personality and she had an AWESOME sense of style. Plus, her hair was awesome. I'm so jealous. 

I hope I haven't bored you too much. I just love showing my gorgeous clients off! I have been unbelievably blessed the past few months with this new venture in my life and I absolutely love what I do! 

Interested in seeing more of my photos? Here's the link to my page! :)

 Through My Lens Photography by Stephanie

Have a lovely day and good luck to you hunters, hope you get the biggest buck out there! 

Love you lots, Steph

Almost-Rant :)

Top of the mornin' to ya! I trust everyone had a wonderful weekend and am hoping everyone is enjoying the week thus far. :)

Golly, I was busier than ever. This weekend consisted of 6 photo sessions, cleaning our new home, and moving stuff in! :) I have never been so busy in my life! The sessions were gorgeous though! Can't wait to get them all edited and posted and do a photo blog! :) Yippee! 

Anyway, today I have Christmas on the brain, again. I started thinking about what I was going to do for gifts and I am so grateful for the way my family has decided to celebrate this year! Here's what we're gonna do:

Instead of everyone spending tons and tons of money on gifts and cards and things of that nature, we are going to do a food celebration!(That's right up my alley, I love food.... as you can tell by my size 16 jeans ;) )

Everyone in my family is bringing either a baked good or homemade candy or something like that, making it look all perty, and bringing it to our family gathering. Once we have all of the food there, we're going to make a game out of it and let everyone have an opportunity to get their favorite family treat! 

It's much less expensive and it'll be wonderful to have the whole family participate in the new family tradition. I just can't wait! This may not be for every family, but I wanted to share it with you! It might be the fix to someones holiday blues. :) 

Plus, who doesn't want a car load of delicious food!

I have also decided to decree that calories officially don't count during the holidays. Since I'm a princess and all, I have that authority! (Heavenly Father is king, I'm his daughter, get it? Hahahaha, I thought it was quite clever.) 

So enjoy your holiday treats and delicious family meals! Don't feel guilty about it because it's actually proven that stress causes weight gain! So stop counting your calories and making yourself feel awful for enjoying that extra piece of fudge. I promise one extra bite isn't gonna make your hips grow three sizes. 

And that brings me to my next point. I think everyone is beautiful, but I especially want to throw a shout-out to my bigger gals! I am all for being healthy and trying to better yourself, but why do we have to look like a stick to be considered gorgeous? I've said it before and I'll say it again. I weigh almost 200 pounds and there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH ME. I hate when I see people that make comments about someones weight gain or that they "don't look as good as they used to." They are just as beautiful as they were before, inside and out. I used to worry about my weight CONSTANTLY. The night before my senior pictures I just cried and cried and cried because I felt like they were going to be awful pictures because I had gained about 20 pounds. Let me tell you, those are the best pictures I have ever had made of myself and it didn't matter that my face was a little fuller than it used to be. I started realizing that the people in my life still cared about me no matter what I weighed and loved me just as much as when I was smaller. So ladies, if your a little heavier than the other girls around you, don't get down. Embrace it. Chances are you probably just have a bad body image and think your much bigger than you actually are. I know I do constantly. So join with me, stop putting yourself down and embrace your curves! Girl, you are gorgeous! And anyone who thinks otherwise is obviously not paying attention to the real you. 

There are even plus size celebrities. So the next time you think you can't look as good as the smaller girls, look at these beauties! 

Queen Latifa: That girl has got some attitude, looks, and a plus size figure. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! It obviously hasn't held her back! :) 

And then we have the lovely, Sara Ramirez. In my opinion, she is one of the most beautiful celebrities in the business right now. I also maybe just feel that way because she stars on my favorite show of all time, Greys Anatomy, as the tough girl, Callie Torres. 

And lastly, a beautiful woman with a big voice, Adele. If you don't know who she is, you should definitely find out. She has such a powerful voice and should be quite an inspiration to girls of all shapes and sizes. :) 

Sorry about that almost-rant. But it's really been on my mind lately! I hope that motivates even just one person and makes them feel like they are gorgeous today. :) 

Okay, getting past that. I do have a beauty product to share today! :) 

I started using this foundation about 2 months ago. It was recommended to me by one of my best friends and it is the best foundation I have used! I used to have pretty bad acne and I really think it was because of my makeup. Once I started using this, my acne started clearing up! Of course I still get the occasional breakout, but it has definitely made a difference! It doesn't go on thick and I like to have just light coverage so it doesn't feel like it's caked on your face. I would definitely recommend this to anyone and it really isn't expensive! I'm positive that it is available at wal-mart and I believe walgreens as well. :) Give it a try! 

Here's a few words from God today to keep you going! :) 

Matthew 22:37-39 - "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

What this says to me is that we should constantly be keeping our thoughts and lives about God. The Bible says to pray without stopping and that says a lot! If we would pray like we're supposed to it would make our entire lives about God. I know I don't always do this, but I do try to keep my thoughts on him. It's sometimes harder than I think it should be, but it's something that takes time, practice, and growth in your relationship with Him. So that's another challenge for you, try to keep your thoughts on God and see what happens. It might surprise you! :) 

Have a wonderful day and a positive attitude. Love you lots, Steph :) 

P.S. I got all of these images used in this blog from Google. I do not own them, just using them as examples. :) 

Faith.

Faith.

It's the hardest thing to have sometimes but it can also be the strongest thing in the world. I know I don't always have as much faith as I should. 

I know I just posted yesterday, but this was too nifty for me not to share. 

So my latest stress hasn't been about the wedding. It's actually been on what's going to happen AFTER the wedding. Where are we gonna live? What all do we need? I don't know how to cook that. How do we even do that? Should I pack this? Should I pack that? I can't get rid of that. Who do I need to call for that? And so on, and so forth. 

What it amounted to was a lot of stress, a lot of worry, and big old headache that not even a Dr. Pepper and a couple of Tylenol could fix. I was wearing thin, (not literally, I like food.) and feeling frazzled. 

And then it hit my like a ton of bricks! Oh my lanta Stephanie, you're doing it again. Where is your faith? Hasn't God shown you time and time again that he has this? Let it go and trust in him. Needless to say, I wasn't prepared to do that. For some crazy reason I held on to my fears and let myself stress over this for weeks. Until Yesterday. 

Yesterday I had to just break down and say, "Okay God, I can't do this anymore. I can't do this by myself and I am just giving this to you. Lead me and help us find the right thing." And today, I am a proud renter of the cutest little town house you ever did see ;) 

I honestly think this whole process of stressing and finally letting go was a spiritual spanking. I needed to learn a lesson about trusting in God and HAVING FAITH that he will come through for me. The funny part is that I should have known that in the first place. If I would have just let him take hold in the beginning I wouldn't have had to do any of that worrying. 

So learn from my mistakes and have faith. Even a teeny tiny amount can move mountains. :) 

To be honest, I wasn't prepared for a beauty product. This was most definitely spur of the moment. So sadly, no recommendation today. But I'm gonna do this instead! 

This is my absolute favorite recipe in the whole wide world. It's a little messy, but it's so worth it! 

Oreo Balls 

Okay, so here is what you'll need!

• 1 package of softened Cream Cheese
• 1 whole package of Oreo Cookies (Yes, it really does take the whole package.) 
• 1 package of white almond bark or white chocolate (your preference) 

Put you're cookies in a bag, you'll probably need a huge ziplock one. And start CRUSHING! Smash those babies until they aren't cookies anymore! Just delicious, fattening, sweet, crumby goodness. 

Next put your softened cream cheese and smashed up cookies in a bowl and start smashing it together. I always start with a big spoon, but end up using my hands cause it's much faster that way. 

You can add a little bit of sugar if you want, but I never do. I think they are sweet enough without it. 

Then you just roll them into balls like cookie dough, place them on a cookie sheet, and throw them in the freezer! 

Once they are nice and hard, melt your chocolate in a bowl. Use a tooth pick and dip each Oreo ball in the melted chocolate. 

Place them back in the freezer long enough for the chocolate to harden and BAM, Oreo Balls. :) 

Enjoy a delicious treat that you can't just have one of. Trust me, you'll end up eating half the batch in one day. :) 

Need some words from God today? 

"For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." Psalm 33:4-6 

He says right there, "He is faithful in all He does." Shouldn't that be enough for us? Maybe God is giving you a spiritual spanking right now too. Instead of fighting him, give it to him. I promise it will turn out exactly how He planned. Enjoy life, don't stress over it.

And with that I leave you. Have a wonderful day and trust in the Almighty God. Love, Stephanie :) 

Is it to early to start thinking about Christmas?

I'm getting into the Christmas season! I can't wait for family activities, snow, Christmas trees, and delicious food that you can eat and not feel guilty about! 

These are some of my favorite, inexpensive Christmas gifts that I have found on Pinterest and things of that nature. :) 

First up, a DIY that's sure to warm someones heart, and keep their drink warm! 

I got this picture from Google. When we made ours, they weren't nearly as nifty as these. 

My siblings and I did this for my mom one year for a gift. She loved it and it wasn't hard at all! 

Here is what we did: 

• Buy a mug. It can be a cheap one from the dollar store or a cutesy one from wal-mart. :)
• Grab a sharpie! 
• Draw on your design, words, or initials straight onto the mug.
• Bake it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Hint: Even if you're mug is dishwasher safe, try to stay away from washing these in the dishwasher. We did a couple of times and the sharpie design is almost completely off the mugs. Hand wash just to be on the safe side! :) 

Here is DIY #2:

Snow Globes! How cute! 

So here's what you need.

• Clear plastic or glass jar with lids. 
• Hot glue gun 
• Silver and/or white Glitter
• Things for the inside: That could be a plastic, or ceramic figurine, synthetic tree tips, etc.
• Foam square (small, just big enough to cover the lid.)
• Elmer's glue 
• And good old Water :) 

Step 1: use the hot glue gun to attach the foam piece to the inside of the lid. (This is what you're figurine will stick to.)

Step 2: put elmer's glue all over the foam and sprinkle the glitter all over it to make it look like a sparkly bed of snow :) LET IT DRY COMPLETELY.

Step 3: Now glue the figurine to the sparkly foam. Use the hot glue gun and make sure it get good and dry before moving to the next step. If you have any hot glue bubbles that show, cover them in elmer's glue and sprinkle more glitter! 

Step 4: Let that dry COMPLETELY. :) 

Step 5: Fill the jar ALMOST to the top with water. 

Step 6: Sprinkle the white and silver glitter in the water. 

Step 7: Screw the lid back on TIGHTLY! :) 

And you're done! Congrats, you're now the owner of a dandy new snow globe! 

Those are the cutest little gifts and it will mean a lot to someone to know that you took the time to make something special for them! :) 

Moving on, I want to share with you another awesome beauty product! 

 I love this stuff! It's cheaper than the Chi brand heat protector, and I think it does a great job! It's definitely worth a try! Available at wal-mart. :) P.S. it adds some shine to your hair and makes it look SUPER healthy! 

Need some scripture to help you get through the day? Well here ya go! 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Isnt' that amazing? God has a plan for us if we would just let him take hold in our lives! Let go of you're worries and let him lead! He knows what he's doing, promise. So when you feel hopeless and like you're going nowhere, just remember, he has plans that won't harm us. In fact, he gives us hope and a future. 

And with that, I leave you. Keep you're chin up and keep on smiling! Have a wonderful day! 

Steph :) 

A little beauty on the brain. :)

Afternoon! Hope you're doing just dandy on this fine Friday!

This past week I've been obsessed with makeup and hair tutorials on youtube. I just can't get enough of them! Let me be the first to say, some of those hair tutorials are a little bit tricky though! I know I had a hard time with them. 

Here are a couple of links to me favorite ones! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d73PPW0fp98

This one is a "date night" makeup tutorial, SUPER pretty!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-SRcba1BQs

This is my ALL TIME FAVORITE hair tutorial. I go back to this every couple of months to get some new ideas. And the best part about it, it's FAST. She does some of those in less than 2 minutes! (That's my kind of hairstyle!) 

But during my time of searching all these "beauty tips" and little secrets I started thinking. Since when do we have to look a certain way to be "beautiful?" When did that start? Or has it been going on since forever? So that got me thinking AGAIN. Why do we let society decide that about us? 

I don't think you need to weigh 130 pounds to be beautiful. I don't think you have to have flowing gorgeous hair to be beautiful. I don't think you have to wear the cutest clothes to be beautiful. And I definitely don't think you have to spend hundreds of dollars on beauty products to have pretty makeup. So here's my new plan! I'm going to go on a hunt for CHEAP products that you can use that are just as good as the expensive products, but don't break your bank account. I'll try to add one makeup/hair/beauty product to every blog I post that I have used and know is just as good as the name brand stuff. 

Now, before you get all puffy, I am DEFINITELY not saying that if you buy expensive products you're a horrible person or you're bad for using them. If you can afford it and can use it well, GO FOR IT! I'm jealous. I'm a poor girl, I gotta go to wal-mart and walgreens for my makeup! Lol :) 

Anyway, here's the latest product I've used and loved! 

 BABY LIPS -it's some good stuff! 

I have the color "Pink Wink." It taste a little bit like Juicy Fruit chewing gum and has a nude finish. It's great for everyday lip color and it also keeps my lips from getting chapped. (I have a REALLY hard time with chapped lips.) 

I would recommend this any day and I know for a fact it is available at wal-mart. Don't quote me on the price but I know I got mine for less than $6. 

I hope you don't get the wrong idea. I don't mean to offend anyone. If you weigh 130 pounds and have gorgeous flowing hair and can afford expensive beauty products, you're blessed! Be thankful! :) But for those of us who aren't quite that fortunate, maybe these little tips will help. :)

In the words of Bob and Larry from Veggie Tales, "God made you special, and He loves you VERY much!" :) Have a great day! :)