If I had another baby...

I would buy all this stuff! When I see great products from fellow small business owners, I get really excited and love to spread the word...so, here is what I am excited about these days:

This birdy onesie is so "me", that I would love a T-shirt version for myself!


I have seen and felt this diaper bag--the stitching is flawless, the canvas is durable and the pattern, well...who can resist polka dots? These are two different bags here, just in case you were wondering. The brown version has polka dot handles!



And now, the onesie that I want to stock up on for baby shower gifts:


To see more adorable baby clothes, accessories, diaper bags, and other creative must-haves for babies, check out Stacey's website--you will get lost in her creativity. She inspires me!

Mini Session Update for 8/31

The mini session time slots for August 31st, 2008 are all booked up. Thank you for your interest and your votes! The location will be announced on Monday, August 18th.

Beautiful Baby

I was so pleased to meet this beautiful baby girl after photographing her mom's belly. She is sweet, tiny and perfect as you can see...

Mini Session Times for August 31st

Cost: $125
Location: TBA--place your vote in the poll to the right!

Time slots:
1. 5:30pm - 5:55pm **booked**
2. 6:00pm - 6:25pm **booked**
3. 6:30pm - 6:55pm **booked**

So glad you found my blog...

Just to clear things up...
my recent email for the next set of mini sessions had an error in the link to my blog...and if you found yourself on a blog about a Stacy Marie other than me, you weren't the only one! I apologize for the confusion and since you are reading this, I guess you found the right place. Phew, that was a sticky situation.

Four boys a beautiful girl...

A few family pictures from one of my recent mini sessions...they were full of laughter and joy that continues to make me smile.

August Special

Please enjoy a 35% discount off of prints for all sessions completed in the month of August!

If you would like to stay up-to-date on my monthly specials, let me know and I will put you on my newsletter mailing list. Email me your email address at: stacy@mystacymariephoto.com.

My favorite treat...

is super simple so I am going to share it with you all!
1. Melt white chocolate chips and spoon onto pretzels.
2. Top with M&Ms (perfect for the holidays because M&Ms have seasonal colors!)
And then...watch out because they are addicting.

Meet Me In The Park - Update

Thank you for all of your inquiries for the "Meet Me In The Park" mini sessions. They are all booked up...but! don't fret! I will offer another block of mini sessions within the next month. I am taking suggestions for the next location. You name it: "Meet Me _________" For the lucky winner, you will receive a free 11x14 mounted print from your session...that is a $45 value, folks! woot! I will conduct a poll and we can all vote on the next location so don't hold back the suggestions, I can't wait to hear from you!

By Request! The Fabulous Butterscotch Coconut Cookies

Butterscotch Coconut Cookies
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups sweetened shredded dried coconut
1 1/2 cups (9 oz) butterscotch chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together, set aside

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, cream the butter until fluffy pale yellow. Add sugar and brown sugar and beat very well. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on low speed until completely blended.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed. Add the coconut and butterscotch chips, mixing or stirring only until blended.

Shape the dough into 1 inch balls or drop by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets (with parchment paper).

Bake the cookies until golden brown around the edges, about 15 minutes. Cook with cooling rack.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
Enjoy!!
Recipe from Williams-Sonoma "Cookies" Recipe Book
(here is the picture on more time...they make me want to bake right now!)

Meet Me In The Park *Update* One Time Slot Left

Hi Folks!
The following time slot is still available:

3. 6:30pm - 6:55pm **booked**

If this particular date didn't work out for you but you are interested in a mini session, let me know and I will start a list for my next mini session date--coming at the end of August or mid September.
Thank you!

Class of 2009!

I am booking senior sessions for the class of 2009 and looking for one boy and one girl from each high school that would like to represent me. E-mail me for more information--here is a little taste of what I've been up to with some really fabulous seniors!

Update for Meet Me In The Park

The following time slots are still available:
2. 6:00pm - 6:25pm **booked**
3. 6:30pm - 6:55pm **booked**

Meet Me In The Park!

Introducing Mini Sessions

If the economy has got your budget in a bind but you still want professional portraits, a mini session is a great alternative to a traditional photo session.

Here's The Scoop:
I will be at Koreshan Park on Sunday, August 3rd for three back-to-back mini sessions. The cost of each session is $100.00 and includes twenty-five minutes of shooting time, along with a cd photo disc with 20-25 edited images for you to print, share, etc. Easy enough!

Time slots:
1. 5:30pm - 5:55pm **booked**
2. 6:00pm - 6:25pm **booked**
3. 6:30pm - 6:55pm **booked**

E-mail me at stacy@mystacymariephoto.com
to reserve your time slot. I will keep this blog updated with times that are still available.

I hope to see you there!

Ben, Julie & a Bun In The Oven

Congratulations to Ben and Julie! What fun and laid back parents these two will be. I am so excited for their new little arrival coming in less than one week. I loved how Ben made Julie laugh during our session and the candid moments I was able to capture because of his sense of humor. They were candid photo pros!

7 Reasons Why I am Lucky...that my hands suffered 2nd degree burns

1. My kids were safely inside the house
2. My face didn't burn (only my eyelashes are burnt off)
3. My hair did not catch on fire
4. If I scar, it won't be noticeable on my knuckles, where the worst part of the burn ended up.
5. The grill didn't explode (which is next to my house)
6. My house didn't catch on fire
7. My husband had the following four days off to be my hands for me (that has been interesting!)

Well, it is safe to say that I have learned my lesson in lighting a grill after letting too much propane build up inside. It was a tough lesson, and the burns were extremely painful but I am thankful that God protected me from much worse circumstances. I don't expect to fall very far behind in my editing, as the palms of my hands are fine and I can still type and click my mouse to my heart's content (now that the really thick bandages are off. Thanks for all of your prayers and well-wishes!

Butterscotch Coconut Cookies, oh my!

My first time baking with coconut...and oh! the texture of these cookies is fantastic (thanks to the coconut). If you really like sweet, soft, kinda chewy cookies...it would be my pleasure to share this recipe with you. I have to lock these up or I will eat a ridiculous amount at once. Not good for the diet but super fabulous for the sweet tooth!!

A girl and her dress...

It is safe to say that this adorable little Nicole Miller dress was made for Callee. It is the perfect color to compliment her gorgeous green-brown-grey-blue eyes! She was such a good sport in the summer heat, and I was thrilled that we got so many great shots. I couldn't narrow them down any more than the following nine...they only scratch the surface of our versatile session in downtown Fort Myers. Best of luck during your senior year, Ms. Calle, class of 2009.

and a Happy Fourth of July to all!!

Another passion of mine...

I love to bake. I have recruited my kiddos to be my little baking helpers and we have gone so far as to scour the library shelves for new recipes. Here is one that we found in a Taste of Home cookbook that ended up accumulating some serious late fees. It tasted okay but look fabulous, so of course I had to photograph it. My daughter had the idea to take a bite out of it and each precious crumb worked perfectly for the second shot.

A hobby I don't have time for...

Scrapbooking. I miss it. I used to scrap all the time and today I came across an unfinished page...it had been left with no journaling for TEN months--yep, since I lived in Oregon! So I just took a few minutes and finished it...then I thought it would be fun to share something different here on my blog. I hope to get back into this hobby eventually...I need to even things up between the amount of scrapbook pages my daughter has compared to my son!

here is what it says:
"Inseparable. That's the two of you! You are constant companions and playmates. I enjoy seeing you together, playing...and I love hearing you laugh your belly laughs together. I secretly delight in spying on you as you devise a naughty little scheme together (usually to sneak some treats.) You are affectionate, thoughtful and kind to one another. You miss each other when you are apart-even asking to call the another on my cell phone! Your bond is strong, love evident, and did I mention that you want to get married?"

Beautiful Belly

My first maternity session was perfect...I was thrilled to shoot in a beautifully decorated nursery! I couldn't have asked for a cuter belly, or sweeter parents-to-be...congratulations, Alex & Julie!

super fun group of girlies

Just had to post a few pics from a Girl's Night Out...this group was warm, kind and as you can see--fun! I loved meeting them and I am happy to call them my friends.