For A Moment Photography

Presley's Puppy Themed Party

 

Yummy treats.

 Popcorn and pretzels for a snack.

 

By chance we had some left over wood from our home office remodel to make this dog house facade! 

 

 

My dear neighbor helped the kids with adopting their puppies!

 

 Water balloon toss is always a highlight. 

 

It's a blurry photo but the kids look so animated! 

 

 Mark kept throwing balloons "to" my handsome twin bro.

 

 Best game of the day, who can pick up the most water balloon pieces.

 

 Puppy Chow Cake!

 

One of the fews ddays that there will be an overload of sweets in our house!

 So many adorable toothless grins.

 

Most of the kids at the party and their adopted puppies.

In lieu of gifts Presley asked for toys and supplies for dogs in the shelter.

 

 

Every year Presley has three different birthday party's, it sounds excessive but let me explain.  I like to have one party for her and her cousins, another for family friends and a party for her school friends.  This way I feel she and her guests get to spend time together and it's more enjoyable for all.  We tend to do the same stuff each year at each party.

We don't tend to make any of the parties big elaborate events.  The cousin's party is dinner and cake, family friends is a sleep over with four friends (this year they went to free event at ASU) and school party is at our home.  The school party is always a bigger party because there are a lot more kids than any other of her parties.

This is the first year we had a theme, Presley's Puppy Paw-ty.  We had stuffed puppies available for adoption as the kids arrived.  We had a dog house for the kids to take a photo with them and their puppy.  We served hot dogs and all sorts of puppy desserts.  The desserts were shaped as puppies, some were dog bones and we had puppy chow cake and cupcakes.  I thought about making some of this myself but the gal we had do them was priced so well (and tasty) I decided to let the professional do it.

Like the previous year we played traditional party games, pin the tail on the donkey (this year it was on the puppy), a water balloon toss and we had a pinata.  I was tickled when one of the boys that attended the party both years ran up to me and said, "when are we going to decorate cookies?".  As you may have guessed last year we decorated cookies as the guests arrived.

One game that we added was darts!  When I first started to ask Presley what type of party she wanted to have she asked if they could play darts.  Her summer cousins father have a dartboard in their garage, Presley apparently thought it would be a great party game!  I was not really on board until I spoke to a friend and found out there is such a thing as magnetic dart boards...  With so many kids we could not play a full game of darts so we had them line up and throw two darts at a time trying to get the best score.  I can only imagine what some of the parents thought when the kids went home to tell them they played darts.  One of the little boys cousin apparently lost his eye playing darts...  

Presley asked me when we were in the planning stage of her party if we could ask guests to bring toys for needy kids.  Then as we discussed the party and theme the idea of gifts for dogs in a dog shelter seemed like a better fit!  As the day approached I was worried Presley would regret not asking for gifts for herself.  But thankfully she did not, she enjoyed opening the gifts for the dogs.  And with the few gifts mixed in from us, my parents, uncles and some friends she seemed quite happy.    

 

Related articles

Tree Trimming & Home Decor Ideas

We can find it in everything...

Food Allergy 56 day Detox Complete

 

Presley in San Fransico... Why this photo for this blog?  I'm not feeling very creative today and I just like this photo.

So my 56 days are over (for a few weeks now).  How did I do, meh.  I think I may of had unrealistic expectations on this whole process.  During the process I didn't stay allergy food free and paleo for the full 56 days.  I had brown rice, corn and wine 2 twice before my 56 days were up.  Click here to see my blog on my allergy test results.   

 Surprising to me the hardest part of this isn't not having the foods I'm allergic to.  It's trying to maintain a social life with friends and family around these foods.  In the beginning I just avoided situations where I would be around the food I couldn't have.  This became increasingly harder as I had guilt about taking Presley and Mark away from our weekly pizza dinner with our dear friends.  

On several occasions I sent them to do things without me.  This is was disheartening, but it's almost unavoidable at times.  Being at social events can be tempting and it can be awkward too.  There's nothing like going to someones house for dinner and not being able to eat any of the food they have kindly prepared for you.  It was not until then that I realized how much food is a part of our human experience together.

I ended up having brown rice (I'm not allergic but it's not paleo) about 3 weeks in.  It would be easy for me to be discouraged and beat myself up about this.  I decided I would just suck it up and keep moving with the process.  The main objective was to heal my gut from the foods I have an allergy to.    

Recently I've had people ask me, so do you feel different?  I could tell when I said no that they were disappointed.  I felt sort of bad too, I was trying to pin point any changes I had felt.  I'm lucky in that my food allergies are at a very low "reaction level".  But even though I don't feel any changes doesn't mean my body isn't having an inward reaction.  Another thing I should point out is that before this I already limited the amount of dairy and gluten I ate.  If I was someone going from eating bread and dairy on a regular basic the reaction would be similar to the one I had when I first started paleo (leaning out and getting use to the never feeling full or heavy after a meal).  

In the recent weeks we've we had a few parties, at the last minute before one of our parties I bought some sliced cheese from Trader Joe's and made a tray with crackers.  I decided to have 1.5 pieces of cheese divided up with 3 crackers- I loved it!  Oh man I don't know if I'll ever lose my love of cheese.  Fast forward an hour later, my body was totally having a reaction.  I had stomach pain and ugh it just didn't get better.  Before I started on this journey I had hoped that my body would no longer have these cravings (for french bread and cheese).  For now I know that it's something I like and will enjoy occasionally.   

What have I eaten since this 56 days ended, french bread, lasagna, Coca~cola and cheese.  The only big reaction I have noticed is with cheddar cheese.  With the other food I just felt, bloated and it never tastes as good as I imagine.  Yes, I even had Coca~cola!  Do I plan on returning to my daily habit no.  Do I look back at the blog I wrote about Coca~cola for motivation- absolutely.  To check that post out click here.  

The journey continues...  

 

Related articles

Revised Smoothie Recipe and Where You Can Find the Ingredients

Breakfast Has Never Been Easier/Healthier!

My Body Talking

Well, today has been difficult.  I woke up at 4:45AM to head to my 5:30AM gym class.  As I got myself ready I realized I had a nauseous feeling which seems to happen to me if I don't get enough sleep.  So I slowly sipped water and continued to the gym.  Once I was about half way there I had to pull over, I was sick.

I headed home, I was a bit discouraged because I was so close (I felt failure) but only for a moment.  I came home got back in bed and feel soundly to sleep.  At this point I assumed it was because I did get enough sleep.  I went to bed at 10PM but Presley got up at 11:30 and stayed up until 12:30.  After getting her back to sleep I went back to sleep.  So 4:45AM came quite early.  It's now 2:35PM and I've only been out of bed long enough to grab a protein shake and  a shower.  My entire body hurts, my fingers, neck, head, back and legs.  I have no energy and no appetite (not surprising).

As you know I end a paleo diet and love all that it does for me.  This past week I was out of town and didn't maintain my diet or workout schedule.  The food available to me was for the most part great there was salad and meats at every meal.  I however decided that I would indulge myself a bit and allow myself those forbidden foods.  So last week I ate bread, sugar, pizza and cake...  Below is a list of foods that I allow myself to eat Monday-Friday as a paleo diet.

Earlier this year I started Crossfit training a few times a week and migrated to the Paelo Diet. For those who don’t know what that is…

I basically CAN eat:

meats (steak, chicken, tuna, salmon, pork, bacon)

eggs (whole)

fat-nuts (almonds, etc, unsalted) olive oil, avocado, coconut, coconut milk

Fruits, veggies-tomatoes,broccoli, asparagus,carrots, apples, oranges, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, watermelon, strawberries, lettuce, cucumber,

Spices: garlic powder, italian spices with no salt or sugar

Drinks: Water & one 12oz coke a day (caveman had coke) j/k

 

I CANNOT eat:

white starchy carbs of any kind (bread, potatoes, rice cakes, rice)

Legumes (green beans, peas, peanuts)

sugar or sugar substitute

Dairy, cheese, milk

Drinks, soda or alcohol

The only supplements I use are fish oil and whey protein powder.  

 

Now during the weekend I allow myself to have some of those forbidden foods.  I usually have a bean burrito, chips and crackers on the weekends- I really look forward to those.  One thing I do know very clearly is with those "forbidden" foods I only feel good for as long as I eat them.  Shortly after a meal like that I feel bloated and lethargic.

I was sure this morning was due to the fact this was my first week back to the gym and I hadn't been treating my body very well.  When I started eating a paleo diet  it wasn't because  I was 100% on board with the idea that certain foods were really that bad for me.  It was more for the results that I saw in my brother's body composition and I wanted that.  

However once doing the paleo and having those foods out of my system for 5 days at a time then having them I noticed a huge difference.  It is very much a mind set that needs to change for me.  When I allow myself a soda or chips my head is telling me, "it's a treat".  What I should be admitting it's a toxic chemical my body is not very well equipment to process. 

PS the coke a day is not on the diet, as you may have guessed.  I figured in order to be successful I would slowly make changes rather then all at once.  I did that last year in December and I didn't stick to the paleo diet.  I also allow myself pickles for now...

I'm not sure why I feel so sick today but this is a post I had been wanting to write about.  Had I been feeling better I would have posted a few photos.  I wanted to write so I didn't feel like I wasted the entire day...  Now I'm going to lay down until I have to pick up Presley from school...  I will add photos once I feel better.  :)

Here are a few sites I visit on plaeo:

www.paleochix.com: blog for women who eat paleo.

www.paleodiet.com : lots of information on paleo, recipes, books.  It's not pretty but it's good source of info. 

Rustic Apple Tart

  

 

While in California we made a apple tart that was not only beautiful and tasty but it was simple.  I thought about holding on to this recipe so I could make it for a few friends but it's too good to hold out on you.  It's not the healthiest desert.  But as often as I'm willing to bake deserts for myself (not often) is how often I allow myself to eat them.  

 Rustic Apple Tart:

Ingredients: 

1/2 c. Sugar, 

1/2 stick unsalted butter cubed 

3 or 4 green apples ( or peach, pear, any firm fruit ) 

1 box puff pastry thawed, (in frozen desert section)

2 to 3 tablespoons of apricot jam (this is just to give it a glazed coating)

A pinch of Calvado (optional)

Directions:

Roll pastry out to about 11 by 14, place peeled and sliced apple diagonally, sprinkle sugar over all, dot with butter cubes, roll in edges. 

I really liked to thinly slice the apples, I think it contributed to the lightness and flakiness of the tart.  The slices were not very uniform, I think it added to the rustic feel.  Place the thicker ones on the edge (those can stand a bit more heat).

Place the pastry on baking sheet lined with parchment paper, eliminates a lot of work and is best for this delicate pastry. Bake in 425 degree oven for 35 min. Then brush tart (right out of oven) with apricot jam (or jelly) melted with calvado if no calvado it's ok. Calvado is an apple brandy. 

It's a hot oven and if the sugar runs it may start to smoke.  So just be aware...

You could serve with scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side with sprig of fresh mint for a fancy version or dust with powdered sugar!  

This was a super yummy desert and a great one for Presley to help with...

PS write a comment once you try it or if you have any questions.    

 

Healthy Summer Snack

 

During the warmer days Presley and I both want a cold snack.  Instead of giving her popsicles or Hawaiian ice we have frozen fruit.  Presley loves pomegranate seeds and now Trader Joe's sells them frozen.  And with them being so small you don't have to worry about them being a choking hazard either.

I on the other hand like frozen blueberries, strawberries and bananas.  Those do need to sit for a while other wise they can be too hard to eat.  They don't seem to have as much flavor frozen, but it cures the cravings for a cool snack.  I imagined I would made smoothies with the fruit and yogurt, but that hasn't happened.  It's too easy for me to go to Jamba Juice.    

We both eat the frozen fruit with our hands.  I think that might be part of the fun for Presley...  Another thing I love about this snack is you don't have to worry about the fruit going bad.  I just have to remind myself we have it!   

www.foramomentphotography.com

  

A Quick Bite

 

 

I had made a decision not to give Presley any fast food for as long as I could avoid it.  With the childhood obesity rates so high and a family history of diabetes I didn't want to risk it.  Keeping her away food these foods did limit my own intake of these foods so it was a good situation all the way around (sometimes a bummer). 

Now that she is a bit older and attending kid parties and activities (or we get busy) we've offered PB&J, chicken nuggets, hot dogs and hamburgers to her and now she doesn't want these foods.  When people hear that she doesn't eat these foods the next question is, well what does she eat? 

Presley loves hummus and cucumber sandwiches!  It's not a super creative lunch but she likes it and it's pretty easy relatively clean.  It's been a good snack to travel with to the beach or park.  She does like dip carrots in hummus and I assume it's a healthier alternative to ranch dressing...

In the photos above Presley, just wanted to eat the sandwich!  She agreed to let me take a picture, I asked her to hold the pita up and take a bite.  Yeah, she bit the plate...  By the way don't get me wrong, it's not all organic food and salad at our house.  Presley would love to eat ketchup for breakfast lunch and dinner.  For us it's all about moderation.  

www.foramomentphotography.com

  
 

Eating it up

 

 

Yeah, I'm in my EARLY 30's and for the first time in my life I've had to watch what I eat.  It stinks.  As I said in a previous post, I NEVER believed in dieting.  What I do believe is that you should limit (or strive to cut out) sugary foods, processed foods, non organic anything and dairy.  I will confess I do have a love of McDonald french fries and Coke Cola out of a can.  

While having a conversation on Facebook (can you call it that?) on the topic of healthy fast food (is there such a thing- not really) anyway.  While trying to figure out for myself if a particular fast food chain sold the type of chickens that our grandparents ate (the kind that are not feed hormones, antibiotics or genetically modified) I found this site.  

The Daily Plate, it's a site associated with the Live Strong Campaign.  The site has tons of information, they have a a page where you can type in a food, restaurant or chain and find out all the nutritional information...  You can keep a food journal, exercise journal and a weight information.  I like this because you can't really lie to yourself on what is in that burrito or cheeseburger your eating and it's all in one spot.

What I don't like about the sight, is they are probably using any information you log for clues on how to market to you later.  I don't know this but it is very valuable information.  

Fire House in Hague, NY

I got stuck with the bread plate as my salad plate

view from our table

These photos are from a few nights ago.  Presley and I went out to dinner at one of my favorite places, The Firehouse Restaurant in Hague, NY.  I really enjoy the ambiance of the place, it's located just off the lake and backs up to a beautiful stream.  It's one of the few place that has outside dining- which I love.  The food is pretty good to boot.

Going out to dinner with a toddler can be a tricky.  The outside dining is pretty key, noise doesn't travel as well and there is usually a bit of room to move around.  I do have to add that I don't linger as long as I would like but we get out, Presley tries new food and I feel some what normal.  At the end of our dinner the table next to us complimented me on how well behaved my daughter was.  It was right about then she decided to try to climb the outside rail- sigh.  Having a toddler is like having a Gremlin, only it's harder to predict when the transformation will being. 

www.foramomentphotography.com

 

Simple and Perfect

The jam making was a huge success.  Aunt Judy (Stephanie Aunt) was a little concerned because the peaches were a little small and on the green side, but the jam is perfect!  To be honest I don't even like jam.  I just wanted to make homemade jam because I thought it would be fun.  But I tasted the jam we made and I love it, it's so flavorful!  

Ok so most people I talked to about making jam all told me, "yeah, it's pretty easy".  That is true, but it's a process.  We took a day to pick the peaches, Stephanie purchased the supplies jam (thank you kindly), and we spend four hours today making jam.  The steps were all easy but it's not going to the grocery store and picking up a jar.

And I personally would not have tried it without the direction of Aunt Judy.  But having helped and seen the process now I will attempt to make jam this summer...  I want to share the recipe/directions but like most great cooks Aunt Judy didn't have a written recipe.  I did find directions on the web that are pretty close to what we did...   Also the package of pectin has a recipe on the back.

Part of the process that I enjoyed and a lot of us miss out on is the time we had together today.  It was a great time to chat and bond while creating something together.  I can't think of the last time I spent four hours talking to a friend...  Aunt Judy and I had only met once before and it was great spending the time together today to learn more about her and from her...  I guess you could say today was much like jam, simple and perfect.

www.foramomentphotography.com

Dinner with Family

  I love good food and I LOVE good company.  This evening we had a great dinner with family in the North East...  Not family by relation but family by choice...

  I have had such a great time here it's hard to leave.  This is only the second time in my life that I have visited the North East in the winter...  The first time I came was before I had a child, so it's all sort of blurry...

  www.foramomentphotography.com