Feeling Tropical

It is a little chilly here in Colorado this week.

I am pining for some sun so we 

can go hike in the mountains.

So I decided to warm things up a bit here on the blog.

My daughter's latest painting!

Oil on Canvas

You can visit her website to view more of her work.

OliviaNucci.com

A few months ago we visited the islands

of St. John and St. Thomas.

We stayed 5 days at the amazing

Caneel Bay Resort.

It was so beautiful and WARM!

Here are a few of the photos I took.

SIGH

This property had SIX private beaches! 

View from our porch!

This flower was so intriguing.

So bright and beautiful!

Feeling Artsy

Look at the clever way they kept my

Cosmo perky and cold!

STOP!

I couldn't even stand it!

And such friendly portions!

Seconds without even asking for it!

We stayed at the beautiful Caneel Bay!

I highly recommend it!

Not Your Fancy Chicken Salad

Sometimes recipes do not have to be 

FANCY

nor

COMPLICATED

to be delicious!

This one is neither.

The photo is pretty uneventful as well.

Such is life!

So here ya go.

Grill, fry, bake or buy some boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

In a small bowl throw a DOLLOP of mayo in.

I like that word, dollop!

Maybe DOLLOP 2 big old tablespoons of your 

favorite mayo from your frig.

Then you add a SPLASH of your favorite Italian Salad Dressing.

I had some Olive Garden Dressing 

in my frig so I grabbed it right away.

Mix it up and then SPILL it over the chicken in a pretty bowl.

I added about 1 tablespoon of diced celery to give 

it a little crunch.

You may also add onions and or nuts for a little crunch 

if you so need too.

STIR

then 

SERVE it up!

There ya go!

So easy yet so yummy!

Leave me a comment with your favorite 

not so FANCY

NONCOMPLICATED

recipe! Please!

Go HERE for FANCY!

Cheese Please! Pepperoni Bundt Cake!

I was fortunate to have some visitors from the 

SOUTH!

My cousins from Texas and Alabama

came up for a visit!

This sweet baby girl has an adorable way of 

CHEESING it up for the camera!

How stinking cute is that?

I seriously can't even stand it!

Sharing this CHEESY recipe 

in honor of my sweet, adorable and 

CHEESY COUSINS

from the SOUTH!

Pepperoni Bundt Cake

OH MY!

So this is AMAZINGLY delicious!

and more importantly

AMAZINGLY EASY!

Pepperoni Bundt Cake

2 cans of regular biscuits

2 Cups of  Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 Cup of Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Tablespoon of dried basil
1/2  Tablespoon of  dried parsley
1/2 Teaspoon of oregano
1/4 Teaspoon of dried red pepper flakes
1/3 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1  - 8 ounce package of pepperoni cut in quarters
1 Teaspoon of  fresh minced garlic

Preheat the oven to 375. Cut the dough into quarters and throw in a large mixing bowl.
Add all of the remaining ingredients to the bowl and toss well. Spray the inside of a bundt pan well.
Transfer the ingredients to the bundt pan and bake for 40 minutes and then check to see if the dough is cooked by inserting a knife. If it is still needs more time then put in the oven and check every 10 minutes until the dough is done. Remove form the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes and then flip the pizza cake onto a plate. Serve immediately with your favorite marinara sauce!

This is addicting!

It is soon good!

ENJOY!

How stinking cute is she????

Capturing the IT photo!

So here's the deal.

I love taking photos.

I especially love photographing people.

I like capturing moments, emotions and 

feelings if that is really possible.

When I am photographing a subject 

my only goal

is to try to capture their soul. 
I am not greedy or selfish.
I only want for that one photo.
That one photo that stops you in your tracks,
draws you in, pulls at your heart,
and causes you to say, 
OH MY GOODNESS
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
YEP THAT'S THE PHOTO I'M TALKING ABOUT.
All the mamas out there know
what I am talking about.
The photo that you say, "That is my child!"

The ONE photo that I call IT!

IT is magical!

IT takes your breath away!

IT is truly beautiful!

It is not easy capturing the IT photo.
You need to be patient really patient.
You will need to be funny, silly, serious, quick, 
quirky, spontaneous, premeditated and clever 
all at the same time especially with children.
As a photographer you have to have many tricks up your sleeve
or lots of smarty candies, goldfish or gummy bears.
Whatever it takes right?

It means stooping as low as using potty talk
with teenagers! The kind of potty talk that
enthralls a 3rd grader at recess.
Things like,
"Does Santa toot or poop?"
Super intelligent stuff like that really gets a
17 year old to break out in laughter
not because you are funny but because
they think you are legit crazy!
It's the shock value you are looking for.
Be ready to click away as soon as
you release the crazy talk.
It is your only shot!
It releases all inhibitions for about 5 seconds
and then you go to the other tricks
up your stuffed sleeve. Yes you do have to stoop
to a new low but trust me
when I say that it will be worth it
when you hit the editing room!

I decided to do this post and share 

some of my IT photos 

of some of the beautiful souls 
I have been privileged to capture and spend time
with even for a little while.

May your days be blessed with many

IT

Moments!