Stirring rice around and around for half an hour is a commitment. It takes multiple pots and time but thats good for us. Life is nice in slow motion. Especially when it’s in a kitchen where Hughes talks about the life of an almost 7 year old boy. Stories of kickball and making a pop-up book in his art class about our cat with 3 legs. I’m positive this constant grinning is fulfilling my ambition for great smile lines.

This recipe is inspiration from a wonderful book ‘Breakfast, Lunch, Tea: The Many Little Meals of Rose Bakery’. It’s completely customizable* so please find someone adorable to cook with and make your very own or Hughes’ favorite…

Oven Roasted Tomato Risotto

Ingredients

serves 2 adults and 2 small children

Preparation

Preheat oven to 225 and place tomatoes in a small sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, reserving the remaining for risotto. Season with salt and pepper. Roast tomatoes until caramelized, about one hour.

Start chicken broth in small saucepan with additional 1 cup water over low heat. Grate cheese. In a large skillet over medium heat add the olive oil. Heat until rippling and add onion and garlic for two minutes. Add the rice to toast for around 3 minutes. When golden pull of flame and add white wine. This is the start to turning the rice unto a creamy, lovely bowl of risotto. Stir until evaporated over low heat. Add one ladle of warm chicken broth to the rice and stir until liquid is evaporated. Continue with remaining broth. This takes around 20 minutes. Last add some salt, pepper, butter and cheese. Top with the roasted tomatoes and basil to serve.

*customize with sautéed shrimp and zucchini, wild mushrooms and thyme, butternut squash with sage, or make it vegan but using vegetable stock, taking out the cheese and replacing the butter with olive oil

and ENJOY!

ps-that cookbook has an amazing pancake recipe and is full of gorgeous pictures. It’s also the prettiest color of making it the perfect kitchen counter book you won’t want to put away.

A one day adventure photography workshop. It’s simple, let me know how you would like to spend 1 day* at my studio (exploring film, talking about running a business, how to get published, etc) , with 1 sentence in the comments, and I’ll select 1 winner on Friday morning.

* rules and regulations

-Open to anyone with a camera. Film or digital.

-This workshop will take place at my studio, in the middle of nowhere Illinois. All travel fees are the resposibilty of winner.

-Workshop must take place in the month of March or April 2012 during the weekday.

-Coffee and lunch will be provided.

Thank you for all of the entries with poems, and sweet words. You all made it a difficult to select a winner .***christine*** you are the winner of the one day adventure, I can’t wait to spend it with you!

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I’ve dreamed of a bright, clean space to let my mind be as creative as it can sitting in front of a computer when really I want to be out in wide open spaces doing what I love. Photographing. This was just a theory vs. my reality of tripping on bags of equipment, a desk covered in film in a dark unloved room.

Until now. This is my new reality filled with delightful reminders of the people I love, golden light and…

blue skies. We painted the ceiling the loveliest shade of wide-open-spaces-blue.

The most perfect golden brass chandelier.

Letterpress I’m still in love with, sitting pretty on my desk.

This little corner filled with invitations from the best couples, a sunny yellow note from my favorite stationer, a watercolor from Jettie, and snaps of sweet moments in life like Hughes making his CCC.

A painting from college that was discarded for years and now has a home.

Lastly, these are not things but more joy that fill the space, music for dancing and our new friend. We rescued Scout a few months ago and it turns out he’s the best co-worker. He reminds me to get out for some fresh air and walk, tells me we should get something to eat and he doesn’t ask me to turn my favorite part of a song down.

ps-The current office dance music. Enjoy!

Foster the People-Helena Beat

Gotye-Somebody That I Used To Know

Ellie Goulding-Starry Eyed

The Midwest is known for gorgeous springs, hot summers, and dreamy autumns but we don’t talk about winter. It’s filled with gloomy skies, gray, and cold with a chance of some ice mixed in. Thankfully Lizzie and Bobby had their engagement session in the middle of these days to brighten them up with bright colors and their amazing poodles, Tiger and Millie.

Poodles + Wind. I love this image.

“Maybe you can see the sun rays through the ocean the moment it dips in the horizon” I said as the sunset while snorkeling. Travis laughed knowing I was teasing his logical engineer mind.

But nothing seamed impossible in those moments. It was the bliss of Jamaica being more than a dream, better than imagination.

We ate breakfast feet away from the ocean while parrots talked in the fruit trees above us. I stepped on a sea urchin and Travis fell in love with jerk chicken at the Push Cart. We took pictures of angel fish with a cheap underwater camera for Hughes and Jettie. I drank coffee all day and Travis read 3 books. We jumped straight into the ocean from our one room Rockhouse.

Today I’m bringing a small piece of Jamaica to you. Coffee, your choice of an 8×10 from the gallery, and that green bracelet seen above, which I adored so much I got two. Leave some love, let me know if you’ve been to Jamaica or not. I’ll select a random comment and announce the winner on Friday morning.

Details are such an important part of a wedding day. They tell the story of the style of a couple, what do they love? What is important to them? Loren and Sara details are the blue water, warm sun and a ton of really wonderful family and friends that traveled from London to St. Louis to be apart of celebrating love.

Matt and Lizzie incorporated so many great finds and celtic favorites including kilts, their family crest, and all the gorgeous green details. Lizzie snagged her vintage green velvet birdcage veil from The Ballroom Oxford in England. The kelly green suede pumps have been a signature piece in this stylist’s wardrobe and she couldn’t separate from them on her wedding day. The bride says, “New and shiny isn’t always the answer. Go with what you already love!”

Megan and Mike are one amazing couple and they filled their wedding day with so much joy…an pretty paper. Enjoy!!

Ceremony and Reception – Gallery 1028 Flowers – Fleur, Kelly Marie Uss Cupcakes – Amy Beck Cakes Paper Goods – Ruby the Fox Dress – Christos Bride’s Hair Piece – Twigs + Honey Videography – I Do Films Coordination – Get Hitched