Fave 5: Esther & Garrett

Today was a gorgeous 80 degree day in Texas, and I got to shoot some engagement pictures with these two lovebirds! Esther is the younger sister of my former roommate, Jamie, and she is getting married to Garrett in June. It was great getting to know the two of them while we took pictures...and I was honored to have been asked! Here are a few of my favorites so far:

The Dallas Arboretum

"The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever."

~Isaiah 40:8~

Visit with the Crattys

Spring Break ends today, and what a whirlwind of a week it's been! I just got back from visiting Julie (who I haven't seen in a year and a half - WAY too long) in North Carolina, and we had a great time. It was gloomy and rainy for much of the week, but we still ventured out to several places in town.

On Wednesday, at the Science Museum, we saw some pretty things...

And some not-so-pretty things...

This is called a rhino beetle, and it is ginormous. I wish you could see it compared to something to get a better idea of the size. Let's just say you wouldn't want to find this guy crawling across your foot!

Thursday was the most beautiful day - 75 degrees and sunny - so we went downtown to the Tobacco District, where we took some fun pictures and ate a delicious meal.

Aside from that, we did some baking and finger painting to add to our week of fun!

Thank you, Crattys, for a wonderful week!

Fave 5: Jamie & Mike

Jamie is a former roommate of mine, and she and her new husband (as of February 25th!) asked me to take their engagement photos. It was a great opportunity for me to get to know Mike a bit, and it was also a gorgeous day! Here are a few of my favorites...

Fave 5: Kim & Nik

Kim and I have been friends since middle school, and she's recently engaged to be married! She was very brave and asked me to take her engagement pictures - here are a few of my favorites from our last-minute session (which took place on her 30th birthday). :)

This Could Be Fun...

It's time for me to experiment with photo editing, namely because I have the honor of taking a dear friend's engagement photos in the near future. At my cousin's suggestion, I've downloaded a free trial of Lightroom 3, and I've had fun playing this weekend! My mom was sweet to be my "subject" at a park near her house, so you'll recognize her in the pictures below. :)

Chickpea Goodness

Okay, so I've never posted a recipe before, but this one is too good not to share. It's from Every Day Food, and it was easy to make...and so flavorful! Enjoy! :)

Chickpea Curry

Cherry tomatoes (whole package)
Head of cauliflower (cut into small pieces)

Toss in olive oil and roast these first for 25 minutes at 375 degrees.

1 cup long-grain white rice (I made brown)
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced medium
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
4 teaspoons curry powder
2 cans (15.5 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2.5 cups baby spinach (I used a LOT more - I love spinach)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
coarse salt

Cook rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a medium pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, and curry powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, and 2 cups water; bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and gently simmer 8 minutes. Add cauliflower and cook until cauliflower is warmed through and chickpeas are tender, 8 minutes. Stir in spinach and cilantro and season with salt. To serve, divide rice among four bowls and top with curry.