ten million strong....and growing!

do you remember that jingle from the Flintstone's vitamin commercials? That is what I hear in my head when I spend time with this a.m.a.z.i.n.g. family! Husband and wife still so in love and working in harmony as they raise up the four wonderful children God has blessed them with. When hanging with this family, I am humbled and HE is glorified. We've seen the twins before, but oh how I enjoyed time with all SIX of you.

Framily.

You know those friends who are so close they are like family. You don't have to clean your house before they come over. You can wear your comfy clothes and cry in front of them. All the while knowing that you won't be judged. Meet my Framily.

So blessed to have her in my 'framily', what doesn't this chic do?
check out her awesomeness here
Summer Montoya

A+J+L+E=W

This family holds such a special place in my heart. She was my very first maternity shoot -see it here
and one of my favorite custom birth announcements . To see them growing as a family and have the opportunity to capture them in this season, was truly a blessing.

Tyler....Senior, uhhh I mean Freshman!

This is not the first photo session I've had with Tyler. Last year I got to capture he and his mom in some 'family' pix for a wall gallery. He wanted to surprise her for her birthday this year with some updated pix. What a sweet son huh? I hope my boys will think of me like that when they grow up. AND he is only a freshman! Nicely done Tyler. It was a blast working with you.

*hOliDaY pAcKagEs & CaRdS*

the 2010 Holiday Packages & YOU-nique Cards are finished.
Please check them out by clicking on the

*hOliDaY pAcKagEs & CaRdS* Page Tab located just below the blog title,
-OR-
on this link {HolidayPackages & Cards}.

You'll find afordable photo packages and cards. This year I'm offering 'design files', double sided 5x7 linen finish cards & 6x7 1/2 photo cards with a 4x6 keepsake option, allowing your family & friends to preserve your photo in an album or display it in a frame long after the holidays!

Sincerely,

Mrs. 'Cotton-Headed Ninny-Muggins'

i {heart} faces....beef!

A slight drift from the 'normal' challenge which must include a face...this week it is all about BEEF. Each year for Father's Day I try to wow my hard working & devoted husband with a hearty, usually beefy, meal. This was one of our favs.




here are my notes from the Father's Day feast pictured above…

BURGERS:
2 lbs lean sirloin, 1 med onion or ½ large, (grate 3-4 T and chop the rest for topping later), 1/3 lb smoke gouda cheese, 1 T worsteshire, ½ bottle of beer (obviously the alcohol will cook out, but certainly okay to skip this), 2 T parsley, a palm of Montreal grill seasoning, palm of paprika – smoked sweet, palm of cumin, 2 cloves garlic – finely chopped.
Mix all together and make 4 patties – tip was to make them thinner in the center so you don’t get that burger bulge when they shrink up on the grill.
**I have side note that says to ‘drizzle in evoo’ but I don’t know how much???**

Top burgers with lettuce, pickles, sauce(see recipe) & chopped onion. Serve with corn on the cob (see recipe)

BURGER SAUCE:
Handful of dill – chopped, 4 T spicey mustard, 4 T sour cream

BBQ SAUCE (for Corn below):
2 T vinegar, 2 T brown sugar, 1 T worsteshire, 1 T hot sauce, 1 T montreal seasoning, ½ C ketchup
Mix and cook on medium low heat

CORN ON THE COB:
Cook corn first then - squirt juice of 2 limes and drizzle some evoo on corn + some salt (like those measurements?), and put on the grill for a few min to get ‘grill marks’, then baste with prepared bbq sauce and top with chopped onion.

That is all she wrote, literally those are my notes in entirety- bon apetit!

wanna drool some more? click below!

thank you to TxBeef.org for sponsoring this week’s yummy challenge! And Nolan Ryan Beef
who will be rewarding one of the entries with a $250 gift certificate.

textures.warm tones.cool weather.sweet flavors.

I count down for this season ALL YEAR LONG...yay for Fall!

don't you just love that 'welcome' sign? I sure do! It is a hand crafted/restored piece of the past, created by a local artist and amazing friend of mine. Be inspired by her blog and fill your home with one of a kind decor from her etsy store . I induldged and also picked up a large tin memo board with scripture magnets for the desk in my kitchen. (I'll post pix once I've filled it with all sorts of goodies!) A HUGE {thank you} to Joy Frameworks for making 'this' Fall even more worth waiting for!

GHS Senior Girls...sneak peek!

five...fabulous & fun, gorgeous, graduating girls of Gilbert High.

stay tuned for more... ...

Jordyn...Senior

This high school senior holds a very special place in my heart. She is pretty much the only babysitter we've EVER paid to watch our boys. She and her family became our next door neighbors 7 years ago and the blessings have flowed ever since. Their kindness often makes me feel like we are living in black & white sitcom. Sweet, simple kindness. We could all use more of that right? I was so excited when she asked me about Senior Pix. She is a 'Senior Rep' so you'll be seeing her b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l. smile and a.m.a.z.i.n.g. eyes a few more times over the next few months.

thank you Jordyn! I am looking forward to our next PIX adventure.

Jordyn....sneak peek!

Here is a -sneak peek- of Jordyn, my unofficial Sr. Pix Rep. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. She won't be paying a penny for her pix. contact me at designedbyemily@cox.net to find out how.

i {heart} faces challenge... VrOOm vRooM!

This week's challenge at i {heart} faces is all about cars. I could not resist entering this photo. Such effort and time into stacking these 3 cars and then just sit back and dream about them. I wish I could have heard his thoughts!

Okay, here we go. Focus. Speed. I am speed. One winner, forty-two losers. I eat losers for breakfast. Breakfast? Maybe I should have had breakfast? Brekkie could be good for me. No, no, no, focus. Speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick. I am Lightning.

checkered flag here I come!

feel the need? the need for speed? then check out the other entries at i {heart} faces.

i {heart} faces challenge... B E A C H

this week's challenge from i{heart}faces is beach.

B E A C H. sand in my toes. sun on my skin. salt in the air. wind in my hair.

'EMBRACE the ocean with OPEN arms and SANDY feet.'

C'mon, take a mental & visual vacation with the amazing photographers at

i {heart} faces challenge...sunglasses

i {heart} faces challenge of the week? sunglasses.... you would think living in Arizona would provide a pluthera of photos with faces adorned in sunglasses, and while I did have a few to choose from, most of the time you ask people to remove them before taking the shot.

I myself have a love hate relationship with sunglasses. I love that they protect us from the harmful rays of the sun. But I have struggled since a little girl when it comes to finding a pair that 'fit' me. Don't be surprised if you see me in the kids section. Not kidding! But I do love the many different styles of sunglasses...something for every personality...for every season (maybe only in Arizona) ...or every mood. Sunglasses can turn you into a rockstar, a pro athlete. They can transform you into a diva or just give you class. Go get some and express yourself today!

I chose this shot because even though you can't see behind the sunglasses at this little man's eyes you can still feel what he is thinking.

Check out more amazing pix at