last minute gift guide.

 

 For those of you who are avid blog readers, this type of gift guide/sweet things layout may be common to you. I just couldn't resist making my own last minute gift guide for you who are struggling to get your Christmas done. 

Check these out, then go get your Christmas shopping done already!

1. Circa Ceramics has some really fun ceramic dinnerware and kitchen accessories.
2. Check out this DIY portable fireplace from DesignSponge. For other DIY Christmas ideas click HERE.
3&4. CB2 has some amazing gift ideas like these fun mugs or chop sticks.

1. StoryByMia has some amazing calenders and cards. I LOVE these Eames chair designs.

2. Another StoryByMia design calander. Perfection.
    3. Smock. Beautifully designed letterpress cards and stationary.

1. ZenThreads. Guys and gals tees. Not to mention really great pillows and towels.

2. TieLab not your average ties. These are really great ideas for that guy in your life.

3. These are threads, I swear. Well, kindof. Anthropologie clothbound classics. These are a must.

4. TinyModernest I'm obsessed with Eames chairs. I know.

its beginning to look a lot like christmas.

christmas carbonara.

Photo taken from MarthaStewart.com. I know, pathetic that I didn't take my own picture. 

Once I realized I wanted to, my bowl was already empty.

I used her Everyday Foods recipe as a base for this one.

A blog isn't a blog without a recipe here and there, am I right?


Carbonara. Carb being the keyword here, people. But, with the holidays coming up, you may as well eat up with all the other Christmas sweets. Enjoy!


Carbonara al la Hobson
Angel Hair pasta                  Peas, frozen and thawed
Bacon                                       1 Shallot, halved and sliced
2 or 3 eggs, beaten                   1 Cup Half and Half (maybe more depending on how you like it)
Cook pasta as directed. Meanwhile, cook bacon on a skillet on the stove. Once bacon is cooked, remove and drain grease. Place Peas and shallots in the same skillet (this part is important.) so that all of the yummy bacon flavoring still on the pan gets onto your peas and shallots. Saute and then add Half and Half. Bring to a boil and then turn down heat to a simmer, stirring all the while. Let sauce start to thicken. If pasta is done, drain but keep about 1 cup of the leftover pasta water and set aside. Place pasta back into the pot and coat with a little of the pasta water (not all of it). With the sauce still hot (thats important too), add beaten eggs, sauce and pasta all together -- all at the same time. Since the sauce is hot still, it will cook the eggs. Mix very well. If you need to, add a little of the leftover pasta water you saved, but not a lot if it has cooled off, or the eggs won't get cooked. Add salt and pepper and bits of bacon. Serve!

I hope everyone has a great Holiday Season, filled with really good food!

mindy gledhill.

So, as many of you know, I work at Justin Hackworth Photography. This past week we had an amazing customer appreciation party, with a private show by Mindy Gledhill. She is amazing. If you don't know her, you should. Her latest cd is magic. Yes, I am bragging that I got to go to this private concert, but the truth of the matter is, Justin's clients are some of the coolest, realest people I know. It was so fun hanging out with them and I'm so glad that I could have been a part of this really great night! If you want to see more about the evening check here.

Photographed by the one and only Justin Hackworth

tomato. tomäto.

I took this image 3 years ago...almost to the day. I was just messing around in the kitchen.
Its one of my favorites, even 3 years later.

I'm thankful.

I had the great privilege of hosting Thanksgiving this year. We had so much fun eating Ryan's tasty barbecued turkey (and countless other tasty dishes), playing Beatles Rockband (with Heather singing, "Shove it up your jumper!" and Logan yelling, "My fingers have blisters!"), standing in Black Friday lines in the freezing cold, taking the train to see the Christmas lights on Temple Square, and the typical McRae pastime...eating yummy treats while watching movies. It was so much fun to have all the family over and I can't help but reflect on all of the great things I'm thankful for.
I'm thankful for my family. Yes, even all of the dogs that go along with it. We always have so much fun when we're together. I love Ryan's family, too. I'm so glad we got to spend the summer with Kellie and Callen. We love you guys! I'm thankful for my husband who is fun, energetic, and determined. I'm so happy that he decided to go to Grad school, and I'm thankful that he got in when he did. I'm thankful for all of the amazing friendships I've been able to have this year. I love you all!! I have really learned so much about friends, and I hope I am as good to you as you have been to me. I'm so glad that I'm graduated and I have this whole new outlook on my life now. I have so much to learn and accomplish! The list could go on and on. I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be grateful for.

chic 'do.

For a while now I've been having thoughts about cutting my hair. I actually did a few weeks ago, making a completely spontaneous trip to the hairdresser. (Sort of how I roll when it comes to my hair.) Now I'm talking about really really chopping it off. I've wanted to do it for a long time, and after seeing these simply amazingly chic pictures of Emma Watson from Marie Claire and Vogue, I think I'm convinced. Granted, I'm no Burberry model, but I don't think I can resist. Maybe I'll celebrate the new Harry Potter movie with a new Emma Watson inspired 'do?? Thoughts?

vegas in black and white.

More from Holga herself, but with black and white film.

holga vists vegas.

Just going through some film. Here are some gems from our last trip to Vegas...taken with my Holga.

happy halloween.

Our pumpkins. The Boogie Man from The Nightmare Before Christmas and the logo for the San Fran Giants. Go ahead and guess which one is mine and which one is Ryans.
Happy Halloween!

a broken heart.

Ok, this is going to sound completely messed, but unless you have a passion in something, you can't understand how I feel. You may have realized that I haven't posted many of my own images lately. Let me explain. My heart was ripped into a trillion billion pieces when I found out that my backup hard drive crashed, and a lot of my images were torn from my fingertips. I know, I know. I don't have a clue why many of these weren't backed up on additional hard drives. A lot of them were, but a lot of really great stuff was lost. I know I should have backed it up. It was on my to-do list for MONTHS. Lesson learned, people. Really really shizzy lesson learned. What I'm saying is my heart broke. Honestly. It is still broken (and will be until I hear back from the man retrieving my files). BUT there has been hope in working for Justin Hackworth.

Let me explain.

Justin is a funny guy. You want to know why he's so great? He doesn't realize how really amazing he is. I'm serious. He's been all over the states doing shoots this month, and when people say, "Oh my gosh I can't believe you're taking my pictures!" or "Oh my gosh. You answer your own phone?!" or something along the lines of "Justin is your brother? He's famous!", he can't believe it. He thinks it hysterical that people know who he is. I think everyone should know who he is. Especially in the photography world.
And here is one reason why. Check out this amazing wedding in Spring City that Justin photographed.
Simply beautiful.




I guess my point, and I think I have one, is that while my photography is on a stand still because my heart is broken, Justin's photography makes me excited about photography. It makes me want to learn more and be a better photographer. It makes me think, shame on you once for not backing up those files. AND shame on you a million times for feeling sorry for yourself and stopping your photography because you're sad. And guess what? I took my camera out of its case today to shoot for the first time in a month. (ohhh that makes me embarrassed). Its progress and I'm done being sad.

sixx.

Introducing my favorite designers. Please enjoy the beautiful work of sixx design.

going places.

Hey everyone. So the photographer I'm working for, Justin Hackworth (who took the above and below shots), is going to be doing some special shoots in Provo, SLC, Seattle, Denver, and San Francisco in the next few weeks. If you're going to be in the area and want some images done this is your chance. He's amazing. The info about it is posted on his blog. Its a great deal because it includes $100 credit to prints and 50 4x6 prints for Christmas cards. I mean seriously? Don't miss this guy!

provo i was wrong about you.

Hello again from the lovely city of provo. Real fast...no I did not take the picture above. I'm getting to that. First, I have to say I had my doubts about moving here, but I can honestly tell you that Provo has brought me nothing but great things. I had been job searching for 2 weeks, carrying resumes with me wherever I went, even interviewed for a 911 emergency dispatcher job (if you ever want to hear pure terrorizing phone calls that take you straight to a shrink, they have a job opening. haha I'm sorry and excuse me but...what the hell was I thinking?) and then it happened. I had a slight inkling to drop my resume by one of the top photographers in the area, Justin Hackworth (thats who took the amazing photo above). Although, to be completely honest, I didn't think I had a chance. He called me 3 days later with a job offer. Well, after proving myself I will have the job that is. But still amazing.I can't begin to tell you how blessed we have been since moving here.

Oh, so Justin Hackworth. He's a very talented photographer. Here is some of his work from a project he did called 30 strangers. He's done it for the past 3 years (I believe these were from the first 2 years on the project) and this years exhibit will be showing at the Provo library art gallery all this month, starting September 3rd.

So make sure to check it out!!

any opinions.

Hey everyone! We are officially living in Provo and loving it so far! Ryan starts classes tomorrow and I've just been looking for a job (thats a different story for another time. I have got some interesting stories...but if you hear of any art related job openings in utah let me know. no seriously. please do.) We've been trying to get the house set up and organized and we're trying to decide between a few prints. Any suggestions on these? Urban has some really cool art. We want something really modern and urban looking. Oh and if anyone knows how to make an elk head look modern, those suggestions are welcome also.

holga farm.

Just a little something I took with my holga last spring. I finally got around to scanning some film so I thought I'd share. Hope everyone is having a fantastic last few weeks of summer!

taits.

Hey all. It's been a while sorry I haven't been posting anything for a while! I have a lot I need to get on here but for now here is my latest shoot. This week I had a great opportunity to take Jordan and Abbie's family pictures. Here are a few of my favorites.