Oh Christmas Tree.

I know it's February..... but, whatever...


It was the first week of December and I was kinda dreading getting a Christmas tree. That's not normal. It's just that I knew my life would be basically devoted to keeping August away from the tree. I could see him eating the needles and breaking ornaments.... Getting under the tree and possibly pushing it over. Him getting frustrated. Me getting frustrated. It wouldn't be good.


So, I went on pinterest to get some inspiration for some alternative options. I discovered this and fell in love. I knew what I needed to do. I used the leftover scrap wood from the fish painting I did in August's room and went at it. I added negative space and mixed up the colors.


Here she is.

Highly Addictive Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Let's get one thing straight - I can't cook. 


More often than not I have cereal for dinner. I do, however, enjoy baking. In my circle of friends I'm the one that brings dessert to get-togethers. These cookies have become very well known by my husband and friends. It is hard to find a word to describe their FREAKING AWESOMENESS. They are the perfect blend of gooey and firm... sweet and salty... I could go on... This recipe is from one of my favorite food bloggers. I changed it slightly... if you can believe it, I actually made it less fancy. I know. So here they are:  classic and slightly fancy chocolate chip cookies. 

 Freaking Awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies


 2 sticks butter (8 oz)
 1/2 cup white sugar (2 oz ) 
 1 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed (12 oz )
 2 eggs
 2 tsp vanilla (1/4 oz) 
 3 1/2 cup All Purpose flour (1 lb. ) (I love King Arthur Flour)
 1 1/2 tsp Baking soda 
 3/4 tsp salt
 1 lb. chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk chocolate, bittersweet- it's all good)
 1/2 teaspoon good quality sea salt, for sprinkling on top before baking *this is where the magic happens*


Cream the butter and the sugars until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes on medium high. Scrape down the side of the bowl. Continue mixing while adding the eggs one at time. Make sure each egg is incorporated before adding the next. Add the vanilla. Scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Combine the flour, soda and salt in another bowl. With a whisk to combine. With the machine on low, slowly add the flour. Mix until just combined, do not to over mix. Stir in the chocolate. Spoon dough onto baking sheet (I prefer a dough ball with character - not a perfectly rolled ball.) Then lightly sprinkle the dough with sea salt-- you won't regret this-- and bake at 360* for 11-12 minutes. They should be lightly golden on the outside but still look gooey on the inside. So we aren't pressured to eat the entire batch I bake a batch of cookies and then put the rest of the dough in a ziploc in the fridge. I then bake throughout the week so we can enjoy freshly baked cookies on multiple nights :) 


Enjoy!

me freaking out.

Randomly filming and caught August saying his first word. We freaked out.. 

my latest outlet.

so, i am throws of learning how to balance it all.... baby, work, husband, family, friends, & laundry. lots of laundry. when i started this little blog i wanted a place i could direct my bridal clients to for makeup inspiration + an outlet of random, pretty things i find. well, right after i started this blog i got pregnant. then i got really sick... and stayed sick. then i had a baby. and then i went back to work and got busy... really busy. i go crazy though if i don't have a creative outlet... and i need it to work with my schedule. i am happy to say that i found something that works for now. drum roll... INSTAGRAM! i little simple creative outlet that can be done while breastfeeding :) anyways, here are my latest...

one day this little blog will look like more what i hoped it to be. and when the laundry's done i will do a post. but for now... i'm on Instagram as _janelson ;)

hair. cheeks. eyes.

a lot of all 3 going on right now... and i'm loving it. 15 weeks old tomorrow. time flies.

Trash the Dress {makeup}

What is a "Trash the Dress" photo shoot? Well, it's an excuse to get to wear your wedding dress again (we all secretly want to) and get really cool wedding, but "not wedding" pictures. Genius! I did Allison's makeup for her actual wedding about 5 years ago now - a very clean/classic look. For her trash the dress photo's we did a more smokey/sexy look using gold/bronze tones. I think the pictures turned out pretty awesome. Emily Faulkner Photography took these photos and you can see more here. Oh, and this gorgeous "bride" is newly pregnant in these :)

Little Man Photo Shoot

Pictures were taken by my dear friend Allison. Thank you Allison! Her older sister just so happens to be my BF.