Photo Friday- Downward

Photo Friday- Downward

Photo Friday- Portraiture

Photo Friday- Portraiture

This photo friday topic is a little close to my heart as I'm moving towards a career in portraiture photography. I (along with a very dear friend) have started a photography company called A Different Light Photography. We specialize in family, children, newborn, senior, and engagement photgraphy. Read more about us here.

This photo is of my dear friends little baby and I think this has to be my second most favorite photo I've ever taken. I love the light, I love the fact that she was absorbed in picking dandelions, I love the fading sunlight in her hair, and her little pink outfit... I love everything about this shot! I'll have more photos from this amazing tea party photoshoot up soon!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Possibly the best cupcake ever (Salted Caramel Cupcake)...

I made these cupcakes last week for Easter, and I have to say that they are probably the best cupcakes I've ever made. Everything was made from scratch-- the cake, the caramel (omg! i know how to make caramel now!) even the icing was completely made from scratch. It was a little daunting at first, as I'm not the most adept in the kitchen, but I managed to not screw up by say, accidently broiling them. Remind me to tell you about the time I brilliantly broiled a batch of chocolate chip cookies...

(doesn't that cupcake look amazing?)

Check out the recipe here:

Salted Caramel Cupcakes

Photo Friday- Soft Light

Photo Friday- Soft Light

Goodbye, Scooter...

What a sad weekend-- my other bird, Scooter, died. We came home Saturday night and noticed that he was laying on the bottom of the cage, weak, and had trouble breathing. He had been a little out of sorts for the past few days, but this was so much worse! We called around to find a vet that was open (it was really really late!) and that would take exotic pets. Apparently, parakeets are considered exotic... We finally found one in Elmwood Park that was open and that could see him. Thank you, Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital, who were nothing but wonderful and compassionate.

It turned out that Scooter had some sort of mass or tumor (possibly cancer) that was causing his air sacs to fill with a ton of awful brown bloody-ish fluid which was causing the respiratory distress. The vet recommended we put him to sleep. She could have removed all the fluid and sent him home with antibiotics, but the fluid would come back and he would suffer more. So, I agreed to have her put him down. This was such a hard decision. I felt (and still feel) like an awful pet parent. I have never had to make that sort of decision about a pet before. It's so easy to say that animals should be put down so they don't suffer anymore, but it's not that easy to do. I cried. I know he was only a little special parakeet, but I've had them (he and Pegleg) close to 7 years. They were family. How can you give someone consent to end the life of your family member? With Pegleg's passing, it was a little easier. We just found him already dead on the bottom of the cage. He wasn't sick (that we knew of) and we didn't have to make that grave decision. 

It's so quiet in the house now. There were no loud squawks  this morning, no little cheeps and gibbers to listen to during the day. He was my little love parakeet. He always gave little love nibbles when you put your finger up to his beak.  He would eat out of your hand rather than eat your hand like his bloodthirsty brother. He was definately the sweetfheart of the two birds.

Goodbye Scooter. You too, will be missed.  I only hope that where you are, both of your legs work and you're with your brother making lots of noise.