Editing.

I do not use Photoshop.
I am an amateur and I cannot afford Photoshop. However, I do use a program called Photo Explosion which I found at Target for much less.
Anyways, I do not have much time to experiment with Photo Explosion. I dream of one day having a program that can help to make my pictures POP. I have had a few opportunities lately to really sit down at work on simply "perfecting" one photo. I tend to take a billion pictures of my best friend Rachel, so I thought I would play with one of hers.

Here is the original...

Here is my edited version (with Photo Explosion)...

I would just like to say that I did not whiten her eyes. I brightened, yes, but I did not make them extra white. Her eyes just naturally POP.

MUCH better if I do say so myself! :)   ♥

Chocolate-Filled Croissants. Yum!

So, these are possibly my favorite pastries/snacks to make! They are super easy and extremely delicious. I wanted to make something similar to the chocolate-filled croissants one can eat when visiting France.

See, in high school I went on a school field trip to Europe. (Yea I know, right!) My first time away from home I spent nine days in London, Paris and Barcelona. My first plane flight ever was from Atlanta to London. Eight hours!

Anyways, one of our hotels served breakfast and they had chocolate-filled croissants. Heaven! I have found them here in Georgia, but they have NEVER tasted the same. The croissants in France were warm and gooey. Sweet yet not overwhelming. I have always wanted to either find some here in America or learn how to make them myself.

These croissants are not exactly the same as the ones in France (of course!) but they are the closest thing to the delicious croissants of Paris that I have tasted in a while!

Here are the instructions:

Again, super easy. There are several steps but again, not difficult AT ALL.

Step 1: Set your oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Put some semi-sweet chocolate chips in a bowl and melt them in the microwave. This makes it easier to spread.

Step 3: Open your croissant dough and then spread a decent amount of chocolate onto the inside of the dough. If you put too much chocolate, it will pour out the ends. So, spread carefully. Don't worry, there will still be enough chocolate for it to taste AMAZING.

Step 4: Roll up the croissants, stretching them just a little bit as you go.

Step 5 (Optional): Spread a little bit of butter on the top of each croissant.

Step 6: Make a mix of cinnamon and sugar and pour it on top. I like a lot of cinnamon and sugar on top, enough to feel the texture. So, I pour A LOT on top. The more you pour, the more will stay once you take them off the tray.

Step 7: Put them in the oven until golden brown. I honestly never pay attention to how long they are in the oven. I just check them every couple of minutes until they appear to be cooked but not over-cooked.

Tips: Hersheys chocolate chips are cheaper than the brand I usually grab, Nesle. I use the large Pillsbury Croissants because it is more flexible than the GV brand.
Pictures taken by: Sunshine Photography

Tip: I use spreadable butter, the Brummel & Brown (Yogurt). Mostly because spreadable butter is easier to spread, haha! I am a little impatient when it comes to what I bake.
Pictures taken by: Sunshine Photography

Voila! Hope you enjoy! They are SO good! :)

More Green Family Session

My sincerest apologies. I have had, in short, a crazy and busy couple of weeks. I have not had much time to edit and even less time to post what I have edited. However, things are picking up (all thanks to God my Father). Not that I have anything less on my plate, but Christ has helped me to manage those things in a much more productive way. I have definitely more peace and clarity all because of my beloved Savior.

Here are a few more Green Family photos in which I promised a week ago. Again, my apologies.

The Greens are family friends. I have known them since I was a toddler. We went to the same church as children and went to Awanas together. Charis (the Greens second oldest) and I grew up as friends. We went to sleep-overs together and if I remember correctly, one of our last sleep-overs involved her birthday and the Lord of the Rings II. Haha! Great times!

I have taken pictures with Charis and her family previously and so when her mother asked if I could take pictures of all of her children, I was really excited! I love this family!

I had a ton of fun taking all of your pictures! You all are hilarious and brought me so much joy during this session! Thank you for allowing me this opportunity! I hope you enjoy!

Family Session Sneak Peek: Green family

I have known the Green family for what seems like my entire life. This is only a preview of their many more pictures to come! Enjoy!

Easy Snacks: Frappuccino

Any of my friends and family could tell you how much I love frappuccinos. I can't get enough of them. I drink them when I crave coffee and I drink them when I want a snack. I love them. (Maybe not the best addiction, but hey!)

Anyways, I created my own "frappuccino."

Here are the instructions (super easy):

1. Make your coffee fairly strong. (For all you coffee makers, this is easy.)
2. Put your coffee into a cup or a jar and put it in the fridge. Let it cool down. (I usually make my coffee, then put it in the fridge overnight.)
3. Using a blender or a magic bullet, mix with your cold coffee: ice cream (whatever flavor you want) and a little bit of milk.

I usually make mine with vanilla ice cream because chocolate ice cream is a little too sweet for me. However, I still put some chocolate syrup in it because I still love chocolate! :)

Voila! My "frappuccino!"

For those of you wanting to make a less fattening version:

Try making your coffee weaker and simply use less ice cream. :)

Feeling Crafty

I love love LOVE crafts. However, I have not always had the means or the money to actively be crafty. I bought a men's X-Large T-Shirt at Summit Chase in Byron, GA and cut it up basically. Haha, okay...

More specifically, I cut the bottom part of the shirt off (from the bottom to the armpits). This is an infinity scarf, so there is no sewing involved. All I did after cutting the bottom part off, was cut strips on one end, and voila! A sweet new scarf!

Picture taken with my webcam.

Family Session: Layman Family

Backing up a little,...I recently graduated with my degree after attending GSW for four years. My freshman year I was highly involved with the Wesley Foundation, but after a while felt God calling me elsewhere. So I left. Well, in my last couple of years at GSW I reconnected with the WesHouse. Lowell was the director when I came back. He is an awesome preacher and a great leader. He is the person who could answer any history questions you have, whether Biblical or not. He and his wife Slitra have a big heart for the students, both from America and from other countries. They brought in foreign students hoping to show them the Bible and teach them about Jesus. It is amazing the impact they have made.

It was an honor and a ton of fun taking your pictures! I hope you enjoy them!

Thank you!