The Bridge to Change...

It's been two weeks since I started this blog.  And I am having a hard time keeping up with it (as some of you who have been following it may have noticed).  Change is needed.  I need to cross the bridge to change.  It's not always an easy bridge to cross.  It's a very humbling bridge.  It's a bridge were you realize you made a mistake, but you have a choice.  You can either stay where you are and live with the failure and guilt of not succeeding.  OR you can choose to cross the bridge, admit your mistake, and head toward change.  
So I've made a decision...I am changing the blog.  The goal will still be the same, 365 photos in one year, but I will not be blogging daily (the number of photos won't change, just the number of blogs).  I will be blogging weekly.  How many times a week?  I don't know.  I will give myself the grace and flexibility to let each week and what is going on that week to determine how many times I will blog.  I appreciate your patience and support with me through all of this.  I'm still very excited about this coming year and what it holds for me, my family and this little business I'm trying to start.


So please stop by mi casa weekly to see what has been going on with us.  I love reading your comments.


Here is Hannah crossing over a bridge...

1st Recital Dress

Today in dancing class Hannah received her 1st recital dress.  She is so excited about it.  She asked me "Mommy, can I keep it?"  I said "Yes” Hannah: "Mommy did you buy it?" Me: "Yes" Hannah: "Thank you Mommy, THANK YOU!"  It was one of those moments...I just love seeing a smile on her face.  You are just getting a sneak peek of her dress.  Her recital is June 26.  So I will reveal the dress and Hannah's big smile later.

Facing the Snow

Snow flurries were flying through the air while the children were being dismissed from school today.  It's so fun to see how the children were all looking up to watch the snow, to feel it on their faces and to catch it on their tongues.  I can remember doing this as a child. Then you have a child and it is so much fun doing it with them.  One of the best parts about being a mom is reliving all the fun things I did as a child.

Here is a picture of Hannah 2 years ago (she was 3 years old) enjoying the snow on her face.

Just a Favorite...

Here is a photo I've taken of my daughter recently.  Her eyes are my favorite part of the photo.  For me someone's eyes are the most important part of a photo, more so than a smile.  The eyes can tell a thought or feeling.  Her eyes in this photo show the beauty and innocence of a child.  What can I say...I just love her to death.  The most amazing gift I have ever received is her.  I pray she will grow up to be a strong and godly woman.  I could go on and on about what she has meant to my life and what an amazing little girl she is, but for now I'll just share her photo.

Knock Knock....

Knock? Knock?
Who's there?
Orange?
Orange who?
Orange you glad I posted a photo???

World Thinking Day

Today we particitated in World Thinking Day with the Girl Scouts.  It was a great event.  The idea is to educate and open the minds of the girls to the world around them.  There were booths that were representing different countries and the girls walked around getting pins and stamps in their passports from each country.  Some of the things they learned at each booth were...what is the name for daisy scouts, brownie scouts and girl scouts?  What do scouts do there?  How to say hello in each language.  And what foods they eat (some booths even had some to try).  I loved the event...I'm always thinking of ways to expose Hannah to culture and the world around her. 


Here are some of the pins she received.

Spring is coming...Hope is coming...

Today was a beautiful day here in TN.  Days like these are all about HOPE.  We all know that winter is not quite over.  We may still get a few more cold nights and snow falls.  But there is hope that spring is coming.  Things will grow again.  The sun will shine again.  Things will change!  We will not live in the forever of winter.  We will have more days of playing in the park with the sun hitting our faces. 
So...let today be a day of hope for you.  Hope that whatever your winter is it didn't come to stay forever.  Hope that days filled with sun and laughter are coming. Hope that spring is coming...

What do you see?

OK...So I decided to make today's blog an interactive one.   So the question is "What do you see?"  Don't get all smart with me.  It's not about the obvious.  It's about what do you see that is beyond the obvious.  There is a lesson in here somewhere, but I'm not going to get all deep on you.  I'll just say that sometimes in life we need to look beyond the superficial, the obvious, to really see what is there. 

Hope you to enjoy the exercise. 

Appreciating Great Friends

Teacher appreciation week ended with a delicious lunch made by the parents.  I want to take this time as we have been talking about appreciation to tell you about the women I work with.  I have to say that they are some of the most amazing women I know.  They are beautiful, talented, and loving.  They have challenged me to grow, to think big, and to open my heart to great friendships.  When we first moved to TN I felt pretty lonely.  We had no family or friends here.  I became even more isolated as I had my first child and became a "stay at home mom".  When it was time for preschool, I did the usual looking around for the "right" fit.  Little did I know that what would become the right fit for Hannah would also become the right fit for me.  And it's not just about a right fit, it's about a place where you can be yourself and loved and encouraged for who you are. 
So ladies...I don't think you know how much this has meant to me. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!  I appreciate all of you for loving me and accepting me into your family.  Love you...Besitos...













As I said yesterday, the theme was under the sea, so there were little fish on the center of each table.

Appreciation

This week is Teacher Appreciation at school (I work at a preschool).  Every year the parents get together and take a week to pampers us and let us know how thankful they are for us.  Today was flower day.  All the kids brought flowers to put in our vases.  We place the vases outside the room and the children come by placing a flower in the vase.  Our vases were over flowing.  It was so beautiful.  The hallways smelled like Spring.
My thought for today is "show" someone you appreciate them.  I say show because I think actions speak louder than words.  Don't get me wrong telling someone you are thankful for them is great. But when you "do" something, go out of your way to make something happen, I believe that speaks volumes.  More than words could ever say.  The parents tell us all the time that they appreciate all we do, but when they all get together, all 200 families, and decided on how to show us.  The impact is greater.



As you can see the theme this year is under the sea.  The children write on little bubbles what they like about us.  So precious to see their thoughts.

Another Snow Day in TN...

We had another snow day here in TN.  I'm getting a little tired of them.  Don't get me wrong I actually love the snow.  I lived many years in the Northeast and I can honestly say that there is a piece of my heart that is still there.  But here in TN the world stops for 2 inches of snow and we've had an abnormal amount of snow this year.  So my "life" has stopped too many times.  If you know me I am all about routine.  I enjoyed the first couple of snow days.  I caught up on all my indoor projects.  But now it's time to get back to the routine.


I decided to post  this sledding picture hoping that it will be my last snow day.  I'm thinking of it as a farwell to the snow for the season.  We'll see what happens. 

Welcome Cayleigh Reese

My dear friend Leslie welcomed baby girl #3, Cayleigh Reese.  She arrived on Feb. 9 weighing 6lbs. 15oz.  I spent the afternoon visiting with mom and baby.  It was a special treat, we talked without interruptions (from our girls), had tea and chocolate cake.  What more can friends ask for...

Here are some photos of this precious blessing!



Snuggling with Mom...

A little sisterly love...




Thank you Leslie for your friendship all these years, it's very special to me.

Happy Heart Day

For Valentine's Day Abuela sent a package that included heart shaped cookie cutters.  Hannah had a ball decorating the cookies.  I put my "neat" tendenecies aside and let her decorate however she wanted.  For those of you that know me well, know this is not easy for me.  But I'm trying my best to let Hannah have some childlike fun, with no "neatness". 

Let it Snow...

In honor of all the snow this week around the country, here is a photo of Franklin, TN in the snow!

Looking Out...

Happy Anniversary to me!  I made it through one week.  I must say I've really enjoyed blogging, more than I thought I would.  But when I sit back and think about 51 more weeks to go...yikes!  So I won't think about the 51.  I'll just keep looking forward one day at a time and looking out the window to see the wonders of Him.

No Leaves...

Today was a long day.  This week was a long week.  This month is a long month (and we are only half way through it).  So as I was looking through my photos and thinking about what to post.  I came across this tree with no leaves.  Started thinking...this is how I feel tonight, like a tree with no leaves.  All my leaves are gone...I am tired!  Looking forward to some rest tomorrow and this weekend, before another busy week.  But March is coming.  Spring is coming.  The leaves are coming.

A City at Night

I went to a photography seminar tonight in Downtown Nashville.  As I was leaving I drove around looking at all the buildings lite up.  To me there is nothing like a city at night.  I started thinking about New York City,  and oh how I miss NYC.  I have some photos of NYC at night but I'll share those on another blog.  For now here is Nashville at night.









It's Nashville's...

Always Be Prepared!

I was a Girl Scout and now my daughter is a Girl Scout.  Actually she is a Daisy Scout, which you can imagine I just love.  Daisy Scouts weren't around when I was younger but if I was a Daisy Scout maybe I could attribute my love of daisies to my early years of scouting.  I started out as a Brownie Scout...maybe that's why I love chocolate???

Today we went to the Firehouse on a field trip.  The firemen talked to the girls about safety and then gave us a tour.  As we were walking around I noticed their boots.  They were not by their lockers.  They were by the doors to the fire engine and truck.  And the doors to the fire engine and truck were left open.  I started thinking about how prepared they were, and how the scouting motto is "Be Prepared".  I'm not going to get all deep on you, but I'll leave you with just one question...Are you prepared?  Always Be Prepared!

It's What's for Dinner...

I made my favorite Cuban dish for dinner.  Picadillo.  It's a beef hash served over rice.  It's probably the first dish I learned to make.  And it's the dish my mother makes for me everytime I come home to visit.  It's my comfort food.  Recipe?  I don't have it written down. I learned to cook by watching my mother and mi abuela in the kitchen.  But I'll give it a try...

Picadillo
*note: all measurements are estimations, if you think is needs a little more or a little less, go with it...
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper chopped
3-4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp oregano
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup of red wine
1 lb. ground beef (tonight I used ground turkey)
1/4 to 1/2 cup raisins
1/4 to 1/2 cup pimento stuffed olives
salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet or saute pan over medium heat, add oil, onion, green pepper, and garlic.  Cook until softened.  Then add cumin, oregano, tomato sauce and paste.  Cook together for about 5 minutes.  Add red wine to deglaze pan.  Season beef with salt and pepper (sometimes I add a little garlic powder).  Add seasoned beef to tomato mixture and brown.  Add bay leaf, raisins, and olives.  Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.  Serve over rice (I made brown rice tonight).  It's always better the next day.  Enjoy!

Here's a photo of mine...It was yummy!  Hope "my recipe" turns out just as good.  Let me know if you try it...

The Winter Woods of Brentwood, TN

Here is a picture of my daughter walking toward the "big" hill in the neighborhood.  Yes, this is Brentwood, TN.  And, No, we normally don't get this much snow, but last week we got about 5" of snow and the whole metro Nashville shut down for about 4 days.  I lived many years in the northeast, so shutting down for 5" of snow is pretty crazy to me, but I understand that they don't have the man power.  Either way we enjoyed sledding, drinking lots of hot chocolate and watching movies.


This is my LL Bean Maine catalogue picture taken in Brentwood, TN.

Casa de Vicki

My afternoon was spent at my friend Vicki's house. Vicki and I met a few years ago when I was looking into a new preschool for my daughter. Vicki had the patience to deal with a very picky mother (ME) who wanted the BEST experience for her daughter. I had just been through an ugly situation at another preschool. Vicki took the time to answer all my calls and questions no matter how crazy they were. Who would have know that just a few weeks after our initial meeting I would start working at that preschool. And a few weeks after that we would start on our journey of become friends. Great friends. Vicki is a friend that I cherish.


Here are a few photos of Vicki. She needed head shots for some up coming ventures she is starting, so we spent the afternoon playing with clothes, lighting, and photography. I'm sure this won't be the only time you see Vicki on this photoblog. I think she looks beautiful, so I'm sure I'll be taking more photos of her.













Doesn't she look amazing...I had a hard time choosing just one.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Yes, today is my birthday. My birthday to me is about starting a new year, "my" new year, "my own personal" new year. So when everyone else is making "New Year's Resolutions" on Jan. 1. I'm waiting til Feb. 5. I don't really make resolutions, but more like goals and dreams for "my" new year. So one of my dreams is to start a photography business. Why photography some of you may ask? Well...I think I'll save that answer for another time. But for now I want to let you know what I want to accomplish with this photoblog. I have an ambitious goal. My goal is to post a photo every day. 365 photos that will represent a year of my life. A diary of photos. I'm excited and overwhelmed by the goal. But I'm looking forward to how it will evolve and what it will look like next year at this time. My hope is that through this photoblog you will get to know me and my photography a little better.

I decided to start this photoblog for Casa Daisy Photography with a photo of daisies given to me by my dear friends for my birthday. So, here they are...I just love daisies.