Phone a Friend...

Okay, so here's the deal. When I went to buy a domain name for my photography business, davisonphotography.com was taken. (BOOOOO...). And I thought about maybe doing a variation like davisonfotography or something, but I didn't want people accidentally going to the other one because it isn't very good.

SO... after much consideration and ridiculously over analyzing everything, I decided on the domain davisonphotos.com. Short, sweet, but still professional sounding.

(I have to admit, I had to give it a while to grow on me. It was Kirby's first suggestion when we found out I couldn't have davisonphotography, but I just didn't feel it was what I wanted to go for. Well, it was. And I'm giving Kirby credit for knowing so.)

Now that I have climbed that mountain of a dilemma, I have another one! For all of you who have visited my photography blog, davisonphoto.blogspot.com, you have seen my current watermark.

I like it.

A lot.

BUT--Kirby and I both felt that it makes more sense if the domain name is the same as the business name. That would mean I am now DavisonPhotos, as opposed to Davison Photography. Therefore, I would need a new watermark.

So I doodled one up, scanned it in, and extracted it in Photoshop and it's ready to go! And I really like the way it looks!



So what is my problem then? I'll tell you.

A really good friend of ours, John Baxter, is building my website. Just recently he added the design elements and I LOVE it. It's like he read my mind. I love the green, and I love the top bar, how the image blends in to the graphics. If you want to see it, go to davisonphotos.com/index.php. But please recognize it is very much under construction. I still have to send him all the written stuff, and the pictures in the "portfolio" section are not mine. :)

So here is the problem--I LOVE the way that "davison photography" looks at the top of the screen. (And by the way, it will probably end up being "capturing memories one photo at a time" underneath. But that's not important here.) So. Here's the deal. I love my new watermark, and I want the consistency between my domain name and my business name. BUT--I love the way "davison photography" looks!

Comments? Opinions? I'm just curious what y'all think. :)

A Shout Out

Here's a little shout out to a fellow mother (wow. That came right out even though I'm not yet one of those! Oh well... I'm keeping it!) who is using her talents to help bring in a little extra for the fam!

momeznursingcovers.blogspot.com

Faux Zuppa Tuscana

Olive Garden anyone?? If any of you have ever had they're Zuppa Tuscana (a creamy, and a little bit spicy, sausage and potato soup) that you will know just how delicious this recipe will be. If you haven't, well... you're just going to have to trust me. This soup has become one of my family's favorites (family as in me and kirby, as well as my parents and siblings.) When I first made it for Kirby, he thought he would have to eat something afterwards in addition to the soup because, "It's just soup..." But good grief, it's filling! If you want a little variety, get a loaf of garlic french bread and toast it in the oven and have that with it. But even on its own it's incredibly filling! Give it a try! :)

1 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 lb. ground Italian sausage, mild
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper, plus more to taste
2 1/2 cup water
2 (14 1/2 oz.) cans chicken broth
3 large russet potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, sliced 1/4" thick
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly group pepper
1/2 bunch kale, stems removed, chopped
1 cup heavy (whipping) cream

Saute sausage in oil. Remove sausage to plate and set aside. Add onion, saute until translucent. Add garlic and crushed red pepper, cook 1 minute. In a large pot, combine water and broth; add onion mixture. Add potatoes, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat, simmer about 10 minutes. Add kale and sausage, simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in cream. Heat to simmer over medium heat, cook 2 minutes.

For any of y'all who don't know what kale is (because I didn't), it's all that green leafy stuff they stick in the soup at the Olive Garden. I have never actually included it, and it is still phenomenal!

Please note: when you are buying the italian sausage, make sure you get the MILD ground italian sausage. (there is a difference!) The first time I wasn't paying attention, and our soup was SPIIII-CY! You can get the hot ground sausage if you want, and leave out the crushed red pepper, but it will still be a little bit spicier than with the original recipe. (but not deadly. Just make sure not to do the hot sausage AND the red pepper. PHEW!) Anyhoo! ENJOY!

Work What Your Momma Gave You!

So, once again I am posting a darling video of my adorable nephew. We were at Denny's, and... well... I think the movie speaks for itself.

p.s. My charming husband is the one inciting him to such ridiculous behaviors...

Favorite Commercial EVER... Maybe...

Mute

So, this one time for the last couple days my voice has gone all hoarse and scratchy, and today's been the worst day yet! It's really funny, mostly, but it's getting the the point where any time I try to say anything out of a man's normal vocal range, it tickles and I break into a coughing fit. :)

No problem, right? I just will sound like a man all day! It's not so bad...

FALSE!

I'm editing several batches of pictures (two baby sessions, a wedding, and a vacation to Bryce Canyon--keep an eye out on my photography blog! They'll be up soon!) and listening to some of my favorite music on iTunes. Occasionally (okay, so really it's kind of often...) I forget that my vocal chords are on vacation and I try to sing along!

BAD IDEA.

And then I think "Why??? WHY?????" And then I laugh to myself because I said something like that jokingly last night and it sounded really cool. :)