From Fearings Restaurant for Modern Luxury Magazine

Here is a full page featured in this months Modern Luxury Magazine. It is a Highly Marbled Arkansas Pork Chop with Red Chili Rabbit Empanadas on Chipotle Sweet Potato Puree, Shaved Vegetable Cole Slaw and Black Bean Sauce. I think they are currently serving a Tennessee Pork Chop. The reduced black bean sauce is a work of art.

I also shot a Grilled Shrimp and Pork Belly and a plate of Crispy Two Bite Tacos with Mesquite Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Relish. The tacos are served in the Rattlesnake Bar at the Ritz-Carlton in Uptown and I think that if you are a guest of the hotel THEY ARE FREE for a short happy hour.

And, of course, the popsicles. They are a creative and gluten free treat of Orange/Basil, Meyer Lemon/Thyme and Grapefruit/Rosemary with Fresh Fruit and Honey Yogurt Sauce.

Fearings Restaurant impresses me. I've been in twice for work, but never as a diner. But I've overheard the waiters meeting and the chefs talking in the back and I've seen them setting up before you come in. They care. They care about you and your experience and their food. Seriously, everyone from the valet guy to the head chef is both down to earth and committed to doing their job well. My host put it best saying, "They try to make everyone feel like a rock star."

I couldn't resist grabbing lunch to go. I thought I'd get a large dish and share it with Daniel. I got the Mesquite Grilled Wild Bay of Fundy Salmon glazed with Apricot Barbecue Sauce, Black-Eyed Peas and Living Watercress Salad. It was ready in minutes. Although we were sitting over the same plate, I pretty much hogged it all and he had to go get a "second" lunch.

Normally I'm pointing you to local hole-in-the-wall dive places, but just this once, go to Fearings. The menus are very meat-heavy, but vegetarian menus are available on request.

Modern Luxury Magazine COVER PHOTO

I am thrilled to tell you that this month, a photo I took of these delectable popsicles at Fearings Restaurant, MADE THE COVER of Modern Luxury Magazine! I love the annual restaurant issue of this magazine and to actually make the cover is a true honor.

Charlie

I love Charlie. I first met him when he was three months old. He's happy and sweet and gave me a fantastic hug to start off our last session. Charlie and his family are moving and wanted to get one more sitting in before they moved. I'm so happy we did!

The Stoneleigh for Dallas Brides Magazine

The Stoneleigh got a food makeover and I got to shoot some of the new people and food for Dallas Brides Magazine. It looks like a stellar place to have a reception!

Dallas Brides Magazine

I had the great pleasure of shooting these monochromatic bouquets for Dallas Brides Magazine this month. And big thanks to Extra Sauce for letting me use their location!

100% Girl

Today we went in for our 4 month baby appointment and got a peek at the gender. It's a girl! Here you can see her profile and her little legs and feet sticking straight up. She checks out with a strong heartbeat and development and I feel great.

The sonogram showed that I have placenta previa, which means the placenta is too close to the cervix. While hearing any news besides, "everything looks great," is terrifying, our doctor does not seem alarmed and notes that it is likely the placenta will move up, much like the words "Happy Birthday" on a balloon would move up as you continued to fill it with air.

He thinks normal activities are okay but nothing too vigorous. That sounds a lot like the average rules of safe pregnancy to me and my fingers are crossed that our next scan in 4 weeks shows the placenta migrating to the top.

Right now the important thing is IT'S A GIRL and I am 3 for 3 on gender guessing. :)

Extra Sauce

Daniel now works with the exciting design, development and etc. company, Extra Sauce.  They have some fancy new digs in downtown Dallas and I had the total honor of photographing their headshots.

Father's Day

I find myself extremely lucky to have such wonderful fathers in my life. My dad raised me on his own, which could not have been an easy task. He deserves a lot of love and credit for the unselfish sacrifices and support he has always provided. I have always felt loved and protected by my dad and at the heart of parenting, these are certainly two of the strongest bricks in the foundation.

I don't recall playing the lottery, but that's often what I feel like when I get to tell you that Daniel Miller is the father of my children.  All "step" words aside, this man is here every day, at every ball game, teaching Penn how to ride a bike and making sure we are all provided for. Penn adores Daniel, misses him when he is gone, needs him at bedtime and longs to impress him.

Daniel is beautiful and amazing and I look forward to a long and happy life of raising our family.

Penn and I made cards and took Daniel to lunch. We'll cart him off to a well-deserved massage tomorrow.

Father's Day is bittersweet without Margot. We will push through and forward and stay delighted in our current pregnancy.

"It is not flesh and blood but heart which make us fathers and sons." -- J. Schiller

Come share the Zen with me

Zenfolio is my most favorite hosting site for photographers ever. It offers beautiful sites, galleries, customization, shopping cart and unlimited storage for the cheapest price. I tried the other two big hosting sites, Exposuremanager and Smugmug. Paid them money and everything. They honestly don't compare to the ease of using Zenfolio. And I don't want to call names or anything, but the first thing you'll notice about Zenfolio is that it's way hotter than the other girls.

I'm really excited to announce that Zenfolio is touring 12 major cities, including Dallas!  There will be experts on hand demonstrating how Zenfolio works and industry professionals presenting on topics related to site design, marketing and more.

There will be a morning session and an afternoon session and, the real kicker, yours truly will be speaking!

And there will be prizes and swag from Mpix, Borrow Lenses, Shoot Dot Edit, Pro Show Web, Tether Tools, Imagine Your Photos and fotoflot!

So, click here for the details and register and come see me talk about photography on September 15th!

Go ahead and sign up for Zenfolio now so you'll know what the hype is about. Use my name as a referral!

Rado

I had the sincere pleasure of photographing the Rado family and new baby recently. I could shoot baby feet all day long.

Homemade Melon Ice Cream without an Ice Cream Maker

I love checking out cookbooks from the library. There is one I've renewed so many times (I'm allowed up to 99) that I'm seriously considering buying it. "Kitchen Seasons" by Ross Dobson is filled with fresh and easy recipes that are knockouts every time. It's also beautifully designed with simple, gorgeous food photography.

Yesterday I made Melon Ice Cream. I think I should have whipped it more while it was freezing, but overall it turned out extremely well. I'll definitely make it again.

1 large cantaloupe, peeled, deseeded and cut into chunks
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
fresh rasberries, to serve (optional)

an ice cream maker (optional)

Put the melon chunks, sugar and lemon juice in a food processor and process until chunky. 

Let the mixture rest in the processor for 30 minutes, then process again until smooth. 

Put the cream in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring often. Don't bring to a boil. 

When the the cream is bubbling around the sides of the pan, pour it into the food processor, with the motor running, until well mixed with the melon mixture. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. Put the mixture into an ice cream maker, if using, and churn until firm. Spoon into a container and freeze overnight. 

Alternatively, put the mixture in a freezerproof containter and freeze for three hours, or until the mixture begins to set around hte edges. Beat well. Repeat this process every 2 hours until the mixture is firm, then freeze overnight before serving.

Baseball Portraits

This our first year in the world of organized sports. Penn played soccer last season and then launched right into baseball. Both, of course, come with a need for a portrait. The YMCA schedules the teams automatically with TSS Sports Photography. During soccer season I looked this company up and their work is really bad. Really. Bad. Overpriced and worse than your grandmother and her expired disposable camera with her thumb halfway over the lens. I am very serious. I think they are a total sham.

So I volunteered, if the parents would have me, because I certainly wasn't going to show up or pay them any money. I'm not even charging anything. For as quickly as we ran through them I think they came our quite cute.

When we were done with photos we played a great game and won! Seven year olds improve from game to game so quickly!