Years of trying, testing, failing, and researching finally paid off tonight when I mastered the art of chocolate chip cookie making. Trust me on this when I say this recipe is the best out there. Gather your supplies (including butter-flavored Crisco) and get to baking…..seriously. Here you go, you can thank me later:

Ingredients

• 3/4 stick Crisco Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 (6 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 cup)

Baking Instructions

1. HEAT oven to 375ºF.
2. COMBINE shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into shortening mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
3. DROP by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
4. BAKE 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies, or 11 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet on a cooling rack. Remove cookies to rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

in His love,
Laura

 

 

✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand 

✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤ ✤

In honor of my fiery-spirited, Irish Grandpa. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, friends!

in His love,

Laura

 

 

The winter of 2012-2013 is going down in the history books for captured in His image Photography. Despite the bitter cold temperatures, I’ve had so many beautiful women who’ve been willing to venture out and showcase their beauty. What a blessed season it’s been!

Hannah is the younger sister of Stacy and graciously gave up part of a chilly Saturday to explore the K-State Campus for a glamour session of her own. This family definitely has beauty in their blood– Hannah took my breath away just as much as Stacy had the month before! She had a lot of spunk, a great laugh and a sassy smirk. She also was able to play things totally cool when a group of her friends walked by and asked “what she was doing sitting on the ground by an old garage door”. You know, just another session.

 

We couldn’t end the flow of gorgeousness without Stacy hopping in for a few. These sisters are seriously stunning and their hearts are just as beautiful.

Hannah, thank you for gracing me with your lovely presence– it was so fun!

P.S. Interested in a glamour session of your own? I have a few secret specials going from now until my move to Florida 🙂 E-mail hello@capturedinhisimage.com for more information!

in His love,

Laura

What words do you use to tell a story that has been writing itself for a while?

How do you sum up the bundle of emotions that come with a decision like this?

Is it fair to question whether or not a big life shift will also lead to a shift in your passions? Is it okay for that to be a little scary… and exciting?

Why is change the best thing and the hardest thing, all at once?

As I sit to write this post, I’m still working my way through all of these questions. At this point, it seems like the need to explore their unknown may be here for a while and thankfully, I’ve recently been able to embrace this new reality the best that my small, very-human self, can.

You see, this journey has been unfolding for a while now.

For as long as I can remember I have dreamt of pursuing a master’s degree. The appeal has always been two-fold:

1. To extend my horizons through the art of learning and the pursuit of knowledge.

and

2. To find something I am so passionate about that the journey towards degree attainment is not a formality or sensible next-step, but rather, the only thing that makes sense. An undeniable move in the only direction my feet will follow.

A couple of weeks ago, on my 25th birthday of all days, a call came from the University of South Florida in Tampa. I had visited their campus to spend time with fellow applicants and campus representatives the week before and had been anxiously awaiting their correspondence since my trip.

This mid-morning call came with joyful news:

An offer to join the 2015 Student Affairs co-hort with the opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant in the University’s New Student Connections office.

It was the birthday present I opened the quickest this year, accepting their gracious offer before saying goodbye. Despite the snow storm that was descending upon Kansas that day, I knew that the glimmers of a new season would quickly begin to appear in the world around me.

As mentioned, this journey has been unfolding for a while now. There have been so many moments where I’ve wanted to explain why I’ve passed along 21 weddings for 2013 and why I’ve been struggling to make my calendar friendly for spring and summer sessions. The unknown came with a lot of pressure and responsibility- I’m thankful for the grace and encouragement many of you have extended, knowingly or unknowingly during this season.

Of course, throughout this process Captured has been at the forefront of my mind.

How will this transition work?

Will my new schedule allow me to pursue photography at the level I’d like to?

Can I build new clientele? How will I meet other photographers to build a community like I have here?

Will my work be appreciated? loved?

I do not have answers to all of these questions right now, but, I can tell you that I am feeling hopeful. And excited. And energized. You get my drift…. this is good stuff! Plus, the two sessions I’ve had in the Tampa Bay area this year have been nothing short of amazing so hopeful is a good place to be, right?

There will be more updates coming soon about my July business launch in Tampa and I hope you’ll help me by sharing with those you may know in the area. I am also now endorsing family/couple/friend vacations to the Tampa Bay and/or Orlando areas, complete with a captured in His image photo session  🙂

In the meantime, here’s what I can tell you:

• My final session date in Kansas will be Sunday, May 26th— please e-mail me {hello@capturedinhisimage.com}  if you would like to get something scheduled. I’d love to fill-up on Kansas portraiture in the months leading up to the move  🙂
•  From Wednesday, May 29th- Sunday, June 30th, J & I will be embarking on a month of travel adventures. First, to Portland, Oregon for my mom’s wedding and then east and south towards Tampa. We would love to have a reason to get out of the car and stretch our legs– more coming soon about the opportunity to schedule a road-trip session if we’re going to be in your neck of the woods!

Before I sign-off and begin to move through what is sure to be a wild and crazy spring {March is here- say WHAT?}, can I also ask for your prayers? Our current requests look a little something like this:

• Prayers for Jordan and I as we prepare to move me to Florida while he remains in Kansas for the fall semester to complete his student teaching. Signing-up to spend five months apart will be the hardest part of this transition- yuck. As some wise women have said to me lately “it’s only a season”.
• Prayers for our friends Ashley & Ben who have offered to graciously open their home to me for the fall while Jordan is away. They are currently seeking a permanent nest in the Tampa Bay area and I am praying that our anxious hearts will simply allow God to provide for them.
• Prayers for the 30 other co-hort members who will also be saying “yes” to the opportunity to join this program. I’m sure that these individuals will be dear friends by the end of our two-year journey– I can’t wait to see what God has in-store for our relationships.
• Prayers for captured. That God would make his plan for this business-ministry known and use it for His glory in this new place.

Prayers that I don’t go into shock in a world of palm trees, crazy traffic and green t-shirts with bulls on them probably wouldn’t hurt either  😉  My new stomping grounds are pretty great but I know there will still be lots of changes to encounter.

For now, know that I am so thankful for your love, support and encouragement. I have some of the best fan-friends on the planet! I hope to connect with many of you during the remaining months to say goodbye– if I could clear my calendar and fill it with coffee dates and phone calls I would but I’ll still take a peppering of quality time here and there over the avoidance of saying farewell any day.

Thank you for letting me share this new season with you and know that as always, you are welcome to come along for the ride to see what God has in store. The ground is fertile and there is growth, color and life coming, this I know.

in His love,

Laura

Hello happy little blog!

I am sorry I’ve been away for so long– Mexico and Florida called, and I answered. I have lots of updates and pictures to share with you but first– lets catch-up with one of my favorite recent photo adventures and the story behind the images.

Meet the beautiful Ashley:

Ashley has been with captured in His image since the beginning. In 2009 she and her then fiance, Andrew, contacted me to schedule an engagement session– they were one of the first I ever shot.

Since then you’ve seen her on several occasions, mainly to celebrate she and Andrew’s sweet little guy, Aiden. It’s amazing how much can happen in four years!

In early January she sent me a beautiful editorial image she’d found with a text that read

” I am covered in Aiden spit and puke, I haven’t “gotten ready” in weeks– can we do a session? I want to feel pretty again”

Now, I don’t know much about motherhood. But, I do know that every woman should have a few amazing moments every now and again where she gets to feel really, truly beautiful.

My friend, Emma {Rose Wheat Photography} offered to open her barn home for the session and even hosted us for a snuggly breakfast before we started clicking. Quality time + beautiful women + living organically in community = an amazing setting for a session like this.

Emma and I co-shot the session and at one point she was shooting and I was walking around with Aiden who was shrieking. Ashley stayed calm and her beauty continued to radiate– it was such a visual lesson in “living in the kingdom” and how God uses marriages and families to teach, prune and encourage.

I learned a lot and was stretched by this photo-venture. Some images will remain behind closed doors for Ashley and Andrew to enjoy privately and I love that. Marriage is such a complex, intimate bundle of blessings and I count this session as one that encompassed all of that.

I’m thankful for the heart and creation God had in mind when he made Eve. There’s so much beauty to be found in women and I’m thankful for opportunities like this to capture even a glimpse.

in His love,

Laura

January 19th-20th | Omaha, Nebraska

Long weekends beg for adventure and almost always, I listen. I’ve been sick for what seems like forever and thus, lost track of my typical plan, plan, plan approach. Suddenly, it was Wednesday and MLK weekend was around the corner– EEEEEK.

A quick search for currently touring musicals and our fate had been decided: we were heading to Omaha to see Memphis the musical {and other local sights and sounds} . Special thanks to Priceline and Stub Hub for helping us stick within our “if by tight, you mean creative” budget.

All things are possible for he who plans (kind of) and deal hunts, that’s my motto.

Saturday was an unseasonably warm day and the sunshine streaming through the car windows made the drive wonderfully enjoyable. I spent the entire 3.5 hours gazing out the window, commenting on the funny signs, curious cows and small towns that disappeared simply by blinking. Jordan had never been en-route to Nebraska {or to Nebraska for that matter} so we stopped in Marysville, Kansas to stretch our legs and explore. 

We found an old historic mansion that was calling our name. I don’t know how we always find these places and have them all to ourselves…. traveler’s luck I guess 😉

The sunlight felt so good. I hated to get back in the car but adventures along the road called and we ventured on with hopes to catch another cute town or two along the way.

About 45 minutes later we were welcomed to Beatrice, Nebraska {pronounced BEE-A-TRISS}. Jordan told me we could stop for lunch if I could find a recommendation before he reached our next set of directions. Game-on. Though service was limited, in less than 90 seconds Google was telling me that we needed to dine at the Black Crow.

This place surprised us from the second we walked in the door. It reminded me of a restaurant I would visit in Manhattan’s historic Aggieville district– small & quaint with a great antique ceiling and a beautiful, solid oak bar. They also still had all of their Christmas decorations up which I really loved– why throw out a beautiful tree when it is still giving life?!

The menu at the Black Crow boasted a wide variety of yummified dishes– decisions did not come easy at our table. Jordan ordered their specialty Italian sandwich I ended up settling on their stone fired pizza. We were both completely astounded to learn that both of our dishes were entirely made from scratch–we felt like we were on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives!

Needless to say, The Black Crow set the tone for the rest of our trip. The food stakes were high and we were ready. I mean, who wouldn’t want to gain 10 pounds in 24 hours? If the food is really that good I say bring it on! And so, the trip continued north.

We arrived in Omaha with a few hours to spend before dinner and the show. A friend had recommended a stop for homemade ice cream from Ted and Wally’s. I’m not a big ice cream fan, it’s one dessert I can easily refuse. J, however, is a big fan and since the ice cream shop was in the downtown antique store area, we decided to venture around.

The ice cream store was pretty cute {yummy, too} and the downtown people watching was great. Across the street sat an intriguing antique store with flashy signs and a real-life yellow submarine– we had to check-it out. Inside we found tons of treasures, an old fashioned {working} candy counter, a restored antique movie theater with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory {Gene Wilder style} playing. It was awesome, we could’ve stayed there all afternoon.

Only 7 hours into our trip and we already felt like we were running short on time— so much to see, do and eat! Our failure to plan earlier in the week had left us without a dinner reservation for the night so we at a quicker meal of combo Japanese and Chinese on our way to the theater.

Jordan had never seen a show in the Orpheum Theater before and I couldn’t wait for him to see inside. “Memphis” was the third show I saw there and it made me fall in love with this historic space even more. The walls in this place speak. The stories, voices, and music of the theater’s 90 year history are built into the seats, walls and balconies. It is truly a profound space to see a show.

“Memphis” absolutely took our breath away. It has been years and years since we’ve purchased tickets to a show that we knew nothing about and we found the performance even more enjoyable because it was so new to us. We tapped our toes throughout the performance and leapt to our feet as soon as the curtain call started, teary eyed and grinning. Music and quality theater really can fill your soul. I’m so thankful that the arts are deeply engrained in both of us. We wouldn’t be the people we are if we weren’t both called to create and support/enjoy. I’m so thankful for opportunities like this.

Leaving a show on cloud 9 can be hard to top…

Until you turn the corner and find that the restaurant you really wanted to visit is open and still serving food.

Double score.

I’d found the Zin Room  by doing my favorite travel friendly Google search. It usually goes a little something like this:

“Where is the best macaroni and cheese in ____________ ? {Insert city of choice}”

When I conducted this search for Omaha, the reviews came pouring in for the Zin Room’s “Gouda mac n’ cheese”. Although I’d had this flavor before, I was sold and knew I had to try it while we were in town. It also didn’t hurt that they had a pretty rockin’ dessert menu, too, so I got the best of both of my worlds: chocolate and cheesy noodles on a late-night dinner platter.

I’m sure you’re as excited as I am that the Zin Room’s mac n’ cheese has officially taken over the #1 spot on my favorites mac n’cheese dish list, bumping BRGR in Mission, KS to second. This, my friends, was an impressive dish.

I’m proud to say that our “good eats” theme didn’t stop with this late night splurge. Before we said farewell to Omaha the next afternoon we shared {<—- see, rationing was kind of happening…} an order of triple berry ricotta pancakes  and homemade italian sausage at Amoto’s {referred to us by a captured friend and recently featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives}, and had lunch at our favorite mexcian restaurant, Cantina Laredo {which we discovered in Chicago last summer}.

As we rolled ourselves into the car and blasted “Memphis” to stay awake, we couldn’t help but smile and laugh. What a fantastic 24 hour memory making trip we had. Experiences like this will never be in the budget and they will never be the best use of our time, but, at the end of the day that stuff is not the stuff that matters to me. The memories, the love, the relationship building, the learning, the appreciation– cultivating these things has more value to me than moving through my life always striving to be perfect, sensible and successful.

Thanks so much to those of you who shared recommendations with us for this little getaway– it is always fun to hear from you and I love how well my captured friends, even those I’ve never met, seem to know me. I will  never become disenfranchised to the incredible blessings that continue to bloom in this business thanks to all of you. Thank you, thank you!

I hope you are moving into the weekend feeling energized for all that it might bring. Adventure is all around– soak it in and write your story!

in His love,

Laura