My new Nikon.

Finally got a NEW camera that might just be my new love! My old one worked just fine, but this one is so much better.

I got the Nikon CoolPix L820. So far I love it. It's light, small and very easy to use. I'm still playing around with it and it's settings, but really I can't express how much I love it! I still haven't taken pictures outside at all times of day, since I just got it yesterday lol, but that's where the true test will be. I'm barely learning all the technical stuff that goes along with photography, because I'm self taught. Photography is just a hobby of mine and I enjoy taking pictures of family and friends just for fun! Also of nature because that's where the real beauty lies. This has always been a hobby of mine, but I only had my iPhone and a digital camera. Now, I get to have REAL FUN! :) Here are some shots...

 Danny took this one! I just think it's cool

 Look at all my imperfections! lol

 The moon was beautiful tonight and to be able to capture it just blows my mind!

 I could have gotten closer w/ a tripod...a future purchase for sure!

Please allow me to re-introduce myself..

This is my familia.

Meet the loves of my life, Danny and G(as we call her). Danny and I have been together since September of 2008. We had our beautiful princess on 1/11/2011. We are completely in love with this bright girl. She is hilarious! She is also too smart for her own good. Our life now consists of teaching her how to dance to the beat of her own drum while staying humble and helpful. Her dad is so good to us, she's definitely a daddy's girl, maybe because I'm a strict mom, I'll be honest, but I also have a great relationship with my daughter. Which leads me to believe she understands why sometimes she can't have chips at 8 in the morning and that trying new foods is good (As Daniel Tiger might say). I get great pleasure in knowing I'm doing something right when she chooses carrots over candy any day. This isn't always the case, I have to admit. She IS a kid! We have to have crazy moments too, but I take every opportunity to teach her the good AND the bad.

With that said...we are just a small family living in Arizona trying to get through life as best as possible. We enjoy the company of the little bit of family we have here(and when we get to visit the ones out of town) and the great friends we have made along the way. Occasionally we will take time for ourselves, because it's healthy! Our life is only exciting to us I feel, but I don't mind that one bit. This is as personal as it's gonna get haha. Too much seriousness going on! Just a glimpse at our life, guys!

One last thing, these pictures we're taken by an awesome young photographer I once went to school with. She is so easy going and the shoot was so much fun! I mentioned young, because her talent is impeccable! Check her out! Www.facebook.com/AlisonColleenPhoto

-mari

Change is good.

My last post was about two weeks ago. I'm sad and okay with this...I haven't been feeling a connection to the blog anymore, which made me come to the conclusion that I wasn't providing what I originally wanted to provide to my audience and to myself. I know this is because there's little to no feedback, even though my views keep going up...I'm human and I feel like hearing from you satisfies me more than just SEEING it. I'm not asking for praise by any means, just encouragement! Which has brought me to this...

I originally only wanted this blog to be about my ultimate love for food, but I have to be honest with you and myself that sometime I wanted to share other things on here that had nothing to do with food! And frankly, I hardly have time to come up with new recipes AND that's not all I'm passionate about. I wasn't ready to completely put myself out there, because although I am not shy, I like certain things to stay private in my life. I also like to share things not only to inform but to learn from you too! I'm not cocky, but I'm confident in knowing there are MUCH MORE things I'm in love with that I can say I'm pretty good at that I'd like to share with my readers..

So, to take a completely whole spin on this blog I'm introducing more of ME! This blog will be more personal as I feel it needs to be this way. I will now include other hobbies of mine such as make-up, photography, crafts, STILL recipes, and anything else I want to blog about! It will still stay commercial as in I won't be posting my personal problems that have nothing to do with my hobbies, but I will add more of ME to it..

I really hope you all stick around to watch me grow as a blogger. This experience has been good so far. I just needed to work on some "INTRODUCING MYSELF TO THE WORLD" stuff LOL. I appreciate all of you reading and I hope this helps to bring more people to my blog.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

-MARi


p.s. my blog name will never change, because I hope this blog still goes over easy ;)

Hope you are in a crepe mood!

I'll just let you salivate over that picture for a couple of seconds!;)

I got this crepes recipe online from allrecipes.com. It's just a basic crepes recipe and you get to add all the extra goodies!

Whipped Cream Stuffed Crepes With Fresh Strawberries and Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 C. all-purpose flour

2 Eggs

1/2 C. Water

1/2 C. Milk

1/4 tsp. Salt

2 Tbsp Melted Butter

Fresh berries

1 Bar of Hershey's Chocolate

Whipped cream

In a large bowl whisk flour and eggs together. Gradually add milk and water, add salt and butter whisk until smooth.

Heat a lightly buttered non-stick pan. Pour some batter in to the pan. As soon the batter hits the pan start swirling it around to spread batter evenly.(As shown below)

Disclaimer: The first crepe will not work out! It's a curse that seems to happen to everyone. This was about my second to last hahaha. They may or may not be this pretty lol

Flip after 30 seconds and leave on other side for about 10 seconds. My crepes didn't have much color or browning, which is fine. Make all crepes before you start filling them. Just stack as if you would pancakes.

In a bowl (or measuring cup) melt one bar of hershey's chocolate. Yes, this is my favorite kind of chocolate. Use any chocolate chips or bars you'd like. Also, Slice your fresh strawberries (Once you've rinsed them)

Fill a crepe with whipped cream, as much as you like! You can also add the fresh strawberries inside for more berry flavor. Fold over loosely then roll, not too tight.

Add fresh sliced strawberries or any berry on top. Add more whipped cream if desired. Then drizzle with chocolate. VOILA!

THIS WAS HOW ALL MY OTHER CREPES LOOKED! >.<

BUT STILL LOOKED PRETTY!

CHECK OUT ALL THAT WHIPPED CREAM! :)

I USED THIS WHIPPED CREAM JUST CAUSE IT WAS EASY TO WORK WITH!

THANKS FOR READING!

-MARI

Update!

Still sick, if not WORSE! :( COMMON COLD I HATE YOU!!!!!! So I won't be posting until further notice, because i can't taste anything! Everything I eat tastes like straight up paper! Soooo how can you help? I know you're dying to help me out! hahah *insert sick sad face here*

I've heard of soups and stews with healing qualities and that sometimes act like remedies. I was wondering if anyone knew of such things aka RECIPES?! I want to try one and write a review or something...Really I want it to make me feel better, because taking medicine around the clock just isn't cutting it and frankly I hate it! All those unnatural things going in to my body and who knows what else in my system...the natural way sounds so much better to me!

marivalenci@aol.com HIT IT UPPPP!!!!

-SICK