I DID IT!

I did it! I got my very own website! I will miss this blog, but time for me to move on to bigger and better things. Feel free to browse around here if you are new but be sure to check out my new blogsite.

www.amycloudphotography.com

Life Is Good

I am apologizing yet again for my lack of blog posts. I'm so sorry! There, I said it! 50% of me has been hoarding them and the other 50% has been super busy! I'm not complaining about being busy though! I love it! I shot a wedding last night and someone I have never met came up to me and said, "so you must be busy because you haven't posted on your blog for a while." Yes very and so awesome having a fan who I didn't know! :) It won't be much longer and I'll be posting like crazy.

Life has been nuts but I'm loving it! Back in the Midwest currently and will be here for a couple of weeks. I am finishing up a wedding today, have a wedding from June and one from July I'll be working on next, 5 shoots from last week in Utah, and then on to the portrait sessions/weddings I have here. All 17 of them.... :) Enough yapping from me though. I have to get to work. Happy weekend ya'll and you'll be seeing more of me soon! Until then, here is some eye candy for ya!

Supreme French Toast!

This is BY FAR the BEST french toast I have ever had. My taste buds were doing a happy dance with every bite I took. Tony was equally impressed. I watched him take the first bite and I'm pretty sure he closed his eyes as he chewed up the yummy goodness! Breakfast for dinner?? YES please! Enough of me talking. Here is the recipe! Thank you thank you to the lovely lady who submitted this fabulous recipe!

French Toast Supreme

3 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 4oz carton whipped cream cheese

12 slices cinnamon bread

In bowl combine eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Spread 1 tbsp cream cheese on 6 slices of bread and top remaining slices to form sandwiches. Dip sandwiches in egg mixture. Fry lightly on greased skillet until golden brown. Top with Apple Cinnamon Syrup.

Apple Cinnamon Syrup

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup water

2 tbsp butter

1 tsp corn starch

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 med apples, peeled and thinly sliced

Bring brown sugar, water, cornstarch and cinnamon to a boil. Boil for 2 min until thick while stirring rapidly. Reduce heat to medium. Add apples, cook for 10 to 12 min or until apples are tender.

Top 6 Recipes

First off, I want to remind you if you were one of the chosen, DO NOT post what specific recipe was yours on my blog or Facebook page. You can whoop and holler all you want about being picked but don't say which is yours. I don't want my hubbies choice to be swayed based on the owner of the recipe (I doubt it would be anyway but I want to stay fair). I want it to be based on flavor and pure enjoyment!

I will say that I had over 20 recipe's and I had a hard time choosing. So hard I changed it to 6 instead of 5. I chose 2 recipes that I knew he'd love, 2 that I knew I'd really like, and the last 2 are something we have never had before, not even a similar variation of. All of the recipe's I received sounded very yummy. I plan to print them off and try them all eventually. So far we have made 2 of the 6 and OH EM GEE!! Delicious! He loved them both! Stay tuned for photos and shared recipes.

In no particular order, here are the top 6 recipes I chose

1. Chicken in Basil Cream
2. Quick & Easy Smothered Burritos
3. Ham balls
4. French Toast Supreme
5. Margarita Chicken
6. Blackened Chicken Alfredo.

I know...your mouth is watering isn't it???? :)

Good luck to the top six. And thank you everyone for sharing!

Bawl Baby/New Baby

I am bawling right now. I am so happy---but I can't believe how much of a baby I am. No t.v. or music on right now. I am a sap for happy endings and beautiful love songs and lots of times they make me cry.

I am crying because of a text message. One of my oldest friends texted me two minutes ago to tell me that her little baby girl Jacelyn has finally arrived! My little Kersha is a mommy. She has a baby. Of her very own.

Kersha- I am so very proud of you and all that you have done in life. You have been an amazing friend thoughout the 13 years that I have known you. I am so excited to see your little family grow and I know you will be the best mother. I wish you, Brian, and baby J all of the love in the world. I am so happy for you!

Kids, Kids, KIDS

Just a preview of whats to come. Lots and lots of cute kiddos to hit the blog shortly!

Contest!

So I'm sitting here making my grocery list because we have NOTHING right now. I am at a loss. I feel like we eat a lot of the same stuff lately. I want to "spice" things up a bit in the kitchen and for you faithful followers out there so I decided to run a contest. This idea seriously just came to me less than 5 minutes ago. I am pretty fly by the seat of my pants so this should be fun. This has NOTHING to do with photography but another love of mine! FOOD!!!

I want your recipe's. What is your favorite?

It must be something that doesn't cost me a fortune to make, hours to prepare, and it has to be a main course. It can be a meat, casserole, soup, whatever. Just something that could be a main course. Share your family's secret recipe (I won't tell), your quick fix meal, something that will make my mouth water! All recipe's must be submitted by this Sunday at midnight.

I'll pick the 5 that sound most appealing to me and make them over the course of the next couple of weeks with your recipe and a photo of it posted on my blog.

Who will judge these prize winning dishes?? My husband. He loves food almost as much as I do. I won't tell him who submitted the recipe so it will be all about the meal. I'd consider myself a good cook. Don't worry, I won't screw up your dish! :) P.S. He doesn't really love vegetables, liver, or ranch dressing--just a couple of hints for you.

Whats in it for you??

The winner gets a 50.00 print credit towards their next scheduled photo session! That's right! Fifty dollars in free prints!


To submit your recipe, send me an email at amycloudphotography@hotmail.com



And because a post is way more fun with a picture...I snapped this of my nephew T.J. a few nights ago. He LOVES his bike. Doesn't he look like a future BMX pro or XGames champ? My husband Tony was the Western United States Amateur Champion when he was a kid. It's in TJ's blood. I'd say he has a good chance!

Half Off Session Fee!!!

I'll be in the Midwest this coming weekend and will have some free time on Monday morning before I fly back to Utah. Because I can't stand to sit and do nothing with myself, I am offering a huge deal!

The first person who contacts me for a portrait session for this coming Monday, will get half off the sitting fee. The session must take place in Omaha and before noon. Portrait sessions consist of a baby, child, family (limit of 6 members), senior, maternity, or engagement shoot.

Please email me at amycloudphotography@hotmail.com to take advantage of this amazing deal!

Before & After

So I know it's been about a week since my last blog post. I've already had 2 people ask me "what's up with that?" Bottom line. I am trying to get sessions edited for ordering before I blog or post on Facebook. While at the same time I am hoarding my blog posts--yes hoarding--because I want to save them for something new and exciting I have coming up. Should only be a week or two. I have a couple of surprises in the works but this one has been a LONG time comin'.

Until then, here is something to tide you over. A before and after of cute little Zackary! He knows kung-fu! Watch your back! :)

Little bit of cropping, de-fogging, and color pop! Voila!!!

Proud to be an American

From the back seat of the boat I watched him as he peered over his shoulder every few seconds, looking up into the sky with a smile on his face. As I watched him, I secretly cried behind my three dollar Miley Cyrus sunglasses. It was a good cry though. One full of pride. I tried not to cry, I wanted to play it cool. But I have a big heart and just a few moments before, the strings attached to the bottom of it were violently yanked on and the flood gates came open. He didn't see me cry. Phew---he teases me for being so soft but also tells me how much he loves me for that.



I quickly wiped the tears that had managed to run down under my glasses and replayed what I had just witnessed in my head for the 3rd or 4th time. I know that he must have been too because every time he turned around, I am sure that he was praying for the jets to fly by again.



It was Monday, the day after the 4th of July. We had spent the weekend at Lake Powell in Southern Utah. We were tired, sun burnt, and bruised, but as we headed back to the marina to load the boat, we took in the last few miles of beautiful scenery we had been a part of all weekend. As I started to doze off on the squishy back seat, the relaxing peace was put to a halt by a very excited husband.



"LOOK BABE, LOOK AT THE JETS!"



At that moment, two very handsome USAF fighter jets flew over top of us down through the canyon. Twisting and turning. It was almost as if they were playing a game of tag. The were so close to us, maybe 60 yards above us. And so loud. Nellis AFB in Las Vegas is not far from Lake Powell, and from what I understand, the pilots will fly through the twists and turns of the lake's steep canyons for practice.



It was an amazing site. I couldn't help but smile watching them and feeling proud to be an American. This minor event in my life is one that I will never forget. I hope you all had a safe and happy 4th of July weekend!

Holly & James (Part 2): Omaha Engagment Photographer

I told you...pure awesomeness!

Just Because...

Just a few more of Derrik and Nicole...and because I adored this couple so much! Happy Hump Day!

Holly & James (Part 1): Omaha Engagment Photographer

Holly & James....*sigh*....I've known these two for a while now. I actually went to college with them and could definitely name off a few fond memories I have with and of these two. Such a fun couple and great people! I wasn't even nervous during their session...I usually still have a little bit of butterflies when first heading out to a shoot! We had a blast. You all know how much I adore engagement sessions. Well this may have been my most favorite yet!

I broke this post up into two parts! I didn't want you to miss a beat and it would have been photo overload if it were all in one post. Stay tuned for more awesomeness. It radiates from these two! :) Happy Tuesday!

Happy Birthday To My Best Friend ♥

My bestest friend in the world is 24 today. I look at her and know that she is a grown woman but to me she is still little. She is still my little sister and I always have and always will have the feeling of wanting to take care of her. I'd do anything for her. She is the one person in life who has never strayed my side. We've had disagreements, and as kids--oh boy did we have disagreements, but we have always talked and worked things out. She gets me. And I get her. She holds me up because in more ways, she is a realist. She tells me the obvious when my head is too far up in the clouds.

Some random things about Katie that I think you would enjoy:

1. She was a tomboy as a kid--big time--she even had a "boyish" hair cut. But now she is all about wearing eye makeup, painting her fingernails, and curling her hair. She's still a tough girl though. I know she could kick my butt.

2. She has a strange obsession with miniature things. Like a mini version of well...anything. If I gave her a Hot Wheels for her birthday it would probably make her day.

3. She is an amazing cook and she pays attention to the minor details when in the kitchen. Eating a meal made by her is almost like going to a fancy restaurant. Almonds on my green beans?? YES PLEASE.

4. Speaking of kitchen--she likes collecting strange kitchen gadgets--especially mini versions. ;)

5. She listens to every single kind of music out there, stuff I've never heard of but she gets me to like.

6. She will come home and clean her house and the next day it looks like a tornado hit it. I think that's the creative part of her brain.

7. Speaking of creative (it runs in the fam) she is super artistic too. She is amazing with clay and can draw really well too. She has a tattoo she designed herself.

8. She's kind. I never see her be mean to anyone and at the same time don't really know much of anyone being mean to her. She's just really fun to be around and easy going.

9. She's the only person who wouldn't lie to me when I ask her "does this outfit make me look fat?"

10. She is real. As real as real can be. I admire her for her ability of always staying true to herself and just being Katie.

I love you little seester and I am so proud of the woman you have become. You have helped me and taught me things that I will hold on to forever. I miss you every day and I am so sorry I have missed out on your birthday again. I will be there in spirit. No tequila or peanut butter tonight. Call later!

XO {a}

Eeeek!!

Look at what my fabulous mother-in-law found for me! For only $2.00! 3 dark pink sammy, swammy, swanson....oh Samsonite suitcases, I was way off! Haahaa---that's my "trying to be funny" kicking in!

I have been searching for these on EBay for about 5 months now and the cheapest I've seen a set like this go was for 65.00. Can you believe it, Internet!?! TWO DOLLARS! Can't wait to use this with some little baby girls, or maybe for my upcoming venture! Or a girlie girl senior! Heck, once I get these babies cleaned up I might be using them for myself!! :)

P.S. My dog is the cutest! You can't deny that!

Omaha Travel Dates: August-1st Round

I will be headed back to Omaha/Sioux City area for about 17 days in August and will be available for portrait sessions. Most of my time will be spent in the Sioux City area because my waiting list is longer for that part of the trip. I wanted to release a few dates for Omaha though as I have some openings. Get them while they're hot because I don't know how many more spots I'll have open there!!

I am currently booking for Monday and Tuesday August 9th and 10th. Please contact me for pricing and available times: amycloudphotography@hotmail.com or 712-870-0031

Here's a preview of a wedding I'm working on. Such a pretty wedding and such a beautiful couple at sunset! Happy Thursday!

i ♥ faces week 26 photo challenge: Pets

My pup, Archie. Isn't he adorable?! I miss him so much and am so excited to get home and see both of my fur balls tomorrow night!

He is such a little lover, but really not about getting his picture taken right here. I felt like the reporter that Quentin Tarantino lashed out on years back. Minus getting spit on! :) Head on over to i ♥ faces site, check out the other entries, and join the fun!

Happy 1 Year Anniversary...

...and many more to come! I hope you guys are having a fabulous weekend!

XO- {A}

Happy Sunday

These are my dad's doggies. Cheyenne and Remy. Aren't they beautiful?!? Cheyenne is actually Remy's momma! I got them out for some exercise today. Such a nice day outside! Tomorrow I head back to Utah. I am taking the train again! I'll be home late evening on Tuesday! I am beyond excited to head home!