I was hired to take pictures for a local yoga studio and I made my kids model for me too.

Then another super fun session with a young actress.  She was so much fun to direct.

And then the all important first official beach day of the summer!!

We’ve been planning to go to her book signing at the Grove for weeks.  Karissa has literally been counting down the days. We love searching her recipes together.

The end of fall is here and I finally got around to taking our yearly fall shot.  This was my craziest season to date.  I more that doubled last years photo sessions.  Crazy but FUN!!!

Our annual magazined themed holiday card.  This one if my favorite to date.

Silly girl!

He thinks it’s so cool when his teeth do this.  I find it hard to not dry heave when they do that.

It was miserably hot here last night so we had a late night water fight in lieu of showers.  They didn’t get as clean as they would have gotten with a shower, but we had WAY more fun!!

At least it’s more fun until someone gets hurt.   

We played well past sunset.  I chased him up and down the street.  He kicked my butt though.  I’m looking forward to a rematch.

My daughter and I have weekly “girls day” at Cinnabon.  Yes, I know, not exactly a healthy date, but I’m addicted.  When I walked into the mall I can smell them calling me.  Anyone old enough to remember Fred Flintstone floating through the air following smells of food?  That how I feel at malls with Cinnabons.  It’s joyful and horrible all at the same time.  So I got the idea of googling the recipe and giving it a shot.  I found the following.

Ingredients

* 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
* 2 eggs, room temperature
* 1/3 cup margarine, melted
* 4 1/2 cups bread flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
*
* 1 cup brown sugar, packed
* 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
* 1/3 cup butter, softened

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

Put the first seven ingredients in your machine according to it’s directions.  When the dough is ready role it into a rectangle shape on your counter top.  I really really love the cinnamon buttery goodness that is in Cinnabon so I used a little extra brown sugar and doubled the cinnamon.  After you have rolled out the dough, spread the melted butter on the surface saving a little to put on the bottom of your pan.

Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon and spread it evenly on the dough. I put some on the bottom of the pan as well. The recipe didn’t call for that either, but how can that be bad????

Then the fun part.  Start rolling.  I made the mistake of not putting enough flour on my surface so this was a bit stickier than it needed to be but it wasn’t bad.

Here’s how my pan looked, I had to taste this a few more times than was likely necessary.

Then start cutting and placing in the pan.

Hanging with Crazy Auntie Sandy

She has the best smile ever, I heart this girl.

We went to C&O Trattoria and left without dessert, woot!!