Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a very Blessed and Happy New Year! Thank you for coming in and checking back often with Smiley's Sweets and Creations. I hope to give you more to look at in 2011, but you can also visit me at my other blog  if you need a fix of something pretty!

Have a blessed time with you and yours!

Birthday!

It was my birthday yesterday! I was showered with love from friends and family. Just wanted to share this yummy treat I received at a dinner my girlfriends treated me to. Yum! Hope your week is going well!

I Heart Faces - Pets

The challenge over at I heart faces this week is "Pets". I had a few in mind, but this one, I just love. Both subjects are so sweet, innocent and adorable, I just couldn't resist. There are some great, great photos over on the blog to see if you love animals, so be sure to check them out! Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Bokeh - And Remembering Last Year

I just love bokeh and when I saw this holiday bokeh party over at a fun new blog I found (Life with my 3 Barbarians), I wanted to share this image from the yummy baking time of yester-year. I have been crazy busy with my photography business and life and have had very little time to bake. This is so sad for me. But alas, I have pictures to remember last year and hope that I can get to some baking again!

Thanks, Robyn, for the blog referral!

I Heart Faces - Self Portrait

Ooh, this was a toughie. Though I am a photographer, I am not the biggest fan of pictures of myself...especially taking pictures of myself! So I guess you could say this really is a challenge for me :) I took this particular photo while taking the "finding your joy" workshop with Willette.  I just like how the wind kicked up and blew my hair while this one shot. I also got a call while doing this little project. Hence, the phone open on speaker phone..ha ha. I am a multi-tasker through and through!

I wholeheartedly agree that we, as the photographers and most often times, the real record and memory keeper in the family, should make it a point to get ourselves in many photos. Our family needs to remember us when we are gone...and they will appreciate it. So I am getting better at handing my camera off to make sure I am in a photo or two at an event. It doesn't always happen, but I try!

Make sure to check out all of the other fun submissions by clicking the link box below!

I Heart Faces - Orange!

The theme for this week’s I Heart Faces challenge is “Orange.”

I just had to include my favorite chair in this challenge! It has served me well...just love it! (Thanks to a wonderful neighbor who lets me steal it here and there!) The beautiful model also has a very gorgeous shade of red/orange that I think makes the photo pop, too! You can see more of it in this post from my photography blog!

Be sure to stop by I Heart Faces to see many more entries for “Orange”

Chocolate Raspberry Torte

Hello Sweet Readers!
Last weekend, we went to a wonderful dinner party with some great friends. I was blessed to bring the dessert and here it is! I had to make this recipe when I saw it in "Cooks Illustrated" this month. And let me tell you, it was divine! It was rich, and moist and decadent. It consisted of two yummy torte layers with raspberry filling that were then drenched in ganache and toasted almonds. This recipe is a keeper...go try it! (and many thanks to my MIL for the subscription to this great cooking magazine...love it!)

MSC: Snickerdoodle Cupcakes!

Hello Sweet Readers!

Thanks for checking in today! I just finished the MSC of the month and wanted to post it asap so I didn't miss the day. These are snickerdoodle cupcakes. They are delicious. They are moist and light, with a cinnamon taste that is not too overpowering. I had to change the frosting that it called for though. She wanted us to pair it with 7 minute frosting, which is not a favorite, so instead I made some cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Delish! Sprinkled with some cinnamon sugar and we are good to go! They taste like fall...even if it is 90 degrees out!

Sweet Litte Minis

 Hello Sweet Readers!
Just wanted to pop in and share these sweet little cinnamon mini cupcakes I made last week to bring to a get together at church. They were delish and I just love the cuteness of the purple frosting and sprinkles! Thanks for stopping by!

MSC: Cookies & Cream Cheescakes - not Cupcakes!

Hello Sweet Readers! Here is this month's installment of the Martha Stewart Cupcake Club! And it's not even a cupcake. It's actually cookies and cream cheesecake, mounted on an oreo cookie! It is delicious and super fast to prepare.  It got rave reviews from the family. I'm just wondering why she put it in the cupcake book. Just because you put something in a cupcake wrapper doesn't make it a cupcake..or does it? Hmm, it's a question to be pondered for the ages! :)
Have a great week!

Happy Birthday and Blogoversary Cupcake Cake!

Hello faithful, sweet readers! Not only have I neglected your need for beautiful sweet postings, but I neglected my blog's own blogoversary! So sorry! I have been busy with my family, doing work over on the other side (My photography blog), making some fun appearances ( Check it out! ), and taking some neat courses and have not been able to post as much as usual. Heck, I haven't been able to bake as much as usual. I will try to keep them coming, I promise!

So here is a post with a birthday cake I made for a dear friend. It's red velvet, as requested, and I am happy to report that it was so cherished it was eaten again the very next day..for breakfast. I love those stories!

I guess we can call it a happy anniversary cake, too, since we all missed the blogoversary here. It's been 2 years!

So stay with me if can. I still bake and still love ya! (but if you care to see more of my other art, do visit me on my photography blog..I'd love to see some of you on the other side!)

FREE Back to School Photo Session for your Child! Get your session booked now!

 

I am pleased to announce a FREE

Back to School and Welcome Fall Photo Shoot Opportunity!

Tired of the same old standard kid's school pictures with that horrible standard background and the forced smile that they take at school? We have the perfect solution! On two separate days in September, 

Lisa Smiley Photography and It’s a Small World Children’s designer wear boutique in Pavilions (502 Pavilions Lane, Sacramento) are pairing up to offer a FREE back to school photo session event so you won't be forced to buy those school pictures that don't capture the real essence and personality of your child. Babies and toddlers are welcome too! 

So what do you have to do for the free session? Just spend $100 in the store and sign up for your free session!*

It's a Small World has adorable clothing and goodies from newborn to size 12.

Two dates are available September 10 &18.

I will be hosting the 15 minutes sessions from 10am-12pm , so be sure to make your purchase and get your session booked soon. They will fill up fast!

Go by the store to set your appointment or call 916-213-6753 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              916-213-6753      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (or email me @ lisasmileyphotography@gmail.com) for more information!

BEE good! Happy Birthday to sweet K!

I made this cute little cake for a good friend of mine's sweet baby K who turned one. She provided an invitation for me and I went with it. I love how it turned out! Now if only the little girl didn't steal all the cake's thunder! She was just too cute for words! Happy birthday K!

Have a great week, sweet readers!

MSC: Triple Citrus Cupcakes

Hello Sweet Readers! Here is the latest installment of the Martha Stewart Cupcake Club! This month's flavor was chosen by Marthe over at Culinary Delights.

I was excited to make these cupcakes. They sounded so refreshing and wonderful. However, I was not impressed. The recipe was a bit strange in that it took 9 whole eggs for just a single batch! When the cuppies where done, they tasted a bit dense, were a bit dry, and were not as refreshing as I would have expected. The reviews from the family were just so-so. The glaze was nice with them. It was just a basic lime glaze, though, not your normal yummy buttercream. I won't make these again, but there are many more to try!

You can check out Marthe's review at the link above and the other club members at the official MSC site and see what they thought of this recipe.

A Sweet Birthday for My Niece

Hello Sweet Readers! I have been soooo bad about posting over here! Please accept my apologies. I have been baking a bit less since starting my photography business (Check it out!), but I haven't meant to neglect you over here. So, while I would love for you to also follow me over at my photography blog, I will still be posting here, just a bit less. I am still doing my 365, too, just wayyy behind on that. I am sure many of you can relate :)

So here are some cuppies I made for my niece's birthday. She requested chocolate on chocolate. There was no theme, so I went with simple and elegant.

Have a sweet week~ and please do check out my photography blog and also my fan page on Facebook! I would love to see you there! (Facebook link)

I Heart Faces - Purple!

This is my entry for this week's challenge over at I Heart Faces. The challenge is "Purple". I couldn't resist this sweet little baby (one of an adorable set of twins) with this gorgeous purple petal hat!

Make sure to follow the button below to other fun "purple" photos fro this week's challenge!

MSC: Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

Welcome to July's Martha Stewart Cupcake Club! This month, Bella Baker chose the cupcake and it was delicious! It really didn't look like much. It was all caved in and flat, but wow, did it taste good. It was rich and dense with a nice little crackle. Top it off with some fat free Breyers (amazing stuff) and it was a cool summertime treat. Great choice. They were definitely different from your average cupcake, but super yummy nonetheless.

Please Help! Blogger is not allowing me to upload!

I am seeking advice from all of you sweet readers out there! When I try to upload photos, I get the message "server rejected" under them and it doesn't upload. This happens on both blogs. Does anyone know how to solve this crazy problem??!! Thank so much!

Luau Cupcakes

OK, Sweet Readers, while we are waiting for Blogger to get it's act together with accepting my photos, here are some that I had already uploaded :) These are some fun jumbo cupcakes I made for a friend's twins' birthday. The twins are a boy and a girl, and the theme was Luau, so I made the cupcakes for each of them to match the theme. Hope you like! Have a sweet week!

Project 365, Weeks 25 and 26- postponed due to blogger issues :(

Hello Sweet Readers, 
You have been very patient. I have been on vacation and haven't posted in awhile and now I have much to catch up on! I am going to combine two weeks of Project 365 here and I have a confession to make. I missed a day! Eek! I kept reminding myself to take a picture..but it never happened. It felt really weird to miss it. But no worries, I have forgiven myself and I'm sure you will too :) So, without further ado, here begins weeks 25 and 26:
...actually, there will be further ado, since blogger is not allowing me to upload photos :( I keep getting the message "server rejected" when I try to upload. If anyone knows a fix for this, please do tell! Thanks so much!


Have a great week!

Project 365, Week 24

Hi Sweet Readers! I have been swamped baking and shooting, and I am a week behind on getting out my project 365, so here is a quickie...not even in order, but they are all there! I hope you like! Have a great week!

June 19 - celebrating E's Bday. The "band" as they have been since dubbed.

June 20, Father's day..on the shores of Donner Lake..taken by budding photog (my 7 year old)

Same Day, Same Shores

June 17 - the fabulous and fun G family! (see pics from rest of shoot on my photography blog: http://lisasmileyphotography.blogspot.com/2010/06/beach-play-for-g-family-sneak-peek.html)

June 15 - the sweet little five day old I got to shoot! see pics from rest of shoot on my photography blog: http://lisasmileyphotography.blogspot.com/2010/06/sweet-baby-p-sneak-peek-sacramento.html

June 18 - Agapanthus in my front yard.

June 14 - sad hydrangea in my backyard..second year in a row, doesn't want to get bigger than this.

June 18..creative lego friends

June 18 - hibiscus in our backyard

June 18 ...balloon flower in our backyard.

I ♥ Faces Challenge :Teens

For this week's challenge over at I ♥ Faces, the theme is teens. As you might have seen on my photography blog last week (http://lisasmileyphotography.blogspot.com/2010/06/beach-play-for-g-family-sneak-peek.html), I had the fun opportunity to photography this beautiful teen with her fabulous family by the river last week. So I thought I would use her photo for the challenge. She loved this tree and is so beautiful by it, I just had to share. Be sure to click on the button below and check out all the other fabulous entries.

Project 365, Week 23

I am a couple weeks behind on Project 365! I have managed to get a picture every day, but getting them here has been a bit more challenging. So here they are for June 7 through June 13. Most are SOOC, but at least they are here. Thanks for stopping by!

June 7 - Best friend over for play day...

June 8 - Learning Heelys

June 9 - Our first tomatoes

June 10 - Concentrating..

June 11- Youngest son's artwork :)

June 12 - On a family outing. Loved this wall...

June 13 - A great friend and her boys...more to come on my photography blog soon!