New Website and Giveaway for You! {Sacramento Photographer}

I am thrilled to announce that my new website is launching today! I can't wait for you all to see it and I hope that it answers questions, gives you inspiration, and motivates you to get those cherished images captured!

This is so exciting for me and I want to share my excitement with you! So I am offering a giveaway as a special incentive for you to head on over to my website and check it out! I'd love to know what you think! What am I offering you a chance to win? A free session with me!

And what do you have to do to enter this giveaway? First, please head on over to my new website (you can also access the website through the "website" tab above, or through the "info" section on my Facebook business page) and take a look around. There is lots of information for those of you who have been wondering what Lisa Smiley Photography is all about. There are examples of my work, tidbits about me and my philosophy and inspiration, and other fun goodies to share. Head over and browse on through it! Then, click on the link to my Facebook business page and become a "liker", leaving me a comment that you either are a new fan or a continuing fan. If you would like to leave some love, feel free! Lastly, go to my photography blog, and leave some love, telling me that you have checked out my website, "liked" me on Facebook, and what you would use your winning session with me for. Do you want to capture your family? Your child alone and in the beauty of Spring? You as a couple? You are also welcomed to tell me what you liked most about the website. That's it! I will do a random drawing next week, so don't delay! Get your entry in soon! Only entries that have complied with the details above will be counted in the random drawing.

Thanks for your time and support! I can't wait to hear from you!


*The free session is valued at $150. If you win and you would like a newborn session or a session with more than four people, the $150 will be credited toward your session! The free session giveaway is for the session fee only. The session must take place before April 30, 2011. You may win if you are not in the Sacramento and surrounding areas, but you must be willing to travel to within 30 miles of  Sacramento by April 30, 2011.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

Hello Sweet Readers! I hope you all had a fabulous Valentine's Day!

For those of you who read "Wine Spectator", you may recognize this chocolate tart from the most recent issue. It was featured as one of a few decadent chocolate desserts for this month. How was it? OK. Why just OK? Well, to begin with, the recipe was WAY off. The crust made way to much and the filling made not only 3 times the size of the tart pan, but took about 4 times longer to cook...and that was just a third of it in the pan. I am sure they will be getting comments to the editor about this one. It was tasty in the end, but not really worth the frustration and effort that resulted from the inadequate recipe. So, it's pretty, but definitely wait for the new recipe they will undoubtedly be sending out!

Chocolate Praline Cake

Hello Sweet Readers!
I went to a dental appointment last week and my hygienist recommended this cake. It's a chocolate praline cake. Sounded great so I gave it a whirl. It was tasty, but as a frosting gal, the addition of just a bit of sweetened whipped cream just didn't do it for me. Now, if you want to just eat the cake for breakfast, by all means, this is your go to, but for a die hard like myself, bring on the thick frosting...even over the pralines! I know some of you are stronger than I and can actually eat a cake without buttercream of some sort. More power to you - you would love this one, I'm sure! Happy Baking!

Happy Birthday, Son!

Hello Sweet Readers! No, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth.  I haven't been baking much at all, but will be in the near future, so stay tuned!

I did get to bake last week, though.  It was my son's 10th birthday last Friday and I made him this dark chocolate three layer birthday cake. He has a loose theme from "How to Train Your Dragon", so I asked him to draw Toothless so I could attempt a hand cut out of the dragon with chocolate fondant. He was very pleased. It's rough, but he's a 10 year old who is easy to please in this way.

The cake was filled with raspberry puree sauce and delicious ganache. It was enjoyed by all. Personally, I could have had it a bit moister, but then, I am the one who is just a tad picky about my desserts.

Thanks for stopping by!

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!)