Photo Greeting Cards

This year I have decided to share my favorite photographs with families and clients as greeting cards. I thought this would be a great way to spread my love of photography and to share some of the great places I have visited. I have included five different images from China, Southern California, Midwest, to Boston, I though having little variety would me more fun then just one image in a bundle. I also included five matching envelops and put it in a clear plastic case with a card of all of the images and their locations.

Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area

My hubby and I took a side trip to Jasper-Pulaski to see the Sandhill cranes. We arrived just as the sun was setting down, and all the Sandhill cranes were coming back from day trips to settle down for the night. We expected to see few, but was amazed and excited to see groups after groups of cranes coming in from all directions. One thing we noticed was that these birds are noisy bunch, and love to call to one another, with more then five thousand cranes you can imagine how noisy it was. This Wildlife area is about two hours a way from Chicago in state of Indiana and are easy to get to. Wildlife has a huge parking lot with short trail to the platform where you can observe the cranes from high above.

USC marching band at Disneyland

USC Marching Band was at Disneyland today to film for the Christmas special with Ryan Seacrest.

The first "Vera Bradley" outlet store

I was out at the Chicago Premium outlet mall today in Aurora, IL to go to the Talbot outlet store that opened today. (see yesterday's post) While I was enjoying the nice selections of sweaters and pants, I saw these people carrying huge Vera Bradley shopping bags. I thought could it be? and checked the directory and sure enough Vera Bradley has just opened up their first outlet store few days ago. They have stacks and stacks of your favorite colors and styles that has been recently retired at 25% to 40% off. Since they retire the colors and styles every year place was packed with people looking for their favorite colors that you can not get at regular stores. I can see this place will be packed come holiday gift season. I am planning to go back to get large Duffel bag for traveling.

New Talbot outlet store to Open

Talbots Outlet Opening November 6 at Chicago Premium Outlets, Suite 989 - Southside. Save 20% on your entire purchase November 6 - 16. Plus, Classic Awards members get Double Points.

*Offer valid at our Talbots Outlet store at Chicago Premium Outlets, 1650 Premium Outlets Boulevard in Aurora, November 6, 2009 through November 16, 2009.

*Print out the above coupon to receive your discount, can not be combined with any other offer

Classic Mexican Flan

I love "Flan", whenever I go to any Mexican restaurant I look to see if they have it on the menu.
Depends on the restaurant, Flan could be hard and chewy to silky and creamy, tasteless to too sweet, and often I am disappointed. One restaurant that I was so happy with Flan was in Cancun, at of all places Seafood restaurant on the waters. It was so great that I asked for a recipe but never got one, instead I got a complementary Kahlua and cream. I was not going to complain though since I was able to go back one more time before I left Cancun.
I tried Flan yesterday at "Rocca's Mexican Grill" again I was disappointed and this motivated me to make my own.
Well, I burnt the caramel and had a little bitter taste and I might have had cooked tad bit too long, maybe by 10 min. but custard was firm but not rubbery and flavor was just perfect. Next time I will make sure that caramel will not start smoking---I just took my eyes off for a minute and it started to burn... Oh well. For the first time Flan making I think it turned out pretty good.. anyone care to taste it?

ps Rocca's mexican grill, beside from the Flan everything I tasted had a wonderful flavor, and I am planning to go back for Dinner

Oak Leaves

Most of the leaves are off the trees now, but I was able to capture yellow oak leaves before they all fell........