so… i have FINALLY taken eating better seriously. Not only have I been on a never ending quest to loose a few or twenty pounds… but I want to be one of those little 90 year old ladies traveling the world, dancing on tables and driving with the top down on my sporty convertible. I want to be healthy forever so to do that… i need to eat healthy. I love a challenge, so this has been fun. I have been a crazy woman hunting down the greatest recipes and the newest super foods. I am a stubborn german gal, so a challenge is a challenge. I haven’t even touched one cheetoh or fattening pasta dish… a BIG deal for me!

I want to share with you the most delicious thing I have found so far in my quest for delicious food that is good for the body. Just so you know, chocolate IS good for you, so I get to indulge guilt free now and then. I just substitute dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate in recipes. You gotta give this a try for a great sunday morning breakfast treat….

CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIE PANCAKES

INGREDIENTS

1 ripe banana

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoon water

pinch of salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon almond butter ( I used chocolate almond butter!)

1 tablespoon canola or coconut oil ( I used macadamia nut oil)

3 tablespoons almond or soy milk

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup whole wheat or unbleached flour

3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat a skillet to medium heat or about 300-325 degrees

2. Mash your ripe banana with the baking powder

3. Add the flax mix, oil, salt, vanilla, almond butter and milk and stir

4. Stir in oats and flour just until combined

5. Sprinkle in the chocolate chips and fold gently

6. Pour batter into circles on lightly greased griddle

7. Cook for 2-4 minutes on each side until golden brown

8. Serve plain or add more chocolate chips or bananas.

9. Yummo!

These were the richest, gooiest (don’t really care if that’s a real word or not because it’s so true), delicious pancakes ever! No butter or sugar! Just healthy goodness!

Through the years I have done a TON of reading on healthy eating and eating for optimal health and immunity. I have compiled all the good super foods and designed a pdf that you can print out to hang in your pantry. I want you to dance on the tables with me when were 90! So put the cheetohs down!

superfoods

DOWNLOAD BY CLICKING “superfoods” ABOVE!

Watch for more fun recipes to come!

people often ask me, “what inspires you?” well… it’s a difficult question to answer because life inspires me. How do I put that into words? I watch life. I watch people. I see what is beautiful. I see what is heartbreaking. I notice what makes me giggle and what makes me cry. Peoples stories inspire me, and I love to hear them. One thing that I have learned in this beautiful life of mine… is to enjoy the moments as they are given to me. The good and the bad. Thank God it’s been way more good than bad. I have seen so many friends, families & clients lives hit with hard struggles this past year. We never know when we will face something difficult. When someone will fall ill… or a job will be lost… or worse, lose someone. I had an ah-ha moment this past year as I was asked to photograph a beautiful young family as the way too young man was facing cancer. These are my favorite AND most dreaded sessions ever. I want to go in and capture what might be the last moments they will have, yet fighting to believe it will end. Having faith that they will be OK and that family will be together many many years, yet knowing they may have only a few months. I set out to capture their love together. Their moment in time that God so gracefully gifted them. Not long after the session, David lost his battle and Breanna and Layla would have to go on without him. But knowing that I was able to create a forever memory for them and especially baby Layla as she grew up always having those images to look back on. My ah-ha moment? To go into each session as if that was their last. Sounds gruesome, but it makes it MORE important to me to capture their spirit and love for life, whether it is a family or a baby or a high school senior… I don’t want to photograph generic expressionless smile, I want to capture laughter, love and life. Here are a few images from my favorite session of the past year…

I have decided to ramp up my posts here… if you noticed, I haven’t posted for a whole year!!! holy cow. I wanna have more fun chatting with you all and letting you into my life and photo adventures… so stay tuned…

Almost a year ago, this adorable young woman came in the studio and brought an idea she had seen to document the stages of her new pregnancy. Well, needless to say, I got all giddy and thrilled at the opportunity to document this amazing new journey in her life. She came in each month and we captured her growing belly and excitement. I looked forward to our sessions each month to see how she had changed and hear all about baby plans. April was one of those lucky gals that had the perfect pregnancy, she looked like a doll through the entire thing right up to the day. I’m sure she was a doll in the hospital too. April and Mark welcomed baby Paige Ashton in May. She is a doll just like her mommy.

Enjoy the “evolution” collage we captured. If you or anyone is planning a pregnancy or newly pregnant… call us about our evolution photography and capture this miracle of life.

every once in a while… miss beth waltzes into the studio with a handful of gorgeous flowers. my favorites are the lilacs and peonies. i always know we have a couple days of this beauty and amazing aroma. every time i walk by them i have to stop whatever i am doing and take a huge whiff, close my eyes and smile.

it reminds me that we should do this more often in life. not just to take in the beautiful smell of a fresh flower, but to hug our kids or best friends. to tell our families we love them. to say hello and smile to a stranger on the street. to take a walk and listen to the birds chirping. take in all the beauty God has put in front of us every day and hold close those who are special in our lives. by blessing others with kindness and love, we can only get that back to us tenfold. have a great day today!

I have waited all winter for this fun time of year… the high school seniors! summer is booking up fast so call now to book a time for your unique and fun session. Whether you are a graduate, a family, a child, or a couple… we would love to see you and capture some special images for you! So grab your calendars and call us at 952-470-2118.

Hurry before the ice-cream melts!

To keep the most up to date on what Annie Marie is up to, go become a fan on her facebook page and you will see all of her latest work as she posts clients sneek peeks. There may even be an occasional coupon or savings!

 Check us out on Facebook at Annie Marie  Photography

one of my artistic passions is creating vintage looking images of children. it takes us to a place where time doesn’t matter. it brings out the timeless beauty in the subjects and their character and relationships. these images have an innocence and playfulness to them. consider bringing your child/ren in for a sunkissed vintage session that you will treasure forever!