erinduggin.com

That's right folks! New site is finally up! Check it out.

Farewell Just The Thing. You were good to me. But then you started to drive me nuts so I had to move on.

This morning I am celebrating in my jammies with Monkey Pants and Mr. Nug. They are so excited about the new website that they peed their pants. Oh wait, they always do that.

hello Friday

Ahh its Friday. A rainy gray day + a monkey free day to work + chai tea = wonderfulness.

For the first time in a long time I don't have a meeting or a photo shoot or anything else today. Just a whole day to sit a work through all of the stuff on my to do list and continue to convince myself that crawling back in bed in my clothes is not in fact a good idea. It would feel so good though.

I've got big things to finish and conquer and wrap up today. I firmly believe that with a cup of chai at my side I can accomplish more.

Big announcement coming on Monday. Stay tuned!

And thanks for the sweet comments on John and Lindsey's wedding photos! I really enjoyed capturing that day.

Lindsey + John

This weekend Lindsey married John and I got to be there to document it all. Such a beautiful wedding. Such a fun couple.

CLICK HERE to view a slideshow of their big day.

what's cuter than...

What's cuter than Nug in the bathtub?



Bean and Nug in the bathtub that's what!



If you need some back story on Bean and Nug click here and here. They have had many adventures together friends. They are now at the age where they are starting to play together and fight over toys and conspire to take over the world or at least take over the house while they are here.

For instance last week while I was sweeping up mess #1 in the kitchen they put their heads together and decided to dump a bowl of cheerios all over the floor in the next room at which time Bean must have suggested that Nug crunch each and every cheerio one at a time with his little converse shoes, because that's what I found them doing when I walked in. Those stinkers.

Big news in Nug's household...Beth is pregnant! So come late winter we will have another little nugget around. Can't wait! It seems she tends to produce little chunks, so bring on the rolls!

This weekend I shot a wedding here in STL. It was a great day with a really fun couple. Sneak peek coming tomorrow! And now my bed is calling me.

little boys

I've had lots of boys around the studio lately. Some really stinking cute ones too. check out these three cuties....

Derek came over to celebrate his first birthday..







That last one made my heart skip a beat when I pulled it up to edit. Oh those eyes!

Then Oliver came over to hang out. This kid was striking poses like a professional model. Too adorable! ...







And lastly little Jackson came over. Only 10 weeks old and already a heart breaker...







Thanks boys!

pesto pizza

Now that Shane is home for more than 5 minutes for dinner I have been trying to be better about making good meals instead of throwing together grilled cheese or frozen pizza every night. Last night I made one of our favorites around here and I thought I'd share the recipe with you.

I did not make this recipe up. I got it from my friend Sarah who is one of the best cooks I know.

Start with the dough. In a bread machine add these ingredients in this order...

1 1/2 cups room temp water
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp honey
3/4 tsp salt
4 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast

Press the dough cycle button and let it go to work. I don't know how to make this crust without a bread machine. Sorry peeps. I'm sure you can find a good crust recipe online. The crust is just part of the yumminess so another crust would do.

Preheat your oven to 450. When the dough is ready take it out and roll it on a floured surface.



Make sure and roll it out really thin. As thin as you can get it. If you tear a hole just patch it up.

Lay the crust over your pizza pan. I used a square one this time because the round one was out on loan. The dough should be very thin on the bottom of the pan and then take the access dough and roll in on the edges to make a big crust. Bake it in the oven at 450 until the crust is crispy on the bottom. It will have golden brown spots.

While the crust is baking make the pesto...



In a food processor mix..

1 cup walnuts
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp minced garlic
3 cups fresh basil leaves
6 oz grated parmesean (try and use the hard stinky stuff but in a pinch store bought will do)

slowly add 3/4 olive oil in a steady stream while mixing.



When the dough is crisp spread on the pesto.



Next add some tomatoes. I used cherry tomatoes this time, but any kind works, even sun dried tomatoes are good. Next sprinkle on some mozzarella cheese. Bake it at 350 until the cheese how you like it and enjoy! And I almost forgot the best part. Dip the big crusts in honey for dessert. So good!



How can you make it easier?... Buy pesto at the store instead of making it or buy pre-made dough.

How can you make it lighter?... Soemtimes I make my pizza on Flat Out Bread instead of the crust. Not quite as good, but much more Weight Watchers friendly. Last night I didn't do that so I just used some of my weekly bonus points. And it was worth every point!

Cia

Little miss Cia is Monkey Pant's buddy. They are so funny together. Cia can't understand why Marlie won't just sit quietly and eat her lunch and Marlie can't understand why Cia would want to play with any one toy for more that two seconds. Pretty much total opposites, yet perfect little playmates who leave each play date together with a long hug and a sweet kiss.

A while back I met up with Cia and her mom for a photo shoot. We started out at the train station and waited and waited for a choo choo.





Sadly one never came. That's how it is in Kirkwood, MO. When you are in a hurry... you get stopped by 3 trains. When you want to see one... there are none around.



It took Cia a little while to warm up to the camera. I think she was probably just wondering where the heck Marlie was and what kind of messed up play date this was without her little buddy around. But then we walked around a bit, got a cookie and headed to the fountain and she loosened up.





We played a little peek-a-boo...



She's been making this funny face ever since I've known her so of course we had to get this shot..



Oh Cia...you are so dang cute. Thanks for playing!

happy 7 years Shane

7 years ago today Shane and I were just starting our honeymoon in the Smokey Mountains. And we looked like this...



So young, and skinny and probably annoyingly affectionate. I can't believe its been seven years, but at the same time when I think about all the things that have happened in that time it seems like forever. We've lived in 5 different places together, owned two homes, had countless jobs, started and completed law school and of course had Monkey Pants. Its been a great life and I am excited to be entering another phase of it together.

We celebrated our anniversary on Saturday night with a nice dinner out. I must confess that the evening began with a fight at JCPenneys in the bed sheets isle. What better way to celebrate 7 years of marriage? They were having a sale ya see...its a long story. The important thing is that we talked through it and salvaged the evening and I can laugh about it now. At one point the waitress brought out our yummy food and I thought to myself "Wow, I was having such a good time with him that I forgot about the food." I think that is a good sign.

Last week was a little rough around the edges. We were both so very tired. I had some computer problems and ended up getting a new laptop. Which meant spending time setting it up and transferring basically my whole business over. I won't lie, tears were shed. I have little patience for technical problems. At one point I actually visualized myself taking the two laptops, tying them together with a large shiny red bow and then promptly throwing them out the third story window and watching them shatter below.

This new computer and I are on the road to being friends... I think. And our little family is really settling in to our new life together. Tonight for instance we loaded Marlie up in the wagon and headed to our neighborhood micro-brewery for burger night.



May not seem like a big deal, but I was so excited I got butterflies. Sad maybe... but true. Its the little every day normal things that we rarely got to do when Shane was in school that excite me. When I think about my little family I think about this song. Life is good and I'm so thankful.

Lindsay + Jay

Last weekend Jay and Lindsay were married at a beautiful local church and celebrated at an incredible reception hosted by Lindsay's parent's at their home. We started out the day with hair and makeup for the girls...





Waiting for Lindsey at the church was this handsome guy..




Lindsay was breathtakingly beautiful.


Jay and Lindsay carefully planned their ceremony with lots of personal touches. It was very moving.


After the ceremony we headed outside for some more photos.



The rain let up just in time for photos but I couldn't resist using the umbrellas we had anyway. Love this shot!



We spent some alone time with the bride and groom.







Then it was time to head back to the house and join the reception. Everything looked amazing. Every detail from the flowers on the lamps to the paper lanterns was incredible.









Congratulations you two!

Animal

The bar is over. My husband is home and we are slowly settling in to a calmer, more comfortable schedule. I don't think it has really sunk in yet. I shot a wedding this weekend so I was gone and then yesterday it turned in to a three ring circus around here. I won't go in to it, but it wasn't fun. Goal for the week: be still and enjoy life.

One little anecdote about this quirky husband of mine...

I went in to our office the other day and peered in to a backpack to see what was in there. I realized it was the bag that Shane took to take the bar exam when I saw about five hundred flash cards in carefully organized stacks and one cassette tape...



When I asked Shane what the story behind the tape was he said he listened to it to pump him up for the exam. Specifically the song Animal. I was giggling of course and Shane retorted with "Babe, Hysteria is one of the greatest albums ever made." I love that guy.

So in honor of Shane let's enjoy some Def Leppard today...