Serres Farm Pics

For my Birthday Paul and I decided to get Christmas Pictures... actually it's something I wanted to do and Paul agreed to "cooperate" (just to clarify a little) We found this really awesome photographer at Red Sparrow Photography who did these cute little mini Christmas Photo Sessions. We only spent about a half an hour with her and we have so many pictures! (I am only showing the few that I recently purchased) 

The photographers name is Katie Cann-McTaggart she set up a meeting at Serres Farm which was so cute with it's little red barn and Christmas tree farm. Well I hope you enjoy our Miller Christmas Pictures and the fun surprise at the end.

-again, I'm so lucky I have a husband who puts up with this girlie stuff ; )

                          

Merry Christmas!

10 Things I want to see before I die... preferably much sooner

So these aren't in any order, and I am not taking into consideration what Paul wants to do here, however, this is my list of things I really want to see in this lifetime. Seeing how Paul and I want to travel a lot before we settle down for good it is highly likely one or two of these might actually get checked off, at least I keep telling myself that...here they are.

The Art Institute of Chicago - To see this painting :)

The Tate Modern Museum

Sistine Chapel - I feel like this is a priority

This one speaks for itself

Sagrada Familia Barcelona - I am so fascinated with this architecture I want to see it in real life!

The School of Beaux Arts in France - I've been here, but I want to go back!

Kinda just need to make this one happen.

I would love to see any artwork by these two... where ever.

Hofburg Imperial Palace - I would feel like I was in Heaven :)

The Hermatage Museum Russia

Well there are plenty more places to put on here, but this is a start... 
good thing Paul likes ART!

Sharing a Birthday

Today is my 25th Birthday and I am super lucky to be sharing this day with my twin brother Andy. We've been through a lot together, and the whole twin telepathy thing... totally true.

We were actually born on Friday the 13th...
I would say I'm pretty lucky though.

We celebrated together with my nephew Colton at the Rainforest Cafe' and it was so fun to see Colton so enthralled with the fish tanks and the lighting storms.

Colton helping us finish our Birthday Brownie.

It's funny I hear so many people talk about having a "quarter life crisis" ??? when they turn 25 and I just can't imagine this. I feel so so blessed to be where I am and to have accomplished and done the things I have in the last 25 years. I can't wait for the next 25... Paul and I are already creating our check list, or if your a fan of "UP" well then we are creating our own "adventure book".

My greatest blessing so far in my life has been by far meeting and marrying Paul Eric Miller.

I'm so in love with him

Stay tuned for posts on Paul's sweet birthday gift... 

it was so fun! I really am one of the lucky ones.

German Chocolate Cake Recipe

I like to bake as a way to relax... so... I decided to make Paul the German Chocolate cake he has been dying for. I made mine straight from the box but here is a good recipe if you want to make one from scratch just click here, or I pasted it below... have fun!

what you need

1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER'S GERMAN'S Sweet Chocolate 
1/2 cup  water
4 eggs, separated
2 cups  flour
1 tsp.  baking soda
1/4 tsp.  salt
1 cup butter, ssoftened
2 cups  sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup buttermilk

how to make it

HEAT oven to 350°F.

COVER bottoms of 3 (9-inch) round pans with waxed paper; spray sides with cooking spray. Microwave chocolate and water in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted.

BEAT egg whites in small bowl with mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form; set aside. Mix flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each. Blend in melted chocolate and vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until well blended after each addition.

ADD egg whites; stir gently until well blended. Pour into prepared pans.

BAKE 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Immediately run small spatula around cakes in pans. Cool cakes in pans 15 min.; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Spread Coconut-Pecan Filling and Frosting between cake layers and onto top of cake.

Halloween with the Millers...

Halloween is by far my favorite holiday it's so cozy and a fun kickoff to the season. In the past my family used to put on huge haunted barn parties. This was my all time favorite costume... Paul and I were Sweeney Todd and Miss Lovett.

We sort of had it down...

This year though we just relaxed which was really nice, and much needed.

we watched this...

carved these...

actually my amazing husband carved mine and let me decorate it so sweet...

Ohh and I baked these... so good... Pumpkin Chip Cookies you can get a similar recipe here. I accidentally made a ton whoops.

Even "cute nose" got his own little pumpkin....

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Picture Day!

Today was a good day! I was able to head to Spanaway early this morning to do a family photo shoot for my brother Andy and his family Sara, Colton, and dog Moose. 

DISCLAIMER: I am defiantly defiantly not a professional photographer but I thought I would at least make an effort to get some great family portraits for Andy and Sara.

I also now have a better appreciation for child photographers... holy crap! Colton doesn't sit still for more than 5 seconds without me giving him something valuable to play with ex. my i-phone. (much better than any of his toys)

So in these photos I just let Colton do whatever he wanted and took photos of that. This ended up Colton playing in Andy's jeep.

enjoy the photos...

 Above: My Favorite

Oh and lastly these are my ideas for possible Halloween or Christmas Cards : )

Christmas Decorations and Paul

If Paul and I were a movie couple especially around Christmas time... ñthis would be us. Paul has an obsession with Christmas lights so you can imagine how I felt when we went for a Costco run and all of the Christmas decorations and lights were already on display.

...it was like a moth to a flame, all focus gone.

I have to admit when he decorates a house he really goes all out. He even connects the lights to his laptop so they change colors. See below...

    

 All this being said to simple say I love my husband and I am excited for Christmas time again... and yes I know we need to make it through Halloween first.

Happy Fall everyone Christmas is just around the corner : )