The winner of the Bread and Wine giveaway is Jenny M!Thank you to all who shared - it's so evident that the table is a source of life and nourishment for all who come and share.Thanks all! I'm going to be taking the week off from blogging - but coming this month is my new three post a week rule (!), more recipes from Bread and Wine, & photos from a wedding I shot recently!Til then!Alicia

As many of you are keenly aware, last weekend was Easter. Most likely you gathered around your grandmas, parents, or even your own table to share a meal together. We live thousands of miles away from our family tables where those meals are happening, and we can picture everything so clearly in our minds, it almost does feel like I can smell my Aunt Mary's fresh baked bread wafting through the kitchen. We are, however, fortunate enough to be a part of someone else's family table here in Connecticut. A table where everyone squeezes in, and babies flank the corners with yogurt covered faces and the tiny cut up green beans mixed with cherrios and juice. Where a princess placemat serves as a placecard for the tiniest guests, and the yellow chair is a hot commodity. Where board games come out along side the last bites of dessert, and guests turned friends are endured to one other over glasses of wine, cups of coffee and the last pours of a local brew.

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Shauna Niequist's new book, Bread and Wine, is truly a love letter to life around a table such as this. Her voice through the pages is so genuine, her stories so vivid and her choice of recipes give fresh vision & guidance to life's basic needs: nourishment for body, and nourishment for soul.

"The table reminds us that we're human, that God gave us a sense of hunger - and that's a good thing. It's like an internal timer that sends us back to this meeting place, this place where we can connect and be nourished, not only by the food, but by the conversations that we have there."

So even more so on that sunny cold Saturday, Andrew and I were hungry. For that family dinner, however perfect the appetizers laid out to however messy the table abandoned by the kids to return to their playtime. And we're blessed enough to say we are nourished. -- So before you open another tab to pre-order this lovely book on Amazon, know that I'm giving away a copy of Bread & Wine. Giveaway is open from 8am to 8pm (EST), Friday, April 5th. You will receive the book the day it's released, Tuesday, April 9th (either hardcopy or Kindle version - your choice). Simply tell me this, when you come to the table, how are you nourished? A favorite recipe? A favorite group of people? What do you taste, smell, or see?

Nigella's Flourless Chocolate Brownies from Shauna Niequist's Bread & Wine These brownies were the perfect addition to our Easter dinner around the table, and trust me even after scraping the dish clean - we dove in for seconds long after dessert was over. Try sticking them in the fridge for round two - divine.

Ingredients 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon almond extract 3 eggs, beaten 1 1/2 cups almond meal or ground almonds 1 cup walnuts, chopped

InstructionsPreheat the oven to 325 degrees. Melt the chocolate and butter over low heat in a saucepan, stirring until glossy and smooth.

Take the pan off the burner, mix in the vanilla, sugar, and almond extract, and let it cool for just a few minutes.

Stir the eggs into the saucepan, then add the ground almonds and chopped walnuts and stir again. The batter will be a little grainy at this point because of the almonds, but don't worry a bit.

Pour batter into an 8 by 8 pan, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top has set but the brownies are still a little wiggly. Let cool completely, then cut into 16 small squares. *let me tell you we cut these into 8 SQUARES. Still good? Better. :) *I didn't have almond extract so I doubled the vanilla *I didn't have enough chocolate chips, so I subbed 1/2 cup cocoa powder and 1/2 cup chocolate chips *we did one with and without walnuts, both were delicious in their own ways with their own personality!

Shauna Niequist is the author of Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet, and Bread & Wine. Shauna grew up in Barrington, Illinois, and then studied English and French Literature at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. She is married to Aaron, who is a pianist and songwriter. Aaron is a worship leader at Willow Creek and is recording a project called A New Liturgy. Aaron & Shauna live outside Chicago with their sons, Henry and Mac. Shauna writes about the beautiful and broken moments of everyday life--friendship, family, faith, food, marriage, love, babies, books, celebration, heartache, and all the other things that shape us, delight us, and reveal to us the heart of God.

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Somehow I think clearer with the honking horns and energy of the city. My extroverted being seems to rest when the world around me is in a busy flurry of activity - and I can rest in a deep down kind of way where all that busy flurry is off my shoulders and transferred onto the streets. So here I am on a Sunday afternoon....dreaming, scheming, giving my heart and soul room to dream so many deep dreams and plans for my life.

I put down my pen after a half hour of scribbling, and look out over the skyline. I want to capture this moment for myself. To look back on and draw the peace, quiet, rest and creative space from these moments that seem significant to my creative soul, and visit the photograph again and again down the road.

As I pick up my camera and start adjusting my camera settings to capture this beauty only significant to my heart, I hear a question on repeat from a conversation I just had with someone who is wise beyond her years, full of graceful questioning and perspective...why are you doing this? Why do you take pictures? A photo, I guess in simple terms, is just a tiny fragment of these hours today. Time wise, a photo is probably even less than a moment...1/125th of a second really to capture all this emotion, quiet, restful and holy feel of this space. Is that really all it takes? 1/125ths of a second?

And then it seems that the doors of my heart, soul and head burst open...I realize this is why I do this...my WHY.

Because in some way, YES, that is all it takes...1/125th of a second. But there are only so many halfs of a second in life that make me feel this way. And why should I let them pass by. After that second, it's gone. So to grab that 1/125th of a second, that's all I can do to capture a part of my story to share with anyone willing to listen.

And to do that for others. To give them this gift of that second. And give them the ability to access that very second for the rest of their life...to frame that second that will sit on the mantel of their home, their children's home, their grandchildren's home. To give them the gift of being able to look back on that significant second and access every ounce of tingly love, emotion, and space just as it was that day through a photograph. That's what I want to leave behind. For you. For me. For our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. For someone to come across 50 years from now and say "Wow. I feel who this person is. I can feel their happiness. Their soul. I can see it, right here."

Because just like today when the streets are filled with people running their Sunday errands, the horns are honking, and everything starts to get fuzzy for me in my mind, one look back on my photograph can transport me back to a place of solid ground. And I can remember what poured onto my pages about what is important in life. That the ideas, dreams and wishes schemed in that moment are what I want to build my life on. And that is this: to be a photographer who gives you the gift of capturing now. The heart and soul of these one hundreths of a second that tap into and draw back this moment for you to feel, and for you to pass on to those who are special to you forever.

Part of the reason that I feel so moved to photograph people's lives is that I truly believe photos speak to our souls, and the way they resonate with us constantly changes.Today is the day five years ago that Andrew proposed to me. I'm not one to celebrate the anniversaries of our first date, first kiss, first whatever....but the day he proposed to me is still one of my favorite days in the history of my life thus far.So each year I like to flip through about a collection of 100 pictures a friend took while Andrew was proposing and the little celebration afterwards. These are the 5 that spoke to me the most this year. There are some that I passed over in years passed, and some that I keep coming back to. My heart is so happy for my sweet friend Mabrie who helped Andrew mastermind this engagement plan, and had the foresight to take pictures of the whole thing - without her none of this would even exist.In the shadow of the skyline of the city we both love.His words.The diamond of my engagement ring belonged to my mother in law, and all Sturdy women have 6-prong rings. I love being a part of that history.My ring just looks so new and fresh on my hand as we hugged.This is my favorite picture afterwards when we went downstairs to the office where all my friends were waiting. What photos speak to you in your life? What do they say and why are they special?

I got up from my seat to grab a tissue as I wiped away a tear. Here I was, sitting in the living room of two people I only met yesterday and I had tears rolling down my face as we watch images of a wedding of two strangers panning across the screen. As the slideshow ended and the music faded off, Justin started to set out lunch for us all and Mary pulled up a picture from their wedding. And she asked us to ponder a simple question, "What does photography mean to me?" One by one, we went around and talked about images of husbands, wives, grandparents, love ones lost - how they affected our craft and why they lead us to pick up this calling of "see-ers".

Only 12 hours earlier at the end of the first day - after pages upon pages of notes, and hundreds of photos and poses and bracketing.... I felt like giving up. And I was having an internal panic. That I had the wrong camera, that I would never be able to get clients, that I had no idea what I was doing. Mary came up to Amy and I to see how we were doing, and she could read it on our faces. In only Mary's sweet, calming voice, she told us that nearly everyone feels that way at the end of day one. Sigh of relief - I shoved a chocolate truffle or two in my mouth as I quietly talked myself off the ledge of giving up photography forever. We shot a few more pictures with the bride & groom, hugged goodbye, and I rolled home to Middletown, exhausted but ready to see what day two held.

The next morning, teary eyed and trying to internalize my urge to ugly cry (hey - we're artists...we have a lot of feelings!) I scanned my brain for images that move me, and help me tell the story of what photography means to me. The photos that are that heartswell of love for the people in my life, and inspire me to capture snapshots of life. I thought of an image of my parents - a close up of them, 17 years old, at the airport as my dad is boarding the plane for Camp Pendleton bootcamp in 1969 and my mom hugging him. Andrew and I, standing outside the Art Institute in Chicago a week before we moved. The city where we fell in love, became adults, and became an "us" in.

And in that moment I began to feel my "WHY". Why those images make me feel the way I do about photography. Why it doesn't matter if I have the right camera, or if it takes me years to get clients. Photography allows me to bottle moments. To be able to hang on to everything happening around us that hold meaning big and small. How the dress felt. The shoes. The veil. The smell of the flowers. Your hand in his. Little things that tell a big story about that day, that season of life, or that moment. Happiness, tears, joy. I want to bottle them. For you, for your children, for your grandchildren.

Justin & Mary's Walk Through a Wedding was so much more than a "how-to" of point a to point b on a wedding day. More than how to organize a workflow, or the pretty flowers and chocolates of our "Cocoa & Chanel" theme.

It's a deep breath - a gently guided conversation, a moment to pause and ask "why do I do what I do"?

So thank you J & M - for the big and small things! For showing me how to use a speedlite, for showing me how to slow down and ask "why", for journeying with me in these days of my story, and for your invitation of friendship.

Your Why, your vision and your love inspired me more than you know.

Makeup Artist (Erin Infantino - www.simplygorgeousbyerin.com) Designer (Sarah Goodwin of Daisies & Pearls - www.daisiesandpearls.com) Head piece designer (Preston & Olivia - www.prestonandolivia.com) Venue (The Chetstone New Haven - www.chetstone.com) Genius Master Storytellers and Robusto Cheese Mongers (Jusin & Mary Marantz - www.justinmarantz.com)

Walk Through a Wedding Workshop (http://walkthrough.spreadtheloveworkshop.com/)

Wednesday morning I had a tough time in my bootcamp class. I couldn't work as hard, as fast, and just felt off during those 30 reps of burpees (let's be honest, who doesn't feel off doing burpees?). I have been doing my 6am class three times a week since January 2nd, and this was the first time I felt like I was hitting a wall since the first week. Like a whole other layer of muscles were waking up, and I hurt. At the end of class, I crawled home through the two feet of snow back to my cozy house on the corner and curled up on the couch with a blanket, coffee, and my iPad. I pulled my inbox up and sat staring at my new emails. Two from potential wedding inquiries - both saying they had gone with other photographers. I pulled the blanket a little tighter and sighed. Two weeks ago my beloved Canon 5D had started acting up and I was advised to get a second camera body and move my other camera as a backup in case it died. I had just ordered a new camera the night before, and now it felt like I was all dressed up with nowhere to go. That doesn't even speak to the irony that I had just had a featured guest post on another photographer’s blog cheering all the wishers and dreamers to follow their callings and jump towards them fearlessly. Heck, I even felt like I had done the equivalent of shouting from the rooftops, be fearless about being yourself. And now I was having to read and reflect on my own words, my own cheering, my own encouragements to all you and listen. There are going to be days where the fog is a little too thick to see where we are going. One other component of my leap into photography that I didn't touch on in Tuesday's blog was this - faith. Faith in knowing the ultimate artist - the one who created my creativity - is leading me. Slowly walking me down the path of finding out who I am as an artist, but also who I am as His child. Knowing, trusting, and resting in those things. Know trusting and resting in this crazy road map of a life that is my story because of Him. So Wednesday morning, I ate my words. And they weren't bitter, weren't hard to digest - the scars, the hard days, and the down and out days make being fearless a necessity.

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Today for the first time I am so honored to be blogging about the first 7 months of my business kicking off....over at Ashley Fisher Photography's blog! She started her first year in business series last week and I am so excited to be sharing about how to even BEGIN on the journey of your first year of business. Ashley is just out of the woods on her first year of business (more like...the great Redwood forest...her first year was fantastic!) and so I am so excited to see where the rest of this series goes!

So here’s the original blog post from Ashley’s blog, hopefully, it speaks to you today!

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I believe it to be true that when we find ourselves looking back at a point in time, we tend to gravitate towards two things- beginnings and endings. The beginnings of relationships, the ends of relationships. The start of a new job, the end of a new job. These two precipices are the most notable markers in the rhythm of life to pause & collect where we have been and where we are headed. But how can we, when we find ourselves at an end, find the guts, motivation and fearlessness to begin again. That jump to point Z to point A…a new beginning?

I have always had a quiet dream of being a photographer. . I am a graphic designer by trade, but somewhere deep inside – the photographer desire managed to hide away. But I couldn’t help but notice while I was busy with my head in Photoshop & InDesign – it seemed like everyone else I knew was suddenly becoming a photographer. My dream started to burrow itself a little bit deeper inside every time another friend got a new digital camera for Christmas and suddenly had a logo and website overnight. Who was I to think I could join in and be another “lady with a camera”? Besides, I was a graphic designer – I had already spent so much time investing in that dream that it seemed like I’d be dropping one thing to grab on to another. Really, those were all just excuses for me to hide behind my fear. Fear of people saying “Who does she think she is?”, fear of people thinking I wasn’t good enough, and really, the fear of failure.

Last summer marked our first year since we moved from Chicago to Connecticut. It wasn’t like I had a new lease on life or anything, but I certainly felt a sense of a “reset” button being hit somewhere inside. Old friends, old jobs, and old rhythms of life were left behind in the Windy City and we were beginning again here in New England as each day passed. As my 27th birthday approached, I really started to reflect on my life thus far – what did I want? Who did I want to be? At the end of the day, I did know this – I knew I had come to a point in my journey where I could look back and see the experiences I had, the people I had met, and the hard times sprinkled in-between were all to bring me to this place. A fresh, exciting, and sure place.

A place where I felt aware of all the paths that ended in today – and that I knew a new journey needed to begin. I didn’t share this with anyone. (As an external processor, that’s quite an accomplishment!) I started a new blog separate from my old one because it felt right to start on a fresh page with fresh thoughts. I blogged about my new sense of awareness in my life, but I didn’t really talk about it outside of that. I didn’t even give out the link to my new blog. I was still hiding behind the “Who does she think she is?” lens. My husband had gotten me a new 50mm lens for my birthday, and so I resurrected my old digital Rebel from the closet and started taking pictures. I also started to read a lot of photography blogs. I scoured the internet for what kind of camera all my favorite photographers shot with, and while my husband was away on a week-long trip for work I found the camera I wanted. It was an original Canon 5D, on eBay, being sold by a student who had received it from his photography professor. It was in great shape, a full format camera and exactly what I wanted. I had some extra money from a design project that I had just finished, so I bid on it - and I won! I called my husband to explain I had been looking at cameras again, and if it was okay, I had bid on a camera. He gave me the green light – in which then I told him, “Good! Because I just won!”

That week when my husband returned from his trip, we decided to take a spontaneous day trip to New York City. As we drove down the Merritt Parkway, I finally spilled the beans. I wanted to become a photographer. And I thought I sounded crazy, as I poured my heart out to him. At the end of all my rambling and as we crossed over the New York State line I came to my last confession – I needed him to be my biggest cheerleader in this. I needed to know he supported me. I needed to know that he wasn’t one of the people thinking “Who does she think she is?!” His response back to me was the exact thing I needed, affirmation, support, and love. He told me I could follow whatever calling had been given to me. So if my artist's heart wanted to express through photography, then a photographer I would be.

Over the next few months came the point where there was nowhere left to go but forward and jump. Trust me, this is when you realize how wide the canyon is from point Z to point A. My words for you today, friend, are these. Do what you need to do to see what your point Z to point A is. To see the end of the journey you’re on, and to find the place where you can find yourself. And be truthful to that. Be fearless about who you are, and you’ll find the right footing to jump. Remember that feeling, bottle it. There isn’t a day that goes by for me here in month seven of my first year where I don’t go back to that place and remind myself why I am doing this. To remind me that the fear can go away.

So today, begin. Write down all the things you’ve ever dreamt of being, down to the silliest thing you’ve ever thought possible (mine – professional Pinterester…it has to be a job!). Look over that list, and accept all those dreams that you’ve thought you can be. Know that however humble the place you’re in right now is, it has been the right to bring you to your point Z. Find ways to encourage yourself (I made a Pinterest board of inspiration and looked at it every day), find your biggest cheerleader, and ask them to support you through it all. Find out who you are down to your bones, and know that you are enough. Be fearless about who you are. About your craft. Be fearless about what others might think. Fearless about failure. Fearless about success. Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end – so go ahead and leap fearlessly towards your next beginning.

I wrote this post on January 27th and 10 days later I had sat with it long enough to publish. And feel good about it. I finally have sat down to make goals. GOALS! I'm a month late (if you consider January 1st to be the gold standard for goal setting), but it seems like it's taken me a month to really figure out what I want. How many times a week I want to work out, what our budgets will be, how much time I want to spend doing X & Z...even down to things I need to give myself permission to not think about in 2013 (ahem...kids).The funny thing about goals is that I imagine myself failing at all of them. Isn't that sad? Why make them in the first place if you're going to start out with that thought in mind.I began thinking about what I want out of my business this year. How many weddings I want to shoot, who's weddings I want to shoot, what I want to design, dream clients and so on. But most of all I want my goals to make sense for me. To not be superfluous - to count. To push me. To be a constant reminder of what I can become. Trusting I can become.So here are my goals. Scary to put them "out there" - on the internet. For all you folks who read my blog but don't comment (I see you, just tell me you're here!)Photography1. Shoot at least 6 weddings as the primary shooter - and gain as many second shooter opportunities as I can get. (need a second shooter? Email me!)2. Figure out what my ideal client profile is. (Thank you Justin & Mary in advance for "The Guide"...it's rocking my world)3. Make more photography friends in my area. (Live in Connecticut? Let's get together and talk apertures!)4. Photograph my everyday life more. (And get another external hard drive to house it all) Design1. Design 1-2 Showit Style Groups...possibly kickstarting a new portion of my business.2. Only take projects I'm excited about.3. Redesign/Update my current website & blog. (almost there if you're reading this on hellohelloaliciasturdy.com!)4. Collaborate with other designers. Personal1. Pray daily. (not while multitasking like while I'm brushing my teeth)2. Start journaling again...pen and paper style.3. One full day a week for just me and Andrew. (Let's keep each other accountable, dear reader. I want to be in the business of successful relationships & marriages!)4. Work out 3-5 days per week to loose ALL my Chicago weight. (weight gained from arriving and leaving Chicago. We'll just leave it at that.) Ready....set....GO! What goals are you making for your 2013? Share them - we can work together!

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Just now when I was typing the title "the end of 2012" I already have "trained" my fingers to type 2013...and I "couldn't help but wonder" (don't all good self reflections start with that beautifully coined phrase?) - looking back on the past year I can see a spectrum of two seasons - and what will 2013 hold?I had been use to being in such a winterous season of life that when I looked up in 2012 - all of the sudden I was standing in the throws of spring. Now: Disclaimer. Please read this and know this is my heart writing pen to the paper (hypothetically). I am truly, honestly, 100% hand on the Bible telling you that this adventure called my life has not had one bit of regret. Even in the winters.Because even winter has it's beauty. Even winter has warm days. The growing of every root of every tree happens below ground level - in winter. I am certain every second of my winter(s) have been lived exactly how it should have been. I'm not saying I've been exactly floating along on a cloud eating bon bons...because I really hope you don't see me as one of those people that "everything works out for" and "everything is perfect", dear reader. I have learned over the past 27.5 years that taking it one day at a time is the best strategy I have. Praying daily. Worrying about what I'm already chewing on and trying not to think of my next bite.A few years ago I had this image in my mind. An image of sheep resting in a field. Grazing. Peaceful. I felt like I was not in that field. I was always in the throws of something - not being able to rest. Not grazing. Always struggling and battling. Always doing the wrong thing.And all I wanted was to be a sheep in the field.But now that I am high enough to see why I wasn't in the peaceful grazing field three years ago... it wasn't one thing or another that was "keeping" me from the resting field... that it's all the little teeny things in between here and there that make the pasture I'm resting in now.And I guess where the name for my blog comes from. The teeny tiny things. In life. That make up all the good and the bad. The celebrating of seasons that each have their turn and time.And I'm in my field. And it's spring.

I remember the first time I met Ellen - well "met" her! She messaged me on Facebook before we moved out to Connecticut last year. I instantly realized she is a warm, friendly lady who is so in love with her family. So when she asked me to take some pictures for their holiday card - I instantly penciled it in my calendar and was so looking forward to photographing them in their home. Especially the two days before Christmas.What I didn't realize was that the Shea's love their family so much that their Christmas tree is a living display of tokens of their family life together. Kevin & Kelly's baby shoes, the box that held the ring Jim proposed to Ellen with, and handcrafted ornaments with their family Christmas pictures from the past 20-something years makes their Christmas tree like a living scrapbook.I so enjoyed photographing this family - and I know one of these images will be on their Christmas tree next year as well! And see the Shea's page for more photos at  -- thesheas.aliciasturdy.com So, what is your favorite ornament on your tree? Mine is my little Starbucks mug from 2009, my favorite holiday cup design they've had since I've been drinking Starbucks.Email me (hello@aliciasturdy.com), Facebook me (www.facebook.com/helloaliciasturdy) or check out my website (www.aliciasturdy.com) – and don’t forget to LIKE me on Facebook below!

As a child I remember the first time I saw a 'tragedy' on TV - it was 1989 and the Bay Bridge had collapsed. The pictures on TV and the stories I heard was the first time I cognitively remember being disturbed by the news. I was obsessed with watching more and more about it at the young age of 4. Clearly, the images made an impression on me - my entire life and even as an adult, I have a reoccurring dream of falling off a bridge that always resembles the Bay Bridge. On Friday - many children experienced the incoming news of the events in Newtown, Connecticut. My heart is heavy as I think of every child in America this morning going back to school, my mom, mother in-law and brother in-law who work in schools, my sister who is a future teacher, my friends who work in schools and especially those children in my state. The amount of information that has been presented this past weekend and the idea of having to walk into a school this Monday morning surely is terrifying. I'm sure we all pray for protection over their little minds and their dreams after Friday.

I can't help but think how this changes Christmas this year. As of Friday, I truly - for maybe the first time - am able to tune out the Holly Jolly, Deck the Halls, Jingle Bell rock version of Christmas. My Spotify Christmas list of songs I typically listen to has been whittled down to songs about a child - born to save us. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).

There are so many thoughts, fears, questions unanswered. With you, I share those fears. Those thoughts. Those questions unanswered. This song came on my playlist a while ago, and my heart understood the words in a way that made sense. I hope you find these words in your own way, that your heart understands this plea, and finds hope.

Star of Bethlehem shining bright

bathing the world in heav'nly light,

Let the glow of your distant glory

fill us with hope this Christmas night.

Star of innocence, star of goodness

gazing out since time began,

You who've lived through endless ages

view with love the age of man.

Star of beauty hear our plea,

whisper your wisdom tenderly.

Star of Bethlehem set us free

make us a world we long to see.

Star of Bethlehem, star up high,

miracle of the midnight sky,

Let your luminous life of heaven

better our hearts and make us fly.

Star of happiness, star of wonder

you see everything from afar,

Cast your eye upon the future

make us wiser than we are.

Star of gentleness, hear our plea,

whisper your wisdom tenderly.

Star of Bethlehem set us free

make us a world we long to see.

If you need some music for today to rest on, please feel free to subscribe to my list on Spotify.

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Each year we're together, my family aspires to take a holiday photo. Unfortunately, I think the last time we all had a picture together was 2007 - rides back to college, cats and "I can't find anything to wear!" have been the reason of our demise.This year as we kicked back after a delicious thanksgiving meal (and after eating enough of our Auntie Mary's bread to open a small bakery) I realized we still hadn't taken our christmas card photo! The stars aligned - it was dusk, the sun was setting perfectly on a 55 degree day - and we all we dressed in our thanksgiving best with our hair done...let's do this! It's clear Kaylee knows how to make us laugh (center)Then we had this other great idea to get on my dad's Harley - woo woo! Oh - and of course the cat had to get on.We titled this one "into the night".My middle sister, Melissa, is a great Cosmetologist - go see her sometime! The parents hopped on too! This picture is just perfect.We realized we didn't have a picture with everyone in it - and my dad had already gone inside. This is the face of a man who was inturrupted enjoying a post-thanksgiving meal bowl of my mom's yummy stuffing.Lastly - after we were all inside and people were digging into the leftover we again, realized we didn't have a picture with "all the kids!" After an hour of shooting we had still missed this combination. Though this photo isn't the greatest technically, we hope it says MERRY CHRISTMAS!Want to get in front of my camera? Email me (hello@aliciasturdy.com), Facebook me (www.facebook.com/helloaliciasturdy) or check out my website (www.aliciasturdy.com) – and don’t forget to LIKE me on Facebook or leave a comment below to let me know you’re here!

A while back I threw a party on my blog for my 4 year anniversary to Mr. Andrew and gave away TWO photoshoots - Madeleine's entry rose to the top of the random.com god's list of picks...resulting in a lovely afternoon of hanging with these two #winners that ended with dinner at Bar over none other than Mashed Potato Pizza (yes you heard me!).The first time I talked to Madeleine it was at a Yelp Elite party back in March - and she said to me "Aren't you the girl screaming in your profile picture?" Yes, indeed Madeleine...it was me. Now, her and her husband Anton have become some of our favorite new buddies we've made here in Connecticut. And as luck would have it - just as we were wishing we knew more people who lived in New Haven so we could get to know another great city just down the road from us - they moved there this fall!Enjoy the photos guys - I hope they helped you capture your love of your city and all that is New Haven.Want to get in front of my camera? Email me (hello@aliciasturdy.com), Facebook me (www.facebook.com/helloaliciasturdy) or check out my website (www.aliciasturdy.com) - and don't forget to LIKE me on Facebook or leave a comment below to let me know you're here!

Can you believe that next week is Thanksgiving?! (sorry to ensue any panic!)We originally were planning on driving to my parents house. To Upper Michigan. And yes, it's 20 hours one way. After about a minute of looking at the map online I was immediately panicking. So I quickly did some scurrying around online looking for flights (I know I know - THE WEEK BEFORE!). I thankfully - as it always seems to go - was able to figure out some kind of great deal for flights and are flying out next Saturday using all our points, flying out of Newark, AND a bonus - we have a layover in Minneapolis and get to see my in-laws (happy dance!).I say all that to say this - I know that travel is a huge reality for a lot of people around the holidays - and it's most likely the time that everyone is actually together and the last thing everyone is wanting to do is get all ready to take a holiday photo. I understand, we live 1000+ miles away from our families so this is my reality! We typically don't even send out holiday cards until later on because after we get everyone together, take the picture, choose the photo, order the cards - it's usually around new years when they arrive and I'm thinking "what's the point?" And by then I've also received everyone elses wonderfully done cards - Pressure! Does anyone else feel this way?!If so, read on! (I know you're already feeling your blood pressure going up and are frantically Googling "Walgreens Holiday Cards" in a separate tab from this window.)Being inspired by my own holiday card dilemmas, I decided to do something special - Home for the Holidays. This holiday package bundles a 30 minute photo session in your home or location of your choice (I'll even come on Christmas Eve!) and 100 premium holiday cards to choose from 6 exclusive designs below - delivered to your house with the envelopes all set to stuff and mail off to your closest 100 friends - for $200!Since I'll be in Escanaba next week (I'm sure you're thinking "What's that?" It's my hometown!) I will take bookings from November 19-23 - and locally in Connecticut through December 31st. Space is limited - so let's chat!I've always dreamed of designing a line of holiday cards - and here they are! Let me tell you about them (because I am just so excited!).Each 5"x7" card is printed on premium matte stock and features a unique matching design on the backside. They come with beautiful matching envelopes and the corners of each card can be cut rounded as well (if that's you're thing!). Once you choose the design, I will ensure that while taking your pictures that we can choose a photo that perfectly lines up with the design of your card so no-one is cut out, or blocked by any elements.Beyond the Home for the Holidays packages - you can purchase these designs from my Etsy shop beginning Saturday, November 17th or just book a Holiday Photoshoot for $99 (same timelines apply for Michigan & East Coast through Dec 31, 2012). So - take a peek below, choose a card and email me to set up a time at hello@aliciasturdy.com. I'm so excited to work with you and help bring joy to your holiday season!Email me at hello@aliciasturdy.com! 'Like' me on Facebook and check out my website!

So I had this squash.I bought it one day when I was feeling all "fall" like. Then the snow came along with the frigid temps and the Sturdys suddenly can't get enough comfort food. Chicken dumpling soup, warm lemon pasta with roast chicken, and a butternut squash crostini were just a few items on the menu this week.As you might know, I love Ina Garten. And she will grace your kitchen with this tasty, delicious salad that's definitely going to say "welcome to winter".Also - happy birthday to my kid sister! 21 and looks good on ya!;

50 degrees.That was the temp in our house as we walked in door on Sunday night.I ran from room to room turning on each thermostat so the house would recede from the status of "ice box" to cozy yellow house on the corner.It was that very same day last year that a freak snowstorm knocked the power out in my neighborhood for 5 days - leaving us shivering under the covers each night with what felt like every article of clothing we owned on and tried to cozy up together under a 3 layer blanket shield.As my bathroom started to warm up and I ran the water hot to get ready for bed I started to think about the stark difference of our two hour drive back from NYC to our thawing home. Dark roads, unlit looming skyscrapers, damp mildewy smelling lobbies, completely empty grocery stores, long lines at gas stations and and threats of freezing temps and a large storm coming in a few days. As I thought of how to prepare my own home, I suddenly felt very fortunate - I have a warm house, warm clothes, food in my fridge and on my grocery store shelves. I am prepared.This past weekend I was in New York City for what was suppose to be the day I'd run the New York Marathon - instead I spent Saturday afternoon with people moved by a grass roots group called Upper West Side Loves. Picking up supplies from Duane Reade, making PB&J's, and grating a large knob of ginger that resulted in a car full of food that was driven down to the Lower East Side neighborhood, in particular to The Bowery House mission.I don't think we quite realize the difference between us & NYC this past week. And now under a layer of snow - 100 miles south of us has transformed into a world we can't imagine ourselves in.But I have hope this week - not about the Presidential election, or about who has won and who has lost - but I have hope that the Body - people - can change lives. That we can come together and help each other in the most basic way - giving. Whatever that looks like for you - I hope that you have hope and give hope this week.

Back in Illinois we had so many little sweethearts in our lives - so when we moved, we were delighted to befriend these little cuties (and their parents too!).So last Saturday as the state prepped for this monster Frankenstorm to come our way, I popped over to Maggie & Kara's house to play in the leaves and spend a lovely Saturday afternoon together.Pop on over and "Like" me on Facebook & check out more of my work on my website!

{To kick off the weekend – mosey on over here to enter my giveaway - one photoshoot in Connecticut, one shoot in the NY/MA/RI area}OK! The weekend is here! Here is what we're up to.EatLast weekend I made the most divine pot of glorious stew, Beef Bourguignon. Recipe here, courtesy of Ina of course.WearIt has been chilly here this week, and my fall clothes have been resurrected. This is a jacket that was literally in the back of my closet. I got it from a friend in a clothing exchange - and I've never worn it before! It's the perfect coat for walking through big piles of leaves on the perfect fall day. See what else I've been pinning for fall clothing inspiration.GoWe're in the city soaking up autumn in New York (why not?). Oh, and one other little thing, I'm running 20 miles today. 15 days until the New York City marathon!Don't forget - I'm giving away two photoshoots, click here for more details and enter today! Just think of those Christmas cards coming up...! Entries will be accepted until Sunday the 21st at noon EST.

So last week was going along just fine and normal - we celebrated our anniversary, had a friend in from out of town, and I had my weekend run (3 more left!) ahead of me for the marathon. I even had a fancy new blog post idea waiting to be typed out for the weekend.Then came the rain.Like a hail storm, piece by piece, it began to rain from the sky. One thing after another was coming down on us bit by bit, and it got cloudy and dark at the Sturdy house. Then, like those summer storms, it just stopped. The sun came out. And now we wait.The only thing I feel is coming to me and I'll tell you as well - keep walking.I keep getting this image of calm and peace, and walking. Heel to toe, heel to toe.To not disrupt anything, to not stomp through all the areas of our life that are spinning.But just to keep walking. Through the phone calls. Through the tears. Through the ups and down, and new news and old news. Keep walking.

October 11th, 2008.At the end of the long, blue stone aisle lined with perfectly bunched candles and 125 of our friends and family was the man I have had the honor of calling my husband for the past four years. He is tall, kind, loving, protective and I would not want any other person sharing the blankets with me every night from here until the end.I have been thinking a lot about what we were doing in preparation for the big day - picking up the flowers, table clothes, deep dish pizza (for the rehearsal dinner...come on - we're Chicagoians!), and even squeezing in a "Last Single Girl" sushi dinner with 15 of my closest friends two nights before the wedding. But nothing can prepare you for what's on the other side of "I Do" - grad school, late nights of washing dishes, the well timed (ha!) argument before bed, days of loving your job, days of hating your job, car trouble, a (half) cross country move, making new friends together - and most importantly finding that your best friend is indeed the one next to you every night.I was just texting with a girlfriend from highschool who's about to get married in a few weeks (congrats Brittany and Joel!) - and it made think back to the beginning of all this. Through all the messy, ugly, beautiful, and raw moments of the past four years, I am cherishing the past 365 the most. In moving from the midwest, and feeling I was losing so much love from friends and family, I found that I gained all that back and more in my marriage.So here's to our wedding day - for each bite of that delicious cake, each silly dance with my sisters and mom, for my last dance with my dad and my first with my husband. To loosing the confirmation papers for our hotel on the way to the honeymoon. To eating a room service midnight snack of chicken fingers and burgers at the end of the long day.To year one - the experiments in the kitchen, making new friends, starting new journeys in grad school, and to learning how each other grieves, celebrates, rests.To year two - to feeling like "we've got this down"...and finding out we had it all wrong, to finding our Chicago sweet spots, for friends babies that became nieces and nephews, to our last summer in the midwest.To year three - the hardest of them all. To moving, to exploring, to lots of tears, to learning even more about each other.To year four - to discovering, to settling in, to excelling in jobs, to friends who move away, to renewed joy in our home.In honor of our anniversary - I'm giving away two couple portrait sessions - one in Connecticut and one in the New York City/Rhode Island/Massachusetts/southern New Hampshire area! We have been so blessed by having amazing photographers document our engagement, wedding and life-after-wedding - I want to give back!How to enter:1. Like "Alicia Sturdy" on Facebook (*if you share the link to my blog you'll get an extra entry!*)2. Go to the "Say Hello" page on my website (www.aliciasturdy.com) and send me a note - Tell me about a special place you have with your significant other. A favorite restaurant? The shoreline? Central Park? Under the boardwalk (yea yea!)?3. Please be sure to include your location (there's a box for that!)All entries must be submitted by October 21st, 2012 at noon (eastern time). One entry will be selected from Connecticut, one entry will be selected from the other area's listed above.Winners announced on October 22nd!Session must be redeemed by January 31, 2013.*First photo- our wedding by Mallory Nelson - October 2008.*Second photo- our Goodbye Photoshoot with Erica Rose - June 2011.