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About Alisandra Photography

Hey friends! My name is Ali, and welcome to my blog!

I am a Wedding Photographer based in Richmond, Virginia. I try to keep this baby as up to date as I can with recent shoots, personal thoughts, and the random, fun little things life brings. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to visit. I really appreciate it. Please make yourself at home and enjoy your time here!

Questions or Comments? ali@alisandraphoto.com

Tag: ‘birthday’



Marriage Monday | Boys and Birthdays

Monday, August 13th, 2012

Since I was…born, I’ve had the hardest time shopping for birthday presents for boys. Whether it’s for my dad, my boy cousins, high school boyfriends, or now, my husband, I am so bad at this. I can’t get away with painting dad a picture with finger paints anymore, or writing my name on the card with my mom and “sharing” the gift. Luckily, I the guys in my life aren’t SUPER about birthdays. This gets me off the hook a little, but I still WANT to do something more or different than going out to dinner, birthday hugs, and store bought cakes.

However, when I think of something good, I get really proud of myself and I write a blog post about it. This year, for Chad’s birthday, we celebrated by getting out of our apartment for the night and staying downtown at the Linden Row Inn. I typed up directions for him and left them in his center console of his car so after work he could follow them and find himself “at” his present. He was equally excited to learn we were also going to Chili’s for dinner – you just can’t beat the Quesadilla Explosion Salad.

I’m still learning to read his likes and dislikes so I can really get good at gift-giving [one of those crazy Love Languages]. It takes a lot of creative thinking, advice from other wives, and tips from other dudes, but everyone is different. I know that I’d be THRILLED with Sweet Frog. Or a J.Crew shopping trip. Or a back yard cookout. Really, anything. And Chad might be too, but everyone is different. This year, we both really appreciated the quality time spent away from our apartment.

On a separate note, Chad turned 24!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

26

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

I’M 26 YEARS OLD NOW!

Well, since Sunday. I was thinking about this birthday as my own little new year. What do I want to accomplish? What am I thankful for? I celebrated with my mom and dad, Chad, and of course, with food. 26 is a year where, nothing really changes. Since I was um…15? I’ve been having birthdays that are milestones. Driving. Driving by myself. Buying cigarettes. Graduating from college. Voting. Legal drinking age. Car renting. WHEW. And now? I’m JUST a year older. What will happen during 26? Well, Here’s what happened ON 26!!

1. Movie Time! 2. I REALLY wanted to see this movie [Chad wasn't too excited], but it ended up being so great!!! 3. A yummy dinner at Cheesecake Factory 4. I didn’t eat ANY of my entree. Appetizer filled me up. oops. 5. We keep a dry erase marker in our bathroom for days like birthdays. 6. I asked Chad if we could go exploring for my birthday. I got two ticks in 15 minutes and we turned around. 7. BEAUTIFUL sunset for 26. 8. Standing around and waiting for the buzzer to go off at CF.

I’ve been thinking of posting my images without the watermark. Gave it a try and I think I like it! Thoughts?


The Funeral Celebration

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

It sounds silly. Maybe not silly. Depressing? Maybe. But not really.

One year ago almost to the day, Grandma Flowers said, “Have you heard? We’re going on a cruise! It’s my funeral celebration!” We let out a quick laugh in amusement and disbelief. A cruise? The whole family? But you’re alive? Yes. All of the above.

How generous can one person be? A cruise for one person is amazing, but your entire extended family? This trip was so incredibly special. In the words of Grandma Flowers, “I didn’t have a big wedding, [7...including the bride and groom], I never had a big birthday, so I want to throw a big party.” The cruise was her way to show her excitement and appreciation for life. It was simply wonderful. Full of family, tropical beaches, good food, and wonderful memories. Here are some of my favorite views from my Fuji!!

Happy Birthday, Grandma Flowers!

Birthday Cake

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Last Friday, my friend J and I were talking about boys. Our husbands, to be specific. What do you get for a 20 something old boy’s birthday who doesn’t want anything? I need specifics. Like, “Socks.” That is what is expected in my Christmas stocking because I am in dire need of new little white gym socks. But Chad doesn’t really have anything he wants. And, being newly married, we don’t NEED anything! That is what registries are for, right? [Thanks, again, wedding guests!] Chad made me a birthday cake for my birthday: funfetti + a beach scene in icing. Complete with brown sugar sand and different shades of blue for the sky and water. Ah-mazing.

J encouraged me to make Chad a cake. So off to the recipe books I went. And found it. BIRTHDAY CAKE. That’s what it was called. I had to make it. Luckly, it called for everything that I keep in my pantry. Being that I am not a baker, that isn’t a whole lot. So I made Chad a cake :) And I was going to blog it. But, sadly, it was terrible. [In my opinion]. I brought it to my parents house [and left it]. My dad joked that we should have a cake blowing contest off the back deck. We didn’t but not because it wasn’t possible.

So last night, 4 hours before Chad’s birthday was officially over, I started a new baking project. Make cinnamon rolls in 2 hours; lucky for me, I again had all of the ingredients! And? SUCCESS! They were 1000000 calorie filled, but so delicious!

1 cups of warm water
1/4 cup sugar
1 package of dry yeast
1 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/6 cup oil
3+ cups of flour

Butter and Cinnamon Sugar Mixture… I just figured this part out myself.

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Let sit for a minute, then add the sugar and salt. Mix. Add the cooking oil, egg, 1 cup of flour and beat until smooth. Stir in 1 more cup of flour. Begin kneading the dough, adding the final cup of flour. If the dough seems too sticky, knead in more flour, a quarter to a half cup at a time. Let the dough “rest” for 15 to 20 minutes. Roll the dough into a rectangle that’s 24 to 30 inches long by about 12 inches wide. Spread with soft butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Starting at the wide end, roll into a log. Cut the cinnamon rolls into equal sized slices (approximately one inch wide each or slightly more) and place into two greased 9 x 13 pans. Put in a warm place to rise for 45 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes (or until the cinnamon rolls are golden brown).

Then I made an icing with Powdered Sugar and Milk. The results:

Happy Birthday, Chad! I love you!

 

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