ELAN card winners!!!!!!!

In the order they were drawn, they are........................................
Cheryl

Kathleen

Melisa

Please let me know your preferred email address, and I will give it to ELAN Card Charlotte!

Thanks!

Tuesday Tip : ELAN Card Charlotte

This week, we're talking with Dana Blake, one of the founders of  ELAN Card Charlotte.
Keep reading...you're gonna want to know about this!

Tell us about ELAN Card:

ELAN Card Charlotte is a lifetime discount program for women and their families in Charlotte.

When did ELAN Card start?

October 2010 during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Best reason to have an ELAN Card?

The “lifetime” aspect of it!  These deals and discounts will never expire.  You can use your card over and over and over again at places like Wolfman Pizza and TCBY to feed your family, entertain your kids, shop til your heart’s content, and indulge!

Your favorite thing about ELAN Card?

The support it gives our local businesses.  It’s a networking and support system for the vendors involved as well as a budget saving program for the members.  In this economy, what better way to support your local businesses.

Favorite local business/places to shop etc: 

On the card:  TCBY and Omega Sports.  Not on the card, “yet”, Blacklion and Brooklyn Pizza.

The best thing about buying local?

Supporting your local small businesses and producing community involvement.

 

Sounds fantastic, right?  You can get your own  ELAN Card here.
You can also find them on Facebook.

Because she rocks, Dana has gifted us not one, but three ELAN cards!!!  Want one?  Of course you do!  Comment on this post that you want one in your hot little hands.  Want a bonus entry?  Go to the ELAN Card Charlotte's Facebook page, and tell them you are a new fan sent from @Candy Howard Photography, and leave a separate comment here that you did that.  Deadline for entries is midnight Wednesday.  Winners will be drawn by random number generator. 

Thank you sooooooooooo much, Dana!

A *teeny* bit obessed : Pumpkin Recipes : Tuesday Tip

Ah, fall . . . . the time of year when I stop getting crazy looks for buying and/or making pumpkin goodies.  Because, now, I'm not the only one.  Not the only one standing in the produce section or the baking aisle lost in thought about the endless possibilities.  Okay, maybe I am the only one who does *that.*

Ode to a Pumpkin
Pumpkin, pumpkin, shining bright,
I'll see you in my dreams tonight.
Waiting for me, standing tall,
To cut and cook you, skin and all.
Flesh prepared and seeds basted,
Nary a part will be wasted.
Cookies, dips and pancakes - yes!
But it's your muffins I like best.
Pumpkin, pumpkin, shining bright,
I'll see you in my dreams tonight.

Hee hee!  I crack myself up sometimes.  So, yeah, I'm a little obsessed.  To share my obsession and make me feel a little less like a freak show, here are some of my favorite pumpkin recipes!

 The two best Pumpkin Muffin recipes on the planet (yes, I've tried them all...or it seems like I have). Also great for bread. 

Pumpkin Pie Dip : This is amazing with gingersnaps and/or Granny Smith slices

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Nothing else needs to be said.

A different take on pumpkin seeds: Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

Not a recipe, but a mix: Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pancake Mix

My friend Elizabeth has a delicious Pumpkin Tea Bread recipe.  Let me know if you're interested, and I'll ask her if it's okay to share.  It might be a prized secret recipe!

I have lots more favorites!  Email or comment if you want more!

Here's a new one I can't wait to try: Pumpkin Cheese Ball

You know what's odd (well, other than writing an ode to a pumpkin)?  I don't care for traditional pumpkin pie.  It's too thick.  Love a whipped version, though.  Hmmm.  Go figure.

Happy Fall!

D : 7 days : Mooresville, NC Newborn Photographer : Candy Howard

What a way to start the week!

{love} 

Mister W : Charlotte, NC Newborn Photographer : Candy Howard

This sweet boy just stole my heart. Love the ones with his mommy and sister! 

Thank you so very much, K!   Congratulations!!

Seven days new : Charlotte Newborn Photographer : Candy Howard

Just a preview of this little man's session. His big sis was so, so sweet with him! 

Remembering : Personal

We're all reflecting...all remembering.

Remembering the nearly 3000 people lost, whether we knew them or not.

Remembering those who, against the human instinct of self-preservation,
went into, not out of the towers.

Remembering the Pentagon and Flight 93..."Let's roll."  I still get chills every time I think about it.   Remembering where we were, what we were doing, who we were with on September 11, 2001.

I was home with a 7 week old baby and a 17 month old toddler, still adjusting to our little family's new normal.  My husband called from his office uptown and said, "You'd better turn on the tv.  A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center."  Like everyone else, I was transfixed by what I saw.  Disbelief and horror set in as the second plane struck and the rest of the tragedy unfolded.
It became clear that this was not a horrible accident.

I wanted my husband home with me right THEN.  Second only to NYC in the banking industry, uptown Charlotte was on the quickly made perceived threat of attack list, and he.was.there.

I felt real fear for the first time that day.  And as scared as I was, I felt even worse for having loved ones to be afraid for.  My family was alive.

Giving blood, the one thing so many people did because it was all we could do, was off the table since I had a transfusion when Sam was born.  So, I held my family close, talked to family I couldn't get to and prayed.  It was natural to pray for the victims, but, each night, I made myself pray for everyone lost that day.  Everyone.  For the families of all lives lost that day.  All of them.
If hate could cause something like this, how could I not?  

Dancing Queen : Davidson, NC Child Photographer : Candy Howard

We started off with a family portrait in our session with Miss S, and I just love it! Then we had so much fun watching her dance and play!

I think this is S telling me she's done! Too cute!

Thanks, T & M!

Miss K :: Cornelius, NC Baby Pictures :: Candy Howard

I love Baby Planner days! I get to see how big those tiny newborns have gotten, AND I get to see their adorable personalities now that they are a bit older!  Baby K has the cutest expressions!

 

Thank you S & K!!

Almost time! :: Charlotte, NC Maternity Photographer : Candy Howard

This little momma just looked sooooooo beautiful! And the soon-to-be big sis? A-DOR-ABLE! 

Thanks so much, K!!!

Piper :: Huntersville, NC Newborn Photographer :: Candy Howard

Meet 3 day old Miss Piper and her big sister Riley. What cuties!  Piper is 5 days old in the last few.

Thanks, Becca!  Congratulations!

Back to School :: Personal :: Mooresville Photographer

It's that time of year! My boys humored me with a little record of the day!
Our neighbor's cat even got in on it!

Hope everyone is enjoying school so far!

Fun in the Queen City :: Personal :: Charlotte Photographer

My friend Ashley of Langley's Letter Dolls fame and I had a weekend trip a few weeks ago. Where did we go? Why, Charlotte, of course!! No drive time and we knew where everything was!
It was really fun!

Uptown is a beautiful place to be

Future, one of Raymond Kaskey's statues on the square

Playing around in front on the Bechtler

One of the many waterscapes

Yes, please.

People watching at Dean & Deluca

Hopscotch, anyone?

We also ate lots of cupcakes, and Ashley got me a new client!  She noticed a sweet pregnant momma, and the rest is history.  I'll post her maternity session soon, and her new little man arrived last week!  Oh, and I was introduced to True Blood!  It was a great trip!  Thanks, Ashley!