We are having some trouble with our current blog page so we are setting up a new blog to replace this one. Go to House of Hodge's new site. Enjoy! Sorry for the inconvenience. Check out the new location!

Alissa

Should We Stay or Should We Go?

Good morning friends! I woke up today with some serious drive to just write you and give you an update. Where to start....

Well life here in Cookeville, TN has been great. My friendships have been growing and I am feeling closer to many of the women that I met shortly after moving here. Its been so good. I am so grateful for them and their sweet hearts and encouragement. Some of these women are Alicia, Lacy, Mandy, Sheffey, Kandice, Debora, and Sonya. They are sweet friends and I am thankful.

Tyler is also enjoying Cookeville. He has obviously been here much longer than I have but he is enjoying his job. He is now in the middle of thinking and processing what he wants to do next. Whether to stay here in Cookeville at his current job or find a new one somewhere else. To be an engineer or not to be an engineer. So well see where God takes us next!

Also we have been busy at work with Center Point Photography. Editing tons of sessions and scheduling new weddings! Its been fun but sooooo time consuming. Check my most recent work.

Thanks for reading. I hope to be on here more regularly.

Alissa

Times Are Crazy

I must explain my absence from blogging. I have been so busy with Center Point Photography! Which is a great thing, but is also very exhausting. Im so sorry I have not updated you but I hope and plan do it soon. So stay tuned!

Here are some example of my recent work...

Check more out at Center Point Photography!

The Hodges

Confessions of a Muffin Maker- Success

I made a darn good muffin this morning! It was Banana Cinnamon Muffins. It was awesome!!! I only used 3 bananas and substituted apple sause for the oil and added a streusel topping! YUMMY!! Tyler loved it! That is possible the first muffin he has really like! Im am saving this recipe!!! For a long time to come!!

Here is the recipe if you want to try it!

Banana Muffins

Food Network

• 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour -->I will use wheat next time.
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups smashed bananas (about 4 to 6 bananas) --> I also only used 3 bananas
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil --> I used 1/2c. apple sauce
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature --> This is very important for muffins and cakes!!! I learned this while baking at my previous job!
• 1/8 teaspoon fine salt -->I didnt add this!
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract --> I didnt add this! Artificial flavors are not good for you!
• 3/4 cups chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly brush a 12-muffin tin with butter and set aside.

Whisk the flour, baking soda, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl; set aside.

Whisk the banana, oil, milk, eggs, salt, and vanilla in a large measuring cup with a spout or another bowl.

Make a small well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into the center; then stir with a wooden spoon until the dry ingredients are moistened but still lumpy. Do not overmix the batter or your muffins will come out dense. Gently stir in the nuts. Divide the batter evenly into the muffin tin.

Put the muffins in the oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the cooking. (Insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin to check if it is done. Toothpick should come out clean). Cool muffins in the pan on a rack for a couple minutes. Turn the muffins out of the pan and cool on the rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Being the Helper when no-one is watching...

So I am finding it challenging to stay disciplined and motivated when I am home alone. Anyone else? We obviously dont have children and I dont want to get too tired of my hobbies. Such as -> Photography, painting, crafties, baking, and coffee shops. The only one that doesnt cost money is Photography, well thats if I dont decide to print the pictures.

So here is what my days look like, I do pretty much the same thing everyday...

I wake up Tyler, make him breakfast, see him off for the day, do my quiet time, clean our small little apartment (that without fail gets messy by the following morning) and maybe watch something on Hulu like Castle or Bones . But then what. I could get most of this stuff finished by noon if I wanted. But I just take my sweet time until my next main event which is greeting Tyler when he comes home and then make dinner.

Im not complaining about the stuff I do, but I am asking what do I fill the rest of my time with. Some of you will say reading, and yes I agree but for some reason I have to be in the mood to do. So how do you women that stay home, with no kids, use your time well?

But I just got inspired!

I just looked at Lacy Tatums blog and was encouraged. I think I am going to Hobby Lobby to find a fun new project to work on during the day.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great!

Love

Hodge's

Confessions of a Muffin Maker

Okay my friends I must confess I have been a repeat offender! I tried it once and I just keep going back for more. Please please understand I am trying to work on this problem and would appreciate your love and support. This problem may not be able to be solved without you. Ok here is the problem.....

Muffins! Muffins! Muffins! I have tried at least 7 different recipes and none of them have met Tyler or I's preferences! We may sound picky and your probably right but we are trying to find a healthier (not necessarily the healthiest) recipe but still sweet and moist. You see I use to be the morning baker at my last job and well I made the famous muffins every morning. I know that recipe well but it just doesn't bake the same here at home. My oven is definitely just one step up from an easy bake (not really but I seriously has some temperature accuracy problems) and always comes out way to brown. I almost gave up at muffins 5 but decided to serve my husband and not give up on finding the best muffin recipe possible. You see its his favorite breakfast food and I have yet to deliver "THE MUFFIN". If it weren't for Tyler's love and support to keep pressing on, I probably would have already given up.

So why am I telling you all... I need some recipes! If you have links to online recipes, recipes stored on your computer somewhere, or you want to write me up one Tyler would appreciate it. I on the other hand will be forever grateful for your love and muffin recipe.

An Upgrade!

I can not wait!! We are finally zeroing in on making our new purchase!

Nikon D300s 12.1MP DSLR Camera

We have been hunting for awhile now and we finally decided this is what we want. It is a semi professional level camera that we feel will boost our quality so that our Wedding Photography business can do even better. If you did not know that we are wedding/all events photographers, just get on Facebook and check out Center Point Photography.

Anyways! We have been price hunting for a few months and have finally found the 2 best buy. Walmart. I guess we should have known. And newegg.com. Newegg.com has a lesser total because of tax. We found that if we ship it to Indiana it is cheaper. Walmart is $1556 and newegg is $1510. The only downside it I have to drive to Indiana to get it. So I also am calculating the shipping from Indiana to Cookeville. Just a few more things to check out and we will be ready to purchase.

I cant wait to purchase it and start shooting with it! We have 2 weddings next month and I need to know that camera well in-order for the days to go smooth! I will need subjects practice on so if you have time and are willing to get your picture taken! I like kiddo pictures or practice because they are so darn unpredictable! Well, Im doing some finally price matching and hopefully making the purchase today!