Erin Akin Carroll

We have a photo that Tracy’s husband took of Tracy photographing us on Thursday. You can see how gorgeous the day was and how amazing the light was!

What’s going on with us this week?

1. I think the highlight has to be our photo session with Tracy Turpen yesterday. Tracy and her husband drove in from Charleston yesterday and we had an amazing session. She was such a joy to work with, and because she and her husband have a baby boy, she knew what it was like to work with babies. We were completely relaxed and just had a great time. I usually end up pretty stressed out after hours of smiling and taking awesome photos, but this was a blast. Thanks to Tracy and Lance for such a great day!

Here’s a photo from a shoot she posted on her blog earlier this week. I cannot WAIT to see ours!

2. We’re going to a Halloween party/Gamecock football watching party with a bunch of friends tomorrow night. Hudson will be the only baby there, but there will be other trick-or-treaters. The Gamecocks are playing Tennessee and we’re hoping for a strong victory! I’ll be bringing Emeril’s corn dip with me. It’s one of my football watching staples. I’m sharing the recipe with you because I know you’ll never bring it to a party that I’m attending!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 1/2 cups corn kernels (from 4 ears fresh white or yellow corn)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup finely chopped yellow onions
• 1/2 cup finely chopped red bell peppers
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions (green and white parts)
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 to 1 cup mayonnaise
• 4 ounces monterey jack or cheddar, shredded
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• Tortilla chips or Fritos, for dipping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kernels turn deep golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the skillet. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook, stirring often, until the onions are wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the green onions, jalapeno, and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened. Transfer to the bowl with the corn. Add the mayonnaise, 1/2 of the monterey jack and half of the cheddar, and the cayenne and mix well. Pour into an 8-inch square baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve hot with the chips.

3. Can you look at this picture from Millie Holloman’s blog without crying? I saw it and literally burst into tears. What is wrong with me? Those father/daughter wedding photos get me every time!

4. I’m on the hunt for a Sip ‘n See dress and a cocktail dress for the Holiday Market Preview Party. All suggestions are appreciated. Now remember that I’m a new mommy and need to cover and flatter certain areas– ahem, my arms and hips.

5. Hudson wore his smocked Halloween bubble for the last time today. Hopefully his future siblings will be able to wear it. Or his future brothers, it’s not really a girl’s bubble. Hmm… I wonder if we’ll have more boys. Check out my punkin head in his little bubble!

And the best self-portrait we could do. That Canon Rebel is hard to hold with one hand and manage to get a good picture!

6. I’ll be spending the down time in my weekend going for my first run. What? (Thanks, It is Everlasting!) I’ll also be curled up on the couch with the new Southern Living. It’s the Thanksgiving issue and it is loaded with great looking recipes!

It’s a Halloween treat from Old Navy! You can look cute and be comfy with the Item of the Week: Women’s Tab Sleeve Henley. Starting Oct.30^th (yesterday) the shirts are $7 (reg. $14.50) and come in super fun colors.

So when you’re done treating others with candy, get into one of these and look dandy!

As if that isn’t enough of an incentive to get to Old Navy, I’m giving away 10 coupons for $50 off $100 to 10 lucky Blue-Eyed Bride readers!

Offers are unique, one-time use coupons just for Blue-Eyed Bride readers.

So, to enter, let’s talk about candy! What is your favorite Halloween candy? Do you buy extra to eat and not give out to trick-or-treaters? I do. Reese’s Peanut Butter cups are my favorite and we’ve already gone through two bags at our house.

What do you do with your leftover Halloween candy? Do you take candy from your kids so that you can eat it instead?

Leave me a comment telling me about your favorite candy secrets!

The coupons expire on November 5, so the 10 winners will be announced on Sunday night! Hurry up and enter so you can get shopping!

Every time I go into my frame shop (HOFP Art Gallery)I am stopped dead in my tracks by the beautiful pet portraits that hang in the gallery. I always ooohhh and ahhh over them and wish that we could have one of our own. Well, I guess, two of our own for each of our beloved canines.

The artist is Jody Whitsell and her website is called Big Dawgz Squared. She sells prints, but her forte is custom pet portraits. You send her a photo of your pet and let her know what your preferred background color is, and she creates a magnificent masterpiece of your furry friend. These canvases are huge and are so striking.

The custom portraits aren’t cheap by any means, but they are stunning. Someday, after I’ve won the lottery and move into my dream house, I will have a room where one of these will fit in perfectly. Maybe it will be our media room or the office, but these pet portraits are absolutely stunning. Here are some examples of my favorites from Jody’s website.

I think these two guys deserve to have a painting of themselves on our wall!