2013 ... 2014

To say this year has flown bye would be an understatement, I feel like I blinked and it was over. Along with millions of other people, I did a horrible job sticking to my new years resolution for more than a few weeks. I do plan to try a lot harder to keep my resolutions this upcoming year. 2014 is one to look forward to, I will be turning 30 (ugh did I just say that out loud), my best friend Nicole and fiancé Rick will also be turning 30 this year, one of my best friends Gina will be getting married, and  I have kick started my own photography & events business (Nico Assatly Events & Photography) which has always been a dream of mine. I am very excited for all that 2014 has to bring to me, my family & friends. Cheers to the New Year! 

Here are just a few of my favorite shots of the year 

Mike & Michelle : maternity photo shoot

I am so excited to have the pleasure of shooting Mike & Michelle's maternity photos. I have been best friends with Mike's sister Nicole ( yes, we have the same name lol) for over 20 years. So after finding out Mike and his beautiful wife were explicating twin boys I was bursting at the seams. So we ventured out to a local park and put her amazing baby bump on full display.

Photos : Nico Assatly

www.nicoassatly.com

Baked Apples

Baked apples have always been one of my favorite sweet fall treats. Over the years I have tweaked my own personal recipe. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees while you prep.

What you will need:

-6 apples ( I used granny smith)
-1/4  cup sugar
-1/4 cup brown sugar
-1/4 tablespoon cinnamon
-1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
-1/2 stick of unsalted butter
-1 small bottle of cream soda ( you can use apple juice if you would like )
-Carmel drizzle ( optional )

I started by cleaning the apples and cut the bottom and the top off. With a Mellon ball scoop, I then scooped out the center of the apple on top, this will serve a perfect place for the ingredients to fall. Then I mixed the sugar and spices in a small bowl, then evenly sprinkled over all 6 apples. Next, place a slab of butter on the top of each apple. I then poured in the cream soda on the bottom of the pan, try to avoid pouring on the apples. Carmel drizzle is optional but I love to indulge in the flavors and of course who minds a little extra sugar. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes, depending on the size of  the apples you choose the time will be more or less. 

Making Strides 2013

October is Breast Caner Awareness month. You may notice a ton of pink popping up all over the place, even the NFL players wear pink. Every year, the  3rd Sunday of October Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is held here in the Hudson Valley. I take part every year in memory of my grandmother & great grandmother and in honor of my mom. My grandmother was  had breast cancer several times in her life and when I was old enough to know what was going on I would walk and raise money for breast cancer research. 9 years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, thank god she caught it early. She went through treatment and is 8 years in remission. She is the strongest person I know, and I would be thankful to become half the woman she is. It is so important to get checked every year, if you have a strong family history like I do, it is a good ideas to do self exams often. This year my best friend Nicole and her mom joined us, along with my moms best friend Patti. Next year we will try and build a big team!  

If you would like to donate to the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Research click the link below and give what ever you can. We need a cure ! 

{ Donate Here}

Rent The Runway introduces RTR Plus

I have been waiting for this since Rent The Runway started, and I know all my curvy ladies are rejoicing ! Rent The Runway introduces RTR Plus! With the new extension of the site for plus sizes they still offer  amazing designers  like Bradgly Mischka, Carmen Marc Valvo, and Theia.

“When we launched Rent the Runway, we didn’t fully understand that our business was going to be about so much more than saving money, but rather, feeling empowered. Every woman deserves to feel beautiful before the most important occasions in her life and every woman regardless of her size should have her choice of the designer dress that gives her the most self-confidence,” said Jennifer Hyman, CEO and Co-Founder of Rent the Runway. “Until now, we have only been able to follow through on this undertaking for virtually half of the female population. We are so proud that our business has grown enough that we are finally able to make designer fashion not only accessible to, but also inclusive of, women of all shapes and sizes.”

Sign up today @ Rent The Runway and you can save $25 off your first rental!

{Rent The Runway introduces RTR Plus, its first assortment of plus size dresses, with the help of style expert Nicolette Mason}

Manza Family Farm

Another beautiful weekend here in the Hudson Valley. It may be fall but we reached 80 degrees on Saturday, nothing like sweating while picking out pumpkins. Manza Family Farm has been around for over 30 plus years, its tradition to go there and pick out our pumpkins and ride the pumpkin express. They have amazing shrubs, mums, and a large variety of pumpkins to choose from. It really feels like fall when you walk around the grounds. 

Oh Boy Oh Boy !

Sunday was my friend Michelles baby shower, she is having twin boys. No names have leaked so we are calling them Baby A & Baby B as of right now. Everyone is so excited for them to get her, December cannot come soon enough. And lets be serious she is one hot pregnant woman! I wish I could look like her on a good day not being pregnant lol. Here are a few photos I wanted to share! Congrats Michelle & Mike, I cannot wait to meet the boys ! 

29.5

Today marks the half way mark to my 30th 29 +1 birthday. To say I am having a mini mid life crises is kind of an understatement. I know this sounds cliché but if I could know what I know now I might have changed some things. I do not regret anything I have done or the choices I have made but there is always room for improvement. I had a long list of things I wanted to do before I reached my new "big kid" age, but to be on the realistic side most will not be accomplished, so I have revised it.  

1. Be more organized 

2. Lose 40 lb.

3. Take part in a charity event

4. Get a job I love

5. Dream more

6. Have whiter teeth

7. Be involved in the gluten free community more. 

8. Learn how to bake gluten free

9. Clean up my social media footprint

10. Step out of my comfort zone

11. Run a 5K

12. Create a cookbook from my grandparents recipes

13. Create a business plan for my own company.

14. Try a cleanse.

15. Pay off credit card debt.