Lights, Camera, ACTION!!!!!

I'm so excited that I can finally use my new camera. This is a great time for me now that I'm able to really start to build my food photography studio like I've envisioned for so long. No more waiting and searching for professionals to take all on my interior photos. Now I'm able to do them all myself and that to me is pretty exciting.

I've been researching and learning how to use my new camera and different lighting techniques as well. Below are some of the wonder photos I've taken so far and if I may say so myself I didn't do such a bad job. Once I figure out the importance of lighting there's no telling where this new venture may take me. Soon I'll be added "Food Stylist/Food Photographer" to my already lengthly resume.

Peace, Love, and Sweet Treats!!!
Latrice Fowler
Author
Raising Chefs…not just good cooks!
www.raisingchefs.com

Keeping It Movin

I was on a much needed regrouping break to see where Raising Chefs was at the present time and where I needed to take it to get to the final stages. After a long hard look at the areas that weren't working and those that were. I'm making some drastic changes to all the recipes that were previously going to be used in the book with some new ones. And once again I'm changing the launch date because I feel it's necessary. I know deep down that this is the right thing to do and the out come will be worth all the time spent on this book, and future books won't have to be subjected through this same process. So please bare with us a little longer, we promise we will not disappoint.

Peace, Love, and Sweet Treats!!!
Latrice Fowler
Author
Raising Chefs…not just good cooks!
www.raisingchefs.com

A Fresh Start To New Beginnings

Raising Chefs' has received a much needed makeover and we wanted to share with you the many changes to the site. More things will be added soon as well as a few new things that we'll be introducing in the future months. We suggest that if you haven't already done so bookmark www.raisingchefs.com because you never know what good things we'll be cooking in our kitchen or website for that matter. Many blessings to you and your family!


Peace, Love, and Sweet Treats!!!
Latrice Fowler
Author
Raising Chefs…not just good cooks!
www.raisingchefs.com

Settling In

Great things are finally happening for our family business(es). I've been trying to just get more organized for the next faze. We're launching Raising Chefs...not just good cooks! June 2008 and I'm starting to get all the recipes retested and photographed. This is totally exciting, I can not wait until it's finally done and ready to be viewed by the world. GOTTA THINK BIG!!!

We're also in the process of getting our very own Cooking Show! Actually this year along we'll be producing not one but three different shows with 5 episodes each. You'll just have to keep checking back in on this blog to find out the launch date for those as well as the titles of the shows we'll be introducing!!!

I'll also be launching my very own online cooking sessions or classes so please check back often for more updates as time gets near so you can sign up for some fun and interactive cooking classes. We have big dreams folks and we're not stopping until those dreams are reality for our family! We believe that what we're trying to do will benefit not only our family but families and individuals around the entire world. We'll all get cooking soon...peace, love and sweet treats!

Raising Chefs - NBCi5

I just wanted to stop in to post an up coming event we want each of you to be on the look out for. Raising Chefs has been booked for our first major appearance this coming Saturday and Sunday @ the Dallas Convention Center. Yes Raising Chefs was booked for both days at the NBC5 Health and Fitness Expo 2008. We are so excited and if you come out make sure you stop by the kitchen booth and say hello! You may be able to try some of the tasty goodies we have planned for this event. Peace, Love and Sweet Treats!

Raising Chefs Booked - NBC5 Health and Fitness Expo

GOD IS WORKING YALL!!! Raising Chefs has been booked for 2 yes count 'em 2 days for the up coming NBC5 Health and Fitness Expo January 26th & 27th. We are so excited it's nerve racking! We'll keep you posted, but I'm sure it'll be on the boob-tube!!!! So tune in and watch!!!

DoubleDutch Magazine - NYC

Raising Chefs was asked to contribute recipes for the Dec & Feb issue of the New York Magazine Double Dutch. We have been so blessed and I know I've said it before to have had these opportunities come our way. GOD KEEP 'EM COMING!!!!

"Friends On Friday"

Just wanted to quickly add the following link to an online interview I did before the holidays. I have some amazing friends. The REAL ONES of course!!! Thanks sweetie for the opportunity!
"FRIENDS ON FRIDAY"

Blessed Opportunities!

We're so excited and have been so fortunate to have so many great opportunities come our way lately. I've been preparing a recipe submission that will be featured in a New York magazine called DoubleDutch for their December issue. In addition I was approached by a very good friend of mine to collaborate on a publishing project with a few other authors, and I gladly excepted that as well. Big things in 2008!!!!

I've also excepted an on going article/column of my very own for an online/print publication called Un World Radio Show Magazine that will cater to a young urban crowd 14-29 called "Latrice Fowler's Tasty Treat Thursday". (I have my own weekly column like Carey Bradshaw only food related.) This is so exciting because that is my ultimate goal to be able to reach the youth with what we do with all our business ventures. Raising Chefs will open up so many doors for so many!!!!

If that wasn't enough, we've been booked for two expos in the coming year. Yes, two! January we've been booked for 2 days @ the NBC5 Health and Fitness Expo in Dallas @ the Dallas Convention Center. We'll be demonstrating four simple yet very tasty and creative recipes as well as promoting the book, Raising Chefs. The kids are very excited! We've also confirmed, today another Health Expo in April. GOD IS GOOD, CAN YOU SEE? Through the dark there's always a light not too far in the distance...keep reaching for it!!!!!!!!!!!

Long Time No Post

How do you make time for everything you commit to in your life? How do you pick and choose the things you want to commit to? Do you choose one over the other? These are the questions I've been asking myself lately. I have been so consumed with my involvement with TX Supports Jena Six which is now Equal Justice and have completely lost touch with this site as well as Raising Chefs and all the other sites I'm attached to. Not to mention my family. They've supported all my efforts with this new title of ACTIVIST that I so proudly wear, but they have suffered as well. My youngest for two weeks failed her spelling test and I know with my attention elsewhere she slipped through the cracks.

I have so much left to do with the book, but I'm not trying to rush myself. I know I've told people that the book will be out this year. Well, it's looking like the early part of 08 Raising Chefs might see the light. Self-Publishing is an uphill battle when you're on a somewhat fixed income. (Living paycheck to paycheck) Even though the initial fee with the company that I'm in partnership with has been paid. However, the package that I opted for didn't include the book layout and I need a professional to complete my layout, I'm but a amateur.

With that said, it took me almost 2 years to come up with the initial fee so with the upgrade for the layout it'll probably take me another few months. I'm also looking to purchase my own high performance 10 mega pixel camera and lighting equipment to take the food insert photos for my book. If I hired a photographer for that, boy...it would be another 2 years before the book could be on your kitchen shelf.

Wish me luck!!!

In awww & Proud!

Yesterday my husband was off of work just chillin with the girls and I. I wasn't trying to pay attention but while he was taking a call from one of his cousins' I was just floored at the pride I heard through his voice when he was explaining everything that I've got in the works. Telling him all about the book, the website, and the new restaurant due to open in less than 6 months. I kind of got teary eyed because everything we've ever talked about, and dreamed about is right around the corner, getting closer and closer. It's almost in that surreal stage and we're just at awww and overwhelmed with pride!!! Thank you GOD for all these blessings, they're so received!!!

Oh and by the way we just got into a house in Little Elm, TX so things with the restaurant will get underway shortly...yea...yippy!

8 Hours & Counting...

My book-cover photo shoot is set for 9 am, and I'm so excited and tired all at the same time. I've been shopping for my outfit., he kid's outfits, food and little nick-naks I needed for the shoot. I'm still cooking up some goodies, and still have a lot to do before I try and get a nap...and I say nap because by this point, I probably won't get to bed until 4 or 5ish...up again at 6 to make it to my shoot location by 7. The photographer won't be there until 9 so I'll have a small window to get everything set up.

I'm so excited I can't hardly stand it!!! I've been waiting for this moment for 8 years. I've had the vision for this book-cover in my head for the 3 years and in a few hours it'll finally happen...DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!!

RCC Summer Camp 2007 - Special Guest

We (Raising Chefs') were invited out as Ridglea Country Club Summer Camp's special guest speaker this year. I've never been a special guest before, it was very exciting and a very good experience for the kids and I. This was our very first cooking demo and I think it went great. A little nervous but our overall experience was awesome.

I kind of got a heads up on what to do and what not to do for future demos & presentations. The kids had a wonderful time and they're looking forward to doing more appearances. The same director of this event has secured us for next year at another function she organizes and we're booked for February. I can't wait!!!

Thanks RCC Summer Club Kids!!!

Photo Dave to the rescue! Part One

My girl's photographer has offered his skills in my little photography dilemma. I'm so grateful that he is pretty much saving my life here. He is the best I know, so I'm so comfortable he'll do the cover just as I've envisioned it for so long. Thanks Dave!

And then there were three...

My goodness, I have been working my tail off. I'm down to 3 pages left on my website. I'm so ready for all my pages to be done! You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you, once upon a time it was nothing for me to stay up all hours of the night working on my personal websites.

I've owned purpletexen.net, gottalovethatgirl.com, and sainternetchef.com. I've probably had more just can't remember the web addresses any more. I think when I hit my 30s I guess all that sleep I wasn't getting back then was catching up with me. It takes all that I have to make myself stay up past 11pm these days. I know I'm being silly, but it's the truth.

Well I guess I'll see if there's anything else I want to do on my pages, so I'm outta here for the time being...

Additions

Everyday I'm finding something else that needs to be on my site. In the last few days I've managed to add an RSS feed, refer-a-friend (to my site) button, and I've made the site mobile friendly. I even managed to create a little icon or logo next to the web address, so when you bookmark my site the little chef's hat icon will appear...cool huh? I'm so excited about this site and getting the book done.

I'm still waiting to upgrade my self-publishing package. My first plan was to do the book's layout on my own but now I'm thinking I want the help so that's why I need to pay the upgrade fee and send them all my stuff and the book goes into production. I still need a photographer to take the book cover photo...since my previous photoguy bailed on me...HELP!

Pray for me...I'm so ready!

Live! RaisingChefs.com !Live

I just wanted to shout it out loud and let everyone know that my site www.raisingchefs.com is live, with the exception of a few pages that are still under construction. But for the most part “Raising Chefs...not just good cooks!” is live. Check it out and let me know what you think. Don't forget to sign up for the book release update. Even though the site is live the book in still being put together and hasn't gone to production. If you sign up for the book release update I will send you an email announcement when that date arrives. Until then enjoy the site and tell as many people as you can, I really appreciate it more than you will ever know.