Phone pictures

I've never been much of a picture taker with my phone. I'm sure this is probably because when I first got a mobile phone, the quality of the pictures was so poor. Whatever the reason, I generally just don't think to use my phone as a camera.

When I broke down and got an iphone a couple of months ago, I started to change my tune a little. There are tons of free (and inexpensive) apps that can help improve the quality of your pictures. In fact, there's a whole section in your app store! (Another blog that I read was discussing this very subject yesterday...I wish I could remember who so that I could link you to it.) At any rate, one app that I use quite often is PS (Photoshop) Mobile. It is super easy to adjust your exposure (making your photo lighter or darker), adjust the saturation (making your photo brighter, giving it a little pop), turn it black and white, rainbow, and/or add a frame. It's a great little app for on the go. I also hear good things about Shake it Photo, although I don't have it.

Now that I've talked about iphone apps for photography, I'm going to show you photos that I took with my iphone, but that I DIDN'T edit with my iphone. BAWHAHA! I gotta keep you guessing! (See, the whole blog topic is about using the dang phone to take pictures and I did that, OK?!)

When I picked Sister up today, she wanted to stop at the fountain and get a drink before we left. I was standing there, adoring how perfectly sweet she looked as she tried to get that stream of water in her mouth. The light was reflecting beautifully off her amazing face and I thought..."Oh, I wish I had my camera." So I reach into "my business" to pull out my iphone. (Yeah, now you know, I carry my phone in my bra like a common jail bird! And man, is it difficult to hide that since the ole' reduction, but I digress. It's a topic worthy of its own day!)

Anyway...



This picture is straight out of the camera. I didn't adjust anything, I just added a frame. (Cause I like things to be cute like that, you know?) The reflected light helped this turn out to be a decent "camera phone" picture.



BUT...since the BIG win yesterday, I've become totally obsessed with these! I quickly edited this picture using my new loot...and WOW...Can I just tell you how much I LURVE, LURVE, LURVE these!!!)

So, I guess not having a picture for my post isn't an excuse not to blog. Who was gripping at me about that recently, hum?? (But that's just because she's all fancy and doing a 365-thingy;-)

Oh, and Emily, thanks for your comment...I love comments. That isn't my beautiful girl in the photo yesterday. She belongs to Shana Rae, the creator of Flora Bella Collection. She is precious though, huh? Check back the second week of July though, cause I am TOTALLY gonna copy that photo with my girl!!

SO EXCITED!!

I won! I won! I WON!!! (Yea me!!!)

I recently discovered the Flora Bella Collection. It was love at first sight. Like I mentioned a few posts ago...I can just see DoriGrace like this at the beach this summer!



(We won't have any trouble getting her to be that sassy, will we???)


I entered a contest at I Heart Faces (an incredible blog that everyone should follow regularly) to win the Flora Bella Collection. A beautiful collection of textures and actions that I can.not.wait to get my hands on! I heart faces is such a great blog...for those who photograph, those who want to photograph, or simply those that love pretty pictures.

AND IIIIIII WWWWWWOOOOONNNNN!!!


(Now, I gotta finish all these household projects so that I can take some pictures!!!)

I love this boy...

I hate this hair....

It makes me feel terribly old...terribly old and WAY uncool. He thinks it is cool. My stylist thinks it is cool. I think it is a mess. He loves it and begs me everyday not to cut it. Everyday I think to myself (at least once), "that hair...that hair has got to go!" I threaten a cut...a big cut...one that involves a razor. He whines...he BEGS. And, I say to myself, "Pick your battles". So, the hair survives another day. Sigh.

Today was the Pinewood Derby for his scout group. He didn't put too much effort into his car and he was happy to place third in his den for the second year in a row.

He wasn't the fastest.

He wasn't the slowest either.

And, most importantly, he wasn't the shaggiest.

15 Minute Photo Challenge

When I recommitted to blogging, I mentioned that one of the things that I was doing this year was concentrating on photography. To that end, I joined a local photography group in an effort to meet, network, practice and learn with others. I was SO nervous to go to the first meeting...walking in to a restaurant to join an established group. Man, glad that is over!

Another way I want to work on my photography is through doing a 15 minute photo challenge every week. I got the idea from this dude...I've learned a ton from his site. It is all about taking just 15 minutes, one lens and seeing what you can come up with. Basically, practicing photography!

For this first installment, I am using shots from a little shoot I did with my new photography group. We met up downtown and were assigned random props. I got this crazy little devil duck. I also did a little work with an old camera.

Lots to learn, but it's a start....

This was a pipe in an empty fountain. I just loved seeing the light from the other side.


This really makes me laugh...if you are from OKC, you know there ain't no "under ground."


The teal in this shot is from a huge (like 25 foot) exclaimation mark that sits along Park Ave. downtown.


Just liked the look of this camera with a little texture.

For About 2 hours...

...the hair...



...was beautiful...



...until she took a nap...



...and yacked...and it had to be washed...

and then it was straight again.

If My House Were Burning...

I'd save you!

As much as I try not to be, I can get pretty caught up sometimes in "things". Things can make me smile. They can bring a memory that has been tucked away in the back of my mind to the front, changing my thoughts and direction. They make me miss times gone by and often, special people that are no longer sharing my life.

My most important "things" don't always come with price tags. Many times they weren't even purchased. I've been blessed with many generous, thoughtful gifts in my life and many of those items are my "things".

Though I don't come from a particularly close, strong or tradition-based family, some of my "things" are family items. There's the Walker step stool. My grandpa Walker worked with wood as a hobby and in the early days, he made step stools for those getting married and having kids. Among your wedding or new baby gifts, you'd find a beautiful oak stool engraved by his shaky hand. Everyone has one. We've got three and they all get used...every day. Even though he's been gone for 10 years, his legacy lives on in those stools. My brother, Big, picked up the tradition so all new babies will be able to reach the sink as they grow.

I have this crazy blue porcelain bowl that we bought when we lived in Japan. You'd never know how much I love it because I keep it up on a shelf...hidden so the monsters don't have a chance at breaking it! (It's high too...they can't even reach it with a Walker stool!) I sometimes take it down just to hold it and stare at its beauty and remember our carefree years living overseas. It is interesting the things I love...the things I obsess about...silly.little.things.

At the top of my list today...the crazy guy from above...



...the table and chairs, loving built ten years ago (by Big) to match WB's jungle nursery. (Painted by his then-wife...I love the hair on dude's legs...and the overly worn map of the Congo.) It reminds me of my babies eating in my kitchen...of JB's knees popping as he squats down to sit in a too-small chair and eat dinner with Little Sister...and of how time flies when you are watching babies grow.

So...if your house were on fire, what would you grab? Have you ever been asked that question? (And, don't say your scrapbook, everyone says that!) This isn't a good question to ask me. Really, it isn't. I've come to realize that I probably won't make it out of my burning house alive, for there are too many "things" that I love.

She'd Stay Here Forever If She Could...

How about that outfit? Apparently, it is one of her dad's favorites because he dresses her in it a lot. Must be the boots..

No flash here...it is the terrible light of my kitchen, first thing in the morning. Can't wait for that new camera so that I can get rid of some of this noise when I am taking pictures inside.

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Thanks old friends so coming back and hangin' out!

Check out this link to the Savvy Photographer and Bella Flora actions. This little Asian girl on the beach....I need the assessories for DG on the beach this summer! Isn't she adorable!!!!

MORE and BETTER is EXPENSIVE

Since so many of my original blogging friends aren't active much anymore, my Reader account now overflows with photography blogs. If you're blogging, or just catching up, drop me a comment so I'll know you are out there so I can make sure you're on my Reader. ;-)

Even though I'm not committing to blogging everyday, I am on day four so "Whoo Hoo" for me! One of the reasons I needed an active blog was for the crazy amount of contests and photography related giveaways I enter. So, expect pictures and occasional links to contests and such.

OK...so the photography commitment. This year, I am committed to MORE and BETTER. Taking MORE pictures and taking BETTER pictures. I had resigned myself to practice. Last year, I spend money on training and stuff. This year, I am practicing. I understand how to shoot manually...I just need to practice. Everyday. Practice. Shoot. Learn. Practice.

To that end, yesterday I stepped out of my comfort zone and into a gathering at a local restaurant. I was terrified. I didn't know a soul. I almost couldn't walk in...but I took a couple of deep breaths and I did it. I joined a photography group. And, I survived. It wasn't bad...and I met some "normal" folks. People would will talk cameras and photography with me. I am giddy with excitement...I have people to shoot with.

I felt so good! I was working on my New Year's list...photography...yea! I am not spending $$...yea! But then....

then....

THEN...someone slipped this into my hands:



and I went weak in the knees.

Four days of not spending $$ is good, right? OK...three days of not spending money.

One of these bad boys is now in a box with my name on the label...headed to my house. Haven't been this excited in a long time..I.can.not.wait!

So...I'll be boring you with pictures from both cameras. Canon XSi vs 50D. After all, I'll have to justify the upgrade. ;-)

MORE...and BETTER!

Goddess or Medusa

Yesterday's pictures were of the "Good Morning Sister" variety. That's how she wakes up. The ponytail from the day before is falling out...in a knot really. It is a total mess. Oh, and if you think no pony is an option...Fa-Get About it!

So, this is what she looks like fresh out of the bath. (And, you have NO idea how difficult it was to get her to sit still for this simple shot ;-)



She's pretty good about letting me brush her hair and put it up, but seriously, it just takes so much time and I think it always looks a mess. I've been thinking lately that cutting off a few inches may help the situation. When I posted a little blurb on the Book of Faces, folks really seemed to be opinionated. (LOL...like I LISTEN?!!)

After seeing Sophie Le's curls, I decided to give that a shot.



I was really prepared for a "Hot Mess". Well, I've got a "Hot Mess" everyday, so I guess I was thinking about a really "Hot Mess" with a mess of hair!

But, what I got was beyond my wildest dreams. My girl may NEVER have straight hair again.

It.Is.Amazing...



*****

Thanks for the encouragement and kind words about being back. I'm on quite a roll, eh?

Just Because...

Just because I didn't post a picture yesterday, and just because I am experimenting with format and such...



Now, I'm off to clean my laundry room. I gotta start somewhere, right???

New Year...New Us!

New Year, New Resolutions? Over the last few days, I've enjoyed listening to folks share both their resolutions and their opinions as to the relevance of resolutions. While I'm generally not a believer that big personal issues like weight, finance or lifestyle are good candidates to be addressed in a New Year's Resolution, I do find it beneficial to have "a list."

In case you're curious, here's mine.....

Things I want to spend time and effort doing in 2010:

*I want to concentrate on becoming a better photographer. I know, I know, that was on the burner for 2009 too. And, while I did make some progress, I've still got so far to go! One of the ways I want to "exercise my creative muscle" (as one of my idols says), is to do a "15-minute photo challenge" once a week. Shoot an interesting or ordinary subject for 15 minutes in a creative or challenging way. I'm looking forward to it.

*I want to blog again. My only question was: here, or at a new site? I'm kinda starting fresh again...hoping a few old adoption friends are still lurking...but I'm not really ready for a "photography" site. The problem is that back when I started changing the size of my photos, I lost some of my ability to change my format. (ie: sidebars) If I mess with stuff too much, my history (surprisingly, some folks still read about the best/worst day!) will be all jacked up. I realize that attempting to create a new blog might derail my blogging efforts so, for now, this will do. I've missed blogging. I've missed the outlet. I've missed the friends that didn't successfully transfer to the Book of Faces. Besides, my kids provide SO much material...like the 10-year old falling of the toilet earlier this week...I just have to write those stories down and this is the best way. So...anyway...here I am. NOT saying it will be everyday, but it will be regular so don't hate-just appreciate!

*I want to have a dinner party. Strange, I know. It's silly really. I have a perfectly lovely home. I have beautiful serving pieces and dishes. I'm a decent cook. BUT, having people over to my house (yes, sometimes even family) causes me to literally break out in a sweat. I want people to come over...really I do...but it just stresses me. I don't know why, but it seems to be getting worse every year instead of getting better. It is a weakness that I really gotta work on. So...this year...DINNER PARTY...at least 8 people. I gotta a whole year to plan...only eight people. Lord...I'm not gonna be able to sleep tonight from worry...

*I want to get back to work on my Masters. I've only got 12 hours to go...how hard can it be?? I just gotta get going again. Seriously.

*I want to go to a movie by myself. (OK...AGAIN...my strangeness is showing!) My mom has always LOVED to sneak off to a movie alone. I've never "got that." When I walk into the theatre, I always seem to be drawn to those "alone" folks and I immediately think, "Oh, how sad...they didn't have anyone to come to the movie with." I know that isn't always the case, but I think that because that is what I believe people would think if they saw me alone. And really, who cares? Like the dinner party above (gulp), it is one of those things that seems harder to think about doing every year. They are like muscles or joints that haven't been moved and they are getting stove-up. The older I get, the more I become a dependent, creature of habit...I hate that.

*I want to complete my home improvement list! We built this house six years ago and with two kids and one dog, we are starting to show some date and wear. This time next year, we'll be in the market for a new home (final...last home ever!) so I've got to get some things updated. I also feel like the more I concentrate on the home, the more comfortable I'll feel, and the more comfortable I feel, the easier it will be to have people over. Like...to a dinner party. Sigh.

***What didn't make the cut? Let's see...I'm down 20 lbs from this time last year and feel like I'll continue in that direction (because, frankly, there is SO far to go!) so it ain't makin' the list. Besides, most weight loss programs borne out of a resolution or a "cold turkey" decision haven't been successful for me. We are moving in a good direction financially and I have reason to believe we'll continue in that direction since I'm driving. (Ha! Ha!)I want to be a more patient person...a more tolerant, flexible mom...a less nagging wife. (But I only want to put things on my list that I'm gonna be successful at...;-)

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And now for coming attractions:

Sister's Hair - Goddess or Medusa?

and...for those that missed it...by popular demand...the full account of 10-Year Old's Toilet Injury!

I know...the suspense is killing you.

Didn't ya miss me? (OK, all 3 of my readers please feel free to respond.)