Ryanne

This is the lovely beautiful Ryanne.  I met her at the gym, she is the amazing photographer that took pics of my kids back in November.  We decided to have a little fun and do some pics of each other (these are the benefits of having photographer friends).  

This is my favorite. The colors. Her expression. Those eyes. Love it!!

*Location: Random blue trailer in an empty lot. 

I love how it has such a different feel in black and white.

I don't like shooting in direct sunlight but I was proud of myself on this one.

This one was a complete over exposed mistake but I played with it in Photoshop and I ended up really liking it.

Yet another accident... I was just doing a test shot to see if I had the exposure good but I like it.

Gorgeous! Ryanne has some of the best looks.   

*Location: Orange conex next to an ugly motel.

The black and white in the back round is an umbrella.  The sunlight is hitting from behind.  She has an amazing profile and great hair!

...oh yes and phenomenal lips! Where can I get some lips like this?

So much fun!

We had a great time and laughed so hard. Ryanne is a ton of fun and a great model.  

Blog College

I'm a mother of 3 children ages 3, 2 and 7 months.  I don't have time to go to college.  So, I've enrolled myself in Blog College.

It's free.
I can go to class whenever I want.
I get to choose what information I do or do not want to learn.

Basically, I search out photography blogs, websites, google, youtube, etc. for information and ideas to help improve either my photography skills or my photoshop editing.

Here are a few currently on the top of my list...

#1.  Digital Photography School. This is a great site where you can subscribe for FREE emails of info on shooting, photoshopping, composition, challenges, equipment reviews, etc.  There is also a bio at the bottom of the articles of the writer many of these people are amazing photographers with their own blogs.  I have found some great blogs just by checking out the writers personal blog.

#2.  Make your pictures POP! This is a recent article from the above site that I was really excited about.  Just a few simple things to make your pictures look amazing using Photoshop!

#3.  Winkfotos. Emily Clark is a great photographer in Utah.  I get inspiration from her photography all the time.  ***Jumping up and down screaming YAHHOO!!*** I get to go to a photography workshop she is doing in March : ) Yes I am a happy girl.

#4.  Bobbi and Mike. Great photographers with amazing style and a hilarious blog.

Bacon

This is the downstairs door to my moms house.

Today we decided to post and important safety sign.

The sign reads:

CAUTION!

Persons entering this premises will come in contact with 

BACON FUMES.

This could result in:

-Smelling like bacon

-Wanting to eat bacon

-A new love for Ms. Piggy

-Larger thighs / butt

ENTER @ YOUR OWN RISK!!!

This sign was inspired by my sister who always says my moms house smells like bacon.  What can I say? My mom likes bacon and she is proud of it.

So we took a few minutes today before my sister came over (we were cooking some bacon) and post a warning sign so she could prepare herself.  

*This is my original artwork. Please contact me if you need some custom caution signs.

Photo Challenge: Candid Photo

This weekend photo challenge was to take a candid shot. Here are the 4 that I was considering.  

I love the color on this one... maybe I just love this jacket she is wearing. I wish they made it in my size. 

This is how Taurin eats. Big bites. Minimal chewing.  

I really like the angles on this one.  The way her hair is hanging. Her outfit. I also like the lady in the back round walking her dog and Jamie talking to Shaw. 

This is the one I ultimately choose to post on the DPS website.  

I had to crop this pic to get it the way I wanted but I lost that Tearony has her hand on her hip... I thought it was cute. I do love it though.  Marinn loves to pretend. 

Valentine's Creations...

These are some cards I made for the girls for Valentine's.  I really like how Taurin's turned out. On the back I made it look like the back of an envelope.  It's amazing what you can make with a piece of white paper and a few crayons. 

Nothing says I love you quite like a heart pancake.  These were my last 2 and they had the best shape of all of them.  I think it was because the batter was a bit smoother and runny by the end.  Definitely a better consistency for making hearts.

My love.

This is my love. 

My forever boyfriend.

He looks amazing in hats.

And has some of the most comfy sweatshirts.

He knows how to laugh.

He knows how to make me laugh.

He knows how to love.

He knows how to make me feel like a queen.

He's taller than me even if I wear heels.

He's strong enough to pick me up. (I'm a "big woman")

He supports my dreams.

He challenges me to grow.

He is the best communicator I know.

He makes my heart happy.

He is helpful.

He does laundry better than I do.

He can cook.

He's a great driver.

He's the best daddy to my babies.

The way he loves me helps me better understand the love of God.

He enables me to be the best.

I love you Andrew.

L♥VE

I came home and checked the mail to find a package.  I love getting packages they make me happy.  I opened it up to find this lovely gold box wrapped with a white ribbon.

Inside the box wrapped in tissue paper was this curvy glass bottle with red rose petals and a scroll wrapped with a red ribbon.

With great excitement I opened the bottle and untied the ribbon...  On the piece of paper with burned edges a poem of Andrew's ardent love for me.  My heart was happy and I am reminded once again of how greatly I am loved by an amazing man.  

Yes, it's true.  I have the most romantic husband and I love it.

Peek-A-Boo

I was shopping for a gift for Taurin's birthday with my sister.  We were browsing the toy isle and we see a cute baby sitting on the shelf.

As we get a bit closer all of a sudden and quite fast she goes:

And says, "Where are you? Peek-a-boo!"

We were both totally caught off guard.  It was kind of creepy.  She had a motion sensor so you never knew when she was going to do it.  We were laughing so hard because we were trying to get her to do it again and we were waving our hands in front of her face and poking at her. Then she'd surprise you by pulling up the blanket real fast.  

What happened to just a good old fashioned baby doll? 

Walking my Monkey

I couldn't pass up these hilarious balloons for the girls for Valentines.  They really love balloons. I got a monkey for Marinn and a Frog for Taurin.

Here I am walking one of them to the check out line.

(picture courtesy of my sisters cell phone) 

We were laughing our butts off trying to take this picture... so were the other Wal-Mart customers.  

Let the Mystery Challenge BEGIN...

I'm starting a personal challenge today... I'm going to keep it a mystery until the end.

Start DATE: February 9th 2010
Finish DATE: April 26th 2010

Goal Details:
Complete this "activity" 5 times a week
It's a specific fitness goal

Why?
There have been many times I've thought that doing something would be great and have a wonderful result but I continually make excuses for why I can't start.  So, tonight I decided I'm going to START NOW... it's not about when you begin but that you just begin.

Super Bowl Smorgasbord

My family does not have a history of watching sports on television.  In the past few years they have decided to have a "party" which means making lots of tasty food and watching the Super Bowl and commercials. 

I'm good with this, I like food.

Here is this years smorgasbord 

(yes, I looked this word up because I had NO idea how to spell it)

Left: Little Smokies cooked in Cranberry Sauce & Chile Sauce

Right: Mini Taco salad in Fillo dough cups

Left: Homemade guacamole & chips

Center (my new favorite): Little Smokies wrapped with Bacon and sprinkled with Brown sugar and baked YUM!

Right: Baked Crab Rangoons-mixture of crab, cream cheese, green onions, & mayo in Won Ton Wraps.

Right: Fresh Fruit Salad- strawberries, blueberries, grapes, apples, & bananas

We also had Suzy's famous Cream cheese and Chutney dip with crackers.  

After finishing my plate I was stuffed!  It's amazing how a few bites of everything adds up.  

Now who was it that won the Super Bowl? 

Uhhh I mean GO team! I LOVE football!!! 

Ready for my close up.

My sister and I were running some errands and she needed to stop by the bank.  As we drive up I realize that there is no glass window where the clerks are standing just a brick building.  Then I see this:

On the left you see where the container for your deposit goes and then in the upper right there is a camera and a screen.  On the screen is a very clear picture of you.  Now, I'm a pretty goofy person and this was kind of funny to me.  Understanding there are banking clerks inside watching you make your deposit.  I couldn't help making goofy faces or telling my sister I was gonna check my teeth.  I was soo impressed at the quality of the picture.  

Anyway... once they get your deposit and are processing it they come on the screen and ask you for any info they need and tell you to have a great day.  We had kids in the car (of course) and she asked if we needed suckers.  Loving the quality of the technology I didn't say a word but threw up 4 fingers like I was flashing a gang sign.  You could see her holding back a laugh as she smiled big.

We got our suckers and went on our way. I love this bank even more now! A few days later I actually made my sister wait to go until I came and picked her up.  I wanted to go with her again and get a picture for my blog.  I had to share how fun this was.

See the joy on my face.  "Thank you Mountain America Credit Union!" 

Photo Challenge: Motivational Poster

I subscribe to a Digital Photography School... they send me tips and articles about photography.  They also do a weekend photography challenge.  I've been just reading the challenges thinking, "What a great idea, I should try that."  Then I never do... until now. 

CHALLENGE: Make a Motivational Poster

the quote says: "VISION: Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of their wonder"

I used a photo I already had and searched for a good quote.  It took me about 20 min to put together.  So, if anyone wants to join me in the challenge send me your motivational poster and I'll post it in a future blog : )

*I will post the challenges that I complete in the future as well.

Playing Around

These are some photos from the other day when me and my sister were playing around.
We used to do this all the time when we were teenagers. This time our goal was big hair, bright makeup and a bit of creativity.  Lots of fun! (makeup courtesy of my sister)

Location: Side of a building of a random auto shop.  This proves you can take a cool picture just about anywhere.