Fix It Friday

This week's Fix it Friday is "Silly Girl"

This is the original photograph


I used Photoshop and a few actions from Pioneer Woman and MCP Actions. There are some things that I do consistently on all photos. This one in particular, I used the cloning tool in Photoshop (CS3) to remove the mark on the arm. I also ran Sharpen THIS on the eyes and the mouth in each one.



This first photo :
MCP Actions: Magic Skin, Eye Doctor
Pioneer Woman: Sharpen THIS, Lovely & Ethereal

2nd Version:
MCP Actions: Magic Skin, Eye Doctor
Pioneer Woman: Sharpen THIS, Lovely & Ethereal, and Black & White Beauty

3rd Photo:
MCP Actions: Magic Skin, Eye Doctor
Pioneer Woman: Sharpen THIS, Lovely & Ethereal, and Sepia Tone

Keep Me, Protect Me, Share Me

I saw this video today at another blog I follow Life In Motion Photography

Watching this I got goosebumps... I hope you get the same feeling when watching it. It is truly why I love photography and hope that my images touch someone's heart like this

Keep Me, Protect Me, Share Me




Maybe this is what my heaven will be like...

Something exciting is coming

Exciting for me anyway...my new logo will be ready soon. Go here, she is creating my new logo. Once I get that completed, then I can start working on all my marketing materials and a separate site. I will still keep this one, but I want to have a blog/site dedicated solely to my photography...future customers are NOT going to be interested in reading my random thoughts :)

Update on the indoor studio: unfortunately, there isn't one. Both kids being in two sports each is going to kill me. Maybe tonight i'll get the pictures taken so i can get them uploaded. Cross your fingers!!

Step by step

Just for future reference, I really do not need a step by step breakdown of your day. Every phone call you have about a tool, does NOT require a trip down to my office to discuss the outcome of the call. I'm glad you feel the need to share...but please stop it. I have run out of ways to avoid these updates. If I pick up my phone when I hear you coming down the hall, you just come back. If I continue typing and working at my computer, you just keep talking. I don't think it would be very nice for me to just get up and close my door - but really...i'm about at that point. I swear you could get one of our tools up and running if you would actually spend the time ON THE TOOL instead of in my office.

I think I'm going to time it one of these days. I'm curious to know just how much time you spend standing in my office talking about your job instead of doing it.

OK, sorry. I really needed to be able to say that...and seeing as how I am the HR Manager, I didn't figure it would be good to say it out loud.

We finally booked the condo for our family vacation... Let the dieting begin. I officially have 114 days (or just under 4 months) to loose 15 pounds. That's doable....right? Before you get started, I absolutely DO NOT want to hear that you don't think I need to loose weight. The thing is...it's my body and I get to decide what weight I want to maintain. (picture me sticking my tongue out at you)

We are staying right on the beach, so I have wonderful images of waking up and sitting on the balcony while the kids scream and run around inside...sitting on the beach and watching the sun set in the evening. My goal is to get up early enough to watch the sunrise at least one of the days we are there. I can't wait to take all the pictures - I already have so many things in mind. REALLY I just can't wait. Florida...here we come...well - in 114 days anyway.

One Month to Live - week 2

So this was the first full week of this series.  

We had amazing music this morning.  Music is something that can move me like nothing else.  If I have had a bad morning with the kids, music can turn it around faster than anything.  I watched as The Boy rock out to Meant To Live by Switchfoot this morning...music moves him to.  It's truly amazing to watch.

We discussed Living Passionately in our series today.  Here are some key things that stuck with me:

- Nothing great ever happens without passion

- Does my passion make a difference in someone else's life?

The three key things about living my life passionately

1. Find my passion

2. Follow my passion

3. Fuel my passion

This really makes me step back and think about my life.  I read in our book that a lot of people have "Someday Syndrome".  This is when you constantly tell yourself you will do something some day.  Some day there will be enough money.  Some day there will be enough time.  Some day the timing will be just right.  I can honestly say that I live a Someday life.  I am not a risk taker and if you know me well enough, you know this about me.  Risk scares the hell out of me.

But to be true to myself and my passion...and even true to my family, I need to step out of my safe box and take some risks.  I need to quit saying that someday I am going to build my indoor studio, someday I will build my photography website, someday I will plant in my flower beds....  

So today...I will take pictures of our furniture upstairs and list it on Craigslist tomorrow.  I will take that money and buy that materials to build my indoor studio.  Next weekend I will buy the flowers to plant.  I will start researching how to build my website.

As I was sitting and listening today, I realized that I do not know what The Man's passion is.  That made me really sad.  He is so involved in my passions, and I feel as though maybe I have denied him time to have his own passion.

What are you passionate about?

On the downhill slope.  Today is much better.  I was able to get out for most of the day without hurting too much.  Must mean its getting better.  

We picked up Sophie from  the vet today - that was a nice break and allowed me to recover a little easier.  She has gained 8+ pounds in the month and a half we have had her.  She is a WILD dog today, you can tell she is enjoying being back home.  She loved on everyone and cuddled and played like a crazy girl.  I'm wondering how much longer before she crashes and just can't stay awake anymore.

Whatever the vet fed her DOES NOT agree with her system.  She was taking a nap on the couch while we looked for beach houses and she just about killed us all.  She has got gas like you cannot imagine.  I mean run for the hills gas.  Whew!  Such a horrible smell from such a sweet dog.

Cross your fingers that she sleeps tonight.  I really can't figure out the secret to her sleeping all night.  

The Girl is a mess today.  I don't know what is going on with her - but she is wearing me out and it started from the moment she got up this morning.  I guess she is just excited that the dog is home, but seriously, she's gonna have to chill out and SOON.

We are taking a family vacation this summer to Florida with The Man's family.  I'm on the hunt for a condo that is on the beach and within everyone's price range.  I really hope we can find one and that it turns out to be what it says it is.  I can't wait.  A whole week on a beach...it sounds so wonderful.  The kids are going to have a great time and it will be nice to be able to have some alone time but still spend time with the kids.  

The summer is already looking like it is going to be busy - it will be nice to get some dates nailed down so we can make other plans.  

Off to go order pizza for dinner... 

Day 3...ugh

OH, for the love of all things good - someone needs to break me out of this house.  I am driving myself crazy...i can't stand being in my bed anymore.

I feel better today...unless of course i walk around for an hour and do some laundry...then it gets a little tender.  I am really hoping that tomorrow all will be well and I can get back out and do some things.

The Man has been exceptionally great - I wish he could have spent some time with me though.    

My classes started back yesterday so I need to get some work done there...hopefully next week will be more exciting - for my blog anyway.

Day 2

Day 2 - a little bit uncomfortable so I spent most of the day in bed.  The shoulder pain hit me a couple of times today, but as long as I was laying down it wasn't too terribly bad.  We decided to board Sophie so I didn't have to worry about getting up and down to take her out.  GOOD decision.

Overall, it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be, so that is a good thing.  Hopefully by Saturday I'll be able to stand up straight and bend over to pick things up off the ground.  Right now, i just look like a little old lady, hunched over and shuffling around the room.

The Man has been wonderful.  He brought me flowers home yesterday - although I probably should move them to the bedroom so i can see them.

My belly is quite swollen and The Boy was nice enough to point out that i look "bigger"....THANKS.  Gotta love their honesty.

The Girl said she worried about me today.  She is sweet for saying that, but I know better.  She is too scattered to remember anything more than 5 minutes ago.  :)

Whew! glad that is over

Well, it's official.  I can no longer be a baby maker.  

I woke up this morning with a weird sense of peace.  I had a friend come pick me up and drop me off at the hospital because The Man had some things at work that needed to be taken care of.  But before she got there, I took the kids to school, washed the sheets and made my bed, folded and put up laundry, started a couple more loads and gave Sophie a bath.  Pretty good morning if I do say so myself.

I got to the hospital and everything went smoothly.  My throat was super irritated when I woke up, I figure they put a tube in to help my breathing.  But that was probably the worst of it.  They gave me some pain medicine while I was there and called in some more for me.  Came home, slept a little and finally ate a little.

All is well and now I have one less thing to worry about - goodness knows, we don't need anymore babies in this family

Thank you for the thoughts and prayers today - all went well.

The Boy

practicing baseball

Need a vacation??

Just schedule an unexpected surgery!

Seriously - I've been talking about needing a vacation for a while now, little did I know that surgery is how I would get one. Don't worry - it's not a big deal. Really!

I have the two children I was meant to have and Lord knows...there is no way that I could manage anymore. I have been taking a birth control shot for 8 years or so and the max is somewhere around 4 or 5 years. The reason the doctors don't want you to stay on it for longer than that is that it can cause osteoporosis.

Well after being forced to go have a bone density scan done, it turns out that i don't have very dense bones. No one can say for sure if it is from the shot or just my genetic makeup. Regardless, the shot is no longer an option for me. The pill...well...let's just say that I am not the best person to have to remember to do something every day. It's almost as if I have this mental block that refuses to take that stupid little pill. Next was the IUD...well my body decided that wasn't going to be an option either. GREAT. Last option...tying my tubes. So tomorrow, I'm going in and getting it taken care of. It's all happened pretty fast because I'm due (yesterday) for my next shot and he doesn't want me to go without birth control (probably a good idea).

So, I get a vacation for the rest of the week. Woo Hoo. Yeah me. Now...must figure out how to make the dog be quiet during the day...

OK, back to work for now - I have a lot that needs to get done before I go on a cruise later this week...well, that's what I'm going to tell myself is happening anyway. :)

What would you do if you knew you only had one month to live

Calm down...I am fine.

We started a series in church with that title and will be looking at it for the next 6 weeks. We have a book to read and all kinds of stuff. I am really excited to get into this.

But for now, think about that question with me.

How would your priorities change?
What would you do differently?
What you start doing?
What would no longer be important?

Think about things like: How do you put your kids to bed now? Do you just tell them good night and send them on their way? Would you change that routine?

What would you say to those around you?

What would you say to those far away?



Think about it... how would it change your life if you knew you only had One Month To Live?

I'll try to share often on here as this series progresses.


On a lighter note...here is The Girl from softball practice this weekend...note to self "must open eyes"

.

Wow! What a week

I think I'm gonna leave early today. We let 3 more people go today. We are essentially down to the bare bones. I'm glad because it needed to be done for us to survive during this time, however it is still hard to let anyone know that they no longer have a job.

I am exhausted. I mean completely and totally mentally exhausted. Next week will be a week to figure out what has to be picked up by others and reorganized.

Tomorrow is Valentines Day...The Man got me something that I wanted, but just planned on waiting a while for it since we are trying to pay off some debt. But it arrived with today's UPS packages at work...I love him so incredibly much and I can't wait to get it up. Click here to see it for now. Once I get it up and completed, i'll post a picture on here.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day and that it is filled with love. From our family to yours.

Hugs & Kisses

Come on warm weather...

I need some new artwork...

Wishy Washy

The Man and I talked and talked and finally decided to not put the kids in baseball...

I pick up The Girl from school and they played baseball in PE yesterday...she was so excited about hitting the ball twice. (ugh...did you feel that knife go in)

On the way home she starts asking about when the first softball practice is?? (really, how is it possible she is really THIS excited about it)

I get home and notice The Boy's cell phone and check his text messages...he has spent the afternoon talking to his aunt about how he is going to play baseball and he is so excited. (well, that knife just went in and twisted around)

I told The Man at date night last night that I just couldn't take them out of it. They are both so very excited and I just can't do it. So we ultimately decided to just suck it up and make it work. I'm not going to think about it right now, i'll just wait until we get the schedules and figure it out then.

Surely there can't be any more sports they want to try...

baseball and date night

OH thank goodness this week is almost over.

Well, I think we are going to pull the kids from baseball/softball. The Man and I decided that it really is just too much to have them in two sports right now. The Mans job is NOT GOOD right now at all so it would be me running them to all the practices...not to mention that I have to be able to do my school work as well. I hate doing it because I know they are really going to be upset, but we just think it is the best thing to do right now...I think. GAWD they are gonna hate us.

Tonight is date night...darn it...we are going to have a good date night if it kills me. The last few have been off a little bit. I think just the stresses of work and kids and life in general have taken over, but tonight...It's just me and The Man..and a few margaritas baby.

40 minutes to go

oh...and p.s. not everything needs a response. why is it some people can't just let an email be the last one....stop it

What a week...what do you mean it's only Wednesday??

This has already been one heck of a week!! Is there a full moon this week or what? Something is going on.

Work is crazy, the kids are crazy, I am crazy... good lord, I think I lost my ever lovin' mind yesterday.

BUT... today is Wednesday, Hump Day, the 1/2 way point...and I am determined to turn it around. This week WILL be better. I am going to make it a better week if it kills me...and at this rate - it just might.

So what's going on for the rest of the week???

Today - The Man has a big important meeting for work and the kids have church

Thursday - Having lunch with one of my favorites and The Man has to work late and then we have date night...yeah that SOOO needs to get back on track.

Friday - The Boy has his first dance...more on that in a bit.

Saturday - The Boy has baseball tryouts...but the Man says he doesn't REALLY have to go. Huh? I don't get that AT ALL. Apparently, if they don't go to tryouts they just get put in the draft. Regardless I guess it is a crap shoot either way, but maybe he will be good and get drafted.

Sunday - Church, morning and night.

Wow...i guess we just hang on at this point and hope we all make it thru.


So...The Boy has his first dance this Friday night. He is on the student council board so he has to stay and set up for the dance and decorate. FUN. He's been telling me for a while that he needs to ask someone to the dance but he just doesn't know who. We talked about the options and it was pretty amusing. Girl #1 is the girlfriend of one of his friends, but he hasn't asked her yet. She told another Girl (are you lost yet) that she would go with whoever asked her first. So he figured why not?? I told him that he absolutely could not ask her....you can't ask someone who already has a boyfriend..."well he hasn't asked her"...yes I know honey, but trust me - you CAN'T ask your friends girlfriend to the dance. "Oh."

So after a couple of other options and two weeks later...I asked him last night if he has asked anyone yet. "no" (insert awkward silence)..."Mom...is there anything wrong with going stag?" No honey of course not is my response to him.

Now what you have to understand is that all he really cares about is "Is it gay to go by yourself". Poor kid... he just really wants to go and hang out - thankfully he isn't TOO interested in girls yet. Even though EVERY other boy is right now, he just hasn't gotten there. I think he worries about it more than anyone. I know that it is just because he is emotionally immature. He is ADHD afterall and while he is incredibly smart - he just doesn't have the social skills developed very well... and that is A. O.K. with me. No reason to rush into all the drama of dating just yet.

More later.

Faces

Look at those eyes...How can you resist?




It's almost enough to make you want to have another baby...ALMOST!

Be sure to check out http://www.iheartfaces.com/ to see all the other beautiful faces that have been entered into the contest!