Meet my friend, Marianna from Green Mama’s Pad! Today she is representing post number 1103. Marianna lives in New England with her FOUR boys (totally one upped me there) and has all kinds of fun living green posts on her blog. She is truly one of the nicest people I know. Thank you, Marianna for helping with my countdown to 1111 on 11/11/11!
Number 1103!
October 22, 2011 By 2 Comments
Photo Editing Fun
October 21, 2011 By 3 Comments
I updated my iPhone operating system this week and I almost had a heart attack when I thought I had lost 434 pictures from my phone.
Four HUNDRED and thirty-four.
That’s a LOT of pictures!
I like pictures. I take pictures every day. I take pictures with my phone and with my Canon Rebel XS. You should see the amount of pictures on my computer! I’m sure any mother would agree that when you have little people running around, your cameras work overtime.
It is really fun to play with pictures in Photoshop and with a little practice, you can turn a boring picture into something special.
Here is a cute picture (or so I think) of Nathan at the pumpkin patch recently. I love his tongue. You should see it go when he’s trying to concentrate! I actually had to put chapstick around his face the other day because he had chapped his chin with his tongue.
Anyhow, his face was a little dark in the first picture so I decided to lighten it up. To lighten the entire photo without losing color, duplicate your layer (Control J in PSE8) and then set the top layer style to “screen.” It is one of my favorite tricks to lighten up a picture lost in shadows.
Sometimes just a simple lighten will improve a photo, but in this case, it kind of overexposed some spots.
I never claimed to be a professional!
So instead I tried to run an action. Actions are awesome little pre-made programs that will edit and colorize your photos at the click of a button. One of my favorite places to get free photoshop actions is the Coffeeshop Blog. The action I ran on this photo is called “Attic Vintage.”
When all else fails crop the photo in close.
I usually will edit a photo ten different ways before I find something I am happy with. I really wish I had the creative editing talent like some of my friends. I just keep practicing. Maybe once I figure this out I will try a movie editor!
One can dream.
Children and Religion
October 18, 2011 By 13 Comments
I turned on the Western Republican Debate tonight and Anthony was asking me about it. The conversation started out talking politics but then the candidates turned to the subject of religion in office and Anthony asked if one of the people was a Jehovah’s Witness. I told him, “no…where did you hear about them?” It turns out that one of his classmates is a Jehovah’s Witness and he was wondering about it because his friend was not going along on their class field trip to the pumpkin patch.
He started asking about what they believe, if they believe in God and why they don’t celebrate Halloween.
I really did not think twice about turning to Google to answer his questions.
We spent a good amount of time looking up facts about what they believe and discussing the differences between their religion and ours.
So, my question to you, is: Would you have looked up information on another Religion for your child? Do you only teach your own beliefs without exposing your children to other ways of thinking? Why or why not?
Just my random wondering for the day.
It’s a Twofer: 1097 and 1098
October 3, 2011 By 2 Comments
Somehow I keep getting behind a number, so today I am giving you a twofer to get on track (and hopefully stay that way!).
Blog Post 1097 is given to us by the lovely Sharon of Life with Sharon. Well, I guess it’s brought to you by Sharon’s kittie. Isn’t it the cutest? I think we should get my kitties together with her kittie and have a playdate.
Blog Post 1098 is coming to us from the adorable Penelope of Penelope’s Oasis. Penelope is always very sweet and her blog is devoted to creating a happy life and marriage (overachiever!).
Thank you, Ladies for helping me get to post number 1111 by 11/11/11. I have a feeling I might be hitting my goal early. I should go on vacation for a week…
My Friend Jessica is 1095
September 28, 2011 By 4 Comments
I actually used to work with Jessica of Mommies 2 Cents. Like in real life. At an animal hospital in San Diego. We were both receptionists, she helped train me. I loved working with Jess! We had so much fun together and I was really sad when she picked up and moved to Florida. But, lo and behold, here we are five years later and we are still talking and working together. Only now, it’s all done virtually! Funny how the world works.
Thank you, Jess for being my number today! That cake looks delicious, I hope the kids loved it.
Are you following along in my countdown to 1111 by 11/11/11?
Find Me!