CameraShy Challenge Week 4: Creamy

When I think of creamy I think of food, and one of my favorite creamy food items is mashed potatoes. I love mashed potatoes!! Creamy, buttery, homemade mashed potatoes.
One of my favorite things to pair with potatoes is meatloaf, so this challenge gave me a good excuse to make some yummy comfort food this week.

Here's some pictures of the process:

Photo Challenge 2014: Week 3

I had fun with the themes this week. The first picture I attempted was "Still Life - Fruit." This is really the first time I've ever set up a "photo shoot" environment. I wanted to use berries, I thought the colors would be so nice.

I ended up using this as the official submission for the week.

Overall feedback was good, but some people mentioned that that they found the bowl distracting. I posted this second picture as an alternate, and some like it better, but I don't. I like the bowl... which makes sense since that's the one I choose originally.

It's hard for me to hear that someone isn't in love with the picture I like the best, but photography is personal and not everyone has the same likes and dislikes. And constructive criticism is good, right? Right??...


The CameraShy theme this week is "Routine." Unlike the first theme, where I knew right away what I wanted to do, I had a lot of ideas for this one. I took pictures of my running shoes (a new thing I'm trying to add to my routine), of baby bottles (a theme that will be around for awhile longer), and while I was in the garage, just because I had my camera in hand, I took a few shots of my washer and dryer. Once I loaded everything on my computer I ended up liking the shots of my dryer the most. One had the clothes I had hanging up to dry reflected in the knob which I thought gave it some extra interest.

Photo Challenge 2014: Week 2

Another week, 2 more pictures.

I lucked out with an easy answer to the "Crisp" theme this week for the Camera Shy challenge. I was making fresh green beans on Wednesday night for dinner, and I knew it was the perfect subject. I took a few different angles and decided to submit the close up, with the just the beans showing. I love how shiny they are!

The second theme this week is "Lighting." This is more of a technical challenge, to submit a picture that uses lighting in an interesting way. I took a lot of different pictures through the week, including some of a fire from our fire pit (that couldn't quite get lit enough to be worth it), and some of the moon, which were cool to take, but pretty uninteresting to look at.

I finally decided on this picture of my wine glass with backlighting from the street lamp in the neighbors backyard shining through the window. If you look closely, you can actually see my living room fan reflected in the front of the glass.

Photo Challenge 2014: Week 1

So, this is week one of my 2014 photo challenges. I've joined two different challenges this year, one is at photochallenge.org and the other is for the blog http://beginnersphotographyblog.com. I'm really excited about making sure I stick with it and take all 104 pictures. I participated in a photo challenge in 2012 and only made it through July, so I really want to finish the entire year this time around.

Of course, each week will have a different theme, and each challenge will be different each week too, so I don't know yet how I'll end up blogging each week, as one post, or two. Maybe I'll change it up if I have a bigger story behind one picture that week. Who knows - I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

This week, I'll be posting both together.

My first picture that I took this week was for photochallege.org. The theme this week was Landscape, with a focus on trees. I went down to Lake Hollingsworth to take some pictures of the trees around the lake. I actually got a few different pictures that I liked, but I finally chose this one and my submission for the week:

The second theme this week was "Revitalize." Since I've been addicted to coffee from the third trimester of Rylie's pregancy, that only seemed fitting. I need that extra boost in the mornings right now with a 3-month old waking me up during the night.

I'm excited to share my pictures here each week. I haven't blogged in quite awhile, and I really do miss it. A caption under a photo just isn't always enough to convey what you were going for.

Starting the Year Off Right

As 2013 comes to a close I can look back and say that this year was not the easiest I've ever had. While some amazing things took place, like gaining a new daughter and making some great new friends, there were also some very hard moments to get through. One thing I have learned this year is that trusting that God has a plan that is bigger than the one you have for yourself is hard, but worth it in the end. I also learned that having family you can lean on when you need them is one of the greatest gifts in life.

I'm not making any "resolutions" for 2014 but I am making some decisions in my life moving forward that I hope will have a positive impact on this upcoming year.

1. To trust God with my heart and my head, not just my words.
2. To not focus on a number on a scale or a size on a tag, but on making choices that benefit my health, not take away from it. A healthy body = a healthy mind.
3. To remember that the most important things in life can't be purchased, but do require my attention and time to be the best they can be.

In addition to an attitude change, I'm also going to be doing some things for just me this year, including running a 5K for the first time in May and joining two photo challenges that require me to take a picture a week that complies with a specific theme. That's primarily what I'll be blogging about this year, the theme of the week for each challenge and my thought process behind what I chose to submit as my picture for the week.

Maybe I'll share my blog - maybe I won't... I guess we'll see as the year progresses. Right now, I just want to do it for me so I can look back in 2015 and see that I kept up with my promises to myself this year.

Introducing Rylie Ashyn

Phew!! It didn't happen how I ever imagined it would, but we are now an official family of four!!

I checked into the hospital on Sunday night, 10/13 for induction. Thank goodness it wasn't the same experience as Jordan, where they turned me away for an extra day. This time we got in nice and simply. After changing and getting my IV and paperwork set up there wasn't much else to do that night since they weren't going to give me any pitocin until the next morning, so we waited.

I surfed the internet, watched a little TV, and then tried to sleep. That didn't really go that well once the Cervidal started to kick in. Nothing big, but contractions big enough that it was pretty obvious sleep wasn't going be an option.

Things had fizzled out in the early morning, so next came some pitocin to jump start the arrival of my stubborn daughter. I was able to manage the pain pretty well in the early stages and was off to a great start. Then I got the news that completely changed the course of the rest of my day:

"NO EPIDURAL FOR YOU"

 

That's right folks, no epidural like I planned. Apparently I had a low platelet count and anesthesiology said no way Jose. So, after quite a few tears and a mini panic attack, I had no choice, she had to come out, and we did what we had to do. It wasn't easy, and it was painful, and I wouldn't want to do it again, but I'm super proud of myself and the end result - my beautiful Rylie Ashlyn.

 

Jordan came in to meet his new sister about 45 minutes later, after things had calmed down a little bit. It was love at first sight, and only continues to grow.

 

 

She was not happy about her eviction but settled down finally and rested really nicely the rest of her time in the hospital. We were both recovering nicely the next day, so we got to go home after 24 hours, just like I wanted.

We'll never be just a family of three again, but now we get another face to love, another hand to hold, and another soul to guide and care for. I can't wait to live each day as a mom of two!!




P52 Week 29 - Movie Party

Over the past few weeks we've been watching the Star Wars saga in order from 1-6... We caught the first one on TV during the 4th of July weekend, and Jordan was hooked, so we decided to splurge and buy the set so we could watch all of them together.

We finished up this week with V and VI. I was reminded how much of a nerd I really am too, because I love these movies. And yes, I enjoy the prequels too, don't hate.

I love watching movies as a family. It's so fun to find things we are all interested in, and look forward to doing together. I think next we're going to get caught up on Harry Potter. Charlie and I haven't seen the last one, and Jordan might just be old enough now to be interested. We'll have to start with the first one and go through... I wonder how long that will take? I'll also have to find someone I can borrow those from, I'm not sure I'm willing to spend the dough for all that just yet. :)

P52 Week 28 - Summer Treats

Living in Florida, you may think my favorite season is Summer, with all the sunshine and beach access, but no, it is not. Summer is my least favorite season, with it's humidity, constant rain, and sweltering heat... Fall, fall is my favorite season.

But with the theme this week being Summer Treats, I started to think about the things I do like about summer, and I realized I don't really hate summer, I just don't like it as much as the rest of the year. But there is plenty of treats for us in the summer too. 

Like this week, on a not so hot you might feel like you are melting day, I went to a frozen yogurt place on  one of my breaks at work and sat outside, at my yogurt, and read my book. And I'll have to say, it was nice. It was hot, yes, and while I didn't melt, my yogurt was going fast, but it reminded me I really do like being outside in the sunshine.  Maybe I just need to embrace it more and enjoy the months of shorts and tank tops before I start wishing for the two or three days each year when I need to break out a jacket. (But the flip-flops are here to stay all year long. I mean, it is Florida)

P52 Week 27 - Ka-Boom

I learned something this week. Taking pictures of fireworks is not easy!! But alas, I still tried. I got a few good ones, and one great shot. I hope everyone had as fun of a 4th of July as I did :)

P52 Week 26 - School's Out

School is out, but around here that means we do more school work at home than usual. And it's not me, Jordan loves to work in his workbooks when he's not in school. Let's hope this continues when actual Kindergarten starts in the fall. I took some pictures of his little desk for this week. I think I'll better understand what "School's Out" means next year...

I did the math today and realized that we only have 52 days left until the start of real school, and only two more weeks where we'll be off, just the two of us, for our Wednesday and Thursday time. :( How did my baby grow up so fast!!

Check out how everyone else interprets this week's theme over at Kent Weakly's blog.

P52 Week 25 - Fathers

In our house, Father's Day weekend means The US Open golf tournament. It's watched all day Sunday, in between baseball games of course. 

I grabbed these shots of the boys enjoying some father/son time during the day.

P52 Week 24 - Sunlight

So, I'll be honest, this week got away from me. I had a slammed packed week, and I'm getting ready to head on vacation next week, so planning for that as well.

I was hoping the sunset tonight would give me some good opportunities for a sunlight shot, but with the rain we've been having it was so cloudy.

But I will say this. I'm proud I took a picture. I thought about using a past shot from a few weeks ago, but that's not the challenge. The point is to take a new picture, each week, to theme. So while it might not be the best shot I could have gotten, I still got it in, and I'm happy with that this week.

I'm also happy that this coming week's theme is fathers. It will make it easy to get a picture in early so I don't have to think about P52 while I fill up my memory cards with pictures of the Tennessee mountains later on in the week. Vacation here we come!

P52 Week 23 - Water

This week when I think of water, I think of rain. It's been raining for days. Nothing too strong, but just steady and often. This has been the view of the front for the past few days.

 It keeps us holed up inside so we have to get creative with things to do. I don't want to lose my mind. (For all of you with more than one child, just let me say it now, God bless you!) On Wednesday we pulled out Jordan's tent and set it up in the living room. He loves playing in there. He tells spooky stories to his stuffed animals and pretends he's having a sleepover. 

Even the dogs seem down when it rains. Abby gets super nervous, so she follows us around the house and then  wherever Abby goes, Shelby must follow. Since they just got groomed recently, I gave them some time on the couch to help them relax.

 While I do enjoy the rain from time to time, it's time for it to move on now and bring back the sunshine.

P52 Week 22 - Playtime

With a crazy summer schedule starting, and then Kindergarten right around the corner, my days of play with Jordan are quickly coming to an end. So, I'm determined to make the most of the few we have left.

This week on Thursday we headed to a nearby park for some playtime in the water fountains they have there. And having water to play in around this time of year is a good thing, because you know how you spell hot? F-L-O-R-I-D-A.

Here are some of my favorite pics from the day.

P52 Week 21 - Favorites

I love wine... It's my favorite adult beverage, and my favorite way to wind down from a stressful day (or like this week, a few stressful days...) I started collecting corks from wine bottles several years ago. I didn't know why, or what I  would do with them, but slowly my collection grew. As it did, people started to give me things to do with my corks.

The first thing was a "cork board" set where you supply the corks. My sister gave me this for Christmas a few years ago. It's too pretty to actually hang anything on, but I have it hanging in my dining room (which has a wine theme, of course) and people love to ask "Did you drink all those?" And the answer is yes, with a little help from my husband, but not much.

 Then, a few years later my MIL bought me this really neat wine bottle shaped holder, specifically for corks. I love this thing! I only wish it was bigger (or that I had more of them).

Now I need to start thinking of some new things to do with corks...

Sharing with P52 over at kentweakly.com. Check it out for more of everyone's favorites this week.