TaylorMade is in the Spotlight!

Amanda has 3 awesome freebies and 3 inspiring challenges @ Oscraps!

Here is my LO for challenge #2

And, she has a kit that co-ordinates with her freebies called Mere Modesty!

Here's a new layout from me... I used "Once Upon a Time" from Colors with Caryn . She's a really sweet person who has just opened her store @ Enchanted Studio Scraps. :)

Today, we actually felt better for the first time in 2 weeks!!! The sun was shining, Kylie didn't cough any when she woke up, Ari ate well, and I had some energy! It was great!!! I went shopping for a couple dresses for Kylie since she doesn't have any clothes for the spring... She's outgrown almost everything from last year! :) And, she must be wearing size 11 shoes! Yikes, her feet have really grown, and I'm going to have to take back the cute sandals I found for her at Target...

My Girls

I practiced with Jas and the girls today... (better known as torture in our house). It was not as much about the posing as it was about the crazy lighting and white balance... Someday, I will have more fun after I learn how to control that stuff... :)

I was working on a couple more pictures today. I think I finally got the umbrella one more how I like it...less red in the skin. I love the one of Jenni and Hunter! :)

Yesteday, I finally took Kylie and Ari to the doctor. Kylie was running a fever in the morning. So, she had double ear infections and Ari had a swolen sinuses from allergies. They both have an antibiotic now, and I'm hoping that someday soon (after more than a week of this!), we will be back to normal... I had come to the end of the mom rope yesterday about supper time... You know the time that you finally just lose it and totally flip out over the dumbest little thing... Yep, that was me last night... I'm sick, tired, and have heard more whining and fighting than I can handle...lol... Hopefully, we will be better soon- for the kids sake!! lol!!

family picture

I tried this one with some of Danielle's textures from Catscrap. Not sure which way I like it most... :)

recipe for cravings!

If you need Mexican or Pizza but are on a diet, this might help!

burrito:
1 La Banderita soft taco Fat Free (only 1 point!!)
1/2 cup of fat free refried beans (2 points)
2 T of salsa
1 T of light sour cream (if you want - 1/2 point)
some hotsauce, taco sauce, jalepenos, or nothing at all
2 T of low fat cheese (if you want- 1 point)
fold and put in pan with spray. toast on both sides.
open up and put in lettuce, onions or whatever suits you. :)

pizza: (2 points!)
spray pan and put in a tortilla to get crispy on both sides (1point)
put it on a cookie sheet (with foil if you don't want to wash it)
put 2 T of salsa on it
2 T of low fat cheese sprinkled (1 point)
onion (fresh is good), mushrooms, garlic (chopped up fresh is really good), banana peppers, or whatever suits you (no pepperonis)
Then, put it in the broiler until it's nicely cooked on top.

Then, have some sugar free jello with fat free whipped topping or a fudgebar! :)

I cheated...

And, here's a new one.... in b/w

and in sepia:

I cheated when I was trying to get the red out of this one! ;)

Trying to fix the red baby....

After:

Before:

Here's another less red one.

After:

Before:

After:

Ok, so I know that Hunter wasn't this red the other day! LOL! You wouldn't believe

how long I've worked to make him have a natural skin tone in these pics! LOL!

I am enjoying the learning process though... :) I'm still not totally satisfied with the red around his hairline...

more pictures from yesterday :)

First Practice Shoot...

I had so much fun with Jenni, Jonathan and Hunter today!! Hunter is the perfect baby to practice on! He was such a sweetie-so adorable and patient! Here are a few pictures that I processed tonight. I will be back with more tomorrow. Thanks guys for letting me practice on you! :)

My Little Studio

...is complete (at least for now). :) Jason has been so supportive with my new obsession. Someone asked what I have for lights, and so I just thought I would list it out in this post if anyone wants to know. :)

Camera: Canon Rebel XSi and the kit lens (EF-S 18-55 mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS) from Newegg.com
Lighting: Photogenic STUDIOMAX III SOFTBOX KIT from B and H Photo
Reflector: Promaster System Pro 5 in one reflector (from local store) Here's a similiar one that also has a stand.
Hot Shoe to Hot Shoe Safe Sync (to get my light and cord to attach to my Canon)... this was something I didn't know that I would need until after I tried to find a hole that the little thingy would fit in and couldn't. :( It was $70! Can you believe it?!!! :(
Backgrounds: These will be here hopefully on Tuesday!!! :) Denny Photo Black and Savage 107" x 12yds Background Paper (Super White) and Savage BACKGROUND PORT-A-STAND w/FREE 53" WHITE
Toy: :) baLens 58mm WHITE BALANCE LENS CAP

So... now, I just have to learn to take pictures...lol!! :)

I scrapped!

It's been a while! I just haven't been too inspired, but I love these handwritten words from TaylorMade (actually almost everything is from her in this page) and this picture of Ari. It was part of my very first photo shoot with my new light, softbox, and reflector! I actually had very few good pictures because I have so much to learn! lol! But, I love taking pictures and learning things! I have my first practice shoot with Jenni's baby boy (Hunter) tomorrow! I'm excited and a bit nervous! I hope that they don't think I'm a big dork because I'm really green at taking pictures!! :) Wish me luck! :)

more birthday pictures... March 17, 2009

Ari went out for her birthday with Grandpa and Grandma on Friday. They went to the Boonshoft Museum and to Skyline Chilli.

This year's cake was easy! I didn't have to buy anything to make it- she just wanted her Petshops on it! :)

Our tradition- birthday minute kiss and pictures

Dad seems to have become a chair. So much for a nap. :)

Filling the pinata (with candy that looks remarkably familiar!)

Thanking Grandma

Rocket that she wanted from Little Einsteins

(I'm not touching these pictures up. Ann just wanted more pictures; so, here they are... ;)

And, good news!!! I lost 4.5 lbs this week!!! So, that makes 7.5 in 4 weeks! And, it's supposed to get up to 70 degrees F. today!!! :)

Ari was up in the night with her sore throat and a cough. Poor baby. She seems to be doing better now that she has had some motrin and throat spray. She was crying and praying that God would make her feel better when I came in the room this morning at around 6:00.

Birthday Girl Pictures

Ari got some clothes, a Nintendo DS, Rocket from Little Einsteins, a book, money, snacks, stuff to make cupcakes, several Pet Shops, and a game for the DS.

Ari loves her backpack from Great Grandma M.

Ari has been asking for a trampoline for months for her b-day. It's going to be so much fun this summer!

Little Pet Shop Cake

Both Great Grandmas, both sets of Grandparents, and our family were all there.

I didn't fix up all of these... I just wanted to show some highlights from Ari's party on Satuday! :)

Apex Mission Blog

My church has started a missions blog, and I'm very excited about it... You can find the link in my blog list or here. Jason, the girls, and I are very excited about being involved with our church's missionary opportunities and just with reaching out to the people that we are with daily. Jas has been thinking and praying about starting a Bible reading group at our house, and the girls and I are collecting money for the children in Africa who don't have water or food. I'm also excited about 5 day clubs possibly this summer! :) Kylie has been very concerned about 2 of the girls in her class that she knows are unsaved. She has been witnessing to them, and we hope that at least one of them will be able to start coming to Sunday school with her. :) Please pray for Jas and I to teach the girls properly and that we will make wise choices about what God wants us involved in. :)

Ari's birthday

Whew! I'm tired! We re-did Ari's room in one week, assembled a trampoline, cleaned a VERY messy house, got everyone showered or bathed, decorated, made the cake, and had a party. It turned out to be very fun. Ari kept saying thank you and was very happy with everything that she got. The trampoline is going to be so much fun, and it was fun to see everyone! I am looking forward to a normal, relaxing week now! :) Oh! Ari said all day that she wasn't going to be 4 until she ate birthday cake... so cute! :) Hopefully, I will post some pictures soon! :)

Weight Watchers update!

I lost 2.5 lbs. at the last meeting (Tuesday)! Janet lost the same amount!!! So, now she has lost almost 10 lbs., and I have lost 3 (in 2 weeks)! Yay!!!

February in Pictures