MIA Blogger

Missing in Action for sure.

It's been a hectic last few months and so many times I wanted to jump in to blog land and share what's been happening but I have no time... time to upload photos, time to sit and chat about "me" and my life, time to really read anyone's blogs, time to just chill.

I feel like I've been running around not knowing which way I'm going... just the times we live in. There's that TIME word again.

My life has been revolving around church, family, work and photography. So I'll update you on a a couple of things...

Family
I went to Mississippi with my mom to see my sister and brother-in-law in April. We were treated like tourist which was not bad considering the historical town they live in - Vicksburg. I will post some pictures soon, but it was a fun few days and the best part was spending time with my sister and seeing her beautiful home and the life she's living 2000 miles away!

My brother and sister-in-law are pregnant, as I mentioned before. I've been adamant that the baby was a girl and everyone else was so determined it was a boy. My mom even went as far as buying baby boy clothes. But... alas, yet again, I was right. A little niece will be coming into the family in August and I can't stop thinking about what to buy her. lol

Photography
One of my favorite subjects. I've completely taken off on this business and could not be more excited. New website coming soon and a lot of changes. I've been building up my equipment slowly since it's not something you can afford to splurge on... at least not me.

Since I'll be having a photography website up and updating that more, I won't be keeping this blog. I'll take it off but won't delete it in case I decide to blog on here again. But this will probably be my last post on here with the exception of posting some pictures from my Vicksburg, MS trip.

So if you do read my blog and want to read my next blog, email me (by viewing my profile) and let me know and I'll be sure to update you.

So long for now... :)

Change

I've been pondering making some big changes. I have not been a fan of blogger for a long time. I don't like the way it's setup and there is always some sort of technical issue going on. So, I'm thinking of changing to another blog site. Maybe Wordpress... not sure yet.

Anyway, I cannot tell you how much I dislike "The Daily Bee". I don't look forward to opening up my blog page and seeing it spread across the top. I need some ideas... and who better than blog readers to chime in with theirs? So please do so. That is, the ones that comment on here. Since it seems that NO one likes to comment, just read! ;)

Another issue, privacy. A fellow blogger kinda made me start thinking about privacy and the fact that you really don't know who is reading your blog. So if and when I go private I will be sure and let you know.

Pass along you ideas! Please!

Last Bloom Giveaway!

Last Bloom Workshop giveaway! If you want to join in on this LAST birthday bash day of awesome giveaways you must leave a comment on the Bloom Workshop blog.

Good luck!

Another Bloom Giveaway!

Lot #4 is being given away today over on the Bloom Workshop. To join in- visit www.bloomworkshops.com

great stuff that would come in handy fir an type of photographer!

Food Wreck

I have always dreamed of owning a restaurant or cafe. Not being the chef, but just running it and putting a little stamp on the menu. Little town in the boonies or somewhere in the downtown hip part of the city.

I've been hooked on the show - Kitchen Nightmares. I've never really liked watching anything by Gordon Ramsey because his middle name is the F-bomb, but this show bleeps it all out really good. Anyway, I was watching an episode recently and remembered eating at a so-called fine dining restaurant in the mountains. The restaurant was nice enough, the prices said that the food would be excellent.

This is what came out...

Don't the pictures speak for themselves? Who knew fish and chicken grew flowers. There should be a blog about Food Wrecks. Hmm...

Bloom Workshop Giveaway

Okay, so I entered to win Lot #1 on the Bloom Workshop site and I was so eager to enter that I didn't see that you had to do ONE thing in the list of 4 things to enter... I did them all. LOL

That is how bad I want to win this!! I can't even tell you what this would do for me as a photographer. Jesus, please let it happen. Crossing fingers, praying and praying some more. :)

I heard about Bloom from a photographer who I admire. They couldn't say anything but great things about Bloom and I MUST be a part in this workshop (not in this particular lot) and I've been wanting the actions and packs that are in this giveaway.

So If you're a photographer or just like to take pictures, go to the Bloom site and JOIN IN!

BLOOM WORKSHOPS

And, btw, their site is just yummy to look at. The colors are gorgeous.

I Heart Faces Challenge - Hands On

I was looking at some of the entries and was just overwhelmed with how beautiful hands really are. I have this thing for feet, especially babies feet. I can take pictures of feet all day. I never gave much thought to hands, but after today I definitely will be paying more attention.

I've showed this photo that I took a couple of weeks ago to my regular blog readers, but I couldn't get pass using this one in this weeks challenge.

This was take mere minutes after my niece, Sofia, was born. As you can see in the picture, her daddy is cutting her umbilical cord with one hand and Sofia has a grip on her daddy's other hand. Beautiful. This was one of those shots that I didn't even know I had until I went through the photos later that night. Makes you want to smile or cry or do both.

Join in and share your "Hands On" Photos!

Bumble Photography - FREE SESSION

If you're in the Orange County area (or close to) - Visit the link below for a chance to win a free session with Bumble Photography... which is me!


Now through March 5, 2010

http://www.bumblephotography.com/

For Daily Bee Readers - If you become a fan and follow me here, you can get a free 8 x 11 photo as well! Just leave me a note here and let me know.

I Heart Faces Challenge - "I Wanna Dance"

This week's challenge is all about dancing. I was asked to photograph my cousin's wedding reception, I don't normally do this but couldn't refuse. So glad I didn't! The dancing shots were the BEST. Loved the movement and the lighting...

The bride is in black and was seven months pregnant. She was the first one on the floor and last one off!

Join in and share your dancing photos!

Faithful Servant

Have you ever had one of those moments when you hear something and it just vibrates in your soul?

Only who you are and what you do will you take with you to Eternity ... Vesta Mangun

Something in me just stopped still when I heard this from a powerful woman in our church organization last night.

Think about it... who you are, whether bad or good and what you do, whether for God's kingdom or not will be what you take with you. Everything is rolled up in this.

This is not referring to a position or a status you hold in a church but who you are as a person. Just you and no one else. Just you will stand before God. Just me.

Deep thoughts that make me ache thinking of everything I'm not and I need to be. We can do so much better than what we do, but who's really trying? Something to think about...

...Well done, thou good and faithful servant... Matthew 25:21

I want to hear those words when Eternity collides with my world.

Photo Challenge: KISSES

In honor of Valentine's Day coming up, this weeks challenge at I Heart Faces is all about KISSES. I have quite a few "kiss" photos from sessions past but this one is the most recent and means so much to me.

Last Thursday I was in the delivery room when this little bundle was born. My niece, Sofia Genevieve.

We had just gotten into a regular room after she was born and her mama was spending some time bonding with her new baby girl and this was the first kiss photo.

Speaks volumes to me. First kiss of thousands and thousands to come.

Join in at...

More photos of Sofie at: www.bumblephotography.com

My Sofie

I have anticipated this day for months... and when it finally came it was not how I expected it.

Phone rings at 4AM and we jump out of bed to pick up my nephew who has pneumonia to bring him to our house... the baby girl is coming!

My cousin was scheduled to be induced at 7AM on 2/4. The baby girl, who was already a week late, decided she wanted to come a little earlier. So at 3:40AM she woke her mama up and caused a frenzy.

After we got home with the boy, I jumped back in bed to sleep for about an hour and my phone rings again... this time it's my sister. We talked (I dozed on and off) for about 30 minutes and I was able to sleep for the next 30 minutes.

Got up, got dressed and rushed to the hospital. Right before delivery, we found out that they needed a team in the room since she pooped (I'm sure there's a medical term that I just can't think of) and they needed to make sure her lungs were clear when she came out. People begin to pour in...9 total. 9. At one point a guy with a hoodie walked in and loooked at Eileen with her legs spread from north to south and just started chatting with the other nurses and doctors. Eileen asked a nurse, "Who is he??" the nurse had no clue. (come to find out, he was part of the "team").


It wasn't long before this was happening...

She is gorgeous! Beautiful healthy baby girl.

My finger was glued to my camera and I was overwhlemed with looking at her as my niece and snapping pictures as the photographer. I took pictures of everything and was fascniated with the placenta. YES I was. I took a picture with my phone and sent it to my brother... He showed my older brother who is expecting a baby with his wife in August and scared him out of his mind. haha That's what little sister's are for.

The below picture shows a beautiful blanket that I purchased from my friend, Katy who I met in blogland. Her mother is blind and makes the beautiful blankets! She made this pink blanket just for Sofie.

View more pictures: www.bumblephotography.com

Birthday Wishes for Sony

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SONIA, Sony, Sonitha!

Today is my sister-in-law's 27th birthday. I spend the majority of my time with her and can't think of anyone else I would rather do so with.

Have a fabulous day, me dear! I love you!

Bittersweet

My heart is breaking today. No one died, but I feel like a piece of me is missing.

A big day for the family, my niece who is actually my cousin but since my cousin is like my sister her babies are my niece and nephew... confused?

I saw the baby girl come into the world and was amazed. Not being a mom, seeing the process was magical. A little messy but magical nevertheless.

As I was saying about the broken heart; I missed my sister today. Coming home tonight after the excitement of the day something was missing. And it hit me, she is missing. Obvious? Yes. But I didn't have a chance to really think about it until right now.

I wish you were here Cath. I wish that seeing you was a small drive away and not days worth of driving. I wish you could have been in the room as the baby girl made her entrance. I wish this week was different on so many levels. I wish my big sister was here.

Bittersweet describes today.



PS - Baby photos coming... :)

Year of the Babies

We've had a lot going on these past few weeks. A few surprises that I just have to share with blogland... specifically the Daily Bee blogland.

I'm officially going to be an Aunt... twice over this summer!

My older brother and his wife are due in August. They've been trying for months and when they finally gave up and just left it in God's hands she got pregnant! A lesson to apply to everything...

My newlywed sister had not planned on getting pregnant and had these symptoms and I told her, "You're pregnant". She insisted that it was probably due to other woman issues... and then late at night this past weekend I get this picture...

Being the sometimes ditz that I can be... I asked "So... what does this mean" haha.

Babies, Babies, Babies... we'll over-populate the world on our own!

Congratulations to my brothers and sisters!

Be'be' Time

Paris has been on my mind. Paris and Babies.
We have a little bundle on the way, the stork is sure to drop by any day now...
A couple of weeks ago (I'm late in posting), My aunt and I planned a baby shower for my cousin Eileen. As I've said before, Eileen is like my sister so this had to be a special one since she was packing up the baby making machine and throwing away the key.

The shower had to be girly, all pink and feminine. I found a tea rental service in our area and put in an order for tea cups, tea pots, tea spoons, creamer and sugar bowls/pots and food stands

The Tea menu consisted of Raspberry Green Tea and Ginger Peach Tea. I think I drank 10 cups of the Ginger Peach Tea it was that good.

The Food - Fruit was skewered, tea sandwiches made, cookies purchased, cheese tray assembled and salad mixed. The highlight was my mom's homemade baked potato soup.

I pulled out my craft skills and made little signs for the food and last minute Parisian cards from an old calender I had.

The Favors were little teapot measuring tapes with a little message from Eileen and baby.

The Guest Book was a children's book I found at Target. It was called Fancy Nancy Tea Parties and shows little girls how to do their own tea parties. Each guest signed a little note for mom and baby girl.
I procrastinated (not unusual for me) so I was like a crazy woman trying to put this together. I ran to Michael's (our craft store) and had a big idea to make topiaries. I have never attempted to make topiaries and just bought what I thought I would need.

• Styrofoam balls (way to expensive if you ask me)


• Stems of pink silk hydrangeas


• Green moss


• Long Dowels (which were cut in half)


• Clay pots

Purchased the following last minute:

• Ribbon


• Pink tissue paper

Pulled out the hot glue and my mom and I tackled the job. A massive mess later, this is what came out...
Everything came together so beautifully. I was so happy with the outcome and was told several times that I should do party planning... sparked a little idea in my head and I quickly put it out.

Here are a few of my favorite parts of the shower...

Full view (this was at a friend's house)

Gorgeous tea pots and little cards I made

(you'll notice I mixed up the pot tops... oops.)

One of the outfits I bought for my niece. I want this sweater for myself! :)

Mom's incredible Baked Potato Soup

The Baby Girl will be here any day now!

I Heart Faces Week 4 Challenge - "Texture"

This weeks challenge at I Heart Faces is about texture. Texture from nature, a building, added texture in editing... I chose to use natural texture and not add it in. I had several photos to choose from and this one just kept coming back to me.

Story behind the shot
While my sister was getting ready for her wedding, I lugged my camera along and kept it glued to my eye. At one bridal store we were crammed in a little closet dressing room with a thousand fluffy wedding dresses and had trouble not being in each others faces. Lucky for me, this brought some great face shots. haha. I'm sure the flash in my sister's eyes was anything but enjoyable.

Join in and add your texture shot!

Disney's Desperate Housewives

For all my married blog readers... haha

Fix-it Friday at iheartfaces! #41

It's Fix-it Friday... this photo has a touching story behind it.

A brave family.

Here is the message from I Heart Faces:

"To go along with our "We Are Family" theme, we wanted to highlight a family that is very special to us - the Zwart family. Angie (co-founder of i heart faces) is friends with Jeff and Adrienne...and Adrienne is also an active participant in our weekly challenges.

The dad in this family has been struggling with cancer for years and they found out the devastating news in December that his cancer is now terminal. They are now doing everything they can to enjoy the rest of the time they have together on this earth."

(Original Photo)

(My Edit)

My Steps:

I used Photoshop CS4

::Adjusted the brightness and contrast
>>>>Lowered the brightness a few notches and upped the contrast a tad.
::Upped the vibrancy almost all the way to the right
::Added a little more saturation

::Burned the edges using an action (can't remeber the site)
::Added a lens flare to the left since there was a lot of light coming in
::Changed the color balance

>>>>less Cyan, a tad more magenta and a fraction more of yellow.
::Cropped the file using manual size

If you would like to join in or visit the families blogs, click the below button!