7:45 At Night

Want a tiny glimpse into evenings at our house?!???

Here are a couple! :-)

We also revisited the Tiger Game.

Don't worry.  No one was hurt!!!


HAPPY FRIDAY!

Before and After: How I Edited

I thought I would show y'all how I edited one of my pictures!! :-)  I have Photoshop CS5 and love it.  Though I probably only know how how to use about .0000001 % of it.  I don't always use actions on my photos, but this time I did.  Most of the time I can get away with edits in Camera Raw!

If you don't know Photoshop just a tiny bit, you might not understand this very well.  But here we go anyways!

Here's the pic straight out of the camera.  (I didn't even touch it in Camera Raw - and I really wanted to.)

I asked Landon to make a mad face and this is what I got!  HA!  Sweet boy!

ISO 250 f/2.8 1/200 50mm

Manual mode, Spot metering, either Shade or Auto White balance (I can't remember)

The first thing I did was do a slight curves adjustment layer.  I pulled up the dot in the middle of the graph to lift the midtones just a bit.


Then I ran THIS action....but hid the black and white layer.  I also painted over the eyes with a soft white brush just a tad on the eye pop layer.  I think I even took it's opacity down to 40% or less!  Gotta see those beautiful handsome eyes of his!

I wanted just a little bit more saturation in Landon's skin and face so I ran Catherine Halsey's color pop action (which I cannot find to link) and painted some color onto his face with a soft white brush.  (Again, these terms may be foreign...they were to me at first, I've just self-taught over the past couple of years)

And VOILA!

It's not a huge change...just a little boost.  I believe there is no wrong or right way to edit a photo.  I think it comes down to personal taste. 

Like I said before, I don't know much about Photoshop!  I enjoy playing around with pictures sometimes and am sure I overdo it once in a while!

What are your favorite tips or tricks in photoshop?!?

Let's Talk Hair

Now here's a change of pace for me!!! haha  HAIR!

I recently fell in love with my curling iron.  I can't believe I waited so long to learn how to use one!  You see, my hair has gotten pretty long (for me) and a girl need options!  I was getting sick of it just laying straight or in a ponytail.  And I would try to curl it with curlers to try and get waves like the celebs but I could never seem to get it just right.  A girl can dream right?!  I'm sure they have a whole crew around them doing their hair.  Not to mention that some of it could be extensions!

Well, I bit the bullet and purchased a fairly inexpensive 1" curling iron for $32...not to bad, eh?

Then I did something out of the ordinary for me.

I went to youtube and searched "get celeb waves with 1" curling iron".

WOW...there were lots of tutorials.   But the second video I clicked on had me hooked.  I HAD to try it out! Here's the video....

Seems easy enough...RIGHT?!

Well, you better bet during nap time I took my shower and prepped for some curling iron action.  

Sure it took a little long the first time.  But overall, it was actually pretty easy once I figured out which direction to wrap the hair and how to hold the curling iron!  I was just so shocked to NOT use the little clamp on the curling iron.  It was a foreign concept to me to just wrap the hair around the barrel!!!  But that seems to be the "secret" to the loose wave!

I quite impressed with my first time results!


Here they are!

I'm so glad to have other ways to wear my long hair...because I don't want my only "change it up" option to be "cut it off"!!! 

I've now "done the 'do" a few times now and I'm definitely getting faster!  And if I let my hair air dry for a little bit before I start to blow dry it, it only takes maybe 20 minutes or less from drying time through curling time.  Not too bad when it gives you a little self esteem boost about your hair.  Especially hair that hasn't been cut in *achem* 4 months!!!!


What other hair tricks are there to do with my new curling iron???!

Blog Tour

Hey Friends!

I've been wanting to share some blogs with you guys that I've been enjoying reading lately.  Some I've followed for a couple of years, some just a few months.   Most of them are small time bloggers compared to Pioneer Woman, Dooce, or Smitten Kitchen, (all blogs I visit every once in a while and enjoy) but I think that's what I liked about them.

I think it's kind of funny what blogs I'm drawn to.  Some are other moms that are similar to me and share lots of same parenting or spiritual views.  Others I like because of the photography.  And some...well, they are just completely OPPOSITE of me  But I guess I keep reading thinking I could learn something from them.  And I think I do! :-)

Most of these I haven't linked in my side bar.  So here's a little tour of blogs I like! :-)

*If you don't read anything else, please read #5 because it talks how I can respond to comments through email if need be!  Just a quick "blog housekeeping" tip for everyone!*





1)  One of the first (actually I think THE very first) "random" blogger I began following was My Life In Transition.  She was just married, a marathon runner and full time workin' girl.  (See, totally opposite).  But I liked her pictures, her writing, her humor and then she got pregnant and was very open about her pregnancy.  She cloth diapers (another thing I don't do) and now has returned to work and juggling marriage, a baby, breastfeeding, and a work schedule!  And does a great job from what I can tell.  Anyway, after a couple of years of following her, I feel like I know her...you know...in a bloggy way. 

2)  Marital Bless  This blog I started following towards the end of her first pregnancy.  She was wanting to go natural (and did) and that always fascinates me.  I love birth stories of all kinds.  Plus, she has shared some struggles her and her husband have gone through financially, physically (a miscarriage), and emotionally and then how they leaned into the Lord to get through them.  She's starting her own photography business, so obviously, I love the photos too!  Her little boy is so cute!

3)  Making Home I started following this blog 2 kids (out of 5) ago.  She doesn't post very often, but when she does...it's meaty!  They live in Turkey and home school their kids.  I'm pretty sure I'm drawn to her wisdom!

4) Good Food, Good Friends, Good Life  Another mommy blogger who I began following before pregnancy and baby and then through her pregnancy and baby.  She also wanted to go natural (and did) and follows the attachment parenting lifestyle.  Which works great for her...but again one of those blogs that is totally opposite of me.  But I enjoy her pictures, thoughts on life, reflections on motherhood and now they are moving and going to redo a house!  Should be fun to watch! :-)

5)  La Buena Vida  This blog is a fairly newer blog I've been following.  Just over the past 4 or 5 months I think.  She's a great blogger.  Lots of variety!  Seems very real in her posts and I appreciate her honesty about things.  She can also post some pretty hilarious things too.  I also enjoy her photography.  Sometimes she post before/afters.  Other times she does a weekly photography challenge that she writes about.  Her little girl is also SUPER cute!
Oh, and you HAVE to read her post on blogging.  I TOTALLY related to this.  Especially when my readers ask me questions.  Following these super easy steps she talks about will turn you into a "no-reply blogger" to a "reply blogger" where I can respond directly to your comment through email and answer ANY question you want! ;-)  Trust me when I (we) tell you that it makes things a lot easier for me and YOU! :-)

6) Enjoying The Small Things  Y'all this blog is AWESOME!  You have to start with her second daughter's birth story HERE.  Basically, she has this grand birth and the baby was born with Down Syndrome and no one knew the entire pregnancy!  But how she's struggled through it is touching.  The baby is such a blessing now, and if I do say so myself, one of the PRETTIEST babies I've ever seen - Downs or not!  Plus, she's an AWESOME photographer and you can see all her stuff on Flickr - I especially love that I can see the camera statistics there too!  Fun to see how they shot the picture!  She's also super crafty.  Like, I didn't know that level or craftiness existed.  But it's all very cute stuff!


I think that's enough for today!


ENJOY!!!

Are there some bloggers you've "gotten to know" and enjoy reading about!?!?

Got Our Craft On

Happy Monday!!

As y'all know, I'm not the craftiest person out there.  Yes, I sew a little but that's about it.

I do, though, have a small "craft box" tucked away in my closet for certain times like this:

Our annual PUMPKIN PAINTING!  ;-)

The kids love this so much.  And it's so easy and inexpensive! 

We hiked our dress up to not get paint on it!

Rhodes ate collected acorns for us.

Olivia painted Ole Miss on one of her pumpkins.  And it was TOTALLY her idea! :-)

Lillian's painted her a little more abstract!

Landon....going for the more literal "paint a face on the pumpkin" look. 

This guy gave me some looks that day!  Look at that belly!  It was so hot I just let him run around in his diaper and shirt!  Shoes necessary because of all the acorns!

SO serious!  She's actually quite the little artist when she wants to be!

Trouble.  With 5 teeth and 2 more about to come through! Yikes!

Going up.down.up.down. the stairs.  He's a pro now.

Rhodes did not escape without getting into a little paint....

Cleaning up!

I don't even have pictures of the final pumpkins! :-( But it was a good hour or so of fun!!!


Just wait until I show you the pumpkins we CARVED!!!! :-)

In Between The Chase

While Landon was being chased around by our new little friend, Lillian and Rhodes were checking out the playground!

Rhodes was almost completely entertained by watching all the kids run around!

Then he realized there were a few things to play around with and began to crawl and walk around.

Lillian caught the attention (shocker) of several caregivers at the park.  Commenting on her age and attitude.  (This is coming a very common occurrence these days)  But she just scaled all the park jungle gyms like no big deal.

Pretty panties, smocked dresses and all

Taking breaks when she needed to.

New parks are so much fun!  New stuff to play on!!!  I just hate Olivia misses out on it.  But she LOVES piano and is very good at it too!

HAPPY FRIDAY Y'ALL!!!!!

Ladies Man

I know I've been quiet lately.  I don't know what's gotten into me.  I guess it's been sorta quiet around here.  Plus, I go back and forth on what to say and what not to say on the ole bloggity blog.

Feel free to leave a comment with a question or reasonable blog post idea! :-)

Speaking of the blog.  I NEED A NEW HEADER.  BEACH HEADER NOT GOOD FOR FALL WINTER! :-)   Anyone wanna donate me one?!? haha I guess I'll find time soon.  Maybe we can get a good family pic this weekend and I can dink around on photoshop to have one in time for the winter solstice.

Anywhoo....

Olivia has piano lessons on Wednesday and during her lesson we go next door to this great park.  It's an elementary school and it seems that there are a few after school care kids still playing.  Which means Lillian and Landon run around with them for a bit.

Well, it seems that this one little girl has taken to Landon the last two times we've been.

Can you say Ladies Man?

Already?  Yes, I think so.

Life's tough when you're so darn cute.   :-)

This little girl was determined to "catch" him.  She chased him UP and DOWN the whole playground.....

He tried to escape.

But I think he kinda liked it.

He just couldn't get away!

It was hilarious to watch.

Something tells me it won't be the last time this happens.  hehe

UNDEFEATED

We had our last game Sunday!!! And WON!!!

Landon's team was undefeated for the entire season. In fact, I think we "ten run ruled" our opponents in every game. :-)

Robert's parents came in town to see him play!  We enjoyed hanging out with them at the ballpark!

Rhodes wasn't feeling the best.  I don't know what exactly was wrong, but he was kinda cuddly at times.

We watched the Rough Riders play one last time this season!

Watched Landon score his last few runs of the season!

Then enjoyed some cookie cake....DOUBLE LAYERED by the way - I had no idea they could do THAT!  YUM!!!

Tried for some pictures.....I'll let you see how THAT turned out.  ;-)

Yup....whatev.


I did manage to get a little bit better one with the Gparents!

Rhodes was DYING for a capri sun. 

Why not....I actually DID have a change of clothes.  So go for it baby!

Lillian enjoyed hers too.....

The trophy!  The trophy was HUGE!  Biggest one EVER for Landon! 

So proud of Landon and his teammates!!  We had a great time....made some new friends...and hopefully will get to play with them again in the spring!!!

Of course, we'll enjoy our little break from the baseball schedule.

Now, what ever shall I do with all my free time now?  ;-)