Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Ten on Tuesday


























  1. After a good week of easy posts, I'm back to Ten on Tuesday to get the flow going again.
  2. It always makes me happy when my facebook friends use one of the photos I took as their profile picture. It's validation.
  3. Last night's basketball game against our home town rival was as exciting as it gets...especially since Wilson won. 
  4. Tonight I made chocolate chip cookies for Brie's basketball players. They came out pretty darn perfect, if I do say so myself. 
  5. Well, except for one batch which I left in too long. Lately it seems that I can't bake cookies without burning one or two batches. SOOOO frustrating.
  6. Said it before and I'll say it again, baking should be a sport. It takes a lot o stamina for an old girl like me. Is it sad that it's my form of exercise?
  7. Put in my paid time off request for 2012 this week, including the two weeks in June for Italia. I was surprised when my boss asked about an annual conference that I used to attend as a Product Manager. Luckily it's later in June than in the past so it doesn't conflict with our dates for Italy. Hoping I do get to go to the conference because this year it's in BOSTON!!
  8. Seriously thinking of volunteering to relocate on a short term basis if we do end up acquiring another company. The thought both scares and excites me at the same time.
  9. Seriously need to stop spending so much money. Really want a LensBaby and a tripod but trying to hold off until I have more money in my savings.
  10. Taking stock of my resolutions. I've done some good things but I need to get on the ball with my service to God.

Monday, January 30, 2012

CHA CHA CHA


Pretty paper and embellishments,



Vintage objects used in creative ways,



Even brown paper packages tied up with string....



These were a few of my favorite things at CHA on Sunday.



Sunday, January 29, 2012

i heart faces photo challenge|oh so silly

These girls are beautiful inside and out. And for some reason, this puppy dog pose has become their signature pose this season. Why should picture day with the squad be any different?



















This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Speed Scrapbooking

Somehow I managed to start and finish a scrapbook in less than a week.

























No, it doesn't have a thousand embellishments. But it has pictures I love, and (did I mention?) I finished it in less than a week. As an added bonus, it was also made with materials that I had at home.

At this rate, I can probably finish 40 scrapbooks this year. I'm hoping for just one project a month. That would make me happy.

This scrapbook makes me happy, too!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Coming down from my happy place today. It's just been one of those days. Had some sad news in the morning that has left me feeling off-kilter.



Life just stinks sometimes. That's all there is to it. Mostly because of our own actions, sometimes because we feel and live and breathe. There are days, when In-n-Out Burgers don't help, when friends let us down. All we can do is hold on knowing that tomorrow may be different.

All we can do is look at our reflection and ask God to help us through the night.

























This too shall pass. But in the meantime, please send a prayer for my friend and co-worker, David and ask God for a miracle for him. Because I believe God can perform one, if it would be his will.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Sun on My Face

Today, I had the top down, a smile on my face and the joy of Jesus down in my heart.


























I was happy to be alive. Work was lucky that I came back from lunch.

























I love California in January

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Believe Me

Believe me when I say, this morning was breathtakingly beautiful. I have no pictures of the morning, nothing to show the glorious skies, nothing that replicates the cool, crisp, clean air. Only the memories of how alive I felt, how quick the spring in my steps were as I walked from the car to the office. I love, love, love California in January.

If it weren't for the responsibilities I have, it would have been simple to put the top down and keep on driving. But then, again, if it weren't for the responsibilities I have, I probably wouldn't have been awake to see the sunrise that I did.

I did get to drive home with the top down and a smile on my face. It was a wonderful feeling to have my hair whipping around. The peppiness has long left me and I'm trying to get motivated enough to do something more than just lay in my bed.

Yesterday I got enough of my wind back to learn how to add textures to my photos so I could change the look and feel of my photos from this:


















To this:



















Thanks to Kim Klassen's Textures in Ten class.


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I stopped at The Hat

On the way home from work today, I stopped at The Hat. I was hungry, tired and knew I wouldn't be in the mood to make dinner.


























Plus I didn't have lunch. That always makes me grumpy.

























But the fact that one order of fries from The Hat can feed a family of 12 makes me happy.




























Especially since I had a teenage boy and girl waiting at home for me.



























They were hungry, too. But we're all happy now.




I love happy endings :)

The End!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Today I Tried to Follow the Sun

It rained pretty much most of the day. A steady downfall of drops, the kind that soaks you to the bone and causes massive traffic headaches. At lunchtime there was not a trace of blue in the sky. I was happy to leave work when I did, hoping against hope to beat the traffic.

As I drove home, the clouds began to let up and become a feathery white. Against the mountains, there were giant puffs of white, gray clouds which were shimmering as the sun slowly made its descent westward.



























I began to follow the sun, one part of me wanting to get home to see Brienne, another part wanting to head for the snow topped peaks clothed in clouds. I wondered if there were others like me chasing the sun or if they were in too much of a hurry and missing the glory that was unfolding.


























My pictures do not do it justice. But I drove to a hill near our house, got out and moved from one side of the crest to another, invigorated by the brisk, cold air, alive by the color in the sky.


What I did on Sunday

After church which was a wonderful service and a few little errands, I rolled up my sleeves and played with some paper and paint while I watched the 49er's lose.

It was a lovely, lovely Sunday


Saturday, January 21, 2012

The Sun Came Out

It was supposed to a rainy Saturday and based on the patter of rain outside my window this morning, there was no reason for me to doubt it. I had already cleaned a good part of my room the night before so I had in mind that I would spend the bulk of the day at home doing a little crafting.

After Brie left for her dad's, I headed out to gas up the car, get a few things at Target and stop for a mocha and salad at Panera after which I would come back home and craft my heart away. By the time I walked out of Panera's the sun was doing it's duty and my mind was heading in a different direction.

My first stop...Old Orange to take some pictures of windows and the facades. During lunch, I stumbled onto a blog, Kat Eye Studio, which has a series on Exploring with a Camera and the current subject is Windows. I figured that it was worth a try. I liked that it wasn't just about taking photos, but the emotional connection behind the shot. I was half expecting to find more clouds as I head West, but the sun was not to be swayed, giving way to bright blue skies and puffy white clouds.

Happily, I listened to that little voice that told me to park in a different area than I normally do and upon walking up towards the center of town, I happened upon the shot I was looking for. A window with two beer bottles on the ledge. Obviously someone left these in a place where they wanted others to see them. Did they drink them standing outside the building or did they sit inside the apartment with the window open? Was it two guys, two girls or a guy and a girl who lingered over the beers as they didn't want the night to end?



















There was what appeared to be a family in the alley taking some group pictures so I took a couple of shots of the top of the buildings.
















After walking around Old Orange for about an hour, I headed to Newport Beach in anticipation of the sunset. On the way back to the car, I took a few other pictures.





















I was not disappointed.


























The first set of pictures, I used RadLab Rusty Cage processing. For the ones below, I just increased the saturation.





I know they're really similar, but I love them all. The one below makes me feel like I'm back at the beach staring at the sun. I almost want to put on my sunglasses.










Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I decided that I really liked Ten on Tuesday. After I finished the post, I realized that I easily had another four or five items to write about and thought it was too bad I couldn't do another list today. But the only number I could think of that goes well with Wednesday is one. One on Wednesday sounds okay, but the idea is rather lame. So for the most part is this whole paragraph.

I ended up not taking a single picture yesterday. It was just one of those evening in which I didn't want to do much when I got home. I was still tired from a late night the night before. There went my 365 days on day 18. While I wasn't completely devastated, I still felt a bit defeated.

Until today that is. I got myself a copy of David Duchemin's book Photographically Speaking: A Deeper Look at Creating Stronger Images. I bought it after reading some reviews on Amazon.com but was a little afraid that it would be too deep for me. So far, though, I love, love, love it. One of the quotes that struck a chord in me read as follows, "Not every scene at every moment makes a good photograph."

It took the pressure off. Should I take a photo a day just for a photo a day sake? Is it better to take a less visually compelling photo if one doesn't come to you? Can you really take a visually compelling photo every day? Today I got a shot that I felt was good enough.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Ten on Tuesday

  1. Sometimes I have no imagination and can't think of anything interesting to say, so I decided to try Ten on Tuesday.
  2. I didn't get home from work until 10:30pm last night. It was a good day at work, but I am wiped out.
  3. So wiped out that I didn't go to bible study tonight :(
  4. Went to Panera's for lunch today and scored with a bigger than normal piece of their baquette's. I ate the whole thing, with lots of butter. I didn't care about the calorie count and loved every bite.
  5. It's after 7pm and so far it's the first day of the year that I haven't taken a single picture. I've got to get on the ball.
  6. Work has been all consuming since the beginning of the year. I can't keep up with this pace.
  7. It hit me today...I'm going to have a granddaughter this year! She will never replace my little Maximess, but no need too...my heart is big enough for two of them. I feel like I've been blessed a thousand times.
  8. Sometimes I get jealous when I see that friends or family had someone else take their pictures. What's wrong with me? I have to tell myself it wasn't a slight...I'm by no means a professional after all...but I still think I could have done a better job.
  9. It was a beautiful day, kind I love best. Crystal clear blue skies, cool, cool air so why didn't I take a picture.
  10. A ten on Tuesday is surprisingly easy to do. I think I'll do it again next week!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge|Family Fun

My brother and sister-in-law have four boys which means there are always a lot of things going on. My sister-in-law is rightly, the apple of these boys' eyes. They are such a fun and rowdy group to be around. For Christmas we put together a little photo booth and I suggested that they gather around their mom and go in for a kiss. This is what I got :)









This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com
I swear I thought I heard the multitude of angels singing during worship service today. It was heavenly. I used to think that some of the descriptions of heaven didn't really sound so wonderful to me. I thought I was horrible until a friend of mine told me the same thing.

But as I love the Lord more and listen more and more to the words of some of the songs, I can't wait. It will be a glorious thing. 

For now I try to look at the beauty of the world. There is beauty in the little things. The dusk makes the evidence of man beautiful here.

























The sky was so blue this weekend, I drove with the top down so I could soak it all in.

























A farm near the Chino Hills shopping center made me stop for a closer look.



And while I was trying to find the perfect angle for the picture, I found a pretty view just looking up.

























On the way to the beach, I stopped at the Spectrum to walk around. The carousel and ferris wheel caught my eye.




























The display here made me want to buy some mugs, but we already have too many in the house as it is.


























And the beach, despite the fact that the sunset was muted by the clouds, was simply glorious.