Kindergarten

I think the hardest part of being a parent is letting go.  No matter their age.

This was my experience last week, as I fought back tears and learned how to let go just a little bit.

This week, I sent Grace off into the world, at least for half a day. 

And, though she did go to pre-school last year, the thought of sending her off to kindergarten was very emotional for me. 

To feel less like we were sending Grace into the world alone, we decided to buy her a heart shaped locket.  A locket that contains a (very tiny) picture of me and of her daddy.

The hope, we explained to her, was that if she ever felt sad, lonely or upset, while at school, she could look at her locket and know that she is not alone. 

So, with her heart shaped locket on, off to kindergarten we walked, hand in hand.

When we arrived at the school, Grace quietly and bravely left my side and joined the other excited kindergarteners.

Though my heart was breaking, I was so proud of this sweet little girl of mine.

I waited outside the kindergarten window, until I saw her take her seat.  I could have stayed there all day but I knew she was ready so, I quietly and bravely walked home.

When I saw her at pick up, my heart was so full of love and appreciation for my brave girl.  We walked home and splashed in puddles.  She gushed about her day and I realized...

It's official, Grace is a kindergartener.

And, we both survived.

This Is Me - May Self Portrait Link Party

May's Self Portrait theme was 'Me Time'.  The things you do just for you.

Last month, the self portraits showed us the many forms of 'LOVE'.

True Love.

Anne from The Pink Momma

Love at first sight.

Tara at Suburble

The story of how love will find a way...or in Daniela's case, strength.

Daniela at Frugal Ain't Cheap

And...Puppy love.

Chandra at A Stylish Little Lady

So, now is your turn.  Come out from behind the camera, capture your 'Me Time' self portrait and inspire us all.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/" title="While Wearing Heels" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnvvORsnwZfgA2wSfHxHbZ1YPUtCcVTVHuV01cKBzTC-q7ERQeucbVGOcFsjFcAtjm3K8GUu6_VHmUFDcl_Rp0DR4RigPdpuol1szkGPIEJbOUcZ3QGN_D9yOxbbuIXg5z_F-aQb7Hq2i/s1600/This+is+ME+-210.jpg" alt="While Wearing Heels" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Let's get this party started...here are our linky rules:

• There will be a link up here on the last Friday of every month this year, and the linky tool will remain open to your submissions until the last Friday of the next month.
• Please link back to the permalink for your *This Is ME* blog post or flickr image, not just the general url for your blog or flickr stream.
• Linked entries must be to a blog post or flickr image of your recent self-portraits, not just any old photo. Your photo does not have to relate to the optional monthly theme, but it does need to be a self-portrait.
• Please do link back here to my blog either through a text link, or with my button found below to help encourage others to participate and grow our community.
• And most importantly, be the encouragement you hope to receive and help build our self-portrait community! Please try to visit a few of the links of your fellow *This Is ME* participants and leave a nice comment--it only takes a few minutes and you may be inspired by what you see.

Well, that's it...now get linking everyone! I'll see you back here on Friday, June 7th, for our June theme announcement, but in the meantime, keep showing us your stuff in the flickr pool.

This is Me - April SELF PORTRAIT Link Party

April's self portrait theme was 'LOVE'.

Love is still in the air, 7 years later, as my husband and I celebrate another anniversary...but I'll tell you more about that on Monday.

Last month 14 brave women stepped in front of the camera and shared their 'looking down' self portraits.

These self portraits have become more than just pictures.

These self portraits tell a story.

Sam from Thrive 360 Living

They provide inspiration.

Danni from Silo Hill Farm

They represent love.

Lisa from Wine and Glue

They show style.

Chandra from A Stylish Little Lady

They give you an interesting perspective.

Anne from The Pink Momma

They have allowed me get to know each of these brave women a bit better.

So, now is your turn.  Come out from behind the camera, capture your 'LOVE' self portrait and inspire us all.

<div align="center"> <a href="http://whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/" title="While Wearing Heels" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnvvORsnwZfgA2wSfHxHbZ1YPUtCcVTVHuV01cKBzTC-q7ERQeucbVGOcFsjFcAtjm3K8GUu6_VHmUFDcl_Rp0DR4RigPdpuol1szkGPIEJbOUcZ3QGN_D9yOxbbuIXg5z_F-aQb7Hq2i/s1600/This+is+ME+-210.jpg" alt="While Wearing Heels" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Let's get this party started...here are our linky rules:

• There will be a link up here on the last Friday of every month this year, and the linky tool will remain open to your submissions until the last Friday of the next month.
• Please link back to the permalink for your *This Is ME* blog post or flickr image, not just the general url for your blog or flickr stream.
• Linked entries must be to a blog post or flickr image of your recent self-portraits, not just any old photo. Your photo does not have to relate to the optional monthly theme, but it does need to be a self-portrait.
• Please do link back here to my blog either through a text link, or with my button found below to help encourage others to participate and grow our community.
• And most importantly, be the encouragement you hope to receive and help build our self-portrait community! Please try to visit a few of the links of your fellow *This Is ME* participants and leave a nice comment--it only takes a few minutes and you may be inspired by what you see.

Well, that's it...now get linking everyone! I'll see you back here on Friday, May 3rd, for our May theme announcement, but in the meantime, keep showing us your stuff in the flickr pool.

Photography Tip - Tungsten Light

Are you ready to get to know your camera?

My number one rule, in taking pictures, is to try and use natural light as much as possible.  With that being said, we all know that isn't always possible, as was the case this past holiday.

In an attempt to get a picture of all the cousins, on my husband's side, we took a birth order picture.  Each cousin held a sign representing when they entered the family. 

I loved the concept but had to resort to using the house lights (tungsten light) and a flash.  Gasp, I know.  The result, the picture has more yellow tones to it.

On our ride home, I figured out how to fix it.  I discovered if you take your camera off of automatic, you can set the white balance. 

My camera was set on AWB (automatic white balance) for the birth order picture I took.  So, the camera decided what it thought represented 'white' the best.  BUT, if you take it off of AWB, you can tell tell your camera what kind of light you are shooting in.  Had I selected tungsten light, I could have corrected the color cast and my picture would not have looked as yellow.

Overwhelmed yet?  Hang in there.

You'll also want to set your camera to AV (the aperture mode).

Then, set the ISO speed to the highest setting (I pushed mine to 1600).  Set your aperture to the lowest setting (I set mine to F4.5).  Your camera should have a dial, mine is near the shutter release button (the button you press to take your pictures), that dial will allow you to change your settings.

Ready to see the difference?

Taking a picture using only house lighting (tungsten lighting), leaving your camera on the automatic setting, using no flash, your picture will look something like this.

Taking your camera off of the automatic setting, setting your ISO to the highest setting, your aperture to the lowest and setting the white balance to tungsten lighting (all as described above), the color cast will be removed from your photo and the result should look something like this.

Can you believe the difference?

Will You Marry Me.

I read the most touching article called 50 Rules for Dads of Daughters.  It came with a disclaimer, that the article might cause tears.

It did just that as I read rule number 34:

"Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently."

On a daily basis, Grace asks us to marry her.

And these are the moments I am reminded to treasure because I know before long, she'll stop asking us to marry her and instead, she'll be waiting...

Waiting for some boy to sweep her off of her feet and marry her.

Sigh.

At least for now, this little bride to be, playing dress up in my wedding dress, is mine.

Wordless Wednesday

Linked up to:

Thank You

Today, I'll be writing out thank you cards for the never ending circus party. 

My thank you note to all of you would read something like this:

To all the sweet and encouraging people that read While Wearing Heels, every day I feel like I am having a Cinderella, this is too good to be true moment.  With each new follower and each wonderful comments I get, I still feel as if I need to pinch myself to make sure this too good to be true moment is for real.  I am incredibly humbled but mostly flattered that you take the time to read my blog and show your support.

AND, a BIG thank you to the many amazing blogs that are out there.  Because of you I have found a creative outlet that had otherwise gone untapped. The blogs I follow inspire me, challenge me and give me hope. As a result I felt like a more confident and capable mom, wife and creative person.   Thank you for welcoming another blogger into your folds and making me feel like part of your family.

Thanks a ton,

Amy