The Big Christmas Card Reveal

Our Christmas card, this year, started in a traditional fashion.  Little girl, dressed in her best Christmas dress, standing in front of a decorated Christmas tree, with her dog by her side. 

Thanks to Capture the Magic, I was able to add a Santa into our card.

The only thing missing, a clever quote to go along with the scene.  "You saw Mommy kissing no one...got it."  Playing off the well known song, I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. 

So...From my family to yours, Happy Holidays!  Enjoy spending time and making memories with your friends and family.

Also wishing you a safe and very happy new years.  

Until next year.  

Many blessings to all of you.

This is Me Link Party

The optional self portrait theme for October was sharing your story in what you wear, through a self portrait.

 So, come out from behind the camera and show me who YOU are. 

<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>

Me Time - Self Portraits

The self portrait theme for May is 'Me Time'.  'Me Time' meaning what you do simply for yourself.

<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>

The obvious answer is blogging but if you read this blog, you must realize I spend some of my time writing posts (which generally happens when Grace goes to bed).

So, blogging aside, here is my 'me time'.

Everyday, I try to make time to run.  Though, if pressed, I do not consider myself a runner.  I generally run on the treadmill we have in our basement.  Once a week, though, while Grace is in tap class, I run on the track at the park district.  It was during one of these runs, someone said to me, I ran on my toes...apparently not a typically running stance.  I had never realized this before but I now can see that it is indeed true.

I had always been an avid reader, until Grace came along.  I still read but the kind of books I read changed from novels to board books.  This year, though, I found a renewed love for reading, thanks to Danavee from This Vintage Grove.  I've finished 7 books so far this year.

Seemingly insignificant, I try and make moments in my day for simple indulgences.  A recent indulgence I make time to sit and enjoy, noosa's strawberry rubarb flavored yoghurt.  In one word, delicious.

Although, like most meals, I often have these 2 faces peering at me...

hoping they can share a bite.

And, though most of my 'me time' is interrupted by this sweet soon to be five year old...

I'll happily make that sacrifice because I am quickly realizing how fast the time goes and how one day I'll miss these interruptions.

What do you consider your 'me time'?

The link party begins Friday May 31st, so you still have time to get in front of the camera and share your own 'me time'.

This is Me - February Link Party

February's theme was: Reflections.

Last month, 14 brave women stepped in front of the camera and shared their 'simple moment'.

Rosie at The Frugal Freshman Homemaker

Each portrait captured a moment,

Mel at Mellywood's Mansion

drew you in

Rea at home for 4 sweet home

and told a story.

Erin at Crafty Biggers

Lisa, from Wine and Glue put into words so eloquently the reasons that inspired me to start this challenge to begin with and will inspire me to continue.

So, now is your turn.  Come out from behind the camera, capture your reflection 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, March 1st, for our March theme announcement, and 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?

Birthday Traditions Continue

Today is my handsome husband's birthday. 

Nearly every day, he does something that makes me smile or laugh.

So, for each birthday we've spent together, I create birthday signs for him. 

I find funny pictures he has happily posed for throughout the year and I add a funny caption to it.

 

Get it, pirate booty...geez, what were you thinking?

Then I hide them all over the house, waiting for him to stumble upon them and hopefully smile...

Because nearly every day, this sweet man makes me smile and remember not to take life too seriously. 

My Photography Studio

Recently, I have discovered how to take my pictures from this...

to this...

My secret: a location that has some natural indirect light, a camera {don't use your flash, let the natural light do all the work} and 3 pieces of white foam board.

Are you ready to see my photography studio?

Here it is...

It takes some furniture rearranging and it may look ridiculous but the quality of my pictures has improved dramatically.

The result is a clean and bright picture.

My photography assistant, Grace, likes to prompt the 'models' to say "Cheese" as I take their pictures.

So now that you know my secret {and how easy it is}, I hope you feel inspired to create your own photography studio, however temporary it may be.

Not Your Ordinary School Pictures

I was driving by an old school, near our house, that is due for demolition. Having the knowledge that soon this building would be gone, I started to look at it in a new light.

Something about this school, in particular the garage doors, drew me in and compelled me to grab my camera and take some pictures.

23 really doesn't have any particular meaning to our family...

but 3 does {since Grace is currently 3}. With my growing knowledge of Photoshop Elements {the cheaper version of Photoshop, with a few less bells and whistles, but enough for my editing needs}, I was able to remove the 2.

The distressed garage doors resulted in an interesting background. The promise of a lollipop resulted in a willing model.

I even decided to step in front of the camera.

Sometimes an unexpected location may lend itself to some interesting pictures. You never know where your next memorable photo may be taken.

If you think that Grace's hat is adorable, head over to Aesthetic Nest for the free pattern to make one of your own.

If the shoe fits, remember them.

Grace starts ballet this week. Seeing those tiny ballet shoes, brought back memories from when I took ballet as a little girl.

That's me...

As soon as I held her first pair of ballet shoes in my hands, I became overwhelmed with emotion. The warnings I have heard, countless times before, about how these childhood days should be cherished because before you know it, you'll look back and wonder where the time has gone, suddenly seemed so real to me. I can already fast forward and see myself reflecting back, thinking of Grace as a little ballerina.

I decided, if the shoe fits, remember them. Simple enough, right. Grace, in her pink leotard and ballet shoes, is definitely something I won't want to forget. It's a memory I want to preserve not only for myself but for her as well.

I found a couple of ideas, I know that I'll want to try of my little ballerina.

I love they way Smashed Peas and Carrots has captured her daughter's ballet shoes in the photograph below.

Such a simple photo but so full of meaning. {If you visit her site, she also has a great tutorial on how to make those leg warmers.}

My favorite idea comes from Martha Setwart. What a great idea to display not only your adorable ballerina but also her first pair of ballet shoes.

Last year, 'the shoe that fit' Grace was a sweet pair of pink Converse sneakers. Nearly every picture I took of her last summer, she was wearing those shoes.

Using Picnik, I converted a picture of these Converse, on Grace's chubby little feet, using their editing effect '1960s'. I printed it as a 5x7 and it's displayed on our bookcase.

Whatever the shoe, whatever the memory, whatever the moment you are in, cherish it and look back on it with...