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Archive for the ‘Photo Friday’ Category

In our home this week, it’s pretty much been ALL about the LAST DAY of school. (Which was Wednesday). Samuel wore the same clothes on the last day of school that he wore last August for the first day. And of course I got a few pictures. For Photo Friday, please indulge me with my “first day, last day” pictures!

First Day of School:

Last Day of School:

The clothes are the same, although there is quite a bit of fading after 9 months of wearing them. The shoes are the same, although it’s a new pair, a size larger. The smile is the same, although maybe a little leaner. The boy is the same…. oh, but no he is not!

Samuel has grown SO much during this first year of school. It’s really quite amazing what they teach kids in Kindergarten these days. He knows how to read, he can add simple figures, he sings at least 100 more songs now than he did last August. Confidence-wise, I’d say he’s grown ten inches. On the second to last day of school, we went to their Kindergarten program. Over 100 kindergarteners singing us a few songs. And our son? He was the one doing the MOST AWESOME air guitar solo during the “School Is Cool” song. The kid… he has some moves! (And he’ll be happy to tell you all about it sometime too!)

Besides all the increased confidence and new moves, his focus is better… his writing is better… his speech is better. He’s still got some hurdles to overcome (especially in the focus department), but he is meeting each challenge with the innocence of youth, and he isn’t aware yet that there are areas in which he might fail. I’m not going to think about what first grade might bring in that way. For now, we’re just going to enjoy our summer break.

We’re going to read together, and sing together, and teach lil Allan funny dances together. (And maybe an air guitar solo or two).

Oh, and next week, Samuel and I are going to FLY together! We’re heading off to see some family and friends in Nebraska for a few days. Just him and me, on an airplane, in two airports - flying a few states away. Even a few months ago, I might have been concerned about how it would go, how he would do, would I need a leash to keep him by my side? But now? With my big FIRST GRADER accompanying me? After watching him accomplish and finish Kindergarten in STYLE…. yeah, we’re gonna be JUST FINE.

Just a quick post for Photo Friday - I have a ton of Heavenly Promises work to do, and I need to focus, focus, focus!

Thought I’d share a photo from Mother’s Day. Honestly, it is SO hard to get a decent picture with these three kiddos. I mean, they are adorable, and one of them always looks at the camera (usually lil Allan, wonder if that says something about him) - but we can never seem to get ALL three to look at the camera at the SAME time.

But, this was still a good picture, and it makes me happy.

Just look how BIG Martha looks! Sigh… she’s inching her way to toddlerhood already! And I love that Samuel is cuddling with her, even if he’s not looking at Daddy or the camera. (The light, oh, it was TOO bright for that boy). Lil Allan of course has his smile on! Ok, I’ll quit gushing now - thanks for looking!

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If you have an idea for a Photo Friday post, please send me an email at char@digiscrapchat.com. I’m working on a schedule for guest posting, and I’d love to fill in the spaces for the summer! (And if you have an idea for any OTHER post, you can let me know that too). I’ll be finalizing all my guest posting plans by the end of this month!

Happy Friday, folks!

Ya’ll have heard of The Pioneer Woman, right? 

I’ve been reading her blog(s) for a little while now.  I’ve been enjoying photography tips and her beautiful photos (often of cowboys), recipes, stories about ranch life (pics of cowboys, mmhmm!) and other miscellaneous chatter.   

And just in case I’m NOT the last person on earth to have discovered her, I thought I’d mention her here for Photo Friday.

While I’m not a huge user of PS (I use PhotoImpact, but I do own and occasionally use PSE), I AM in awe of what Miss Ree can do with her software.  And the fact that she gives away her actions for FREE!

I’ll keep this post brief, because you will need the rest of the morning (or afternoon, depending on when you are reading this) to read through the posts on her photography blog, to download her actions, to play with your own photos and to go back to her blog to read a little more. 

I promise she is that addicting.  And if you aren’t really into photography and Photoshop and actions (well, you’re probably reading the wrong blog if you aren’t into them a LITTLE), but if that doesn’t really float your boat, then you can always click over to her cooking blog.  I can personally vouch for her Cinammon Rolls recipe - yes, oh yes, I can!  (Only I used vanilla AND cinnamon in my frosting, because I’m a bit of a rebel and like to tweak recipes, just for fun).  (And I know, you’re not supposed to put cinnamon in the frosting for cinnamon rolls - but did I mention the part about being a rebel?) (And it was GOOD!) (So there!)

Just a word of warning, if you do head over to the cooking blog, make sure you have tissue.  Not for tears, but for the drool.  Although I suppose some of the recipes could induce tears.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Happy Photo Friday, everyone!

(And, isn’t that funny - I think I MAY have talked more about food than photos in this post - oops!)

Ok, I have a confession to make. You know that I offered Donna Downey’s book for my first bloggy giveaway this week. But what you don’t know is that I hadn’t actually read it yet… or even held one in my hands. Yes, it was a little bit of a gamble to offer something I hadn’t read yet, but I knew the odds were good that it was just as great as it looked to be.

(I live in Las Vegas, of course I knew what my odds were!)

(Not that I actually gamble at the casinos or anything).

(Ok, sometimes when my husband and I go to the movies, we stick a few bucks in the mega-bucks slot machine - but only because it’s conveniently located outside the lobby of the movie theater, which is conveniently located IN a casino).

(Because you know, if you ARE going to gamble, mega-bucks is the one to try for).

(Why am I talking about gambling? Right… back to the book review! And the fact that I gambled on my giveaway with Donna’s book).

And as it turns out folks, I was SO right! Donna Downey’s “A Photos-First Approach to Designing Layouts“ book arrived yesterday, and I spent an hour devouring it.

First, let me say that it is primarily written from a paper scrappers viewpoint, and written FOR paper scrappers. HOWEVER, it would still be a fun and useful book for digital scrapbookers. If you are a digi-gal, you can just skip over the part about printing pictures, and move on to the meat of the book, which consists of 25 fabulous sketches.

And these sketches are fun, easy, and versatile. For a reason! The first page of the book sums it all up with the title, “reuse, recycle, repeat”. Donna’s strategy in this book is to offer up sketches that can be reused over and over again. In discussing the PILES of pictures that need to be scrapped, she says, “The best solution I’ve found for getting my photos out of my stacks and into my scrapbooks is to rely on trusty formulas”. She compares the idea of reusing layouts to the gourmet chef who has a “can’t fail” recipe.

She goes on to say, “The sketches include in this book are like those “can’t fail” recipes. You start with a basic formula, add a few different ingredients, and watch as the magic occurs”.

She is so right, and she proves it too! Each sketch comes with four sample layouts, showing the versatility of the sketch. And there are 25 sketches, with multiple photos. If you have been wanting to scrap more photos on a page, this is definitely the book to get. Donna shows how to scrap four, five, six…. all the way to TEN photos on a page - and she shows how to do it WELL. The samples are fabulous, and I found myself anxious to sit down and scrap some of those more photo-heavy layouts that I’ve been avoiding - like birthdays and Christmas. You know, Martha’s first birthday? With all the “eating her first cake” pictures? There are several sketches in this book that will work perfectly with those photos.

So, after 25 sketches with samples, you’d think the book would be complete, but no. Donna includes a 2 page spread with SIXTEEN additional sketches to keep the creativity going. That’s a lot of sketches, folks. And again, they are all multi-photo sketches, with plenty of room for adapting and letting the “magic occur”.

To sum up, it’s a 2 thumbs up for Donna’s book, and I’m so excited to be giving it away to someone! Whether paper or digi, or a mix of both, this book is sure to get your creative juices going and make you excited about scrapping those stacks (or hard-drive) full of photos!

If you haven’t already signed up for the Bloggy Giveaway, click on over and do that now. And check out the other three giveaways too - Giveaway #2 is ending this evening, and #3 and #4 go until Saturday afternoon/evening.

And in case you can’t wait to see if YOU are the winner of the giveaway and want to get this book NOW, here is a link to Donna’s site:

It’s been a very long week, and to celebrate making it to Friday with my sanity still in place, I’m taking the day off to enjoy my kiddos, and hopefully to get a nap. We’ll cuddle on the couch and watch a movie or two, and maybe Martha will try to walk today! (She’s SO close)

What do YOU do when you “take a day”? I don’t know about you, but I think I’m going to wear my pajamas all day. (As opposed to just half a day like usual). <grin>

Oh, and just a quick tease - next week is going to be HUGE!! Seriously… HUGE …around here. I will have the first of our Designer Showcases interviews, and at LEAST two, but maybe FOUR, big giveaways. It’s Bloggy Giveaway week, and I’ll be joining in. So, if you like to WIN BIG, you should consider coming back on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… well, every day! Next week will totally be worth it, I promise!

Happy Friday, everyone!