Serendipity Kits July Focus on Photography Contest Entries

Two of my three submitted photos made it into judging for the Serendipity Kits July Focus on Photography Contest. You might recognize them:


The first is titled "My Little Czech Girl" and the second "Fireworks." Yah, not too creative there, I know. Anyway, if you like them, please head on over and put in a vote for me! I think the voting is only open through tomorrow evening (Tuesday, the 10th). No site login or registration is required to vote. Vote here (scroll down a bit on the main page). Thanks!

SSFS #23 - Jesh de Rox Fine Art Photography

I came across a beautiful website earlier this week that I thought I would share with you as a bit of inspiration. Jesh De Rox is a fine art photographer that lives in Western Canada and, as you will see from his gorgeous website, he prides himself in getting to know his clients. Even your journey through his portraits is somewhat customed tailored to you personality...or at least your mood at the moment.

I am sure you will will enjoy his photography as well as his site. This guy is talented on so many levels...if you look deep enough, you'll also find that he's also a very gifted musician. Please visit and come back to let me know what you thought.

Gravel Lines by Amy Seeley

Why does it always seem that I manage to find (and fall in love with) the most obscure and hard to find songs!! This song is called "Gravel Lines" by Amy Seeley. Case in point:



Let me know what you think of the song.

Way Funny! Courses for Men & Women

I found these on James S. Huggins' Refrigerator Door and just had to share...some are just way too funny. Simply for your enjoyment, I've highlighted the ones for which I feel my hubby should sign up (I apologize if it's a little too much information on a couple). I am sure that he would certainly be able to highlight a few he wishes I would take, too, but we won't talk about that. :-)

Courses for Men
Taught by women, for men.

101 - Combating Stupidity
102 - You Too Can Do Housework
103 - P.M.S. – Learning When To Keep Your Mouth Shut
104 - How To Fill An Ice Cube Tray
105 - We Do Not Want Sleazy Underthings for Christmas – Give Us Money
106 - Understanding the Female Response To You Coming In Drunk At 4 AM
107 - Wonderful Laundry Techniques (Formerly "Don't Wash My Silks")
108 - Parenting – No, It Doesn't End With Conception
109 - Get a Life – Learn How To Cook
110 - How Not To Act Like a Butthead When You Are Obviously Wrong
111 - Spelling – Even You Can Get It Right
112 - Understanding Your Financial Incompetence
113 - You – The Weaker Sex
114 - Reasons To Give Flowers
115 - How To Stay Awake After
116 - Why It Is Unacceptable To Relieve Yourself Anywhere But the Bathroom
117 - Garbage – Getting It To the Curb
118A - You Can Fall Asleep Without It If You Really Try
118B - The Morning Dilemma - If It's Awake, Take a Shower
119 - The Weekend and Sports Are Not Synonymous
120 - How To Put The Toilet Seat Down
121 - How To Go Shopping With Your Mate and Not Get Lost
122 - The Remote Control – Overcoming Your Dependency
123 - Helpful Postural Hints For Couch Potatoes
124 - How Not To Act Younger Than Your Children
125 - You Too Can Be a Designated Driver
126 - Honest, You Don't Look Like Mel Gibson, Especially When Naked
127 - Changing Your Underwear – It Really Works
128 - The Attainable Goal – Omitting %@#*! From Your Vocabulary
129 - Fluffing the Blankets After Farting is Not Necessary
130 - Real Men Ask For Directions
131 - How To Take Illness Like a Man

Courses for Women
Taught by men, for women.

101 - Avoiding Walking in Front of the TV
102 - Doing Housework Without Complaining
103 - Shopping: Buying What You Can Afford, Not What You Can Charge
104 - Going to The Washroom Alone (formerly Coping Without My Friends)
105 - Understanding the Male Response to "Do I Look OK?"
106 - Exercise: How it Keeps You from Looking Like Your Mother
107 - Learning How to Initiate Intimacy
108 - How to Apologize When You Are Obviously Wrong
109 - Understanding the Male Response to "Am I Fat?"
110 - Dishwashers: Rinsing Before Is Not a Must
111 - The Toilet Seat: I Can Learn to Put It Down Too
112 - Using the Thesaurus: Alternatives to "Make Love"
113 - "The Weekend" and "Long Boring Walks" Are Not Synonymous
114 - How to Go Shopping With Your Mate and Not Embarrass Him
115 - The Remote Control: Don't Touch What You Can't Handle
116 - You Too Can Be the One to Hang Up the Phone
117 - Honest, You Don't Look Like Kim Bassinger – But You're Acceptable
118 - Hairspray: The Effects On The Ecosystem (formerly One Can Is Enough)
119 - Runs In Your Nylons? It's Not the End of the World
120 - Fishing: Being Able to Bait Your Own Hook
121 - Intimacy: More Than Just Lying There
122 - Learning to Choose What to Wear In Less Than Four Hours
123 - Vacations: Doing Without 4 Suitcases
124 - Makeup: The Less is More Theory
125 - Nagging: Stop the Insanity!

Did anyone else happen to notice that there are fewer offerings under 'Courses for Women'? We must just need less work! :-)

4th of July Fun & Fireworks

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! We sure got our share of fireworks. Of course, my favorite photo of Kaitlin for the day turned out way too dark...tried to 'save' it...not sure if it was successful or not:

Kaitlin kept telling everyone, "I'm a little fire cracker!" with the biggest grin!

I got some good fireworks shots again this year...









For some strange reason, the couple that have the burst only half the way in the picture really appeal to me. Just different, I suppose.

A Review of Computer Tricks for Scrapbookers

A Review of Computer Tricks for Scrapbookers by Jessica Sprague.

Creating Keepsakes Description:

Ready to do more with your computer than just printing out your photos and journaling? Now you can! Learn how to create inspiring borders, accents, titles, photos and more with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions from contributing editor Jessica Sprague and her team of creative contributors. You’ll be creating quick digital elements and artistically altering your photos like a pro in no time!

MY REVIEW:
I love Jessica Sprague! She is certainly one of my favorite scrapbooking designers right now, so it came to no surprise to me that I loved her special issue. Although she does do some all-digital layouts, she primarily uses her computer to 'enhance' her traditional paper layouts which is what I like to do as well. I was somewhat impressed with myself that I did know how to do some of the techniques she outlines, but many were new and I am so excited to use some of them. My favorites were instructions on how to give a photo a vintage, hand-painted look, create an artistic look with a less-than-perfect photo (we all have those, don't we?) and add artistic appeal to a photo with a subtle journaling block. Those are just a few...too many favorites to list here. Here is an example of what I was able to do with Jessica's easy-to-follow instructions on the vintage, hand-painting technique with a recent favorite photo of mine:

The Original:

With Jessica's Vintage, Hand-Painted Look Instructions:

Think how wonderful this effect would look with all the flag pictures, etc. we'll be taking today!

MY RATING:
5 STARS!! Thanks, Jessica!

It's My Birthday!!

Yup, I'm 31 today and after spending an entire week with 13 teenagers last week for YBA (Youth Business Adventure - a camp - more on this later), the wrinkles around my eyes seem to be even MORE prominent!! Oh well!

All in all though, I had a good day.

-Work kept me hopping (trying to catch up after a week out of the office).
-I found out that I got a promotion (in title) AND a raise beyond our standard 'cost of living' raise (BONUS!).
-I received flowers and balloons at work from my husband and balloons, candy and a glass swan with a rose in it from my mother- and father-in-law (Just so my Mom & Dad don't feel bad, I will mention here that they gave me $$ the other day, which I asked for so that could go scrapbook supply shopping without guilt...I am looking forward to some online shopping later this week! :-) ).
-I went out for a drink and some appetizers with a couple of my coworkers after work to celebrate our Office Manager's birthday (we missed it last week - again...YBA) and mine, too.
-I took Kaitlin to the Monday evening summer story time session that I signed her up for, but have missed the first two weeks because I have been so busy...she LOVED it!
-Now, we are going to 'veg' on the couch for the remainder of the evening a watch a movie.

Not a bad birthday for me!!