One of my ABSOLUTE favorite photographers right now is Tara Whitney. She's a California girl and her work (especially of children) is just some of the sweetest stuff I've come across.
Amanda and I talked recently about how yummy the light is on the West Coast and how it just seems different from what we get here in Indiana - all the more reason I want to make a trip to California!!
If you ever need a little pick-me-up at your desk, or inspiration for better photos, Tara's blog is a cute site to check. She actually first made a name for herself in the scrapbooking world, and you can still see that influence on her life when she blogs about her personal world (and her four sweet kids). And if you want to, give her Web site a look too if you get a chance!
Friday, December 14, 2007
A sweet tooth no more ...
This week we had a Christmas cookie exchange at work. Feeling motivated, I thought it'd be a blast from the past to make homemade cookies, the kind mom used to make dozens upon dozens of when I was a kid and that my brother Mark would make his sole food group through January.
What was I THINKING? I knew there would be work involved here, but I have a whole new level of respect for all those years my mom made these sweets (and better understand why she's less inclined nowadays to make them!) Making the dough from scratch, rolling it out, cutting the shapes, baking the cookies (only one out of eight dozen burnt!), making the frosting and then frosting them -- I think this may be a once-every-five-years kind of treat!
Half-way there!
If anyone wants the recipe -- let me know - they really are super good and perfect for dunking in milk!
What was I THINKING? I knew there would be work involved here, but I have a whole new level of respect for all those years my mom made these sweets (and better understand why she's less inclined nowadays to make them!) Making the dough from scratch, rolling it out, cutting the shapes, baking the cookies (only one out of eight dozen burnt!), making the frosting and then frosting them -- I think this may be a once-every-five-years kind of treat!
You can tell by this photo that I was making these late at night
(and at that hour, there's no such thing as natural light! :)
(and at that hour, there's no such thing as natural light! :)
Half-way there!
A sea of cookies (and sadly, as good as they turned out - they don't even make my mouth water at the moment. I'm still suffering from that 72-hour, I-just-made-too -much-of-something-and-if-I-look-at--or-taste-another-one-I-may-hurl" feeling. Does anyone else every get that way after cooking a big meal?)
If anyone wants the recipe -- let me know - they really are super good and perfect for dunking in milk!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
It's a snowman, but his name's not Frosty
While I spent a chunk of my weekend thus far backing up files on our dying PC (a Mac replacement is in store for 2008 :), Nick and our friend Chris (who is a photographer at the paper) spent their Friday night building a GIANT snowman outside our office.
Hours later, they came home as excited as little kids about their accomplishment.
So, without further ado, meet ... Barry. As in, he's so behemoth in size he's the Barry Bonds of snowmen. "It's like he's on steroids," my husband says.
(Is there a clause somewhere for wives that states, on occasion, our husbands revert to 12-year-olds? :)
***I figured out a way to make my photos bigger on here -- which is a very good thing and hopefully just one of many improvements to come for this blog!
Hours later, they came home as excited as little kids about their accomplishment.
So, without further ado, meet ... Barry. As in, he's so behemoth in size he's the Barry Bonds of snowmen. "It's like he's on steroids," my husband says.
(Is there a clause somewhere for wives that states, on occasion, our husbands revert to 12-year-olds? :)
***I figured out a way to make my photos bigger on here -- which is a very good thing and hopefully just one of many improvements to come for this blog!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Favorite Blog Fridays
I'm starting something new on this blog. Once a week, I'll share with all six of you (ha!) who check this blog some of the other blogs I check a lot. Okay, more like stalk.
You may already be familiar with the concept of "blog stalking," best defined as constantly checking a person's blog to see if there is a new photo of their dog, their kid, their client, their house ... you get the idea. Trust me, it's addicting. And now that I live in a house with no cable, blog stalking has replaced those mindless hours I used to spend with the witty Joel McHale and his Talk Soup.
For the most part, these mentions will focus on other photographers whose work I admire. But on occasion, I'll give a nod to some other kinds of blogs/sites I've come to appreciate while navigating this crazy thing we call the Web.
First up? Dooce.com. A few of you may already know about Heather Armstrong and her popular blog, but I'd never heard of her before this summer, when I randomly (which is how we find most things on the Internet, right?) stumbled across it.
Then, I couldn't stop reading it -- for hours on end. Heather's sarcastic and self-deprecating sense of humor really caught my attention (as did her hilarious daily photo opps with her dog, Chuck). Nowadays, she writes a lot about her daughter, Leta, (as she notes, rhymes with "pita") and her newsletters (which you can find via a search at the bottom of her home page) are some of the most refreshing yet touching musings on motherhood I've ever read.
You may already be familiar with the concept of "blog stalking," best defined as constantly checking a person's blog to see if there is a new photo of their dog, their kid, their client, their house ... you get the idea. Trust me, it's addicting. And now that I live in a house with no cable, blog stalking has replaced those mindless hours I used to spend with the witty Joel McHale and his Talk Soup.
For the most part, these mentions will focus on other photographers whose work I admire. But on occasion, I'll give a nod to some other kinds of blogs/sites I've come to appreciate while navigating this crazy thing we call the Web.
First up? Dooce.com. A few of you may already know about Heather Armstrong and her popular blog, but I'd never heard of her before this summer, when I randomly (which is how we find most things on the Internet, right?) stumbled across it.
Then, I couldn't stop reading it -- for hours on end. Heather's sarcastic and self-deprecating sense of humor really caught my attention (as did her hilarious daily photo opps with her dog, Chuck). Nowadays, she writes a lot about her daughter, Leta, (as she notes, rhymes with "pita") and her newsletters (which you can find via a search at the bottom of her home page) are some of the most refreshing yet touching musings on motherhood I've ever read.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
This DVD made my day!
This is SO awesome! I came home the other day to find a package waiting for me: Beyond the Green Box: Understanding your Digital Camera, the second DVD from the wonderful Me Rah Koh, a professional photographer from the West Coast.
Me Ra and her husband, Brian, have an amazing and inspiring story of how they became photographers, and I've been following her blog for months now. The twosome have created this DVD series to help aspiring photographers and moms capture better moments with their kids on camera. Their first DVD is called Refuse to Say Cheese and offers up tips on framing and composition techniques; the second teaches you how to use your camera manually to take better photos. I think this pair is REALLY on to something with these DVDs (and I wouldn't be surprised if they find a national distributor for the product in 2008). So why is this such a big deal to me?
A few months back, Me Ra put out a query on her blog for photo submissions to be included in DVD 2's insert. I submitted some photos and was THRILLED when Me Ra's assistant contacted me and said they wanted to use one of mine. I gave them three shots, so I didn't know which one they'd used until I opened my (free) copy.
My nephew, Sam
Me Ra and her husband, Brian, have an amazing and inspiring story of how they became photographers, and I've been following her blog for months now. The twosome have created this DVD series to help aspiring photographers and moms capture better moments with their kids on camera. Their first DVD is called Refuse to Say Cheese and offers up tips on framing and composition techniques; the second teaches you how to use your camera manually to take better photos. I think this pair is REALLY on to something with these DVDs (and I wouldn't be surprised if they find a national distributor for the product in 2008). So why is this such a big deal to me?
A few months back, Me Ra put out a query on her blog for photo submissions to be included in DVD 2's insert. I submitted some photos and was THRILLED when Me Ra's assistant contacted me and said they wanted to use one of mine. I gave them three shots, so I didn't know which one they'd used until I opened my (free) copy.
Can you spot it?
How about now that you see the originial? :)
It's my niece, Emily!!!! I call this "The Stinker" shot.
It's my niece, Emily!!!! I call this "The Stinker" shot.
Here were the other shots I submitted.
My friend Heather's daughter, Gabby
My friend Heather's daughter, Gabby
My nephew, Sam
Monday, December 3, 2007
Baby love
Meet Cyenna, the adorable daughter of my childhood friend, Kristen. Born a little more than two weeks ago, this little girl didn't come easy into this world. Matter of fact, she put her mama through a lot of (post-op) pain.
But as Kristen can attest, it's been worth it to hold a little bundle like this in her arms.
But as Kristen can attest, it's been worth it to hold a little bundle like this in her arms.
Let's start with Cyenna's tiny little toes. I'm a sucker for shots like this!
And on to that beautiful little face. Doesn't she look so peaceful?
Not even a month old and already she's stylin'!
Mother & daughter
(this is my FAVORITE shot! Doesn't Kristen look beautiful?)
(this is my FAVORITE shot! Doesn't Kristen look beautiful?)
Kristen's been out of the hospital little more than a week and
already she's making Cyenna feel at home for the holidays!
already she's making Cyenna feel at home for the holidays!
"A baby is God's opinion that life should go on." -- Carl Sandburg
Congratulations Kristen and Billy!!
Side note: Tonight I went with my generous friend Michelle to catch the traveling Broadway performance of Hairspray! at Emens. It was FABULOUS! Lucky for me, I had a free ticket, but I would have gladly paid my admission it was so good!!!
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