Picmonkey finally released the much anticipated collage feature his week, yey! I for one am very happy to see the new rollouts on Picmonkey, I will definitely share with you some of my favorite tools in that site over the summer. Up until now I have been completely unmotivated to figure out how to create a collage using another program, once Picnik shut it doors I just stopped too. Soooooo this morning I got up and quietly sneaked away with my coffee and opened up picmonkey and decied to try to make a storyboard with colors that I’m inspired by this season. I love the idea of marrying fashion (and interiors for that matter) with the colors and patterns that I’m photographing. That same sentiment is echoed in one of my favorite books The Well Dressed Home. Which also happens to have a cover in a color that makes my heart sing, teal.

I noticed when I looked through my instagram feed I was taking photos of the same blues and greens with a splash of yellow every now and then. There was one ceramic tile photo  that captured all of the colors working together. I used that as my starting point and added pieces that flowed well. If you know me my style is pretty classic, I am an East Coast preppy at heart with the Preppy Handbook and motif pants to back it up. Naturally I blow most of my clothing budget at J.CREW. I even joked during my last shopping trip that from here on out I was going to buy all of my clothes from J.CREW ONLY, they found that amusing, I think 40% of the items in my closet have the words J.CREW sewn on it.

(click to enlarge)

collage template: Square Deal picmonkey.com

photo credit J.CREW.com

storyboards for summer

Happy Memorial Day! I’m in denial that summer is almost ‘officially’ here. While I can’t be much more excited about pulling out my white jeans a part of me cringes at the thought of swimsuit shopping. I have gone three years without as much as even glancing at rack of swim suits. I still wear the same Calvin Klein suit I bought back in 2008 and I’ll be honest I Googled it to see if I could just order a replacement. I know. I am so not ready to parade around in a waterproof pair of unmentionables. I don’t even know if any amount of treadmill time could get me to unveil myself willingly.

A little motivation came in the form of an email from the nice people at Gigasavvy, they wanted me to participate in one of  Macy’s  Fashion program that only required I do one thing, shop.  I knew what I needed and I knew where to find it, the swimwear section.  I struggle with the finding a bathing suit top that accommodates, ahem, the “girls”. I am really picky about fit. I have a list of  DON’TS all of them non-negotiable.

• no halters, there are better ways to support yourself, using your neck is not one of them.
• no triangle tops.
• no heavy padding.
• no busy prints, let’s face it no one wants to see polka dots THAT large.

It also matches well with the bottoms I have. I am a big fan of the skirt over the bottom look actually I’d wear a full length one if they made it. I’m just not “there’ yet with the shape my legs are in but I’m making progress.  Maybe by the end of the summer I’ll ditch the cover up.

So what about you? Bathing suit or burka this summer?

disclosure:  The swimsuit top was shipped to me at no cost, I was asked for my honest review and the the opinions shared on my blog are my own.

bathing suit or burka

I have spent the last week agonizing over changes, metaphorically and otherwise. When I get into a creative rut which tends to happen more frequently then I’d like to admit, I  shuffle my surroundings. Its could be a simple as moving one piece of furniture to completely redesigning my blog (wink wink Darling Studio and Zoe Rooney). For me its about finding something that gets me excited again, excited at the prospect of creating new work. When my surrounding get stale my work gets stale and instead of producing mediocre work I just stop. Life has been feeling like one of those hilarious Direct TV ads. Mine goes a little like this.. “When there’s nothing on cable TV to watch you get bored and when you get bored you go on facebook and when you go on facebook you click on links, when you click on links you find read about your neighbors’ sisters’ lost cat and you start to worry. Don’t worry about the neighbors sisters lost cat.”  I really am trying to lay off the social media (with the exception of posting APBs for missing iPhones and iPads), my goal is to finish my photography website and get a regular posting schedule for the blog (I totally heard you laugh). Not worrying about catching up, I know that’s a pipe dream but I will tell you having new digs here on the modchik has got my creative mojo going again.

Let’s hope for no more artists block or waking up in roadside ditches.

Don’t Wake Up In a Roadside Ditch

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit discoverbeautywithin.com.

Summer is right around the corner and these freshly burned shoulders are a reminder its time to break out the sunscreen. I love the ease of summer, less hair dryer more beach hair. I like to keep my make up simple. Most of the time I use just 5 things, tinted moisturizer, mascara, eyeliner, tinted lip balm and a bronzer.  That’s it.   Here’s a few more Summer Beauty Tips.

Face – I used a light tinted moisturizer pretty much year round but in the summer when I need a higher SPF I will usually spend a little more and go with a high end sunscreen for my face, I like Le Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50 and if it looks a little chalky I’ll add tinted moisturizer over it.

Eyes – Everyday it’s the same plum liner, Almay has a eyeliner/highlighter combo stick from their Wake Up line. I like products that pull double duty. Going out its a basic eye with dramatic eye liner. I pick a neutral base shadow and add plum or brown in the crease. Add a swipe of Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Liner for that popular Adele “cat winged” look and I’m done.

TIP If you are over 40 chances are you probably avoid cake eye shadow and if you don’t YOU SHOULD! Dry shadows tend to make older eyes look like a dried up lake bed magnifying every wrinkle and crease.  I found that if I add a tiny dab of Aquaphor over the powder eye shadow it instantly hydrate’s giving my eyes a fresh dewy look.

Lips – I use Burt’s Bees tinted lip balms, they have a great selection of lip balms and glosses colors and all the products are 100% natural. You can even dab a little on your cheeks instead of dry powder blush. It’s a one-in-every-bag kind of product for me.

Hair - ALWAYS wear a hat and find a spray that has SPF for your hair to avoid color fade .  You can reduce the amount of times you need to wash your  hair by sprinkling  a little bit of powder on a brush and combing it through oily roots, its an inexpensive dry shampoo. They also make colored powder for dark hair (love that).

Nails - I love Sally Hansen Natural Shine, I call it the 1 minute manicure. Its that fast. Have you seen Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips? Basically it’s a peel and stick polish, they stay on for longer than the guaranteed 10 days and getting them off is doable with polish but its work. I really love them, for ten bucks it’s a manicure that lasts easily over two weeks. They came out with two new series, Rock of Ages and the Avril Lavigne collection, I love the yellow taxi cab checkerboard. Also new? the PEDICURE version, I bought the purple snakeskin design I’ll let you know how it goes.

Pretty simple isn’t it.

So tell me do you have any summer beauty tips that would help me simplify my routine?

Summer Beauty Tips on a Budget

May 13th you are a special day.  Today is not only Mother’s Day it is also my sister’s birthday and my wedding anniversary, everything has aligned for the perfect celebration trifecta.  Let me take this opportunity to wish three things toda to three very special people.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom

There isn’t a day that goes by when I find myself wondering how in the world did you manage to do it all? When I try to emulate the kind of sunny childhood I grew up I have to wonder if my kids are noticing. They think everyone has homemade spaghetti sauce and dressing that doesn’t come from a bottle. Little do they know the effort involved. I do and I am always grateful for the values you passed along. A meal doesn’t go by where your son-in-law doesn’t look at me and say “remind me to thank your mom next time I see her.”

February 13, 1969 my first birthday, my mom was in her last trimester and I wasn’t walking yet. I preferred to ride clearly, poor you mom.

Exactly three months later on May 13, my sister Leslie was born and my life became infinitely better and finally found my sea legs.

Happy Birthday to my sister Leslie

We were almost twin like, with the exception of what became her signature blue eyes and blonde hair.

We liked the same things.

We were afraid of the same thing. (thunder)

We shared everything.

Even tan lines. (sunscreen SPF 5)

We were inseparable.

Even as we grew up we stayed close.

Leslie and I also believe that 13 is a lucky number. She and I were born on that day so naturally when it came time to pick a wedding day what day do you think I choose?

Yep. May 13th.

Happy Anniversary to my husband

We eloped on the beautiful beaches of Maui 16 years ago today. I have known Dr G for almost half as long as I’ve been here on this planet. You won’t meet a nicer or more tolerant man than the one I am grabbing onto above. If you only knew how patient he is with me and my laundry piles AND my work AND my blogging AND my documenting the families every move AND my iPhone obsession AND my clutter AND my late dinners AND my desire to hash things out after 10pm, the list folks is long.

I knew back then what I know now, he’s a keeper.

Good Things Come in Threes

It’s funny I had this crazy idea of interviewing myself on the blog, this novel idea? well it was more of a solution than an idea. The problem is that bloggers, myself included are compelled to share. It’s in our DNA. I don’t know why but I feel compelled to tell you everything from my flossing habits to what movies I love. And since no one has asked me anything in a verrrrrry long time I though well heck I will just interview myself and called it..”I’m So Glad You Asked.”  Luckily someone finally asked. The beautiful and talented photographer Meghan Davidson of Life Refocused tagged me to answer 11 of her burning questions. I also get to pass the torch and tag some more awesome ladies with lenses so we can turn this into one HUGE over share! Yeah!

So for those of you who have been tagged here are your rules:

The Rules

~ You must post the rules (hence, here they are!).
~ Answer 11 questions the tagger posted for you.
~ Create 11 questions to ask the people you tag.
~ Tag 11 people.
~ Let them know you’ve tagged them.

Meghan Asks:

1. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I wanted to travel out of the country ANYWHERE, that was my goal. I had never owned a passport until 3 years ago. I got my wish when I was asked to travel to Mainland China. With Asia off the list I would have to go with Europe (Paris, UK, Italy) but NYC is a close second. I feel somewhat unAmerican not having traveled to the city that never sleeps. That and I REALLY need to get myself to the 9/11 Memorial.

2. What is something about you that people would be surprised to know?

I often hear people say, you are much quieter than I thought you would be. I think people assume I am uber social and talkative and I am. I’m not introverted by any means but I definitely take on more of an OBSERVER role in social situations especially when they territory is new. It takes me awhile before I get settled and more importantly comfortable to really open up but when I do? watch out and here’s where you will be surprised again, I am very open and honest when I share. I have never been the one to shy away from a subject, the more personal the better I think we all have something to gain in sharing. I very much believe in the butterfly effect.

3. What’s your go-to book recommendation?

That is a touch one because honestly I don’t read books cover to cover I’m a little ADD in that department. I have a handful that have a permanent spot on my bedside table. The first two that come to mind Autobiography of a Yogi (I prefer the audio version on my iPod and the purring voice of Sir Ben Kingsley), I am fascinated with the relationship between yoga, meditation and spirituality. slowly through this book I am beginning to understand the importance of their presence in the simple quest of finding happiness. I recently read The War of Art I think anyone who struggles with the process of creating anything whether it be photos, writing or painting will GAIN something from reading this book. It has really opened my eyes to the value of paying homage to my “creative space” and tending to my work with care and thoughtfulness. I keep reading it over and over.

4. What do you like best about yourself?

My optimism. I am sooooooooooooo thankful. Seriously a thousand o’s don’t do this justice. I don’t know how I would get through the ups and downs without my mindset. Sure I get down from time to time *cough* *cough* two accidents in two days *cough* *cough* but these things linger with me for a couple days tops. How about when I dropped my beloved new iPad yesterday, upon further inspection I saw that I had flattened a corner where it made contact with the tiled floor, did I pout? Nah. Instead I went to the hubs and said I just need to share this so I can get over it quickly. Here I pointed, “look, bad isn’t it.” That was my way of ripping off the BandAid. Over and done, quick.

5. Share an image that captures a special moment for you. Why did you pick this moment and this photo?

Summer 2010. My daughter a little over 4 years old had just gone underwater albeit very  briefly, she hardly ever ventured past the steps and she didn’t like getting her head wet.  She has always had a strong fear of water, this photo will always remind me of how much she needed her dad to help her get past that fear.  They share a very strong bond.

6. If you could have a super-power, what would it be?

Oh this is easy I talk about this one all the time, pun intended.  I want to be able to stop time.  Like a remote for your television you just point and hit pause. I would catch up on all my projects, returned calls, emails, archiving and editing and then when I was ready to rejoin the word hit play. Tah-dah. Lovely dream isn’t it?

7. If a movie was going to be made about your life, who would play you?

Well they always said I looked like Molly Ringwald when I was in high school and since Sixteen Candles is the best movie made …like evah I’ll go with Molly. Plus she’s tall like me and after googling her name I have to say we looked alike on more than one occasion.

8. When other people talk about you, your life, who you are, what is that you hope they say?

I hope they say I was generous, kind and thoughtful. I hope they over look the piles on my desk and remember my creative spirit over my chronic distractions. I hope they remember that I care deeply for others even in their absence.

9. Share a photo of one of your favorite people. Who is it and what makes them one of your faves?

It would have to be a photo of my sister without her I am not whole. This was taken around 1975 I think, we had just been transplanted from the south shores of Boston to sunny Southern California. To buffer the transition our parents let us pick two kittens out of the box in front of the Alpha Beta store. Green ribbon was Andrea and pink was Fats, my choice of bizarre pet names started early.

10. If you could have your perfect meal made for you, what would it be?

The perfect meal would be ANY meal I didn’t have KP duty afterwards, seriously. As much as I love to cook I am not keen on the clean up as evidence of the pile in my sink. My meal of choice would be a good coconut curry with just the right amount of heat and shrimp..

11. Which of your blog posts is your favorite and why?

What’s In Your Wallet was one of my first posts after I started this blog. Its a story about humbling moments and finding out who the true friends are. Although the vanity plate has since gone the friend I wrote about two years ago remains in my back pocket stronger than ever.

Ok TAG YOU’RE MY ELEVEN:

Mae (Here in the House)
Maureen (Cottage 960)
Kathleen (Ksugarandspice)
Kim aka Mosey (Mosey Along)
Tonya Staab (Create Celebrate Explore)
Lana (She Lived In A Shoe)
Chelsea (Hearts & Scars)
Aimee (Greeblemonkey)
Julie (Angry Julie Monday)
Barbara (Among the Saguaros)
Tammy (Bliss & Folly)

Here are your 11 questions:

1. Describe yourself in no less than 11 adjectives.
2. When did you get your first camera and what was it. Bonus if you have photos.
3. What do you find is the biggest challenge to photograph and why.
4. What story does your family always tell about you?
5. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever what age would that be and why?
6. What do you miss most about being a kid?
7. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?
8. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
9. Where is the farthest place you have traveled?
10. Where is your happy place?
11. Name 3 of your favorite photographers (well-known or not).

Come back and make sure you leave a link to your answers in the comments so I can link up. BIG THANK YOU to Meghan you helped me get my blogging mojo on again a million besos for you.

And with that ladies and gentleman I think I am back to the business of blogging. I have been busy behind the scenes working with Darling Studio on a blog re-design, I am VERY excited about the new layout, its so clean and easy to navigate just think of it as a closet reorganize - for once you are finally going to be able to FIND what you re actually looking for on the modchik – **and the crowd goes wild** …. I hope you are as excited as I am. Stay tuned we should be starting the coding process in the next few weeks.

xoxo – Linz

I’m So Glad You Asked