Project Alicia

WW: Field Trip iPhone Style

2012-05-29T16:52:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday I was playing chaperone. Four hours on a bus, not including two rest stops. And thirteen hours away from home. The last field trip of my baby's elementary school experience... I landed home exhausted with a splitting migraine and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I left the big camera at home and snapped a few pics with my 3GS. Nothing spectacular, but memories captured all the same. Who knew a field trip could be so emotional. Or that parenting could make your heart literally hurt for no apparent reason? Turns out growing pains aren't just limited to tweens. Moms get them too... tomorrow I'll be at Pokey's school attending her 5th grade graduation ceremony... gonna try to be strong.

If you'd like to follow me on instagram, you can find me @projectalicia. Or if you don't have a smart phone, you can follow me here.

And please help me welcome my newest sponsor, JW Baugh Photography! They have beautiful fine art prints for purchase. Go take a peek!

This is Wordless Wednesday, but as you can see Wordful or Not So Wordless posts are also welcome here. Just grab a photo and link up below! And if you'd like to connect with other WW participants, click HERE.

Life-n-Reflection's Grand Reopening Sale!

2012-05-24T19:13:00.000-05:00

The super talented Kristy of Life-n-Reflection is having a Grand Reopening of her Boutique through May 28th with special deals daily. Don't wait!

Whether you're a photographer, blogger or mom, it's a great time to stock up on some fun supplies! I love her products! You can see my Life-n-Reflection 3x3 Accordion Mini Book here. She also offers beautiful textures, paper packs, cards/cd templates, blog boards and more. Her products are easy to use and are compatible with Photoshop, Elements and Gimp.

Make sure to visit the Life-n-Reflection Facebook Page to stay up to date on all of the daily specials and updates!

Blog │ Facebook │ Shop │ Twitter

WW: The Arrival of Summer & FREE Template

2012-05-22T16:58:00.000-05:00

We've had a hint of summer here in the last couple weeks with the end of soccer, gardening, lemonade stands, thunderstorms, and critters by the dozens... And now the countdown is on. Only 5 days of school left, if half days count. I'm stoked for the carefree, unstructured days ahead. If only the kids had the same vision as me, ha!

And as a way of saying thank you for stopping by, here's a FREE template download! It could be a great layout for a newsletter, scrap page or blog post. Just drag and drop your favorite papers or photos. You can find my step by step clipping instructions here. If you have a chance to try it out, make sure to let me know so I can share your work.

My cohosts, Rebecca of Bumbles & Light and Kristi of Live and Love out Loud and I have a special gift for you all- the Leap into Spring! Photo Challenge Photograhy Tips and Tutorials eBook.

We've compiled the photography tips and tutorials shared throughout the challenge, threw them into a lovely e-book and wrapped it up with a pretty little bow, especially for you. Thank you to all who participated in our Spring Challenge.

We have a fun, laid back project in the works for summer, so stay tuned...

Make sure to LIKE my facebook page or subscribe to keep up to date on all of the new things at Project Alicia.

This is Wordless Wednesday, but as you can see Not So Wordless or Wordful posts are always welcome here. Just grab a photo and link up below! And if you'd like to connect with other WW participants, click HERE.

Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge: FREE Photography Tips & Tutorials e-book

2012-05-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge finale giveaway is in full swing. We've got an awesome selection of prizes up for grabs and it's not too late to enter! Just stop by and share your favorite spring photos with us by 11:59pm CST on Friday, May 18th and you'll be entered to win one of 20 fabulous prizes.* (I'll tell you more about those prizes in a bit.)

But first...

Presenting the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge Photography Tips & Tutorials FREE e-book

My co-hosts, Kristi of Live and Love out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, and I have a special gift for you all. We've compiled the photography tips and tutorials shared throughout the challenge, threw them into a lovely e-book and wrapped it up with a pretty little bow, especially for you.

Access our tips and tutorials on the go!

The Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge Photography Tips & Tutorials ebook is available in PDF form. Simply click on the image above and download to your computer or handheld device via iBooks, Kindle and more.

We're always looking for ways to reward you all for your participation and we hope that you'll enjoy the e-book. Feel free to pin it, tweet about it, share it with a friend.

And if you haven't already entered our finale giveaway, there's still time! Link up by 11:59pm CST on Friday, May 18th for your chance to win one of 20 fabulous prizes. Winners will be chosen at random over the weekend and announced right here on Monday, May 21st at 9am CST.

Twenty lucky winners will have a chance to win one of the following prizes:

Five (5) winners will win an annual subscription of ThisLife's Adventure Box package, valued at $80 each.

Five (5) winners will win Topaz Labs fabulous Topaz Adjust plugin, valued at $50 each.

One (1) winner will win a custom 26-page 8" in spine photo book from AdoramaPix, valued at $40.

One (1) winner will win a lovely card bundle template of their choice from Life-n-Reflection, valued between $24-30.

One (1) winner will win a 11 x 14 "pretty print" of their choice from Veronica Armstrong Photography, $25 value.

One (1) winner will win a beautiful camera strap of their choice from Forshee Designs, valued between $19-27.

One (1) winner will win a gorgeous Daisy & Elm camera charm bracelet, valued at $30.

One (1) winner will win a $50 gift certificate to Photojojo.

Three (3) winners will win a $25 gift certificate to Photojojo.

One (1) winner will win the "Beyond Snapshots: How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off 'Auto' and Photograph Like a Pro" book, valued at $16.

And once again, thank you to the following sponsors for their generous prize donations and support:

And thank you to the following blog sponsors and business owners for their monetary contributions:

*Rules: The linky will be open from Friday, May 11th 9am CST – Friday, May 18th 11:59pm CST. Submit your favorite spring photos to be entered into the drawing. Link directly to your blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s homepage or Flickr photostream. Link back to the Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge in your post. One entry per household, please. All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing spring at the moment. All winners will be chosen at random, prizes will be matched as best possible, no exchanges. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 21st.

Head on over to the Finale Giveaway post to link up and enter for your chance to win one of 20 awesome prizes!

WW: Something From Nothing

2012-05-15T17:25:00.000-05:00

Cattails.

Weeds.

Overgrown brush.

Barren fields.

Overlooked landscapes... But when captured through the eye of my camera, these otherwise unsightly, unappreciated scenes have a beauty all their own.

LEAP INTO SPRING
Just a reminder that the Leap into Spring Photo Challenge Finale is open through Friday, May 18th 11:59pm CST. Submit your favorite spring photos to be entered into the drawing. All are welcome regardless of experience, camera equipment and whether or not you’re experiencing spring at the moment. We have an awesome lineup of prizes! 5 copies of Topaz Adjust, subscriptions to This Life, a photo book from Adoramapix, a design pack from Life-n-Reflection, a print from Veronica Armstrong Photography, and a camera strap cover from Forshee Designs, to name a few.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate you taking the time to leave kind, thoughtful comments and link up here at Project Alicia.

Now, without further ado... let's get this WW party started. Just grab a photo and link up below! And if you'd like to connect with other WW participants, click HERE.

Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge Finale

2012-05-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

I can hardly believe we're already to the close of our Leap into Spring Challenge! Can you believe another season is nearly gone? I've thoroughly enjoyed looking through all of your photos over the last 5 weeks as we've worked our way through the different prompts. You leave me inspired and in awe! You can find a sampling of your extraordinary talent over in our Pinterest Board.

Please continue to press that shutter! As with anything in life, practice only makes us better at our skill.

And just a heads up, we have a fun summer project in the works I think you're gonna love, so stay tuned!

If you missed any of the weeks, make sure to check out our photography tips...

Thanks so much for your continued support and participation. It's been so much fun capturing spring with you!

Here's a quick recap of our spring challenge...

Week 1: Sunshine/Light

Week 2: Easter/Eggs

Week 3: Blossom/Trees

Week 4: Rain/Water

Week 5: Grass/Green

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Our finale giveaway just wouldn't be possible without a little bit of help from our wonderful friends.

Thank you to the following sponsors for their generous prize donations and support:

ThisLife ThisLife is an online service that automagically organizes photos and videos from your computer, Facebook, Instagram and more, in a chronological timeline; safely storing them in the cloud. Now available on your iPhone and iPad as well.

Topaz Labs Topaz Labs’ innovative image enhancing plug-ins improve your workflow and streamline productivity with its easy-to-use interface. Powerful. Professional. Flexible. Available for Photoshop, PSE, Lightroom and more.

AdoramaPix Impeccable service. Affordable prices. AdoramaPix is an awesome source for fine quality photo prints, photo books, photo framing, gallery wrapped canvases and all of your photo finishing needs.

Life-n-Reflection Life-n-Reflection is your one-stop shop for gorgeous custom card, photo album and collage templates and photo enhancing textures as well.

Veronica Armstrong Photography Veronica Armstrong is a talented New York based photographer who creates “pretty prints for pretty places”. Her growing collection of prints are a feast for the eyes – textures and light reign supreme.

Forshee Designs Practical. Pretty. Handmade. Forshee Designs is overflowing with beautifully handmade camera strap covers, laptop sleeves, iPad/tablet/e-reader sleeves, aprons and more. Custom orders accepted as well.

And thank you to the following blog sponsors and business owners for their monetary contributions:

Twenty lucky winners will have a chance to win one of these awesome prizes:

Five (5) winners will win an annual subscription of ThisLife's Adventure Box package, valued at $80 each.

Five (5) winners will win Topaz Labs fabulous Topaz Adjust plugin, valued at $50 each.

One (1) winner will win a custom 26-page 8" in spine photo book from AdoramaPix, valued at $40.

One (1) winner will win a lovely card bundle template of their choice from Life-n-Reflection, valued between $24-30.

One (1) winner will win a 11 x 14 "pretty print" of their choice from Veronica Armstrong Photography, $25 value.

One (1) winner will win a beautiful camera strap of their choice from Forshee Designs, valued between $19-27.

One (1) winner will win a gorgeous Daisy & Elm camera charm bracelet, valued at $30.

One (1) winner will win a $50 gift certificate to Photojojo.

Three (3) winners will win a $25 gift certificate to Photojojo.

One (1) winner will win the "Beyond Snapshots: How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off 'Auto' and Photograph Like a Pro" book, valued at $16.

Rules: The linky will be open from Friday, May 11th 9am CST – Friday, May 18th 11:59pm CST. Submit your favorite spring photos to be entered into the drawing. Link directly to your blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s homepage or Flickr photostream. Link back to the Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge in your post. One entry per household, please. All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing spring at the moment. All winners will be chosen at random, prizes will be matched as best possible, no exchanges. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 21st.

WW: Vintage Inspired Shoot

2012-05-08T15:50:00.000-05:00

Using natural light is tricky business. Unreliable forecasts. Too sunny at 8:30 AM. Then storm clouds at 7:00 PM at a time that would normally be perfect. Thorns. Not enough time for a second location. Missing props. Cranky neighbors that want to have you arrested for "trespassing", which I'm about 96% positive we weren't. So many obstacles with photo shoots. Luckily for me this little thing was as cute as a button. She waded through weeds as tall as her and kept a smile the whole while. Of course the strawberry crush helped a little. ;)

The shoot was something I've been thinking about ever since I laid eyes on this abandoned house. Luckily I found a few more props the day before at a nearby antique store. I removed the wire and nails and gave the frame a fresh coat of paint. The polaroid and suitcase were other lucky finds. I'd love to have a whole warehouse full of props, but hubs isn't so fond of the idea. So... I get little bits here and there and use what I have.

Brenna Drew was the perfect compliment to this old house. I clicked as long as I could and in spite of the numerous hurdles placed in my path, I was really happy with the outcome. Thanks to mom and big sis for being such great help!

Go take a stroll down my vintage inspired shoot...

Oh, and just a couple quick reminders:
It's not too late to link up your "GREEN" photos for the last week of the Leap into Spring Photo! Challenge! And swing by this Friday, May 11th with a favorite spring photo for a chance at some Ah-MAZ-ing prizes. It's gonna be a Sa-WEET FINALE... 5 copies of Topaz Adjust, subscriptions to This Life, a photo book from Adoramapix, a design pack from Life-n-Reflection, a print from Veronica Armstrong Photography, and a camera strap cover from Forshee Designs, to name a few.

If you missed my DIY: How to Fake Polaroids post last week, swing by and give it a look. It's had over 3,000 pageviews so I guess divulging all those secrets paid off.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate you taking the time to leave kind, thoughtful comments and link up here at Project Alicia.

Now, without further ado... let's get this WW party started. Just grab a photo and link up below! And if you'd like to connect with other WW participants, click HERE.

Leap Into Spring Challenge: Grass/Green

2012-05-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

Green. Can you imagine a world without it?

Fresh. Soothing. And alive year round here in SC.

I've enjoying bringing some of that green indoors...

It warms my space and makes my heart happy.

As I venture out I see green sprawling branches and vines that extend towards the sky. I see green beneath my feet in the newly sprouting fiddleheads.

I see green in the scurrying lizards and the bright little tree frogs.

And in the foliage, brush, and plant life everywhere...

This year I've decided to try my hand at a little gardening. I put together this cute little herb container and little man just planted a few vegetables in the raised bed hubs and him assembled together. (More of those pics to come...) I would love to live a more green life, so we're taking baby steps.

[DIY herb garden notes: I found the set of three pots and container at Carolina Pottery for $11.99, but thrift finds would be ideal for this project. The chalkboard squares don't need to be perfect, so I just eyeballed them when I masked them off prior to painting. You could also opt to paint the entire pot. The herbs came in biodegradable pots, so I just had to remove the plastic and add a sprinkling of dirt over them. You could also start the plants from seeds. The hardest part of the project was finding chalk! :) This would be a fun one to do with your kids or as gifts for teachers or mother's day!]

Thanks so much for stopping by Project Alicia! Your continued support really does mean the world to me.

Can't wait to see what's growing in your part of the world! Come link up those green pics! Also, make sure to swing by Live and Love out Loud where Kristi has some wonderful tips on white balance.

I’m teaming up with Rebecca of Bumbles and Light and Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud to bring you the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge – a 6-week photography challenge aimed at capturing the beauty of spring.

Just a Few More Details...
Not experiencing spring in your part of the world? No problem. All are invited regardless of geographic location.

The linky will remain open from 9am Friday – 9am Thursday CST. Leap Into Spring! blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s home page or Flickr photostream. Feel free to share your photos in our Leap Into Spring! Flickr Group as well.

We’ll be showcasing some of your lovely photos by pinning our favorite submissions to our Leap Into Spring! Pinterest Board each week.

We love Instagram just as much as you do! We’ll be on the lookout for your lovely spring photos, so be sure to use the #leapintospring hashtag.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button!

Thank you to the following sponsors for their generous donations to the upcoming Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge Finale Giveaway:

Life-n-Reflection Life-n-Reflection is your one-stop shop for gorgeous custom card, photo album and collage templates and photo enhancing textures as well.

A special thanks to our other sponsors (see buttons to the right): Small Bird Studio, Barefoot Five, Dagmar Bleasdale, Mama Dweeb, Photography by Kent Weakley, Veronica the Blog and Handmade con Amour. Their advertising dollars will be spent on some fabulous prizes along with our other awesome sponsor contributions. Make sure to stop back next Friday, May 11th, for a chance to win some amazing prizes! You won't want to miss this finale!

And if you haven't already seen my DIY: How to Fake Polaroids Post... click over. An easy, inexpensive, fun way to transform your photos without a polaroid camera! Take a peek.

DIY: How to Fake Polaroids

2012-05-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

I have a recent infatuation with polaroids. Only I don't own a polaroid camera. This may come as a shock to some of you, as it seems to be a popular question these days at Project Alicia.

Somewhere in the webs of my mind I seem to recall owning one at some point. Perhaps it got donated with some other unwanted items. Funny how things go in cycles. But it seems along with bell bottoms and tie dye, polaroids are making a comeback! You can now find them at Photojojo.

Luckily for me there's some pretty nifty technology that makes polaroids possible on my mommy budget. If you are interested in learning how to have your own polaroid prints for next to nothing, read on.

You may remember these photos from Passion Week from the Poetic Winter Challenge. This is when I first put my "fake polaroid" vision to practice...
I remembered the free polaroids from fuzzimo I'd pinned to my freebies board. I was stoked! This meant I didn't have to make them myself!

If you know how to make your own polaroids, by all means, don't let me stop you. They may look something like this...
You can go here for more instruction on that method. I, myself, am always looking for shortcuts to make things easier.

And quite frankly, I really love this distressed look that fuzzimo created with their polaroids...

Unfortunately when I downloaded these, they were jpg files so I wasn't sure how to clip the photos. (You need to have png or psd files to have multiple usable layers.)

If you are only going to take pictures of these polaroids, they certainly don't need to be perfect. You could simply crop your photos and drag them right on top of the polaroid. Just make sure to cover as much of the black portion as possible. You can see an example of this here.

Another method would be creating your own clipping mask on the polaroid to only a portion of the JPG. So, I've created a simple step by step tutorial in an attempt to make this process easier for you.

Tutorial: Create a Clipping Mask in Photoshop Elements

1. Open your polaroid and duplicate the image. Click Layer > Duplicate Layer > Name your layer and press ok (shortcut is Ctrl + J). Use your rectangular marquee tool and draw a square around the black portion of your polaroid until blinking dotted lines surround it. Try to draw just to the outside of the black box to ensure that all of the black is included in the mask.

2. Now click on the Add Layer Mask Icon, located on the bottom right of the screen. (This should be available in Photoshop Elements 8 or newer.) You will notice the clipping mask in your duplicated layer.

3. Name the file and save it as a PSD file so you can use it again and again. This will save you time later.

4. Open the photo you want to clip into the polaroid.

5. Grab the photo with your mouse and stretch it so that it covers the clipping mask.

6. Select Layer > Create Clipping Mask and it will take on the shape of the mask (shortcut is Ctrl + G). OR make sure your image is directly above the clipping mask in the layers panel and click Alt as you tap the left side of the mouse simultaneously between the photo and the clipping mask.

7. Once you have the photo inside the polaroid you can flatten the image. Select Layer > Flatten Image (shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + E). Then you can crop the polaroid to the desired size.

8. Repeat this process 4 times and then drag each flattened image to an 8.5x11 canvas. (To make a new canvas click File > New > Blank File and then choose the sizes that you want. You will want your resolution to be 200-300 pixels/inch for a decent quality photo.) 9. Print your sheet of 4 polaroids on photo paper. (I used my cheap canon printer in the comfort of my home, but there are many reasonable print shops these days online or locally if you don't own a printer. You really don't need high quality for this project.) Cut them out and they're ready for your photo shoot.

10. Arrange them wherever you want for your shoot. A clothesline or stack is nice visually in photos. Add some props with them. Get creative.

Leap Into Spring Challenge: Blossoms/Trees

Finding "Me Time"

The best part is that you can tweak the color before, during, or after printing. Once you have printed and shot your polaroids you can edit them even more to give them a more vintage effect with actions or texture. The more vintage, the better. You can find a side by side comparison of my favorite vintage actions here. The Finding "Me Time" photo was originally shot in color and then later changed to b&w. There is no wrong here. Just go with it.

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Combining Photos

Another fun "fake polaroid" idea is combining photos. For this one I actually printed a polaroid frame and then cut out the center.

I shot a couple different photos, one of just the frame and one of the tree I wanted inside the frame. I then cropped the tree to a square and dragged it inside the frame of the first photo. I enlarged it and did some fine cloning work to reshape the edges of the frame. I'm sure there are many other more advanced, technical ways to get this shot or to create this effect, but this worked just fine for my purposes.

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These easy, inexpensive polaroids are a fun way to change up a normal shoot and enhance any photo, post, header, collage, or pretty much anything you can dream up. Once you figure it out, go join the Fake Polaroid Fun on Flickr.

Not Enough?
Here's a few other ways to "fake polaroids"...
Make a Polaroid in Photoshop
Use the Polaroid Generator
135 Free Polaroids from Sweetly Scrapped
Try The CoffeeShop Polaroid Effect Action
Download the Poladroid Polaroid App
ShakeItPhoto Polaroid App for Iphones
DIY Paper Polaroid Frames

There are so many different ways to make polaroids. I am by no means any kind of expert, but I hope this gets your creative juices flowing. The sky's the limit!

Other posts you may like:
Using Actions and Textures to Achieve a Vintage Flair for your Photos
Vintage Actions: A Side by Side Comparison & Tutorial

WW: It's the simple things.

2012-05-01T15:02:00.000-05:00

We had the opportunity to go to the soccer fields in Columbia this past Saturday and watch Little Man do his thing. It was a beautiful day. The sun was out. The playground was within earshot. Hubs was there. And I couldn't help but be thankful for such a lovely day. It wasn't life altering, but when all is said and done, it will be these simple, ordinary, beautiful moments that will be remembered.

Live life. Laugh lots. Love unconditionally.

(Credits: Paper is Wicked Smart Kit from Sahlin Studio at The LilyPad, Polaroid Frames from Fuzzimo, Assorted Tapes from K Pertiet at Designer Digitals, Torn Paper Tutorial from spoon graphics, Digital Paper Clips Tutorial from Designer Digitals, Text is Perpetua Font)

Photos taken with my Canon 50D and Tamron 28-300 (action shots), 28-75 f/2.8 (up close shots), and Rokinon 8mm fisheye.

One of my most recently asked questions here at Project Alicia is, "How do you do your polaroids?" If you missed them, you can find examples in any of these posts…
Poetic Winter Challenge: Passion
Leap Into Spring: Blossoms/Trees
Finding “Me Time”

Stop back tomorrow for a tell all on my “fake polaroids”.

(Credits: Lace Set from Friendly Scrap, Text is A Fat Child Font, See above for paper)

And if you missed my Finding “Me Time” post over at Live and Love out Loud last week, you should stop by and give it a read. It’s a topic I feel very passionate about and was the motivation behind the photo from last week. (You can find more photos from this shoot here.)

Moms of all ages can often get lost in the life of doing for others and forget to take care of themselves, myself included. You can find more of my thoughts as well as ideas to help refill your cups here. I’d love to get your feedback.

Thanks so much for stopping by Project Alicia. Know that even when life gets hairy here and I don’t find time to comment on your posts, I always enjoy looking through your photos!

Oh, and just a quick reminder that you have until this Thursday to share your Rain/Water pics! Then Friday begins the Grass/Green theme and the last week of the Leap into Spring! Photo Challenge before the finale! Which, by the way, you won't want to miss. A special thanks to our sponsors: Small Bird Studio, Barefoot Five, Dagmar Bleasdale, Mama Dweeb, Photography by Kent Weakley, Veronica the Blog and Handmade con Amour. Their advertising dollars will be spent on some fabulous prizes along with our other awesome sponsor contributions. You won't want to miss out! For more details and a peek at our big sponsors, click on the button above. There's gonna be prizes galore, so make sure to mark your calendars!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to link your photos below! And you can connect with other WW participants HERE.

Leap Into Spring Challenge: Rain/Water

2012-04-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Spring brings with it rumbling thunderstorms. A fresh earthy aroma. And plenty of great photo ops! Mud puddles. Big puddles. Splashing puddles. And endless entertainment, particularly for three little girls. Could life be any better?
I think not! Thanks to Pokey and her friends for being such great subjects! And a special thanks to you all for your wonderful submissions for the Leap Into Spring Challenge! I can't wait to see what you come up with this week!

We’ll be showcasing some of your lovely photos by pinning our favorite submissions to our Leap Into Spring! Pinterest Board each week.

We love Instagram just as much as you do! We’ll be on the lookout for your lovely spring photos, so be sure to use the #leapintospring hashtag.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button!

Next week’s prompt will be Grass/Green. For a complete list of upcoming prompts, head on over to the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge page.

Make sure to swing by Bumbles and Light where Rebecca will share tips
on capturing water in motion.

Thank you to the following sponsors for their generous donations to the upcoming Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge Finale Giveaway:

Life-n-Reflection Life-n-Reflection is your one-stop shop for gorgeous custom card, photo album and collage templates and photo enhancing textures as well.

Finding "Me Time"

2012-04-25T21:11:00.000-05:00

Turn off the TV. Lay down the baby. Clear your schedule. And find a few moments for you...

Because I know you want to be the best mom you can be. I find refuge from the chaos of life communing with nature, among other things. You can find my complete list of ideas for refilling my cup over at Live and Love Out Loud.

Today I'm visiting my friend, Kristi, while she is recovering from her breast lump removal. And I have a special challenge for all of you moms out there...

Whether you're extracting legos out of your kid's nose, smiling through a world class toddler tantrum at the market, slumped over a whining child's head picking nits til all hours of the night, or scraping fur off your tween's teeth seconds before soccer pictures... There is no denying the unconditional love.

But if you nodded your head to even one of these, "me time" is in order!

Stop by Kristi's place where you'll find more of my thoughts on this important topic.

Wordless Wednesday: A Beautiful Moment

2012-04-24T18:28:00.001-05:00

Thank you to all who have submitted photos to the Leap into Spring! Photo Challenge, your blossoms and trees are so inspiring. It's made me want to get out and see what other gifts mother nature has left for me. If you would like to participate in the challenge you have until this Thursday to share your Blossom/Tree shots. On Friday morning we move onto our new prompt, Rain/Water. You can jump in any time! All are welcome regardless of location or equipment. You can find more details here.

In case you haven't heard, Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud had a breast lump removed yesterday and is laid up in recovery mode. She could use some positive vibes or prayers on her behalf.

This is Wordless Wednesday, but Wordful or Not So Wordless posts are also welcome here. Just grab a photo and link up below. It's a great way to make new friends! Feel free to stop by some of my favs...

Leap Into Spring Challenge: Blossoms/Trees

2012-04-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

For winter's rains and ruins are over, And all the season of snows and sins.

The days dividing lover and lover, The light that loses, the night that wins.

And time remembered is grief forgotten.

And frosts are slain and flowers begotten.

And in green underwood and cover...

Blossom by blossom the spring begins. -Algernon Charles Swinburne

Thank you so much to all who have taken the time to share beautiful images in the Leap into Spring! Photo Challenge. I know it is yet one more thing on your busy to-do lists and your participation and continued support mean so much to us!

We’ll be showcasing some of your lovely photos by pinning our favorite submissions to our Leap Into Spring! Pinterest Board each week.

We love Instagram just as much as you do! We’ll be on the lookout for your lovely spring photos, so be sure to use the #leapintospring hashtag.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button!

Next week’s prompt will be Rain/Water. For a complete list of upcoming prompts, head on over to the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge page.

Make sure to swing by Bumbles and Light where Rebecca will share tips on perspective and perception, important aspects of good photography.

WW: Say Hello to Deno Kontoulas

2012-04-17T17:11:00.001-05:00

Have you had the privilege of meeting Deno Kontoulas of 48 Layers Photography? If not, you're in luck. Today I'm sharing a sampling of his beautiful, unique work. His specialty is HDR imagery- not an easy one to master.

He says, "After years of editing photos for other people, I decided it was time to take some of my own. Completely self-taught in Photoshop, and now photography, I've managed to capture a few images that I like, and hopefully you will also. In the gallery you will find some of my favorites including: landscapes, architecture, people, nature, and HDR."

His blog has his favorite photos, the best HDR tutorial links, and a list of equipment he uses. You can also find him on facebook or at his website.

48 Layers Photography has a beautiful gallery of eye candy, all of which are available for purchase. Definitely worth a stop. You may even want to add him to your google reader. Deno has only been blogging for just a short while, but as you can see his work is top notch and certainly inspiring. It's so much fun connecting with fellow photogs around the world in this little blog of mine.

And the Leap into Spring! Photo Challenge is in full swing! If you missed Easter/Eggs, it's open through this Thursday. Then Friday, April 20th, we move onto Blossoms/Trees. The linky opens at 9AM CST. Just take a peek at the Leap into Spring sponsors to the right. You can also see our others sponsors as well as a complete list of challenge details here. You can jump in any time. All are welcome regardless of location or camera equipment. The May 11th finale is going to be AWESOME and you won't want to miss it! Just sayin.

This is Wordless Wednesday, but Wordful or Not So Wordless posts are also welcome here. Just grab a photo and link up below. It's a great way to make new friends! Feel free to stop by some of my favs...

Edit Me Challenge: Let Beauty Abound

2012-04-14T15:48:00.000-05:00

Today I'm participating in the Edit Me Challenge by Branson of My Reflection of Something and Stephanie of Behind the Camera and Dreaming.

And the photo is by none other than my idol, Kristy of Life-n-Reflection. When I first saw this photo I immediately had a vision for it.

I opened the original photo in PSE 10, removed some of the saturation, added a creamy filter, applied a couple different textures, erased the unwanted texture, cropped it, then added it to a polaroid frame. When I was done editing the photo I then opened a new 12x12 canvas and started layering different papers and photos until I was satisfied with the results. I added a pure summer haze action and text. And voila! Another easy spring page...

Thanks, Kristy, for letting us edit your beautiful photo!

Leap Into Spring! Challenge: Easter/Eggs

2012-04-13T09:00:00.001-05:00

After months of dormancy in hues of brown, the world is awakened once again. The browns replaced with vibrant greens. Blossoms in beautiful shades of pinks, purples, and blues. And the aromatic wafts linger and permeate the air. Chicks and goslings make their debut. Easter dresses are bought. Eggs adorned. The birds are whistling. The temps are warming. It’s a time of new life and new beginnings.

It rouses my soul and shifts my creative juices into hyper drive. The drought is over. I feel alive.

I have a burning desire to paint, to write, to photograph, to create…

And pinterest feeds my project cravings. My DIY board is brimming with ideas that cost next to nothing. Squee!

Painted Bottles. I snagged these bottles at a recycling center and soaked them in warm soapy water to remove all the labels. I mixed varying amounts of blue food coloring to craft paint in a plastic squeeze bottle that I already had on hand. For others I opted to leave them white. I poured in the paint and swirled it around until it completely coated the inside of the bottle. The extra was dumped, then immediately turned upside down and placed on wax paper. You will have to wipe the excess around the rim periodically. The instructions said to leave upside down for up to 48 hours, but my impatience got the best of me. I may be redoing a couple soon. But I'm pretty sure these will pop up in future posts. They're perfect containers for all the lovely spring blooms. (Here's a great video from House & Home demonstrating using a syringe rather than a squeeze bottle.)

Robin's Nests. These are so incredibly yummy and I can't think of anything that screams spring more than mama robins tending to their babies. This is a fun representation of spring that's easy for kids and fun for everyone.

Edisto Beach. Our Spring Break happened to fall the week before Easter this year. And this is the first time in my 39 years of life I've lived within mere hours of the beach and it was actually warm enough to sun myself in April. Ahhh... pure bliss. I know this isn't a possibility for some of you, but years without has made me cherish it all the more. We landed at the lovely Edisto Beach for a few days, a small, quiet community with dolphin watching, beautiful sunsets and treasures galore. On the way home we made a pit stop at Botany Bay, a 4600+ acre plantation and preserve that was opened to the public in 2008. It's beauty left me speechless.

The little, blue owl necklace was picked up at Rue 21 and sweatshirt at TJ Maxx, the vintage camera was found at a nearby antique shop and the nests were made out of the pine straw that covers our flowerbeds around the house. :)

Decoupaged eggs. This was the first year that we attempted blown eggs. If this is your first time, be prepared for some mishaps and laughs along the way. You may even want to keep some extra eggs on hand.

You can check out these step by step instructions for good pointers. (There's also a video included at the end.) The hardest part of the project was finding napkins with tiny enough print on a white background, but I persevered and finally located some at Michael's in the wedding section. I cut around the shapes, positioned them where I wanted them on the blown eggs, then used mod podge to adhere. It's a little more time consuming than dying, but these eggs can last for years and the results are stunning. You can also see my orange version here. Or follow me on instagram at projectalicia.

The gingham paper is by Andrea Victoria and the "recycled journaler" is by Katie Pertiet of Designer Digitals. The font is 1942 Report which is one of my all time favorite go-tos. Combined they make a simple, springy page. Who says scrapping must be extravagant?

Both of these photos were taken with my Canon 50D, 28-135 lens. The left photo was shot in the early hours in my backyard using my antique table, 47mm f/2.8 1/500 sec ISO 320. I kept the DOF shallow to blur out the bushes. The right photo was taken on my back deck in the evening with white poster board beneath and foam board behind it using pine straw, 59mm f/4 exp 1/800 sec ISO 400.

See above for instructions on decoupaged eggs.

Inspiration for the wordy eggs was found on pinterest. You can see more of my finds from talented folks all over the world on my easter board. See above for painted glass or robin's eggs instructions.

The quote and design are my own, done on a sheet of scratch paper. It took me back to predigital, pre-blogging, pre-mommy days when I use to practice different writing techniques for hours on end.

I photographed it on an antique table top and then added it to the photo of the robin's nests in PSE 10. I applied the multiply blending mode, lowered the opacity and erased out some of the texture over the nests. I then added the paperclip. If you've never done digital clips, check out this video. See below for further instructions on double exposures.

The "taped together frame" border and fringe (also found in my header) is by Katie Pertiet of Designer Digitals.

Double Exposures. This is a technique that adds texture and visual interest to any ordinary photo. You may remember my photo from Calm Week of the Poetic Winter Challenge, combining a rain photo with one of my reflection. It's a simple process of superimposing two photos into a single image. It's become more popular with the ease of programs like Photoshop or PSE. Ashley of Ramblings and Photos and Sarah of Naptime Momtog are teaming up to bring you weekly challenges and this week just so happens to be on double exposures, so stop by and check out their easy tutorial and then give it a try. Their linky is still open for a few more days. Oh, and btw- there's also a double exposure iphone app called DXP. It's free and combines multiple images with the click of a button. Way fun! You can see a sampling of mine here.

Ironically enough, all of these blues make my heart happy. They symbolize the essence of spring and the reawakening of my creative spirit. I hope that one of my projects here inspires you to create something beautiful.

Just a few details:

Not experiencing spring in your part of the world? No problem. All are invited regardless of geographic location.

Two prompts to choose from each week! Share your favorite images inspired by one of our weekly prompts. Or both. It’s totally up to you.

We’ll be showcasing some of your lovely photos by pinning our favorite submissions to our Leap Into Spring! Pinterest Board each week.

We love Instagram just as much as you do! We’ll be on the lookout for your lovely spring photos, so be sure to use the #leapintospring hashtag.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button!

Next week’s prompt will be Blossom/Trees. For a complete list of upcoming prompts, head on over to the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge page.

Make sure to swing by Kristi's place for some fabulous tips on composition.

WW: Spring Break at Edisto Beach

2012-04-10T16:30:00.000-05:00

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru

Just a quick reminder about the Leap into Spring! Photo Challenge... the entries for Sunshine/Light that have been pouring in are fantastic! And it's not too late to join- the linky will be open through Thurs, April 12th. The second week begins Friday, April 13th at 9AM CST and the prompt is Easter/Eggs. If you took some pics over the weekend pop by Friday and link them up! You can find more details here.

This is Wordless Wednesday, but Wordful or Not So Wordless posts are also welcome here. Just grab a photo and link up below. It's a great way to make new friends! Feel free to stop by some of my favs...

Leap Into Spring! Challenge: Sunshine/Light

2012-04-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

It seems the pinnacle of good outdoor photography is finding the right light!

Midday, bright sunlight can lend itself to harsh tones, unwanted shadows, and a heap of disappointing photos. But don't despair. Mother nature has ever so graciously given us a couple of perfect hours...

THE GOLDEN HOURS

The first hour or so after sunrise, and the last hour of light before sunset. This is when the sun is low in the sky, producing soft, golden, diffused hues. There is little contrast and the shadows are soft and dreamy.

It is also known as the magic hours. And for good reason! The lighting is simply out of this world magical!

Whether you are shooting portraits, landscape, or macro- there is no going wrong during this time. Simple subjects take on a special glow. Heck, even spiders look lovely in the golden hours. It's a fabulous time to get out the camera and create something beautiful!

Five Tips for Shooting in The Golden Hours

Determine Timing. Check your local weather report or try the Golden Hour Calculator to identify the exact sunrise/sunset time in your area. Doing a little homework ahead of time will pay off tenfold.

Use a Tripod. For optimal results in lower light settings use a tripod to avoid camera shake. Set the ISO low and use a long exposure. You may even want to use a self timer or remote clicker to ensure crisp photos. Remember to get a good depth of field for landscapes you will need to use a smaller aperture of f/8 or above.

Change White Balance. Move the setting to something other than automatic. Try a couple different ones. The results may surprise you. Practice this at different times of the day prior to your scheduled shoot in The Golden Hours.

Keep Shooting. Over the course of an hour the light will drastically change, and quickly. There are only a few moments of the "magic light" and you don't want to miss it. Make sure to bring a flashlight and stay the duration. This would be a great time to try HDR (High Dynamic Range) Imaging, taking multiple shots at different exposures and combining them digitally to capture a greater range between the lightest and darkest areas in an image.

Get Creative. Don't be afraid to try different angles or perspectives. Light, reflections, and hues vary simply by altering your position. If you shoot directly into the sun it will produce sun flare and possibly a more blown out shot, which is perfectly acceptable and individual. For portrait shots you may want to block the sun by shifting your frame. You will still get the effects of the backlighting without the distracting glare of the sun. The beauty is it's all subjective!

And the best advice I could give? You don't even have to have a fancy DSLR or expensive equipment to capture beautiful photos during The Golden Hours. This is mother nature's gift to us. So, grab whatever camera you have and snap some photos!

Thank you for stopping by! Can't wait to see what you capture this week!

Just a few details:

Not experiencing spring in your part of the world? No problem. All are invited regardless of geographic location.

Two prompts to choose from each week! Share your favorite images inspired by one of our weekly prompts. Or both. It’s totally up to you.

We’ll be showcasing some of your lovely photos by pinning our favorite submissions to our Leap Into Spring! Pinterest Board each week.

We love Instagram just as much as you do! We’ll be on the lookout for your lovely spring photos, so be sure to use the #leapintospring hashtag.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button!

Next week’s prompt will be Easter/Eggs. For a complete list of upcoming prompts, head on over to the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge page.

WW: The Golden Hour

2012-04-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

Recently I ventured out to capture some of the virgin buds in our area. The sun was lowering quickly and I was panicked I would miss the moment.

Then it happened... Magic.

It seemed it didn't matter how I positioned myself or my camera, there was no going wrong. These humble little white buds took on a magnificent glow and I couldn't seem to get enough. It was a rush. I hurried home to see them on the big screen and it wasn't my imagination- they were indeed exquisite.

You see, I had managed to capture the light in what photogs for ages have referred to as "the golden hour", otherwise known as the magic hour. If you want to create something extraordinary, this is the time to do it.

I downloaded one of these blossom pics to instagram (@projectalicia) the other day and my sister (@shagshop) responded, "Please add to canvas for me". I giggled a little. Then I realized that so often I leave my photos bound in a file inside of this box rather than giving them the proper chance to shine.

They may not be the most beautiful or the most unique, but wonderful all the same. And they certainly shouldn't be tucked away and forgotten. If you've been following me for a while you may remember, "Orange you Glad" from last April where I shared my thoughts on creating something original. If you've been in a slump or have been doubting your talents, it's definitely worth a read.

If you'd like to learn more about how to shoot in "The Golden Hour", you're in luck. Stop by this Friday, April 6th for the debut of our Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge where I'll be sharing 5 tips to better photos during The Golden Hours. You'll also find tutorials, freebies, and inspiration galore throughout the challenge. All are welcome regardless of location or skill level. Come join us! You can find more details here.

Leap into Spring! Sponsor Opportunity...
And in case you haven't heard, we have an exciting opportunity for you! Market your family friendly blog, business or product across three blog networks to a large community of avid photographers by sponsoring the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge. For a flat rate of $25, you’ll receive 6 weeks of 200×100 sidebar advertising space across three active blogging networks - Bumbles & Light, Project Alicia and Live and Love Out Loud. Click the image below for more details.

Please welcome our first sponsors for the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge- Small Bird Studios, Barefoot Five, and Dagmar's Momsense! (100% of proceeds to go toward the purchase of finale giveaway prizes May 18th.)

This is Wordless Wednesday, but Wordful or Not So Wordless posts are also welcome here. Just grab a photo and link up below. It's a great way to make new friends! Feel free to stop by some of my favs...

WW: The Archives

2012-03-27T18:08:00.000-05:00

Thought it would be fun to share a sampling of my work. My first love is and will always be nature but I also enjoy the challenge of photographing people, particularly little people. Not one alike. And looking through my archives makes me smile... some of these photos didn't come easy, but they sure are sweet memories.

If you missed my Accordion Mini Books post, take a peek... What a great, inexpensive Mother's Day gift idea thanks to Life-n-Reflection (under $20).

Also, don't forget about the Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge that begins Friday, April 6th. The first week's theme is Sunshine/Light, so keep that in mind as you're out and about this week. You can find more details here.

Please help me welcome my newest sponsor, Deno Kontoula, of 48 Layers Photography! His work is exquisite. Go see for yourself!

This is Wordless Wednesday, but Wordful or Not So Wordless posts are also welcome here. Just grab a photo and link up below. It's a great way to make new friends! Feel free to stop by some of my favs...

Accordion Mini Book from Life-n-Reflection

2012-03-25T22:09:00.000-05:00

Today I'm excited to share a little something I've been working on, thanks to the lovely and ever so talented Kristy of Life-n-Reflection.

This lady does it all! Not only is she an amazing photographer, but she is also a graphic designer. Her work includes textures, templates, and branding materials for photographers. Her boutique is filled with beautiful goodies of all kinds...

I had one look at this one and fell in love. The colors scream spring. And I knew the perfect photos for this fun mini book...

You may remember these from my Yellow Summer's Day photo shoot from the challenge last summer.

This book would make a perfect gift for my daughter, who by the way, was a trooper during that shoot.

I downloaded the templates, plugged in my favorite photos, added text, and then resized the photos to my desired size and printed the photos right here at home.

The colors are not as vibrant as if I'd have printed them at mpix or whcc, but I liked the softer tones.

I strung the photos together then folded them for the fun, accordion effect. Isn't it adorable?

If you are in need of a little eye candy, Kristy Doubet is your girl. Make sure to stop by her boutique- this book is only one of her many fun digital downloads. Inspiration galore! And her prices are very reasonable! Thanks, Kristy, for sharing your talents!

*Disclosure: Thank you to Life-n-Reflection for sponsoring my post and for providing me with the beautiful 3x3 accordion mini book. The opinions are my own.

WW: Leap Into Spring!

2012-03-20T16:30:00.001-05:00

In the midwest anticipation consumed me in those first days of March as I would spend weeks scouring the earth for the smallest signs of spring. What a blessed miracle it was when those little sprouts would finally make their way up through the frozen tundra.

Here in the south it is a drastically different story. We literally "leaped" into spring! No looking. No waiting. Mother nature seems to have waved her magic wand and the earth is completely transformed before my eyes.

We bypassed sprouts and snow covered daffodils and skipped right into what feels like summer.

Birds singing. Lizards scurrying. An abundance of green covered branches against an azure sky. Sonic runs. Flip flips. Saturdays at the park. And the fragrant aroma of blossoms wafts through the air...

(All photos taken in South Carolina within the last week.)

My heart is full.

If it wasn't for bugs, scary poisonous snakes that mosey down your driveway, and pine pollen bombs... it may just be a perfect world.

If you haven't yet felt the presence of spring, I have a little something to help pass the time...

These purple flowers (below) are everywhere here. I'm not sure what they are exactly, but according to google they belong to the wysteria family.

They are beautiful and I thought this photo would make for some great wallpaper. Just click on the preferred size below.

iPad Version (1024×1024)
Standard Version (1600×1200)
Widescreen Version (1920×1200)
iPhone Version (640×960)

Oh, and in case you hadn't heard, Google Friend Connect went away March 1st for those who have non-blogger blogs. If you would still like to stay connected, you can Like Me on my Project Alicia Facebook Page, subscribe to my RSS feedburner, follow me on twitter, instagram (projectalicia if you have a smart phone), pinterest, flickr, or anything else in my sidebar. (Although I must admit I'm not that great at keeping up with Google + or Stumble Upon.) There's also a couple new items in my etsy shoppe.

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Announcing The Spring Photo Challenge...

Come "Leap Into Spring" with Kristi of Live and Love out Loud, Rebecca of Bumbles & Light and me for a 6-week photography challenge aimed at capturing the beauty of spring.

The Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge will run from April 6th - May 18th and is open to everyone! We’ll have freebies, prizes and photography tips galore! You can find out more on my Leap into Spring! Challenge Page.

It's a wonderful time to get out the camera and capture the glorious rebirth known only to spring. Grab our button, tell your friends, and mark your calendars! You won't want to miss it. There's some exciting things in store...

WW: Blossoming...

2012-03-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

WW: Sneak Peek

2012-03-06T16:30:00.000-06:00

Today I'm sharing a sneak peek of my home office. The place where I spend hours editing photos and writing blog posts. Scrapbooking. Being inspired.

Of late it's been the place for learning fractions to ease the painful nightly ritual with my daughter. If we both get through the 5th grade experience in one piece we are going to have to have one heck of a celebratory bash. It has not been the easiest transition for her academically speaking. I'm here to tell ya that District 5 of Lexington and Richland County in SC are some of the best schools around. They mean business. Pokey's work load has literally been tripled and it's not that fluff Science and SS they do in IA. She's been dedicating 6+ hours a night to homework and her tests remind me of some I had in college. (A bit much if you ask me...)

So... when you imagine me in my home, this is more than likely where I am. I just recently added that canvas painting (previously purchased at Hobby Lobby on clearance) above the shelving from the kitchen because I liked the pop of color it added.

I also wanted to personalize my space so I printed several of my photos at mpix in 12x12 size. I didn't want posed shots, I wanted randomness with lots of texture. Did you notice Little Man's turtle from last fall? I placed the photos into frames from Ikea (that didn't break the bank) and clustered them together on the wall.

The shelving (purchased at Target) used to be part of our living room in our previous home, but in our current rental there was not enough wall space, so I decided to try the office. It filled the space well and was a perfect solution for all of that extra stuff that was housed in a closet prior. The brown baskets are from Wal-Mart and the off-white boxes were purchased at Ikea (the same time I bought the frames). I bought 8 different sized ones so that I could fit paper and misc scrapbooking supplies. (They still need to be labeled.)

This photo was taken just before I added the painting. I included it so you could see the difference. That beautiful "tree of life" as I call it was found at Gordmans in Cedar Rapids, IA. Unfortunately there is not one of those here. It was my favorite home goods store. The chair and desk are from World Market. The printer stand (under the wall collage) was a second hand purchase (which may or may not be getting a paint job in the near future). It also houses scrapbook paper, cds, supplies, and if you look close you may see some of my vintage cameras.

Not sure what to do with those cords. And I still have yet to figure out curtains. I found some I love with some beautiful yellows but they are not quite long enough, so I need to muster the courage to add a block of something at the bottom. I see it done on HGTV all the time. If only I knew how to sew... or had a sewing machine. lol.

I actually love all of the light that comes in through that giant window and want to make sure that the curtains I choose don't block that.

Turns out that there's a reason why you can pay people to decorate your home... it's hard! And not everyone has the knack. As much as I enjoy having a space that is my own, home decorating has never come easy to me, particularly on a budget.

I recently dumbed into The Nester's blog while trying to figure out mantel ideas. Her blog is one of the most inspiring home decorating blogs I've seen. She sold their dream home when they fell on hard times and have subsequently had to rent. She was determined to make their rental homes beautiful on a budget and she has certainly done just that. If you haven't heard of her, just pop over and take a peek. But be careful- you may be sucked in for hours!

This may not be the perfect office, but I'm thankful to have a space to escape and quiet my mind from time to time.

So... until we do this all over again next year when we find our permanent residence (heaven help us) this will work just fine.

Before I close, I just wanted to thank all of you who left honest, heartfelt comments last week in response to my post about low self esteem. (I am still working my way through them.) I was disheartened and a little surprised to learn just how many suffer with this in silence. I really believe that more needs to be said about this topic... because you are not alone! We need to ban together, love ourselves as we are, and teach our young to embrace their unique and beautiful differences. It sounds so easy in theory...

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