Today's Housewife

How To Shoot Better Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

How to shoot better pictures

Tips & Hints from a Pro

I started my photography business six years ago, after my firstborn had so many pictures taken, he would start to smile and pose for the cameras in the camera display at Wal-Mart as a baby! From there, I’ve done
trial and error, learning new techniques and ways to capture pictures of my own kiddos. In the interim, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph portraits for many families and friends.

In the time that I started, I’ve learned a few things for taking better pictures. Here’s some of the things that I’ve learned…

Don’t be afraid to shoot. A lot.

When I’m trying to get pictures of my kids (who are harder than my clients!) – I will sometimes take 100 pictures and then get a handful of winners.

Get close.

Some of the best pictures of our kids, are the close ups. Take a giant step closer and then take the picture.

The best lighting is a shaded spot or cloudy day.

Try to avoid overly sunny spots – the brightness can washout the picture (or have squinty eyes).

Simplicity

Some of my favorite pictures of my kids are super simple. Don’t worry about overly fashionable clothing, etc. for a picture.

Learn your camera

Whether you have a simple point and shoot, or a DSLR – get out your manual and learn what your camera can do. Sometimes what you are wanting to achieve is spelled out in the manual.

Google

You can find a lot of techniques, ideas, settings, etc. for your camera and pictures by looking online. Try something new.

Bribery

A promise of a sucker when we’re all done can go a long way towards getting that perfect shot for Grandma. ;)

Think Outside the box

My middle child, Andrew is just barely past terrible two’s and in fully entrenched in the three’s – trying to get him to stop long enough to get a picture is often impossible (despite offers of a sucker,…pennies…a pony…) – for the sample picture of my little guy, I absolutely love this picture. The ONLY way that I got him to look AND smile was to let him play with the acorns on the ground. We’d throw them at a post, then I’d be ready to snap as he would laugh and I would laugh so loud that he’d look and CLICK. Magic. Or at least it sure feels like it for a mom of a toddler!

Get on their level

Squat or get close to your kids to shoot their pictures. If you’re five and a half feet tall and they are two feet tall – there’s a lot of distance there. (Think airplane over the town). You can completely change the perspective by getting down with your kids!

Edit

There are TONS of programs on the market that can take a mediocre picture and make it even better. The Rolls Royce of editing software is Photoshop, but if you don’t want to drop that kind of money, there
are some great programs. Picasa is a free download available from Google that you can take red eye out, do some simple modifications to your color, shadows, highlights, a simple click for B&W or sepia, etc.

Printing

With the digital age, has come a lack of photos being printed! I’m just as guilty of it. But when you want a really nice image printed for grandparents, gifts, etc. you might want something a little better than the local 1 hour photo. Mpix.com is the consumer side of a professional photo lab (Miller’s). You can order from them and have professional quality printing service. I love their diecut wallets.

Digital photography provides for a simple way to get your feet wet with shooting pictures. There are so many resources nowadays that it makes it easy to find what you are wanting to achieve for your images.

Kristen is a stay-at-home mom to three ~~models~~ kids; Matt is 6 and in 1st grade, Drew is 3, and Bekah is 1. She's been married for 9 1/2 years to her husband Tom, who changes the world one child at a time as a therapist to at risk youth. She is a 2001 and 2004 graduate of John Brown University
in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Shortly after having Matthew in 2003, she had taken so many pictures of him that starting a photography business seemed like the next thing to do. From there, Kristen
Hargett Photography was formed in September 2003. She's been photographing families and portrait photography for the past six years for families in Northwest Arkansas and several long distance shoots in the far north Chicago suburbs. To see more photography work, you can visit her photography website. To see what our family is up to, visit our family blog.

DIY Thanksgiving Banner

kama_blogs@live.com (Kama) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

I found this craft somewhere out in blogworld, but I can't find it right now! Sorry for not giving you credit, whoever you are!

I first made one of these for my son's first birthday. I decided not to make it say Happy Birthday so we could use it for different occasions. That's why his says, "Hooray for Dietrich!" That way, when he's 17 and makes all A's, we can pull it out and take a picture of him next to it with his report card!
To start, you can pick out your fabric. For Dietrich's, I used 5 coordinating fabrics and had the back always be the same. For my Thanksgiving banner, I just had 2 fabrics and the backs are all the same as the spaces. Then I cut out the triangles with a triangle shape cutter I have for quilting. It worked out well--6 1/2" triangles. You can also just use a ruler and measure it out. If your fabric has a right side up (like mine did), you'll have to make sure that each time you cut it out, it is the right way. Then sew the back to the front with the two right sides of the fabric facing along both sides. Leave the top open. Do all pieces this way and then turn them right side out. Use a needle or something sharp to make your triangle points come out.
Instead of cutting out and appliquing each letter, I buy iron-on letters. This time, they didn't have brown, so I used black. I iron the flags flat and iron on the letters at the same time.
Then I peel off the film to make sure that the letters have stuck. Arrange them in order and be excited that you're almost done!! (Uh, can you tell I need a new ironing board cover?? Gross!)
Sew them all together using a coordinating binding. I buy double fold extra wide bias tape and it works great! I don't measure to make sure where to start, and thankfully it's worked out perfectly both times! At the end you've got a cute banner that you didn't spend much on and you'll be able to keep forever! My total investment was probably less than $10. If you already have the fabric and thread, it will be less!
I plan to sell this at my craft fair this weekend that I organized at my church!

DIY Ruffled Pants with Applique Shirt

jandkalexander@hotmail.com (KLee) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Remember when I asked you about sewing? Well, I did in fact get a sewing machine for my birthday (a FREE used machine that meets all my needs for now). I have already had so much fun with little projects here and there. But today I want to show you my very first (post HS home economics) project.

A friend and I have started this sewing venture together. Everything is more fun with a girl friend, right? Sewing definitely is! We got together one night to make these super cute ruffled pants.

You can find the pant tutorial HERE.

I picked up my primary fabric and found a contrasting fabric for the ruffle. The fabric I used is from Hobby Lobby. They have some great fabrics and they are on sale more often than not. I also purchased 1 package of elastic, 1 spool of thread, and the pattern. Total cost for these pants was around $15. And total time was 4 hours (but keep in mind, this was my FIRST project.) And I have the pattern to use again and again (such as Christmas pants later this week).

The pants are cute by themselves, but who can resist a matching applique shirt? Not me. I wanted something simple and something that wasn't specific to a holiday (this time around). That way she can wear it in the spring also. I picked her first initial. A pattern can be made by picking a font from your word processing program, enlarging it to the desired size. Instructions can be found here. To make things really easy, I found this alphabet template online and used the copier to enlarge to desired size.

You can find the shirt tutorial HERE.

The shirt requires a bit more of an initial investment than the pants did. I had to purchase a tear-away stabilizer, fusible webbing, a spool of thread, a scrap piece of the ruffle material from the pants, and a plain t-shirt. Total cost was close to $20. BUT, I barely used any of the stabilizer or fusible webbing, so I have plenty for projects to come. And remember how great sewing with a friend can be? Well, we split those two items knocking about $8 off the total cost of the shirt and I still have plenty of materials left over. (Next time I will only have to buy a shirt and thread for a total of about $7 without a coupon.) Total time on the shirt was about an hour. Again, this is my first time at the machine in 15 years.

I have really enjoyed my time at the machine. It gives me something that I can do for my family and gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride in my work. And who can turn down time with good friends, even if we are working?

DIY Decorative Clothespins

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Okay, I know what you are thinking reading the title. Why would anyone need decorative clothespins? And the answer is, well, you wouldn't actually need them. But stay with me. I promise this is going to be good and you will want them.

I got this idea from my brilliantly creative friend Tori. She belongs to a family of women who can look at almost anything and say, "Oh, I could do that." And then they ACTUALLY DO IT! She was helping me to come up with a project for a fundraising "Make It, Bake It or Fake It" auction. The concept is that each person brings something that they've "made, baked or faked" and we all bid on each other's handiwork. These sets were a hit and brought in much more money than they cost to make, so here they are:

I made decoupaged mini-clipboards and clothespin sets. These are perfect for gift-giving during the holidays and once you buy the basic supplies, each set costs around $2-3 (or less!)

1. Gather all your supplies. You could do large clipboards, small ones or simply sets of clothespins. Then choose sets of 2-3 coordinating scrapbooking papers. You will also need Mod Podge (or a similar product) and disposable sponge brushes.

2. Cut these papers to the desired size for your clothespins and/or clipboards. I like to put a piece of paper on both sides of each clothespin and each clipboard.

3. Working very quickly, apply a thin layer of glue to the paper and place on the clipboard. Press any bubbles out to the edge. Allow to dry completely before applying any topcoats.

4. The clothespins are easy to decoupage. I do both sides at the same time by holding the clothespin on the metal clamp and placing it on it's side to dry after gluing down a strip of paper on each surface.

5. Apply 2-3 thin layers of glue for topcoats. Once again, the clothespins are small and don't require much precision. The large surface of the clipboards make mistakes more noticable so work more carefully on these. The directions on the glue suggest 15-20 minutes between coats.

6. Tie them up with a cute bow and make your friends smile!

Here are a few tips I've learned in making these several times:

-Choose your paper for the clothespins carefully. A large pattern will not look that great on a tiny surface.

-You can wrap your brush in plastic wrap or cover with a damp paper towel to use the same brush throughout the entire project.

-Allow to dry completely for several days before attaching any paper or stacking the items, as they will stick.

I know you still may be thinking that you wouldn't need to use these, but who doesn't want cute clips on their chips? Here are a couple other uses for them that I have come up with:

- Use Christmas themed paper and make a card-hanging display with decorative clothespins and twine. (Also a perfect gift!)

- Use colors from a shower and decorate with shower-related items. (Recipes for a bridal shower, panties for a personal shower, onesies for a baby shower, etc.)

- Use fall colors and make a "Thankful Line". Hang pictures or words of things that you are thankful for with your kids.

- Attach small magnets and hang them from your refrigerator for displaying art or holding papers.

- Use different colors to sort papers in your homeschooling area or to display art and school work.

Got any more ideas?

DIY Bean Bag Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:13:00 +0000

Ohdeedoh is one of my new favorite sites. A few weeks ago they featured this tutorial for a bean bag chair. The site said, "If you're even mildly handy with a sewing machine, it's quite easy to make your own." I'm mildly handy with a sewing machine, so I thought I'd give it a try!

I made a few adjustments to the instructions and layout. For example, I didn't make an insert and I just filled it with shipping peanuts. The total cost for my version was about $22 (three yards of fabric, some Velcro, and the shipping peanuts). It took me about three hours to make (and I'm a pretty slow seamstress). I don't expect it to last forever. I just wanted to make a reading corner for the boys!

Here are the fabrics I choose. Just basic cotton pieces, three yards total.

I practiced first with a scrap piece of fabric before I started cutting the actual fabric for the bean bag. Here it is laid out with the pattern (here's a link directly to the instructions and pattern).

Sewing the pieces on top and bottom to gather it all together was the trickiest, but if I did it, you can do it too!

Here's the final product! I love how it turned out. The boys have jumped in it a few times and so far, it hasn't exploded! I had our church's best seamstress on "speed dial" just in case, but besides just a phone call to her when I was getting started (to ask what "selvedge" meant), I did it all by myself!

Spiritual Habits

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:32:00 +0000

True confession time:

I can only start something new on Monday.

I know, that's awful. I can sometimes manage to force myself to try something on the 1st of the month but for the most part, it has to be on Monday. I'm not sure why that is ... and I've tried to talk myself out of this little neurosis but so far, after 38 years, it just seems that I'm a "Monday only starter."

So, if you're like me, you have a few days to determine what to do with all the great information you have received this week from Sandra, Alicia, KLee, and Kama. Of course, you are probably already overwhelmed with decisions about which of their delightful ideas you are going to immediately put into action early Monday morning and so for me to offer you a couple of more suggestions is only going to make your weekend a little more stressful ... for that, I do apologize!

But, I couldn't resist sharing a couple of those habits - one older and one brand new - that I have in my life which have had such a profound impact on me.

Off we go ...

Reading Proverbs daily.

I started this around 8 years ago, I think. It's a Billy Graham suggestion that has been recommended by countless people but it's such a vital part of my day now that I cannot imagine not doing this. Every day I read the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds with the date ... so today, October 30, I'll read Proverbs 30. Because I've been doing this awhile, I can tell you that one of the verses that I most love in this chapter is this one: he is a shield "Every word of God is flawless; to those who take refuge in him." (verse 5). {It's also worth noting how very thankful I am that every month does not have 31 days because that Proverbs 31 woman is too intimidating for me to read about every month!!}

Praying for my church daily.

A brand new habit ... in fact, as I am writing this post, I have not completed my first month in doing this but already it has been such a powerful tool in my life. God had laid a burden on my heart to pray for my church but to also encourage others to pray for their churches as well. I began looking through Acts to learn about what made the early church so vibrant and dynamic and as God revealed things to me, I took notes and formed 30 Days, 30 Prayers, 30 Minutes ... a tool for praying for our churches. I am sharing it on my Facebook page and once we finish the full 30 days I'll add it to my blog ... the goal is to work up to praying for 30 minutes for our church. Each day we pray the previous prayers and a new one ... by the end of 30 days, we will be praying 30 specific prayers based on 30 passages in Acts and it will take about 30 minutes. My goal is to continue praying a prayer for my church each day ... again, using the date to keep me on track (that is praying day 1 on the first, etc.). I'd love to have you join me in this prayer project ... you can find all the details here ... 30 Days, 30 Prayers, 30 Minutes.

What about you? What spiritual habits are you forming? And how is God using them to strengthen you?

Reading and Spanish

kama_blogs@live.com (Kama) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:20:00 +0000

I have heard the news reports about how reading to your kid from birth helps them be smarter, do better in school and just be better people...or something like that! When I was pregnant with Dietrich, I would say that I was going to speak Spanish to him and read to him every day. He is now 13 months old and I have not done either of these things! His Uncle Eddie who is just learning Spanish has spoken more Spanish to him than I have!

For the month of November, I want to start the habit of reading to Dietrich at least once a day and speak to him some in Spanish. I guess I could read his Spanish books to him and that would count for both activities that day!

My question to you is: Should I read different books to him every day? I've heard that toddlers love repetition. So should I read him the same book for a few days and then move on? Advice please!

You Snooze, You Lose

jandkalexander@hotmail.com (KLee) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I am a night owl. I start to get productive in the evening. More laundry is done. Dishes put away. TV watched. Email checked. You get the point.

Growing up I remember staying up late (during the summer) watching old movies with my mom. It was our bonding time and I cherish those memories with my mom. And then there was college. I thrived on staying out with friends and enjoying getting to know new friends. JD is also a night owl, so getting married didn't help me change my habits. Friends know they can call at 10 pm because they know I will still be wide awake.

But being a night owl means I am NOT a morning person. I hate getting up before the sun (especially toward the end of Daylight Savings). One of the perks of staying at home is I can "sleep in" from time to time.

On those mornings when I do have places to go and things to do, I set my alarm for earlier than I need to get up so I can snooze and stay in bed longer. Crazy, I know, but it is the truth.

For the next 30 days, I am going to start a new habit of getting up when the alarm goes off. And incorporated into that I am going to get to bed earlier so it will be easier to actually get out of bed when the beeping starts. Hopefully, I will feel better each day and not start dragging in the afternoon before my second wind takes place. It's going to be a tough one, but I am up for the challenge.

Anyone else have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning? What do you do to make it easier?

photo source

I've got a new curfew...

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I'm definitely in on the bed-making challenge issued by Sandra. In fact, that's what I was thinking was going to be my habit for the month. I would make my bed first thing every morning. But in the interest of making this blog, well, interesting, I will commit to something else as well.

I will stay off social media sites after 9:30 pm.

Too many times to count I find myself saying, "I'm tired. I should go to bed early. But maybe I'll check Facebook one more time. Or hop on Twitter for just a few minutes." Next thing I know, it's 11:00 and I've actually stayed up later than usual! No more. There's nothing wrong with connecting with people online, but there's also no good reason to stay up late and be a grouch to the people I love most because I'm reading status updates or tweets from someone I haven't seen since high school.

It's my habit so I am making a few exceptions. I will allow myself to check my email (since it's my only form of rare communication with my husband.) And I think I should be allowed to write for my blogs - but NO reading blogs!

What do you think? Do you have any bad habits with social media you'd like to change in November?

Bedroom or Laundry Room?

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:55:00 +0000

I've really been trying this year to make our bedroom feel more like a bedroom and less like a laundry room! Anyone else have that problem? The focal point of our room is usually the laundry hamper spilling out all over the floor!

For our anniversary in July I got a new duvet cover and sheets. It's softer and more romantic than our previous duvet cover (that I've had since before we were married). I made curtains for the windows from Dupioni silk I found on sale on-line. I even made a couple throw pillows that match the curtains and my mother-in-law bought us a candle holder and candle that go with our new leaf theme.

But all my work getting the bedroom to feel more comfortable and romantic is loosing the full effect because I do not make my bed every day (sorry Mom!). So I pledge each day in November to make my bed. It's a small thing I know will make a big difference in the look of our bedroom. I feel so good about it, I might even start today!

Anyone else have a small change you want to make for the 30 days of November you hope will make a big impact? Share your ideas with us throughout the week!

This Week: New Habit

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:49:00 +0000

30 days hath September, April, June, and November...

Months that have 30 days seem like the perfect opportunity to start a new habit! So this week we are writing about our 30 day projects. We will share one thing we plan to do every day in November to make a positive change in our lives! We would love to have you join us. If there's something you're putting off or just want to start doing, let us know and we can keep each other accountable!

Keep up with our progress throughout the month by becoming a fan on Facebook or following us on Twitter!

Our guest post this week will be from Teri Lynne who blogs at Pleasing to You. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook! She will be giving tips on taking the thirty days in November to strengthen your spiritual life.

Kama's Favorite Bands and Songs

kama_blogs@live.com (Kama) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

1. Watermark--They have always been my favorite. I love the song, "Welcome to Delaware."

2. House of Heroes--I was not introduced to this band until Ben and I were dating. I love them! They've got great energy and I love the song "Make a Face Like You Mean it!" I always make a face when that part of the song comes on.

3. Dutton--This is the worship band at our old church, but I love them! They are awesome! The Surface is a great CD! My favorite song is "Sometimes" and "You are Here."

4. Selena--Ever since I memorized her song, "Como la flor," in high school, I have loved Selena! I also made my students memorize that song when I was teaching.

5. Juanes--While living in Mexico, I seemed to hear this all the time and was able to memorize the song "Fotografia" very quickly. I was quite a Juanes fan (not that I stand for what he says, etc.)!

Praise and Worship

jandkalexander@hotmail.com (KLee) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I love some music. But my repertoire is pretty limited. I have almost always listened to Christian music. Amy Grant. Michael W. Smith. Wayne Watson. Steven Curtis Chapman. Old school. My taste went more alternative Christian during college. Audio Adrenaline. Third Day. Switchfoot. But these days I love the stuff you can really praise and worship while listening.

1. Shane and Caleb/Shane Barnard/Shane and Shane--I was first introduced to Shane Barnard in 1997 during summer staff training at Pine Cove and ended up following him around various coffee shops on college campuses. Very talented young man. Love all of his stuff. He plays a mean guitar and he LOVES the Lord. My favorite CD is Psalms

2. David Crowder Band--I went to one of his concerts at a small church in Texas in the late 90s. I thought he was crazy looking, but he had a heart for music and worship. Love his voice.

3. Chris Tomlin--Chris led worship at my youth camp. (Seriously, how did I learn about these guys before they made it big?) Loved him then and still think he has such talent for leading worship.

4. Hillsong United--We have just recently downloaded all of their albums off iTunes. (Funny, JD is the one who just got an iPhone, I am still a CD girl--I'm behind, I know.) Great worship music. Since these CDs have been in the car for the past few weeks, LilE has started to learn the words and sing along. I tear up every time I hear her sing "Hosana, Hosana, Hosana in the Highest." I love that she loves to worship!

5. Passion--While in college I was able to attend one of the first Passion Conferences. It was during that time that I began to realize how I loved to worship. I love the new stuff, but also love how they took the hymns of old and "updated" the music style. They have some great artists working to bring glory to God!

When you worship at home, who do you listen to and sing along with?

Picture source

Live Shows...

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

There was a time when I knew all the latest releases in most genres. As I got older the time I had to devote to music dwindled, so I focused more on my favorite genre - country. Now that I have kids, well, I'm pretty familiar when the new children's bands drop a new album. (I'm just glad the boys don't like The Wiggles!)

Music is one of those amazing gifts that can transport you back in your memory. These are a few of my favorites that I've seen in person and why.

1. George Strait - There's a reason the man is known as "King George". The very first time we danced together when we were 16 was to Carried Away. And Tim and I finally got to cross seeing him in concert off our list last year.

2. Pat Green - He's a Texas favorite and we've both been fans for a long time. We see him every chance we get. I think we've been to a show of his 8 times since we've been together. And since we mostly live on the east coast we get to see him in some great small venues instead of just huge stadiums. I'd say that we are pretty dedicated fans since we once drove 3 hours in a snow storm to see him and I also saw him outdoors at 8 months pregnant. (You should have seen me trying to get up out of the super-low lawn chair!)

3. Sara Evans - We've seen her twice. Once was a free USO show. (One great military perk!) And the other was a birthday gift from my husband. It was a unique small theatre and our seats were on the side balcony. The view was amazing and it was incredibly romantic.

4. Brad Paisley - The headliner of this concert was actually Reba, but Brad was one of the opening acts. It was an early spring amphitheater show and it had to have been 40 degrees that night. I was 5 months pregnant, shivering, and miserable and Brad Paisley was so good I told Tim that I didn't even want to stay for Reba so we left early. (I did make him promise he'd take me to see Reba though one day...)

5. Jack Ingram - He's just breaking into the national music scene, but we've loved him for a long time. We actually saw him open for Pat Green and he's an amazing live show. If you ever get to see him - you should!

What's the best concert you've been to?

Favorite Tunes

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:51:00 +0000

When I was in high school, I was in choir. Most of my friends were in choir (or band). Music was a big part of our lives, driving up and down the drag on the weekends with the windows down. My involvement with the youth group at church also influenced my musical taste. TLC, No Doubt, DC Talk, Big Tent Revival, Jars of Clay...

In college I hung out with a group who was very into music. We logged a lot of miles driving around Texas for shows. Every weekend had a soundtrack. My taste evolved from what was popular to what I really liked- U2, Jackopierce, Lisa Loeb, Seven Day Jesus, Pat Green...

Then I moved to North Carolina, started seminary, and met Lee. Lee's favorite singer is Kenny Rogers. I went from "music is life" to "I just listen to what ever is on the radio." During the years we were working, in school, adjusting to marriage, having our first baby, and living out in the country where I got no real radio stations, I feel way behind what was new and cool in music.

But last Christmas I got an iPod and returned to the world of music! I'm still not up on all the latest. Most of my favorite bands and singers have been my favorites for years. But with the help of Pandora, I think I'll make up for the quiet years!

Here are my favorites:
1.U2 (Hands down favorite. Lee and I went to their concert a few weeks ago. Alicia and I went to their concert 8 years ago!)

2. Watermark/Christy Nockles (Kama introduced me to Watermark, whose lead singer is Christy Nockles. Her new CD is ah-mazing! I love every song!)

3. Chris Tomlin for all round favorite Christian artist.

4. It's hard to pick just one in the country genre. If I had to pick just one, it would be Rascall Flats. But if I could have sub-favorites, I would include Sugarland, Little Big Town, Taylor Swift, Pat Green; and the retro favorites- Collin Raye, Bryan White, Garth Brooks, Reba, and even Kenny Rogers.

5. Counting Crows. I can remember exactly where I was the first time I played through their August and Everything After CD. I remember playing Anna Begins over and over again. I don't love every thing they've ever done, but they deserve a place in my top 5!

Stuck In the Middle

kama_blogs@live.com (Kama) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Is there really a middle when there are 4? In some ways, I feel like the youngest, only child, oldest and middle! I have a brother who is 2 years older than me (Rob), one 5 years younger than me (Billy) and one 8 years younger than me (Tim). I am the only girl!

I have pretty well always gotten along great with my brothers. In high school, I remember being better friends with people in Rob's class than my own until he graduated. I was always known as "Robby's sister" which didn't bother me. My parents moved before Billy and Tim also got to experience that!

Growing up, I had always wanted a sister, but I am so thankful for the sisters-in-law that God has brought into my life. All of my brothers have married great girls that help make us one big happy family!

Tim is still in college, Billy lives in Houston and Rob lives about 3 miles from me. We get to see each other pretty often and always enjoy a great laugh about whatever is going on new with any of us. I am blessed to have such a great family!

The Bridged Gap

jandkalexander@hotmail.com (KLee) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I was an only child for nearly 6 years before my brother entered into my life. When he was little we got along well. He was cute and I was another Mommy to him. (Don't you just love the first child syndrome?)

But once I hit middle school, I rememeber how much I did not like having a little brother. I was too cool for him (but not according to the pictures). And then once I started high school, he became the annoying middle school boy.

But once I graduated from high school, things began to change. We both began to grow up and our relationship developed into something more than just siblings. We became friends. I enjoyed being home from college and being able to spend time with him. (Granted, he is way more fun than I am.) Weekends were few and far between and I missed much of his high schools days because of my college schedule and commute. I hate that he sat through every marching competetion, concert, award ceremony, and I was not able to support any of his extra curricular activities.

I never would have thought during those middle school and high school days that one day we would be more than family, but friends. And the best part of our relationship has just begun. While JD and I were in seminary, Blake lived close to us while he was in school. We were able to spend lots of time with him during those couple of years (and his fabulous future wife who is a sister to me). What a blessing it was to have that time together. When we moved across the country, I really realized how much I loved him and how much I have missed spending that time with him.

My brother is a family man. He truly loves spending time with his family. I am so fortunate that when we are home to visit, he is ALWAYS there! He is dependable, responsible, fun-loving, sarcastic, and a spiritual leader in his home. He makes me proud to be his older sister.

I'm Just Mark Miller's Sister...

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Seriously. That was my nickname in high school. There could be worse things than being associated with your cool brother, right? Not when you are the Senior and he's the Sophomore! Of course he would probably tell you that he's the one who suffered coming behind me academically in school and that he had to stand out socially to survive. And you'd believe him because he's just got this charm about him...

This is typical for us - I'm saying something bossy and he's mocking me somehow.

Other than my husband, there aren't many people who know me as well as my brother does. We are 24 months and 2 weeks apart and I really can't remember a time in my life when we weren't friends. All of my best memories involve Mark. We played together as kids and now we hang out together as adults - as much as we can since he is in Texas. But even when we don't see each other we talk on the phone several times a week. I can tell him anything and he tells me the truth, not just what I want to hear. He laughs at my jokes and tells even funnier ones than I do. And he's married a precious woman who's also becoming one of my dearest friends.

When we found out that we were pregnant with our first baby we couldn't wait to tell our families. Literally! We called them at 5 am as soon as I took the pregnancy test. And when we found out we were having a boy there wasn't another name that we considered. It had to be Mark. We wanted to do something to show my brother what he meant to us and how much we loved him. So, now Tim and I have our own Mark.

My brother is one of the funniest, kindest, hard-working, smartest, loyal people I've ever known. I pray that my own son learns these qualities and more from him. (Although I might ought to be careful with the "and more"...)

Mark Garrett with his Uncle Mark

Special Sister

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:36:00 +0000

I have two sisters, Syble and Sarah (Syble, Sandra, Sarah- believe it or not, it wasn't my parents' plan to name us all with S names, it just worked out that way)! Although my relationship with Sarah is special and unique in its own way, today I want to focus on my relationship with Syble, both past and present.

Because she is fourteen months older, there was not a day of my life that I wasn't Syble's sister. We potty trained together, played together, and went to school together. It didn't take long for me to notice she was different.

Families that include a child with special needs have unique circumstances. Some days are difficult, some days very rewarding. Parents have to adapt to the mental, physical, and emotional issues their children have. I don't want to minimize my parents' sacrifices. My focus today though is on sibling relationships. And siblings of people with special needs also have a hard job.

I can remember specific instances in my life that related to my role as Syble's sister. I can vividly remember a friend on the play ground making fun of "retards." I remember the first adult to use retarded as an insult, not surprisingly, it was the friend's mom. In college I even remember the youth minister at the church I attended use "retarded" as an insult in a sermon to the youth. (I nicely pointed out to him that really wasn't appropriate. He agreed.)

There were times that my needs had to take a back seat to Syble's needs. Selflessness certainly isn't a bad lesson to learn, but it wasn't always easy. In our small town I was often referred to as "Syble's sister." And thinking about her challenges didn't stop when I left home. Even when I was planning my wedding I had to come up with a special job for Syble. And unlike most siblings, who drift apart unless they work hard to communicate as adults, Syble and I will become closer. Someday she will probably come live with me. When Lee and I first started dating, I made sure to have the conversation early that included details about Syble and what that would mean for the family we would build together.

Now with thirty years of experience as a "special sister" I can't describe to you how many blessings Syble has brought to my life. She has made me a better advocate for those who can't speak up for themselves. She has helped me care less about what other people think of me. And she has loved me unconditionally, teaching me to do the same for her.

And now it's my children's turn to learn similar lessons. Last time she came to visit, my three-year-old son sat in Aunt Syble's lap and wanted her to read him a book. She struggled to pronounce "Tidmouth Sheds" and "Topham Hatt." He asked her, "Aunt Syble, are you having trouble with the words?" And so he begins to process that she is different, and figure out how that makes him different. My special sister has become his special aunt.

Fall Favorites?

kama_blogs@live.com (Kama) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I, like KLee, am not too fond of Fall. I like the cooler weather for sure, but the season doesn't do much for me really! When I was teaching, I loved Summer just because of being out of school. I really like Winter because of the possibility of snow as well as Christmas and New Years! But this is about Fall...
In the past, I have made these Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Squares which were very yummy and made me think of Fall as well as this Pumpkin Shaped Spice Cake. Yummy! I also tried to roast some cranberries last year from a recipe I got on the news, but they were super sour and most of the family didn't love them! I can't find the recipe...
I've never been a big Thanksgiving food kind of person, I hoped that Dietrich would be born in September because I think "orange" when I think of October, and turkeys don't do much for me! Other than that, I welcome the cooler weather and look forward to a few fun holidays to come with family members.

What's That Smell?

jandkalexander@hotmail.com (KLee) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Please do not hate me. I am not a big fan of fall. Fall means winter is right around the corner and I despise cold. With a passion. I am a spring and summer kind of girl. I love being outside when it is nice and warm. Don't get me wrong. I am loving the temps right now--highs in the lower 80s. That is perfect. But I do know what is coming. But just because fall is not my #1 season, does not mean I dislike all things fall.

I LOVE the smells of fall. Pumpkin, cinnamon, apples, spices. I love my house to smell of fall all year long! I have mentioned smells before and I am sticking to my favorite candles--WoodWick! If you haven't smelled them, walk into your nearest Hallmark or Bed, Bath, and Beyond and take a wiff! Heaven!

What is your favorite smell of the fall?

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like... Fall?

noreply@blogger.com (Alicia) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

What is there NOT to like about fall? I love it all. The aromas, the pumpkin cookies, the football, the cool weather, the leaves, but I especially love decorating my home for fall. (Of course it's still 90 degrees here, but when I look around at least it looks like fall!)

I'm not much into black or scary Halloween stuff, but bring on the pumpkins and foliage! Plus, I love that it stays out from Labor Day until the Christmas stuff goes up. I simply switch out a few jack-o-lanterns for turkeys in November and it's cute for 3 whole months!

Here's what I've done this year in a few spots around the house. (I should also explain that I use the phrase "what I've done" loosely, as my mom graciously did most of this decorating while Mark and I were at Disney World a month ago. Thanks Mom!)

The entry table. I used lanterns (very "in" right now) combined with little sprigs of fall leaves and fruit. Places like Hobby Lobby are great for picking up this kind of thing. You can often find them half-price and use them with all of the home decor you already have. I also love to use seasonal frames. I have so many pictures that I love of my kids. But who has room for all of them all the time? This way I rotate them in and out. Here are the boys dressed up last Halloween.

This is another example of a seasonal frame. This one happens to be Creative Memories that you use scrap booking pages and magnets to change pictures as often as you'd like.

Fall arrangements are great way to add rich color to areas of your home. I beg you though, please splurge on "good" flowers. There are a few exceptions, but if you buy the cheap silk flowers at Wal-Mart they will look like "cheap, silk flowers"! There are some really great artificial flowers out there. I suggest checking small boutiques and design shops after the season. You'll find great stems often marked way down. (These stems were at least 60% off at a design shopping going out of business.)

My Mom made these pumpkins with fat quarters, poly-fill and embroidery thread. Cute, huh?

Sometimes just filling a bowl with small pumpkins and tucking in a pretty fall piece of ribbon can go a long way to making your home feel seasonal.

Above my cabinets. Once again, this is my usual decor. I just added a felt pumpkin and piece of foliage.

I wrote a post on hurricanes last year and their versatility. This is garland with tiny pumpkins wound into a small ring at the base of a simple candle. Placing it on the tray gives it an extra emphasis. And of course, it goes nicely with the Elmo and United States map place mats, don't you think?

There are so many ways to update your home decor seasonally. I think the key is buying things you love on sale at the end of the season. Focus on finding things that will go in or with the items you use all the time in your home so that you don't have to store much the rest of the year. Also think of using inexpensive perishable items, like split peas or candy corn. Most of all, just have fun with it! It doesn't have to be stressful or expensive. But it can be a lot fun to celebrate the seasons in your home.

What do you do to make it feel or look like fall in your home?

Apples, Apples, and More Apples

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:49:00 +0000

I have a lot of favorite things about Fall. I love decorating with pumpkins and mums. I love putting away the shorts and getting out the corduroy. I love the leaf shaped sugar cookies we make. But if I had to pick just one favorite, I'd have to say apples. I love apple pie, apple cider, the cool prints you can make with paint and apples, and apple sauce!

It's a good thing they are my favorite because I have an abundance of them right now! A couple weeks ago I had a workshop all day Saturday and my mother-in-law was coming to visit. I had to think of something for them to do while I was busy all day. So my mother-in-law, husband, and two boys went to a local farm to pick apples!

I asked my husband for a lot of apples, so I could make and can apple sauce. As you can see above, I got A LOT of apples!

Every day last week I made a batch of apple sauce. And I'm still haven't even used up one of the three bags they picked! We love apple sauce though so I'll keep making it. Plus, it makes the house smell so yummy!

For more apple ideas, check out KLee's post from last year!

This Week: Our Favorite Things about Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:49:00 +0000

This week we are talking about our favorite things about Fall! From falling leaves to football, we each enjoy something about this beautiful season.

Our topics for the rest of the year on now on the sidebar! Kama plans to take some time off when baby #2 is born, so we would love to have you (yes, you!) guest post for us soon. Just send us an email and we will give you more details!

image by: Scott Dungan

What Kama Has Learned...

kama_blogs@live.com (Kama) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

What I've learned from doing this blog with 3 of my friends is...

That Alicia always has a good recipe...

Sandra always has a good idea...

Kendra always has a great book recommendation...

And I have 3 friends that I can count on for prayer, encouragement, advice, laughter and anything else I need! Thanks for all the fun so far, you guys!