Sugar and Dots

Free Ad Space (a linky party)

2012-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before, ad space is all kinds of new for Summer 2012 here at Sugar and Dots.

I know that budgets are tight, and I would love to promote everyone, so I came up with a solution:

an ad space linky party

(!!!)

Don't have the funds available to advertise, but want to gain more followers and build your readership?

Simply add your blog's link to the party below between June 1st and August 31st 2012.

There will be a banner on my sidebar all Summer directing everyone to this post.

If you'd like to spread the word yourself, you can grab the button below.

The more people who link up, the more people who will see your "ad".

Consider each linky thumbnail free advertising.

Please link directly to your blog's URL; projects, recipes, giveaways, etc will be deleted.

Follow as many blogs as you'd like!

Make a new friend!

Have fun!

Happy Summer.

What I Whipped Up Wednesday

2012-05-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

I wanted to open this up at midnight, but if you follow me on Instagram, you know that my husband and I spent the night eating a cake he made me.

Pregnancy craving fulfilled.

10,000 adorable points earned by Sedric.

Last week...

Kimberly from A Night Owl Blog made this Memorial Day tulle wreath (perfect for July, too!):

Michelle from Delicate Construction put together this tape stenciled ombre door mat:

The Crafted Sparrow created these end-of-the-year gifts for classmates (with a printable!):

Angie from Burton Avenue showed you how to make this wooden sign:

And Lady Behind the Curtain whipped up these handheld apple pies:

Thank you to everyone who linked up!

Be sure to click on the "buttons" link on my sidebar to snag a featured button!

Ready to link up?

I can't wait to see what you've been working on!

Happy Wednesday!

Living room makeover

2012-05-29T12:19:00.001-07:00

When we moved in almost a year and a half ago, I didn't know how I wanted to set up the living room.

The space is a bit awkward due to almost no natural light being available.

With the playroom being right off of the living room, I spent a long time making the playroom look the way I wanted it to, and then finally decided to remove the curtains that separated the rooms.

We are saving a fortune on our electricity bill, too.

I didn't really have the electricity bill in mind when we first moved in.

Ha.

You can see the full "before" post HERE.

Here's a little snippet of what the room used to look like:

And here is the "after":

Having natural light in this space makes all the difference!

Oh how I love you, sunshine.
A bit of paint and some furniture rearranging was really all this space needed.

The living room is right behind the kitchen, and the kitchen is the first room you see to the left when you walk in our front door.

There is a little cut-out in the kitchen where the living room peeks through.

You can see the full kitchen post HERE.

I always thought that you had to have curtains in a living room.

Changing my views has changed this space so much!

What do you think?!

(Be sure to check out the "before" post to get the full effect of this makeover.)

Happy Tuesday!

Sweet Shoppe Saturday

2012-05-26T12:01:00.002-07:00

Welcome to the first edition of Sweet Shoppe Saturday!

I am so excited to share these shops with you!

________________________________________________________

Michele is the genius behind Diesel and Juice.

Her creativity is profound, and her artwork is lovely.

I asked her to create a piece of art for my husband of his beloved German Shepherd, and she went above and beyond my request.

He is printed out in cartoon form, with every detail precise.

I love her work so much!

Her shop is full of all kinds of artwork; I can assure you that you will find something there that you love!

Here's some more information about Diesel and Juice, from the words of Michele herself:

Diesel + Juice is an illustration project that was inspired by my love for my English Bulldog Diesel and feisty feline, Juice. I offer both custom and pre-made prints of the most adorable pets, creatures, and objects. All illustrations are drawn using Adobe Illustrator and printed in house with UltraChrome archival inks on premium archival paper. All produced and shipped entirely with love, by me, Michele.

Diesel is our four year old English Bulldog… She’s 29 pounds and everything the name Diesel implies – except she’s female. She burps, farts, snorts, snores, and even throws up in her mouth and eats it. She is constantly making you laugh one way or another and is quite possibly, the cutest dog ever to exist.

Juice is a 20 pound cat. We have tried to get her to lose weight but thus far, have had no luck. She is like most cats and has her own rules. Her two most important rules are as follows:

1. Do not pet me unless you feel like getting bitten or have food to give me.
2. Feed me at least 3 times a day or I’ll do whatever it takes to irritate you, including but not limited to: chewing on anything plastic, scratching on large loud objects, pawing at the items on your nightstand to make a clanking sound, sitting next to your face while you sleep purring, etc.

You can visit her blog HERE and you can visit her shop HERE.

Be sure to visit her on Facebook HERE.

__________________________________________________________________

Katie is the cutie pie behind Paper from Heaven.

Her ability to make me laugh in her blog posts is effortless, and her handmade shop is full of high quality pieces that I swoon over.

My kids are addicted to their crayon rolls that she made them.

Really, there would be major temper tantrums if I didn't have those crayon rolls in the car at all times!

I am forever grateful for her perfect stitches in her work.

Katie's shop is called Paper from Heaven, and her blog is called Raising Oranges.

Here is some more information about Katie and her life as a blogger and shop owner from the words of Katie herself:

"I'm a stay at home mom with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. I like math, but really only chose that major because it required the least writing and reading. I know you think I'm crazy!

I married my best friend in May 2004, and since then God has blessed us with 3 loud, crazy, energetic boys. The road has been rough but well worth it. When we were pregnant with our first child, my husband told me "If we have a boy, I'm going to dress him in orange so I can't lose him." Three boys later, we dress them all in orange...often."

You can visit her blog HERE and her shop HERE.

Be sure to visit her on Facebook HERE.

________________________________________________________________

Beth is the sweetheart behind Through The Eyes of the Mrs.

Her blog is bright and fun, and her new shop is overflowing with handmade pieces that make you feel pretty.

I am a huge fan of her tote bag, and wear my headband often.

I am so glad that she decided to open up a new shop; she is so very talented, and the perfect shop owner to make transactions with!

You will fall in love with her writing just as quickly as you will fall in love with her shop items!

Here is a little bit more about Beth from the words of Beth herself:

"I'm a vintage lover, thrifter, list maker, and crafter.
I have a thing for peach roses and sunshine.
I love to laugh and write from my heart.

I'm a mother to three and wife.

I am a daydreamer and believer in all things good.

I love to be inspired by things around me.
I love creating and finding new purpose for things.

I love many things but first come my little ones and the Mr.

They make me want to be better everyday."

You can visit her blog HERE and her shop HERE.

Be sure to visit her on Facebook HERE.

___________________________________________________

Happy Saturday!

New ad sizes and prices for Summer 2012!

2012-05-25T16:40:00.003-07:00

Since I will be displaying a new blog look in June, it only makes sense to change around the look of sponsors on my sidebar.

I have switched to having only one sidebar, so sponsorship sizes have changed.

The new sizes and prices are as follows:

(actual pixels shown)

Premium Ad Space gets you the top button placement on my sidebar, as well as a solo post about your blog/shop. Your blog/shop will also be mentioned at the end of every post that I write during the month.

Large Ad Space and Small Ad Space are generated randomly. Each page load gets your ad to place in a new position on my sidebar.

All ad spaces will be mentioned in a group shout-out post, and any size gets you a group giveaway and/or guest post.

If you'd like to guest post or offer a giveaway, simply tell me so, and your post will go up!

Solo giveaways are limited to Premium Ad Space only.

The June Premium Ad is already taken- please contact me ASAP to get in on the July/August price!

If you are a returning sponsor from any month/size, take $2 off the price! Be sure to let me know that you are returning!

Also, as readership has grown, I will be removing all "trades" from my sidebar.

I love swapping with like-minded bloggers, but feel that promoting only paid sponsorships is best at this time.

For those of you who are only able to commit to the previous $5.00 ads I was running, I have something new for you:

For $5.00, I will mention your shop once in a group posting (depending on how many shops sign up for the month).

For example, if 15 shops contact me about the $5.00 shout-out for the month of June, I will run a feature on 3 shops per Saturday until everyone has been mentioned.

This type of ad gets you mentioned one time, with a link to your shop and a photo or two of your items for sale and/or yourself.

This type of sponsorship does not get you ad space on my sidebar.

For those of you without shops and without cash, I will be hosting a monthly linky party on the 15th of every month. This linky will allow you to link up to your blog's URL- not just a specific post. Everyone (including paid sponsors) is invited to attend this monthly Free Sponsor Day!

I have several requests for ad space for June already. If you are interested, please send an email to SugarAndDots@gmail.com with the subject "Ad Space". Please attach a button sized the appropriate size, and include your PayPal email address for invoicing purposes.

If you have any questions about anything you've read, please email me.

I look forward to promoting you on my new layout this Summer!

What's in your bag?

2012-05-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Heather from Glitter and Gloss is hosting a "what's in your bag?" linky party with a handful of other bloggers.

Most people have the tendency to be curious.

Wouldn't it be fun to see what other bloggers carry around with them?!

We sure think so!

Take a few quick pics and whip up a simple post.

I'd love to see what you have to have with you at all times.

Want to see what my must-haves are?

Just the necessities...

Like...

My falling-apart day planner.

And my falling-apart wallet.

My cell phone that has more preschooler games than cool-people apps.

Disgusting doorknob repellant, anti-Melanoma skincare, boring chapstick, and the cheapest and best lipgloss of all time.

(Lipgloss is in the color "Girl Next Door"... I buy a new tube every two weeks or so. Addicted.)

Anti-vomiting remedies.

Third trimester morning sickness?

Super awesome.

Especially since the baby is now using my bladder like a squeeze toy.

Vomiting now makes me pee simultaneously.

I win the Most Glamorous award, I know.

Hair pretties for Taylor and myself.

Earrings in case I go somewhere fancy and forgot to wear any.

An InkJoy pen stolen from my husband's office.

Sunglasses.

Always two pairs.

Always scratched.

This is the old bag that I shove everything into.

I made it right after I started blogging and thought it was the most amazing thing of all time.

It is filthy and not even close to being my favorite thing anymore, but it can hold a kids' jacket when they start whining that they're cold, and/or an entire Happy Meal that refused to finish.

Priorities.

The linky will be open for a full week!

I hope that you'll join the party!

What I Whipped Up Wednesday + Features

2012-05-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Let's get caught up!

During the last two weeks, you guys have been hard at working creating such lovely things!

Want to see some?!

Elise from Grow Creative made these adorable lid magnets:

Lindsey from Mediocre Mothering put together some baby food recipes:

Vixen Made put together these rad apothecary jars:

Laura Beth from A Step in the Journey showed you how to make cards from washi tape:

Michelle from Delicate Construction organized her craft area:

Little Becky Homecky stitched together the perfect tank top dress:

And Mandy from This Girl's Life made this fab Urban Outfitters inspired artwork:

Thank you so much to everyone who linked up!

If you were featured, be sure to grab a featured button!

Ready to link up?

You can link up pretty much anything (let's keep things PG around here, k?) and you can link up as many times as you'd like.

I've had several people ask if they could link up prayer requests or long posts that would not be considered "projects".

This linky is all about YOU have done lately... whipping something up can refer to anything.

If you have something heavy on your heart or something that you want to shout from the rooftops, this is the place to share it!

You have a captive audience.

Use it.

Happy Wednesday, friends.

Sponsor information and some dust.

2012-05-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

It's true.

I adore sponsors.

Right now I'm looking into a few different options for June ad space.

May has been crazy busy with wrapping up the end of the year as PTA President and studying for/taking finals in my spare time.

That being said, being busy is about to be my life story.

I can't imagine life will get easier once the baby comes.

;)

So yeah... sponsorships are about to change.

I still haven't worked out the final details, but I know that I will be limiting the spaces available on my sidebar, and that there will be a few sizes/prices to choose from.

I know that the $5.00 space helped out those of you on a tight budget... I'm still toying around with the size that a price like that could offer.

More news coming soon!

If you haven't noticed already, things are looking pretty messy around here.

Please excuse the dust while I wrap up the month and decide on some new things for this site.

Unfortunately, while blog-hopping, I came across a blogger that has the EXACT same look as my blog, and even took the buttons I created for my site and used them as her own.

She has 32 followers, so I'm not sure if she thought I'd never find her blog, or if she is so new to blogging that etiquette hasn't been brought to her attention yet, but umm... I'm not a happy camper.

This blog will be getting a new look come June.

Please try to look past the chaos of my current layout until my new look is complete.

I hadn't really penciled in "blog makeover" to my May schedule.

*sigh*

On another note, I mentioned on Facebook earlier that What I Whipped Up Wednesday will go back to opening on Wednesdays, and features will be announced the same day.

It's just too much to open the linky early every week and blog back-to-back diligently even on days that I simply can't handle it.

I'm growing a human over here.

I get tired.

Be sure to come back for the linky party tomorrow!

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday.

Our maternity photoshoot!

2012-05-21T10:53:00.002-07:00

My good friend Natalie told me about a Facebook contest where a photographer was giving away a free photo session.

I rarely enter contests because there are always tons taking place, and I hate getting my hopes up.

When she mentioned it, I remembered that the first photoshoot we ever did as a family was a gifted session from Twice as Nice Photography.

And then I remembered that the second photoshoot we did was gifted to us by Drew B Photography.

Having only had two sessions as a family, and seeing that both of those sessions were free, I decided that the odds were in my favor and decided to enter a contest with Julie Marie Photography.

Three for three, guys!

We won!

I was beyond ecstatic, because Nat's photos from Julie are lovely.

I loved working with Julie- she made everything simple and didn't overwhelm me with questions or suggestions.

I told her I wanted a maternity shoot that was family-oriented, and that I wanted to be outdoors in a field of some kind.

Julie and I had exchanged two or three emails about what I won, and what I envisioned my session to be like.

Easy peasy.

And then she did something that gave me the chills.

When I told her I wanted a field of some kind, I left the location up to her.

Having a photographer shoot where they're comfortable always seems to be the best idea; plus, I knew she would know of tons of great locations.

She didn't know anything about me or my family, so I was curious what location she would choose based on my "field" description.

She sent an email and said she knew of a great place for us.

It was called Riley Park.

(If you don't know our story, you can read about our angel baby Riley here and here.)

I cried when I read the suggestion.

Of all the places in Southern California, I didn't even know that Riley Park existed.

And for my maternity shoot... I couldn't imagine a better location.

That Sunday (5.6.12) I wore my necklace with my babies' names: Taylor, Warner, and Riley.

There were a few shots where I realized we had "Riley" all around us, our kids beside us, and a healthy boy in my belly.

I will never be able to describe how I felt that afternoon.

What a beautiful day it was.

My heart is so full!

Thank you so much for your encouragement during this exhilarating time in our lives.

You are so good to me, sweet friends.

Happy Monday.

Guest Post + Giveaway by Raising Memories

2012-05-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Sugar and Dots readers! I'm so happy to be here today to share something fun with you! :) My name is Heather Lynne and I blog at Raising Memories about fun things parents can do with/for their kids. I love the fun ideas Kimmie shares of her own and of yours (from "What I Whipped Up Wednesday") and I'm happy to be here as a sponsor of hers, as a long time reader and supporter of her blog!Now, on to the fun! :) I recently made a Kit Kat Candy Cake for a cake auction. This baby went for over $100!

You may have seen this idea before (I traced it back to this post). I loved the idea and decided to make a few alterations- making it really easy to make, and even more colorful and crunchy!
You'll need:- a box of Oreos- a 4-pack of Smarties (or if you're not in Canada, you may need to use M&Ms)- one white cake mix- one jar of frosting- a bunch of Kit Kat bars (# will depend on size of your cake pan!)- food coloring (not pictured)- ribbon (not pictured)
Start by putting your Kit Kats in the fridge. Then make your cake- be sure to use a white cake mix, and only egg whites if you want your cake color to be really good! (add food coloring in the color of you choice to get a colorful cake surprise when you are ready to cut your cake!) If you want to have even more fun, divide your cake mix into two and make your 2 layers different colors :) After you've baked your 2 round cake layers, cut off the top of each layer (to make it nice & flat) and frost your first layer like this: Here's where the crunch comes in :) Put some of your Smarties (or M&Ms) in a sandwich baggie & smash them. Sprinkle them on top of your first layer of cake like so: Then place your 2nd layer of cake on top, hiding that crunchy surprise inside. Frost the rest of your cake. Surround your cake with Kit Kats! (break them into sets of two). You'll find that having put them in the fridge you'll have an easier time handling them because your fingers won't leave finger prints or melt the chocolate like they would if you hadn't! Once you've surrounded the cake with Kit Kats, you'll tie a ribbon around it (super cute and keeps the Kit Kats from falling over :) Then you'll get your Oreos, crush them into chunks, and the rest of your Smarties (or M&Ms) and pile them on top of the cake!Doesn't that look delicious? My mouth is watering... :)

Thanks so much Kimmie, for having me here to guest post on your blog! You're awesome! :)
I hope you'll come visit me at Raising Memories, to see what fun we're up to and to share your ideas, too!

Now I think it's time for a Giveaway!
I'm offering one of you two months of advertising on my blog! Leave a comment for each entry you do- you can get one entry for following or subscribing to any of the following:
Blog - Facebook - Twitter - Google+ - Pinterest

Thank you so much sweet Heather Lynne!
I cannot wait to make that cake!
I hope that all of you will enter to win ad space on her blog by following the links above.
I know that I'm a huge fan of her site myself.
:)

Happy Saturday.
xo

For no reason at all.

2012-05-16T22:05:00.003-07:00

I'm not sure if it's because it's finals week for me.

Or if maybe the stress of wrapping up the year as PTA President is starting to get to me.

Or if being seven months pregnant is taking a toll on my body/emotions/life.

But lately, I have been blue for no reason at all.

Not like the kind of sad that comes and goes.

Where I know my mood is crummy and I try to shake it off.

The kind of sadness and lethargy that has appeared out of thin air and has consumed me.

I woke up early this morning thinking that I could force myself to be happier.

I tried nesting the hell out of our playroom.

I packed up 14 trashbags full of outgrown toys and thought the cleaner space would bring me joy.

Instead, it made me realize that I need to buy more trashbags; which meant I had to leave the house.

Which sucks because I have been living in sweatpants.

Not leggings.

Big fat sweatpants.

I have zero shame, too.

Which concerns me.

I wanted to post a bunch of stuff this week because I have actual posts that I could write.

With real photos and everything.

Like a normal blogger.

But instead, I have avoided my laptop and have moped around in pointless self-pity.

A while back ago, I read this post at Hyperbole and a Half, and laughed.

Now I can relate.

Funny how things change.

"Funny" being the kind of funny that leaves me absolutely zero satisfaction.

{all photos credit of Hyperbole and a Half}

So, in case you're wondering why the heck my emails are going unanswered and my writing has become scarce, it's all for no reason at all.

I hope that helps.

What I Whipped Up Wednesday

2012-05-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

Have a happy Wednesday!
xo

Wednesday Features

2012-05-10T13:28:00.001-07:00

I know this is late.

I hosted the PTA Teacher Appreciation Luncheon yesterday, and after making a zillion trips to and from my car to the classroom in the back of the campus, I was exhausted.

I had some dinner last night, took a quick shower, and fell asleep hours before my usual bedtime.

I'm so thankful that my husband took over for me and I woke up to a clean kitchen and picked-up house.

I should become exhausted more often.

;)

Anyway, I meant to post this yesterday.

On to the features!

Last week...

Maria from Sweet Yarns showed off these adorable Washi Tape Jars:

Jill from Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons put together this Yodalicious Apple:

Michell from Girl in Air made this awesome Large Photobooth Style Photo:

Taryn from Design, Dining, and Diapers showed you all her gorgeous Front Porch Makeover:

Karyn from Pint Sized Baker whipped up these yummy Chocolate Won Ton Pops:

And Sew Fantastic put together this rad game of Paint Chip Matching:

Thank you to everyone that linked up!

If you were featured today, be sure to grab a featured button off of my left sidebar!

Happy belated Wednesday.

What I Whipped Up Wednesday

2012-05-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

Be sure to say hello to a few other links that have joined the party!

I hope you have had a lovely Tuesday... see you tomorrow for the Wednesday features!

Pictures from the weekend.

2012-05-07T14:08:00.002-07:00

Life is so insanely busy.

Normally, I write about all that has been going on- if not here on the blog, then at least jotted down somewhere so that I can try to remember it all.

Lately I've had to rely on pictures.

Summer vacation truly cannot get here quick enough!

Here are some recent moments we have captured through the lens.

How was your weekend?

I hope to see you back here tomorrow for the new linky party!

Enjoy the rest of your Monday.

Wednesday Features

2012-05-02T16:43:00.001-07:00

I want to start off by welcoming all of my new sponsors to my May sidebar!

There are so many pretty buttons over there, but some of you may be reading this in a reader, so I'm going to give them a quick shout out below.

Be sure to stop by somewhere new and say that you found them here at Sugar and Dots!

Now onto the features!

Last week...

Smallgood Hearth showed off this rad Filing Cabinet Makeover:

Sew Fantastic put together this lovely Paint Chip Calendar:

Lauren from Tutus and Tea Parties made these fantastic Barefoot Sandals:

Cheryl from Sew Can Do gave you all this great Batman Dress Up Tutorial:

Rebecca from The Crafted Sparrow gave you all a tutorial for five different Felt Flowers:

Bringing Beauty showed off these happy little Month to Month Onesies:

And Lisa from Flabby Fashionista whipped up this S'mores Ice Cream Pie:

Thank you to everyone who linked up!

I adore hosting this party every week and love seeing your creativity flow!

If you haven't already, you can link up to this weeks' party HERE.

And if you were featured, be sure to grab a featured button off of my left sidebar!

And as always, a HUGE thank you to my Premium Sponsor this month!

Be sure to visit her site and say hello.

Happy Wednesday!

What I Whipped Up Wednesday

2012-05-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Life through my cell phone camera lens.

2012-05-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Lately...

Life has been good.

I hope that you have been well, sweet friends!

Home Microdermabrasion Review

2012-04-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

A while back ago, I was contacted by a wonderfully sweet representative for a home microdermabrasion kit.

She offered a free kit for me to try in exchange for my review.

I have had both a wonderful and a terrible experience with this product, so let's get to it...

First, let me tell you about the product.

PMD came with everything pictured below:

I can't tell you enough how simple it is to use!

I will tell you, though; the woman on the front of the box is using the body disc- which the directions clearly state not to use on your face. Following the directions is extremely important... don't copy the model, mmmkay?

According to their website:

Microdermabrasion is a noninvasive form of exfoliation and mild skin resurfacing that removes the dead skin cells from the Stratum Corneum, the outer most lay of the skin. The Stratum Corneum is the layer of the skin affected by fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, acne, and scaring. The concentrated microdermabrasion treatment exfoliates this skin layer to break apart these common imperfections. This then triggers the body’s healing mechanisms, causing the removed dead skin cells to be rapidly replaced with healthy, new ones.

I have read so many reviews claiming that this was the best product ever invented.

I couldn't wait to try it!

I loaned it to someone in my family before trying it myself. She said she loved it and had wonderful results. She had it for about five weeks, so I'm thinking maybe it gets better with use, because this is what happened when I used it last night:

Let me start off by saying that I had no redness as I was using it.

There was no discomfort or irritation.

I followed the directions properly and felt absolutely fine while doing the procedure.

And even afterwards, my nose and forehead felt amazing.

The lines in my forehead looked minimized after just one use- I was feeling really confident about my results.

And then the pain set in.

I used a mild toner like suggested afterwards, and couldn't follow the next step of applying a moisturizer because my skin felt like it was on fire.

I have small abrasions on my cheeks, and both cheeks are extremely raw and swollen.

I didn't go over my cheeks more than I did my forehead- I'm thinking maybe that skin is just super sensitive on me... not sure.

All I know is I am currently slathered in Neosporin + Pain Relief and if I wasn't pregnant, I would be applying intense burn cream.

I know that everyone's skin is different; I just really didn't expect this result.

Maybe I'll love my healed results in a week or more?

I do love my forehead.

(First time I've ever typed that sentence!)

So yeah, mixed review... someone near and dear to my heart used my exact same device and swears by it, my forehead and nose got fantastic results, and my cheeks make me look like a burn victim.

The worst part is that tomorrow night, I have an important PTA dinner to attend.

Oh yeah, and Sunday is my maternity photo session.

Super duper sad face, yo.

I read another blog that had similar results to mine, and she said, "I look forward to spending the day trying to explain why my face looks like I took a nosedive on the pavement. (Any ideas for a good cover story? Like, I ran into a burning building to save some puppies? Or I was pushed into an electric sanding machine while doing volunteer work building children’s Christmas toys?)"

Personally, I'm going with the puppy story.

Happy Monday.

Photography tips from a non-photographer.

2012-04-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

Since getting my Canon 60D for my birthday in November, I've discovered a few things that can help someone who is learning photography. Or not. This entire post is pretty much based on nothing factual.

1. Read your camera manual and play with your camera while you read.

It helps if you can do this during sunlight hours; playing with the flash isn't as fun.

2. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

If you read a blog about photography, contact them with your specific question.

Send them one of their own photos and ask about the photo's details. Some regular photographers have some great photos- I recommend stalking them for advice.

3. Do not hesitate to love photos that didn't work.

Example:

Taylor had her eyes closed in this photo.

I cropped it in Photoshop and fell in love with her pretty little features.

4. Get as many free Photoshop actions as you can. If you Google "free Photoshop actions" you will get tons of results. Most of my favorites are from The Pioneer Woman and Oh So Posh Photography.

Play around with actions and see what your photo taste is like.

5. Learn how to use manual focus. This takes you back up to tip #1.

I'm still learning how to focus on manual mode, but love my progress so far.

6. Your white balance can really make or break a picture. I love brighter pictures and usually keep my white balance slightly higher than the halfway mark. This makes taking pictures indoors (without a flash) much easier. Play around with your settings each time so that your photos don't require a flash, but also don't look over-exposed. It's much simpler than it sounds.

7. Focus on the eyes, not the smile. I have ten zillion photos that I absolutely adore with big cheesy grins. And although I know that I want to look back on those photos one day, I also want to remember their little faces while they "just be".

8. Backdrops are not difficult. This one is a crappy Ikea blanket draped over the backs of two crappy Ikea chairs. She's sitting on the playroom floor. Surrounding her are boxes of old toys, a large TV, and piles of unorganized fabric. You'd never know.

9. Be quick. Sometimes subjects move. Laughter is one of my biggest culprits when it comes to movement. I usually don't catch the perfect shot, but so far, I love all of the mistakes I've captured.

10. My tips are based solely on my own experience. You can easily find an online photography workshop right now and become a master photographer within hours (or at least gain 99% more knowledge than I have). I'm just telling you what works for me and what I feel the most important things are for beginners. If you plan on using these tips to become a professional paid photographer, your business will more-than-likely fail. Just saying.

These tips are from a non-photographer- keep that in mind.

xo

In case you missed it...

2012-04-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week...

On Tuesday I opened up the linky party.

On Wednesday I announced the features from last weeks' party.

And on Thursday I posted about May Sponsorships.

Happy weekend!!

Advertise in May!

2012-04-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time again... time to wipe the board clean and start with all new sponsors for a new month.

I always get sad seeing those buttons go.

So many of them are friends of mine.

Friends I have made through blogging.

Through my words.

Through their hearts.

It's not all about business on my blog.

I keep my rates low and hope that you get traffic; simple as that.

Today I am now 25 weeks pregnant.

Which means that if this pregnancy ends like Taylor and Warner's pregnancies, I will deliver in exactly 11 weeks.

Which means that I have 11 weeks to get as many baby items in this house as I possibly can.

No baby shower for this little guy means lots of shopping.

Lots of second hand and consignment store shopping.

Obvs.

So to gear up (literally) for Baby, I'm making my rates crazy low for May.

And the super crazy part is that my stats have doubled in the past two weeks.

Which means that you are getting the most views than any sponsor has ever had here before.

Ready for the price?

$5.00 for the entire month.

I'm serious.

This gets you a 200x200 button on my sidebar and the opportunity to host a solo and/or group giveaway.

Most blogs charge tons to host a giveaway and get your name out there.

Some of them even require double giveaways- one for the blog owner, and one for their readers.

Keep your products or give them away... totally up to you!

Like I said before, this blog flows so well with your involvement.

Be as committed as you'd like to be.

Please email me with any questions!

I look forward to working with you!

Wednesday Features!

2012-04-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who linked up last week!

Are you ready to see some of the amazing links from last weeks' party?!

Let's get to it!

Nancy from Nancy's Couture put together this stunning fancy dress tutorial:

Rebecca from The Crafted Sparrow made these lovely washi tape tin cans...

AND... this rad DIY coin ring:

Julia from Stars and Sunshine stitched together this happy baby quilt:

Amy from Home Happy Home showed off her lovely powder room:

Brit from These Happy Times whipped up these yummy breakfast biscuits:

Gabby from The...Late Young Family turned a closet into an office:

Elise from Grow Creative gave you all a fun watercolor stencil tutorial:

And Lindsay from Little Mudpies made this easy peasy covered diaper box:

If you were featured today be sure to grab a button off of my sidebar!

And if you haven't joined this weeks' linky party, you can do so HERE.

Happy Wednesday!

What I Whipped Up Wednesday

2012-04-24T17:17:00.001-07:00

I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far!

Spring Break is over for us, and I am swamped with PTA work and homework.

All I can think about is not being the PTA President next year and finally getting my degree.

Ha!

But yeah... things are busy over here.

There were so many great links last week!
I can't wait to see what you've come up with this week!

PS- I have gotten quite a few emails asking about linking back to the linky party.
I do not require a back-link to Sugar and Dots. That being said, when I click through all of the links and see tons of parties mentioned except mine, I will admit that my feelings do get a little hurt.
(Isn't that silly?!)
This party is for you... I am here to help you showcase your hard work! I love hosting the party and don't ever plan to force credit back to my site. I hope that answers some questions!

Now let's get this party started!
Link up below.
xo

In case you missed it...

2012-04-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

Last week...

On Monday I posted a photo of my 23 week baby bump and showed off my Pink Lemonade necklace.

On Tuesday I opened the linky party.

On Wednesday I announced the Wednesday features and a giveaway winner.

On Thursday I wrote about my husband's ability to walk again, and how a date's meaning can change.

And earlier today I left a little note to my daughter Taylor after listening to a lovely song.

Thank you for your continued support and friendship through this blogging journey of mine.

Have a wonderful weekend!