The Man I Love

This post is a shout-out to my wonderful husband, Gil! I am blessed to be married to a guy who loves me, our children, and the Lord. I appreciate how hard he works and that he has high standards for himself and others. I can't believe that we are in our 16th year of marriage! In some ways it has flown by. Each year, though, definitely gets better and better.

We have had our ups and downs, but through it all we remain committed to each other, our family, and our marriage. I love that! Our children are blessed to have a dad who loves them fiercely, and who isn't afraid to admit when he is wrong. I love how my husband is teachable, growing, and humble.

I pray each day for Gil. And I strive to be a better, more loving wife to him. I am blessed. He is my love and my hero. I admire Gil, respect him, and appreciate him.

I love you, Babe!!!

{Thanks to my friend Cindy who took these photos one day at her house. I pulled them off of Facebook to use here. They look ok, but the image files are super tiny, so I can't print these pictures. This is one of the dangers of having all our photos online... we get a false sense of security, thinking we will have access to them when we want them. However, if the image quality or size is very low, then they only really work for viewing online. To put them in an album or use in a digital layout, I am going to have to ask Cindy to send me the original, full-size images.}

Pictures of Pictures

One of my friends was saying that she didn't have any photos of her mom that aren't digital. Trying to scan her pictures was too much trouble. So last week, when everyone was changing their profile pictures on Facebook to their mother's photo, she didn't participate.

Well, I have a fix for that! I often use my camera to take pictures of pictures.

I also use my camera to take photos of children's artwork, receipts, scrapbook page ideas, and other documents.

Now, if quality is really an issue, then scanning will yield the best results. But many things can be successfully photographed, quickly and easily.

This is especially nice to know when you have large, bulky artwork that won't fit in a scanner, or are out and about and want to capture a great idea. {It helps to have a nice, small camera and carry it with you!}




Here are my tips for taking photos of photos:

1. Set the camera on auto {or if you know how, engage the "macro" setting}
2. Turn off the flash
3. Place the document or photo on a flat surface in a well-lit area with indirect light
4. Position the camera so that you are looking straight down on the picture you are photographing
5. Zoom in, or get as close as possible
6. Hold the camera steady and take the photo

That's it! Let me know if this makes life easier for you!!

Photo Taking Tips for the non-professional!

Isn't he cute?!? I am not sure which is my favorite photo. But to get these cute shots... I had to take quite a few pictures! I am an average photographer with a decent point-and-shoot camera who is always striving to get good results. I am going to share a few of my tips here.

We were visiting with Grama and Grampa out on the screened porch a couple days ago, and Jacob was talking. I just kept clicking away because he looked so cute and I wanted to catch the perfect picture.The great thing with digital, is that we can take lots and lots of pictures!

Here are a few of my tips:
1. Take lots of pictures
2. Get in close with the zoom
3. Turn off the flash
4. Try the "kids and pets" setting on the camera and take multiple shots in a row
5. Take pictures often, and the kids (or adults) will not really be aware of the camera
6. Try not to pose your subjects, but catch them in action
7. Delete the duds and showcase the best!
8. Contact me if you need help with easy ideas for accomplishing #7!!!

Grama & Grampa are here for just 6 more days... I'll be taking lots more photos!

Preparing for a Productive Retreat!

Only 18 more days until our crop retreat at the beautiful beach!!! Ten of us will enjoy a great weekend away. We will have fabulous food, great girlfriend time, the opportunity to relax and enjoy the wonderful setting, and also get some scrapbooking done. I can't wait!!! Every year my mom attends quilt camp, which is basically the same concept as a crop retreat. She comes home refreshed and feeling like she got a lot accomplished! Before she goes, she decides on her projects, cuts out all her fabric blocks, and organizes her supplies. When she gets to the retreat, she is focussed on her sewing: getting it done! Do you ever get time away to work on your hobby? Maybe it is not an entire weekend... maybe it's just a night, or an extended day, or even a weekly date with a friend. How can you make that time as productive as possible? I think preparation is the key! Before the retreat, think about your goals for the weekend. How much do you want to accomplish? What project or projects do you want to work on or complete? Do you have a deadline? Are you one to focus on just one project for the entire time, or do you need a few things to work on depending on your mood and energy levels? Ask yourself these questions, and establish your goals. Now that you know your goals, think about what supplies you may need. Go ahead and pull out a tote or box, and start gathering up what you know you will use or may want to include. Think through your projects and make a list of what you still need. This gives you time to order or shop for additional supplies. Do you need to get pictures printed or enlargements made? Do your photos need to be organized? I always prefer to have too much, than to be stranded without something I need! To maximize my scrapbooking time, I love using the Power Layouts technique. This is a way to pre-plan pages so that some of the thinking is done ahead of time. Before my retreat, I have a couple of Power Layouts workshops scheduled so my ladies can come and get ready. Just going through your photos and picking out the ones that will end up on pages helps a lot, too. Any time spent organizing pictures ahead of time gives your mind a chance to start generating ideas, so that when you actually sit down to make pages, you are not starting from scratch. The more you plan and prepare beforehand, the more you will accomplish at the retreat. Your number one goal should be to have a good time and enjoy your getaway! I usually never accomplish as much as I hoped to, but I always come home loving all that I got done!!! What helps you to be productive with your cropping time?

School's Almost Out!

The end of the school year brings celebrations, special activities, goodbyes, and many photo opportunities. You just may have a special student, teacher, or grad and be wondering what to do about an end of the year gift. Here are a few easy ideas you still have time to make!

With a completely-coordinated scrapbook kit, you can put together a teacher thank-you album in record time! {And if you are like me and love a bargain, check out these kits that are on clearance.} An easy idea is to give each student in the class a journaling box on which to write a note to the teacher. They can also submit a photo, or you can go to class and take pictures of each child for the book. Once you have the pictures and notes, the album goes together fast!

Personalized photo gifts are quick and easy to make, and are always appreciated! How about a T-Shirt with a class photo on it, a mousepad made with a scanned image of a child's artwork, a mug for a special teacher, a photo panel with a group picture to say thank you, or a poster for a grad to take to college? The great designs available make your project beautiful!

And for more great ideas, check out this helpful post about journaling your child's school year, and some photos you don't want to forget to take!

The Soccer Season is over!

We all had a great time with our Spring Soccer league! Saturday, however, it all came to an end. It was a fun day of final games, parties, and trophies!



Gil really enjoyed coaching Jacob's team. I think he did a great job. The beginning of the season had some wet weather, so the team name "Mud Dogs" stuck. The 6 year olds all played hard and had a fun season.



Abbie's team really bonded over the season. They played hard, and played well. Abbie even scored one of the two goals in their win on Saturday! Coach Pete was awesome, and well-loved by all.

I was honored to make these end-of-the-season certificates for all the players!

Student Ministry Family Day!

Saturday from 4-8pm we had a Family Day for the Student Ministries (middle school and high school) at our church. Pastor Dean and Pastor Jason planned a fun event!

The weather was just perfect! Warm & sunny with a breeze... it was just right. We had been on the soccer fields for Abbie's 2pm game, so we hung around after. Gil and the kids helped with set up. I was the "official" event photographer!

We had a pretty good turnout. It was very nice time of fun, food and fellowship. I really enjoyed watching Zachary play football. I just marvel at how my little boy has turned into such a wonderful young man.



Gil helped out by overseeing a soccer match. I believe it was all the kids against him! He had fun, though.

We ate hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, cookies, and sides. I really enjoyed the time I had to chat with several friends.

The 7th grade boys just won an attendance challenge, so they had the chance to claim their prize: shaving Pastor Dean's head! All of them got in on the action with a crowd looking on.

Dean's wife Kellie wasn't too sure about the process and was a little worried about the end result! She was a good sport, though.

Abbie had found friends to hang out with, so we barely saw her all day! I ended up taking over 270 photos! When I got home, I pulled about 55 of them into a slideshow for the middle school group. These pictures are a few from those. Overall, it was really fun, relaxing afternoon. We left as the sun was going down, tired and happy.

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Anne T.!!! She is the the winner of my Photo Circle Giveaway!!!


Anne gets to choose one set of these cute little Mini PicFolio albums!!!

Didn't win? Well, you can still get 20 FREE prints when you join my Photo Circle!


To join my Photo Circle simply follow the link to the Creative Memories Digital Center. It is as simple as creating an account for yourself, using my CM ID: 24915986. For me to see you on my Photo Circle list, you do need to click the box allowing me to send you an occasional email. {Note: if you already have a Creative Memories Consultant, then you should create an account with them.} Check out all the great stuff you can do with your pictures! Enjoy your 20 FREE prints!!! And let me know if you have any questions!

Giveaway!

I am hosting a Giveaway this week! See these cute little Mini PicFolio albums? They are designed to hold eight 2x3" photos. But I also use one in my purse as the perfect thing to hold all our random gift cards. A Mini PicFolio is my favorite thing to give my kids' teachers, too... I am sure teachers get lots of little photos from kids. And these little books are just right for little hands to hold... your toddler or preschooler would love having their own photo album, don't you think?!

I am giving away one set of TWO Mini PicFolio albums in your choice of color combinations: Navy & Pink, or Aqua & Green!!!

All you have to do is join my Photo Circle at the Creative Memories Digital Center. It is as simple as creating an account for yourself, using my CM ID: 24915986. {Note: if you already have a Creative Memories Consultant, then you should create an account with them.} While you are creating your account, feel free to browse around the site and see all the fun stuff you can do with your pictures!

This Giveaway will end at 10pm on Sunday, January 24, 2010. The winner will be randomly chosen from my list of Photo Circle members. I will announce the winner next week!

Autumn Bran Muffins

I made these great muffins last week, that I thought I would share. They actually started as a pumpkin bread recipe, that I adapted into these muffins. I had a large can of pumpkin, and made a loaf of pumpkin bread. I also made a single-pie recipe of pumpkin pie filling, to use in making 6-dozen mini pumpkin pies. Then, I had 1/2 cup of pumpkin left over... and I got creative and made this recipe up!

I did have some beautiful photos of my yummy muffins to share... but as I was downloading photos from my camera into the computer, the memory card decided to tell me that it was empty! Soooo frustrating when that happens! That is why I am always encouraging people to download their photos often!!!!

Yesterday and today my kids had writing celebrations at school. It was great because my parents are visiting from Arizona, so they got to go to school, too. In fact, we had scheduled in advance for Grampa Jack to make a presentation to Jacob's class yesterday all about his former career as a firefighter! Of course we took a lot of pictures. Sadly, those classroom photos are lost forever due to my recent camera glitch. I am thankful that I only lost those two days, and not any other pictures. I am glad I didn't lose weeks, or months of photos. Just because a memory card holds hundreds of picures, doesn't mean you should fill it up! So, please, please, please.... back up your photos often!!!!

Ok, here is the awesome recipe!

Autumn Bran Muffins
Makes 24 muffins, or 48 mini muffins

Dry Ingredients:
2 cups flour
3/4 cup bran (I use a combination of 1/2 wheat bran & 1/2 oat bran)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Wet Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup soft butter

2 eggs

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup milk

Add Ins:
1 cup chopped nuts
3/4 cup pineapple tidbits
3/4 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter muffin pans, or line with paper liners. Sift together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar together; then add eggs, pumpkin, applesauce, and milk. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until combined. Mix in nuts, pineapple, and dried cranberries. Drop by spoonfuls into muffin tins. Bake until browned on top and toothpick tester comes out clean: 25-30 minutes for muffins, 15-20 minutes for mini muffins.

These were so yummy! I made mini muffins, which everyone loved. And, since they are very low fat, I didn't feel guilty about adding a little bit of butter to mine when I ate them.

For more great pumpkin recipes, check out Bridget's beautiful blog!

I am also linking up with Jen's Tasty Tuesday!!!

Don't bet your life on it!

This, of course, is a memory card. A memory card from a camera.

How many photos do you have stored on your memory card? What happens when that card is full? What do you do with your photos? Where are all those jpg's???

As someone who has been blessed for the last 12 years to assist many people with preserving their photos and stories, I have seen some interesting solutions to this "digital dilemma". I have met people that simply buy a new memory card, then proceed to fill it up, then buy another, and another, and so on. One friend of mine puts all her photos onto CD's with the plan to get to the photos "someday"... My question is how many digital photos will you have by then?

I think that we can all agree that with digital photography, we are all taking more pictures than ever! And why not? It doesn't cost anything... and the more photos we take, the better the chances are of getting that really good shot we are hoping for. However, fewer pictures than ever are being printed. We are trusting in technology to keep our photos safe.

When we were on vacation this summer, I took lots of photos! We were gone a week, from Saturday to Saturday, and I had my laptop with me. I have another computer at home that I normally use to store and edit my photos, but I figured an extra copy on the laptop wouldn't hurt. So Thursday night I downloaded all the photos I had taken while on the trip. I took more photos on Friday when we got to spend time with a dear friend and her family. Saturday's pictures of our homecoming were especially sweet because my husband had to work all week and we had missed him! Then on Sunday, we hosted some special friends for dinner. We took some nice pictures of that beautiful evening with their parents who were visiting from South America.

A day or two later, I attempted to download all the vacation photos, and photos from that weekend, to my main computer. I was sickened to find that the memory card was BLANK! Everything was lost. Fortunately, I had a backup copy of vacation on the laptop. But three days in photos that we will never get back are gone for good. I am so very thankful that it was just three days.

The question is not "what IF technology fails?" but "how are you prepared for WHEN technology fails??"

Here are a few tips:

1. Download your photos on a regular basis!!! Get on a schedule, say every first of the month. Or, if you take lots of photos, twice a month, or the same time every week. Our memory cards are huge and hold a ton of photos! I actually liked when I had a card that just held 75 pictures. It forced me to download and clear the card often. A memory card that holds hundreds or a thousand photos is just scary to me!!! You've gotta have a schedule for backing those photos up!
   
   
2. When you download your photos, use the USB cable to connect the camera to your computer. Your memory card is most vulnerable to damage and corruption when you are taking it in and out of your camera!
   
   
3. Back up your photos in more than one place. But be careful if you are relying on CD's. You know how silver has a tendency to tarnish? Well, silver CD's also have a tendency to deteriorate, causing your data to be lost. Did you know that their life expectancy is only three years? Gold CD's are more reliable. An external hard drive is another option. If you rely on an online service, research it carefully. Can you get your digital images back at their full resolution? Or can you only order prints? What other limitations might there be?
   
   
4. Print your favorite photos! Our prints are our new negatives. If the digital file is lost, you can always scan the photo. Printed photos can be stored in albums or storage boxes--as long as they are photo-safe.

Here is an online class you can watch on your computer that will give you some ideas on how to better manage your digital photos. It highlights the software I use and love. And if I can answer any questions for you, please leave me a comment with your email address!

Where's Mom??!?? Part 2

In March, I wrote this post called "Where's Mom??!??" In the past couple of days, Emily at Chatting at the Sky visited this very topic. Of course, she is far more eloquent than I am. Her post is definitely worth a read, as are all the comments.


The question is, are we in our pictures? In years to come, will our children know we were present in their lives, or will they wonder where we were? Emily, and another blogger, Karin, encourage us to take self-portraits if we have to. So in that vein, I decided I would do that with my kids tonight! On a whim, I picked up the camera, we all piled on the playroom couch, and took a few pictures.

I actually had to hand the camera to Zachary for him to take the photos because I couldn't keep my arm out of the shot!

This Mother's Day weekend, let's make sure Mom (you!!) are featured in some photos... preferably with your kids!!

Where's Mom??!??

Monday night, I had a sweet lady here for my Power Palette Layout Class. In less than 4 hours, we had 21 album pages planned and layed out! The photos were family pictures from January through April 2008. One things we both noticed: there was not one picture of this wonderful woman! Plenty of pictures, of course, of her precious children, husband, and other family members. But none of her.


As moms, we often tend to be the photo-taker. That means that no one is taking pictures of us. And, honestly, I know many of us prefer it that way! While we love to take pictures, we don't like our picture taken. We are always concerned with how our hair looks, if we have makeup on or not, how much we weigh, what we are wearing, etc. Well, at least that is what is always going through my mind!


I would like to challenge us moms, or other camera-shy individuals, to be a little less self-focused. Think about those photos from today, and how they will be viewed years from now. Your absence will be noticed! You will be missed. Years from now, you won't care about how you looked... and you might even look back and say, "Hey, I actually looked pretty good, then!" Your children and other loved ones will want to see you, as they remember you. You are a vital part of their lives today; they will want to see you in photos tomorrow.

I have been working on filling in the gaps in my scrapbooks. Most recently, I have been working on my 2004 family album. It was fun to see this page from Jacob's 1st birthday! Especially since my baby is about to turn 6 next month! This is one of those pictures that I can now look back on and appreciate. I am glad we took it. I am glad we all know that I attended this event!

But what is interesting, is that when I turn the page, I see my hair all chopped off. And I remember.

I felt really bad about my appearance then. I had been in a car accident about 10 months before, and a neck injury from another car accident in 1999 had been aggravated. So in 2004 I had two steroid injections in my neck. I had gained a lot of weight. I was sick of my hair and ready for a change. I was also a little depressed. So I had my hair cut.

This photo was taken a few weeks later. I had the pleasure to see Beth Moore live in Colorado Springs with some of my closest, dearest friends. This was right after I had moved 90 miles away from these dear ladies. How many times do we forget to take photos of ourselves with our friends? It is so easy to take those times for granted. But we never know where we might end up in the future. Having this photo brings back a great memory of sweet fellowship!

Now, I don't like my hair in the picture with my friends at all. I was glad at the time to get it all cut off, but never really liked it. I still felt fat and ugly.... However, looking back, I realized a couple things. One, is never to cut my hair when I am feeling depressed! I will regret it! I also realized, that despite how I felt at the time, I didn't really look as bad as I thought I did... in either picture. And having those pictures today is important to me and my family.

How many times do you choose "not to attend an event" by not having your photo taken? Will your family see your precious face when they look back at family photos? I have a challenge for you. Hand someone else the camera... and smile!