Adventures in Blog-land

The fact that this post is happening on a weeknight is a small miracle in itself, but given that I am typing this from my dearest friend and mentor Barb's  basement, as she teaches me all sorts of new blog tips is SUPER EXCITING to me.

 Barb's task isn't an easy one, she has to reign me in and pull my dreamer head outta the clouds -

 -  long enough to teach me how to effectively link and network with other blog sites - in particular we are "focusing" on photography sites ;)

Sorry.   It was right there.    I had to.

The first site we visited was kevin & amanda . I particularly liked this post here about her fave camera strap.  I've been looking for a hassle-free way to haul around my camera(s) for years! Every strap I've ever had was stupidly annoying. Either it was too thin and dug uncomfortably into my shoulder after just a few hours, or it was heavily padded and slip off my shoulder every time I'd lift the camera to frame a shot.  None would rest properly at my side, and my poor camera would flail out awkwardly with each step. I was constantly in fear my lens would get bumped too hard and do one of two things: crack the lens, or the poor weight distribution caused by the awkward angle the camera hung at would cause the entire lens to pull away from the body and destroy both the lens and the body.  I'm so thankful to have finally been pointed in the right direction. (she had me at the point she mentioned  "cupcake" - don't judge me)  I have a feeling I can learn alot of handy tips from this site, and it's always nice to find other fellow cupcake-lovers blogger-photographers like me. (I know, priorities, right?)

 The next site was pioneer woman  This lady blows my mind with her constant creative inspiration. I have yet to find something she can't do.

On the more serious side, we visited ilovephotography, which had some phenomenal , inspiring shots as well.

I'm off to post comments on these and others' blogs who catch my interest, and get a running start to the world of networking opportunities!

Hope your day is inspiring and a little bit magical!

Hunting for good photo blog sites (and maybe a cupcake)
-J

 

Friday Favorites

Fridays are usually bittersweet for me. It means the end of the workweek (yay!) and it also means I have to say goodbye to two my amazing children as they go to their dad's for the weekend ( awww man!) . It means  I finally get precious alone time spent and alot of that time winds up being used to take care of mudane weekend tasks/chores that still need taking care of ( awww man!) .
In light of this I try to keep focused on the postive and so I'm proposing a Friday Favorites weekly post, to keep everyone's spirits up as the weekend approaches and hopefully challenge YOU to pick out your top five ( or heck, even ten) favortie things!

#1 - funky cellphone camera options

Take a look at this simple beautiful yellow gerber daisy. I played with my phone camera's options and settled on the "negative" option for this one. I thought it looked kinda funky.  Here's the "normal" (aka "boring" shot)

BUT I love love love the actual color of this flower. I wish my cellphone had a better camera to capture the intensely rich yellow, it's one of my most favorite colors!


#2 - frozen blended lattes
a yummy and much needed pick-me-up during the summer to help pull me out of the mid-afternoon slump ;)

(all you awesome girls at JoJo's cafe totally rock!)

#3 - the beach

I joke that I've become a "local" in the destination resort town that I live in because the summer is half over and I've barely been the beach at all, and not even once for a swim! haha

#4 - this fun card!

The adorable card was made by my beautiful, creative mentor and friend Barb - who is one of my most favoritist people on the whole planet! Make sure you head on over to her blog  to see how she made it, and for all you digital scrapbookers out there, she has lots of freebies as well as amazing elements you can buy! 

#5 - These guys ;)  These two are my ALL TIME FAVORITE ever! xoxo.  I consider myself the luckiest, most blessed Mama on the planet to be blessed with the privilege of growing these two sweet boys into strong, compassionate men!

Ok! well I hope this inspired you keep your thoughts on all the wonderful blessings in your life as you head into the weekend.
  I'm headed into the city to rescue some friends from an hour-long channel float, and then make them feed me,  haha!

Some days I Feel Like This . . .

It is only Wednesday?!?!   Oh yowsers....  hahaha
Well at least week is half over. So many odds and ends to keep up with, my poor journal is bursting with "to do" lists, my studio isn't even half finished, but here's a peek at my painting station

  . . .my laptop has been on almost 24/7  to edit photos and it seems it's now protesting (arggh!) and my forgotten laundry is waiting to be rescued from the dryer, ( If you're wondering why I don't just hang it to dry, it's because I'd probably just forget it out there and then it'd just blow away in one of our many recent windstorms, haha)
My sons always know where I am by the trail of lists and post it notes I leave behind me - Not kidding! haha

My list of ambitions for tonight after work ( and after taekwondo) is to finish editing my latest photos,  and print some photos for my studio, organize my existing supplies (and make a shopping list of supplies I need to replenish) figure out where I want my shelves to go and hopefully start a new acrylic project  (I have a blank canvas screaming neglect that I can't ignore anymore). And somewhere in there my laundry WILL get rescued!  I can't guarantee I won't fall asleep while I'm folding it though!
Before my kids go to bed I think we had plans to watch "Up!"  so I'm looking forward to it since I've heard great reviews about it. ( I haven't seen it yet so no spoilers please!)
How much you wanna bet my new painting might feature a balloon or two before I'm finished? hee hee ;)
What kinds of things keep you going during the week?  What kinds of things do you do for yourself to keep your sanity during long or busy weeks?
Animated balloons and post it notes everywhere,
-J

Top 5 Weekend Favorites

How was your weekend?  Was is hot and sunny?  Or did you wake up to find a blizzard outside your window?  Or was it just Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs?  hahaha  (my kids liked that movie)

Being where I live, I got a combination of weather, It was pouring buckets when I woke up this morning, and overcast as we headed out for the day.

BUT

this was the sight that greeted me earlier in the evening as I headed for long overdue visit to my wonderful, dearly missed, never-get-enough-time-with-her friend Barb's house ( I have blogged about her several times in the past, at least) you can visit her too, at lalalime.blogspot.com

Favorite #1 - sunshine-lit orchards and vineyards - right at my doorstep

I pulled over, super excited that I ACTUALLY had my ACTUAL full SLR camera ACTUALLY with me for an unexpected photo op of nature.

So I pulled it out, pressed the shutter and .....  nothing happened.

No memory card! 

No problem, because unbelieveably I just so happened to have my smaller kodak camera on hand also. (almost never happens that I have both at the same time)  I hastily grabbed the memory card from that one, popped it into my camera and . . . . . .   nothing happened.

{That awkward feeling when you realize the battery is dead}

DOH!   I know, I know, rookie mistake! 

So this pics was taken with the only other camera I had with a working battery, my Kodak Play-ful waterproof camera.  Which is my new favorite back-up camera!

Favorite #2 - Kodak Play-ful waterproof camera. 

I brought this baby along with me to Mexico and it held it's own in some pretty big waves! haha

Favoite #3 - cute rocker-girl guitar picks

I've been goofing around on my guitar for years with only a handful of lessons under my belt ( I prefer to teach myself) and I couldn't resist taking a pic of the funky picks that caught my eye in the music store today!

Favorite #4 -Mango-Pineapple fruit smoothies from McDonald's

Totally addicted.     Seriously.

My Starbucks frappaccino days are in danger of extinction!

Favorite #5 - Smiley-face balloons! ( a whole laz-e-boy full of 'em!)

Honestly, just because =)

I hope you all had a great weekend, and I hope you had a chance to enjoy one or two of your favorite things. Or maybe you had an opportunity to discover a new favorite thing!  

-J