Bokeh Giveaway By iheartfaces.com

For those of you who are not photographers or don’t care in the least about photo-editing software, then you can skip the rest of this post. But come back and read the next one. As soon as I write it that is.

But for those of you who are interested in photography and such…here’s something for you!

I never knew what bokeh meant before I got interested in photography but now I chase it all the time. I have a good camera, but let’s face it, bokeh is something I really have to work at.

But there’s an application out there that gives it you without having the uber fast lens, which I don’t have. I used the sports example above because I think it’s cool. Notice the nice blur of the stands putting the focus on the players. You sports moms can have a field day with this. No pun intended. I tried editing in bokeh with a blur tool and light filters etc…but I was going gray doing just one photo.

IHeartfaces.com is giving away a copy of Bokeh by Alien Skin. Go there and leave a comment and you can win. Simple.

I don’t want to get too excited but I did already win the Aurora software. The husband knows that lightning can strike twice, and he has been struck more than once. Maybe it will happen to me, winning the software that is, not getting struck by lighting.

Here’s some more lucky clovers for you, courtesy of the girl. It’s weird how she can find these on a lark.

Good luck to y’all!

Update: For the geeks out there, I wrote something on a giveaway for you too. Now all I have to do is find some place that is giving away scrapbooking paraphernalia, fitness clothes, cooking tools and antique furniture and I’ll have all of my hobbies covered. Anyone? Anyone?

What's Your Play? no. 43

I was feeling uncreative this week, I’m not sure why. So when Laura over at dolcepic posted her What’s Your Play, I was just going to sit it out. But I saw some of the awesome plays and I was motivated to at least try.

Here’s the original.

And here’s my play. I cropped it and used Coffee Shop’s golden vintage. Then I duplicated the “vignette” layer. I also darkened it a little bit as well. And voila, a couple in love.

Thanks Laura, this and a glass of wine, just what I needed.

My Air Conditioner Is Broken

Yesterday we woke up to a steaming hot house. The compressor is broken.

They don’t look anything alike do they?

Yes, honey, it’s a dish. Maybe he needs to take his glasses off in order to see it.

Anyway, our dishwasher is broken too. For about a month now.

When I was a girl, it was my sister and I who did the dishes every night after dinner.

I actually think it’s good that the dishwasher is broken.

I might not get it fixed. They are having too much fun.

The air conditioning though? That’s another story.

Wordless Wednesday, Yum

Spring Planting – But Not By Me

It’s that time of year, the spring planting season where beauty and nature collide, exploding in riotous color. Better known in my house as the killing season.

I love flowers and plants and fresh vegetables. I just don’t like planting them. I did not inherit my mother’s genetic anomaly for digging in the dirt.

But I did go to the nursery with her where she bought a variety of vegetables and roses to plant in my yard. She knows I’m not much of  a gardener. She also knows one other thing.

After she sweats and digs and spends money in my yard, I won’t let them die. I would feel too guilty. So it forces me to actually get a little dirty. Which I don’t like to do.

I don’t want you to get the impression that she’s doing this by herself. The boy helps too.

And he’s sweet enough around his grandma not to make a fuss about it while she’s here. After all, he’s missing the race on tv when he’s outside digging holes. But he can’t fool his grandma. She knows that he’s much more like me when it comes to gardening than he is like her.

How else is he going to learn to grow his own garden when he’s grown and gone from the house? I hope he doesn’t think I’m going to do it.

Something For The Geeks

Hey you geeks out there! Alright, here’s the scoop. I have a love/hate relationship with computers. Most of the time I love them. Then when they don’t work I hate them. That’s why I rely on the expertise of these guys.

But when it comes to new technology, I can’t help but be fascinated, curious, and then finally, I WANT IT. So now I have a 2.4 GHz, 3 G, with a small harddrive SONY computer. Small (but not that small) because I have several external drives for my bazillion photos.

So now to the point. 5 Minutes for Moms is giving away this cute little HP Mini 1000. Did I say cute?

If you are a mom, or if you know a mom, or if you have a mom, then go to their site and leave a comment. Hey, why not? After all, I won something today! You can too! The possibilites are endless! The world is our oyster! The universe is spiraling down to one big-end-of-time bang. So you best get your comment in.

Now I don’t feel responsible for you not knowing.

And I can’t write  a post without putting in a pretty picture. Just a reminder to you guys, that Mother’s Day is coming up. Don’t forget to send flowers. After all, they carried you in their womb, suffered through morning sickness, endured hours of agonizing labor and finally pushed you out of their bodies in a pool of blood and amniotic fluid.

But look how cute you are. I have to cook dinner now.

Oh Lucky Day

What a beautiful day today! And a lucky day! Today I found out that I won the new photo editing software, Aurora, from iheartfaces.com! I can’t wait to try it!  Those of you who are not into photography may not find this very exciting but I’m thrilled! Not that I don’t do enough photo-editing.

The girl is usually the lucky one. She can find a four-leaf clover anywhere  and everywhere she goes.

I’m going to buy a lottery ticket now.

High Point Short Stirrup Team For 2008-2009 – Just Sayin'

Ever since the boy was born I’ve been an avid scrapbooker. I’ve preserved hair from the boy’s first hair cut, the girls’ first school project and every single thing they wrote to me. I even have a certificate that says I was  Volunteer of the Year when the boy was in second grade. How’s that for bragging? Okay, maybe I was a little too involved.

This blog is my online scrapbook. I’m (obviously) a fanatic about documenting everything that goes on in our family. Probably because I don’t have many photos of my own as a child. I also know that my family is not the only one who reads this so you must forgive me if I do some bragging. It’s not hubris or bravado. It’s just that when something good happens, I want to keep it forever and ever. I’m just a proud momma. And it’s what I would do even if no one was here to see it.

So when our Short Stirrup team wins the coveted number one spot for the year, well, I have to write about  it. After all, these girls worked really hard to get it.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Top Ten Short Stirrup High Point Riders for the 2008-2009 season.

I know there’s eleven girls here. Two of our girls tied for third place. Not braggin’ just sayin’.

Of the eleven girls here, five are from Oak Crest. How cool is that? Where’s the girl? She’s number eight and dressed for the occasion in her shorts and sweatshirt. But I wasn’t going to argue with her about what she was going to wear.

Actually only one girl on the team wore a skirt. We’re a little bit more laid-back about these things. You’d think they were tom-boys or something.

It may look like they aren’t listening. Unfocused – seems a strong word. But when it come to riding, they are unmatched. This year anyway. Who knows how they will do next year.

That’s why I have to brag about it now. Wait – I’m not bragging. I’m just documenting.

Way to go girls. Way to kick some horsey butt.

Happy Birthday Tim & Gavin

These are two very important men in my life. Happy birthday guys.

You give your time, your energy, your intellect and you give it freely and joyfully. Why are they dressed up like Hans Solo and Obi One Kanobe? They’re the good guys.

But then again, I’m not a nerd so I hope I have the characters right. I don’t have Captain Kirk on my wall, unlike someone I know.

Congratulations Shutter Sisters

I started blogging soon after receiving a digital camera as a gift from my wonderful family. I started looking for other people like me, who were traveling a photographic journey of the heart. It was not long afterward that a friend, Danny – a man, sent me a link to Shutter Sisters and I found a community of beautiful women who I had never personally met but whose photography spoke art and life to me.

For a long time, I didn’t participate. I just watched and I didn’t know what to make of some of the posts – like this one. I thought, “I’m supposed to take photos of people without their heads?” So I did but I didn’t link it, I was too afraid of what people would think of my photography.

Now I come to this site almost everyday to see if there is a challenge for me – and there almost always is. Some of the posts quite frankly drives me to tears, like this one, and this one. I read it and I’m inspired and I almost always run for my camera or take it with me that day to capture what most certainly would have been missed had it not been for the sisters here.

And today, the talented ladies at Shutter Sisters posted some wonderful news.

Thank you Shutter Sisters and congratulations. The photos here may not have been taken had it not been for you. Today, my heart is over-full.

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