Project Alicia

Love Day Freebie & More Ideas

2012-01-26T08:50:00.002-06:00

As I begin to think about the upcoming holiday I'm excited and sad for the last year of elementary school. My daughter is in 5th grade and this could be the end of those sweet Valentine's Cards.

As I was digging through old files I found this from several years ago. The photos were taken with a generic lens and the collage was put together in photoscape (a free photo editing program you can download directly to your computer). Should have saved it at a higher resolution, but you get the idea.

I'm trying hard not to get too emotional, but nobody prepared me for how fast they'd grow up!

If you'd like to make your own you can grab the PSD file here.

Other Love Day ideas you may enjoy...

Homemade Cards for School

A Love Card for Your Honey

"10 Reasons I Love You" Books

A Simple DIY Project

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

WW: Beneath the Shroud of Winter

2012-01-24T17:00:00.000-06:00

In the heart of winter lies...

silhouettes of trees barren of leaves. Exposed fields. Bleakness and blah. Chilly days void of sunlight. And all manner of mother nature's wrath. Yet even in the midst of these depressing, ugly days is beauty beyond comprehension.

I am so thankful for the nine minutes I allowed myself to pull over and take it in.

Turns out that winter is winter regardless of location or exemption of snow. If you are also experiencing the winter blues like myself come join the Poetic Winter Photo Challenge Feb 3rd - Feb 24th. Just four short weeks to get out and really embrace the beauty that lies beneath the shroud of winter. You can find details and a complete list of prompts on my Poetic Winter Challenge Page.
This is Wordless Wednesday, but Wordful or Not So Wordless posts are also welcome here. Just grab a photo and link up below. It's a great way to make new friends! Feel free to stop by some of my favs...

WW: More Beach Adventures

2012-01-17T17:00:00.006-06:00

First of all thank you so much to all who link up here at Project Alicia. Whether you are a newbie or a regular, I absolutely LOVE looking through your photos. I can't think of a better place to find inspiration!

Your photos move me and make me want to do better. Whether you use a point and shoot, a smart phone, or a DSLR... all are invited to participate in Wordless Wednesday or in any of my photo challenges.

If you missed it, yesterday I was busy Unveiling the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge.

I'm teaming up with Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, Faith of Sweet Violet and Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud to bring you this inspiring 4-week photo challenge, Feb 3rd-24th.

You can find details and the complete list of prompts on my Poetic Winter Challenge Page.
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Now on to the regularly scheduled WW post...

After projects, sickness, and lots of life... we jumped in the car and headed to Hunting Island State Park yesterday.

I climbed the 167 stairs to the top and back. Cause I'm on a mission to overcome my fears.

The views were breathtaking and definitely made it worth it.

The beach housed a graveyard of sorts and was the coolest location ever to explore and find treasures.

(I came home with piles of driftwood and have been researching cool DIY driftwood projects in case you follow me on pinterest and thought I'd lost my mind.)

Upon arriving at the park it felt as if we were entering a jungle. The landscape was wild and amazing with the spanish moss, palm trees, and prickly pears. Pics do not begin to do it justice.

Oh, and guess what I found on the way at a little place called Carolina Cider Company?

Pie! Homemade, fresh apple pie to be exact. A perfect compliment to my beach experience. (We recently found out the only pie store within a 45 mile radius of us is a little shop downtown Columbia that charges $45 per pie! So, this was a welcome treat.)

I absolutely love that there are endless beaches 2-3 hours away. Can't wait to explore the next one.

How did you spend the weekend?

Thanks again for stopping by. If you want to participate in Wordless, Not So Wordless or Wordful Wednesday, just grab a photo and link your post below. And feel free to stop by some of my favs...

Unveiling the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge

2012-01-16T10:00:00.002-06:00

Drum roll please...

Today I'm excited to announce the launch of our long awaited winter photography challenge.

I'm teaming up with Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, Faith of Sweet Violet and Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud to bring you the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge - an inspiring 4-week photo challenge aimed at capturing the poetic beauty of winter through photography.

Whether you are bundling up to brave 4 feet of snow...

Looking at fields of brown in your knickers...

Or not experiencing winter at all...

Please...

Grab your camera and come join us Feb 3rd thru Feb 24th. Just share your favorite images inspired by the weekly prompt.

Each week we'll bring you freebies, photography tips and inspirational quotes or poems to get your creative photography juices flowing.

And remember, you don't have to have an SLR to participate. Everyone is welcome! So, make sure to mark your calendars for Friday, February 3rd. Our first prompt is solitude.

For more details and a complete list of prompts, make sure to check out my Poetic Winter Challenge Page.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

WW: Goodbye 2011

2012-01-10T17:00:00.005-06:00

So I'm a little behind. But what a fun way to recap a year! And what a year it's been! Can't wait to put this together. Still debating on how I will assemble it.

Thanks so much to Rebecca of Simple as That for this fabulous idea and template that made scrapbooking 2011 a cinch.

Stop by and grab Rebecca's new 2012 template here. I can't think of an easier way to document life. She has a 12x12 this year that can easily be converted to a smaller size. A wonderful scrapbook that can be done in place of or in addition to another program (ie. project 366, project life, etc).

And if you are a vintage action nut like me, Check out Vintage Actions: A Side by Side Comparison & Tutorial.

Happy Hump Day! Let's get this party started. Grab a photo and come join me! Just link your post below. And feel free to stop by some of my favs...

Link up here...

Vintage Actions: A Side by Side Comparison & Tutorial

2012-01-09T16:45:00.011-06:00

Addy Lane Vintage Tea, M4H Fable True Story, Florabella Luxe II Halo, The CoffeeShop Blog Simply Vintage, PW Seventies.)

Vintage photos seem to be a growing trend and with so many actions out there, it is easier than ever to achieve this desired effect.

But how does one choose with so many options available? I decided to show you a side by side comparison of some of the popular actions that just so happen to be currently housed in my repertoire.

Although the layers were slightly adjusted, this gives you an overall idea of what each action may look like. You could always tweak them more or less depending on what you're wanting. I was most shocked at how similar some of them were and yet all so different in their own right.

If you haven't entered the world of actions yet, it's not too late to jump in. It will literally transform your photos.

5 Easy Steps to Actions
1. Buy an editing software program. I recently purchased Photoshop Elements 10 for under $50 on sale. (It also came with a trial of Lightroom which I'm excited to try.) I think PSE10 runs around $75 normally. A fabulous price for all it does!

2. Get some actions. Pioneer Woman and The CoffeeShop Blog offer free ones. Addy Lane currently has a freebie promotion on her facebook page. Florabella and My Four Hens also offer promotions or discount codes from time to time. It doesn't have to break the bank.

3. Install the actions into your editing program. The Coffeehop Blog offers a great tutorial for PSE or Photoshop. And the Texas Chicks also have a comprehensive video that details step by step instructions for how to download actions to your computer.

I use a PC and Photo Shop Elements (PSE) mostly. Most actions have the option for PSE or Photoshop. You will want to download the action file, then extract it to your desired location. (I typically plug it into my desktop for easy access.) Right click and copy the action from wherever you stored it, then you will paste it into the "photo effects" in your computer.

Here is a quick overview of how to get there. (But if this doesn't make any sense to you make sure to click above on one of the videos.)

computer → c drive → program data → adobe → photoshop or photoshop elements

→ 10.0 (or the number of your program) → photo creations → photo effects (Paste your action here.)

Now repeat these steps until you get to the number of your program or just click on the number of your program in the address bar.

From there click on locale → en_us (if you are in the us) → right click and delete the MediaDatabase.OLDdb3 line

Then add the letters OLD before the db3 in the previous line → restart your photoshop elements program or photoshop and it will rebuild your library.

It may sound difficult, but it is really easy. Especially after you do it multiple times. You could also make a short cut in your desktop so you don't have to repeat all of these steps every time.

For the most part, almost every action works the same. I did, however, find that Addy Lane's are slightly different. Below are the required steps for her actions.

computer → c drive → program data → adobe → photoshop or photoshop elements → 10.0 (or the number of your program) → locale → en_us → workflow panels → actions

After you install it in your computer, open Elements and click on the Edit tab in the upper right part of your screen. Go to page two to view where you will find the actions player. To edit individual layers you have to switch over to the full section.

Addy Lane includes step by step instructions depending on what computer and program you use with your purchase.

4. Use your actions. Now that you have installed actions into your photo editing program it is super easy to transform your photos. Literally. With the click of a button. Since I recently used Florabella for the above photo, I will give you a quick rundown of that specific action. (Although most of them are very similar.)

Open your photo in your editing program (I used PSE 10 for this.)

In your effects palette to the right, click on the desired action. Again, I used the Florabella Halo action for this photo.

Now you can adjust the the individual layers to the right as needed. You may like a more extreme, contrasting photo, but I decided to tone it down just a little. Every photo responds a little differently to the action.

This is the halo recipe used for this photo:
sunny haze 37% (increased by 2%)
bright contrast 22% (decreased by 13%)
soft center light 9% (decreased by 11%)
tone 25% (same as original)
add color 17% (increased by 2%)
contrast 6% (decreased by 44%)
vignette 23% (decreased by 7%)
lighten 41% (increased by 16%)
darken 12% (increased by 12%)

5. Add your watermark and voila! After you have gone to the trouble to make your photo special, make sure to protect it by adding your name or logo to it. There are many ways to do this, but that will have to be for another day. I briefly discussed this in Photo Tips to Enhance Your Blog. One of these days I'll give a more thorough tutorial. Time is a tickin' and my kids will be home soon. And I haven't even thought of dinner yet. Eek!

Don't be afraid to play around. That is the most beautiful part of photography. Just like a painter, you are the artist. Don't feel limited by rules or social norms.

For the longest time I was so easily influenced by what my hubs thought. I don't think he was trying to be mean, he was merely giving his opinion.

But the other day when I asked him what he thought of a photo he responded, "I don't know, you're the artist."

He's right. Who cares if someone else thinks it's beautiful. Or amazing.

What do YOU think?

Whether you use a point and shoot or a professional grade DSLR, we each have the ability to create something beautiful!

We are all at different places in our learning and what is beautiful to me may not be beautiful to you, and vise versa. But please, PLEASE- don't ever let someone, particularly another photographer, ever make you feel inferior. Or like your work is not of value. Who cares if you do things unconventionally or you march to the beat of your own drum. Or are just starting.

Let's support and encourage each other in this community. Ok, I'm getting off my soapbox now. :)

Although I may not always be able to make visits or comment as I would like, I LOVE looking through all of your photos and am constantly inspired by your work. Keep it up!

Oh, and btw, if all of this action stuff isn't for you yet, I was absolutely SHOCKED to learn all that you could do in the free version of picnik! You've probably tried it, but if not it's worth a look.

Other posts you may enjoy: Using Actions and Textures to Achieve a Vintage Flair for your Photos, Photo Tips to Enhance Your Blog, How to Download Fonts + My 10 Favs, or Idiots Guide to Adding Social Media Buttons to Blogger.

From my home to yours, Happy Monday! Hope ya'll have a great week!

Project Alicia: a bland, simple title with a heckofalotta depth...

2012-01-05T17:37:00.008-06:00

Because being Alicia is an undertaking in and of itself. Just try walking in my shoes for one day. You’ll see what I mean. I am a busy person. I like to be doing. Something. Always. It’s what makes me tick.

And somehow the universe seems to have this mutual understanding because I never have want for projects. My mind is a whirring jumble of thoughts. Even when it should be resting...

My current project is primarily that of a mother.

My 12 year old son has a mild form of autism that creates new and interesting challenges on a daily basis and my 10 year old daughter has more personality than I know what to do with at times.

And their dynamic duo leaves something to be desired. Friends one moment. Mortal enemies the next. Eerily reminiscent of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde. I love them both to pieces and yet treasure my “me” time immensely.

My dear husband of 19 years finally left all of his comforts behind and accepted employment at a to-be-constructed nuclear power plant that relocated us to the beautiful state of South Carolina.

Home to white fields of cotton, treasure filled beaches, giant live oak trees, and a charm all it's own.

Although I am excited that we left our snow blower behind for warmer temps and trips to the beach, acclimating to a new area is definitely a time sucking project. First up is deciphering the language- a key part of southern living. Because palmetto bugs are nothing like the plant I assumed they were named for. Ma’am, sweetie, and honey are all names I should respond to. And everybody is your friend. The people of the south are at times scary friendly. Invites to dinner or the theatre from complete strangers is the norm. The people are certainly as warm as the temps and I’m looking forward to making roots here.

I’ve also been working my darndest on making our temporary house a home. Not an easy task on a budget.

Next up? My camera.

After my family, it is my most rewarding project. I love learning all that I can about my camera and all that goes with it.

With my camera has come the ability to see the world in a new light and recognize beauty in the least suspecting of places.

I can’t wait to explore the south through my lens. And although they seem to define me on the blog, photos are only a portion of who I am.

What other projects fill my days?

Recipe blunders. Decorating faux pas. Scrapbooking attempts. Organizing tips. Mothering mishaps. Identity crises. Critter Catchin...

Seasonal challenges. Trips. Tutorials for dummies. And everything in between...

I decided on Project Alicia because just as my projects, I am ever evolving.

I am a better person today because of a family that loves me and allows me to be me.

Thank you for joining the Project Alicia evolution.

I'm not sure what 2012 has in store. But I've vowed to make no resolutions this year. No goals. No daily commitments. No tasks that I dread...

I'm throwing caution to the wind in the hopes of being more present for life's beautiful, fleeting moments.

Because ten years from today when my kids are grown and out of the house, it won't matter if I blogged religiously or worked out 3 hours a day, the only thing that will really matter in the end is my time spent with them.

I hope you'll stick around for the ride.

You may also enjoy Painting a Picture with Words (no photos-gasp!), Reflections (with tons of rare selfies), or project alicia{dot}com.

WW: My New Toy

2012-01-03T17:00:00.003-06:00

After our move hubs decided the $1500 canon fisheye was a bit excessive as a Christmas gift and instead opted to purchase the Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 lens. My new toy. I couldn't be happier. I mean, I thought the washer and dryer was my Christmas.

But boy am I excited to see what she can do. I think it is a perfect starting point for me.

It's a full manual lens and will take some getting used to, particularly the lighting.

I've never worked with such an ultra wide angle lens. I can just imagine the possibilities with this baby.

Reviews say it isn't super crisp at the highest aperture, but if you ask me it's fabulous at f/5.6 for landscape photography. I have other lenses for precise up-close detail, particularly for the kid's critters. (ie. my tamron 60mm macro lens)

Some photos turned out more wide while others took on a more spherical shape. I read that it had to do with your relationship to the subject, but it seemed to have more to do with where the subject was in relationship to the midpoint. If it was above or below it resulted in a more rounded effect.

It's amazing to me that even Little Man and the ant hill became a cool work of art.

Looking forward to more time with my little beast of a toy.

If you don't have a DSLR, you may be interested to know that there are different lenses available for your phone- one of them being the fisheye. I got the fisheye and wide angle lens for my iphone 3GS for Christmas as well. It's cheap and also fun to play with. I found it over at my favorite place, pinterest, and pinned it to my wish list immediately. If you have the iphone 4 you should check out the olloclip. Just a new twist on photo taking...

If you do Instagram you can find me @projectalicia or on instagrid.

Happy WW! Let's get this party started. Grab a photo and come join me! Just link your post below. And feel free to stop by some of my favs...

Link up here...

WW: Twinkling Lights & Bokeh Tips

2011-12-27T16:00:00.012-06:00

Often times we paint a beautiful picture... when the reality behind the blog is anything but.

I prefer to focus on the beauty, but when life becomes busy and chaotic this becomes a bit of a challenge. So, if you haven't heard from me lately this may be why. I'd rather not blog than whine...

I'm healthy. I'm blessed with a roof over my head. I have beautiful children. Hubs was even home for Christmas this year.

But I've had to say no to many of our annual holiday traditions. I'm still working to get us situated in our temporary home, knowing full well I could be doing this same thing in a year. We have had multiple techs out to fix the appliances in the kitchen. And Little Man has not taken well to the pet dander in this rental and we have been working like crazy to make our home safe for him. Life is not without obstacles. And there are times I feel overwhelmed. Blogging has taken a backseat to the pressing issues in my life.

Forgive me. I'm human.
---------------------------------------------------------------------Now on to the regularly scheduled post...

Hope you aren't sick of Christmas pics yet.

I'm happy to report in spite of the chaos, I got a tree up. There is nothing better at Christmastime than sitting and watching those twinkling lights.

It makes everything else melt away, if just for those few moments...

It also makes for the best bokeh. I haven't had much practice with this technique, but I had fun playing with my camera settings. I found my 50mm to work well.

Five Bokeh Tips
1. Use a lens that allows for the highest possible aperture. I put the f-stop at f/1.8 (on aperture priority mode). This allows for a shallow depth of field, making the background blurry.

2. The lower the aperture (higher the f-stop) the less round the bokeh will be. It's ok, just a little different. It could be fun to get more extreme with your settings...

3. Choose a focal point in the foreground. The closer the better. The further away from the tree the subject is, the larger the bokeh will be.

4. If your lighting is poor, use a tripod and/or lamp for additional light on your subject.

5. Get creative while you break all the conventional photo rules to get a beautiful out-of-focus photo. The possibilities are endless.

If you have a DSLR and haven't given it a whirl, you should.

Thanks to Jenny Rain for the inspiration. I still have much to learn before I master this, but what fun.

Psst... guess what I got from Santa?

If you guessed a fisheye lens, you would be right. I snapped it on and this was the first shot captured as Little Man was bringing me a present from under the tree. Not exciting, but I'm really looking forward to getting it outside and really playing with it.

I didn't take many photos, but I'm happy for the few memories captured of our first Christmas in South Carolina.

I hope that ya'll had a wonderful holiday with family and friends.

Happy WW! Let's get this party started. Grab a photo and come join me! Just link your post below.
And feel free to stop by some of my favs...

WW: Signs of Christmas from Down South

2011-12-20T19:00:00.000-06:00

It may still be warm here, but I'm noticing signs of Christmas at every turn.

Evergreens

Berries

Holly Leaves

Mistletoe

They may not all be super obvious as they blend in with the natural scenery, but they are a sight to behold. Yes, even without the white stuff it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. (Even got my tree up. Yah me!)

If you are confused about my crazy life, you should know the lakehouse was only a very temporary thing and you can read more about that here. We are starting to get situated in our new home but it is certainly a process.

Happy Wordless Wednesday! Grab a photo and come join me! Just link your post below.

And feel free to stop by some of my favs...

WW: Moving Confessions

2011-12-13T22:04:00.009-06:00

I'd like to be taking leisurely strolls through my new stomping ground. Soaking up the unseasonably warm temps and beautiful picturesque photo ops.

Instead I'm scrubbing floors, windows, and toilets in an attempt to remove the odor and filth left behind by the previous evicted tenants. I won't even tell you what was found in the master bathroom.

Sigh...

I'm bruised, achy in places I didn't know could ache, and exhausted beyond words. If you've moved you know exactly what I mean.

Unfortunately I am unable to exist in chaos. Turns out this is a giant flaw that not all human beings possess.

Here they are in all their glory... rare crappy snapshots of me attempting to put my life back together.

This is our new neighborhood for the next year. Our home is the one with the basketball hoop.

The kitchen was the first to get put back together.

My bedroom is still a disaster and I have yet to find the bedding or towels.

I'm desperately overdue for a shower. And my to-do list is growing by the second thanks to new-to-me information about roaches and cardboard. Another never-ending day ahead...

Maybe I'll even get my computer in my new home so I can blog from the comfort of my couch. There's a concept.

Thanks for stopping by. Please link your photo(s) below. Wordless, Not So Wordless, and Wordful post are all welcome here at project alicia. Unfortunately in light of everything I will not be making visits this week.

WW: Dreaming of the White Stuff

2011-12-06T17:00:00.003-06:00

Call me what you will. Turns out I'm nuts. I've waited a lifetime for warm country. I moved right before the temps dropped. I couldn't have timed it more perfectly if I had tried. This weekend was sunny and high 60s... in December! I loved every minute of it...

Yet I find myself missing the white stuff. Can it be just weeks before Christmas without snow? It feels... off. Christmas shopping without my thermals and galoshes? Perhaps it will grow on me...

I've been digging up old December pics for a project I've been working on (more details below) and I couldn't find even one that didn't have white or a memory of white.

(All pics taken Dec 2010 in Iowa.)

White pics have been popping up everywhere and I've been feeling a little left out.

So I'm in reminiscing mode. Forgive me. Snow may be synonymous with bitter cold weather (and I may have even whined about it from time to time), but the white stuff certainly is a beautiful site to behold- particularly from afar.

I also know that my appreciation and love for it has only come from my many years of enduring the unpleasantness that accompanies it. So, think of that next time you find yourself shivering or shoveling heaps of snow.

Regardless of where you live or whether or not you get snow, I'd love you to join me in Celebrating the Days of December. This is not a daily challenge. This is a do-it-at-your-own-pace project. (The photos below are from my last December in IA.)

Take some pics throughout the month. Then download my FREE Days of December template set. You can find more information here.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED
(about my crazy life):
I am moving next week to a long term rental. The furnished home that we are staying in rents for $3500/month off season and was only intended as a temporary residence until we finished building our home the end of December, as they do not rent long term. Plus, it currently takes me over 2 hours to drive my kids to and from school. Talk about pain in the you know what! We chose to buy rather than rent because of the limited rental market in the school district we desired. Due to unforseen decisions made outside of our control, we are unable to get financing at this time and are being forced to rent. (There is no open enrollment here so we had to sign a lease so that we could get the kids into school, pushing the move date up sooner.) It's a sad day when you have no mortgage, good credit, a good job, and money in the bank and STILL can't get a home loan. If I had known all of this three months ago we would have probably opted for a long term rental initially, but then I wouldn't have had this beautiful respite at the lakehouse. Perhaps everything worked out as it should have. It's just often difficult to see life that way when we allow ourselves to get excited about something only to have it pulled out from under us and then are handed something that is merely runner up at best. And still temporary. But I am excited to get my belongings out of storage and get back to some assimilation of a structured life with neighbors and routine and possibly a Christmas tree. Wish me luck on this next chapter...

Thanks so much for stopping by! I know it is a busy time of year and I appreciate your visit! Wordless, Not So Wordless, or Wordful posts are all welcome here. Just link your posts below. There are tons and tons of wonderful WWs out there and it's a great way to make new bloggy friends. Below are some of the WW regulars I visit weekly.

Days of December {FREE} Template Set

2011-12-04T22:49:00.014-06:00

Jan 1st I chose a word for 2011. The word? Simplicity. Although I may have slipped from time to time, I am holding tight to that one little word these last few weeks of December as we prepare to move yet again right before Christmas. Unpacking, shopping, holiday programs... who has time for scrapbooking? I know that's what you're thinking... fess up.

Having just finished up the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge, I knew I wasn't up for a weekly challenge- let alone a daily one but I still wanted to document the Days of December in some capacity, for the photo ops alone. It seems to be all the buzz around the blogosphere these days with Ali Edward's December Daily in play. I've had fun pinning several great ideas for photo ops and scrapbook pages.

Julianna Morlet currently has a Photographing December Challenge you can jump in if you want. Or just stop by to get inspired.

And there are tons of other December photo op lists to be found. Rebecca from Simple as That never disappoints. My Photography Tip & Tricks Pinterest page is loaded with photo idea lists as well.

So, I brainstormed and came up with an easy solution to plug in my pics in a pinch. And in the spirit of the holidays, I am making these available to you too! You can make these templates as simple or elaborate as you would like depending on software, time restraints, and preference.

This is not a daily challenge like previous ones. This is a do-it-at-your-own-pace project.

These are my finished pages. They were formatted to 12x12 in photoshop elements as a psd file. But you can shrink them if you prefer smaller pages.

This is the basic set without the photos. As you can see I prefer simple, streamlined pages.

This is the set that will be available to you! (Plus two additional bonus filler pages.) The text is included, but I am leaving the embellishing up to you. (Fonts used include: Abbeyline, Elephant, Algerian, Cluffhmk bold, VTKS choice, and Franklin Gothic heavy.)

If you like some of the digital embellishments above, they can be found at Designer Digitals for cheap. It is one of my favorite places for supplies and they currently have a "Days of December" going on as well. Each day of December they have 285 different items marked down 30% and a new 99 cent item until Christmas. Fabulous deals (and I'm not getting paid to say that)! Below are the items used. Check daily. These could be some of the sale items, but the regular prices are very reasonable. The digital world makes the money justifiable as the items are used over and over.
Fringe Brushes & Stamps-$3.99
Holiday Trees Brushes-$3.99
Joyous Memories-$2.99
And here's a closer look...

I left out dates as to make it usable for past, present, or future years. I also made the text separate layers so these templates would be versatile for any project- you can move it, delete it, add your own... your call.

Feel free to personalize it with your own embellishments. And be creative with your photos. I inserted photos from last December as an example, but now that I am in South Carolina my photos may look a little different. The annual traditions are the same though and make for great photos.

You can add other pages throughout or in addition to, you can add these pages to an existing album or make a new one specifically for the Days of December... You can change the order or use templates for multiple pages. You could even frame one and give it as a gift. There are tons of photo labs online that now offer printing on oversized photos at great prices. But if you opt to shrink it, a 6x6 would print on any standard photo printer.

Seriously, the sky is the limit! Put your creativity in play and have fun! You don't have to be a scrapbooking expert to make these pages come to life. Easy, peasy. Can't wait to see what you come up with. And if you are overwhelmed with life, save it for later. Just make time to snap a few pics this month. If you don't have your camera handy, grab your phone. Any pics will work with this template. No pressure. Do what you can. Something is better than nothing.

Feel free to tweet it, facebook it, pin it... I'd love it.

Also, if you haven't already liked my new project alicia facebook page, you can LIKE ME HERE.
You can grab my Days of December Templates here.
They are layered PSD files that works with PSE and Photoshop. The set includes the above templates plus two bonus filler pages for additional photos (2x3 grid for 6 photos and 3x3 grid for 9 photos).

If you have never used templates in photoshop or elements, the process of using clipping masks is a cinch. Just drag the photo or paper you would like to use above the clipping mask on the template (one space above the mask in the layers panel) and then press alt and left click with the mouse in the layers panel between the additional layer and the mask layer to clip it into place; opt key for mac. The photo or paper will take on the shape of the mask.

For those of you who are more visual learners I found a great video tutorial by Pure Photoshop Actions that demonstrates clipping masks in an easy to understand, step by step manner. She illustrates with photoshop, but the concept is almost identical if you have photoshop elements. (I currently use photoshop elements 8 and CS5.) And I just purchased PSE 10 for $54.99 at Best Buy. What a great gift idea for Christmas!

What's your favorite part of December?

Thanks so much for dropping by! Have a fabulous week.

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Stasha B Photography {The Good Life Documented}

2011-12-04T10:03:00.001-06:00

I am so honored to have Stasha B Photography as a sponsor here at project alicia.

Stasha lives in Washington state, home to the Puget Sound and picturesque waterfront and mountainous views.

Her love of nature is evident in her beautiful photos.

She has acquired a beautiful style and her work is available for purchase!

You can follow her daily captures on her blog or facebook page.

She also offers portrait sessions in the Oak Harbor, Washington area at reasonable rates.

If you haven't yet met her, stop by and say hello.

Fantastic Giveaway Finale Winners {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-12-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

Thank you so much to all who participated in the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge! The amazing images that came pouring in over the last eight weeks were beautiful and colorfully inspiring, to say the least. Even more amazing? We received a total of 795 linkups from participants in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia. So many unique interpretations of the shades of autumn from around the world!

Rebecca, Kristi and I are so grateful to you all for your support during our autumn photo challenge. Though it's come to an end, there's still so much fun to be had. Stay tuned for yet another fabulous photo challenge coming around the early part of 2012. We can't wait to share the exciting details with you!

Now without further ado... Congratulations to the following winners (chosen at random) of our Fantastic Giveaway Finale. And a special thank you to our lovely sponsors for their generous donations as well!

Florabella Collection

Pieces of Contentment is the winner of a $50 gift certificate to Florabella Collection!

Simplicity - My Life in Mostly Photographs

Cooper's View is the winner of a seat in one of the fabulous Simplicity photography e-classes!

Pretty Ink Designs

Not Always Picture Perfect is the winner of a $50 gift certificate to Pretty Ink Designs!

ClickinMoms

Because I'm the Mommy is the winner of a 1-year membership to ClickinMoms' photography forum, valued at $50!

Mist and Lilies

Live by the Sun, Love by the Moon is the winner of a custom blog design from Mist and Lilies, valued at $50!

Get it Scrapped

Barefoot Five is the winner of the Capture Your Holidays Through the Lens online holiday mini workshop from Get it Scrapped, valued at $24!

Stylish Beach Bum

Scattered Horizons Photoblog is the winner of the beautiful Coronado camera strap from Stylish Beach Bum, valued at $29!

Designs by Life-n-Reflection

Smokin' Chestnut is the winner of the 2012 Venetian Desktop Calendar Set template from Designs by Life-n-Reflection, valued at $20!

*Giveaway winners will be contacted via email and are required to respond within 7 days or forfeit their prize.

Thanks for the visit! Cya around the blogosphere...

WW: Deja vu?

2011-11-29T17:30:00.003-06:00

We said our goodbyes to Iowa right at the peak of autumn. My eyes were fixed on the passing landscape as we made our exodus. I wanted to savor every last leaf... but little did I know then.

Just take a peek for yourself. (This is the road near our lakehouse.)

South Carolina is not only home to the yummy pine...

but also deciduous trees in abundance. Who knew? The best of both worlds if you will.

It's strange to have two autumns back to back. At times it felt a little like I was in Groundhog Day. But I have truly enjoyed the last few weeks as the leaves have slowly transformed into magnificent shades of reds, yellows, and oranges here in the beautiful state of South Carolina. I've been given a second chance to really savor this phenomenal miracle.

Unlike Iowa, the temps have been heavenly and we've been able to get out and explore our new surroundings.

The greater Columbia area is little slice of heaven.

If I didn't know better I'd have mistaken some of our last weeks for summer break at times... shorts, treasure hunting, boat rides, walks...

And if that wasn't deja vu enough, today was my kid's first day of school.

Same reluctance to have a picture snapped. Same rainy day. Same emotional wreck of a mom.

It was like I was sending my 12 year old 7th grader to kindergarten all over again. But that was easier... This time I was throwing him to the wolves, aka the other 1100 students in 7th and 8th grade. I did my best to fight back tears but the counselor must have seen it in my eyes because she leaned over and gave me a hug and whispered, "He's going to be fine."

After some disappointing setbacks with our home that we had planned to purchase the end of December, we've had to resort to long term rentals. Not an easy task in this coveted school district. But school was the priority. And we couldn't wait another day. So we settled on a home.

We will be moving our things from storage and transitioning in mid December from the lakehouse. Nothing like a little more craziness for the holidays.

I actually hosted Thanksgiving here for a hunk of my family at our temporary lakehouse rental. And would you believe I have only a couple pics to show for the entire time?

This is one I managed to snap.

I was met with much resistance for photos and sometimes you just want to retire the camera and kick back and avoid all and any whining.

I did manage a couple on my iphone. Yes, I've joined the world of instagram despite my many efforts to avoid it. It's easy. And sometimes those make for the best kind of photos. If you follow instagram, you can find me at projectalicia. And if you don't do instagram, you can still FOLLOW ME HERE. (Also found on my right sidebar.) You can even subscribe via email or print them. Isn't technology amazing?

Thank you so much for stopping by. Life seems to be a perpetual rollercoaster as of late and I certainly appreciate your visits and kind words.

Oh, and because I haven't been gabby enough...

If you are a photographer or photographer wannabe or just an admirer of great photos...

Please join the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Fabulous Giveaway Finale! All you have to do is link a favorite autumn photo. It could even be the same one you use for WW today. That's it. And the prizes up for grab are from some amazing sponsors... Clickin Moms, Florabella, Simplicity the photography of Faith Raider, Life-n-Reflection, Mist & Lilies, Get It Scrapped! and Pretty Ink Designs. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity. Go grab a photo now! Old, new, anything goes.

Fantastic Giveaway Finale {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-11-25T00:01:00.004-06:00

The Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge has reminded me to open my eyes and partake of the beauty that is often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of life. I hope that you have also been awakened to the beautiful shades of autumn.

Thank you so much for participating and wowing me with your beautiful photos. Your passion is infectious. Your talent is inspiring.

I'd also like to take a moment to thank Kristi and Rebecca for hosting with me. They are both remarkable women and I'm so thankful for their friendship.

If you missed some of the challenge, here's a quick recap...

{GREEN}

{YELLOW}

{ORANGE}

{RED}

{PURPLE}

{BROWN}

{WHITE}

A special thanks to the following sponsors for their generous prize donations. Prizes will be awarded individually and winners will be chosen at random. Here's a breakdown of the amazing prizes we have up for grabs...

Florabella Collection
Florabella Collection is overflowing with gorgeous Photoshop and Elements actions, textures and more; a photographer's dream. Owner, Shana Rae, is offering a $50 gift certificate to her shop!

Simplicity - My Life in Mostly Photographs
Simplicity is an inspiring hub for photographers of all skill levels; featuring personal mentoring and photography classes online from talented owner and photographer, Faith. Faith is offering up her expertise to one lucky winner by donating a seat in one of her fabulous e-classes!

Pretty Ink Designs
Pretty Ink Designs is your one-stop shop for simple and elegant custom invitations and announcements with a modern flare. Owner, Kelly, is donating a $50 gift certificate to her lovely shop!

ClickinMoms
ClickinMoms is a community of 8,000 women photographers who share a passion and commitment to honing their craft. It's a great place for professionals and hobbyists alike to connect and learn from - and with - each other. ClickinMoms is offering a 1-year membership to their online photography forum, valued at $50!

Mist and Lilies
Mist and Lilies is a great place for photography and blog design inspiration. Owner, Shaunna, is offering a custom blog design valued at $50 to one lucky winner!

Get it Scrapped
Get it Scrapped is a fabulous resource for scrapbooking enthusiasts. Katrina Kennedy's online holiday mini workshop, Capture Your Holidays Through the Lens, is up for grabs and valued at $24; perfect for photographers looking to capture those wonderful holiday memories!

Stylish Beach Bum
Stylish Beach Bum is your go-to shop for stylish handmade camera straps. Owner, Gina, is giving her beautiful Coronado strap valued at $29 to one lucky winner!

Designs by Life-n-Reflection
Designs by Life-n-Reflection is a fabulous resource for beautiful custom invitation, announcement and album templates. Owner, Kristy, is offering her lovely 2012 Venetian Desktop Calendar Set template, valued at $20. What a lovely gift this would make!

Rules: The linky will be open from Friday, November 25th – Wednesday, November 30th. Submit your favorite autumn photos to be entered into the drawing. Link directly to your blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s homepage or Flickr photostream. Link back to the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge in your post. One entry per household, please. All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing fall at the moment. Eight winners will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, December 2nd.

Top Pics of the Week: White {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-11-24T00:01:00.006-06:00

White week rocked. You guys nailed it. What a way to end! Thank you so much for participating in the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge!

I am elbow deep in Thanksgiving preparations surrounded by family. Life is good. But I'll spare you the details and get right to it.

This was no easy task. You are all winners to me, but since we have to narrow it down, here are some of our favs in no particular order...

Top Pics of the Week
Submitted by Live. Love. Travel

Submitted by A Little Bit Crunchy A Little Bit Rock n' Roll

Submitted by Deanna Leigh Photography

Thanks for joining Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and me in the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. We’re overwhelmed by the amazing turnout and beautiful photos that have been pouring in throughout the challenge! Don't forget to join us for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Finale on Friday, November 25th. We've got fabulous prizes up for grabs! Just stop by and share your favorite autumn photos. Anything goes! All are invited regardless of skill level or time commitment. As always, additional details and a complete list of upcoming themes can be found on our Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge page.

And don't forget...

We still have our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group set up for you to share your photos as a community if you wish. And for our fellow Pinterest-addicted Shades of Autumn participants, our Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board is still going strong!

Rebecca, Kristi and I have been pinning away like crazy; adding our favorite entries onto the board each week. If you're looking for some colorful inspiration, the Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board is chock full of beautifully inspiring images!

Thanks again for joining us throughout the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. We're looking forward to seeing your favorite autumn images in our Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Finale on Friday.

And once again, thank you to our wonderful sponsors for their generous donations to The Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Finale!

May you have a Happy Thanksgiving filled with family/friends and fabulous food!

WW: Gifts (the free kind)

2011-11-22T17:00:00.018-06:00

“Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.” -Ruth Ann Schabacker

Interestingly enough, we took the three hour drive in search of the Georgetown Lighthouse only to learn upon our arrival that it could only be seen by boat. A 4 hour boat ride to be exact, 2 out and 2 back. And there were not enough hours of light left in the day. Disappointment immediately set in.

But we continued on until we made our way to Pawleys Island. An island that has been around since the 1700s, making it one of the oldest seaside resorts in America.

We happened on a quiet, picturesque beach. And the kids immediately set out to explore.

We found treasures galore.

We breathed in the salty air. We walked. We listened to the waves as the sun lowered behind the horizon.

We had a beautiful day.

It definitely was not the picture I imagined in my head as we started south that morning.

Pawleys Island has reminded me that although life is bound to have disappointing twists and turns, the outcome could be better than we had even imagined if we just untie the ribbons.

...life's gifts just waiting to be unwrapped.

It's not too late to join WHITE week for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. It's open through midnight Wed, Nov 23rd. And with our amazing sponsor lineup you will NOT want to miss the Finale next week, Nov 25th. Just link up a favorite autumn photo for a chance to win some fab prizes.
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If you would like to participate in WW, just grab a photo and come link up. Wordless, Not So Wordless, and Wordful posts are all welcome here at project alicia. And make sure to check out a few of my favs...

White {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-11-18T00:01:00.028-06:00

I’ve been soaking up some much needed rays and day dreaming my worries away at the lake house. The water and autumn foliage are picturesque and soothing for the soul.

But truth is, you can only vacation so long.

Before you know it real life butts in and brings all the fun to a screeching halt.

Reality can be harsh. And often the only remedy is a good old fashioned cry-your-eyes-out-kind-of cry.

I have been reminded time and time again that “it all works out in the end”.

Problem is it’s not the end yet. And I don’t see it anytime in the foreseeable future.

So, here I am...

Trying to smile again amidst the disappointing blows of life...

It is in these quiet moments in nature that I am reminded of the joy that can be mine; that there are still roses amongst the thorns of life.

I am so thankful for the opportunity I've had to do this challenge, even if finding white in South Carolina was sort of like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. It certainly stretched me creatively. It also forced me to explore the area and focus in on the beauty around me- a perfect healer for the heart.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of your beautiful white photos. And I have a sneaking suspicion that snow will make a debut. Although I am not missing the colder temps, I am certainly missing the white photo ops of the midwest.

But I'm still really looking forward to the new photo ops here in the south. Cotton was a fun find this week.

If you missed A Respite for the Soul, you should take a peek. The photos literally evoke peace and tranquility. And I have yet to properly do the beauty of South Carolina justice.

But as I've said before and I'm sure I'll say again... there is beauty to be found any place you call home. You don't have to have a fancy camera, just a keen eye (and maybe a dab of passion).

Here's a 4x6 freebie that I made a while back. It's also available with a blue border here. (Feel free to snag some of my other freebies as well.) I finally got my replacement cord in the mail for my external hard drive and am able to find all of my fun textures, templates and creations I've been missing. Oh, the joys of moving...

I have many tough decisions in the coming weeks and I still do not have internet in my home, so if I haven't made it by your place please do not take it personally. If I have it is because I got a signal with my hot spot or found some wi-fi in town. Just simple things like commenting or uploading photos are monumental tasks these days, so I ask you to please bear with me.

I know that once upon a time I was quite content without internet. You know, before it even came into existence. What we did with all that time I will never know. I'm currently on the verge of some serious internet withdrawals and hoping I don't go mad in the process. It has been 3 weeks now. I'm doing my best during this transition and will be back soon when I'm all settled in my new place. Heaven help me!

For now you can find me over on facebook, twitter, or pinterest, as they are easy to access from my phone at the moment (3G is hit or miss though). And if you would like me to be able to respond to your emails from my iphone, please make sure to check out this short tutorial on how to change your blog settings so that your email is not set as a ”no reply” email address.

*Disclaimer: The horse pic was taken at a beach in WA, the fog was snapped in NC, and the snow in IA. All others are recent pics from SC.*

I’m teaming up with the lovely and talented Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge – a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn.

Just a few details:
All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing fall at the moment.

Simply share your favorite images inspired by the autumn shade of the week each Friday and grab our button while you’re at it.

The linky will remain open from 12:01am CST Friday – 11:59pm CST Wednesday. Link directly to your Shades of Autumn blog post or Flickr photo. Feel free to share your photos in our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group or Pinterest Board as well.

We’ll select our favorite photos of the week and share them with you at Bumbles & Light, Live and Love Out Loud, and Project Alicia the following Thursday.

This week is the final color for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. We have some exciting things planned for next week, the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Finale on November 25th! Just stop by and link up your favorite Autumn Photos, Friday November 25th - Wednesday November 30th for a chance to win! It can be a new photo, an old favorite, or a sampling from the challenge.

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for their generous donations to The Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Finale!

Top Pics of the Week: Brown {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-11-17T00:01:00.006-06:00

Toast. Seed pods. Horses. Mushrooms. M&Ms. Pine cones. Leaves... I'm pretty sure you hit on about every brown thing out there. And then some. Way to make brown week a smashing success! Bravo.

I've been out of commission here without internet. Had I known when I agreed to the challenge that I would be moving and not have internet for so long, I may have opted to pass. But Kristi and Rebecca have been wonderful. They have both stepped up at different times to help in various capacities. So if you have not heard from me, please accept my apologies. I'm in the boonies and doing my best.

I just received a hot spot and although it is better than nothing, it is exceptionally slow here and a real test for my patience. It took some time, but I finally managed to work my way through all of the entries. And wow! I've said it before, but you never cease to amaze me! It has been so fun to watch your growth over the last year with the different challenges.

Let's give another round of applause to the talented folks below. Your photos are top notch.

Top Pics of the Week

Submitted by Not Always Picture Perfect

Submitted by Barefoot Five

Submitted by Keeping Up With the Times

Thank you so much for joining Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, Kristi of Live and Love out Loud and me in the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. Don't forget to join us tomorrow - Friday, Nov 18th- as we move on to our new "WHITE" theme. Woohoo!

Everyone's invited regardless of skill level, time commitment, or camera equipment. You don't even have to be experiencing autumn at the moment. For additional details and a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Challenge Page.

Don't forget...
We have a Shades of Autumn Flickr Group set up for you to share your photos as a community if you wish. And for our fellow Pinterest-addicted Shades of Autumn participants...

We’ve got a Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board set up as well! Rebecca, Kristi, and I have been having fun adding our favorites to the board. It’s a great place to get colorfully-inspired. I’d love for you to join us.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Now on to our next theme! Are you ready for white?

WW: A Respite for the Soul

2011-11-15T17:00:00.003-06:00

If you have never had the opportunity to behold Lake Murray, you are seriously missing out. I can't think of a place I'd rather be.

The water seems to have healing properties and a personality all it's own. And although it seems to have many different moods, I have yet to encounter one that I didn't like.

Just take a peek for yourself.

The exact same frame can be different just minutes apart, particularly in the wee early hours when the sun is just waking up.

I'd love to know if there is one photo you like more than another from the sampling above. I'm thinking of adding some of the lake shots to my etsy shoppe in the coming weeks.

If you are new here and have enjoyed the Lake Murray photos, you may also like:
Greetings From South Carolina
A Boy and His Turtle
Additional Info:
Internet is still not available out here at the lakehouse, but I have just received a verizon hot spot and I'm hoping that this makes connecting with you a little easier. I ask that you please bare with me during this transition.

You can also find me over on facebook, twitter, or pinterest, as they are easy to access from my phone at the moment. And if you would like me to be able to respond to your emails from my iphone, please make sure to check out this short tutorial on how to change your blog settings so that your email is not set as a ”no reply” email address.

Only one week left of the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge and then the Finale. If you are up for a challenge, join us for "WHITE" week this Friday, Nov 18th.

Also, we are seeking photography and scrapbooking related sponsors to be featured during our popular Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Finale Week. Excellent opportunity to market your product to a large group of photography enthusiasts- 100+ weekly participants, pulling in traffic from 3 blogging networks (Project Alicia, Live and Love...Out Loud, and Bumbles & Light) in addition to promotion on FB and Twitter as well. Just drop me an email at callmelish@gmail.com if interested.
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If you would like to participate in WW, just grab a photo and come link up. Wordless, Not So Wordless, and Wordful posts are all accepted here at project alicia. And make sure to check out a few of my favs...

Brown {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-11-11T00:01:00.008-06:00

Rich. Earthy. And beautiful.

My favorite color to date.

Brown.

{Confession: I wanted to bake a giant chocolate cake and slather it in creamy chocolate frosting for a perfect photo op for this prompt, but decided against the extra temptation.}

You can get your fix over on my pinterest page.

Sigh.

So, I did what I do best. I looked to nature. Even in soft, muted shades, I'm in awe of the magnificent beauty and texture that accompanies brown...

Now it's your turn. What browns have you been eyeing lately?

I’m teaming up with the lovely and talented Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge – a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn.

Just a few details:
All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing fall at the moment.

Simply share your favorite images inspired by the autumn shade of the week each Friday and grab our button while you’re at it.

The linky will remain open from 12:01am CST Friday – 11:59pm CST Wednesday. Link directly to your Shades of Autumn blog post or Flickr photo. Feel free to share your photos in our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group or Pinterest Board as well.

We’ll select our favorite photos of the week and share them with you at Bumbles & Light, Live and Love Out Loud, and Project Alicia the following Thursday.

Next week’s theme will be white. For more details, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Page.

P.S. It's 11/11/11. What are you doing to remember this day that will only come again in a hundred years?

Top Pics of the Week: Purple {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-11-10T00:01:00.001-06:00

We ask and you deliver. Every shade of purple and then some. If you don't believe me, take a look-see for yourself.

I think you may have even created new ones. Hats off to you all.

But you certainly upped the ante in terms of narrowing down favorites. Wow! What a task!

After some careful deliberation, Rebecca, Kristi, and I finally arrived at a decision.

Without further ado, here they are...

Top Pics of the Week

Submitted by Jenny Rain

Submitted by Cedar's Photography

Submitted by Not Always Picture Perfect

Thank you so much for joining Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, Kristi of Live and Love out Loud and me in the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. Don't forget to join us tomorrow - Friday, Nov 11th- as we move on to our new "BROWN" theme. Woohoo!

Everyone's invited regardless of skill level, time commitment, or camera equipment. You don't even have to be experiencing autumn at the moment. For additional details and a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Challenge Page.

Don't forget...
We have a Shades of Autumn Flickr Group set up for you to share your photos as a community if you wish. And for our fellow Pinterest-addicted Shades of Autumn participants...

We’ve got a Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board set up as well! Rebecca, Kristi, and I have been having fun adding our favorites to the board. It’s a great place to get colorfully-inspired. I’d love for you to join us.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Now on to brown!

WW: A Boy and His Turtle

2011-11-08T17:00:00.009-06:00

In case you've missed seeing the critters in my life, this post is especially for you.

Turns out South Carolina has just as many if not more critters than Iowa. Lucky me.

And Little Man has been in heaven.

This one was caught on a hook.

Little Man gave the pole a jerk and there was his new best friend.

Never mind that it's big.

Or smelly.

Or has talons like Freddy Kreuger.

We're pretty sure it's a map turtle and definitely too fun to not keep.

Just look at all of his cool tricks.

Hours of free entertainment.

And he's the best thing ever...

until the next best thing comes along.

Oh, the life of a boy...

*Since we arrived last week Little Man has caught 12 fish, 11 crayfish, 4 turtles, 1 anole, and too many bugs to mention. And all were released back to the wild.*

Canon 50mm lens, Photoshop Elements 8, and Florabella Halo Action used.

Thanks to all who have participated in the Shades of Autumn Challenge. The turnout has been phenomenal. We are down to the last two weeks (brown and white) and the finale, which you won't want to miss! So, hop on board and join Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud, Rebecca of Bumbles & Light and me for this fab photo challenge. Everyone is welcome regardless of skill level or camera equipment! You can find more details here.

If you would like to share a photo, just link it up below. Then stop back and check out a few other WWs.

Purple {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-11-04T00:01:00.003-05:00

Purple.

From lovely lilac to plum to deep burgundy and everything in between. Quite a spectrum.

But where is it hiding?

I found it in plants native to South Carolina.

I found it as I was editing fall photo shoots.

I found it under my nose while trick or treating with the kids.

I found it atop a cactus plant.

I found it mixed with other kernels of the indian corn.

I even found it buried among a variety of leaves nestled up by the house.

By taking on this challenge I was reminded that we need to slow down and look around.

So often life gets so hectic that we forget to breathe, let alone appreciate the beauty that is right under our nose.

On Tuesday evening I had a thoughtful comment from Sukhmandir Kaur on my ww post, Greetings from South Carolina. It read,"I don't envy you moving but the lake house looks worth it, what fun! It just doesn't seem like you without Iowa but then the distinction of your pictures of the kids show that Iowa is just a place your camera happened to have been in residence for a time, and that you are where your camera is."

This comment touched my heart. And it made me stop and reflect on my photography.

Time and time again I was told how beautiful Iowa looked. There was definitely beauty to be found in Iowa, but truth be told, I had to dig deep at times and really focus in as to blur out the unsightly distractions around me. There were six long months of winter- the landscape can get pretty bleak.

The point is, there is beauty to be found everywhere, regardless of where you call home. Today I feel privileged to have a camera that allows me to capture pieces of beauty anywhere I go.

Slow down. Open your eyes. It's there. Just waiting to be unveiled.

"Photography is the beauty of life, captured." - Tara Chisholm

I’m teaming up with the lovely and talented Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge – a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn.

Just a few details:
All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing fall at the moment.

Simply share your favorite images inspired by the autumn shade of the week each Friday and grab our button while you’re at it.

The linky will remain open from 12:01am CST Friday – 11:59pm CST Wednesday. Link directly to your Shades of Autumn blog post or Flickr photo. Feel free to share your photos in our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group or Pinterest Board as well.

We’ll select our favorite photos of the week and share them with you at Bumbles & Light, Live and Love Out Loud, and Project Alicia the following Thursday.

Next week’s theme will be brown. For a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Page.

Top Pics of the Week: Red {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-11-03T00:01:00.003-05:00

First of all, I'm sorry if you have not heard from me. I am at my new temp housing in South Carolina, sans internet (which was not what was agreed upon). I gasped when I first learned this. They are working hard to bring internet out to the lake house, but it appears to be a monumental task. There were men digging all day. I am currently at a wifi cafe typing up this post as we speak, so please forgive my absence.

I actually did look through every single photo today, all 106 entries and had a ball pinning your gorgeous pics. Who knew red would evoke such powerful photos?

Thank you for sharing your talent and your piece of the world with us.

Now onto the important stuff. After some careful deliberation these are a few of our favorites.

Top Pics of the Week

Submitted by Little Macaroon

Submitted by Words, Words, Words

Submitted by House of Emery

Thank you so much for joining Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, Kristi of Live and Love out Loud and me in the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. Don't forget to join us tomorrow - Friday, Nov 4th- as we move on to our new "PURPLE" theme. Woohoo!

Everyone's invited regardless of skill level, time commitment, or camera equipment. You don't even have to be experiencing autumn at the moment. For additional details and a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Challenge Page.

Don't forget...
We have a Shades of Autumn Flickr Group set up for you to share your photos as a community if you wish. And for our fellow Pinterest-addicted Shades of Autumn participants...

We’ve got a Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board set up as well! Rebecca, Kristi, and I will be adding our favorites to the board throughout the challenge. It’s a great place to get colorfully-inspired. I’d love for you to join us.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Can't wait to see what you come up with for purple!

WW: Greetings from South Carolina

2011-11-01T17:00:00.001-05:00

I apologize for my absence friends. It's been a crazy couple weeks as we packed up our life and said goodbye to Iowa...

If you’ve ever moved a family cross country you’ll know exactly what I mean. And don’t think for a second that having movers makes life less complicated.

I had to watch those guys like a hawk. I knew I was in trouble when they packed my pumpkins. Real of course. (Our belongings may be in storage for 2 months.) Can you say mold?

I have spent the better part of the last few days trying to order cords, purchase supplies, and retrieve copies of important documents that were packed up before I got to them.

But alas, we have landed in the beautiful state of South Carolina. I received a warm welcome from some overly zealous palmetto bugs (aka ginormous flying roaches) that flew out at me. I am now armed and ready for their next surprise visit.

Columbia is home to Lake Murray, a reservoir that is approximately 50,000 acres with over 600 miles of shoreline.

We will be staying in a furnished lake house for a couple months right smack on Lake Murray while we sort through everything. It includes breathtaking views on two acres and endless entertainment for the kiddos...

Unfortunately it also includes no internet. Hubs has graciously given me a 3G hookup through our cell phone, but it is very limited with a weak signal. The owner is working to get internet out here, but it sounds like a monumental task and I am not holding my breath.

I am trying to remember to grab the camera for all the new, beautiful photo ops...

I have also been enjoying some much needed time with the fam.

Monday I had to whip up some costumes and Little Man was dead set on being a zombie. I have no idea why they must be such gory monsters, but I did what I could to oblige.

The lighting was perfect prior to trick or treating and I got some fun pics by the lake.

Although it is beautiful here, it is certainly not without obstacles. I am trying hard to look at it as an adventure.

I know the kids are.

If only we could live with the innocence and enthusiasm of a child...

Please make note:

You can now reach me only at callmelish@gmail.com.

I’m hosting a photography challenge with Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light -a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn. You can find more details here. This Friday begins purple week.

If you would like to share a photo, just link it up below. Then stop back and check out a few other WWs.

Red {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-10-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

The pops of red are breathtaking this time of year. As we made our exodus out of Iowa this week, my eyes were fixed on the passing landscape. I wanted to remember every bit of the midwest autumn beauty. I will certainly miss the exquisite color palette.

Whether it is a simple leaf...

A group of berries...

Or a crimson maple tree...

I am in awe of the majestic beauty that is there for the taking.

I'm doing my best to keep up. We are in the process of driving cross country right now. Stopped at relatives for the night and was able to put together this post, but may not have internet access right away when I arrive in South Carolina.

I hope that you are doing well. I can't wait to see all of your beautiful photos when I return.

I’m teaming up with the lovely and talented Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge – a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn.

Just a few details:
All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing fall at the moment.

Simply share your favorite images inspired by the autumn shade of the week each Friday and grab our button while you’re at it.

The linky will remain open from 12:01am CST Friday – 11:59pm CST Wednesday. Link directly to your Shades of Autumn blog post or Flickr photo. Feel free to share your photos in our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group or Pinterest Board as well.

We’ll select our favorite photos of the week and share them with you at Bumbles & Light, Live and Love Out Loud, and Project Alicia the following Thursday.

Next week’s theme will be purple. For a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Page.

Top Pics of the Week: Orange {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-10-27T00:01:00.005-05:00

It is dark. I am somewhere in the midwest heading southward with a patchy E signal on my iphone.

Saying good-bye to open roads and vast farmland as far as the eye can see.

My brain is fuzzy and my heart is heavy as I leave comfort and familiarity....

I can barely see straight after this moving craziness, but I am excited for the adventures ahead.

If you stopped by for Shades of Autumn favorites, I am sorry to say I am unable to provide that tonight. Turns out my magical smart phone is limited in the boondocks of Illinois or Indiana or thereabouts.

You can get your fix over at Live and Love out Loud or Bumbles & Light. So swing by and see who made the cut.

We have been having fun pinning our favs over at our Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board as well. So, your pic may be floating through pinterestland.

Tomorrow begins our red week. So grab those cameras and start snapping.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

WW: Off to New Adventures

2011-10-25T19:00:00.004-05:00

If there's one thing we do well around here, it's trippin. Over the last couple years we have racked up some serious miles on the car driving to South Dakota, Florida, West Virginia, Washington State, New Mexico, and North Carolina to name a few... If you think we're nuts, you can read about why we road trip here.

Today we are off on another trip, this time to relocate our family to the beautiful state of South Carolina.

We were lucky enough to have a sneak peek as a family last March and we are sold. Wish us luck on this new adventure...

I am not sure when I will have computer access again. So, until next time...

Hope you are doing well. I apologize for my absence, but I'll be back before you know it.

Oh, and if you haven't heard, as of Oct 28th my lish@mchsi.com email will no longer work.

You can now reach me at callmelish@gmail.com.

If you would like to share a photo, just link it up below. Then stop back and check out a few other WWs.

Orange {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-10-21T00:01:00.014-05:00

I have a recent infatuation with orange.

Not sure why. I suppose we all go through strange phases from time to time.

To further prove my point, let me direct you to my Pinterest Board set aside for all things orange. I kid not.

Check out that adorable handbag. Now I just need to convince hubs it's a practical color.

As I've worked my way through the last few weeks of the challenge, I've tried to veer on the side of nature when thinking of photo ops, as to reflect autumn at it's best. It is such an exquisite time of year here in the midwest.

However, due to time restraints and all, this time around I cheated just a little. I actually purchased an orange gerber daisy. And yes, I know this is not typically an autumn flower. It is, however, one of my favs. It is also orange. And it turned out to be better than some of my other ideas. So, how could I deny you? :) In case you haven't noticed, I love simplicity. A beautifully executed simple shot can speak volumes. At least to me.

For my previous green leaf and yellow pear textured images I was lucky enough to have those hues as a beautiful backdrop in the landscape. Orange was a little trickier. We are in advanced stages of Autumn now and those vibrant hues are hard to find. So, I opted to put an orange scrapbook sheet behind the pumpkin. Then I added a shadowhouse bokeh texture. (One of many he offers.) And voila! (Similar to the first orange image above only with a different texture.)

For my collage today I am mixing old with new, so some of these may be repeats for you. The center leaf shot was in the running for Still Life Standouts.

And to close, I leave you with this orange for orange week. How fitting is that? Sure wish I'd gotten the macro out now. Maybe next time...

Today I am deep in the throes of packing, purging, and possibly pulling my hair out. Moving is a pain in the you-know-what. Please bare with me in the coming weeks as we transition to a new state.

Thanks so much for the visit! I look forward to checking out your beautiful orange photos!

I’m teaming up with the lovely and talented Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge – a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn.

Just a few details:
All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing fall at the moment.

Simply share your favorite images inspired by the autumn shade of the week each Friday and grab our button while you’re at it.

The linky will remain open from 12:01am CST Friday – 11:59pm CST Wednesday. Link directly to your Shades of Autumn blog post or Flickr photo. Feel free to share your photos in our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group or Pinterest Board as well.

We’ll select our favorite photos of the week and share them with you at Bumbles & Light, Live and Love Out Loud, and Project Alicia the following Thursday.

Next week’s theme will be red. For a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Page.

Top Pics of the Week: Yellow {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-10-20T00:01:00.004-05:00

This is going to be short and sweet tonight because there are no words to describe the un-freaking-believable entries this week. Just go over and take a peek for yourself! We had over 100 amazing photogs participate and every single one had me oohing and aahing. I had a blast looking through and pinning your yellow inspired images. Ah-maz-ing! You guys rock! The end.

Congrats to our Top Pics of the Week:

Submitted by Not Always Picture Perfect

Submitted by A Little Bit Crunchy a Little Bit Rock'n Roll

Submitted by A Fresh Perspective

See what I mean? Amazing doesn't quite seem enough.

Thank you so much for joining Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, Kristi of Live and Love out Loud and me in the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. Don't forget to join us tomorrow - Friday, Oct 21st - as we move on to our new "ORANGE" theme. Woohoo!

Everyone's invited regardless of skill level, time commitment, or camera equipment. You don't even have to be experiencing autumn at the moment. For additional details and a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Challenge Page.

Don't forget...
We have a Shades of Autumn Flickr Group set up for you to share your photos as a community if you wish. And for our fellow Pinterest-addicted Shades of Autumn participants...

We’ve got a Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board set up as well! Rebecca, Kristi, and I will be adding our favorites to the board throughout the challenge. It’s a great place to get colorfully-inspired. I’d love for you to join us.

Can't wait to see those orange pics!

WW: I Can't Make This Stuff Up

2011-10-18T16:15:00.002-05:00

Our Autumnal days in Iowa are numbered with every falling leaf... very soon raking will be a thing of the past. Woohoo! But without leaves, there will be no more leaf-jumping-throwing-playing fun.

Yes, we are Bidding Adieu to Iowa. If you missed last week, you can read all about that here.

I have taken annual leaf pics of the kids for as long as I can remember. Some are pre-digital.

This one is from 2005. Weren't they cute?

We finally had a chance to do some raking last week after the rains let up. The leaves were a bit wet, but I knew that if I didn't take the opportunity then to photograph the kids, the moment would pass by and there would be no 2011 annual leaf pics. These are the silly thoughts that torment me. lol.

So, after some doing I finally got the kids on board, but by then the light was fading. While Little Man changed out of his obnoxious soccer clothes (picture a bright red top and orange shorts...) I managed one keeper of Pokey.

Then Little Man hopped in.

Minimal whining. Smiles. It seemed to be the making of one of the best pics of the kids together in some time. Until...

I noticed the furry critter crawling up Little Man's arm for his photographic debut. It was all I could do to stay steady to snap the shot. But as it continued towards his face I panicked and screamed. Pokey was out of there faster than I could say the word.

But Little Man? He brushed it off and had quite a laugh.

By then there was no getting Pokey back and the light was no good.

So, this year the only keeper of the two of them together has an eight legged friend. Perhaps this is a more fitting way to remember our home in the woods?

In case you haven't heard, I am hosting a Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge with Rebecca of Bumbles & Light and Kristi of Live and Love out Loud. The YELLOW linky is open until Wednesday, Oct 19th at 11:59 PM. We will share a few of our favs Thursday, Oct 20th and then ORANGE week begins Friday, Oct 21st at 21:01 AM. You can find the complete list of themes and more details here. If you are wanting to practice your photography or meet a few fellow photogs, this is a fun opportunity. It is open to all regardless of your skill level, camera equipment or whether or not you are experiencing autumn at the moment.

And if you don't want to participate yourself, you can enjoy some of our favorite entries at our new Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board.

Thanks for dropping by! Link your photo(s) below and then swing back later to check out a few new blogs.

Yellow {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-10-14T00:01:00.004-05:00

To me, yellow is synonymous with Autumn. Bright. Happy. And the perfect complimentary color for those reds, oranges, and browns. It has many facets to it's character. A golden personality if you will.

It can be striking against a blue sky or dark trunk.

It can be sweet and delicious.

It can be contrasting and bold.

It can be subtle and corny. (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

And definitely warm and inviting.

Autumn wouldn't be the same without it.

In case you missed it, here's a 4x6 freebie. Grab it here. I'm compiling all of my favorite quotes. Feel free to join me.

I’m teaming up with the lovely and talented Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge – a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn.

Just a few details:
All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing fall at the moment.

Simply share your favorite images inspired by the autumn shade of the week each Friday and grab our button while you’re at it.

The linky will remain open from 12:01am CST Friday – 11:59pm CST Wednesday. Link directly to your Shades of Autumn blog post or Flickr photo. Feel free to share your photos in our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group or Pinterest Board as well.

We’ll select our favorite photos of the week and share them with you at Bumbles & Light, Live and Love Out Loud, and Project Alicia the following Thursday.

Next week’s theme will be orange. For a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Page.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Can't wait to see your yellow pics!

Top Pics of the Week: Green {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-10-13T00:01:00.011-05:00

What a smashing start to our Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. Thanks so much for coming out and linking up your lovely green images. Rebecca, Kristi, and I were pleased with the turnout!

I was actually gone last week house hunting in South Carolina when the challenge began, so I had to schedule it out. In case you missed that post, you can get all the nitty gritty details of our move here.

I finally had a chance yesterday to work my way through all of the entries. And holy wow! You never cease to amaze me with your creativity and talent.

Let's give a round of applause to the talented folks below. Your photos are superb.

Top Five Pics of the Week
Submitted by Alita Jewel's Treasures

Submitted by Not Always Picture Perfect

Submitted by Pieces of Contentment

Thank you so much for joining Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, Kristi of Live and Love out Loud and me in the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. Don't forget to join us tomorrow - Friday, Oct 14th - as we move on to our new "YELLOW" theme. Woohoo!

Everyone's invited regardless of skill level, time commitment, or camera equipment. You don't even have to be experiencing autumn at the moment. For additional details and a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Challenge Page.

Don't forget...
We have a Shades of Autumn Flickr Group set up for you to share your photos as a community if you wish. And for our fellow Pinterest-addicted Shades of Autumn participants...

We’ve got a Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board set up as well! Rebecca, Alicia and I will be adding our favorites to the board throughout the challenge. It’s a great place to get colorfully-inspired. I’d love for you to join us.

WW: Bidding Adieu

2011-10-11T18:40:00.007-05:00

After four gruelling months of showings and open houses; having to be "on" 24/7 right smack through our summer break, a week of what I like to call "countering hell", accepting an offer that put us upside down, learning we had 14.3pCi/L units of radon in our home (more than 3 times the acceptable limit in Iowa) and are all dying of lung cancer (kidding- I hope), damage to our roof that totally caught us by surprise, a ridiculous inspector that convinced our buyers the lime stone fascia was built incorrectly- nearly costing us the sale, a delayed appraisal due to the current interest rates, a cancelled airline flight causing our first house hunting trip to have to be cancelled and babysitters rescheduled...

It is blatantly evident that selling a home today is nothing short of a nightmare.

That, or I may be related to Charlie Brown.

Bleary-eyed, sleep deprived and ready to pull my hair out...

BUT...

After more than half a lifetime in the midwest...

The impossible has happened. Are you sitting down?

WE ARE MOVING.

Getting UNSTUCK if you will.

Not sure exactly where to yet, but somewhere in the greater Columbia, SC area- to warmer weather. We have been narrowing down schools and neighborhoods. Kinda tricky being 1000+ miles away, but we are doing what we can to ensure we are not homeless. 1.5 days just isn't really enough time to find a place. Hoping to have one more house hunting trip before the close date the end of October.

And crossing our fingers and toes that there will be a lender that will give us a loan after our year of very, very expensive real estate learning lessons.

In case you've wondered about my absence, I've been in the school of life learning patience and long suffering. Maybe a little humility too.

In one of my recent whiny moments, hubs laid on some of his "wise words of wisdom" as only he can. Although I may have pretended not to hear, his words ring true.

(You can grab this 4x6 freebie here.)

Wish us luck on this new chapter of our life. I've wanted it for as long as I can remember (you would too if you had these hard Iowa winters) but it certainly doesn't make it any easier of a transition. Good or bad, change is change.

We've held out as long as we could just in case it didn't work out, but now that the appraisal has been released and accepted, the sign is up (see pic above), and hubs has given notice, I think it's safe to share the news.

But the waiting isn't over yet...

If you are a praying individual I could use a few more prayers on our behalf. I'd really like a place to drop our stuff in a couple weeks.

Thanks for the continued support and friendship. Oh, and if you have any info you are privy to about Irmo/Chapin, SC feel free to send it this way. My email is callmelish(at)gmail(dot)com.

Thanks for dropping by! Link your photo(s) below and then swing back later to check out a few new blogs.

Stylish Beach Bum Camera Straps

2011-10-10T08:00:00.003-05:00

Did you know that the adorable Gina Kleinworth, better known as Chic Homeschool Mama, has her own camera strap line?

Stylish Beach Bum started out of a desire to have a stylish, yet functionable product for photographers like herself.

Native to southern California she wanted a line that implemented those roots.

The plush, wide lining is just one of the great features. You could wear this comfortably for hours. I tried it out at one of Little Man's soccer games and what a difference from my normal straps!

It also comes with a handy camera lid pocket. Genius, if I do say so myself. I can't even count the number of times that this could have helped me over the years.

This is only one of the many patterns available. And she just added new ones to the shop! You can see more here or here.

Beautiful. Practical. Perfect for all photographers. And it could be yours!

Just stop over at Stylish Beach Bum and check it out for yourself.

Thanks Gina for letting me try it out. I'm sold! You've got yourself a fab product here! Great prices and free shipping through October 31st. So, hurry!

Green {Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge}

2011-10-07T00:01:00.008-05:00

I’m excited to announce that I’m teaming up with the lovely and talented Rebecca of Bumbles and Light and Kristi of Live and Love out Loud for the brand new Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge– a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn.

The theme this week? Green.

We are well into Autumn here and I was concerned that green may be a difficult color to capture, but I was up for the challenge. As I opened my eyes and looked around I noticed varying shades of green almost everywhere- beautifully tucked amidst the lovely autumnal foliage.

Green tattered leaves.

Dew kissed grass. Tractors harvesting crops. Gourds. Walnuts. Frogs. Lily pads.

I even found reflections of green in a nearby pond.

Isn't it amazing what we see when we are looking for it? You don't have to travel thousands of miles to find beauty. It is lurking in the most unsuspecting of places. We just have to be open to the possibilities.

We are so blessed to have such rich color in our lives. I can't wait to see your green inspired images.
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Just a few details:
All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you're experiencing fall at the moment.

To participate simply share your favorite images inspired by the Autumn shade of the week each Friday and grab our lovely Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge button while you're at it!

At least 50% of your image must contain the color of the week; the autumn shade being the main focus of your photo. Selective coloring discouraged.

Share your favorite images by linking directly to your Shades of Autumn blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s home page or Flickr Photostream. Feel free to share your photos in our Shades of Autumn Flickr Group as well.

The linky will remain open from 12:01am Friday – 11:59pm Wednesday. Don't forget to visit and comment on the previous entry in the linky list.

We'll select our favorite photos of the week and share them with you at Bumbles & Light, Live and Love Out Loud, and Project Alicia the following Thursday.

Next week's theme will be yellow. For a complete list of upcoming themes, head on over to the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge Page.

Thanks for the visit! Have a great weekend!

WW: CANDY CORN-aholic

2011-10-04T17:00:00.002-05:00

Fall foliage. Yummy soups. Mugs of hot cider. Football season. Cozy sweaters. Corn mazes. Hayrack rides. Spiced pumpkin bread. Halloween. Haunted houses. Apple orchards. Piles of leaves. Crisp temps. So many wonderful things to be excited about this time of year...

Me? I'm giddy over all the c a n d y c o r n. {Insert smile here.} I'm head over heels. Car-azy for the stuff! Don't tell my dentist.

Don't hide. I know that I am not alone. Last week as I was grabbing blogger stats for my new sponsor page I noticed my For the Love of Candy Corn post (from last fall) was one of my most viewed pages of all time. Then out of the blue I got a comment on that post from nearly a year ago. So, I did some checking on pinterest.

If you type http://pinterest.com/source/yourdomain.com (insert your own domain where it says yourdomain) into the url you will see what is being pinned from your site. Turns out the candy corn pics and candy corn recipes were popular pins from project alicia.

These are some of our fav candy corn treats around here. You can find the candy corn bark and salty n' sweet mix recipes here.

You can grab the 4x6 pudding recipe card here.

And below are just a few of the fab finds on my candy corn pinterest board. Just pop over and see for yourself. People are so stinkin' creative!

(Oh, and on a side note, if you are a little pinterest addicted like myself, here's a fab tutorial from clickin moms to add that little pin button to the end of your blog posts.)

And if that wasn't enough, I happened on some gummy candy corns while standing in line at T.J. Maxx. They stared me down.

And I just had to have them. 'Cause that's what candy corn-aholics do. (Not the best pic, but you get the idea.) They tasted of butterscotch and were a hit here. Psst... check out the reflection behind me (in the above photo) of our beautiful autumn foliage.

To make matters worse, I just received the new Martha Stewart magazine to find a fun new candy corn treat to try. You'll have to stay tuned. I ran out of the peanut butter cups before I could get to it. But soon. Very soon.

You know, crazy loves company... Just sayin.
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Before I close I just wanted to mention that Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge begins this Friday, October 7th! This week's theme is green. You can find the complete list of upcoming themes as well as details about the challenge here. I hope you will join Rebecca (of Bumbles & Light), Kristi (of Live and Love out Loud), and me. Can't wait to see your color inspired photos!

And to kick off October, here's a 4x6 freebie to grab, perfect for those fall scrapbook pages perhaps? That Carol Hipps read my mind- love this quote. I'm actually compiling all of my favorite random quotes into one fab book. Do you have a fall quote you love?

Thanks for dropping by! Link your photo(s) below and then swing back later to check out a few new blogs.

Happy Autumn

2011-09-30T11:55:00.021-05:00

As the days shorten and temperatures crisp, the quiet green palette of summer foliage is transformed into the vivid autumn palette of reds, oranges, golds, and browns. As hard as it is to bid farewell to summer, I am excited for all of the new photo ops.

I hope you are getting out to witness the first visible signs...

The Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge begins October 7th and runs through Nov 25th. It is a colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn, so go dig out your cameras.

You can find more details about the upcoming challenge here. I hope you will join Rebecca (of Bumbles & Light), Kristi (of Live and Love out Loud), and me. Can't wait to be inspired by your colorful images!

WW: Restless and Uninspired

2011-09-27T18:25:00.008-05:00

You may have noticed a few changes around here. I decided to mix things up on a whim. Just trying to keep you on your toes. :)

I have been drooling over some amazing blogs. Then I checked out the price tag just for kicks... and nearly choked. So, I am left to my limited knowledge and budget.

You may remember this photo from a few weeks ago that my son took of me. Thought it was time to take the old camera for a spin. Don't think she works anymore, but she sure is pretty.

This photo was the driving force behind the face lift. I changed my button a while back, but I have a hard time fully committing. Probably why I am not a designer.

I'm actually feeling extremely uninspired at the moment. So, I thought a few changes may do a world of good.

Pics by yours truly are few and far between these days, so let me introduce you to my nephew, Josh Redmon.

He is a talented photographer and is on an expedition to visit and photograph the 120 Mormon temples in North and South America in a year. He has made his way to Palmyra, Manhattan, and Boston and is now en route to Maine.

This is a sampling of his work...

You can read more of his journey and see additional photos at Mountain of the Lord Tour.

If you have a meal or bed to offer, leave him a comment on his blog. He'd love it.

Oh, and before I forget I am guest posting over at Great Fun for Kids on all the things "Nobody Told Me" about motherhood (while Simoney is off on vaca). If you missed this the first time around, stop by and check out rare, old pregnancy pics of me as big as a house.

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Thanks so much for stopping by! Link your photo(s) below. And make sure to check out some of these other fab WWs!

Sponsors in the Spotlight

2011-09-25T17:15:00.010-05:00

Lilly Bimble is owned by designer/artist Linda Norton and offers high quality bold digital scrapbooking paper, clip art and craft items. I love her products. If you remember back I used some of her bunting during my yellow week. And then again for the finale. Lilly Bimble was also one of our wonderful sponsors for the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge Finale. Many of her products are currently 50% off. A total steal!

Sarah from Naptime Momtog is a fab photographer who shares her project 365 and tutorials. She is also a contributor for She {Hearts} It, which just so happens to have a $25 giveaway going on through Oct 6th to a cute etsy shop for photog props. Oh, and if you haven't been by Naptime Momtog recently you should swing by- she's had a whole blog overhaul! Make sure to grab some of her freebies while you're there (including a photoshop action). You can also find her on pinterest, facebook, or twitter. She also offers professional shoots in the North Carolina area. You can find out more at Sarah Halstead Photography.

You may know Stasha Becker of Stasha B Photography from The Good Life, her blog where she shares her project 365 and other aspects of her good life. At Stasha B Photography you can see her professional work, some of which is for purchase at her shop. If you live in Washington state make sure to check her out. Her rates are exceptionally reasonable. You can also find her on facebook and twitter.

Faith from Simplicity is a sweet, talented photographer who offers photography challenges and a variety of classes at great prices. I took one of her classes last year. I wasn't the best student as it fell in the middle of a trip, but she was an exceptional teacher. Her fall photo challenge begins Oct 4th. You can find the list of upcoming themes at Simplicity. You can find her on facebook, twitter or a variety of other social networks. She's very knowledgeable and always has some great giveaways.

Courtney of The Mommy Matters is a military wife, photographer, co-host of Still Life Standouts (next session to begin Sept 30th), and graphic designer. She currently has a free wp blog makeover giveaway through October 7th. You can find her on pinterest, facebook or twitter.

Such a talented group of ladies and amazing sponsors. Make sure to swing by and check them out or hook up if you haven't already.

If you'd like to advertise here at project alicia, you can find details here or shoot me an email me at lish(at)mchsi(dot)com.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

2011-09-20T20:15:00.007-05:00

Make sure to check out Shadowhouse Creation's Raised Textures for a fun new twist for textured photos.

This may not be much to look at, but it fills my heart and lifts me when the noise around me is unbearable. My life has hit a stressful peak and I could really use some good vibes over here.

Click here to RSVP and be entered into the drawing for the fabulous prize giveaway!
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Thanks so much for stopping by! Link your photo(s) below. And make sure to check out some of these other fab WWs!

A Break Well Spent.

2011-09-15T21:50:00.003-05:00

I've talked about the balancing act multiple times over the last couple years. Wish I could say I had it all figured out by now, but the battle rages on.

Let's face facts, blogging is a time suck. And then there's email, facebook, facebook fan page, twitter, stumble upon, pinterest, blogfrog, flickr, google plus, linkedin, instagram, tumblr, etsy...

(Notice those pretty new buttons over there- to the right? I'm trying hard to stay connected. I enjoy the connections and friendships the blogging world has provided.)

But life was so much simpler pre-smart phone days when I didn't know that I had 25 new emails, 7 twitter messages, 12 facebook notifications, and 3 texts waiting on me.

You may have noticed I've cut back a bit, but today I actually stepped away from all social media for eight straight hours. Unless you count my couple sneak peeks at pinterest. (That app is dangerous!)

In that amount of time...

I dolled myself up, lipstick and all.

I made my bed.

I detailed my car from top to bottom.

I went grocery shopping for the next week.

I picked up my son from cross country practice.

I cleaned out the fridge and pantry.

I washed, folded, and put away multiple loads of laundry.

I read a magazine.

I had my hair highlighted and styled.

I made a home cooked meal.

I vacuumed.

I quizzed my daughter on her spelling words.

I watched wheel of fortune with pokey.

I tidied the office.

I snapped some photos.

And I sat down with my family to dinner and visited about the goings on of our day.

It was busy. Productive. And the best day I've had in a long time.

To the other 113 Wordless Wednesday linkups and the 78 unread emails I haven't made my way to yet, please forgive my delay. Motherhood, marriage, and lish time called.

And FYI? There may be more social media breaks in my near future. And although I may be a little more flawed in the time management department, I think you should all consider unplugging from time to time. Relive pre-blogging/social media days for a few hours. It may do you a world of good.

Just sayin.

Found this on pinterest and it stopped me in my tracks.

(Courtesy of Ali Edwards via pinterest.)

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my words. To comment. To link up. And for forgiving me when a post is accidentally sent to the world via my feedburner.

You guys rock. Now go turn off your computer and enjoy your family.

Wordless Wednesday: Farm Boys Meet Abercrombie & Fitch

2011-09-13T18:15:00.005-05:00

1 old farm feed store + 2 adorable little boys = 1 fabulous shoot.

Turns out there are a few perks to living in farm country after all.

Enjoy the sampling.

This was actually a shoot I did for a friend a few weeks ago. The little one was not feeling well and was an absolute trooper.

Thanks for stopping by! You can like my new project alicia facebook page for updates. Or find my latest projects in my etsy shoppe.

Link your photo(s) below. And make sure to check out some of these other fab WWs!

Back To School, From the Perspective of a Mushy Mom.

2011-09-09T12:30:00.017-05:00

School is officially in full swing. Twelve full days to be exact. If a visit to the principal is any indicator, we're not off to a fantastic start.

(And I'm only three lines in and already wanting to sigh.)

I've waited to share these pics for multiple reasons, mainly because they stink. As I delve further into the science of photography I am developing a more keen eye and a much more critical disposition. But regardless of the outcome, they still need to be documented.

Unfortunately mother nature had it in for me. I woke up on August 23rd to dark, stormy weather. Lightening. Thunder. And torrential downpours. Not exactly ideal "first day of school pics" kind of weather. I'm not sure there are any cameras that compensate for such elements. But then again, who am I to be the expert on such matters?

Little Man held his 50 pounds of supplies and impatiently stomped his foot as I frantically fumbled to capture the moment. There was no time for tripods or backlighting. I had hubs hold an umbrella in an attempt to save the sign. I bumped the ISO several times. But in the end, it was a big fat fail. It was as good as it was gonna get or Little Man was going to miss the bus. This long faced, dreary pic was definitely not the vision I had in my head.

Luckily Pokey's school begins an hour later and by then the rains had let up and the sun was beginning to make a debut. Although she was less than enthusiastic, the pics were much easier coming. And even though this one is far from perfect, it turned out to be one of my favs.

And good thing too because would you believe public photographs are "uncool"? School photos in particular. She couldn't get out of my SUV fast enough. The inevitable day has come. I have become one of those moms. You know, the "uncool" kind. Just. like. that. I took a deep breath and made my way home through the salty, stream of tears. My mind wouldn't stop reliving school years past.

Long gone are the days of classroom pics. And affectionate, full armed hugs. Not so sure I'm loving these tween years. They are habitually draining, both mentally and emotionally. Wish I'd had a little more warning, like the universally accepted "terrible twos". Or something. I'm pretty certain that my dark circles and gray hairs are more than coincidence. And from everything I've read this appears to be only the beginning of the long road ahead. Heaven help me!

As much as I want them to become mature, responsible individuals, part of me just wants to hold on to my babies a little while longer...

Is that so terribly wrong?

I'm trying to be present for these fleeting moments, but it is often met with resistance from my prepubescent tweens.

Today was a good day though. I was greeted with a welcoming smile as I found my Little Man in the crowd of runners. It was Little Man's first cross country race of the season. And he was happy I was there.

He was so excited, following in the footsteps of his uncle who shares a similar passion for running.

Then the whistle blew and before I could blink, Little Man was down.

Turns out that cross country may be more cut-throat than initially realized. Just take a closer look at the bottom left pic. The boy to the left of Little Man actually pushed him down. He fell to the ground and had to work hard to make his way back up through the crowd of runners zooming past him. It was so hard to stand back and watch him struggle.

But he did it. He made his way up and finished strong in spite of the obstacle.

Watching Little Man made me realize that we don't always have control over the outcome in our lives. Obstacles are ever so cleverly placed in our paths from time to time. Some more obvious and debilitating than others.

Parenting is thwarted with obstacles and snags at every turn.

Not an easy thing for a person who likes to be in control.

But if I've learned nothing else over the last decade+ of mothering, I've learned that obstacles are a necessary part of the human experience. They test us. They give us new opportunities for growth. They keep us humble. And by working through them, we become stronger, wiser, and perhaps even better versions of ourselves.

And as painful as it may be as a mother at times, every single day I am loosening my grip just a little more. Relinquishing control so that they can become who they are meant to be, to their fullest potential. It is only by allowing them to stumble and experience obstacles in their lives that this is possible.

But motherhood is certainly not easy and definitely not for the faint of heart, particularly as children grow and assert their own independence and transition into the hormonal teen years. This week has certainly been a testament of that. They will make mistakes. Falter. Be knocked down. And experience pain and hurt that we can not always mend.

Sigh.

Maybe I'm just a little too emotional for my own good. But I know one thing for certain. Motherhood is not for wussies.

WW: Autumn Pinned

2011-09-06T20:05:00.009-05:00

I'm feeling a little under the weather today. And in case you have never gone through it, the home selling process is long and less than fun. And after a three day weekend the last thing you want to hear is that you need to have your home in tiptop shape for a showing. So, I spent the better part of the last 8 hours cleaning- scrubbing toilets, wiping windows, sorting through little girl treasures... I'm tired and just a little whiny. And wouldn't ya know it? I actually thought today was Monday, even after cleaning for my Tuesday showing. So, forgive my WW lateness. I'm merely a flawed human.

In lieu of my plight, I've decided to share something a little different today.

If you haven't entered the world of Pinterest, you are definitely missing out.

If ever I need a little visual inspiration or pick-me-up, it is the best thing I have going. It has yet to let me down.

I can organize and categorize, a dream world for us Type-A personalities. (Plus, it has eliminated all of those useless bookmarked favs.)

With Autumn just around the corner I thought a little eye candy would be perfect.

Aren't these just amazing? Autumn is so magical. Especially behind a lens. I'm sure you'll be seeing more Autumn from me in the coming weeks.

What are you pinning these days?

If you haven't yet joined, I have a couple invites left, just leave me your email. You can also request an invite directly from Pinterest. Trust me, you'll love it!

You can follow my pins here.
And if you are still clueless, I found the most informative post, Pinterest: A Beginner's Guide, from Sorta Crunchy.

If you're excited about all the fall photo ops, I have good news. I'm teaming up with the lovely Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light to bring you Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge, Oct 7th - Nov 25th. A colorfully inspiring autumn photography challenge aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of autumn. All are invited even if you're not experiencing autumn in your neck of the woods. Mark your calendars.

Thanks for stopping by! Link your photo(s) below. And make sure to check out some of these other fab WWs!

If you have trouble with the thumbnail linky, here's the old school version.

Crazy Days of Summer Finale Favorites & $200 Giveaway Winner

2011-09-02T00:01:00.017-05:00

It's here. The day I've been dreading for some time... the end of the ~~Lazy~~ Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge. (Sniffle, sniffle.)

I just want to throw out a heartfelt thank you to all of you who shared your time and talents and supported Kristi and me throughout the challenge. I've loved getting little glimpses into your lives. Whether you take out your camera daily, weekly or even occasionally... Please keep doing what you are doing. The blogosphere is a better place because of you.

Just take a peek at this sampling of favs and you'll see what I mean. Seriously, holy WOW! What a finale!

Top Five Pics of the Week

Submitted by love, life & pictures

Submitted by Naptime Momtog

Submitted by Ramblings and Photos

Submitted by Captivus Living

Submitted by My Reflection of Something
Today marks the official end of the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge. Our summer challenge may be coming to an end, but we've got something new and exciting in store.

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be hosting the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge, aimed at capturing the beautiful shades of Autumn, along with Kristi (of Live and Love Out Loud) and Rebecca (of Bumbles & Light). Not experiencing fall in your part of our world just yet? No problem. Our photo challenge is set up so that everyone can participate, no matter the season. The Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge will begin on October 7th. Head on over to my Autumn Photo Challenge page for a complete list of themes and rules. I can't wait to see your colorfully inspiring photos.

And finally, the moment that you've all been waiting for...

The winner of the Crazy Days of Summer Sweet Summer Finale $200 Photography and Scrapbook Giveaway is: Cori of Cori's Big Mouth!

Cori's prizes include:
40 gift certificate to My Four Hens Photography Shop
$40 gift certificate to Weeds & Wildflowers Design
enrollment in Willette's Family Joy photography class
a gorgeous camera strap from And Then She Snapped
a customizable photo album from Designs by Life-n-Reflection
a blog makeover from Gracely Designs
digital banners and paper packs from Lilly Bimble

Congratulations, Cori and thanks again to all of our wonderful sponsors.

Disclosure: The winner of our $200 prize pack was chosen via random.org.

Preserving Life's Fleeting Moments

2011-08-31T14:50:00.005-05:00

I am a product of the 70s, an era best known for bell bottoms, hippies, and protests. Not really stellar photographs. Film and processing made photos difficult and expensive. As one of six kids, my time in front of the camera was rare. There were more important things than pictures, like mouths to feed.

So sadly, there are only a handful of photos for the first few decades of my life, none of which are digital.

Then in 2007 my world forever changed. I was gifted with my very own DSLR.

With this amazing gift came new opportunities to capture and seize life's beautiful, fleeting moments like never before.

Simple moments like catching bullfrogs.

Or becoming pirates.

Kissing fish.

Exchanging giggles.

Jumping in leaves.

To name a few.

Now take these fleeting moments and multiply them by several thousand. That would be the number of photos I currently possess in some capacity or another.

Unfortunately with this new found digital photography came the photo storage conundrum. Whether you use a top dollar digital single-lens reflex camera, a small point and shoot, or a smart phone, the storage dilemma is the same.

I have been through 2 computers and 3 external hard drives since that first digital camera and my newest 2Terabyte is filling up as we speak. So how does one properly preserve these fleeting moments?

This Life has come up with an ingenious solution.
ThisLife makes organizing your digital moments easier. It gathers, improves and organizes your photos/videos for you in a chronological timeline while keeping them all safely stored in the cloud.

If you have your memories scattered about the net, This Life is perfect for you. It grabs photos from facebook, twitter, shutterfly, flickr, instagram and more and instantly uploads it to one central location, the cloud. It allows you to have control over what you share and who you share it with.

It syncs to your iphone. And you can even download the desktop uploader, allowing you to drag and drop your photos which syncs directly to your bubble.

And if that wasn't enough, This Life also has a photo enhancement feature as well as facial recognition technology, making it a win-win and the perfect photo storage solution. I'm sold.

And for my project alicia readers, This Life is offering a limited FREE 6 MONTH TRIAL OFFER of their Adventure Box package, which will allow you to house and organize up to 20,000 photos! You can stay up to date with the latest developments for This Life on Twitter and Facebook.

Disclosure: ThisLife sponsored my post today. I received compensation and a free trial service in exchange for telling my story. So, go check out the ThisLife free trial today.

WW: Open Your Eyes

2011-08-30T17:00:00.003-05:00

Wordless, Not So Wordless, and Wordful Wednesday posts are all welcome here at Project Alicia. Just grab your favorite photo(s) and come join the party.

Sometimes we get stuck in the "busyness rut" of life and we forget to open our eyes and look around. Thanks, Kristi, for the reminder. Even in the latter stages of summer there is much beauty to be found.

Grab my newest 12x12 freebie template and then share it with your friends. I'd appreciate the love.

If you are new to photoshop or photoshop elements, check out my short clipping tutorial.

And if you haven't yet entered the Crazy Days of Summer $200 Photography and Scrapbooking Prize Pack Giveaway, you're in luck. It runs through Wed, August 31st at 11:59 PM. Just go find your fav summer photos and link up!

Before I close I wanted to share this fab Color Bar template from The CoffeeShop Blog.

Talk about inspiring. I can see projects unfolding before my eyes. You can see more of this shoot and my 11 Tips to Better Photos here.

Thanks for stopping by! Link your photo(s) below. And make sure to check out some of these other fab WWs!

Crazy Days of Summer Sweet Summer Finale {$200 Prize Pack Giveaway}

2011-08-26T00:01:00.056-05:00

We spent the last hours of summer break on the river tubing.

But now it's back to the grind- early mornings, schedules, after school activities... Our summer is officially over. Little Man is a 7th grader and Pokey is big stuff on campus now as a newbie 5th grader. That first day back caught me emotionally offguard. Who knew that being called uncool or embarrassing by a ten year old could sting so bad? I had officially been traded in for snotty nosed little brats. Long gone are the days that I could do no wrong.

So, I did what any sensible, blubbering ninny would have done- I took to my photos. As I delved in deeper I found solace in beautiful memories of our summer. Boy did we have fun.

How could I ever choose just one? So I decided to use Oscrap's template to make the mother of all summer collages. Can't wait to hang it up! (You can see a framed example at Freckle Photo.)

Highlights of our summer include:
trips to DC and Six Flags in Chicago
lazy days swimming, berry picking, and catching critters
outings to the creek, fossil gorge, and nature center
visit from Uncle Hans
my 20 year reunion
Little Man's lego cake and new cell phone
Pokey's ice skating party
tubing and fishing
watermelon, sonic slushies, and bbqs

But the most memorable by far would definitely have to be our trip to the Outer Banks, NC for my family reunion. Surf, sand, and plenty of sun. Doesn't get much better than that.

These may not be prize winning photos, but they certainly are beautiful memories- captured and preserved.

I am so thankful for the opportunities I've had to travel and enjoy time with my family. It's definitely been a sweet summer here.
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If you haven't been following along with the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge, here's a short rundown of what you missed.

Week 1- Flowers

Week 2- Refreshing
Learn how to make an animated gif here.

Week 3- Water
Grab the free WATER template and find a short clipping tutorial here.

Week 4- Yellow Check out my 11 Tips to Better Photos here.

Week 5- Light
Find my short tutorials for Sun Flares, Silhouettes, and Balloon Glow photos here.

Week 6- Patriotism
A week in the OBX, NC with my sweet nieces and nephews for the 4th of July. You can see more of this Americana photo shoot here. Or my 30 favorite photos from our vacation here.

Week 7- Critters
Grab this free template here.

Week 8- Motion
See examples of both freezing motion and motion blur here. And check out Kristi's motion spinning panning effect.

Week 9- Bubbles
Did you know you could also freeze bubbles? See my photo here. You can find Kristi's fab bubble tips here.

Week 10- Summer Treats

Week 11- Fun with Friends

Week 12- Blue Skies
Find my Five Landscape Photography Tips here.

I hope you've enjoyed this Summer Photo Challenge with Kristi (of Live and Love out Loud) and me. Thanks so much for sharing your summer with us! It is with mixed emotions that I write this post, so I'm happy to announce that Kristi and I are teaming up with the lovely Rebecca (of Bumbles & Light) to bring you a Fall Photo Challenge, Shades of Autumn. More details coming soon.
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A special thanks to the following sponsors for their generous donations, making this amazing prize package possible. Here's the breakdown of the $200 giveaway...

My Four Hens Photography

Photographer, Sarah Cornish, is offering a $40 gift certificate to her shop, which sells photo editing actions for Photoshop, Elements and Lightroom, in addition to textures and overlays.

Weeds & Wildflowers Design

Gina Huff of Weeds & Wildflowers Design is offering a $40 gift certificate to her shop, which sells wordart, templates, paper, kits, and goodies galore.

Willette Photography & More

Photographer, Kelly Willette, is offering one spot in her Family Joy online photography course, valued at $35. The three-week course begins on September 20, 2011. Head on over to Kelly's site to learn about what participants can expect to learn and receive during the Family Joy course.

And Then She Snapped

Rachel is offering one of her gorgeous camera straps, valued at $25.

Designs by Life-n-Reflections

Kristy Doubet of Designs by Life-n-Reflections is offering a beautiful, customizable 10 page photo album, valued at $20.

Gracely Designs

Grace is offering a full blog makeover, extras included, valued at $20.

Lilly Bimble Digital Papers and Clipart

Lilly Bimble offers high quality digital papers and clipart for all of your scrapbooking needs. Lilly Bimble is offering the Honey Bee, Amara and Chevron Digital Papers, Pastel Bunting Banners, valued at $20.

Rules: The linky will be open from Friday, August 26th – Wednesday, August 31st. Submit your favorite summer photos to be entered into the drawing. Link directly to your blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog's homepage or Flickr photostream. Link back to the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge in your post. One entry per household, please. You don’t have to be experiencing summer at the moment or have participated in previous challenges. The lucky winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on September 1st.

Summer Photo Challenge

2011-08-25T23:10:00.003-05:00

~~LAZY~~ CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER

Jun 3rd - Aug 26th

Hosted by Kristi of Live and Love out Loud and Project Alicia.

This challenge is now closed.

Here is the complete schedule.
June
Week 1, 3rd- Flowers
Week 2, 10th- Refreshing
Week 3, 17th- Water
Week 4, 24th- Yellow

July
Week 5, 1st- Light
Week 6, 8th- Patriotism
Week 7, 15th- Critters
Week 8, 22nd- Motion
Week 9, 29th- Bubbles

August
Week 10, 5th- Summer Treats
Week 11, 12th- Fun with Friends
Week 12, 19th- Blue Skies
Week 13, 26th- Sweet Summer Finale

You can find the Top Five Pics of the Week for Weeks 1-13 here.

And thanks to all who participated in this challenge! Kristi and I had so much fun getting glimpses into your lives. Make sure to stop back for the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge. It runs Oct 7th - Nov 25th. See ya then!

Top Five Pics of the Week {Crazy Days of Summer: Week Twelve}

2011-08-25T00:01:00.011-05:00

Holy blue skies batman! You certainly didn't make the pickins easy for Kristi and me this week. You gave new meaning to "the blues"... touching on almost every shade in the spectrum. And reminding me why I love doing this so much. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You guys rock! Keep up the great work out there! You are making the blogosphere better one photo at a time.

Top Five Pics of the Week

Submitted by Katie Lloyd Photography

Submitted by Simply You Simply Me

Submitted by Cedar's Photography

Submitted by Awesomeville.co.uk

Submitted by The Good Life

Don't forget we've got some exciting things planned for our Crazy Days of Summer SWEET SUMMER FINALE on August 26th. There's an amazing prize package giveaway filled with photography and scrapbooking goodies galore! Swing by and submit your favorite summer photos Friday, August 26th - Wednesday, August 31st for your chance to win!

WW: Birthday Extravaganza

2011-08-23T17:15:00.001-05:00

Sorry if you're birthday'd out. It's like one long birthday extravaganza around here.

My Pokey joined us 2 years and 1 day after Little Man which makes for a crazy first week of August every year.

We try to space them out if possible to prevent me from losing my marbles, but it becomes one LONG party.

I don't do photo shoots every year but since I did one at the request of Little Man I thought it only fair that I also did one for Pokey. Hubs brought home the balloons and Pokey picked out the dress. And miraculously enough, they worked. Too bad she wouldn't wear the cute boots. But some battles just aren't worth it. I still managed a few cute pics.

This year also marks one whole decade that Pokey has been with us, so I thought it would be fun to share one Pokey-ism for every year of her life.

And now I'm going to shift gears for a quick second. This message is to all you photogs out there: Make sure to stop by this Friday, August 26th, for a Crazy Days of Summer Finale you won't want to miss. We have an ah-maz-ing prize package giveaway full of photography and scrapbooking goodies galore. Just check out these sponsors.

One photo enters you into the drawing. It doesn't matter if you haven't participated in previous challenges. All are welcome regardless of skill level. Just stop by Friday, Aug 26th with a fav summer photo and you could be the lucky winner! It's that easy!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Link your photo(s) below. And make sure to check out some of these other fab WWs!

Reflections.

2011-08-20T15:00:00.003-05:00

Health. Family. Love. Clean Air. Beautiful kids. A roof over my head. Cute shoes. What more could a girl ask for?

I have it all. Or so it would seem.

But I am currently playing a game- a game I don't much like. It is called the waiting game.

Have you ever found yourself in the waiting game? Perhaps you were waiting for a sale? A sun break? A vacation? Maybe a better job? You may be playing the game right this very moment without even realizing it.

The waiting game is exhausting and all-consuming. I wake up each day and my mind is flooded with thoughts.

I wonder if this could be the day. The day that I sell my home and get freed from my lot here in Iowa.

I wonder why it has to be so difficult. I wonder what tomorrow holds...

And as the summer days slip away, the reality of the real estate market and our economy set in. My heart yearns for something that I can't have.

We drop the price again and continue to wait.

My existence is plagued with uncertainty. And confusion. Doubts...

More showings. More life. More waiting.

School starts. And we are still here.

This knowledge is difficult to stomach. My body aches. My heart is heavy.

With every falling leaf, the chances of selling lessen.

Is it too much to want a decision? Or a sneak peek into the crystal ball of life?

Or more?

These are the thoughts that weigh me down.

But alas, the waiting game has grown old. I am tired. Tired of waiting on something that may never happen.

Tired of watching life pass me by- while I am busy waiting.

So, I'm trying to embrace the signs of Autumn and remember the simple joys of life so I can break free from this waiting game.

Wish me luck.