Day Thirty-One

Operation Ikea...

The streets were clear enough today to get to Ikea.  I have been wanting to get Ava's toys organized for some time now.  It had gotten to where I would organize and she would destroy daily.  Thanks to Ikea things should stay a little cleaner.  Today's post will be image heavy and not exactly photography standard photos.  Today the pictures will focus on a different success and that is toy organization. 

 

  

  

 

 

 

Today also marks another accomplishment.  I have officially completed a full month of the project 365.  Come on February!!!!

Day Thirty

Snowy Saturday...

So much for going to Ikea today.  The few inches turned out to be more than just a few so we are snowed in. Today hasn't been very productive but I did venture out long enough to get some photos to share.  Here is what it looks like outside today. 

 

  

and some black and whites...

 

 

So for now we will continue to camp out inside and watch pandorum.  Tomorrow maybe Ikea...we shall see. 

Day Twenty-Nine

Little Hands...

It has been nice to have a drama free day (knock on wood) and just enjoy spending time with Ava.  It has gotten very cold out and we are supposed to have nasty weather coming our way.  I was supposed to be making meatloaf with mashed potatoes tonight but we are out of potatoes and I am NOT venturing out with all the nutcases that are out in a panic buying water and milk.  So I will probably have to improvise with some rice or maybe mac and cheese instead. 

I am not sure what this weather will mean for our weekend plans so I may see if Aaron feels like going out to blockbuster just in case.  Of course if we don't make it we can just watch re-runs of the office.  That show never gets old. 

Now to get to the pictures of the day.  Ava was looking out the window and trying to climb up on the window sill.  Luckily it isn't quite deep enough of a sill for her to really get up on to.  I grabbed my camera though and decided to get some pictures.  She kept resting her hands on the sill so I put my camera down on it for a few close ups of those miniature fingers.  I am pretty happy with how they came out.  In fact Ava likes to hit the shutter button and hit the shutter button on the first one for me.  Sometimes I will get all of my settings and focus set and let her snap the picture.  It's fun to include her in on it and she seems to already love the camera.

Day Twenty-Eight

Simplicity...

Today has been a LONG day.  I am so glad that I have tomorrow to catch up on my reading for school and to play with Ava.  The cold front is officially here and it's cold and windy out so no outside playtime tomorrow.  It might be a good day to make a fort :)

This weekend I need to break out the massage table and practice my body mechanics.  Who knew four weeks off would affect my body mechanics like it did....ughh!!!  So looks like Aaron will be getting a massage this weekend whether he wants one or not.

So tonight I was looking around for a bit of inspiration because I procrastinated again (shocker).  Ava and I were playing on the kitchen floor when I saw these rocks in the bottom of a candle holder.  I spread them out on the counter and snapped a few quick shots.  I love when it's that simple.  Today I needed simple.

 

  

Day Twenty-Seven

Chocolate...Need I say more!

I love to bake more than I love to cook.  Don't get me wrong cooking is also something I enjoy when I have the time to think it out and plan for new or fun recipes.  However the other side of me HATES to cook because you rush to get it all done because everyone is hungry (yourself included) and then everyone gobbles it up and you rarely get a Thanks, or that was good.  What you do get it dirty dishes and a mess.  I love to try out new recipes but hate to cook things I have cooked over and over.  Once I have tried the recipe the excitement is gone.

Baking is another story because baking is just about always planned ahead and most times baking is done for special occasions.  Baking to me is like a chance to get to mix up a little love for the special people in your life.  Which is probably the main reason I will never bring a baked dish to a mass function.  To those types of things I would bring potato salad, cole slaw, or some other side dish.  Baking is reserved in my world for holidays, birthdays, or when you think someone just needs a little boost.

Today I got to bake a chocolate sheet cake for Aaron's birthday.  It was a recipe from none other than the pioneer woman of course.  I, or I should say we, have enjoyed every one of her recipes so far (that we have tried...the list is growing).  Tomorrow night I am trying out her meatloaf which is Aaron's favorite.  Well it's right up there with spaghetti but I don't mess with my spaghetti recipe because Aaron says it is better than any he has ever had in a restaurant.  I think I make a pretty mean meatloaf as well because even my sister who hates meatloaf will eat my meatloaf.  That being said as you remember from earlier in my post, I LOVE trying new recipes.  That's a weird little thing about me.  I LOVE trial and error and troubleshooting so new recipes are great for that.  Especially if you are like me and are almost ALWAYS missing at least one ingredient needed.  I have even had to use ground flax seed in place of eggs...who knew that would be possible.

So back to today and the wonderfullness (I know not a real word) that is CHOCOLATE.  You know the saying that diamonds are a girls best friend well, we lied.  We just didn't want to admit that we are really head over heals about chocolate.  That we would eat chocolate and nothing but chocolate if given the chance and of course if it didn't mean we would gain an ungodly amount of weight.  Ugh, chocolate truly is sinful to tempt us with gluttony.

Now so that you can feel my pain as I willed myself to NOT lick the bowl I give you this.

and this...

...painful isn't it

now the finished product...this I got to eat.  Yum Yum

Now I know that one of the absolute best parts of childhood is licking the spoon (or in this case spatula).  My little Skinny Minny can lick all the spoons she wants.

and yes I let my child fill herself will chocolaty goodness because one, she had already ate her lunch so no meals to be spoiled here.  Two, there were no raw eggs because this spatula was used to make the icing and Three, because what good Mother doesn't let their child lick the spoon.  I think as a child that was the one and only reason I LOVED to help bake.

Now after looking at all of this chocolate I could really go for a large cup of coffee.  Hmmm...probably not the best idea considering it's after 11pm.  Guess I will have to hold that craving off until the morning when I will need it to give myself an extra boost to get my camera out before heading to school.

Day Twenty-Six

Priceless Expressions...

I have got to stop waiting until the end of the day when I am exhausted and drained to pick up the camera and try to get in a shot.  Tomorrow I will be making a chocolate sheet cake for Aaron's birthday so there should be some yummy photos to come.  Today I took a few shots of these expression dolls that were my Grandmothers. They are adorable little dolls and aren't the expressions great. 

Ok I've gotta run because Ava is trying to climb on top of her radio flyer horse by herself.  Till tomorrow!!!

Day Twenty-Five

Uninspired...

Today has just been one of those days where I am very uninspired photo wise.  I have been doing homework for the last few hours and I just don't have the energy to take a bunch of photos.  This was one of those days that I should have tried to shoot some before my morning class so I had it done and just had to post tonight.  So me and my funk walked around the room until I found a subject to shoot. 

It's not a bad shot and the subject is kind of interesting but it is not the best feeling being exhausted and beat.  One of the things I find I am enjoying the most about this is taking some time to play with my camera but today is just not one of those days.  Today I am questioning why I decided to do this to myself because today is just a bad day. 

So hopefully tomorrow I will wake up with new inspiration or at least in a better mood.  Blah...

I heart texture!!

The I heart faces theme for this week is texture.  I took one of the photos of the day from last week that already had great natural texture and added some more to it via photoshop.  I added a bit of stucco to the background and a canvas overlay over the whole picture.  I know this week there will be a ton of entries by some photoshop pros but I thought I would give it a shot anyways.  I always enjoy playing in photoshop to see what I can do and I needed a break after school before I started homework.

Click here to see the original (non-texturized photo)

Day Twenty-Four

ABC=Happy

Ava and her Daddy had story time today and it was a perfect opportunity for photos.  I love pictures of Ava and her Daddy.

this one is extra special because she is saying Happy.

 

 Today's post is a quick one because I have homework...boo!!!   Before I go I just want to say Happy Birthday Dad!!!!!!! (Today is my Dad's birthday :) )

Day Twenty-Three

These boots are made for walkin'...

Today we went to the State fair grounds for the Equestrian show.  My Dad recently started selling featherlite horse trailers (actually all featherlite but he just had the horse kind there) and he was a vendor there so Ava got to see her Granddad and the horses.  Actually Ava kept calling them doggies because apparently all animals are doggies to her.

We had a great time and there was a lot to see.  With it being cold out we don't have a lot of options for activities to do as a family.  We were able to walk around and see all different types of horses, various vendors, there were even shows in the arena and it was all heated.    

Ava fit in with the horse crowd thanks to her Granddad who bought her first pair of pink cowgirl boots and cowgirl hat.  She looked adorable in them.  I tried to get pictures of her and my Dad playing in one of the trailers but she just wouldn't sit still for the camera so I will have to retry that another day.  I did get some shots tonight of the boots and here they are.

and here is Ava playing while we were there...

Thanks Dad for the boots and hat and for showing us around a bit today.  Ava finally got the heel to toe walking in the boots when we got home and was able to walk around in them.

My first fix it Friday!

I decided to try the iheartfaces fix it friday challenge.  Basically they post a picture and open it to everyone to take a stab at correcting or fixing it. 

Here is the original

Here is the first edit

I corrected the levels, adjusted the curves, adjusted the contrast, boosted and warmed the color using color balance and hue/saturation, then did a slight edge burn.

 

For this one I did the same but softened and muted the color instead of boosting.

Day Twenty-Two

Shots and Sawdust...

Today we took Ava to her doctors for her fifteen month visit.  She is turning into a little skinny minny or as they put it, long and lean.  She started out in the 95th percentile for height and the 95th percentile for weight.  Now our former chunky monkey has transitioned into the 80th percentile for height and the 25th percentile for weight.  She is right on track with everything, developing normally, and healthy.  The only bad part about the visit was the three shots she had to get at the end.  It use to be a simple process and she would cry a little and I would pick her up and she would be fine.  Not anymore, now we get a full show of water works.  The biggest tears she can muster up will stream down her face until she is out of the building.  She will stop for a few minutes and then turn them back on and that will be the process until she normally falls asleep.

Today we went by Aaron's Mom's house before we headed home.  Ava ran around and played with the dogs while we looked at the newest changes in the current remodeling being done.  I think for Aaron it is weird to see his childhood home transform into something he doesn't recognize but it looks great.  Here are some pictures of the sawdust.

Day Twenty-One

Time to lower the table...

School is officially back in session and it's going to take some getting use to this new schedule.  Our massage class was one of the smallest ever because of some new changes in the requirements to get in.  I knew our class would get smaller but I did not realize just how small.  Out of the six that started in the fall only two came back and that's including me.  I mean you can't beat the opportunity to get that kind of attention and we will come out of this ahead but it is going to take some getting use to.

This semester, in addition to the CPR/first aid class I have to take, I will also be taking an anatomy of movement class and deep tissue.  I know this will be the building block to getting to the class that I am super excited about.  Actually there are two classes that I am excited about and those are client assessment and medical massage.  So this semester it's time for me to lower my table height and adjust to the new techniques to come.

My picture of the day is reflecting my return to school and the studying and homework to come.  At least I am back to getting bodywork done twice a week.

You can tell which ones are already well loved from last semester.

Day Twenty

Contrast...

After Ava's bath today I sat her on the couch to get her dressed.  The lighting was pretty good considering it as overcast so I grabbed my camera.  I love the contrast between her skin and the towel.

and then I had to add this close up.