photoshop talk

I'm just now discovering the magical powers of photoshop. I've always been so intimidated, until I discovered "actions". I know there are many experts out there (and a whole 2 that even read my blog) probably rolling their eyes and saying , "that is sooooo yesterday", but in case there are any fellow photoshop virgins out there, here are a few tips...

Pioneer woman has the best actions (what doesn't pioneer woman do that's the best?) go here to follow her instructions to download them for free. Once you have them downloaded, prepare to spend hours playing around with it. My favorites, and the ones I used for this photo, are fresh & colorful + boost (both in her first set) + colorized (in her second set). I love that with one click you can change the whole look of the photo instead of spending so long manually adjusting each setting.


Coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com also has some fun free actions and iheartfaces.com also has some great photography tips, that's where I learned how to make the eyes pop. When you have your picture opened in photoshop, use the magnetic lasso tool to highlight the eyes (push shift when you're highlighting the second eye so they're both on the same layer), click "copy", then "paste" (this should create the new layer). Then go to "filter", "other", "high pass". Then click on "layer", "vivid light", and prepare to be amazed at them eyes. Melissa was nice to let me interrupt her cleaning day {gasp} and kidnap her beautiful baby so that I could play around with my camera...





Another trick I learned from my friend, Chelsea, is how to make your pictures bigger on blogger. Once you upload your picture, click on the "edit html" button (next to compose in the edit post mode), on the code for the picture look for "WIDTH: 400 px; DISPLAY;block; HEIGHT: 267 px" and delete that whole line. Then look for "s400" and change it to "s576", then click the "compose" button and that's it! Thanks, Chels!

Five years from now

I couldn't resist sneaking this picture of Kylie as she talked on the phone to her friends while she was doing homework. I had a little nastalgic moment as I sat there thinking that this is what it will be like when she's a teenager {insert sniffle and fake tear for dramatic effect}....

and then this:

followed by "get out! stop taking my picture! you're so mean!" as she pushed me out of the room and slammed the door in my face. And then I realized, yes, this is what it will be like when she's a teenager. and I was scared. very scared.

Surprise, surprise!

I was plenty happy with just my new camera, but Jason went and scored big when he threw me a surprise party. How cute is he?!? Jason isn't always the best at keeping secrets but this time I seriously had no idea, he was so smooth. He did get some "gentle nudging" from some of my friends (did I mention I have the greatest friends?), but I was impressed he pulled it off. It was so fun to walk into the restraunt and see all of my favorite people (we missed you Michelle :). I was totally emberassed and turned bright red, but it meant so much that everyone would take the time to do something like this for me, even coming solo, with newborns, trying to find baby sitters and missing a camping trip with neighbors to be there. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was perfect and the company couldn't be better. I don't think I stopped smiling the entire night. Afterwards we went back to the house for ice cream and the most delicious red velvet cake (I think I should get a Costco membership for that reason alone). Thanks to my wonderful friends and especially to Jason, you know you love me. I'm a lucky girl. Old, but lucky.

Birthday interview




favorite food: breadsticks


favorite toy: legos


Best friends: Tanner Y., Tanner M., Kosty, Reed, Jax and Kylie


What do you want to be when you grow up: a worker


Favorite part about school: recess on the big playground


Who is your hero: Mom, Dad and Kylie


Favorite song: I am a Child of God


Favorite show: Star Wars and Garfield


Favorite book: "Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt"


What are you most excited about now that you're six? going to Kylie's school

"Mom, can you stop talking to me now so I can play the wii?"

D is for....
(these are pre-Cannon days, bear with me :)

Drive-in movies. It may have been a little toasty (I think we sweated off the popcorn and candy calories in the first 5 minutes), and a little late at night, but it was such a fun night with friends and a great way to say good-bye to summer.

Duck tape crafts. I had this on my list so I was excited when my mom took the bull by the horns at our reunion and headed up the duck tape craft extravaganza. We made the purses by wrapping the duck tape around ziploc freezer bags then decorating them. I wish I would have gotten a picture of all the different ones, we had some creative ladies who let loose with duck tape flowers, ruffles, stripes and weaving.


Donuts. Is there anything you can't make with Rhodes dough? Defrost, make a donut shape, fry in hot oil and dip immediately in cinnamon/sugar mixture (you can also dip in powdered sugar)

Daddy lunch. One last hurrah before the kids start school and are doomed to PB&J for the next 10 months.

Dinosaur pictures. They didn't turn out quite like this, but the kids always have fun anytime paint is involved.

Dodgeball. Waterballoons were the only way to go with this, but the rules of the game didn't last long before it turned into a full on water fight.

Dirt drawings. Just like the elementary school glitter projects, just pour dirt on the glue instead.

Beezus and Ramona


I told Kylie I would take her to this movie when she finished reading the book, but I couldn't wait that long. It was such a cute movie (I loved those books when I was little) and I walked away all inspired that I should be one of those moms that don't care what their kids wear but let them thrive in the lime light of their individual personality. That lasted a whole 12 hours until Kylie was begging me to the point of tears to let her have bangs and I refused. Sure I shouldn't care, as long as she is confident about herself and loves the way she looks. But seriously, I have been counting down the days until her bangs are long enough to tuck behind her ears and I am going to scream if I see another strand hanging in her eyes ever again. Bad mom, no bangs, end of story.

What 6 year olds do on their birthday

They wake up at 5 am to open presents

They act surprised even though they already picked their present out 2 months ago and have asked about it every day since

They love all the special attention

They think everything tastes better with a candle in it

They spend all morning absorbed in the new legos and get mad when they can't skip school to play with them

They get so excited for mom to come eat lunch with them at school. They look so cute when mom comes to eat lunch with them at school.

They thrive on being the center of attention because everyone wants to be friends with the boy who brings cupcakes

They have been counting down the days and hours until their party for the past 11 months and anxiously await the arrival of each guest

They insist on plain cheese pizza because next to ramen noodles and cold cereal, that's all they ever want to eat

They don't care that their whole party had to change at the last minute since the movie times at the drive-in switched and they had to see a movie at they dollar theater that they've already seen, because all they really care about is the presents anyway

They love their friends. Especially the ones that give really good presents.

They don't care that their mom makes really crappy cakes, as long as it has lots of frosting and candy (I saw these cute cake/cupcake toppers that were right up my ally, it's just dum dums dipped in water-not licked, contrary to popular belief-and rolled in sprinkles)

They don't care when their little brother blows out their candles. Okay, maybe they do, but they're quick to forgive

They have way too much energy and show off way too much, but hey, it's your birthday. Go buck wild, you deserve it.

We love you Jayden, you bring a whole new element of excitement into our family. You are a very determined little guy, and although your stubborness can get the most of you sometimes, I love that when you set your mind to something you don't stop until you get it. You march to the beat of your own drum and I admire the way you could care less what other people think. You have such an infectious laugh and a smile to die for. I can't wait to see what amazing things you accomplish as you grow up, we love you Jayden! Happy birthday!

Love at first sight

I have so many posts to catch up on, but I've been too preoccupied with my baby. Not these babies (in fact, I've been neglecting these ones way too much lately), but my new baby which is kind of a Rebel. I am utterly in love and one of these days I'll stop playing with it long enough to get caught up.

30. Not so bad.

I kinda have a thing where I'm a brat on my birthday. I always set my expectations too high and then I get mad if I was treated like anything less than a queen all day (heaven forbid if I have to do dishes). This year I was very worried that I would spend my 30th birthday sulking in a corner so I used New York as my back up plan. Even though it was like 2 months ago I kept telling myself that it was for my birthday so that I felt like I did something great for the big 3-0. As it got closer I prepped Jason and gave him 2 options, either throw me a surprise party or get me a new camera. He chose the camera and seriously spent 72 hours straight one weekend researching the best brand/model/lenses/price (anyone who knows Jason knows how he is). He was trying so hard to surprise me, it was really thoughtful. He got me the Cannon Rebel T1i and extra lense (the telephoto zoom) and I love it. So he was off the hook with throwing me a big bash, instead I had fun going to lunch with the girls. I seriously lucked out to get so many amazing friends who were way too generous and spoiled me. Thank you! That night we went out to dinner at good old Joe's and had fun eating outside and playing around with my new camera. Turning 30 hasn't been too traumatizing for me. I feel like the older I get, the more confident I am and the more comfortable I feel in my own skin. I aspire to one day be at the point where I don't care what other people think, I'm not there yet, but I do feel like I'm learning where my priorities are (or atleast should be) and am learning to let things go. I'm such a different person than when I was 20 and who knows what I'll be like when I'm 40 (scary). For now I am loving where I'm at in life and couldn't ask for more. So yes, it was definately a very happy birthday.