12.26.2011

Christmas Card

Here's a peek at our Christmas card this year.
{picture taken and card designed by yours truly}

                                   {front}                                                                     {back}

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

12.21.2011

Photography Tips for the CON-sumer

I do not consider myself a professional photographer...therefore, I can only share info that I find helpful for the consumer (someone like myself) not the prosumer.

I have received a few emails regarding what camera I have and any advice I have about photography.  As I mentioned above, I am no pro so I don't know everything.  But I do know a few things.

What type of camera do you use?  I use a Nikon D40x.  This is a great consumer camera.  And I recommend it to EVERYONE!  I have known professional photographers who have had this camera and have taken amazing pictures with it.  her and I'm pretty sure her. They both now have Nikon D700s. (jealous)  I love/and have loved this camera.  Cason got it for me for Christmas back in 2009.  I opened all my gifts and then he came in with a Tamron camera case.  At the time, I didn't know what Tamron was.  In my mind, I thought, oh no...don't embarrass me.  Are we going camping or something.  Thinking it was a fannypack.  He told me to open it...so I did.  And I found my camera shining.

I pulled that bad boy out from the camera bag, and started snapping away on Auto.  At first I thought to myself, wow these pictures are amazing...but really they weren't.  They looked the exact same as the pictures from Cason's Canon point and shoot camera.  I thought about taking the new camera back because it wasn't worth the money and the bulk.  But then I looked into a few classes at the community college where I lived in California.  I took multiple courses in digital photography-learned how to use my camera and it's Manual settings, and also took a few courses using film...developed my own photos in the wet room and edited them there too.  It was fun!  I also took a beginner photography workshop from Val Westover right after Millie was born and learned a lot there.

So with that being said about my photography background, here are a few tips I have for you.  (remember, I am no professional photographer, nor do I think I am.)

Tip #1:
Do your research on cameras.  Do you prefer Nikon or Canon or a no namer?  Everyone will tell you what they think is the most user friendly {Nikon is PS :) }, etc. etc. but you need to figure out what is best for you.

Tip #2:
I tell everyone this..and pretty soon these companies are going to catch on to my secret, but it saves a little bit of money.  Go to Best Buy or one of those types of stores that sells cameras.  After you have done your research and know what type of camera you want,  ask them if they have any "open box" cameras in the make and model you like.  These cameras are usually on display, have been returned and are not damaged.  They usually knock $50-$100 off the retail price.  Great money saver.

Tip #3: 
Learn how to use your Manual settings.  You will see a difference in your photos if you do this.  If you don't, you really won't see a difference.  There is no real reason for you to purchase a DSLR camera if you aren't going to learn how to use the settings.  Why lug around the huge thing if you don't have to?  You can get just as great of pictures, if not better, on a small point and shoot camera on auto setting.

Tip #4:
Lenses make all the difference.  Invest in lenses.  Buy yourself a cheaper DSLR Camera and buy a more expensive lens.  I used to use my kit lens (the lens that came with my camera) and only that lens, and my pictures were not that great. I wasn't happy with them...then it broke.  I bought a 50mm f1.4 lens and LOVE it!  I see a big difference in my photos and I can do things with it that I couldn't do with my kit lens.  (this is the only lens I use at the moment.)

Tip #5:
Natural light (in my opinion) is your best friend!  
You will get amazing photos if you take them in natural light. Artificial light is great too, but it gives you a different effect.  All depends what look you are going for.  

Tip #6:
There is always more to learn!  Keep studying, learning practicing and getting inspiration from others.  Practice makes perfect! Right?  

Anyway, that's all I can think of right now..if you have any questions from a consumer level, please leave a comment and I will answer them below. 

And because I can't leave a post without a picture of my troublemakingpeanut.
{top two taken with phone}


and because she's so darn cute with that goofy bow. 

12.16.2011

15/16 Months Old

This was supposed to be for 15 months..but it works for 16 months too.

My sweet little Millie.  Where has the time gone??  Seriously, I can't believe my little baby is growing up.  I hate it, but also love it.  Such a bittersweet thing.

15 month stats: 

Height: 32 inches
(9oth percentile)

Weight: 24 pounds 14 ounces
(80th percentile)

Head: 19 inches
(96th percentile)

This little peanut is quite the smarty pants.  She says buh bye, Dad, Mama, ha (hi), up, please, baby, chzz (cheese), stinky, poop, Elma (elmo), apple, hot, bath, blall (ball), duck, book (with the 'k' really pronounced), boots, hat, thrt (treat), milk, mac (mac and cheese), ernie, pass (pacifier).  Anytime anyone burps she says "ew" in the highest sweetest voice.  It's my favorite.  And she says "nast" when she's poopy or after a burp.  She also stands up in her highchair and wipes her shirt with her hands and says, "mess".  She has a whole list of words that I can't think of.  She shortens a few long words like buck (buckle), neck (necklace), and Mick (mickey).  She is very good at communicating and will do things we ask.

She knows what a monkey says-"eee, eee"
A cow-"mmmmmmm"
a snake-"thhhhhhhhhhhh" (maybe she has a lisp?)
a horse-neigh
kitty cat-meee
lion-sometimes she'll whisper a growl
pig-sniffs her nose

Whenever she's with Cason and I'm not around, she says "mama?"
and whenever she's with me and Cason's not around she says "dada?"
She must love us both! :)

Anytime she sees our phones, camera or video camera she says "chzz!"  And she loves to watch videos and look and pictures of herself and her cousins. 

She likes to help clean up and put her toys back in her bucket.  She also likes to take all of her clothes out of her drawers and put them back in.  She dances when I sing, "clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere..." and gets excited to help clean up.

She still loves the "vac" (vacuum).  Runs from it with a big smile on her face. 

She loves to brush her teeth with not her toothbrush, but mine or Cason's.  Hey, we're all family right?  (I know, that's disgusting, but what do you do?!)  She is obsessed with the toothpaste.  Of course, it's not her toothpaste, but our mint toothpaste.  She would suck on that thing for hours if I let her.  

She's obsessed with Elma (Elmo) and gets so excited when she sees him...even if it's on her diaper.  and also Mick.  She takes the remote and points it at the TV and says "Mick".  She always wants a show.  I'm trying to minimize it a little more, so she doesn't become addicted.  It's cute though.

If you wink at her, she winks back with both eyes.

We cut her hair into a little bob.  It was starting to look like a pretty sweet mullet.  It is now so cute!  Although it does make her look more grown up which neither of us like.  I round brush it with the blow dryer every morning and she just sits and watches or plays while I do it.

She climbs up and down the stairs and will go up to get her blanket and pacifier and come back down.



She's down to one nap from 12-2 ish.  And boy is it heaven.  I sure get a LOT done in that 2 hour period.  She has to have her blanket and pass with her...if she doesn't she won't go to bed.  Makes washing that blanket really hard.

She loves oatmeal, nanas, cook (coke) shhh don't tell Cason, cereal, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, toast, still LOVES broccoli, carrots, any veggie, and some fruit, mac (mac and cheese), milk, noodles, blackberries, blueberries, and turkey.  She goes through phases with meat...she only likes chicken if it has a marinade or sauce to take the chicken-y taste away, she loves ham, and sometimes likes turkey.  She loves juice boxes (oh, I love those little lips) and drinking out of straws.  and is obsessed with "ass" (ice).  We laugh every time!  Mature right?



If you ask her where something is and she doesn't know, she puts her hands up like "I don't know."

She blows kisses (sometimes), waves her hand back and forth and says "hi" and waves opening her hands and closing them to say "buh bye."  Answers her pretend phone and says "hello?"

She likes the bath.  And lays on her tummy and kicks her little legs.  She loves to swim! :)

She loves flap books and will be entertained for a long time trying to get those flaps open herself.  She really loves books, and still loves to turn the pages.

She is always on the go!  She likes to stand in the cart, stroller, or anywhere she has to be buckled.  It's quite a challenge.  She also loves to push the cart or stroller.   We went to Trader Joe's awhile ago, and they had mini carts.  She pushed that thing all around the store and grabbed things off the shelf to put into her cart.  We sure got lots of attention with that one.  So funny!



Church is a challenge.  Good thing Cason and I have each other because neither of us could do all three meetings alone.  Lots of treats and crackers to keep her occupied.  Thank heavens!

She loves to be chased and tickled, and giggles every time.

She always has her big toe up when she's busy doing something.  (as pictured)
And she wears a size 5 shoe, which she is quickly outgrowing.



She loves little babies.  Real and fake.  Every time I say, "Millie, your baby is so sad."  She looks at me and does this pouty face, scrunches up her nose and whimpers.  It is my favorite!!

The other day, I about cried thinking about bringing another baby into our home.  Made me sad to think that it won't be just us two anymore.  She's my little buddy and I love everyday with just the two of us.  Don't get me wrong, I am very excited to have another baby, but I am sad that she has to share her alone time with me with another little one.  Hopefully that changes once the baby gets here. :)

We love this little peanut!  She is getting too big.  Every time I look at her, I think to myself, when did she ever get so big?  I don't know where the time went...but we are enjoying everyday with her, and trying to write down and remember every little detail before it's too late.

12.12.2011

Reindeer

While Cason's parents were in town, Beth and I took Millie to see a few of Santa's reindeer. 
Millie cared for about .2 seconds...but I'm glad I got pictures! :)




She loved when Grandpa and Cason came home from their day fishing.


We had a great time with them and are excited to see them for Christmas!



12.08.2011

bookworm

Yesterday morning, as I was doing laundry and tidying up the house, Millie was enjoying a good book.
I sat her in the rocking chair, gave her books and she sat there "reading" for a good 10-15 minutes. 
I couldn't help but snap some photos.

Her Dad would be proud that she is "reading" a book entitled "I Love Baseball." 
He's taught her well!

I love my little bookworm.

12.05.2011

Turkey Day

This year for Thanksgiving, we stayed here in Michigan and Cason's parents came to visit us.  We had a superb Thanksgiving feast for the five of us.  Everything a Thanksgiving feast entails...we ate. (minus the green beans.  We had too much food so I cut them out.)

It was my first time putting Thanksgiving on and I must say it turned out great!  But everyone helped significantly.  Dave made his famous mashed potatoes, Case made homemade cranberry sauce, and Beth helped me with everything else and made the gravy.  Delish!  











With a 19 pound turkey and only four (well five counting Millie) of us eating, we had plenty of leftovers.  Lets just say we ate Thanksgiving dinner for five more meals after that.  
It was tasty, but I am definitely sick of it for now!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

12.01.2011

Utah Part 2: Provo Beach Resort

One day, while we were in Utah, we went to the Provo Beach Resort.

{we rode the carousel and got dizzy}





{the babies pushed the stroller around with grandma}



{they played in the toddler area, and got knocked down one too many times by that ball}


{they climbed up the slide. and slid down the slide. repeat 200x}





{and we all enjoyed a little arcade games}




{we finished it off with sushi from Happy Sumo}

Fun time in Utah with family!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...