THANK YOU!

Maybe I should plan a THANK YOU party!.

That would be a great theme for sure.  Gifts for everyone! Candy, cupcakes, ice cream and decorations all around! But really I have been overwhelmed with the level of support for my blog! I LOVE planning parties. I am currently finishing up yet another party (preschool end of the year!) Can't wait to share pictures and the story for sure!

It takes time but I love doing it.  I am a full time working mother of two, wife and person who loves to plan parties, love the little details, love giving to others and would love to do this as a profession (some day)! I have my business license for the floral design part, purchased a business name (Sweet Williams Event Floral Design) and am gaining experience! That is about all  I can do.  So from the bottom of my heart.....

THANK YOU!

Two challenges.. Lots of feedback!

#photoadayjune

Today's subject was HAT... We have lots of hats around here. We have hats of all kinds, baseball caps, swimming caps, working hats, stocking hats, Sock Monkey hats and of course my girly hats.  But this hat means a lot to our family and Baranski family as well. It was a hat that my parents gave to a friends family and then was returned.  This hat has been worn by both my kids and we love it.  You can see why!

Carnation Pink

Today's subject for the June Color photo challenge put on my Shutter Sisters + Epiphanie  is Carnation Pink. I have had the distinct pleasure of carrying two new lenses (new to me slightly used) to try out. I took my lunch break and drove around Silverton, Oregon and Mt. Angel, Oregon looking for something carnation pink (something other than flowers).  But in the end I shot these two photos. 

Carnation pink Rhododendrons #sscolormonth

These are a few of the light carnation pink colors Rhododendrons located in the front of my house. And below is a carnation pink plastic egg sitting on my grass.

Is it Easter?  #sscolormonth

Both of these photos were taken with my Nikon D90 and this new lens I was trying out.  It is for Nikon and it is called AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5~5.6G IF-ED lens.  I really like this one. I can't wait to try out the Fish Lens that I am looking at as well.  Not sure how to use that yet so if you have any hints, recommendations etc. I would be happy to hear from you. Just click on comments below and leave me one.   Thanks much.. Oh yeah and thank you to all of my readers for voting daily for the Top 25 Circle of Mom's Party Planning Mom's 2012 competition.  I feel so much love and support.  I will soon be posting more about this weekends parties that I am throwing and attending.  Until then!

June Color Month~

Color...

So if you haven't read in one of my recent posts, I am joining in the competition of photographing color each day that has been designated by my friends at Shutter Sisters. I have posted three photos already.  The cool part about this competition is that you can enter as many photos as you would like for that particular color. I find myself carting my camera bag around in the car and looking for colors on my drive to and from work. I look to nature a lot. But I am very interested in daily items, signs etc.  

I have the opportunity to purchase a few lenses from a friend of my husbands. I get to try them out. Can't wait. Currently I use my Nikon D90 camera and have been playing with settings, lighting, focusing etc. These two new lenses will be fun to explore for sure.  

Day One

The first day of the challenge was red.  I love, I mean L.O.V.E. love the color red.  I also happen to love Lady Bugs (a long story for those of you who don't already have background knowledge).  So this is what I photographed. I cheated a bit on this one and used my android camera on my phone.  

I have tacks at work on my cork board that are lady bugs. So I placed them in a heart shape and wallah here is my love of lady bugs and the color red.  I entered this one and have had great responses from followers of my Instagram photos.

Day Two

Today's color was Magenta.  Hmm I already knew when I awoke what photo's I would shoot. I carted my camera in the car but when I returned home I noticed there was a lull in the rain and snapped these photos with my Nikon D90 setting A (Aperture) can't remember the shutter speed etc.  I used my long lens and focused closely!  

This is a photograph of a tea rose located near my bedroom window of our home! Love this.   So majestic and full of color. Similarly the one below this photo is of a plant I never heard of until I moved to this house over one year ago.  It blooms each year in the spring!

I wanted to only focus on the petals of the flower, blurring everything in the background. This is a delicate flower with very hardy leaves.

So far so good! Love the colors each day. Looking forward to tomorrow's colors and sharing my new photographs with you all, Shutter Sisters and Epiphanie as well.  

Always have a Plan B

Reminders

I just hate it when you are planning something... A party, event or what have you and something goes awry.  It is always important to have alternative plans ready to go. When planning and helping to make your vision come to fruition you must always know what you are willing to let go and what you are not. for example you might have wanted one activity really badly but couldn't buy it (exceeded budget, not available, or could find it) so you have to always think about why the next best thing is that you can make happen but still reach your intended vision come true.



I was reminded of this as I am currently planning and prepping for a preschool end of the year party. YES I am one of those moms and proud of it.  I don't get to volunteer too much during the school day due to my own full time job so the next best thing for me is to make wonderful memories through planned activities and one of those this year is the end of the year party.  Not only to THANK the teacher and teacher assistant for a wonderful school year in which my son and all kids in the class have grown tremendously but to spend time with the kids and connect with their parents in a relaxed environment. 

 

Plan B

I had envisioned a bounce house as one of the outdoor activities to keep the 18 or so kids engaged outside. I knew of two people who had one and asked each of them to borrow them.  One was broken (bummer) the other I got an okay until their plans changed.  So I made quick work using my social media ties (friends on FB) asking for help and used the Internet to google local shops.  I was now looking to purchase a bounce house (yes I could use one) or rent one for the day (for a reasonable price).  This is only a preschool party you know. 

My husband was great and secured one for me (the kids know nothing about it) and we were back on.  Now I am just watching the weather forecasts and have succumbed to the idea that I will be happy with overcast cloudy weather.  JUST NOT RAIN. 

Notes

On a planning note, it is always good to have a second plan (plan a and plan b) so that if something occurs you can move quickly to make it work.  MAKE IT WORK and don't stress out. Parties are supposed to be fun. There is no sense in having the host stress out because that is no fun. 

Photo Challenges... YEAH

I have been thinking that if I keep up with photo challenges It will afford me the time to practice, practice &  practice with my camera.  I love my Nikon D90 (DSLR) camera. I even like messing around with different lenses.  I am thinking of buying new ones and even enrolling in our local college for a crash course in digital photography.  I want to be more than just a (MWC) Mom With a Camera (Though there is nothing wrong with that).  I just want my photos to be better with lighting, focus, and stunning.  I have high expectations.

So this  month JUNE. I have already entered a photo in a challenge to win an Epiphanie camera bag (LOVE).  The subject was flying.  Take a LOOK at the previous post titled Come Fly With Me!  I am also focusing on my #photoadayjune challenge from Fat Mum Slim.  This is where I will take a daily photo following a list of things to shoot for the entire month.  I plan to use my DSLR for the most part and submit via Instagram (truly thinking about a FLICKR account though.   (If you have thoughts on that for me let me know in my comments.

Today I was surfing through the net and found a blog called Shutter Sisters and found that they are doing a photo contest regarding color.  Each day beginning today you take a picture depicting the color for that day.  It is to support Epiphanie bags new  color line as well as this blog.  So I thought I would take a stab at it.

This is the calendar that I will follow as part of this photo a day challenge. It will be interesting to see what I come up with.  I will post here as well as Instagram, twitter and the tag will be #sscolormonth.  If you would like to join me that would be fun to see what your pictures will be like.  I am going to try hard and post what settings I am using with my camera so that you could give me some pointers if you have any or comments would be most appreciated.  I truly am trying to get even better.

Here is another way to win an Epiphanie bag as well. Our friends on Beautiful Photo Prop blog have teamed up with Epiphanie to give away a bag.  Contest rules are easy to follow as well.  You might check it out.  I have stumbled upon many new and interesting blogs by going through these motions of entering a contest. Of course you will want to be choosey for sure.  

Come Fly with Me?...

My "fly" photo submission in the Epiphanie Camera Bags + My Four Hens photo contest!http://bit.ly/junephotocontest

When we moved to our new house about a year ago I realized that we would be living across the street from a hospital and yes  there is a Life Flight pad on the corner there too.  We didn't live too far from there prior to this newer home we moved into so each and every summer you always knew when there was a horrible accident up the canyon because Life Flight would arrive at our local hospital as it is the only hospital closest to the mountains, the lake and anywhere in between. From our old home we could hear the chopper blades in the distance landing and the leaving.  

Now that we live across the street the noise of the chopper blades is much louder and we have been able to snap some photos of the helicopter as it lands and takes off.  It is exciting for my four year old who loves all things that fly, drive, rail, or float. He hasn't quite understood the severity of what Life Flight really means. I hope we never have to experience that.

WOW June Already?

A New Month

Today marks June 1st, 2012.  I can't believe where the time is going? June already, school almost out for my preschooler and work almost over for myself (I work in the school system). Summer is beginning, though you wouldn't know it looking outside today.  My weekends are filling up and becoming very busy, planning end of the school year parties, graduation parties and graduations to attend for my nephew(s), baby showers and just plain ol' having fun with the kids are definitely on the docket.  When will it slow down? Not sure it ever will. But my husband and I have a plan to make intentional no interrupted time for each other, and the kids. 

#photoadayjune

Today also marks the first day #photoadayjune challenge.  Subject for that photo is: Morning.. I recently entered but did not win (unfortunately) this photo in the Epiphanie May Photo contest. I love those Epiphanie bags and I am bound and determined to win won somehow. But I digress.!

So here is my picture of Morning. This is the St. Mary Catholic Church located in Mt. Angel, Oregon and it is on my way to work. It faces the West and the sun is rising from the East.  See the sun behind the church. Love this.