PSF - Playing with Photoshop

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

I was over at I heart Faces this morning and read a great Photoshop tutorial from contributor Michelle Johnson of My Two Seasons. 

Michelle shared how to create that vintage look with your photo's.  With so many people who are creating these types of photoshop actions to sell it is nice to find people who are willing to share some of their editing secrets.

If you haven't tried photoshop yet, take it from me........there is a lot to learn!

So here is my first attempt using Michelle's technique.  I picked a photo that was kind of over exposed so that I could get that blown out look.  I really like the way it turned out.  You can see the straight out of the camera shot below.

After playing with this tutorial I went back to I heart Faces to see if there were any other tutorials to try and low and behold I found another great one from Michelle Johnson.

This one is called "In the Fairy Garden."  In this tutorial Michelle provide two free textures, so hit the above link to download them for yourself.

I am such a freak for bright, highly contrasty pictures but I do enjoy these soft photo's as well.

So there you have it.  I hope you all have a great weekend!

PSF - We have been labeled!

I love my dogs, but they have issues.

They do not enjoy visits from the mail carrier....a common dog phobia.

They pose no threat to the mailman, they just like to bark like lunatics when the mail carrier comes to the door......and Xena sort of throws herself against the screen.

Truth be told, Xena doesn't discriminate. She does barks at every visitor.

Because my dogs go a little nuts when people come to the front door we installed a heavy duty security screen door. I hate the way it looks, but it was necessary to keep Xena from break down the screen door when she is being possessed by the devil.

I figured that the heavy duty security door and the fact that Xena has never taken a nibble of any of our mail carriers would provide all carriers with a sense of security.

Today I discovered differently!

Our mail comes with a warning!

This Dog Warning Card was accidentally left in our mailbox today.

I say accidentally because on the form it says "Case in front of mail for address where dog poses a threat -- do not deliver this form." Whoopsie!

We have had a string of sub's lately, so I understand the need for the form.

If you approach my door while day dreaming you might have the hooey scared out of you by a psychotic poodle and chihuahua.

Hosted by Cecily and Emily

Halloween of years past!

This week I am combining my Photostory Friday post with Alicia's Flash Back Friday over at More Than Words.

I'm not being very original this week, but I wanted to share snaps from Halloweens past!

Reid was a Dalmatian for her first Halloween.
The next year she was a Razorback Cheerleader.

My mom bought Reid this cat costume and she HATED it! She cried when I forced her to put the hood on and then refused to let me take her picture.

A bunny and a 50's girl (tiger is our neighbor).

Those things on Kates head were my sad attempt at making bunny ears. Pipe cleaners don't hold up well when an 11 month old is involved.

Blue and Cinderella!

Lunette from the Big Comfy Couch and a Genie!

Kitty Cat and Snow White!

Kate wore that snow white costume at least once a week for several years.

Flower Fairy and a Pirate!

Spiderella and a Hippie Chick!
Pirate and Goth Girl!

Vampira and Greek Goddess!
Pink Fairy and a Doll!

Goth Girl (Reid's costume from '05) and a Crazy Doll!

This year for Halloween the girls are going to be............

Hosted by Cecily and Carissa

PSF - Last minute costume idea

A few years ago I was looking for something different and fun to wear to my daughters Elementary School's Halloween party.

After a quick search on the internet I found an idea that was right up my dog lovin' alley.

Create a shirt for your very own Attack Dog Academy....only you are the cruddy training that has been chewed on one too many times.

You will need an old white shirt (I used a mans button down dress shirt), some scissors, needle and thread, a stuffed dog and sharpie markers in both Red and Black ink.

Take the scissors and cut/tear holes in the shirt so it looks like you have been attacked by your dogs. Use the red sharpie to add blood to the ripped areas.

On the back of the shirt add the name of your Attack Dog Academy.

Of course make sure to identify yourself as a trainer on the front pocket!

Finally, sew a small stuffed dog by the mouth to the edge of the shirt tail or sleeve.

This was so fast and easy to make and the kids thought it was hysterical.

Here are my real life attack dogs practicing on each other!

Another funny quick costume:

Take several Smartie Candy rolls and pin them to your pants.

You are now a Smarty Pants!

Do you have any funny quick and easy costume ideas to share?

Hosted by Cecily and Kelli

PSF and Give me your best shot!

I take pictures every single day.

Taking pictures so frequently makes me look at the world around me just a little bit differently.

Apparently it is also rubbing off on my girls.

On Saturday while we were walking around the cross up on Mt. Soledad, just as we came into view of the flag and cross Kate stopped in her tracks and said, "Wow, that would make a great photograph." Then she proceeded to tell me how I should frame the shot.

Not a bad thing to rub off onto your children!

A side note: I took this shot!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

PSF - Designer Jeans!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I'm so lagging on the blogging front lately but with two kids home all day long it is really hard to find time to sit at the computer. Especially when your yelling at your Teen to limit her time online!

Moving on to my Photostory Friday!

I had such a fun shopping experience this morning that I just had to share. Today was the start of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I went to Nordi's hoping to find a fabulous pair of shoes on sale, but after cruising the shoes I decided that I wasn't in a shoe buying mood so I headed up stairs to check out the clothes.

While looking at these really cute sweaters I heard this man's voice over my shoulder, "I know you came in here to try on a pair of my jeans?" I turned around to find two trendy looking men giving me the once over.

"I would love to try on a pair of your jeans....if you think you have made them long enough and wide enough for my 6 foot tall plump self."

He asked my inseam, quickly sized me up and grabbed a pair of trouser jeans for me to try on. When he handed me the jeans he told me that I had to show him what they looked like once I got them on.

It took me a few minutes before I realized that I was talking to the actual designer, David Kahn. With his jeans in hand I headed off to find the sales woman that had been helping me.

As I admired the rather expensive jeans I heard David outside my dressing room door asking if he could have a look. Seriously?

I let David and his assistant in the room, he spun me around, sq

ueezed the back of the jean at the waist band and turned to his assistant and asked her to get me a smaller size. Nice!

With the new smaller size on, David came back and asked me how they felt. I told him I thought the bigger size fit better and he informed me that you don't buy loose jeans because after you wear them they will stretch out half a size or more and will be falling off by the end of the day.

"What.....you mean your jeans aren't supposed to be sagging off your ass by the end of the day."

David laughed at my joke and continued to fawn over me and the all of the other women trying on his jeans like we were Hollywood celebrities. The guy knows how to sell his product.

Needless to say I walked out of Nordstrom's with a new pair of designer jeans (signed by the designer himself) and probably the first pair of jeans I have ever owned that actually fit properly.

PSF - Just a name!

Do you have a name that is easy to recognize and spell?  Or are you like my daughter and have a name that every time you say it the person you are speaking with says, "Excuse me?" 

My daughters name is Reid, and for some reason the name doesn't seem to register with most people.  I realize it is a surname, but it isn't like her name is Orangejello!

What really amuses us is when people pretend to hear her name and then proceed to misspell it.  Here are just a few renditions; Reaha, Ritz (that's our favorite), Rita, Weed, Red, Rea, Teed, and Read (that is at least close).

Today however was a banner day!  As my daughter reached for her Double Chocolaty Chip from Starbucks she squealed with delight.  The Barista actually spelled her name right!  A first!

It's the little things in life!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Photostory Friday - Unfinished Photo Hunt

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I hate not having the time to participate in Photostory Friday's with Cecily and MamaGeek, so while I have a few free moments I thought I would get my post up early and share with you a few photo's from the Photo Hunt that I didn't have enough time to complete!  

Hmmm, anyone noticing a theme here?  Anyhoo.....there were 26 items to catch with your camera and I'm not sure how many I actually did capture, I just know I didn't get them all.

Here are some of my favorites (click on the images to enlarge them)!  This first photo was my Reflection shot.  I took this picture just after the sun came up and even though the water wasn't perfectly still it was pretty glass like.

Next on the list was to photograph something historical (pre 1900;s).  Not an easy task, but I high tailed it out to the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala.  

The Mission was established in 1769 and is California's first church.  The California Missions are a big part of California's history.

It is an interesting historical site and is the place where the western world was first introduced to Catholicism.  Which means lots of neat Catholic artifacts and statues.

I was raised Catholic and even though their statues and rituals kind of scared me as a child, I find them completely fascinating!

Next up we have a shot from an unusual perspective. This picture was taken at the Mission.  I love how visitors have placed rosaries on the hands of this statue.

Here is my Church entry.  This is the church at the Mission and is still used for services.  I love how this Church reflects its Spanish roots.  I've said this before, but Catholics know how to create spectacular churches (even if they are a little scary).

Next up we have a Cemetery.  Unlike older parts of our country, San Diego does not really have any old ornate cemeteries.  We are however a military town and this is a shot from Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.  These service men and women (and their spouses) have some prime real estate to rest in peace.  On one side lies the Pacific Ocean, on the other is the San Diego Bay (which is what this view shows).

I showed this next picture on my 365 blog.  It is my motion shot and it is also the last one that I am going to share for now!

Well, that is it.  I hope you enjoyed a few of my favorite shots from the photo hunt that I didn't complete.

PSF - Spring and a rude visitor

Tomorrow, March 20th, is the first day of Spring!

I'm sure those of you that live in the snowy regions of the country are really looking forward to the change in seasons.

So in honor of Spring I wanted to share with you some beautiful orchid shots I took the other day at the botanical garden.

I love this one because it looks like it is smiling!

I find the orange and yellow colors in this orchid really soothing.

WE INTERRUPT THIS PLEASANT

post about lovely flowers to bring an unpleasant and unwelcome visitor to One Crafty Mama's backyard!!!

Yes folks....that is a western Rattle snake! As I was preparing this post about orchids I was interrupted by the loud barking of my dogs and the extremely loud warning shake of a RATTLE SNAKE!!

After getting the dogs inside (had to use a piece of chicken to bribe the stupid Chihuahua away from the fangs of death), I grabbed my camera and telephoto lens and zoomed in on the area where the dogs had been barking.

There were some intense moments until I found him. Make no mistake that I could hear him loud and clear!

Once I found him I snapped a quick picture and then ran across the street to get my neighbor Mark. Yes, I to can play the damsel in distress!

My wonderful neighbor came over, wrangled the snake onto a rake and dropped him in a plastic trash can. Then he took it down the canyon and released it.

I'm sure you can all imagine what was going through my head as Mark tried to get the snake (which took 30 minutes to capture)? I was doing what any good blogger would do. I was wondering to myself if it would be rude to run in and get my camera so I could document the snake wrangler!

I chose to hang out and be supportive!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

PSF - My cat is insane!

I love my pets, I really do....but sometimes they drive me CRAZY.   I'm pretty sure that my cat Summer is trying to send me to the looney bin with her antics.

Summer scratches things (aka: furniture, rugs, curtains, screen doors) to get attention.  

Scratching gets attention.

Not only does she get my attention, but she also gets the dogs attention.

Unfortunately for Summer, the dogs are on my side of the issue and they are more than willing to chase the cat when she is being naughty.

Don't fret cat lovers.....the dogs never hurt her.  However sometimes I can't help but wish one of them would eat her.  

Is that wrong to want your dog to eat your cat? After all, aren't RAW diets the new craze for spoiled pets?

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek