**But now it's Monday!! -Note to self: click "publish" before signing out!**

Isn't this a beautiful view from my in-laws back porch?

The sky is beautiful; just look at those marshmallow clouds!

Mother's Day

I finally got our Mother's Day cards and gifts taken care of! Whew! I always put these things off until the last minute but this year with the baby coming, I can't be sure that last minute will even be an option. I thing the wrapping turned out nice (except that I ran out of double sided tape though so you can see the scotch tape on the sides - I'm OCD about that). Of course it turned out nice! I reused the wrapping from the package I received from Kimberly in the Pink and Green Swap! Let's call it my late contribution to Earth Day.

I am messing about with my camera some more, and I like how I was able to get the back to fade out in this picture using the lowest aperture. I can't believe how amazing our camera is - what a great investment!

I also (almost) finished the cards for my mom and my mother-in-law. I used this great message gift box tutorial (and free template download!) created by Cathe Holden and hosted by Amy at Living Locurto. As you can see there are two different template themes...this manila one:

And this Victorian/Shabby Chic style:

Now all I have to do is sit down with hubby and write "reasons I love you" on the little cards to stuff in the boxes. That's the easy part! The template download for each style includes at elast one card (sized about 2x3 inches) but instead of using it as a template to cut out more, I used these lined notes from A Print A Day.

Nikon D60

I love having these little plants on my window sills. It helps me forget that I don't have a yard or a garden! I can just sit by the window and stare at my two pansies and pretend they're bigger and healthier than they actually are!


Does anyone else think it's amazing what digital cameras can do these days? I can't believe the photos my Nikon D60 can take. This flower here is no bigger than a dime and it's so clear!

I know that for people who actually know how to use a camera, this is probably not earth shattering. But I can't get over it! For someone like me, who as a kid would use an entire roll of film (remember that stuff) taking close ups of flowers with her Mickey Mouse Camera, only to find the pictures were a Blurry Mess, this is pretty exciting stuff!

Finally, Spring is here to stay!

I know because even after our "heat wave" of 90 degree weather for 5 days straight, it steel feels comfortable at 60 and the flowers and trees continue to thrive (not shrivel up in shock at the drop in temperature). And these are everywhere:


As big and wobbly as I am, when I saw their happy purple faces greeting me outside the kitchen window, I knew I had to have them inside with me. So I got out my scissors, went outside, got into my best squat (my Bradley instructor would be so proud) and cut away. And let me tell you - it was a workout! But totally worth it!

After admiring my little violet friends on the table, I decided to put to good use the information I gleaned from Whip Up yesterday. I've always struggled with how to put a camera to good use; I feel like I should just hand it to someone who knows what they're doing and yet I want to learn! You can take a million shots, but I hate just snapping away and hoping that, maybe, one will come out well. Well I wouldn't say I'm now an expert or even a little bit good, but the tips I read (and links I followed) were tremendously helpful. E.g. "Well, of course, good lighting is key, but what does that mean, and how do I achieve it? Ohhh...that's how!" I hope to get better and better over time! One trick I used this morning was to bounce light back into the composition from opposite the light source in order to soften the shadows. This is what I used:


You like? It's a plastic dough board for rolling out crusts! I used the other side which is flat and white and you know what...it worked!! My white sheet could have been a little more wrinkle-free though...