Under a blue moon

Friday's Favorites

Flickr Favorites (please click link to see the source of these beautiful images)

• These have to be the sweetest spice tins I've ever seen
• Someone with small children needs to do this on Easter
• I've seen this method of shredding chicken on Pinterest and I have to say it totally works!  I did it myself this week. Shredded about six cups of chicken in under two mintues (I did two chicken breasts at a time).  Tip:  Cover your mixer with a towel before turning on otherwise you'll be cleaning shredded chicken off your kitchen ceiling.  Don't ask how I know this....
• Fabulous source for party and craft supplies.  Look at their selection of Luau stuff - not your usual cheesy neon faux leis and plastic tiki cups.
• What a pretty set of bangles

Well hello there.  I didn't mean to be gone for so long.  I guess I just needed some time to reflect on what I was doing with this blog and what direction I want to take it.  Lately it has felt like I was scrambling to slap something up here rather than genuinely having something I wanted to share.

It also felt like I was spending all my time online looking for inspiration and recycling ideas rather than coming up with my own (I realize the irony of this statement on my Friday's Favorites post where I am essentially just bringing you links and pictures I've found online but bear with me...).  

The overall tone of this blog will not change - One of the things I was struggling with was identifying what type of blog this is - is it a craft blog, a decorating blog, a me rambling about whatever nonesense catches my attention blog...and I decided that I really didn't want to pick one single direction - so it will continue to be a lifestyle type blog.  Only a little more organized.  This is more for my sake than anything else.  I find I do better when I have a set schedule or routine.  I feel more grounded and focused and less like I'm just spinning my wheels.

So no glaringly obvious changes will happen around here, just a little more consistency with my posting and hopefully I'll have new and inspiring things to share.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Have a fabulous weekend and I'll see you on Monday.

 

 

 

3.7.12

I'm going to take a wee blogging break.  Hope to be back in a week or so.

 

3.4.12

The week in review:

February 27 - F is for Flower 

February 29 - Z is for Zebra.  I skipped 2/28.  I was also experimenting with a black background.  This was the last of the photography class so no more alphabet related photos.

March 1 - New tree swing!

March 2 - Look!  They don't always have their butts in the air.  

March 3 - Old keys.  I was playing with textures and post processing.  The original photo was completely dark and boring.  

No photo for March 4th either.  Sundays are hard for me since I'm usually getting my avian chores done (cleaning the palais and refilling the bird feeders) and getting ready for the trip down to my dad's.  So please excuse two absences this week.

Because I was taking a class many of the photos I've taken over the past month have been more about the camera settings and new photography techniques than about the subject.  Like the camelia and the zebra.  These techniques will serve me well if/when I ever open up an online shop and need to take photos of products.  But for my blog I think I prefer the slice of life (tree swing, rumpled quilt) type of photos.  

Those are the types of pictures I like looking at on other peoples blogs anyway.

It was an eye opening class.  I am so glad I took it.  It made me slow down and learn my camera a little better.  I understand light much better and I learned a few post processing tricks that help rescue a less than perfect photo.  

And, as a bonus, my N is for Negligee picture won a prize!  The instructors gave out prizes in different categories and that photo won in the "best use of natural light" category!  

 

Friday's Favorites

Flickr Favorites (please click link to see the source of these beautiful images)

• Hey!  You can rent the house in Under the Tuscan Sun:  Bramasole - Villa Rental
• I love the sweet simplicity of Alessandro Gottardo's illustrations
• I found this frame on Pinterest and then went on a hunt for the perfect pale chalky beige/pink so I could DIY (the swatch online looks darker than it is in reality.  Trust me - it's a perfect match)
• Two of my favorite collectibles - milk glass and brooches combined.  I saw a few pretty examples used as hair pins for brides.  This is lovely  As is this one (covers that whole "something blue" business
• I'll leave you with a little pulling of your heartstrings.  Poor scared little pup just needed a hug  Edited to add:  Thank you Thelma!  Here is a follow up video

This week just flew by.  My photo a day class is over (but not my photo a day resolution) so normal blogging will resume (I never intended the class to pre-empt blogging but that's kind of what happened).  I have some things to share next week.  Like my version of the pale pink frame, a new addition to one of our oak trees and an updated milk glass collection post.  

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!