Playing with Pictures

I'm trying to learn how to use textures in my photos. Here are some examples of a what I've been doing lately.




I'm trying out the rounded edges

Unique Style

I am all about unique style and not looking like everyone else. As I was looking online to get some inspiration, I came across this really funky website. Great stuff, but I don't think I could pull it off. Maybe I'll start with a lampshade or a cushion. Admit it, you could never be sad in a room with all this color!

Learning...

I have had some wonderful people take the time to give me some tips on Photoshop. Someone I truly respect told me learning photoshop will take years. That made me feel better about feeling so overwhelmed. I've made a goal to learn one thing about it each day. Since I am stuck at home with Ella potty training (don't ask...) I have been reading and playing around with some pictures. Here is a "before and after" of the picture of Ella that I wanted to work on.

Potty Training

For all of you that feel Ella is ready to be potty trained....? Come on over and help me!
Today I have started the process of getting Ella to stop wearing diapers. I have come to terms with the fact that the next few days I will be spending at home-cleaning up messes! Why do you think I've had so much time to catch up on my blogging? So far Ella and I have been working on it for about 2 hours and had one accident. She seems to be responding (atleast going through the motions with me) so we'll see what the outcome is by the end of the week. I am using the ol' "m&m" trick and lots of juice. Any ideas... I'm open for suggestions.

Enrichment Sweetheart Dance

Last night was our enrichment activity. Since Valentine's Day is this weekend, we dicided to do a Sweetheart Dinner and Dancing. We started with a delicious dinner and dessert served to us by our Young Men. Then we had a small program that included a beautiful piano solo, some quotes on love by our prophets and church leaders, a violin solo, and finished with a beautiful duet from a couple in our ward.



Here are pictures of people dancing and enjoying the evening. Husbands and wives were dancing...

Fathers with their daughters...

Tanner got to dance with the Bishop's wife...

And Jon Braack got to dance with a sweet Nelly

Tanner started cutting the rug and had a group of admirers clapping and laughing. What a little performer- I wonder where he gets that? wink. wink.

Flower Delivery!

I received the most beautiful bouquet of flowers from my thoughtful brother, Greg. He has always taken such good care of me. I love my brother dearly. Thank you, Greg! Happy Valentine's Day!

Bachelor Night

So I just love the nights that my sweet friends get together with our little midnight snacks, sitting around the TV, mocking the Bachelor. It is so fun. What was that whole thing with the dead dove? Did anyone else pick up on the "religion" talk with her dad in their at home casino?!!!

Here we have some virgin bloody mary's and some individual bundt cakes and delicious iced cranberry cake. YUMMMMMM!

Photshop Tutorials?

If anyone is reading this post that knows a thing or two about photoshop, I need your help. I just got Photoshop CS4 and WOW it is overwhelming. I like this picture here of Ella but there are things I want to do with it. Some things I am hoping to learn in photoshop are removing the line and spots from my driveway (tacky) and then maybe adding a vintage filter or something? If you know anything... please comment. Thanks!

Tanner's Birthday

Erin let me take some pictures of Tanner for his first birthday! It was so fun! He has so many expressions!




We could not forget his "bitter beer face" he always does.

This is the book that inpsired the snowboard themed party.

Here is the cake we made, just for Tanner, to look like the Rhino from the book. Little Rhino guy is made purely from fondant, and then we hand painted him with food coloring.

Here is the sheet cake for the guests to eat.

Happy Birthday Tanner! Make a wish!

Erin's mom sent vinyl to look like pages from the book to put on the walls.

This is "Dude". He was the life of the party (recognize him from book club?).

Erin made her whole house look perfect for the party!

Portland

This weekend we went with the Anderson's and the Martin's to Portland and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
We did plenty of eating...

Then we went shopping and shopping and then did a little more shopping...

The highlight of the weekend, and the purpose for the trip, was the JAZZ game. Although they didn't win we had a great time eating hot dogs, nachos and licorice rope. It's all about the experience.

To finish up the weekend, we had a relaxing morning by ordering breakfast in bed.