Oh, Barracuda! (5211-1)

I'm such a dork! In all my 52 Week craziness

I have failed to post my OWN photo on my blog! 

 

In staying true to my original 2010 project wherein my first photo was the old standby...in-the-car-shot, I went for it! 

I'm not really a mouth breather, I am belting it out to Heart's Barracuda!  

I so stinkin love that song. 

and I sing it very well, by grab! 

(not really, but in my head I do!) 

Excited to see everyone's Week 2 pics! I have been so so loving the variety for week one!

If you want to check it out, you can go to our Flickr page or our Facebook fanpage.  There are some duplicates, but some people are choosing to post at one or the other or both! 

Week 52!!!

I did it, I did it!!!! 

I made it through the year!  

It feels so good to accomplish a goal....a resolution.

I didn't make them all. I had planned to read my Bible through in a year, which I didn't complete, but I am not discouraged. I will continue pressing on. The point is I have been reading my Bible and I have gained so much from doing it.  I will finish this one - I'm not going to let a calendar stop me.

Stay tuned....the site for next year's 52 week project is in the works and I hope it is ready to roll by the week's end!

I do hope you will play along with me. :)

Week 51

To go along with my little "cup overflowing" series that unfolded last week,

I decided I needed to commemorate how I feel through my 52 week project. 

Do you ever feel like this glass of water in your heart?    

Just so full of blessings?  

It's a great way to feel, especially during the Christmas season!

One more week!  

I seriously hope several of you will play along with the 2011 project!  

I've been working  behind the scenes to help get things ready.  

My friend B is helping me on the technical side of things.  

I'm extremely nervous yet excited about this and the possibilities it holds.

Week 50

wow! I cannot believe I'm at Week 50!!!

You know I have to get my Christmas on in the old 52 week project!   

The little tree is one I put up in Alex's old room for Brooke during her visit a few weeks ago. 

That room is also servign as my gift and wrapping landing zone! 

The chalkboard was on my Wishpot and Brooke got it for me (she drew my name, Yay!). 

It is one of Rachel Denbow's that is for sale in Red Velvet.  

I was so thrilled to get this gem and feel sure it will show up again in other photo shoots. ;0)

So I'm mentioned and hinted several times about a possible new project 

AND I've asked if anyone would be interested in doing this project with me for 2011....

so can you put 2 and 2 together????   

I'm so excited and looking forward to many possibilities for this project.  

I promise to post just as soon as everything is in place and ready,

but I do hope you will charge up your camera batteries

and get ready for a 52 Week Project.

(it's more than a self-portrait!)

Week 49

A little Christmas Love from the Santa pic scene for a work related event.

BONUS:  Sporting the silver glitter Toms! LURVE THEM!

It has been totally CAH-razy in my world the last week....

as this week is also looking to be shaping up to be.

I have much to share though, so stay tuned - my goal is to post a little 

something every day (or night)  this week!

Two weeks of work and I get some time off - can't wait to work on a sorta secret project. :)

Week 48

This week is about cool color

This week is about getting older 

This week is about fun, handmade jewelry.

Week 47

So my friend, Blayne over at bmedia is also a wonderful photographer and does wonders (obviously) with editing.  This is my Week 47 - taken by me, and edited by Blayne with his specialty ------> Black and White. 

Thanks Blayne!  The results are awesome.
Along with photography, Blayne offers web services and consultation. 
Check out his site for more info...



Oh and thanks for all the suggestions on the necklace - Bekka's "oh snap" seemed to be the most popular and I'm seriously leaning that way!   Thanks Bekka! :)

Week 46

Random things I like about this picture:

• I like the way wood looks stacked up - pretty texture, no?
• I like that you can see my wedding ring with my Granny's pearl ring nestled in between my set.  Finally took that sucker out of the drawer to wear...use the good China, I say! 
• I like that I'm wearing my Toms, sans socks, in November!
• I like my favorite old Levi's that are getting to the point of thread-bare.  {I will mourn the day they finally give way.}
• I like that necklace.
• I like that my sleeves are long. {most sleeves are not like that on my monkey arms}
• I like that I was able to photoshop a zit off my chin. 

I will not mention the things I don't like, but I will say that they are less than what they would have been before I started this 52 week project.  I cannot believe it's already Week 46!

Oh, and did I mention that I'm in serious mode on the 52 Week Project for 2011? 

Well, I am.

I have lots of ideas to make this a fun interactive project for anyone who wants to participate.  It's not about taking the most beautiful pictures...it's about learning more about and playing with your camera, learning to like yourself and being comfortable in front of the camera, getting creative, and mostly it's about having a little fun!  

Details will follow over the next few weeks. 

Week 45

I suppose with the colder weather the crochet bug has bitten me again.

I phase through some of my favorite crafts and I have not picked up my crochet hook for a few weeks, so I broke that baby out this weekend to work on some crochet candy. 

Everytime I look at this basket of colorful goodness it makes me so happy, so I decided it would be a perfect feature in my 52 week project this week.  In fact, it's pretty much the focal point, but I'm in there so it counts as a self-portrait, right!?  Plus there is a little cameo appearance by the one who is always by my side when I'm crocheting: Angus! :)

This week when I'm stressed out, I think this picture will be my happy place. :)

Have a lovely week my bloggy friends. :)  

{is it bloggy or bloggie?}

{Is that even a real word?}

Week 44 Halloween!

Well I must admit that I love me some Halloween!  

Not because of the scary or evil factor. 

No, I just love to dress up!  

Yes, I'm just a big kid at heart.

I have actually don't three different costumes over the weekend.  

First we have Week 44 of my 52 week project:

This was my original costume idea for last night's festivities at our church, but I changed at last minute from this butterfly, gothic-y fairy character to this scarecrow:

This is a costume I made almost 20 years ago for a Wizard of Oz, Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow costume contest my friends and I entered.  It has been used many times over the years and actually won me first place last night! 

Friday at work we set up a trick or treat table for the kiddos at the daycare associated with the college where I work, and our theme was witches, so there I am (far right) as a witch.  (digging those witches hats we found at Wal-Mart!)

I must say that being a Christian, I know that this secular holiday is not really "celebrated" but I do enjoy the fun that surrounds October 31st - the Fall chill in the air, the candy, food, smells and of course the costumes!!! 

I just think you have to know - and teach your children - that this is a make believe holiday and embrace the positive - eliminate the negative - make it a time for fellowship and fun and a lesson in NOT being afraid.

Isaiah 43:5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you...
and
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart...
  

Make it a day for treats and love and smiles! :) 

Week 43

What glorious weather we've been having lately - perfect temps and beautiful colors abound...although we desperately need rain and had we had more of it earlier the fall colors would be unstoppable right now!

But alas, I'm satisfied with this weather - and wish it would stay like this and not get cold and gray. Dreading that already.

So I knew my weekly shot had to include some of the brilliance of Fall - and where better than the farm!  This is on my Mom's place, formerly my Grandparents - this is right along the river and these yellow leaves made a beautiful glowing canopy - how perfect!?

My 43rd week shot was a toss up - I went with the second of these simply because it was more fun and whimsical!  I used Pioneer Woman's Colorized action and added some of the yellow back into the leaves I was playing with.  The first one just had a color boost added...the leaves were really that pretty. 

Get out there and enjoy this weather and grab some Fall shots - regardless of your camera - it must be captured and enjoyed! :)

PS: so happy that some of you have an interest in my 52 week self portrait project!   More on that later. :)

Week 42

So Week 42...

I cannot believe there are only 10 more weeks to go!
This has been one of the best experiences I must say - a little daunting at times and somewhat intimidating, but I have really grown in my photography skills as well as my self-esteem.

This was taken in my hotel room at Hot Springs during a conference I was attending.  Used the lamps as my light source.  I love the warm color and design of the sofa!

I am seriously considering doing this again for 2011 but starting a separate blog and Facebook group for others to join.  For those of you reading my blog who are not on FB, I've changed my profile picture to my 52 week picture every week and have an overwhelming amount of people keeping up with my progress and looking forward to seeing them each week. I thought there might be some interest from others playing along.  Any takers?  I was thinking of adding in some prompts or ideas if people were stumped and needed some inspiration. 

I welcome any other ideas for this project!
Are we not FB friends????  Well, let's fix that right now!

Be My Friend :)

Week 41

Well, today is 10.10.10.  

It is also my Granny Hutchison's birthday - hard to believe she's been gone almost 15 years. 

The sunsets have been fabulous this weekend, so I thought I would incorporate my love of sunsets into my 52 week project.

I also want to thank each of you that left sweet comments on my last post.  It was heartfelt and something I wanted to share for others dealing with change - good and/or bad, in their life.  I treasure each comment from you and appreciate you coming here and reading my odd array of ramblings from time-to-time! :) 

This online community can be such a nice refuge for friends, conversation, thoughts, prayers and inspiration!  It gets a bad rap sometimes, but I for one embrace the positive - just like in my "offline" life.

Week 39

A quick shot before leaving for church - it had rained and was considerably cooler. 

Felt like the real first day of Fall.

I have mixed feelings about this.  

I have a love/hate relationship with Fall...

Love the actual Fall.

Hate what comes after.

(well, maybe hate is a strong word, but I very much dislike the gray days of winter.)

I will take lots of days like today though.

In related news, we had our first pot of chili tonight! 

I do look forward to soups and chilis. :)

Week 38

Had to do it!

See no evil, hear no evil, and of course speak no evil! 

I am hoping to catch up on my favorite blogs - I am missing all of you and missing all the inspiration...I've just let my blog reader get completely out of control and when that happens, it makes my feel guilty and then I continue to let it grow out-of-control. Why do we let guilt creep in on us over the small things!?  GEEZ

I am crafting and hope to update my Etsy shop soon with some new fun goodies.

A wee bit behind: Weeks 36 and 37

Sorry for the lack of activity the last few days...I've had some personal stuff going on and have just been preoccupied.

I do want to get the last two weeks of my 52 week project posted for posterity's sake.

Week 36

I am obviously totally inspired by Kara - this shirt features her lovely *pun intended* handwriting and I had been inspired by another post from her blog a few weeks ago with my fresh out of the shower, no make-up look.

(shirt can be purchased here: the lovely along with some other lovely items.)

Week 37 

I lost my Aunt Kathi (my mom's oldest sister) on Friday night - I was actually with her when she passed away and I will probably blog about it sometime, but for now, I will say she is now cancer free and living the good life...the eternal life...with God in Heaven.  

This week's photo is my tribute to her....she was an artist and has always encouraged my creativeness. For that I am thankful!  The camo headwrap was fabric I had gotten to make her some cancer caps.  She loves to hunt so this was perfect for her.  She loved nature and the outdoors, so this was done outside.  More than anything though, she loved her family and the Lord. 

She will be greatly missed and I feel so blessed that she was such a huge impact in my life.

Week 35

Not much to say about this week's photo, except here it is!  A little post processing to soften and pop the eye. (ew, that sound gross, sorry).

Photographed a wedding Saturday - over 1400 photos! wowza.

I really need to blog some of the latest photos I've done.  Maybe I'll get a spark this week to do that in between editing!

Week 34

Sorry my blog has been pretty much quiet lately.  

I got through these phases...hopefully I will feel more inspired soon.

Meantime, I must share my Week 34 selfie:

These girls are my "prends"...."prends", you say?

There is a story....my prend on the right, Judy's grandson couldn't quite say friends yet several years ago so he called them prends.  It has stuck! Judy's fun website can be found here.  You can learn all about her grandchildren!

My prend on the left is Karla.  You can find her blog here and she and her husband's new project website here.

We had a little pool-time date today and I knew I wanted to include this memory in my 52 week project! These girls are are awesome!  We have made so many fun memories together over the last 8 years.  We met through work and our friendship just grew.

I can always count on them to make me laugh, give me encouragement, pray with me, let me cry on their shoulders, complain to, eat with, inspire me to be a better person, and mostly to be friends without any hidden agendas.  People, that is hard to find!!!

Thanks my prends for just being who you are and true to yourselves. I hope we have many more hairy-legged pool-time dates. :)

Week 33

After seeing Kara's post a few weeks ago, daring her readers to take a self-portrait without make-up, I decided I would make this one of my 52 week photos. 

Now Kara is just adorable and has this great 18 year old young, dewy, innocent, peaches & cream complexion, so you can trust me when I say that I, a forty year old woman, who has not always taken the best care of her skin, AND who has worse break-outs now than when she was a teenager (CAN someone please explain that one? grrrrrr), was very apprehensive about doing this particular photo, but decided to just go for it. 

Decided while I was at it, I'd just go for the whole hair-in-a-towel, straight-out-of-the-shower look.  I mean if you are going to do this, why not go the whole way right!? 

Luckily the odd overhead+natural light from the window cast a nice glow which hopefully helps hide some of my flaws in this unedited, naked shot. :)

Week 32

Twenty weeks and counting!  Wow.  

Christmas will be here before we know it friends.

Meanwhile, yesterday's selfie was pretty uninspiring.  

I could not think of anything clever or different,

so I had to use some post-processing for a twist. 

Here's to hoping for 20 more clever ideas!