Looking Up

Things have been looking up around here... at least I've been looking up.  How could I not, with skies like this??

I see a sky-diving bunny, what do you see?

 I don't know what weather patterns (besides insane heat) have contributed to such gorgeous clouds in the sky lately, but the skies have been incredible to look at every day!

The clouds have been massive, voluminous, fluffy, pure white entities you wish you could jump into.

...it's the stuff that daydreams are made of...

My kids call them Toy Story clouds (like the ones on the wall in Andy's room).  And speaking of kids, they are keeping me worn, I tell you!  If you are a work at home mom and juggling motherhood and keeping on target with running your own business, while maintaining sanity, please share your secrets.  I'd love to feel like I'm doing things right at least one day a week.  Xp (that is me looking pooped)

But I feel positive.  Being a mom is the toughest job, ever.  Ever ever.  But it's one I wouldn't trade for the world, and would probably do all over again if I could (don't ask me that on a bad day though).  And I can't help but think that..

...if parenting didn't feel like the toughest job in the world, then I must not be doing it right.

So I am celebrating today!  I'm celebrating the fact that my back is in knots, my hair is a mess, and I'm still in my pajamas on a Friday afternoon, still trying to enjoy my morning coffee (one sip at a time).  It is Friday, right?

And I'm celebrating my kids..and motherhood... stressful moments and all!  All the craziness just makes the calm moments that much sweeter. 

 I hope you'll find something to celebrate today too.  *cheers!*  :)  Here's to a lovely weekend!

PS.  These sky photos were taken with my phone camera and posted via Instagram. If you instagram, you can see more of my daily photos at "envedesigns"...please come and say hi! :)

Finding Extra {in the} Ordinary :: my latest distraction

Guess what, people?  I finally stepped into the future and am now a new proud owner of a smart phone!  I know, I know.. I'm a little fashionably late to the party, but I'm here at last.  It is already proving to be quite a distraction for me because now, with all the cool photo enhancement apps out there, I can satiate my desire to be artsy fartsy amateur photographer whenever I want!  *happy happy dance* 

This photo was taken over the weekend while hanging out at the playground.  I just love how the late afternoon sunlight casts that gorgeous glow, and how miraculously, my daughter stood still for a millisecond at just the right angle, and I just happened to have the camera ready.  This was definitely a rare moment because I have such a hard time photographing her.  I just added a little bokeh effect and a cool border with the pixlromatic app, and voila!  I'm having so much fun with this thing.. so beware, there may be an influx of photos on this blog, and for no reason at all.  You'll tell me if I'm going overboard, right?  I trust that you will.  ;)

Be back soon.

Finding Extra (in the) Ordinary :: Fun with Bubbles!

One of my favorite things to do when the weather warms up in the springtime is play with bubbles.  They're just so much fun and the kids love it too.  :)  I always try to take pictures, but bubbles are so hard to photograph!  This time around, I think I got a few good ones.  I love how colorful they are against the sunset!  Completely serendipitous.  And have I mentioned how much I love my camera's auto setting?  I'll say it again!  I love this camera and its auto mode!  All I did was point and click.  No skills required on my part.

The kids had such a great time chasing the little elusive orbs around the deck.  Jax was trying to pop them with his head and his mouth.. so entertaining, that little dude!  And of course Kaili followed suit and did what big brother was doing.  Gotta love this age.  They're just so much fun to watch.  :)

Love this shot because it looks like Jax is juggling the bubbles!

And here's Kaili balancing a bubble on her little finger!

 

And this last one is a picture I took a couple years ago when we were still living in Boston.  I just love it for so many reasons.  :)

What's your favorite springtime activity?

Hope you're all enjoying spring!

Finding Extra (in the) Ordinary :: tracks in the melting snow

 

A little melt away spot I saw during one of our walks.  We were helping the kids find tracks in the snow and thinking about who/what created those tracks.

What kind of tracks do you leave behind?  ;)

View all photos in my Finding Extra (in the) Ordinary series.

Finding Extra (in the) Ordinary :: Snow Topography

With all the "snowpocalypse" hoopla earlier this week, there's no avoiding some pictures of more snow. I actually thought the big blizzard was going to skip right over us because nothing was happening... but then there was the sudden onset. The wind was so intense and the snow was so powdery that it was snowing sideways!  The snow wasn't really settling in some parts, while in other parts, it was piled over a foot deep. That combination of wind and snow created some really beautiful effects around our house! So of course I'm wading up to my knees to try to capture these shots.

These are not black and white pictures, by the way. I only played with the levels in photoshop to really bring out the tiniest undulations in the shadows.

Now that I've taken my pictures, it's time to get the sled out and go zooming down the hill!  I hope you're all keeping warm, staying safe, and having fun in all the snow!

View all photos in Finding Extra (in the) Ordinary series.

Finding Extra (in the) Ordinary :: Tiny Toes

It's hardly ever quiet when the kids are awake, but when "quiet" happens spontaneously, it is heaven.  Especially when it's our little firecracker, Kaili, who rarely sits long enough for me to read an entire story at a normal pace.  I'm happy to know that she does like books after all.

I hope you can find a little quiet too, exactly when you need it.

View all photos in Finding Extra (in the) Ordinary series.

Finding Extra (in the) Ordinary :: Day 1

After finding a spark of inspiration, I decided to go forward with my personal photography challenge -- capturing something extraordinary in my otherwise ordinary day.  I'd like to do this as a photo-a-day, but admittedly it's a bit ambitious.  But what's a challenge without it being challenging, right?  So here are a few from Day 1.  It was unusually warm yesterday so Jax and I were outside playing with the melting snow and ice.  Pretty ordinary, but certainly not through the eyes of a 3-year-old!  He found a sheet of ice in the back of his yellow toy dump truck and we both examined and admired each tiny detail. 

I love how the sunlight played with the cracking surface of the ice... and the gentle gradation of colors shining through is so beautiful to me.  I'm happy I snapped these photos before I (fumble fingers) dropped the ice and shattered it.

We then built a tiny snowman.  One arm was three times longer than the other, but he was a happy little guy.  I say "was" because by the end of the afternoon, all the snow on our deck was gone, and all that was left of our little friend was a tiny pile of twigs.

Here he is with Jax.  :)  So what's the moral of the story?  Enjoy the little things before they're gone.  ;)

Have a beautiful Saturday, everyone!

Brilliance :: A Visual Life

Ever since my first (and only) photography class in the 7th grade (which is like an eon ago), I've been a silent admirer of brilliant photos and of brilliant photographers.  I suppose that's redundant because they go hand in hand.  Since then, my interests refined in other directions and I never really pursued photography as a form of art or self expression.  But, as with anything else you can think of, it is never too late.

At the blogger meet up last weekend, Sandy had mentioned a video about the photographer behind The Sartorialist.  I had heard of this blog, but had never visited before.  The video sounded interesting so I went digging.  It didn't take much digging at all of course.  I quickly found it and just as quickly, found myself feeling truly inspired by it.  If you're not yet familiar with The Sartorialist, it's a hugely popular fashion blog where photographer Scott Schuman posts daily photos of everyday people who catch his eye (albeit his ever-searching, former director of fashion in New York City, style-radar-having eye).  He has documented people in NYC, Paris, London, Milan, and Seoul, just to name a few.  If you're into people watching, this is definitely a blog to keep an eye on.





A couple of things he stated in the video really resonated with me.  He mentioned that he didn't have a formal background in photography, but his initial lack of knowledge helped him to refine what little he did know into something that ultimately worked for him.  He strives to capture "the most beautiful image...in the most simple way" that he can.  So camera in hand, on the streets, with natural lighting, every day sights, and passersby.  Simple.  Brilliant.  So doing this required a lot of patience... and waiting... and "just reacting" to his environment.  And the end product--amazing photos that capture a definite mood that is sure to elicit something from the person who views it--perhaps something different every time, from picture to picture.  I love that.  And that is the thing I love about photography (as an onlooker of course.  I can only dream about being the one who actually captures brilliant photos).

I love the idea of being immersed in your own environment, yet viewing it with a new eye, each and every second.  So I was sparked and excited to think about how I could translate that idea into my own everyday, as a photography exercise.  It was tough and somewhat defeating in my mind.  Do you know what my everyday is?  Some of you can probably guess.  I'm at home full time with my 2 kids (my 3 yr old son and my 1.5 yr old daughter), plus I take care of my 8 month old nephew several days a week.  How in the world would I find anything interesting or eye-catching about my visual environment, which usually looks like a toy tornado just ripped right through it?  And there's not much happening on the streets of Kansas in the middle of January, much to your surprise, I'm sure.

So this is a definite challenge for me... one that I wasn't sure if I could take on.. and may still be unsure about it as I type this.  But now that I've jotted it down in virtual ink, I suppose I've committed to following through.  So now I'm going to embark on this personal photography exercise -- finding extra in the ordinary.  I'm not really sure what will come of this, or if I can even rise up to this challenge.  But dammit, I'm going to try!  Anyone else up for the challenge?  Who's with me???  Let's grab our cameras!

Here's to finding inspiration in your everyday.

2010 :: views from my back porch

One thing I have always loved about being in Kansas is the chance to witness some gorgeous skies.  And with our house being on top of a small hill, I feel like I could just touch it sometimes.  I especially love watching the seasons change and seeing a different sky every single day.  All from the comforts of our humble deck--an ordinary place to be, yet full of extraordinary sights.

Through all the undulations between happiness and tears, I hope your year was filled with magic and moments that left your heart in awe.  Here's to the wonderful memories with our loved ones, the experiences that have helped us grow, and a new year brimming with hope and surprises. 

Wishing you the warmest and brightest of Holidays!  See you in the brand new year! 

If I were... I'd be...

my photo: taken while apple-picking last October

 If I were a month I’d be October.

If I were a day I’d be Saturday.

If I were a time of day I’d be sunset.

my photo: partial view of Boston skyline along the Charles 

If I were a planet I’d be Saturn.
 (it's wearing jewelry!)

If I were a sea animal I’d be a jellyfish.

my photo: a jellyfish at the New England Aquarium 

If I were a direction I’d be East.

If I were a piece of furniture I’d be a huge cozy bed
with lots of pillows you actually use.

If I were a liquid I’d be rain.

 Raindrops print by bluedreamsunshine

If I were a gemstone I’d be Sunstone, Emerald, or Aquamarine.

If I were a tree I’d be a bonzai.

 my photo: hanging out with the bonzai trees at Longwood Gardens in PA

If I were a tool I’d be glue.
 (mushy and helps keep stuff together)

If I were a flower I’d be a daisy.

my photo: wall of daisies

If I were an element of weather I’d be a breeze.

If I were a musical instrument I’d be a piano.

If I were a color I'd be London Blue.

 London Blue Topaz gems from rmcgems.com

If I were an emotion I’d be Gratitude.

If I were a fruit I’d be a Kiwi.
(sweet and tart ..and a little hairy..
lol, ok no more hair jokes I promise)

If I were a sound I’d be
the light clinking of a bamboo wind chime.

If I were an element I'd be Oxygen.

my photo: soap bubbles in an empty bottle 

If I were a car I’d be a convertible.

If I were a food I’d be anything made by mom.

If I were a place I’d be "home".

Neighborhood cup/vase by loveartworks

If I were a material I'd be cotton.

If I were a taste I’d be savory.

If I were a scent I’d be fresh linen.

 Fresh Linen Shea Butter Soap by dennisanderson

If I were a body part I’d be eyes.

If I were a song I’d be a lullaby.

If I were a bird I'd be a hummingbird.

If I were a gift I'd be 
one that is simple and from the heart.. 
and handmade.

If I were a city I'd be Boston.

my photo: view of Boston skyline while walking along the Charles River 

If I were a door I'd be vintage french doors.

If I were a pair of shoes I’d be
super stylish kicks that you can dance all night in.

If I were a poem I would be
flying off the tip of a favorite pen.

my photo: a poem I wrote
(ps. my handwriting is only this neat when I concentrate real hard) 
 

There you have it, a smidge more about me you may have not known before.  Thank you to Andrea, whose "if I were, I'd be" post inspired this one.  So dear readers, I'd love to see your version of this so I can learn a little more about you (so if you do a similar post, please let me know)!  :)