Friday, December 18, 2009

Mikaela’s World

“Mommy, wouldn’t it be great if there was a pause button on the wall and we could push it and make the day stand still? Then we could just stay in bed and snuggle and the sun wouldn’t come up yet.”

I would be pushing that pause button today!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Still relishing the memory of date night…

There were people who saw us who didn’t even know we were parents.

A kid-free 18 hours.

An hour late, much crying (the kids not me) and finally we were on our way.

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oh,  I needed that cocktail.

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The work party was at the Curtis Center

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Date night with a work party thrown in. For me, it was not the reason for the date, but what I had to go through to get the date. You never know what you will learn. We were in the dessert line with a couple who were married in a corn maze. I was trying to chat and be friendly but I had to turn around after I heard about the matching t-shirts that said “bride” and “groom”.  I tried to plaster my happy smile to my face but I really didn’t trust my facial features to be able to keep it up.  A corn maze. Did the guests have to try to find their way to the wedding or out of it? I decided I really like my husband’s boss when her comment was, “oh, corn maze, isn’t that redundant?”

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Looking up was quite a sight

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A little entertainment

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Such a beautiful dress

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Dueling photographers. I wonder what his shot looks like.

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I wanted to take the wheatgrass home after the party for juicing.

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Mr Karaoke.  My Damn Husband really should be a lounge singer. He’s got it down.

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He’s really working those eyebrows

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Finally, off to the Omni

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Damn Husband: “Put the camera away”

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He recovers from too many gin and tonics

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Breakfast at FARMiCiA was so yummy.  Their homemade granola is worth a trip into the city.

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Chemical Heritage. This is worth another trip into Philly.

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Philly is a really sweet city

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18 hours over too soon.

December 09a

Friday, December 11, 2009

Photo Workshop #4: Portraits

For the full photo assignment description go to Rose Note’s fabulous blog.

I think I covered all areas. Everyone in the family is angry with me. I should be “dressing to impress” right now since we are late for my husband’s work party and instead I am half-dressed and trying to post this before I leave. We are staying over in the city and the kids are sleeping over at their grandparents. This is my first date sleep over with my husband since…forever. I can’t remember the last time and here I am unpacked,  and not exactly looking like I am trying to impress anyone.  What I wish I could do is continue working on the tons of ideas I have for this assignment.  Below is a mix of new shots and revamped shots for this assignment. Impressive that I managed this much in between working, nursing kids with chicken pox and “dressing to impress.” Too bad I don’t have time to take the pre-work party photos for this assignment but I know I won’t get to put on makeup until we are in the car. Should look great attempting this in the dark with only the small mirror on the car visor. At least I won’t be the one driving. I will look forward to everyone else’s photos when I get back on Saturday night.

No Face Assignment:

Create five telling portraits of five different people, without including the face of the subject.

 

This was fun. I just kept working on this to avoid doing the self portraits.

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The local Christmas parade came in handy.

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A teen homeschool prom

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my sweet girl

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Nigel, surprisingly color coordinated

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friends

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ah, could anything be harder than self-portraits? Not for me.  I hate having my picture taken almost as much as I hate dressing up and going to my husband’s office party.  Ugh. I am so bad at dressing up. The only look I am good at now is sloppy motherhood, stains and all.

 

I started by playing with Photoshop. I think I look good in green and black. It sort of accentuates my evil side. Love that liquefy feature.

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Joking with my signature black turtleneck that is like my Linus blanket. I am good at hiding and it was freezing.  I love this picture.  I like that it doesn’t look like my arm is stretched out holding a camera.  

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Mikaela drew this portrait of me and I photographed it hanging on the mirror.

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My daughter took this picture for me when I was at work. The deer photos in the background were taken by a brilliant nature photographer, Barbara Kidder. I love her work (and her)

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Well, I didn’t put on makeup but I did set up the room lighting. The teens at our homeschooling resource center were having a prom and I set up the library as a photo studio. I wish I could post all the great pics. The teens are so beautiful and they looked so sweet dressed up.  (see, I would much rather be taking photos of other people) The two headless dressy shots above are from the same set up. I made the Damn Husband join me, It looks like I am about to knock him over.  I didn’t have time to pose this way and that, I just jumped in had someone click and jumped out to continue taking the pictures of the teens who were much more fun.

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So, surprising additions. I didn’t think I would get to post any more tonight but, the Damn Husband is snoring away on our king size bed in the Omni Hotel. He wore himself out singing Karaoke tonight and I pacified myself by taking pictures.  A good time had by all.  I still never managed to take a good dressed up Martha Stuart/ Good Morning America shot that was part of the assignment. Oh well, there is always next year’s Christmas party…

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It is freezing out. The big puff coat ruins the dressed up look hiding underneath but a girl has to stay warm. This was taken in the elevator of the Omni.

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more fun with mirrors

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