Some Catching Up

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The above pictures were taken at Katie's school by photographer, Jill Amey. You can check out her website HERE. I think she did a fabulous job on Katie. I got this small package of 4x6s and 1 - 5x7 (her sitting by the tree) for $30. All the pictures were purchased in black and white, but you can purchase them in color. Her and I talked about how we love black and white pictures, to capture the moment. 

Speaking of photography, I recently discovered Flora Bella Texture Photography Collection.  I'm in LOVE!  CLICK HERE to check out the website. I've been online the other day in chat rooms talking about "How To Create The Florabella Texture Look of Your Photos?" Some of the sites sound logical, but I haven't tried it out yet. I think they are so beautiful.

The above picture is an example of the vintage textured look aka Flora Bella style.  It looks like an old washed out photo, but it was probably taken just a couple of months ago.  I wished I could have posted a picture of one of  Flora Bella's Collection, but their blogsite has security measures to where you can't copy any of her works.  Online, I found you can do this with your photos by using Adobe Photoshop, which is the exact program that I have currently.  A couple of photographers said you just have to experiment with your different textures to get the right one that suits you.  I didn't know this, but they added that I could use more than one texture on top to get whole different look.  I've only dabbled a little with textures.  I like to use the spotlight soft and omni for a few of my photos of Katie.  Now, to find more time to really get my hands into this technique. 

Ballet

Katie's ballet group picture - there were a couple of little girls out that day

ballet rehearsal is well on it's way and I'm excited to see the final performance. Mrs. Elaine told all the parents the other day that our recital will only last approximately a little over an hour long this year.  All the classes/groups are doing their own thing instead of one whole production.  You'll get to see not only ballet, but jazz and hip-hop as well.  During rehearsal, you should have seen those little girls' eyes when they were watching the big girls dancing all over the studio.  Afterwards, Katie (all big eyed) asked me if I saw the big girls dance.  She told me, she wants to dance like that when she gets older.  Hopefully, dance will be in our future.  The younger ballerinas' theme is "Dances Around The World."  Katie's group represents France and will be dancing to French music.  Don't ask me the name because I really don't know. 

Bare Escentuals
While we were at the mall, I stopped over to Bare Escentuals to get my yearly supply of makeup.  I'm not lying!  I normally buy my makeup once a year, unless I need something out of the ordinary like eye shadow or lipstick.  This time, I not only got my makeup but lipstick.  I like to wear pastels during the Summer months, so I picked up some new eye shadow (colors: soul, blush & liberty).  I think they are so pretty!  Better yet, I got a free Contour Shadow Brush for purchasing 3 eye shadows.  Yay!  The lipstick and lip liner I went with for this Summer is called Bavarian Creme and Shell.  The associate gave me a rewards cards.  For every $10 that I spend in their store, I get a stamp on my card.  Once I fill up my card, I get $10 off my next purchase.  You've got to get to your local Bare Escentual store and take advantage of these deals.  

Whole Foods Market Adventure

I've always wanted to visit our "Whole Foods Market" ever since it was built a few years ago.  Our local news station visits there from time to time, interviewing the chefs on new recipes and so on.  I've heard so much about it and I finally got to go inside. 

This fish, which you see pictured with Katie at "Whole Foods Market" is called a "Wreckfish" or "Stone-Bass."  They can be found mainly on the Western side of British Isles and round into the upper North Sea.  They feed off of other fish like Pollack, but supplements on crustaceans and squid.

Peggy, Katie and I had a blast inside this grocery store.  Doug and Millard were beginning to wonder if we were ever going to leave.  I had fun in the bakery department alone.  They had so many creative creations under glass, waiting for someone to take them home.  We went by the cafe, where everyone mingles and enjoy the flavors of different masterpieces.  They even had a special setting just for the sushi loves alike.  A couple were seated enjoying their japanese speciality and each others company, while sipping on a tasty glass of Merlot.  The meat section of the cafe were featuring barbeque ribs, pizza, roasted chicken and lots of sides.  I was shocked to see,  they had the brick stone oven like the professionals.  They must mean business with their pizza and barbeque.  It all looked very good and it made Peggy and I sad because we had just ate at "The Cheesecake Factory."  We did however grab a little dessert for the road home.  Katie had to have a chocolate truffle decorated like a pink pig.  Peggy and I had to try their Caramel Pecan Cluster.  I give them two thumbs up. You can check out their website HERE to see where the closest Whole Foods Market is to you.

Yogurt Mountain

Before we made our way to Whole Foods Market, Doug stopped by Yogurt Mountain.  Wow!  There were people everywhere enjoying this cool dessert.  People were just sitting down on the grass in groups, eating their bucket of very decked out frozen yogurt.  Doug, Katie and myself went in to check out all the excitement.  We had to find out what we were missing.  You should have seen the line of people.  The cashier told us to grab a bucket and start creating.  They charge you by the ounce ($.49 an ounce).  Katie wanted some strawberry ice cream.  I got her a little in her bucket, while Doug filled his bucket full of peach yogurt ice cream.  The line was so long just for the buffet of toppings, so we decided to get out naked bowls of ice cream, pay and leave. 

Katie's Teacher Appreciation Craft

It's finished and Katie thinks Mrs. Katie will like it.

I still can't remember where I got the idea, but made ours different from the original idea.

Teacher Appreciation Flower Pot
The title probably isn't the best, but it's what I could come up with.  You can make your own title.

What You'll Need:
1- small clay pot
1 - can of chalkboard spray paint (you can use the paint on as well)
1 sheet of pink glitter foam
1 sheet of yellow adhesive foam
2 sheet of green construction paper
2 sticks of white chalk
3 green pipe cleaners (for stems)
Flower Cookie Cutter
1 sheet of decorative tissue paper

Instructions:
I didn't measure anything out, so you'll have to go by eye. 

• tape off a square section on your pot.  I taped plastic wrap around the pot, to make sure the spray didn't get out of control and get on it where it wasn't possible to. 
• spray 2 thin coats of chalkboard paint.  Let the paint dry for 24 hrs. Rub it with the side of chalk (this prepares it) and wipe off, then you can write the person's name on it. 
• I took a cookie cutter that we already had and pressed onto the foam.  Doing this, makes it easier to cut out a pretty flower.  I like using the glitter foam to give it a little bling.  Cut out 6 pink glitter foam flowers.  I tried cutting out leaves to go with the flowers, but they didn't glue right for me. 
• Fold the tissue and place in the bottom of pot. This keeps the pipe cleaner from sticking out or paper falling out of the bottom, if your pot has a hole in it.  
• Stick the pipe cleaner down in the pot to see where you need to cut.  I made the middle stem longer than the side flowers. Cut your pipe cleaners (stems) to the desired length.  I wouldn't suggest leaving them too long because they can be flimsy. 
• Glue 2 flowers together (glitter side out) with a stem in between them.  Do this for all 3 stems.  Set aside. 
• For the yellow middle of the flower, I used a Belly Tickler sippy cup lid for a perfect circle.  I'm sure a small biscuit or circle fondant cutter will work just as good.  I pressed the sippy cup lid down on the yellow foam to get my imprint and cut out 5 yellow circles.  It was great having the sheet with an adhesive already on it because it stuck really good to the glitter flower.  
• Take your photo and cut the same size circle.  Glue it to the middle of your longest flower.  As shown above.  
• Shred the 2 sheets of green construction paper.  I used my paper shredder to do the trick. Place the flowers down in the pot, where desired and begin filling it up with shredded green paper (makes it look like grass). 
• I bent the 2 side flowers to the side a little, for effect.  Placed a couple sticks of chalk in the front and Viola!

This little project didn't take very long doing it, it was finding time putting it together.