Tea & Brie

3/30

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Perfect to me... this is just *so* Brie and really just sums up our days together.  Well, ok... I admit if Thaya was jumping up and down on the table in the background it would be a more accurate depiction :P

2/30

When I told her it was time to frost the cupcakes, she dropped what she was doing and sprinted over.  Apparently "frosting the cupcakes" means something entirely different to a 2 year old.

I managed to get her to drop the fork before the frosting made it to her mouth (man, that sugar high would have taken days to come down from), and get it on the cupcakes instead.

If you haven't heard of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World you are missing out.  If there is one cupcake book that you buy, THIS should be it.  It makes, by far, the best cupcakes I've ever had. In my life.

1/30

Taking on a 30 day project. Not sure how it will go. My folks aren't going to see the girls for awhile so I thought this may be a nice way to document their time away from each other.

I love taking pictures of the girls when they first wake up. Something about their faces... they look and feel so fresh.

On another note, Brie is totally going to be into dressing up for Halloween, seeing as she absolutely refuses to take the kitty ears off, even for one minute.  Such a sweet heart.

Again, black pits for eyes... why can't I get bright beautiful blue eyes like so many others do? Maybe I should be using a reflector or something? I dont know :(

Boo - Halloween Craft

These are easy and quick to make, and the kids love them!  They aren't so spooky, but still add some halloween fun to the house...

All you do is this:

1) get your supplies - white tempra paint, a little bit of black tempra paint (though a black marker works in a pinch), a paint brush OR a shallow pan (i use disposable pie tins sometimes), black construction paper, scissors

2) Lay out your black construction paper, and pour out a little bit of white paint.

3) Strip your kids down to diapers or at least take off their socks and roll up their pants :)

4) Either paint a thin layer of paint onto the bottom of their feet or let them "step" into a shallow pan of white paint (depends on how messy you want to get. I have a big plastic table cloth that I lay down, but I'm still probably going to paint the bottom of their feet). Do this one foot at a time.

5) Press the foot onto the black construction paper. Repeat for the other foot :)

6) Let the foot print dry. Cut out the print, leaving about a 1/4 in black boarder around the print.

7) flip the print so the heel is at the top and the toes are at the bottom. Put a dab of black paint on their thumb and press it down to make two eyes and an "O" shaped mouth. If you are in a pinch just draw it on with marker.

8) hang your cutie patootie foot prints up and smile!

Happy Halloween :D

I Picked up my Camera

I was diagnosed with Postpartum Depression (PPD) a little over a year ago.  My reaction to the diagnosis was mixed.  At that point in my life, I was completely numb to everything that was going on around me, detached from my little girls, my husband, my friends.  I guess I could say I was relieved by the news, slightly comforted by the fact that I had an excuse for how I was acting.  The depression wasn’t me; it was something that was happening to me.

Unfortunately, all that came with the diagnosis was a bottle of little blue pills and a handful of books.  I needed help, and I thought I had asked for it.  I couldn’t find support groups or therapists because I would have a panic attack just thinking about having to pick up the phone.  The “what ifs” were incessant, and I was drowning in them.  I had to completely depend on the help of those around me, primarily my husband who truly became my knight-in-shining-armor.  Not only was I numb, detached, and anxious, I felt that I had absolutely no control over what was happening to me.  I would try to talk to myself rationally, convince myself I’d be ok, but emotionally I was consumed.  I felt like my life had stalled.  I kept trying to start it back up again, but something just wasn’t making a connection. 

Slowly, things started to get better, and as they did, I realized that I needed an outlet.  I needed a way to document what was happening, what I was seeing, how I was feeling.  I needed to put myself out there so others could see and understand what was going on in my life.  I picked up my camera and began a 365 day project.  I decided that if I made myself pick up my camera everyday to learn something new about it, or about taking pictures, or about post-processing, then I would be spending less time feeling sorry for myself and I would start a new process of growth.

I failed miserably at my project, only making it 1/3 of the way through, but that was only as far as I needed to go.  Along the way I discovered some pretty amazing people, and they inspired me over and over again, though they may not have even realized it.  Not only that, but I was encouraged to try new things, to set goals, and to take risks.  Most importantly, I found myself surrounded by a community of strong and wise women who brought me back from something dark and scary.  I’m finally at a place, one year later, that I feel I’m on top of things (though we all have our down days).  All it took was working up the nerve to pick up my camera.

What has your camera done for you?

**Cross-posted at Shutter Sisters**

Sharp

I got a new lens :) And... um... it's SHARP!

Be sure to check back tomorrow *wink*.

xo

meg

October

Is it October already? I'm excited, I'm not going to lie.  October brings some special things, apple cider, donuts, pumpkins, and leaves - to name a few of my favorites.

I also love October beccause it is an inbetween month that is still just warm enough to wear a bulky sweater, but cool enough to leave your fingers and nose smooth with chill.

I'm ready to welcome in the new season, as are my girls.  How about you, are you going to welcome in Fall with the same enthusiasm as you welcome in Spring and Summer?

I hope so, there really is a lot to look forward to!

xo

meg

Last Days of Summer

We went to the beach this past weekend, and had what is probably the last beach trip of the summer.  We usually go throughout the fall, but not slathered with sunscreen wearing nothing but a little ducky suit.

"The Jellies" (as Tea calls them) were washed up on shore. She loves the things. She filled up her bucket and spent most of the afternoon talking to her "friends".

When she wasn't talking to them, she was busy chasing her father and me around attempting to get us to touch them.

I think that this game was a little more fun for her than it was for us.  It was a great afternoon, but you can only imagine the "sending off" party we had when it was time to leave.

xo

meg

Perfectly Imperfect - Still...

My kids cry.  They get fat lips from trying to climb up slides with crocs on.  Sometimes they even wear pajamas to bed that have remnants of Kix cemented to the butt because I didn't strip them down for breakfast.

And what am I doing? Hugging them? Putting clean PJs on them? Nooooo, I'm photographing them in the bathroom and thinking, "wow, this wall makes an amazing background.  Why didn't I haul them in here earlier?"

I bet my mom is thinking, "Nice, Meg." As she reads this.  Oh, wait... she couldn't be... she NEVER calls me Meg.

I write about my girls a lot because they are a constant source of inspiration. Even on my lowest days, they are there for me, giving me hugs and cuddles, or asking me if I need a time-out :)

They help me get down, get up, get wherever I need to get to see things from a different perspective. Take this shot, for example...

I like it because the negative space is simple and doesn't compete with the two of them. I like how they are both in the picture, going separate ways (as usual). I realized, however, that the negative space almost make it two images... See?

Try to see things from a different perspective today to keep it fresh. Fall is approaching, nature is going to be in a state of change. Why not go with the flow?

Hope you are enjoying a nice weekend.

xo
meg