Dude... That's Me!

Photo today: I get asked a lot about who is taking all the photos of me and Todd. We've been fortunate to work with fantastic photographers Tara Whitney and Melissa Koehler. But truth is, most of our photos are just taken with a tripod with the timer function on the camera. That is really it! I set the timer for 10 shots at a time, so we don't have to run back to the camera too often. Then we just try to be ourselves. Of course, having a willing participant helps, and Todd's really good about that. :) Some of my best photos happened serendipitously, when we thought the camera had finished taking photos already. Like this one I took of Todd in Hawaii. I had the camera on a tripod, and I was taking photos of him boogie boarding. When he walked back to the beach, I couldn't zoom out fast enough, so I just pushed the shutter over and over again. Lucky shot! Or this one, when I thought the camera had finished taking photos already: Another tripod shot: I'm by no means an expert on taking photos (far from it in fact), but my best advice about getting some good shots is to just be natural. Put the camera on a tripod and set the timer to take several photos at once. Do it over and over again. Just be yourselves, and you'll get some natural shots that are the essence of YOU. And if you have reluctant husbands or kids, the tripod will be less intimidating than someone always being behind the camera. Just act like the camera's not there at all. Now for some fun stuff. A while ago my friend Sherrie Piegdon, owner of Pixel Gypsy Designs, asked me if she could make some layout templates inspired by my layouts. Of course I was honored and said yes. Sherrie's finally releasing the set of templates tomorrow (Friday). It will be Fantabulous Friday and 30% off. Go check them out if you want. I am not making money off of these. I'm just excited that Sherrie asked me, and tickled pink. :) Dinner tonight was Seoul-ful Chicken with Minted Cucumbers, and it was fantastic! First time trying out this recipe and it's a winner!

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A Little Sunshine Coming Your Way

I did this layout a couple of weeks ago for the Creative Design: Focus on Shapes challenge on the Little Dreamer Designs blog.


Full credits here.

Since then a couple of people have asked me about making it into a template, including my Dream Team teammate Andrea. So I did.


Download here.  (Another link here if you encounter bandwidth issues with first link.)

I put this file up at Box.net instead of 4shared due to the recent rumored virus problems at 4shared. I don't know if it's true, but better safe than sorry. There are no ads at the Box.net link. And no waiting to download. :)

Photo today:

Todd made salmon for dinner tonight. It's a tried and true recipe and it usually turns out really great. However, something went wrong today, perhaps the ingredients were not as good? It wasn't quite as tasty. We both started eating it, and I wasn't going to say anything because I try and appreciate all meals that my hubby prepares for me. Beggars can't be choosers, LOL. But he brought it up that it wasn't quite as tasty as normal, and I agreed. Weird.

My neck/shoulder is feeling better. It's not normal yet, but I'm on the mend. Thanks so much for the sympathy. It's great to be a part of such a caring community. :)

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Be Still And Know

Photo today: I'm convinced that the Lord speaks to me sometimes through songs. And somehow many times it's Steven Curtis Chapman songs. (See this post back in April 2007, after I'd just lost my mom.) This morning when I woke up, my right shoulder was still in pain, and I'm having a hard time moving my head in certain directions. I stayed home from work, but still worked while taking periodic breaks to lay on the couch. I felt useless. I'm so used to "doing", that I felt depressed about being sidelined by this injury. What about MY plans? MY running? MY on-the-go attitude? Then I was listening to my iTunes on shuffle, and out of thousands of songs, I heard "Be Still And Know" by Steven Curtis Chapman come on. Tears came down my face as I listened. I remembered the Bible verses that were the constant source of my comfort in the days leading up to my mom going home to be with the Lord. At the time, I felt so incredibly helpless. Helpless to stop what was going on. Helpless in my feelings of despair of my impending loss. It was Psalm 46 that helped me through that time. ¹ God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

³ though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

⁵ God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

⁸ Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.

⁹ He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields ^b]">[b] with fire.

¹⁰ "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. I'm trying to be as still as I can. I want to open up my heart to God's words to me today. I haven't been close to Him lately, and while I still don't like it that I injured my shoulder, I know there's a purpose in everything. And I'm trying to be still so I can figure out what lessons I'm to be learning right now. A layout inspired by another song by Steven Curtis Chapman, "Magnificent Obsession": Full credits here.

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It Hurts When I Push Here

Photo today: Todd took this photo at Chris & Kim's memorial service today. They had their actual funeral service in Massachusetts, where they're from. But since most of their San Diego friends couldn't go, they organized one here. I wasn't there, but I'm sure Todd could tell you that many who were there could say, "It hurts when I push here" and point to their own hearts. Today I went to a noon time pilates class at my work gym. Somehow I injured myself. In the middle of the class I felt a sudden pain in my right shoulder/back, and the pain shot through my neck. It felt like a neck spasm, but it didn't go away. So I think I pulled some muscle or something. And now I can't move my head very much. "It hurts when I push here." :: pointing to my right shoulder :: What a bummer. I don't think I can run for a few days. You know what's NOT a bummer though? Digi Dare #122 is up! Come join in the fun as we scrap numbers, signs, and equations. Layouts are due at the Dare site by 11:59 PM ET this Thursday night in order to be eligible for prizes. Here's my layout for the Dare: Full credits here.

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These Boots Are Made For Walkin'

Last night Todd played a show with Kim Divine and Matt Thompson at Lestat's. We were lucky enough to have Anne & Gilbert join us for the evening. We picked them up and headed down to Kensington for dinner at Burger Lounge. Anne & Gilbert hadn't been there before, so we were excited to introduce them to the yummy-ness that is Burger Lounge. Todd and the burger and fries. Even though we had both run 10 miles yesterday morning, we decided that we could not each eat a huge burger and fries, so we shared the burger, fries, and a salad. Turned out it was a perfect portion. After dinner we headed down the street to Lestats. Kim and Matt were already there. At the practice Friday night, they had said it would be fun if all three of them wore boots. Todd has a pair of boots that he's never worn before. We got 'em on sale when he was playing with a rock band called "The Northstar Session", but somehow he never ended up wearing them during all that time. Now was a perfect opportunity! Kim's gig poster electronically displayed in front of Lestats: They played a seven song set:

• Home
• Blue Skies
• Little Things
• Without You
• What's It Gonna Be?
• Raining
• It'll Be Alright

I took a short video of "Little Things" with my little Canon pocket camera. Not very clear, but still cool! Here are some photos I took during the show: After the show: And of course, with the boots: Anne & Gilbert all spiffied up for a night of indie music: Todd & I: We got home pretty late, but Anne said it was worth it to stay up so late! We had a lot of fun with them. This morning, we made scones and called up our next door neighbors Fred & Annie for an impromptu brunch together. Basically, we invited ourselves over, LOL. So we brought the scones, Annie made eggs, and Fred provided the coffee. Now, Fred is a complete coffee NUT. He redid his whole living room into a coffee bar, complete with all kinds of coffee, latte, expresso machines, etc. And Fred even roasts his own beans!

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