Breast cancer has always been close to my heart and I will support it any way I can. 

I was sent an email for an appeal to assist in providing free mammogrames to women in need. I worthy cause me thinks!

Each day thousands of concerned supporters and survivors visit The Breast Cancer Site to click on the pink button. This simple act is free, takes a matter of seconds, and gives the National Breast Cancer Foundation funding to provide cost-free mammograms to women in need.

Please join this community of hope! Click here to be taken to the button today and every day.

The great thing is while you are on the breast cancer site there are links to “click here to give” for World Hunger, Child Health, Animal Rescue, Save the Rainforests and Literacy.  I’m sure you all have 7 free seconds a day for these worthy causes!

Browsing 2Peas this afternoon and I just could not resist buying Rhonna Farrer VintageGlam brushes! Oooh Yummy! Is all I can say! I ‘attacked’ this photo of Rhys looking sweeter than sweet! And am quite delighted with the result! I combined the VintageGlam brushes with her Snap Shot Frame brushes. The VintageGlam brush set comes with 11 Fantastically Vintage Brushes – I only used 2 on this photo so there is still lots to play with – YAY!

Going to go play some more! TFL

We recently attended a very good family friends 60^th birthday luncheon!  It was really great – good food, good venue and fabulous friends! What I enjoyed most though was the results of my soon to be 5-year old’s photography ability.  ‘Please can I take some photo’s with your camera mommy?’ has been his constant request every time I bring out the camera (my second baby) and on this particular day I decided, oh well what can the harm be. (no pressure at all from the old aunties and grannies that were giving me the; ‘let the wee one have a turn with the camera ’ look).

I am very proud to share some of his impressive shots. Not that I am bias or anything -  but I do think they are good!

Loving ya all!

Came accross this and just had to share!

I came across some photos I took of an acrylic album I did about a year ago.  Thinking back I seem to recall enjoying it immensely! What was challenging for me was the planning that went into the album.  Making sure that the layering was just right was a feat in its own right.  I was particularly proud of the way the different layers created a title on its own, and how the album title tied into it being an acrylic album. If you get my drift. But once all the planning was done and dusted and the album finished…then came the photographing.  I took tons of photos – but none of them do the album justice. If anybody out there has any ideas on how to photograph acrylic albums I would love to hear them! Here are 3 images of the album. 

I am a great Ali Edwards follower and have decided to adopt her ‘one little word’ concept so my word for 2009 is;

the dictionary descriptions aside, the major reason for choosing this word is I need to Believe in myself and Believe that my hopes and dreams will become a reality and most of all I need to Believe that no matter what obstacles life may throw in my path they are not insurmountable but they will make me stronger! Okay, so I don’t really have much to complain about – a wonderful, healthy family whom I adore, a bright future full of possibilities and my sanity! (what more could a girl want?) I still need to Believe!

The kids were given bubbles in their Christmas Stocking (amongst a heap of other stuff!) which were a huge hit!  They must have spent about an hour outside blowing bubbles – which was the perfect photo opportunity!  I got some great individual shots of Rhys, Alyx and Ciara but really battled with group shots! Try and get 3 & 4 year olds to blow simultaneously??? Yeah right! I am currently enjoy capturing a lot of ‘white space’ in my photos.  I have never been a fan of cheesy full on grins and prefer candid shots.  However, Rhys is in that ‘look-straight-at-the-camera-and-do-silly-things-and-pull-funny-faces-whenever-mom-brings-out-the-camera’ stage.  That’s okay ‘cause at least I will have tons of ammunition for later on in life and  it will be great to show him what a clown he was at this age.  So, while he was blowing bubbles I don’t think he even noticed me and my camera…he he he (Yeah, my attempt at a wicked giggle!)  Here are a few I like and one of Rhys to show you the silly things he does! (Me thinks a little of a Lyle influence there!)

Rhys

Ciara

I was sent an email with the following in it and thought I would share;

The Paradox of Our Times

Today, we have bigger houses … and smaller families.
More conveniences … but less time.
We have more degrees … but less common sense.
More knowledge … but less judgement.
We have more experts … but more problems.
More medicines … but less wellness.

We spend too recklessly.
Laugh too little.
Drive too fast.
Get angry too quickly.
Stay up too late.
Read too little.
Watch too much TV.

We have multiplied our possessions … but diminished our values.

We talk too much, love too little and lie too often.
We have learned to make a living … but not a life.
We have added years to life … but not life to years.
We have taller buildings … but shorter tempers.
Wider roads, but narrower view points.

We spend more …  but have less.
We buy more … but enjoy it less.

We go up into space and back … but have trouble crossing the street to meet our neighbours.

We have conquered outer space … but not inner space.

We write more … but learn less.
Plan more … accomplish less.

We have learnt to rush … but not to wait.
We have higher incomes … but lower morals.
We have information technology … but no real communication.
We are long on quantity … but short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestions,
More kinds of food … less nutrition.

Tall men and short characters.
More leisure and less fun.
Two incomes … more divorce.
Fancy houses and broken homes.

That’s why it is proposed:  That as of today, do not keep anything for a special occasion, because every day you live is a special day. 
Search for knowledge, read more, admire the view, without paying much attention to your needs.
Spend more time with your family and friends. Care, share, create and respect. Eat your favourite food. Visit the places you love.
Life is a chain of moments of enjoyment, not only about survival.
Use your crystal glasses and do not save your best perfume but use it every time you feel you want to.
Remove from your vocabulary phrases like “one of these days‘ and “someday“. Tell that somebody that you love and appreciate them today and don’t wait until tomorrow.

I don’t know who the author is so I can’t credit him/her but a BIG Thank You to whoever wrote it – a great reminder to me to appreciate, live and love daily!

Firstly, a very happy new year to all of you! I hope you had a fabulous start to 2009.  Wow! 2009! Will have to get used to doing the 9 thing and not the 8.  I have to admit that I wrote a cheque in the middle of 2008 and dated it for 2007 – hope I don’t do the same thing this year!  I have a good feeling about 2009 – a year of change and good fortune! Well hopefully at least.

3 post?  Must be a record!  For me at least!

I decided last year that I wouldn’t have any more ‘real’ Christmas trees as I have contributed to the ‘death’ of 30 trees. Yes I have tried buying ones with roots and then re-planting after Christmas, but they still seem to die.  Anyway, just call it my way of reducing my carbon-footprint – 1 tree less cut down = more oxygen production (or something like that?!?!?)

Anyway, getting back to the Christmas tree…So, last year I went out and bought a real fancy tree with optical lights and all.  So when it came time to put the tree out this year I dusted the box off and got the bows and angel out, but no electricity transformer box or stand for the tree in site.  I have no clue what happened to it…perhaps got lost in the move.  Anyway, being the photo opportunist that I am…I shot a couple of photos of my ever-willing-to-play-for-the-camera darling Rhys.

At first Rhys was very upset when I told him we couldn’t put the tree.  But then I explained to him that Grandad would sort it out – to which he replied ‘I’ll get my tool’s’ and help!” Oh! Little Boys!