overwhelmed by owls....

It's been a while since I've changed my blog layout, even Zach, who is the first to tell me to spend less time on the computer, hinted that it was time for me to change it. Pottery Barn kids has the cutest new bedding I've ever seen and I figured a digital version was the closest I'd ever get to owning it so I tried to copy it somewhat. I was keeping track of the hours it took me to put this all together, but I stopped counting after 6. This has seriously consumed a ridculous amount of my time, but I did it more to learn and practice in photoshop then just because I wanted a new blog header.
This season owls are everywhere! I 've seen them popping up at Target, Gymboree, Pottery Barn, Gap Kids...so I guess by everywhere I really mean the few stores that I frequent. Do all the stores get together and invent new fads to lure suckers in with? Well, it works on me - I usually fall for the latest fad 100% (yes, I do own leggings). These are just some of the cute items I've happened across this past month (I might own a few of them....)

And my favorite owl of all.....

wannabe....

I'm a "wannabe" at most things I do in life. I dress for the part, I have the gear for the part, but those who truly live the part can tell I'm a poser in a second. In the past I've been a wannabe kayaker, a wannabe runner, a wannabe hippie with wannabe dreadlocks, a wannabe vegetarian, wannabe potter (as in someone who uses a wheel to make clay pots, not to be tied in with my hippie phase), a wannabe crafter, scrapbooker, etc. These phases come and go, filling up my attic with all the things I "needed". But one thing that I've been a wannabe at for a good 10 years is photography. And I'm sick of being a wannabe! I have no aspirations to ever make any money at it, but I just want to not be a poser anymore, I want to be the real deal and take photographs instead of pictures. But it's just been a lot of frustrating trial and error. So I'm making a goal for myself. For one year from today, I will really focus on improving in this area and if after a year I don't see a huge improvement, then I'm out, I'm done! I'm going to post pictures on my blog and label the posts so that hopefully in a year's time I can review and hopefully cringe at what once were the best pictures I could take. So here goes....

I attempted to take pictures of my friends newborn - talk about frustrating! Aubrey was trying to bite my friend's older son most of the time, I didn't know what settings to use on my camera, and the poor little baby was not happy with the torture I was putting her through. It was just embarrassing! I took 90 pictures and these were the only ones I liked (and that's only after photoshopping the heck out of the bottom 2).

I also tried to take pictures of Aubrey the other day in her cute tutu (one of the things I knew I had to have once I found out I was having a girl). The first shot I just got lucky to get, b/c Aubrey fell and was still for a split second. I really need to focus on inanimate objects before attempting children. The second one I blurred up in photoshop but I like the look of it.

And these I'm just throwing in for fun because she looked cute in her tutu.

Winner!

Libby Miracle is the big winner of the hair clips. I used a high tech random selection method of writing everyone's name down on a little pieces of paper and having Zach draw one. He actually drew his own name (since he commented, he said I had to enter him) but he oh so graciously drew again and gave his prize to Libby.

Pageant and such

This trip was a while ago but I never posted it, I think b/c I was getting bored of just posting trip after trip on my blog, but honestly, I'm not a clever writer, so that's what my blog is, just pictures of things we've done. On this trip we went to Palmyra, New York to watch the Hill Cumorah pageant.

These girls are in our ward and were stars in the show. Luckily we ran into them right before for this photo op - Aubrey is actually hitting me really hard here, hence my ugly face.

The set was huge, this is just a fraction - and I think they have 700 castmembers and crew to put it on.
Aubrey was basically awful. We took turns chasing her all throughout the show. Of course, she waited to fall asleep in the last 10 minutes. Zach fell asleep too right before the end. Before the show started, one of the cast members said that if you weren't moved during the last scene, then you must be dead inside, or something like that. Anyways, Zach and Aubrey fell asleep right as that scene started...hmm....We stopped randomly to stretch our legs on the drive home and stumbled across this cute little town and spent a couple hours here. I love Aubrey's face here - she does not look thrilled to be part of our cheesiness.

Aubrey at our motel after a bath - my little punk rocker.

more fun times

I have to say, this past weekend was a super fun one! I feel like a lot of our past weekends have been really fun, the thing is, once winter comes, there's just not that much to do, so we are packing it in now, before we have to hibernate from fun and just stay inside in our pjs all day on Saturday (actually, that sounds REALLY nice right now).

Friday night I went with Zach and two other couples to see Wicked. I've seen it before and it was even more amazing the second time. What was also amazing is that we all found babysitters and had a couples night - I enjoyed that as much as the show! And we had a great dinner too.

The rest of the weekend was busy with a haircut (zach), baby shower, girls dinner and movie, and a homes tour. Yes, another one. They have them all over and every one is different because every little nook of Pittsburgh is different. We carried Aubrey through 13 houses (most of them 3 story) in 2 hours. Now we need a weekend to recover from our weekend!

my first giveaway!

I made these clips for Aubrey a while ago but I couldn't bring myself to put them in her hair. I've seen her capacity for destruction and I guess I'm more okay with her destroying things I've bought then things I've made. So I'd like to give them to someone else instead! So, the usual giveaway rules, leave a comment before the end of Saturday (sept. 20) to enter. I'd say your chances of winning are really good! I think I already know exactly who the 5 or so people who enter are going to be!
Here are a few other things I've done this summer in my attempt to be crafty. My first sewing attempts - dress, apron, headband. None are giveaway worthy, but maybe I'll get there one day!

A long time ago, some friends of mine got together to try and make these cloth covered diaper wipes cases - I think we all threw ours in the trash afterwards, but I did manage to make a few that were okay enough - all of these I've given away as gifts at babyshowers. I'd like to do a diaper wipes case giveaway one of these days...

THE BEACH!

We just got back from ...Outer Banks, NC - What a fun trip!! We went with this lovable bunch - all dental or law students from around here.
We did a lot of this (L to R, me, Dave, Elise)
Elise, Gina and I going Blue Crush on those waves - there's NO LIMITS to our ONE PASSION for boogie boarding.

Little Miss independent

We were hoping to get our family Christmas pic here - Aubrey is screaming in all of them, but at least it would be an accurate representation of the feisty little spitfire that she is.

I'm really bummed about this picture. I was dying to get a picture through the reeds with Zach thowing Aubrey up in the background, all distant and blurry. But of course, Aubrey was not having it. This might look serene, but in reality, Aubrey is running screaming mad away from Zach. Anyways, I only had about 45 seconds to try and get "the shot" so this is the best we left with.

Girl's night out

Baby footprints!

Saw the tallest light house in North America
I've been wanting to learn for months how to do this old aged effect on pictures. Turns out it's pretty simple, too bad it took me months to figure it out!

Our great big house - with a pool, hot tub, pool table, vollyball court, and a movie theater.

We had to leave a bit early, as this tropical storm was blowing in.

But it gave us time to stop and tour Jamestown.

Until next time......