Paper Mama - Cozy

The Paper Mama's challenges are all based around your kids, or fur babies so since all we have is a fur baby, I usually don't have a photo to enter. Well this weeks theme is cozy, and I have more than a few photos of Bentley cuddled up in our bed, in the laundry, or the couch. This one was taken when he was asleep in my lap, which he does almost every evening. Any time this blanket comes out, he jumps on the couch with me and buries himself behind my legs, or at my feet somehow. This is when he is a true mama's boy - I think my husband gets a tad jealous...

Check out more cozy kiddos and fur babies

I Heart Faces - Silhouettes

The I Heart Faces theme this week is “silhouettes,” I was trying to decide which photo to submit but I came back to this one. I shared this image a few months ago, but it is one of my favorite silhouette shots. I really love how silhouettes tell a story, and I think they are fun to capture. This was taken in Steamboat Springs this January while we were on vacation. This guy has the crazy idea that he could snowboard down a stairway wall – he was actually successful – on the second try.

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Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Two posts over a weekend is pretty monumental for me, seeing as most weekends we are pretty busy. But, I was able to complete Ashley's Scavenger Hunt Sunday, which is also pretty monumental. I have managed to only complete the list once, and every week I tell myself to do this more frequently - so here goes!

1. Self-Portrait - Since my Uncle Wishwa (Far Left) and my Aunt Bertica (Right of me) were in from Pennsylvania; Saturday we had our "Cuban Family" over at my parents  for my dad's famous Cuban sandwiches, drinks, and yummy deserts  This was taken on Saturday after we got back from Church. Thanks to Brad's dad for snapping this photo - I am in the middle!

I wanted to share another self-portrait, this one is of me and my Aunt Bertica. In my post from Wednesday I had mentioned how everyone thinks we look alike. We definitely have height in common - 5'8" What do you guys think? 

2. Handmade - This was some of our desert from Saturday. A homemade guava pie! Guava pie is a Cuban thing, and we go crazy over it. There were about 15 people fighting over slices - seriously DELICIOUS! I did not make it, but it is homemade nonetheless!

3. Orange - Growing up I loved Tigger, so there is still  a little collection of stuffed Tiggers at my parents house in my room. Which still looks the same from High School. The one in the picture I got at Animal Kingdom when I went to Disney World in High School - that was also the trip that I decided that it would be awesome to work there, which a few short years later after college I did.

4. Candle - No story behind this. This was just a silver candle that is on a shelf at my parents house.

5. Signs - I forgot I had this picture. I took this a couple months ago when we went to a ballgame. I like the retro look it has.

Hope you enjoyed my interpretations of the themes, definitely check out more entries. Also if you are here for the first time welcome! 

TMMAPC - Smile!

This is another challenge I have not entered in awhile, but I am trying to get back in the groove of consistently entering in challenges during the week. The theme of this challenge is SMILE! My sister and brother-in-law have taught my nephew little sayings that go with me and his Uncle Brad. So when they say "What does Auntie Em say?" He says "Cheeeese!" So here he is "cheeeesin" for the camera...

 

Photo Freak - Your Best Shot

The past few days I have been trying to figure out what my “best photo” is to submit to the Photo Freaks contest. I honestly could not figure it out until I started going through my flickr account last night. I have shared this photo before for black and white Wednesday and got a lot of great feedback on it. It may not be my best, but it is definitely a favorite. I took this photo on NYE this year, and it was a couple weeks after I got my DSLR. I just love the bokeh effect, and the way the champagne flutes look - these were our toasting flutes from our wedding, we use them on special occasions now.

Before and After - Evan

For this weeks before and after at Pixel Perfect I am sharing another photo of my adorable nephew. I cannot believe how much he has grown up. He is holding conversations and really has his own personality now. We were at my sisters for dinner on Monday and he insisted that I go play trains with him. This was one of the few times I got him to look at the camera!

BEFORE

AFTER

Taken with D5000, Nikon 24-70, SB-600 edited in CS3.

Zoomed and cropped, took out part of the desk, Brightened up.

Then ran Totally Rad Actions Lights On! adjusted some levels and burned his shirt a tad, and ran Warm it Up Kris!

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Black and White Wednesday - Topa Topa Boom!

I had not done a photo for black and white Wednesday in a couple weeks but life settled down for a little bit so I have one to share. It is also a new photo, NOT from the wedding! YAY!

My Aunt Bertica (My dad’s sister) is in for the week from Pittsburgh while my Uncle Wishwa is in San Antonio for a conference - I will see him this weekend. It is always a special treat to see them since we don’t get to very often. We had not seen them since our wedding. I know my dad enjoys the time he gets to spend with her since it is few and far between. Everyone says we look alike, and I think I get some of my height from her too.

My dad does this thing with Evan, and I am pretty sure he did it with me and my sister when we were younger too – where he and Evan start leaning in slowing and then they touch {bang} heads. It goes something like “Topa Topa Topa Topa…BOOM!” You can guess that the “boom” is where they knock heads. He thinks it is the funniest thing, and always gets a belly laugh. Here he is doing it with my Aunt on Monday night.

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