As part of my 2011 goals, I am posting a reading list here. As I said, I’d like to do a review of the books as I read them. Hopefully I’ll be able to read what I list here…but as the list changes, grows, or some books get bumped, I’ll post updates!
In no particular order:
Safe Haven – Nicholas Sparks
Black Heels to Track Wheels – Ree Drummond
Freedom – Jonathon Frazen
Lucky One – Nicholas Sparks
Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
Charlotte's Web - E.B. White (I've read this one a thousand times, but it still is one of my favorite children's chapter books!)
More to come…as I said another one of my goals is to hit the library weekly. So I’m hoping some of those trips I can do a little book perusing for myself as well. So I’m sure things will pop out at me during our visits. I’ve been intrigued by a blog I read…and she’s inspired me to look more into some children’s literature that I might enjoy. So I have a little investigating to do on that front! For now, stay tuned. My first review/book report is up and coming on Safe Haven. I finished it in a WEEK!!
January 31, 2011
January 30, 2011
Takin' on the Science Center!
This past Sunday Steff made the perfect mid-winter suggestion! We met for breakfast at Frank’s…delish…and then packed up and headed over to the Science Center. I think we lucked out on the perfect day. It just so happened to snow a couple inches and we were some of the few yay-hoo birds who thought driving 45 minutes to St. Louis to burn off some pent up winter energy was a GREAT plan!
We had a wonderful time exploring, seeing a few free exhibits and also scoring a free parking pass! It was a great snowy afternoon!
Here are some of the pics I took. Since I took the photo class the day prior, I realized that I couldn’t break the rules I was given…so the photos at the Science Center, while they are not the best, still managed to turn out pretty decent…or at least I think so! Enjoy…and thanks in advance for bearing with my photo quality while I learn to not revert back to the auto settings and push myself to take manual photos in every situation!
We had a wonderful time exploring, seeing a few free exhibits and also scoring a free parking pass! It was a great snowy afternoon!
Here are some of the pics I took. Since I took the photo class the day prior, I realized that I couldn’t break the rules I was given…so the photos at the Science Center, while they are not the best, still managed to turn out pretty decent…or at least I think so! Enjoy…and thanks in advance for bearing with my photo quality while I learn to not revert back to the auto settings and push myself to take manual photos in every situation!
January 29, 2011
Learning Somethin' New
There is something empowering learning about something new and gaining skills in an area in which I thought I might never fully understand. But I am proud to say that I can now take my camera in hand, turn that little dial to M, fire it up and take photos. Real photos! Open the apeture, adjust the shutter speed, let real light in and take photos! Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all confident with what I'm doing, but the more photos I take, the more I am beginning to grasp the concepts I learned!
Where did this come from? Well last Saturday I took a class where I learned all about my camera. After this class I realized the only setting I thought I was using off auto was really a semi-automatic setting AND I didn't have a clue what I was doing with it anyway. Insert picture of someone rolling on the floor laughing at me and my silly naivete. I did that on Saturday at myself...so you can do it too...it's kind of funny.
Okay...enough laughing everyone. I get it!
In all seriousness, I am inspired and motivated to take my photos to another level. I do not aspire to be a professional photographer. I am simply excited to take beautiful photos of my family and friends and our memories.
This class could not have been more fun b/c this lady joined me!
She's actually how I found out about it...and I also have a new blog to follow. Check out one of Fresh Art's latest posts on what we did that day! Yep...a few photos down..that's me in the background! Too cool!
We had an amazing day learning lots and lots (did I mention lots?) about our cameras.
Some takes-aways for me from the day:
Practice practice practice.
Go buy a prime lense...I'll post a photo of the difference between the two when I get mine purchased.
Use your camera everyday...so practice practice practice!
Do NOT from this day forward, put your camera on auto again!
Work on the technical stuff...ISO, apeture, shutter speed, light metering...then worry about the composition (what the shot looks like) later.
and most importantly...practice practice practice!
Here's some shots of my photos. A link to Steff's blog with her latest practice shots...AND a few of my practice shots at home that night! I think my photo of Deci is the best shot I got at home!
Where did this come from? Well last Saturday I took a class where I learned all about my camera. After this class I realized the only setting I thought I was using off auto was really a semi-automatic setting AND I didn't have a clue what I was doing with it anyway. Insert picture of someone rolling on the floor laughing at me and my silly naivete. I did that on Saturday at myself...so you can do it too...it's kind of funny.
Okay...enough laughing everyone. I get it!
In all seriousness, I am inspired and motivated to take my photos to another level. I do not aspire to be a professional photographer. I am simply excited to take beautiful photos of my family and friends and our memories.
This class could not have been more fun b/c this lady joined me!
She's actually how I found out about it...and I also have a new blog to follow. Check out one of Fresh Art's latest posts on what we did that day! Yep...a few photos down..that's me in the background! Too cool!
We had an amazing day learning lots and lots (did I mention lots?) about our cameras.
Some takes-aways for me from the day:
Practice practice practice.
Go buy a prime lense...I'll post a photo of the difference between the two when I get mine purchased.
Use your camera everyday...so practice practice practice!
Do NOT from this day forward, put your camera on auto again!
Work on the technical stuff...ISO, apeture, shutter speed, light metering...then worry about the composition (what the shot looks like) later.
and most importantly...practice practice practice!
Here's some shots of my photos. A link to Steff's blog with her latest practice shots...AND a few of my practice shots at home that night! I think my photo of Deci is the best shot I got at home!
January 28, 2011
And The Linley 3 Become The Linley 4…
All the baby talk of our new niece made me realize that I needed to take a moment to make an official announcement of our own!
You read that title right! On August 7th, we will no longer be the Linley trio we are now. Another little Linley will be joining our crew. Jer and I are over the moon about our new addition! It means lots of changes and lots of excitement around the Linley household as we get ready for another baby!
On January 11, we had our first doctor’s appointment. We got to listen to the heartbeat….a lovely whirring 166…and talk about our birth plan (already!). I’m happy to say that Dr. Talsky will be caring for and delivering this baby as well. Our due date as I said is August 7. And depending on how it all goes Dr. Talsky said we would talk about c-section at 39 weeks. It’s all quite a long ways off…but all things to think about!
For now we’re anticipating our second appointment, and our third. At our third…which will be in around 8 weeks, we will find out what we are having. After having Owen be a surprise, we decided we would like to have an idea before the baby is here. Especially b/c a brother for Owen means bunk beds and camping in the backyard. And a sister could still mean camping in the backyard…but not necessarily bunk beds :)
**As an aside, I cannot express how glad I am that I have our blog to look back at all of this when it was Owen. To read what I wrote at that time in our lives. I’m so very glad we captured it! And it’s coming full circle as I continue to capture not only our current family, but the appointments and pregnancy of our second child. If you have ever thought about starting a blog or a journal, don’t wait any longer! Jump in feet first and do it!! Trust me…you’ll be so glad you chronicled the bits and pieces of life that we sometimes forget! Like what Owen’s heartbeat was the first time we heard it. So like I said…don’t wait! Start your blog, your journal, your scrapbook. Do it now! Don’t let the memories pass you by!**
You read that title right! On August 7th, we will no longer be the Linley trio we are now. Another little Linley will be joining our crew. Jer and I are over the moon about our new addition! It means lots of changes and lots of excitement around the Linley household as we get ready for another baby!
On January 11, we had our first doctor’s appointment. We got to listen to the heartbeat….a lovely whirring 166…and talk about our birth plan (already!). I’m happy to say that Dr. Talsky will be caring for and delivering this baby as well. Our due date as I said is August 7. And depending on how it all goes Dr. Talsky said we would talk about c-section at 39 weeks. It’s all quite a long ways off…but all things to think about!
For now we’re anticipating our second appointment, and our third. At our third…which will be in around 8 weeks, we will find out what we are having. After having Owen be a surprise, we decided we would like to have an idea before the baby is here. Especially b/c a brother for Owen means bunk beds and camping in the backyard. And a sister could still mean camping in the backyard…but not necessarily bunk beds :)
**As an aside, I cannot express how glad I am that I have our blog to look back at all of this when it was Owen. To read what I wrote at that time in our lives. I’m so very glad we captured it! And it’s coming full circle as I continue to capture not only our current family, but the appointments and pregnancy of our second child. If you have ever thought about starting a blog or a journal, don’t wait any longer! Jump in feet first and do it!! Trust me…you’ll be so glad you chronicled the bits and pieces of life that we sometimes forget! Like what Owen’s heartbeat was the first time we heard it. So like I said…don’t wait! Start your blog, your journal, your scrapbook. Do it now! Don’t let the memories pass you by!**
January 27, 2011
And my heart was stolen…
I couldn't post adorable pictures of the newest baby in our lives without mentioning...
That this little face...
This cheesy grin...
P.S. He’s had a haircut since these photos. Crazy hair has left the building!
That this little face...
This cheesy grin...
These chubby little cheeks and arms and legs..and let's face it...the crazy face...
They get me every time. Every single time!
January 26, 2011
What a Wonderful World!
The lyrics to the song What a Wonderful World certainly came to mind when thinking about what a fabulous Monday morning we had! Why?
Because on Monday morning at 8:03am we got our NIECE!!!
Everyone, I'd like you to meet our niece, Isabel Elizabeth Linley!
Congrats to my amazingly strong sis-in-law April and to Jonnie who stayed strong, calm and amazingly collected through the whole thing :) I'm so proud and happy for you both! It was a wonderful experience to be there to support you and wait for Isabel's arrival. We love you all and are so excited! She is just awesome and we can't wait to watch her grow!!
We'll see you Sunday for dinner...and Aunt Jessie can't wait for some serious snuggles with Lil' Miss!
Because on Monday morning at 8:03am we got our NIECE!!!
Everyone, I'd like you to meet our niece, Isabel Elizabeth Linley!
9.8lbs 21inches long...I think she looks like her Momma!
A little Aunt Jessie lovin'!
A little Uncle Jer lovin'!
Sleepy baby!
And these two crazy boys were more interested in jumping on the chair, pulling on the curtains and staring at each other! Boys!
Congrats to my amazingly strong sis-in-law April and to Jonnie who stayed strong, calm and amazingly collected through the whole thing :) I'm so proud and happy for you both! It was a wonderful experience to be there to support you and wait for Isabel's arrival. We love you all and are so excited! She is just awesome and we can't wait to watch her grow!!
We'll see you Sunday for dinner...and Aunt Jessie can't wait for some serious snuggles with Lil' Miss!
January 19, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)