Friday, December 30, 2011

Breakfast of Champions

Unlike most years, I have put off all of my teacher-related work until now [3 days until school starts again].  I don't have too much to do, but I can already feel that creeping stress feeling in my stomach.  I'm going to try to get it all done today, which shouldn't be hard, so I started off early with a breakfast of champions! Corey is still asleep, and I love these quiet mornings before the world gets up and I can watch the news with a cup of coffee and pet Josie without being made fun of...haha "Yes I'm taking pictures of my breakfast! So what? It's what I do!"

I had oatmeal with apples, honey, and cinnamon. [& Josie loved the smells]
Slowly sneaking to see where the smells are coming from...



Thursday, December 22, 2011

Editing How-To

I found this pic a while ago, and I am going to make my own before and after just because it helped me so much...let me know if this is helpful to you [and maybe you'll see more!].


Here's my before and after:
Mine's a bit more in-depth because I obviously had to get rid of the entire background...so here goes:
First, you have to select the area you want to get rid of-
Then, I fix what I've selected in mask and blend the blanket with the background...

After that, exit mask and fill the selection with a color selected from the blanket.


Lastly, I added a bokeh overlay [because I saw a photo with lights in the background that I loved and just had to] :).  Also, just do the general lighting and blemish adjustments and voilĂ !






Newborn Session - Jackson



Wednesday, December 21, 2011

DIY Christmas Gift

Every year I struggle with what to give people for Christmas.  I usually give pictures [Imagine that! A photographer giving pictures!]  I will definitely be giving wedding photos as gifts this year, but I also made a couple of semi-handmade gifts too.  I am giving my mom [who has been banned from my blog until after Christmas] a flower pot that I painted that is also the perfect height for pens, scissors, and other desk-cessories.  She can use it outside for flowers, but I really picture this on her desk holding pens for some reason.  The pots were $2 with the bottoms and the pens were $3 [I got yellow and white], that makes a whopping total of $10 for 2 gifts!...Happy gifting!


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Today is Tuesday

Today has been a normal day of running errands and trying to get things done while I am out of school.  I still have some Christmas shopping and wrapping to do, and I hope to be finished tomorrow.  Corey graduated from Police Academy last night, and today he dropped off his resume and had an informal & impromptu interview that will hopefully only be the first of many job interviews.  He wore the shirt he got married in for the first time since our wedding and found some rice in it! 

We also tried to pick up a couple of certificates he forgot last night, but his professor wasn't there, so we had a mini photo shoot for fun!  I also finally changed my name at the bank [the last thing that still said Perry], so I'm now all Blevins :).

Hope your Tuesday has been full of fun!
~A

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Another School Update

My tree has changed from Fall to Winter...
Third graders are making Louise Nevelson assemblage sculptures.  They take up a lot of space, but they all love making them.  I think it will be one of those projects that kids look forward to doing.


 First Grade and Kindergarten are both working on weaving.  I really mean working too! This has been a learning experience for me too...teaching weaving is not my strength!  We are all learning together what works best, and hearing them help each other has helped me too!



My little Kindergarten friend made this weaving, and we added patterns after we were done.  He explained his patterns to me...
"You know. Like the normal patterns...L, O, L...Z, T, Z, T, Z...S, A, S, A, S....and potato, check, potato, check, potato."
 I'm thinking a collaboration occurred here...unless all crabs stick their tongues out??

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Big School Update

What are we up to?
Kinder- Monet...1- Ojo de Dios...2- Ocean Color Wheel...3-Nevelson...4- Dali...5- Native American Owl Masks

3rd just finished Rousseau Jungles
Coming Up...weaving and patterns...