09 September 2012

Banana Pumpkin Bread with a Twist


So I noticed we had a few well ripened bananas sitting on top of our fridge the other day. I never throw out old bananas because they are absolutely perfect for things like banana nut muffins, banana bread, banana pancakes, and now, banana pumpkin bread. I had originally found this idea on Pinterest (where all good ideas are born and stolen) but I thought it need something... Extra. And what better to add than chocolate chips? It's a PMS dream come true! Here's the original recipe. I tweaked it a tad to make it more delicious and a bit more mine. And, well, a bit more chocolately. Because life just isn't complete without chocolate.

Pumpkin Chocolate Bread
What you'll need:
2 very ripe bananas
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 stick butter, softened 
        (I used unsalted, but just about any type works.)
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
        (Make sure to pack your brown sugar in. Don't just pour it in to one and a half cups. Pack it.)
3 eggs
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
2 1/2 cups flour
        (I used wheat flour.)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons of sugar 
         (to even out the texture/flavor of the wheat flour and to even out the tartness of the chocolate chips.                                    Also because sugar is good for your soul.)
1/2 bag of Ghiradelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
          (or dark chocolate. Or milk chocolate. Whatever your preference.)


Directions:
--Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously spray a large bread pan (or two medium-sized bread pans) with nonstick baking spray. [I used one medium sized bread pan...]
--In a stand mixer, beat together the bananas, pumpkin puree, butter [IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOUR BUTTER IS SOFTENED!], brown sugar, and eggs until very smooth. Toss in the spice, flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat until smooth again. 
--Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes [because I overfilled the breadpan, mine took like an hour and a half. If the knife or toothpick does not come out clean, just pop it back in for another 15 minutes.].


Instead of the glaze that the original recipe called for, I whipped out my can of Betty Crocker's Autumn Vanilla frosting, complete with brown and orange sprinkles in lots of fun shapes. The finished product tastes amazingly delicious and is the perfect compliment to a nice, warm cup of pumpkin spice coffee. 

Enjoy!

06 June 2012

A Love Story...

Who knew that love felt this way? That one would be so consumed with emotion is startling to me! My heart is overjoyed and I feel like singing!

I have to proclaim it to the world! I am in love... With my new vacuum cleaner!!!

I know right? Odd, to say the least. Our vacuum died a few weeks ago. It started making a very odd sound, squealing and the like. And then I smelled burning rubber. More than likely it's the belt, but the belt looks fine to me. John was supposed to look at it before he left, but he didn't, so he told me to buy a new one.

I feel like such a housewife. Seriously. I was in HEAVEN looking at all the different vacuum cleaners in the PX. There were oh so many different types to choose from! Some have retractable cords, others many different extensions... So many to choose from! Of course, I had a budget, so I didn't even waste time looking at the Dyson vacuums (although I would love to get one). I knew my main purpose would be to vacuum up the intense amount of hair that my poor dog has been shedding (my carpet went from tan to white...), so something that was higher powered would be what I wanted. What did I find? A beautiful high powered vacuum that is specifically geared towards pets. It has rubber attachments that would do a whole lot more to get the fur off of our furniture (and even off of the dog himself!). It was love at first sight. :)

I took it to a friends house and tried it out. To say it worked great would be an understatement. They had just moved in, and the vacuum picked up so much dust from their carpet! I knew it was going to be perfect for me! I took it home and finished putting the screws in and turned it on. My floor... It's so clean!! And beautiful!

I am in love with a vacuum, and I don't care who knows it. 

04 June 2012

Real Mom Moments

The Good: Balian has  now twice dragged me to the potty so he could sit on it. The first time he peed in it, the second time he wanted to play, but at least he's getting there.

The Bad: Balian has figured out how to work the deadbolt. I don't know what we're going to do if our next place doesn't let us install a chain on the door.

The Ugly: One of the downfalls of having a dog before having a kid: your kid starts acting like the dog. Balian has decided it's fun to lap up water out of the tub like Scotty does and to fetch the toys we throw back and forth by getting down on his hands and knees and picking them up with his mouth... I'm just going to go with, "he gets it from his dad".

31 May 2012

A Mile In My Shoes

Tonight, as I was driving back from picking up dinner, I watched a C-130 circle around our apartment, wheels out, as it readied for its landing on McChord field. I wondered to myself if that was the same C-130 that would be taking my husband off on another of his grand adventures.

One of the questions I am asked most often is, "How do you do it?" Do what? How do I stand slipping into a cold bed at night, knowing that there's not going to be anyone there to warm it up? Or how do I stand listening to my two year old son walking around the house calling for his daddy? Or is it how do I manage to get up in the morning, listening to the news for any sign of trouble, while pretending that everything is okay? There's really only one answer: it's because you don't have a choice.

That's what most non-Military families fail to understand. We don't do this because we're special, because we think we're somehow better than others, because for some reason, we're stronger (mentally and emotionally) than the average person. It's because for us, there's no other option. Sure, I could choose to stay in bed all day, sleeping away the length of time he's gone, sinking into a depression that can only be reversed with his coming home. I won't lie, some days, that's exactly what I want to do, until I hear my two year old start waking up in his room, giggling and talking, and I know it's time to start a new day. My one night of self-pity is over. It's time to carry on.

My husband is at war. He's not sitting in some nice, cushy jet flying to a week long business meeting, or travelling to some exotic location for a company getaway. He's in a war zone, carrying a gun. There is every chance that he could be shot or worse. Those are the harsh realities we face everyday. What I wouldn't give to have him lying on a beach somewhere instead of in 60 pounds of gear that's meant to save his life.

When a civilian looks my husband in the eye and says, "Thank you for your service", they fail to see the tears shed the night he leaves. They don't see the missed birthdays and anniversaries. They don't see the last goodbye's, the midnight Skype calls, the worry or the dread, the absolute heart ache.

Most of you will never understand what this life is like, and I pray everyday that you never have to. 

30 May 2012

I Clicked It Up A Notch: May Contest

I really love these monthly contests. It's a great opportunity to see how much I've grown in my own skills. There were so many pictures that I took this past month that I would love to share, however, this one was the winner (for me). We had to celebrate my son's second birthday two weeks early since my husband will not be here to celebrate it with us on the day of.




Check out all of the other entries!


Click It Up A Notch

19 May 2012

Real Mom Moments

The Good: I've been reminded almost daily about how amazing it is to be a stay at home mom again. Yes, there are moments where I just need to get away, but being there when Balian wakes up in the morning, being able to put him to bed at night, kissing all of his owies and comforting his fears, that's what makes it  all worth it.

The Bad: The past few days I've been slipping slowly into an insanity coma. Balian has been (almost literally) attached to my hip. Any time he's been set down, I've walked out of the room, anything, he's screamed and come running, little hands beckoning me to come back. I can't even pee without him crawling into my lap.

The Ugly: Balian woke up screaming last night around 3 am, drenched to the bone. He's going to be a bedwetter until he's at least five. If not six. Or later. I changed his diaper and his clothes (during which he screamed... He apparently has an affinity for feetie pajama's), moved his blanket over the wet spot in the bed, and shifted him onto a dry spot. Don't judge. 

04 April 2012

Tuesday's Random Thought

I love being a stay at home mom. Yes, I do love being lazy, but there's so much more to it than that. I love spending time with Balian, watching him grow and helping him learn. I like keeping my house upkept (although lately I've failed at that). I love having the opportunities to share craft times with Balian. And, of course, I love love LOVE running my own business from my home. Being a stay at home mom isn't easy, and it often isolates you from the rest of the world, but there are way too many benefits to ever let the negatives get in the way.

29 March 2012

I Clicked It Up a Notch - March Contest

It's that time again! Click it up a Notch's monthly photo contest! This is my favorite shot from the month. It's not a shot of my son (for once), but the first signs of Spring. Living in Washington state, where the rain never ends, shots like these are vitally important. It's probably one of the few signs of Spring we've had here!


 So here's my favorite shot from the month of March:




Make sure you check out the other entries in the contest! You won't be disappointed!






Click It Up A Notch

27 March 2012

Tuesday's Random Thought

So if you've been living under a rock with no access to internet or TV, here's what you've missed.

17 year old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida while he was heading home from a convenience store where he picked up a bag of skittles and an iced tea. Neighborhood watch volunteer George  Zimmerman (28) called the police after seeing Trayvon walking through his neighborhood. After being seen by Zimmerman, Trayvon started running. Zimmerman ran after him after being told repeatedly to let the cops handle it. Zimmerman lost Trayvon, walked back to his SUV. Trayvon came up to Zimmerman about that time and a fight broke out between the two. Neighbors reported hearing screaming, and then hearing Trayvon yell for help repeatedly until the gunshots were fired. When they went outside, Zimmerman was standing over Trayvon with his hand on his back, as if holding the badly bleeding near death teen down.

Zimmerman yelled self defense and is now free.

What part of that story says "self defense" to you? Was it before or after Zimmerman started chasing Trayvon? Was it before or after Zimmerman had Trayvon on the ground? Was it before or after Zimmerman pulled a gun on a defenseless 17 year old?

I think what really upsets me about this case is that people are actually backing Zimmerman's absurd right to self defense. His self defense stance ended when he ignored the police and started chasing after Trayvon. By that time, his self defense turned into assault. By the end of it, it was assault with a deadly weapon. After that, it's murder.

So why isn't Zimmerman locked up yet?

21 March 2012

Photography Basics: Aperture

Have you ever wondered how photographers get those amazing blurred backgrounds, only having the subject in perfect focus? The secret to it is really no secret at all! It's simply knowing how to use your aperture! But before you can use it, you have to know what it is.

An aperture is an opening in your camera that limits the amount of light let into the camera. The aperture of the camera is similar to the pupil of your eye. When your pupil dilates (generally in low light conditions, like walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night) it gets bigger to let in more light, so things that you weren't able to see before in those dark conditions you can see now with clarity. However, when your pupil contracts (in very bright situations, like being outside at noon) it gets much smaller to limit the amount of light needed to see objects clearly. An aperture works the same way. The bigger the hole, the more light is let in. The smaller the hole, the less light.

With me so far?

Aperture is expressed in terms of f stops, for example, f/1.8 or f/16. The larger the number, the smaller the aperture is. The smaller the hole, the bigger the aperture is. It's confusing, but once you get in there and start practicing with it, it becomes a lot easier to understand. Just remember, small number, big hole. Big number, small hole.

So let's put aperture to use. Here are three examples of a photo with three very different apertures.

 f/1.8
 f/5.6
f/13


Yes, this is Chewbacca. My two year old volunteered him for a photo shoot today. ;)

You'll notice in the first picture Chewbacca stands out from the background. He's perfectly in focus while the rest of the blanket and chair behind him are blurred. However, in the last one, you can see everything in almost perfect focus. What you'll also notice is that the quality of the third picture is terrible compared to the first. I had to bump my shutter speed down to right around 1/30 and my ISO all the way up to 6400 in order to make sure the last wasn't underexposed because of the super high aperture (bigger number, smaller hole, less light). 

Another thing to remember about aperture is that it works on a geometric plane. Take a look back at the first picture.You'll notice that directly in front and behind of Chewbacca are blurred, but to the immediate left and right, it's just as equally in focus as the subject. While you're out shooting, make sure you keep on eye on the plane.

When to use a higher versus lower aperture

I know a lot of people who shoot with their aperture wide open (at the lowest f-stop), I can be one of them! There are some situations where having a higher f-stop results in a better photo than a lower one. City skylines, photos of mountains, streams, waterfalls, all are better with a higher aperture because you want every detail of it captured. A lower f-stop is preferred in portraits, pictures of your loved ones, your dog, etc, so that they are the focus of the moment. Another time to use a higher f-stop during a photo session is if you want to capture the surroundings of your subject, the flowers in the background, the beautiful landscape or mountains, etc. What aperture you decide to use is entirely up to what potential you see in that photo! 

Next week we'll finish up the last leg of the exposure triangle: shutter speed! I would love to see your examples of playing with aperture. What aperture range do you prefer the most?

20 March 2012

Tuesday's Random Thought

I am having horrible luck with babysitters. One of them walked out of the house with my son without telling us she was leaving. The next just can't ever seem to make it to the house, which has resulted in me missing two days of work. I really like the third, but don't expect her to show up on call. Plus we can't afford her. So I'm setting up an interview with a fourth babysitter hoping that this time it'll be it. Which may not matter after today's fiasco because my job may just fire me for being unreliable. But I think I've decided I don't really care. I'm enjoying being a stay at home mom. I enjoy running my own photography business and watching it grow. I'm enjoying studying medical transcription. I'm enjoying being free.

So I'm totally prepared to lose this job. It'll suck, because I've never been fired before, but I know I'll be happy.

And if I do get to keep the job, I will continue to learn and grow from it until it's time to move on.

19 March 2012

Pinterest Challenge Day 6

A picture is worth a thousand words. Today's Pinterest Challenge was about telling a story using pictures. I spent a better part of the day trying to figure out what story I could tell. It wasn't until hubby came through the front door limping from his road march this morning that it hit me. What story is ever better than a husband and daddy coming home after work? This story will always be special to me, but more so to our son in years to come. So here's my story:



Cute, huh? I think he's turning into a daddy's boy. ;)  What story do you want your pictures to tell?

18 March 2012

Pinterest Challenge Day 5

I loathe self portraits. Maybe it's because I generally don't rock them the way I've seen others, or maybe it's because I'm such a harsh critic on myself, but I seriously don't like them. So I balked when Courtney mentioned that we were going to do self portraits as part of the Pinterest challenge. I  mean, blech!!

But... I did it anyway. And I learned that taking a good self portrait is more than getting the technical right. It's being who you are and portraying who you are through the camera. That's what makes a good self portrait. So here's a couple of mine (hubby only suffered through one, but Balian is always game).






Cute huh? Definitely some of my favorite photos of myself. I think it's because of who is in them. ;)

Post a link to your own self portrait. What are your inhibitions about taking self portraits?


15 March 2012

Pinterest Challenge Day 4

Here is my day 4 Pinterest Challenge entry. Today's post was about Outdoor Photography, mainly about the golden hour and how to deal with the blaring noon day sun. I couldn't get outside during the hour of sun we had earlier today, so I pulled this one of my best friend. This was shot during the golden hour in Virginia. You can see the way her face has a glow from where the sun hits it. 






Check out the other amazing entries! And I'd love to know, what are your weaknesses when it comes to photography? Do you have problems shooting in full sun? What are some tips to help you overcome them?

14 March 2012

Pinterest Challenge Day 2

I have been following the Pinterest Challenge by the Sits Girls and done by Courtney at Click it Up a Notch. I know it seems like I'm constantly going over basics, but that's really what photography is. Everything builds on these basics of light and composition. Once you have these ingrained and pounded into your head, the rest follows naturally.

The Day 2 Challenge focused on how to straighten photos and clean up images. My photos are generally very busy. I always have a ton of clutter in my house, so this was a challenging thing for me. I picked the hallway leading as the spot for the challenge since it's where I get the best light and it's where a lot of the clutter seems to end up. John's ruck pack, dirty laundry, toys are always scattered through here. I picked up the toys, moved hubby's ruck sack, put the laundry where it was supposed to be, and closed the bathroom door. Then I opened the shutters in both bedrooms to let in more light. Here's the before and after results:






Doesn't that look better?? It's definitely getting me motivated to clean up the house. ;)

Where's your worst clutter area? Clean it up and take a pic! And check out this article about how to prepare a room for a session in your own home!

13 March 2012

Tuesday's Random Thought

I feel like life is going too quickly. The remote is stuck on fast forward, and I can't unstick it!

My greatest fear is that I'll wake up one morning, and I'll be 80 and have not achieved anything in this life, but instead, spent it on the trivial.

06 March 2012

Tuesday's Random Thought

I am not a perfect mom. I never have been and I never will be. Let me explain...

I do not spend every second of every minute of every hour of every day watching my child. I know, shocking right? I mean, isn't that what stay at home mom's do?? Sit in the floor and provide their kids with an ever moving plaything?

We do not fork over the extra money for organics. Love some of it, hate the rest.

Balian is not enrolled in extra classes to help him develop. He's ahead of most kids his age regardless.

I breastfed him for less than a month. He's been a formula baby since then.

So no, I'm not the typical stay at home mom. For the greater part of the day, I work on editing photos and building my businesses, provided I'm not working at the studio. If he's not helping, he's in his room playing with his toys. He brings me books and toys to play with him, and those are my breaks. But not every second of my life is devoted to him. For you moms whose lives revolve around your kid, kudos to you. I can't do it. It would drive me insane.

If I could enroll my son in any class, it would be a music class. He ADORES music, especially classical. He also love photography, but I can teach him that once he is old enough. He's smarter than most kids I've seen his age and can figure out problems pretty quickly that most two year olds would give up on.

So no, I'm not a perfect mom. But I am a damn good one. I am a lenient parent. He isn't told "no" often, but when he does, he listens and understands.

Balian is healthy, intelligent, loving, carefree, social, energetic, and loved. I don't have to be a perfect mother. I just have to be his mom. And that's really all that matters.

05 March 2012

Because It's Monday

My gorgeous and amazing friend Anna at Living the Leviner Life posted these, and since I completely blanked on the last ones she tagged me in, I'm doing these. Enjoy. :)

  1. Post these rules.
  2. Post 11 random things about yourself.
  3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.
  4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
  5. Go to their blog and tell them you've tagged them.

11 Random Things About Me:

1.) I'm a Pinterest Junkie, and am obsessed with creating some of the things I've found there. Current project: key fobs out of old credit cards.

2.) My brain is deciding it can't sleep tonight.

3.) Mainly because I've been planning out how to tell everyone I'm pregnant once I am (NO I am NOT currently. Just a future thing. And it will be awesome.). This comes from having six different friends who are currently pregnant.

4.) I ordered a necklace from an Etsy store tonight. It's custom made and amazing. I loved my Jewish star, but I've worn it every day for five years. It was time for a change.

5.) I may be bi-polar. Still waiting on that diagnosis to come back.

6.) My very first Epiphanie bag comes in tomorrow.

7.) John and I decided that we were each going to get one fun thing from this refund check. I bought the Epiphanie bag. He bought a new TV. 

8.) All of our bills are paid, and we've paid a significant amount on our car. This makes me happy.

9.) Tonight I had a random controversial thought regarding the person who said vaginal ultrasounds could be considered rape to women wanting an abortion. If a vaginal ultrasound is rape, then what the hell is an abortion? If you can't handle the ultrasound, then why are you having an abortion to begin with??? 

10.) I frequently become frustrated when I don't receive critiques and feedbacks on my photography. Yes, I know the shot was good/amazing/cute/sweet/etc... Tell me what I can do better!

11.) I have amazing best friends who take time to fly out to see me and send me random videos on Facebook to cheer me up.


Here are the questions that Anna put on her post for reposters:
1) What book are you currently reading?
   House Rules by Jodi Picoult
2) What was your favorite subject in school?
   17th Century Literature, Elizabethan Literature, and History of the English Language.
3) Do you have any pets?
   Yes. One American Eskimo four year old pup. He's my first son, Balian's older brother.
4) What is your favorite dessert?
   It depends on the day.
5) Who inspires you?
   Michelle Mullins. Marquis Dugger. Charlotte Tomlinson. My husband. And my mom.
6) How do you like to spend your free time?
   Shooting pictures and editing photos. 
7) What is your favorite movie from the '90's?
    The Lion King.
8) What's your favorite memory from childhood?
    Watching mom play Pokemon Stadium. Joint playing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with my sister (you couldn't save the game, so you better have a partner!). Innocence.
9) Where's your favorite vacation spot?
    Chincoteague Island or James River State Park.
10) Do you prefer the city or the country?
     The Suburbs.
11) What kind of you climate would you prefer to live in?
    It changes. Lately, I've been missing the extreme humidity of South Georgia. 


So here's my 11 questions for you to answer, should you ever want to repost.

1.) What is your favorite season and why?
2.) Do you like to cook?
3.) Who is your celeb crush?
4.) What is your dream job?
5.) Do you prefer American History or British History?
6.) What is your favorite book?
7.) If you could spend the rest of your life in one place, where would it be?
8.) Would you survive a Zombie Apocalypse?
9.) What is one thing you would you tell your twelve year old self knowing what you do now?
10.) What is one of your pet peeves?
11.) What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Make sure you link back up by commenting below so I can read your answers! Have fun!

01 March 2012

Photography Basics: ISO

This week I'm going to delve into one of the terms of photography that you hear and kind of understand, but never really think of when shooting: ISO. ISO stands for the International Standardization Organization and is "the numerical exposure index of a photographic film under the system adopted by the International Standardization organizationused to indicate the light sensitivity of the film's emulsion" (thank you dictionary.com). That definition is a supreme mouthful, so let me help break it down.

ISO is signified by a number (100, 200, 400, 800, etc) that denotes how much light the sensor will take. ISO is a compensation tool, part of the three points of the exposure triangle (aperture and shutter speed are the other two points, but we'll get to those later). The higher the ISO setting, the brighter the picture. Higher ISO's are often used in low light situations. Say you were in your living room watching your two year old play on the couch and it's night time. You (or if you have your camera set on autoISO, then your camera) may bump your ISO up to 800 or higher to get the right amount of light in the sensor to expose the photo properly. Make sense?

 ISO is a way for the computer inside your camera to compensate for the lack of light in any given 
situation. It changes the sensitivity of the camera's sensor so that, even in darker situations, you get a bright and prettily exposed photo.

Here's an example: 



ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800


The first picture was shot using ISO 100. The second one was ISO 200, then 400 and then 800. The only setting I changed was the ISO (aperture was f/1.8 and shutterspeed was 1/40 for all four pictures). The first shot is a little underexposed and the last is way too overexposed. ISO 200 seems a tad dark, but the details show up a little better than they do in ISO 400.

Depending on the camera you use, lens, what have you, ISO values can vary. Using my 35 mm, I can achieve an ISO setting of 12800. Some ISO settings can go even higher than that, though I don't recommend going that high for a very good reason: noise level.

Noise in a photo refers to the specks and dots that appear in an image. The camera tries to compensate for the higher levels of light by filling in missing pixels with extraneous information, leading to specks of color and ugliness. The higher your ISO, the more noise or grain is in the picture. Let's look at two more examples:

 ISO 100
ISO 3200

  Look at the top of each picture, right where the brown edging disappears. The brown in the first photo is much clearer than in the second photo. In the second photo, the brown looks a little lighter, a little more degraded. That's the noise (if you click on the image, you can see better what I'm talking about).

It's ultimately up to you what you decide to shoot on in regards to ISO. Sometimes using a higher ISO can't be helped unless you're able to use a flash. I personally try not to shoot with an ISO higher than 800. Past that, the noise becomes noticeable and the picture quality isn't as good (in my opinion). Find the "sweet spot" with your camera and experiment. I'd love to hear about and see your own examples!




28 February 2012

Random Thoughts Tuesday

There are so many thoughts swirling through my head at the moment, most of which if posted would stir up huge controversies. So I guess the post today will center around this: Why can't we all just love each other?

I am a flawed person. Not one inch of me is perfect. I daily strive to learn and to grow as a person, as a mom, a friend, a wife, a photographer, a writer. I expect people to love and accept me for who I am, even the flaws. I try my very hardest to do the same with them. It always irritates me when the acceptance is not there, however. The moment someone finds out about some of my more personal issues, those I generally tend to share with friends, I am dropped. Are you not flawed also? Do you not have pitfalls? Stumbling blocks? Imperfections? Then why do you expect everyone else to be perfect?

A good conundrum for the day. 

27 February 2012

February Photo Contest

Everyone who knows me, knows I love showing off my favorite shots! So here's my favorite from the month of February of my favorite little boy!




Isn't he just the most precious thing ever? Head over to Click it up a Notch to enter and see all the beautiful photos from February!




Click It Up A Notch

22 February 2012

Tuesday's Random Thoughts

I want to teach photography. I want to be a mentor to those just starting out in this field, and even those that have been in for a while. You learn so much just through helping others. If it weren't for the blogs I post every Wednesday featuring a new photography tip, I wouldn't know half of what I do. This goes much deeper than just a hobby. It's become my life.

15 February 2012

Photography Basics: Megapixels

Last week I talked about buying a camera and the different things you should look for when considering what type of camera to get. One of the things that I said not to be too concerned with when purchasing a camera where the megapixels of the camera. If you went through and looked at different cameras, you may have noticed that cameras all have different number megapixels. These numbers refer to the degree of resolution a photo take by the camera has. If your camera boasts a 14.6 mp rating, you may only get 13.9 of those. The rest of the pixels will be taken up by data.

Every image your camera takes is made up of pixels. A megapixel is equivalent to one million tiny pixels. 14.6 mp's mean that there are close to 14 million pixels that make up your image. This is a good thing. Think of pixels this way. On old Gameboy and Nintendo games, Mario looked like this:



You can very clearly see in this picture each pixel that makes up Mario. This is called a pixelated image. The picture of Mario below is very different, as you can easily see.


This picture of Mario is made up of many more pixels than the previous one. The result is a clearer image, one much better for printing than the other. Make sense?

So how does this relate to cameras? As stated before, each camera has a number related to pixels, whether it's 5 mp on your phone or the newest Nikon, which boasts an impressive 36 megapixels. Megapixels are one of the factors that control the size a picture can be printed. The table below represents how big a print can be made from some of the smaller mp's, as well as the resolution size.


Max Print SizeMinimum MPResolution
4 x 6″2 megapixels1600 x 1200
5 x 7″3 megapixels2048 x 1536
8 x1 0″5 megapixels2560 x 1920
11 x 14″6 megapixels2816 x 2112
16 x 20″8 megapixels3264 x 2468
16 x 24″12 megapixels4200×2800



Megapixels are important when considering what camera to buy. As a pro photographer, I have be able to print photos that can cover a wall (you never know what a customer will order!), so higher megapixel ratings are very important to me. You are the deciding factor in what will work for you.


I hope this brief intro into the world of megapixels was of some help! If you have an idea for what you would like to see in a Photography Basics post, comment below and let me know about it!



12 February 2012

What Do I Love?

Epiphanie bags is holding an awesome giveaway. To enter, post a picture of something you love and link it back to them. Something that takes your breath away or brings you inspiration. I think everyone knows what does that for me: my amazing family. So here is my entry:



What do you love?

10 February 2012

Pinterest Fridays

Hooray for another Pinterest Friday! I saw this idea a few months back and thought it'd be cute to try. It adds interest to an otherwise eyesore on the wall. We moved into our new apartment two weeks ago, and, sure enough, this was a major eyesore on the wall. So I grabbed a frame and put it around the air conditioner control. Here is what it looks like in our house:






We like it. The wall is plain, so it adds color and interest to something that would otherwise have been very boring. What do you all think?

08 February 2012

Photography Basics

So each week I'm going to do a post on a new facet of photography, whether it's specifically camera related, composition, whatever. Each week will be a compilation of things I've learned since I began my own photographic journey. As always, I'm interested in what you think! Leave comments below with things you'd like to see covered in this series or with your own tips and tricks!

 This week's post starts with the very beginning: buying a camera!

Firstly, know your cameras and the differences between them! Technology has given us so many options when it comes to cameras. The two traditional cameras are point and shoots (pocket cameras) and DSLR (digital single-lens reflex camera). Recently, though, there's been a new development in the form of a hybrid camera, a DSLR packed into the frame of a point and shoot that allows for interchangeable lenses. An example would be this Sony A-Nex camera.

Before you buy any type of new camera or equipment, you have to know what you want that camera for. Big DSLR cameras are flashy and *can* produce high quality images, but if you're only looking for something to use at special events, then why pay the money? Lugging around the camera body plus lenses, tripod, and diffusers around an amusement park can be more hassle than what it's truly worth. On the other hand, a DSLR would be handy if you're looking at getting into the photography business anytime soon.  A low grade DSLR is a great learning tool for mastering basics before investing in a better camera.

Having a camera budget is incredibly important, especially if you are wanting to buy a more expensive DSLR. One thing to consider is how much you're wanting to spend on accessories. The DSLR and hybrids both have an interchangeable lens system, which means lots of options and lots of extra equipment. The point and shoots have a fixed lens, which makes it ideal for situations where you can't carry a lot of equipment or need to shoot something quickly. Point and shoots range from $25 to over $200. DSLR's can range from $500 (body only) to over $2000. The hybrid cameras range from $500 to $900. If you're planning on getting a costlier camera, make sure it comes with a renewable extended warranty to cover any and all bumps, scratches, and breaks! Also look into getting insurance to cover the camera in case it is stolen or lost, or broken beyond repair.

As for brand, well, I definitely prefer Sony products over just about anything else, although I know many who will swear by a Nikon or a Canon. That preference is completely up to you, however.

That is all for this post! If you think I've forgotten anything or have any comments or questions to add, feel free to post below in the comments field!

15 January 2012

Cross Country Day 12

Start: Forest, Virginia
End: Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington
Miles: 2913

Our cross country move has officially come to a close. It's a bitter sweet ending, because it's been an awesome time of vacation for our family, yet we're happy to have this trip behind us. Washington is a beautiful state, and I'm very happy to be here! The drive from Gresham here was amazing. We passed through forests that still held the marks of destruction from the explosion of Mt. Saint Helens 22 years ago. Snow had fallen over night, turning much of our drive through forests into an expedition through a winter wonderland. It took us two hours to arrive from Oregon, and we immediately headed to the vet to get Scotty updated on his shots, since he will have to be boarded for the next ten days. Then we headed to a hotel for the night, and are planning on moving to Post lodging in the morning, provided the boarding place is open to put Scotty in. We drove into Joint Base Lewis - McChord for the first time together, in the snow. Our first stop was the PX to eat some lunch and to buy me a new pair of shoes (my snow boots were accidentally packed up with our home goods, so I only have my very soggy moccasins to walk through snow and ice in). Then we went to the library to print off a couple of items. We met up with one of John's friends for dinner (he's a blast!), and now we're getting ready to turn in.

This vacation has been rewarding in so many different ways. It's amazing to be a family again and to be able to spend a few days of uninterrupted time together. I loved seeing the different views and sites each state afforded, and it was amazing to see the differences state by state. I have also gleaned a more full appreciation for the United States as a whole from this drive. This country in which we live and work and play is so amazing, and there are so many hidden treasures tucked away to be found (I mean, who really thought that there would be awesome waterfalls in Idaho, potato capital of the world??).

Tomorrow begins our days of work in trying to get everything organized for us. Soon we will be moving into a new home, and I couldn't be more excited! I can't wait to see what these next two years will hold for us!

Cross Country Day 11

Start: Pendleton, Oregon
End: Gresham, Oregon
Miles:  198

Today was very short mileage wise. We decided that, since we were going to be driving through Portland on our way up, we'd stop in Gresham to see a couple of my most amazing friends. The drive through Oregon started out, again, somewhat questionable. The factories in the area really detract from the natural beauty of the state, which is a very big shame. The factories soon faded away, however, and were replaced by beautiful mountains and a gorgeous, long, river. Most of the drive was alongside said river, with cliff walls on the opposite side. It was some of the most stunning scenery I'd seen, and also the scariest drive. The wind started picking up as we came closer to Gresham, sometimes knocking my poor car to the other lane. Then the rain/snow hit. It wasn't near as bad as driving through the blowing snow in Wyoming, but it was much much wetter. Waterfalls sprang up on the cliff faces as water coursed down the rock walls. As beautiful as it was, I was incredibly grateful to reach our destination. I'm not a fan of driving in rain. At all. We checked into our hotel and rested for a few hours before heading to dinner. We met two of our friends, Jonathan and his wife Amy, at Buffalo Wild Wings to watch some UFC fights and catch up. We never really "caught up" so to speak. Just picked up where we left off. They're pretty amazing friends, if I haven't said so already.

After the fights were over, it was back to the hotel to get ready for the last day of driving on our cross country tour.

14 January 2012

Cross Country Day 10

Start: Twin Falls, ID
End: Pendleton, OR
Miles: 346

Our morning started out with a brief trip to Shoshone Falls. Who knew that Idaho had such beautiful scenery! The falls were stunning! I crept down to a viewpoint (the stairs were covered in ice) to grab a few shots. There was a double rainbow stretching over the falls, and tons of birds! The entire area was a beautiful and grand way to begin our day.

Our next stop was in Oregon, which meant driving through more of Idaho. I truly loved watching the scenery pass by. I've already said that each state we pass through is more lovely than the last, but Oregon seemed to want to test that theory out. We crossed the state line in Ontario, Oregon, and it was one of the smoggiest, grossest places that we've passed through thus far. A lot of factories and smoke, and almost no scenery. I was incredibly happy to get past that town, but I didn't think Oregon could recoup from that. I was (gratefully) proven wrong. More mountains encompassed us and a very large national forest with some of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen! We stopped for a bit in La Grande, Oregon, where we were planning on spending the night. After a fruitless search for a suitable hotel, we drove another fifty miles to Pendleton. We ate dinner at Hamley's restaurant and Saloon (food was AMAZING) and we walked around downtown for an hour. I picked up some books at a local used book store and John bought me a beautiful new ring from a curio shop. Then it was back to the hotel to relax in our jacuzzi tub and sleep.

Today we travel to Portland to see friends and watch the UFC fights, and tomorrow we arrive in Fort Lewis, Washington. Our trip across the country is nearly over!

Here are some of the pictures of the falls in Idaho. If you ever get the chance, visit them! They are well worth the trip!






12 January 2012

Cross Country Day 9

Start: Rock Springs, WY
End: Twin Falls, ID
Miles: 365

Mountains, mountains everywhere! It was a beautiful day for a long drive through some amazingly beautiful mountains. After showering and finding out that wet hair freezes when it's less than 10 degrees outside, we decided to eat some breakfast at IHop, where it took four cups of coffee to warm me back up. Balian had a Nutella and banana crepe, which was very very good (Mommy stole a couple of bites...). Then it was off into the wilderness for another 356 miles interstate travel. We stopped for a rest break in Ogden, Utah after crossing some very beautiful mountains. Instead of eating lunch, we walked around Target, FYE, and Petsmart. Balian fell in love with the guinea pigs and the parakeets! It was also Scotty's first time in a store like that, and he had a good time and received a few treats for being a good boy! Starbucks was right beside the exit, so we stopped in for a couple of coffees and scones (pumpkin!!). Then it was back on the road for another 175 miles. I have decided that Utah is now my number one favorite state, and am convinced that the further west you drive, the more beautiful this country becomes. Utah has the best of everything, plains, mountains, even beach (alongside the Salt Lake, which was completely frozen over). Idaho is just as pretty, especially at sunset. We came to the town of Twin Falls after sunset, crossing over a vast canyon to get to the city. We stopped at the hotel and ate a quick bite, then went to Barnes and Noble to walk around for a bit. Balian loves that place almost as much as his momma does. Upon walking through the door, he sighted an Angry Birds set up, and rushed over saying, "angry birds! angry birds!" He then proceeded to pick up and carry every stuffed animal he could possibly get his little hands on.

Tomorrow we're going to visit a waterfall and a canyon, then head further north to La Grande, Oregon for our third to last stop. Until then!

11 January 2012

Cross Country Day 8

Start: Sidney, Nebraska
End: Rock Springs, Wyoming
Miles: 356

O...M...Gosh... Last night I was up at 2 am listening to the wind threaten to tear the building apart. This morning, we drove in that same wind. That same wind was also blowing freshly fallen snow across the roads, making it nearly impossible to see in spots. Thank goodness I wasn't driving! There were spots on the roads where the sand had mixed with the ice to the point you could not see the lines of demarcation on the road. Pure insanity. And it was COLD!!! It dropped to about 4 degrees, and was only 11 when we stopped to eat in Laramie, Wyoming. Laramie was the valley in between mountains. We passed through part of the Rockies on the way there, then through a few more patches of mountain (just small ones) afterwards. In Laramie, the sun was beautiful and shining. On either side through the mountains, it was like a blizzard. The blowing snow did stop long enough for me to get a few pics of the mountains (below). The weather started clearing nicely after the second set of mountains we passed through, and by the time we dropped from elevation 9000 to elevation 6000, the sky was a brilliant blue again. Wyoming is an absolutely beautiful and wild state. I saw a type of deer I have never seen before (called a prong deer) and a few wild horses. We arrived in Rock Springs and found a hotel for the night, then ordered pizza (which John bought while I gave the puppy a bath) and watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. Tomorrow we advance to Salt Lake City. It's supposed to be a clear and beautiful day, so hopefully snow won't slow us down!


Driving in the mountains



Hey look! More mountains!

Caution: Blowing Snow

Our trip at one point (John was going so slow...)

Could any cross country trip be complete without windmills??