Mike's the chef!

Chocolate Chip Cookie made by Mike!

Mike's the chef here in this family... and he has a TON of kitchen gadgets like a couple dutch ovens, our RED Kitchenaid mixer, many frying pans, a ton of outdoor grill goodies... and many many MANY more.

I'm bringing this up because I like to plan WAY ahead for Christmas. He wants more kitchen gadgets. One thing he REALLY wants is a nice grill pan.

I think he wants this one:

BUT... that's probably not happening because... well, it's like $200. I just can't imagine spending that much on a pan...

I'll probably end up getting this one instead:

For one: it's red! ;D And, it's about $125. That's a little better. Time to start saving!

Speaking of mike cooking: Would you guys be interested in Mike's amazing cookie recipe? I think I'm going got post it sometime next week.

I'm also trying out a new comment form. Let me know if you like it! We'll see if I even installed it properly. :)

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?

Thursday's Three: Where's the motivation?

{Ruari with Mike's parents}

You know when you REALLY want to create something, but you just can't get motivated to get it done? Yeah, that's me right now. I was playing around with photoshop and a couple of photos I took... I just couldn't get them to look the way I wanted. So, I stopped working on them.

I only managed to get this photo of Ruari and her grandparents (Mike's parents) edited. And, well... I'm only "eh" about it. :)

I'll come back to editing tomorrow. I find that if I get frustrated with a project, I need to walk away from it for a bit and come back later. Refreshed and ready to be creative!

Thursday's Three: Where's the motivation?
Where will I find it? Gotta take care of me.

1) I HAVE to remember to take some "me" time. My favorite "me" time is night time right after baby goes to bed. I try to take an hour after Ruari goes to bed to just do something for me. Browse the internet... watch TV... totally space out! Whatever. Right now I'm both browsing the internet AND watching Dexter! We just finished the 2nd season.

{On Amazon: Dexter}

2) Ree from the Pioneer Woman is VERY inspiring. Whether it's inspiring me in my photography... or giving tips on blogging. This lady is pretty amazing. Her biggest tip I need to follow right now:  

"Exercise more: Blogging is an insidiously sedentary activity, and if you blog daily you should take steps to markedly increase your daily movement. Unless that movement involves eating coffee ice cream. In which case it would be better not to markedly increase your daily movement." 

I often find myself trying not to move during baby's nap so I don't wake her... this means I just sit here... on my computer. Hmmmm....

{Ree from the Pioneer Woman}

3) My baby. She's been pretty inspiring. She looks pretty dang cute in any photo I take of her... if I do say so myself! :D My favorite to date inspiration is the tattoo photo manipulation. Which, just so happens, is for sale in my Paper Mama shop!!! :D I can tattoo up your babe! Or grandma, whatever!

{Tattoo your baby here.}

{Tattoo your baby here.}

Reminder: Today's the last day for the photo challenge: Excitement!

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: I see the light...

{Ruari at 8.5 months}

{I've been playing with my camera a bit. On Sunday Mike and Ruari were playing on the floor, and the sun was blaring in. So, I thought I'd try out a few shots.}

{Happy Wednesday everyone!}

{If you have a Wordless{ish} Wednesday, please feel free to post it below. And, feel free to link up to these blogs too... (Wordless Wednesday HQ, 5 Minutes For Mom, 7 Clown Circus, Jolly Mom, Go Graham Go,  and My Wee View.). Happy Wednesday to all of you!}

{Don't forget to check the announcements above the posts. Giveaways and the photo challenge: Excitement!}

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?

Touch up Tuesday and free action!

AFTER:

{Kim: 31 weeks pregnant}

BEFORE:

AFTER:

{Kim: 31 weeks pregnant}

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I've finally made my own action for photoshop! It's the action I used on the photos above of my beautiful preggo friend Kim. :) If you'd like to check out this action, head on over to my Paper Heart Camera. This is where I'll be posting any tips or actions or anything along those lines. :) This action is called: Summertime Vintage.

KIM'S BABY SHOWER INVITE (buy this at the Paper Mama Shop!):

{Customize your own invite here:}

BY the way: Touch Up Tuesday is moving to my photography community: Paper Heart Camera next Tuesday. :)

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?

I'm feeling guilty.

I'm feeling SO guilty. I haven't been visiting as many blogs as I used to. My blog has grown very fast, and I'm finding it so hard to visit everyone that comments. I know I shouldn't be feeling guilty.. but, I can't help it. I want SO bad to be able to visit everyone.

I have no idea how some people do it. Like the amazing Ashley Sisk. I see her leaving meaningful comments all over the place. I know she really reads the whole blog post.

I know I have a busy little crazy baby... but, I feel like I should be able to visit more blogs! I am easily distracted by pretty photos or interesting links...

ANYway. I just wanted to let you all know that even if I'm not commenting at the moment, I'm trying to read as many of your blogs as I can. Because, I really do enjoy visiting and reading about all of you!

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?

Monday's My Pick: Bloggy friend meet-up

{"Why mama? WHY?"}

SOOOOOOO, I mentioned last week that I was going to be meeting some of my bloggy friends. AND, I did! It was fun. We met at Greenlake in Seattle. I SO wish they all lived closer. I drove up there with my Mom and Grammy for the day on Friday. 3.5 hours up there and 3 hours on the way home. WAY worth it though.

{Yes, Ruari's the only one crying.}

It was almost like I was meeting a group of famous people! I've been viewing photos and reading about these girls... and then I got to meet them in person. Looking at the group photo of our little babies is so weird! I swear we really did meet and I didn't just photoshop all of them together. ;D

ROLL CALL (from left to right): cutie Corbin from The Chronicles of Corbin, handsome Henry from It's a Wonderful Life, buddy Bennett from It's a Beautiful Life, lovely Laureli from The Paper Mama, super duper Stella from Hi, Baby, and rockin' Rowan from Hi, baby!

{Look at all those cute babes!}

{Bennett, Ruari, and Stella.}

{Beautiful little Rowan}

{Ruari and Stella}

{Bennett}

Ruari's first experience on a swing... she thought it was alright. I think it was nap time. :)

{Mandy, Henry, and Allie}

{Now it's Henry's turn to touch Bennett's hair! Look at all those hot mama's!}

Things I've learned from the bloggy meet-up:
- Ruari is a toy hoarder. She had about 5 toys in her lap at one point...
- All these ladies are even more beautiful in person.
- Their babies are freakin adorable!
- I wish I lived closer to all of them!

AND: My Monday's My Pick:

The Hi, Baby store on Etsy! It's Melissa's shop. Really cute stuff! I'm lucky enough to own the bandanna bib and a cute heart head band. Check it out! Please!

{Hi, Baby store on Etsy}

{Hi, Baby store on Etsy}

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?