Venture 52 : Week 5

August 21st - 27th
Only 5 photos were acceptable for posting this week, so the 2 at the end are picture I took with my cell phone just for some fun.  Please enjoy!  Also, just in case anyone is actually following my little photo venture here... I wanted to let you know that I will be out of town next weekend, so will not be posting week 6 until I also am posting week 7.  I may even combine those 2 weeks due to the fact that most of my photos in the next 2 weeks will be of my family and friends in Kansas City.  So here's this week...see you in 2 weeks.

"Colorful Tears"

For those who work with the renaissance festivals, you know that most of these colorful gems are referred to as 'dragon tears.'  I thought I'd capture the beauty of the colors in my cracked crystal bowl.

"Sweet Arrangement"

This beautiful cookie bouquet was given to me by the Ralston family, whom I nanny for, as our 1 year anniversary present.  I am so grateful this family has come into my life.  They are so precious to me and well...spoil me pretty rotten.  I'm one lucky lucky nanny.

"My Sweets"

A close up on the heart cookie in my cookie bouquet.  I also used a filter on the background so that just the heart cookie stood out.

"Smothered, Chunked, Capped and County"

My all time favorite cheat meal from The Waffle House!  I know, I know, so bad for the diet, but ya gotta treat yourself occasionally. ;)

"Tuna Kitty"

My sweet Tuna kitty.  She's a little bit of a freak, but I love her!

"Sophia Smurf"

That's right ladies and gentlemen.  Sophia chalked herself blue.  She's got the Smurf fever!  lol  This photo is from my Droid 3 phone and not the greatest quality, but I still think it captures her intensity of wanting to be blue that day!  Silly girl.  Love her!

"Alley Cool Cat"

When Alley realized that she couldn't see very well with the cap turned around the right way, she took it upon herself to turn it around.  It was too cute.  This is another photo from my Droid 3 phone.  It's fuzzy.  I tried to clean it up a bit, but this was the best I could do.  Still soooo cute though!  I love me some Alley Cat!

Venture 52 : Week 4

August 14th - 20th
This week has been a great week for my photography.  I took the girls out on a photo shoot at the botanical gardens and got some fantastic shots.  I have also been keeping my eyes open for opportunities for natural photos, as you will see in a few of the photos below.  After just 4 weeks on this venture, I really feel like my photography is improving.  I hope it continues to do so throughout the year.  I had a hard time narrowing my selection down to just 7 photos this week, so there are a few extras for you to enjoy.  :o)  They are not in the order that I took them.  It is just random, but they were all taken THIS week.

"Moonstruck"

I have been wanting to try to get a picture of the moon for awhile now.  I didn't think my camera could do such a great job.  I completely maxed out the zoom (way past the recommended level) for this one, but it came out pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.

"Nannies Girls"

I took over 200 pictures of the girls this day.  I have narrowed it down to my 3 favorite groups shots to post here.  I have the greatest, most rewarding job in the world...and the above 3 photos are just a small glimpse into how fabulous it is.  I love these girls too too much!

"Salad Prep"

Each week I spend 4-6 hours chopping veggies for our weekly salads.  In the large pot is the red cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli that I chopped prior to taking this photograph.  I love the lighting on the peppers.

"Pretty in Pink"

I thought these were beautiful little flowers that the girls and I found during our photo shoot at the botanical gardens in Grapevine.

"Spinning Sophia"

Sophia wanted to show off some of her dance moves for me and I was thrilled to have captured this moment as she leaped in the air and spun around.

"Splish Splash"

This was Alley's favorite area at the water park we went to the other day. She really disliked the water spraying in her face, but couldn't resist running through the sprinklers over and over again.  Silly little girl!  

"Heavenly Light"

I love it when the light comes through the trees.  It seems to remind me that there is someone up there watching over me. (Not just God, but my Grandmother and her sisters as well.)  I'm not sure this photo captured what my eyes were seeing as well as I would have liked it to, but it was my first attempt at photographing it.  I will try again and hopefully it will get better.

Hope you have enjoyed this weeks photographs.  4 weeks of my "venture" down, only 48 to go!  Thanks for stopping by to check it out!

There's HOPE for me yet...

You've heard it said, usually sarcastically...but today I found the true meaning in MY heart of the overused phrase..."There's hope for you yet."  Because there truly is hope for me.

Today, after a very trying morning with an uncooperative 4 year old, I took the girls to a small water part in Bedford, Tx. and met a lady there and her two beautiful children, whom I will NEVER forget.

I spent only about 5 minutes speaking to this unforgettable lady, but learned so much about hope, trials and triumph.  Her name is Tammy and she is 45 years old.  Now let me tell you why Tammy had such a huge impact on the rest of my life.

Alley and I were playing in the water parks little ground sprinkler area (I have no idea what else to call it...lol) and Tammy came and sad down at the edge of the fountains and laid her beautiful 6 month old baby girl down so that she was laying in the water and being gently splashed, which she seemed to love.  If you know me at all, you know I can not pass up saying hello to a baby...so I leaned over and spoke to the infant, who in turn grinned from ear to ear.  You know the smile! The one where their eyes light up and although you know they won't remember you tomorrow, you feel like, for that instant you made a positive difference in a little ones world.  I then, of course, turned to Tammy to tell her how adorable her little girl was and she simply said, "Thank you.  She is our little miracle baby."  Well...you know I couldn't pass by that and I had to ask what she meant.  I think ALL babies are little miracles, but generally they are not specifically referred to as miracles, unless there were rough times before the miracle moment.  Tammy explained, very simply, that she had lost 8 children, including the twin of her 8 year old that was running around the water park (whom I met briefly).  'How sad and tragic,' I thought.  How could anyone endure losing EIGHT children?  I can't even imagine how hard that would be...but WOW, just WOW.  I told Tammy that she gave me hope, because we have had so much trouble getting pregnant.  I didn't go into details, and neither did she, but she did explain...after learning of our hardships...that she never gave up hope.  They tried all sorts of ways of having children and had many trials and tests, but they did not give up.  At 45 years old she was able to give birth to a beautiful baby girl, after having lost so many, and although she didn't say it out loud, I could tell that she honestly felt blessed.  (I'm not sure if I had gone through all of that, if I would feel so happy. In fact, I'm pretty sure I would have given up after losing 2 or more children and either adopted or just conceited that I would not have any more children.)

Such a short conversation with someone who has changed me for the better.  Not only did this 'meeting' inspire me to never give up my dreams of being a mother, it also inspired me to not be afraid to be an inspiration, even to someone you only speak to for a few minutes and may never see again.  I know nothing more about this lady and her family, but as I said...I will NEVER forget her.

Thank you, Tammy!  You will probably never read this, but you have given me hope and been a positive impact on my future and for that I have a great appreciation and love for you, your adorable 8 year old son and that gorgeous baby girl, whom I was honored to meet.  I will never forget your faces and will keep moving forward in my journey to become a mommy.

Venture 52 : Week 3

August 7th - 13th
So, it's only week 3 of my venture and I failed miserably at remembering to take my camera with me.  I've been working on other projects and such, so I decided to highlight a few of those as my photos this week.  It's not so much about the photography this week, as it is about the photo shop work and my other artistic abilities.  Hope you enjoy!

I couldn't pick just one of these pictures.  Tommy is such a sweet kitty,

so I had to make a story out of it! ;)

I love this photo of my grandmother.  It sits in my dining area and reminds me of her beauty daily.

Opal Ruth Judd was the most amazing person I've ever known.  I miss her!

The sky was so beautiful the other day.  I just loved the clouds.

I tried to capture it's beauty, but it was much better in person.

The above 2 photos are my rough draft drawings of room concepts for the girls that I nanny for.

Alley and Sophia are getting a Fairy Garden themed room and Emily is getting a modern purple room with swirls, squares, inspirational words/quotes and a single flying butterfly.

My latest product line with my creative company, Mynz Unique!

Tutu dress.  The small bow is intended to be in the back, but the dress can be worn either way.

Nothing fancy.  This is the wall in my kitchen. 

 I just was trying some different angles and took this from the ground.

Venture 52 : Week 2

July 31st-August 6th

Sunset in the cove

Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, Missouri

Emily at the lake!

Devilish Ducks!

They look sweet and innocent, but don't make them mad.  lol

Beautiful Butterfly on a Beach Towel

Jumping for Joy

I love it when I capture a great action shot! Thanks Lily!

The Life of the Party!

Emily had such a great 9th birthday!

Sophia Slides!

Such a cutie in all her floaty wear!  She's loved sliding on the water slide!

Week 2 Bonus Photo

Alley really wants to "just keep swimming."

Such a great shot of Alley and her daddy!

Venture 52 : Week 1

July 24th-30th

The beautiful flowers the girls got me for my birthday! 

Do you see the twin bloom.  It's one stem with two buds....so cool!

D.C.I. Competition in Dallas, Texas

I loved the lopsided heart they made...so glad I was able to capture it.

D.C.I. Competition in Dallas, Texas

Close up on the drummers!

D.C.I. Competition in Dallas, Texas

Our good friends daughter, Allison performs with The Cadets.

(She is in the white uniform on the left.)

Crafty Me

I started this blanket years ago and am looking forward to finishing it soon.

We love Cassie's Frozen Yogurt in Grapevine, Texas!

Alley is too adorable surrounded in pink!

Just thought this was a cool photo!

Venture 52 begins 7.24.2011

Venture 52 is my version of Project 365.  While I'll still be taking at least 1 picture per day, I know that I won't take (or have) the time to post every day.  So, I am going to post a minimum of 7 pictures, once a week (maybe more than 7 each week).  Most likely postings will occur on Sunday or Monday. I have decided that I would like to capture my 36th year of life for this project, therefore; I will being taking the daily pictures on my 36th birthday 7.24.2011 and ending on my 37th birthday 7.24.2012.  My goal for this project is to see the changes in my life in the next year.  I've already started some huge changes, weight loss, healthy lifestyle, exercise...etc...etc.  I'm hoping to add other lifestyle changes, some completely within my control and some completely out of my control.  I think it will be exciting to view them all through photographs.  I'm also hoping this venture will help to hone my photography skills and learn new ways to take and enhance my photos.  So I will begin taking pictures (with a purpose) on 7.24.2011.  Since I will be out of town the following weekend at my family reunion, I will probably not post the first 2 weeks until Aug. 7th.  I hope that you will check back each week to see my journey through photography.