My Home Sweet Home

I ♥ Faces: Wedding Bells (week 25)

One of this week's themes at iHeartFaces is "Wedding Bells" and the guest judge is Jasmine Star! This is a photo I took at my sister's wedding last year. I love the play of emotions on my sister's and daddy's faces: the mixture of excitement and nervousness as she prepares to walk down the path to where her outdoor wedding will take place; the joy on his face as he escorts his youngest daughter to her future husband.

I ♥ Faces: “Let’s Hear it for the Boys!” Adults (week 24)

It’s time for week twenty-three of the iHeartFaces photo contest! This week’s theme is “Let's Hear it for the Boys!” and the guest judge is Lori Nordstrom. These are my two oldest sons, and since they're 18 and 23, this qualifies them for the adult category. I would say that makes me feel old, but my youngest turns four this week, so it's all in the perspective (you can see my little gal in the bottom right corner). This photo was taken recently at my 18 year old's graduation. I love it because it captures both of their personalities, as well as ...

Oh, Adobe! Advertising, and other stuff

I'VE GOT A PHOTO ON ADOBE'S WEBSITE! Don't mean to yell, BUT THIS IS SERIOUSLY EXCITING NEWS! If you go to the Passionate Photographers page in the Lightroom product category, mine is the fourth photo in the slideshow (not that I've counted or sat and stared at it for minutes at a time). I am really excited to be participating in Scott Kelby's 2nd annual Worldwide Photo Walk on July 18th. Check out this post to see where you can order a cool Photo Walk t-shirt and benefit the Springs of Hope Kenya Orphanage in the process. Here's the one I ...

I ♥ Faces: Sepia Kids (week 23)

It’s time for week twenty-three of the iHeartFaces photo contest! This week’s theme is “Sepia” and the guest judge is Jenny Cisney, Kodak's Chief Blogger. This is my youngest daughter. We were sitting outside on our deck, and she just laid her head down on the table. Such a sweetheart...

The post in which I try to do a better job of explaining how to win the NAPP membership and autographed Scott Kelby books

Since Firgs's NAPP membership giveaway post has over 160 comments and my "9 Days of NAPP" series, which will culminate by giving away not only a NAPP membership but 2 autographed Scott Kelby books (3 separate prizes for 3 separate winners) has a total of 34 comments at this point, I realize that I obviously need to do a better job of explaining how the contest works 'cause that NAPP membership is one hot prize! Here's how to enter (one entry for each): Leave comments on the "9 Days of NAPP" posts (the posts that are live are listed below) Tweeting about the ...

Would you like to win a ticket for next week’s A Woman Inspired Conference: Online Ministry?

[Contest closed – Leah is the winner!] Need some inspiration? A Woman Inspired's second conference, Online Ministry, is next Monday through Thursday, June 8-11. I'll be speaking on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. EST about Facebook: Inside & Out. Conference topics include Twitter, blogging, blog design, and how to use the power of social media to build your ministry online. Registration is only $12.95 and since it's online, no one has to know if you're in your pajamas or having a bad hair day! Just login through the conference software and you're in a group chat with the other attendees, where you can listen ...

What's New?

Super Soaker 50 Celebrates its 20th Anniversary!

Sometimes review products come into our home and sit calmly in the box until we’re ready to evaluate them. Not so with Hasbro’s Super Soaker 50 Water Blaster. The phrase “pandemonium ensued” pretty much summarizes what happened as soon as the package was opened. My 18-year-old son walked in and asked, “Where did that come from?” with a gleam in his eye. Within... [Read more of this post]

I ♥ Faces: Wedding Bells (week 25)

One of this week’s themes at iHeartFaces is “Wedding Bells” and the guest judge is Jasmine Star! This is a photo I took at my sister’s wedding last year. I love the play of emotions on my sister’s and daddy’s faces: the mixture of excitement and nervousness as she prepares to walk down the path to where her outdoor wedding will take place; the joy on his face as... [Read more of this post]

Notable NAPP Links for the Week of June 21, 2009

Before and After video from Matt Kloskowski Creating a Rule of Thirds Custom Shape in Photoshop as a Cropping Guide Lightroom 2 Adjustment Brush Fading Filters in Photoshop Installing an Image Slideshow in WordPress Quick Shapes in Photoshop 2nd Annual Worldwide PhotoWalk on Saturday, July 18, 2009 Sign up for Photoshop World newsletter Have you joined NAPP? (Don’t forget promo code DAWN to... [Read more of this post]

Enter your photo to win a one-year subscription to National Geographic and a sample of Energizer Lithium Batteries!

THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. The final entry is #52, Our Lincoln Log. I’m not sure how to “close” a Mr. Linky! The winner will be announced after Angie and Amy have had a chance to choose. [Edited to add: Limit of 2 entries per person (I meant to make it one, but forgot to include it. Since there are people who have already submitted two, we'll leave it at that.) Giveaway open to U.S.... [Read more of this post]

Wordless Wednesday: State Capitol out the Window of My Car (don’t try this at home)

I’m a NAPP Evangelist (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) – see how this could benefit you! Visit 5 Minutes for Mom or Wordless Wednesday for more Wordless Wednesday participants. Are you a photographer with white balance problems? Check out the White Balance Lens Cap! Share or bookmark this post: tweetmeme_url = 'http://myhomesweethomeonline.net/2009/06/30/super-soaker-50-celebrates-its-20th-anniversary/';tweetmeme_source... [Read more of this post]

I ♥ Faces: “Let’s Hear it for the Boys!” Adults (week 24)

It’s time for week twenty-three of the iHeartFaces photo contest! This week’s theme is “Let’s Hear it for the Boys!” and the guest judge is Lori Nordstrom. These are my two oldest sons, and since they’re 18 and 23, this qualifies them for the adult category. I would say that makes me feel old, but my youngest turns four this week, so it’s all in the perspective (you can see... [Read more of this post]

I ♥ Faces: “Let’s Hear it for the Boys!” Kids (week 24)

It’s time for week twenty-four of the iHeartFaces photo contest! This week’s theme is “Let’s Hear it for the Boys!” and the guest judge is Lori Nordstrom. I took this picture of my fourteen-year-old son recently. He looks so intense the way he’s leaning forward toward the camera. Actually, the poor guy had emergency knee surgery last month and has spent the last 5 weeks in a knee... [Read more of this post]

Notable NAPP Links for the Week of June 14, 2009

Official Worldwide Photo Walk T-Shirts to Support Orphanage (ordered mine!) To Tweet or Not to Tweet Get Creative – Tell Stories with Your Camera Adding Depth of Field 7 Steps to Becoming a Confident Photographer 5 Noise Makers in Digital Photography 2nd Annual Worldwide PhotoWalk on Saturday, July 18, 2009 Sign up for Photoshop World newsletter Have you joined NAPP? (Don’t forget promo code... [Read more of this post]

Oh, Adobe! Advertising, and other stuff

I’VE GOT A PHOTO ON ADOBE’S WEBSITE! Don’t mean to yell, BUT THIS IS SERIOUSLY EXCITING NEWS! If you go to the Passionate Photographers page in the Lightroom product category, mine is the fourth photo in the slideshow (not that I’ve counted or sat and stared at it for minutes at a time). I am really excited to be participating in Scott Kelby’s 2nd annual Worldwide Photo... [Read more of this post]

I ♥ Faces: Sepia Adults (week 23)

It’s time for week twenty-three of the iHeartFaces photo contest! This week’s theme is “Sepia” and the guest judge is Jenny Cisney, Kodak’s Chief Blogger. This is my hubby, little league coach extraordinaire. I love baseball pictures in sepia, it gives them such an old-fashioned, timeless feel. Share or bookmark this post: tweetmeme_url =... [Read more of this post]

I ♥ Faces: Sepia Kids (week 23)

It’s time for week twenty-three of the iHeartFaces photo contest! This week’s theme is “Sepia” and the guest judge is Jenny Cisney, Kodak’s Chief Blogger. This is my youngest daughter. We were sitting outside on our deck, and she just laid her head down on the table. Such a sweetheart… Share or bookmark this post: tweetmeme_url... [Read more of this post]

Notable NAPP Links for the Week of June 7, 2009

Retouching with the World’s 21st Century Corset Depth of Field and Film Grain with Any Digital Camera The Hot Shoe Diaries Review Hue Jitter for Brushes Attending PSW (Photoshop World): Networking I Love SB-600s Moving Selections, Not the Layer An Interview with Scott Kelby Adobe Photoshop Marketplace Tip – Don’t forget about History (in Lightroom) Drobo Video Contest Watermarking with... [Read more of this post]

I ♥ Faces Blurb Book Winners Announced: I’m In!

Today iHeartFaces announced the winners of the Blurb Photo Book Contest and I’m happy to say that my photo will be included! I was seriously worried about it considering that it was divided into amateur and professional categories. The whopping $32 that I had earned at the time of the contest technically made me a professional by the rules. I want to thank Angie and Amy for providing such a wonderful... [Read more of this post]