Things I Love
I promised you this one, so here goes. It took me a few days to get it all together. I hope you can find some inspiration, motivation, or just a few good laughs in here somewhere. If you've got favorites of your own, please let me know, I'd love to hear about them!
One thing I'm NOT loving is snow and ice and we've been blasted again. No school again today. Sigh.
Photo Stuff
For quite a while now I have wanted to do a compilation of things that I'm loving right now. So...no time like the present, right? Here goes!
First, a big shoutout to Sue for inspiring me to not give up and actually put my (third) trial download to use. It's revolutionary, seriously. And for those who only use it to color correct your photos, I highly recommend learing to use the library functions. They rock.
Go here to download the trial version and give it a try. It's so easy to use and it's really fun too. I promise you, it is!
And speaking of photography, one of my resolutions this year is to really step up my photography. I'm currently reading The Moment it Clicks by Joe McNally. Joe is one of the most sought-out photographers in the world, doing work for Life Magazine, National Geographic, etc. His new book gives you very simple advice that is not only practical but brilliant and photographers of every level will be able to get something out of it. In addition to the great information in this book, it's also stuffed with absolutely sensational photographs and it's written with a great deal of humor and sarcasm. Fantastic! Be sure to check out Joe's website so that you can see his fantastic portfolio.
One more comment about photography....I have become hooked on Scott Kelby's blog as well. He's really funny, and needless to say, as the foremost expert in the world on Photoshop, you'll learn a lot as well as laugh.
A Little Shopping
Shannon and I went to Target on Sunday to spend the gift cards that she got for her birthday. One of the things she picked up is this:
It's Dream Life Designer's World. Target didn't have it on their website, but I found it on Amazon. This is the perfect gift/toy for your Project Runway-Lovin, pre-teen, wannabe fashion designer. It's easy to hookup to your television, no fancy game system required, just plug it in and you're designing! It's great, and very addicting. We won't talk about how much I like it!
And speaking of Target, they have some KILLER cute shoes right now, and they're cheap (all about $11/pair this week). I want all of these (I wish!). Keep in mind that the photos do NOT do these cuties any justice. They're all super cute.
Let's see, what's next......how about blogs?
Blogs and Online Goodness
I've been slow to hop on the popular blog bandwagon, but I finally checked in with the following blogs and now I'm hooked! No offense to all of my friends with personal blogs...I love those and read them most every day. You know I love you, but here I'm going to list some of the MacDaddys that I've gotten hooked on.
Confessions of a Pioneer Woman and Pioneer Woman Cooks - Where has Ree been all of my life? She likes to cook, she's a killer photographer, whiz with photoshop, and she's really funny. The chick can write. She's me, except she lives on a ranch, she's a redhead, she cooks with WAY more butter than I ever dare think about, and she's married to a cowboy (and her blog probably gets a bazzillion hits per day, as it deserves!).
Posy Gets Cozy - Meet Alicia Paulson. She's everything that's lovely and good about Martha Stewart without the attitude and the felony conviction. She's so crafty and her blog is always total eye candy. She makes just "whipping things up" so easy and you and I both know that it's not.
The Sartorialist - High fashion meets photography in this blog authored by a former NYC fashion designer turned Johnny-Shutterbug-On-The-Street. Check out his slick eye for stylish people on the streets of NYC, Milan, Paris, etc. and be sure to read the comments!
A Year Off - Chris writes about going a whole year without any frivolous spending. I don't know that I could do it, but she and her family keep plugging along. It's a great read and it makes you think.
Adobe Lightroom Killer Tips - Self explainatory!
Formerly Fat Running Guy - Jeff has lost nearly 200 pounds doing South Beach in the past two years. He's just a regular guy who started eating right and moving his body. His journey is inspiring and remarkable.
Digiscrapping Tutorials - Learn lots about digital scrapbooking here. There's great stuff, no matter what kind of software you use.
The Smitten Kitchen - Food porn at it's very finest. If you can't eat these mouth-watering creations due to diet, or the inability to cook, or whatever, at least tune in to drool. It always makes me hungry!
Mosaic Maker - not a blog, but a site for creating quick photo mosaics for your layouts or for your blog. Great stuff!
Go Fug Yourself - Basically the Glamour Magazine Do's and Don'ts page, but with funny commentary. There are a LOT of fashion victims out there.
Mrs. Fussypants' Guide to Life - This lady is just down and out funny. I wish I could say that I was her.
Finally, I could give you the link to our local county courthouse website, where you could check out the court dockets by date and by judge, but I have a feeling that I'm probably the only one interested in reading that, so I'll spare you that one.
Of course I could spend tons of time finding my scrap favorites, but I think I'll save that for next week! I hope you like my list!
Some of those are my favorites too, particularly Pioneer Woman, whose blog I read religiously. There are a couple there I've never seen before, so I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the tips!
Posted by: DawnMarch | February 22, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Hi Barb! I came over to check out your Tuesday recipes! The chicken one looks fabulous! I LOVE Lightroom also, so much fun to play around with! I have a lot of those blogs on my Bloglines also, such great reads! Hope your having a great day!! :)
Posted by: Eve | February 22, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Awesome stuff Barb! I'm going to check out those links and that book! Have a great day!
Posted by: Heather | February 22, 2008 at 09:06 AM
I LOVE IT! I have been wanting to get McNally's new book since reading about it ON Scott Kelby's blog. lol I just finished one of his books. Loved it. Thanks so much for the inspiration. Loved the Martha comment. ;) I will be back later to check out more links, I bookmarked ya.
Posted by: Amy Eileen | February 22, 2008 at 09:46 AM
I didn't know Scott Kelby had a blog--yippee and thanks for the link!
Wish I had known S. wanted that design game--Molly probably would have sold hers cheap. She got it last year but was just a little bit too old for it to hold her interest longer than a couple of months.
One last thing--did you see the Madras plaid wedge flip flops at Target? I got the pink ones a few weeks back and can't wait for warm weather so I can wear them!
Posted by: Jan C. | February 22, 2008 at 09:56 AM
great list!!! love me some target stuff!
Posted by: amy | February 22, 2008 at 12:51 PM
I pointed my daughter to your blog. She loves shoes
Posted by: AfriDigiDiva | February 22, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Hey Barb - I have the Target shoes in the bottom left of the photo. :-) The ribbon ones. They don't really go with anything I have, but they're cute, goshdarnit.
Posted by: kristin romell | February 23, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Thanks for the tips, Barb! I'm going to check them out ;)
Have a wonderful weekend!
Gabi
Posted by: Gabi (aka Garynka) | February 23, 2008 at 11:05 PM