Serendipity is Sweet

Thursday's This or That - Down By the River

2012-01-26T10:14:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I was feeling housebound and needed a break from feeling trapped in a petri dish. We've all been nursing colds for well over a week, and the weather had been dreary too. I drove down to the river and took some shots just for fun. A little photo jaunt is always good for lifting my spirits. Today I'm sharing a few pics from that brief excursion. As I captured them they were gray and dreary, just like the weather, so I warmed them up a bit in processing. I like them better this way ;)

Thanks for stopping in! Be sure to stop by Deb's place for more This or That Thursday:

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T09:17:00.001-05:00

Winter

2012-01-24T22:33:00.000-05:00

"O, wind,

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"

~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Randomosity

2012-01-24T17:42:00.000-05:00

I don't have much time to blog today, but I thought I'd post some random pics that I haven't yet shared. The odds and ends of our recent daily adventures, if you will. The best of the rest...or one for the Grandmas ;) I apologize for the photo dump, but I take pictures like a mad woman to practice and learn, and while hundreds get dumped in the trash, there are always a few less than perfect shots that I just can't bear to part with. Anyway, here they are, in no particular order.

Baby feet:

From behind:

A break in the weather:

Idle chatter:

Are you going to eat all that?

Read to me:

Bold:

Thanks for stopping in! The littles seem to be finally recovering from this nasty cold we've all had. Hopefully, when I get through the mountain of laundry, I'll be able to devote more time to a more cohesive post ;) Have a beautiful day!!

Project 366 Rewind - Week 3

2012-01-23T13:45:00.000-05:00

Good day friends! I hope you are enjoying sunny weather, or at least some beautiful snow. We're on our 5th day of gray, misty, cold. And speaking of cold...I have had a house full of cold germs for several days, so we have been homebodies for the most part - I've spared you any photos of the snotty noses.

I really don't enjoy winter. The cold, and colorless days, the multiplying germs...not my cup of tea. Fortunately, we have a relatively short winter in these parts, or I would surely develop a serious case of the winter blues. Well, enough of my complaining (sorry)...on with the rewind!

We actually had a day last week that was pretty warm and partly sunny, so we spent some time outside.

Wind power! ;)

Played with the tripod and remote:

Extreme close up of a chocolate-nosed baby:

I ventured to the riverfront for some inspiration:

My oldest in his new glasses - we discovered he needed them and he's really been great about wearing them without compliant.

This week's prompt - Start of the day:

That's it for now. Thanks for popping by! Have a great week ;)

Simple Things Sunday #7

2012-01-22T21:05:00.000-05:00

I adore my children, and I am so thankful for all the time I get to spend with them. But with 4 kiddos, life can be chaotic, and it is quite a relief when they finally settle down and drift off to sleep at night.

"While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about."

~Angela Schwindt

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - Week 3

2012-01-22T17:53:00.001-05:00

Sunset - It was gray, rainy and cloudy here all week, and we all had a nasty cold. Capturing a sunset just wasn't possible; so, you get a creative take on a late winter afternoon on the river. I took this shot today, and yes, the roof on that house is ridiculously bright blue in real life.:

Black and White - I've needed these all week:

A Day In My Life - when I'm not folding laundry, or teaching, I'm generally chasing kiddos with my camera:

By the way, that's my super awesome Stylish Beach Bum camera strap. I love, love, love it! It's secure, comfy, lets me wear my camera on my hip as I sometimes like, and adorable don't you think? Check out Gina's new line for Spring here.

Four - clearly my storyboarding skills need some work!:

Colorful - more tulips. I was snap happy with these store bought flowers this week. They really brightened the otherwise dreary gray days:

That's it for this week. Thanks for stopping by ;)

Just a Little Something

2012-01-20T22:47:00.002-05:00

...to brighten your day. I hope you enjoy these tulips as much as I have ;)

"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into."

~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

Shoot. Edit. Submit. - Favorite Photo of the Week

2012-01-19T22:38:00.002-05:00

It has been a crazy busy week! Is it Friday already? I have finally gotten over the cold I was harboring (aside from the pesky lingering cough). Unfortunately, Thing 3 and Thing 4 now have it. Thing 1 is recovering from a mouth laceration that was infected briefly - belch, and now battling an ingrown toenail in the midst of basketball season. Never a dull moment around here.

This weekend brings company! My dad and step-mom will be visiting, so it will be a fun family affair for cheerleading and basketball pictures and games. Whew! By Sunday I'll be ready to unwind, but somehow between now and then, I'll have to try to get my Scavenger Hunt prompts scouted, shot and edited too!

As for now, here's my favorite photo of the week:

Linking up my entry here:

Thanks for stopping by!

Watching the Rain

2012-01-19T08:05:00.000-05:00

Project 366 Rewind Week 2

2012-01-16T19:51:00.000-05:00

Just sharing a few pics from our recent activities ;)

From a little impromptu photo shoot:

Chilly:

The iPad junkie:

Longing to play outside:

Loving the sunshine:

Little Miss:

Hope you had a great week! Thanks for stopping by ;)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - Better Late Than Never

2012-01-16T17:02:00.000-05:00

Late to the party again, I am, but here goes...

Stacked Up:

Winter Wonderland (no snow or ice here - I would have preferred a field of barren trees or something, but this was all I could manage this week):

Sweet:

Hole:

Frozen:

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today! I hope you have a fantastic week ;)

Simple Things Sunday #6

2012-01-15T11:29:00.000-05:00

"Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons." ~Author Unknown

Friday's Photo Favorites

2012-01-12T23:17:00.002-05:00

My favorite photo this week is from our trip to the museum in Richmond at the old Broad Street Train Station- I just love this walkway. The history of it begs to tell stories. I imagine couples, families, friends walking to the train platform to hug their goodbyes; fashionable ladies and dapper dans of the 20s and 40s dressed to the nines, children excited for their first train ride, young lovers forlorn, war heroes returning home...OK, perhaps I'm over-romanticising...but somehow it just speaks to me ;)

Linking up my entry here:

And another favorite new pic for good measure:

Thanks for stopping in. Hope you have a fabulous Friday and a beautiful weekend!

Night Skyline Take Two

2012-01-11T20:56:00.003-05:00

Sunday evening we were driving home from our day in Richmond and I noticed the biggest, most gorgeous moon hanging in the sky. I was dying to pull over and capture it, but it had been a long day, we were all spent, and there was no way I was gonna manage it. I made a mental note to try on Monday. Since it rained Monday, I had to wait until Tuesday, but the local weather reported a 98% full moon so I was hopeful I'd get a good shot.

Hubs was at school, so I drug the kiddos downtown to try to get a clear shot from the riverfront. Unfortunately, it was partly cloudy and the moon was not to be seen. But, instead of wasting the trip, I set up to recapture the city skyline shot I had taken a couple of weeks ago.

Here's my first try:

What I like about it is the funny bird in the foreground (somewhat hidden by my watermark), and the extra holiday lights. The focus didn't seem quite sharp enough to me though.

And the second (yes it is a slightly different section of the skyline):

I've included my camera settings so you can see what I did differently. I also used the remote shutter release for the second shot, but not the first. This one seems a little clearer to me, but not quite as brilliant. Which do you prefer?

Later that night, the moon did make and appearance and I captured this:

Not the giant luminous low hanging globe in a dusky sky that I was hoping for. Oh well, maybe next month ;)

Linking up today at debduty.com. Stop by and check out her gorgeous pics!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T08:09:00.002-05:00

Face painting...with yogurt ;)

Field Trip to The Science Museum of Virginia

2012-01-10T09:01:00.006-05:00

Here are a few more pics from our trip to Richmond and the Science Museum of VA. It was a great day. The museum is wonderful. It is in the old train station, which is a gorgeous building. We got to pet a snake, experiment with prisms, set off an air rocket, build a fort with giant Tinker Toys, ride a Segway, explore outer space and more. We really had a blast!

What have you been up to?

I heart faces Photo Challenge

2012-01-09T16:24:00.001-05:00

I heart faces is celebrating it's 3rd anniversary and holding a photo challenge with awesome prizes, and of course, tons of inspiring photos to oogle. The challenge this week is: Best Face Photo of 2011. Since I look back and cringe at most of my photos from the greater part of 2011, I really only had a couple of choices - easy peasy. This is my winner hands down:

Be sure to stop by iheartfaces to check out all the entries!

Project 366 Rewind

2012-01-09T15:12:00.000-05:00

Here's my rewind for this week's Project 366. The prompt was Fresh Start. We had a fresh start with a new schedule: back to schooling and a new season of basketball/cheerleading. I'd love to share some pics of the first game, but the gym is so big and so dark, and my pictures came out terrible! I'll definitely have to work on my indoor sports photography!! Yikes. Fortunately the kids had a blast and the big guy won his first game. Sorry, you'll just have to *imagine* the smiles and cheers ;-/ But, here's the rest of the week:

Fresh Start:

"Me and My Dad":

Trying to get a family photo with my mom, ha ha:

This is from our trip to the Science Museum of VA. I loved this walkway:

My favorite 4 year old ;)

Little Miss playing school:

Mommy's Survival Kit:

First Scavenger Hunt of 2012

2012-01-09T08:17:00.000-05:00

Hooray! Scavenger Hunt Sunday is back. I know I'm late linking up, but it was a busy weekend. We had our first basketball & cheerleading games of the season, had company for dinner (a rarity around here), and spent all of yesterday in Richmond. But, I finally have my prompt pictures edited so on to the hunt!

One Color (I ran out of time, so this one I pulled from the archives):

Laundry - there's never a shortage of that around here:

Empty - I gave up soda about a 6 weeks ago, but no one else around here has:

One dozen - hubs eats eggs for breakfast nearly every day. As for me, I don't even like the smell of them:

Soft:

That's it for now. Up next week:

Stacked Up
Winter Wonderland
Sweet
Hole
Frozen

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today! I hope you have a fantastic week ;)

Flowers on Saturday

2012-01-07T15:07:00.003-05:00

Favorite Photo This Week

2012-01-06T17:12:00.001-05:00

Well, I wasn't thrilled with many of my shots this week, so it was a tough choice for the Shoot. Edit. Submit. challenge. I selected this photo, not because it's a fantastic pic, but just because it's so darn cute.

My 16 month old sees her brothers and sister doing school work and wants to dive right in ;)

Hooray, I made the top 5 again this week ;) Thanks so much Kim and Misty!! Your weekly link up is always so inspiring!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a super weekend ;)

Yearning for Spring

2012-01-05T14:58:00.001-05:00

The after Christmas let down always makes me blue. I am not a big fan of winter. The short, dark, gray days just give me the blahs, and this January was beginning like so many others, with me dreading the next couple of months.

Then I remembered that when my mom and step-dad were here last week, they remarked on how surprised they were to see all the flowers that are still in bloom. They live in Chicago where it has already been very cold for a couple of months. I started thinking about how perspective really changes your outlook on life. Perhaps my focus was all wrong. I was expecting the dull tones of winter to drag me down, and so they were doing just that. I was completely missing the beauty that was outside waiting to be discovered. So, I set out to find some of those unexpected lovelies and I was pleasantly surprised. While it isn't quite Spring, there is plenty of life out there to enjoy!

My favorites (anyone know what these are?):

Of course I shot each of these out of the car window so I could stay nice and toasty inside, lol...I'm still no fan of the cold ; P

Linking up today at debduty.com. Stop by and check out her gorgeous pics!

Linking up at Rachel's place.

Have a beautiful day!!

Wordless Wednesday - Just Plain Silly

2012-01-03T22:40:00.000-05:00

Me and Baby Girl

2012-01-03T15:46:00.003-05:00

My 6 year old took this picture of my youngest and me the other day. I thought she did a great job! Since I can count on one hand the number of photos I am in with my kids, I thought I'd post this one. Even though I HATE photos of myself, I will cherish this one of the two of us, especially since it was taken by my other favorite girl ;)

Rewinding and Randomness

2012-01-02T15:35:00.001-05:00

This post is a little random and so are my thoughts today. It's Monday of a new week, and the first week of a new year, and I'm still recovering from the holiday jumble. Trying to get back into the swing of a regular schedule and get organized, but I'm falling behind. My head is spinning with long to-do lists, New Year's goals and a smattering of recent holiday memories that pop up as I wrap up the house cleaning and holiday clean out.

So, here are some random photos from the past week or so that I have not shared. Hopefully I'll be better prepared next week for the launch of the new Project 366 (it's Leap Year!) Rewind hosted by Naptime Momtog and Chic Homeschool Mama. If you'd like to play along click the button at the bottom of this post for more info ;)

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T21:03:00.001-05:00

Dear friend,

My wish for you is that you enjoy a safe and joyful New Year's celebration surrounded by loved ones and great friends. I wish you all the very best in 2012! I hope your year is filled with love and laughter, good health and good times, success and prosperity, and peace of mind. I hope you have a chance to chase your dreams and find your bliss; to worry less, to achieve more and to find yourself filled with gratitude for the many blessings you are granted.

Happy New Year!

Shoot, Edit, Submit Weekly Photo Entry

2011-12-30T17:48:00.003-05:00

The other day I headed downtown to catch some photos of the river, and as I was leaving I realized that I have never tried to shoot downtown at night. The buildings are all outlined with lights for the holidays, so it's the perfect time of year for such a capture. I ended up dragging the whole family back downtown for a night shot. Most of the shots I took were less than stellar so I'll be heading back for more practice soon. I wish they had a little more clarity. I probably needed to use the remote rather than pressing the shutter release by hand, but this one turned out OK. I'm submitting it to Kim and Misty's Shoot. Edit. Submit. challenge as my pick for favorite photo of the week.

And, I was thrilled to find that I made it into last week's top 5 among some stunning pics by some super talented photogs. Wow! Thanks so much Kim and Misty!! Your weekly link up is always so inspiring ;)

Top 11 of 2011

2011-12-29T22:57:00.002-05:00

Looking back over the past year, I find that I am so grateful to have discovered this passion for photography. I have captured so many memorable moments of my children and our daily lives. These I will cherish for a lifetime. And thank goodness I have learned so much! It is interesting and eye-opening to reflect on how my images have changed over the past year. In the beginning of 2011, I was on full auto and knew very little about any of my camera settings. Over the summer I started to explore, and then devour all the info I could find. I am so thankful to all my blogging friends and my family for their support and encouragement! It means the world to me.

It was really tough to choose 11 favorite photos of my kiddos from this past year. So many moments tug at my heartstrings. I did manage to narrow it down though, and here are my pics:

Here's to another great year, and clicking it up a notch! ;)

Mama's Got a New Lens

2011-12-28T22:13:00.004-05:00

To say I had a fantastic Christmas would be a total understatement. It really was a blast, though utterly exhausting. And, I totally cleaned up in the gift department. Hubs really treated me to some fabulous presents. I received a new 50 mm f/1.4 and some HDR software to play with - yea! happy dance ;) He also gave me some new clothes. The guy knows how to make a girl happy! So, I've been having a grand old time playing with my new gear, and I guess the pressure it on to click it up a notch! Here are a few of my first attempts:

The tree in HDR: (the blown out blob at the bottom is my "gift of light" decoration.) I really didn't have my camera set up properly for this shot but it was fun to play with. I have much more to learn!

Fun with my new 50 mm:

What was your favorite gift?

Linking up today at debduty.com. Stop by and check out her gorgeous pics!

Also linking up at Rachel's place. Pop over to check out this talented and witty mama.

Thanks for stopping by today. I wish you and yours a safe and Happy New Year!

Down By The River

2011-12-27T16:08:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I took drive down to the river to play with my favorite toys - my camera gear of course ;) For today's Communal Global I'm sharing a few of those pics. I'm glad I decided to go yesterday afternoon, because today has been a total rain out. But, it has been a good day for snuggling in...and catching up on laundry.

What's it like in your neck of the woods?

Holiday Rewind

2011-12-26T13:48:00.000-05:00

Christmas was exhausting, but tons and tons of fun. My oldest broke his record, and woke up at 4:13 AM! I shuffled him back to bed, but slept with one eye open until 7 AM when we (Mom and Dad) were finally drug from bed. It was so much fun to watch their joy as they unwrapped each gift, and being able to spend time with our extended family made it priceless. Here are a few pics from the past few days of festivities:

Stop by Gina's blog for more Monday Rewind.

I hope you enjoyed a wonderfully happy holiday with your family!

Playing with Light

2011-12-23T08:58:00.000-05:00

With all the sparkly baubles and glowing lights dotting the decor of the season, photo ops abound.
Cruising around Pinterest has inspired me to try my hand at some of the photo tutorials that play off of the holiday lights. Most of my attempts did not come out as I had planned, lol. But, I learned a great deal about light and how to adjust my camera setting for different variations of it in the process of shooting these. Most of my pics ended up in the trash bin, but here are a few of the better ones. They are not fabulous, but I do like the effects and plan to keep trying to perfect the final outcome.

The tree lights:

Playing with the zoom:

Custom bokeh:

Through a lens (the first one is my Favorite Photo of the Week for Shoot, Edit, Submit):

Thanks so much for stopping by during this busy time! Happy Holidays!!!

This or That Thursday Link Up

2011-12-21T22:14:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I have posted many pics of our pooch Bella. I snapped some shots of her last weekend when we were in NC, so I thought I'd share them today. She is a sweet puppy and is great with the kids. I have long been a great dane lover. Once you meet one, they are hard to forget. Sweet natured, gentle giants they are. Bella is small in stature, but has that typical goofy dane personality that I just adore.

I'm wishing I hadn't cut off her bum in the last shot. I still need to work on slowing down and thinking before I shoot. I always feel I'm in a hurry with kids running about. But, these are all lessons I take in stride as I keep clickin' away ;)

Linking up today at debduty.com. Stop by and check out her gorgeous pics!

Also linking up at Rachel's place. Pop over to check out this talented and witty mama.

Thanks for stopping by! And Happy Holidays!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Tea Time

2011-12-21T07:51:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Communal Global

2011-12-20T11:56:00.002-05:00

Jack Frost has come to call and it's chilly outside...

but warm and toasty inside...

What's it like in your neck of the woods?
Happy Holidays!

Monday Rewind

2011-12-19T21:54:00.000-05:00

We're getting so excited for Christmas around here! We had a fun visit with my in-laws in NC over the weekend. The kids really enjoyed playing with their cousins. Hubs and I ventured into town to snap a few photos, and we took a bunch of family photos that I still need to process.

Now that we're home, I'm finally getting some holiday baking done and wrapping up the gifts. My mom and step-dad arrived in town and I'm so happy to be able to spend time with them this Christmas. It's been over a year since I've seen them! The final countdown of the next few days will probably go by in a blur, but I'm so thrilled that it finally "feels" like Christmas around here. Love all those sweet warm smells in the kitchen!

Sharing a little bokeh from behind our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree ;)

Baby bugs exploring in NC:

Photos from downtown Asheboro:

One of our family photos. This one made me laugh out loud! We look like that Waltons.

We just need suspenders.

Stop by Gina's blog for more Monday Rewind.

What have you been up to lately?

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-12-19T17:49:00.000-05:00

Oh my, I feel like I've been away so long! It's really only been a few days, but a whirlwind trip out of town to visit my in-laws and I'm even farther behind than when I left. I apologize for not visiting much over the past few days. I've missed my bloggy friends! I have lots of photos to process and lots of catching up to do before we're ready for Christmas around here.

Even though it's not longer Sunday, I wanted to join in this week's hunt. Better late then never, I suppose ;)

What is it?

Children Sleeping:

Joy:

Window:

Half:

Thanks for stopping by! Stop by Ashley's blog for more Scavenger Hunt fun!

Last Minute Shopping? Check out Wayfair

2011-12-15T23:26:00.000-05:00

A while ago I did some reviews for the CSN family of stores. I was always impressed by the great selection and service they offered. I ordered through their online stores many times and was pleased with each experience I had with the company. I found great gift and household items, at great prices. I also discovered a huge selection of crafts, toys and activity kits for kids that have come in handy for our homeschooling ventures.

When I recently found out that CSN had become Wayfair, I was eager to see what else was new at one of my favorite online stores. I visited their new website and was pleased to find that they still offer a wide selection of products at super prices. I do most of my shopping online because it's just easier than dragging 4 kids around town. And since I still have some Christmas shopping to finish up I'm thrilled that Wayfair offers the same great service and delivery options that I enjoyed from CSN.

As I was browsing the toy selection I found an adorable playset kitchen for my girls, and some awesome building blocks for the boys. From games, to art supplies, dolls, bikes, you name it, they've got it. And anything with the little reindeer symbol ships in time for Christmas delivery!

If you are like me, and have last minute shopping to button up, be sure to stop by Wayfair and check out the selection of gifts for those still on your list!

Favorite Photo of the Week

2011-12-15T22:11:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't have much to choose from this week as I didn't do much shooting. It seems I've lost my Supermom powers and I'm falling behind in all sorts of ways. I hope to get it back together soon. In the mean time, we're heading off to see family and I'll be without my beloved computer and Lightroom for a few days. I will be checking in with my trusty iPhone, however, and I'll try to visit as often as I can.

Here's my pic for favorite this week. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday's Shots

2011-12-13T18:59:00.002-05:00

I'm still trying to play catch up around here and getting ready to visit family this weekend, so I'll keep this post short and sweet. Just wanted to share a few shots I took today, then I'm off to tackle more laundry, wrap up some baking and get the kiddos ready for bed. I have so much to do. Can Christmas really be only 11 days away?! I'm not even done shopping! How about you?

Monday Rewind

2011-12-12T08:24:00.000-05:00

So I nursed everyone through a cold last week, and then it took me down over the weekend. I'm sorry to have been MIA for the past few days. I just couldn't get it all done with my medicine-filled swimmy head and sinus headaches. I'm feeling a little better today, but have a lot of catching up to do! I wasn't able to visit you all as much as I like and didn't complete all the prompts for Sunday Scavenger Hunt. I'm totally bummed about that. I'm so sorry, but will do my best to catch up over the next couple of days. Now, on with the rewind...

We had a little fun at the park:

Capturing 4 kiddos:

Making ornaments:

On our morning walk:

That's it for now. Thanks so much for stopping in!

My Favorite Photo of The Week

2011-12-09T10:42:00.000-05:00

This one gets my vote for favorite this week. I wish I had spent more time shooting and focusing on all the inspiration this season brings, but we just had too much going on. This little impromptu shoot at the museum garden was lots of fun though, and I chose this shot because I just love the way her little dress brings out her blue eyes. She's in that, "I can walk now and I totally want to be independent" phase. It is such fun to capture that big personality in her little tiny frame.

What was your favorite capture of the week?

Thursday's This or That Shots

2011-12-08T15:54:00.000-05:00

Today I'm sharing some shots I took on Monday during my walkabout while the kids were in PE class. Hubs came along and we took baby girl over to the local art museum to check out one of the gardens. It was quite beautiful! I'd love to go back and see it abloom in the spring. What a lovely little spot we found. I'm so glad I had my camera with me!

Linking up today at debduty.com. Stop by and check out her gorgeous pics!

Also linking up at Rachel's place. Pop over to check out this talented and witty mama.

Have a beautiful day!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T15:15:00.000-05:00

Photo shoots don't always go as planned...

Especially when someone is in a hurry to go to the bathroom!

Tea Collection Clothing Review

2011-12-06T16:51:00.003-05:00

Have you seen Tea? The Tea Collection is line of beautifully designed, quality made, fun and unique apparel for women and children. I was recently asked to review a few items and I was excited to find out more about this budding company.

The company was founded in 2002, in San Francisco, with a vision to bring the foreign world to a smaller, friendlier and more familiar place, by designing a distinctive fashion collection inspired by the beauty in the world at large. All of the Tea line is inspired by a passion for exploring different cultures and a desire to celebrate the unique beauty and diversity of people around the world.

I was impressed by the gorgeous designer children's clothing offered by Tea, and boy was it a tough choice when I ordered the outfits for my girls! I chose two adorable girl's dresses with leggings. (Psst, I ordered boys clothes too, but they'll have to wait until Christmas ;) Tea does offer an awesome array of hip duds for dudes as well. The kids clothes come in sizes from newborn through 12. And the women's clothes? I LOVE them and wish I could afford a major shopping spree!

I love that these clothes are not only hip, but they are made of 100% cotton so they are totally comfortable and kid-friendly. Kids hate clothes that are confining or itchy, no matter how cool they look, and who could blame them? Tea is made to be worn and let's kids be kids. They can show off their unique personality in comfort and I don't have to iron - yea!

Here are the pics from our fashion shoot:

Now I ask you, what's not to love?!

It's not too late to shop for holiday girl's clothes and boy's holiday clothing! To find out more about Tea, visit their website or check them out on Facebook and twitter.

Linking this post to Tuesday's Communal Global:

I was given a gift card to order from Tea Collection in order to facilitate this review. The opinions here are my own based on my experience with the product.

Monday Rewind

2011-12-05T22:00:00.000-05:00

We spent most of the week passing a cold around the house so we laid low for the most part except for a trip to Winter Wonderland with the kiddos last weekend. I mentioned yesterday, however, that I blew those shots, and since most were blurry I don't have much to share. I hope we can go again before the season is over so I can get some good pics. One of our local museums has restored an old collection of moving figurines (much like the ones in the Macy's window displays). They were owned by a local business when I was growing up here, and we went to see them every Christmas. It was magical; truly a Winter Wonderland. The collection was divided and sold after the original owner's death, but a portion of the collection is displayed here every year and we take our kids to see it. I wish I had actual pics to share, but you'll have to wait until I can get back downtown. Sorry!

For now I have pics of our puppy girl who had a birthday last week:

She's three now ;)

And the boys enjoying the outdoors:

And more sweet baby girl smiles:

And my oldest doing what he loves best: building with Legos!

What have you been up to lately?

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-12-04T22:24:00.000-05:00

So this week has been a blur of runny noses - we've all nursed a cold, aches and pains and extracted wisdom teeth (hubs not mine) and holiday preparations. I have also been working on shooting only in manual. I'm dying for a 50 mm lens and figured out that the one I have on the old 35 mm Nikon film camera does fit my D5000. But wow, is it much more difficult to get good focus. I managed to ruin an entire night of photos when we took the kids to Winter Wonderland, and have been kicking myself for days over the blurry pics. I really messed up some magical photo ops. The toughest part is that the focus looks right in my viewfinder and on my LCD, but the pics almost always come out blurry or even cloudy. I do think the lens needs to be cleaned, but I'm placing the blame for the blur squarely on my inexperienced shoulders because I'll occasionally get a great shot. Still, for such an occasion I probably should have used my kit lens and shot in manual so I didn't miss so many shots ;(

I'll be spending much more time practicing the whole manual thing. And, hopefully have a chance to have the 50 mm lens (and my entire camera) cleaned soon. It needs it!

By the way, I'm totally open to tips on getting it right in manual mode ;)

Anyway, on to the hunt:

Portrait:

Nostalgic:

Time:

Full of Light:

Motion:

Thanks for stopping by! If you'd like to play along, next week's prompts include: Less is More, Holiday Lights, Ornaments, Cup of Cheer, and Nativity. Stop by Ashley's blog for more Scavenger Hunt fun!

My Favorite of the Week

2011-12-02T09:14:00.001-05:00

I swear I think this kiddo gets cuter by the minute. I may be a bit partial, but those curls and eyes are killing me! She definitely doesn't get them from me. Here's my favorite photo of the week:

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

2011-12-02T08:56:00.000-05:00

Have you started decorating for the holidays?

We always put our tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving. The holiday season always seems to fly by and I like to be able to enjoy the tree for a few weeks. Plus, since the retail decorations go up at Halloween, the kids are usually begging for it by then! I just love how warm and festive the house feels during the holidays with the soft glow of white lights and "boughs of holly." Now if I could just convince little bit to leave the ornaments ON the tree...

Linking up today with The Hollie Rogue. Stop by to check out her tips on creating that beautiful tree bokeh. As you can see I tried my hand at it. It's not perfect but I'll try playing with it some more. It's prettier to have a tree that is more evenly lit than ours, lol.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend ;)

Wishes

2011-11-30T22:31:00.000-05:00

May the sun shine, all day long,
everything go right, and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true!
~Irish Blessing

Linking up today at debduty.com. Stop by and check out her gorgeous pics!

Also linking up at Rachel's place. Pop over to check out this talented and witty mama.

Wordless Wednesday - All Smiles!

2011-11-29T23:00:00.000-05:00

Sweet Shot Tuesday

2011-11-29T10:10:00.000-05:00

I'm working on shooting only in Manual. I know I didn't nail the focus on these, but I thought the expressions were to sweet to just throw away. I'm learning more each day and I'm so excited to see a little progress. Thank you to all who visit and leave suggestions and encouragement. It means to world to me!

Have a beautiful day!!

Rewinding on Monday

2011-11-28T08:56:00.003-05:00

Good Monday to all! I'm linking up today at Gina's for Monday Rewind and also thought I'd join in Ashley's Good to Wow photo challenge on Thanksgiving.

Here is a sampling of my pics from the past week:

I cross over these tracks several times per week and finally stopped to snap a shot:

I took this reflection shot during our last Girl Scout meeting after a rainy night:

Another reflection, Mr. Man jumping in a puddle:

The other evening I happened to look out our front window and see this glorious color in the clouds. I literally ran down the street with my camera and took this shot just before the sun slipped away. We don't see skies this color around here often. I just bumped up the clarity slightly on this. I don't think Mother Nature needed any help from me!

Shots from our Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl. The kids had a blast!:

And this is my SOOC for the Thanksgiving Good to Wow prompt:

I was pretty disappointed with most of my indoor Thanksgiving shots. I found that bumping up the ISO and trying to balance the shutter speed most often resulted in too much grain or blur. There was no natural light available and I was battling multiple light sources indoors. This is something I really want to improve on, so I was glad for the practice, but clearly need to refine my skills!! I'm really dying for a 50mm f/1.4 and hoping Santa brings one! ;) I think the wider aperture would help a bit (of course, the f/1.8 would do nicely as well), but for now my best option is to practice, practice, practice.

So, that's it. I'll post my edit on Thursday. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous Monday! :)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-11-27T15:53:00.001-05:00

Happy Sunday friends! I'm so glad you stopped by ;) Though it has been a long holiday weekend, it has been a busy one. We're all nursing colds around here, cleaning out the extra clutter and beginning to decorate for Christmas already. (Didn't we just celebrate Halloween?!)

I'm also cooking a turkey dinner today. We spent Thanksgiving at my sister's and it was a blast, but I'm cooking again so we can enjoy the leftovers this week. It smells devine! But, before I burn something...I'd better get on with the hunt!

Waiting (for the ball to be thrown):

Foilage -my favorite fall color:

Candid - from our Thanksgiving day football game:

Knife, Fork or Spoon:

Rule of Thirds:

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today! I hope you have a fantastic week ;)

Shades of Autumn Finale

2011-11-26T09:14:00.001-05:00

Hello friends! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a great time with family. Lots of delicious food, touch football, corn hole, Charlie Brown, love, laughter and warm memories! It really flew by though and I only wish we'd had more time to spend with our relatives. Anyway, we're getting in the swing of Christmas around here and I have SO much to do! Are you feeling the same way?

This week marks the finale of the Shades of Autumn challenge, hosted by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud, and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, and Alicia at Project Alicia. Thanks so much to all the wonderfully talented ladies who made it happen!! I really enjoyed participating. Here are my favorite photos from the challenge:

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a beautiful weekend!

Barn Charm

2011-11-22T22:52:00.001-05:00

Bluff Area Daily hosts a weekly Barn Charm blog hop. Cool huh? Who doesn't love an old barn reeking of character and begging to tell stories? Since I recently happened upon some old barns when we went out for a hike, I thought I'd link up just for kicks ;)

Monday Rewind

2011-11-22T08:51:00.001-05:00

So yesterday was one of those crazy busy kind of days. I have one kiddo who is sick and another who was exposed to lice - eek! So far no signs of the nasty critters but I'm not taking any chances. I did about 16 loads of laundry yesterday and went on a mad cleaning frenzy. Good news is my house is fairy clean now. Bad news is despite all the effort and exhaustion that will only last about 10 minutes ;)

Anyway, I'm behind getting the rewind up and I don't have anything terribly exciting to offer. Just some pics that I have not yet shared:

Photo shoot practice with the kiddos:

Cool glass ornaments from an art show:

Flowers I love:

That's it for now. Thanks so much for stopping by! I'd love to hear what you've been up to ;)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-11-20T21:55:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another edition of Scavenger Hunt Sunday. This week's themes were a bit of a challenge to me. I had some good ideas for the prompts at the start of the week, but most didn't turn out as I had hoped. But, I learn through every effort and I suppose that equates to a win, right?

I have come to realize that I have a lot to learn about indoor photography. I stink at it! Most of our walls are painted a deep color and getting the lighting right without a lot of noise has proven quite a challenge. It's something I will continue to work on. The oncoming shorter wintry days will provide plenty of opportunities for practice I'm sure. Now, on to this week's entries...

Mainly One Color - the leaves scattered across our backyard:

Around the Home - found this baby in the closet. I had almost forgotten we had it.

It was given to me by my in-laws (sweet!). I really need to get some film and play with this!:

Reflection - this was a fun idea that was poorly executed by me. I'll definitely revisit this soon. I was being pulled in too many (domestic) directions to do it justice:

Writing - it's almost time to mail this one:

Water - the river was high after a recent rain and I captured these guys hanging on the seawall:

That's it for this week. Up next week: waiting, foliage, candid, knife, fork or spoon, and rule of thirds.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today! I hope you have a fantastic week ;)

Simple Things Sunday #7

2011-11-20T21:02:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thankful for simply enjoying this beautiful Fall season and

seeing it through the eyes of my 1 year old!

What simple things are you thankful for today?

Linking up here:

Novica Review and $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

2011-11-19T21:43:00.001-05:00

I am thrilled to have another opportunity to offer my readers a fabulous prize from Novica. Just in time to for holiday shopping (or to fill your own stocking ;) I am hosting a giveaway for a $50 Gift Code to NOVICA! If you haven't visited their online store, I can guarantee you that you'll be wowed by their beautiful artisan gifts.

NOVICA offers unique, quality, hand-made items created by artisans from all over the globe. I was introduced to NOVICA about a year and a half ago when I was offered a review opportunity and I have continued to shop with them since. I love to offer family and friends memorable gifts for the holidays and Novica always delivers! Each special item from their site comes beautifully packaged with a card from the artist who created it.

Whether you are searching for womens accessories, mens accessories, home goods, jewelry, clothing, or keepsakes, NOVICA has you covered. I find that men can be particularly difficult to shop for - especially fathers and fathers-in-law, but Novica has a great selection of gifts for men, such as mens scarves, mens sterling silver cufflinks, and cozy wool scarves for those cool winter days. I'll be doing much of my holiday shopping on their site again this year. In fact, I just ordered these gorgeous ornaments and can't wait until they arrive!

Novica has also recently launched a new home party division called Novica Live. They are currently looking for men and women to become direct sales consultants. What a great opportunity to earn some money on your own schedule and support artisans worldwide! For more information on this exciting opportunity check out Novica Live.

Now, if you want a chance to jump start your holiday shopping with a $50 gift card, enter here!

Enter to win a $50 NOVICA Shopping Spree:

**I received a $50 gift code to NOVICA.com for the purpose of a product review for this post. The opinions contained herein are my own.**

Favorite Photo of the Week Friday

2011-11-18T21:27:00.000-05:00

I had lots of fun shooting this week, but this pic is definitely my favorite. Pure sweetness she is ;)

What have you captured this week?

Shades of Autumn - White

2011-11-17T22:53:00.002-05:00

If you've visited in the past few weeks, you know that I've been joining in celebrating the fun and glory of Autumn with the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge hosted by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud, and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, and Alicia at Project Alicia. It really has been a blast searching for each week's theme and checking out all the participant's gorgeous pics! Kudos to our hosts for doing such a wonderful job facilitating this challenge!!

This week's theme is white. When I first pondered this theme I only thought of winter snow and imagined I'd have a tough time with it. I was surprised by all the white I was able to find so readily. Perhaps these are not all things that immediately conjure up images of Autumn, but they are all snaps of things I have happened upon in the past week or so that have inspired me with their beauty. I hope you enjoy them ; )

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a beautiful weekend!

Thursday Show Off Your Shot

2011-11-17T09:18:00.002-05:00

This is a pic I shot on Tuesday during our hike (scroll down to the next post to see more). I just love old barns as they are oozing with character. This is my first attempt at adding texture to one of my images. I really don't know what I'm doing in Photoshop, but I'm trying to learn. I took Kim Klassen's Skinny Mini Course last summer and then promptly forgot everything I learned because I didn't use it. I definitely want to play with this some more, but I ran out of time for now. So this is it ;)

Before:

After:

Linking up today at debduty.com. Stop by and check out her gorgeous pics!

Also linking up at Rachel's place. Pop over to check out this talented and witty mama.

Have a beautiful day!

Our Country Hike

2011-11-16T14:44:00.002-05:00

We took another hike. This time we drove out to the country and hiked a trail through the woods with my daughter's Girl Scout Troop. I'm the troop's momtographer and was loving the scenery! Since I don't have permission to post pics of the other kids though, I thought I'd just share a few of my favorite "non-scout' captures from our outing.

Autumn was certainly out in all her glory!

We saw many golden fields of soybeans.

We walked along long bridges over the Pagan River.

I just loved the way some of the tree branches stretch and curve.

Mr. Man resting his tired piggies.

Vines:

These boots were made for walkin'

It was a gorgeous warm Fall day. Though I had woken up tired with an aching back, and thought about not going, in the end I was really glad we made the drive and did the hike. It was in a beautiful location we had never been to see and I'm thankful we didn't miss it. We plan to go back soon and take the hubs with us.

Linking up at Paper Heart Mama today. Pop over for more Fall photo fun.

Wordless Wednesday Fun

2011-11-16T06:42:00.002-05:00

Simplicity Photography Challenge - Favorite

2011-11-15T18:59:00.000-05:00

Picking a favorite is always a tough call. I love different photos for different reasons. Of course, there are many of my kids that I adore. But I may just be partial to them for some reason ;)

Today, I'm loving this pic of my baby girl, who is growing up too darn fast I tell you!

Neither hubs nor I have blue eyes, but this girl has gorgeous blues! My grandmother has them too. And those cheeks are just too kissable. This was taken at a soccer game last weekend, so they are naturally rosy from the morning chill - and oh so kissable! I might be just a little smitten with her ;)

Linking up here:

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Satisfying Selections Review

2011-11-15T00:09:00.000-05:00

I have 4 kids, a husband in the military who works full time and attends grad school full time, we homeschool, I have a great dane, I blog, we attend PE classes, soccer practices and games, girl scout meetings and outings, field trips and the holidays are fast approaching.

NEWS FLASH: Life around here is hectic.

With all the comings and goings around here, preparing a decent dinner can be a hassle in my time-crunched world. That said, I'm not a real fan of frozen dinners. We are pretty health conscious and try to eat fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains and lean meats and dairy products. Fortunately, we don't have any strict dietary issues to deal with, but we try to limit the junk and rarely eat out.

When offered the opportunity to try Weight Watchers Smart Ones Satisfying Selection, I was somewhat skeptical about how good they might taste. But, finding a quick and tasty solution to my dinner dilemmas led me to give them a shot.

I received two coupons to try two different varieties and I chose the Sesame Chicken and Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo varieties.

They were a snap to prepare. Nuke, dish, eat. Less than 5 minutes and viola! Dinner was served. I was pleasantly surprised by the taste, texture and servings of each. The veggies were firm and not mushy, which I hate - belch. The pieces of meat were larger than in most meals too. Not that chipped chicken you get in some dinners, but a heartier chunk of breast meat. And the flavors were tasty too. I also liked that each meal offered 25 grams of protein, a healthy serving of fiber and only about 400 calories.

I ate only the packaged meal and was satisfied with the portion and not still hungry. I added a side salad for hubs and he too was happily sufficed.

Each bag was one portion, which makes them convenient to pack for a lunch or dinner on the go, and at a suggested retail price of $3.69 each they are certainly budget friendly.

Bottom line: I had pretty much given up on frozen dinners, but I will buy these occasionally to make our busy lives easier and to keep my hubby running from work to school on a full tummy.

For more information, visit www.eatyourbest.com

Smart Ones on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eatyourbest

Disclosure: This post is part of a SocialMoms product evaluation, for which I’ve been selected. I’ve been compensated for my time with 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of SocialMoms or Heinz.

Holiday Cards Made Simple By Shutterfly

2011-11-14T23:21:00.001-05:00

You may or may not have noticed that I like to take pictures. Ha ha. And when I want to order photo books or gifts, I always head to Shutterfly. I have tried many of the photo processing sites and always come back to Shutterfly. I have been using their services for several years and am never disappointed by the quality. I love that the site is easy to navigate and offers so many options for being creative with my pics. Plus, they offer great prices and the service is always fantastic. One of my favorite purchases has been the large 16 x 20 inch prints I created of each one of my kids.

Last year I ordered my Christmas cards from Shutterfly and they came out beautifully. I was really impressed by the quality of the card stock and the huge selection of designs. Of course, I'll be ordering from them again this year. The toughest part (aside from getting a decent picture of all 4 of my kids together!) is choosing a design. Seriously, have you seen the selection?! I love so many of the designs; it's really tough to choose! Whether your style is silly or sweet, classic or vintage, formal or funky, Shutterfly has a quality flat or folded card to suit your holiday needs.

Check out these drafts I just made:

Since the site is super easy to use, and lets you view an online proof before you order, you are sure to find the perfect fit for your photos with ease. The difficult part is narrowing down your choice to just one! But fret not, Shutterfly offers cards for all occasions, so you an always come back later for more ;)

I was offered an opportunity to blog about my experience with Shutterfly and was provided a promotional code for holiday cards in exchange for my honest review. The opinions here are my own based on my experiences with the company.

The Weekly Rewind Photo Dump

2011-11-14T08:22:00.003-05:00

Last week was full of chilly early morning soccer games:

Veterans' Day remembrance:

Soaring sights - my oldest, the bird-watcher, spotted this Bald Eagle flying overhead during a soccer game:

Holiday photo shoots (I think this is THE one don't you, lol?):

Bubbles:

And just plain cuteness. Think it's time for a haircut??:

What have you been up to?

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-11-14T08:04:00.002-05:00

Hello gang! I'm a little behind on my Sunday Scavenger Hunt and I feel like I'm rushing through this. Sorry ;( I'm the dedicated momtographer for my daughter's Girl Scout troop and my younger son's soccer team and I have a ton of those pics to process from last week. Plus our Christmas photos to sort through from yesterday. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time I would have liked to spend on this week's hunt. But I did want to participate, so here goes:

From Colonial Williamsburg yesterday, this is the garden market. My before:

And my after edit:

Opposing Lines (maybe not the best example but I'll be looking for more of these as I shoot this week. I enjoyed this interesting concept brought up by Kat Saloma):

Custom Bokeh - I didn't have time to create the custom disk so you just get regular bohek - again, sorry ; / Give me thirty lashings with a wet noodle. This is now on my list of cool things to try.

Which shoes should I wear: This is an iPhone photo. It didn't enlarge so well.

Little Features:

Well, there you have it. Next week I'll do better. I promise!

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today! I hope you have a fantastic week ;)

Simply Sweet Saturday

2011-11-12T21:40:00.001-05:00

Okay, I know, more roses! Are you sick of my pics of roses and flowers yet? ;)

Our day began very early today with chilly outdoor soccer games. I'm wiped out and buried deep in laundry. Tomorrow we are heading to Williamsburg to take our holiday photos. Fingers crossed that I can manage to combat the poor speckled and shadowy lighting under our favorite tree and pull off a few decent shots for our Christmas cards. It really isn't the best spot for a photo shoot, but it has become a tradition. I'm hoping for a bit of an overcast sky to even things out ;)

Thanks for stopping in. I hope you've had a beautiful Saturday!

Shades of Autumn - Brown

2011-11-11T14:26:00.002-05:00

Hello bloggy friends! If you've visited in the past few weeks, you know that I've been joining in celebrating the fun and glory of Autumn with the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge hosted by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud, and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, and Alicia at Project Alicia. It really has been a blast searching for each week's theme and checking out all the participant's gorgeous pics! In searching for this week's theme of brown, I found lots of inspiration in the great outdoors:

And after all that fresh air, I needed something spicy and sweet to warm me up. This pumpkin spice cake fit the bill. You can find the recipe here ;)

You'll find all the participants here:

And be sure to check out the Shades of Autumn Pinterest Board as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I love reading your comments and visiting your blogs to see what's new in your neck of the woods. Have a beautiful weekend!

Friday's Favorite Photo of the Week

2011-11-11T08:01:00.000-05:00

So the other day during my daughter's Girl Scouts meeting I was outside in search of brown for the Shades of Autumn Challenge. I was once again drawn to the old brick fence and which happens to sit next to an oak tree. I like the way this shot turned out with the autumn colors from the trees in the distance.

Thursday's Shots This or That

2011-11-10T08:27:00.001-05:00

Sharing a couple of pics today for This or That Thursday and Show of Your Shot. I captured this little guy the other day outside the church during my daughter's Girl Scout meeting. He was busy flitting about the mums. I just love the coloring and patterns on his wings.

Linking up today at debduty.com. Stop by and check out her gorgeous pics!

Also linking up at Rachel's place. Pop over to check out this talented and witty mama.

Wordless Wednesday - Just Chillin'

2011-11-09T08:17:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, our fridge pooped out and we had to buy a new one. My youngest now thinks that the ledge at the base of our new fridge makes a perfect little seat.

Of course, my 4 year old had to try it out too ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by. Your comments really make my day!

For more Wednesday fun, visit these fabulous blogs!

Sour Cream Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake Recipe

2011-11-08T17:52:00.001-05:00

If you stopped by last Sunday, you know I promised to post this recipe this week. I adapted this from a blueberry cake recipe I had once made. This ended up being quite different. I wanted something tasty that I could make ahead of time for a Thanksgiving morning treat. The pumpkin and spices combine to make a moist and savory delight. This cake only lasted a day and a half in my house, so I think the recipe is a keeper ;)

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup canned pumpkin plus 1/4 cup more to swirl into batter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Plus:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (optional) I didn't add nuts as my family doesn't like them
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch Bundt pan.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the sour cream, 1/2 cup pumpkin and extracts. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice; stir into the batter just until blended. Fold in additional 1/4 cup pumpkin just until swirled.

Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, spices and pecans if using. Sprinkle half of this mixture over the batter in the pan. Spoon remaining batter over the top, and then sprinkle the remaining sugar mixture over top. Use a knife or thin spatula to swirl the sugar layer into the cake.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the crown of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan over a wire rack. Invert onto a serving plate, and tap firmly to remove from the pan. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

This is delicious warm with a dollop of sour cream, but I found it had even more flavor the next day. If you make this cake, please let me know what you think of the recipe!

Enjoy!

Monday Rewind Blog Hop

2011-11-07T14:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday friends! Here's to a new week. I'm hoping it gets better as mine began with a water leak from the fridge that soaked our kitchen floor and through the wall to my daughter's bedroom. Grrr. That after my son accidentally broke a window in our glass-paned door, and my "check engine" light has clicked on. I'm also way behind on sending out Christmas wish lists for the kids, cleaning out closets, replanting the window boxes in our front yard, and ordering end of season soccer trophies.

Sometimes the daily maintenance of life can be overwhelming!

Anyway, I hope your week has gone more smoothly than mine. Here are a few snaps from our recent activities. Just kids being kids :)

What have you captured this week?

Simple Things Sunday #6

2011-11-06T20:40:00.000-05:00

"Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." ~Rabindranath Tagore

Linking up here:

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2011-11-06T14:46:00.002-05:00

Hello friends,

I hope you've had a relaxing weekend. Did you enjoy an extra hour of sleep? I wish I had, but baby bugs was up and ready to play at 6:30 this morning. I spent the extra time baking a sweet breakfast treat, as you'll see in my first pic. Yum - O!
Despite the extra hour of daylight, I still have lots to catch up on both out in the yard and indoors. I'm trying to get organized and de-cluttered before the holidays are upon us. So, I'll get straight to the prompts and keep the chatter to a minimum ;) So glad you popped in for a visit!

Food: Today I made a sour cream pumpkin spice coffee cake. Delicious!
I'll try to post the recipe this week.

Purple: Love the deep velvety color in this pansy

In Disguise: A stretch perhaps, but my daughter's shadow reminds me of a frog so I'm using this as a "disguise" ha ha.

Shapes: Just everyday urban shapes

Photographer's Choice: a personal favorite ;)

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today! I hope you have a fantastic week ;)

Flowers on Saturday - Roses

2011-11-05T15:00:00.000-04:00

I just love these knockout roses and how they keep blooming and blooming! We planted some next to our house this year, and I've noticed them all over town. They don't seem to mind the chillier temps so far this Fall, and they provide such a pretty punch of color.

Have a beautiful Saturday!

Shades of Autumn - Purple

2011-11-04T15:22:00.001-04:00

If you've visited in the past few weeks, you know that I've been joining in celebrating the fun and glory of Autumn with the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge hosted by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud, and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, and Alicia at Project Alicia. It really has been a blast searching for each week's theme and checking out all the participant's gorgeous pics!

This week's color is purple. At first I thought this would be a tough one as purple isn't really a color that I'd normally associate with Autumn. But, I found it many places nonetheless. Most of these plants aren't Autumn-specific bloomers, but I did shoot each of these this week, so they are plants that are found here in SE Virginia in the Fall. I hope you enjoy them!

iphoneography

2011-11-04T08:33:00.001-04:00

Here's my collection of iPhone pics for the week. I haven't tried any new photo apps in a while but I'm still loving the Leme Leme and Magic Hour apps. Do you have a fave?

Fun with feet:

Love bug:

Watching big brother at practice:

On our way to a Halloween party:

My 6 year old took these (a budding photographer???):

Even though I look scary old in this pic, I love it because I have so few of me with the kids, and it was my daughter who captured the moment.

What have you captured this week?