Photography Challenge: Week 3

Week 3:  BOLD COLORS

My subject this week for BOLD COLORS was my sweet Ella. This was shot last weekend at our cabin. We were getting ready to go tubing on the lake for the billionth time and I was taking all the action shots a kid could ever want. These are some of my kids favorite pictures to look at, mine too. Memories that will indeed last a lifetime.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning on the lake. Ella was in her newly purchased solo tube. Enjoying "me" time.
I was in the boat snapping away. Holding my breath as she went in and out of the wake. Jumping all around, just trying to tip that tube over. My little daredevil. Pushing the limits. I could hear the contagious laughter, she was in her glory.

Next week's subject: DINNER.  You will either see Tacos, Burgers or Brats. Ha, ha! Swing on by A Step in the Journey and link up! Obviously need not be a professional. It's fun I promise.

Tina Fey's "A Mother's Prayer for Her Daughter"

Thanks to Brenna at Enjoying These Moments, for posting this poem from Tina Fey. I had not heard this one yet. I just love Tina Fey, she always makes me laugh. I wish we were bff's. Anyways, this is right out of  her book "Bossypants". Looks like I may need to pick that up.

"A Mother's Prayer for Her Daughter" - Tina Fey

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered,

May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half

And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her

When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the nearby subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock N’ Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance.

Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes

And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. 

Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long,

For Childhood is short — a Tiger Flower blooming

Magenta for one day –

And Adulthood is long and Dry-Humping in Cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever,

That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers

And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister,

Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends,

For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord,

That I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 a.m., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck.

“My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental note to call me. And she will forget.

But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.

I just love her. Ha, ha!

2 parties down, 1 to go!

These July Birthday parties are going to be the death of me.

Yes, I just realized it's August now.

We have our final party this coming weekend for my 14 year old and 5 of her friends. Yep. 6 or them, Trapped up at our cabin for the weekend with us. Now, we are renting a separate cabin for them but still. There will be tubing, tanning and boating.

I had Taylor create a Facebook page so I could post information,  to them like "don't forget a towel, don't forget a beach towel...be to our house by this time, etc" I even asked them what kind of groceries they would like for their cabin. None of them responded, so I told them "Fiber One it is!" for their cereal choice. Then they came out of the wood works. Ha, ha! They must be afraid to converse on Facebook with a parent.

So wish me luck. 

We have to take both vehicles up there so I think the Husband get's to drive with the girls, he has the Armada. I'll take my babies and the dogs. Now we just have to rush home to pack ourselves and figure out how and the heck we will fit everything in.

Should be on the lake by 3pm if everything goes smoothly. Have a good weekend!

Parties & Pictures - oh my!

Ella's Party Recap
Ella's Birthday was last weekend. The little darling even lost her front tooth Saturday evening at the cabin, on her Birthday! She had some coaching from all her aunties. "Twist and Pull" So she did, and it worked! I had a slight panic attack when I wasn't sure if the Tooth Fairy had cash on hand, but the bread winner came through yet again. Thanks Babe!

She loved her golf clubs and even more, loved loved loved her American Girl Doll - Kanani. She had a great birthday and on Sunday we had her friend party at the Roller Rink that I will never step foot in again during summer months because they do not have AC. I literally could feel the sweat dripping from my back. So gross. Although, I did enjoy the people watching. There was a little girl, probably 11 years old. Skating to "Car Wash" complete with hand washing motions (working at the car wash... ). I swear to you this girl looked straight from the 70's. All the girls had a great time and it was nice to not have to clean up after. I will leave you with photos from the weekend. I once again took way too many. Oh well. I'll do it again this weekend too!

 {With her presents and Jack. He was smiling so nice, I had to take the picture!}

{That tooth is gone!}

{Guess which kids are mine? Ha, ha!}

{The shirts I made for Angie & Ryan's Going Away Party!}

{On the lake}

{Taylor and Grandpa on the jetski}

{My Boys}

Photography Challenge: Week 2

{What makes you smile.}

This week's challenge was "What Makes You Smile". This was hard to narrow it down to just one picture. I did however choose to show you all this picture of my kids - shocking right? This was actually taken last Thanksgiving.

I was late taking that beloved family Christmas photo. Now it was crunch time. I wanted the perfect location. After all, this photo is displayed all over households for the next month or two. We had to make it good. I decided on venturing out to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. They have this lovely observation deck that over looks the Mississippi River. The only editing I did was convert to black and white then cropping.

Next week's challenge:  Bold colors.

SlutWalks

SlutWalks.

Have you heard of them? If not, go here and here and here for a differing opinion. They basically are the new feminist movement protesting the idea that what a women wears has a direct effect on sexual assaults or rapes. You know the "she asked for it, did you see what she was wearing?!" concept.

These walks were born after a Toronto Police Officer lectured to a University that if women wanted to avoid rape, they shouldn't dress like "sluts". (Poor word choice buddy, major fail.) This angered some of the students who then organized a walk hoping to gather some people to voice their anger, bring to light of said statement and to keep the blame of such attacks on the ATTACKER not the victim. It seems to have worked, some 3,000 people turned out to rally against such thinking. (The Officer has since apologized, how nice of him.)

The term "SlutWalk" was chosen because it's so controversial. Some show up wearing lingerie, some wear sweatpants. People come ready to march, often with a variety of the message "I'm a slut" on their clothing in one way or another. Painted on bodies or signs. It's in your face that's for sure.

People have been arguing back "you wouldn't walk around the ghetto waving around a wad of cash and expect not to get robbed would you?" Umm what? Do people really think that is the same thing. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This is America.  In my opinion, that is apples to oranges.
When I first heard of these, I thought WTF is wrong with people! Who would openly call themselves a slut? Then I kept reading. I found that I agreed with the idea they were protesting. I personally don't dress "slutty" or do I? Who decides? I don't agree with the thought that what I wear, maybe considered in invitation for sexual violence. I don't care if someone is falling over drunk with their woo ha showing, no is still no. I would be pissed if a friend of mine or loved one was a victim of sexual violence. I would be even more pissed if someone said they deserved it because they were wearing a dress or short skirt.  Every women wants to feel beautiful right?  It just comes down to how short your dress is now apparently - according to some people. Coo-coo. Coo-coo. The fact that victims would even have to defend themselves in such cases is just sad.

Does this accusation happen in every case? I sure hope not. I however, do not know the statistics. I just know even if it happened once, that's one time too many. Could they have come up with a different name for this movement? Probably but then it wouldn't get this much attention.

I'm over here whipping off my bra, throwing it in the burning trash can. How's that for a visual? So come October 1, Minneapolis will be having it's very own SlutWalk. Will I be there? Not sure - I can't find any details on the internet, is this some underground stuff or what??. However, I give props to the people standing up for what they believe in. That's what makes this country so great right? It's our right to stand up for what we believe in - no matter how crazy we make ourselves look.

So have you all heard of this? What do you think? Sorry if I offended anyone, that was not my intention. I just really thought this was a very interesting topic and a lot of people had not heard of it.

"Well behaved women rarely make history" - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Hair - woes me.

Ok. I'm officially in a hair rut. 

Blah freaking blah.

I have my next appointment in 2 weeks. So I have time to decide. I just can't decide what I want to do. Cut it short or not. It's just hair. It will grow. Why is this so hard?

The last time I chopped my hair, I wanted to hide out until it grew 4 inches. Plus, it's a million degrees outside and my hair is thick which equals un-com-fort-able. Then again, I can put it all up now. With short hair - you can't really. Plus does short hair make you look fatter? I feel like it does. That's the LAST thing I need.

Do I just need to do something different with the color? I don't know. I would love to have just all one color. Should I go darker now? I usually do low lights and high lights I don't know. I just want to love it. Whatever "it" is.

Just dreading that first question from my stylist... "so what are we doing today?"

What do you think? Bueller?

{Shorter hair}

{longer hair}

P.S. I have no idea who that old guy is on the longer hair photo. Apparently, I just wanted a photo with him that night. It was my birthday a few years ago if that helps. Ha, ha!