Mosaic Monday!

We had a blast taking Lucy to the dog park this weekend! It was her first time there. It was interesting watching her pick her friends. She seemed to gravitate to the dogs that were her size and smaller. Bigger dogs would come over and sniff her but she would just sit down and wait for them to leave. One particular doggie seemed to interest her the most. You can see them touching noses in a few pictures. I think it's puppy love.


We will definitely be heading back to the doggie park!

See more wonderful Mosaics at Mary's Little Red House

Have a vision!

I mentioned a while back in one of my posts that I had a vision blog. This is a personal blog that I set up in June of 2008. I decided to start this blog after reading "The Secret" and realizing that the technique of visualization really can work.

I had just returned from a family vacation, to the mountains of Georgia, where we rented a cabin for a week. During the year, prior to our vacation, I would go to this website with streaming video of the view from the top of Brasstown Bald. Everytime I viewed that mountain on my computer screen, I could imagine standing there. I could feel the crispness and smell the sweetness of the air. At the time, I didn't realize that I was using this visualization technique. It wasn't until I was standing in the spot, where the camera was placed, that I realized I had willed that moment to happen. Actually, I really didn't realize what I had done until I was back home looking at this picture that I took and thought, "OMG! This happened because I visualized it!"



I got a chill when I realized the real power of this technique! That was when I decided to make my vision blog. You can read a little more about the blog HERE

Sometimes you have to be patient with your visions. They don't all get realized right away and sometimes your visions change. Some visions are small like planting a pumpkin patch. And sometimes they are big, like making a difference in the world. Sometimes they are materialistic and sometimes they are altruistic! I believe all are valid:)

One vision that seemed to sit on the back burner for a while was this one...

No this is not my body(I wish).

I finally felt the desire to get back to the gym two months ago and have been going strong ever since. I am finally starting to see real results! And getting closer to my vision:)




You can read about my current workout routine at CREATIVELY FIT

I think visions are like wishes that you ask a genie (In the Secret it's the Universe but I think it's really G-d), but they don't just fall out of the sky. They open your eyes to the possibilities and opportunities. Visions allow these things to come into your life either consciously, through deliberate action or subconsciously by having an open heart and mind.

I will keep you posted on more of my visions as they are realized.

Life is an exciting journey! Remember everything begins with a thought!!

I heart faces " Focusing on Angles!

This must be the week of the dog for my blog.

I took this picture during the summer. Lucy and I went for a walk around the neighborhood, while my son was at football practice. When we got back to the field I laid a blanket on the grass, and plopped myself down. When I looked up I saw this... (click)


I also like the summer sunset!

You can see my silly photoshop montage of Lucy as, "I am not a dog" HERE and HERE

See more dynamic angle shots @

Photoshop Montage Project Cover

As you can see from my last few posts, I'm learning to make photo montages in my photoshop class. With each project we are required to make a cover. This is the cover to my project. You can see the post about this montage HERE

This cover is made up of 28 layers! Part of the process is to use nondestructive editing. You can achieve this by turning your layers into smart objects.



Another week begins... I'm excited to start a new project this week.

On another note, my computer has been giving me trouble lately. I can't even log into my blogger account(I'm doing this on another computer). Without being able to log into google or blogger I can't comment on all the wonderful post that I see on other peoples blogs. Very frustrating!

Oh well, I hope to get this cleared up soon.

Have a great week!

"I am not a DOG!" (Mosaic to Montage)

Another photo montage in photoshop! This is too much fun!!
( I still have some work to do on this montage but I wanted to post something new to my blog and since this is what I've been doing...)



Here is a collage of the pictures that I used for this montage:)



Time to go plan a fun weekend with the kids. We're thinking of seeing "Diary of a Wimpy kid" since my son read all the books.

Have a great weekend!

If you would like to see another mosaic turned montage click HERE

And a little spring mosaic that I did on St. Paddy's Day HERE

See more wonderful mosaics at Mary's Little Red House Mosaic Monday!

You can also see the cover that I made for this montage project HERE

Ah Green!!

Corn(ed?) Beef and Cabbage on the menu tonight?

And some spring gardening!!



Happy St Patrick's Day!

Another photo montage in photoshop

Today in class I spent the whole time fiddling with different pictures and coming up with nothing. Tonight at home I tried again.
So what happens when I put these four pictures together?!



I call this Paint the town!



Maybe I'm not getting enough sleep!
What do you think?

More montages to come...

My computer is acting up and I can't even size my pictures correctly. They are a bit distorted. I hate computer trouble! But it could be worse, so I'll just take a deep breath and say "thank you"

Experimenting with Photo Montage in Photoshop

This week in my photoshop class we are learning photo montage. The project is to combine at least three pictures. The most difficult part of this project so far is choosing a direction and images. The choices are wide open! Too many choices makes my head spin!

Below are four photo that I took during some of my Creatively Fit walks over the past year.


A pretty horse...


A winding path at a local golf course...

The lights on my dashboard at night...

A very cool stone pathway at Bok Gardens...


This collage made in picasa will do for Mosaic Monday over at Little Red House. But I'm afraid won't do for my photoshop class.
So, let's mix it up a bit. Add some masks, layers, smart objects, adjustment layers, filters and poof!



Ok, well it's kind of like a bad dream BUT the best way to learn is to dive right in and play, have fun and experiment!

Let's twist things a little more...



This is just a warm up. I hope to get much better! Practice, practice practice!!!

Layers, Layers, Layers!!!

Last Monday my son turned 12. He wanted a twelve layer cake. I made him one last year and he requested it again this year. I found the idea on Bakerella an amazing blog!! There were two options for making this cake. 1. Make two basic cakes and slice six layers from each. Too easy!! 2. Make twelve individual cakes. Ah that sounds time consuming! I'll go with that one!!:)

A few hours later this is what I had, twelve lopsided pancake looking cakes!



I messed up the frosting too!! I added too much sugar to the frosting- yuck. Lesson: Don't sugar coat your layers! The imperfects will always poke through!!



A few years ago I had an idea for a painting! I was going to paint one layer for every year of my life. That would have been 37 layers. I found it to be a very difficult task. By the fourth layer I was happy with the painting and couldn't bare the thought of covering it up. Lesson: Sometimes layers are meant to be exposed!



I'm learning photoshop and loving it!! I'm learning that it is all about the layers!! This image has 7 layers!



This project has 22 layers!!
Lesson: Don't merge your layers! You never know when you may need to go back and examine where you have been, and how you arrived at where you are today!


As for the twelve layer cake... I had to give it another try! This time I did it the "easy" way. Three 4" mini cakes cut into four layers each and assembled with frosting made with just the right amount of sugar!!


Still a little lopsided with imperfections(I'm talking about the cake) but always a work in progress(I'm talking about the kid:))!

And the cake was de-licious!!

I ♥ faces "Jump for Joy"

I love this picture for the story it tells and the abstract quality of the composition created by the irregular grid of poles and cords!
The weather was crazy that day. And I may have been even crazier for letting my boys do this with the menacing storm rolling in.To read the full story of the day click Here.

To see more joyous jumps go to

Birthday Monday!!

Happy Birthday Big Guy!!



To my son,

I am so proud to be your mom! I marvel everyday at the unique individual that you have always been and continue to be. You are kind, loving, mischievous and fun! There's no one else like you in the world. You are my Gift From God.

Happy Birthday!!
Love,
Mom

Don't miss Mosaic Monday over at Mary's Little Red House.

Just thinking...

Are Your Friends Here for a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime?

written by Anonymous

Many of us are fortunate enough to have friends who are a consistent part of our lives throughout all our ups and downs. However, sometimes others we consider friends appear to enter, then depart from our lives for reasons we try to, but don't always, understand. This piece nicely explains the flow of people in and out of our lives.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

Then people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons: things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

I believe most of my friends have either been reason or season friends. I do have one friend that I know is my friend for a lifetime. That is what I have learned recently from one of my reason friends.

I am so thankful for ALL of my friends!

Have a great weekend! I hope you will enjoy it with a friend, whether it's a season, reason or lifetime friend, they are all special.