con-tain-it

iheartfaces: Slice of Life Photo Challenge

This week at iheartfaces the photo challenge is a "Slice of Life".  Which essentially is...a photo-journalistic theme where your image captures a slice of your life.  It can be a photo taken of your own family, from a lifestyle session you’ve shot with another family, or any other type of session you can think of. Just make sure it has at least one human face clearly showing and that it is more of candid type of photo that shows off a bit of real life. 

"Me and My Shadow"

So I picked this self-portrait that I took at the end of last summer when DH and I went away to Middleton Place outside of Charleston, SC.   It was unusually hot for September and we were there for a long weekend getaway.  We sat under the shade of a big oak tree trying desperately to cool off and I was playing around with the new camera that DH had just gotten me for my 50th Birthday ;} 

This shot represents us in so many ways...DH is my shadow and I am his...always together, yet separate individuals at the same time.   We always gravitate to the outdoors and find a quiet place to just sit and be still.  DH always chooses a bench or chair and I always choose to sit right on the ground.  Many times I have laid down and taken naps while DH watches over me.  On this day we were watching the alligators and turtles in the Ashley River and appreciating the breeze as it came up off the river.

This is one of my favorite shots because it's simple and truly reflects us together. 

Be sure to hope on over to iheartfaces and check out this week's entries and even enter yourself.  It's easy and it's fun to check out other people's photos!  Be sure to comment and let them know how much you like their interpretations of this week's theme.

Fondly, Roberta

 

Welcome February "Whole-heartedly"

Profile from TED.com

Brene Brown studies vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame.

Why you should listen to her:

Brene Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past ten years studying vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame. She spent the first five years of her decade-long study focusing on shame and empathy, and is now using that work to explore a concept that she calls Wholeheartedness. She poses the questions:

How do we learn to embrace our vulnerabilities and imperfections so that we can engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness? How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to recognize that we are enough – that we are worthy of love, belonging, and joy?

"And you know how I feel about vulnerability. I hate vulnerability. And so I thought, this is my chance to beat it back with my measuring stick. I'm going in, I'm going to figure this stuff out, I'm going to spend a year, I'm going to totally deconstruct shame, I'm going to understand how vulnerability works, and I'm going to outsmart it. So I was ready, and I was really excited. As you know, it's not going to turn out well. (Laughter) You know this."  Brene Brown: The Power of Vulnerability on TED TV

Mosaic Monday...Amazing New Tea Products

For those of you, who are like me, and have a real passion for tea!

Just so excited to show off my new water kettle, IngenuiTEA cup and tea honey that arrived this weekend from my favorite on-line tea shop, Adagio Teas.  Now I could have sworn that I bragged...blogged...about Adagio and their wonderful IngenuiTEA cups for brewing loose tea...but I'll be darned if I can find the old post to link it up!  So much for being organized...ha!  So now I just have to share their video with you all so that you can see this cup in action...go here now and click on the green button to watch ;)

Best Face Photo 2010: iheartfaces Photo Contest

Welcome to this week’s photo challenge where all skill levels of photographers are able to join in the fun!

This special photo challenge that all of YOU will be voting on the winners for will only be open for new entries until Tues (approx. noon CST).  At that time, the linky will then close to new entries and will change to allow everyone to vote one time (per IP address) on their favorite entry!  Votes can be cast until Friday at 5:00 pm CST.   The Top 10 photos with the most votes will then be featured in Saturday’s Winners Post.  You can read all about the contest guidelines and all the details right here!

It was hard to choose just one photo...but this one that I took of my friend and hair stylist, James just makes me smile every time I see it.  I feel like it really captured the true nature of James as the wonderful, warm and caring person that he is. 

So please be sure to hop on over and VOTE beginning on Tuesday afternoon! Send your family, neighbor, friends and anyone else you can think of to vote for my favorite photo entry.

Update: Entry #634

Fondly, Roberta

Mosaic Monday: The Simple Gifts of Christmas

This weekend we went to Davidson, NC for our monthly hair appointments at Halo Salon and to deliver simple gifts of cookies and muffins to our stylist and great friend, James.

Hallelujah...Getting in the Spirit of Christmas with Shutterfly

Well if this video doesn't get you in the holiday spirit...I don't know what will!  Makes me want to order my Christmas cards and some personalized gifts from Shutterfly ;)  This week they are having a fantastic cyber sale and you can save up to 50% off through December 1st.  AND you can enjoy free shipping on orders of $25.00 or more just by entering this code: SHIP25 when you checkout.

 

 This year I'm going to follow through and do it!  Order my photo Christmas Cards from Shutterfly...

 
So far I've started this card design called Starry Snowflake Crimson:

 

 

Thinking about using this family photo from last year's family Christmas gathering...after all don't you think we are full of love + laughter?  Don't know if the rest of the clan would agree with me though...lol

Or...I could choose a collage of photos for this design and fill it with photos of all our Christmases past to highlight all of our family traditions...hmmm...having choices...it's a good thing when you order your cards with Shutterfly ;)

While the sale is going on I am also going to take advantage of it and order a wall calendar for my Mom this year...they are the perfect gifts for grandparents because they can enjoy it all year long!

Check out how you can personalize each month with family photos on their birthdays and anniversaries!  Bingo...boy does my Mom need this...just today she was telling me how she just can't keep up with all the dates anymore...especially as her grandchildren are now married.  Then at the end of the year she has a lovely keepsake...ahhh!  Imagine doing these every year with the age-appropriate photos so that you can look back at the changes in your children...it's a scrapbook and journal all in one ;)

If you are looking to impress with something different...then hop on over and check out all the unique photo gifts.  Each one can be personalized to show your friends and family how much you care.

 

Photo gifts have always been my favorite because I LOVE to be able to display my favorite family photos in such beautiful ways.  Combine that with being able to enjoy them everyday; for instance...having a photo mug for my morning tea or a photo mouse pad at my computer as a welcomed distraction when paying my bills ;)

What are you waiting for?  You have a great sale and plenty of time to get your order delivered for everyone on your list! 

AND if you are a blogger then Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly…just go here now to sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010 

Happy Holidays everyone! 

Fondly, Roberta

 

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star...Mosaic Monday & A Giveaway

Cortney of Living & Loving in California is celebrating her 100th Blog Post this month with a special giveaway.  Of course I wanted to share this with everyone BUT more importantly I wanted to tell you about how proud I am of her.  Cortney...who for those of you who do not know...is also my niece ;)  However, I'm not just proud because she is my niece...I am proud as a peacock...because she is an accomplished young woman who has written more than 100 posts in 7 months (big...don't you think ;)  while working full time as a Special Education teacher.  Newly married (they just celebrated their 1st Anniversary ;) Cortney brings a fresh outlook to marriage and makes us all laugh at her antics in the classroom and at home.  I've gathered a few of my favorite posts and created a photo mosaic from these posts to share with you all for Mosaic Monday.

Strawberry Pillows Forever...

 
Oh my...this is heaven on a plate ;)

If I was on death row and was asked what I wanted for my last meal...without a doubt...Strawberry Pillows forever!  They are made at our favorite store, Fresh Market...but you had better hurry because they only make them in the Spring and Summer when they can get good strawberries...oh my!  I was so happy when I walked into the store this weekend and saw them in the case at the bakery counter.

Oh My Aching Cankles!

Oh my...went off with my Darling Hubby for a few days and now my ankles have turned into cankles...

 

...as Cosmo Kramer use to say on Seinfeld, "look away, I'm hideous!"