Photography Challenges

For April, I am going to be working on my photography a bit. I joined up to participate in a photography challenge on Orange Flower's site.

Also, as part of 365 this coming month's theme is letters. I'm not committing to this one too much (don't want to over extend myself), but if something comes I will share it.

Okay, till tomorrow and the beginning of macro photos!

Update: I will be using Canon PowerShot S50 for all my photos. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Happy!

Today was gorgeous out, after a weekend of raining, snowing, and down right cold it was a nice break. On top of that, I didn't have to come home and clean/pack or anything today - we got the pictures taken and moving forward.

But the real bonus to the day was a friend at work got back from her vacation to Japan bringing me a bag full of goodies. Before she went I told her how much I love Japanese fabrics and Shinzi Katoh Design. I gave her some money and told her to pick me up whatever she could - I am sooo happy with what she came back with. I was overly giddy and had to refrain myself a bit because she was standing right there and I didn't want to seem like a fanatical fan (think Michael Jackson's screaming fans) so I kept my cool. hehe ;)



I botched the above photo a bit and so I took a better photo of the postcards - which I plan to frame for the new house. I am so happy - it was a good day. Gah, I hope I didn't just jinx myself :)
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Before & After

I was talking to my friend and he requested some before and after photos. So here we go - this is all I have quickly and this late in the night.

When we moved in the wood stove wall was an eye sore to me. In the before photo it has already been primed and waiting for paint. But you can see what the original stone (gah! I hated it) looked like where the stove will sit. We are leaving that the same because we weren't sure if there would be a problem with heat of the metal and the paint being in contact. We talked to others and painting the wall was definitely safe. So I chose a color (took me forever to pick a color and this selling of the house finally gave me the kick to decide) and got to painting last weekend. What a project - lots of grooves and bumps to get the paint into. But overall not too bad and I am very happy with how the color turned out. Chris cleaned the original stone part and that really helped make it look a bit better. We moved the wood stove back in – wow is that thing HEAVY! - and taa daa!
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Oh, Saturday

I keep cleaning, fixing, painting, packing, arranging and it still feels like there is more to do. I swear we don't live in a dump and we are clean people. But once you start looking over your house with "Got to sell" scrutiny you start to see all sorts of little things that need to be touched up or finished. It's really amazing. This is my first time to sell a house. When we bought this house we were coming from a rental - soooo much easier that way. We are starting to run on fumes today. Both of us moaning and walking like we are 150 yrs old!

I am boobing this much and we are still at the start up phase - we haven't even begun the part where we have to leave our house at any moment with pets in tow while strangers come into our house! I am a very private person, so this really weirds me out.

So needless to say I feel like my blog hasn't been too interesting lately and I am sorry to my readers. I hope once we get it on the market it will all slow down, at least just a little bit. I really miss sewing, baking, doodling, illustrating on my computer and reading blogs. So bare with me and I will try to not complain too much :)

The picture above was taking this week during a break. You would almost think I had been the painter! :) Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Pet Fair illustration

Still busily packing and cleaning - this weekend we need to take photos of the house all pretty.

But I am still going to work every day, so I have this illustration I did for a pet fair poster. I removed all the information and only showing the illustrations I did. They still need to approve it, but I like it! Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Illustration Friday - Pet Peeve

Phew! Just barely making this IF topic...

One of my biggest pet peeves is crumbs/dirt/whatever in my bed - I am super sensitive and have been referenced as "Princess and the Crumb" because of this sensitivity. I will notice the smallest speck and have to sweep off my side of the bed several times till I am happy.

So I blame this little evil monster that comes in and sprinkles the bed and floor with crumbs for my obsessive-compulsive disorder! :)

Thanks for visiting and leaving any comments! Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Currently reading:

I worked late tonight and then came home and read my book, Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, the first book of a series I will continue to read. The Born Queen – last book of The Briar King series – arrived today and I am just thrilled to bits! I've been anxiously awaiting its release since I finished the last. It will be a bittersweet when I read the last sentence. When I really enjoy a book I always race to the end but can feel myself trying to slow myself down so it isn't over so quickly, rather similar to the way I eat a peanut butter cup (yum!). So, yes, I am a sci-fi/fantasy book reader - never used to be until a friend gave me The Briar King book - then I was hooked. Salix Tree suggested Robin Hobb's books and I am so glad she did.

Okay enough gushing about my love of books, shutting up and back to reading before sleepy time.

I hope all is well with my readers and thanks for visiting :) Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Baking Break

As some of you know I find baking to be therapeutic. After a few weeks of all the "gotta sell the house!" business I am due for a little baking break this evening. I have been wanting to bake something for a few days now and I knew we forgot to buy more butter last time we went shopping. I found a recipe in my binder and altered it to work with what supplies I had on hand.

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie (for when you don't have any butter)

1/3 c. Canola oil
2/3 c. packed light brown sugar
1/4 c. egg substitute (or 1 egg)
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. old fashioned oats
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together oil, sugar, egg, vanilla. In another bowl blend together flour, oats, baking powder, salt and chocolate chips. Add in the dry mix to the wet mix and blend till combined.

Drop tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes.
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They really hit the spot for both of us! Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Chirpies!

I was playing around with some illustrations at work today and thought I would share this one. I ended up doing a different style bird for the final illustration, but I really liked this one – I love the chubby bodies!

I began to think of them as a little band of birds that were going to be reuniting to do a World Tour and take us back to enjoy some of the good ole chirp-n-roll! Chirpies! Chirpies!

hah :) Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Flower in the yard

I saw a new flower in the yard - it really cheered me up. Tweet Follow @kellymedina