{photo editing}

i don't know how to do much with PSE or photo editing, but I do love the look of just a bit of color on a black and white photo. It's super simple and there were a couple of our professional shots that I wanted to try.

the original

i just left his eyes and the leaf in color.

the original

i removed the color inside the frame

i removed the color from outside the frame (i like this one better)

this week {12.14 to 12.20}

this week...

~ i did 10 loads of laundry ~

~ i wore my new santa shirt. super cute. ~

~ i worked from home three days ~

~ i watched the mentalist, criminal minds and fringe ~

~ i shopped at bi-lo, walgreens (twice), food lion, cvs, and wal-mart ~

~ i saved $113 at bi-lo (spnent $106)

~ spencer decided to try out for the archery team at his school ~

~ spencer had his first two basketball practices of the season ~

~ i finished up the december newsletter for the neighborhood ~

~ i received a five-year certificate from my company and i ordered my gift ~

~ matt worked two extra shifts during his "long off" ~

~ coleman brought home some of his holiday art from daycare ~

~ i saved $56 at walgreen's (spent $34)

~ i called to reconnect our phone line at home. matt won that battle ~

~ i arranged for my sister to watch coleman one night next month so matt and i can go out for his birthday ~

~ spencer had two project presentations at school (science and social studies) ~

~ i took a half vacation day on thursday afternoon so that spencer and i could bake and decorate cookies~

~ friday was spencer's last day of school in 2009 ~

~ it was 27 degrees on the way to school thursday. seriously. ~

~ i sent two teacher gifts, cookies, pencils and a book to school with spencer ~

i made several of these little gifts - as part of teacher's gifts, but also for mail and newspaper carriers

~ it kind of snowed. a few flakes. ~

~ i planned out our meals for the rest of the year. very proud of myself. ~

~ coleman got sick. yuck. ~

~ i put together seven gifts for the kids at daycare and a gift for aj ~

~ we missed the christmas party at daycare (because coleman was sick) so we got the gifts from aj and opened them at home ~

~ coleman's favorite part of the gifts were the bows ~

~ i had to buy two new thermometers ~

~ i spent the weekend locked inside with a sick baby, so not much excitement ~

signs of sickness...basket of meds, bowl of clean pacifiers and syringes, notebook of medicine times, thermometer readings, etc.

~ i took 76 photos. you can see them here: christmas season 2009 and december 2009 ~

this week {12.7 - 12.13}

ok, so my "this week" post is actually last week. and i know i'm totally behind on my daily prompts. but i promise i will get caught back up. it's just been a crazy few weeks.

~ i sent four different envelopes of money to school with spencer (and empty 2 liter bottles) ~

~ spencer went to his school book fair and bought blind side. i am hoping to read it when he's done. ~

~ i shopped at hallmark (twice), party city (browsed, no purchases), target, wal-mart, rack room, books a million, and food lion ~

~ i shopped online at dicks, kohls and old navy ~

~ i went to the library and got christmas books for me and coleman ~

~ i did seven loads of laundry ~

~ i paid child support for matt (again) ~

~ there was a gorgeous sunrise one morning ~

~ i worked on details of neighborhood caroling event ~

~ i finally got december schedule worked out with spencer's mom ~

~ my victoria secret's order was delivered. i was very pleased with the sweaters, but disappointed in the color of my *free* scarf. i ordered 'electric blue' and it is SO purple ~

~ i brainstormed some party ideas for coleman's birthday. i'm posting everything that catches my fancy on my tumblr site: http://chroniclesofasouthernscrapper.tumblr.com/ ~

~ i designed and sent out the email invite for our bowl party ~

~ i reorganized my drawer of scarves, hats and gloves ~

~ my five-year anniversary at work was recognized in a meeting ~

~ i watched castle, lie to me, bones, fringe ~

~ rio had something weird happen to him. we think it was a seizure. he seems fine now. scared the crap out of me in a very serious way.~

~ my committee rented a sign for our caroling event ~

~ i held a baby much smaller than my own (3 months old). she made coleman seem like a giant. ~

~ i made brownies ~

~ christmas cards finally started to roll in. love it. ~

~ spencer continued his archery lessons at school and i attended a demo on friday morning ~

~ we picked up jo and checked out the christmas lights show in stafford park. then hit a few more neighborhoods ~

~ i had an hoa board meeting. it was a tough one ~

~ we had our caroling event in the neighborhood ~

yes, we totally rednecked it up and santa is riding in the back of a red lowrider truck.

given coleman's reaction to the last santa, we thought it'd be best if i just held him this time.

~ matt, coleman and i went to carolina place mall for some christmas shopping ~

coleman enjoyed watching all the people and action, but it must've been exhausting :)

~ lots of shopping (alone) on sunday. most of my christmas shopping is done ~


~ matt worked an extra half shift, so i stayed up late (midnight) waiting for him to get home ~

~ i took 79 photos (lots of duplicates that were quickly deleted) ~
you can see them all here: archery, december 2009, and 2009 christmas season

daily prompt {dec 11}

december eleventh

{quote}
when we recall christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness." --bob hope

{write}
do you have plans for a holiday party this year? write about it.

nope, not really. for some reason, none of our friends or family have a christmas party every year. we've had them in the past, but this opted to skip it and host a bowl party instead. we will be having my family over for dinner one night. and then of course, going to various family homes around christmas. but no actual *parties*. even my work party was more just dinner out.

{photograph}
holiday clothing

i must confess when i read this, i first thought of gawdy christmas sweaters. but then i remember that i'd found this super cute stuff at target (in the dollar spot!!).

{do}
look at christmas lights
as is tradition, we picked up matt's mom and we all drove through the light show at stafford park. we voted on our favorites and then checked out a few other neighborhoods as well.

{remember}
recall a holiday party from the past

i remember that my parents used to host a christmas eve party when we lived in georgetown. i loved it and really looked forward to it. i guess some things never change.

daily prompt {dec 10}

december tenth

{quote}
"it comes every year and will go on forever. and along with christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs. those humble, everyday things a mother clings to, and ponders, like mary in the secret spaces of her heart." --marjorie holmes

{write}
write about your favorite holiday sights


my favorite holiday sights are simply the decorations. even if they aren't ones that i would choose, it makes me happy to see folks get into the holiday spirit. so whether it's a tacky christmas or gawdy lights, i just like see folks recognizing the season.

{photograph}
something that delights your eyes


i love how our entryway looks, especially at night with all the warm lights.

{make}
i baked brownies to take to our hoa board meeting.

{remember}
what specific holiday sights do you remember from your childhood? do you try to re-create any of these now?
i don't remember much specifically, but i remember going to get a real tree. and a i remember the stockings always being hung by the fireplace (everyone had a matching one made by grandma cotton except me).

daily prompt {dec 9}

december ninth

{quote}
"i will honor christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." ~ charles dickens

{write}
what is your favorite christmas book?
i think it has to be *polar express*. i know this is relatively new, but it will definitely be a classic. it is wonderful and i just love the book and the movie.

{photograph}
the cover(s) or spines of your favorite holiday books

{do}

read christmas books to coleman; bought "son" hallmark ornaments 

{make}
made hot tea at work; added a little eggnog to my morning coffee

{remember}

has reading played a part in your holidays past? describe at least one experience.

several years ago, we started a tradition with spencer that partially involves books. i don't remember exactly where i got the idea. but every year on christmas eve, we each open a gift which is always new PJs. spencer opens one other gift which is always a new christmas book. when he was little, we would read it to him that night before bed. i remember the first year when he was able to read the book to us instead. it was the year we were living at my sister's house and the book was by James Marshall. i've always tried to choose a book that was appropriate for his age and that he would enjoy. this is one of my favorite traditions and i look forward to doing it with coleman, as well. our christmas books are packed up and unpacked with the christmas decorations, so it's a nice treat to only have them out during the season.

daily prompt {dec 8}

december eighth

{quote}
"the most vivid memories of christmases past are usually not of gifts given or received, but of the spirit of love, the special warmth of christmas worship, the cherished little habits of the home." ~ lois rand

{write}
write about the significance of at least one of your items of holiday decor

it seems like anytime holiday decor is mentioned in these prompts, i immediately go to an ornament. i guess that is because they are where most of the sentimentality resides. the other decor items tend to be more *just for looks*. in general, some of the ornaments that i treasure most are the ones that are from my childhood (and my mom was sweet enough to let me have). in addition to the one with the photo of me and grandpa (mentioned in a previous prompt), there are two others that come to mind. one is a mirrored ornament with my photo in it (a bit conceited, i know). the other is a cute mouse drawing done around my tiny thumbprint. obviously, the many ornaments that spencer has made over the years (and there are TONS) are important as well. i just think there is a different level of meaning because of the amount of time that has (or has not) passed.

{photograph}
a holiday related item you inherited

I don't think I've inherited anything holiday related, in the true sense of the word. However, I do have some Christmas ornaments that were mom's (or "mine" as a child, depending on how you want to look at it). I love that I have these on my tree every year as a symbol of my childhood. The first two pictures are just different shots of the same one - a mirror ornament with a photo of me (I think I was maybe in Kindergarten???). The third picture is the ornament mentioned in a previous post (of me and my grandfather).

{do}
read christmas books
this morning before work, i read a few christmas books to coleman that i had picked up at the library.

{make}
in the evening, i made a path through the pile of gifts in my scrapbooking studio and started on my wrapping.

{remember}
in what places (whose homes, etc) do you remember feeling warm, welcome, and loved during the holidays?
the one that comes to mind first is my own childhood home. i also recall my aunt's home which was always full of food and loved ones at christmastime. in my adult life, i think of my sister sherry's house, who has one of the most "open door" policies of anyone i know.

daily prompt {dec 7}

december seventh

{quote}
"christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved."  ~ augusta e. rundel

{write}
describe some of your favorite holiday foods

my favorite sweet item would be the yummy chocolate covered peanut butter balls that my mom makes. here are a few things i enjoy being at my holiday table: macaroni and cheese (with crusty top), deviled eggs, matt's mom's brown rice, sherry's white wine cake, dressing (as opposed to stuffing).

{photograph}
an item of food that reminds you of the holidays

this is kind of a tough one to do "on the spot". i'm sure there will be plenty of upcoming opportunities to capture better food shots, but today, this will do...even though it's actually a drink.

{do}
read christmas books

on my lunch hour, i went to the library. i picked up two books for myself that are christmas-themed mysteries (by mary higgins clark) and then got a few christmas books for coleman (there were practically NONE). i also picked up a christmas themed baby einstein video. i've been wanting to try one to see if it'll hold his attention or not. my guess is that he'd rather watch kellie pickler, but i digress.

{make}
hot chocolate

this afternoon i had a craving for some hot chocolate at work. luckily, i had one packet in my drawer. i made a note to bring in a selection of hot drinks for the winter. this craving worked out nicely so i could take a picture of it for today too :)

{remember}
what foods are present in many of your childhood memories? why do you think holiday foods are so important to our celebrations.

starting with the first half of that question...i honestly don't remember much about our holiday foods from the earlier part of my childhood (i may just have a terrible memory). but it makes me wonder if it actually suggests that the foods are not that important, but the time spent together preparing and sharing them. and that kind of leads into the second question. yes, people like to eat, but i think it's more about the feeling associated with the food. food is a form of nurturing, so those that are preparing it use it as a means to show family and friends they care. the food is an excuse for all to gather in one spot and enjoy each other's company. food is comforting and warm. i wonder if in 30 years, will coleman look back at his childhood and remember what food was on the table, or only that he was surrounded by people who love and adore him.

this week {11.30 - 12.6}

~ i ordered three sweaters and a scarf from victoria's secret for only $33. praying they fit. ~

~ we got spencer out of school early to go get our christmas tree ~

~ i did four loads of laundry (really?? that's it???) ~

~ i shopped at rite aid, bi-lo, blockbuster, cvs, target, game stop and food lion ~

~ i watched glee, lie to me, and private practice ~

~ matt and i rented wolverine. i fell asleep. ~

~ spencer and i put up three christmas trees and decorated them (matt did put the lights on the live tree but that's about the extent of his involvement) ~

this is spencer's tree in his room.

~ i caught a sweet brotherly moment ~

~ i cleaned out my desk at work. seriously overdue. ~

~ spencer took archery lessons at school in the mornings ~

~ we got a new coffee pot at work. yummy. ~

~ i finally mailed some cards for heroes and expired coupons to soldiers ~

~ coleman puked up a couple of meals...just enough to freak me out. he's fine now ~

~ i bought some cheesy gag gifts for my work christmas party ~

~ i finished reading "two dollar bill" by stuart woods ~

~ i made pumpkin bread (from a libby's kit) ~

~ les tried on the santa suit to make sure it'll work for our neighorhood caroling ~

~ coleman slept ten hours one night without benadryl ~

~ i hosted a social committee meeting at our house ~

~ i got several christmas gift orders in the mail (from black friday) ~

~ i got my free photobook in the mail. it is gorgeous! ~

~ instead of bothering the christmas trees, coleman is obsessed with the stockings ~

~ matt and i went to my christmas work dinner at pie town in charlotte ~

~ snuggies were the "gift of the night" at above mentioned dinner. we walked away with a burgundy one. matt also got an itunes gift card. ~

~ i worked on the jessica sprague daily prompts and have been posting them on my blog ~

~ we took the boys to visit santa and get gifts at an event that matt's work does every year. ~

coleman wasn't a happy camper

~ we watched the sec and acc championship games ~

~ i updated my blog background, header and signature for the holiday season ~

~ we attended christmasville and then ate at mchale's ~

~ matt put up some of the christmas lights outside ~

~ gamecocks bowl spot was announced: papajohns.com bowl, saturday, jan 2nd at 2 p.m. against uconn ~ 

~ i took 37 photos ~
see them all here: december 2009 and 2009 christmas season

daily prompt {dec 6}

december sixth

{quote}
at christmas, all roads lead home. ~ marjorie holmes

{write}
write about one symbol of the holidays that has particular meaning to you

it may seem obvious, but i think the manger/nativity scene is the most meaningful symbol of the season. there are so many symbols associated with the commercial side of the holidays - santa, christmas trees, snowmen, candy canes, wreaths, etc. These are all great, but there are far too few that focus on what's important.

{photograph}
take a close-up shot of angles of our holiday symbol

Christmas is represented by so many symbols (tree, star, santa, reindeer, candles, wreaths, snowmen, etc), but I think this ornament says it all. It's been a favorite of mine since I purchased it several years ago. Though I don't remember exactly where I got it (unusual for me), I was struck by its beauty and still am today.

{do}
attend christmasville (our town's christmas festival).

yesterday, the four of us headed downtown to enjoy some of the christmasville festivities (we didn't do quite as many as usual).

{make}
make your home and yard beautiful with white christmas lights

last night, matt got many of the outside lights put up: the icicles, my new trees that go on each side of the door, and the bushes.

{remember}
do you have any traditions or rituals placing meaningful symbols or decorations in your home?

i remember mom always putting up a nativity scene. but other than that, i'm kind of drawing a blank.