photos by amanda j

A you're Adorable...

2012-01-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

I realize I haven't yet finished up my 52-week project. My husband and my best friend pitched in and got me a Canon Rebel for Christmas (SQUEEEEEEE!!!!! :D ), and I've TAKEN pictures with it, but until today, I've had some difficulty uploading them. So, I will finish it...sometime next week probably. In the meantime, have a gander at the most beautiful baby on the planet.

Marie and Ian

2011-12-31T13:03:00.000-08:00

Remember Annie and Eric? Well, Annie's cute younger sister is getting married, too! Thought I'd share a couple of my favorite shots from their engagement shoot.

And the ever-classic "Beards are the new black" shot...

Week 48: Sculpting

2011-12-31T12:35:00.000-08:00

On the 12th, the kids and I went to Thanksgiving Point to see a sculptor create a reindeer out of ice. Our favorite part was watching him attach the antlers (which were sculpted out of a separate piece of ice). He ironed both surfaces and then held the antlers in place, allowing them to freeze to the surface of the reindeer's head. So cool! (Ha. Ha.)

Week 47: Teeeeeeeth!

2011-12-31T10:52:00.000-08:00

Week 46: Ballet as a Sport

2011-12-31T10:49:00.000-08:00

At school, Isabel was supposed to dress up in sport's attire. And, this is what she came up with. Ballet is a sport, right? Right? (Incidentally, don't you just LOVE those leg-warmers her Aunt Sarah made her!? So cute!)

Week 45: Reception

2011-12-30T22:06:00.000-08:00

Took these to show off the gorgeous decorating and venue for my friend Emily's wedding reception.

Week 44b: Emily and Chris

2011-11-17T09:58:00.000-08:00

Hooray for weddings! :D

Week 44: Retreat

2011-11-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

Week 43: All Hallow's Eve

2011-11-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

So, we have a bizarre little tradition in our family: every year around Halloween, we make shrunken heads. Out of apples. Macabre? Yes. But lots of fun. The kids always look forward to it (almost as much as their Mommy does!) and spend weeks watching their "heads" shrivel, waiting for the day they get to add all the creepy features. Without further ado, then, I introduce Asher's vampire, Isabel's fairy princess, and Abram's Quasimodo:

Week 42: El Panadero

2011-11-14T15:26:00.000-08:00

See that beee-u-teee-ful loaf of artisan bread!? Yeah, that's why they call my husband "El Panadero". ("They" being me and my ridiculous younger sister, of course. Seriously, though, I think this loaf merits the official title.)

Week 41: Redeemed!

2011-11-14T15:24:00.000-08:00

Our fantastic hosts, Paige and Chris.

Week 41: F-

2011-10-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

That is the grade I receive for photography last week. Know why? I co-hosted a MASQUERADE BALL. In a REAL haunted mansion! And it was AMAZING!!! Anticipating that it would obviously be so, I didn't bother taking any other pictures all week. And, then Friday rolled around and I COULDN'T FIND MY CAMERA. See? F - . Boo. (I did end up taking some with someone else's camera/phone, but who knows when/if I'll ever get around to seeing and editing them. Boo.)

Week 40: Presents!

2011-10-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

Our little "super-herio" turned FOUR this week! He loved his batman-themed presents a LOT! The jammies from grandma even have a removable CAPE!?!?

But his FAVORITE present!? Yep...

Week 39: Boxed in...

2011-10-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

Sums up last week. Yay, but oi.

Week 38: Picture Day

2011-09-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

We had TWO picture days this week--Isabel's first ever for school and a quick jaunt up the canyon with the family for family pictures. (And, yes, those of you receiving Christmas cards this year will be getting more of these. Don't complain. Just think of this as a preview. ;D ) Don't you just LOVE Autumn colors!?

(Couldn't resist Abram's "smile" for the camera in this one...)

Week 37: Autumn!

2011-09-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the first day of Fall this week, Asher and I made a "pumpkin"! (Okay, it's a rice krispie treat with some food coloring. But, whatev.)

Week 36: In"spire"d

2011-09-17T22:05:00.000-07:00

Odd how little moments of inspiration can come from nature's simplest complexity (like water) to create gorgeous, living sculpture; or from the sparkling, dense granite from the surrounding heights to create places of worship. I think more interesting, however, is that our sources of inspiration so often stem from God, and yet inspire us to turn around and honor Him with our creations.

Week 35: Birthday!!!

2011-09-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

That was (roughly) the answer I got, when I asked Abram how he was doing today. :) So, to get right to the point, here's what we did for the "Birthday!!!" this week!

And I'm still sorta wondering how Isabel managed to get the little guy in focus for this next really cool shot...

Week 34: First Day

2011-08-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

Not quite sure if she looked stunned because of the over-bright sunlight or the shock of having to SIT for so long... ;D Okay, so Isabel loved her first day of Kindergarten yesterday!

Week 33: Brass Band

2011-08-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

Nice little hallway jam session that I happened upon.

Week 32b: The Goat!

2011-08-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

Isabel finally earned her GOAT! She was so excited. :) This is her with her "goat chart" and the jar of earnings! Way to go, kiddo!

Week 32: Visual Storytelling

2011-08-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

A little preview of the fairy tale pictures that Sarah and I (mostly Sarah ;D ) digitally enhanced this week! So, here I am as Scheherazade!

Week 31: Noir

2011-08-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

*Whew!* Another photo shoot under the belt. We took these shots last Saturday, but didn't finish editing them until this week. But here are a couple of pictures from our "Film Noir" shoot for Artisan Maskers!

Week 30: Day at the Beach

2011-07-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Don't you live in Utah?" Yes. Yes, I do. And we drove a surprisingly short time to get to this lovely beach in IDAHO. Perhaps you've heard of it? Bear Lake was discovered a bit by accident for us; my husband's family goes there every year in the summer to enjoy the soft sand and warm surf. (And, yes, Bear Lake really does have both!) I just love how the beach brings out our true personalities.

There are those who sit around, eat some, and attempt to keep mostly un-sandy:

There are those who like the excuse to get out, run around, and play:

And, then, there are those that just love everything about the shore so deeply that they become one with the sand and waves.

Week 29c: Best husband ever.

2011-07-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

So, after being gone for three days, fixing up a rental place by doing things like install faucets and paint, my husband came home and was still willing to put up our new curtain rods after the kids went to bed. ... I know, right!? (AND, the finials will look so great with my new lamp!)

Week 29b: Rainy Day

2011-07-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

Summer rain as enjoyed from the front porch.

Week 29: Thrift

2011-07-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

The thing that I love about thrift stores, is that for $5 you can walk out of the store with this:

But come home with this:

Week 28: Baby Amulek

2011-07-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

This here is living proof that if the baby is cute enough you CAN take good baby pictures with even the crappiest of point/shoot cameras... (Isn't he just such a little dolly!?)

And, okay, I have to admit that I just love the way babies make themselves understood, sometimes:

Week 27: Visual Love Letter to Seattle

2011-07-09T15:13:00.000-07:00

Seattle=green. As evidenced by this view through my friend's kitchen window.

The Gum Wall (Yeah...gross, right?)

When in doubt as to whether or not you are in the correct restroom, please check your chromosomes. Yes, seriously.

A view from the inside of the Seattle public library. (We're sort of nerdy. Even on road trips.)

Some lovely peonies at the Pike Place market.

Three of my experiments with low light at Golden Gardens.

A spider-web at Gas Works Park

The fantastically beautiful reading room in the Suzzallo Library on the University of Washington's campus.

A view through the campus' sunlit cherry trees.

SAM (Seattle Art Museum)

Green Lake, Underexposed

Green Lake, Overexposed

The most AWESOME people to bomb around Seattle with!!! :D

Week 26: Annie and Eric

2011-06-30T22:38:00.000-07:00

Took some lovely engagement pictures for a lovely couple tonight! Congrats to Annie and Eric, and here's a little sneak peek!

Week 25: Ah, Youth

2011-06-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

My husband is off to be a leader for a youth camping trip this week and I loved the juxtaposition of our fridge pre- and post- the camping trip prep. We look like paupers. (Though I doubt many paupers have the watermelon...)

Week 24: Inside Looking Out

2011-06-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Yay for the stomach flu! :( No, not really, of course. Unfortunately, Week 24 was heinously full of laundry and fevers for us, and so I didn't actually think to take any pictures. Fortunately, my five-year-old has got my back. She actually took this shot through the blinds of the front window, and I felt it was a good sum-up of our quarantined state last week.

Week 23: Coloring

2011-06-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

I love to color. Seriously. One of the things that kept me sane all through high school and college was whipping out the ol' Prismacolors and doing some SERIOUS doodling on my notes. Maybe I'll share some someday. Tonight, though, after the other little guys were off to bed (and Daddy was off to a meeting), La Princesa and I colored some paper dolls together. Now, the real question is how to duplicate that gorgeous hair of hers via Prismacolor...

Week 22b: Bruised and Broken

2011-06-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Just glad we've survived this week. (So far. Oi.)

Isabel's scraped knee.

Asher's bruised cheek. (You should hear the story about this one. It involves a clever older cousin and "gobblers" that will get you if you cry. Classic.)

Some of the bruises left over as my sprained ankle heals...

Crowning achievement: Abram falling on a stick in the yard. O.O (That was approximately what my face looked like when I first saw the poor little guy.) He *thankfully* did not poke his eye out OR need stitches. *Count your blessings, name them one by one...* And, sadly, that OTHER scratch on his cheek was from something ELSE this week. *sigh*

Week 22: "Seasonal" Visitors

2011-06-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

First off, we have the UGLIEST bush in our front yard. It was once probably a well-behaved miniature Alberta Spruce, perfectly conical and nicely trimmed. Now it's overgrown to the nth degree and in places it has started to genetically revert to its larger (and less-containable) form, leaving large unsightly gaps. Now. I would like nothing more than to be rid of this monstrosity, but for the fact that every year we have these GORGEOUSLY colorful birds visit. And they LOVE that ugly bush! The Western Tanager looks like something straight out of the tropics; which is a pretty rare thing here in the Rocky Mountains. I look forward to their visit every year. (And, in case you are wondering, a group of Western Tanagers is apparently called a "season". Hence, the clever play on words for the title. Yuck, yuck.)

I apologize for the low photo-quality... this was taken through our very dirty window. :? At least it gives you a small impression of the beautiful color!

Week 21: Vivid

2011-05-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

I had such a colorful laundry day on Wednesday that I just felt like sharing it with all of you. :D (This is what happens when you let your five-year-old pick out not only her own clothes, but her own bed sheets...)

Week 20: Epic Fail

2011-05-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

So, this is late. And, for a minute I thought I had totally failed in my attempt to take at least one picture a week; then, I discovered that I DID take this quick snapshot of my kids as they headed off to a luau birthday party last weekend. It's a lousy picture quality-wise, but it makes me laugh that to go to a luau in MAY, my kids had to wear sweaters because of the frigid rain that never ceased. Fail, Utah. Fail.

Week 19: Highlit

2011-05-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

So, a really nice girl I know offered to give me highlights just because she likes doing them. I have never dyed my hair because I'm so UBER-low-maintenance about my appearance, that I didn't want to have to upkeep anything. But, hey. I was up for a change, so I figured, why not!? Happy (early) Birthday to me!

Low-Sugar Dandelion Jam

2011-05-09T18:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I would say that this dandelion jam is really more of a dandelion jelly, but now I'm just being nitpicky. My lawn inspired me to give it a try (and the nice weather we had all last week cooperated very nicely, as did my dandelion-pickers); this blog gave me a starting point. When I went to purchase the pectin, I decided to attempt a low-sugar one, just for laughs. (Please note: I have NEVER attempted jam because it completely terrifies me. So, this was me out on a very long and brittle limb...)

Here's what I ended up doing:

Low-Sugar Dandelion (Jelly) Jam:

2 Cups loose-packed dandelion petals
2 Cups boiling water
Juice and zest of one large-ish lemon
1 1/3 Cup sugar
1/2 packet of powdered low-sugar pectin (I used Ball brand "No-Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin"

Get your children to behead every bright yellow dandelion in sight. Then comes the hard part: take the flowers inside and carefully pull out the yellow petals until you have two cups worth. (You can include the whitish fluffy stuff, too, but DON'T get ANY green from the leaves or sepals, or you WILL regret it. Or so I'm told. :P ) Put a movie on for the kids during this part, because it will take awhile.

When you finally have two-cups-worth, put them in a medium bowl and pour the two cups of boiling water in. Steep overnight. Next day, strain through muslin (or if you're cheap like me, a simple flour-bag towel will do), into a large sauce pan. Discard petals. Add lemon zest and juice to the pan. (I wanted mine a little "chunky", so I even threw in some of the pulp. If you prefer a smoother jam consistency, you could put the zest in with the dandelion petals the night before.) Add sugar and pectin and boil according to package directions.

There! Done! Here's what I ended up with:

And, because I was already pushing my limits with this attempt (laziness and terror holding equal sway), I did not attempt to actually can it. Just dumped it all into a big jar and have been eating it on my toast nearly every day since.

In case you are wondering, it tastes tart and lemon-y. I honestly wonder how much leaving out the dandelions would affect the taste in the long run... (Lazy.)

Week 18: Knights of the Kitchen Table.

2011-05-02T18:04:00.000-07:00

Oh, yes those are my bundt and tube pans; why do you ask?

And, in case you are wondering, no. This isn't the first time this has happened...

Week 17b: A Pirate and a Lady (and a Baby?)

2011-05-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you mix my daughter's imagination, with my son's silliness, a pile of Daddy's shoes, and one tired baby? You guessed it! These pictures!

Week 17: Tea-Staining

2011-05-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

I have an amazing teak frame that I picked up at a thrift store. The silk surround on it has seen better days, though. I've been wanting to tea stain it in hopes that that would be a way to cover the marks on the silk, but still be in keeping with the era of the frame itself. Problem: I don't drink tea. Hm. Mate cocido is kinda like tea, right...? *fingers crossed*

Week 16c: Still

2011-05-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

These gorgeous tulips and daffodils came out of my yard. Many thanks to the woman who lived in this house before us, as they come up faithfully and beautifully year after year despite my neglect.

And, true to form, I had a "helper" with these shots, too. (Or maybe he was just hinting that I should be working on dinner instead of photography. Hummmm....)

Week 16b: Easter.

2011-05-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

Just a few shots from our (cold!) Easter hunts. (Yes, I caved and we did our family Easter egg hunting indoors. Abram was the only one smiling after going to the park Saturday morning...)

Just because.

2011-04-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you just need to post some photos of lime cupcakes, okay? (I made these for a niece's birthday recently and thought they turned out pretty cute. Makes me hungry, though...)

Week 16: Stir-Fry

2011-04-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

For some reason, last night's dinner was just looking so pretty that I had to shoot it. So, here are some vegetables, nearly ready for the eatin'.

(And, no, I still haven't developed my film from Weeks 14 and 15. Someday....)

To be continued...

2011-04-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

I am NOT taking a break from my 52-week project, but the pictures I think I will want to upload for this week (and next week, too, actually) are in FILM. Bizarre and unheard of, I know. But, anyway. Since that will require developing the film and scanning in the pictures by hand, I probably won't post them until the third week of April, though I will continue taking them each week. Just so's ya' know.

Week 13b: Pretty Girl

2011-03-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

My pretty little girl turned FIVE this week! (Weird! I've been a mom for that long!?) And here she is--tutu, wings, and mask intact--blissfully spinning out of control. (So about like normal, in other words.)

Week 13: Time-out.

2011-03-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

Asher got a time-out for hitting.

Turned out okay, though, because he also got a groupie out of it.

(And, in case you are wondering: no. Neither of them were convincing enough to end the three-minute sentence early.)

Week 12: Gallery

2011-03-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

My bedroom is a (tiny) haven of peace in my chaotically small house. I didn't want it cluttered up with "stuff" all over the walls. But I LOVE art (as you may have guessed...) and wouldn't want my own special space to be without it. So, instead of hanging my artwork in a "traditional" manner, I clumped it all together on this wall opposite the door. Most of the things up were gifts, or my own work; but there were a couple of gaps--until my new friend Carrie had the brilliant idea of doing a swap with other members of our Etsy team (Female Photographers of Etsy)! I swapped a couple of my own photographs for two gorgeous 5x7"s, and voilá! Gap problem solved! (Though not the low-lighting problem... Sorry for the darkness...)

This new photo was from Carrie herself. I've a feeling she is a kindred spirit even though (or perhaps BECAUSE?) she lives far away in beautiful, green Ireland.

And this one is from a lovely girl named Patricia. I found out that we had a surprising amount in common, even though most of her photography is of her exotic world travels and I'm about as HOMEbound as it's possible to be...

It was great getting to know these wonderful women a little bit, and I'm grateful I have their beautiful artwork to enjoy for years to come! I highly recommend visiting their shops, and picking up some of your own *hint, hint*! ;D

Week 11.5: ...Comes Order

2011-03-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

This is the order that came from the earlier chaos that is my craft table. This is Hera, Olympian Queen of the Gods (modeled by my pretty sister-in-law--thanks, Ashley!!!). She was created from papier-mâché and then smothered in all the pretty tidbits she could glean from my piles of useless junk. I'm posting it in Week 12, but I actually took the shot last week so I could get the mask listed on Etsy. :D Hooray for finishing a mask! Now on to the several others yet unfinished... *sigh*

Week 11: Proof

2011-03-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

So, you may think you are looking at a picture of my cluttered living room. Not so. This photograph is PROOF that I am a couch-cushion-fort building master. Yeah. With three separate rooms, a "back yard", and an "outdoor" workspace, you are looking at a plush masterpiece. That lasted roughly 20 minutes. Oh, well. (Does this count as upcycling...?)

Week 10b: The Little Folk

2011-03-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Earlier in the week, looking at my big straw "outdoor" broom gave me the inspiration to create a tiny version for our fairies. I have seen some pretty incredible fairy houses (and furniture) lately on Etsy, but I especially like the ones that are totally natural--not using distinctly human things, like hot glue. ;) So, I fashioned this tiny replica out of soft yellow grass (of which, there is an abundance right now...), a forsythia twig, and a stray bit of wire (which, okay, I "found" in my craft supplies). It stands a little over 5" tall. Just because fairies are mischievous doesn't mean they can't be tidy.

Week 10: Springy

2011-03-12T08:42:00.001-08:00

Look what we woke up to this morning! :D Good morning, sun!

Week 9: Mardi Gras Party!!!

2011-03-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

It is no longer Week 9. In my defense, though, I did take these pictures during Week 9 and just couldn't get them up until now. So.

Over the weekend we had a family Mardi Gras party! (No, not on Tuesday; but then we aren't Catholic or celebrating Lent, either, so maybe that doesn't matter after all). It was lots and lots of fun--and why wouldn't it be when we had fantastic cream-cheese filled King Cake and a platter-ful of steaming hot Beignets!? Thanks to everyone that came to party with us (and brought food!)!

Week 8: Baby Toes

2011-02-23T20:40:00.000-08:00

Abram has been sick this week. So he's a tad clingy. Well, when he woke up from his nap, the other kids were playing outside and he wanted to join them. He would NOT let me go back in to get some socks and shoes (thankfully, I grabbed his coat on the way out the door the first time...), so his sweet little chubby toes just tried to warm themselves on my leg. And I just happened to have my camera in hand. (Please no bad mother jokes--I can remember the camera but not the socks... yuk, yuk, yuk.) The point is: what would we do without baby toes?

Week 7: Spring has Sprung!

2011-02-15T10:18:00.000-08:00

For the second time this year, I hung my laundry outside today! It will probably snow tomorrow, but for now it's nice to get the kids out in the fresh air, sweep out the gutters (who knew that one could look forward to this chore!?), and have the possibility of dry clothes in a matter of hours, rather than days! :D Happy (almost) Spring!

Week 6: Waiting...

2011-02-11T19:59:00.000-08:00

So, despite the fact that I have actually been making a concerted effort to photograph more of my life, I seem to have less of it to share. :? Technology escapes yet again, and so I resort to unfair methods. This photograph is one that I recently added to my shop (though I actually took it months ago), and I'm posting it as a tribute to the update on my blog. (About time. Perhaps my camera's refusal to upload has something to do with it's unclassy destination. Hopefully, this will encourage it some.) I've called the photo "Page Turner". And for those wondering, the book is a lovely 1921 edition of Scaramouche, by Rafael Sabatini, that was in a book lot we purchased from a school district's discard auction. Loved the book and love its decrepitly used appearance. It even has a mysteriously handwritten dedication in the front cover. But maybe that's for another post.)

Week 5: Cheating

2011-02-05T15:38:00.000-08:00

So, since I've had some technical difficulties this week, I've been unable to upload anything from my camera. :( Instead, I have decided to post one of the altered art photographs my sister and I completed this week. Even though it's totally cheating, I give you Snow White:

And, if you'd like to see more of the ones we did, go here. (Oh, and as there has been some query about this project, this IS a photograph I took. During this past summer, my older sister and I went a little nuts and hosted a "fairy tale" photo shoot. The perfect Snow White you see here is, in fact, my niece. And, truthfully, we didn't have to do that much to get her to look like this--the photo was originally desaturated so that we could pull back from the green of the grass some; but she really is almost that fair. Add a black wig and some red lipstick and presto: Snow White reincarnated.)

Week 4: Progression of Family Pictures

2011-01-27T09:47:00.000-08:00

We decided to take an official and glorious photograph of the royal family in all their regal splendour, and this is how things progressed:

Isabel poses our family for their pictures.

The Royal Family

A helper intervenes without invitation. (Seeing a trend?)

A few more helpers jump in.

Chaos ensues.

Somehow the royal family is forgotten. And somehow, no one really seems to mind.

Week 3c: Helpful

2011-01-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

And, while I was taking the shot of the frames, a little helper came along to see how he could assist. So, here, too, is my baby, who is best viewed as is: dimpled, chatty, and always slightly out of focus.

Week 3b: Before.

2011-01-19T21:07:00.000-08:00

This is another shot of something in the works. These gorgeous frames were all found at a second-hand store. I probably spent about $15 and three hours (sanding, painting, taping, RE-painting for the orange/yellow insets) to get an assorted set of frames I love. And someday they will no longer be sitting on the kitchen floor and will actually be put to their intended use. But that is for another post...

Week 3: Out of Chaos...

2011-01-18T12:14:00.000-08:00

Thought I ought to post a tribute to the madness that overtakes our kitchen whenever we get the mask-making bug. While last week's foray into the unknown is mostly over, the remnants, well, remain. This little cardtable is shoved into a corner of the kitchen and still covered with inspiration. If you've ever wondered what goes into one of our masks, now you know what goes into at least three or four.

Week 2: Double Duty

2011-01-12T18:30:00.000-08:00

Perhaps it is the curse of all women to never be able to do only ONE thing at a time. But I find that propping a good book up in the window works wonders on motivating me to work on that pile of dishes. (It's Madeleine L'Engle's "A Circle of Quiet" today, if you are wondering.)

Also, I reserve the right now to post more than one picture a week. Not that I really expect that to happen a lot, but I figure I should have an out, just in case. :D

Week 1: Resolute

2011-01-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

A new friend through fPOE (Female Photographers of Etsy) had the brilliant goal to expand her photography and record a year of her life by starting a 52-Week Project: taking and uploading one picture each week. It was too good an idea (and too opportune!) to pass up. (Be sure to check out HER blog, too!)

I begin my year with the goal not to necessarily lose weight (though that would be nice), but to BE healthier! The first part of this: drink more water. Guess I'll be seeing lots more of that amber glass...

Trading Up.

2010-09-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

So, I just sort of wanted to upload some pictures, and thought, what better thing to upload than a couple of shots of some of the gorgeous things I've managed to trade for in the last little bit? (Yeah, sorry, guys, I just don't have pictures of my kids. At least not in a digital format. You'll have to make do with "stuff".)

These very cute felt crowns from choochmagooz.blogspot.com:

Some spectacular magnets from JaneDean.etsy.com:

An awesome bracelet by yjja123.etsy.com:

This gorgeous hand-stitched, leather bound journal from DancingGreyStudio.etsy.com:

And even this super cute little tea service from SueSueGonzalas.etsy.com:

Woot!

Going Green

2010-09-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so any of you that know me AT ALL are no doubt laughing your heads off at the title of this post. Is it, after all, possible for me to go MORE green? I am more "hippie" than any of my close friends, and most of my family (with the noted occasional exception of my sister, Sarah; cousin, Susan; and Aunt Cherie). But I have recently pondered ways that even I can improve upon my tree-hugging:

1 Waste less. Based on my favorite old adage, "Use it up; Wear it out; Make it do, or do without" (now, you KNOW you're a hippie when you have a "favorite" old adage...), I have renewed my determination to throw less away. Now, I don't want to have a pile of junk lying around at all times forever-after, so for me, it just means to stop mindlessly chucking something in the trash because it's "broken". Or even just because I no longer have a use for it. Want a few examples? Check out these links on my etsy site, and I think you'll get an idea of what I'm talking about: http://www.etsy.com/listing/55396063/natural-quill-beads-set-of-20; http://www.etsy.com/listing/55917701/bundle-of-dried-lavender-stalks; and http://www.etsy.com/listing/54890153/big-ball-of-stripped-sheet-yarn-in-sage Just because I don't have a use for it, doesn't make it useless.

2 Buy responsibly. This does not mean that I will only buy things that are in tan and green packaging and that have big labels proclaiming them to be "green," "eco-," or "natural." Again, for me, it's just become a matter of taking a moment to think it through. For example, I no longer intend to shop at WalMart or Motherhood Maternity. Not because they are horrible "big" corporations, or have not taken pains enough to save the earth. Because I simply HATE shopping there. Why support a business I hate? It just seems silly. Now, Target and Macey's (the local grocery store), on the other hand, are two businesses that I enjoy. I actually ENJOY spending time in their stores! Their employees are helpful, their layout makes sense, they have good prices, AND I ACTUALLY LIKE BEING THERE! Why wouldn't I put my money toward supporting businesses I actually like? To take a product example, Ivan and I recently discussed bar soap. I am not cool enough to make my own soap, and while I really like the homemade soap that other people have given me, it is just not practical for me to buy handmade soap! It's too expensive. So I buy Ivory. It's free of a lot of extra chemicals, and it's cheap. Ivan laughed at me for putting so much thought into a bar of soap, but I pointed out to him that I really don't buy THAT many products, and so I figure it's worth a little brain-power to support those products that are both "earth friendly", and also practical for a cheapskate, like me. :D Why waste time and money on products that I don't even like or that simply don't work for my family situation? It's a no-brainer, really.

3 Slow down. Living at a frenetic pace makes absolutely no one happy. I'm not talking about being in that positive, busy zone, where you seem to get a miraculous amount of stuff done in record time. I'm talking about the rushing around senselessly, accomplishing nothing worthwhile, because your every movement is hindered by the gigantic mental pile of the other things you are NOT getting done. (And I know you all know what I'm talking about here.) If I'm spending so much of my time taking care of all the "stuff" in my life, it is past time to get rid of some of that stuff. So I am determined to do so. And spend more time playing with my kids and dating my husband.

And there you have a very long rant, summing up the majority of a stay-at-home-Mom's thoughts from the last couple of weeks. Woah.

An Inconvenient Truth (that is, surprisingly, both true and inconvenient)

2010-08-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

Ready for it?

....................

Growing up, I NEVER had to mow the lawn. No, not "seldom," not "rarely." Never.

Now. I'm sure that there are lots of other adults out there who've never mown a lawn. But I am equally sure that those other adults didn't: ONE-grow up in Utah where EVERYONE has a lawn and EVERYONE makes their kids mow it, and TWO-graduate with a four-year degree in HORTICULTURE. Yeah. You begin to see the level of my pathetic-ness.

No, it wasn't until I was a real adult, with my own house and a lawn to mow, that I finally realized that at some point in my life I was probably going to have to mow a lawn. So, I did what any other self-respecting Luddite would do: I went out and bought a reel mower. (You know, those silly looking mowers with no motor that you probably thought were extinct? Yep. One of those.) I was feeling pretty good about my choice. It's earth-conscious, quiet, smells lovely (like fresh-mown grass--go fig!), and best of all, totally self-propelled, so that I can do it with the kids around without worrying about injuring one of them in a freak accident. Unfortunately, it also doesn't work when your grass is more that six inches long. Which ours is. All the time.

And that brings me to today. I decided to spare my busy husband a little and mow the lawn for him, so that on the one night he isn't at meetings, he didn't have to mow AND trim the lawn. (I know, nice, right?) Except for that whole, "I've never mown the lawn" thing. Yeah...

Let's just skip to the morals of this story:

1. It is far better to be humiliated at age 12--when you are far less likely to remember it--than age 28. And, yes, I did hear the neighbours guffaw at my 20 failed attempts at getting the thing started. Okay, that's a lie. I didn't hear them. But that doesn't mean they didn't.

2. Some of us were just meant for another era. When people used reel mowers (of whom, I am the only one left that I know) and hung their laundry outside (which a FEW other people still do--thanks, Grandma!).

3. It is ASTOUNDING how good you can feel about a really crappy "job well-done."

new post!?!?

2010-07-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

Now, I know that you are all thinking, "My computer must be malfunctioning. Amanda can't POSSIBLY have added a new post!" But, no. Your computer's are not broken; I really am posting a brief note. I was looking over some lovely family blogs, and became inspired. (If nothing else, I really needed to add something since that last post seven months ago, especially since Patina market is no longer around...) Just wanted to thank all those of you that make the blogging world a fun and interesting place to visit! I sure love that I can find out what my loved ones have been up to --with pictures to prove it!--even when we are unable to spend a great deal of time catching up.

As for me, I've recently discovered the joys of trading! I've sold a few photographs on etsy for some interesting finds: vintage jewelry, antique brass buttons, and soon to be some hanging onion baskets! My photography has taken on a whole new light now!

patina

2009-11-15T15:40:00.000-08:00

So, I've been invited to display/sell some of my photography at a new place opening up in Pleasant Grove the week before Thanksgiving. It's called the Patina Market (patinamarket.com) and is a very cool idea. They provide a space for local artists and artisans to set up shop for a week and then rotate through different artists every week. I haven't done any photography for a while, so I'm a little nervous about being up to par with the other awesome participants. :D If you have a chance in your Christmas shopping to go check it out, you really should stop by! (This next week, if possible... ;) )

etsy

2009-06-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

So, I've had up a site on etsy for a very long time, and figured it was about time I add a post directing people to it! On amandajphotos.etsy.com you can find a sampling of my landscape/still-life pictures for sale. Even if you don't buy any, let me know what you think!

the orullians (p)

2009-02-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

I know it's been an appallingly long time since I've posted anything new, but my cousin Stephanie is far more on top of the web than I, so I decided to steal a few pictures from her online album to put up here. Just because I wasn't the first to have them up, doesn't mean I didn't take them!

The Orullian's children, with their gorgeously long eyelashes and flawless freckles, are unbelievably photogenic.

asher (and isabel) (p)

2007-10-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

abby (p)

2007-10-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes Abby has a bit of a tendency to look angry...

annie (p)

2007-10-06T16:11:00.000-07:00

This beautiful little girl belongs to some friends of my brother's and her parents were kind enough to allow me to post her up here. :D

corinne (p)

2007-09-17T20:08:00.003-07:00

dave (p)

2007-09-17T20:05:00.001-07:00

ring-a-ling (p)

2007-03-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

heather and kevin (p)

2007-03-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

shauna and jonas (p)

2007-03-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

kelly and matthew (p)

2006-11-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Here are two of the most beautiful people I've ever seen up close. I often have people ask how they can get pictures that look like Matthew and Kelly's do and my answer is, unfortunately, "Look like Matthew and Kelly." :D

let them eat black and white cake... (p)

2006-10-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

Mixing it up.

2006-10-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

So, hopefully these photos are varied enough in occasion to make this blog site interesting. I decided that even though I don't really love doing weddings, there are a few things about weddings that I DO like to photograph (such as the cakes). Look for some wedding-ish stuff in the future, I guess.

amanda j

julianna (p)

2006-10-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

melissa (p)

2006-10-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Why the 'p'?

2006-10-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

Just for all those of you wondering why most of my titles have a little (p) after them, I thought I'd explain. That stands for "photos", indicating which of my blogs contain samples of photography, and which are just rambling thoughts. Such as this one. That's all!

amanda j

vanessa (p)

2006-10-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

laurel and david (p)

2006-10-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

Gotta love Utah in the Fall... Just look at those colors!

amanda and matt (p)

2006-10-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

I took these for my good friend Amanda to use on their wedding announcements.
I loved the contrast of their dark clothes against the snow here. Be warned: I don't believe in studio work! If you want me to take snow pictures, be prepared to hike through the snow!