Freebie Fun

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Ana Cabrera posted a link to her "Creative Craftess" Blog that has Loads of digital freebies.... It's a goldmine!

http://www.sewingdistrict.com/blogs/creativecraftess/2009/06/17/world-wide-inspired-link-and-win/

I went to TLR Digital Darkroom and picked up some awesome Actions for Photoshop!

Their Black and White conversions are excellent! Here is a quick one:

First, I edit my original:


To look like this:



And then use the cool B/W Action--and Voila!



Check it out and post a comment here about which freebies you found useful.

First Photo Shoot

Friday, June 12, 2009

So... when I was taking photos at the new church building I noticed how great the wall were for photo backdrops. It occurred to me that I could offer some amateur photography as a fundraiser for Quest. To make a long story short- My practice shoot was Tuesday. The Johnson Family indulged me and they were GREAT models! SO much fun!

I am SO excited!Bethany has agreed to help me (she has a degree in photography)and I know we are going to have so much fun!

I am so excited about how these first photos came out!

Jacob was a HUGE part in making it happen. He and Stacy constructed the lighting and helped so much in making the shoot work.

Here are a few of my faves:


















Lately

Last week I only exercised that one day when I rode my bike to work. I even went out and bought a new seat and I STILL haven't used it!

This week has been me hitting a brick wall, too! I wanted to go to the track last night and there was a thunder,lightning, hail, and tornado storm!

Tonight, I see that there is another one cooking, so I'm going to have to be determined to get my butt to the gym or exercise with my video.

On a good note--I am down to 185 :)

Free Class!!!


Wow! Jessica Sprague is celebrating her site's 2nd anniversary by giving a free class on photo editing!

Don't miss out!

Another Milestone!

Monday, June 1, 2009

I rode my bike to work this morning.

That seems so simple to say.

I haven't done that since February of 2008! It is 8 miles. It was NOT simple. I had to dig deep to keep going, feeling the burn in my legs and breathing through every uphill grade. Of course, the fast downhills were awesome and the variables in the course made it possible to keep going. The strategy of doing the ride TO work made it impossible to give up and go home or call for a ride. That is the beauty AND the scary part that kept my legs pumping no matter how slowly or how many times I shifted into a lower gear.

When the hospital was in view I didn't have the same rush I remember feeling the very first time I did that ride. Maybe it was because the June air was sticky and humid, but I was glad I had made it. I am determined to make it a regular part of my week.

It is just one more mile along the road to getting healthy. It feels really good to be going down the road. I can envision myself in a month from now jogging a half mile, walking a quarter, jogging 3 quarters, walking a quarter, and finishing with a half mile jog. I can envision myself riding the 8 miles in 35 minutes and breezing through it.

It's a healthy, strong, energetic, "athletic" me that keeps getting stronger and healthier.