Photography 101

Okie doke. So from time to time I have had friends, family, old clients ask me to teach them photography or at least give them a few hints for taking better pictures of their own kids. I haven't really done much about this because a.) I am terribly uncertain about my own knowledge b.) I am not the best with words c.) I'm a college student/mom/wife... ok many hats. But I figured there is no time like the present, and since I LOVE photography, I might as well share it.
So I have put together a small tutorial on exposure. Please understand that this is my understanding of exposure and I do not claim to be an expert on the subject by any means. But maybe there is someone out there who thinks like I do and might benefit from this. If not, well then, oh well. At least there are pretty pictures to look at! :)

Everybody Get Funky!

Sooo, twice a year the coolest crafters, artists, and the like get together over in Fort Worth for Funky Finds an indie craft fair put on by two of my very good friends Joe and Jessica Doughtery. 

{Mel & Jess}

So every show possible I pack my shopping... err I mean working shoes and head west to the Will Rogers Colosseum for a weekend of shopping, crafting, adorable puppies (yup, it's a pet friendly event) and hanging out with some of the coolest people I know. 

So I just returned.... a couple of weeks ago, from the Spring Fling. I had an absolute blast, as usual!! If you missed it, you'll want to mark your calendars for the next event for a fantastic shopping EXPERIENCE. You'll be glad you did!

Close to Heaven

A rare thing these days is to have our whole family together in one place, especially Detroit, Texas. Our favorite Airman finally came home for a couple of weeks. When Aunt Shirley walked in our front door and saw our motley crew all together she paused and said "that's about as close to heaven as you can get, having all of your family under one roof". She was right.

So without hesitation, we scheduled family pictures. I'm sure that our kids gag every time they hear me say that, because I take full advantage at every opportunity. It's kind of my thing. ;)

But I guess it didn't really hit me, the impact of our ever changing lives, until I watched my husband stand at the front door watching his "baby" get in his car and drive away. We will see him once more before his leave is up, but it's the idea that he can do just that... get in his car and drive away. Doesn't seem right. So my reaction was "I can't imagine what I'll do when Olivia does me that way". And Steaven simply said "just what I did". Gulp.

It's true. My girl is getting so big, so fast. I just want to put a brick on her head. Why can't that really work?

-Mel

A good person

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good."

-Ann Landers

Olivia and I have had a very busy weekend hosting a garage sale at the Tabernacle. We finally packed it all away and were finally able to relax this afternoon when I realized that I had to go to Paris to pick up a couple of things. So I almost literally  had to drag myself and my little princess to town for a Walmart run and a Braum's burger. But I am glad I did.

As we were standing in line of a somewhat busy little Braum's, Olivia was busy chatting away as she always is. I was beat-down exhausted. So I started doing the little thing that I love so much that she and I started doing together when she was four months old in Guatemala. I pat her mouth and she hums. I know. EVERYone does this with their kid. But it was the first thing I taught her. The first time I cried with her. Right there laying on the bed in Guatemala with this new little baby. There's a video of it, you should see it some time. Anyway, anytime either of us start it, it makes us both smile. So to make a long story short, we were in our own little world, standing in line for a burger, oblivious to the world around us.

When we got to the register and began to give our order, the lady from the ice cream register walked over to tell me that the man in the ice cream line wanted to buy our dinner. I looked over and saw who appeared to be some sort of pastor, but one whom I'd never met. After an awkward moment trying to make sure that I understood, I thanked him and so did Olivia. He seemed to be such a gentle and gracious man. He nodded, smiled, and he walked away.

The girls at the register asked me if I knew him. I didn't. I asked if he'd said anything more. He hadn't. 

Perhaps he was paying it forward. Perhaps he recognized us as an adoption family. Perhaps something different. Either way, he made a perfect stranger's day. He made me smile, and he reminded me that there are still good people out there who do kind things for people who can do them absolutely no good. There are still good people in this world. 

I hope his story made you smile too. :)

Mel

Antigua, my love

So I just returned last Saturday from a week in Antigua, Guatemala. I went to study Spanish in sort of an immersion program... and I would be lying if I said that I wasn't totally smitten with Antigua, and that might have played a part in the decision to go there. As my hubby says so wisely, "sometimes you have to throw yourself a bone". 

So the common way to attend school in Antigua is to stay with a host family in their home. You eat their food, speak to them in Spanish, and more or less get an idea of everyday life in Antigua. I lucked out. The home I stayed in was GORGEOUS. Seriously my dream home. The food was fantastic, my host would do anything for my comfort, and I was within walking distance from the plaza. I was in heaven. Here is the view from my bedroom:

Of course I wasted no time going into town to see the what in my mind has to be one of the most photographed structures in the world, El Arco:

And the volcano from the other side:

I could roam these streets for days shopping (ok, looking because I would quickly run out of money), snapping photos, and just absorbing the culture. 

There are two campuses at the school I went to, "Antiguena Academia". I was lucky enough to attend "el jardin" the outdoor version! It was a garden with pathways and pavilions laid out for the occasional desk with two chairs. It was beautiful. It is one on one instruction for each student, in a comfortable conversational style that feels more like coffee with a friend than school. 

My teacher was one of the sweetest, most patient people I have ever known. I absolutely adore her.

Before I left the states, I had only traveled with someone else, never alone. I felt confident in that I had traveled on many occasions to places that some people consider dangerous, ie: Mexico, walking the streets of Guatemala City ( which are still by the way very dangerous... Don't believe me? Turn on your TV), eating food from street vendors, oh yeah, I was a real rebel. But I was admittedly very afraid to travel alone to Guatemala. But, mind over matter, I went... along with my mace, my personal alarm, my door stop alarm, and my window alarm (all of which I ditched as soon as I arrived)... go ahead, laugh. It's funny!

But what I found when I got there was that yes, it can be dangerous, but as long as you behave responsibly, you will be fine. And, it turns out that there are TONS of women traveling alone! Yep, backpacking across central and south America. And, no, they are not greasy, manly crazies that the movies might have you believe. I met a very dear new friend there. A girl only a year older than me from Singapore, who upon her arrival to Panama will have been to 80 countries!! Not all alone, but several, yes, alone! THAT is inspiring. Who was it that said something like every new place you see makes you a little bit better, a little bit stronger? Traveling and meeting new people gives you perspective that sitting on the couch watching television can't. I only wished I'd viewed the world this way when I was younger and had the freedom to roam... not that I can't travel now of course, with my 5 year old in tow! The point is that there is so much out there to see, and not much time to see it. Like my dear friend Cheow says, "the world is just so big!" 

Walk from "my house" to the plaza:

View of the city from Santa Domingo:

The public laundry:

View from restaurant rooftop terrace:

and one more time, the volcano:

For those of you like Steaven who are wondering why I don't have more "people" photos, I'm sorry! People don't love you taking their photos, so I decided not to be "that" tourist. I've taken people pics in Antigua before, that is enough for me. If you would like to see them, just ask.

It was a wonderful trip. I needed it. I needed to practice my Spanish, I needed to soak in the culture, I needed to have to take a bath out of a bucket.... I need reality checks sometimes. I'm so glad that I went. I can't wait to go back. 

-Mel

White Christmas

If I squint my eyes and think really hard I can remember wishing desperately for a white Christmas. But honestly, it's been a while. It's no secret that I hate cold and anything associated with it. My sweet baby O, on the other hand wanted nothing more than snow on Christmas Day. She thought that Santa couldn't come without snow. I suppose it has something to do with landing on the roof...

But this year, she got her wish. Amazing isn't it? In a region that doesn't get very much snow, we got around 5 inches or so. So of course today was spent frolicking (I only use this word when it is absolutely true), giggling, and loving every last inch of that fluffy white stuff. Seeing her so happy made me forget the cold... for about five minutes. :)

I hope your family loved it as much as my Olivia did. It's the little things in life, you know, 

like making a real snow angel! 

-Mel

If you're not thrifting, you're spending too much

So most of you know I can thrift with the best of them, thanks to my lineage ;) I come from a long line of thrifters, which I consider a most valuable trait. So Momma, Olivia and I were wrapping up Christmas shopping last night and decided it would be an easier trip home from Dallas if we got our junk fix first, so we stopped in the McKinney Goodwill. Holy Moly that was a good move! I scored 31 children's books for $19. Yay, most of them looked brand new! I got several Dr Seuss books, Junie B. Jones books, as well as a few other leveled readers. My favorite score of the trip, no doubt.

Oh, ya see the "Go, Dog, Go" book by Dr Seuss?? My girl read almost the entire thing herself. Does that blow anyone else's mind? She just started to read this year. Amazing. Why can't my brain learn that fast!?!

Anyway, sorry for the mess around here. I finally have a break from school and the opportunity to reconfigure a few things!

Merry Christmas!
-Mel