Here it is...my absolutely amazing, cheery, bright, fun, sassy, fabulous new logo for Hissyfits!! Can you tell I am in love with it?!!
The wonderful Genevieve was so patient and kind in working with me and has truly captured everything I wanted and more!! The thing is, while I gave her my thoughts and wants, she created this on her own!! She listened to what I had to say and went with it! It is truly me and I cannot wait to take this new little business of mine and RUN!!
So...now I am trying to figure out how to watermark my images with this funky new logo of mine! I guess I am an idiot and I didn't realize that brush files are only monochromatic. Well, of course I want to be able to do this in color if the mood so strikes, so I have to figure all that out. I think I need a "band" over my images with the file on top of it but I have NO clue how to do that. Help? Please? Anyone? {The more detail the better for this girl!!}
The ideas are swirling in my mind tonight!! I want to get my website going and blog situation figured out as soon as possible!! It was mentioned {in a very nice way} that my style of post processing is much softer than the vibrant colors you will find in my logo and on my website! I realized that long ago, but that is just me! I have all these ideas of how I am going to type something up about how "Vibrant color mixes with the retro tone of my images..." Obviously it will be much more thought out and well written than that, but it is nearly 10:30 and I'm tuckered out! I really see myself moving towards just having one blog...but it will be much the same. I have thought and thought and thought and thought and thought about this and for me, I think the best fit is one blog...a mixture of my personal life {which includes my kids, shopping, Etsy, reality TV and whatever else tickles my fancy!} and professional images.
WHEW! So even though I am tired I have a feeling my mind won't shut off once I get in bed tonight!!
ANY help on my watermark issue would be fantastic!!
So my sweet friend Laura whipped up a post awhile back that included some of her favorite things! Although we have been friends for years {since high school!}, it was fun to read up on these interesting little tidbits that don't tend to come up all that often!! Well, her infatuation with Tim Riggins of Friday Night Lights I was quite aware of...but not the rest of her post!! {Love ya Laura!!}
So, speaking of Tim Riggins, I'll start off with some of my favorite TV shows! I LOVE me some Friday Night Lights as well! We watched this show every single week last season and I was so bummed when they canceled it...so you can imagine that I am thrilled it is back on again!! We tune in every Friday night and are glued to the screen until it's over! LOVE IT!! {But NBC has made it nearly impossible to get pictures off of their website so I can't post one!!}
I also have an addiction to General Hospital. I got into this back when I wasn't working but before Huntler was born. So like May of 2004 or so. Oh my...have I seriously been watching that long?!! I am not so crazy as to insist on watching it on every trip we take or anything like that, but I was happy to see that ABC is now showing the episodes online!! I DVR it every day so I watch it each night, but just in case something "huge" was going on it would be nice to watch it on vacation if I ahem, "needed to!"
Funny little story about GH. From time to time the kids watch it. Either I watch it before they are in bed or they are off playing and they come back in or whatever and they see it. Now here is the really bad part...they like it. Pretty sure that the language is NOT appropriate for a two and four year old. Or the violence. So, Huntler talks about going to the hop-sit-al {that is how he says it!!} all the time. For random reasons. The other night he was telling Gentry to be careful or she was going to have to go to the hop-sit-al. She replies with, "General Hospital?" I have heard her say it before, several times, but this was the first time Chris has heard her and it cracked him up!!
The Bachelor. Sure sometimes it is downright annoying and ridiculous, but I love it. I have watched every single season but the first one and I am sure I'll continue to do so!! I mean, one of these times really does have to be "THE most dramatic rose ceremony ever," right?!!
This coming Monday is the "biggie" of the season! Jason chooses between Molly and Melissa! I personally like Melissa a bit better! She is so down to earth and seems so sweet! Plus, she is the ONLY one I liked on the first episode and I even told Chris, "My pick for the season is Melissa!" I have gotten it right a few times so let's see if I can do it again!!
I am also pretty hooked on Law and Order SVU, Jon and Kate Plus 8 and Desperate Housewives...but I won't babble on about TV shows anymore!
So this has to be one of my most prized posessions! My camera. I guard it like it is a helpless child! It is always WAY up high on a shelf and out of the reach of curious hands!! If there were ever a fire, my camera would be rescued just as soon as the kids were safe! The computer would be next {although we are now using a system where our stuff is backed up and stored elsewhere so it is safe!!} and then probably all of Gentry's clothes! There is a newer {more expensive} version of the 5D out, but I am so happy with mine!! Although our other camera was wonderful, I was just ready to move on to something with more options and capabilities!
This color of nail polish! I used to paint my nails ALL the time. That was two kids ago. Now it is a rare, rare occasion when they are painted! I am just now finally growing them back out again! After Gentry was born I cut my nails short and have kept them that way this whole time. I don't even know why? But now for some reason I appear to be growing them out again? Anyway, like you even care about any of that nonsense! I use this shade on my toes {a lot} because they are ALWAYS painted! This is such a fun, spring-y color and Gentry loves it as much as I do!
TomKat. For those of you not obsessed with celebs, that would be Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. I love Katie. I have for years...ever since Dawson's Creek. Anyway, now that they have sweet little Suri I am even more intrigued by them. I have no idea why...maybe because she genuinely seems nice. Like the girl next door...just with a superstar for a husband and a megaload of money!! I mean, other than that, she could be you or me!!
I saw this video today while I was checking up on them...it is kinda cute!
Sonic. Need I say more? Give me a Route 44 Cranberry Grape slush and I am good to go!!
And I saved the best for last...my sweets!! This was taken back in August when we were visiting California! I didn't do any editing to it and it was taken in full sun, so it isn't that great, but we have very few family shots and the ones we do have I use on everything so I wanted something different!
And now I am off to see if I can get some stuff done while Gentry is napping and Huntler is fighting hard to stay awake!!
So I have spent the entire day working like a crazy girl!! Cleaning and sorting. Mostly sorting although I did run the sweeper upstairs this morning! I kinda had to though...there was an "incident" yesterday involving a large bag of popcorn from the Target snack center and the playroom floor. I am not quite sure who the guilty party is on that one, but it got me motivated to clean up a bit!!
And then the sorting...there has been a massive amount of kids clothing stashed at the back of our closet for weeks...maybe months now. Anyway, it needed sorted and organized so that I could figure out what exactly I am doing with it. Several of you sweet blog readers have expressed interest in both of the kids' clothes. I am just trying to figure that all out. There is SO much. As in four of the HUGE totes full and two laundry baskets. Oodles and oodles of clothing. I am thinking it might be easier/smarter to try to sell what I can to the moms in our playgroup who are interested and then go from there? Unless I just put it in lots and give you a price? Those of you who were interested can shoot me an email on your thoughts!! But for now it is all folded nicely and organized by size and back in my closet again!
While I am on my spring cleaning kick, I am also getting rid of stuff. Some to Craig's List, some to Good Will, some to Ebay even maybe. Here is one of the items that needs a home!!
This is the bumper pad that matches Gentry's bedding set...crib and big girl. We obviously don't have a need for a bumper pad anymore so I am going to list it on Ebay but thought I would see if anyone who stops by here is interested! We aren't ready to part with the matching quilt yet. She uses that and will until we move since we are not planning on buying her big girl furniture until we are back in Kansas.
Anyway, Chris accidentally cut a little hole in it when he was cutting off the tag, but other than that it is in perfect condition. {We just covered it with a stuffed animal since it was in the corner!!} Pottery Barn bumper pads retails for $69 and we are asking $25 for it. Since it is kinda big I am guessing the shipping will be close to $10 or so? Let me know if you are interested!
Sorry it seems as though my posts have been a bit boring lately! I am trying to get rid of things and get organized!! With the reality of my photo biz being just on the horizon, I am feeling this overwhelming need to get everything in order!! All the "piles" dealt with, random items sold or hauled to Good Will...all of that!
Okay...that is my post for today!! Now I am off to get the kids more apples and start sifting through all my photography workshop print outs and getting those organized! I SO love days like this!! The kids have been by my side helping all day and we have really had a wonderful time!
And because I just can't mix something so bright and cheery with something so heartbreaking, I am posting twice this morning.
By now most of you know I am an open book. I have very few things that I refuse to share. That is just me and my personality...always has been and always will be I am sure!! I hate secrets and surprises and think I have to know everything!! So yesterday my logo proofs came. I was SO excited I nearly wet my pants!! This designer TOTALLY nailed it on what is "me!!" I wasn't going to share. I thought I was going to wait until I had decided and then show you the final product. But, I can't wait! I mean, just look at these little bits of happiness and you'll see why!!
Yesterday I was in such a tizzy and so excited I had no clue what I was going to do! This morning I still don't know for sure, but I have had some time to look at them more and of course to sleep on it so things are a bit more clear!! I will be taking bits and pieces and combining them to get the look I want!!
Here is the original logo I had designed. We changed a lot on this one to make it more my style, but it just wasn't working. SOMETHING was missing although I just couldn't put my finger on it!
And now I am off to get ready for the day!! It looks like it is going to be beautiful out and we are going to enjoy it before it starts getting hot!
As I sit here bright and early this morning with my favorite girl on my lap, my heart is once again broken. We received an email from some of our dear, sweet friends this morning. An email they certainly didn't want to send and we didn't want to receive. They are about 19 weeks along with their first baby. A baby they love so deeply yet will never get to know. Due to a chromosomal fluke, their baby won't make it, short of a miracle. I ask you each to say a prayer for their miracle and keep them in your thoughts.
The frailty of life has never been so clear as it has to me this past month. I was 23 when I got pregnant with Huntler and was blissfully unaware of how just how many things can go wrong. Things were easy for us. No problems getting pregnant. Other than the normal aches and pains, the pregnancy was easy. Normal delivery. What every parent hopes for and dreams of. We are blessed, so truly blessed. In the chaos of day to day life with cups getting spilled, food getting flung, bedskirts getting cut and powder bottles getting opened and a fine film covering an entire room {all of these have happened}, it is easy to get caught up. To forget to count our blessings. To forget to cherish each phase of childhood and what it brings to our lives.
My heart and mind are so heavy this morning as I think of our friends and how they are picking up the pieces and trying to move forward. I know they read this and I want them to know that they are so very close to our hearts and we are praying for their miracle. We love you both...
This one...he is something else for sure! Each day I think he gets funnier! Sassier, but funnier! Tonight he was in prime form and I smile sitting here thinking about his latest antics! Chris was late getting home tonight and when he finally did get here, the kids glued themselves to him! They instantly got louder and more out of control and quite simply, the amount of chaos more than doubled!! And then Huntler began...
He first piped in with a "Trust me." What? Where did he get that from?!! And later he was sitting next to Chris and he said, "I'm a little jealous." He SO did not use that in the right context, but it was cute for sure!! But the funniest was when I took him to bed and was getting him all tucked in for the night. I was reminding him that school was tomorrow and we had a short discussion. And then he starts:
Huntler: Knock Knock
Me: Who's there?
Huntler: Peach
Me: Peach who?
Huntler: Peach Owl Horn
Ummm...okay. He thought it was hilarious though! And then he goes on...NONE of his jokes made one iota of sense, but he was cracking himself up. And me too. This was one of the first times he has ever told jokes before and it was really cute!!
He is a chatterbox these days. Not always so much out and about, but at home for sure! Sometimes I want to scream because he talks.so.much. {Between him and Gentry who is two going on twenty, there is rarely a quiet moment!!} But then I kick myself because what will I do when he is in school 8 hours a day and I don't have my first born here chattering away all day long? We won't go there tonight though...I can feel the tears welling up already just thinking about it!
While so many things are going so well in my life right now, I can't help but feel reflective. I spend so much time thinking of how far we've come. How blessed we are. How much things have changed in such a short time. How we have grown with our kids and how we hope to shape them but how they have in fact shaped us in their short little lives... It is late, I am tired and my emotions are in overdrive right now. I was sifting through iPhoto today and SO many memories flooded my mind. It was a good day, a great day in fact, but definitely one that has me thinking!!
I am off to bed because tomorrow is a school day and those are always crazy! Not to mention I plan to load up my sweet babes and just go play. No camera. No schedule. Just a fun time with 100% of their mama!!
But first I have to say...I got the proofs for my new logo today and this designer nailed it!! She sent me three and I have no idea which one to choose!! She took what I said and truly listened and created something that is 150% me!! I can't wait to share!! Once I decide that is!!
And then the fabulous Sheye Rosemeyer {whose photography and style I absolutely ADORE...so much so that I have taken both of her Eye Candy workshops!!} launched her actions!! I am beyond estatic!! They are very vintage/retro and oh so right up my alley!! I think I bought them like 10 minutes after she posted and I have already played around with the first half of them! There are many more to go, but this girl has gotta get some rest!!
{The above pic of Huntler was edited using her "Honeychild" action!!}
So the much awaited winners of the fun hair bow giveaway are in!! Rather than writing down thirty seven names {there were a couple of people who forgot to include their email address in their original comment}, I used a random generator to save myself some time! It was so darn easy and actually kinda fun! I sat there waiting for the numbers to pop up and then counted down the list of comments like I actually stood a chance of winning!!
So here they are...remember the first place winner gets her choice of the bows and then the second place winner chooses from the two remaining items!
The first number to pop up was #10. It was Michelle at mikala4463@aol.com. Michelle, email me and let me know your choice and your address!! I am making a trip to the post office tomorrow so these will go out then!!
The second number was #2. Kelly...I will let you know when Michelle decides so you can choose from the remaining two!
The third number was #20. Jessica...after three boys Jessica is finally having a girl!! I am sure she will be all dolled up all the time!!
So that was fun!! I need to do something like that again before too long!! If you didn't win and you "have" to have something, just shoot me an email at bethany.m.graham@gmail.com. I just made a cute bow last night for a custom order and would love to do more!!
And what is a post without a picture? This one was snapped late last night! The kids were slightly out of control in the bathtub and were in fact "sliding" down the back! I know my mom is cringing as she reads this as she hates it when they even stand up in the tub, but it was hilarious! And no one got hurt!! An entire extra load of laundry was created because there was as much water outside of the bathtub as in it, but this little snapshot is worth it!! I cropped it to keep the Little People zebra in as well as Gentry's puppy in because he is NEVER far from reach!! You can also see a fabric covered button and a little bottle full of rubberbands. Talk about random!! Anyway, this past week they have apparently gotten bored with the regular bath toys because Little People keep finding their way to the bathroom!!
And because I have had so much fun answering all your burning questions...here are the rest of them!
How old am I?
I am 28...I'll be 29 in April.
What is my favorite movie?
Ladder 49. I SOOOOO love that movie. It is one of the few that I could watch over and over and over again. If you have never seen it, you need to. And you will cry...but you'll laugh too! Here is a video clip... {Scroll down and turn off the music on my player at the bottom.}
And the biggie...are we going to have more kids?!
Ohh how I wish I knew the answer to this one! Ask me one day and I say yes, ask me the next and I say no!! I told Chris that if I didn't get pregnant in 2008 we were done. I don't want a huge gap in their ages and Gentry will already be three this July. Well, I lied! But, if we are going to have another, I am pretty set on the fact that we need to get pregnant this year. As in May, June or July so it will be a spring baby and I won't be huge in the summer months down here in this inferno. Plus, I need them somewhat spaced out for my over the top birthday parties!! It is just so hard to decide! Our kids are at such good, easy ages and adding another to the mix would be chaos for sure!! But I KNOW when we are older we will have wished we had a bigger family. So, who knows? I do know we have some DARLING names all picked out and ready to go! And no, I am not sharing! But I will share some other cute ones I have come across recently: Tinley, Keeper and Tapper. I thought those were all so cool!!
If anyone would be interested in a custom blog design created by moi?! I FINALLY found some digital kit designers who don't charge a commercial license fee! YAY! Anyway, as you know, I love switching my blog up every little bit and thought it would be fun to do it for others!!
It would cost $65 {which includes me purchasing the kit of your choice and then the time to create and install it}. That includes the whole nine yards...custom header, different backgrounds, signature tab, sidebar tabs, etc... Pretty much just like mine since that is what I know! Or I should say my super smart husband knows since he does all the html part!! If you have different wants or needs we could probably figure it out!! {I should also mention that we only know Blogger...I have NO clue how the rest of the sites work!!}
Let me know your thoughts! Either comment on here or shoot me an email at bethany.m.graham@gmail.com!!
I should also put a little disclaimer that this is for PERSONAL blogs only...nothing professional!
I'll be back to announce the giveaway winners tomorrow! But now I am off to make this weekend THE MOST productive I possibly can!
HI! I'm Bethany...wife to the most incredible guy one could ever dream of, Chris, and mom to the two CUTEST kids there ever were, Huntler and Gentry. I am 28 years old and so blessed to be able to stay at home with my munchkins every day! I hope you enjoy following along as I share bits and pieces of our life and pursue my love of everything photography!
Huntler is our little man...our first born. I honestly can't believe it, but he turned four in September! I think I must have gotten caught up in a time warp because since we had him time has just FLOWN! He is very serious by nature...probably the most intense child I have ever met. We have way more pictures of him deep in thought than smiling from ear to ear! He has always been an easy little guy...he is very laid back and just goes with the flow. He is so sweet and caring and he loves that little sis of his more than words can express! Don't let all of this fool ya though...he can be quite ornery and the things that he comes up with these days literally crack us up!
Ahhh...Gentry girl. If ever two kids were so different! She is so sassy and spunky and full of it that there is never time for a dull moment! Although she is not a hard child by any stretch of the imagination, she DEFINITELY has opinions and isn't quite as "go with the flow" as her brother! She started talking early and there is never a quiet moment when Gentry is awake! She seems to have grown up so fast...I am sure that a lot of that has to do with the fact that she has a big brother to keep up with, but she is doing things so much faster than he did! And although she turned two in July, she is absolutely convinced she is already three!! And the way she carries on most of the time, one would definitely think she is much older than two!
As we were driving by a bunch of trees Huntler says, "I don't wiv in a jungle Daddy. I wiv in a house Daddy. I have a woof."
While driving in the car one day (yes, we do lots of driving!) Gentry says, "There ya go" to Huntler. He responds with, "I not a goat. I Huntler."
Oh sassy Miss Gentry...she is all the time saying, "I want pink wemonade!"
Whenever we say, "I love you" to one of the kids, they respond with, "Love you more." Too sweet!!
6/30/08
We were giving the kids baths and Huntler was upset. He tells Chris, "I had a weally bad day." Then he proceeds to say, "You're hurting my feelings Daddy." Needless to say, we were laughing out loud!
7/3/07
While talking about the kids' friends, Huntler says, "I have big, small and medium friends." Never quite thought of it that way before! Leave it to a 3 1/2 year old!!
7/9/08
While the kids were playing Little People this morning and Huntler was loading up the bus, I mentioned to him again about starting school soon. I am trying to prepare him for it. He is fine, I am not!
He says, "Mama be sad about me go school." He couldn't be more right!!
8/7/08
"School is for big kids Gentry, not for wittle sisters!"
8/30/08
"The farmer in the town,
The farmer in the town,
Hi-ho the radio
The farmer in the town!"
9/23/08
Chris was giving the kids baths and the following conversation came about:
Chris: "Come here little boy, let me wash you."
Huntler: "I not a little boy, I have a big head like you dad!"
Chris: "Do we have big heads because we're smart?"
Huntler: "Yeah, Mommy and Gentry aren't smart. They have little heads."
10/19/08
On a walk Huntler was talking about staying on the sidewalk. We never want to get in the street because a car could run over us and make us all flat. (I guess that is one way of looking at it!!)
Tidbits Left by
