CHEESE!

Steph here. 

Maybe you like taking photographs all year round (like me). Or perhaps you are the type of person that only takes photographs at holidays or big family gatherings. Maybe you don't have a camera or rarely pull it out. The intent of this post is to show you how cool it is to have those 100% natural, completely candid photographs. There is definitely a place for a posed family shot. But let's be honest, most of life isn't posed. Really great memories can be captured if you are willing to pull out the camera at all sorts of everyday moments. An evening ice cream cone, a nightly bath, a walk in the park, a ride on a mower, a happy child.

Whether you are taking photographs of your children, significant other, family, landscapes or places you'll create great memories to view later if you snap today. People often tell me that they don't have a nice camera. NOT a good excuse! If you learn how to use any camera (even a phone camera), you can capture some great memories that you will cherish later. So go, snap away. The seemingly mundane moments in your life often are the ones most remembered and appreciated later.

Check out some of my other photography on my website: LeeEdwardPhotography.com

Santa Fe Beauty

Last May, I had the great fortune of traveling to Santa Fe, New Mexico to visit my husband's aunt Kathy. The flights were a bit long with a baby, but were certainly worth it! Santa Fe is gorgeous. Breathtaking. We really enjoyed the change of pace and scenery. The architecture is completely different, the lifestyle is a little more laid back and there is art everywhere! I was able to take a lot of photographs of the beautiful scenery there and I am devoting this post to sharing them with you today!

Here is 5 secs. worth of advice before diving into the photographs while traveling: BEFORE taking any photographs of a place you are visiting, take a few moments just to enjoy the place. Look around, explore. Become engaged in your environment. Be in the moment! Then take photographs to commemorate a space, a place or a person. Sometimes, photography can get in the way. Don't let the initial focus be on taking photographs. Enjoy the place first, then capture it!

Book making!

I love taking photographs. Even more, I love turning those photographs into art that I can view. What's the point of having lots of really great photographs if you don't hang them on the wall or view them often? 

I really enjoy making photograph albums or books. Whether for a client or myself, they are a super fun and a great way to view photographs and last for years! With the holidays around the corner, they are also a very thoughtful gift for friends and family. There are book and album templates designed for just about any type of photograph (whether from your phone, a scanned image or a digital camera) and they come in all different shapes and sizes! Also, you can customized them with any text or embellishments that you want!

I use a more complicated program to design photograph albums, but there are plenty of easy to use, quality book making companies out there for everyone to use! In this post, I'd like to highlight a few.
On a side note: I've made books on Picaboo and iphoto and recommend both. Picaboo allows for ALOT of customization, which is awesome!

Picaboo
Picaboo is great because it has an easy to use online book creation station. It saves your progress on their site, so you can work on a product as much as you'd like over time. They offer lots templates etc. for easy creation -- but also allow you to completely customize using your own ideas.

Mac iPhoto
iPhoto books are created on MACs (sorry PC users) in the iPhoto program. Again, these are easy to create with an autofill feature if you want to work super quickly. They also have the ability to customize to some extent. There aren't quite as many templates but the ones the offer are quality and and well designed.

Mpix
Mpix offers great products in general. They are going to be even pricier than the two choices above, but are well worth it if you have the funds. Lots of templates to choose from!

Shutterfly

Printstagram (for Instagram photographs)
These little books would be perfect presents. They are the most inexpensive of the book outlets included in this post. But think of the possibility! The minibook is only $12 and comes with 50 photographs spiral bound (think brag book). The tiny books are 3 for $10. Stocking stuffer?!

There are more outlets out there for transforming your photographs into product, but these are good choices. If you try them out, let me know!

Steph

Tetris Twist

In honor of Halloween, I have a few wonderful pumpkins to share with you. These pumpkins are unlike anything I've ever seen before! Enjoy!

Pumpkin gallery!

Also, saw this Tetris pumpkin the other day and thought it was super neat! Check it out. 

Pumpkin Tetris!

I know Halloween is over, but I fully plan on celebrating Halloween and Thanksgiving completely. I am not rushing to get to Christmas (unlike most retail spaces). 

Quick Halloween Costume Ideas!

Are you all ready for Halloween? Have a pumpkin? Spooky decorations? A few spider rings? A giant bubbling cauldron? A few parties to attend? How about a costume?

You don't have one yet? Well, no fear, here are a few fast and cute homemade Halloween costume ideas for you to try!

I'll list the supplies and leave the rest to your imagination! They are pretty self explanatory!

Autumn Leaves Costume

• Brown Hooded Sweatshirt 
• Silk Leaves
• Safety Pins

Basket Full Of Laundry Costume

• Old Laundry Basket
• Clothesline (or any rope)
• Clothes
• Clothespins and/or Safety Pins

Gold Digger
How to: Gather all the gold jewelry you own—rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings—and put it on; the more outlandish, the better. Stick to gold or metallic clothing and shoes, and give your hair a golden spritz. To complete this look, head to the garage and borrow a (lightweight) shovel to carry around with you all night.

How to: Gather all the gold jewelry you own—rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings—and put it on; the more outlandish, the better. Stick to gold or metallic clothing and shoes, and give your hair a golden spritz. To complete this look, head to the garage and borrow a (lightweight) shovel to carry around with you all night.

Time Flies
How to: Loop a long piece of string or rope (something sturdy enough to hold the object’s weight) through the back of the clock. Wear it like a necklace around your neck and attach a pair of costume wings to your back.

How to: Loop a long piece of string or rope (something sturdy enough to hold the object’s weight) through the back of the clock. Wear it like a necklace around your neck and attach a pair of costume wings to your back.

Self-Portrait
How to: Use a frame that’s large enough to showcase you, the painting, from the bust up. For a classical look, tie your hair back into a low ponytail or bun and wear ruffles or a cameo around your neck. Sign your name on a mailing label or plain white sticker and adhere to the top left corner of your shirt, so it peeks out from the bottom of the frame and looks like the artist’s “signature.”

How to: Use a frame that’s large enough to showcase you, the painting, from the bust up. For a classical look, tie your hair back into a low ponytail or bun and wear ruffles or a cameo around your neck. Sign your name on a mailing label or plain white sticker and adhere to the top left corner of your shirt, so it peeks out from the bottom of the frame and looks like the artist’s “signature.”

Iron Chef
How to: Buy a white chef’s hat and tie an apron around your waist. If the apron has pockets, tuck a ladle, spatula, and pasta server inside. Carry a clothing iron around with you all night long.

How to: Buy a white chef’s hat and tie an apron around your waist. If the apron has pockets, tuck a ladle, spatula, and pasta server inside. Carry a clothing iron around with you all night long.

Here are some more fun ideas:

• Wrap yourself in a roll of orange felt. Cut armholes and put an orange ski cap on your head. Go as a carrot stick.

• Safety-pin a bunch of cheap watches and costume jewelry on the inside of your coat. Go as a con man.

• Get a large box and paint it white, green or tan. Make a hole at the top for your head and armholes. Glue on some magnets and some post-it notes with shopping lists and phone numbers. Go as a refrigerator.

• Get a roll of orange yarn and a few bags of roasted pumpkin seeds. Glue them all over a cheap orange sweat suit. Go as pumpkin guts.

• Throw a white sheet over your head, and cut a hole for your head to come through. Wear a yellow hat and paint your face yellow with make up. Go as a fried egg.

• Dress like a mailman. Get a stuffed dog and sew it's mouth to your pant leg.

• Get a box and paint it white. Make holes for your head and arms. Paint or draw black spots on it and go as a die. If you have a partner, make two and go as a pair of dice.

Check out these websites for some more ideas:

Coolest Homemade Costumes

Martha Stewart Homemade Halloween

29 Homemade Halloween Costumes

Have a fun and safe halloween!

Need Inspiration?!

In search of a little inspiration? 

Sometimes I find myself in a creative rut OR alternatively, I have lots of creative energy (and not a lot of time to create something) so I find it fun to spend a few minutes in cyberworld gaining inspiration. We all know that there are a lot of sites out there designed to give inspiration or ideas. The first that comes to my mind is Pinterest. But this post is going to showcase two other sites that can be inspirational tools as well.

1. Stumble Upon
I enjoy SU when I've got a few moments to fill -- but not enough time to really DO anything. The basis of SU is that you tell it what your interests are, whether photographs, architecture, history, food etc. and it brings up completely random webpages showcasing that interest. To be honest it is a fun way to find things that you might never come across otherwise. Much like Pandora, you can tailor the site to your interests and likes.

Here is a neat photograph of a bus that I stumbled upon while looking at architecture:

2. Tumblr
Tumblr is great if you enjoy blogging -- because in many ways it is another blogging platform. BUT in general, I find that posts are shorter and more visual. Much like facebook, you can connect and follow people that you know. But it is much more acceptable to follow folks that post on things you like (even if you don't know them) ! Below is a funny post that I came across in preparation for this blog. It shows the Monsters University webpage designed by Pixar. If you are looking for a laugh, check it out...

On a more serious note, many academic institutions, designers, shops and artists, etc. have tumblr pages that can be used to find inspiration or information on things YOU are interested in! This guy keeps a collection of architectural drawings that alway interest me...

Check out Stumble Upon and Tumblr. Both legit, fun and can be utilized on many different levels. I always find myself learning something new and feeling a bit inspired...

Enjoy.

Instagramming Fool.

Short post today. But a very valuable one indeed!

First, a confession: I'm an instagramming fool.

It's a fun way to capture little moments of the day. Plus it is so quick and easy too.

Recently, I wanted to print some of my instagram photographs out and ventured on some cool places that offer printing services! Snapstagram (thanks Casey for telling me about this one), Printstagram, and mpix.

Not only can you get prints, you can also make other neat things like stickers, posters and even t-shirts. This sounds like fun! Check it out and enjoy :)

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins.

This time of year is filled with pumpkins. So I am dedicating this post to all things pumpkin. I hope you get some inspiration/ideas/enjoyment out of this post!

One thing I really look forward to this time of year is pumpkin pie. Or pumpkin cheesecake. Or pumpkin soup. A quick search for pumpkin recipes brings up hundreds of ideas. Check out these from Allrecipes.com. The roast pumpkin and feta risotto sounds delish. But back to pumpkin pie. It's a must have seasonal treat. Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg -- fall rolled into one dish. Here's a recipe that I like. I've always used canned pumpkin, more so because it is super easy (and still tasty). Here is a photog of a pumpkin pie my dad made yesterday:

Another well known thing to do with pumpkins during the fall is carving or decorating them. Growing up we used to carve pumpkins every year. My least favorite bit was the initial cleaning out of all the pumpkin goo. Although I loved roasting pumpkin seeds! When we were younger, my dad would help us do the carving with a handmade drawing. But as we got older, we used those pumpkin carving kits - the ones with the designs, pokers and little saws. I don't know how many of those little saws I broke...

Carving is super fun -- but I'm a total believer in painting them too! The cool thing about pumpkin painting is that you can have a fun pumpkin decoration for the entire month of October -- instead of just a week around Halloween! That's a plus. Here are some neat pumpkin painting ideas I've seen recently...

I'm a big fan of the plaid ones and the zigzag pattern. Who would have thought about puffy paint on pumpkins!? Pumpkin painting is also fun to do with younger kids before they are really old enough to carve! 

And now for our last pumpkin themed topic for the night...

PUNKIN CHUNKIN

Punkin chunkin is a Delaware specialty -- it has been since replicated in other places. But Delaware has the hold on the biggest event for sure. In about 35 days, the world championship punkin chunkin competition will begin. What is punkin chunkin?!? Well basically, it is throwing pumpkins! Teams build large catapults and try their best to out throw their competition. The Discovery Channel airs a whole show on it...so make sure to tune in!

Regardless of whether you like to eat, decorate or throw (or all three) your pumpkins, enjoy this month of pumpkin goodness! 

Cars, cars, cars!

Last weekend, I went to the Hagley car show at Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware. In general, I am not a big car person but I love old things. This year was the 17th annual car show, featuring pick up trucks! How fantastic. Here's a little history off the Hagley website:

"Legend has it that the inspiration for the pickup truck came from Down Under when an Australian farmer wrote to the head of Ford Australia in 1932 asking them to create a vehicle that could "take her family to church on Sunday and the pigs to market on Monday." Though that request did lead to the design of a utility vehicle with an enclosed cab and a utility bed, the reality is that earliest vehicles resembling today’s pickup trucks were produced for the military during World War I and that both Chevy and Dodge were producing pickup trucks for the public by 1918. This year’s feature section of the show field will include examples of these earliest American pickup trucks." 

In addition to pickup trucks, there were over 600 cars on display, a jukebox display inside and fun music from the mid-twentieth century. A feast for the eyes (and ears)!

We also met  Tow Mater (from Disney's Cars):

Beyond the show itself, Hagley is a beautiful place to see! Situated along the banks of the Brandywine River, it is the site of the gunpowder mills founded by E. I du Pont in 1802. 

Check out this intro video on youtube.

Here are a few photographs of the rest of the property that I took a few days ago. I know it will be gorgeous in the fall!

 They have a craft show coming in October. I'll be there!