Grateful

Ever since Marie and Thomas started school today, I feel our days have been slowly building this momentum that has transformed into a whirlwind.

Well, I’d like to blame it all on the kids, but that is not totally the truth.  I have some developments happening in my life that have me feeling excited yet completely nervous.  I am working up the nerve to write about it, because even though they have been in the works and swirling around my head for quite some time, once I write it here, it is for real.  And that is scary.

I think the holidays have me feeling a bit preoccupied, too.  A lot of my recent posts have been about restructuring boundaries and finding the courage to do what is right for me and my family.  Nothing like constant barrage of family gatherings to put all that work to the test.  Luckily, most of these functions have a wonderful spread of food so that I can sufficiently eat my feelings.

Instead of facing these stressors in an honest and healthy way like going to yoga or meditating, I have been running as fast as I can away from them.  I have found an unhealthy obsession with Photoshop has been the perfect medium for my avoidance.  I stay up late working on photos for a Christmas project, and then I get up early to work out (because I want to prepare myself for the nervous eating that will inevitably take place).  And then I work on some more photos while Thomas eats his breakfast and watches some a lot TV.

It’s hard to stay present when I’m feeling anxious, but looking back at this year’s photos, I am reminded how grateful I am for my children.  Raising these little people is not easy.  In fact, it’s the direct opposite of easy.  Every day presents its own challenge usually centered on some sort of patience endurance exercise.

But I am grateful for those challenges because they have given me the courage and the strength to try and become the person I have always hoped I could be.

I feel softer around the edges, yet stronger in my core beliefs.

I am still a planner, yet I understand the importance of spontaneity.

I am learning how to shelf my ego, and I have a greater understanding of myself.

I am grateful that these two little people have transformed me in ways I never knew I could.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

  

Best of Pinterest: Photoshop Tutorial by Lisa Edoff

A few weeks ago, I did something I thought I would never do.  I downloaded the Pinterest app on my phone.  I didn’t really think it would amount to much to anything.  I mean I wasn’t one of those people who were constantly falling down the Pinterest black hole of time suckage – how harmful could it be?

I was wrong.  So very wrong.  I am *constantly* on Pinterest.  In fact, I take Pinterest breaks throughout the day, much like some people take a cigarette break . . . except without the nicotine and carcinogens.  It’s been a hectic couple of weeks, and sometimes I just need a mental break to look at something beautiful or delicious or interesting.

I don’t want to collect all this knowledge in vain; therefore I have decided to try out a new weekly series called Best of Pinterest in which I will spotlight one of my favorite pins.  Here’s the thing about Pinterest – there are a lot of awesome visuals, but sometimes the links are not that great.  I will have test run the pins before writing about them so I know they are good to share.

The first pin I want to write about is from a blogger named Lisa Edoff at A Piece of Lisa.   Photoshop Tutorial: Learn Basic Photo Editingto Enhance Colours/Light/Contrast is so easy to use, and my photo looked amazing!  

Here’s the pin I found:

Source: lisaedoff.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

Here’s my before picture:

Here’s my after picture:

Did those fall colors pop or what?!  I feel like a Photoshop superstar!

Thank you, Lisa, for posting this awesome tutorial!  It has totally boosted my confidence in my Photoshop skills.

Have you found anything interesting on Pinterest lately?  Also, I would love it if you followed me on Pinterest, too!

In Photos: A Beach in Lexington, Michigan

 This photo was taken in Lexington when we stayed at my aunt’s lake house.  I’ve been going here for years, but this time was different.  I wrote about it here for the Detroit News MichMoms blog.

I focused on the brightening and contrast tools with layers that Brandy from Brandy Nicole Photography taught me.  I am learning that a photo doesn’t always need a total overhaul.  These edits may be subtle, but they are just enough to make the photo reach its full potential.

Which is kind of symbolic of yesterday’s post and today’s post at MichMoms.

Once an English teacher, always an English teacher, right?

So here’s the original:

Here’s the edited version:

I cropped the photo, and made a duplicate layer.  Then I went to Enhance Tab and clicked on Brightness and Contrast.  I made the Background Copy (NOT Background) super light by sliding the brightness over to the right and Contrast to the left.  I wanted to make the buckets, sandcastles, and waves brighter.

Then I highlighted the Background , clicked on Eraser tool, and went over the buckets, sandcastles, and waves so the super light original background copy would show through

What do you think?

In Photos: Another Chicago Photo Using Layers and Masks

Another Chicago photo!  Remember that little trip I went on that included a stay at Kimpton Hotel Allegro that I won’t stop talking about because it was the coolest thing EVER!

In case you don’t remember, here’s the original post I wrote about it.  But if you click on this link and read mylatest Detroit News MichMoms post, I really explain what this trip meant to me.  Check out and let me know what you think.

So here’s how I took this photo:

And made it look like this:

Crop out as much junk as I could.

I enhanced it by brightening it to 50 and Contrast to 22

I used the Clone Stamp to get the rest of the junk.

I created another layer and lightened it up a lot.

I added a mask so the super light background showed up, but then used the Paintbrush tool to go over Marie to show the original layer with her in it.

Sound complicated?  I thought so, until I practiced it and it finally clicked!  If I can figure this out, I have total faith that you can, too!  Yay!  Also, Brandy is a fantastic teacher!

If you have an issue with Photoshop Elements 10 that you want to go over, let me know if the comments!

In Photos: Serendipity in New York City

 I have been taking this show on the road!  First I went to New York City and New Jersey with the kids.  And the next thing I know, I’m in Chicago testing out the new Allegro Kids Rule Program at KimptonHotel Allegro. 

This week’s MichMoms post explains how travelingwith young kids is not easy, but it is so worth it.  Traveling just makes me feel all lit up and alive as I experience life in a different place, and I hope my kids will love traveling as much as I do.

This Brandy and I decided to focus on the Blur Tool and the Sharpen tool.  (And she’s new to Twitter, so be sure to give her a nice warm welcome).

This photo was taken at Serendipity in New York City.  That frozen hot chocolate was delectable!  (Thomas almost finished the whole one by himself.  And then proceeded to crash from the sugar high.  Obviously).

Here is the before:

Here is the after:

Here are the steps:

1. Crop

2. Blur Tool (Strength 100%, Size 169px)  Go over the area you wish to blur a bunch of times because the effect is subtle

Hover over Blur Tool and click on the Sharpen Tool (Strength 35%, Size 100px) I focused on focal points, like our eyes and the frozen hot chocolate

Guided Edit Tab in the upper right corner, Scroll down to Photography, Effects Lomo Camera Effect

Apply Vignette

Viola!  A pretty photo is created!

Are you struggling with Photoshop Elements 10?  If you have an effect you would like to learn about, be sure to mention it in the comments!