Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is only 2 weeks away!  Do you know what you're getting yet? Please share your ideas in the comments. :)

You may recall my Stella & Dot jewelry gift ideas (and a chance to win an extra piece of jewelry) here.  All that still applies - so make sure to check out Stella & Dot, and shop via Chasing Davies Trunk Show to be entered to win.  To see all the giveaway info - click here.

 I'm loving gold this season - surely to make a great gift for any mama:

Gold Leaf Earrings, Jasmine Filigree Earrings

Or something with a little pop of turquoise:

 Threaded Turquoise Necklace,  Layla Stretch Turquoise Bracelet

My gift to my mom last year was a  locket  necklace. I filled it with a photo of me and my sister.

Aimee Locket Necklace

Perhaps your mom isn't a jewelry feign?  Photo gifts are always a good idea:

Printed and Framed photos by Pinhole Press make it super easy to get your gift ready for mom.

One of my favorite things to make others, as well as for myself - Photo Books:

Kodakgallery.com has a great selection of styles and sizes and really easy to use.

Happy Shopping!

My New Toy

You might know about my recent journeys in Photography.  I got a used dSLR Camera for my birthday back in October, took a photography class Feb-April (that just ended), documented some of my practices with Lulu in her weekly I See, You See posts and now, got a brand new lens.  Yay!

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens

This lens does not zoom in or out.  So you'll have to get use to moving around physically to get the right photo.  This lens allows you to focus one activated sensor on your subject of choice and giving everything else around it a softer feel too it or a blur.  It make the subject in focus stick out more and gives the overall photo a more artsy feel.  I managed to get a few practice shots in of Mr. Chuckie-Poo.

He's sad because at his recent yearly vet visits, we discovered he gained SEVEN pounds in the last year.  That's a lot for a should-be 50 lbs pup. 

So, he's on a diet now.

So, not-so-little-anymore Charlie was plopped in front of my closet and thought this was the perfect setting to give my new lens a whirl.

I kept his face in focus and the foreground (my closet goods) and some of his body are soft.  

Anyone out there have any tips on this lens?  Or recommendations on my NEXT lens purchase (once I can save up some $$)?

Also, you can keep up with my Photography progress at A Candid Life in her I See, You See posts that we will continue to do even thought our class is over.  It will actually be BETTER now, because we'll get to pick each week's theme and better show a different perspective.  We also want some of your suggestions on our weekly themes!  So either comment here or at the last I See, You See - At the Zoo post with your suggestions!

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Twirling

I am SO glad that longer, knee-length or midi skirts are back in style, let me tell you.  So much easier to dress for work and my legs do a bit better with a skirt that is longer than micro mini.  Plus you can twirl in them, and that's a lot of fun!

Sorry if I made you dizzy.  Twirling is just so much fun. :)  Thanks to Lulu for taking these pics.

{Top, actually a tunic tucked in - Banana Republic; Full skirt - Oldie Banana Republic, Earrings - SF China Town, Shoes - Marshalls, Ring - Banana Republic}

You know those rings that are double fingered?  Well, this is not one of those - but it's face flaps over my second finger, making it look like one of those double fingered rings. I like it better this way because my fingers are still free.  But hey - stop looking at my unpolished, ultra bitten down, stress-ridden fingers!

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A Walk in the Park

Yesterday was my weekly photography class (coming to an end soon with only 2 classes left) and we got to take advantage of the sun and blue sky walking around the sculpture park at Nelson's Atkins Museum.  Lulu took my outfit photos while we pranced around.  Remember to check her blog for this weeks I See, You See feature (assignment was reflections)!

For the outfit, I dabbled with color blocking and didn't even wear a neutral.  Citrus green/yellow, bold purple & light turquoise through and through.

{Cardi - J.Crew oldie, Purple top - Forever21 oldie, Skirt - Gap, Belt - Target, Flats - Urban Outfitters oldies}

Does leopard count as a neutral?

For tons more Color Blocking Inspiration...View Blogger's Do It Better

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Practice Until I Can Buy It!

 So if you follow my sweet friend, Lulu's blog - you'll have learned more about our photography journeys.  We love taking pictures, and just recently have gotten greater passions to take GOOD pictures, got fancy cameras and are taking a class at KC Art Institute.  Along with that, we work at a place with an abundance of creative people.  We got a quick lesson from amazing photography, Drew on blurring the backgrounds.

So I practiced a bit last night keeping my sweet little turquoise rose earrings (from China Town, San Fran) in focus with the background blurry.

I just have the lens my camera came with - so nothing fancy.  Because of that, I used no zoom and had to get pretty close.  I had to back up a bit until my camera would take the photo in auto focus and then used Photoshop to crop a bit.  Unfortunately, because I'm so close, you can see all the dust on my dresser.  Eeeks!

This is as much blur I can get.  My lens doesn't allow full boy pics with blurry backgrounds like I am really wanting!  So my next photography hobby purchase will be a fixed focal 50mm 1.8 lens.  This is what Drew told us we should get to produce this type of photo on a larger scale. The lens I plan to get: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens

And here is what I wore with these little $5 China Town finds... (notice the lighting and photos are not nearly as pretty as the earrings)

 {Stripe blazer - Loft; Belt - Target; Navy dress - H&M; Pink Tights - Target; Boots - Endless.com}

And on another note - I have the winner of the $100 GNC gift certificate/credit!!  Are you ready to see who won?  Without further ado... 

Congrats Cheryl!  Will be getting an email soon...

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Rustic & Sun Drenched

Someone at my company drives this truck, for real. I've seen it so many times now, that my Lulu and I finally took a 10 minute break for some fun in the sun, and a rustic old truck.

At first I worried about getting too close or even light toughing it because the alarm might sound.  Then I realized this truck would not have an alarm.

I thought posing by this rustic truck was perfect for my rustic outfit.  I wore my work version of blue and red yesterday for the kick off of the Big 12 tournament.  And since KU won, today I'm going to the next game at the Sprint Center.  You probably won't see my outfit I'm wearing today - a bit more sporty, but I'll tweet it and some pics throughout the game instead! :)  Follow Me on Twitter.

Oh, and this is my bun. See?

{Stripe silk top - Loft; Cords - J.Crew; Flats - Marshalls, so old; Necklace - Talbots}

Meanwhile, Lulu was running around the parking lot...

Happy Friday! I hope you get to have a ton of fun in the sun this weekend.

Jump!

Kriss Kross make ya wanna jump, jump!  Tonight at Photography class, Lulu and I were practicing our action shots, so we did a little jumping action!  I compiled mine into an animated gif for your viewing pleasure (you can thank me later). :)

In true schooling fashion, I'm next to lockers and all...

{Pink cardi - J.Crew via Ebay, Plaid shirt - Target; Green capris - Loft; Black flats - Nine West; Bag - Theit}

And remember to check out Lulu's blog, A Candid Life, for our weekly photography assignment and photos for You See, I See.  This week was rough!  We each weren't too excited about our photographs (though I like hers). We had to show one photo showing movement and one showing stop action.  Check it out!

Now for the winner of the $25 Apothica.com giveaway...

Congrats to Diana!!!

Stay tuned for yet another giveaway starting this afternoon!! Something any lady, girl, gal, or woman could use - never to old or young to start!

All Teal & My New Theit Bag {& Discount for You}

One of these are not like the other...

Last night was my 2nd Photography Class.  We got to get out and explore Kansas City Nelson-Atkins Art Museum architecture and lights.  We started in evening light, shot through dusk and into night to experiment with our exposure settings, white balance and flash.  It was fun to get out for an hour and shoot pics.

Our homework for this class was to bring a few photos with the theme - Blue.  You can see my final selected "blue" photo over at Lulu's A Candid Life at our weekly YYou See, I See post.  Her blue and my blue themed pics are quite different... :)  Check it out and let us know your thoughts!  What would your picture have been?

Just in time for my 2nd Photog class, I got my new Theit Bag!!

Love love love!  It looks and also acts as a purse, but with the customizable inner compartments & dividers - it holds all my camera equipment, too!  So I'm only lugging ONE bag around...one very stylish, leather bag with a tassel!  And you can get one too...  Go here to get on the wait list ASAP!  I only  had to wait a week or so.  And then they'll email you when your bag is ready for purchase.  Even better - when you check out, enter DAVIES15 in the discount box and get $15 off for Chasing Davies readers!  Hurry to get on the list - this promo code expires on March 19th.


My outfit of different hues of teal was inspired by the latest fashion week favs I posted about here!  I loved Takkoon's blue on blue outfit, so did this a little bit with teal!

 {Cardi - friend hand-me down; Lace Tank - Forever21; Teal Skirt - NY&Co; Tights - Banana Republic; Heels - Target}

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First Outfit Back & Photography Beginnings

Hey all! The Remix 30x30 Challenge officially over (wahoo) and I get my closet back + get to buy a few new things!!  I'm still going to keep my spending down low, especially as we're finishing up our home (which cost some major dough, if you ask me...) projects and have lots more in our future.  I did however run to J.Crew first thing post-challenge and get 2 stripedy beauties.  I got the Maritime dress, which you'll see later this week, and the Stripe Painter Tee (that zips in the back)...And immediately wore!

See that floor... that is PROGRESS!! Our bedroom (the one I'm standing in) is like 90% done.  The white trim is gleaming, blue paint touched up and floors finished and uncovered.

Also last night, I started my Photography Class and KC Art Institute with my friend (and Photo blogger), Lulu.  Together, over at her fab blog - A Candid Life, we are going to do a weekly feature on (or about) Wednesdays (a day after our weekly Tuesday class) with our two homework photos taken with a broad theme in mind - so the pictures will really be very different.  She'll post both our photos with the theme.  The first post is us behind our lens'.  I took the pic of her and she took the pic of me.  I think we're going to have fun... So go check it out and tell her I sent ya! :)

She also took these outfit pics:

 {J.Crew Stripe Tee; Gifted Print Scarf; Target Belt; Old Navy Skirt; Target Tights; Banana Republic Boots; Stell & Dot Earrings, Loft Bracelet & Revlon Siren Orange Lips}

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Photo Gift for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day. Love it or hate it?  I'm not a big fan.  Hubs and I don't go all out for it.  We make a meal together, or splurge on dessert, see a movie or stay in and cuddle. But sometimes all the hype and hearing about other's grand plans makes me feel like we're doing something wrong?

This year I'm spicing it up a bit and going to give him a little gift.  I've told him not to peek at my blog from here until V-day, so let's hope he listens to me so doesn't spoil his little gift.  This gift cost under $25 and took a little time to create - so nothing exuberant by any means.  I wanted to give something a little personal, that we could utilize in our home.  Still doing lots of home projects & decorating, we need wall art and I love photos, so I knew the path I wanted to take...

My friend, Lulu took a picture of us holding hands for one of her Valentine's-themed post (lots of fun photo ideas at her blog - A Candid Life), so with her permission, I used her photo in Photoshop to create something a little more artsy.

The Original Photo:

Post-Photoshop Fun:

Edited, Cropped, Sized to 8x10 and Personalized:

Next I'll frame it, wrap it and it's good to go!  What little gift things do you do?