A "New" Discovery - PW Actions!

I know that I'm probably the last person on the face of the Earth to catch onto this...but The Pioneer Woman seriously knows what she's doing when it comes to her Photoshop Actions! I don't know whyti took me so long to clue in on this stuff...seeing as I use Photoshop a few times a week, but I don't know that I'll release another picture that hasn't had an action done to it from here on out...seriously. They're that good.

I can't imagine that anyone's asking this question, but since I only recently asked it myself, maybe there are a few more out there that don't know. That question that you might be asking is: "What's an action?" To put it as simply as I can (because I don't have a lot of technical knowledge backing this up), an action is a pre-determined group of settings that you can "wash" your photos with. Basically you install these actions in your version of Photoshop (or PS Elements), open up your photos in PS, and apply the action to your photo. Depending on the action that you select, you could get a variety of different outcomes. Check out my two new favorite pictures...

Aren't they precious? I mean, I know that Jax is cute (duh!) but aren't the settings cool too? The top one looks like it could have been taken with a vintage Poloroid camera and the bottom one is just the perfect blend of Sepia tones...and I'm completely in love with the PW Boost action...here - click over and see for yourself what I'm talking about. But be warned, you might get hooked too!

A New Photographer to Love

If you’re looking for something a little “different” for newborn photography, check out Wildflowers Photos. A friend of mine sent me the link to one of her newborn sessions, and I’ve fallen in love with her photography!

(Even if I couldn’t snag the photo to share with you directly here!)

She’s got a unique perspective that is very fresh and uplifting…while being all vintage-y. I don’t know if that makes sense to you or not…I know what I mean!

So check out Wildflowers Photos if you’re in the market for a photographer…I know that I’ll be checking back in to see more of her work in the future! While you're over there, click around to find the maternity session that she did that involved like 20 tubs of Blue Bell Ice Cream...seriously! She's MY kind of photographer!!!

Trying to Catch A Smile

...is harder than you'd think! I had Jax on my lap the other day right after he ate and he was making all sorts of cute faces at me. Cooing, talking, eating his hands, you know...normal baby stuff. I had Brent grab my camera for me and I tried REAL hard to catch that grin on camera...here's the best that I got!



No Mom, you can't see my smile...it's MY smile!

Those are some of his baby "gang signs" that he makes all day long now that he's discovered his hands.

All of this press is making me so tired!


Hey Lady, when did you get so crazy? You used to be ok, but now you're making all these crazy faces at me, and I'm not so sure about you...


All right, all ready. Now will you go away?!?!

Mission sort of accomplished...I'll try again another day!

Birth Announcements – And a Prize!

If you’ve been reading along for a while now, you might have clued in on the fact that I’m a tad bit indecisive. Just a smidge. LOL! (I know that my Mom is laughing pretty hard on that one…) I realized the other day that I’ve put off ordering birth announcements for Jax. I know that you get some leeway on doing this, as the life of a newborn parent is somewhat hectic and slightly sleep-deprived. Most people understand. Even so, I’d really like to have these at least ordered before he turns two months old…which is this week! Eeeekk!!!

So I’m trying to get on the ball and get this project taken care of. There’s no better place, in my opinion, to order prints and project than using Shutterfly. It’s simple, easy process to upload your pictures and whether you’re ordering prints or projects, they have it all in one place for you. So what’s the problem, you’re asking me???

Their selection is too good! I was expecting to like maybe two or three card/announcement designs, not 15 of them! Seriously, I went onto another site to check out their announcement options and there were only two or three designs that jumped out at me. But on the Shutterfly site, I found many, many designs that I like and now I can’t choose! They’re all too cute!

Check out my top favorites - I could go with something timeless and classic:

Bella Baby Blue

Inky Chic Blue

Noir Collage

Dainty Denote Blue

Fresh Delivery Box

Sweet Boy

Or I could go with something a little more fun and contemporary/popular:

Baby Blocks Boy

Cute Button Blue

Hopscotch Time Blue Oh Baby Blue

I just can’t choose! And before you even ask me, no I haven’t let Brent pick any out yet…I figured that I’d narrow it down to two or three choices and then insert my own pictures and stats and THEN show them to him and let him help me pick the winner. That’s the plan anyway…

So here’s where the PRIZE comes in…Shutterfly is giving me 10 free cards to offer as a giveaway on my blog for you, my dear readers! Isn’t that the coolest?!?!? Maybe you don’t need birth announcements…they also do photo books, other photo gifts, and of course, other occasional photo cards. The holidays are FAST approaching and maybe you need to send out some Halloween invitations or Christmas wishes…you can do all of that (and more) over at Shutterfly.

So here’s the deal on how you can enter to win the 10 free cards from Shutterfly:

Comment on my blog below and tell me which cards of the ones that I picked you liked best. I’d like a first and second choice…and third if you’re indecisive like me! Just leave your comment below, and your name will automatically be entered into the drawing for the giveaway. Only one entry per comment, and you MUST leave your name (obviously) so no anonymous votes will be counted…sorry!

As an added bonus, if you link back to this post from your own blog inviting YOUR readers to enter the contest as well, and send me an email telling me that you did it with your blog address (click the "Email Me" link in the upper right corner), then I’ll add your name in the drawing TWO more times!!!

That’s THREE chances to win!

I’ll keep it open until Thursday, September 23rd at 9pm - you must comment with your choices or send me the email with your link back to my post before that time to be entered into the drawing. I’ll announce the winner Friday morning in my regular post.

Remember, the promo code that you’ll be given to use for your FREE cards doesn’t have to be used for baby announcements. Shutterfly offers photo cards for ALL occasions: birthdays, thank you cards, party invitations, and holiday cards…use it for whatever you need!

So get those comments going – you know that I need help making this decision! Good luck to you all!!

Maternity Photo Shoot

No, not MY maternity photo shoot...the jury's still out on that decision for now. But back when I was putting inspiration pictures on my bridal blog, I came across this maternity session that some of my favorite Austin photographers had done.

Their company is called Pink Posh (LOVE that name!) and they do AMAZING work...you can find them here.

Check out the cutest maternity session I've seen...And I think that this one is my favorite...Did your heart melt just a teeny little bit? Mine did. And I've looked at these pictures a million times!

Go and check out Pink Posh Photography if you're in the Austin/Dallas/Houston area...they travel frequently and do incredible work!