One of the finished products! 
Coping Columns
9 hours ago
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Stampin' Up!
I recently went to my friend Julie's house for a Stampin' Up party. I wasn't sure what it was going to entail, but we made the cutest little cards and projects! It's really neat how creative you can be with it. I just wish I had more time (& money to buy all the products) to do it!
One of the finished products!
One of the finished products! Saturday, January 9, 2010
PhotoShop Pictures
Well, I finally sat down and edited some pictures. I'm still not very good at navigating my way around the program... but that's why I signed up for a PhotoShop class at the Arts & Crafts Center! I'm excited to learn and master all the basics so I can hopefully do more editing and be able to follow the books on how to do some of the more advanced techniques. Anyway, I've been working on doing spot coloring, making photos black & white/sepia, & adding vignette effects (faded edges) all thanks to my friend, Susan! Anyway, here are some photos:
Friday, January 8, 2010
Sewing Project #1
Well, I googled "Easy beginner sewing project" and I came across a picture of baby booties. I figured, I'd give it a shot. I did some of it by hand, and some on the machine. I'm pretty proud of myself for finishing it, and they somewhat resemble what they're supposed to... :) Although, it did take me quite a bit of time to actually thread the machine... I had to watch a YouTube video so I could just see how it was done (I always learn faster watching it). I got the hang of it and finally figured it out. I'm ready for my next project... Brooke and I are going to make purses/handbags! Can't wait.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Baby Barrett!
Another friend here in Okinawa just had their baby boy! His name is Barrett and he is adorable!!! We brought Audrey and Erik over dinner and they were sweet enough to have us stay to eat with them so we could catch up and meet little Garrett! He is just precious! It's always neat to see newborns! 
I just recently edited one of the pics... Susan taught me how to do the vignette effect to pics!
I just recently edited one of the pics... Susan taught me how to do the vignette effect to pics!Sunday, January 3, 2010
Going Private
After thinking about it, I decided to make our blog "private". This just means for all of you who follow our blog, you'll need to let me know so I can add you to the allowed list to access our blog. With Joe's job, we're continually being reminded to have good OPSEC (operational security) about things we talk about, write about, and well just about everything we do we need to be careful. Soooo, with that said, for all who follow us, I'll need your e-mail address so I can add it to our list. I'll wait a week or so before going private... so make sure you send me your e-mail address soon! Thanks for understanding!
New Year's Resolutions
I've taken on quite a few new hobbies and I really want to make my resolutions this year to become more proficient with these skills! I also have several personal goals as well that I hope I can follow through with!
1. Study up and learn more about my new digital SLR camera. I'm really anxious to master all the different features it has to offer!
2. On that note, I also want to make time to learn how to use PhotoShop so I can edit all the pictures I take! We have the program, and I've checked out two books from the library... now I just need to find time to sit down and go through it!
3. Learn to sew. Over the summer, my friend Lydia and I decided we needed to domesticate ourselves and learn to sew since so many of our girlfriends were making the cutest little baby dresses for all our pregnant friends. Joe got me a brand new sewing machine for Christmas and I'm so excited to start some sewing projects! I have a table all set-up and bought some supplies... now I just need to buy some fabric and decide what I want to make first!
4. Have more patience. This goes for basically everything. It's no secret that I have a short fuse and my patience level sometimes gets the best of me (although I must admit, when it comes to teaching/tutoring, I have an amazing amount of patience with students). I need to remember to stop, take a breath, and remember it's not the end of the world if traffic is taking forever, if the dogs are being brats, when Joe makes a mess in the house (lol, sorry Joe), or when something little goes wrong. I just need to keep in mind it's not the end of the world!
5. Stay more organized/tidy. A lot of you may know, I have a bit of OCD... but only when it comes to certain things. It doesn't apply to everything, but I wish it did because then I wouldn't have the need for this resolution. It's no secret I love to shop. The only downfall is that this creates a problem trying to keep all my clothes organized and put away neatly. I have two entire closets (poor Joe only has 1) and a dresser (and I also stole the bottom drawer in Joe's!) and I still can't manage to keep all my clothes put away. They just seem to pile up waiting to be hung up or worn after I've quickly discarded it and decided to try on another 5 outfits. I was forced to organize my closet after seeing my husband organized his closet better than my own (color coded and everything!).
6. Eat healthier and stay in shape. This sounds simple and I'm sure it's an easy task for most people. I however just broke my 24 year streak of not drinking water. Yes, you read that correctly. For my entire life, I have loathed the idea of drinking water. I recently have been forcing myself to consume some (very little at a time) and I'm forcing myself to keep drinking water until I reach the point of no return! I also have started eating some vegetables and cutting down on fatty snacks. Hopefully I can keep it up! I also want to start using the elliptical I begged Joe to buy for me because I pleaded that it's so much easier to work out at home instead of going all the way to the gym... and I've used all about a dozen times. Or all the "cute" workout clothes and spiffy new tennis shoes I had to have. I think they need more use than being worn to walk the dogs.
7. Continue saving money. Joe and I have been doing a good job of putting money into savings and not spending it just because we have it. I also save all the cash money I make from tutoring. It was nearly burning a hole in my pocket, but I saved up until I had enough money to buy my SLR camera and all of the accessories to go with it. It was totally worth the hard work and long wait! I started saving up again, but so far we haven't come up with anything to save up for. Guess I'll just keep saving. :)
8. Stop being so judgemental. Again, another thing a lot of people say, but rarely actually do. I need to refrain from automatically "sizing" people up, judging by what they wear or say... but what they actually do. I think everyone judges people. It's how we formulate opinions about others, and leads to how we make choices about what to do from that point on (i.e.- based on whether you like them or not will determine if you decide to spend time with them again in the future). I want to give more people I encounter a better chance and let their actions speak for themselves more because one's actions are so powerful.
9. Stop reading into things. I'm sure this could be tied in with a few other ones I already mentioned, but I really do need to do this. I tend to read into things too much and take it personally, even if it wasn't what I thought it was about/meant. I tend to take it personally when old friends don't stay in touch, when I get left out of something, etc. I need to learn I'm a big girl now and things like that shouldn't matter as much as I make it out to be.
10. I wanted to make 10, but I'm drawing blanks on other big things/areas I want to improve on. If I think of something... I'll come back to it. If not, then my 10th one will be to hopefully keep my resolutions and not slack off! :P
1. Study up and learn more about my new digital SLR camera. I'm really anxious to master all the different features it has to offer!
2. On that note, I also want to make time to learn how to use PhotoShop so I can edit all the pictures I take! We have the program, and I've checked out two books from the library... now I just need to find time to sit down and go through it!
3. Learn to sew. Over the summer, my friend Lydia and I decided we needed to domesticate ourselves and learn to sew since so many of our girlfriends were making the cutest little baby dresses for all our pregnant friends. Joe got me a brand new sewing machine for Christmas and I'm so excited to start some sewing projects! I have a table all set-up and bought some supplies... now I just need to buy some fabric and decide what I want to make first!
4. Have more patience. This goes for basically everything. It's no secret that I have a short fuse and my patience level sometimes gets the best of me (although I must admit, when it comes to teaching/tutoring, I have an amazing amount of patience with students). I need to remember to stop, take a breath, and remember it's not the end of the world if traffic is taking forever, if the dogs are being brats, when Joe makes a mess in the house (lol, sorry Joe), or when something little goes wrong. I just need to keep in mind it's not the end of the world!
5. Stay more organized/tidy. A lot of you may know, I have a bit of OCD... but only when it comes to certain things. It doesn't apply to everything, but I wish it did because then I wouldn't have the need for this resolution. It's no secret I love to shop. The only downfall is that this creates a problem trying to keep all my clothes organized and put away neatly. I have two entire closets (poor Joe only has 1) and a dresser (and I also stole the bottom drawer in Joe's!) and I still can't manage to keep all my clothes put away. They just seem to pile up waiting to be hung up or worn after I've quickly discarded it and decided to try on another 5 outfits. I was forced to organize my closet after seeing my husband organized his closet better than my own (color coded and everything!).
6. Eat healthier and stay in shape. This sounds simple and I'm sure it's an easy task for most people. I however just broke my 24 year streak of not drinking water. Yes, you read that correctly. For my entire life, I have loathed the idea of drinking water. I recently have been forcing myself to consume some (very little at a time) and I'm forcing myself to keep drinking water until I reach the point of no return! I also have started eating some vegetables and cutting down on fatty snacks. Hopefully I can keep it up! I also want to start using the elliptical I begged Joe to buy for me because I pleaded that it's so much easier to work out at home instead of going all the way to the gym... and I've used all about a dozen times. Or all the "cute" workout clothes and spiffy new tennis shoes I had to have. I think they need more use than being worn to walk the dogs.
7. Continue saving money. Joe and I have been doing a good job of putting money into savings and not spending it just because we have it. I also save all the cash money I make from tutoring. It was nearly burning a hole in my pocket, but I saved up until I had enough money to buy my SLR camera and all of the accessories to go with it. It was totally worth the hard work and long wait! I started saving up again, but so far we haven't come up with anything to save up for. Guess I'll just keep saving. :)
8. Stop being so judgemental. Again, another thing a lot of people say, but rarely actually do. I need to refrain from automatically "sizing" people up, judging by what they wear or say... but what they actually do. I think everyone judges people. It's how we formulate opinions about others, and leads to how we make choices about what to do from that point on (i.e.- based on whether you like them or not will determine if you decide to spend time with them again in the future). I want to give more people I encounter a better chance and let their actions speak for themselves more because one's actions are so powerful.
9. Stop reading into things. I'm sure this could be tied in with a few other ones I already mentioned, but I really do need to do this. I tend to read into things too much and take it personally, even if it wasn't what I thought it was about/meant. I tend to take it personally when old friends don't stay in touch, when I get left out of something, etc. I need to learn I'm a big girl now and things like that shouldn't matter as much as I make it out to be.
10. I wanted to make 10, but I'm drawing blanks on other big things/areas I want to improve on. If I think of something... I'll come back to it. If not, then my 10th one will be to hopefully keep my resolutions and not slack off! :P
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year!
For New Year's Eve we were invited by some friends to go ice-skating in Naha. Since I've never been, I decided to jump on the invite!!! We got to the rink and I successfully was able to skate around without falling even once! I was pretty proud of myself. It was alot of fun and I can't wait to go again. Later in the evening we went to Chili's (it was one of the only places open, and man it was packed!) with a group of friends, and hung out at our house afterwards. It was a fun night with good friends and we were happy to have them to bring in the New Year with us! The night flew by as we entertained ourselves with some tv shows, Scrabble, yummy snacks, good conversations, and popped open 4 different bottles of champagne (yes, I think we over indulged a bit). We were bummed not to be able to watch the ball drop (since that didn't happen until 9am the next day our time) but we had a good night! I'm excited to see what 2010 will bring! Hope everyone had a great New Years Eve & Day! I'll post more pictures when my friend Sani posts hers... but here were a few shots from the night I was able to capture!
This is what baby Isla thought of her dad and Joe debating about Mozart... hahaha. It was sooo funny I couldn't resist taking a picture. We didn't stage this either!
This is what baby Isla thought of her dad and Joe debating about Mozart... hahaha. It was sooo funny I couldn't resist taking a picture. We didn't stage this either!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
