Creative & Pinteresting

"What's the Aperture on that lens you have there?" a smarty pants guest at a party I was photographing asked me. I was so new that I was unsure of how to answer. I knew the f/stops it could achieve. I knew the mm distance it could focus best. What [...]

If you don't have time to sit and read your entire manual through from cover to cover, here is a topic to look for in the index and single out: how do you set your camera's focus point? If you leave your camera in the "auto mode" all of the [...]

Sometimes I watch my dog and wish that life was just that simple. He seriously has the life. Then I realized that his life is natural. God meant for it to be the way that it is: uncluttered by the unnecessary. Humans don't get that. We fill our lives [...]

When you live in Washington, you learn that a volcano can hide. Mt. Rainier, a dormant volcano that towers over western Washington, often hides behind clouds, fog, or a wall of rain. You can easily forget that its there for a week at a time, and sometimes an entire [...]

Tis the Season for BARBEQUE! My father-in-law and I were talking about my 52sday column, and he told me he had something I just had to include. Inspired by this meal he had at TBones, a NH restaurant chain, he made me his signature Caprese Burger! Just make a [...]

Happy Fourth of July from the Wickeds! We are a military family, so this holiday means a lot to us. Remember as you celebrate and launch your quasi-legal fireworks that this holiday is a reminder that freedom isn't free. Many lives are lost in maintaining the freedoms and independence [...]

While we were in NH, Nanny Sharon made us her amazing Waldorf Salad. I don't know if it's a Sharon original, but it was fantastic. Here is how she did it: 2-3 chicken breasts (minced/pulled/torn) 1-3 large apples (sliced/minced) 3/4 cups of chopped walnuts and raisins (each) 1/2 cup [...]

  We all buy bumpers for cribs. It is supposed to protect our bambinos from cracking their heads on the bars. Here's the thing I don't understand: why are they so darn short?! We have to pull them out as soon as the baby is able to pull up, [...]

I know that I am behind on my Fauxto52 uploads. I will do some back-blogging to get those up. I do, indeed, have the others on my memory cards. It's just a matter of having the time to put them up. This week, I had invited all of my [...]

I love that my girl is a tomboy and a girlie girl at the same time. She will rock a dress and a bow, while she rebounds from falling down and skinning a knee to hang with the crowd. Everyone says she brings a certain energy to every school [...]

Some people get rid of stress by running or hitting a punching bag. Others dance or sing. Me? I web develop and graphic design. Recently, I have been exceedingly productive. Never mind that I have two kids under three, I am being more productive than most people with no children! I [...]

If you're looking for a super duper tasty, and very healthy salad for the spring and summertime? Look no further! Ms. Jenna Taliaferro guest photographed one of the tastiest salads ever! Check it out!! This past weekend I attended a party at a friend's house where someone served an [...]

I know it's silly. I always wanted to do it, or at least give it a try, but I didn't have the confidence until a friend of mine told me to go for it. Then, like Nike says, I "just did it". I took it off. I took it [...]

Want to save time and money? Try turkey! It's not all that expensive in the off season. I bought three back when there was a grand opening of a food store in town just after Thanksgiving. That's why when I was given a plan for making a chicken last [...]

I made this coaster at a Stampin' Up! party six years ago. When I did it, I didn't really like the way my design was placed on the square, but I brought it home like a nice little doobie and put it on my end table in my bedroom. [...]

For the photogs out there: This one is SOOC! What You Need: One Packet of Korr Pesto Sauce Mix. (For this you will also need 3/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup olive oil.) 2 Packages of Frozen Veggies 1 Box Medium Shells 32 oz of Shrimp [...]

One of the things that I am learning to do in my photography is to shoot in manual mode. The toughest part of this for me is setting the appropriate exposure length and size. The book Understanding Exposure has helped me GREATLY to improve my skills. After reading it, [...]