Were These Books Written for Me?

It's time for another summer book review!!! And these ones are all about me...sorta.

A coworker left a book on my desk last week...and I read the whole thing that night. How could I not when it was apparently the story of my life?

It started off deliciously funny...mmmmmm, but then it all went down hill from there. Poor Jennifer Johnson is kitschy and witty, has a tchotchke-filled apartment, a nasty boss, and a princess-y sister who is getting married. And then she meets Mr. Right...or so she thought. By the end of the book, I wanted to punch him in the throat. Then I wanted to punch HER in the throat. Suddently, Mr. Right was not all she ever wanted. Moral of the story: DON'T SETTLE and DON'T GO LOOKIN FOR PERFECT BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUCH THING! Got that message loud and clear!

What ticked me off the most about this book as I had such high hopes in the beginning. The author, Heather McElhatton, starts off seriously funny. Her writing is quick and saucy...but then she kinda loses it and becomes Debbie Downer in a major way. No me gusta.

On to book 2...
In the airport last night coming home from my business trip, I arrived with 30 minutes to spare. Just enough time to grab a frozen yogurt (yum!) and buy a book. I know this airport inside and out and knew that the bookstore usually stocked more than the typical Paradies shops. I quickly glanced up and down the shelves and POW, this one jumped out at me. I had to get it! Seriously, how perfect is the name, The Trouble with JJ?

Turns out this book is pretty stupid and written like a soap opera...but with that name, I had to have it...even before I read the back. Unfortunately, JJ isn't the heroine - it's the guy. Maybe I should give it to my male coworker here whose initials are JJ, too. Ha!

I wouldn't recommend this book...even though I haven't finished it. It was an impulse buy...and a bad one at that!

Have you read anything good lately?

Tool Talk Tuesday: Drill Baby, Drill!

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself with that title...and I know some of you Ds might snicker and turn up your nose, but NOT TO WORRY, this post is about DRILLS, not former R vice-presidential candidates!!!

It's been a while since I've posted for Tool Talk Tuesday...because 1) I've been lazy and 2) I've been less than creative, lately. It's a shocker, I know!

When I decided to makeover my deck/balcony, I knew I wanted to hang a beautiful shear curtain, however, I underestimated the stucco that I'd be screwing the curtain rod into. It's SOLID and apparently stucco is applied over a wirey mesh, which meant I SHOULD have waited for Dad to come over and help. I made a couple of calls to trusted DIY dudes and found out what I needed...something with more torque. I NEEDED my very own drill!

I ran down to my favorite place to flirt Home Depot, spent some time chatting with a salesdude about my needs {ahem} and came home with THIS BABY!
She works like a charm, is cordless, has interchangeable drill bits and screwdriver attachments, and wasn't too expensive! YAY! I HIGHLY recommend that you run out and get one, too! You never know when you'll need more torque than your electric screwdriver will provide you with!!!

My New Nightstand!

So, I got the GREATEST discount ever on Saturday at Pier 1. Maybe I got so lucky because I was showing a lot of cleavage...or maybe it was the crazy Fourth of July sale. {giggles}

Regardless, I've been eyeing the Emmerson chest at Pier 1 for some time. It was the EXACT shape that I've been looking for and the perfect size...but it was pretty pricey! I ran in there on Saturday to grab part of a wedding gift and saw a CLEARANCE sign. Woo woo! Then a young fellah said he could give me a crazy discount if I opened a credit card. When I questioned him about HOW crazy, he came back with an offer of ANOTHER 100 bucks off. I CANNOT believe what a steal I got on this chest and you know what??? IT IS PERFECT! And I'm in love with it!!!

What do you think? Do you love it, too??? : ) AND, even more importantly, did you rake in any killer deals during the Fourth of July sale weekend?

An Elegant Toilet Paper Storage Solution

I don't know if you're anything like me, but when it's time to entertain, it's time to leave out plenty of ahem, provisions. That said, there's just not a lot you can do to make your bathroom look elegant and classy when you've got stacks of TP laying around.

Not long ago, I stumbled across a photographer's blog post about her bathroom renovation. She had come up with the most GENIUS idea...using a fabulous large candle holder as a TP storage solution. I think you'll agree, that Target has provided me with a tre chic way to store and display the extra rolls! Have you ever seen something so perfect??? Seriously, go to Target now, and pick one of these up...and, if you have a big family, there are even taller candle holders! I think it's a MUST HAVE!
What do YOU do in your powder bath? Do you have a similar solution? Something better? Or do you leave your guests hanging? Do tell!

PS - I so love my new TP thingamajiggy that I'm sharing it at Works for Me Wednesday!

Dear UPS, Don't Go Making Guesses Anymore!

I got a mysterious package recently. It was addressed to me and it had my address on it (below), but the weird thing was, I hadn't ordered anything. I thought maybe I had a surprise waiting for me...then I opened it.

Inside the box were a bunch of gluten free items like cookies and crackers, etc. Super weird...and super unexplainable. And then I saw the receipt. Turns out ANOTHER Jennifer Johnson on Gallery Way in ANOTHER state purchased these items. But wait, take a closer look. Not only are we in different states, but our house numbers are different, too.For some reason, good ole UPS decided to make a guess...and they got it wrong. Has anyone heard anything so random before??? Hey, UPS, stick at making deliveries, not guesses! Ha!

i Heart Faces Challenge: The Classic FOB Shot

Before my friends, Sarah and Walter, got married last Sunday, I had the privilege of doing the bride's makeup and taking some "getting ready" pics. I was snapping along and getting ready to shoot a pic of Sarah coming down her stairs when THIS AWESOME SHOT happened! Is this the classic father of the bride pic or what? He was rico suave in his bow tie and suspenders and yet decided to get a little snooze in before the commotion got started. It's definitely one of my favorites of the day!!!

To see some other amazing wedding pics, head over to i Heart Faces for their weekly challenge! PS - my favorite, Jasmine Star, is judging this week...HI JASMINE!

Photobooth Fun at Weddings

Have you been to a wedding lately? If not, let me tell you about the latest and greatest addition to most of the receptions I've been to this year -- the photobooth!

If you're planning a wedding, or know someone who is, I HIGHLY recommend speaking to the wedding photographer about this new craze!

Sarah Frenzel, the photographer who shot three of the weddings I've been to in the last couple of years, has started doing photobooth's lately, and what a blast it's been! I love how bizarre the pic from Nate and Lisa's wedding (below) is...the wedding was at a home and we found all sorts of funny cookbooks like Microwave Cooking and Scandinavian Cooking. SO AWESOME.

Another photographer who has taken photobooth fun to the far ends of the RAD spectrum is Nate Kaiser of The Image is Found. If you need to laugh, please go through his crazybooth pics...you won't be disappointed, especially THIS post and THIS post (incidentally, I went to HS with this bride)!

PhotoFANatic Friday featuring Shannon Dodd

This week, I'm pleased to introduce you to Shannon Dodd, a fantastic children and babies photographer based in Northwest Iowa, but who also serves SW Wisconsin.

Shannon has a special love for newborn sessions and really knows how to capture these new additions! She has a thriving business and has a creative vision...and working with newborns and children, she must have OODLES of patience!

We connected on Flickr (what a great resource!) and then found out that we have a couple of CA friends in common...how does THAT happen? As I have gone through her site and blog, I have since learned that along with her passion for photography, she has tremendous talent, too!

Ready to learn more about (and from) her? I know I am...so let's get to the Q&A!

1. It looks like you specialize in youngsters...how to you overcome typical challenges like fussiness, sleeplessness, and restlessness? (enough ness's?) My attitude for newborns is to just take things as they come. Some newborns eat every 1/2 hr, some are here the entire time without eating. Some poo and pee all the time, some never mess. BUT one thing is always for sure- they will sleep. I've had one session take nearly 5 hours to get enough good shots, and then another where I had plenty on my card in 2 hours. A few of my tricks are I run 2 space heaters set to 80/85*, I also run a white noise machine. I do a lot of bouncing and shushing with the babies and I also find rubbing their forehead and nose helps calm them. If I'm holding the baby, they are usually always swaddled and facing my window light to hopefully trick them into sleeping. I work on their schedule- I'm there for the shots- not a time limit. And most important- RELAX. Babies only have their instincts to rely on and if they can sense tension, they almost always are awake and irritable. Oh- and LOTS and lots of patience. Sometimes I'll work one pose for 45 minutes to an hour- I want the details showing- I want as many fingers and toes as possible in front of my lens.

2. Your images are sharp and clear. What do you shoot with? Do you use any Actions? I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II and I have a backup Canon 5D as well. I have an arsenal of lenses, but my favorites are the 85 1.2L, used mostly for outdoor portraiture, and my 50 1.4 for indoor natural light (mostly newborns). Those 2 primes are on my camera 75% of the time. My 24-70 2.8 is used for studio sessions or the occasional wide-angle family or sibling shot. I Love my 70-200 2.8L but I don't use it as much as I'd like to- it's a fantastic piece of glass, and finally a 100 2.8 macro for newborn bits and pieces! I'm a FIRM believer in owning good glass. Image sharpness and clarity starts with light. Light is the root of all photography- without proper light, I don't achieve tack-sharp focus, pleasing skin tones or natural shadowing. I work and strive for those 3 things at every shoot. Next is exposure- the best focus, skin tones and shadowing come from a good exposure. So- the perfect combination for a sharp, clear image is good light, good exposure and a steady hand. Add in some good glass and a great camera and you can get some bonus flair! I have a basic action that I made of my own that basically adjusts the curves- I lift midtones, deepen midtones and add a bit of contrast- all 3 with masking, other than that I keep my post-processing very clean and simple. I have to get things right in camera because I don't have time to fix things later on in processing- I'm a full time mom to 2 beautiful boys and only a part-time photographer. A year ago I spent way too much time and money tracking down good actions and then learning how to use and apply them, only to figure out I wanted more control over my images and really just wanted clean, natural portraits as the end result- I've been processing using my own workflow for about 6-7 months.

3. In what situations do you opt to use studio verses natural light? I use natural light in any and every situation I can, however there are a few reason I have a small, one light 'studio' shall we say in the basement of our home. Probably the ONLY reason I have a studio space is I live in Iowa and it's cold- not all parents share the crazed visions I do for pictures in a snowy wonderland, so I use my studio from November until May (with an occasional outdoor session earlier than that) I'll do natural light with toddlers and children alone, but sibling and family shots are just really difficult to get indoors without closing my aperture- so it's off to the studio we go. Studio lighting at this time just doesn't excite me the way natural light does- partly because I haven't made more investment into my studio, but also because of the nature of my business. I want to focus on newborns and small children. For newborns, my goal is soft lighting and soft shadows and I also don't want the harsh flash or strobe disturbing them either- plus when a newborn smiles I've got to be ready to fire at 4 frames per second to capture every one of them. I LOVE shooting wide open and pushing my aperture to let the most light in. I'm a bokeh-addict if you will- and studio-lights just cannot create bokeh like outdoors. The other main reason I just don't like studio is that most children don't want to be told to go stand or sit in one place for more than 5 minutes. It's like trying to cage a wild animal telling a toddler to stay put on a back drop. I'd much rather just follow them around on an 'adventure' outside- we're all much happier that way!

4. What kind of training have you had? I've been self-taught and I bought my first D-SLR in May of last year, so for 13 months I've been consumed with photography- what started as an interest in other professionals photographing my first son, has developed into my passion. I still learn something every time I get my camera out, but I hope I am always learning when it comes to photography- I want my photography to grow and develop every day. I went to a newborn posing class in March with the fantastic Kelley Ryden and Tracy Raver out of Omaha and it was definitely a wonderful jump start to my newborn portfolio.

5. What's the best piece of advice you were given when you were just starting out? Start on Manual- it was the best way for me to learn how aperture, shutter speed and ISO correlate. I've never shot in aperture or shutter priority and I've seen photographers rock those modes, but for me- I prefer manual. The other piece of advice I got was just simply to practice. For about 4 months my camera never left my side. I was constantly trying to figure settings and get used to moving my hands and fingers around the control of my camera. Learning to think quicker, more creatively and to CATCH those quick children's moments. Kids aren't going to wait for me and they certainly are'nt going to re-do a great moment for me.

Thank you SO MUCH, Shannon, for sharing your insight and process! Working with newborns is an incredible challenge and you've provided some great words of wisdom to me and all the other photo-enthusiasts out there!!!

Be sure to tune in next week for PhotoFANatic Friday...I'm SQUEEEEEEELING with excitement over the photographer that's up next!!!

CONDO2CASTLE: Mix It Up With Your Bedroom Furniture

When I first bought my home, I went out and found a great furniture warehouse and just started saying "I'll take that, I'll take that, I'll take that." You see, I'm typically an impulse buyer, and my first instincts rarely let me down. I furnished my totally empty home on a budget and it's worked out really nicely over the last six years. However, as I've started to really think about my home and what I'm asthetically drawn to, I've realized that my initial instincts no longer fit the bill...especially in my bedroom.

At the time, I hated dark wood and thought it made my house feel smaller - BOY was I wrong! I also felt that in order to look like the home of a grown up, I needed a matching bedroom suite of furniture. WRONG AGAIN!

In order to really have a lovely home, filled with depth and elegance, I now believe that it's even more beautiful to mix it up in the bedroom. Woo woo, that sounded kinda naughty! ; )

Take a look at some of these examples from House Beautiful...see the one thing they have in common? Their bedroom furniture speaks nicely to each other, but isn't matchy matchy!

I'm loving that the room in the pic above doesn't have a nightstand, but rather a unique table and a chair which serves as a bedside table. Notice the bookshelf is painted, the stand is mirrored, and the chair is leather, and yet, the fabrics and art connect the whole look together.

I love the leather otoman, with the silver tea try as a nightstand as well. The nailhead trim and the accessories on top speak nicely to the silk-shirred headboard.

This bedroom is 100% glamour. I REALLY LIKE the his and hers nightstands...the mismatching pieces, yet coordinating lamps really add depth and character.

Finally, this room is heaven! The ornate painted chest (with monogram - TO DIE FOR!), the iron canopy bed, and the bench, all could work in different genres of rooms, however, they JUST WORK along with the couch on the side. In the past, this would have never occured to me, but I find it absolutely divine!

As I get older, and my home decor style matures, I'm so thankful for the bloggy community and for my favorite magazines. Only six months ago, I considered buying a whole new suite of furntiture, and don't get me wrong, I don't think that's bad. But in my small condo, having unique pieces with individual stories of purchases in JUST the right place at the right time, makes my CONDO feel less like a cookie cutter box, and more like a CASTLE! What do you think? Are you with me???

By the by, I'm sharing this post over at Hooked on Houses for Julia's Hooked on Friday's linky party. Please go check it out!!!

Mah-Mah-Mahmmy Minute

See this cutie??? She's one of my dearest friends; so smart and sassy, a killer political fundraiser, and all around AMAZING friend...and today's she is bringing us the very first Mah-Mah-Mahmmy Minute. She's a new mommy to the uber-adorable Jackson, and was pretty much the first in my local group of friends to experience mommyhood...however, it started a baby bonanza and now we've got several new mommies and mommies-to-be just about everywhere we look. So, in honor of her being the first to experience mommyhood, she's giving us non-mommies and new mommies some insight (and hilarity) into this GIGANTIC journey!

10 Things Every New Mahmmy Should Know:

• Nothing works as good as desitin
• Oxyclean is your friend
• The dog doesn't realize they aren't her toys
• The baby will only scream when you're on important phone calls
• 5am actually exists, so does midnight and 3am
• a nice walk or drive does wonders to soothe a bambino
• Leave your "dry clean only" in your closet for awhile longer
• You may lose the weight, but your body is never the same
• Falling asleep at the end of the day (whenever the end finally comes) has never been easier
• It's all worth it: it'll be the BEST thing you've ever done!

I just love these...and can just imagine Jennifer writing them in the middle of the night...or 5am, now that we know it DOES exist. Ha! Thanks, my friend, for sharing your thoughts with us - we need to make sure that Clare and Lori read this write away! Ha!

Have any funny or poignant mommy moments you want to share in the Mah-Mah-Mahmmy Minute? Just shoot me an email or share them in the comments below!

Mind Candy

FACT: to get to and from DC for me takes four flights...and they're not short ones. FACT: the BLAH BLAH BLAHger is a speed reader. FACT: I read five books this weekend over four flights! WOO HOO!!!

The last book I read last night, Vintage by Olivia Darling, is quite naughty...and I'm not sure that I'd recommend it to genteel readers. HOWEVER, I LOVED this book's plotline. Three women were unexpectly gifted with vineyards whose vines make champagne or sparkling wine and were thrust into a competition to see who could produce the best vintage within five year's time...and now as a result, I've decided to toss away my career and other pursuits to go work on a vineyard. Forever. Amen.

Not really...but oh my goodness, wouldn't that be an incredible life? Even if I didn't enjoy wine, I'd still be in love with vineyards. All those colors and sweeping vistas...makes me long for my August vacation to wine country...or my next free weekend when I can run off to Temecula for the afternoon! Who wants to join me???

Is it possible to be in love with a lens?

I've been waiting on this lens for a while now...it was backordered for eons, but being that I'm a lucky girl, I called last night and my favorite camera shop had it in (and for cheaper than anywhere else!). Yes, I had things I needed to do before I leave for DC. Yes, I needed to get my Father's Day gift together to take to my Dad tonight. Yes, I needed to organize my drycleaning. All those things had to wait, because THIS LENS is something that I've been waiting for...and I'm in love!

I'm also planning to add a couple more lenses to my bag, but I'm saving up and waiting for them to be in stock, too. Soooo fun, yet soooo expensive!

i Heart Faces Challenge

I'm entering this photo in the i Heart Faces sepia challenge this week. I like the old fashioned flare that comes with sepia photos, but feel they got a bit over done a few years back... Glad to see the i Heart Faces gals bringing it back!

Check out i Heart Faces to see some other incredible shots!!!

By the way, these are my darling friends Sara and Hector. They were married recently and didn't like their portraits, so they got all dressed up again and we had a blast just practicing and I THINK they got a few that they actually liked! What an honor to be asked to help fix the mistake of their original wedding photographer!!!

The Best Dang Corn You've EVER Had

Last week, to celebrate the completion of my new outdoor living room, I decided to tackle my grill. I'm not gonna lie, it scares me a little. I think it has something to do with turning it on and watching a big ball of fire shoot toward me. But I digress...

The one thing I can just KILL on the grill is corn on the cob. You see, for work, I'm a member of the Rotary Club where every August, we sell corn at the weekly concert series. The first year, I scoffed, the second year, I joined in, the third year, I MASTERED the art of perfect corn on the cob...and the secret ingredient might just freak you out!!!

All you need for perfect grilled corn is butter, some spices, and MILK!!!

Start by marinating your corn in a vat of milk. I know, it's truly one of the creepiest things I've ever heard, too, but just TRUST ME...it makes the corn perfect!

Then, throw a slice of butter in some foil...

And then add your corn, making sure to twist the ends so it's all covered up...

Throw the corn on the grill for about 20-25 minutes, then serve with spices such as garlic salt (YUMMMMMMY!), paprika, parmesan cheese or whatever floats your boat.

You'll love this corn on the cob and your guess will think you're a GENIUS! Right Beks, Allison, Amy, Lisa, and Genevieve? I can't hear you!!!

For other delightful recipes, please check out Tasty Tuesday at Jen's site, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam! It's a favorite of mine, for sure!!!!

I'm also sharing this at Works for Me Wednesday, because it's the PERFECT summer snack!

A Patio Makeover on Limited Funds!

As you might recall, I've been planning a deck makeover and shared with how hooked I am on outdoor living rooms here and even shared a potential space plan here. Well, having lived in my condo for more than six years, I didn't actually know if I'd ever get around to making a space that I'd want to spend time in...but I'm happy to report: I FINALLY DID IT!!!

And guess, what?! I did this deck makeover on a BUDGET and it only took me 1 day!

I started with two chairs, two foot stools, a table, and a grill. I repurposed an ottomoan and bought some random items from Target, IKEA, and Craig's List! I recovered the chairs with a SHOWER CURTAIN, the ottomon with a TABLE CLOTH (clearance from Target, with matching seat cushions for the foot stools - also on clearance!), spray painted the table and the flower pots, and added some other little accessories, including some breezy curtains...

What do YOU think of the end result??? I'M ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH IT!!!

I'm sharing this post over at Hooked on Houses, because I'm HOOKED on my new outdoor living room. To see some other neat things that women are hooked on this week, please visit Julia's site!!!

Conquering My Fears

I used to be fearless...seriously would try anything. One time in college when I was home on vacation, I told my parents I wanted to go skydiving...my dad wasn't too excited about that, but he signed me up for a flying lesson instead. I was scared, but I went for it! I'd NEVER do that now! I also used to dance competitively and LIVED for the thrill of competing...I even loved doing solos and making eye contact with friends in the crowd, but now dancing or singing karaoke in front of people I know gives me the shakes.

I guess as we get older, we get more involved in daily routines, which might give us great comfort at times, but also hinders our fearlessness to a degree. Have you ever felt that way?

Last week, the company did an "all hands on deck" activity on a tall ship out of San Pedro (for all of you non-Californians, that's Peedro!). I was SO EXCITED as I love being out on the water and I grew up sailing on my grandpa's boat down in Dana Point. The ship, the Exy Johnson (which I kept calling the "Sexy Johnson," then saying that was my nickname, too), is an incredible piece of workmanship. It was $4.5m to build and they operate it all year long taking underpriveledged and challenged kids out to do team-building exercizes, etc. The company jumped on the opportunity to support the organization and have some fun.

When we all had our positions down and got out to sea and through the Ports, they told us we could climb the rigging. I volunteered knowing that with a harness on, I'd be fine. Then, just before I went up, I found out that you don't harness in until you get to the top platform. I nearly fainted...but all the dudes from work were standing around waiting for me to go...I couldn't turn back now!

I climbed over the outside of the rigging and hung directly over the ocean and started to make my ascent. About halfway up, the "ladder" got more narrow and it really started to shake. I had a moment of near panic where I thought I wouldn't make it up, but I pushed through. My fingers turned white from gripping so hard, but eventually, I made my way to the top...and coming back down was just as scary.

When I finished, everyone cheered for me and I had LOADS of nervous energy...but I felt GREAT! This was a feeling I want to experience again, and one that I'll remember next time I feel scared to try something new or push the envelope...I had God on my side and I knew I was protected, however knowing I was doing something outside my comfort zone really made me feel like I'd accomplished something huge! How bout you? Do you let exciting opportunities pass you by because you're afraid of what might or could happen? Try something new this week...I think you'll find it's worth the risk!

My fav coworker and I getting ready for the day's activities.

Raising the sail.
Wait, you want me to go WHERE?
Pushing through my fear and almost there!
In spite of my newfound courage, there was NO WAY IN HELL I was gonna do THAT! My crazy coworkers are really the fearless ones!!!

Tool Talk Tuesday: Mighty Putty

Sometimes, DIY projects get a little crazy. Sometimes, you were pretty sure this or that was gonna work. Sometimes, you make {ahem} mistakes.

On the great outdoor living quest, I was CERTAIN I had something all figured out...until it fell off the stucco wall TWICE. No tool I had could handle the project I was asking of it - and naturally, I'm far too impatient to wait for my dad to get home from his vacation to run over here and fix the problem. So, I ran to Target and found THIS CRAZY INFOMMERCIAL product!

I haven't tried it yet, but it seems so intense that I decided it would work. Sadly, I ran out of daylight tonight...and I was somewhat intimidated by the bright blue gloves that came in the package. ; )

SCARY!

Has anyone out there tried Mighty Putty? From the famous infommercial guy's expression, it sounds like this is better than sliced bread...or even crazy glue! Have you ever had a project go south and turned to some creative solutions? PLEASE share with the class, as we're all in this together!