Photography

Since buying my first dital SLR camera this past summer, I have become more and more interested in photography - composition, lighting, editing, etc.  Along with that, I have plans to get my scrapbook caught up (I think I am something like 3 or 4 years behinds :-/).  So I have joined a few Meetup groups - some for scrapbooking, some for photography, even one for running.  Already, without going to any meet-ups, I have learned a few new things about photography composition, and I'm so excited to be able to go to a couple of meet-ups to see what else I can learn. 

Kalin and I have also taken an interest in Adobe Photoshop.  We have been watching videos on how to use all the different functions and how to create amazing pictures and layouts and stuff.  I really want to just jump in and start playing with stuff to see how everything works, but I know I will get more out of it if I watch the videos and then go play with it, because then I at least have an idea of what icon does what to my picture.

Part of photoshop is a program called Camera Raw.  When we first tried to use it, we kept getting an error message, and we just couldn't figure out what the problem was.  After asking Kalin's brother (who uses photoshop for college), we were informed that Camera Raw can only open "RAW" images from my camera - it doesn't work on jpeg images.  So I figured out how to get my camera to take RAW images, and now it works! I have come to the realization that if I want to be able to get the most of my pictures, I should be taking them in RAW and jpeg format (which, luckily, my camera does).  The problem with RAW images is that they take up A LOT of space on a memory card.  Lucky for me, I got a rather large compact flash card to go with my camera, so I have a bit more space for those RAW images. 

If anyone reading this has any tips or tricks for me, I would LOVE to hear them!  Anything about photography, photoshop, etc would be much appreciated! Thanks! :D

Running

I have decided to start running - like training for a 5K, 10K, etc running.  I have recently learned that I enjoyed doing it, and while I have an elliptical at home, it's a bit awkward for me to run on, considering I have short legs and the pedals are about 1.5 feet apart.  When I was in school in the summer of 2009, I used the treadmills at the gym there, and LOVED it.  Also, running does not cost nearly as much money as the Ballet Beautiful classes I blogged about a few days ago - all I need are some shoes, socks, shorts and t-shirts and I'm ready to go.  I got a hydration backpack for Christmas (totally out of the blue, but so grateful I got it), so I will be able to carry my phone, keys, ID, etc in that while I run.  So, I have decided to do it more often and use running to get back into shape. 

I have found a few websites dedicated to helping people like me (beginners) learn how to run properly.  For the most part, I am going to use Best Running Tips, but I will be keeping an eye out for other sites that may be of some help, too.  I am going to start with the Beginners Running Program 3: 30 Minutes in 12 Weeks, which will train me to run for 30 minutes straight. Then I will move on to either the 10K Running Program or the Half Marathon Running Program.  I am also going to be keeping a running journal of the date, time, length, route, speed, and other notes about my runs.  I haven't yet decided if I will start a new blog just for my running stuff, or if I will just include it in this one.  I will let you know what I decide. 

I am hoping that by posting this, I might find someone in my area who would like to train with me - that way we both have someone to be accountable to.  Normally, I would have Kalin be my training partner, but with 2 kids home all day, it would be pretty hard for both of us to go running at the same time without the kids.  We could take the kids, because we do have a double stroller, but it isn't built for jogging/running with, and it's fairly heavy and hard to push.  So, in the end I think the stroller would be a bad idea.  So, I'm looking for someone to run with, because as much as I like running, I know there will be days when I just don't want to run, but my training partner will be depending on me, so I'll go anyway (and vice versa).

For now, I am going to run in the area around my house (FM 1117, if you know where that is), but if I get a running partner, I am willing to run just about anywhere.  The only thing with me is that I have to be able to leave the kids with someone.  Since I will be running fairly often (3, 4, 5 days a week), it would be easiest to leave them with Kalin so I'm not burdening my grandparents or in-laws with watching two kids that often.  So either early mornings or late afternoons/evenings will work best for me.

so, here's to hoping I find a running partner! :D Thanks for reading!

Potty Training

So, as most of you know, I have been potty training Elijah for a while now.  He has been doing pretty good, even though he's not yet able to tell me when he needs to go potty.  Today, he only had one accident this morning, so I decided to leave big boy undies on him during his nap.  Today was also the first day that we put him in his bed for nap time without putting him to sleep first.  So, as you can imagine, I was fairly sure that I was going to have to wash his sheets after his nap, which need to be washed anyway, so it wasn't a big deal. 

During his nap, I worked on a sewing project I had been procrastinating on.  Just as I was finishing up, Elijah comes out of his bedroom.  The first thing I did was check to see if he was still dry - and HE WAS!!! I was SO proud of him! I'm hoping now that he's gone through his nap that he'll start recognizing the feeling, and his potty training will go much quicker!

Ballet Beautiful

So, today, while surfing the internet (instead of doing my 1.5 hours of yoga) I came across an article for the ballerina who trained Natalie Portman for her role in Black Swan, for which she has won a Golden Globe and a Critic's Choice Award both for Best Actress.  If you don't already know, Black Swan was one of my most anticipated movies, and is by far one of my favorites, if only for the dancing part.  So, as you can imagine, when I came across this article, I simply couldn't pass it up.  I then linked to the website for Ballet Beautiful, where I found out about the live, online classes that Mary Helen Bowers offers there.  I have linked to her Facebook page, (here) and have found out that they will soon be releasing videos for Ballet Beautiful, which is great, considering that the live classes are $40 and $25 for the 1 hour and 30 minute classes, respectively.  Now, in all honesty, $40 a class is not that much for lessons from a world-class ballerina, but I simply don't have that kind of money to throw around - who does, these days?  So I am waiting anxiously for the videos to be released, but I am unsure if they are going to be DVD releases or if they will be available for purchase as a download.  Either way, I am hoping that when they come out, I can afford to buy them, because God knows there isn't much I wouldn't do to have my ballerina body back from high school.