Mesmerizing Moments Photography

#1

Our Christmas cards went out!  Here’s a little peek at them.  I wanted something silly and simple this year, and this is what I came up with

They are 5×7 vertical fold cards printed on pearl paper, and I love the way they turned out!  I used ProDPI for printing, and they did not disappoint, as always!  They are beautiful in person, and exactly what I wanted!

Here is my favorite photo too, haha, since you can’t really see it in the above photo

Yep! We are a bunch of nuts!

#2

I promised to show some more from our new home too, so above is some of the living room, and here is a little peek into the guest bathroom…

I did a classic subway tile with a tan grout and the floors are beige linen tile, then I punched it all up with pattern and navy blue, I am loving it, only wish I had reason to go in there! haha

#3

Are you guys all doing the Elf on Shelf?  Sniggs loves him!  If you have kids you really should look into it I make Sniggs find him every day, because I told him that our elf, Jinx, is the only one that can open the advent calendar, so it made him a little extra excited to take part in our Elf on Shelf game knowing there is a candy reward, haha.  Plus, Jinx bakes us cookies, so what is there that a 4yr old wouldn’t love about a cookie baking, Christmas decorating, candy opening Elf?

#4

I am officially working on all the marketing for my re-launch!  It will take some time especially with the Holidays, I was really hoping I would be done by now, but I am making progress, and I plan to start this Jan or Feb!  It’s hard starting over in a new town, in a new state, but now that we are settling in here, and really calling it home, I am more than ready!  I even have my own office back!!  So stick around and soon enough I will be right back into posting fun sneak peeks!  I can’t wait

#5

What are your Holiday shopping traditions?  Do you do anything fun and exciting?  Do you do scary Black Friday??

James and I have done a date night with it ever since Connor was born Nothing super exciting, but we get a sitter and go out shopping for him just the two of us, then we go out to dinner and get a few drinks and stroll through a beautiful all lit up outdoor shopping area It puts us both in such a great Holiday Spirit kind of mood, we love it!

So, spill the beans on what you do each year, I wanna hear it!  I’ll even give away my B&W Action to one random answer

You have until next FFF, so start sharing!

Happy Friday!

#1

Happy Thanksgiving!  One day late, but I hope you all had a fabulous day yesterday!

#2

It’s Black Friday.

This scares me more than a little! haha  I will be hiding out safely in my house today with my boys, but if you are out there I wish you luck!!

For those like me, tucked away safe, I am having a fabulous online sale today, the best sale I’ve ever had, so don’t miss it!

Everything is 40% off!!

FlipIt PDF is marked down from $35, making it $21!

Mesmerizing B&W/Sepia Action is marked down from $15, making it $9!

And the best savings is my Online Momtog Photo Class!  You can purchase a seat for any class I offer in 2012, and it’s marked down from $125, making it $75!  You can purchase this seat for yourself, or it would make an amazing gift!! Just shoot me an email, and I will send you a gift card if you are gifting it

Happy Shopping!

http://sale.mesmerizingmoments.com

I even made a cute little festive Holiday site to get you into the Holiday spirit, definitely go check it out, it’s even snowing over there!

#3

Here’s a little peek at Sniggs’ CA theme room He LOVES it, so I am thrilled!

We paneled the back wall for a beachy feel, and I was so nervous, but it was only $60 for the whole thing, and it’s the best part of the room, by far!  It was really easy!!  We got economy paneling from Lowes, (for his wall we needed 10 packages) and then we just started at the bottom with a level and attached each piece to wall with a little liquid nail, and then a few finishing nails.  The boards weren’t long enough to cover the wall, so we made some random cuts throughout the whole thing to change it up, make it look more random.  Then when we were finished we painted the wall the same color as his other walls (because I wanted the accent wall to be subtle) and then I just went over the panels with my sander when it all dried to rough it up a little!  It really was super easy!  If you are thinking about doing anything similar, go for it!

#4

I finally joined Pinterest.  I know, I know, I’m late on this one, I was fighting it! haha  I look through it every now and then, and finally after enough invites I just took one.  Blah to all of you pinners, you sucked me in!!

Anyway, I have seen quite a few pics of glow jars, with quite a few questions too, so I thought I would share a fun little photo/diy project that I have done with a little “how to”

I took this photo back in Feb when I was actually participating in a 52 weeks project.  Sniggs’ 52 week album became more important though so that project was, I hate to say, a major fail haha  I only lasted like 26 weeks, boooo!  Anyway, it is what it is, I did get some photos I like while it lasted, and this was one of them…

A lot of people actually commented back then that they love lighting bugs, but I must say, I cheated. lol

Here’s my little “how to” though, I hope you have fun with it.

You will need a jar, some ribbon, some glow sticks, tape & glue, some clear beading wire, and some small yellow beads.

I wanted the “bugs” to look as real as possible, and since then I have seen some other great ways to do this as well, that make my way look more difficult, but I just thought this up on my own, and am happy with the outcome, so I am proud, haha.  Hopefully it will at least spark a new idea for you!

I took the thin clear wire and tied a yellow bead to the bottom of a short piece, and I did that like 10 times at varying lengths, then set them aside.  Then I glued some ribbon to the top of my lid to make it pretty, and to make a little hanging handle.  Then I waited until the sun was setting and headed out with my tape, beaded strings, jar, and glow sticks,  and of course, Sniggs!  When I got to the field, I broke open a glow stick (totally bring scissors for this, it will make your life easier!) and I made a little puddle on a rock, then I soaked each bead in the liquid, and taped them all over the inside of the lid so they hung down, then I carefully put the lid on the jar.  I gave it a few more minutes for perfect lighting, hung my contraption from a branch and snapped away!  When I got home, they weren’t quite as bright as I wanted, so I added a little brightness with a brush in photoshop, you wouldn’t have to do this part if you took your photo at a darker time, but I really wanted that sunset in the background

And of course, having a little helper turns it into a great kid project!

#5

I got our Christmas cards in the mail, from the fabulous ProDPI, and of course, they did not disappoint!  I am in love with them, they are simple and fun, and just what I wanted this yearI can share them here next week, I want them to go out first, but they are addressed and ready!  yay

Happy Scary Black Friday!

It’s a little sad that FFF is making it’s comeback on a Sunday, haha but better late than never, right?  Well, that is what I am going to tell myself today at least So, here it is, and it’s here to stay this time, really!!

#1

We did our pics for our Christmas cards this week, and I love them!  Something fun and different for us this year, they are super silly and cute

I will for sure share as soon as they are sent out!

#2

I’ve been beyond busy lately!  I’m sure you know that already, with my lack of internet presence, but our house is finally finished, and we were able to move in!  YAY!!  So, now I can get back down to it, and start the business back up here in Round Rock, I’m really excited, and although I know it will take time, I am liking that aspect of it.  Lots of family time, with just the right amount of work… perfect!  Anyway, here’s a little sneak peek at my kitchen, things are slowly coming together here

#3

Yes, I already have my Christmas stuff up, it makes me happy

#4

Even though I haven’t shared a lot online, I have been so great in keeping up with Sniggs’ 2011 album!  I am so proud of myself with this one, and I cannot wait to get it all together into a book!  Sometimes the pics don’t make their way off of my camera for a few weeks, haha, but they are always taken, so yay!!  Here’s a peek at the album so far, only like 6 more weeks to go!

You can view each page in the fb album – here – if you want

#5

I’ve had a lot of questions about my personal family photo wall, so I thought I would share the answers here with all of you too The biggest question has been how I get everything so straight, so here’s the way I do it, I hope it helps some of you!

First, make sure you start with an overall style that matches your house, so you will always love it!  Since my house is very contemporary, I did all black and white photos, and I got a variety of frame sizes, but I kept all the frames the same.  Then when I had all my photos chosen and ready to go I laid everything out on the ground, and just played around with the arrangement until I was happy, this is actually the easiest part for me, but if it’s not for you, take some time, and don’t stress about it.  Maybe even leave it out for whole day if you can, to walk by it several times making sure you are happy!  Then I get those 3m Command photo strips from any store, like Target, and I use those to put everything on the wall.  If you haven’t used these yet, don’t be afraid to!!   From experience, I know they hold for at least a few years if you use them properly!  I use them for everything, and I love them!!  So, back to the wall, since I did a center horizon line in my display, I just measured out my wall, and figured out where I wanted my center point, then for the horizontal line I taped off a straight line with painters tape, then used that to work from.  I started with the top half, placing the 3m strips on the back of my large top left quarter family photo, and pressed it into the wall along the top of the tape line, from there I just worked my way one photo at a time out and up to finish the top left quarter, then the top right quarter from the center as well, then I removed the tape and worked my way with the bottom half the same way.  Super easy, and when I attached one that was a little crooked (since I was doing all that by hand, haha) I just un-attached it from the velcro on the wall, and re-positioned it into place.  That might read like a lot of work, but I promise, it’s beyond simple!  No nails, no holes, no math to divide out where the photos should be (well, ok, except for finding your center point) but really, super easy, I promise, so no more excuses!

Get those photos up, I know once you do, every time you pass by them they will make you smile Happy hanging!