Clutter, Clutter–everywhere!

Posted on August 2, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

I absolutely, 100% hate clutter! Our house tends to collect clutter in certain areas…the bar which is one of the first things you run into when you actually come into the house and the kitchen table. I was walking through the living room today and all I could see was clutter–mail, magazines, papers and pretty much anything else you can think of. This is what our bar looked like this morning:

Then I looked over and saw our kitchen table that looked like this:

That actually looks better than it has most of the week. Jonathan decided to use the kitchen as an office this week while getting ready for sunday. We have a nice office he can use that has a door and ceiling fan and everything– and he uses the kitchen table. So why did we spend money on furniture and shelves and such to make an office? Hmmm-O’well. Needless to say I had to clean the clutter up, I hate it with a passion-did I mention that already! Oh the things you’ll learn and learn to live with when you live with a boy!! But I wouldn’t change it for the world.

She’s Married!!!

Posted on June 30, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

My best friend Jen got married this past weekend. Her and Jed were married at Highland Park Presbyterian Church this past Saturday. It was a fun, busy weekend. Jonathan and I took some pictures at the wedding and reception and they are posted on my flickr page if you’re interested in looking at those.
It all started Friday afternoon for the bridesmaids luncheon at Dallas Country Club and then that following evening was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner at Royal Oaks Country Club.

Saturday evening was the wedding and reception at the Petroleum Club in Dallas (The building with the hole in the center in downtown Dallas).

I even got my dad to take a picture and his eyes were open–not typical!

We had a great time and great food! I know Jen and Jed had a great wedding day and are off celebrating in Mexico right now! I wish I were there. We got home around midnight Saturday night and then woke up Sunday to go to church because we had nursery duty. Sunday we pretty much rested and got ready for the week ahead.
I wish Jen and Jed the best and Jonathan and I are so happy for them and I know they are extremely excited to finally be spending their lives together as husband and wife.

Simplicity

Posted on April 15, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

It’s the simple pleasures in life that make it all worth it!

New Toy

Posted on March 4, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

I have really started learning more and doing more with photography and have pretty much taken it up as a new hobby…okay, I love it! anyway, I heard about this type of photography called TTV–through the viewfinder. It’s where you take a picture with one camera through the viewfinder of another camera…the catch is the bottom camera with the viewfinder is an old vintage camera. It’s really cool. Vintage cameras are awesome to begin with and I wanted to see what this whole TTV is like so I found an old Kodak Duaflex II on ebay and won it for like $11–WOW. So I got it in yesterday and started playing with it. Just simply looking through the viewfinder of this old camera is amazing. I don’t have everything I need to do it exactly right and the focus wasn’t right so it’s blurry, but this is what I got so far and I think it’s addicting getting pictures this way. Remember this is the FIRST picture I’ve ever done this way.

I was showing Jonathan the new camera last night and when he was holding it and looking down at the viewfinder I saw his face in the lens and had to get a picture of it because it was just really neat! This is what it looked like

Awesome huh?!
I was thinking this morning that it would be cool to find some film and take some actual pictures with the camera when it hit me…this is a circa 1955 camera and it’s now the digital age of photography so the chances of me finding Kodak 620 film to go with this camera will be next to impossible. Well, I was right, the 620 film that is required is out of production–DOH! BUT, I read that it will also take 120 film which is in production and you can easily buy. The only problem was that the film spool the 620 film is different from the 120 spool so I found a 620 spool on ebay for $4. So all I have to do now is get 120 film and re-spool it onto the 620 spool and viola–I can take pictures! Assuming the camera even works…they guy I bought it from didn’t know if it worked or not because it was his dads and he passed away years ago. I even found a photo lab that develops that film–YEAH. So once I get everything I need and start working on it, I’ll let you know what happens and how they turn out.

Tulips

Posted on February 29, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

I found some orange tulips at the store today and I can never pass tulips up, especially if they are orange. Well, I came home and went to work–of course taking pictures. Here are the two best shots. I think they turned our pretty good if you don’t mind me saying so myself. Oh and I also found some tulips to plant in our flower beds at home so that’s what I did this evening…hopefully in a few weeks they should bloom.

small things

Posted on February 28, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

It’s the small things in life that are what I live for…someone doing the dishes, letting the dog out or getting my favorite candy bar for me. The small things. Today was a pretty busy day at work, not a bad day, just a busy day with a lot going on and tomorrow is going to be more of the same thing. When I got home from work today Jonathan was fixing dinner and had bought me some flowers. Not only were they daisies (which I love–almost as much as tulips) but they were orange–ORANGE, I love orange. Thanks Jonathan-I love you!

Fun at Casa De Blundell

Posted on February 27, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

As you all know, I’ve come to love photography–taking pictures, looking at pictures and learning new techniques. Basically everything photography. Anyway, I’m trying to learn new lighting techniques and work on the ones I do know. Anyway, I got some lights and a backdrop so I turned our guest room into a “ghetto studio” as I call it. Well, today I took some self portraits of myself and then took some of Jonathan and put them together in photoshop as a “photobooth” montage. I think it turned out pretty good and I had fun in the mean time. What do you think?

at home again!

Posted on February 22, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

it’s going on 2.5 days at home from work. I left early Wednesday and came home and got in bed…stayed home yesterday and went to the doctor and I’m home again today because I can’t get rid of this stupid headache and ear pain. Lovely sinus infections! I usually get one once a year and this is my time this year I guess, although very very mild compared to the ones I normally get. Anyway, while I was lying in bed earlier there was a knock on the door, and of course Presley went crazy as always but I just stayed put. Well, I got up later and it was the UPS man–my camera flash arrived–YEAH.

I was supprised because it wasn’t supposed to get here until Monday. Well, of course I tried it out so here are some with and without the new flash pictures so you can see what a difference using an external flash makes. And I used my trusty subject yet again–you got it…Presley

Without Flash:

With Flash:

Without Flash:

With Flash:

Without Flash:

With Flash:

There are subtle differences that just make the picture so much better…what do you think?

awesome

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

I have to say…this is by far one of my favorite pictures I’ve taken. I used it as today’s photo for my project 365 on flickr. I was making hot cocoa and saw the steam under the overhead light and had to run and get my camera. Just thought I’d share it with you.

Mi Ojos!

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Laurie Blundell

For you non-spanish speaking readers that means My Eyes! About 2 maybe 3 years ago I started wearing glasses, and let me tell you, I hate it! I tried the whole contact lenses and I just can’t do it…my eyes are irritated with them in and i can see the outline of the lens and it’s miserable so I’m stuck with wearing these dreadful things on my face. Well I went to get an eye exam today because my glasses weren’t seeming to do the trick anymore and i think the prescription needed to be adjusted. Boy was I right! He said that because I’m farsighted I will probably need stronger ones every couple of years–JOY…oh but eventually I’ll need bifocals! SERIOUSLY Bifocals! nooooo, i’ll never need those. Anyway, my eye sight in my right eye has gotten so much worse in just a years time I couldn’t believe it….so I asked him if me not wearing my glasses had anything to do with it and of course he said yes, so I have to wear them all the time! DANG. I hate wearing them because 1) I don’t like them and B) I don’t have the anti-glare lenses and EVERY light is a glare and I can’t see, especially at night. So I decided if I have to wear them I might as well spend a little more money and get some I really like and get an anti-glare lens..and of course that’s more money–it’s expensive getting older! So I ordered my new glasses and get this–they are pink, now don’t get an idea in your head that is some pepto bismol pink because that is not the case–they are a very very sheer pink tint, not really pink in color. And they have some bling on the side–awesome. Not over kill bling, just a little jewel…I know what you’re thinking, those aren’t you, but oh they are so me, I’m just letting the bling and pink side of me come out after 26 years.