slug

So I walk into my bathroom a couple days ago and find this on my sink:

I have no idea how this think got there...but I have never see a slug this big! I thought we were done with the random critters in our house now that we've moved! Guess not...haha

...and 1/2

We recently made a challenging downsize into our new little home. It has been a really good experience of having to take a serious look at everything we own and determine what it is that we actually use and what we actually need. But surprisingly there has been little to no stress with this challenge- it has been really good and unexpectedly liberating! Now when I look around my house I see the things I treasure and enjoy the most rather than just a bunch of stuff. Needless to say there was a very big yard sale and we have done several drop offs to goodwill since then.

Who knew yard sales could be so much work yet so much fun? We weren't alone- we were joined by several other friends and all together it was a grand sale!

Our load is about 1/4 what is was when this began and I feel great! So now begins the creative challenge- organization and decor. I have found lots of inspiration from pinterest.com -but be warned: it is very very very addictive!! So I shall hereby commence the before and after shots of each room as they are completed hopefully with some success stories of organization feats!

Our new address happens to be 411 1/2. Everyone is totally perplexed the the "and 1/2" as I was. I thought it was hilarious! So here is the first before/after of our little 1/2 home :o)

 Its amazing what a little paint will do! This front porch is my absolute favorite part of this house. Kevin and I have eaten several meals out there just enjoying the fall weather. It is so peaceful! There is a large tree ( not sure what kind...) right in front that has beautiful red and orange leaves. In fact, there are trees bursting with color all up and down the street- it is a wonderful time to be outside.

Coming soon: the living room! It is nearly completed and certainly the riskiest paint choice I've ever made!...

summer photo fun

So here are some of my favorite photos from a few of my summer photo sessions. This will be my final "catch up" post and then we will resume to present day life! :o) But these were great times so I don't want to skip over them! I am currently editing pictures from one of my favorite senior picture shoots and also soon will document my finished crafting projects!

In an effort to make this blog helpful rather than just a photo posting zone here are some of my personal photo taking tips: (these are in no way like "official tips" just things I would personally suggest!)

1. When taking a photo outside put the sun behind the person (professional people call this back-lighting, I think) This keeps the person in the photo from having harsh shadows on their face from the direct sunlight. 

2. If you want to take your own outdoor portraits- avoid the mid day hours when the sun is high.

3. Many people I talk with think taking pictures on a clear day is the best- but you actually want to look for a slightly overcast sky- or at least some cloud coverage.

4. Wear vibrant colors for pictures- avoid the black and khaki look!

5. If you are wanting to slender yourself through your pose then always pull your arm away from your body, put shoulders back, pop the very top on your shoulder forward (this accentuates your choler bone) and lift your chin.   

6. You can totally change your picture by experimenting with angles- try tilting your camera to the left or right or try getting on the ground ( I do this a lot! haha)

7. The most flattering photos are often taken from a higher position then the people in the photo (rather than lower) 

8. Try to have as much depth as possible in your photos- in other words look for layers of depth in the background of your photo. For example- in the photo below of Whitney with the blue panels behind her- this angle produces more depth than if the building was flat behind her. 

9. Lastly, if you can't afford a fancy editing software then get a membership to www.picnik.com it is only $4.95 a month (or a better deal to sign up for a year...) and it has some great editing tools. Some of the best are: "curves" and "clone" and most of their "touch up" edits are great. The key with these editing tools is to notice you can use a brush with most of them rather than changing the whole picture.

I hope you don't feel short changed with only 9 tips...thats just all I got right now...So here are some photos from the summer :  

 

 

summertime love

So this summer has brought many photo opportunities beginning with my very first wedding shoot! Now let me just say that I could not have had a more wonderful and amazing bride- she was so easy going and just pleasant to be around! But photographing a wedding is still hugely stressful! It may be awhile before I venture to do another one! But here are some highlights:

 

mr. turtle

Ok so I completely missed August...so here I am back and ready for the summer catch up! For those of you sitting on the edge of your seats wondering about the sad plant in our living room- it did in fact pass on into the plant after life. Sadly in our laziness we now have a pot of dirt in our living room rather than a plant or sprout as it was in the previous picture...

So we failed at the plant...but before having a child we really should succeed at nurturing something, right? And so might I introduce our new family addition: "mr. turtle"

 

Kevin has always wanted a turtle- in fact 3 years ago for his birthday I bought him this turtle tank with the promise of a turtle! Finally mr. turtle has arrived! He is a tiny baby turtle (a Red Eared Slider to be exact) at about 2 inches in diameter! SO cute! We are very proud. It is a new experience for sure- we find ourselves worrying about how much he is sleeping and if he is eating enough...he is our first pet and we really want to see him grow big over the years! 

Other big news in the Reed house is our upcoming move- we will be switching to a new rental home going from 1800 sq.ft to 600 sq. ft! It has been quite a challenge of simplifying, but a really good one! It is so freeing to get rid of the things you do not need or use! There is one room in our existing house that I will miss a lot- it is our laundry room/office. 

It is such a perfect space...however I am very thankful for the opportunity to be challenged in the way of simplifying. Already it has brought us a great blessing! 

hope

I just have to share this sad and pathetic little plant in our living room...

Seriously, doesn't this make you sad?? This plant was from Mannie's funeral (Kevin's grandma) and we just can't give up hope on it! But obviously things aren't going so well...

simplicity

I ran across this verse today in 2 Corinthians 1:12...

"...the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God" (ESV)

Simplicity and Godly Sincerity.

There is a lot I "need" to blog about- photography, craft projects, life experiences, books I'm reading ect. But even before all that I must add this to my snippits. Its a verse to mull over and ultimately (hopefully) live by.

As I continue in this journey of faith I am continually confronted with how simple God makes things and then how we complicate it. By the grace of God the testimony of our conscience is that we behaved with simplicity and Godly sincerity. Its amazing how many other things are covered by doing those two things.

This verse reminds me of Micah 6:7-9...
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Its uncomplicated. Maybe its not simple in action- but it is simple in concept. And possible through God's grace.
Another moment in scripture like this is when Jesus identifies the greatest commandment:

"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

 Love God. Love Each Other. Live Simply. Have Godly Sincerity. Walk Humbly. Act Justly. Love Mercy.

Its simple in concept, but requires God's grace in action.