TAKE MORE PICTURES

Over the last several months, I got too busy, stressed, distracted, impatient, lazy... (insert excuse here)... to pay much attention to my photo hobby. I've recently been motivated by some great friends to be back in it. And it feels good.

You might have heard about a "movement" of sorts to take a photo a day for a year. The intention is to improve your skill set and have a spectacular stash of stock photography. My attempt last year lasted 72 days. Weak. Sauce.

So this year, I'm trying again. I'm tweaking it a bit because, for me, it's not realistic to shoot daily. But it is common and absolutely realistic to shoot several times a week. So I'm making my own rules.

Instead of taking a photo each day, I'm posting a fresh set of photos each week. I will have 365 photos by the end, but this allows me a bit of leniency on my time. I am raising two young kids, guys... cut me some slack.

Join me! You can follow my progress on my facebook photo page Bricks Pics.

SAY CHEESE!

Before I begin, let me start by saying I'm not a professional photographer, nor a photography teacher.

Now that that's out of the way, I thought I'd share a bit about my hobby. I've had a ton of people ask about equipment and classes and books and any other helpful advise I could give on how to shoot a good photo. Let me share a story that's been popping around the internet. It goes something like this:

A photographer attends a dinner party. The hostess comments to her "I love your photographs, what kind of camera do you use?" Later the photographer comments to the hostess "I loved your cooking, what kind of pans did you use?"

Obviously, camera equipment does make some impact on the photograph you take, however, you can't miss the point of this story. Whether you use a point-and-shoot, a camera phone, or a professional grade Mark V, there is a lot more to taking successful photos than the camera you shoot with.

I started my hobby years back. As the child of a professional photographer, I spent countless hours in front of painted backdrops holding light sensors. I can smile on command, though it's results are phoned-in. Growing up with the exposure taught me how I'd like to see photos -- and posed is not it. I shot sports in B&W for the high school year book and learned to expose in a dark room. Although fun and foundation building, it proved to be too much work, and I was still a teenager when my dad built a dark room. As an adult, I was quick to embrace digital photography from the start but continued to also shoot with a Minolta film SLR. Although I loved my SLR photos, I fell for the enticing lure of digital with it's instant results and ability to capture a shot correctly before walking away and potentionally missing it forever.

I've owned a couple pocket sized digital point and shoots: HP PhotoSmart and Canon PowerShot. And most recently decided to kick my hobby up a notch. I tip-toed into the DSLR world hesitantly. I took comfort in the Canon PowerShot sx20is for it's safety net of features that combined both the opportunity to learn manual settings while still allowing me point & shoot ease. This beginner camera opened the door to the DSLR world at under $400.

Not only did I have a camera to take me into new comfort levels, I also joined an area photo club that challenged me to take photos as a monthly assignment. There is no better way to learn a camera, or any skill for that matter, than to actively do it. Regularly. Photo club allowed me that purpose. I also signed up for a recreational photography class at my local community college and found a photo mentor who was willing to take me under his wing while challenging and encouraging me to expand my skill set.

After a year of learning with the sx20is, I bought the real deal, a Canon Rebel T1i. I felt so big time with all it's relative power and need for additional lenses to be manually selected based on photos desired. Along with the new lenses came additional challenges, but I was learning quickly.

I still shoot and love my Rebel. I have 3 lenses, though rarely remove my 1.8 50mm. In my opinion, it can't be beat for nailing low lighting shots and getting that attractive background blur we all chase after. I'm learning to use my 18-55mm and my 70-200mm more and more but always tend to fall back on my 50mm as a go-to.

Composition is the biggest part of photography and this part can't be bought. It can ONLY be learned through experience. I love the Instagram app for helping me definen my photography style and capture everyday things in a small yet powerful way. Of course the filters don't hurt, but it is a great exercise. And at our fingertips every moment of the day. No reason to miss a shot or NOT be creative.

There it is. My official history of photography. I'm still learning. And still making mistakes. But I find that getting the shot is so much more worthwhile these days.

OK 2012, LET'S DO THIS

A new year is a fresh start, or so they say. January 1 is a time to reflect and resolve to better oneself. Or so they say.

I've never been a big fan of the hoopla surrounding the First. For starters, it's winter. Nothing positive seems to spring up during this time. Secondly, why wait for Jan 1 to start being a better person?

Although I reject resolutions in their most cliched sense, I do hold ongoing goals and do check in on how I'm doing since everyone around me seems to be announcing their own grandiose plans.

So what's in store for my New Year? Well, I'd like to continue my fitness efforts -- as sporadic and heartless as they've become. I'd also like to firm up my commitment to my reading habits. While I've always liked the idea of reading two books a month, that enticing Fall TV schedule always seems to sideline my best attempts.

Along with being better about reading, this will ensure me a more stable and beneficial bedtime. If I can turn off the TV by nine, I can get an hour reading in bed by 10pm and not be a miserable bear at 8am. A better rested Mommy is a better Mommy.

And finally, I'd like to reclaim my hobbies which have taken a backseat to many hours of unworthy time surfing the net. I look forward to coaxing a recognizable tune out of my guitar and honing my neglected photography skills. These things make me happy.

So my goals, which pretty much carry over from 2010:

Read 2 books a month - average 1hr per night reading
Sleep by 10pm - and average 10hrs per night (yes, 10)
Work out enough to stay at my weight (thought dropping an LB wouldn't hurt anything)
Be a kinder, well-read and better rested Mommy
Prioritize my guitar playing and photo taking hobbies

Is that it? Yeah, I guess so. Obviously, there is much more I can do and that needs to be done, however these are solid, obtainable and generally beneficial to my well being as for those around me. Why not keep it simply?

What do you have in store?

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

I can be a bit of a dork. I just hide it well I suppose, after hearing a close friend scoff at my personal declaration of self.

But really, who isn’t? We’re all kinda stumbling around looking for ourselves. Our look, our style, our roles, our ideals. We find inspiration in magazines, through close friends we lovingly envy and of course, through Hollywood (damn you). We’re all kinda dorky in our own way as we are seeking rock-solid self-esteem and support through our friends, colleagues and twitter followers. We always want to say the right thing, buy the most on-trend technology and wear the perfect outfit to show off our right to belong in this big blue globe. Most of us would rather keep up for fear of getting left behind (aside from those blissfully unaware folk who seem to be eerily content with their scrunchies and lack of wi-fi).

And who says we have to do it on our own? Long before Pinterest and the globally recognized DIY movement (thank you internet), people relied on each other just the same. The only difference was that our inspirations were less obvious, less public and more personally owned. How many times do you hear someone claim their idea came from a friend or from an online source? How about we just own it? After all, all those ideas are just that, we’re the ones to make it an actuality. We’re the ones pairing together thrift store finds, we’re the one making that 30-ingredient cake, we’re the one hammering our thumbs as we create our own headboard. Who cares where we found the idea? We are not required to divulge our sources of greatness. We are not required to inform where we found our A-MA-ZING wardrobe (thanks Target). We are not required to speak a disclaimer for everything we say and do.

I think there is a rare individual who can truly claim to march to the beat of their own drum and be solely responsible for it. I’m sure even Lady Gaga has some help and inspiration via drunken stylist to get her look where it is today.
So I accept it. I accept being a dork. Because it means learning and seeking and trying new things – some successful and some less so. I also accept people knowing that I can morph and transpire when motivated to do so.

My hobbies revolve around creativity. Photography, writing, crafts, painting, drawing… you name it and I’m on it. (And yes, I’ve endured the playful jabs from girlfriends who are less fluent with a glue gun.) But creativity doesn’t stop there. I find it play out in my daily life throughout my home and my style. While I am no master, and am forever changing my ideas about what and where I really want to hone my “look”, I completely and selfishly enjoy doing it. And it’s harmless. Well except for a few shin bruises from my husband coming home to the house rearranged yet again. Watch those credit card expenses though…

So, because I love following fashion blogs, Pinterest and other style-heavy publications and because one of my FAVORITE things is to create and recreate things I love and because another of my FAVORITE things is to see what others’ FAVORITE things are, I’m making a list. These are my FAVORITE things – the things I relate and respond to, the things that inspire and motivate me. Though you may not hear me reveal my sources for greatness, we truly are all capable.

Refinery 29 (for the coolest everything – from beauty to fashion across the US)
PS – I made this (for OF. THE. MOMENT. fashion that is literally easy to DIY)
StyleMint & JewelMint (for high-end style-of-the-month at only $29)
Pinterest (for renewing interest in your closet – follow me!)
etsy (for art, photography and party supplies)
ebay (for statement necklaces and jcrew seperates)
Lucky Magazine (and books)
Instagram (iPhone app)
DecorPad.com
Polyvore.com

STRIKE A POSE - DIY HOLIDAY PHOTOS

I dabble in photography and I love it. Every year I try to take our own photos for family cards because I like being creative and I don't like shelling out a couple hunsky for them to be done by someone else.

This isn't to say I don't value the professional shot. I do. It's just than within these last 2 months of the year, I have not one, not two but a minimum of 4 kid birthday parties to attend, including throwing my daughter one. It is also within these last couple months of the year that I'm hemorrhaging cash for candy, family parties, food events and toys to fill a small truck for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

This is a very spendy time of year at my house so I cut corners where I can. Beside, being the warm weather gal I am, I'd rather save the coin for having family shots done in some heat where I can actually show off myself without wearing 6 bulky layers. Yeah, I'm not really the outdoorsy type. And yes, I am a touch vain. Sue me.

This years' shots were easily done indoors on a very rainy and blustery day. I was actually mourning not getting the early snow like we did last year to give us the picture perfect wintery backdrop, but with a little loving on Pinterest, I got inspired and here are my shots.


Keep in mind, I used only strands of white lights. I plugged in about 6-7 strands to make a jumbo length of shimmer. I drapped about half over a mirror on the wall making sure they reached the ground, then ran the other half across a 6 ft span and drapped the rest over the front of a dining table. I then shot from under the table, and through the table-side strand of lights. Using a shallow depth of field and my 50mm 1.8, I was able to get the desired effect. It was helpful to have a North facing bay window to flood the space with natural white light. (My "studio" was my dining room.) The more space you have between your lights and your subject, the less defined your lighting will be. Play with it, have fun!


So I got the kids dolled up, touch of blush, pommade for the hair, and voila!
What do you think?


In case you are intersted, here's last years shots which were equally awesome and required only snow and some good attitudes:

#EAT COW

In what may seem a rash decision, we recently purchased a cow. Not a whole cow. We're not that intense. We bought a quarter of a cow. And that alone is over 200lbs of beef. We have hamburger, all the roast you could need and steaks I've never seen in the grocery let alone have a recipe for.

Needless to say, I've been busy cooking up this red meat and just trying to keep my family gout free.

When you get past the sheer quantity of meat I have in the garage freezer (and the fact that I can't even put a frozen pizza in there anymore) it's been a bit of a challenge to get this meat cooked and prepared in ways I've never tried before. You can only eat so much spaghetti and roast beef. I'm googling cuts of beef and digging out old school cook books to get this done.

I've had a lot of hits, like my favorite Guinness Beef Stew , a very healthy and hearty English Cottage Pie (thanks to a friend for suggesting from Cooking Light) and a new A.MA.ZING way to make a crock pot roast. I've had some serious misses too, like Swiss Steak (basically beef swimming in tomatoes) and Chicken Fried Steak which was AWFUL! Not only do we not eat much red meat, but we certainly don't eat it deep fried. Disgusting.

I've been busy thawing and cooking and creating a freezer full of actual meals which is turning into a fun way to pass time on the cold lonely winter days. And gives me a huge sense of accomplishment when I can pop out a frozen meal and know it was cooked without chemical and preservatives and saves me a ton of time to boot. This really works. Who knew?

Would I buy a cow again? I don't know. There is still a very serious amount of meat in my freezer. Eating it 3 days a week for the past 6 weeks hasn't seemed to make as big of a dent as I'd anticipated. And I'm starting to get steaked out. We'll see.

Stay tuned for more. And if you're interested in my other recipes, pop over here to check it out. And find me on twitter with tag: #eatcow

AT LEAST IT LOOKS COOL

Recently, the boy and I did a little grocery shopping together. He wanted to be part of the experience and I've only read about all the 101 reasons why you should let your child be part of the shopping experience: healthy ideas about food, understanding where your food comes from, cost of meals, nutrition, learning colors and shapes... and on and on.

Well on this trip, he saw this.

That's brussel sprouts. As they grow in nature. On a 2 foot long stalk. This thing looks like it could be a medieval weapon, and who in the world knows how to handle this vegetable? Not me.

But I was feeling adventurous and thought, why not? I've never had these baby cabbages, only heard about torturous family dinners where children were required to remain in their seats until the dreaded boiled brussel sprout was digested. Sounds like fun.

But, like I said, I haven't eaten them and my kids haven't tried them, so why not? Who know, we might LOVE them. And they were on sale, so it was an easy thing to give into making the boy feel a part of our culinary world.

I looked at these stalks and some had enormous sprouts, larger than ping pong balls. Others had mini sprouts, like marbles. Clearly there was something I should know about this process. I asked the produce man for help. Not a bright idea. He looked like a deer in headlights when I asked if there was a trick in choosing which sprouts to get. "Are smaller sprouts better? More tender? Sweeter?" I asked. "No, no," he replied. "That's just how they grow, you cook them all like brussel sprouts."

Um, ok.

So I took a chance and bought a stalk that seemed to have more middle-of-the-road sized sprouts. It wasn't until I got home to read up on some recipes that I learned smaller sprouts were better because they got tender faster without overcooking. Of. Course.

But here I am with easily three pounds of sprouts. I'm kind of excited to try these and a couple new recipes. I've already learned that boiling sprouts is a way to serve bitter and poorly recieved reviews. Carmelized pan-fried, or sauteed with bacon is a more welcome side dish.

So, here I go, embarking on a new veggie. How un-Boring of me, no?

SIMPLIFY ALREADY!

My favorite things are slight. No, really they are. Regardless of what my husband will tell you, the things I love and need are truly the small things.

My biggest challenge is slowing down and being content in the small things. The things that I want.

We get so wrapped up in going and doing and having that it all gets whirled into a big blender and you can't tell one thing from another. I'm so sick of running around and accummulating stuff with no value that I'm looking to simplify. It shouldn't be that hard. I know what I want. I know what I like. I just need to commit to it. Why is it so hard?

So, what are these small things?

1) Indie Flicks - Gratefully, I have cable tv. I pay for HBO and with that comes Starz and Encore and some others that I've never really payed attention to before. The cool thing about these channels is that aside from being commercial free, they showcase some of the coolest, strangest, and more thought-proviking films and documentaries that you could find. Sure, it's a paid expense, but pretty cheap entertainment when you think about it. And far outweighing the cost of going to the movie theater and all it's semi-requirements (popcorn and soda for $28?).

2) Hot Coffee - Duh, right? But more than the coffee itself, with all it's redeeming qualities of antioxidants and caffeine, the very calm and soothing ritual of it's steam rising into your nose as you stare into the morning fog that may be your routine. Coffee is an experience and an object of desire. And really, unless you're buying quad-venti-mocha-caramel-extra calorie-gut bombs, it's not all that expensive.

3) Good Wine - Another easy and relatively inexpensive luxury is good wine, and it's satisfying reaction to a great meal. My favorite bottles clock in under $15 a piece and since I'm the only one drinking them, they last a few nights. Plus, you feel like a grown up with some cultured interests. A mood-boost is an added bonus.

4) Quiet Afternoons Reading - Totally free! The hardest part is getting it quiet. With kids who don't sleep during the daytime hours, it can be a challenge on some days, but cuddled up in bed when in the middle of a good book is pure prime time.

There are more and all equally subtle, but it's a nice reminder to myself, and maybe to you reading, that the things we reallly want and care about are the things we already have, or have quick, easy and low-cost access to.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Ok, I'm writing. No, not on this blog... which obviously, I am. I mean WRITING, writing. As in using a Word.doc and spell check and Thesaurus.com.

November is National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo for short? I know, just go with it). You can find more hype on Twitter, just search hashtag #NaNoWriMo

Basically, it's an annual writers event that encourages, supports and motivates people or writers, or both, to tackle a novel. Big goal. This annual events offers the goal of writing 1667 words a day for a total of 30 days. At the end, you'll have written over 50K words in your very own NOVEL!

Whether or not it's worth reading is another story (pun totally intended) but it's a major accomplishment regardless. How many people do you know can say they've written a book?

Check in with me on November 30th to see if I can be one of them...

PS - I just jumped on the bandwagon today, day 6, and knocked out 2,004 words on an expectation of 10K. I have a little catching up to do.

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

I've been spending the last week or so purging and cleaning out my closet and bedroom. It's amazing the sheer quantity of stuff you can amass when a) you have a love for clothing like I do and b) you tend to shop. A lot.

As I've got no less than 6 other rooms in my house that need much more immediate attention on a day to day basis, my room and closet get the scraps of time I have left over, which as you can see from earlier posts, there isn't much.

But this week is different. There was a sense of purpose and deliberate intent of getting this space cleaned up -- I was running out of things to wear. And if I went out and bought another outfit, Husband might throw all my belongings out on the lawn.

My closet has long been a dumping ground for everything you can think of. The following has been unearthed: clothing, clothing that needed mending, clothing that needed folding, clothing that needed washing, clothing for other seasons, clothing for other occasions, clothing to be donated, Husband clothing that needed mending, kids clothing that didn't fit yet, shoes for all seasons, Halloween costumes from years past, bags and purses in all colors and textiles, wrapping paper, a hammer and an opened bottle of Jack Daniels.

I can only assume the bottle of Jack came from a purse from a past night out. (Because we all need a drink on the go?) With all the food and gum found in my bags, I could convert my closet into a panic room. Not only would I be well fed on Cranberry Almond KIND bars and spearmint Orbit gum, but a swig of Jack would calm my nerves and I'd be warm and well hidden among the wool, down, cashmere and denim that populated the overstuffed hanging space. But I regress.

There is an amazing sense of accomplishment in tackling and successfully completing a task of this magnitude. To put a room the size of a Prius in order and to be able to see the floor -- not to mention the variety and options of all the pretty things I own and felt compelled to acquire -- is an immediate mood booster that offers a motivation and inspiration to improve ones self-esteem through a polished and put together wardrobe. And I actually feel like I have something to wear again.

Order, in even the smallest space, offers me an unbelievable sense of calm. I actually walk into this closet space to just look at my things. Not something I could have claimed to do before, even if I could have stepped over all the leather boot shafts and perilously scattered spikes of my high heels.

AND, all this order actually makes me want to pare down further. I read once about the luxury of having an empty shelf. It makes sense. To have a space that has no purpose, and not having so much stuff that you feel you MUST utilize it. Yes, it is a luxury. And that is my current goal: the luxury of an empty shelf in one of my most valuable pieces of real-estate.

Who really needs all this stuff anyway? Time for tough love.

GET HAPPY

So in an effort to battle the blues and boredom that has settled into this rainy fall afternoon, I've picked up a copy of The Happiness Project.

It's a book chronicling a woman's year-long commitment to be happier. With herself. With her life. And with her decisions. The author, Gretchen Rubin, breaks out her project into 12 distinct monthly processes in which to tackle and be carried over from month to month. She also builds Commandments and personal "Secrets of Adulthood" for self-encouragement and as personal reminders for staying dedicated and motivated to continue.

Her Commandments include: Let it Go. Do it now. Act the way I want to feel. No calculation. Enjoy the process.

Her Secrets of Adulthood include: It's ok to ask for help. Bring a sweater. Happiness doesn't always make you happy.

At only a hundred pages in, I'm already inspired (if not a bit overwhelmed) at the prospect of changing my thoughts to change my actions to change my feelings. It's a bit of a triangular process in that each thought, feeling and action will directly effect the other. You can't adjust one without the others changing too. So you can imagine the negative effects of thinking or doing wrong.

I'm working on my own Life's Commandments. I'm headed more along the lines of:

Stay true to myself.
Listen better.
Breathe.
Trust the process.
Change is good.
Love louder.
Speak smarter.
Accept limitations.
Ask questions.
...and borrowing a few of Rubin's as well:
Enjoy the process.
Act the way I want to feel.
Lighten up.

My own Secrets of Adulthood, so far, include:

You are the only one who will be you, fight for it.
It's always colder than you think it will be.
Taking medication does help.
Music fits any mood.
Sometimes you just need a drink.
Keep your private moments and guard them.
High heels make your legs and your esteem look better.
It's ok to be emotional.
Let people know where they stand, they'll respect you for it.
Be inspired by others, even if only at a misunderstood distance.
If you don't keep learning, your brain will die.

Wish me luck, I could use it.

...here's to getting Happy!...

SLOWING DOWN

So here we are at the start of the holiday season. It's a breakneck pace from Halloween through the New Year that includes a myriad of family parties, creative get togethers, kid events and, in my case, no less than half a dozen birthday parties. Toss in some festive cooking obligations and some serious shopping and my weekends for the next 10 weeks are just about full.

So as I plan and look into the next few months, I'm realizing that something has got to give. I don't need to spend days and weeks building up to each holiday with cooking AND crafts AND parties AND outings AND decorating AND shopping. What's typical for me has proven to be too much and I spend more time stressed over preparation than time spent enjoying the efforts.

This year I've already cut out my annual Halloween bash, which kills me, but as I realize that I don't have to stress over adult party games, a show stopping costume and the cash spent on food and drink, plus the hours of planning and decorating that my artistic and perfectionist self can dwell on, I'm a little relieved. And I'm getting too old for a hangover anyway.

The kids have already hit up a farm for pumpkins and treats with their aunties and the boy got to spend a morning at a farm for a field trip. With two pumpkin patch trips on the books for the kids, I'm thinking I don't need to oblige in any more visits to get a "family four" photo. And I certainy dont need anymore pumpkins to carve. Maybe I can let this go. The thought of one less trip to a pumpkin patch, one less event to spent money on, and a couple less pumpkins to carve (which eats up a couple hours itself) is inspiring. The same way I can let go of clutter and well intentioned items around the house prohibiting my sense of calm, I can let go of these extra events that just eat up time and prohibit my enjoyment. With this free time, I can try something new with the kids or spend some time in the kitchen crafting up some hearty winter eats. Or just hang with the kids and some puzzles on the floor. Something that can easily be overlooked in the day-to-day hustle of fitting everything in.

With Thanksgiving on the horizon and two separate family events that follow suit, I'm hoping to ride the momentum of my streamlined ideas of a more enjoyable schedule. I don't need to hand-craft a pie from scratch and I don't need to worry about the time suck and over-hyped Black Friday. That's what Costco and online shopping are for.

WE'RE ALL CRAZY

"If we didn't laugh, we'd all go insane." -Jimmy Buffett

Sometimes, we feel crazy. Sometimes we are. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it's not.

Lately, I'm feeling like a real-life Eeyore with a constant gray cloud over my head. It's been no secret that I flippin' hate this gray and cold weather -- always a miracle that I still live and actually like Seattle -- and it's also been no secret that I struggle on a day to day basis with what was originally diagnosed with post partum depression (PPD) a little over 5 years ago. With the help of good friends and good meds, I've typically been able to keep it all together, though some days are more successful than others.

Sadly, my brain seems to have outgrown my management and I now find myself looking for more answers. In what has become an almost unrecognizable self, my moods are less stable and I find myself wondering how I can be this person.

I used to fight the fact that I couldn't function without a little blue Zoloft. I still would prefer to not need it. However, in my frankness with other women about the need and usage for such a valuable drug, I find I'm less and less alone. This in itself is a feeling of success and brightness. We spend so much time trying to prove that we are strong and mighty. That we can do anything, be anything, that we hide the reality of ourselves, further perpetuating the myth of Mom being Superwoman.

Thankful for supportive family and a husband who refuses to give up on me (though lesser men would have thrown in the towel years back), I find myself, yet again, jumping through hoops, from one referral to another trying to seek out more answers.

Mental health is a fascinating and mysterious subject and as I delve deeper and deeper into symptoms, disorders and realities of stigma, I realize we might all have a little crazy inside. Similar to your child's symptoms of runny nose and fever being a sign of everything from teething to meningitis, common symptoms defining mental disorders can identify everything from a bad day to bi-polar to worse.

It's information overload to be sure. The internet looms with tales of horrific realities. It's best to search with your eyes closed. As if it weren't enough to want a simple, tidy, boxed solution, the range of disorder and distruptiveness comes with a range as vast as the Grand Canyon. Depression can be life ending, or merely a speed bump. Bi-Polar can be a commitible offense, or a series of ill-timed shopping sprees. We can be "a little bit crazy" or "mostly sane". We can be medically managed or holistically helped. Some of us can be remedied with a steady routine, a good work out plan and some extra vitamins.

What defines one person's crazy from another isn't labels like PPD or Bi-Polar, it's the actions and reactions involved with day-to-day living. No different than popping tylenol to make a headache go away, we pop Zoloft to make the dark day go away.

So as I continue to seek a normalcy and fight the stigma of PPD, depression, anxiety and all the other goodies that go along with mental illness, I encourage all to do the same. Help our mothers and fathers and friends and siblings to seek answers when the sun stops shining in their days.

Afterall, you might be a little crazy too.

GOING BACK TO CALI

I think my kids are spoiled.

Recently in anticipating where to go for our annual family vacation, I shared with my kids all the theme parks there are in Southern California. We had originally expected to be taking the family on an Alaska cruise, but the plan fell through and we decided to fall back on our comfortable favorite. Since the kids were sad about the change, I naturally thought that maybe talking about theme parks could win them over. What I really wanted was to take them back to Disneyland since they had such a great time last year, but I was nervous that I’d be unable to afford it.

Instilling ideas of SeaWorld and Legoland seemed like a good strategy. As it turned out, we could afford Disney and I was so excited to share the news with them. Surprisingly, my daughter advised me that she didn’t want to go back there; she’d rather do something else. Um, what? What kid would rather do something other than Disney? This was unbelievable to me. Maybe I was too good at selling the other parks, or maybe I was the one wanting to return to Disney. After all, it is the happiest place on earth – and I’m the one that could really use that now.

Turns out, both my kids would rather go to Legoland. Which seems like a great idea, right? Except for the part about already booking a hotel in Anaheim and arranging a non-changeable flight out of Los Angeles. As I tried to sway the Disney argument, my kids’ solution was to do both. Both?! Boy, did that turn out to be a cost saver. Obvious sarcasm. Now I’m in a boat of cost consideration and disappointment damage control. If I refuse their requests for Legoland, I’m not listening to what they want. If I do both, I’m up against a financial wall.

Of course, the boy is now 3 and now requires a ticket of his own – so we’re talking theme park prices for 4. Trust me, the child admissions are hardly a relief. Most cost just $10 less than adults, so we’re still looking at $80-90 each. Per park. Racket.

According to online reports, it is suggested that you can expect to pay a minimum of $3000 for a 4-night trip that includes air and hotel for 6 people. All the extras, like food, are going to be additional. Say what? I know that I am fortunate with a current dual-income, but that’s a lot of money. A lot. In my book, 4 days is a long weekend. I can’t justify that.

I spent some time online to uncover some alternatives or at least some ticket discounts. Disney is a bit conservative with their discounts – to say the least. Unless I want to spend hundreds on multi-day passes, the savings are non-existent. The online ticket broker system that was so available last year seems to have evaporated into thin air with hardly a post or solicitation. Weird.

Thankfully, Legoland is a bit friendlier on the pocketbook. There are $10 discount coupons available and if you know someone who works for a large corporation, like Boeing, there are some further discount tickets available. I’m on the right track.

Although the husband and I have decided to commit to the dual theme park vacation, we’ve found ways to cut costs in other areas. Staying in our favorite San Diego beach condo rental will allow us to cook meals and avoid eating out. The time spent on the beach is easy and unbelievably enjoyable for all of us. Oh, and it’s free. Choosing two different theme parks means only spending a single day at each, which further cuts costs on admission and in-park spending (which can easily cost more than the price of a ticket). The hotel pool on the latter half of our stay will serve as more free entertainment as my daughter just learned to swim this past summer and will no doubt choose to stay in the pool until dusk.

Thankfully, air miles and companion fares with Alaska Airlines have helped offset air costs and we’re on track to keep this 8-day California vacation around $3K. And yes, that includes food and spending money. With a little creativity and some flexibility, you can treat yourself and your family to a great annual vacation without completely shattering the bank while still accommodating the wishes of the under-6 set.

So how are we doing it? Consider the cost breakdown:
$850 Air – using $100 companion fares and flyer miles with our Alaska Airlines Visa

$800 Condo rental – this includes 4 nights in a 2-bedroom beach front condo with kitchen.

$370 Hotel – 3 nights in a nice hotel property across the street from Disneyland. And the room is a kid-suite meaning the kids have their own room and Mommy and Daddy don’t have to be in bed by 8. A luxury, I know, but it’s our vacation too.

$100 Car Rental – Go with Costco, they have the best prices we could find.

$520 Theme Parks – This is a hefty part of the price tag. You could easily pare this down, but this cost is for 4 people attending 2 parks. Not too shabby.

$500 Spending – This is a moving target to include souvenirs and food. By hitting up a grocery store and cooking the bulk of our meals, this really can be realistic. We save a lot of money also by not giving in to the sky high prices in the park gift shops. Hit up Walmart or some other mass retailer for Disney tees (found them for as low as $3 last year) and Lego sets that you can give the kids in the car. They’ll be content. They shouldn’t care where they came from.

WHAT'S THE POINT?

I frequently facebook, twitter, blog, Instagram and FourSquare. I’m LinkedIn and tethered to my iPhone and iPad nearly all hours of the day. I can’t remember the last time I had a phone conversation with a friend and I interact with virtual strangers more than I see my sister.

It’s scary. And it’s lonely.

We’re fast becoming a society of quick results, instant meaningless interaction and detached individuals. Sure, you can see, at nearly any hour of the day, where I am, where I’ve been or where I’m going. You can read my rants and my musings, but you don’t know me. You can’t. You don’t hear my tone – though I try to write exactly how I speak. You don’t know the depth of my emotion – though I do attempt to be most honest. You don’t know if I like you, or merely tolerate you. You don’t know if I’m happy or if I’m a good actress. You don’t know if my facebook is real, or a best first impression.

You. Don’t. Know. Me.

So why do we do it?

My best answer is to stay current. To be relevant. And out of fear of becoming obsolete in this ever-changing, fast-paced society. And I think I’m not alone in this theory. As I watch and surf the World Wide Web and all the products that go with it, I see a shift. As we saw technology and cell phones get smaller and chicer, it didn’t last and we now see them getting bigger and almost reversing their path. We’re seeing the newest technology become video enabled to connect face-to-face instead of through 140-character conversations. Skype and 2-way video interface has become mainstream. This has to be a shift as a result of needing more human contact. We aren’t robots, we need facetime. It’s the basis of our being. We must have emotion and sensitivity to negotiate, to emulate, and to build any lasting connection. Without these things, we are merely words on a page. The ultimate unrequited relationship. What’s the point?

As I attempt to continue staying abreast of the newest apps and gizmos – which I do find valuable and important, I also realize I need time to step back and work on the friendships I enjoy. I need to grow them and nurture them. This cannot be done with text messages and retweets. This can only be done with sincerity and honesty and that can only be accomplished with real voices and facial expressions. So as convenient and accessible the internet is, I’m working to put it down. At least for a time. So I can refocus and prioritize.

I hope you can do the same.

FAMILY IN CALI

I've just returned from the first family-of-four TRUE vacation. Airplanes, cars, theme parks, the whole she-bang. And I have to admit that aside from what you might think...travelling with kids is truly a whole other animal. And yes, I do need a vacation after that.

The thing about traveling with kids, and as a family, is that you need to let go of the idea that 'vacation equals relaxation'. You need to let it go. For years to come. This is NOT that kind of vacation.

Of course it's fun, and exciting. Of course! But it's also busy, stressful and overwhelming. And this coming from someone who is a planner. Yes, I planned the exact rides, in order, that I believed to be most efficient at Disneyland. Mock if you must, but that's how I keep it together.



As I spent weeks planning, reading, and researching the web, magazines and picking the brains of my friends on how to most sanely embark on a 5-day beach vacation with a day at Disney wedged in, I learned a lot. But I learned most by being there, doing it. It's kind of like that logic about parenting kids. You can tell them all you want, but they need to figure it out on their own.

So, if you are interested, take this information with a grain of salt and add it to your arsenal of what to-do and what not to-do.

FLIGHT DETAILS: Flight to San Diego. We decided to stay in SAN because we'd been there before and it was less than a 3 hour flight. Manageable and not insanely expensive. Using miles to discount 2 flight tickets, all four of us were able to travel for a total of $540!

I speak from experience on this one. Unless you want to be the people paged on the loud speakers at the airport, be at the gate at LEAST 45 minutes prior to your flight time. Regardless of when they say they are boarding, many times, they can board early and you don't need the extra stress, embarrassment and anxiety of the other passengers boring holes in your head as you are holding up the flight that was supposed to be departing early. Those big ol' Britax carseats are not a quick install on an airplane.

The flight is easy if quick, and as long as you have a couple color books, and some suckers, it's a piece of cake. The suckers are long lasting and relatively safer than gum for easing ear pain in 2 year olds...in my opinion.

CAR RENTAL: We saved a ton of cash by booking our car rental through Costco...I'd recommend it. For 5 days car usage, we paid $118 for a FULL SIZED car - 2010 model. Of course it helps to book over a Saturday and planning your return time earlier than your pickup time (insane but a true money saver), but we shopped around several companies and found Costco to be as much as $60 cheaper! And if you only use Costco for your car rental, you just broke even on your annual membership.

SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS: To accommodate a family of four, the lodging decision is HUGE! Most people I know don't want to sleep at 7:30pm, when they put their kids down, so some kind of a hotel with suite amenities is usually required. The cost of this can quickly eat up your vacation budget, so I recommend using private rentals. We stay in Oceanside (30mi North of San Diego and on the sand) to take advantage of renting a condo. For $120/nt we can get a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with full kitchen, and use of pools and hot tubs. This includes our parking and we walk to the beach.

FOOD: When planning a vacation, you always spend too much on food. I like to make an itinerary that allows me to plan out our meals. Since we stay in a rental with a kitchen, I plan to cook some easy meals and got a weeks groceries at a nearby Trader Joes and Target for a total of $70! This particular week's shopping trip consisted of 5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, snacks and drinks...for a family of 4! This still allowed us a couple meals out and we made a point to enjoy some treats and ice cream when out and about.



ENTERTAINMENT: Everyone thinks that if you go to San Diego, or California for that matter, you MUST visit all the theme parks. At $100 a ticket, that's hardly realistic. Plus, many parks aren't always age appropriate. As much as I'd love to have dragged the kids to Universal Studios, how much could they truly have enjoyed it? Also, with annual memberships to my local zoos, the kids see enough wild animals to keep them from being phased at passing on the big expensive national zoos.

A beach trip is a) easy, b) massively inexpensive and c) highly accessible. There are no constrictive hours or lines to combat. There are no tickets or costly extras. And the best part? There is rarely any disappointment! The kids love it! There are endless hours of entertainment to be had on a beach, especially the soft, warm, sandy ones like in Oceanside. Or most of California. Saving so much money by planning to take advantage of our central beach location allowed us to surprise our kids with a single day at Disneyland! The big kahuna of California theme parks. Read on...

DISNEYLAND ON A DIME: Ok, first, it costs more than a dime. But in comparison to what it could have cost, or what this entire vacation could have cost... you catch my drift...

Have you checked the ticket prices for Disney lately? My under-3 little guy is free. But Sis clocks in at $89 and adult prices are $99 each. So nearly $300 just to get into the gates! But wait... try Craigslisting some discount and you will quickly find a "broker" system. Unsure about the legalities of this system, but you basically borrow someone else's multi-day pass. We paid $50/ticket for each of us - minus Buddy. And saved $150! We quickly spent that money inside the park, but it didn't feel quite so painful.

In addition to finding ticket discounts, we also reduced the need to splurge in the park shops by bringing some of our "souvenirs" from home. Target often has great Disney items in their $1 and $2 dollar bins (like the Toy Story water bottles that you can wear on your neck for a clearance price of $1.25 each). Walmart was a great source of Disney t-shirts for me and the kids. Since tees are being clearanced out, I bought a total of 3 t-shirts for $15. My shirt was regular price at $7...compared to the $30 price tag in the park! You can similarly save money using ebay or other stores. Also, beware that the parks' Bibbity Bobbity Boutique store sells girls' princess dresses for $65! I almost choked! You can buy those same dresses in the toy section of Target for $20...but often times less. Try the post-Halloween clearance rack to stock up on dress up favorites or your next trip to Disneyland.

Another big cost saver was taking our own pictures. But that's a no brainer here.

After all was said and done, we did spend some good money in the park, though well under $200. It helps to plan out your in-park meals, forgoing character meals (ranging from $20-60 per person!). We really liked the del Zocalo restaurant for large portions that pleased both us and the kids. And for meals in a $10 price range. We brought goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, water bottles and crystal light packets to stay satisfied and hydrated on the cheap.

We did choose to pay for stroller rentals, autograph books, mouse ears and other food treats like corn dogs, Dole whips and popcorn in souvenir buckets -- all marked up considerably, of course. But we wrote it off as a justified splurge. You can really only cut so many corners. And it was a first time for the kids, so we wanted it to be as easy and accommodating as we could handle. Maybe the mouse ears were more for me, but it was my vacation too.

In the end it's really about average expense, isn't it? You have a budget and can allocate costs accordingly. Some may choose to up their accommodations for favor of using free entertainment. Others might plan on multi-theme parks and choose to camp or limit other spending. There's a dozen ways to make it work.

So there you have it. Five days in Southern California for a budget-conscious family of four. Vacations are a believed necessity for me. And although Husband and I may disagree on it's requirement, he's been pretty great about allowing it. As long as we can come to an agreed budget and still have a great time, what is there to argue about?

OH, SUMMER

We have been busy. Actually, that's an understatement. We've been insanely busy trying to check off all our summer plans. Does this defeat the idea of summer? Hmm...one to ponder another day, from a chaise lounge perhaps.

With this great couple weeks of sunny days, we've moved outside and dine al fresco -- three meals a day. Yep, even morning bowls of cereal. The kids love it, it's less mess (scraps go to the dog - so the dog loves it) and my floors stay cleaner longer than one afternoon. Here's some of my favorite eats, as I'm cooking them up with wreckless abandon.

Meltaway Pork Ribs
Grilled Chicken with Pico de Gallo
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Greek Pasta Salad
Classic Potato Salad
Guacamole
...as well as pretty much anything you can fit in a corn tortilla. Happy Dining!

BAKING LIKE A MANIAC

It's that time of year. It's cold outside, so you'll find me standing in front of the oven. I have a list of Fall essentials but always feel amped up to try something different to enhance my culinary expertise.

I just pulled come Banana Loaf from the oven and popped a in a Chess Pie to take it's place. I've already satisfied the Fall Fruit Crisp requirement and have Pumpkin Bread and buckets of Granola on the horizon.

No doubt, there will be some cookies and cakes making their way through the hot-box with parties and birthdays popping up.

In case you are interested in what I'm cooking up, head to my recipe blog ANOTHER RECIPE. Most recipes are handed down and modified by myself. Some slightly, some massively. I love browsing AllRecipes.com for ideas and there is an awesome community offering great feedback on recipe adaptations.

Happy Baking!

A PERFECT GETAWAY

We just returned from our second trip to Seaside, OR. What a great time to be there! We feared for arctic October weather conditions, but were thrilled at upper-60's. On the coast? I'll take it.

Many people have asked about where we stay, so I thought I'd toss the info to you all in case you are looking for a couple nights away from home.

We love a little house in Seaside on 1521 Beach Dr. It's managed from a rental company, along with 22 others. The properties range from cozy bungalows (like ours) to expansive waterfront homes. Most home can accommodate 6 and up to 10 people. Rates are competitive, but we go off season to save a couple bucks and avoid the 4-nt minimum stay.

Pur little bungalow is a 3 bed, 2 bath home with kitchen and living room. This home allows a total of 6 people. We liked this particular house because it is literally less than a block to the sand. It's positioned perfect for a lower rate. It's super lovely. The house details are featured on the website. The off-season rate is $140/nt. The summer rates are two-something with a 4 night minimum rental. The last time we went to Seaside, we went in May off-season, but October off-season was better weather.

I highly recommend you check it out! CLICK HERE!

TOOTING MY OWN HORN

Ok, have you seen this website? Parent Hacks is a cool site dedicated to all the tricks and ideas for easier parenting. Fun to look at and incorporate other's innovative ideas. AND...my hack made it on the website. Check me out here.