psst...FREE Crater Studs WITH any purchase this weekend

and 15% off this bad boy!

Reshoots are your friend!

circa February 2008.


May 2009.


Pretty dramatic difference right? Pretty much the same camera. Don't be afraid to reshoot!

At this point in time I've *really* started to get a grasp on my camera, my photo style and the importance of day light!!! It took me five minutes to do this reshoot session. The original session took at least 20 minutes.

X marks the spot on the treasure map that is our heart.

^^^^You like that title up there right? I got all poetic on you and ish!


Thought I'd sneak this in here. I've been playing with this idea for awhile. I was thinking of what sort of graduation gift I'd want my child to have (ok. girl child if I had one. Can't really envision my son rocking this) on the eve of new beginnings in college or out there in the world. I was also thinking what gentle reminders do I need to focus on what's important in life.

So I made this based on Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is, your heart will be also."

It's part pirate treasure map/part wisdom. All quirky. All me! Arrgghhh me spiritual matey!!!

And just to get all in your business, what do YOU treasure? Are you putting your efforts in that direction? What are you putting your efforts into? That will tell you what you love.

I'm part pirate/part Dr. Phil today.

I love Happy Music

I'm a big believer in what you feed your soul will show in your actions. Don't get me wrong, I feed my soul junk sometimes (gossip blog or two) but more often than not, I feed my soul good things. Last night I was up working on and packaging orders and just having such a good time and feeling so happy.

I had three songs I kept on a loop that I wanted to share. Happy music. Hope you like them!

Jason Mraz: I'm Yours
Peep the video. He is in his own world just having a BLAST!!!! That was me last night. :D


probably because it reminds me of:

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: Somewhere Over the Rainbow



and nowhere near related but inspirational.

Alicia Keys: Superwoman

I have a camera again!!! Woot! Woot! Woot! See last post for more details.

Here are a couple of pieces that I should have made for the shop like ages ago. I can't even take credit for having finally come up with the idea. A friend wanted me to make a matching necklace for the spiral horn earrings and voila!

Cam Love

Original Camera Broken. Cost: broken heart
Camera on Craig's List. Cost: $30.00
Having the ability to point and shoot at will. Cost: Priceless!!!

I'm still working on getting a Digital SLR but I figured I needed something to hold me over until I could control my bead buying binge long enough to save up some bucks...

Sure you can meet some crazies on Craig's List or as my sister refers to it "That Craig's List" but you can also get an awesome camera for $30!!!

I am sooo happy!!!! Next post will show a couple of pretties in celebration! Nothing big, more like a "duh Nina-Why didn't you make those before" - kinda moment.

Archie is going to choose?!?!?!?

I don't think I can deal. If he chooses won't this be like the end of it all? What hijinx can ensue between Betty and Veronica trying to get him? How will that pain in the butt Reggie go on if he can't try and take Veronica from Archie? Will Jughead still eat hamburgers???

Someone get me a drink to calm down. If you don't know what I'm going on about read more here

I'll be your crazy Aunt Nina!

So I don't know guys. I thought that ever since my camera broke I'd lost my will to blog. I mean, what was I going to do for TaDa Tuesday and Wordless Wednesday?

But then I realized where there is a will, there's a way. This led to the further realization that I just am not inclined to blog. I think I'm just not cut out to do it on a regular basis. And it's not because I give up easily. I tried out for the basketball team four years in a row! I know how to persevere.

Nope - I've realized blogging is just not my thing. So instead of having regular features, I'll be more like that wily relative of yours who shows up at the house unannounced. Just replace house with Google reader. Just call me Aunt Nina! ;D

I'll see you when the mood strikes!

xoxo,
Aunt Nina

Mmmm...Monday 5.11.09

I hope everyone had a great weekend and that all mothers feel loved and appreciated! I do!

So today's Mmm...is Zucchini Patties (photo courtesy of allrecipes.com). These are wonderful!!!! I tried the recipe out like 2 weeks ago and we could not get enough of them in the Beads household!!! They are similar to potato pancakes. Without further ado, here is the recipe as I used it. The recipe on allrecipes.com is a little different. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! We served it with a side of sour cream.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups grated zucchini - I used my food processor. Woot!
  
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, combine the zucchini, eggs, onion, flour, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and salt. Stir well enough to distribute ingredients evenly.
2. Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drop zucchini mixture by heaping tablespoonfuls, and cook for a few minutes on each side until golden.

TaDa!

So since my camera is broken, the new items in my shop are rings I've been meaning to put up for a while but hadn't gotten to (ie. the last new photos downloaded from my camera. lol) yet. I can make the stacking rings in varying amounts but I never got around to putting them in the shop in varying amounts. So that's what I did today. I still have a few more to add I think.

boo...broken camera

Sorry I don't have an Mmmm....Monday for you! It was on my list to do today but I just managed to break my camera somehow. I always thought its end would come at the hands of young Master Beads, not my own. Sigh. I must figure out what to do next.

I hope you all had fabulous weekends.