WW: My New Camera & Dada's Birthday

Yes, it's true! I finally got my camera! Thanks to my mom, Dada, and Uncle Sam, it's mine!!! And I absolutely love it. I'm taking pictures of everything! Luckily, Dada's birthday trip came along around the same time, so I had some beautiful scenery to take pictures of! So, I'm just going to share a few of my favorites below.

And to share, I got the Canon Rebel T2i. Just the standard lens for now, I'm ready to upgrade already!! Any suggestions on what lens to get first?

Dada and I haven't been on a trip just the two of us since before Digger was born (over 5 years ago!!). So we finally made it a priority. We rented a cabin in the mountains in North Georgia (near Ellijay). Even though it was freezing cold, it was still beautiful! I would love to go back in fall to catch the leaves changing and spring for the new flowers blooming! It was amazing.

I played with my camera a lot there of course. Here's some of my favorite photos from the trip!

The view on the way to the cabin

Dada got some fishing in.

A river swing.

A handmade railing leading into the river.

Dada loves the water.

Dinner on night one.

Coffee on the porch.

Not a bad view. :)

I just loved this little sign.

Playing rummy with Dada.

A cute birdhouse hanging off the cabin.

Not so easy to shoot yourself with this camera. But here it is! We had a great time!

A gorgeous sunset the night before we left.

That's a wrap! I would love some feedback on these photos! Also, check out other great photos at the links below! Happy Wednesday!

Nicole

W(ordful)W: My Fitness Pal

Hi blog friends!

I figured today would be a good day to talk about my weight loss and exercise routine. This is week #3 of this new routine. I must say, I'm still loving it! I feel so good. I have energy. I'm losing weight! I'm really excited that I'm still motivated this far into it.

I do have to give Dada credit. As I mentioned in the last post, Dada and I now get to go to the gym about 4 days a week together. It definitely keeps us both going. We enjoy the time together and it holds us both accountable. Plus there's a small element of competition. If we have to go the gym separately, then I know for me, I'm gonna go just so he can't say, I went and you didn't.

At the gym, we are doing combinations of cardio and strength training. We both love the elliptical, so that's usually our cardio. We do strength training on various body zones each day. So one day cardio + arms/chest/back and another day cardio + legs. I always try to throw in abs every workout as well. Dada ordered the Ab Circle Pro and that is usually his ab workout. He loves it. I don't love it for myself. I'm not sure if I'm doing it wrong or what, but I just don't feel like I'm getting a good ab workout. We also try to swim once a week. That's a great full body workout! And it burns a ton of calories! On our fourth day we try to do something different. We don't always, but we are trying different things. We've talked about walking up Kennesaw Mountain or playing racquetball. Just to shake things up!

At home, we are watching what we eat and counting calories. Normally, I fail at this method after a few days. I hate counting calories. This time though, I've found a solution. Myfitnesspal! It is a diet tracker and calorie counter. It's available on the website, as a phone app, as well as on Facebook as an app. I LOVE IT! I cannot say enough good things about it! It makes the whole process kinda fun!

To register on the app, you enter your age and weight (maybe height too, I can't remember). You also decide how much weight you want to lose each week or if you want to maintain your current weight. It uses this to calculate the number of calories you need to eat each day to accomplish that goal and be healthy. So it'll post your daily calorie goal and then you just have to try to stay within that goal. You enter your exercises and your food intake and it will calculate it for you!

To describe in more detail...Basically, you can enter your workout and it will calculate the number of calories you burned based on the info you put in when you register and the amount of time you spent on the workout. You can also enter the food that you've eaten and it will keep track of your calories for you. It makes it super easy. And the best part about it, you can scan the bar code on your food with your smartphone and it will enter all the nutrition info so you don't have to! It also has a large database of foods to search if you can't find your exact product.

Here's an example:
My daily calorie goal is 1200
I ate 344 calories so far today
I burned 213 calories doing cardio today
So, I have 1069 calories remaining that I can eat today
(1200-344=856+213=1069)

No math skills necessary! It does it all for you!

I also like that it has an option to blog on the website as well as invite your friends and it will share your success with them! To share mine with you, so far I've lost 6 pounds!

So if you haven't figure it out, I would totally recommend this app for anyone wanting to keep track of their calories, diet and exercise routine! And did I mention, all this is FREE!

I hope this was helpful and/or motivating! If you use myfitnesspal, send me an invite to be your friend! I'd love to share in your success! My username is psychick1

Happy Wednesday!!

Nicole

WW-Call it a Comeback

Yea, I didn't stick to one word of my last post, did I? I tell ya, not having a good camera really makes it hard to stay motivated to update your photography blog. So, no empty promises today. I feel like posting today, so I will. If I feel like posting again, I will. Hopefully, I'll get the ball rolling...THEN we can call it a comeback.

So a few new things going on:

1) I am saving up to buy my dream camera. I'm pretty close, so I'm thinking that maybe the blog will pick up once I have it. I'm hoping to have it soon. I've even had a request for a photo shoot. That's big motivation to hurry up and get it!

2) I've been working out! No, it's not a New Year's resolution. I refuse to call it that. I was motivated before the new year, I just didn't start until the new year. I'm ready to lose weight, eat better, and be healthy. Dada and I have been going to the gym together, also taking the older boys when they are with us. We are shooting for four days a week and so far have been sticking to it. We are on Week 2, Day 2 as of today. I've already lost 3 pouinds! I'm super excited and I'm feeling so good! It's also nice to spend so much time with Dada everyday! I'm thinking of adding this adventure to the blog. Pictures of the journey...hmmm...yea, I don't know about that one yet. But at least the story would be fun to share! I know your encouragement would help too!

3) Dada took a new job. It was a promotion, as well as a move to a new company. He seems to like it. I am liking his new schedule. It's more predicatable and it allows for us to be able to do our 4 day a week gym plan.

Well folks, I think that's a wrap for today! Give me some comment love and motivate me to come back to blogging!

Oh, and I do have some pictures for today! This is Sissy and Digger playing recently! He misses seeing his Sissy, so he had lots of fun with her!

Happy Wednesday!

Nicole

You Capture: Peace

I know. Don't even say it.

I come back. Announce I'm back to blogging. And then...nothing.

I have no excuses. BBB-Bad Blogger Behavior.

I apologize.

Now...I've been feeling very uninspired. I did have a wonderful Labor Day celebration with my extended family and I had a pretty good camera to play around with. Yes, mine is still broken. So I got a few shots they happen to tie into the theme at You Capture this week- Peace.

I must say that the entire experience of being at Pat and Joe's represents peace for me. This is Dada's aunt and uncle's house. We often gather there for holiday cookouts with a huge crowd of family! Being there I am so relaxed and comfortable.

I love the hour long drive that just takes me miles away from everything that's been bugging me. And although there is tons of people, which would normally make me a little nervous and feel chaotic-I feel completely calm. I'm surrounded by family who could care less what I'm wearing, what my hair looks like, etc. I'm also surrounded by trees and acres of open land. I get to watch Digger and the other kids just let loose and run, play, laugh, whatever. Peace...yes, absolutely.

Not to mention, it's a great opportunity to get some pics! And that always puts me at peace.

Here's a few pics from our peaceful Labor Day.

When I first saw the You Capture theme, this picture popped in my mind. What could be more peaceful?

Digger's first up close encounter with a horse. They are such sweet and gentle animals.

My big boy swam with NO floaties! Big moment!

We also celebrated Granny's 89th!

And Deven's 18th!

It was also a good chance to bond with Dada! :)

Check out other great peaceful pics at the link below!

You Capture

Nicole

Funny Friday #5: Pretend School

Ok, so big changes coming up in our world this month! Digger is starting Pre-K and if all goes well, Lonnie is starting a new online high school program. I'm excited and nervous about all these changes...but mostly, they just make me tired. I like sleep. I like it a lot. So, getting up at 6 o'clock every (EVERY) morning, does not sound fun to me. But a Mommy's job has to be done!

Basically, what I realized, is that Digger is not the only one that needs to get ready for school. I need to get ready for the changes school is going to bring to our house.

The plan started with the simple idea that we need to get into a routine similar to our school routine. We need to wake up early, have breakfast, get dressed. And yes, these things normally happen in our house, but on their own, usually later in the day, kind of way.

The second part of the plan was to have 'pretend school' and do things like Digger will in school. So we had circle time, story time, group activities, nap, etc., all on a schedule similar to his school.

So today was our first day of 'school.' Digger has done well so far. He got up early on his own and ate a little breakfast. When I turned off the tv and the computer though, suddenly, he doesn't like this whole school thing anymore. It was funny but...

I was a little disappointed that he wasn't as excited as I was. But I pressed on and we started circle time. We talked about what circle time is in real school and what they might talk about. Suddenly, this got exciting! Now, we need a classroom full of other friends (because that's how real school will be!). So, Digger grabbed all his Batman toys and he spread them around the floor in a circle. After all the 'students' were in place, we started our day. It was very cute and back to being funny!

This is our 'class' in circle time. FYI-I'm in process of grouting the floor, that's what the white stuff is!

We also had recess and snack time and in group we talked about school and what it will be like and what will be expected. Digger was so into this, he had a little accident. But always ready to make it a learning moment- we talked about raising your hand and asking to go to the potty at school, which he did!

As a part of center time, I'm blogging, while Digger plays a game. Then on to another group activity to talk about letters! In the group, we reviewed our letters, sang the alphabet and compared big letters to little letters.

Next we had music and movement time. Some songs chosen by Digger were: 'ABC's', 'Gorilla, Monkey, Elephant, Lion, Hippopatomus', 'Bad Boy', 'Fire Chuck E. Cheese', 'Apple, Strawberry, Mixed with Banana', 'Johnny Test,' 'Batman', 'Hulk,' 'Blue Beetle', and 'Rex'. All songs were based on nearby toys that attracted his attention. He made up songs to go with each one.

Here's an example of some lyrics:
"Hulk is running.
He meets his Thor.
They fly off.
Hulk turns into Thor.
And then he changes back into Hulk."

To complete the picture in your mind- remember there was singing, dancing, clapping, and appropriate toy props to act out the songs :) He was so into this, that he called me teacher instead of Momma too :)

Digger is so funny! Now it's lunchtime! It's been a super fun and funny friday of pretend school! I'm so happy that it went so well!

Happy Friday!

Nicole

Where in the world...

have I been?

I know, you've been up nights wondering. Sorry for those sleepless nights...I'm back now! You can go sleep! Well...read the blog first, then go sleep.

Ok. So...let me explain why I haven't blogged in so long.

I know, I know. I hear the cynicism in your thoughts already. I am NOT going to give you a typical round of excuses of why I haven't blogged. I have a good reason. No, really.

Last month, my husband (aka Dada) had to have major emergency surgery. I would give details...but 1) I'm sure he doesn't want me sharing his medical history online with strangers, and 2) it's kinda gross. LOL. Anyway, he had surgery at the beginning of June. He was supposed to be in the hospital a few days and then come home for about a month of recovery. Well, things didn't go so well. After he returned home, a few days later he developed an abscess. In hopes of keeping him out of the hospital and a faster recovery, we opted for outpatient surgery to drain the abscess. Dada spent a week with pain in the front (from 1st surgery) and pain in the back (from 2nd surgery). He was miserable. Finally, back at the hospital, the drain is ready to be removed. They knew they had knicked a blood vessel placing it, so they were prepared to deal with that on removal. They were not prepared to find out an artery was knicked!! They then had to do another emergency surgery to close that artery so that they could remove the drain. And breathe....so, now he has recovered from all that and returned to work for half days.

So, that's been my summer! Not exactly the beaches, bathing suits, and sunshine I was hoping for.

And caring for him, as well as the rest of the household, and working full time...I've been a little overwhelmed. My camera is still broken. My washing machine is broken. My dog ran away. Just to add to the fun. It's been a little hard to fit blogging in as well.

So, I hope you will all forgive me. I will be blogging again now. But things will have to be a little different...cause you know, this is a photography blog, and the camera is still broken. However, Dada surprised me today, letting me in on a late birthday present secret. He's started making payments on a fancy new camera for me! I'm very excited!

I have a few ideas up my sleeve for blog topics. I'm happy to be back and with a healthier family! I will see you guys soon!

Nicole

Funny Friday #4

I figured it was about time for some laughs! Here's Funny Friday #4:
1) Digger brushing his teeth. He swishes the water and spits.

"Was that a cool spit Momma?"


At least he's doing it right! Whatever it takes, lol.

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2) One of my favorite things to hear Digger do is sing songs. Most songs he knows are from his favorite tv shows. We were in the kitchen, he was playing on my phone while I put groceries away.


"I'm getting so s-'cited (excited),
Are we there yet? Are we there yet?
I just can't wait much longer.
Are we there yet? Are we there yet?


Maybe you had to be there, but trust me, funny!!

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3) Digger came in from playing outside in the ridiculous Hot-lanta heat.


Dada: "Want some water to cool you off?""
Digger: "No, I want coke to cool me off."
a few minutes later...
Digger: "Dada, I need some donuts to cool me off too."

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No pictures today, as my camera is still broken :(


Have you had anything funny happen this week? Share with me! And link up with Curious Georgi!


  

Nicole