iPhonography: my 2 cents.

an ironically untouched iPhone photo

So, I'm sure there are a crap ton of people out there that are bored to death of overfiltered and overedited iPhone photos. 

I. Am. Not. One. Of. Them. 

Boy, I tell ya...as much as I love my big bangarang camera, my camera phone has saved my life in many a situation.  Literally, and figuratively.

This one time, my car died {yes, my husband is a mechanic...go figure} in a not-so-great area of town, and if I didn't have my phone, I probably would have been raped and pillaged.  Or, some nice passerby would have stopped to help. But, whatever...for the sake of drama, let's go with the former theory. M'kay?

Anywho, that derned camera phone is too accessible and functional for day to day life photography to be ignored. 

Don't get me started on all those bomb diggity apps to edit, filter, embellish, and bling out your pics.

In the strong case for iPhonography, I am a more is more kind of girl.  You can't add too much masking tape, or faux bokeh, or tilt shift.  I get crazy-giddy just thinking about it.

Seriously, my pulse is quickening as we speak. 

totally edited

So, for those of you that are on board...I will give you the long-short list of my favorite photo apps {in no particular order}:

1. Instagram...duh. 
2. Hipstamatic
3. Snapseed
4. Phonto
5. Labelbox
6. Big Lens
7. Diptic
8. PicFrame
9. maskingtape
10. Montage
11. LensLight
12. Camera+/Camera+ Pro
13. Smilebox
14. Dramatic B&W
15. Filterstorm

Good luck with your own iPhonography adventures! 

Ahhhhhhh...

Well, the holidays are over, and I feel I can breathe now that order has been loosely restored to the House of Grebe.  I had a post all worked out for today, but I have plum run out of time, and need to scoot off to pick up Rosie from school.

So, I thought I'd show you some of our 2011 family photos taken by my friend, Brenda.  She never disappoints. 

Also, I will have a giveaway coming up shortly, and lots of news, and funny little stories, as well as, our master bath reno to share.  I'm back, baby. 

Is it me? Or are those some of the cutest little humans you've ever seen?

Why, yes...yes, they are.

Peace out ladies and gents, and buckle up.  It's going to be a bumpy ride

Oh, and one more thing...you can find me on Pinterest and Instagram under Oddgirloutblog.  Fun, fun!

Tale of a tripod.

I took on the daunting task of taking some photos of the whole fam damily with the help of a tripod, and, my friend, Hollie firing the shutter.  I had the remote with me, but I felt better with a human pushing the button.  Sometimes, I don't like to rely solely on technology. 

The weather was cloudy, we had pelting rain 5 minutes before we did this {believe it or not}, the kids were acting like nut balls, and my Dad was worried about the rain droplets on his truck showing up in the photos.  They're not the sharpest or greatest {technically speaking}, but I think they're pretty rad.  I know, I know, I'm a bit biased. 

I cannot even tell you how long it's been since my sister and I had a photo taken with just my mom and dad.  Maybe our weddings? 

AAAAAND, I flipped when I saw how tall I was in that bottom picture.  GIANT!  A six footer to be exact. 

I was also struck with how freaking cute my Mom and Dad are.  They're still in their 30s, right?  Because that's how I see them.  Probably always will. 

So, that's it.  With a tripod...even an endeavor this lofty IS possible.  Who'da thunk?

Yum!

You have to try this...

-whole wheat bread
-nutella
-peanut butter
-toasted marshmallow cream {yes, there IS such a thing}

I wanted to add some sliced banana, but, alas, we were plum out. 

It is soooooo good.  Guaranteed to turn a frown upside down.

One more thing...

if you have a spare moment go HERE.

My newest adventure is about to begin.  :)

I {heart} faces - props

I decided to try my hand at the 'I Heart Faces' photo challenge this week.  The theme is props, and for this particular theme you do not need a visible face in the photo, just a body.  This is probably my favorite photo I've taken to date, and I thought the wagon made it very 'proppy'.

Insta-mania.

I don't have a whole lot of time today, so, I though I'd share a few from my Instagram arsenal with you.

On Sunday, we got kicked out of the pool due to thunder.  The skies got craaaaaazy shortly after.  I took this in our driveway, and then took shelter.  It was spooky.

Rosie lost the ribbon to her tap shoes.  I, of course, wasn't told until 2 minutes before she walked into the studio.  This is called mom improvisation.  I found a party favor bag in my purse and made it work.  It's not the prettiest thing, but it got the job done.

Pete got this amazing hat from my pal, Tara of My Crochet Obsession.  He pretends he's in The Avett Brothers when he wears it.  Is it sick to be proud of that?  Because...well, I am.

This photo sums up my two boys' dispositions beautifully.  My oldest, Jake, is sitting patiently waiting for his slushie and burger at Bob's Drive-In.  Pete, on the other hand, is laying on the patio in the background writhing around.  Good gravy!

Our little Willie.  She likes me.  A lot.  Too much.  Rosie likes her.  A lot.  Too much.  Because as Rosie carries her around everywhere, pushes her in a stroller, and is so close to putting doll clothes on her, Willow seems to grow more attached to me.  Funny how that works.  Rosie traumatizes the puppy, the puppy falls more in love with her 'momma'.  Again, good gravy!

Have you heard of these?  Apparently, I'm behind the times.  They. Are. Amazing.  Go get yourself some.  Now.  Here.

Betsy came upstairs yesterday in this.  She put it on all by herself.  It's my shirt, but on her it looked like a muumuu/caftan thing. Instantly, I thought of Mrs.Roper from Three's Company.  If only her crazy hair was red, and she had some plastic jewelry on...she'd be a dead ringer.  I'm smelling an epic Halloween costume. What are the chances of finding Pete a leisure suit?  Can you say, Stanley?

If you're on Instagram, I'd love to have some new followers {oddgirloutblog}.  If you're not on Instagram, what are you waiting for?  You need another time suck, right?

Exciting stuff...

I try not to pimp my LITTLE photog business too much on the blog.  Word of mouth is a place I like to be.  But, I had to share something pretty great with all of you.  I'm doing a couple of blocks of mini-sessions at a secret {super amazing, incredibly beautiful}location in South County on July 24th and July 31st.  The minis will begin at 4pm and the last session will be at 7:30pm.  I already have several slots booked, so if you want pricing info or you want to book a session, email me!  This is a great way to get fabulous, natural light photos at an affordable price.

Also, if you or someone you know is having a newbie...I just got my hands on some great new props in my newborn/infant arsenal.  Take a look at a few {and that pram is the REAL deal}:

The owl hat {pictured with the 'baby' nest}, the elf hat, and the strawberry hat are all made by Tara at My Crochet Obsession {and on Facebook}.  

Random randomness in bullets.

image via Gimme Me Some Oven

• Thank you, Crystal for showing me the light, and by that, I mean 'cake batter rice krispie treats'.
• Thank you, Trish for being concerned about us in Missouri.  Fortunately, we are hours away from the devastation.  What a heartbreaking tragedy.  Mother Nature knows no bounds.

image via MSNBC

• I like engagement sessions.  Super fun!

• I like to laugh.  Especially at Facebook.  I am its biggest fan and strongest opponent all at the same time.  Certain types of status updates are a favorite topic of conversation around here.

• I cannot and will not stop listening to this song.  I love Johnny.  Love, love, love.

• Last week of school means craziness.  Cuckoo, nuts, psycho.
• That is all.

Here's to the littles {and not so little anymore} that make us moms.

Without them our name wouldn't be 'Mom'.  Hope every momma had a fantastic day yesterday!


**all photos by yours truly**

Too cool.

It is pretty clear she is a rock star.

She is getting more and more independent every day.

Case in point, she put her own nightgown on in these photos.

Sure, it's inside out and backwards, but she did it herself.

She has quite a love affair with my shades as of late, too.

And, as every knows, it's a unique fashion sense and a great pair of sunglasses that makes one a rock star.

Now, if only she could work out a guitar...

Things I like...

1. The American Flag


2. Getting the boys new tennis shoes, mostly because you would have thought I gave them a shoe box full of gold instead of sneakers.


3. The RESULTS of exercise and eating better.  

4. 4-year-olds who endlessly talk into a staticy walkie-talkie of which there is no pair.


5. Little boys who pretend they don't like their mother's hugs.

6. Clean, tight sheets.


7. Fiber.


8. Lush.

The End.

Some randoms.

I've been taking a lot of photos, lately.  That is a good thing.  

Surprisingly, I get more done with gobs of photos to edit that someone paid me for.

It forces me to prioritize.

Time for laundry, cleaning, photo processing, laundry, cooking, laundry.

Laundry.

That last photo is of Jake.

I was not paid to take that one.

In money, anyway.

Maybe with hugs and smiles, but no dollars.

That photo is why I love taking pictures.

If you do it right...you capture the essence of the person.

Forever.

That photo is sooooo Jake.

Quiet, thoughtful, introspective, sensitive, empathetic.

All right there frozen in a moment.

I can't believe he's going to be 10 in May.

I'm not old enough to have a 10 year old.

Am I?

One a much different note...

my friend Jeanne {above} needs your help.

She is a wife, and mother to two littles.

This past July, Jeanne got diagnosed with breast cancer.

But, she attacked it!

After taking an aggressive approach to fight it, she is now a survivor!

She is a tough nut to crack!

Here's where you can help Jeanne.

Major League Baseball's 'Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer' campaign is having a bat girl contest.

She needs votes to become the honorary bat girl for the St.Louis Cardinals.

Her kids would love to see their momma help our home team!

She definitely deserves it!  

Go HERE to vote for Jeanne.

You do not need to be local.

ANYONE can vote!

You don't have to register.

It takes 10 seconds.

For realz.

Incidentally, she is doing the Susan G. Komen 3-day Race for the Cure.

60 miles in 3 days!

Surviving breast cancer AND challenging your body to do 60 miles in 3 days!

See?  Tough!

For more information click the photo below...

And, if you're interested in helping Jeanne's team reach their fundraising goal, 

click HERE.

Nellie.

Shut up...

I don't believe it that kids can be so edibley cute.

I, also, can't believe that I finally learned to use my camera, 

and Photoshop with some kind of efficiency & a small amount of 'know-how'.

Just enough to turn out some pretty special photos for very special people.

Finally, I cannot believe people I know trust me to capture such special moments.

Thank you Julie & Emily for lending me your littles.

It means so much.

I wouldn't want to be pursuing my hobby on any other subjects.