Taking Bets

Okay blog friends, who wants to start taking bets on when Green St. is going on the market? Dustin would cringe if he heard me say this, but I say end of July. We were hoping it'd be done before Memorial Day Weekend, but.... it never seems to work out that way, does it?
The last time I went over to Green St., before Memorial Day weekend, this is how the kitchen looked.

Since then, the appliances have been installed. At this moment, while I sit on the back patio blogging, Dustin and his dad are working hard at installing the flooring in the living room. Once that is crossed off the to do list, there are only a few more things and we're done!

Place your bets!

Day Dreaming

Nearing the age of 30 (I'll be turning 29 this summer for the first of many times), I am naturally at a point in my life that I hear of a proposal or baby news almost daily. I have to say, it is an exciting age. Though, with so many weddings and baby announcements, I can hardly keep up with the gift giving! So, when Courtney and Mike announced the birth of their baby girl Caitlin Ann, my wheels started spinning. What could be a good baby gift? After some thought, I decided to simply send them a congratulations card. Original, right?? However, inside the card, I told them that I'd be happy to come down to their new home and snap some shots of their little family as a gift from me to them. Though, I warned Courtney that if she wanted me to take pictures, she had to be prepared for my unprofessional talent and amateur skill.
When Caity turned 4 weeks, Courtney took me up on my offer realizing how fast her little girl was growing! So, I headed down to Doylestown on a dreary humid May day to take some pictures.

Meet the Days

I met Courtney and Mike about 6 or 7 years ago when I first starting dating Dustin. See if you can follow.... Courtney is Dustin's brother's wife's sister, or, my sister-in-law's sister. Whatever is easier for you to understand. Mike and I are also connected by 6 degrees in that we went to high school together. Small world, isn't it?

Mike and Courtney are a great couple. They're the kind of couple where it's incredibly evident that they are "best buds." They have fun together, laugh together, obviously love each other, and they are fun to be around. In my book, that says a lot about a relationship. So, naturally, when I heard they were expecting, I was very excited for them.

Nine months flew by (mabye not for Courtney). On March 28th, they welcomed their daughter Caitlin Ann Day into the world.

I had an idea of shots I wanted to get inside, but lighting was hard. Like I've mentioned, I'm by far a "professional photographer." I know hardly anything about technicalities, but enough to know when I'm doing it wrong, and I also have no equipment to handle external factors such as lighting. Despite all of this, Caitlin was patient and sweet as I tried my hardest to get some good shots. Fortunately, she's a gorgeous baby, so it wasn't so difficult to get a good picture of her!

After taking a few shots of her inside, we decided to head outside. Though it wasn't sunny out, natural light sure beats artificial light! We did our best to get some shots without the pacifier, but we can only expect so much from sweet Caity! She was such a trooper.

Certainly, getting a few shots with just dad is priceless. Watching Mike with his little baby girl can just pull tears right out of your eyes. He's so in love with her; there aren't very many words that could articulate a love like his for his little girl.

After looking at this picture, I can absolutely see the resemblence! She's such an adorable little peanut! (So are you, Mike.)

And of course, there is nothing like seeing a mama with her baby. Courtney is a natural, and the love she has for Caity is just as beautiful.

It was fun experimenting with different shots. Courtney and Mike can attest to how difficult it was to make a heart with their hands. When I was taking the pictures, I couldn't decide if it was creative or cheesy. I kinda like it!

And what baby pictures are complete without a shot of those tiny little feet!

Mike and Courtney, thank you so much for allowing me the pleasure of taking pictures of your sweet little family. I wish you all the best and look forward to watching baby Caitlin grow.

Sunday Funday

In my last Green Street post, the kitchen was going in. Dustin and his dad are at Green Street faithfully almost each evening and most of every weekend, but they've been working on small details that many homeowners would not ever realize take so long! So, during my Sunday Funday errands, I decided to swing by Green Street to see how Dustin and Papa John were spending their Sunday.
This is what I found.... I suppose it depends on your personality as to whether or not this would be considered fun??

Getting a closer look at Papa John, my guess is he would not use the adjective "fun" to describe his Sunday.

Or maybe that's just his concentration face?

One of the biggest changes since the last post is the trim. That's what has been the focus since Easter. Between painting, measuring, cutting, installing, painting again, filling nail holes, etc., it takes quite a long time!

If you take a close look at the trim work, you may notice that it's not your standard trim. It's like a work of art.

I know many of you are anxious to see the kitchen come together. We are too! However, since the beginning of installation, the completion has been put on hold due to the counter tops not being ready. So, in the meantime, the uninstalled trim has a home on some beautiful tiled floors (which you can't appreciate in this picture).

Another big change that I haven't shared much of is the front porch. Remember this picture?

Now look...

I don't believe I took many before pictures of the porch, but it has certainly improved a great deal!

Well, that about does it! Next on the list is completing the kitchen. It would be hopeful that Green Street will be on the market (or for rent?) by the end of the month. Fingers crossed!

Enjoy your Sundays! We sure have.

Amateur Photag

Since I was a young girl, I have always had an interest in photography. Despite being type A and having obsessive compulsive tendencies that defy the odds of having an "artsty" personality, the creativity still lives in me somewhere. (Thanks, Mom!) I remember taking Photography 101 in High School. Though it seems that it was only a couple years ago, it's been long enough that digital photography wasn't a part of our every day. I used a very old film camera that had belonged to one of my parents. I learned about aperature, shutter speeds, creating pinholes, the rule of thirds and so on. After taking photographs, I was then delighted to work in the dark room to make my images come to life. Looking back, I realize how great of an opportunity this was. As the years roll past, the term "dark room" will be one that is foreign.

Since that class in High School, I had never taken the time to expand on my photography knowledge, yet the interest continued to fester. I have always had a camera with me; catching moments is something that is, and always will be, very important to me. This is something Dustin learned about me very early on in our relationship. He has never smiled for the camera as much in the past 6 years as he had in the 20 years before we met!

Dustin, being the amazing husband he is, has encouraged me to foster the photag inside me. Two Christmases ago, he bought me an Olympus PEN E-PL1. It's a great first camera being that it has all of the options of a big, bulky professional camera, but it also has the features of a point and shoot.

Now that I am done school and have time on my hands that had previously been devoted to research and studying, I am hoping to learn more about photography. Though I still feel that I know nothing, there is no denying that being behind a camera is, by far, one of my favorite places to be.

In March, I set out to do a "March Photo Challenge". I wasn't able to take a picture for every prompt. Some days were busier than others, but I had fun taking the ones I did. Some prompts were quite challenging and required a creative mind! Here is what I captured.

3.1.12 Self Portrait

3..2.12 Today's Outfit - This was probably one of the hardest prompts for me as far as creativity. I tried so many different shots...

3.3.12 Clouds - I love the sun behind the clouds.

3.4.12 Something Green - Lucky Bamboo

3.5.12 From a High Angle

3.6.12 From a Low Angle

3.7.12 Fruit

(Fruit Blooper)

3.8.12 Bad Habit - 'nough said.

3.9.12 Someone You Love - really liked both of these shots.

3.10.12 A Childhood Memory - my birthday party invitations.

3.11.12 Something Blue

3.12.12 Sunset

3.14.12 Eyes

3.17.12 Technology

3.18.12 Your Shoes

3.19.12 Something Orange

3.20.12 Bokeh

3.21.12 Faceless Portrait - this picture makes me laugh. Being silly in my painting clothes.

3.24.12 Animal - obviously my pictures of animals are a dime a dozen. Here's one I took on the 24th.

3.25.12 Something Pink - early spring!

3.26.12 Sommething Close Up

3.28.12 Flowers

So, there you have it. Despite how much I need to learn about taking pictures, I enjoy it none the less. 

A Brief Update

Dustin and Papa John continue to work hard at Green St. day in and day out. They've spent a lot of time updating the outside, from both the front and back entry ways to new siding, it's really in great shape. This morning, the kitchen was on the agenda. For fun, I thought I'd take before and after pictures for the day. I swung by the house after Mass, but low and behold, half the cabinets were already up! Once the day was over, all cabinets were installed and the flooring was tiled. I'm simply amazed!

Below are a few more shots from today...

Kudos to Dustin and Papa John! Their skill is improving more and more with each project. Next will be grouting, counter tops and back splash. Stay tuned!