Before & After: Look to the Sky

After:

Before:

Click below for more captures shown in their before and after forms. Have fun!

Sky Watch Friday: Sunset

The first shot is not edited because honestly I enjoyed the view. It was a gloomy day that was ending with a beautiful sunset and that is just what I captured. It's another you pick though. I'm not sure if I have a favorite. I quite enjoy the second which I tweaked only a little but I always enjoy hearing what you like too. Let me know what you think and please enjoy.

Click here for other Sky views.

Before & After: V is for Vulture

It was such a nasty day with grey skies and vultures in the air. Yes, vultures. Unfortunately a fish came up on shore and in came two vultures. One was doing its business while the other circled above. Here are my shots. The quality is..eh...not great, but I wanted to share the photos anyway. I hope you like them! Enjoy!

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

For more before and after shots please take a look at Pixel Perfect or click the button below. Thanks!

UPDATE:

Check out BIG Sister I Want to Be Just Like You an extra Before & After!

Simplicity Photo Challenge: Water

So I almost went to my faucet and took a picture of dripping water because I am honestly not sure if my lake photos are getting old or not. I love them and I love being lazy enough to open up the door and take a few shots (while the kids run out quickly onto the patio and I swoop them back up to get away from the wind and chill of the morning). I mostly take morning shots simply because I think it's more beautiful. The color seems to be more refreshing and vibrant. I did edit these photos a little bit by brightening them up and saturating the color (a bit more in the first than the second. I believe I took a little shadow out of the second to show off the beauty of the lake color). So here they are, my lake shot for the photo challenge water. My favorite and pick is the first shot. I tried to at least get you a different angle. I hope you like!

My favorite of the two:

The more traditional straight on:

(Okay, with a little angle in there. I had to get those clouds)

For more water shots please take a look at Simplicity. Click below:

(And yes, now that I look at these photos together I'm not sure which one I like. Hmmm..I'm not a good decision maker....can you tell?)

Skywatch Friday: Enjoy the View

I really enjoy taking pictures with a beautiful sky as my backdrop for my girls, but I have really enjoyed making the sky the focus as well. When I saw a Friday theme for the sky I thought of these photos right away. They are different, but beautiful in their own colorful way. Please enjoy the view.

Take a look at other beautiful views by clicking here.

Touch Up Tuesday: Beach Play

These photos are the first of many that I took the other day while playing on the beach. These photos were my favorite edits. I love them all, but there is something about this first photo. I wanted to give it a super hero feel because Lorelei was playing on the beach when the water started to come up just a bit and she grabbed everything and ran with everything telling me she saved it from the waves. She loves the beach, until the waves come up. Plus Hannah likes throwing the stuff into the lake to watch it float and Lorelei grabs it quick. Please enjoy my pick for Touch Up Tuesday!

My Pick:

The Edit:

The SOOC:

Because I like sharing I have added more Touch Ups. Please enjoy!

The Edit:

The SOOC:

The Edit:

The SOOC:

Click the button below for more Touch Up Tuesday Entries!

Also, I would like to post Homeschooling Vs. Public School Part 2 today so look out for that. Click on the "Debate" page to find the first debate and many more. As for me, Hannah woke up and we are going to go and blow some bubbles on a windy, windy beach. I do have many more posts I'd like to get in today at some point so look for those too (We've already done some crafts today and I have something left over from last week). Have a great day everyone!

In A Yellow house Photo Challenge: On The Water

I unfortunately am going to admit it took a little bit of time for me to choose photos for this challenge mostly because my archives are FULL of "on the water" photos and because the host at In a Yellow House has the most amazing examples up (take a peak here). In the end I chose the most recent photos and so you don't get too sick of my lake photos I only chose three to share. If you have been to my blog before you may have seen a few. Please enjoy!

If you are new to my blog or just enjoy the lake photos take a look at my most recent Before and After: Sail in the Wind and here for more photos (browse and click).

Mellow Yellow: Hannah and Her Little Yellow Pail

Today on the beach Hannah picked out a little yellow pail to bring along. She filled it with sand, but her favorite activity was LARGE rock collecting. She insisted on carrying it as well. She also insisted on carrying it up the stairs while I basically held her under her armpits so she could make it up. I'm in trouble if Hannah is going to be just as stubborn as her sister, but it was cute watching her have so much fun!

Photos for the Mellow Yellow Link Up:

I just love the cute face she is making.

Collecting her rocks. Her favorite rocks are always the biggest rocks on the beach. She would carry a boulder if she could.

Swinging her yellow pale in the wind.

For more mellow yellow captures check out Mellow Yellow Mondays.

Macro Friday: A Butterfly-Yes This One is Mine

I will first give you a bit of background on why I am sharing this beautiful butterfly with you and it's not just because of the sheer beauty. On Monday I participated in Macro Monday and I shared a photo of a beautiful butterfly perched on a flower at the zoo. Little did I know that my husband "accidentally" deleted my butterfly photo and not only captured a butterfly himself but kept his before it even made it to the desktop. So I shared the beautiful butterfly at the zoo photo and later found out that it was his to share. I made the correction on my post and forged ahead.

Yesterday the girls and I were on the beach taking pictures, playing in the sand and water and having a wonderful time. Butterflies were swooshing over our heads and landing in our neighbors flowers. As I was watching Hannah climb up the stares and putting mommy arm gates up around her I saw the butterfly land on some of the sand toys. I quickly grabbed Miss Hannah and went for it...slowly. I thought for sure the butterfly would flutter away quickly, but he/she hung around for a couple moments while I took a few shots. I hope you like them!

My Favorite:

Although not the closest shot, I enjoy it none the less.

I quite enjoy this one as well.

Click on the Macro Friday button below to see more entries! Also keep a look out as I will be dedicating a post (hopefully today) to my husbands photos from the zoo!

I am also starting to come to the conclusion that my Macro isn't all that Macro.

Before & After: Sail in the Wind

I sat down this morning to check out all of the blogs I am following and noticed a beautiful sailboat outside of my window. I grabbed the camera and off I went. Here is my edit and my SOOC is below. I hope you like it!

After:

Before:

Thank You with a Photo

I want to take a moment to share something beautiful with you. I also want to take a moment to thank my new followers and all of the lovely comments from everyone. I appreciate the time it takes to leave a comment and all of the beautiful things you have said. I hope you enjoy a few more pictures and I want to remind you to take a break. You deserve it. Get a breathe of fresh air, take a bubble bath, read a book (or a magazine or even another blog post), steal a moment for yourself. Enjoy!

What a Beautiful Morning

A calm breeze, beautiful colors and a smooth lake. Ah, I love the beach in the morning. So quiet and serene. Then we come down to take pictures and play. We managed with our inside voices and really enjoyed ourselves. I took more pictures than I probably should have and so naturally I couldn't decide which ones to show you. Please enjoy. A special thanks to Aunt Julie for making the beautiful clothes.