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This past week we let the dog start sleeping in Trent’s bed with him. One night I asked him if he wanted Icesis to sleep in the bed with him and he said yes. I called the dog upstairs and got her tucked in the covers with the boy. He was so happy and excited to have her there. We’ve been letting her sleep in there every night since. All of a sudden he has stopped procrastinating at bed time and gives us no problems when we say its time to sleep. It was cute seeing him so excited and curling up with her that first night. Now Icesis is in his room all the time and thinks that Trent’s bed is hers. I don’t think he minds.

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More stuff from Alainn Beaded Jewelry!

Sep 26 2009

The Latest Design

Posted by Marla under Uncategorized | Permalink | Edit Post | Leave A Comment | No Comments

Here is the latest necklace from Alainn Beaded Jewelry! Donna only has enough to make seven of these Lotus Blossom Necklaces, so if you really like it, get in contact with her!

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Today my husband took Trent to the coffee shop around the corner for breakfast. When they got back Trent had a big bouqet of flowers for me. Apparently there is a brand new florist in that little plaza with the coffee place. When they walked by it Trent stopped and looked in the window and said “flowers.” He started walking again then stopped, turned around and pointed at the flowers and said “mommy.” So Garrick asked him if he wanted to get me some flowers and Trent said yes. When they went inside Garrick asked Trent which flowers to get for me, and the little guy kept pointing at a bunch of different flowers. They ended up getting this for me. I was so touched when Trent came in the house with his first bunch of flowers for mommy.

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I am admittedly a geek. I go to Rennaissance Faires dressed in period clothing. I’ve got the corset and the skirts and everything. I try and get something new to add to my costume every year. This year we decided not to go since we have so much going on with trying to buy a house. We have been very busy trying to get ready for it so we figured that we would just wait until next year to don our geekery. Unfortunately we forgot about one thing: Elephants.

Now, you may be asking yourself, what do elephants have to do with going or not going to a Ren Faire. I’ll tell you. Every year at the Maryland Ren Faire they have an elephant that you can pay to ride on. This is a very important matter to my family because my oldest is OBSESSED with elephants right now. If we wait until next year the phase will most likely have passed. Right now, though, if we take him to ride on an elephant it will probably be the most exciting thing to happen to him in his entire two years and two months of life. Some of his favorite movies right now are Dumbo and a documentary about a herd of elephants in Africa. He is all the time telling us that elephants are big. In August I brought him to the National Zoo to see the elephants and he was amazed, it was almost impossible to get him to leave that section. I cannot imagine what his reaction would be to actually riding an elephant. So, we must go.

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I am trying out this new theme for a little while. I thought the site could use a fresh look. I liked this one, it looks simple and clean and has a little bit of visual interest. Might go back to the old one or different one altogether later.

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I have been putting off writing about this for a week, but now that I may have a solution to the problem I may as well get it off my chest. (I seem to treat my blog mostly as a diary) My husband and I are in danger of not being able to purchase the house we want to buy. It looked like everything was going really smoothly. We made an offer, the seller made a counter offer, we accepted. The seller agreed to pay the closing costs. The inspection went without a hitch. Then the appraisal…. (cue dramatic music)

The VA appraiser came in and said that the house is worth 25,000 less than the price we and the seller agreed upon. Eegad! Now the seller is super upset and wants to back out of the deal. Our realtor and mortgage consultant are trying to get the appraisor to reassess the value of the property, but she won’t. Says the house is “average.” The entire thing is very frustrating. So we have been scrambling trying to come up with extra money to cover what we need for a down payment. I’m hoping that an account I opened years ago and forgot about will do the trick. I was dumping money into it for years, and hopefully it will be enough for us to be able to buy the house. Tomorrow I will be making a lot of phone calls and trying to pull strings.

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Trent playing my old Gameboy Advance. We’re raising the next generation of gamers here.

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This is a great list of stuff, but I think there may be some missing….

50 Things You Need To See On The Internet Before You Die

Monday September 21, 2009 1:40 PMIt’s your first day on the Internet, and you have no idea what you’re doing. You have no clue what people are talking about. Peanut butter jelly time? “Star Wars” kid? What is all of this?

Well, don’t worry. We have 50 links that will get you up-to-date on the Internet faster than you can build a website on Geocities. All this stuff is going to litter your inbox soon enough, so you might as well get it over with here. We bring you 50 Things You Need To See On The Internet Before You Die.

50. All Your Base Are Belong To Us
This uber famous text that was taken from the opening cut scene of the 1991 European Sega Mega Drive version of the Japanese video game “Zero Wing” by Toaplan which was poorly translated by Sega of Europe. Though not the only case of bad translation on the Internet, it is definitely the most famous.

49. Homestar Runner
Ah Sweet Cuppin’ Cakes, this is one of the last remaining Flash animation sites and one of the most popular websites still today. Homestar Runner launched on January 1, 2000 and introduced us to Homestar, Strong Bad and several other characters. If you’ve just started viewing these, you’ve got one heck of an archive to watch. Don’t worry. We’ll wait.

48. Evolution Of Dance
This has 125 million views and counting. Try to watch this video and not be smiling at the end.

47. Bub Rubb
Woo! Woo!

46. Bonsai Kitten
Bonsai Kitten was one of the first Internet hoaxes, and it showed visitors how to grow a kitten in a bottle in the same fashion to a Bonsai tree. Though the site no longer stands today, you can catch the mirror site here, and keep your kitty little forever!

45. “Boom Goes the Dynamite”
This might be one of the most painful sportscasts you’ll ever see. It’s completely worth the torture to witness that amazing catchphrase “Boom goes the dynamite.” College student Brian Collins agreed to sit in for an ill reporter at his school in Waco, Texas and learned the job is a little harder than he thought.

44. “Numa Numa”
Gary Brolsma had no idea he was going to make Internet greatness when he lip synced to the audio of the original O-Zone track. This video has been viewed over 31 million times on YouTube. You’re about to make it 31,000,001.

43. I Can Has Cheezburger
The Internet loves cats. No other website proves this more that this one.

42. “Peanut Butter Jelly Time”
If you’re only going to watch one dancing banana today, make it this one.

41. Leprechaun In Mobile, Alabama
“Don’t worry, it’s probably just a crack head.” Will we ever know what was in that tree? If only all of use were equipped with those flutes, we’d all have pots of gold.

40. “Star Wars” Kid
In 2004 a high school student decided to film himself swinging a golf ball retriever as a weapon. It was unfortunate that he taped over a school basketball game and left the tape for others to see. Students found the tape and released it on the Internet making him one of the most famous victims online. Within two weeks the file had been downloaded several million times. Many different versions have been created, adding “Star Wars” music, texts, and light saber lights and sounds. The Force is strong in this video.

39. Winnebago Man
When you hire someone to make your commercial, don’t piss them off and leave them with the outtakes. Enjoy the “not safe for work” language on this classic.

38. Bert And Ernie Rap
It will change your childhood.

37. The Onion
The Onion is an American “fake news” organization. It is amazing how many people use this for their “real” news intake.  It paved the way for thousands of other satire and humor sites yet will hold the thrown for many years to come.

36. Afro Ninja
Watch out concrete. He’s going to beat the floor up with his face.

35. The Tron Guy
This is one of the most famous COSPLAY outfits ever created. No matter how ridiculed he is, he stands strong. He even voices his opinion on Internet matters, He could be talking about the meaning of life, but we wouldn’t hear it. We just won’t get over his AMAZING costume.

34. “George Lucas In Love”
If you’ve got 8:44 minutes to spare then sit back and watch one of the most amazing parodies every created.

33. Leeroy Jenkins
Even if you’ve never played the game of World of Warcraft you’ll still enjoy the bravery of a young paladin named Leeroy Jenkins. His legacy will continue in Internet videos forever.

32. Flying Spaghetti Monster
The Flying Spaghetti Monster (or FSM) was created in 2005 after the Kansas State Board of education ruled the required teaching of  intelligent design as an alternative to biological evolution in public schools. Bobby Henderson sent open letter to the education board  which revealed a concept of intelligent design and announcing his beliefs in a supernatural creator, which closely resembles spaghetti and meatballs. He then said his version of creation should be taught in science classrooms. The popularity of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has allowed a new belief by atheists and how been know to the the preferred diety of the internet.

31. “GI Joe” Pork Chop Sandwiches
One of many “GI Joe” videos that will slightly alter your childhood, but in a good way. It takes many of the classic “GI Joe” PSAs and makes them entertaining for all.

30. David Hasselhoff “Hooked On A Feeling”
David Hasselhoff has a long line of crazy Internet videos. “Hooked On A Feeling” shows what happens with you let a drunk fifth grader produce a video and have a talentless hack going along with everything he says. What’s up with the wiener dogs?

29. Tom Cruise Kills Oprah
How do you add more funny to a bizarre interview with Tom Cruise? Someone call Lucas.

28. Will It Blend?
Ever wonder how new technology works with other technology? We can spend all day researching it, or you can just stick things in blenders and see what happens.

27. I Like Turtles
Some kids take their costumes a little too far. Just because you wanted to be a zombie doesn’t mean you have to have a portion of your brain removed.

26. “Ask A Ninja”
The series, created by Los Angeles improvisational comedians Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine, features a ninja who answers e-mails from “viewers.” You don’t need “Dear Abby” when you can take the humble advice of a Ninja.

25. Daft Hands “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”
“Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” is a song by French duo Daft Punk and was eventually incorporated into this very viral music video. It was done in one take with no editing. We’re lucky if we can just make the Vulcan hand gesture.

24. Reporter Falls Stomping Grapes
Don’t mock the stomp.

23. Dramatic Chipmunk
This is the best five second clip on the Internet. The dramatic chipmunk is a clip of an episode of the Japanese morning show “Hello! Morning” featuring Mini Moni. Though it is really a prairie dog, the word chipmunk just sounds cuter.

22. “Lazy Sunday”
Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg gave us all a reason to be lazy, and stoned on a Sunday afternoon.

21. Leave Britney Alone
Chris Crocker was such an emotional Britney Spears fan that he actually got a TV deal from this. There are now 21 million people on this planet we hate.

20. Oregon’s Exploding Whale
The original footage of the exploding whale first appeared on KATU Channel 2 Portland in 1970. This is why you don’t listen to people who like to blow things up.

19. “I’m F*$cking Matt Damon!”
This is not to be overshadowed by “I’m F*$cking Ben Affleck.” Both are incredible videos you’ll be singing all day long.

18. Bill O’Reilly Flips Out
It’s hard to believe this guy would be difficult to work with.

17. “Chad Vader”
Darth’s less successful brother is a day shift manager of a grocery store. He has the same problems and insecurities as the rest of us, he just has to deal with them his in a big black suit. Watch the entire series, it’s classic.

16. Jill And Kevin’s Wedding Dance
A day NO ONE will forget. It was satirized oh-so well in the Jill and Kevin divorce dance.

15. Mentos and Diet Coke
So many videos with these two lethal ingredients have been filmed, but here is the source of it all.

14. David After Dentist
This is why kids should not do drugs, but when they do, make sure you’re filming them. So many have spoken out about how this was exploiting a child but if you can’t make money off your children in sweat shops anymore… what else can you do but this?

13. Hitler’s “Downfall” Of HD-DVD
So many spoofs of “Downfall” have been made, but to us this was the best.

12. Darth Vader Is A Jerk
Not only do others fear his powers of the Force, they also fear his horrific pranking ability and his ways of making you feel so small and useless on the ship.

11. “D*ck In A Box”
Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake made the world want to put their junk in cardboard.

10. Shoes
Who asked for a big purple stuffed animal? I’m going out and get what I want. Shoes.

9. Greatest Freakout Ever
This is what happens when you take a socially awkward kid’s World of Warcraft away but leave him the TV remote. There are additional videos but the original is easily our favorite. BTW, you’re witnessing a lifelong virgin here.

8. Charlie Bit My Finger
This video has 119 million hits. That’s a lot of biting.

7. Susan Boyle
Is she overrated? Sure, but you can’t tell us that watching the underdog shine isn’t heart warming, tear jerking and really, really good for ratings. Watch her performance here.

6. Dancing Matt
Matt Harding created a heartwarming and awkward dancing video filmed pretty much anywhere he could find across the globe.

5. Ok Go “Here It Goes Again”
“Here We Go Again was an okay song which was made famous due to the power of its video. An amazing choreographer, intertwining of bell bottoms and treadmills makes this one of the best videos on the Internet. Check it out here.

4. Fark.com
Fark was the first of the user-generated news aggregaters and is still one of the best sources around to get your NOT NEWS. Powered by beer and Farkers, Fark will supply you with dozens of links daily from around the globe. Not to mention boobies.

3. “Chocolate Rain”
Made with all sincerity, taken in with jest. What can be said about this video? Just watch it. You’ll be singing all day.

2. Don’t Tase Me Bro
University of Florida student Andrew Meyer is tasered and arrested after causing a disturbance at a town hall forum, which featured Senator John Kerry. His constant screaming make it an immediate Internet classic and the call sign to idiots everywhere.

1. Weezer “Pork And Beans”
Do you feel overwhelmed by all these awesome videos? Well, there is an abridged version thanks to the kids of Weezer who were good enough to take many of the memes above and add them in their “Pork And Beans” video. Oh, and the song is good too.

The Internet is a glorious thing.  Check out 10 Ugliest Babies On YouTube and 15 Things The Internet Could Do Without.

This piece was drunkenly put together by Bill Doty the Patron Saint of Internet Humor.

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Here are some good tips on how to compose a portrait from Digital Photography School.

6 Tips for Perfect Composition in Portrait Photography

Discover 6 secrets for great portrait composition!

by Christina N Dickson

Every on-location portraitist is faced with the challenge of paying attention to the details regarding his or her subject, such as posing, lighting, composition etc. Perhaps the greatest mistake made by amateur on-location portrait photographers is the lack of emphasis placed on a portrait’s background surroundings.

Photographers who do not closely examine the surroundings within the frame of their image are those who come away with images that have great distractions. No high school senior or bride will purchase a portrait in which a tree limb is sticking out of her head. Such distracting elements take emphasis off the subject, and are detrimental to the portraitist’s sales. There is nothing more painful for a portraitist than taking a portrait that is beautifully posed, gorgeously lit, and absolutely unusable … simply because no attention was given to background composition!

Posing and lighting both play enormous roles in the creation of a dynamic portrait. However, background composition is a forgotten component that requires an equal amount of time and thought.

Some things to consider when creating a perfectly composed portrait:

1. Fill the frame with your subject

A portrait is about the person, so don’t be afraid to zoom in close! Remember that zooming in does not mean capturing only face shots. You can also capture “tight”, close up shots of your subject sitting on a stool or leaning into a tree.

2. Keep eyes in the upper third

This is the most natural spacing for a portrait. Try not to divert from this rule unless you are deliberately creating tension. Another exception of this rule is when a subject is full-bodied in the bottom third of the frame.

3. Use framing to concentrate all attention on your subject

Rather than eliminate the environment, use it! Doorways, arches, windows, gazebos are all creative solutions that allow for maximum subject focus and heightened visual interest.

4. Create texture

Once again, if you can’t eliminate a distracting background, use it to your advantage! By pulling the subject away from the background and shooting on Aperture priority (f4.0), you will create a small depth of field to blur the backdrop and allow for artistic texture. Your subject will stand out of the background without completely removing all creative interest in the shot.

5. Use lines

Brick is the perfect background for a portrait! The lines add creative interest, but they also draw attention to your subject. Keep in mind that any “line” used in a portrait is strongest when it comes outside the frame and leads to the subject.

6. Change your angles

Sometimes eliminating a distraction is simply a matter of moving the camera to another position. To make the best use of perspective, work to change your camera-to-subject angle. Often by moving a little to the right or left, or getting higher or lower, you can completely abolish that distracting tree branch or telephone pole.

You will be guaranteed to sell your portrait creations when you concentrate on background details, make your subject stand out, and invest creative interest in the portrait’s composition.

Read more from our Portrait Photography Category

Christina N Dickson is a visionary artist and philanthropist in Portland Oregon. Her work includes wedding photography www.BrideInspired.com and leadership with www.RevMediaBlog.com.

Read more: http://digital-photography-school.com/6-tips-for-perfect-composition-in-portrait-photography#ixzz0RhUYtKSF

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