52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 26

Greeting & salutations, my photo friends!

How did you do with last week's LOVE challenge? I can't wait to see how you interpret the prompt...

So guess what!

This week marks the HALFWAY POINT in our 52-week journey! Can you believe it!? I can't...

Anyway, before I introduce this week's prompt, I wanted to let you know about a new feature I'll be adding for the remainder of the Challenge. Each week I'll be selecting one of the photos from our flickr group to spotlight in Sunday's email and blog post! So don't forget to share them there when you upload!

So without further ado, our final challenge for February is: PINK

Before everything goes all green, find the PINK around you and capture it in some creative way.


Click to embiggen!I was blessed to wake up to this gorgeous sunrise one morning this week and catch it on film (well digitally anwyay). What will you capture?

Share it with us at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 25

Hello again! How was your Valentine's Day weekend? I hope it's been wonderful!

How did you all do with the HEARTS challenge? Hopefully you were able to find some... ^_^

So, in keeping with the same kind of theme, this week, our challenge is:
* L ♥ V E *
What do you LOVE? What does LOVE mean to you? Take some photos and share them with the group!


Click to embiggen!
Of course my photo is of our weekly Friday Night Family Dinner. Due to weather & health problems we haven't had one in a month or more! It was LOVELY to get together for our traditional individual heart-shaped pizzas and sit and talk for the evening.

I added several layers to my photo, including a nice red border & some hearts, to add some extra interest & color. You certainly don't have to do so much with your photo editing software -- if anything -- to get a nice photo. I can't wait to see how you interpret this challenge! I hope you'll share it with everyone at our flickr group!

And don't forget you can sign up for twice-weekly reminders via email by clicking right here and entering your email address!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 24

Welcome back, fellow creative photographers!

How did you do with last week's REFLECTION challenge?

I'd love to see them! Don't forget to share them at our flickr group!

So this week, our challenge is: ♥ HEARTS ♥

Like all our other shape challenges so far, look around you for hearts, and use them as a frame, focal point, or repeating element in your photo.


Click to embiggen!
Yup! Playing in the window again. I just can't help but be amazed at how beautiful the sun on the frost & through the paper flakes, and this one had a circle of hearts! Perfect for the challenge!

So let's see yours; share it with everyone at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!

Illustration Friday

This week's prompt: PREHISTORIC


Click to embiggen...Just a little something I drew for Draw-A-Dinosaur Day, which was January 31st!

Click through to Illustration Friday and check out the other participants!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 23

How did you do with your WHITE photos last week?

Sometimes it's hard to get the color balanced correctly when photographing white. I chose to leave mine on the blue-ish side of things just to get that icy cold feeling in it. Don't be afraid to play around with your camera's white balance settings to get an image you like!

So this week, our challenge is: REFLECTIONS

Find a window or mirror (or a few!), and play around with capturing reflections for this week's challenge.


Click to embiggen!We have a lot of mirrors in our bedroom and while I was attempting to capture some reflections in the dark window, I noticed my bunnies all staring at me in the reflection of our full length mirror reflected in our big over-the-bed mirror. You can just see the corner of the frame of the mirror that the camera was aimed at over the tan bunny's head.

Don't forget to share yours with everyone at our flickr group! And remember you can get twice-weekly reminders via email!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 22

So how did you all do with last week's RECTANGLE challenge?

Don't forget to upload your photos to flickr and share them with our flickr group so we can help each other grow more creatively!

This week, our challenge is:
Just like with our other color challenges, take a look around you during the week for things that are the color white and find a creative way to photograph them. Perhaps like our area, everything outside is covered with snow or ice, or maybe you have a black cat with a little white spot, maybe someone around you this week will have a birthday with a gorgeous white coconut cake. Whatever you find to photograph, don't forget to share it here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/bunnykissds52wkphotochallenge/


Click to embiggen!What do you think of this? I love the reflection of the paper snowflake and that gorgeous frost on the outer window! (Maybe that will be next week's theme... ~_^)

So let's see yours; share it with everyone at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 21

Welcome back! So glad you've decided to join me on my quest to take more creative photos!

Last week our challenge was Black & White! How did that go for you?

Don't forget that if you're having any problems at all, you can ask here on the blog, or at our flickr group, or even via email (bunnykissd [at] gmail [dot] com), and if you're having trouble remembering when a new challenge is posted, you can sign up for reminders via email that will come on Sundays & Wednesdays!

This week, our challenge is: RECTANGLES

Find some rectangles around you, a window, a table, a door... Use one to frame your photo or make it the focal point or a repeating pattern.


Click to view on black!I love our living room window in the winter. We always cover it in hearts & snowflakes, which makes the room feel cozy and festive when the snow is falling outside and the window is frosting up. ♥

So let's see yours; share it with everyone at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 20

Welcome to another installment of BunnyKissd's 52-Week Photo Challenge!

How did you all do on your DINNER challenge last week?

This week, our challenge is: BLACK & WHITE

That's right! Find the black & white setting on your camera, or do some photo editing to desaturate your image.

Here are some great articles to get you started:

• Tips for Black and White Photography
• How to See in Black and White [and how HDR can be a Powerful Tool for the Monochrome Photographer]
• Converting Images to Black and White Properly

(You can check out Digital Photography School for more awesome articles!)


Click to embiggen!I chose a subject with lots of texture and contrast, but the sublimination of the snow softened it around the ground. I just love me some sublimination! (I know, I'm weird.)

So let's see yours; share it with everyone at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 19

Hoppy New Year!

Welcome to the year 2014!

Since we're starting a new year, I thought I'd do a quick little recap of the Challenges I've listed so far, so folks could play *Ketchup* if they'd like -- but remember, you can jump in right where we are if you want!




Which brings us to this week, #19, and our challenge is: DINNER

Yay! It's been a while since we did a food challenge. So grab your camera, and capture some creative images of your dinner. Perhaps its preparation, perhaps your plate, perhaps someone else's? You decide!

For me it was a big bowl of homemade meatball & rice soup. Perfect for these sub-zero snowy days!


Click to embiggen!
So let's see what's for dinner! Then don't forget share it with everyone at our flickr group! And remember you can sign up for the twice-weekly reminder emails!

Photo Friday: My Life

Click to view larger!

Kickin' It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon #31

Today Jamie and Shannon asked us to:
What would you like to celebrate about this month and Kickin' It Old Skool?
First, I want to celebrate Jamie & Shannon for hosting this! Even without the internet! You guys rock! *applause*

Second, I would like to celebrate making through this month myself! Busy busy days and I still managed to do it every day except the one day I opted not to.

Lastly, I would like to celebrate myself pushing through the hard scary stuff and getting done what needed doing. AND getting hired and celebrating my first few days as a Teacher Assistant in a wonderful daycare! YAY, regular hours & super fun job!

Hoppy New Year everybunny! Best wishes for...

Click to embiggen...
P.S. Feel free to click through and download the original for coloring yourself! Send me a link if you do, so I can see your beautiful work!

Kickin' It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon #30

Today Jamie and Shannon asked us to:
Share one of your favourite recipes!
This is really hard for me. I used to do a lot of cooking and use a lot of recipes, but I don't cook so much anymore, and when I do now, I don't usually use a recipe, just mix stuff together to make it taste good. LOL! But a few years ago Jacqueline found a great way to cook pork that is DEEEELISH without any additional seasoning, but works great for BBQ pulled pork too.

Kahlua Pork

• 1 T Liquid Smoke
• 3 T kosher salt
• 1 pork shoulder (4-6 lbs)

Mix Liquid Smoke and kosher salt together, then rub all over the pork shoulder covering all sides thoroughly. Bake in a 325°F oven in an uncovered roasting pan (no rack necessary) for 5 hours. Then remove bone and shred with two forks. You can remove some or all of the fat at this time as well.

Kickin' It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon #29

Today Jamie and Shannon asked us to:
Share a Selfie of Future You

Me, the Courageous Artist

Click to embiggen...

52-Week Photo Challenge: Week 18

Last week our challenge was CHILD.

I hope you all had lots of great opportunities to capture some creative photos that embodied the prompt.

This week, our challenge is: Still Life

A still life is a "representation of inanimate objects, such as flowers or fruit, in painting or photography."
~ TheFreeDictionary.com

Take some time this week, maybe before all those holiday decorations are put away, to arrange some things, or find some things already posed artfully, and capture some still life photos. If you're looking for some tips or inspiration, check out this article: 10 Tips to Get Started with Still Life Photography


Click to embiggen!
I went macro with my still life, capturing some cute little gummi bears. I think I would like to try this again with some other candies and create some different scenes. It was fun!

So let's see yours; share it with everyone at our flickr group! And don't forget to sign up for the reminders via email!

Kickin' It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon #27 & 28

Yesterday Jamie and Shannon asked us to:
Share a little bit about the year that was 2013
I was really tired and feeling kind of pessimistic last night, like 2013 had been pretty miserable and I didn't want to talk about it; I just wanted to put it behind me and move on. So I opted to not answer these questions last night, but tonight I am feeling better (although still really tired; what's up with that!?) and thought I'd give it a shot!

1. What will you remember about 2013?

I will remember 2013 as the year I...

• dared myself to make too many changes at once and fell flat
• started being creative every day - almost
• tried to buy a new-to-me car but couldn't find one
• first sold some of my photos
• went to Shine and made some awesome shoes
• swam entirely too little
• took a course in small business ownership
• started working at a daycare

2. What are you ready to leave behind?

• high blood sugar
• eating too many carbs
• living in poverty
• fear of the unknown
• depression & anxiety

3. What's something you learned in 2013?

I learned that there is no hero who is going to come and save me, no mysterious act of serendipity that's just going to fix everything for me, no Deus ex Machina in the story of my life. I am going to have to suck it up, and do it the hard way: by myself. True bravery & courage doesn't mean you face your dragons & demons fearlessly; it means you feel the fear, but do it anyway.


4. What would you like to celebrate about this past year?

• I created a rabbit every day for more than 100 days.
• I drew everyday for 4 months, and lots of other days too.
• I took charge of my life and started making things happen even though I was so scared.
• I got a job I can go to on a regular basis and I think I like it!

And for today, One Sentence Saturday...
Your Word for 2014
My Word of 2014 is COURAGE, and boy could I write more than one sentence about it.

Kickin' It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon #26

Today Jamie and Shannon ask us:
What are 10 things in your fridge?
Before I tell you what's inside, I want you to see what's outside...

Click to embiggen...
Check out those awesome drawings. A multicolored house from a 2nd grade girl I had in one class a few weeks ago, complete with snowman (on green grass! XD ) and a big arrow pointing to him, and a drawing of ME with green & blond hair singing FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA from a special ed 3rd grader I had the 2nd week in December. I <3 getting art from my students... ^o^

OK! 10 things IN my fridge! RANDOMNESS!

1. Grape Jelly
2. Eggs
3. Yeast
4. Calorie Free Caramel Syrup (yuck on ice cream, but decadent in coffee)
5. Creole Mustard (yum)
6. Cran-cherry gelatin salad
7. Peanut Butter Fudge
8. one lone hot diggety dog
9. Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi
10. Pure Maple Syrup

What's in your wallet... erm... fridge?

Kickin' It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon #25

Today Jamie and Shannon ask us:
Let's share a holiday tradition, memory or event!
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope today found you & yours in good health & spirits!

This morning we did our usual Christmas tradition. We woke up early and everyone (yes, everyone) opened their stockings as the others stumbled out of bed, got coffee, and got settled. Then we opened presents, each of us oohing & aahing at the other's gifts as they were opened. After opening presents we each took turns showering, eating breakfast, and getting ready to head to the Grandparents' for Christmas "dinner" which we have about lunchtime.

All the Grandkids (+2 Great Grandbabies!)

Click to embiggify!
Once everyone arrives, Grandma serves us the best meal (doesn't matter what she's serving, it's always delish) and then we have presents, littlest to oldest. Then we all sit around, kids playing with their new dolls, electronic gadgets, or toys, and the adults animatedly chatting with each other about anything & everything under the sun. Sadly we all leave before we're ready, vowing to get together more frequently, but realizing it likely won't be until Memorial Day again.

Once we get home, we're usually pretty tired and the rest of the evening is low-key. Leftovers heated up for dinner whenever we're hungry, some hot tea, sharing the day with our online friends... ~_^

How did you all celebrate?

Kickin' It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon #24

Today Jamie and Shannon still have no internet, but via phone they ask us to talk about:
Holiday Disasters!
To be honest, I had a really hard time thinking of a *disaster* that happened on or near the holidays. Sure we've had the cat climb the tree and bring it crashing down and we've had to deal with inclement weather keeping everyone from our parties -- there was even a few Christmasses there when I was too depressed to let anyone put up decorations until Christmas Eve, but the Holiday Spirit always seems to win out in the end. Then I remembered that one Easter...


Img Src
This little girl is not me, but I can SO relate to her tears!

My parents had just divorced and my dad had weekend visitation. I was old enough to know the Easter Bunny was just my parents (yeah that's a tale for another time...), and I woke up Easter Sunday and found my basket. I don't remember what was in it -- probably a stuffed animal and art supplies, or something like that -- but I remember what *wasn't* in it: Candy. I was a little disappointed but I knew Mom would have a basket with candy waiting for me when I got home.

At home it was the same thing though. No candy. I was so sad. Yeah, my mom went & got me some the next day -- and in the grand scheme of things this was not a big deal -- but it wasn't the same. Both of them had thought the other would be giving me candy, and they didn't want me to have too much, but to me Easter was about the Cheap Chocolate Easter Bunnies and Jelly Beans, and I didn't get either.

I can laugh about it now, but every Easter, I make sure I get myself some jelly beans and a cheap chocolate Easter rabbit. ^o^

Kickin' It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon #23

Today Jamie and Shannon are without internet due to a huge ice storm! But their other sister, Suzie Ridler says:
Let's talk about books!
Books, books, books... hmmmm... what can I say about books? I like them! LOL! How about ...

10 Fun Things About Me & Books:

1. I have a GoodReads account, where I keep track of all most of the books I have read (sometimes I forget) and want to read.


2. I am currently reading Double Exposure which is the first 3 books in the Apprentice Adept series, by Piers Anthony most of which I have actually already read. I want to finish the series but read it so long ago, I thought I should re-read from the beginning...


3. Piers Anthony is my favorite author, and the Xanth novels are my favorite series of books by him. I love the magical puns & silly adventures.


4. My very favorite book, however, is Change by Ann Maxwell. I identify with the main character and am enamored with the aliens she goes to learn from.


5. My guilty reads are historical romance novels, usually the kind with Scottsmen or magic.


6. My no-guilt-whatsoever read is the Animorph series. It covers some pretty deep topics for a sci-fi series aimed at pre-teens.


7. I used to collect books, but now I prefer to get them out of the library, and have gotten rid of lots of my books. If it's something I am only going to read once, why spend money on it, have it take up space in our over-crowded home, and waste my energy having to dust it!? I only buy/keep books I am going to read/use over & over.


8. When I was little, my favorite books were the Little House & Trixie Belden series and I frequently checked out Ed Emberley's books on drawing and D'aulaires' Book of Greek Myths.


9. I do not like books with graphic violence, blood, and gore. So most of the books I read are categorized Young Adult.


10. I wish I had a little tablet-y thing to take my e-books & pdfs with me to read elsewhere, because I really don't like reading long things on the computer.

Kickin' It Old Skool Blog-A-Thon #22

Today Jamie and Shannon ask us:
Share with us a picture of you when you were wee!
I've shared several on the bloggeroo already, and I don't want to bore you all, so I went in search of something new. Sadly, my baby pictures are all at my mom's or dad's house, but I did come across this old drawing my Great Aunt Edith did of me (she called me Missy back then, short for Miss Dinah).


Click to view on black...
My Aunt Dee Dee, as many of us called her, was the first real artist I knew. She worked mostly in clay and had done some lovely pieces, including a bust of one of her sons. She passed away many years ago, and I've mostly lost contact with that side of the family; so I don't know what happened to any of her beautiful works of art.