My New Big Girl Camera

I am so excited! We've been discussing getting a higher quality camera for a little while now. I was wanting a more Big Girl camera that was manual and would have zoom attachments. We've been talking about getting it before Disneyland so we can practice with it before we go. Here is what I had: The Fuji S700 and I've always loved it. It's been a good sound camera but I've been desiring the manual style.

We've been looking at the Canon Rebel. We went shopping last night and they actually had a recent package deal on one of them. There were 2 different Rebels we were looking at and this was one of them. It was the only one that offered the package deal of an extra battery and a zoom lens. I was going to purchase a zoom in the future but when I saw the $350 price tag for the zoom I knew that would be awhile. So we went with the package deal. The downside is, since our video camera stopped working almost 2 yrs ago, I've been using the Fuji for all our videos-which works great. But the manual cameras do not have video, which I now understand why but didn't know about that before. That was one of my questions. So for now, I will be carrying both cameras around for the times that I need to video. Glad my old camera is light! Also got a new bag, gave us 20% off if we purchased it at the same time. Which I was going to do anyway.
So here is our new camera. I have a lot of reading and playing to do. I'm glad I have a sweet little subject to practice on.

and here is the extra zoom lens

Need a Flat Iron??

Go here and check out this awesome chance to win this flat iron!

NAME GALLERY

Please go here and shout out some prayers for baby Stellan. He is 5 months old with heart complications. Mckmama is posting another name gallery and here is that post. It's amazing to see all the ideas people come up with to spell out his name. I ended up doing a skywriting one. I saw a few of those but I love the bridge at Fort Stevens State Park so I decided to use one of my pictures from there. Here it is...



And of course I just had to do one for Mackenzie...

FAVORITE FRIDAYS

This is a must have if you drink wine. Also great for the wine lover in your life. I got this about 5 years ago and threw my old corkscrew in the camping supplies.

This thing is perfect. Decorative for the counter, although I keep mine in my wine rack cupboard. I love that it also has a handy opener to slice the seal around the bottle. There is hardly anything to it. Bottles open real easy. No more struggle!

It's a must have in my house. And I also recommend the Oak Knoll Niagra bottle, sold in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Now that makes for a fun take off!

I saw this pretty cool video over here at PaperChick.

I don't like rap music but this totally is the exception.

Another GIVEAWAY!!!

Check out these very cute notecards in this giveaway. And I love the colors! I can always use pretty ones to mail out to special someones. Check out the details here.

GIVEAWAY!!!

Check out this giveaway for these adorable burp cloths. I have 3 friends due early summer and only one of them is having a girl. These would be super cute for her. Read about the giveaway details here.

FAVORITE FRIDAYS

Now you're most likely thinking that this is random. But seriously this stuff is the BEST! You get it at Costco.

Years ago when I worked for a locally owned grocery store I had mentioned the stuff to one of my bosses. He started having me pick it up for him. And it comes in a 2 pack so he would break it apart and put it on our shelves. And people would buy it. The stuff works awesome!

Lately I had run out of it (buying it at Costco as a 2 pk - the stuff lasts forever)and I had bought some Glad Cling Wrap. It's a major brand, ya think it would work. Not even. I had the worst time getting that stuff to stick to anything! I never have been happy with that kind. So the last time I was in Costco I went and found it and my love for it totally was rekindled. Sorry Stretch-tite, I will never stray again!

Has anyone ever tried it and if you have, don't you completely love it? What is a product you can't live without?

HAPPY ST PATTY'S DAY

Did you get your Shamrock on today?


And a toast to my brother who turned 47 today!

This was just too cute not to share....

NIGHTS IN RODANTHE

I watched the chick-flick, "Nights in Rodanthe." I won't give away the plot, but suffice it to say, it lives up (or down) to its reputation.

The action takes place mostly in Rodanthe, which is on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. When the main scene of the inn on the beach appeared, I thought it was so beautiful. But also wondered if it was Hollywood magic? How can a house be that safe with the water washing up to the base all day long. Well I just fell in love with the house and the way it was decorated.

The movie is based on Nicholas Sparks book, which I didn't even know that. I love The Notebook and Message in a Bottle. Both favorites of mine.

So here is the plot...
Diane Lane plays Adrienne, a mother of two, who has recently separated from her husband. When he tells her that he made a mistake [cheating on her] and wants to come back, she retreats to a friend's Bed & Breakfast to think things over.
There is one other guest at the inn - Dr. Flanner [Richard Gere] who is a plastic surgeon currently being sued for malpractice/wrongful death. [His patient's husband lives in town, and he has come to discuss what happened]
When a hurricane hits Rodanthe, the two are stranded at the inn, and you can guess what happens from this point on.

While this movie was nowhere near as good as The Notebook, I still enjoyed it. I felt that it was very realistic and true to life. So, if you are in the mood for a romantic drama this movie is not a bad way to spend your time. So pour yourself a glass of wine and get comfortable because the movie moves rather slow.

And I also fell in love with Diane Lanes hair. I loved the cut and color. I might be trying that when I finally figure out when I'm going short.

Homemade Bags

I am in so need of a large bag that I can have a couple diapers in and other toddler things and just throw my wallet and keys in and get out the door. I'm getting tired of carrying my purse AND a grabbing a small diaper bag...just in case. She is at the age now where I hardly need it but everytime I don't have it is when I've needed it.
Well I found this site off of someones blog and this is exactly what I'm looking for. Now just trying to decide which one...

Go here to AbbyandBilliedesigns to see what I'm talking about.

Why we enjoy looking at other peoples mishaps is beyond me. There are quite a few that really looked like they hurt.
E-N-J-O-Y

I might try this....

FAVORITE FRIDAYS

I'm starting something new on my blog. Some blogs do Fashion Fridays, well I'm not really a fashion diva so I'm doing Favorite Fridays. Tune in each Friday to see what I've listed that is something that I hold dear to me as a favorite.

In saying that, here is my first thing that I'm listing. And anyone knows me, this is not a surprise. I can honestly say I will never be without a DVR. We actually have 2 of them. My husband and I both have different shows that we don't like to miss. He is a history/sci-fi/discovery buff and I like reality/drama/learning channel shows. So it works out great that we have 2. We might head to 3 eventually.