Straight Out Of The Camera

Oh my!  I have found my photography heaven...a meme which requires me NOT to edit or rework my pictures.  I am so happy :)

So I can now snap away and not feel like a loser because I haven't had time to install Photoshop on my Mac...I did have it (the easier version) on my PC, but that conked out just after the warranty expired...wouldn't ya know!  Click on the camera above to link to the meme.

What are the rules for SOOC Sunday?

•On any Sunday you can post any photo you like (it must be one of your own)

•that hasn’t been tweaked or altered in any way (cropping is OK).

•In other words Straight Out Of the Camera.

•Link to Murrieta365 in your post so others will know where to go if they want to join in the SOOC fun.

Here is my first picture.  Each Sunday I might add some detail, a story or a poem...or just leave the photo to speak for itself.  

Taking a dip

Friendship

Laugh Out Loud!

Life can have its ups and downs.   We might find ourselves looking over to that green grass on the other side of the fence.  Life can be tough, challenging, exhausting!  But....if we can do one thing to immediately boost our mood, it would be to find something, once a day, that really makes us laugh out loud!


A fun prompt from Jenny Matlock over at her wonderful blog.  We only had fifty words including the prompt (in bold) to use this week.  Click on the button to join the Saturday Centus or view other entries.

Ocean

Ocean.  

Deep, mysterious, breathtaking, awe-inspiring. 

Might and magnificence,  

Mysteries within it,

Incredible calm beneath the turbulent waves.

The ocean challenges: 

Surfers ride the mighty waves, 

Fishermen brave the squalls to find the best catch, 

Divers defy the mighty beasts that dwell in the dark waters.

Great ships lie in the murky depths, tombs, monuments of a past age…

Beauty abounds in this glorious ecosystem, 

Sustaining life within, 

Life on Earth, 

Our life!

You can also view this post here.

So How's It Going?

In an attempt to make myself a better person...or at least a more organized, healthier person, I am trying out a new challenge. It can be found at http://3in30.ashleypichea.com/  Today's update on the three goals:


1.  Get to bed at a reasonable time: Um....well...ya see....eh....okay, I admit this one is not my strongest point at all!  I really do try hard....there is just so much to do...and I need to relax after I've done it all before hitting the sack...and I really want some alone time too....and I can't fall asleep anyway, so what's the point?  You guessed it...I failed miserably and have no excuse except it just isn't me right now.  I am, however, exhausted through the day so I am going to be persistent, keep this goal and work harder at it.  


2.  Set reasonable limits on my blogging:  I have done fairly well on this one.  There were a couple of nights where I began the crazy "I need to blog and respond like a mad woman" routine, but I generally managed to do other things during the day.  Exhibit A:  Me taking the boys to Quassy Amusement Park - well worth time away from the computer :)

 

3.  De-clutter my house: I have decided to have a yard sale....there will be a great big clear-out and I will make some bucks for Sammy's team for Light the Night.  Right now I have more junk than ever becasue I spent today going througth my in-laws' attic retrieving all the things we stored up there before moving into our current house.  Now my previously 'almost sorted-out' garage is OVERFLOWING with 'things'.  I have chosen to close my eyes to it and keep saying, "It will all be gone by Saturday....it will all be gone by Saturday."  Oh I hope so!

Healthier You - Something I'm Going to Try

I am always looking for greener alternatives to use personally and around my home.  I use organic as much as I can...despite the price.  I have even turned to organic skincare...my face is healthier, but the lines are definitely creeping in!!! I need to do more research into something healthy for my face that will also melt away (not literally) the years. 

As skin covers our bodies, and also is a wonderful organ for soaking up any ingredient we put on it, I have been looking for a fairly priced and effective soap that the whole family can use.  With glee I checked into one of my favorite BIG blogs The Simple Mom and discovered some pearls of wisdom and a must try product from Tsh Oxenreider. Please check out The Simple Mom for even more great ideas.  This is my next purchase:

Whole Foods - Castile Soap

ALL PURPOSE – REAL SOAP! TONS OF USES! EVERYDAY GENTLE CLEANSING. BIODEGRADABLE / VEGAN / NO ANIMAL TESTING

Sold by: 16 FL OZ (473mL)

Ingredients: Organic pyrus malus (apple) juice, saponified oils (organic cocos nucifera [coconut] oil, potassium hydroxide*, organic helianthus annuus [sunflower] seed oil, organic sesamum indicum [sesame] oil, organic simmondsia chinensis [jojoba] seed oil), aqua (purified water), organic cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum, organic mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, organic aloe barbadensis (aloe) leaf juice. *Used to turn oils into real soap.

A similar product is available at Walgreens.

Dr. Bronner - Castile Soap

 

Ideas for uses - straight from Walgreens

• For facial packs, scalp & soothing body rub, add dash on bath towel in sink of hot water. Wring out. Lay over face & scalp. Massage with fingertips. Repeat 3 or 4 times 'til arms, legs & all are rubbed, always towards the heart. Rinse towel in plain hot water and massage again. Breathe deeply! Health is wealth. Within 9 minutes you feel fresh and clean, saving 90% of your hot water & soap
• Concentrated. Clouds when cold. Put in warm room/water: clears at 70°F

Here's to squeaky clean and healthy!

I am not being paid for this...just blabbing on about things I like!

Special Partnerships

As September looms, I am so grateful for the wonderful teaching team I belong to.  We are three teachers whose names begin with K.  We were part of a trial looping program within our school; we would have the same children in fourth and then fifth grade.

We became known as Special K!  The looping was a huge success: the relationships we developed with the children and their parents was amazing.  Our summer between the grades allowed us to focus on planning instruction for each child...we knew them so well, instead of thinking about how to get to know a new group of children before planning the best way teach each one effectively.

Personally, the second year of looping coincided with a family illness that shook my world.  Yet I loved going to school, being with these children and working with my partners.  Special K rocked that school....everyone commented on it.  Those were my most precious years of teaching.

The school district decided to discontinue the looping as other schools in the district did not want to do it.  So now we are back to one year with our classes.  Special K ended too...we couldn't bring ourselves to use the name for another class....Special K were just too....special!

I Highly Recommend...and SPECIAL OFFER!!!

Discount Code at the end of the post!

I have lurked on Etsy for quite some time but made my first purchase just over a week ago.  I was delighted by my new picture which is delicate and pretty and adds to the two Fleur de lis hooks I have in my bedroom.

The Esty shop is owned by The Thumber over at Thumbin' My Way.  I love her blog and now I foresee a huge chunk of change heading towards the goodies in her shop.  

If you visit Thumbin" My Way, be sure to type in GEMS for a 10% discount!!!