Eliminating Camera Jitter

Since few people have the precision of a surgeon, photographs are bound to have some level of jitter unless you have an image stabilized camera which will take it into account or a tripod. But, this is one ingenious way to nip it in the bud completely — and for less than a buck. (Heading off to Home Depot.)

Candid Shots of the Niece

Today, I’m on baby duty. It’s a tough job, but I’m trying to keep the niece under control with one hand while getting work done with the other. I consider this practice. :)

I was able to snap a few shots as she’s trying to help me on the laptop…

Hi Auntie
I'm a Star!
Hello World
Peekaboo

My Sister, the Stylist

Well, the amazing has happened. My sister got a write up in the local paper this morning and I’m so proud of her. Go SissieM!!

Be sure to visit her website and if you’re ever in the south Florida area, make sure to pop in and get your hair done. :)

5 Reasons I Blog

Lynn tagged me and I’ve run out of excuses. :)
Here goes…this meme is all about why I blog. The idea is to post 5 reasons why I blog and then tag 5 other people to do the same.

  1. So I can post positively adorable pictures of my niece.
  2. It’s a way to collect my thoughts and get feedback at the same time.
  3. Networking with other bloggers and meeting new people.
  4. Helping others by sharing things I’ve learned.
  5. The money, of course. (Blogging can be very lucrative.)

Actually, there are quite a few more reasons why I blog, but those are the superficial ones.

Now, to tag some people…

  1. Belle Wong
  2. Linda Buquet
  3. Andre Chaperon
  4. Splork
  5. Darren Rowse

You’re all it. :D (Wonder who’ll actually participate.)

I Save Babies!

Or, more accurately, my blood helps to save babies.

While I was donating blood this evening, I asked the gentleman whether it would be best to donate whole blood, plasma, or platelets. He responded that, for me, they prefer to take whole blood because I’m a pedia-donor. My blood is only given to children aged 0-4 years old.

At first, I thought it was a bad thing that my blood was only good enough for babies…then I thought about it, I’m helping to save babies, precious little people. That puts me right up there in the special category and asked him to explain how I ended up special.

Apparently, most adults have a very common (and harmless) virus which may adversely affect young children, so when a donor comes along without it, they milk her for all it’s worth. I’m one of those donors. Woo and hoo. :D

Okay, I’m tired now. I’m gonna eat and go to bed.

(Sorry, no gory pictures of the blood letting process. You’re welcome to see my past ones if you like.)

Cuteness Incarnate

Breanna Montage

Sung to the beat of Barbie Girl by Aqua (you remember that one, don’t you?) while wiggling the baby:

I’m a sexy girl, in a sexy world
I’m Breanna, I’m the baby.

Yeah. My sister’s nuts, but it’s oh so cute to watch.

She can walk! SHE CAN WALK!

SissieD and Breanna

The other day while watching my niece, the most amazing thing happened. Eager to share the news, I immediately called my sister at work and the following conversation ensued.

SissieD: Hello my sister.

Me: She can walk! SHE CAN WALK!

SissieD: What?

Me: Breanna, she can walk.

SissieD: By herself?

Me: Well, no. But, she can still walk.

SissieD: What?

Me: I kinda have to hold her up while she does it, but I swear she understands and knows how to put one foot in front of the other. That’s walking.

SissieD: But, you still need to hold her up?

Me: Yes, but that’s beside the point. She…can…walk.

SissieD: Riiiiiight. Whatever you say.

Me: I’m not crazy. I saw it with my own eyes. She can walk.

SissieD: Alright, I believe you. Just make sure she doesn’t walk off when you’re not looking.

Sisters, gotta love ‘em.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air. It’s blowing through the trees and, hopefully, into your heart.

I received my Valentine gift early this year (i.e. in January), but wanted to post about it when the big day actually arrived.

My Valentine's Day Mug & Puppy

Isn’t it cute?

As not to break tradition, I bring you a poem.

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
by Francis William Bourdillon (1852-1921)

The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one;
Yet the light of the bright world dies
With the dying of the sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes,
And the heart but one;
Yet the light of a whole life dies
When love is done.

(10 second translation: Cherish love, always. It can be fleeting.)

Isn’t today loverly? Ahhhhh…

The Secret Movie on Oprah

It’s not often that I watch (I do love her magazine and am a faithful subscriber), but yesterday, I made it a point to watch because there was a special episode with the creators and some speakers from The Secret Movie.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see the full episode and am praying someone will release it on YouTube so I can grab it before the copyright police find it.

In case you already didn’t know about , it’s about the Law of Attraction — the most powerful law there is. What you focus your attention/thoughts/feelings on will dictate your choices and actions, which will lead you to your focus. Basically, what you spend most of your time thinking about is what you’ll attract (whether you want it or not).

The DVD is inspirational and you don’t have buy it in order to see the Secret either (some people were griping about actually having to spend the money). You can watch, or download, it on YouTube.

My Sister’s A Business Woman

SissieM just called me to let me know it’s official, she can now open her salon for business. It’s not officially open yet, but she plans to do so in the coming weeks.

This is the first major step she’s taken for her business and I’m so proud of her. As a present, I hand-crafted her website in my spare time and I’ll begin marketing it. The deal is that she handles the offline marketing and I’ll handle the online marketing.

After I unveiled the present, though, I told her she will be treated like my client — no special sister privileges. I do have a business to run, too.