Serendipity is Sweet

Photo Feedback - Week 20

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Wed, 23 May 2012 22:39:00 +0000

Hey there friends. I'm late to the party, but joining in another week of Photo Feedback hosted by fun and fabulous Kim at Mom Tried It. If you are new to Photo Feedback and you enjoy photography, I can tell you it's a wonderful way to get an honest critique of your work from your peers. I find it very helpful to have some weekly feedback and direction from a fresh perspective.

Here is my photo for this week. I thought I'd try something a little different with my editing and I went for an old timey vintage look. Not sure if I like it, but it's growing on me a bit. I thought the location and wardrobe fit the edit. What do you think?

I cropped and did a clean edit in LR, then ran Pioneer Woman's Vintage in PS lowering the opacity to taste. I flattened then ran Paint the Moon's Hushed Softness lowering the opacity of each layer.

Here's my SOOC.

And my settings. This was taken with my 50 mm lens in bright sunlight around 11 AM

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave your feedback!! Join the fun here! And be sure to check out Kim's giveaway for a seat in her upcoming Photoshop and Elements online workshop!

Wordless Wednesday Country Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:22:00 +0000

Yesterday we had our Girl Scout meeting and bridging ceremony. The big girl is now officially a Brownie Girl Scout (as opposed to a Daisy). Since I can't share the pics of the other girls online, I'm sharing some pics I took of Little Miss while we were waiting for all of the Girl Scout preparations to be completed. The group meets at a big church out in the country surrounded by lots of wide open space. Perfect photo op!

As we were leaving a big storm came up. If you follow me on instagr.am you may have seen the pics I shared of that. If you don't follow me on ig and would like to just click the button in my sidebar to the left.

t

Thanks for stopping by! Have a beautiful day!

Project 366 Rewind - Week 20 - Above

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:02:00 +0000

It's time for the weekly rewind, and boy was last week busy. I felt like I was shooting in a frenzy when I did have my camera out. We seem to run from one activity to the next! Anyway here's a recap of what I captured.

Little Miss trying to fill some big shoes.

Our big girl went to Build a Bear workshop with her Daisy Girl Scout Troop and they all made Daisy Bears. She LOVED it!

Little Miss also discovered how to climb the stairs of our playset.

Makes mommy a little nervous, but she was so proud of herself.

Bella Girl enjoyed sunning herself on the deck, as usual.

While hanging out with our neighbors in their backyard, I found some pretty hydrangea blooms and a perfect opportunity to capture some creamy bokeh.

We did have a lot of rain last week so I captured some drops from above. (Prompt)

And we took a trip to Target. I never leave my camera in the car so I carried it in and figured why not snap some pics? I'm becoming less self-conscious about shooting in public. I used to feel weird about it, but now I'm so enthralled with photography that I really could care less if anyone things I'm a crazy weirdo ; P

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Linking up with Gina and Sarah today for:

That's our week in a nutshell. Thanks for stopping by!

Scavenger Hunts Sunday Week 19

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:51:00 +0000

I had fun exploring with this week's hunt. Although I wish I had been able to devote a little more time to being creative with the prompts. But, here are my interpretations for the line up:

Rainbow - I didn't see any real rainbows this week, though we did have plenty of rain. But I spotted these cheerful little clips:

Fluffy - I didn't come up with anything fantastic for this one, just fluffy blankets and a sleepy baby:

Letters - I don't drink beer all that often, but when I do this one is my favorite.

Metal - this one you may have seen before - pulling from the archives:

Trees - one thing I love about living in an older neighborhood is all the mature trees and greenery:

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That's it for this week. Be sure to stop by Ashley's place for more Scavenger Hunt fun!
Thanks for stopping in. Have a beautiful day!

Simple Things Sunday - May 20th

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:39:00 +0000

Sometimes it's tough to be the youngest.

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Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:31:00 +0000

Hey, it's Friday! Thank goodness. Anyone else feel the same way?

I'm linking up with Shoot. Edit. Submit. today with my favorite photo of this week featuring the fabulously curly Little Miss. I can't believe she let me stick that thing in her hair, and she even left it in for 3 or 4 whole minutes! Makes a mama smile ;)

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend!!

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Boys Will Be Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:09:00 +0000

Boy: [boi] noun1. A noise with dirt on it

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Linking up today at Deb's place:

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great Thursday ;)

Photo Feedback Week 14

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:33:00 +0000

Here's my shot for this week's Photo Feedback. I haven't taken many shots lately that I'm thrilled with. Just feeling a little out of whack these days. Lack of sleep and busyness have me off balance I think. Hopefully I'll get a second wind here soon ;)

In the mean time, here's an image I took of one of our rose buds after the rain the other day. It isn't a terribly exciting image, but it's all I've got for today.

My settings:

I bumped up the clarity just a touch and used selective sharpening on the bud. Then used a "boost" action to punch up the color but lowered the opacity a bit.

For some reason I can't get the link code to work today, but stop by Kim's place for more Photo Feedback!

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Will Break for a Field of Dandylions

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:23:00 +0000

As we headed home from the library the other day, I saw this glorious field of overgrown weeds. Of course I had to pull right over (my kids are getting used to this). I knew it would make a perfect spot for a photo shoot. I shooed my daughter out of the car to explore. Never mind that she was wearing flip flops and was a little wary of snakes and critters. I just wanted to take a few test shots, so I bribed her as usual. The shots aren't fantastic, but I am loving the potential.

Since that day we've had torrential downpours. But you can bet I'll be back to that spot soon, and better prepared...with a cute dress for miss thang, and boots! I just hope nobody mows down all those weeds before I can get there ;)

t

Thanks for stopping by! Have a beautiful day!

Project 366 Rewind - Week 19

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:30:00 +0000

Yikes, I'm so far behind, and I still have so much to do! Always feeling a day late and a dollar short lately. Anyway, here's my line up for Project 366. It was a busy week and there's no sign that we'll be slowing down anytime soon.

I spent some time editing my pictures from the Chesapeake Bay and played with my new logo.

I also played with some macro shots using my extension tubes and my 50 mm lens.

We had our final soccer practices for the Spring season.

No more looooong Wednesday nights at the fields.

The girls and I went wedding dress shopping with my little sister (who's getting married in October). I'm not allowed to post pics of THE dress, so this one of little miss in the dress shop will have to do. She wasn't as excited about the dresses as the rest of us were ; P

Then there were some pouty faces after the final games of the season were over.

And this sweet thing just made me smile, even after an exhaustingly busy weekend.

I did have a very happy Mother's Day and am so thankful for the blessing of such a beautiful, healthy family. I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day too!

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Linking up with Gina and Sarah today for:

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:40:00 +0000

I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day! We had a busy weekend with the end of season soccer games and my in-laws in town visiting. I have been unplugged most of the weekend so I'm late to the hunt. But here are interpretations for this week's prompts:

Sidewalk:

Inspiring:

So many things inspire me, my family, my friends, the beauty of nature, gorgeous photography... inspiration is all around.

Time:

Close Up:

With Mirror:

Last week we went dress shopping with my little sister. She's getting married in October.

I'm so excited for her!

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That's it for this week. Be sure to stop by Ashley's place for more Scavenger Hunt fun!
Thanks for stopping in. Have a beautiful day!

Friday's Shots

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:33:00 +0000

Like many photographers, I had high hopes for shooting the Super moon last week. Unfortunately, it was pretty cloudy around here all weekend. And, to be honest, I was totally exhausted and too lazy to pack the kids up and travel to a decent vantage point, or even get my tripod out of the car and set it up. So, this is what I managed to take, hand held from my back deck. Not brilliant, but I do like the moodiness of the clouds.

What have you captured lately? Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend!!

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Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:41:00 +0000

Today we're off to our homeschool P.E. class and then we have some catching up to do on school work. This evening we have soccer practices and an end of season party. I'm hoping the rain will hold off so I can unload all these trophies I have! Later, I'll be editing pics from my Mother's Day shoot with the Girl Scout moms. What's on your agenda this Wednesday?

I thought I'd just share a couple shots I took of Little Miss the other day, just before nap time.

t

Thanks for stopping by! Have a beautiful day!

Photo Feedback Week 13

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:57:00 +0000

Here is my image for this week's Photo Feedback. Now let me have it! Ha ha ;)

Seriously, I don't mind.

This was taken in the shade on a sunny afternoon around 4 PM. I was hoping to catch him mid-flight but he wasn't cooperating and I would have had to change my ss for sure.

Shot with my D5000 and 50 mm f/1.4 lens.

My settings:

Pin It Would you like some feedback on your photography? Link up and join in! It's fun. I promise ;)

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge - Hey Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:05:00 +0000

I Heart Faces is hosting another fun photo challenge and I thought I'd join in. The theme is "Hey Girl" and I certainly take plenty of photos of my girls that would fit the bill. I chose one of my most recent favorites. It's a pick of my big girl on the swing in our backyard doing what she does nearly every day, and just being herself.

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On the Bay

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:48:00 +0000

This morning we're off to Girl Scouts and my Mother's Day shoot. It will be a busy morning! But before I go I wanted to share a few shots from our visit to the beach Sunday evening. I captured some pics of my sister with her fiancé and their dogs. They are such a sweet little family already ;) It was overcast and windy, but the dogs didn't mind a bit.

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Thanks for stopping by! Have a beautiful day ;)

Project 366 Rewind - Week 18

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:42:00 +0000

Time for another rewind...my how time flies! It's hard to believe summer is just around the corner.

Here are my pics from the past week:

I love it when it's warm enough to do a little school work outside.

On Tuesday I happened upon this interesting door.

I caught this sweet moment as the girls were playing in the yard.

And this one as they played together during the boys' soccer practices.

It was a warm sunny game day and the boys played their hearts out. Only one game left for the season!

Miss Curly Sue rarely disappoints when I get out my camera.

Sunday evening we headed to the State Park for some fun on the bay and a photo shoot with my sister, her fiancé and their dogs.

That wraps up last week. What have you been up to?

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Linking up with Gina and Sarah today for:

Sunday Scavenger Hunt Week 17

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:44:00 +0000

Ah well, I'm behind as usual and just getting my Scavenger Hunt post up on this beautiful Monday morning. Truth is, I forgot about the hunt until Saturday and then hurried through the prompts. I'm not proud. But life with 4 kids being what it is, I really had too much going on to manage anything spectacular. Today I have some editing to finish from a shoot I did last night with my sister and her fiancé. We headed down to the beach with their dogs...and all my kids. It was fun, but really windy and kind of overcast. We still managed some good shots and I'll be sharing some later.

I'm also excited to be doing a Mother's Day shoot on Tuesday for our Girl Scout troop. These are just things I'm volunteering to do for the practice, but I love the opportunities to grow and learn... it sure does keep me busy though!

Here are my interpretations for this week:

Shadow:

Keys - the keys of the keyboard, and also the keys to my success - ha ha:

Smile:

Unedited/SOOC - this is an iPhone pic:

Fish:

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That's it for this week. Be sure to stop by Ashley's place for more Scavenger Hunt fun!
Thanks for stopping in. Have a beautiful day!

Simple Things Sunday - Smiles

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:33:00 +0000

My simple thing today is smiles. Such a little thing can have such power. To change a mood, to change a day, to make the world a better place...

"A friendly look, a kindly smile, one good act, and life's worthwhile."

~Author Unknown

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I hope you have a beautiful day! Carry a warm heart and a big smile!

Loving the Moment in Virginia Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Sat, 05 May 2012 04:18:00 +0000

Most of us have a fondness for the place in which we grew up. There are certain places that hold special memories of good times and we love to revisit them. The memories those places arouse bring back the happy feelings we enjoyed in our youth. I was lucky to grow up in Virginia Beach, a place where good fun abounds. The sea and surf were my playground. I remember many sunny days spent playing along the shore, and that fuzzy warm sleep that follows a long beach day just can't be beat. It's that good tired. You know the kind that your body begs you to give into, but your mind resists, as it revels in the thrills of the day before you drift off with a smile still on your face. That's when you know you've lived well and loved the moment.

Growing up in coastal Virginia was such a treat because I was able to enjoy a change of seasons, but also benefit from the fact that the seasons are fairly mild. That's one of the big reasons I have always stayed close by! The long summers and mild winters mean that there are always plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun. Aside from the gorgeous sandy beaches that stretch for miles, there are dozens of beautiful parks, outdoor concerts, festivals of all sorts, farmers' markets, stunning air shows, water parks and pools, exciting motor sports venues, outdoor restaurants, fishing piers, boat tours, the list goes on and on.

And did I mention that Virginia Beach is the site of the First Landing? Yes, it's true. On April 26, 1607, Christopher Newport and the Virginia Company colonists landed here before they established themselves at Jamestown Settlement. Virginia Beach and the surrounding areas are a history lovers dream destination! As homeschoolers we certainly enjoy the multitude of historic sites to visit throughout the year. It is so exciting to tour sites like the Adam Thoroughgood house or the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse and step back into time. I remember that magical feeling as a child, of strolling through the footsteps of our ancestors and imagining what daily life was like for them. Now that I have kids of my own, it is such a joy to watch the wonder in their eyes as we tour these hallowed grounds.

Another favorite family attraction is The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Just a short drive from the oceanfront, this museum boasts over 700,000 gallons of aquarium and animal habitats. My kids adore visiting this fantastic facility. With so much to see and do, we spend hours soaking in the fun and learning about the more than fifty species showcased there. The two touch tanks and giant aquariums bring the wonders of the deep right to eye level.

After a long day of sightseeing, you can be sure to fill your hungry belly with some of the tastiest treats you've ever had. She-crab soup, oysters, clams, crab cakes, yum! You can eat sea side and watch the tide roll in, or sit bayside and watch the boats pull in with the fresh catch of the day! If seafood isn't your style, don't worry, with hundreds of restaurants featuring cuisine from all around the globe, you are sure to find something to please any palate.

As a kid in Virginia Beach, I had little clue how lucky I was to enjoy all the fabulous events and activities that awaited year round, just outside my door. I was too busy loving the moment to have any real appreciate for how amazing this place truly is. Now that I'm a mom with a family to care for, educate and entertain, I can fully appreciate all the wonder and joy that this beautiful city offers. Spending a great day exploring a unique destination with my family, and loving the moments we create together, that's what I call a great place to be!

Virginia Beach entices visitors to “Live the Life” year-round! Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less for two-thirds of the U.S. population. For more information on Virginia Beach, or to plan a visit and love the moments you create, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800-822-3224) or visit http://www.visitvirginiabeach.com/

Like the Virginia Beach Facebook page to keep up with all the fun!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach blogging program. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Leap Into Spring Challenge - Green/Grass

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:48:00 +0000

Well, I didn't have much time to prepare for this week's Leap Into Spring post. I wish I had a more cohesive set of images to share. Instead, this is sort of a smattering of pictures that I've taken while the kids were enjoying the great outdoors and all the greenery that surrounds us. It has just been that kind of a week around here. And, as I type this, I have a squirmy, whiny toddler on my lap. So, this is as good as it gets for now. Hopefully next week I'll come up with something brilliant! Ha...don't hold your breath though ; P

Be sure to stop by and and visit our lovely hostesses for more Leap into Spring! images.

Shoot. Edit. Submit.

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:53:00 +0000

Greetings friends! Happy Friday!! We'll be running about today with P.E. classes and a pool party. It promises to be a busy day (and near 90 degrees!), but I'll be hopping by to view your gorgeous photos at nap time and later this evening. I always find such inspiration through the beautiful entries at Shoot. Edit. Submit. Can't wait to see what you've captured!

Here's my favorite for this week:

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend!!

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UPrinting Die Cut Business Card Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:56:00 +0000

It has been a while since I hosted a giveaway. Sorry kids. I have been a neglectful blogger and shied away from reviews and giveaways. But, I figured it was about time that I offered my readers some cool free stuff! So, when Uprinting offered the opportunity to host a giveaway I waved my hand violently in the air until I was picked as a prize lady ;P

If you haven't visited Uprinting, go now. Seriously, they offer some fabulous products and a wide variety of them. At great prices too. They make everything from stretched canvas prints, to greeting cards, magnets, window clings, calendars, well, you get the picture. Great stuff, especially if you own your own business. They have the coolest die cut business cards that are a unique alternative to the standard 2 x 3's . I'm really diggin' the curvy edges.

So, here's the deal. Check out Uprinting and come back here to enter to win your very own set of 250 die cut business cards! Cool huh? It's easy peasy to enter. Just use the handy rafflecopter entry form below. Good luck!

Details:
250pcs Customizable Die-cut Business Cards for one winner of the following options:
2x3.5" Rounded Corners, 2x2" Rounded Corners, 1.75x3.5" Rounded Corners,
2x3.5" Leaf, 2x3.5 Rounded one corner, 2x3.5" Half Circle Side, 2x3.5" Oval, 2.5" Circle
14pt Cardstock Gloss / Matte / High Gloss (UV), or 13pt Cardstock Uncoated
6 Business Days Turnaround time
Free US shipping only
Giveaway runs from May 4-May 11, 2012.

Restrictions:

1. This giveaway is open to US residents only, 18 years old and above.

2. No prize substitutions allowed.

3. Winners are allowed to win once over a six-month period.

4. Only email addresses used for the giveaway will be eligible to claim the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer:
“You should assume that the owner of this blog will receive free print products in exchange for the post. Any and all reviews posted are based solely on my own experience and may be atypical. Please practice due diligence in making any related purchase decisions. Interested to hold a giveaway like this? Please sign up here.”

Just Another Day at the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:58:00 +0000

Today I'm sharing some shots from our trip to the park Monday evening. It was a warm breezy evening and dad was busy with final exams, so we lingered at the park enjoying the playground.

All of these images were taken with my D5000 and my 55-200 mm zoom. I processed them in LR3 and used a preset called "Oldies Night." Sorry, I don't remember where I got it and the file name gives no indication. It was a free download from somewhere out there in cyberspace ;P It's quite heavy so I lightened it up quite a bit, but like the grittiness it gave these pics.

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Linking up today at Deb's place:

Thanks so much for stopping by! I have a couple of great giveaways coming up soon, so be sure to subscribe or follow my blog so you don't miss out on the fun! Have a great Thursday ;)

Wordless Wednesday - Mr. Silly Pants

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Bliss Rich) — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:55:00 +0000

Hey, look at that! More kids pics??? Astonishing! ;)

While my 4 year old will usually let me take his picture, (as opposed to my 10 year old who runs the other direction) he always gives me silly faces. It's tough to get a genuine expression from him if he knows I'm there. Anyone have any good tips on posing kids? I'd love to hear them.

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Thanks for stopping by! Have a beautiful day!