I have always loved taking pictures, even more so now that I have kids.  I’m not a horrible photographer.  I don’t cut off  the tops of people’s heads…usually.  But, I don’t take really amazing pictures either; and I’ve always wanted to.  That’s how I found out about HDR photography.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography allows for a greater range between light and dark.  As a result, the color spectrum of the photo is more like that seen by the human eye.  This lends a sense of  realism to an image traditional photography has trouble matching.

To create this wider spectrum, HDR photography requires the photographer to take a series of the same exact image at different exposure rates (low, medium and high).  At least three images are taken, often more.  Then, these images are layered together via HDR software to create one much more dynamic picture.  The result is astonishing.

Using these techniques, I have been able to create real photographs for our family pictures, which makes me proud to show them off.  I’ve started putting albums together and, I’ve got an entire wall in the house devoted to our family history through pictures.  When people see them, they ask how we could afford such profession pictures!

Many people think it would be hard to figure out how to take and develop HDR images, but it was actually incredibly easy to figure out what I needed to do once I watched an HDR tutorial I found online.

Its been really wonderful to enjoy taking pictures again.  As a result, we’ve got a lot of special family photos to remind us of the fun we’ve had over the years.  HDR has opened up a whole new side of photography for me and I’m excited to keep exploring all the possibilities.

I’m about to burst.  I can’t stand it any longer – yet I have to.  I have no choice.  The list of things that must be put on the back burner until that time in the future “when the house is done” is looooonnnnggggg; Frustratingly so at this point.

Thankfully the end is in sight!

We are ready to move forward with the project and hope to be in the house before school starts next fall.

The road from here to there seems like a GIGANTIC one.  Which, I guess, has helped make me that much more antsy for all those things that are waiting until we’re all settled and at home in our beautiful, wonderful, fantabulous dream home.

In a desperate effort to remain grateful while at the same time blowing off some of this steam I figured I’d write a list of all the things I have to wait for so I can dream away now and be sure not to forget anything later!

Here Goes….

1.  A Dog

Since our beloved Bear died and our new pooch Wilson ran away we have been dogless.  Its been nearly a year.   We do have the two awesome kitty cats but, there is a giant hole in the family only a dear doggie can fill.  But, because we’re listing our house and because we may need to get a rental, we have to wait to get a dog….until the house is done.

2. New Dishes

I have been wanting to start scouring thrift shops and yard sales for cool old dishes to make a set for us, but, I can’t do that for obvious reasons, including having more to pack up and the potential for breakage during moving, …until the house is done.

3. Get Our Bed Back

We still sleep with dear O. in our bed.  He’s going to be 2 in a few months and is no small potato.  Plus, Mr. T. and I are getting old and “Doing It” in wildly creative places can cause pain for days.  But O. gets his own new bed in his own brand new bedroom…when the house is finished!

4. Make A Rag Rug

I found these instructions to make a rag rug a while ago online, but, since we were moving soon, just stashed them away.  I really want to use recycled material and clothing to do it and am going to hit up the local thrift shops for their stained stuff.  But, there’s no sense in doing that when I’ll just have to move the stash to a new house.  Plus the basement is going to be my new craft haven, and until then, I don’t need old cloth cluttering up the house I’m trying to sell.

5. The Basement

While we’re on the subject of the basement, this place is home to many things we’ve all been waiting for.  One of the biggest and best bonuses of the basement is the boy cave that will be down there.  Friends over, Sleepovers, TV, music, privacy – all for the boys and everyone else all because of  the glorious  basement!

The basement will also house a full on laundry room complete with indoor clothes line, shelving for cold storage, a big freezer again for veggie storage, not to mention storage storage!!

6. The Dream Gardens

Along with the dream house comes the dream gardens.  I’m trying to figure out a way to plant some stuff at the property while the house is going up; thinking it may be a container garden year.  I’m also trying to figure out a way to take some cuttings of the kick ass lilac bushes, fox glove plants, black berry and raspberry bushes and so much else.  We’ll see how it all goes down, but hopefully this one might actually get to happen AS the house gets built instead of having to wait until its absolutely finished…

7. Lower Heating Bills

We are looking at some seriously great heating options, the best of which is a solar heating system that will provide us with free hot water for our radiant heat in the floor for all but the darkest times of the year.  Compare that with paying for wood and oil and electric and….well, its a fantastic deal!  We’re all looking forward to keeping the thermostat where we want with little care for the “bills”.

8. A Big Refrigerator

We have a cute, efficient little europen fridge in our place now as its the exact size needed to finish of the kitchen the way it needed to be done.   We’ve also added another small fridge in the pantry as we knew as soon as we arrived at the house that that one small fridge would not be enough for us.  In the new house, I’ll have one fridge for everything.  We’ll still be sure to get an efficient one, but, everything can be in one place!  Seems like a minute detail, but it helps me stay organized much more easily.

9. A Dish Washer

That’s not to say we don’t have a dish washer now; its me!  When the house is done, I’ll have an actual mechanical dish washer.  Can you say “time saver”.  Not to mention getting that soaking pile of dirty dishes outta my sink.

10. I. Gets His Own Room

I. and K. can still play with the best of ‘em but, there are also times it would be so nice to send the pre teen I. to his room for some, um, space.  He is also in a place where self expression is something he’s really exploring, and a room of his own is an important piece of this to him.

11. We’ll Be On The Bus Route

I’m still interested in taking the kids to school as I really like that time it gives us.  BUT, the long drive I could definitely do without, so being closer overall will be great, and the option for then to ride the bus as needed is even better!  The other day I had car issues and Mr. T. had to work so, I. didn’t go to school….what a drag.  When we move though we’re on the bus route and, about 5 min from school; a drastic difference to the 15 min we have to drive each way now.

12. I Can Volunteer At The Local Library

Weird to have on the list, maybe, but still – it’s been a dream of mine forever to be a librarian, but not every day!!  Our small village library is entirely volunteer run!  So, once we’re within 3 min drive of the place, I’m signing up to volunteer.

13. We Finally Get To Live On ‘The Property’

We’ve owned “The Property’ now for a year and 1/2.  Again, for Mr. T. and I this place is a dream come true.  10 acres, a river, beautiful trees, a walking path, a great home site and so so much more.  I’m excited to live in the forest again, and I’m excited to live in that specific place too.

14. We’re Back To A Mr. T. Built Home

We’ve had an addition Mr. T. built, the, we got to live in a whole home designed and built by Mr. T. (and I, but really him).  It was so amazing.  We all wanted that again, but, Mr. T. and I wanted to move somewhere besides New Mexico.  Here we are now in beautiful Maine and we’ve got our property and we’re so so close to that feeling of being back in a Mr. T. designed and built home!

15. We Can’t Do Much Else

The house is our everything, our baby we’re birthing if you will.  We have to tend it this year.  Which is awesome, but it takes a lot of time away from many other things that must wait even longer….until awhile after the house is done!

Phew.  That’s a long list.  There’s more too.  But, it all almost sounds ungrateful.  I feel so blessed for the moment we are in right now.  Everyone is happy, healthy, we’re building our own home, Mr. T. and I are still in love after 16 years together, we’re both working and we’re living a good life.

Every once in a while though, it helps to let it all out.

Ahhhhhhhh……

Part of having a kid in public school is, and has been at least since I was a kid, participating in fundraisers.  Its usually a total pain in the butt.  Hell, the last one I. had I just sent $30 to the school instead of doing the actual fundraiser because the products just weren’t anything I could really ask my friends and family to buy.  Plus, the amount I’d have to buy/sell for the school to actually get $30 from our fundraising efforts was quite a bit!

Luckily, I. brought home a notice about a fundraiser I was actually happy to participate in and even sell to my family and friends; The Fedco Seed School program!

Fedco Seeds is a company based in Maine that sells both their own seed and seeds that are assuredly GMO free from other companies.  They are a very nice, local company and they’ve sold seeds gardeners really believe in and have done so for some time.

The Seed School program is a special fundraiser for schools, as well as non profits like brownie and girl scout troops.  The children simply get orders for seeds in the winter (the school picks a certain package of some of Fedco’s best sellers) and a % of the sale goes to the school.  The seeds are then delivered to the buyers in the spring.

A fundraiser like the Seed School program gives kids the opportunity to sell something that is green, made in the USA, and provides everyone participating the opportunity to grow their school as well as their gardens!  Its really a win for everyone and I’m definitely one parent that’s really glad I can  participate in a school fundraiser I can actually believe in.

I. celebrated his 10th birthday yesterday!  That’s quite a milestone in childhood – and for parents.

Double Digits.

Its so exciting.  He’s on the cusp of everything.  No longer a little kid with just a one digit age, he’s got 2 numbers now, and that means a LOT.

He had a great day complete with the lego kit he’d been wanting, a mint chocolate cake from his favorite bakery, pulled pork sandwiches for dinner, and some buddies over for a sleepover.

Birth days are always a neat day for me too.  I remember where we  were just that many years ago, as most mothers do, and think about that miracle that we were a part of.

That miracle who in just another few years will be on his own, but who for now, is just 10!

Its going to be Halloween again soon and its time to figure out a cool costume.

This is a holiday that is long looked forward to in our house, so costumes are luckily done early; one of the tricks to making things more affordable and saving some hard earned dinero!  With 3 kids the money can disappear quickly when it comes to Halloween costumes; not anymore though!

I’ve done Halloween on a Budget now for many years and here are my Tricks…or Treats as it were.

Second Hand and Consignment Shops usually have lots of great items that you can use to create a fantastic Halloween  costume all that’s required is a bit of planning and creativity.  You may also be able to find gently used costumes at these types of establishments.

Put an ad on Freecycle (www.Freecycle.org to find a group in your area).  Never know what someone may have stashed up in their attic or out in their barn from Halloweens past.  Bring it to life again and, for Free!

If you’ve gotta have new stuff, shop sales, and use coupons.  You can find discounts like BuyCostumes.com coupons, and usually Free Shipping deals too; just keep your eyes open and be sure to shop around!

And last but not least, start early for next year.  Everything thats left after Halloween goes on sale November 1st – so plan your costume early and you can really save!

For many parents, including myself, keeping the kids in clothes can become a major expense if you let it.  There are some tricks though that can help you avoid spending too much while also getting them great clothes that they actually like to wear.

One of the best ways to save money is to shop second hand stores.  You can find some amazing deals on like new merchandise; especially if you find yourself a good consignment shop to frequent.

Thrift shops are a great thing too – and often are a funding stream to non-profits doing good work in your community (ie.  Goodwill, church thrift shops, etc. ).  Reusing clothes, saving money and supporting a good cause – just a touch better than the sweat shop clothing you hear about!

Another great way to shave some money off the clothing budget for kids and everyone else in the family is to use online coupons.  I’ve found coupons for many different types of merchants including SmartBargains.com, Aeropostale,  and even OldNavy.com coupons.  All you’ve got to do is google the merchant you’re shopping at plus the word coupons.  Many different merchants offer special discounts through coupon codes so it’s always best to check.

In addition to these tricks, I also like to shop off season when I can.  We keep a storage bin and buy things on the opposite end of the season so we can take advantage of the sales.  For example, look for your child’s winter coat for next year during the sale in the spring – just buy it a size bigger.

Only the rich and famous can afford to pay full price for their kid’s clothing each year (or each season it seems sometimes!).  Use these tips and you’ll find yourself cutting your kid’s clothing budget down so far that maybe you can actually afford a few things for yourself!!

I. started 4th grade this year.  Its extra big because we have homeschooled him since he was in kindergarden….and this is the first day of public school for him!

He had a great day!

He has a really nice teacher whom he enjoys, and, the boy who sits next to him loves to dress in cammo – loves legoes and star wars – and has a ton in common with I.

Hope he’s up for 9 months of it!

If only I could find a van this cool!

So, we need a van.  I finally convinced Mr. T. that we just don’t have the space in the wagon anymore – even with the 3rd row seat.  He’s sad.  He doesn’t want to own a mini van.

If you’re gonna have 3 kids, you’re gonna  eventually get a van, its that simple.

I wish we could afford one of the new 7 or 8 seaters like the Honda Pilot, but its just not in our price range.  We’ve got to settle on the van and have been focusing our search on Honda Odysseys and Toyota Siennas.  I’ve found a few, but that was before we sold the Volvo (which happened within a day after posting it on Craigs List!!).

Now, we can’t really find anything.  And, even when we do, its such a saga.

Gather up the kids….who don’t want to go.  And drive.   We’re trying to keep it close, but there’s only been one, and that’s been a bit of an odd experience.

The car was being sold by a family about 20 min from us, so, we went over.  It was nice, had a dent in the back, but was nice, only 125,000mi and in our price range. Mr. T. drove it and liked it so offered $500 less than the asking price.  The guy said he and his wife would have to talk about that but never told us anything from there.  So, we collected the kids and headed home.  Weird.  I emailed just to be sure, but no response.  So, I’m guessing that’s a dead end.

As a result of where we live (in the beautiful Maine countryside) we have to travel around an hour to see other vehicles.  Its a total pain in the a$$.

But, I need a van.  Hell, I already sold my volvo, which, lucky for me isn’t getting picked up until later in the week.  I. starts school on Mon. though and I have to drive him….can’t do that without a vehicle…so gotta go through that buying a car process in all its “deal making” glory.

Here’s to hoping our new van finds us…sooner rather than later!

It had been happening for awhile.  Our printer would work, and then all of a sudden for some unknown reason it would just crap out on you….usually in the middle of something important!

Finally, we just had to pull the plug.

Mr. T. ordered a nice new (and much bigger) Cannon printer/scanner/fax.  Our other was a combo model, but with this one, all 3 features actually work properly!

Its wireless too, which is definitely a great feature.  I can print from anywhere!

Of course he had to do a LOT of research.  A printer with an affordable looking price isn’t always an affordable printer.  If your machine only takes pricey ink, that low ticket price ends up being quite a bit more over time.

Don’t get me wrong.  I always take advantage of great deals and other money saving opportunities like a 123inkjets coupon or OEM cartridges.   But some printers just require expensive ink no matter how much you try to cut the cost with discounts.

So, like Mr. T. do your research.  In the end, we ended up with a nice machine that offered a great deal, but, ALSO has affordable ink prices over the long haul.

After the new computers and now this great printer I’m feeling pretty cozy in my little ‘ol “home office”.  We found a place for her on top of the file cabinet (it’s not a huge floor model, but much bigger and beefier than our other one), and she’s already been making it so much easier for me to make copies and get things done.

Can’t ask for much more from an inanimate object!  So, I think, she’s a keeper.

Hopefully, I’m saying that several years from now too!

Do you have a favorite coffee mug?  I do.  Mine is white inside and from time to time it can get to looking a little, well…..less white!

When I used to want to try and whiten something up, I might reach for bleach – or some super power (aka toxic) dish soap….not anymore.  What’s the eco friendly way to remove coffee and tea stains?

Baking Soda.

Yep!

Plain, old use it in your baking, Baking Soda.  Any brand will do the job, and boy does it do a great one!

All you have to do is make a paste of baking soda and water.  Then, use this paste to scrub your coffee mug, tea pot, or  even your coffee maker.  The stains will seem like they get absorbed right into the baking soda.

If you have a particularly persistent coffee or tea stain, you can let the baking soda mixture sit on the item for 15-20 minutes.  Then, scrub again, and rinse thoroughly.

You’ll be amazed at how easily the baking soda works.  And, better yet, the way your favorite mug or beloved brew pot will look when you’re done will really surprise you.  The baking soda is so gentle, yet, it leaves such a shiny clean behind; you’ll never use anything else to remove coffee and tea stains again!