Bumper Cereal Product Review

Since I'm on a product review kick I thought I'd throw one more out there.  Mother's Bumper Cereal.  I've tried their peanut butter and their cocoa flavored cereals and they are VERY sweet and yummy- I occasionally eat them- just as a dessert.  I used to mix these flavors together and have a version of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cereal.  I'm sorry to see that they have added artificial coloring to the cocoa cereal.... too bad! I guess I'll just stick with the peanut butter version.

Here is the ingredient list for the peanut butter cereal from the Mother's website:

CORN FLOUR, UNSULPHURED MOLASSES, NATURAL PEANUT BUTTER (GROUND PEANUTS, SALT), OAT FLOUR, RICE FLOUR, HONEY, SALT, NATURAL MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (VITAMIN E).

These are so light that they probably have no fiber or real nutritional value- but they do taste delicious. 

Orly Won't Chip Nail Polish Review

Now that it is the end of summer and you won't be wearing flip flops everyday I thought I'd share with you a pedicure tip... silly me.

I occasionally (five or six times since birth) have gone to a salon for a pedicure.  One of the things I love most is how long the polish looks beautiful and shiny.  After paying for my last pedicure- and cringing at the thought of how many photography books I could have bought instead- I decided to try to get the look myself. 

While I'm not that steady with a brush I love Orly Won't Chip Top Coat.  It stays super shiny for at least two weeks.  I did get one tiny chip when I used a lower quality polish beneath it- but it's good stuff.  My toe nails have had the same color on for at least three weeks (including tromps through the garden) and while the shine has faded some it still looks pretty good.  I'm impressed!

Make Your Own Photography Backdrop Stand

I saw something similar to this on a very expensive photography prop website.  I also saw a glimpse of a version of this on the prop junky website.  My mind started spinning and I came up with an inexpensive substitute for those very expensive ($129) backdrop stands- To make your own you will need:

portable clothes rack from Ross ($12)
curtain rings with clip attachments,
four or five 2 inch clamps from Home Depot ($1 each). 

Assemble the clothes rack as directed.  Before attaching the top cross bar slip on about ten curtain rings-on the bar where the hangers would go. Finish assembling the clothes rack.

Attach your fabric background with the curtain rings and clamp in place as needed.  Make sure that when you attach the clamps to the bars you aim them away from your model- wouldn't want to have it accidentally slip off and peg someone.... never seen that happen but I'm new and I worry about these things.  If you want the background fabric to hang straight cut it to the size of the clothes rack- if you want the fabric to drape cut it longer and wider. 

This adapted "photography stand" has wheels so it is easy to move.  It can hold several backdrops at once and those can be switched out without too much trouble- especially if you use curtain rings with clips attached (I just used what I had in my crafty junk box).

For the actual backdrops I've used curtain panels, blankets and pieces of fabric cut to size.  For a beginner with a tiny budget it works pretty well!

Oh, this won't work for a tall adult unless he's sitting--- but maybe you could use pvc pipe to make the stand taller.  Still beats the $129 price tag.

 Another item that would make a fun photo prop are these rugs at Urban Outfitters.  These would be easy (but time consuming) to make- ... I think they'd look great in a photoshoot.

More pictures and a book recommendation

I'm still playing with pictures from my photo-practice-session.  I'm also spending a bunch of time reading and learning about photography and how to edit pictures.  Intersting stuff.  I really like the Digital Photography Book  Volume 1 by Scott Kelby. 

Learning How to Take Pictures

Wow, the learning curve on a new camera and a new photo editing program is pretty intense.  I had my practice-taking-pictures session yesterday and it only emphasized how little I know and how much practice I need- duh.  Taking pictures of real people is so much more fun then taking pictures of dolls though!  Any suggestions on calibrating a computer monitor?  The auto color fixes on my pictures left them looking yellow on my monitor- but I don't want them to look cherry red either....

I found another photography website that I like Confessions of a prop junky.  She has photoshop tutorials as well.

Here are two photos from yesterdays shoot.

Crochet Baby Hat Pattern Links

I set up a practice- taking- pictures- shoot of a baby due any day- (I won't be good enough to actually call it a photo shoot for years) to force me to learn how to use my new camera.  The parents of this little guy are doing me a huge favor in letting me play with their newborn when they know they'll be lucky to get any worthwhile prints from the shoot- I really appreciate them for sharing their baby!

I wanted to have a few little props to up the cuteness factor of some of the pictures so I've been crocheting some hats and a cocoon.  

The elf hat pattern is here- I simplified a few things and used a half double crochet stitch instead of a full double stitch- so, my version is slightly different and chunkier.  The other hats are just half double crochet stitched in a round with extra stitches added in as needed.  There are a list of free cute crochet baby hat patterns here.  If you want to make some.  I found this etsy site if you liked to buy some.  Enjoy.

Vintage Style Hair Accessory- Rose Bobby Pins

I used some of my left over scrapbook embellishments to make hair accessories.  Just use your E6000 glue and stick them to bobby pins with a flat surface- I found mine at Hobby Lobby.  Let them dry well and they are ready to wear.

I'm having a blast playing with my Canon T3 that sweet hubby got for me- I feel so ignorant!  It is quite overwhelming.... I've been reading books and blogs ..... so much to learn!  Any favorite photography resources out there?

8/4/11  I found a group of tutorials that are so helpful!  Pioneer Woman has a bunch of different tutes and she explains things so clearly- and her side comments are laugh out loud funny- start out with aperture- have fun!