Want to make your own storyboard?

No problem.  Since I’m always creating storyboards/collages for my readers, I thought it would be fun to share my knowledge so that you can create your very own!  It’s actually pretty simple.  My recommendations for viewing this video tutorial at its maximum quality are:

1. Make sure the volume is up on the video.
2. Make sure the volume is up on your computer.
3. Change the viewing quality to 720p HD (the first button/icon on the bottom right side of the video).
4. Use the large player on YouTube (the fourth button/icon on the bottom right side of the video).  Viewing at full screen tends to look a little blurry/fuzzy.

Dijon maple chicken anyone?

Can I get a “HELL YEAH”?

I have a little something different for you today.  I recently made a chicken recipe for the family this past week and it came out great!  After searching my Pinterest boards for the pin, I realized that apparently it didn’t come from there.  And the sad thing is, I have no idea of the source to give credit.  From my print out, however, it does read:

“I adapted this recipe from The I heart Trader Joe’s Cookbook”.  So, I guess that’s a little something.  Of course I don’t know who the original poster was.  It’s way too good not to share though, so here it is:

Image Editing Tutorial 2 (Photoshop CS6)

See.  I told you I’d be posting another video tutorial.  I’m proud to say this one is only 20 minutes long!  I improved by a whole 10 minutes!  Go me!  In case you missed my last video tutorial, you can find it HERE.  Before I leave you, I have a few recommendations for viewing this video at it’s maximum quality.

1. Make sure the volume on the video is up (second icon/button from the right at the bottom of the video).
2. Make sure the volume on your computer is up.
3. Be sure to view in 720p HD (second icon/button on the left at the bottom of the video).
4. Viewing it with the large player, instead of full screen, comes in more crisp & clear (fifth icon/button on the left at the bottom of the video).

Wordless Wednesday (sort of)

A wordless Wednesday in Instagrams!  Image descriptions don’t count as words do they?

From left to right:
1st row – Livi sleeping on Daddy (and hiding from Mommy).  She didn’t want her picture taken anymore. / Livi with Nana playing with her toy cupcakes (but she calls them muffins). / Someone bought these beautiful flowers for my sister.
2nd row – My beautiful mommy. / My nephew’s birthday cake. / A lighting fixture I happen to love! (Yes, random, I know).
3rd row – My girl Carrie from Sex & the City (did it really need explaining)? / Hungry hungry hippo. / Patching Livi’s eye before bedtime.

It’s not your birthday!

I was doing the laundry the other day and Livi happened to spot a hat on the shelf above my washing machine and dryer.  It was a hat shaped like a birthday cake with one candle sticking out of the top and read “fun to be 1”.  Yeah, I had bought this for Livi’s first birthday.  Of course, then, it was a tad BIG for her little noggin so she wasn’t really able to wear it.  Now at the age of 2 1/2, it fits perfectly.  Not even tight either.  She absolutely loved it!  When I tell you I couldn’t get her to take that hat off, that would be putting it mildly.  She didn’t even want me to touch it.  It didn’t matter if she had it on backwards or not.  She walked around the house singing birthday songs, telling me it was her birthday, and that we were going to a party!  That hat entertained her for the entire day.  I’m lucky I got it off before I put her down for the night.

An image editing tutorial (in Photoshop CS6)

I’ve received some inquiries about how I am editing my photos and I’d love nothing more than to share my process with those that are interested.  Of course, this was my first time recording a video on my computer so it was quite the experience. And can I be totally honest?  I sort of hate the sound of my own voice on video.  I feel like it doesn’t even sound like me.  Also, I apologize in advance for the background noise.  I recorded in complete silence but for some reason my video contains a little white noise.  I’m not really sure what it is.  All I can think of is that it may have been caused by the microphone.  It is also a whoppin’ 30 minutes long.  I know what you are thinking.  Boy what a snooze fest.  I didn’t mean to go on and on and on but let me just tell you how easy it was.  Seriously, I had more to say.  Thank heavens I chose to leave some things out.  I also tend to be a little repetitive, but I wasn’t sure how familiar with Photoshop my audience would be so I wanted to be sure to be thorough.  Anyhow, here are few pointers to view the video at its best quality.

The things they learn!

Take your time.  Concentrate.  Hit the ball.  This is what my tot says when we are bowling with her play set.  It’s a riot!  Just when I thought she learned these phrases from the hubby, Livi and I were watching an episode of Jake and the Neverland Pirates and sure enough I heard these same phrases from Jake.  Of course they were playing golf, hence the “hit the ball” instead of “hit the pins”.  I’ve been trying to teach her to say “hit the pins”.  Either that or “throw the ball”.  You know something that makes sense.  My little one is way too smart.  I just love how she uses her words in the correct context and she picks up on absolutely everything.  She is truly amazing and such a BIG girl!