Random Photo Blog

These are a few more pictures I took with the new camera. I added a few more effects to some of these, just messing around with the software. Again, I used a Canon Powershot. Pretty sure its 12.1 Megapixels? 50x optical zoom. It's pretty awesome! Aaaaand my son is adorable. The first photo and the last one in this bunch are definitely my favorites. The first one he looks just like his dad and his eyes make me want to melt. That photo, as well as the second one, was right after his bath when we were getting dressed.

 The pillow on the back of the couch? We got that at Gordman's for 20 dollars and they have a TON of really cool accents. And in the last photo, I got the wicker basket for NINE dollars at Walmart! Are they normally this cheap? No, but as horrible as it sounds, when employees put things in the wrong spot? Take advantage! There was a HUGE stack of those baskets in the wrong spot, and they were supposed to be twenty dollars a piece. I've actually gotten into the habit of looking for groups of misplaced items. From my experience, the company HAS TO give you that item if its THEIR fault that the item was put in that spot. If a single item is out of place? Then it was probably some customer that moved it. But if twenty or thirty items are in the wrong spot? Take as many as you can and be prepared to put up a fight.

And again with the last photo, I was trying to find a cute quote to put in the picture (that picture is for my grandmother) and when I went online I saw the quote "I love you to the moon". I made up the rest of the phrases on there. (Pretty sure I made it up) And I just rolled with it! However, I was trying to fin some sort of photo editing software that comes with a bunch of little cartoons or pictures that you can add in? There used to be a site called Picnik that had EVERYTHING! But I'm not sure what happened to it. Anyway, let me know what you think. There's yet to be a single person comment on any of my blogs =[ Any critiques, comments, suggestions, or the like would be much appreciated! TTFN from my family to yours =]

Also! Please feel free to follow me and my adventures at www.amazingjames.blogspot.com

Thanks!

New Camera!!!!

I FINALLY got my own camera! It's a Canon Powershot and though I'm still getting used to it, I like it a lot! It came with some pretty good editing software and I think once I get the hang of it, the pictures will get better. Below I posted some of the pictures I took with it. All that was adjusted was saturation, sharpness, and in some cases, I made it black and white. My favorites are definitely the first and second one, while the last two could use a little bit more work, I think. Let me know what you think, viewers!

Also! Please feel free to follow me and my adventures at www.amazingjames.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Senior Pictures!

So yesterday I was Finally able to Seriously start my portfolio! Jesse's younger sister is now a seeeenior in high school and instead of spending seven hundred dollars on Senior Pictures, she asked me to do them. And I did them for free.

We spent about two hours and I let her have as many wardrobe changes as she wanted. The one thing I was worried about was not being able to keep the light until the end of the shoot (The pictures were outside and I got there at 3) But we ended up not having a problem. We took the pictures at her house which just so happens to have a monstrous garden stretching around the entire house.

I used my moms camera which was a Panasonic SomethingorOther and it ended up working really well! I was surprised at how great they turned out!

What I learned:
1. Position your subject in a way where the light isn't in their eyes! If you have them in the shade, its much easier to brighten the picture than to take away squinty eyes AND darken it without it looking creepy.
2. Try to find areas (outside) where there is contrast. If your subject is wearing a bright red dress, try to find a spot where the natural surroundings will make the dress pop.
3. Editing is your friend. Does this mean take off 15 lbs, add some nice flowing locks, glowing cheeks, and a pony? No. But bringing out the color of the eyes and hair by increasing the exposure and/or saturation, can really make your subject stand out, as well as adding interest to the rest of the photo as well.
4. Angles are awesome! Sure, the head on, straight forward point and shoot method is okay. But taking pictures looking down, up, and around at your subject, adds perspective and makes a group of pictures more interesting.
5. Are you taking a picture of someone that feels awkward or doesn't know what to do with themselves? Have someone they can talk to and let them get out their funny faces every once in a while. Taking that awkward 'GRRRR' face picture is usually followed by a genuine smile/laugh combination, and THAT'S the picture you want.

Until she gives me permission to post these pictures, I'm only going to post the Sneak Peak. (We don't want all her friends to see them if They read the blog!)

So below is the picture she chose as her Sneak Peak. Again, notice how she isn't right in the middle of the photo. This picture, I really don't think I messed with anything. I cropped a little, but other than that, we used the lighting to our advantage and even got some really great sun streaks (That beam of light was intentional and was something we really wanted in our garden pictures) But I think it turned out great! Very natural and B.E.A.UTIFUL!

So if anyone has tips or suggestions, hit me up! This was my first 'official' photo shoot apart from me constantly taking pictures of James. I'll be sure to post more when I have permission!

Also! Please feel free to follow me and my adventures at www.amazingjames.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Early Start, Early Blogging

So this morning, James decided to wake up with daddy. He was up and rearing to go at five o'clock this morning! And now, he's conked out in his pack'n'play while I sit here bored out of my mind and unable to go back to sleep. So instead, I'm watching Charmed, when I should be doing something productive like homework or figuring out how I can get paid for sitting on my butt at home all day. So if anyone is reading this and knows how to do that? Hit me up!

The last few days have been crazy. I left my job a few weeks ago so I could stay at home with James and work on homework. But now? That's driving me crazy. I love spending every second I have with James, but at the same time, getting a few hours away here and there helps keep me sane.

It drives me nuts how the expectations of women have managed to change, but haven't at the same time. We're still expected to take care of the children, clean the house, have dinner on the table at six, but on TOP of that, we're also supposed to bring in some income? Sorry guys, but you can't have both! And to be quite honest, I don't feel as productive just being a mommy than if I had a job as well.

The average income in order to support a family of 3 (or four, not quite sure) is over fifty thousand dollars a year! Jesse has a pretty good job, and makes well above minimum wage. He still doesn't make THAT kind of money.

And as a young couple, we've already rung up a fair amount of debts. We have...
1. Student loans.
2. A car loan.
3. Wedding rings.
4. A traffic ticket (Not going into this one)
5. And all of our monthly expenses including rent, utilities, groceries, etc.

That's a lot of debt! Over twenty thousand dollars in debt and counting! I still have two more years of college left and that's definitely where my student loans are going to get expensive.

Luckily though. We only owe two hundred dollars more on the wedding rings (Woot!) and the traffic ticket shouldn't take too long either. After that, we have three years to pay off the car (hopefully less) and our biggest debt after that will be Student Loans.

Hopefully, we start becoming a little bit more financially stable SOON. Its hard to feel unstable, and financial issues are one of the leading stressors in a relationship, and even a cause of divorce.

I love Jesse =] soooo much. But I'd be lying if I said that the financial issues don't bother me. Would I divorce him for it? No! It's not Completely his fault for our debts! Most of the debt is actually mine! Though I'm still blaming that traffic ticket on the other driver...

Anyway, finances are tough, and stressful, and can really get someone down if they aren't resolved as quickly as you'd like them to be.

I think the best approach is to tackle one thing at a time. Write down your debts, how much you owe on each. Then write down the minimum payments for each. ALWAYS PAY YOUR MINIMUM BALANCE. But maybe on one of the things on your list? Try to put down a little bit more until its paid off! There are a ton of helpful sites and blogs that are far more informed about finances. Find those, read them, live by them!

And now, here's a picture of my sleeeeeeepy baby. Love you buddy =]

Also! Please feel free to follow me and my adventures at www.amazingjames.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Halloween Night!

My sweet baby is all tuckered out =]

He's sort of mad right now however seeing as we're making him sleep in his own bed by himself....

We went to grandma's house today and shows off THREE of our costumes. This morning we were a skeleton, this afternoon we were Sully from Monster's inc, and then he turned into a bear when it got cold outside. We didn't get to go trick-or-treating because it was so cold out. But instead we lazy man trick-or-treated and went to the Dollar Store and bought whatever candy they had left.

Below are some of the pictures that I took of James in his costumes. He looks so happy! All of these photos are taken with a camera phone (I really need a better camera).

But we had a great night! So happy with my little family =] ALSO! I finally posted pictures of the pumpkins! Jesse and James are in the picture as well, but they're there!!!

Silly mummy!

I'm James P. Sullivan!

Me with batman aka my dad. 

Mummy and me!

I'm poo bear! No H.

Sleeeeeeepy skeleton

Please feel free to follow me and my adventures at www.amazingjames.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Sad day blog.

A lot has been going on lately, which is why I haven't been able to post anything. I haven't even taken time to take pictures of our beautiful pumpkins that I was talking about in my last blog. Two major things have come into my life that have made me realize a few things.

1. Bullying is HORRIBLE.
2. I would never forgive myself if anything were to happen to my son.

Firstly, a girl I went to high school with has been 'cyber-bullied'. This word is NOT enough to describe what's been happening. She's received death threats, has been called about every name in the book, and has been taunted non-stop for at least the past week. How do I know this? IT'S ALL OVER THAT SOCIAL NETWORK SITE THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE/HATE. So, like the good civilian I am, I called the police station to get some information to give to the girl being bullied, as well as to figure out what I could do to stop it. I took pictures of all of the cruel things that were said, saved them to my computer, and told the girl being bullied (We'll call her S from now on) that she needed to FIRSTLY, unfriend the person bullying her. I also told S that she needed to refrain from saying anything bad back. Saying 'please stop bullying me' is one thing. Saying 'you're a disgusting creep and I just wish you'd fall in a hole' is quite another. The day after I gave S this information, she posted this HUGE status about how she had pictures and was going to take them to the cops (ALSO something I told her NOT to say to anyone) as well as some other things that I shouldn't repeat for the sake of little eyes that may see this. Soooo, once she posted this, a bunch of other people commented on it, including the bully, and EVERYONE went on to attack the bully. (Again, I told them NOT TO DO THIS) So I wrote one simple message on there saying that the best thing in that situation for anyone to do is be supportive of S and show that bullying isn't going to be allowed.

So what did they do? They completely ignored everything I said, continued to say that 'this guy should be shot' among other things, and will most likely all have charges pressed on them.

So I gave up on the situation because I don't feel like any negativity being targeted at me or my family.

What SHOULD you do if you or a friend is being bullied?
1. NEVER bully back! Bullies aren't stupid and they can screen shot just as easily as you can.
2. Screen shot as many things as you possibly can and save them to the computer for evidence.
3. If, after asking this person to stop bullying,Unfriend said perp if they're on your friends list. If they're not on your friends list, change your settings so that only you and Friends can see your page.
4. Stay positive! Before posting anything, take a good five minutes to think about if its something that you really want to say, or if you're just wanting to say it out of anger.
5. Contact your local police department to ask what sort of measure can be taken and do EXACTLY what they tell you to do! Taking matters into your own hands can get you into just as much trouble.

And again, the best way to stop bullying/harassment is to make it perfectly clear that you, your friends, and your family are OFF LIMITS. Be the bigger person and shut it down before it can hurt you, or anyone that you care about.

A lot of social networking sites have options for reporting someone or a post. If someone is really pushing it too far, report them or their posts! Believe it or not, even major internet sites WILL listen and that person's page will most likely get shut down.

***************************************************************

On another note. A woman in my area just lost her two month old baby to S.I.D.S. I don't even Know this person, and once I heard, the news had me in tears. Sids is serious and every measure POSSIBLE should be taken to prevent it, and even then, sometimes its not enough.

All I could think about is my sweet baby James and how devastated I would be if I ever lost him.

Could you imagine? Waking up to your baby lifeless in their crib or in your arms?

I don't know what I would do if I was never able to wake up to James's smile in the morning, if I was never able to hear his laugh, see him grow. I don't know if I would ever be able to live without him. I know I wouldn't ever be able to be happy again.

Children are work. But the love that they bring... its something so unbelievably pure that nothing can compare.

Want a few tips to prevent SIDS for your little one or maybe a little one in the future?

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/sleep-naps-12/sids-prevention

Follow the link above or copy and past it into your search bar. If you don't trust this information because its on the internet, your local hospital should have plenty of information to give to you on how to be safe.

ALWAYS EDUCATE YOURSELF.

If you ever have any questions about ANYTHING, contact your doctor! NEVER feel like you have a stupid question. Your questions could save your child's life.

To recap on this blog.

Be the bigger person in any situation that could be thrown at you, and be the best parent that you can be when it comes to taking care of your little one.

Was this blog helpful? Let me know!

Because I Can.

Today. I'm just angry. I'm angry about everything. I woke up to a dirty house that I had cleaned the day before. I woke up to a cranky baby that didn't have his diaper changed ONCE throughout the night. The night that he spent with his grandfather. Jesse came home a jerk, took a nap, remained a jerk, and is STILL being a jerk.

I went to Michaels today. I bought three fake pumpkins, some round brush thingy, black and white paints, a letter stencil, and an insect stencil. I spent 53 dollars on everything and completed all of the pumpkins in a little over an hour. (Will post pictures in the next blog)

I'm sort of a deal hunter. I don't believe in buying anything at full value, or even at 25% off for the most part. I enjoy 50 and 75 percent off sales and frequent stores such as Carter's, Crazy8, and Children's place for most of James's clothes. For my personal craft needs, I go to Michaels for paints or when I want things for cheap, Hobby Lobby for home decor, and DickBlick for all of my art needs when I actually have money to go there.

But enough about that, I'll save how I score my deals and where to look for coupons for another blog.

This blog is going to be an angry blog.

Currently, it's ten o'clock at night and I just spent an hour on dishes.

YESTERDAY my housework consisted of the following:
1. Bleaching the bathtub three different times, scrubbing thoroughly after each bleaching.
2. Cleaning the BEARD hair off of the bathroom wall.
3. Scrubbing bathroom sink and organizing the medicine cabinet.
4. Vacuuming the floor AND furniture.
5. Putting away ALL of James's toys.
6. Dusting all of the shelves.
7. Putting away all of the movies and video games on the Media center.
8. Clearing off the table (which was a complete disaster)
9. Putting away all of the groceries, cleaning supplies, and other items that I had bought the night before and was too tired to put away.
10. Two different loads of laundry (washed and dried)
11. Folding said laundry.
And I think that's about it. OH WAIT! And I made dinner for Jesse for when he got home, which he didn't even touch.

So, I did quite a bit.

That very same day, Jesse's dad came home. He immediately destroyed the bathroom beyond all recognition, dirtied about three cereal bowls in a span of a day and a half, and managed to destroy the entire living room that I'd picked up and vacuumed.

Tonight, he complained about there being dishes. Which was the ONLY thing that I didn't do yesterday, seeing as it isn't listed above. So I completed those, dirty plates, bowls, silverware and all. And the funny part? I USE PLASTIC UTENSILS SO JOKE'S ON YOU GUYS!

Anyway, before I started dishes he gave a speech. His exact words were "I'm only going to say this once. I don't like dirty dishes and a messy house. I like having people over and I don't want it to be messy when I have guests over like I did today." (talking about random people he sprung on us WHILE we were painting our pumpkins) "And if I get served an eviction notice because of this mess, I'm not going to be happy"

If you read the long list of what I did yesterday, and the paragraph below it, YOU'LL SEE WHY THERE WAS A F******** MESS! I'm SO tired of not being appreciated for ANYTHING I do of a day WHILE I'm watching my five month old son that needs constant attention! And what does JESSE do all day? He works eight hours and comes home and rests.

Ya know what? Parenting is ten times more difficult than any job I've ever had (and I've worked at the place where he's currently working) and parenting takes a hell of a lot more time too seeing as it DOESN'T END. So, I work all day long while Jesse is at 'work' and then when he gets home, I'm expected to clean, and continue to watch James, and STILL find time for homework? Is it just me or is his way of thinking flawed?

Not to mention his ignorant, belligerent DAD. Ya want to know his job? He trucks. Which means he's sitting on his butt. All day LONG. I only DREAM of being able to sit on my butt all day long and getting paid 1600 dollars a week! And then HE comes home too and sits on his butt at home so tired from 'working' that he just wants to sleep all day.

I mean no disrespect to the hard working people of America, the truckers, the factory workers, but ya know what? We moms have it just as rough and we get ZERO credit, because we don't get paid for what we do!

So. In conclusion, mother's are truly THE most under appreciated people on the planet. That is all.

(Photos on the next blog)