A BLOG BY LINDSY READ

Monday, April 30, 2012

Eating My Words / We're on Instagram

@lmrphotos
Just about 3 weeks ago I said I was never going to use Instagram. Then, I got a bunch of flack from Instagram-lovers. A whole bunch. So, I started to think about it. And then Dan told me that I should just try Instagram. That it would be good for my character if I went back on one of my "things" that I am stubborn about. So, I downloaded it... just to check it out... and I created an account... and.... I'm totally hooked!!!!!! I get it. I do, indeed, enjoy the social aspect of Instagram. True, the filters and frames are pre-programmed and the things that I spend hours on in Photoshop are done with the click of a button on a Smart Phone. But I love photography so much that I dont know why I was being so stubborn about it.  I love looking at pretty pictures.  I even sort-of like the pre-programmed filters... (can I get that on my Nikon?)

So, I guess I'm an Instagrammer.  Dan is on it now and even my mom, too! Check us out! @LMRphotos + @DanielBrock + even my mom, @alana812!


@lmrphotos
@lmrphotos
@lmrphotos
@lmrphotos
@danielbrock
@danielbrock
@danielbrock
XOXO, D+L




Thursday, April 26, 2012

More Ramblings About the Weather

The weather here is such a big deal.  It affects everyone.  Just as I explained in this post, everyone thinks about moving away in March and then in April we get a glimmer of summer for a minute,  just long enough to satiate our appetites and let us know that this IS a great place to live, only to be followed by another temperature drop and more rain.  The weather is totally bi-polar this time of year.  During the weekend we were in shorts and tank tops and today it's raining.  Also, the change in barometric pressure is squeezing my head.  It's pretty terrible.

San Diego is in the 70s and 80s all year long.  Can you imagine?!  I was there in January and it was so strange to wear a sundress in January.  I dont think I could ever live in San Diego.  I dont know if people there really appreciate the weather or if they get used to it.  I like the changing of seasons.  Spring and summer wouldn't be as sweet without getting through the bleak fall and dark winter.  Or maybe that's just what I tell  myself.

I believe that we need to walk through valleys in order to enjoy the mountain tops.  Life cant always be perfect.  Sometimes God allows bad things to happen and you'll never know why.  If life was perfect all the time I'm sure we'd find something else to complain about anyway.  For now, I'll be basking in the sun and working in the garden when it's sunny and staying in to bake cookies and read books when it's raining and not worry what things should be like but taking each day as it comes.  [And secretly hoping for the best, sunniest summer of our lives].  A good metaphor for life, dont you think?



Just eating raw cookie dough.  NBD.


Pre-hair-bleaching, obviously.



Monday, April 23, 2012

Who Are You?

A few weeks ago we lost all of our blog photos.  All of them.  As we continue the tedious process of putting this blog back together, here is a little something we'd like you to participate in!  

Your comments are so appreciated!  You make our days brighter!  We have lots of new followers and readers and so many of you are a bit shy about saying hello. But we want to get to know all of you! So I pose the following questions, stolen borrowed from Naomi at Of Anselm:


1. Who are you?
2. Where are you from? (You can be as specific or as vague as you feel comfortable.)
3. If you have a blog, what's it about? 
4. Don't have a blog? Tell me what your favorite movie is!

So, let's hear it. Say a word - as many or as few as you'd like! We want to meet you and share a virtual cup of coffee with you - and some coffee cake, cuz we cant help eating delicious, fattening things. Even if you've only been reading for a day or you've commented before, give us all the deets!  And thanks for reading!



Love, 
D + L + BB

Saturday, April 21, 2012

What We Wore to Our Photo Shoot

A few years ago, I wrote a post about what to wear to a photo shoot.  Check it out!  I still consider it a good resource. The three of us had a photo shoot yesterday with Jade Elhers and his wife, Kaitlin.  They are busy people so I had plenty of time to think about what we'd all be wearing.  Deciding what two people should wear in a photo shoot is easy but once you add a third, I've found, dressing everyone to match (but not match) can get a little tough.  Especially when your kiddo has only hand-me-downs and the entire collection of Carter's Rock Star line.

I had no idea where to start!  I needed a theme or one piece of clothing to base everything else off.  Then, it hit me.  Dan mentioned a week or two ago that he wanted a black and white striped shirt, just like Elvis in Jail House Rock. Dan likes loves Elvis.

Photobucket


I scoured the internet and could not find him a black and white striped shirt FOR THE LIFE OF ME.  But!  I found one for BB!  I got him an Old Navy body suit for only $7.94.  Dan had just gotten a new, black cardigan from Forever 21 and new boots, from Aldo, for his birthday.  I knew we couldnt wear all black.  We needed at least one more color so I started to, again, scour the internet for a baby cardigan.  All the cardigans were for girls.  Until I remembered American Apparel, which was PERFECT because they only sell things in, like, 14 different colors so I knew I could get myself something to match!  Thus, the cranberry-colored cardigan for BB and cranberry-colored, high-waisted skirt for me.  I've had the tan and black striped shirt-dress since 2007.  I bought it at H&M in France but they're selling a very similar version of this shirt-dress RIGHT NOW at H&M in the states!  I also bought the Ralph Lauren varsity cardigan last year and I included it in my photos here but didnt actually end up wearing it in any of Jade and Kaitlin's photos.





Sadly, Dan didnt get to wear an Elvis shirt but he has a nice, tan and black plaid shirt that I think he's had for at least 7 years.  So, you know he likes it a lot.  And, it complemented my shirt!  Win win.

So, there you have it!  Black, stripes, tan, cranberry, dressed up but comfortable.  That's our theme, if I had to put it into words.  We looked awesome, if I do say so myself.  I cant wait to share the photos with you!


Oh, hi!


Thursday, April 19, 2012

Life, Currently...

His first turntable experience.

Obsessing over:  I have definitely been obsessing.  Where do I begin?  I have been consumed with how to deal with unkindness. So I am seeking peace ... but really just wanting to scream.

Thinking about:  For some more time with our family and good friends.  Last night we went to a birthday party and many of the people there were people we haven't seen since we became parents.  They were all so excited for us and happy to see us.  It was so nice to know that people care about what's going on in our lives.  Even though baby sitters are expensive and we can't stay out as late as we used to, we decided that we need to get out and be with happy, supportive friends more often.  As for family, I've been seeing mine more often than usual and Dan's parents are coming (from Chicago) soon.  

Working on:  A homemade T-shirt rug for BB's room.  Now that he can sit on his own, he needs a comfy rug to play on.  Hardwood floors are not really good for anything but aesthetic.

Eating:  Last night I made spaghetti with Italian Tofurky sausage and Vodka Sauce! I haven't been cooking very much.  We've been ordering take-out or eating very simple meals like frozen pizza and canned-whatever.  It's disgusting.  I miss FOOD.  I miss GOOD FOOD.    When Dan is home [instead of on tour] I feel like I can think more clearly and rationally and every day tasks like feeding my family are so much easier!  Two are better than one, that's for sure.  Also, we get a box of organic vegetables delivered to our house every week and they come with recipes so that has helped us eat better.  


Wishing:   That it doesn't rain for our family photo shoot with Jade Ehlers tomorrow!  I chose our wardrobe very carefully and I think we are going to look fabulous!  If it doesn't rain, everything will be perfect good.  











Wednesday, April 18, 2012

DIY Table Runner

We have a beautiful farm-style vintage-looking table made by our friend, Andy.  I love it.  I love it as much as anyone can love their dining room table.  However, there is a small problem.  The aged two by fours have some divets and cracks that can sometimes collect crumbs and I don't like that.  So, I had some muslin I wasn't going to use and I decided to make a table runner.


I started by tearing the muslin into two pieces of the same size.  Then, I sewed them together.  The edges are frayed and I like the look.  If you prefer a more polished look, you sew the seams and turn it right side out.  Then, I washed it and pressed it.


Using painters tape, I started my pattern. I honestly didnt have much of a plan. I didnt care about the triangles being perfect so I just started taping these diamonds.  I did this on the linoleum floor because paint spills would be easy to clean.  Also, taping it to the floor made painting super easy because it didnt move at all!  [Accidental] genius.




I used some old house paint we had lying around and then mixed it with acrylics.  I didnt fill in every diamond or triagle.  Mostly because I am lazy but also because, again, I didnt want this table runner to look too perfect.  Or even to look like it was trying to be perfect.



BTW, I dress like a [colorful] homeless person sometimes.

I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  It dried overnight and we started using it the next day!  I think it's the perfectly flawed addition to our dining room.



Monday, April 16, 2012

On Being a Parent

There's something about the human condition that comes alive when we are made responsible for something. The same phenomenon happens when we are in a life or death situation. A book I read recently said that women desire an irreplaceable role in a grand adventure. I think that's why so many women love motherhood. Some women find adventure in many other ways.  They forgo family life for a life on the road or doing something wildly independent and radical; While other women love the adventure of caring for another human who is fully dependent on you.  No one should feel like less of a woman if they prefer their career, having pets or going on wild adventures to babies and motherhood.  In the same way, I don't want to be seen as silly, simple, or plain because I really enjoy being a mom.

Motherhood is most definitely a grand adventure.  Baby Bread has given my life a new purpose.  This child needs a good family.  We need to be the best parents we can be. There's not a lot I can say about Baby Bread or his situation. We don't know how long we'll have him but I know that he's thriving and happy in our home and I can't help but be proud and feel somewhat responsible for his progress. He is our son and he always will be, no matter what the government decides.





Wednesday, April 11, 2012

I Will Not Use Instagram

Hello!  Here is a sweet little progression of my cell phone pics.  These are from the first day I picked up Baby Bread up until this week.  You can see how much he's grown!  I will be ordering prints from Hipstamart in 4" sqaures in order to make a photo collage of our baby boy.  (They also print in 7", 10" and 30"!).  Check 'em out!  They might even take Instagram uploads... but they probably shouldn't.

First picture of BB I ever took.  5 minutes after we met.












You may have read in my bio that I will never stop hating iPhones.  It's just one of my things.  I also dont like iPhone app Instagram for a plethora of reasons, the main one being that it cheapens the art of photography.  But mostly this all started because Instagram attachments are annoying to open up in Twitter.  Anyway!  You can imagine my disappointment when Instagram became available on Droids.  Needless to say, I will not be getting an Instagram account.  Instead, I will be using my own secret apps that are like Instagram and sharing those photos with you on my blog!

These photos from top to bottom are from DAY ONE with BB all the way down to the bath photo which is from 4/7/12.  He's getting so big!


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