A BLOG BY LINDSY READ

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Antler Plaque and Wall Collage

Happy last-day-of-February!  We are so close to spring, I can feel it.  Today I am sharing with you  my second project with antlers!  The first is the antler necklace display hanging in my bedroom.  Antlers are just so fun and kitschy - I cant help myself!  This was super easy to make and I'm so happy with the way it turned out.  Just three steps and less than $20!

Step one:  Buy antlers and a plaque.  I found both on Ebay.  Search here for the plaque and search here for the antlers.  I got the plaque for about $8 and the antlers were a box of 3 for $12.  I love Ebay!

Step two:  Spray paint the plaque.  Choosing a color was hard.  I started with a mustard yellow but it didn't look good.  I considered black but Dan wanted me to try a brighter color so I went with a high-gloss burgundy and it was perfect!

Step three:  Glue your antlers to the plaque.  Find a heavy-duty glue and follow the instructions on the package.  We used Permatex Super Glue Gel, let it dry overnight and hung it up the next morning.  

Voila!  I wanted a special place to hang our new antlers.  So, I took down the big banner in our living room and created this wall collage you see below.  We have so many framed photos from living in the loft and this house is much smaller, with much less wall space.  I love changing up our interior design and I am happy with the how the antler plaque complements the other photos.  


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Grow Up

I enjoy writing and sharing and recording milestones and publicizing my goals. I never write for anyone else - and that is what all the good bloggers tell you to do.  Unlike many bloggers, I don't want blogging to be my job; I have other aspirations.  Ever since I became a mother, I have felt subtle winds of change in my life.  I've thought about our finances and career choices - a lot.  Sometimes I want to start my own marketing company, sometimes I want to go back to school and be a teacher - have the summers off so that I can play with BB and travel with Dan, sometimes I want to abandon everything so that I can put some energy into poor LMR Photography, our photography business that gets so very neglected. I dream of moving to Hollywood to be a production designer on a movie set.  Other times, I want to be a stay-at-home-mom.



I'm 6 months away from turning the big three-oh and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.  I feel silly.  But, I know I'm not alone. America is the land of opportunity and everyone has big dreams. You can be almost anything you want to be.  I mean, with the right amount of work, I could literally be any of the aforementioned things: entrepreneur, teacher, production designer, full-time photographer, SAHM.  But aren't too many options overwhelming?  I've been reading reports that greater creativity stems from tighter boundaries.  The best example I can make is that spoiled kids are usually bored and kids with little have great imaginations.

For the past year Dan and I have put strict boundaries on our family budget.  We have met our goal of saving everything that Dan makes.  Living off a small budget, by choice, has forced us to get creative in how we spend our time and money.  Even though sometimes I desperately want a shopping spree, I love these constraints.  We are living comfortably (and creatively) so why would I want to go and change things?  I am so blessed with the job that I have.  But, I struggle with complacency after six years; should I be content or get more ambitious?  How can I place boundaries on myself and my personal goals?  Should I?

I'm not trying to solve all my problems today.  I just want to share what I'm thinking.  If you're thinking the same things just know that not everyone knows exactly what they want to do with their life... even an almost-30 small business owner with a 6-year career in project managing.

Monday, February 25, 2013

WAHM Style

Image

In my honest opinion, it takes a lot of extra effort to get ready every day when you work at home.  There are days when the only person I might see besides my now 17-month-old son is the daycare lady.  I decided to get it out of my head that I’m getting dressed for the daycare lady, or the grocery store clerk, and decide to get dressed for myself.  Yes, yoga pants are awesome and there have been many days already in 2013 that I have failed my style resolution and worn a T-shirt and sweats from dawn til dusk.  However, I really want to feel like my fabulous self again so I’m working on putting together outfits that are stylish, comfortable and multi-purpose.  I'm over at Liberating Working Moms today sharing some tips on WAHM style!



Saturday, February 23, 2013

Pipsqueak

BB had his 18-month check-up this week. He is 21 pounds, 11 ounces and 31.5 inches long. He is still in the bottom 10th percentile which means that 90% of 18 month olds in the United States are bigger than him. (He's in the 25th percentile for height, but still small). The doctor said that since he's stayed in those percentiles the past year and continued to grow steadily, that this small stature might just be his natural build. He's going to be a tiny man. I started to think about this little pipsqueak and I admit that I was a little worried. He already looks so much like me but the fact that he's small does worry me because I want him to fit in with our family. I am 5' 8" so I'm not a small lady. Dan, who is 6' 5" when he stands up straight, said "small guys look better with guitars." Yeah, that's great. If he even likes guitar. What if he really likes football but he is too tiny to play? Poor, little pipsqueak.

Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional via here
Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional is only 5' 5" and he looks rad with the big ol' Gibson guitars he plays.

Bono is 5' 7.5" and he is one of the worlds greatest rock stars and philanthropists - and one of Dan's favorite people.

Angus Young of AC/DC is only 5' 2" and he's a one of the rockingest dudes in the rock biz!

Prince is 5' 2" ...
Bob Marley was 5' 7" ...
Bon Jovi is 5' 5"...

You're in good company, kiddo. Better pick up that guitar! I know you're going to be great at many things, no matter how big or small!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

CLOSED | Glasses Giveaway from Firmoo.com!

Hey, guys!  I'm back with a sweet giveaway for Firmoo.com! My first giveaway EVER!!!

We over here at LMR Photos love our glasses.  Dan and I wear glasses everyday so it's nice to have options to go with our different outfits.  I have 4 pairs and Dan has two.  Who doesn't love glasses? I'm giving away a free pair of glasses and six vouchers for designer glasses!  That's seven winners!



These are so many styles to choose from at Firmoo!  These some of my favorite frames.  Above are the Nerd Chic 1980 #SD2383 and below are a Two Tone Unisex #SD2339 frame.



There will be SEVEN WINNERS!

First Place:  The winner will get a pair of fashionable eyeglasses, both prescription & non-prescription are available, shipping not included. Designer glasses and sunglasses are not available for the free pair.
Designer Glasses Vouchers: Six lucky winners will receive a $30 voucher.  The vouchers only can be used on those designer glasses at http://www.firmoo.com/designer-eyeglasses.html. Each person can use the voucher only once.

RULES:
1. Leave a comment and tell me which glasses you'd love to have from the Firmoo site (mandatory).
2. Additional entries: easy entry for Firmoo fans on Facebook; easy entry for Firmoo site users; share, re-blog and tweet this giveaway.




<<Giveaway CLOSED on February 22, 2013>>

...and the winner is Sarah from Cranny+Me!
Winners of the vouchers are:  Rachel, Karli, Sarah Kyle, Tabitha, Abbie and Charlotte!


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Bargain Meal : Bulgur & Black Beans

Maybe you're like me and you've never heard of bulgur. Up until last week I had no idea what it was. It's a cracked wheat and it's tasty, affordable, and very easy to cook.  Easier than rice even! I adapted a Betty Crocker recipe for Bulgur Pilaf and created Bulgur and Black Beans!

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon canola oil or butter, melted
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 medium carrot, chopped (1/2 cup)
14 oz. vegetable broth
1 cup uncooked bulgur
1/4 teaspoon salt and a dash of black pepper



  1. Heat the oil or butter in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and carrot. Cook about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender. 
  2. Stir in broth, bulgur and salt. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until bulgur is tender and liquid is absorbed. 
  3. Keep the pot on low heat, add can of beans and continue to stir until they are warmed.
  4. Serve to baby as-is. Serve adults with tabasco, sriracha, sour cream, guacamole - whatever you like!  Enjoy!


I made corn muffins as well.  In total, this meal cost less than $3 -AND- there were leftovers so Dan and I ate it for lunch the next day -AND- it is healthy. Super bargain! We will definitely be making this again!





Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valentines Day | Pep Talk

In honor of Valentines Day we are sending you a pep talk from Kid President. I saw this video on Courtnie's blog and I laughed and I cried. Sometimes Valentines Day is sad so, if you need a pep talk, watch this video and know that you were made to be awesome because Kid President says so. Please take 3 and a half minutes to watch it. You wont be sorry.



I found out last night that BB has a Valentines party to go to today!  So, I made the worlds worst Valentines last night.  I cut out red hearts and glued them on blue squares and my plan was to decorate them this morning but someone wasn't into that idea.


SO. MANY. BOOGERS.


Seriously, full on tantrum because I let him play with paint and markers!   


Happy Valentines Day from Traveling Dad, Tired Mom, and Snot-nosed Baby!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

French Raclette

I am very excited to introduce to you our favorite meal of all time:  French Raclette. This is a meal that takes very little time to prepare but, like any good French meal, takes a long time to enjoy. It's a great meal for when you have special company you'd like to sit and chat all night with. To make raclette you need:  a raclette grill, raclette cheese, meats and potatoes, drinks and vegetables. 

Raclette Grill:  When we moved home from France in 2007, these were not easy to find in the U.S. but they are becoming more popular. Ours is the Swissmar 8-person Raclette Party Grill with Granite Stone but there are many types available.

Meat:  Meats typically eaten are proscuitto, ham, salami and other dried meats.

Cheese:  The hardest part of this meal, besides finding a raclette grill, is finding raclette cheese. It's a specific cheese from France or Switzerland so you'll need to go to a European market or a store with lots of cheese imports. It's not cheap which is why this meal does not count as one of my bargain meals!

Potatoes:  Small, round potatoes with thin skin will do. Yukon Gold, fingerling, or white potatoes are easy-to-find grocery store variety potatoes that work well with raclette. You need to boil them whole until they slide off a fork when stabbed. 

Drinks:  Raclette is typically served with tea or other warm beverages. Another popular option is to serve raclette with wine. Local tradition cautions that cold drinks will cause the cheese to harden in the stomach, leading to indigestion. 

Other things: A French dinner requires baguettes, obivously, but you'll be so full that you wont even touch the bread. All kinds of pickled things go well with raclette. You can add them to the cheese as it melts. I also like to served a green salad with vinaigrette before the meal, while the grill heats up.

As the grill warms, you can place your potatoes on top of the grill.  You can put the cheese and meat into the tray and sit back, sip some tea or wine and wait for the cheese to get bubbly.  Drizzle said cheese over your potatoes and... VOILA! The best meal you will ever eat!  We only do raclette about once a year just to keep it extra special. I cant wait for next time! Bon Appétit!


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Mardi Gras! A History Lesson.

As a child, we never celebrated Lent.  Celebrate is probably not the correct word.  We never observed Lent.  I learned about Lent in college when many of my peers were fasting for forty days from things like chocolate or gossip.  Here's a little secret:  I have never fasted during Lent.  I'm not sure why but I know that I don't like being told what to do.  I'm so stubborn.

Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.  Historically, Lent meant giving up alcohol, sugar, fatty foods and sometimes even bread - and everyone did it. There are probably many Catholics who still do give up all the things but it's my understanding that, for modern Christians and Catholics, fasting from one vice is enough.  So, on the Tuesday before Lent everyone consumed all of their aforementioned items the night before the fast began.  Thus, you have the wild Mardi Gras parties and the what have you. So, how do we celebrate Mardi Gras?  Eating pancakes!

Some Europeans celebrate Pancake Tuesday.  Dan and I learned about this tradition while living in France and we were like, "Pancakes for dinner?!  Yes, please!"  So, it's been our family tradition for the past few years.

So, Happy Fat Tuesday, friends!  Do you celebrate or observe mardi gras or lent?  Tell us about it!

BB, chewing on mardi gras beads like a boss! | Delicious pancakes. My favorite.

XOXO,
Lindsy

Monday, February 11, 2013

Mr. Personality

Mr. Personality likes to sing and run around the house screaming with joy.
Mr. Personality knows where you keep the biscuits and how to ask for them.
Mr. Personality sometimes hits me and dadda in the face.
Mr. Personality loves to cuddle (and chew on) his Aiden + Anais blankies and his Jingle Pup.
Mr. Personality cannot spend too much time in a clothing store because he is obsessed with hangers.
Mr. Personality makes the funniest faces and points at everything. Even strangers with afros.
Mr. Personality gives high fives, the biggest hugs and sweetest kisses... when he feels like it.
Mr. Personality will cling to you for dear life when you try to put him in the tub.
Mr. Personality, 10 minutes later, will refuse to get out of the tub even after the water is all gone.
Mr. Personality loves a good dance party!



Friday, February 08, 2013

One Year with Baby Bread

One year ago we said "yes" to a baby we knew nothing about, whose name I wasn't sure how to pronounce. We said yes; with no bottles or clothes or blankets in my house for him and a traveling husband who wasn't due back home for a few days. The next morning, I became a mama. I met this baby boy and this smile was the first thing I saw. The smile keeps getting brighter and my heart gets more and more full. 

Taken minutes after we met.

I can remember exactly how I felt a year ago.  I didn't sleep at all the night before.  I was so anxious!  I got up very early, cleaning, preparing, pacing back and forth, just waiting for the phone call with the address of where to pick up my child.  The moment we met was surreal.  I will never forget walking in to the house to meet him.  He looked up at me with this HUGE smile!  My heart just melted.  I took him shopping for bottles and baby-things and he fell asleep in his Moby wrap and I remember a  feeling of panic, thinking, "is he breathing?!"  Such silly anxious thoughts when put in charge of such a precious gift.  We made it through the first couple of days and had a wonderful baby shower.  Dan came home a few days later and I recorded their first meeting.  I cant watch that video without crying.  In honor of our one year anniversary, here are some photos from our first few days with BB.


 



You are safe, you are loved, you are so incredible. Happy one year, baby boy! 

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

The Car Museum

It's not always easy keeping our family entertained.  We all go a bit stir crazy after a few hours in the house.   On the weekends we try and do something new, something unexpected.  Whether it's going to hike a new trail, visit a new coffee shop, or simply cozying up to watch a movie we've been wanting to see, we like new things.

I am getting worried about finishing my 30 before 30 list.  I am almost halfway through the year and I have a lot left to accomplish. We're trying to get the "easy" ones out of the way; the ones that dont require a lot of planning.  So, on Saturday, we went to the LeMay Museum.  We loved it!  It's a beautiful building full of all types of vehicles:  Ford Model Ts, custom Rolls Royce, concept cars, race cars, motorcycles.  Even a Flinstones car from the 1994 movie starring John Goodman and a 1983 Delorian a la the Back to the Future trilogy (which I love).

If you're in the area, I highly recommend the LeMay Car Museum.  Especially if you have a kiddo who loves cars!  What types of things does your family do on the weekends? We love new ideas.  (Especially for when it's cold or rainy!)
Hi!  Can you see us?
Two of my favorite cars at the museum and a happy BB!


Friday, February 01, 2013

Canon vs. Nikon: A Battle in My Own Home

 There's a battle in my own home:  Canon vs. Nikon.

Dan really wanted his own DSLR camera for shooting video and his pal convinced him to buy the Canon T3i.  We've used a friends' Canon T2i many times - but only for video.  Dan wants to start doing some more work with bands so he saved up his own money and bought this thing.  I've only used Nikon so that's what I'm used to. #TeamNikon! I've been shooting various versions of Nikon DSLR since 2006.  (Prior to that I was only using film).  After just a few days with this thing I'm pretty impressed - or depressed, depending on how you look at it. It's really easy to use. Like, it does all the work for you. I always knew this about Canon so, as a photography student, I really liked all the hard work you put into getting the settings just right on a Nikon. Canon's are cheaper than Nikon so I always thought of them as slightly inferior.  I'm not giving up my Nikon but I am accepting this new Canon step-child into my family.  I am very excited to do some more video!


A Tour to the South


A few weeks ago I was on tour in the south. It was really great to get out of the rainy state of Washington and go on an adventure in Florida. I didn't know what to expect in Florida but I was pleasantly surprised! As you might have seen on my Instagram, we found a TON of gators (they were everywhere) and we went swimming just 90 miles away from Cuba! The tour also took us to North and South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee.  My band is currently trying to take more dedicated time toward writing for a new album so we spent a decent amount of time locked up in rooms while writing music and I actually really enjoyed that. I love exploring but sometimes it's nice to just chill.  All in all, this was one of those tours to remember. It all seemed so fresh and new, like we were touring for the first time. The shows were fun, even though not all of them were well attended (we were expecting that since we were touring in new territory), we had a great time! I missed Linz and BB but we got to Skype and only had one night where I didn't have service. (thanks, West Virginia!) I'm home for a while now since my February tour to Thailand got postponed.  Any suggestions for some indoor-winter fun?  Netflix is getting old.



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