Archive for the ‘Photos’ Category

My Tree and some special ornaments

Mickey’s House

Ornament my Dad made when I was little

One of my Mamaw’s ornaments

My new Mickey ornament

Ornament I made when I was little (yeah, I know she’s not so pretty, but I have to hang her every year)

My son, Kaleb, who is now 20 years old

A Dog’s Life

We have all been sick and I am way behind on everything…….So this Week’s Wordless Wednesday is just a few random pictures. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

I love taking pictures!  I’m certainly no professional but I have captured some pretty amazing shots. OK, maybe it’s the camera but I like to think it’s me!

I was recently given the opportunity to try out this amazing software by Corel; Photo & Video X4 Ultimate Bundle. I have only had it a few days, so I have to be honest and say that I haven’t had much time to do a lot with it. I have done a little editing on some photos I took this past summer .

Here are a few of them:

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

I love the results so far and I am eager to see what all I can do with this software. It will take some time to learn how to navigate it really well but I am excited to see what I can create. I haven’t even attempted the Video Software yet. This is definitely an item that will require a follow up review.

A Little about the Software:

The ultimate photo- and video-editing software

With our best photo- and video-editing software—and two valuable bonus packs—the Corel® Photo & Video X4 Ultimate Bundle is everything you need, for everything you shoot! From easy tools to retouch photos fast, to advanced photo-editing features that put pro-level tools in your hands, Corel PaintShop Pro X4 Ultimate makes your pictures perfect. And with Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 Ultimate, you get an end-to-end video-editing collection that will have you wowing any audience with your own blockbusters complete with titles, amazing effects and more!

• Create professional-looking photos with sophisticated effects, layer editing, and more than 75 new and enhanced photo-editing features
• Get big-screen impact with end-to-end video-editing software featuring spectacular titles and effects, high-speed HD editing and much more
• Easily share your photos and videos directly to Facebook®, Flickr®, YouTube™ and Vimeo®

PaintShop Pro X4 Ultimate

Advanced photo editing

• New! HDR module
• New! Selective Focus
• New! Photo Blend
• Enhanced! Redesigned workspace

VideoStudio Pro X4 Ultimate

Powerful video editing

• New! Stop motion animation
• New! Time-lapse effect
• New! Export in 3D
• Enhanced! Flexible workspace

Two Ultimate Bonus Packs!

PaintShop Pro X4 Ultimate Bonus Pack

• Nik® Color Efex Pro™ 3.0 photo effects and filters
• Royalty-free images from Fotolia
• Free Picture Tubes

VideoStudio Pro X4 Ultimate Bonus Pack

• proDAD Mercalli SE extreme video stabilization
• Boris Graffiti 5.3 broadcast-quality titles and effects
• 3D glasses*
• Free tutorial videos

To read more about the software and it’s features, go HERE

Buy It:

Save $80 on Corel Photo & Video Bundle X4 Ultimate. Only $69.99. Two great products for one incredible price. Offer Ends November 30.

Black Friday Week Deals are Live. Incredibe discounts until the end of November!

• Save $150 on CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5. Now Only $349. Offer Ends Novmeber 30.
• 40% OFF of Painter 12. Changing whats possible in Art. Ends November 30th.
• Save $50 on PaintShop Pro X4. Only $29.99. Offer Ends November 30.
• Save $60 on Corel VideoStudio Pro X4Was $99.99, now $39.99. Live life. Make movies. Offer Ends November 30 
• 60% off of PaintShop Pro X4 ULTIMATE. Only $39.99. This includes over $250 in free extras. Offer Ends November 30
• Get 50% off of Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 ULTIMATEWas $99.99, now $49.99. Live life. Make movies. Offer Ends November 30 
• Save $30 on the new version of WinDVD Pro 11. Only $49.99 the worlds leader in playback software. Offer Ends November 30
• Save $40 on the New Corel PDF Fusion. All-in-one PDF creator. View more than 100 file types. Only $29.99. Offer Ends November 30.
• Save $200 on CorelDRAW Premium Suite X5. Premium design software Only $499. Offer Ends November 30.
• Save 60% on of Corel Wordperfect Office X5 Professional. Only $159. Documents, presentations, spreadsheets and much ore. Offer Ends November 30.

Win It:

One Mom Caboodle Reader is going to win the Corel Photo & Video X4 Ultimate Bundle.

Just follow the directions in the Rafflecopter form to be entered to win!

Read the rest of this entry »

I know you are probably getting sick of my Wordless Wednesdays containing my daughter’s art work but everyday I am more amazed by her talent! A few days ago, I asked her to draw me a cartoon character because, to tell you the truth, I was getting sick of seeing her draw wolves all the time. She doesn’t let anyone watch her draw, so I stepped into the next room. She drew her drawing but then she crumpled it up and tried to throw it away. I ,of course, dug it out of the trash when she wasn’t looking and this is what I saw:

Kelsey drew this after school today

Kelsey’s Drawing before school on Nov. 10th

I did not scan these into the computer…I just took pictures of them with my phone.

VistaPrint Free Photo Wall Calendar!

Get a Free Photo Wall Calendar from Vistaprint.

Just Pay Shipping and Processing. Shipping starts at: $5.67

These make wonderful Christmas Gifts!

Order yours HERE

This week’s Wordless Wednesday is in regard to our Disney trip I won from The Rainforest Cafe Photo Contest. I won 2nd place which was supposed to be a trip to San Antonio, Texas. I was shooting for 1st place which was a trip to Disney World. Upon learning that I won 2nd place, I told the PR manager that I was not able to accept the prize because my daughter has Autism and will not get on a plane. I told her the whole reason I was in the contest was to win either the Disney trip or 3rd place which was a $500 American Express gift card. Figures I would win the one prize I was not able to accept, LOL.  Anyway, the PR Manager at the Rainforest Cafe was awesome and she changed my prize to a Disney Trip!!! We ended up going in Oct and had a blast!! I do go to Disney quite often so it was nice to be able to go for free! We stayed for five nights at the Doubletree located at Downtown Disney. We received $200 in Food vouchers from the Rainforest cafe and T-Rex. We also got 16 one day park hopper tickets!!  It was truly magical ºoº

A big Thank You to the PR Manager at The Rainforest Cafe for changing plans and giving my family and I such a wonderful trip!!

I would also like to thank everyone who voted for me in the contest and for putting up with all my tweets, posts, and emails reminding you to vote….but it all paid off in the end!

My oldest son and his family were visiting from Kentucky so……

I was able to take my oldest son, Kyle, along with his wife, Tiffany, and baby boy, Layne. Also, my two youngest children, Alex and Kelsey!

Here’s a few photos from our trip:

Our Prize Package

Baby Layne loved the Ferry Boat ride to the Magic Kingdom!

Halloween Decorations at the Magic Kingdom

My oldest son, Kyle, and his wife, Tiffany with my grandson, Layne, and my two youngest children, Alex and Kelsey.

Mt. Everest

Kyle, Tiffany and Alex located in the last two rows.

Kelsey

Just inside Hollywood Studios

Kelsey’s Face Painting

Kelsey in the Magic Kingdom

New Expansion Sneak Peek

I love family photos but trying to get everyone together at the same time can be very difficult. Being a mother of four with my two oldest boys grown, I have spent many years trying to capture that special family photo!  While I have many favorite photos, I have very few with everyone in the same photo. I have learned over the years that not everyone has to be in the same photo to create a wonderful family collage to recap the year. In Fact,I think that using a collage of different pictures is perfect for creating  Photo gifts and I have done this many times throughout the years.

This time of year many families are preparing to have family photos taken for their Christmas Cards. In fact, I have an appointment next week with a family of four to do just that.  Taking family photos is always something that I stress about because it is very difficult to get everyone in the perfect pose. It always seems that you can snap tons of shots but there is always someone not smiling, blinking, or looking in another direction. While you can’t control when someone blinks, there are a few other things that you can control that will make picture day less stressful and very successful.

Below are just a few tips that I like to tell families when I shoot their photos:

1. Choose the right setting: I like to shoot all my family photos outdoors and I recommend it. Children seem to be more comfortable outdoors.

2. Shoot the photos in the evening when the sun is going down. Having a photo taken in bright sunlight will leave everyone with squint eyes.

3. Choose the  right color of clothing. I always recommend that everyone wear the same colors like tan and white, black and white, or blue and white.

4. Relax, Have Fun: If the parents are all tense and stressed out this will affect the children.

5. Play: Shooting outdoors on the beach or in a park can be the perfect sitting for family photos. Allow the children to play during the shoot…this can make for some great candid shots!

Below is of my  favorite family photos that I took on the beach in 2007.

Was everyone is the photo perfect? No, but I think it turned out awesome and I used it for our Christmas Cards that year.

Throughout the month of November, Shutterfly is helping families prepare their Holiday cards by offering  Shutterfly Family Photo Days.

Activities Include:

·         Digital toolkit posted online (with possible physical components as well for partner programs)

·         House parties (sponsor hosts to create their own Family Picture Day out of their homes)

·         Meetup.com (sponsor mother’s groups around the country to congregate and take family photos for their holiday cards)

·         Video, Photos, blogger involvement (and/or other viral and social components)

·         Facebook tie-in – ads, sponsored stories

·         Contest/Promotion with a goal of driving excitement and awareness of Family Photo Day and Family Photo Day events – 5 winners based on type of photo – best funny family photo, most unique family photo, etc.

To get started on your Holiday Cards, go visit Shutterfly Family Photo Days.

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post as part of a Global Influence campaign for Shutterfly.  I will receive 50 free cards from Shutterfly to thank me for my participation. No other compensation has been given and all opinions are mine.