Oh Snap! Day 6: Ice Ice Baby

I never thought ice would be notable, but in Georgia it is.  I don't remember the last time it was cold enough to freeze a puddle solid.  Here's the proof- from the puddle at the end of my driveway.

It will be fine if this is the only ice I see outside of a drink for a while.

Oh Snap! Day 5: A Boatload

I wasn't sure if I'd take a photo today or not (I'm still feeling quite rotten), then these boats jumped out at me.   I like how the line of the boats and the line of the dirt road both draw the eye into the photo.   

I may even post an OOTD today; if the plague I'm fighting doesn't turn into the zombie virus.  

Oh Snap! Day 4: Reflections

An area where I like to walk is flooded right now, but the loss of a walking area makes for a photographic opportunity.  I like the trees reflected on the water.

Oh Snap! Day 3: Sunset

Yesterday I snapped the sunrise.  Today I have sunset.  Once again it was taken in a parking lot.  Before the month is over I'm going to take some from a prettier setting.

Oh Snap! Day 2: Sunrise

This is yesterday's photo.  I was suddenly stricken with the plague and went to bed around 7 last night.  I'm feeling much better today.

I've been wanting to photograph sunrises and sunsets, but they tend to happen at inconvenient times.  Sunrise is on my way to the gym.  Sunset is on my way home from work.  I pulled over in a parking lot a took this shot on my way to the gym.  I like the colors and the flag, but I didn't like the ATM kiosk in the background

So I demolished it, with the help of Photoshop.  I started to take out the phone lines/power lines too, but they were a giant pain.

Oh Snap! Day 1: Colors and Moods

Here's my first attempt of the Oh Snap! photography challenge.  Today's show was supposed to be a sunset.  I've been wanting to photograph a sunset, but the sun didn't cooperate today.  It was misty and grey all day- fading into darker grey as the day ended.

 I chose my new orchid as a substitute subject.  I read that flowers photograph well against a black backdrop, but I didn't have a black backdrop.  Instead I chose my red dining room wall as the background because I like how the red contrasts with the blue of the flowers.  I should have used a tripod to keep the camera steadier for a sharper photo.  I should have done something different with the lighting.  These orchids were a Christmas gift from my mother in law.  Thank you, Mary Ann!

One more bonus photo from Christmas morning.  I like how this close-up shot captures the moment in the details while losing the identities.

Day one: done!  I'll describe my goals and results as I go.  Feel free to comment with tips or suggestions!

Challenges? Oh, I Forgot about Those.

Do you remember how one of the goals of my blog is to challenge myself, live beautifully, and love my life?  I've fallen down with the challenging myself lately, at least on the blog.  I haven't done a challenge since my closet excavation challenge, which I abandoned in May 2013.  May!

I'm kicking off 2014 with a new challenge.  This one is inspired my my recent acquisition of the new Canon EOS 70D.  It's my first "real" camera, and I saved my pennies and did freelance work to buy it.  I'd like to become a good enough photographer to deserve it.

I'm carrying it with me every minute of every day to get more practice, and my January challenge is to encourage me to keep up the habit.  For the month of January, I'm going to do an extra post every day to share something I've photographed.  I'm calling it my January Oh Snap Challenge.  For these photos I'm going to avoid the two things I photograph all the time: my dogs and me.  Come back and see what I shoot this month.

Everything's Coming Up Roses

This weekend I went to the Thomasville Rose Show & Festival in Thomasville, Georgia.  This was the inspiration I needed to transform a dress that arrived magically on my doorstep a few weeks ago.

The lovely Gracey of Fashion for Giants sent me a box of fabulous clothing including this rose print dress.  The print is very pretty.  Unfortunately there was something slightly off about the styling of the dress.  It had puffy sleeves of an awkward length and a v-neck didn't hit at the right place.

Of course I started by removing the sleeves at the seams.  Next I adjusted the neck and slightly gathered the shoulders.

 

Here is the final result!  Now I love the dress.  Thank you, Gracey!

 

I added a belt and cardigan (both thrifted), sandals (Younkers), earrings (etsy), and a necklace that I've had since I was a little girl.

 

The dress was a hit with the ladies I traveled with to the festival, and a new lady-like addition to my wardrobe.

Fact vs Theory

I was planning on wearing this purple vintage shirt dress today, but it just didn't work.  It is too big.  It feels like a tent.  I really like it, but I don't think I want to do enough work to alter it.

 

Instead I switched to this purple faux-wrap dress.  It has extremely long ties that wrap around and around at the waist.

 

Dress, thrifted; camisole, Walmart; earrings, purchased in Las Vegas; necklace, etsy; shoes, Payless Shoes.

Sometimes it's better to wear something you like in fact than something you love in theory.

Scruffy

I think I've reached the end of my blue dresses, and just getting this one posted is a priority.  I ended up looking a bit scruffy, but sometimes that can't be helped.

Jacket, Old Navy; dress, Walmart; belt, thrifted; shoes, Payless Shoes; earrings and necklace, made by Chenille.

 

Multi-Purpose

Do you like my silky shrug?  It's a large square scarf tied at the corners.

 

Scarf, Younkers; dress, thrifted; earrings, I don't remember; necklace, purchased in Cozumel, bracelet, handmade and gifted (thank you, Angie!); shoes, Payless Shoes.

 

My square scarves are under-utilized, and this technique will allow me to wear them more often.  I may even sew some of them on the sides to make them more stable shrugs.

 

Amazing

I was told I look amazing in this outfit.  Amazing is good enough for me.

 

Shrug, Younkers, dress, eshakti.com; shoes, Rack Room Shoes; pearl necklace, Fire Mountain Gems (?); earrings, etsy.

 

I wanted two strands of pearls, but this necklace isn't long enough to double, but I fixed that by threading through a second  chain-style necklace.  This way the visible part of the necklace was white and green pearls.

 

Doubly Eco-Friendly

Happy Earth Day!  To celebrate, today's outfit is both ecologically and economically friendly.  All together the outfit cost under $10 (minus the pendant because that was a gift from Stephen), and most of it is either second-hand or recycled.

 

The dress is another $1 Mercy Ministries find.  The shrug is a hand-me-down from my friend Nancy.  The pendant is made from a butterfly wing (after the butterfly died of natural causes).  The beads of the bracelet are recycled from strips of paper.  The shoes were just $6 at Christmas Tree Shops, and the earrings were handmade by me.

 

 

Mercy Me

If you live in the Augusta area and you like a deal, you need to know about Mercy Ministries Thrift Shop.  The thrift shop is run by Mercy Ministries, and money raised goes to support many services in the community.  Mercy Ministiries provides services to the homeless and under housed (usually no utilities) and low income individuals and families.  The store has over 50,000 square feet of thrifting heaven with furniture, housewares, clothes, and even craft supplies.  Clothes are just $1.  The store might be overwhelming for the thrifting novice.  You may have to do a little digging to find the best treasures, but it is fun and worth it.

 

Dress, thrifted; necklace, gifted; earrings and bracelet, ebay; shoes, Christmas Tree Shops.

 

Yesterday I was in need of a little retail therapy, so my mom and I headed down to the thrift shop.  I went a little crazy, but I found some really beautiful dresses, storage canisters, and a pretty flower pot.  

 

Can you believe this Ann Taylor dress was only $1?  I think it will become a staple of my summer wardrobe.  I added my pelican earrings and bracelets and leopard espadrilles.     

 

Good clothes at a good price for a good cause?  I'll be visiting Mercy Ministries Thrift Shop again soon.