31/365

It's been so cold and dreary here lately - and there's nothing better than coming home to dinner in the crock pot. David threw this meal together before we left for work and I whipped up some Cilantro Lime rice when I got home. This seriously tasted like a Chipotle burrito bowl - delish!

f1.8  |  1/125sec  |  iso800

The focus is off on this picture - I think the f-stop was too low and now enough light in the room.

30/365

I got outside today! And, to top it off, we were blessed with a glimpse of the sun : )

f1.8  |  1/4000sec  |  iso100

29/365

It's daylight...and this was once living. Does that count?

f2.5  |  1/100sec  |  iso800

PS: My pictures are looking somewhat blurry when I post to the blog - anyone know why?? They are clear otherwise.

28/365

I had big plans of taking a fun picture at the Cleveland Cavs vs. Denver Nuggets game that we had planned to go to tonight...but that never happened. We made it all the way downtown to the "Q" only to find out that the "cheap seats" had already been swiped up...and we were so not willing to pay $28/ticket. Does that make us cheap...or wise? I'll go with the latter...seeing as how the Cavs haven't won ONE game since the end of November. Yikes!

So, we made a quick stop off at Kohl's before calling it a night. I got into bed and realized I hadn't yet snapped a picture. I grabbed my phone off the night stand and snapped this picture of my husband modeling his new ($14) flannel (not from Kohl's). Yay for good deals!

27/365

I feel like I need to begin to be a little more creative with the pictures that I'm taking - because I am getting SO bored of taking pictures of inanimate objects in and around my house! I'll work on that...

Today's pictures were taken with the phone on my camera while David and I were out to dinner at a local restaurant. I was a little nervous going in - not sure what to expect. Following it's namesake, I'd heard everything on the menu was just two bucks. That was about half true - kinda like the dollar store. You know what I mean.

The infamous Mac n' Cheese - yes, it was $2.

Consensus? I was pleasantly surprised. David was underwhelmed.

26/365

I was able to capture some sweet moments with little Will today. He's just six days old and such a cutie!

 while this picture wasn't taken in manual mode - it was close (AV priority)

f2.5  |  1/160sec  |  iso200

25/265

The UPS guy is practically my new BFF - look what he dropped off today...

f1.8  |  1/125sec  |  iso1600

sidenote: I should probably not wait until the sun goes down to take my picture every day. It forces me to increase my iso...

thus giving my pictures a grain-y look. Boo.

24/365

This was my workout today a few days ago! And, since I'm posting this a few days late, I'm here to report that it worked. Because I am SORE. Ouch!

f1.8  |  1/80sec  |  iso800

23/365

Piggybacking off of yesterday's post (and trip to IKEA)...I thought I'd share a few of our IKEA purchases of yore. This is our picture wall and hangs in our living room. We got all of the frames, as well as the shelves, from IKEA. The "A" was a gift from my sister, Liz.

Most of the pictures are in black and white...and I dream of the day when I can paint the wall behind those frames to add a punch of color. Not while we're living here though. Sigh.

f1.8  |  1/100sec  |  iso1600

22/365

David and I, along with Chris and Tessa (bother/sister-in-law), took a little road trip to Pittsburgh today. This is why...

(not taken in manual mode...since it was with my point and shoot)

IKEA! 

That is all.

21/365

With a chilly forcasted high of 15 degrees today, I figured we'd need some tasty Taco Chili to warm ourselves up. So I gathered the ingredients, tossed them in the crock pot, and let it cook up dinner while I was at work.

It was so great to come home to a warm dinner already prepared. Well, except for the cornbread muffins. The crock pot didn't make those. Would be nice if it did though!

Mmmm!

f3.5  |  1/100sec  |  iso400

20/365

It has been SO cold here lately. The snow continues and I dream of warmer days and sunny skies.

I think these guys do too.

There's something strange, yet oddly comforting, about seeing this happy trio on our patio each day. Despite the snow and the cold, they are a visual reminder of warm summer evenings spent relaxing outdoors -- watching kids play, talking about life, eating ice cream, and spending time together.

I miss that.

f3.2  |  1/250sec  |  iso400

19/365

I started my new Bible study today and it was great. I think I'm really going to enjoy it - although I think it will be one of the more difficult studies I've done. The key passage for the study is Isaiah 61...

f3.2  |  1/800sec  |  iso800

18/365

I can't believe I almost FORGOT to take a picture today. I was about to get into bed when I remembered. Here is David being a nice hubby (like usual) by warming up my side of the bed -- and by being a semi-willing subject.

f1.8  |  1/125sec  |  iso1600

17/365

Tonight we had one of our favorite {healthy} dinners! Recipe can be found here. Soooo yummy!!

f2.2  |  1/50sec  |  iso400

f3.5  |  1/60sec  |  iso1600

16/365

David and I cooked dinner at his parents house tonight -- and I must say, he looks GREAT in an apron ; )

f1.8  |  1/200sec  |  iso800

15/365

I bundled up and braved the elements for this shot. The wind was whipping and I'm pretty sure the wind chill was in the negatives. The image was captured looking down on Lake Erie.

Summer....wheeeere arrrrre yoouuuuuuu??

f10  |  1/1600sec  |  iso400

Oh, another bonus for you! For perspective, this picture was taken in summer of 2009 at the same beach...just a slightly different angle.

taken with my sony cybershot point and shoot

14/365

Due to a few weddings coming up this summer I've been hitting the gym again - and dare I say, it feels great! I *think* I can even feel myself getting stronger. My goal is to make it to the gym four times a week (and to do 5 unassisted pull-ups!)...so far, so good.

f1.8  |  1/50sec  |  iso1600

13/365

I feel like my pictures have been kind of boring lately - and I'm hoping to increase the creativity in them SOON! But, for now, I'm enjoying getting to know the manual side of my camera better and I really can tell that I'm getting better more comfortable. It's exciting! So, hang with me : )

Now that the Christmas decor had come down it was time to fill some of that empty space with a few new seasonal items! I received this awesome hurricane for Christmas from my sister-in-law and couldn't wait to use it. I'm still brainstorming ideas on what to do with it...but for now it's taken up residence on our console table surrounded by some sweet treats.

f1.8  |  1/100s  |  iso800

And...just for kicks...a bonus!

f3.5  |  1/40sec  |  iso1600

12/365

After days of snow and gray skies I was relieved to catch a glimpse of blue sky and a beautiful sunset as the sun went down tonight!

f1.8  |  1/800sec  |  iso1600

11/365

The northeast - and apparently the entire east coast - is getting pounded with snow right now. Because I'm sick of posting pictures of inanimate objects, and because I need to cut my husband some slack, here he is out in the snow today shoveling away.

Hot stuff.

f4.5  |  1/100sec  |  iso400

10/365

My husband is a procrastinator. Plain and simple. He's always busy doing "critical things"...but don't let the facade fool you. He can relax with the best of them.

My sister took note, most likely after this post, and found him the PERFECT Christmas gift last year. We dug it out today and he's been eagerly writing things down (and, to his credit, checking things off!).

f1.8  |  1/200sec  |  iso400

9/365

Good-bye Christmas!

It's been fun.

See you next year (er, later this year)...

f/1.8  |  1/250  |  iso800

8/365

Week two of my 365 Project is now underway - and I've been having fun learning my camera better and thinking up ways that I can be more creative with my pictures. Hopefully that will come through as I continue to learn and grow!

That being said, I'm not super thrilled with this picture...but it's a picture...and it's kinda funny! It's my brother-in-law, Jon, getting worked by Jillian Michaels and her two girls while sleeping over at our house last night!

f2.8  |  1/60  |  iso400

7/365

It's a winter wonderland here in northeast Ohio so I took a couple steps out of my front door to snap a photo for today!

(not sure why this picture comes out so blurry looking here - if you click and enlarge it's quite a bit sharper!)

f16  |  1/80sec  |  iso1600

6/365

Mmm - the perfect afternoon snack!

f4.0  |  1/80sec  |  iso1600

5/365

My feet have been in need of a little some major TLC. So, last night (as David and I watched OSU beat Arkansas) I got to work and now my toes are sporting this fun, new springy color. Who's ready for the beach?!? I know I am.

If only...

f2.8  |  1/40sec  |  iso800

4/365

Somebody's back on the bandwagon...but I won't mention any names.

f1.8  |  1/60sec  |  iso400

3/365

We returned about an hour ago from our quick trip to Peoria, IL to visit some friends. In our rush to finish up work and leave last week, we still haven't taken down any of our Christmas decorations. And I'm okay with that for now. It was so nice to walk into our home after a 7-hour drive to lights twinkling on our little Christmas tree and surrounded by faces of family and friends. Loving your cards!

f3.5  |  1/15s  |  800iso

2/365

We took a driving tour around Peoria, IL today with our friends (the Isaacs') and I really enjoyed all this tall, grassy stuff.

f2.0  |  1/4000s  |  400iso

1/365

We celebrated New Years Eve from Peoria, IL last night - and today has been a great day full of food, football, friends...and designing a new blog!!

f1.8  |  1/125s  |  iso400

Project 365

So, I have joined the Project 365 bandwagon and this is my blog to prove it!! I'm not really sure where Project 365 got started or even where I heard about it, but the idea behind it is simple. Take one picture every day for an entire year.

My goal for Project 365 is to grow in my photography. I plan to do this by challenging myself to take the majority of my daily pictures over the next year using the MANUAL mode on my dSLR. I know this won't always be possible and I'll resort to my point and shoot (and probably even my phone's camera) from time to time...but I'm up for the challenge.

I plan to take one picture every day and post them here {not necessarily every day}. Hopefully I can keep it up and learn a little in the process. Anyone want to join me?