News - ( no I'm not pregnant..lol)!

I took the leap &  got my DBA ( Doing Business As), which of course is the 1st step of many.   I wanted to start a new blog/website & wanted to have my own name for it! Plus, I thought it might give me a push in the right direction. I decided on  'Tin Bucket Photography' - I really think it's cute, fits me & my style, completely! :0)

A very long time ago, my dream was to do photography & of course like 'many' other things, it was forgotten due to life! However, it's funny how a 'passion' you have can find you again & I'm glad mine did :0)


I know I have a LONG way to go, I have ordered many books, have an awesome camera, etc & hopefully a class or 2 is in my future!   I do think I have a 'natural' talent for it :0)!   Also, a book for Photoshop CS3  will be arriving soon!  I started reading a book on my new camera & I'm excited about all the new settings I'm learning :0). Now it's time to practice, practice & practice!


I was looking @ my photos the other day & thought, they look as good as some professional ones I've seen - yes, I'm patting myself on the back...lol! (someone's gotta do it..hehe)   I haven't quite decided the direction I want to take, I have plenty of time to think about it,  cause with Rylee doing anything as far as appointments, etc would be hard...until she's a little older (if I have help with her, then it's possible- just will take some planning on my part).  But, I know the more time I take practicing & become more knowledgeable the better I will be.


I do need to take more than Rylee..lol- in order to have a more intersting Portfolio, but I know it will get there! I'm just excited about something again, & it feels good!


Well, until I become a 'GREAT' photographer...I better get to my laundry...hehe!

Happy Birthday To Me - (5/21)

Well, I'm a year older today..BIG 35- YAY for me...lol! I just wanted to share a few things about my day.

Here are some presents I picked out for myself..lol!  These items are probably 'NOT' exciting to most, but for me..I'm VERY happy with my choices!

I have yet to find the 'perfect' camera bag & plus I 'LOVE' bags & would get bored with the same one..lol!  So I decided on this...it stores my camera & accessories & I can put it in 'any' bag I want! :0)

I'm buying from Amazon, but I read the reviews on B & H Photo!


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html?a=B0037NZA16

After reading these reviews I decided on the smaller one, I read the items these 2 customers have and mine will fit.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/675858-REG/Clik_Elite_CE510RE_CE510RE_Camera_Capsule_Compact.html


I am new to photoshop, but VERY interested in getting good @ it, I've done some research & I think this one is what I need to get started!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html?a=0321492021


Reviews- I found this review very helpful in explaining what each chapter is about.


http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-adobe-photoshop-cs3-classroom/page-3/


& of course the Amazon reviews! :0) It's good to read what an 'actual' person reading it has to say!

I'm always looking for a great photography book! :0)  My SIL (sis-in-law) gave me this book & I started reading it a while back ( wonderful), but I left it outside & it was rained on..so another one it is! :0)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0817463003/ref=oss_product



I am 'still' excited about my new camera...however I don't quite know the settings, etc...... so I bought this book...hopefully I will get to read it!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470110074/ref=oss_product

My sweet baby girl, Rylee keeps me SO busy, there's not much time for anything else! I have a stack of books I want to read..& blogs to create & re-do!


But, for now it's ALL about her & I'll do what I can in each 'free' moment I get!


Also......
My sweet husband took me to Red Lobster, ( SO GOOD) & then to Barnes & Noble, but of course me being 'cheap' I found the books I wanted & looked them up on my 1-Phone ( in the store) & said Amazom is cheaper...! Keith said 'great, let's go'...lol! Then to top it off...we went to the grocery store...(not thrilled about this..but we have to eat..lol). 


He was 'also' sweet enough to watch Rylee while I looked through the books..& he took this photo!

He also got me a subscription to one of my favorite magazines!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart.....I know how much you love this magazine and I thought it might give you some inspiration for your photography!  Love- Keith


So, I am another year older, blessed beyond meaure and have all I need!


P.S.- Thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes yesterday, I felt very loved.

Let's Talk! Tuesday

Please click the button above to find out more info about Let's Talk! Tuesday.

I am doing this with (for) my sister..she is doing a 'Let's Talk! Tuesday' on her blog..and the purpose is to get to know her better. (along with everyone that joins in)

1. I am sitting here at my desk trying VERY hard to think of 10 things I can type, so I can do this with my sister. I am not a very interesting person these days.....its ALL about Rylee.
2. Still thinking...
3. I am procrastinating, I need to go put a roast in crock pot.
4. Frustrated that my husband will not make a doctor's appointment because of 'lack' of time....so his horrible 'heartburn-acid reflux' will continue. (his precription is out..and he has to go back in for a check up) I told him to MAKE time- didn't work.
5. Am I the only one that has a husband that hates going to the doctor?
6. This is harder than I thought...
7. I wish I had a housekeeping service, but I get the priviledge of doing it myself..lol.
8. I am absolutely OBSESSED with my new camera and all things photography. I ordered 2 new books on the subject from Amazon a few days ago! How many photos will I take today..hmmmm
9. I can't not believe I am going to be '35' on Friday- that's only 5 years from '40'...which I am NOT ready for.
10. Whew...I did it...Shelly are you proud? :o)

My little girl..newest photos

Just a few new photos of Rylee. I haven't updated this blog in a long time...because I don't have TIME...lol! However, I will be starting a wordpres blog for just my photography, since that is currently my MAD passion.

Focus...

It's 3:30am and I'm awake and trying to pray ( which I try to do when I can't sleep) but, as I begun to pray , I started thinking about cleaning my bathroom & pantry, rearranging things & checking my email! ( it's 3:30AM - would I really have any emails...lol)! I found myself praying that I would stop thinking of other things & start praying without mental distraction & for God's will in my life.....I just need to "FOCUS". Not just on the things of God, but letting go of all my distractions that keep me from hearing the voice of God...because really it's easier to play on facebook ( for me, anyway). Fb is not bad...I just need to find a balance + I pray for many people on there! God uses us in many ways!


Also I have been feeling "unimportant" in the things of GOD but I read this & know that I need to press through & believe my "praying" has GREAT affects.

1Tim 4:8-16 ( NLT)
8 "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." 9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.
11 Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. 12 Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

It's easy to believe that when your not in a church full time, doing missionary work, involved in some type of ministry that your not doing anything for God!

But, you can do Gods will in your living room, just praying for someone or the smile you give to the cashier @ the store! God uses us in many ways, even if you post a Scripture on "facebook" you never know to whom you will touch! The point is to be open to let God use you, pray when you get up in the morning before you start your day....for God to open that door & you will speak to and see the person(s) you are suppose to & you will be obedient when you hear that little "voice" inside you that tell you to say something to them. We are living vessels for God & we many times want him to "use" us, but we lack boldness or we become fearful when it's time. It's not easy to obey God sometimes but, the outcome when we do is so worth it, you can touch many lives with just "simple" things & you don't have to be "preachy" about it. So I pray...

Dear Lord,

Please show me all my distractions that are keeping me from you & help me to keep my focus on the things of God! I pray that you use me each and everyday to be a vessel for you! Let your light shine upon me & that your love just flows out of me on to every person I come in contact with. And I pray for favor from the ones I need to minister to. Thank you, Lord for using me today!

Unique....

glitter-graphics.com

All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naïve. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer. It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: that I am nobody but myself. ~Ralph Ellison, ">

Psalm 139:14 (New Living Translation) Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

This is a word that has been used to describe me my entire life. One word that I have not really, truly accepted, for deep down inside I have always just wanted to be like everyone else, for it would be much easier that way, right? I mean the clothes I wore, my way of seeing things, my personality, all the things I should like about myself. But, I found it difficult to fit in with people, but at the same time I had many friends and was in the "popular" crowd in high school and even with all of those friends I still felt alone and struggled with my identity.

(20 yrs later)- The thing that I used to hate about myself is now something I am beginning love and truly appreciate. I believe that God decided exactly how I should be...and I know that he will use everything about me for his good! I have gotten many prophecies over the years saying " stopping trying to fit in, God made you just the way you are", and as I look back on those words I received I feel so good that God created me in his image and made me different from everyone else...I believe that is a gift too.

So, as I get "comfortable" in my own skin and start loving everything about me....I am finding that I am a little less serious, uptight and can relax in the moment. I am really excited about my future and ready for all the things God has in store for me...2010 is a year of "change" for me and I have accepted the challenge and will grow in every way possible.


"...For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,
"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future..."

Jeremiah 29:11

Happy -vs- Sad

She is adorable either way!!