I Heart Sun Flared Faces!

Capturing sun flare in a photo it not as easy as it looks. I have gotten a few "lucky" shots when I wasn't trying...but, to try and capture a good flare involve many maneuvers (all of which I cannot mention here- hee hee)! At I ♥ Faces this week, the task was to capture not only a face, but a sun flare, oh so perfect. The funny thing is when I stopped trying to get a perfect shot...everything fell into place. I snapped at least four worthy pics when taking Teage to the park. It was just before the sun was going down while we were waiting for JD to finish his skate party across the street. I actually had to toy with choosing just one. Sun Flare Rocks....




If you want to check out other sun flared photos, or see a tutorial on how to catch sun flare...head on over to:

Foodie Friday

I have been slacking the foodie dept lately...and my only excuse is...well, I don't have one, but Fridays are the one day that my whole Family usually decides to have a meltdown about the upcoming weekend. The teenager wants to make all these "plans" with everyone she knows on the earth, the hubby tries to figure out how to squeeze in working at home without seeming like an unplugged parent, and the boys have only one thing on their mind...staying up LATE and causing a ruckus! My job is to make sure I blow the whistle on ruckus, plan my many taxi cab services, shield the hubby's makeshift workstation he has created using two TV trays and the WHOLE love-seat, and make sure everyone eats at the same time. Not a bad excuse, is it?

Speaking of eating...my foodie pic is a flashback. For me. I am reminiscing lately about the amazing variety of restaurants we had in Okinawa. There was just so much to choose from if you wanted to go out to eat. I miss it. Bad. For example, I was just thinking about this today...when George decided to tell some lady at work that I could whip up some Kahlua Pig, WTF? I have NEVER made that dish. Anyway, I miss Okinawa's Ona Kow Kow! This Hawaiian foodie spot is the diggity. Plastic leis, coconut boobie holders, flowered shirts, and paper umbrellas at every corner. What's not to like?


Of course the best part about it was the garlic mahi mahi, the garlic chicken, and the steak tips. Eat your heart out...and then say a prayer for me that I don't try to defy the odds and swim all the way back to that island.

Oh, and can someone please go to the Purple Flag Soba Shop for me and steal their recipe? I am now being told I need to re-create this magical soup...ho hum!

Craft Time

Getting my "craft on" is something I miss...and will be getting back into as soon as my craft table gets here from the states. I CAN'T WAIT! But that doesn't mean I can't keep channeling that desire through Teage's craft projects. The other day we did our first official Thanksgiving craft..woo hoo! I love turkeys...deep-fried preferably...sorry Mr Gobble! And I love a classic....so here's Teage's Turkey Tribute!

First we started with the old hand trace...he's looking thrilled already.


Then, it's time to cut it out and smear glue all over it (his favorite part).


Add some feathers, some legs made out of pipe cleaners, and a beak of course.


Admire your work intensely and...


Flash that winning smile!!


Next up, Christmas Ornaments...

Wednesday without Words

I Heart Faces...Autumn Beauty!

As explained earlier, I am infatuated with experiencing our first real "FALL" in so many years. I seized the opportunity to post another photo of my oldest handsome boy goofing with the leaves for the I ♥ Faces post this week. The maple leaf is kinda moonlighting as a mask, covering the bottom half of his face, but his eyes tell the story well enough on their own. Hopefully it will dry up over here soon so I can throw them back out into the brush...hee hee.

To check out more Autumn Beauties, fall on over to

Falling into Winter

I love this time of year..almost as much as I love Spring (which is my favorite season). It has been 3 years since we have experienced a legitimate "Autumn" and I must say, it was well worth the wait! I am just mesmerized every time I go outside and lay my eyes on all the colors Fall brings. Germany does NOT disappoint in this area!! Let me stop blabbing about my googly Fall Feelings and let you see for yourself...




To top it off, Fall brings us closer to that one Holiday...where Rudolph plays reindeer games, the bells jingle all the way, the eggnog fills the fridge, shopping malls become grand central station, snow angels replace sidewalk chalk, mantles are strewn with stockings, the man with the red suit gets all kinds of love, and the time when pine trees never looked so good!! I think this picture sums up what the beginning of the Holidays looks like.....


P.S. I stumbled upon a 1 Euro Store (think dollar or yen store) and saw this....ONLY IN EUROPE!! (to my girls...porchtime for less than 2 dollars = possible rehab in the future)


P.S.S. The sunsets were like nothing else in Okinawa...but WOW, the sunrise from my balcony is pretty amazing!

Wednesday without Words