21/52 part 2

21/52 jump*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

jump*

This here is my original photo for week 21. I didn't blog it because I wanted to post about Emily. However, I feel like I'm cheating because I didn't take that photo, only "poladroid"ed it ...

I found out how hard it is to sp myself jumping. I am definitely getting old! But it was fun and now the neighbors know how crazy I really am.
I don't know what was more fun... processing this or the jumping.

21/52

Pride*
I wanted to share with you something my 14 year old daughter did. I posted something on FB but I didn't go into detail. She is in Honors English and one of her assignments was to video tape herself doing something that shows her helping others. Her teacher gave them a list of ideas. I think Em went above and beyond the assignment. She used her own money to buy supplies for a school for blind children. On her day off of school this past week she and her bff walked over a mile in the drizzling rain to the grocery store. She bought bleach, paper towels, copy paper, Bounce dryer sheets, etc. Her friend's brother was able to pick them up and gave them a ride to the school. They showed up unannounced. The director was amazed that 2 girls did this by themselves. They were able to take a tour and meet 3 children who weren't in school. Emily just loved one of the little boys.He was full of laughs and smiles. Emily is looking forward to going back.
I will have to find a way to post her video. She is not on a career path for directing. Ha ha!
I can't express how very proud I am of Emily. She could have cleaned up a park or helped someone with yard work. But instead she came up with this idea all on her own. She did not let the lack of transportation stop her or the rain for that matter. She used her hard earned babysitting money on others.
Just when I feel like my hard parenting has done no good, I am reminded by this act of kindness that maybe I have done something right.

20/52

20/52 soft*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

soft*

The theme for the week was soft. I can think of all kinds of soft things.... my pillow, the cat, a dandelion puff, cotton balls, a softball... you get the idea. I wanted to capture something that related to the past week, hence this tulip petal. It is part of the bouquet of red roses and white tulips that I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up on my birthday. Mike was so sweet and had them waiting for me on the kitchen table so that I'd see them first thing in the morning.
I took the past week off of work and was extremely disappointed in the weather. It was so cold and rainy. I had planned to go to a few places that were outside. Instead I stayed home and did a lot of running around to and from the kids school. I went to David's track meet and Emily's tennis match. It was nice to do since normally I'm at work. (They are boring though, I must admit. Not at all like football or volleyball.)
So tomorrow I go back to work and I am not ready at all. I need more time off. I'm just really dreading tomorrow.

You are only young once, but you can be immature for a lifetime. - John P. Grier

You are only young once, but you can be immature for a lifetime. - John P. Grier, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

I went to the bank today and the teller gave me this sticker! Small things make me smile.
So... yeah... I'm taking pictures of myself on my birthday. It is pretty silly, but what the hey. When I'm gone one day, and hopefully not soon, I'm hoping that my photos make someone that I love happy that they found them.
I wanted to post something profound and wise... but those things are not an area that I'm gifted in. I resort to putting stickers on my face.

19/52

19/52 green*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

green*

A pretty non-descript, boring green shot. Taken outside my patio door one sunny morning before heading to work.

Happy Mother's Day everyone. I was surprised with coffee and breakfast in bed from Mike. The kids slept in but when they finally woke up they gave me their gift. They each made me a card. Emily painted one on a big poster board. David made his in Art class with rubber stamps. I love those kinds of gifts. They also got me a Lilac scented Yankee candle. I love the smell of lilacs. 

The News Herald: Breaking news coverage for Southgate, MI

The News Herald: Breaking news coverage for Southgate, MI

Posted using ShareThis

18/52

18/52 spring*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

Spring*
Spring is my favorite time of year. May is my favorite month. The weather is getting warmer, trees are budding, the tulips have poked through the soil, the beautiful scent of lilacs is in the air, the robin has come back home, spring showers, mud puddles, worms, and the best thing about May.... someone's birthday. ;-)


Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush. ~ Dale Larson

17/52

17/52 hands*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

hands*
This past Friday I was able to make it to one of Emily's tennis matches. I don't know a thing about tennis. I guess they didn't win the match. Better luck next time.

16/52

16/52 bench*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

bench*
I realized that I had not posted a photo last week. This was taken for the subject "bench". Although, this is not really a bench.... it's the back of the couch. Bailey's favorite spot.

15/52

15/52 Depth of Field*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

Depth of Field*

The depth of field (DOF) is the portion of a scene that appears acceptably sharp in the image.
This week... I felt like it was only a small DOF. The rest of the week was a blur. Easter came and went. I had work, while the kids had the week off.
It was a pretty stressful week. I had one person out for the week and had to train another. Then I hear through the grapevine that my boss feels like I'm basically slacking. I'm going to consider the source / boss. Ugh! Well I can say that I am extremely burnt out! So I'm sure that shows.
I can't win.
When I get home... I'm done.... this house reflects it too. I need about three weeks to myself. That will never happen.
I'm not sure how to get out of this.

14/52

14/52 Easter*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

Happy Easter*
I planted hyacinth bulbs when we moved to this house. They finally blossomed so I cut the stems of flowers to bring them in the house. They smell heavenly. It is a smell that I associate with Easter, that is why I chose this for the photo of the week.

13/52

13/52 jagged*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

jagged*

Trying new things... I've never cooked an artichoke. I am going to try it today. I'll let you know how it goes.
I can't believe the end of March is here. I'm at a loss for words right now. Not much to post.

12/52

12/52 backlight*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

backlight*
Spring is here on the calendar… but not quite here in Michigan. My sweet hubby helped bring spring to me with these tulips.
Most of my recent photos have been “processed” with an editing program to create a vintage feel or some other sort of processing. To me, it’s another way to be creative. This photo is straight out of the camera. Other than a slight crop, this is it. I wanted the evening sun to be as pure as it was when the photo was taken.

11/52

11/52 blue*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

blue*
Please leave your shoes at the door.

Taking off one’s shoes at the door can be a simple celebration of everyday life, as easy as kicking off your shoes at the front door to symbolize leaving behind the harried outer world, then lighting incense and being soothed by the subtle aroma of lavender wafting through the house.

What an uneventful week... same stuff. Work, school, tennis practice & dance for Emily, football workouts for David. Oh yeah, Emily will be playing tennis this year. She told me that her coaches told her that she was really good. I guess those lessons over the past few summers helped her. It's been a while but at least she has an idea. Mike and David have been running together at night. Mike has been doing great losing weight and eating healthy. David is conditioning for football and track.
Have a great week everyone!

10/52

10/52 work*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

work*

I like hugs and I like kisses,
But what I really love is help with the dishes!
~Author Unknown

Emily and I had a good Saturday. We spent it at Birch Run and Frankenmuth. We went into a few stores and got some pretty good deals. I wanted to go to the Fossil store. I found a purse that I wanted and got a great deal on it. It was 50% off the marked down price. So it was about a 68% savings off of the original price.
We headed to Zehnder's for a meal. Emily ordered off of the vegetarian menu. She got a huge plate of steamed vegetables. There was cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and a whole zucchini and whole yellow squash. It came with spinach ravioli. She liked it. She ate the entire zucchini and a little of everything else but brought a lot of it home. She at my cottage cheese an entire plate of bread, half of my plain mashed potatoes and some of their delicious noodles. She must have been starved.
We are going to have to do this more often.

9/52

9/52 flare*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

The challenge this week was lens flare. There wasn't much sun this week to get any great flare shots. I took a walk today in the park and the sun was trying to peek out from behind the clouds. I got what I could.
Let me tell you... walking in the park on a snowy day with my headphones, listening to music and camera in hand is very theraputic. It's been a long, rough week. That walk helped me clear my head. I know fresh air and exercise is good for one's well-being. I really need to do that more often.
Have a great week ahead. I can't believe it's March.

8/52

52/8 Diptych Collaboration*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

Diptych Collaboration*
From my "hometown" Detroit.
The first photo is something I see on a regular basis. This big Uniroyal Tire is on I-94.

"Not surprisingly, the Uniroyal® Giant Tire has been turning heads for more than 40 years as one of the nation's most recognizable roadside icons.

The Uniroyal® Giant Tire was originally created as a Ferris wheel attraction at the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. The wheel held 96 fairgoers and was powered by a 100-horsepower motor. More than two million people rode the Giant Tire Ferris wheel during the fair, including Jacqueline Kennedy and her children, John Jr. and Caroline."

The second photo was taken in the Compuware Atrium. The family and I were there last Sunday for Detroit's Winter Blast.
This past week was Winter Break for the kids and I. I took the week off with them. We didn't do a lot. I needed a mental vacation and it was nice not to have to do anything. Although I wanted to do a lot of organization around the house, I had no motivation. Oh well.
The kids and I went to the Detroit Institute of Arts on Friday. I wanted to take them because they are both in Art class this trimester. They recognized a lot of pieces from their books. Afterward, we had dinner at the Cass Cafe, located on Wayne State's Campus. It was an interesting location. They specialize in "unique" foods and offer Vegetarian dishes. I've had take-out from them at work and have been wanting to take the kids there, especially Emily.
I'm not looking forward to getting back into routine tomorrow, but I guess we have to do it! lol

7/52

7/52 water*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

Lunch Break

Most days I don't take a lunch break. I don't have time or I am covering for someone else. I suffer! lol The day we got snow I decided to head out to one of my favorite spots in Livonia near my job. It's at Hines Park. On this particular day all of these ducks were waddling about and eating the snow. They might have been digging for something with their beaks. I enjoyed the simplicity of sitting in my car ( didn't bring my boots ) and shooting through my open window.

The End*

The End*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

From my flickr page....

"I am done! I was a bit late posting this for a couple of reasons. For one thing... I wanted something special for my last photo. Another reason, I was just plain busy. And finally, I couldn't come up with anything out of the ordinary. So I decide to just get it over with and do something. I was inspired by Ingrid Michaelson's cover art Be OK."
Her song is playing on my blog now.

So... you all know that I've been doing a 52 week project. Some of the photos were of me but did you know that I've been doing an exclusive Self Portrait Project? Not many people knew, especially my family. They'd think I was crazy. Of course, my flickr friends knew. I don't know why I did it. Some may say that it is narcissist. I guess you could say so. It was more so a challenge. It's hard taking pictures of yourself! There are so many people on flickr that make it look so easy. They were truly an inspiration.
If you are so inclined, you can veiw my set here.

6/52

6/52 close up*, originally uploaded by Jen likes to snap pics*.

close up*
It's Super Bowl Sunday so I thought this would be fitting for the theme this week. These are mini helmets that my husband has collected. I won't be watching the game tonight. Not even for the commercials. I'll catch the good ones tomorrow on the news.
I am not much of a football fan unless it's "The Murph" is playing... that would be my son.