To filter, or not to filter ...

When I take a picture with my iphone, I will always edit it using one of many photography apps. Sometimes more then once!

When I use my DSLR camera though, sometimes I wonder if the filter is really neccessary? Am I filtering out of habit and changing what is already a good photo? Wasn't the whole point in buying a DSLR because the colors and images are that much better? What do you think?

Here's the original ...

And here is the same picture with a filter applied ...

I use to criticize pictures that I thought were too 'edited' ... am I guilty of the same?? Clearly I sit and ponder on the important issues of life!!

Small Moments ...

As I go throughout my day, little moments occur and I quickly grab my phone and make a note of it to remember when I blog. 

Well, given my lack of blogging last month, the list is getting pretty long! So here are a few little small moments from the last month or so ...

One day Cassius came and sat next to me and started stroking my hair. He looked at me and said 'your hair is beautiful mum?' ... defintely a random comment but made me smile at how kind my eldest is! 

Phoenix stayed at mums one night, and Mum called me the next morning telling me he had been busy watching dinosaurs on the phone and would turn to his side and talk to Cassius as if he was there, and would grab his toy dinosaurs and get them to talk to the dinosaurs on tv. Mother thought it was lovely that even his imaginary friend was his brother!

Cassius has a lisp, tends to talk with an american accent at times, and often has an interesting way of putting things. His latest saying, 'last morning' (as opposed to 'yesterday').

I have started exercising! Well not exactly, but I have gotten on the treadmill twice and that's better then nothing right? I also did the 21 day no junk food challenge - and boy do I eat alot of rubbish! The first day it felt like everything I went to eat I couldn't have! Definitely a good start to things ... Skinny me here I come!!!

I can't remember now what I was referring to, but I had commented to Rick how different we are (I was sooking about something and implying how I would have done it already if it has been left to me lol). As usual, Rick replied ever so eloquently with 'Yes we are different wife, and that is why we are great for each other. I would never have liked being with a person exactly like me and you wouldn't like being with someone exactly like you. We are perfect for each other' ...

One of the recent 'trends' (although it's not so recent anymore), is the dance move the 'dougie'. Cassius has been spending abit of time at his cousins and has now learnt the song 'teach me how to dougie, teach me how to dougie'. He came back last week singing the song and as usual Phoenix tried to copy him. The next day I heard Phoenix singing the song but as I got closer I realised he had the words a little wrong. His version went 'Kingston has a doggie, Kingston has a doggie'!

Never a dull day in our house! More memories to come ...

Life lately, according to my iphone ...

Here's some of my favourite pictures from over the last month ... seriously what did I do before I had an iphone?! Best. invention. ever!!

 

Something Extraordinary ...

One of Ricks and I's favorite movies is 'Music and Lyrics'. The movie got bad reviews, but to us, it's pretty hilarious. Mix in some old school dance moves and eighties music and we think they hit the jackpot.

There's a line from the movie I love, when Drew Barrymore is talking to her sister and asks her how she knew her husband was the one. Her sister replies something along the lines of 'I think it's when they do something extraordinary...'

Today my husband did something that reminded me why he is the one for me. I wasn't having the best of days, feeling somewhat exhausted and overwhelmed with my current workload and all that has to be done on the weekend. I called him in a panic, as I had clients all afternoon and no one other then my grandma to watch the boys. I had my little sook but I thought he could barely hear me over the background machinery. He told me he would call me back when the noise died down.

A short time later he called back. He had left work early and was on his way to help with the boys. 

Ok, so maybe it wasn't that extraordinary, but I feel lucky to have someone who goes out of his way to make my life easier, even when I'm being a little nuts!!

My New Signature ...

I have spent the last hour or so trying to make my blog look a little more 'professional'. From what I have read, less is often more and so I have taken off my beloved background pic of my boys and gone for a more plainer template. Still trying to decide if I like it! Next up a new letterhead but for now, my bed is calling! I did manage to get a new signature though - aren't I becoming the blogging professional! ha!

ps - does anyone know how I can change all the titles on my side gadgets to not be capitals? It's annoying me and I can't find a way to change it!

McCaw ...

McCaw is now ten weeks old and we all just love him. My boys will often mimic what I say (which for the most part isn't a good thing!), and so now when Cassius kisses McCaw he says 'I just love him Mum'. And we do! Kingston will wake up, look over at him and say 'Babeee', and then attempt to hug him a little too hard (but then our Kingston doesn't really do anything soft!). He is getting older and fatter, so stays awake a little longer and is interacting with us a little more. When he was born I thought he might look like my side, but now the manu genes are shining through and he looks very much like his brothers. I have no doubt that he will one day become a little terror like his brothers but for now, I am enjoying this stage where he looks at me with loving eyes and I feel like the luckiest person alive!

On a side note, the other week as I was preparing to feed him, Phoenix ran over and pulled up his shirt, pointed to his nipple and said "I've got it too mum. I've got it too". I just laughed and said 'yes you do son' ... It will be a few years yet before he gets the Birds and the Bees talk, but for now I will let my three year old believe that he has the means to feed his brother! xx

That Time of Year ...

That time of year has arrived and it is every bit as busy as I remember! That time of year where all I do is work, work and ... did I mention work? That time of year where my boys must wonder who their mother is and my husband gets to deal with an often stressed wife! Actually who am I kidding about the last part - that's me all year! But yes, TAX TIME is very much here and I have definitely been busy!

Last month I posted to my blog 19 times. Today marks the last day of July and my blog posts so far? Two! And hey if there's anything that denotes busyness (is that how you spell it?), then it's the number of blog posts right?

I remember in June feeling slightly apprehensive about tax time approaching. I had been home with the boys since McCaws birth and was finding myself really enjoying it! For the most part of the year, I work two days a week and I also get a lot of time off, so I know I am lucky in many respects. But I do struggle with finding that 'balance'. Would I be a better mother if I didn't work at all? Am I selfish for wanting to work in part because that extra money allows me to do so much more?

Whether a person chooses to be a working mother really is a personal decision and I don't mean to cast judgement on others for their choices - we all have our different situations and ultimately decide what is best for us. But for me, I find there's something to be said about doing something seperate from being a mother. I know that motherhood is my primary and most important role, but I feel a sense of accomplishment that I can still achieve in other areas of my life and continue to improve and be better. That may sound conceited, but I have always believed that we should aspire to something better. That achievement doesn't have to come in the form of employment though, and maybe I am just ranting on to justify why I choose to work ... goodness does one ever feel that they get it right? xx