Tasty Thursday ...

Morning!

Operation: Bikini Season 2014 is nicely underway. I love the My Fitness Pal app! Sure, I have to take the time to actually input stuff but it saves my foods and workouts so each time I open the app, I'm halfway done. Are you using My Fitness Pal? I have it on my cell and on iPad - love it!

There is a recipe section so you can create a meal and then have it portioned out for one touch entering. I'm sure the rest of the free world knew such technology was out there but it's new to me. I'm more conscious of what I eat (when the glaring pie chart tells me today was a little carb heavy or not enough fat) and the impact my meager little workouts have - I've lost 5.6 pounds over the last few weeks - not too shabby for sharing a Hersheys bar with my toddler yesterday.

Pinterest has also really gotten me motivated too - fun workout ideas (different strength workouts based on what commercial is on! Genius!) - mantras and encouraging quotes - and recipes and meal ideas (which brings me to today's post).  At Trader Joe's yesterday, I picked up TriColored Quinoa. It was so pretty and I thought it would be perfect for my first adventure into the seed.

I had a few staples on hand and concocted this tasty meal -
1 cup TriColored Quinoa
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup frozen peas
2 cups cooked ground turkey

I made the quinoa as directed but used stock instead of water and added the frozen pea to have them cook together. In hindsight, I would add them just before the quinoa is finished rather than have them in the pan the whole time. I cooked the lean ground turkey separately with just spices to taste. When the quinoa and peas were finished, I added 2 cups of turkey to the pan and viola!

According to My Fitness Pal, it's pretty good for you ...

For dinner, I kind of expanded the concept. I put half a cup of quinoa mixture into half of a whole wheat pita with romaine lettuce and some avocado. It was quite yummy! Apologies for the lack of photos - I was too hungry. You understand.

What are you eating today? Have a good one ...

Spreading the Love - Team Style

Good morning!

I jumped on the blog-a-day bandwagon a little quick and did not get a chance to interview shops for my first Spreading the Love promotion post. I thought I would take a minute to introduce you to two of the teams I belong to and tell you a little about them. Both are comprised of incredibly talented and amazing small business owners who are just so creative it kills me.

I joined Female Photographers of Etsy soon after launching my shop. This group of women is beyond words. Talented, smart, capable, true superwomen. There are members from all over the globe and every single one has each other's best interests at heart. There is very much a team spirit and effort - it's not a competition - which blows me away. Every morning you can find the new #fpoe Pin of the Day on Pinterest - one new beautiful image that we then send all over the Pintrest-phere. For your daily dose  of wow, I really encourage you to follow the board! Now, fPOE is a closed group and you must apply to be a member. That being said, I would encourage any and all of you women-owned Etsy photography shops to check the group out. I have found it to be a great resource for encouragement, advise, inspiration, giggles, and all around enjoyment.

Last year I joined The Artisan Group. Wow. This is a celebrity gifting group, comprised of every art and craft. You know those drool-able swag bags celebrities snag at awards ceremonies and other fab parties splashed all over the pages of People and other society magazines? Well, TAG is one of the groups that contributes to these events. One of my goals when I opened my shop was to be able to join TAG - I was quite nervous about applying (also a closed group). I mean, this is pretty big league for my little shop. I was delighted and ecstatic and then nervous when I was accepted. I started upping my game -- new products, new images, new branding. I am planning on gifting later this year - I will keep you posted. The Artisan Group can also be found on Pinterest. It's early in my experience with TAG but the encouragement and support and advise is wonderful with all the members. I also like that it's such a diverse group - jewelry, spa products, clothing, accessories, pet goodies, photography. It's nice to have the interaction and variety of both products and business approaches.  It's very much a learning experience for me and I am so excited to be a part of this group.


I hope you will take a minute to click on the links to these wonderful groups and explore some new shops - some new goodies - some new ideas. You will be so glad you did.

Have a great day -- see ya tomorrow!

I'm your gal

So, you may be asking yourself - why should you tune in here everyday. It's ok, I'm asking myself the same question.  Every waking moment is precious. Sure, in the *greater-good-make-the-most-out-of-life* sense - but also in the *my to-do list has 974 things on it for today and it's only 7am* kind of way too. Your time is valuable. You are the one who gets things done. You are the one that makes sure the little ones are fed and (reasonably) clean. You are the one that makes sure the bills get paid. The dogs are fed. And the one who makes sure everyone gets a good night kiss. You even find time to carve out a few stolen moments with the one who still give you butterflies and goosebumps - swoon.

My family ! ! !

Your time is worth A LOT. So, I ask again. Why should you spend 3 minutes (or 10 ... no need to gulp that hot latte) reading my posts? I want to be your cyber-gal-friday, in a way. Need a few minutes to take your mind off of a kerfuffle? I'm your gal. Need something a little warm & fuzzy and feel good without needing to redo your make up? I'm your gal. Need someone to remind you that your kids/ family/ home/ job/ life are not the only ones in a state of quasi-organized chaos (but that you secretly love it that way)? I'm your gal. Looking to broaden your horizons? I'm your gal. Feel like you are the only one that Pinterest has duped? (Oh my many Pinterest fails ...) I'm your gal. A new charity to explore? I'm your gal. An idea about where to go on your next holiday? I'm your gal. Ok, technically, I can't help you turbo clean the family room before the in-laws ring the bell. And I probably won't be able to dash to Trader Joe's for you when you realize you just ran out of quinoa.  But I can remind you that you rock. And I will. Because, let's face it. You really do. You keep your world afloat and still manage to find time to get the occasional pedicure.

My honey and me

Sadiecakes

I'm just a regular gal. Wife to an amazing man who is my hero on a daily basis and still gives me goosebumps when he looks in my eyes. Momma to a 3 year old who will tell you she's 6 and has a new found addiction to all things ballet. Momma to 2 giant dogs who think they are teacup size and one ailing kitty who still loves to cause a ruckus just for the heck of it. Photographer who loves to document the incredible places I've been and capture the moments in my life and the beauty around me. I'm that friend you haven't seen in a while but four sips into a cuppa, we both forget that it's been ages since we've gotten to catch up.

So, wanna join me on my adventure?  Are you embarking on anything new and exciting?

Tomorrow morning we will explore one of my images - I would love your thoughts and insights.

See you tomorrow,

Tah Dah!

Before we get to my *long story long* blog below - I have news! I am a proud new member of The Artisan Group! So excited about the new talented artists I get to hob nob with!

Los Angeles is know for many things. The Hollywood Sign. Movie studios. Beaches. Crazy people. And heat. It's the land of perpetual summer. What we are not known for is humidity. Ick Ugh. Make it stop! Here is where we enter my current projects ...


I've been looking for ways to expand my photos into more tangible objects. Love Pinterest. Lovelovelove Pinterest. I found a tutorial on making magnets out of your images. (Have you found Photojojo?? They rock. Seriously, follow that blog!) So I tossed Sadiecakes into the car and off to Michael's we went! Zoom ....


I decided, since this was an experiment on many levels, I would choose mostly personal images. The finished products can go to work with Daddy, magically appear on Grandma's fridge, and the rest can be Sadie's newest trinkets.


I chose my images & resized them into one Photoshop doc. 2x2 images were recommended and fit perfectly on an 8x10 piece of photo paper.

Sliced them up & did the same with mat board (next time, I'm having the giant board cut into 8x10 sheets - SO much easier to work with - much less trimming, I hope!) Glue them together - trim a bit more (the tutorial actually recommends a small mat boarder - next batch ...)

Such lovely bits!

Temporary Work Space

Now comes the part where I am a fish out of water. Dimensional Magic Glaze. Same makers as Modge Podge. Lay it on like icing. Have a needle nearby for popping wicked little bubbles. Lay flat to dry, of course, but also cover with a cup or something to keep dust from settling on top.  The directions tell you it need anywhere from 3-24 hours to fully set. Lies. Ok, to be fair, not lies so much as a very very loose guideline. I blame the humidity. It was the only factor I could come up with. At a very long drawn out 24 hour mark, I race in! They are still cloudy and just as wet as when I *iced* them. Ok, wait. What? Let's come back tomorrow. Then the next day. AND the next. It took 3 1/2 days to completely set. Now my first round, I only did 2 squares so I could make adjustments with what I still had. And there were teeny tiny itty bitty bubbles. So, icing the rest, I dug in, knowing it would take days not hours and to examine closely for the bitty bubbles. These are not pop-able. All they do is swim around. I'm willing to blame humidity for that too. I now have a small dehumidifier (a la Amazon) for my next round of experiments.

When they all finally dried - it was time to glue the magnets on the back. Heat and humidity cost me another day for that to dry fully.

Seeing Spots

But .... (drum roll ......) TAH DAH!

Yay for magnets!

Curation by Sadie

We have magnets! I definitely have some tweaks to make on round 2 - that being said - I'm a happy girl that I have something to show for my time and effort. And Sadie is a happy girl to have her own magnets ...








I think I am going to try to refine this process before I try the next idea. Now that I am with The Artisan Group - I need to get some finished products rolling out so I can participate in the swag bags!

Operation : Take Stock

Hi! I feel it has been forever since I checked in ... summer adventures in the few hours we get with Daddy, the inevitable migraines I am unfortunate enough to have to tolerate, and a whole week of being home sick with a 2 1/4 year old (Grandma gives me a stern look when I round up ...). All of this has taken me away from the computer - and it has been quite glorious. I can do bits & bobs from my phone (when Sadie isn't using it to play Signing Time and Calliou videos) but no real nitty gritty work. So here I am, trying to get back on task. So let's see what we've got.





I am the queen of big ideas and the court jester of follow through. Pinterest has done an excellent job of perpetuating this. Etsy doesn't help matters either. That being said, I am fairly addicted to both.  I have grand ideas and plans for what I want.  Both professionally and personally.  I'm much better at the follow through with my personal life.  I have taken risks that I want to take.  I go after what I want.  I hold on to what I need with all of my heart and strength. These attributes have served me well and I am so happy with the people and place in my life - I am truly blessed and I know it.




Now, professionally .... I tend to take a back seat. Other things always manage to crop up, of course. And they will. The concern is that, that is when what I want becomes lost in the shuffle. It's my own doing and I have no one else to blame - and I'm not.  I am lucky enough to be able to spend most of my days with the coolest toddler I know. Really, she rocks. But very soon, she won't be spending her days with me on little adventures - she will go out and have her own. So, what do I do then?


 Enter the sub project - Operation: Take Stock. I've realized in mapping out what I want for my office/ studio/ escape pod - I need to know just what I want. Pinterest and Etsy have filled my head with ideas for my photos and LWP shop. Most shops not only have images for sale, but some product or tangible goodie ~ jewelry, night lights, clocks, lanterns ~ something. I have knocked around a few ideas. What can I make, realistically, that would be marketable? Will I have the time for it? Will I have the space? The start up money to create stock for sale? Do I want to make lots of them without tearing my hair out? I'm not 100% sure what questions someone asks themselves when jumping into a similar adventure but these questions are constantly rattling around in my brain. The way I figure, I need to really narrow down my selection so that I know how to create my *me* space.

I think I need to experiment with 2 ideas - see which one is more feasible and fun to do. I have been fortunate enough to inherit more darkroom photo paper that I could throw. My (former) boss, bless his heart, encouraged my photography and now I have a substantial volume of vintage paper. It was their photography collection that furthered my education and love of history of photography. I really feel the need and desire to find a way to utilize my new found acquisition - I have been researching contemporary and alternative uses for paper. I'm learning all about pinhole cameras, salt prints, paper negatives ..... my mind is leaping for joy at the prospect of being a sort of student again! I have also found some ideas, a la Pinterest, for cute (seemingly) easy photo projects that might work for my images. A quick trip to Michael's when Sadiecakes wakes up is on the agenda.

And as Operation: Take Stock moves into Operation: Take Office, I will be able to sort out what type of space will best serve my purposes. Paint for the walls was decided on yesterday & purchased! Walls have been taped. I just need to prep the walls tonight & this weekend we really are transforming the image in my mind into a physical space that I am so excited about.

I have no doubt that a few months after my little piece of heaven is complete and functional, there will be a need for a nursery. Here's hoping it's a girl and they can share a room. I'm not ready to give up my little space yet!

A Year Older -

A year ago today, I think I spent the entire 24 hours glued to the computer. Furiously typing, listing, tagging, uploading, and voila! Loud Waterfall Photography had an Etsy shop & a Facebook page. A year later, I have many new dear friends, a few photos scattered throughout the world, a brand new blog that I am still trying to get the hang of, and a sense of accomplishment that I've managed to keep something alive for this long.

What will the next year hold? I have a few branches I am thinking of adding to the tree. New products based on my images, maybe a trip or two to replenish the archives and the soul. An expansion to the family is in the blueprints and permits stage (pinkprints?!?). The house needs a bit of a revamping - Pinterest has a way of igniting the fires & imagination. The next 12 months are shaping up to be full of excitement & adventure ....

Downtown Los Angeles - Chinatown - Walk-About

Thank you for joining me on my little adventure! I'm having lots of fun and learning even more. If you are ever in the Los Angeles area, I would love to buy you a cup of coffee (glass of wine?!!) and maybe we can go for a walk-about with our cameras ...

Don't Tell CPS ~

I made my child perform manual labor.  She loved it! We painted 2 samples swatches of the colors we bought yesterday.

Our 1st sample :: Hampton Green

So, I stripped her down (no ruined clothes if I can help it!). Handed her a small roller and a paper plate with a few dollops on it. Now, being 2 (and MY child), she is a bit of a free spirit. Sadie was not a fan of the limited space nor the meager amount of supplies she was given.

Second sample :: Charlotte Slate

I promised her we would do a second coat & that she could help me with the walls when we found a pretty color. She suggested purple. Maybe for her walls ...

Wait. Wait. Wait.

We are going to have a little dance party now & catch some Clubhouse while we wait to do the second coat. All right Sadie, grab your tutu!

My question is ....

Jenn of LavenderAvenue selected my Fenway detail as her thank you gift for hanging out with us! Off to Colorado we go!

Thank you Danny! Maximonsterjte Photography has been one of my favorite Etsy shops (Thank you fPOE team!) She snagged her thank you gift too! A bit of San Francisco is on it's way to the Netherlands ...

So ... I have made no secret of the fact that this endeavor, blogging, is anything I really understand - impact-wise or relevancy-wise - in a society where we are reduced to 140 characters or simply a headline, why would someone be interested in me prattling on about .... what ... anything? Everything? Just art stuff? Are you as excited as I am that my daughter is learning new songs at school and can now hit a ball off the tee (she's 2, by the way) and run to a base? That I tried a hit Pinterest recipe and it was just awful?

I guess my question is ... what interests you? Why do you follow a blog?

I'm working on it!

Happy! Happy Father's Day to my amazing husband who gives so much and always has more - I love you baby - you rock!

Keri snapped up her thank you gift - this is what she chose ....

I would love to say LWP is a full time job - I'm working on it. I would love to stay home with Sadiecakes everyday and go on outings to hunt for photos - I'm working on it.  But there is other stuff to do ...

I decided to partake in a craft swap. Let me preface this by saying I am crafty in theory. I adore the idea of living in a Pinterest world - reality is not as such. So joining this swap seemed the perfect way to jump in.

I have been paired up with 2 people : one gal I make something for and the other makes something for me! Pretty clever! I have figured out what I am making for Linda but I can't tell you yet - she will see this. But I picked something that seems safe but functional and has the potential to be quite cute!

Stay tuned for photos next week after I finish & it's in the mail .... I'm working on it!

Cheers-

This is me ...

I love to travel. New places. New sights. New time zone.  New food. I could go on .... But I think what I really love about leaving home and exploring this incredible planet of ours, what I love the most, is being out of my element.  Lack of sleep, new languages, exotic foods, streets I have never walked down before - the only thing recognizable is my reflection. Out. Of. My. Element.

Little did I realize all of my passport stamps, all of my TSA searches, all of my travel books read during layovers - it all prepared me for 2 things. Motherhood. And Loud Waterfall Photography.

So that brings us to now.

I am a California girl (Los Angeles to be more specific) who is madly in love with her perfect man; who loves to tickle a feisty 2 year old; has more photo archives than she can count; who still insists on having a camera within reach at all times; and, who will own a bakery in another life.

This is me.

Wife to a crazy, sexy, wonderful man who knocks my socks off with a grin.

This is me.

Momma to a toddler who thinks she just turned 6 and not 2 - independent, gregarious, silly, and always quick to flash a smile to get out of whatever jam she leapt into with both feet.

This is me.

Max Yavno (1911-1985) 

Part time Collections Manager for a private fine art photography collection in LA who loves to sit quietly and just take in her immeasurable fortune, to be surrounded by photography that refocused the concept of art.

This is me.

Full time observer - with and without camera (preferably with!) who just wants to take things in, her way. And then relay that experience to you.

This is me. Hi. It's nice to meet you!

L W P