Color and Texture

A Creative Afternoon Walk in Inglewood
a Special Little Man

After a long and busy month of photo sessions and editing,   I felt the itch to get out and find something interesting to shoot.  Just for fun.   So, I grabbed my sweet boy (who decided to stay home from school as he "thought" he was sick) and we headed to the oldest neighborhood in the city.  A revitalized neighborhood enriched with quaint locally owned authentic cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and antique thrift stores.  We had a nice little lunch at a Mexican restaurant and then ventured out onto the streets to find inspiration.  It was only a matter of time before the colors and textures of the 100 year old buildings announced their beautiful rustic and hysterical presence. 

Build A Beautiful Succulent Arrangement

 I felt inspired to build this arrangement for several reasons.

1. Sometimes... I get bored.
2. I've been eyeballing the Jade plant for a while.  Not sure why.  They just seem happy.
3. Any excuse to hang out at the greenhouse.
4. Living plants purify the air.  With 4 boys in the house, I'm gonna need some plants!
5. Green symbolizes prosperity and who doesn't want to prosper?
6. I love playing with dirt. There's just something so peaceful and therapeutic about it.

Ok So, You will need:

An aprox 10" glass container,  5"high
1 bag of sand
1 bag of pebbles
1 bag of glass pebbles
3-4 4" succulent plants

Step 1.  Visit your local greenhouse for the best quality succulents.  Don't forget to smell the air and indulge in the humidity while you're in there.  Take your time.  These things can't be rushed.

Step 2.  Choose 3-4 4" plants depending on the size of your glass container. 

Step. 3  Base coat your glass container with sand and then situate the pots in a visually appealing manor.  Do not take the pots out of the containers as the plants need these to drain. Be sure the tops of the pots sit below the rim of the glass bowl.

Step 4.  Fill remaining space between plants with more sand and then small pebbles.  Near the top, you can add some glass pebbles or larger rocks. You be the artist.  Be sure to cover the edges of the pots with the rocks so you don't see them.

Step 5.  Step back and enjoy your beautiful creation.  Succulents like a lot of sunlight so choose it's dwelling accordingly.

Earth Day | The Long Way Home

I have the best intentions in doing my part to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  I think about the quality of life I want for my children,  grand children, etc. so that one day they will hopefully be a part of a healthier environment and generation.  I do admit, I'm not perfect in this intention.  A lot of guilt overcomes me at times when I throw stuff in the garbage because my recycling bin is full or if I cannot bear to rinse a rancid container of Fromage Cottage.  Blahhhh! 

This day was an exceptionally busy one for me - full of editing and volunteer work for my son's school band.  But in between all the craziness, I knew it was gonna be a magical day for pictures.  The sky was incredibly blue and the clouds were low and puffy with heavy grey bottoms.   I took the long, scenic way home after picking the kids up from school that day just because I knew it would be more glorious.  And it was!  This particular day inspired me to stop and make time amongst all the madness to appreciate the beauty and wonders all around.  To me, Earth Day means just that - taking the time to STOP and appreciate the world that we take for granted, and to play an active roll in doing the things we need to do to help protect this planet we call HOME.

With great love in my heart for the Earth and it's perpetual beauty, Happy Earth Day!
  Click here to read about the origin of Earth Day. 

Unique Nests Ideas from Etsy

I guess I gotta thing for birds and nests.  Even better, PERSONALIZED bird nests! Quite fitting for this time of year, I'd say.  These items are all for sale on Etsy and are handmade by different artists.  I love shopping on Etsy! Personally, I would way rather spend the extra money to buy something handmade, as opposed to something that came off the assembly line.  I have a great deal of appreciation for the time, care, attention, and love that these artisans put into their work.  Did I mention that I LOVE Etsy?!?  It's the perfect one stop shop for that perfect gift for a friend, loved one, or yourself ;)

Mom's Nest - Personalized Rocks

Etsy

Newborn Fur Nest Prop For Photographers

 

 Etsy

Baby Girl Theme Shower Invitations

 Etsy

Original Bird Nest Etching

  Etsy

 Striped Bird Nest Throw Pillow

Etsy

Bird Nest Crochet Necklace

 Etsy

Nest and Old Barn Photograph

Etsy

Uncover Your Hidden Talents

Here is an article that I came across and thought I needed to share it.  No matter how old we are or what stage of our lives we are in,  I strongly believe that we all have special gifts, skills, and talents that we're meant to discover and share with others.

By Loral Langemeier

How many times have you said this? “I don’t have any gifts.” “I am not a gifted person.”
If you have been thinking that, you should definitely think again. Just because they didn’t put you in the “gifted and talented” program during grade school doesn’t mean you don’t have gifts and talents you can use immediately to create positive change and wealth in your life. You may not think you know what your gifts are, but it’s more likely that you’re denying them. We are all blessed with gifts as a part of our nature. We are born with them! It’s our responsibility to uncover them, develop them and then share them with others.
We are given everything we need to have the lives we want.
It is within you, in your make-up, to be whoever you want to be. Maybe your mindset is driving you in such a way that you are repressing those wonderful gifts given to you as part of your creation. But I am here with GREAT news. They are there, and they are yours! All you have to do is unearth them and build something spectacular.
Our talents and skills are part of our being.  In fact, each of us has a distinct set of tools that are our own.  And that’s why we were put on this planet – to share those talents and skills with the world!
Turn off any self-talk that tells you that you are destined to live a small life. You’re not. You have internal gifts (resourcefulness, energy, attitude, all sorts of positive attributes) and external gifts (food, water, nature, people and other helpful resources). If you are thinking, “My only gift is that I can get up every morning and get through it all again,” turn it off right now. That’s a damaging mindset! It will do nothing but hold you back and you deserve so much more!
Your gifts can make great things happen in your life!
The issue you face, when you don’t realize all of the wonderful gifts you have, is that it can be incredibly overwhelming! When you focus far too much on your problems, perceived shortcomings or other obstacles you get yourself STUCK. If all you see is growing debt, lack of money, fleeting dreams or a dismal future, you are stopping your momentum before it even has a chance to start.  If you’re one of those telling yourself you can’t afford a bigger life, or that you don’t have enough time to do everything you need to do, or you’re too tired, overworked, and have a lackluster life – stop! It’s time to shift your mindset and take action to create positive results!
Focus on the good things you do have, not on what you don’t have. Change the conversation in your head. Be good to yourself when you talk to yourself!  Change the people you associate with, if you need to. Get positive support. Reach out for what you want. Bring together those you need to help you succeed in creating a bigger life.  You have the potential, the capability. It is within you. Once you tap into it, you will see immediate results and great rewards come to you. When we use, share, and value our gifts properly, we receive rewards in the form of positive, regenerating energy and optimism.  If we give away our value, even literally, by extending our skills and talents without getting paid or recognized, it depletes energy and creates a negative attitude.
Gifts can make you feel like you have superpowers!
Your inner strengths, your natural abilities and everyday skills are the gateway to a brighter future. Here’s an exercise which will help you reset your mindset and help you access all of the wonderful gifts you have.
Sit down and write out everything you’re grateful for, everything you’re able to do and everything you even wish you could do. Get in the habit of thinking positively about yourself and what you’re capable of.  When you change that conversation with yourself, something miraculous happens! You are filled with Yes! Energy and before long, it will seem like anything you can dream of or want to do in your life will be possible.
By eliminating that negativity, you will crush small thoughts, small actions and a small life.  Living small is a crime against you!  A positive attitude opens doors and invites opportunity.
Open those doors and let the opportunity flood in and fill your life with success.

Think Bigger

Funky Upcycled Tie Patches for Kids Jeans

I have no idea what my 3 boys are doing to blow out the knees in their jeans all the time.  I swear they only last a few months.  I started to panic a bit when I looked at how large the pile of "jeans to be patched" was getting.  The thought of patching all these did not excite me, nor did spending more $$$ on more jeans.  Then, a wonderful idea hit me and I felt compelled to attack that growing pile of tattered jeans.

Here's What You Do

1.  Go into your husband's closet and grab some of his most favorite colorful and funky ties.  You can  also find very cheap ones at a thrift store if you don't want any trouble.

3.  Cut out a square patch on the tie large enough to cover the hole on the jean.

4.  Stitch-rip about 1 foot of the inner seem on jean near the hole.

5.  Pin patch on the inside of the jean to cover the hole.

6.  Stitch here...stitch there...zig here...zag there.

7.  Restitch side seem and there you have it.

 Cool Pants For Cool Kids

4 down and 6 more to go.

Thanks for helping Mom!

xoxo

A New Beginning | About The Pink Antler Cafe

 It's a fitting day to officially launch The Pink Antler Cafe.  It's an extension/blog of Pink Antler Photography, and it shares all of the things, people, and places that inspire and uplift me.  My hope is that it will do the same for you.  So follow this happy, uplifting, and artful blog.  It will be fun!

SPRING IS HERE!!!

Yay!  Today is the first day of spring!!! This day makes me very giddy as it means that summer is just around the corner.  The rain is about to fall, flowers and trees are about to bloom, the sun shines gloriously with warmth and happiness, and love is in the air .  It represents new beginnings.  New life, renewed love, goals, ideas, and activities.

I compare myself to my favorite perennial, the Peony.  In the spring, it comes alive again, sprouting new shoots, leaves, and buds.   I truly feel like I come ALIVE in the spring.  Who doesn't?

Last winter I made these paper peony flowers to hang in my living room.   I haven't been able to take them down as it's my simple reminder during the winter that spring is just around the corner.

From the garden - Now, I don't have a green thumb by any means.  I've randomly planted all of my favorites in my yard.  I'm sure a horticulturalist would be appalled with my outdoor paradise.  Nonetheless,  I look forward to when the flowers bloom so I can clip them and bring their scent and beauty inside for us to enjoy.