Wow! You must have a really good camera!!

I read something recently that hit home with me, because I've been told this a time or two.  I guess, if you are a "photographer" that has been taking pictures for yourself or for someone else, for any length of time you have heard this phrase too.  "That is such a great picture, you must have a really good camera."  OR  "That camera takes such good pictures!"


I am kind of giggling as I write this because.....YES, my camera does take excellent photos, but it can take some TERRIBLE photos too.  My camera and all of my equipment is not to blame when I take a photo that is out of focus, white balance is off, not composed correctly.....it's MINE...the user.


There are so many functions to my DSLR that are made to make the photo that I am shooting excellent...and I study all the time trying to learn my equipment to achieve excellence.  I don't have the latest and greatest.  I have a Canon 50D...there are newer cameras out there for sure.  They all achieve the same end result with proper knowledge and use.


What spurred me to write this blog entry?  
Chef to Photographer that was taking pictures of his food: "Wow!  Nice Photos...you must have a really good camera!"
After the photo shoot, the chef serves the photographer a thank you meal.  After the meal the chef comes over to make sure everything was to his satisfaction.  The photographer calmly says:  "The meal was excellent...you must have a really good stove."  The chef looks at him and said "Point taken."

Softener too

I can help myself...I have to try all of these cheap alternatives.  I think I am addicted!


This time it's Fabric Softener.  Just finished my first load using it along with the homemade laundry detergent.  Can't smell the vinegar at all...smells great!

What You’ll Need:

• 6 cups HOT water
• 3 cups white vinegar - already had in my pantry.
• 2 cups Suave Ocean Breeze Conditioner - $1.49 {or other favorite scent or any brand. I just used this because it's CHEAP!} This size conditioner was 2.5 cups...I just went ahead and used it all in there.  :)

What You’ll Do:

• Mix conditioner & hot water well, until conditioner is dissolved completely. Stir - DO NOT SHAKE...or you will have foam.
• Add the vinegar, and mix well.
• Store in a large container {empty fabric softener container, milk carton/tea carton, empty large vinegar bottle, etc}

• Pour into a Downy ball (to the first line at the bottom) … or use approx. 2 tbsp. in the fabric softener spot in your laundry machine… then wash!

All Clean!

So you know I am just a tad bit obsessed with Pinterest.  I kept seeing people posting their homeade laundry soap.  I read sooo many different recipes.  They all have a few common threads.  I just picked ones that I thought would suit me best.  I already had the Zote soap that we bought in Mexico on our Honeymoon almost 5 years ago and never have used.  haha  So...I bought the other ingredients and went for it.

Here's the link to the recipe that I used.  What got me is her update.  Her batch lasted her 9 months...washing like 8 loads a week.  That is approx. how much I wash a week and that is amazing for the cost!

http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/2010/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html#comments

I cut the recipe in this first go round, because I just want to see if I like it.  

INGREDIENTS

1 -  4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent aisle 

1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg)  - $2.12 at Wal-Mart

1 - box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent aisle - $3.24 at Wal-Mart

3 bars of Fels-naptha soap, found in the detergent aisle (any bar soap or Zote soap is good too.)

2 small containers of Oxi-clean or store brand Oxi-clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent aisle.

(this is optional, but I like it because I use it in every load anyway)

2 containers (13.2 oz) Downy unstapables in-wash scent booster  (optional:  I added it for the smell) - $6.97 @ Wal-Mart

Directions:

1.)  Grate your Fels-Naptha, Zote or any bar soap works well too (I've read Dial soap or Ivory is great.)  I used this small trash can and it was plenty...

2.)  Next you just add all your other "ingredients" in .  I put on latex gloves and just mixed with my hands real good.

3.)  Add to your container of choice.

 USE 1-2 TBS PER LOAD (normal loads 1 tbs.  For x-large or heavily soiled loads, use 2 TBS.)

Little Pinterest inspired sprucin' up...

So, I am addicted to PINTEREST...

I have tried recipes that I like, household cleaning tips that are useful, Photography ideas, craft ideas, etc. 

This one in particular was much needed at my house.

About 4 years ago, I took the house numbers off the front door and never got around to replacing them like I wanted to.

I saw this quick and easy idea on Pinterest and went for it.  It was started and finished in less than 10 minutes. 

Wonder what the next Pinterest inspired activity will be?  Maybe, just maybe a wreath to go on that empty door hanger....