Everyday Trish — Embracing this crazy life one day at a time

Afternoon with a gnome

January 18, 2015 by Tricia Adams 12 Comments

I’m still going pretty strong with my Happy Haven Project, which makes me happy. This is usually about the time I start to lose steam on these types of things, so I’m feeling pretty good!

Last week I had planned to go search around some thrift shops for some supplies for a project, but the weather was really uncooperative so I decided to switch gears and work my way through a photography composition tutorial while Wyatt had a nap. I got to keep my stretchy pants on and I didn’t have to worry about getting frostbite. It was a wise decision.

I got one of my tiny gnomes out and went to work.

First up was a photo that adhered to the rule of thirds. Math is hard, so this is probably more like the rule of fourths or something.

Rule of thirds

Then balancing elements, where you use the presence of a less important element to fill a void in the photograph. I’m not sure I really achieved what I was going for, but I’ll take it.

Afternoon with a gnome

Then I had to find some leading lines. Which I found more difficult than it probably should have been. I was probably distracted by the realization my gnome’s watering can spout vaguely resembles a penis. *sigh*

Leading lines

Next you were supposed to take a vantage point other than eye level. I spent a considerable amount of time trying to conceal the penis-spout, but ultimately decided I was just going to let it all hang out.

Vantage Point

And then it was all about removing background noise so your subject stands out. Easily my favorite picture of a gnome holding a phallic water can.

Afternoon with a gnome

Now onto creating a sense of depth. I had no idea what I was doing, basically.

Afternoon with a gnome

Then I framed my gnome with a jug and some plates. Framing is supposed to help isolate your subject so it stands out more.

Framing

And last, cropping in tight around your subject.

Cropping

Which one do you like best?

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Happy Haven Project Recap and Linkup {week 2}

January 11, 2015 by Tricia Adams 9 Comments

I’m pretty sure this house has become ground zero for every virus floating around right now. One or more of us have been sick all week. I’m probably going to start walking around with a can of Lysol in a holster so I can just periodically spray a defensive cloud around myself.

Wyatt was totally unimpressed with his 102 degree fever.

Sick toddler

And despite the unfortunate illnesses, I’ve still been trucking on with my Happy Haven Project this week. Maybe I really am becoming a more motivated person. Maybe.

January 5 – I was going to make these Peanut Butter Candy Cookie Bar things, but the weather and all these sick people around me and my lack of motivation to clean snow off the car to go to the store forced me to get creative in the kitchen. Everything seemed to be falling into place with my experimental dessert…but after nearly 50 minutes in the oven, the brownie portion still had not cooked. Thankfully I have a family that loves to eat my mistakes.

Brownie dessert disaster

January 6 – I made up a simple breakfast and lunch meal plan. I really needed this. I can handle dinner on the fly (or my mom makes it and I don’t have to worry about it at all!) but I needed some more structure for breakfast and lunch. I’m really excited about what I came up with. It’s simple, healthy, and easy to adapt based on food already in the house. Now all I need is the willpower to stick with it.

January 7 – I made and ordered some postcards that I’m planning to send out this year. Right before Christmas I read an article from someone explaining why she wouldn’t be sending out Christmas cards, and it irked me real bad. She was so busy already and everyone sees what they’re up to on Facebook anyway so what was the point? A few days later I received a comment from my first college roommate (someone I haven’t seen in at least 10 years) thanking me for the card we sent and for always remembering her. And I was like, THAT is why I send cards. Because they mean something to me and the people I send them to. They’re tangible. They require you to do more than just sit at a computer and hit a like button. Don’t get me wrong, I like Facebook. But it’s not a substitute for really reaching out to people. So, back to my postcards! My plan is to send at least one a week for the rest of the year, and if you’re reading this and would like one, I’d love to stick one in the mail to you! I made a form you can fill out with your information here.

January 8 – Had some special reading time with Wyatt. This kid brings us books to read to him all day, but I wanted to sit down with him and just read as many as he wanted, for as long as he wanted. It was a really good reminder that slowing down is hardly ever a bad idea.

January 9 – I spent a chunk of Wyatt’s nap time going through a photography tutorial on photo composition. A lot of it I already knew, but I learned a lot of new stuff and ended up with some sweet photos of my tiny gnome.

Rule of thirds

January 10 – I decided that I needed to really sit down and have a look at my finances now that it’s just my small income that I’m working with. Normally this sort of thing is fun for me. I love a good budget! But it was actually a little sobering, looking at exactly the financial situation I’m in right now (it’s not great!). In all honesty, I wanted to get in bed, pull the covers over my face, bawl my eyes out, then get my phone and call up a couple of choice individuals and tell them the hell they’ve helped turn my life into. But I didn’t. I figured out how much money I need to bring in every month, and resolved to find a way to do that while still being able to be Wyatt’s full-time caretaker. My next step was soliciting some advice from women in a Facebook group I’m in about becoming a virtual assistant. I received so much good information, and amazingly, ended up with my very first JOB. I’m so glad I didn’t just hide under the covers.

January 11 – Watched a movie. I totally squandered all of nap time on a movie. It was amazing. I laid in bed with no distractions and just watched. No one threw toys at my face. No one begged me for wahyee (water) or caycay (candy). No one pooped their pants. No one threw a fit because a toy t-rex doesn’t fit in the play kitchen microwave. If you don’t have kids, never take for granted your ability to watch a movie all the way through without interruption. *and all the moms said AMEN*

I hope you all had a great week full of happy things. If you have a post from this past week you’d like to share (it’s pretty much anything goes, as long as it’s family-friendly) please linkup below!

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Not a blogger or don’t have a post to share? I’d love for you to leave a comment with something that made you happy this week.

And don’t forget to use #happyhavenproject on social media so we can keep up with what everyone is up to.

Want to keep up with all my cake-fueled ramblings? You can subscribe to my newsletter or find me at one of these places:

Frustration-free picture hanging method

January 7, 2015 by Tricia Adams 6 Comments

Hanging pictures up has always intimidated me. Especially the ones that required me to coordinate hammering in two holes into the wall at exactly the right distance apart so my picture would hang level. Like, you want me to get out a ruler or something? I don’t even know if I own a ruler. So I’v always delegated the picture hanging task to someone else. And when I wanted to hang a few things up in my new office space, I totally tried to pawn it off onto my mom. She was off busy having her own life though and I wanted these things hung up right now so I figured I better just put my big girl panties on and get to work.

I vaguely remembered hearing someone talk about hanging pictures by marking where the holes go on some masking tape, then using that as your guide. Seemed easy enough, even for me. Although, considering I recently tried to make a call from a calculator, I still had some doubts about my mental capacity. But you guys, it worked. I hung up a picture and two ribbon boards all by my lonesome. And they’re level. And I didn’t destroy the wall!