AHHH... hello there blog. It's been a while. And, well, sorry, I've been busy! 

I had so much FUN creating this picture. 

I would love to hear your thoughts.

I would love to hear your interpretation. 

Lorraine Culver was my beautiful model.

IF you like it, I posted in a challenge on the FRAMED NETWORK. (great photography resource)

Vote here: http://framednetwork.com/episodes/episode-3-7/?footer=contest

Click on the little heart button at the bottom of the photo once you are one their website.

HUGS, Blessings, laughter and LOVE,

Noelle 

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 20 Boom Boom Broom Bangs

28 Days of Natural Beauty-

 Day 20 Boom Boom Broom Bangs 

OR 
Natural Beauty and Hair

Alright stop. 
Collaborate and listen.  (know where this is going?)

I'm back,

with a brand new invention. 

Something grabs a hold of me tightly

Fall like a harpoon daily and nightly.

Will I ever stop? 

YO, I don't know.

Turn off the lights and I'll glow. 

To the extreme I rock a mic like a vandal,

Light up the stage and watch me jump like a candle.... (um...I don't think those are the EXACT words. yeah, yeah... I know.)

DANCE.

And your speakers will boom, 

killing your brain like a poisonous mushroom.

Deadly. mumble, slur..slur.mumble

Slur..slur.. mumble mumble, occasionally hit a word,

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT,

mumble, slur..slur.mumble

Slur..slur.. mumble mumble, occasionally hit another word,

mumble, slur..slur.mumble

IF there was a problem,

YO, I'll solve it,

Check out my hook while the dj revolves it. 

Ice Ice baby, vanilla.....

 

Ok, OK, OK... I'm done! 

WOW! Thank you for sticking me with me as long as you did. 

I know it's rough to hang out with someone while they attempt to sing a song.
Especially when they are butchering it because they don't know the words. 

And especially when that person is a white, female, in her 30's rapping a song from the 80's. 

Was it the 80's or early 90's?

google it.

I Googled it.  

Ok, wikipedia says it was released 1990. 

YIKES! Robert Matthew Van Winkle (Vanilla ICE) was stabbed 5 times and almost thrown off a balcony b/c people wanted him to sign with their record company?

CRAZY!

ok... sorry. Side note.
Back to OUR story.  

Or whatever it is. 

BUT,  I DO have to admit that I love rapping this classic Vanilla Ice song to my kids. (Ice, Ice Baby) 

I bust it out everyonceinawhile (yes, that is a word.) 

It's fun... they have no idea what I'm doing and just stare at me.

It's great to do when they all are fussy and whiny and "mommmeeeeee..eeeee...eee" this and "mommy" that....

Right when you are about whine and yell back...

That's when you bust out it out.  

Singing is good for the heart, body, mind and soul.

Well, in this case, rapping.

Alright. Let's get to the natural beauty part of this.....


Today's picture.

All Rights Reserved Elle Feb 2012 pg. 143

Interesting fashion shot.
The article is about red lipstick.
I think it should be about BROOM HAIR.

You know... when you have colored your hair way too many times AND it feels as course as a broom?
Or maybe it just feels like a broom?

In college, one may change their hair color monthly.
One, orrrrr do I mean, ME?
Yes, ok, you caught me.
 anyway...
Why did you color your hair all the time?
Cause I could.
BOOM!
Because I wanted to know what I would look like with purplish-red hair.
BOOM!
Because I was in college.
BOOM!
Because my mom couldn't tell me "not while you live under my roof."
 he-he, love ya mom.

Now... now... NOW...
Now, why do the ends of my hair feel like I could sweep my kitchen floor with them?
I don't color my hair just for the FUN of it any more.
I do it because I am hiding something from you and the rest of the world.
MY
Natural
Hair
color
and
that
color
is.....................
dark, very, very, dark,
ashy brown.
Oh and yeah, some super white blonde hairs popped up after I started having kids.
It looks weird with my dark browns, so I color my hair.
WHAT?
WHAT's THAT you say?
Those ARE NOT blonde hairs?
They are gray?
gray?
ME?
WHAT?
NO WAY!!

NOT ME!

NOT EVER.

ok.
 yeah.
     maybe
         you
            are
               correct.
                  ug.   

So, Since this is natural beauty blog, should I forget making an appointment at my hairdressers and just let me hair go?
no.
Well, it's up to you and what you think you like about yourself.
I personally am not into gray hairs, just yet.
When I'm older, I think I'll let it go, but not yet.
HECK, i'm still in my 30's!

My Version:

1. My Broom Hair is lovely. And a real broom.

A stinky outdoor broom.

A stinky outdoor broom that belongs to stay outdoors and should be

NOWHERE, nowhere,

NEAR

MY

FACE!

ICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. The weird lip thing was hard to do and LOOKS weird with out lipstick. Oh well!  

On ANOTHER SIDE NOTE...

I got the funniest MUG SHOT of myself while I was testing the light and trying to focus my lens..

Are

YOu 

Ready?

Ok,

Here you

GO....

OK!

WHAT THE HECK???

Seriously looks like a 

MUG SHOT!

Do I look like this when I'm listening to someone's story?

Hilarious!

I like how ONE of my eyebrows is slightly raised.

Just like John on Days of our Lives.

Is that still on? I haven't watched it in about 10 years, 

but I bet John and Marlena are still married and weird. 

Maybe you will want to turn it on and watch it now, JUST to watch his amazing Expressive Eyebrow skills.

Our Song of the day: ..........
of course you KNOW what it is!
YOU-ARE-A-GENIUS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=149jGeIlx3I

Peace, Love, Laughter, 

and Vanilla ICE, ICE, ICE Cream

 (with chocolate chips....mmmmmm)

~No-ice-L

I heart faces Photo Challenge * Beautiful Black and White

I heart faces Photo Challenge 

* Beautiful Black and White

This picture was taken this weekend while practicing light.

I love this picture!

This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

THANK YOU!

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 19 Shake That!

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 19 Shake That!  

All rights reserved Gucci Copyright: Elle February 12 No. 318

This picture confused me for a while. Is this some weird Yoga move where her leg is in front of her? Ohhhhhhhhhh.... I get it... it is a leg from another person!
duh...

My Version:

So, my son was my leg model.
He has cute chubby thighs, so I thought he would be the perfect leg model.
I had no idea he was holding a paint brush... I don't even know how he got it!
Where did it come from?
Kids are amazing like that.
The funny thing is, is that THIS IS the cropped photo.



Here is the UNcropped version:
Le original.

He is also wearing #1 child's Taekwondo safety sparring gear. 
He loves that helmet!  
He puts it on his head and walks around yelling, "Hi-ya!"

#2 child wanted in on the action.

#1 child wanted to take the pictures, so I set up the camera and let her go.

Here is the next few pictures she took as I was struggling trying to get another shot set up.

 Lost interest in the paint brush.

Had a flower in the other hand and wanted me to smell it.

"FLOW? FLOW?" as he shoved it toward my face. 

HOLD STILL WOULD YA? 

Great! Got him to drop his props. 

OH NO!!! Don't cry!! 

Ok, here, here is the flower back!! 

#2 still trying to get in the picture. 

Poor middle child. 

Love her so much. 

I did nighttime beauty again this time. Right before I put all the kids to bed. At the end of the day, when the makeup has all worn off, when you are shuffling your feet to walk you from the bathtub to kids rooms....
Yeah, End Of the DAY natural Beauty.
It rocks as much as 6am no makeup Beauty.

And for our song today... 2 parts...

1. Since #3 was the star of the blog today... Here he is dancing
My son's version of shuffling... he is Shaking It: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2L30yO_bHI

2. LMFAO shaking it and shuffling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8&ob=av2e

PEACE, LOVE and Laughter,

and Cheerios and Goldfish (2 of #3's favorite foods!)

~No-Legs-L 

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 18 Come TO my PARTY!

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 18 COME TO MY PARTY

This ad is so random and funny.

COME

TO 

MY

PARTY!!!

Come to my fun, candy, sugar party!


WHO: YOU!
WHY: Because sugar is fun to eat!
WHAT TO WEAR: Oh, you must wear your craziest feather-doily-hat-clip thingy! :)
WHAT: Eat so much sugar, it will put you in a weird daze.WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
WHEN: Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee oh sorry, Um... date.. yeah. Next Leap Year.
WHERE: Your backyard!

All rights reserved: Juicy Couture Copyright: Glamour Dec 2010

HEY,

HEY,

 Mama! 

WHO 

invited 

the 

LLAMA?

My version.....

1. My HEALTHY/Whole Foods VERSION...


2. No llamas were embarrassed making my version.


3. Warning:
                 I didn't have any cool looking doily hats,
                                   so I did something equally cool....






Day 18

Hanger Head. 

The new Halloween Hit Costume! 

All you have to do is wear normal clothes and then just put a hanger on your head.

WOW! WHAT A COOL COSTUME? WHO ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE???

Hanger Head.

WOW! That is such a great idea, so creative!! You will probably win BEST COSTUME tonight!

Gee, thanks! 

Did you know that there are such things as Velvet Hangers?
True fact.
I just found out today.
Am I behind on this too?
Please tell me that there are others that don't know about these things.
Apparently they are awesome.
I wish I would have had one for these pictures. It would have been much softer on my head.

Notice MY FOOD?

Healthy stuff.

Eat healthy, makes you feel so much better.

Well, I don't know about you, but it does for ME! :)

p.s...
I took these pics RIGHT before bed this time, instead of early in the am.
This is NATURAL BEAUTY before bed.
Taking these before bed was nice b/c my husband actually helped me on one picture in today's blog. He helped by pressing the focus button for me while I was doing the spoon eating picture...  my camera wouldn't focus with low light.
I interrupted his movie STEEL JUSTICE....
He was very kind to walk away from such a great classic 80's B movie.
The main charater is the bad/mean Karate teacher from Karate Kid.
You love the movie already, don't you?

Ohh... how about a good Karate Kid movie montage for our song of the day!!!
classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBktYJsJq-E

YOU'RE THE BEST AROUND! 

'Nothing EVER is gonna keep you down! 

OR
Did you want the HEY HEY Mama song?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9qUMr6feOI&ob=av2e)

Peace, Love, Laughter 

and carrots, celery, potatoes and healthy stuff,

No-salad-L

p.s. you should go to YOU TUBE and type in "RUNNING LLAMA."
Now THAT is silly!

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 17 Grasshopper Stew

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 17 Grasshopper Stew

So, what's the deal? It's not Feb 17th and you are saying DAY 17? 
Yeah, yeah, I know.

Here is the deal.
I told myself that I would do this for 28 days and on day 29 do a nice shot with editing and makeup... the whole enchilada.
Well, I had no idea how much time blogs took and how busy I was and how my family's health and needs were more important than anything.
Right?
Being healthy is a lovely blessing! I am very thankful that I feel so much better.
Therefore... after my rambling rambles, I get to my point.........
My point is, that I will do this for 29 days and as we have now noticed, they will or may not always be consecutive.

SO ONWARD we charge into the land of silliness where fashion and beauty run rampant and the steamy swirls of Grasshopper Stew flow up into the villagers' nostrils.




What? 



Umm... just keep reading and really, you may or may not find the answer.


Day 17: 

I call this picture "Breathy."

All rights reserved Smashbox Copyright Glamour Dec. 2010

The Smashbox model looks like she is taking a deep breath OUT in this picture.  

Hence, I called this picture "Breathy."

I bet she has nice breath.
Nice breath that smells like Wintermint Tic-Tacs or Scope.

Day 17... MY Version.

My "Breathy" version.

Hello there. 

Grrrrrrrrrr.
My hair is very crazy this morning. 

My name is Molly McNew.

And

 this

 is 

my 

story.........

Molly McNew ate Grasshopper Stew,

It made her jump,

It made her thump,

It made her breath stink. Peee-ewww!

HEY! It is 6am in the morning and I'm SORRY if I haven't brushed my teeth yet or use my Listerine.
Sorry.
Luckily, you can't smell me.
Or my breath.
I actually don't smell.
Just my breath.
Well, I take that back. I don't THINK I smell.
But, I do know that my breath isn't very pleasant.
Morning Breath.
It's a lovely thing.

But, again, you are lucky you can not smell it.
That means today is your lucky day.
You should go buy a few lottery tickets now.
Or maybe I will.

I will buy some new mini-Scope to carry around in my purse when I win my 1.5 Million Dollars in the Idaho Lottery.
Then, I will ALWAYS have fresh breath!
OR wait, BETTER IDEA!!
Do they still have that "CHHH-CHHT" breath spray that was popular in the 90's...
What was that called?
Bianca? (No, I think that is a woman's name....In fact, I think it is the evil lady's name in the The Rescuers movie or was it the mouse? Yes, it was the mouse.)
Binaca! THAT'S IT...
ok, where was I?


Today's song of the day.
Since somehow I got from Breathy to Grasshopper Stew to winning the lottery, we shall continue down that zigzag mental thinking path.
Grasshoppers are green, well some are brown.
And #2 child's favorite color is green.
SO, we are going to go with a great old song from a green band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnF0pkWD2Tc
And if you want older:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj8rb3V0mDg

Sorry no Rescuers song...that movie freaked me out when I was a kid. Still does.
Poor girl had to get the DIAMOND from a skull in a cave full of water.
 not a movie for kids.
 or sensitive adults.

OH ON TO A POSITIVE NOTE....

Have a LOVELY day and remember to smile.

 LAUGH... fake laugh if you have to. 

It will sound silly or ridiculous and then it will make you laugh for real...

 Laughing is good for the soul. 

Peace, Love, Laughter

and Grasshopper Stew

OR

Green Beans, which ever you like best.

No-Molly_McNew-L

I heart faces Photo Challenge * HUGS n KISSES

I heart faces Photo Challenge * HUGS n KISSES ---3 Little Monkeys


3 Little Monkeys were jumping in a crib,
One was a wittle girl w/out a bib,
A boy and GREEN MONKEY were the other ones.
Kisses and hugs and a pinchy on the buns.

A wittle fella gives his Green Monkey

 LOTS of hugs and kisses in the morning! :) 

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 16 Snuggie and heels

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 16 Snuggie and heels

Day 16

Copyright Glamour Dec 2010 pg. 267 "baby it's warm inside." photograph by Frederike Helwig

Ok.. so she isn't wearing a Snuggie.
I don't get it?
Yes, you are correct. She is actually wearing a red, white and blue Christmas ornament ball dress and gold shoes.
I have nothing in my closet that resembles that outfit.
Not.
Even.
Close.
And.
I.
am.
not.
sad.
about.
it.
Ok, maybe just a little.


So, I thought, HEY, Why not a Snuggie and red heels? 


My Version Day 16

All I can say is that a Boise State Snuggie has never looked so fashion forward.
Also, my dog looks old in this pic and that makes me sad.
But then, all I have to do is look up and see me in a BSU Snuggie wearing red heels, doing a backbend and balancing on a wobbly recliner and I am laughing again.

NOW THIS IS JUST PLAIN SILLY.
YUP. it is....

But you know what.............do it.
Be silly today. Be a kid.
Laugh more... GIGGLE more. Smile more.
Be silly. It's fun and it will make you live longer.
It's a scientific fact.
I read it on Wikipedia 7 years ago when they let "just anyone" write articles.

Silliness reminds me of Carol Burnett.
She is hilarious.
Carol Burnett reminds me of Annie.
Annie reminds me of a GREAT song for today.
This song makes me wanna sing ALL DAY LONG.
And... I feel like a Tony Award winner when I sing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qywUPkxlYpU

Peace, Love, Laughter

and football game Nachos

Not-ch-o-cheese-L

p.s. Can you tell how hard I was laughing doing this?

P.P.S or is it P.S.S? (either way) NOW my triceps are going to be sore!
PPPS My quads are still VERY Sore. I need to get my family healthy again so I have time to workout more.
OR... I can just keep doing these crazy poses!

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 15 Buh-na-Nuhs! BANANAS!

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 15 Buh-na-Nuhs! BANANAS! 


BOooom. 
I told you I'd do it!! 


Day 15

All rights reserved Chanel Inc. Copyright Elle 310 Feb. 2012

My Version DAY 15

MY 

VERSION

THROUGH

MY 
WORLD

IS MY

VISION

AND...

Well... 
a little bit 

ridiculous. 

But... just a little.

 wink wink. 

Well,  I'M SORRY!

I just wasn't brave enough to go nude for the world...

I WOULD HAVE to be BANANAS to do that!

 So, I put on an old 1 piece that is extremely flattering. 

BECAUSE it is a TIGHT Speedo!

AND as EVERYONE KNOWS.....

Tight Speedos are KNOWN for being VERY flattering. 

Oh, what?

Am I wrong?

And.. we thought the Christmas bows would be a nice touch. 

You know, cause I'm classy like that. 

My heart goes out to Channel's model. 

My quads were/is/are SHAKING!!! As if I had just gotten done running a 400 full speed ahead. 

That was a HARD pose to do!

I had to hold it for 2 shots. Well, really more like 20....

One with the ball. One without the ball. And then, run back to the camera and check.

DARN, how did my feet get cut off in that shot? Did you move the camera Daughter #1? 

Back to hugging the ball... then letting it go... running back to camera.

DARN, why did I lean forward so much after I let go of the ball? 

Back to sucking in my tummy and trying to smile and pretend to sleep. 

Click, let go of ball, click, run back to camera.

DARN! Why did my left hand go SUPER JAZZ HANDS after I let go of the ball? 

Finally, I thought I had gotten the 2 shots I wanted. 

Shot 1

I combined the shots to get the transparent ball...

So, yes, there was some editing on this one! BUT only to the ball... although very tempted to liquefy certain parts... I have promised not to. 

I combined the pictures just like you would if "swapping heads." Just like so many photographers have to do in large family photos.

Like when little David decides to stick out his tongue at cousin Megan in picture #1, but looks like a complete angel in picture #2. BUT, in picture #2,  85% of the family has their eyes closed.

simple fix.

head swap. 

bam.

done.

David now looks like an angel in picture #1.

And David's mom will never know the difference. 

And David gets a treat and taken out for a banana split for being so good for the photographer. 

ANYWAY....

Here is Shot #2

HOWEVER & Disclaimer... the transparent ball and the hands was a lot more tricky than just a simple head swap and doesn't look as "clean" as it should.

Oh well... that's ok...luckily this is just a blog and not a REAL fashion magazine. 

Picture: 50mm, f3.2, 1/200 ISO 200 

Speedlight at 50 with shootthroughumbrellalalallala

AND of course... a Banana song for you listening pleasure. 
But not just any banana song, a banana song that will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. 
enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub1vmLCvspE

Peace, LOVE, LAUGHTER and

banana splits w/ extra chocolate syrup,

No-banannananana-jello-legs-L


P.S..... After this banana picture, I'm going to get Pixar beating down my door.
 "Please come work for us," they will beg. :) 

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 12,13 and 14

Nothin'. I got nothin' for you.
sorry.

I had to take a break.
I had no idea how much time I was actually spending on this, AND my kids were sick, AND I needed to do laundry, AND I finally slept in my own bed with my husband instead of my kids because they have been sick for 2 weeks and I have been sleeping on the couch with them or them in my bed with me (DEEP BREATH).......
AND
I finally got a good nights sleep.
period.

Day 12 I woke up feeling refreshed and said, "eh, I think I'll skip the blog today."

Day 13 I got another good nights sleep and said, "eh, I think I'll skip the blog again today.. or maybe I'll just do it tonight." I was too tired at night and had forgotten.

Day 14- Today, I had someone REQUEST a new post! So, I thought I'd at least tell you what's up.

Day 15 is tomorrow and for my "coming back from vacation" post I will post something quit spectacular, or unspectacular... depending on who you are and what you shall think of it.

BUT what is a new venture, natural beauty blog w/out a picture?
Alright! But... I'll do one tomorrow.
What? You want one today?
COME on.. OH, you sure are bossy!
OK. FINE!
I'll do one, you twisted my arm.
Here. 
Fine. 
Here. 

Here is Day 14: Since it's Valentine's Day... THEME HEARTS

IN LOVE or Insane?

Meet my friend Maria.

All rights reserved: Lady Foot Locker and Skechers Copyright: Glamour Dec 2010

P.s Lady, don't you know your neighbor is watching and knows 

you check the weather every morning in your undies. 

cover up. 

or get stalked. 

My 

VERSION

 DAY 

14:

Miss America. 

Right.

Here.

That's right, a plain white tank top and mismatched Valentine's Day socks. 

(Blame my blog for not getting laundry done and so everyone in the house has mismatched socks now.)
My heart has a pizza and BenandJerry's on it.
You are what you eat?
And so my bum is pizza and ice cream. (And green smoothies, but that didn't look as cute on my bum.)

I feel pretty oh so pretty!
I feel pretty and witty and gay!
Oh so pretty, it's a pity that my bum is made out of pizza and ice cream!

I am thinking about having this particular picture in my Boudoir portfolio for clients to look at.
Do you think they would like it??
Do you think they would say, OH THAT IS HOT, I want a pic of ME like that?

Shot at 50mm f/1.8 1/320 ISO 800... lots of noise.... But wanted natural light.

Have a lovely day!!

PEACE OUT FROM Old California girl from the WEST SIDE. Keeping it real.
West Side song... .by the way, probably not what you are expecting since I broke out the West Side attitude talk.... go back a paragraph and you'll get the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7BQRGXFLJs

Peace, Love, Laughter and

BenNJerry's Ice Cream

No-cookie-dough-L

28 Days of Natural Beauty- DAY 11 I promise...

Day 11

all rights Vassarette. Copyright Glamour De 2010

OK

So 

today

you 

are

quickly

scrolling 

down 

to 

see 

if 

I 

did 

it,

this

time.

Day 11

AWWWW

COME ON...

Did 

 

you really

think

that I would

be brave 

enough 

to pull 

that one off? 

Sorry. 

Not yet.

Not that one. 

BUT......

 I promise

NEXT WEEK

I will pose for one

of these adds.

My way.

The 

Natural Beauty

 way.

PINKIE PROMISE.

until then... 

Keep smiling! 

can't believe you fell for that one too! :)

Peace, Love, Laughter,

and pancakes.

strawberry.

No007L

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 10 ???

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 10 ???

Day 10 

All rights reserved Lollipop Bling-Mariah Carey. Copyright Glamous December 2010  

Interesting ad.

What is going on here?

And why does Mariah Carey looks so UNSURE?

     Why are there Ring Pops on my hands?
      I haven't had a Ring Pop since 6th grade. 
     Why are there butterflies and lollipops all around me?
She looks confused.
     Why did I name my new perfumes: Lollipop Bling?
     This ad is sooooo junior high. 
     I thought my target audience was going to be adults? 
     When is lunch? I'm hungry.


She is so pretty and has such a great voice. 
This is picture is a bit odd. 


My version: Day 10

Borrowed some rings from the girls. 

So sorry to disappoint you, no Ring Pops.

Photog Stuff:  Inside: Speedlight & shoot through umbrella. Put the reflector on the other side of me to try to get a little light bouncing up into the shadows.
70mm f3/5  1/200 ISO 200 Light set at: 23 b/c it was about 3 feet away from me.


Feeling unsure, like M.C. in this pic, happens. It happens to all of us.
Even those of us working on our confidence, daily.
Last night I felt unsure.
Doubt creeps in and you don't know how or what to do to get out of that mindset.
Worrying about this or that.
It feels like reality.
I was SO glad that I had posted that blog on perspective yesterday.
I grabbed myself up and shook it off.
Looked in the mirror and told myself... It will all be ok.
No. It will all be great. It will ALL work out.
Everything is good.
I forced a smile and then sat quietly and thought about 10 wonderful things I'm truly thankful for.
OH did that HELP!
Fake smiling always turns into real smile within seconds.
It's a medical fact that smiling is good for you.
"Smiling is my favorite." elf

THEN.... 

to even lift myself into a happier mood,

I 

listened

to 

the

Best

Mariah 

Carey

song

ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V-gHfTAa4k

Well... this and Santa Baby. 

Pease, Love, Gratitude, Laughter and 

Lollipops 

No-ezll 

    

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 9 Heels and Dishwashers

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 9 Heels and Dishwashers

Day 8

Copyright Glamour Dec 2010 pg. 267 "baby it's warm inside." photograph by Frederike Helwig

Heels and Dishwashers go together like:
Fish and Chips,
Mustard and Hot Dogs,
Me and Cozy Pj bottoms,
My husband and college football.

WAIT... these things make sense...
LET's try that again......

Heels and Dishwashers go together like:
Cats and good listeners,
Cell phones and water,
A ceramic Coach Pete bobblehead and my kitchen tile floor,
My sister and a person eating a banana next to her.

YES, that's much better.

DAY 8... My version.

1. This is what I used to look like and feel when I had to do dishes.

Heels and unloading the dishwasher are funny.

Thinking about it helps me lighten up on life.
I think it's funny. But maybe others think it's practical or sexy? Hmmm... I don't know..

Pulled out the DUSTY heels from under the bed for this one!

1. Now this is what I try to FEEL like when I put dishes away. 
2. I've tried to turn it into a positive time to be thankful life.
3. Perspective.
4. I put dishes away and sort of meditate.
5. "I am thankful for a working dishwasher. I am thankful for healthy kids. I am thankful God blessed us with rain for our dry grass....etc."
6. YES, those are dishes in my washer and sink... this is REALITY. :) Well, in my word of 3 busy kids, it is. 

Light: white umbrella, shoot through w/ speedlight. No kitchen light above. Tungsten light doesn't mix well with flash light..

Specs: Shot at  24mm f/5 1/200 ISO 400....Flash set at 50mm

Yesterday I was reminded about perspective.
How our perspective shapes the way we look at our life.
I met a baby who was on his way to heaven in a few days.
His parents and family were amazing, sweet and peaceful.

On my drive home I hit a large black plastic chunk of who-knows-what on the freeway.
It messed up my back tire big time and tore my wheel well liner 3/4ths off.
A nice Nampa police officer was right behind me and pulled over to help me.
I drove home very slowly as my tire deflated.
I didn't care.
It didn't upset me at all.
( I did get a little nervous about all the traffic on the freeway, but that was it.)
I came home, made dinner and hugged and played with my kids all night.
I am so thankful I have healthy kids.
I am so thankful for their smiles.
I am so thankful for my family and so, so, so much more.

Perspective.... Life is what you make it. So true. I am so thankful for what I have.

This is one of my FAVORITE all time songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiBwr4U59EI&ob=av2n
It's my own feel good song.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to go unload the dishwasher.
Yes, with heels on.
I do believe my 9 year old Black Ann Klien heels will have to do.

Peace, Love, Laughter and

Jello.... to go with the flow today.. be flexible and remember your perspective. 

No-L 

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 8

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 8 Pizza Kitty

Day 8:CLOSE up, no makeup and Pizza Kitty Scars.

all rights reserved DDF. Copyright: Elle February 12 No. 318

Pizza Kitty:
THE PIZZA: About 2 years ago, I was large and very pregnant with my 3rd child. My dear friend invited me over for lunch and kiddo playdate. 
HOT FRESH pizza was delivered for lunch. Or maybe it was pizza Digiorno's? he he.
Either way, my friend handed me a plate with a huge HOT piece of pepperoni pizza for my pregnant appetite.
I plopped on the couch in front of her TV and blew on my pizza for a second.
I set it on my lap to cool down a bit before I inhaled it- like a good pregnant woman with a delicious piece of pizza in front of her should do.

THE KITTY:
A young black n white SUPER hyper and aggressive kitty was just adopted by my friend's sister. I'm pretty sure her owner had given her too much kitty grass.

KITTY MEETS PIZZA: 
I set the pizza on my lap. Crazy kitty jumped up on couch.
Crazy kitty ran on couch and JUMPED straight onto my plate of boiling hot lava pepperoni pizza.
Crazy kitty's body and paws and CLAWS went straight from the pizza to my face with her super kitty jumping skills.
Crazy kitty's claws dug into my face long enough for me to pull her off.
Crazy kitty clung to my face like I was a velcro wall.
Crazy kitty gave me a couple new "cool" scars.
They are actually very minor and you probably wouldn't really notice unless I pointed them out to you.
But...if this would have never happened. I would have never had a "cool facial scar story." 
So... there is that. 


My version  Day 8

Specs: My camera doesn't want to take a super close picture of me. It has a hard time focusing. I really need to have it focused in on something and then move that something and take it's place.. but I try to do this while the kids are sleeping, so I can't always us them. I was in a BIG hurry this morning, so I just held the camera. eeesssh. not very flattering... but this is about natural beauty, right? 


Light: The catch light in her eyes look like a soft strip light. 
I used my camera's flash...WHICH IS NEVER a good idea for "nice camera pictures." However, I had only like 5 seconds to take this picture.  Didn't  get close to the ad's light. However, I could have spent a lot more time on it... but I have LOTS to do this morning, so it was crunch time.

Hey, I'm practicing. 

Trying my best.

 Blurry photo or not, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!

Yes, I used to teach Kindergarten. Why? 

WOW... super close up of my skin. I'm a little nervous about posting this.
I was never a big fan of my profile and my nose being a lovely part of the picture. Thanks to my dad and his ancestors, this is my nose. :)
......and i will continue to try my best to love and accept myself for the way I am.
But I will post it anyway. 

Now, I shall go sit in the lotus position and listen to Enya and breath deep. (well, fore 30 seconds until I get tackled my a toddler.)

BUT  I WILL... TODAY WILL BE GOOD. I will try to LOVE as much as I can.  

I will go with the flow. I will not care what people say about my skin. I will believe that I am beautiful w/ my Pizza Kitty scars...etc. 

I will smile today at people and know that beauty really does come from within. 

Really. It does. 

Time for a good FEEL good song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqUdI4AIDF0&ob=av2n

Only you can help turn the world UPSIDE DOWN! 

who's to say what's impossible? 

Make eye contact and smile at 5 random people today!

Love, Peace, laughter and

pizza. 

Love, 

Noezza (i just like the double Z in pizza) 

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 7 sup yo

28 Days of Natural Beauty- Day 7 sup yo

DAY 7: a 50's retro, funky, plastic chain-link purse picture today. 

Go Prada!... Always coming out with the creative stuff. 

Did Prada invent the glass-goldfish-bowl-high heel? 

They should have. 

ANYWAY...

All rights reserved PRADA. Copyright: Elle February 12 No. 318

FACT: Did you know that I had no idea what Prada was until I read the DEVIL Wears Prada?
FACT: I pretended to be SO FASHION forward after that book. I dropped HIGH fashion designer names left and right.
FACT: That was 9 years ago. My fashion forwardness only lasted about 12 months... when my COSMO magazine subscription ended.
FACT: I had no idea about the huge COACH purse fetish that so many woman have until my exterminator was telling me about his wife's addition to the expensive handbags....this was 5 months ago.
FACT: My little black and silver Nine-Westie is still doing a rocking job.

DAY 7... my version, my mini-van in helping in the props part of the photo.

 She did a fabulous modeling job.

 Luckily, I just got her washed yesterday.

 The kids love that drive through car wash. 

Better than a Disneyland ride. 

No, never mind. 

Not even close.  

Light & Specs:
Shot : USED a WIDE angel lens to get a bit of that distorted features look.
@ 24mm ISO 200 1/640  f/2.8... I forgot to change the aperture. I wanted to close it up and shoot at a larger F-stop so that I could get more in focus. (I'll get more sleep tonight and think more clearly tomorrow.) Shot w/Tripod to point camera up.
HAVE I MENTIONED how not easy SELF portrait photography is? Darn, blurry pic again.
It is also a great workout. Click, run back to check the LCD monitor. Run back, strike a pose. Click, run back.... you get it.


LIGHT: All natural morning light again today. Front yard, sun coming up over the (wish I could say mountains) neighbor's rooftops.

My neighbors think I'm nuts. 
I did this out in my front yard, as I don't have any vehicles in my backyard. 
I know, right?
I live in IDAHO and don't have any non-working clunkers in my backyard.?? WHAAAAT?
Hey, I'm classy.
I know what Prada is. And also Coach.  


Retro 50's song for today to go along with our lovely model's bangs and car.
THIS SONG  is so much fun to sing to.

• If you are having a rough day, or want to start the day on a "good note," play this song.
• play it loud.
• sing at the top of your lungs.
• and yes, you do sound JUST like the lead singer.
•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AapxXRlsdwA
• Well, at least I do. 

Peace, love, laughter

and artichoke hearts

 (marinated, that is.)

Noellelelelelelelellelelele 

or

As most people whom I worked for/or with, used to call me "Nicole."

HA!

 I just found out the #1 BEST thing about being my OWN  BOSS!

No Boss will ever call me Nicole, again. 

Ever. 

Sweet! 

i love owning my own business.

(insert mushy picture of hearts and puppies..)

Have I mentioned how much I ROCK in PAINT? ;)