Materials: 

Nails Hammer Item needing to be hung Another person as a spotter  Toothpaste (preferably with some color that does not match your wall color)  Peanut Butter would also work 

So you take your frame, or anything else that may need to be hung on a nail for that matter put a dab right on the part in which your nail will need to go.

Now, slowly hover your frame along the wall and gently press it to the wall to transfer just a bit of toothpaste to your blank wall.  A spotter comes in handy at this point to eyeball where you are pressing and to make sure things look level and that they are at the correct height.

Put the frame aside.  Hammer your nail directly where the toothpaste marks fell.

Your picture/frame/decoration will now hang perfectly.  No guesswork needed!

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I also did another project that was so simple it wasn’t worthy of an entire blog post… Using a Dryer Sheet as a Scum Buster in the Shower!  It worked great

P.S. Do you have trouble hanging pictures?  Comment and tell me if this works for you!

Want to see how I Photoshop the months on his onsie?  Click here for my post all about it

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I still can’t believe he was ever that small.  This month got challenging.  While Owen isn’t on the move, for real, he does throw himself at anything and everything.  That’s includes off of sofas, high chairs, from my arms, etc.  He’s so much more devilish than my daughter!  So Abby stood by to help and I was close and ready to throw my camera and grab him if he went head first for the floor.

Each month I also do a sibling picture- it’s usually just a quick snap… I don’t even wait for good expressions – just enough to get an idea.  The two of them are barely fitting when sitting in the chair now.  Poor Abby is squished!

Leave me a comment if you tried out my photoshop trick!  How’d it work out for you?

Here are some of my shots from last week… I go overboard and take a few pictures a day (I keep a private family blog with happenings – and mostly milestones and adorable things that Abby says  - just so I don’t forget –  pictures are taken constantly).  You can keep your own for free on WordPress.com – and like mine, make it private so only people you invite can view.  I invited my parents and in-laws so they can keep up with “The Stott’s and Our Tots”.  I even have a WordPress Iphone app and update straight from the phone.  It’s useful when stuck in traffic, waiting rooms, and when I have a few minutes of down time.

 “Curiosity is one of the great secrets of happiness.” -Bryant H. McGill

Why is shooting inside harder than outside?

Simply put… it’s darker than outside.  A fab picture is created with spectacular lighting.

Let’s get to the goods….

1. Turn off your camera flash/lamps/tv screen.  On-camera flashes rarely provide you with anything but REALLY lite subjects and REALLY dark backgrounds… I must admit that this picture is the first shot I have ever taken with my on-camera flash because I have literally never used that silly little light.  Yup, never doing that again.  Here is comparison shots with the on-camera flash and without.

a picture with flash… she added the face for dramatic effect

same picture… no flash… bored child…

Table lamps give off odd yellows that just make your pictures, well, yellow.  TV screens give off a odd blue glow.  Just turn them off.

2. Be a light chaser.  Wherever you are… house, church, store… there is some sort of light from somewhere or you would not be able to see, right?   Put your subject next to the light and watch how it lands on them.   A glass door or a window is a great starting place.  Look at your subject, is the light even or do they look speckled with the light?  Practice moving your subject until you get nice even light.

This is my example window…

Abby with her back to the window… Bright window… Dark Abby

Abby facing the window… Bright Abby and pretty blue eyes… Ignore the expression

Another lighting option…

Another lighting option… a tall window or door

Abby’s back to the door

Abby facing the door

To sum this up… Work with what ya got!

3. Stop begging your children to follow you and smile- unless your child does that everyday.  Mine follows me crying and asking why I say, “Mad words”.   So if I ask for a smile… well… you did just look at ALL of my “Abby please just smile regular” pictures above.  Yeaaaaaaaaaaah. Thanks.  Have I mentioned I love the age of 3…………….

Instead, stay in a room with lots of light and have your camera nearby.  Have some toys around.  Just wait and watch and play.  You will get some authentic everyday photos of your child… being who they are.  Get down on their level and see things from your child’s perspective.  This series took about 15 minutes… I just sat, interacted, and watched.

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4. Forget every rule I just told you if something cute is happening. I’d rather have a poorer ‘quality’ picture then no picture at all.  After I was finished taking my shots for this post I mopped the floors… looked up and saw a love fest.  They weren’t in the best light, but I like love fests more than lights anyhow

Did you try any of these tips?  Were they helpful? Want to share?  Post your picture to my Facebook Wall!

Here is a fun Mid-Winter outfit pairing…

Cozy Sweaters, Hats, Cool Colors…

I love that there are some fun patterns, but nothing too crazy and distracting… and I love me some LAYERS!

What do you think? I certainly couldn’t wear those heels, but would you rock those babies? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!