I'm in love...

With my new lens!!! I was planning on buying the 50mm 1.8 (because I'm cheap!!! but also because I was saving for the 85mm 1.8). However, as luck would have it, my dear friend Tisha decided to sell her 50mm 1.4. (I think I would, too... she replaced it with a zoom L lens!) So, I am now its proud owner!!! Yay!!! This lens has not left my camera since I brought it home!!!

This is my favorite shot from yesterday!!! The only photoshopping was the b&w conversion with a bit of contrast boosting. Those catchlights are real!!!

So, THANK YOU Tisha!!! You are the bestest friend EVER!!!!

Well, the reason for my absence...

I've been busy. I know... excuses, excuses. But I am done, I think, with my HOF entry. I'm quite sure I don't have a snowball's chance, but, you know, I've got to try!!!

We have also begun making more definitive plans for building a house. We hope to break ground soon!

And there's always work to keep one busy!!!

I'm sorry I don't have much to share right now!!! I will be working on some DT projects this week, so I will most likely post those.

The transformation is *almost* complete....

Into full granola status!!! LOL!!! I made this realization as I was in line to pay for MORE orgainic groceries today. My selections included: Amy's Natural cheese pizza (YUMMMMMY!!), raw almonds, Tofutti chocolate "ice cream" sandwiches (tastes just like cake batter!!), and distilled water.

Some of you who know me from the message boards know that my dh is on a kick to lose weight. In his quest, he found a book by Kevin Trudeau that discusses an all-natural lifestyle and how environmental toxins have contributed not only to the rise in health problems but to obesity as well. We were already doing some organic, but we are pretty much transistioning over to all organic if possible.

I buy into his philosophies. My preferences tend to be on the natural side anyway... breastfed both my kids until at least 1 year old, my older dd goes to Montessori school, and I am a semi-vegetarian. I also avoid artificial sweeteners and trans fats.

I gave up all sodas 2 weeks ago... I was really addicted to Coke!!! Love the stuff!!! But, some days, I would drink 2, 20 oz. bottles a day!!! That's 480 calories in soda!!! So, my first step was to eliminate that. I have already lost 5 lbs. And I really haven't craved it too much!!!

So, we'll see where this journey takes us!!! It will mean much less eating out than we do... but it will be good for us. Our goal is to limit "regular" foods as much as possible, and aim for a healthier diet and moderate exercise that we can live with. Wish us luck!!!

A few pics...

Here are a few photos taken with my Canon XTi. All but the last one are taken with the kit lens, wide open! The last one was taken with my Canon EF 70-210mm f 4.0 lens at 70mm, f4, AV mode.

Thanks, Tisha, for teaching me how to create a vingette look with my pictures!!!

I've been tagged!!!

Thanks, Stephanie, for tagging me!

A - Available/Single? Married
B - Best Friend? I have 3: Tisha, Tabitha, and Misty!!
C - Cake or Pie? Hmmm... yellow cake with chocolate icing, or my mom's Impossible Pie (custard!)
D - Drink Of Choice? Coke or unsweet tea with lemon.
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday? Besides the usual toiletries, Great Lash mascara!
F - Favorite Color? Oh, boy. I love lots of colors... aqua, plum, spring/sagey greens...
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? I'm with Stephanie on this one... SOUR gummy worms!
H - Home or Homesick? Um... a bit of both. I love my new home, but at times I miss Tidewater.
I - Indulgence? Any Starbucks coffee drink. Don't have it that often!
J - January Or February? February, because my older dd was born in that month!
K - Kids & Their Names? Kendall and Anna.
L - Life Is Incomplete Without? My family.
M - Marriage date? October 23, 1999.
N - Number Of Siblings? 1
O - Oranges Or Apples? Gala apples.
P - Phobias/Fears? Hmmm... I could have a heart attack trying to find a parking space in a busy shopping center!!!
Q - Favorite Quote? "Music expresses that which cannot be said and cannot be suppressed."
- Victor Hugo
R - Reason to Smile? Hearing a favorite song. Watching my kids play well together.
S - Season? Spring or Fall. Love those transitional seasons!!!
T - Tag 3 or 4 people? I'm definitely tagging Tabitha!!! I'll have to get back to you on the others!
U - Unknown Fact About Me? I have a MS in PT.
V - Vegetable you don’t like? Hmmm... not fond of mushrooms!
W - Worst Habit? Letting people aggravate me on the road!
X - X-rays You’ve Had? Elbow, foot, chest, back, dental
Y - Your Favorite Food? Right now, turkey burgers!
Z - Zodiac Sign? Virgo!