Simply Deneen

Fun and Exciting News

I am so excited to share that I am going to be a Grandma!  

My oldest daughter Misty is expecting her first baby in November.  I am sure it is always exciting to find out your going to be a Grandma, for me it is bitter sweet and means the world to me.  My mom passed away right before I had gotten pregnant with Misty and it was so hard to go through that without my mom. It still makes me cry to even think about it.  

Several years ago when I faced Cancer I wondered if I would ever get the chance to see my future Grandchildren and it's been in the back of my mind ever since.  I have always kept that thought to myself because I didn't want to bring anyone else down or make them worry.  

Ron is looking forward to being a Grandpa and hearing him talk about the baby makes my heart melt. Kayley, Heather, Holly and Lexie are all excited that they are going to be aunties too!

Right now I want to shout it from the roof tops!  I am over the moon excited! Looks like I better start working on a baby album :)

Until Next Time!

 

 

To Blog or Not to Blog?

Ok so last year I totally stunk at blogging.  Don't know why, it could have been because I haven't been creating like I use to or it could be that I don't seem to have enough time in the day but whatever the reason I still really want to blog so I will continue to do so even if no one reads it any more LOL.

For the last few years I have not made New Years Resolutions but have decided to take Ali Edwards approach of choosing One Little Word for the year.  My word for 2013 is LISTEN.  I don't know where this word will take me but I am excited to find out!

I received an i-phone for Christmas and Ron bought me this book so that I could learn how to use it :)

Do you make New Years Resolutions or do you have some other type of tradition?

Until Next time :)

Day 2

For as long as I can remember this musical Santa head hung in my childhood home.  I use to love to pull the string under his beard.  He plays one of my very favorite Christmas songs "Here Comes Santa Claus".  When I was small I would get so excited knowing Christmas would soon be here. 

He now hangs in my home near the front door and he is still one of my favorite decorations.  My girls call him the scary Santa and think he looks creepy.  His hat and beard are slowly coming apart but he still brings joy to my heart and I still love to pull the string and hear my favorite Christmas tune play.

Do you have a favorite childhood decoration?  What memories does it bring to mind?

Until Next Time

December Daily Day 1

Each year when I hear all the hype around the December daily albums going on I want to join in. Each year I don't prepare in time and then time just seems to run away from me and I end up not doing it.  So this year I am going to try and post photo's for each day although I may not post everyday but it's a start right?  So here goes!

Each year when we start pulling out the Christmas decorations I always look forward to the Nativity as it reminds me what Christmas is truly about. 

This particular Nativity used to be my husbands Grandma Santos' and I feel blessed that we have it.  When I was a little girl my mom made a beautiful ceramic Nativity and it was very big.  As in the pieces were probably 8" to 10" tall.  My dad made a wooden manger and my mom bought straw to go inside of it.  After my mom passed away my dad didn't decorate for the first couple of years. It was too hard on him because it was my mom's favorite holiday. 

In 1989 we bought our first home and my dad gave me some of my mom's Christmas decorations which included her Nativity set.  Our first Christmas in our new home when I went to unpack the box with the Nativity in it I was heart broken to find most of the pieces broken beyond repair.   Needless to say we got rid of what was left of it.  I still wish I had that Nativity set from long ago but this one is special to us and we enjoy it each year.

What do you look forward to at this time of year?

Until Next Time

My favorite Photography Workshop

Don't forget Registration starts on October 15th at 9:00 am Pacific Time.  The is a link on the right side of my blog just click on that and it will take you to right to the site :)

Until Next Time

The Photographers Workshop again :)

Don't forget Registration starts on October 15th at 9:00 am Pacific Time.  The is a link on the right side of my blog just click on that and it will take you to right to the site :)

Until Next Time

What I've learned

Until Next Time

The Photographers Workshop

I wanted to give a little shout out for The Photographers Workshop.  I learned so much about photography through this online workshop and I highly recommend it to anyone who truly wants to learn to get out of auto mode with their DSLR camera.  Karen puts her heart and soul into this workshop and you won't be disappointed.   The next workshop starts on January 07 and runs thru March 11, 2013.  Registration begins on October 15th at 9am Pacific Time.

Over the next few days I will be sharing here on my blog just a few of the things that I've learned. 

 

Come back tomorrow to see what else I've learned from this workshop :)

Until Next Time

Inspiration (a card)

Today I started an online card class and I have to say that I was totally inspired by the wonderful instructor's Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner.  They have both been at the top of my inspiration list for quite some time.  Here is the card I created today using a technique picked up in Jennifer's video.

 

I decided before I began this class that I wasn't going to purchase anything new for the class.  I am trying to challenge myself to use what I already have on hand.  This in itself will be a challenge because when I see new product I seem to think I need to have it LOL. With finances being tight I am determined to stick with my decision.  Now that doesn't mean that I am not starting a very big wish list.

It felt so good to actually pick up my supplies and create something it's been way to long for sure.

So tell me what is one of your goals this year?

Until Next time

Twining

When I walked passed Holly's room tonight I heard both her and Heather saying "Twining" and it made me smile.  Then they wanted ice cream so I happily made them each a bowl.  They then asked me to take their pictures which made me very very happy.  Here is the end result of a few quick photo's taken during their twin bonding which they call "Twining".  I used a Kerri Bradford template for these photo's.

Until Next time!

Let's play ball

This is Bear he is Misty's puppy that she got at the end of January and he is so cute and has the greatest personality.  He loves to play ball for hours on end.

I have been working on learning more about my photo editing programs as well as working on learning to take better photo's.  I didn't edit these photo's other than to put them into this template.  I am really trying to learn to get better images straight out of the camera so that I will not have to do much editing unless I just want to play.  Life is just too busy right now to get to sit at the computer much.

I will have to come back soon and share photo's of Kayley's new dog as well.  Kayley and Aaron adopted a dog that was abused and mistreated and he still is having a bit of a time getting use to other people although he loves Kayley and Arron.  They named him Nikko.

Until Next time

One Little Word

It was a tough choice this year but I have finally settled on my one little word for 2012 and that word is LEARN. 

The definition of Learn is:

1. Gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught.
2. Commit to memory

I am so open to see where this one little word will take me this year.  If you haven't tried this I would highly recommend it.  It just may take you somewhere you otherwise wouldn't have gone.  And it is so much better than making resolutions which I have never been too good at anyway.

I also am once again going to attempt project life.  So far so good and here is my favorite photo from today.

This is my sweet Lexie who I can't believe is 12 already.  She has such a fun personality and I love her chipped nails in this photo.

Until next time

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it is 2012 already.  I am once again choosing a word for the year instead of making resolutions.  I haven't decided on my word quite yet but I will before the week is out and let you know.  There are a couple of words bouncing around in my mind right now but I really want to focus on just one of them for the year.

I have been working on my photography and have not been truly happy with my focus lately but today I nailed it.

This is my cousin Kim's daughter Gina.  Her eyes are beautiful.  I wasn't too worried about composition on this photo I just wanted to get great focus.  This shot is SOOC (straight out of camera) with no editing. I decided to crop the photo to follow the rule of thirds, below is the cropped version. 

Which one do you like best and why?

Until Next time

Ten Things you should know about Me!

One of my new photography friends Alby tagged me on her blog.  So now I have to post 10 things you should know about me her on my blog.  Since I have been a really bad blogger lately I thought this was just the push that I needed to get back to blogging.  So here goes......

1. I have learned that I should try and please God first and foremost and not worry so much about trying to please people. 
2. I started the NutriSystem program the monday before Thanksgiving and to date have lost 12.6 lbs.  I have a long way to go and it's slow and steady but I feel so much healthier already. Now need to add some excercise into the mix.
3. I still love to scrapbook although I haven't had as much time lately to do so.
4. I am seriously addicted to photography and really love the fact that I am starting to understand it better.  I have a long way to go but I will slow down and enjoy this journey.
5. I am still so in love with my husband and wish we were in a position to travel the world together (there is no one else I would rather do that with)!
6. I am a very proud mama to my four great daughters. They are my pride and joy and I will always be there for them. I really wish my mom had had the chance to meet them.  That is a heartache for me that just never goes away.
7. I have never been one that is into designer things which if you know me you probably already know that LOL.  I do have expensive taste I have just always thought it was silly to spend money on clothes that would eventually wear out and such.  Now when it comes to camera equipment this rule flys totally and helplessly out the window!
8. I am selling handmade cards and saving up to buy myself a new camera (it will probably take me awhile but I know I will get there and then I will start save up for some L series lenses).  So if you are in the need for a card let me know.
9. I enjoy learning weather it be photography, editing, scrapbooking, crafting, etc
10. I talk a lot when I am nervous and I feel out of place in a lot of social situations.

 

Ok I hope I didn't bore you too much.  Now I have to tag a few people so here goes, Carla T., Sara R., Laura V., MaryLynn R. and Tiffany L.   If you have been tagged you can either post on your own blog or on your facebook and I won't hold it against you if you choose not to play along.

Until Next time. 

 

Halloween 2011

Even though my girls are a little old for trick or treating they still like to dress up and hang out with their friends.  So tonight this is what they looked like.

Holly and Micah looking really cute.  Holly made her own costume this year and Micah's light saber was really cool when it was lit up and the sound was amazing.

Heather and her good friend Hailey made a cute kitty and bunny!

Kayley working on Aaron's makeup.

Here is the result of Kayley's art work!  Aaron really looked quite scary.

And believe it or not here is Kayley's fancy art work on her own face.  She looked amazing.

Cute Kitty Heather!

Holly (Iforgot the name of the charater she dressed up as but she looked good)

And here is their little group before heading out to meet up with more friends.

And it wouldn't be Halloween without a photo one of our neighbors hand carved jack-o-lanterns so here you go....

Happy Halloween hope you had a fun filled night with lots of treats and not too many tricks!

Until Next Time...

 

Golf

Last Monday we went and watched Holly's V.O.L. Golf Tournament.  It was held at Pine Mountain Lake Country Club and I have to say it was such a beautiful course.  There were lots of hills and the girls had to walk up and down them for the entire 18 holes.  The teams in front of her got off to a slow start and it ended up taking about 6 hours for them to finish the course.  There was plenty of wild life on the course as well. I thought I would share a few photo's of her day with you and I must warn you for the most part these were taken in Auto mode on my camera.  After looking back at them I wish I hadn't been so worried about messing with settings because my favorites were not taken in Auto mode go figure LOL.

And here are a few of the wild life that was all around the course.

And here is Holly getting ready to put the flag back on the 18th hole after a very long day!  We are so very proud of her.

And this last photo is of her with her team mates on the 18th hole at the last match they played on their home course.

I am calling these girls the fabulous five!  They are the best of friends and I am sure they will be for many years to come.

Until Next time

Medalist Honors

Quick post tonight.  Holly came home from her golf match tonight so excited because she had shot a 52 and earned medalist honors.  All of her hard work is paying off and I am so very proud of her. And here is a shot of her golf equipment that I took awhile back.

 

Until next time!

The Old Sugar Mill

 
Yesterday I took a trip with my friend Tiffany up to Clarksburg, CA.  We had signed up to particiate in one of the Scott Kelby photo walks.  We had to meet up with the group of 50 photographers at 7:00 a.m. in Clarksburg which is about an hour away from here so that meant I had to be up at the crack of dawn, oh who am I kidding I was up at 4:30 a.m. before the sun even thought about coming up LOL. I woke up to realize that I had gotten pink eye once again but luckily I still had some drops left so I started using them right away and decided that even with pink eye I wasn't going to miss this trip. Once we arrived at our destination I was pleasantly surprised that we would be taking photo's at an Old Sugar Mill.  Part of the old mill has been turned into a winery where they even hold weddings.  It is a really great location and I want to go back to take some portraits of my girls there someday.  Here is my favorite shot of the day.

 
I just love the way the sky looks in this photo.

We had to sign a waiver to beable to go inside the Old Sugar Mill because there were giant holes in the floor and broken stairways.  But I signed the waiver and ventured inside and even went as far up inside the old spooky building as I was allowed.  I am still learning photography and I was determined to keep my camera on manual mode so most of my photo's were blurry.  I am sure this is because my shutter speed was way too slow but I did manage to get a couple of shots inside the building which you can get the general idea from.

 
 
 
 
 
It really was quite creepy inside the building but I am still happy we got to go inside and check it out.  It was special because it's not open to the general public and in order to go inside you have to get a permit first and then sign a waiver.

When we first arrived I really felt intimidated because most of the photographers had top of the line equipment and here I was will my Little Canon Rebel xti. I  have also never considered myself a photographer I have always just loved taking photo's.  I relaxed as soon as I started taking photo's though because I was doing what I enjoy.  

We even got to go inside the area where they were making wine.

 
 
 
The smell of the wine was overwhelming when you first walked in but soon you became use to it.  It was quite the experience.

 

And while I am still not that great at photography I am enjoying learning more and more about it.

Until next time!

31 Days

Today while spending time on Pintrest I kept seeing different little icons all that said 31 days of and then whatever subject it might be.  In further exploring these pins I discovered that it is a challenge to blog for 31 days about one subject.  I so want to participate in this challenge and get back to blogging but I haven't really had the time to think about the one subject I could blog about for 31 days so at this point I think I am going to have to wait and try this in the future.  

Over the course of the next 31 days of October I am going to try and blog more which isn't going to be hard since I have rarely blogged in so very long LOL.  I am not commiting to one subject this time because I would need more time to plan that.  So here's to blogging more during the 31 days in October.  I hope you will check in frequently and if it's been a few days leave me a comment telling me to get off my tush and blog LOL. 

Here is a link to the Nesters blog where you can find links to other people who are taking on the 31 day challenge! 

Until Next Time!

Just for Fun

Saturday Ron and I decided we just wanted to have a fun day so we took Heather and Holly to Pleasanton for a fun game of miniture golf.  We all shared some laughs along the course and a few were cheated out of their hole in ones LOL.  I did not want to carry around my camera while I was playing but lucky for me Heather brought her camera along so we got some photo's too which of course made my day :)  and while they are not the best quality photo's they still are precious memories that I am glad we captured.

 

Next we headed over to the IMAX theater where we were going to watch a movie however the price of an IMAX movie almost made me choke.  They wanted $19.00 per ticket so I asked "well then how much for a regular movie?" to which they replied $12.50.  So we decided instead to head down to Piedmont to one of our favorite spots Fenton's Creamery.  We took the girls here once before and they loved it.  Ron and I use to go here when we were dating years ago. I did manage to take my camera in so that I could share these tempting photo's with you.

 
This was Heather's burger.

 
And this was Holly's burger.   I didn't take a picture of Ron's crab sandwhich or my grilled ham and cheese.

 
We saved the best for last LOL.  This is the Banana Split that the four of us shared and can I just add one word to describe it?  Yummy!

Until Next Time

Art Show

 
Holly had to attend an Art show called "Visions in Clay" at one of the local colleges here for one of her assignments in her AP Ceramics class for school.  We went today and it was actually kind of fun.  I thought I would pop in here on the blog that has been so neglected the last few months and share a few photo's from the show but first a photo of Holly and her friend Micah.

and one of Heather who joined us too! 

 

Some of the Art pieces were interesting and some were rather scary looking to me but we still enjoy each piece as a unique work of art.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Until Next Time!

 

Happy Birthday Cards

I decided since I have two of my best friends birthdays this week as well as my wonderful step mom's birthday this week I would make a few birthday cards. 

I fell in love with this cute digital image from Bugaboo and knew I had to play with it along with my copic markers.  Here are the cards I came up with.

 
Here is a close up of the one I am giving to one of my BFF's Laura Vegas!

Happy Birthday Laura hope you enjoy your day :)

Copic Markers used: (C00, C1, C3, C5) (R22, R24, R27, R29) (Y11, Y15, Y17) (V12. V15, V17) (YR00, YR04, YR07) (E000, E00, E11, R20) (RV21, RV23, RV25) (E31, E34, E37) (B91, B93, B95, B97)

I cut the image out after I colored it and replaced the digital string on the balloon with baker twine. I also used crysal laquer to make the balloons really shiny and you can't tell here but I used a spica pen on her bow.  It is so sparkly in real life just couldn't get it to show very well in my photo's.

I also learned how to make these fun easel cards by checking out some Youtube video's.

Until Next Time

Happy Birthday Bear

I fell in love with this cute digital stamp called Oscar and Balloon from Digi Stamp Boutique.  I knew right away that I had to use it for my neighbors birthday card.  Of course I wanted to play with my copics and this image was perfect for that too.

 

Go check out Digi Stamp Boutique and tell me what your favorite image is.

Until Next Time

What I'm Reading

Not too long ago I found an author I really like.  Her name is Terri Blackstock and she writes Christian books.  I have long loved mystery and romance books and Terri mixes them together so wonderfully. I really got hooked on her books with the Cape Refuge Series.  I think it is one of my all time favorties and I am a little sad that there is not a fifth book in the series LOL.  Here is a look at the four book that make up this series.

Currently I am reading her book "Predator" and so far so good.  I will be back with a review of it once I am finished.  I will tell you now that I am a very slow reader but with that being said I can tell you that with the Cape refuge series I just couldn't put the books down and finished them quite quickly.  Here's a look at the cover of Predator.

Until Next time!

Happy Easter!!!!!

• Excited to spend time with those I love!
• Always love when I can take pictures of my girls!
• Sad that we didn't dye eggs this year!
• Thankful for Jesus' sacrafice for our sins!
• Especially missing my Dad today! (Easter was his favorite holiday)
• Remembering how excited the girls were to go Easter Egg hunting at Grandpa's each year!

The girls and I were talking and remembering one of our very favorite Easter memories.  We were at Grandpa Tom and Grandma Jeanne's house and the girls were getting ready for the big egg hunt.  Grandpa Tom told all of them that one of the eggs had something very very special in it.  The girls were running around like crazy gathering all the eggs they could find. When they were done we headed into the house so we could see who had found the very special treasure hidden within one of the eggs.  They took turns opening their eggs and lots and lots of money was being found.  Some had gold dollars in them some had 50 cent pieces others had dollar bills and there were even a few with five dollar bills in them.  Heather found the special egg! What was in it you ask?  A silver colored nut , we are talking a metal nut that goes on a bolt.  We all stared and Heather said "Grandpa what is it" and he replied "It's a nut just like you".  We all laughed at his joke but Heather took a piece of red satin ribbon and tied it around her little stuffed leopards neck and very seriously said "his name is now Nut".  Grandpa Tom and Grandma Jeanne had previously given her the little stuffed leopard that she has carried everywhere with her even on our vacations. 

 
This is Nut today looking a little worn but dearly loved and as you can see he still has that little nut tied around his neck with the very same piece of red ribbon!  I am so happy that the girls all still remember this little nut and the story behind it.  Funny they can not tell you how much money they ended up with that day but they can all tell the story of a simple metal nut that turned into quite the treasure because of a great man and his fun loving sense of humor!

May your Easter memories be as special as ours and may you have a wonderful Easter today!

Until Next Time!

Prom 2011

My girls went to the Prom last night and had a great time.  Holly asked her friend Mason to go with her and Heather decided to go alone and just have fun.  They were going in  a large group and one of the guys didn't have a date either so Heather and Andy took pictures together.  Here are a few I took before they left.  Not the greatest pictures but at least i got a few.

 

 
 
 

Our good friend Cary felt bad that Heather wasn't going to have a corsage so she went out and bought her one.  Heather was so very thankful and it really meant a lot to her.

Until next time

 

17 years ago today

One of the happiest days of my life happened 17 years ago today!  My precious twin daughters Heather and Holly were born at 11:58 and 11:59 p.m. from the first moment I laid eyes upon them I knew that our family was complete.  I love them more and more each day.  All they wanted for their birthday was to get their belly button's pierced and even though it is not something I could ever see myself doing I was ok with it.  I think it was hard for their daddy because it's just another sign that his baby girls are growning up.  They had it done yesterday and they both look so cute.  I will have to take some pictures and post them soon.  

Here are a couple of pictures that Chris Lenoard took of the girls recently (they are Senior class representatives for his photography business).

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 Aren't they beautiful? 

I love you both more than life itself and want nothing but the best for you always! Happy Birthday girls may all your dreams come true!

Until Next time!

So Glad We're Family...a layout

When I saw this layout by Nichol Magourik (she's one of my favorite designers) I knew I had to use her design on one of my layouts.  Nichol used one of Kerri Bradford's   (she's another of my favorite designers) templates which luckily I had already purchased so it worked out great for me.  Here is the layout that I made based on Nichol's design.

 

I altered one of Kerri's templates just a bit so it would work with my photo's.  In the bottom right corner I ended up using one photo instead of two and I love how it turned out.  To purchase Kerri's templates go HERE.  If you end up purchasing any of her templates I would love to see what you do with them so make sure to drop me a line and let me know.  I am proud to say I used my silhouette once again.  I am really trying to focus on using my silhouette more and also using what I already have in my stash instead of going out and purchasing more.

So what are you working on this weekend?

Until Next time

Flashback Friday

I have really been wanting to do some type of regular post but I just hadn't found or thought of an idea that might work for me, so when I saw this idea on Kelly Xenos' blog I knew right away that I wanted to give it a shot. So here is to my first Flashback Friday :) 

 
November 14th, 2006 I remember this day so clearly. It was the day I started my chemotherapy and I was scared out of my mind because I didn't know what to expect.  They tell you all the side effects that you might have and some are quite scary.  I remember thinking that I had to focus on the positive and not think too much about what could happen.  Over the next 6 months I did have some of the side effects but I was able to get through them by keeping a positive attitude and with the knowledge that there was an end to the treatment in site.  I am happy to say at this time that I appear to be cancer free and I am praying I will stay that way.

I am hoping to have these flashback friday posts at least twice a month to start with and I would eventually like to make it a weekly thing.  I just don't want to promise anything until I am sure I can follow through with it.

Until Next time!

Photoshop Fun

 
I really love this silly photo's of the girls so I thought it would be fun to play with it in photoshop.  I used one of Kerri Bradfords photo masks that she shared on her friday freebie post that you can find here.  I added one of the colors from Kayley's crazy colored scarf and thought it turned out pretty cute.  If you have photoshop or photoshop elements you definately should go grab this freebie and try it out.  Thanks Kerri for a wonderful and fun mask!

Until Next time

New Challenge Blog

There’s a new challenge blog in town with articles, swaps, interviews, videos, challenges, great prizes and MORE! Check out Lily Pad Cards!

Go check them out they are having a fantastic giveaway right now on their blog!  I can't wait to see all the fun stuff they have planned.  I have always enjoyed making cards so this new blog will be right up my alley.

Until Next time