Despite my plans to execute our annual birthday cake baking ritual in the light of day (for optimum photos of course), some years it's more difficult than others to find the time. This year, I knew that baking at night (past our bedtime even) wouldn't offer a picture-perfect scenario. Luckily, I have long abandoned my expectation for perfect so I figured I'd give it a shot (or two) and tell this year's story as it really is. We're busy. And my daughter is growing up. And although life sometimes gets sticky, it's always sweet. This shot will stand as an all-time…
Selected by imelda
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SHUTTER SISTERS
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shooting against the odds
20 Nov 2009 | 8:32 am -
landscapes of the season
19 Nov 2009 | 10:20 amWe all know that as the seasons change so do our surroundings and our scenic landscapes. Although here in California the changes aren't always by the hand of Mother Nature and can be harder to find, I am still delighted by the visual signs of the season. Show us how your landscapes are being transformed this time of year. What scenes are sweeping you off your feet? -
Those Ladies
17 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmOdette tells the story of selling chickens and eggs as a child in order to care for the needs of herself and her friends in the refugee camps of Uganda. By the time we finished, she likes to say. We felt like those ladies from the big organizations who lend people money. I always loved that part of the story--little girls feeling as powerful as grownups who were committed to making a change--but I didn't really know what she meant. Until Tanzania. In Tanzania, I met those ladies and immediately fell under their spell. They are quiet, they are wise. They are… -
point of origin
17 Nov 2009 | 12:00 amI am the youngest of three children, so we took turns holding the polaroid. Happiness was experiencing the magic that developed instantly. Those memories planted themselves firmly in my subconscious. {How he smiled with his camera slung around his neck, a cigar hanging off his lip.} Looking at that polaroid camera will always make me his little girl again, eager to explore the magic of photography. {The story goes that when my brothers were young my dad walked into a pawn shop in San Diego and walked out with a polaroid camera.} I spent most of my early adolescent years saving money to buy… -
photo drive: help brighten the day of some sick kids
16 Nov 2009 | 12:00 amSome time ago, a year or two, maybe, I was talking to my friend Kelly on the phone. She was having a bit of a rough time of it, so I spontaneously said, "Give me your address. I want to send you something." She gave it to me, and later that day, I slid a photograph of a sunflower in an envelope with a note that said, "Hey -- a friend of mine once told me that she couldn't look at a sunflower without smiling. Hopefully this will work for you, too." Then I stuck a stamp on it, and put it in the mail. Over this past summer, I saw Kelly at the BlogHer…
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The Buddhist Blog
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Throwing Mud.
19 Nov 2009 | 10:05 amI was recently mentioned in Tricycle magazine in not the best light and since I wasn't given a chance to respond to these charges in the article, I'll do so here. I was criticized for defending myself when attacked by commenters -- especially when they level that criticism with rudeness. I can listen to advise and criticism but not when it is done with rudeness and anger. Here is the article, Dharma Wars. Below is my response to the article:I am the author of "The Buddhist Blog" mentioned in the article and I would have hoped for the author to have contacted me before using my words. As well… -
Obama Calls for Aung San Suu Kyi to be Released.
16 Nov 2009 | 1:48 pmPro-Burmese Democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi (right) with her former spiritual adviser, The Venerable Buddhist monk Thamanya Sayadaw who is now deceased).By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press Writer Vijay Joshi, Associated Press Writer – Sun Nov 15, 9:11 am ET SINGAPORE – President Barack Obama on Sunday told Myanmar's junta to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during an unusual face-to-face interaction with a top leader of the ruling military. Obama delivered the strong message during his summit with leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations, which… -
Reggae Koan.
14 Nov 2009 | 10:33 amThis guys is one of my favorite artists. Matisyahu is a Hasidic Jewish Reggae/hip-hop artist. I'm a big fan of reggae and find the rhythms especially soothing, inspirational and enlightening. The lyrics in reggae are often about social justice, peace, love, spirituality and harmony and like a lot of music it brings about a sort of musical satori. Music is a powerful force in my life and one that often acts as guide along the middle-path between somethingness and nothingness. I especially like this lyric from Matisyahu's version of this Bob classic, which is a kind of reggae koan:Everyman… -
Be fully Alive. Buddhism and Multi-Tasking.
10 Nov 2009 | 9:55 amHow can you be alive when only your body is there and your mind still wanders in the past or in the future? You are not really alive. You are not available to you. You are not available to your beloved ones. So come home to yourself in the here and the now; be fully alive and your true presence profits yourself and profits your beloved ones.~Venerable Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.James: My A.D.D. makes me good at multi-tasking, however, multi-tasking means my attention and awareness is split. That means that I'm not really present for either task. As a consequence I often find it takes me… -
Heart Sutra Mantra.
9 Nov 2009 | 5:29 pmOm gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha!! This is from the Heart Sutra mantra, which speaks of transcending thoughts and concepts to reside in the pure essence of being at peace and at one with all. Oneness that is beyond all dualities. In my understanding, to be able to reside in that place of balance between somethingness and nothingness, regardless of circumstances is tasting the enlightenment of Nirvana.~Peace to all beings~
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mental_floss Blog
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The 5pm Quiz: Movie Actor Mashup Time!
20 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pmEach photo in this quiz contains two famous actors from one movie. You don’t have to ID the actors, or the characters they played, but you do have to name the movie. Once you think you’ve got it, type the full name of the movie into the blank box under the photo. And, yes, we know a lot of these look pretty funny, lo-tech, and all that. It’s part of the fun of it! I hope you get as many laughs out of it as I did making it. Truly the most giggles I’ve had putting together one of these quizzes! Take the Quiz: Movie Actor Mashup Time! -
The Quick 10: Nine Victims of King Tut’s Curse (and one who should have been)
20 Nov 2009 | 1:59 pmIf you have any connections to Egyptology or mummies at all (work in a museum? Have an archaeologist ancestor?), be careful on Sunday. Sunday is the anniversary of the day King Tutankhamen’s tomb was opened, unleashing a powerful curse upon all who dared disturb his eternal slumber. I mean, if you believe in stuff like that. Here are nine people who might make you believe, and one who should have been a direct recipient of Tut’s wrath but got off with nary a scratch. Now, like any good urban legend, the tale of Tut’s curse has expanded to epic proportions over the years. Some of these… -
11 Things You Should Know About Rocky & Bullwinkle
20 Nov 2009 | 12:23 pmFifty years ago this week, the world was introduced to Rocket “Rocky” J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose. An animated television series called Rocky and His Friends debuted on ABC at 5:30 pm on November 19, 1959. In 1961, the show moved to NBC, where it was renamed The Bullwinkle Show and ran until 1964. IGN calls The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show—the collective name for the two series—the 11th best animated series ever, but in my mind it’s second only to The Simpsons (the first 8 seasons anyway). To celebrate the moose and squirrel’s half-century of existence, here are 11… -
Friday Happy Hour: Strange Interviews, Punny Stores & Earworms
20 Nov 2009 | 10:56 amEvery Friday, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. Very casual. On to this week’s topics of discussion… 1. Earlier this decade, I had an interview with a big PR firm. The first person I met with asked me where I got my news—I think her exact question was, “What newspapers do you subscribe to?” I told her I read the New York Times and New York Post online. This immediately put me on her “no” list. “You can’t trust… -
9 Obscure Holidays in December (Besides Christmas)
20 Nov 2009 | 10:36 amThere are obscure holidays, and then there are really obscure holidays. I used to think Canadian Boxing Day and Three Kings’ Day were weird; in reality, there are so many holidays stuffed into our calendar that you could spend the whole year observing them and still miss a few. Here are a few of my favorite upcoming weird holidays. December 5: Bathtub Party Day The online herbalists at wellcat.com copyrighted this holiday in order, I have to assume, to inspire people to buy essential oils and fancy salts to add to their bathwater. I’m not sure what their definition of…
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dpreview.com
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PocketWizard posts beta firmware for flash triggers
20 Nov 2009 | 10:15 am -
Sigma USA announces scholarship contest
20 Nov 2009 | 2:42 am -
Hasselblad creates 50MP multi-shot full-color camera
19 Nov 2009 | 6:33 am -
Adobe RAW 'release candidates'
19 Nov 2009 | 1:45 am -
Casio unveils EX-G1 rugged compact camera
18 Nov 2009 | 3:02 am
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Dooce
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Rivalry
20 Nov 2009 | 8:41 amChuck has put up with Coco's constant badgering, I think because he feels sorry for her that she's so nuts. But the other night he was sitting in the living room minding his own business when she ran up and tried to mount him, and DUDE SMACKED HER DOWN. Like, I AM DONE. And Jon and I gave him a standing ovation. click image above to see the photo on dooce.comby dooce in Daily Chuck© Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as Rivalry. This post cannot be republished without express written permission. -
Stragglers
20 Nov 2009 | 8:02 amThese are the remaining leaves on the tree right outside the window to our office. It boggles my mind that it's the middle of November when it seems like just minutes ago that Jon had to use both feet to push my massive pregnant body out of bed, back when I couldn't wait for summer. Winter, here we come. click image above to see the photo on dooce.comby dooce in Daily Photo© Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as Stragglers. This post cannot be republished without express written permission. -
Call for submissions
19 Nov 2009 | 8:18 amI am in the process of putting together a holiday gift guide, one for women like myself, one for geeky husbands, one for infants, and one for five-year-old girls who think life is totally unfair. Maybe just some coal for her. I'm looking for handmade goods, products from small businesses, and would love to see unique things from independent artists. If you've seen my style section and think I'd like what you have to offer, please send me a link to your stuff at style at dooce dot com. Note, I do not accept compensation for featuring products on this website, I truly just want to introduce my… -
The most adorable pajamas ever
18 Nov 2009 | 12:33 pmMarlo is almost busting out of these pajamas, and when the day comes that she can no longer wear them we are all going to moan in despair. Because when she wears these we fight over who gets to hold her. These were a present from Cynthia Wise, owner of the Hello World Clothing Company, and what makes them so cool is you can unzip them from both ends. Best part: the feet OMG. click image above to see the photo on dooce.comby dooce in Daily Style© Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as The most adorable pajamas ever. This post… -
Mario
18 Nov 2009 | 10:44 amThat's what Leta loves to call Marlo, because she heard us talking one day about how when Marlo's insurance card came in the mail it said, "Mario Iris Armstrong." And it took some time to fix. I think we have unknowingly given her a life long problem with that L in her name being mistaken for an I because several people have written to me and said YOU NAMED YOUR DAUGHTER MARIO?! click image above to see the photo on dooce.comby dooce in Daily Photo© Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Originally published by Heather B. Armstrong for dooce.com as Mario. This post cannot be republished…
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Photojojo
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Unlock the Secrets of Photo Booth
17 Nov 2009 | 12:52 pm~Reach 270,000 photo fansAd spots available in Jan 2010 Let’s say you’re fleeing from Interpol (because you’re an internationally renowned jewel thief) but you simply can’t resist a little video chat. You must, of course, disguise your identity. Apple’s Photo Booth and iChat have a ton of fun effects to stretch and distort your lovely face — but do you know about the secret bonus filters? Finesse a few files and you’ll find nifty image-enhancers like ASCII art, neon color effects, and a kaleidoscope. Don’t forget the mustache. Add more effects… -
Your Own Page-a-Day Photo Calendars Make Your Photo-a-Day Even More Gorgeous
12 Nov 2009 | 12:50 amNew: A gallery of dreamy pics taken by you using our darling Zumi digital video cam. ~Reach 270,000 photo fansAd spots available in Jan 2010 Oh, sure, a diary (or as the kids call them, “a web-blog”) is a fun way to write about your day. But we demand pictures, and lots of them! And that’s why we love Shuttercal, the adorable offspring of a calendar, a blog, and a photo album. Drop one picture per day into a calendar, and over time a portrait of your year emerges: foliage in September, swimming in August, llama husbandry in July. (July was weird.) Plus! Shuttercal will print… -
Wedding Photos You’ll Love (Even if You Hate Wedding Photos)
9 Nov 2009 | 12:50 am~Have a cool photo product or site? Reach 270,000 photo fans We thought wedding photos were just something that came free with the double Elvis special in Las Vegas. Fancy our surprise when we saw the lush spread from Design*Sponge’s wedding extravaganza! Design*Sponge is one of our most favoritest design blogs ever, so you know it’s gonna look good when two of those kids get hitched. What we really love are the shots of small details, like a glass of tea or a vase of flowers, because we don’t always photograph the little things that keep a memory fresh in our minds. Keep… -
Funny Face Photo Invites: Two-Faced, In a Good Way
5 Nov 2009 | 1:57 amExtra photos for bloggers: 1, 2, 3~Have a cool photo product or site? Reach 270,000 photo fans Party season is upon us, so break out your dancing shoes, piñata hitting stick, and fruit-punch-proof camera case! But take note: this season, e-vites are out, and funny face photo invites are sooo in. Our pal Laura recently made some neat custom photo invites for her crazy photographer’s workshop slash camping trip, Phoot Camp. The smiling faces of her invitees, on some very inviting postcards, let her guests-to-be know that tons of fun was headed their way! Make your own funny face invites… -
The Pushpin Masterpiece Frame
2 Nov 2009 | 2:52 amExtra photos for bloggers: 1, 2 Band-Aids, bubble gum, Velcro, spit … you name it. We’ve used everything to avoid the good ‘ol hammer and nail approach. Which is why we’re nuts for stuff that makes displaying photos a breeze. Hence, The Pushpin Masterpiece Frame. It’s a super (duper) lightweight frame that you hang with thumbtacks! Face it, pushpins have never looked better. The Pushpin Masterpiece Frame Twitter It!$26.00 at the Photojojo Shop! p.s. It’s the last day to get free Magnetic Photo Rope when you grab over $50 worth of goodies in the shop!
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momversation.com
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Favorite Momversation Moments (Part 1)
19 Nov 2009 | 8:18 pmOur little Momversation is all growed up: 1 year and counting! And our mommy bloggers are eager to share their favorite moments. Dana, Daphne, Rebecca, and Heather all share their funniest, strangest, and most embarrassing times on the camera. On the anniversary of our first year, check out the favorite Momversation moments (part one!). read more -
Temper Tantrum in Public: How Do You Deal?
17 Nov 2009 | 11:54 pmWe've all been there. Your child throws a wild, crying, apoplectic temper tantrum in public. You're angry, embarrassed, frustrated, and exasperated. But what do you do about the temper tantrum? Do you cart your child out of the public place? Do you walk away and leave her crying? Do you reprimand your kid? What works (and what doesn't?)? Heather Armstrong of Dooce asks, "How do you deal with a public tantrum?" read more -
Online Shopping or Brick and Mortar Shopping?
15 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmDo you like the ritual of shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store, the smell of Chanel Number 5, the hustle and bustle of crowds, the soft Muzak floating in the air? Or do you say nuts to that, and order stuff in your pjs on an online shopping site? Both styles have their advantages and disadvantages. Shopping in a store is more of an outing. You can meet with friends, have lunch, and most importantly, touch and feel the merchandise you're purchasing. On the other hand, online shopping is just so darn convenient. You can order shoes, groceries, e… -
The Super Pets of Momversation
12 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pmSuper moms, super pets! Pets are important parts of our families, and here we introduce you to some of our panelists' furriest family members, from cats to dogs to guinea pigs. Asha, Alice, Heather, and Rebecca talk about their pets: how they got them, how they fit in with the family, and why they are special. Join Heather Armstrong of Dooce, and talk about your furry friends. read more -
Keeping Kids Healthy
10 Nov 2009 | 10:57 pmKeeping kids healthy is a top priority during cold and flu season. And with the H1N1 virus making the rounds, it's important to stress good health habits, such as handwashing and not sharing cups and utensils. But what to do when your kids are at school, and you aren't there to monitor them? And how do you keep siblings from sharing illnesses? Daphne Brogdon of Cool Mom asks, "How do you keep your kids healthy?" read more
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Gizmodo
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Flo TV Shown Off On The iPhone For Reasons Unknown
20 Nov 2009 | 10:32 amI get that this Flo TV iPhone demo is just a proof of concept. That's fine! I'm just a little confused as to what the concept is. Is it just what they're showing us? A Flo TV app, that requires some kind of accessory to tune into broadcasts? That's possible, but given how well the iPhone can stream video over 3G, it'd be a hard sell, even with Flo TV's cable-like channel selection. It would also help if said accessory wasn't larger than the actual iPhone. Or is it to foster excitement over the idea of native Flo TV hardware support in the iPhone, like in the HTC Imagio? Because that will… -
Sometimes, Dreams Come True
20 Nov 2009 | 8:40 amIn 2007 I whined and whined asking for an iPhone Software Developer's Kit. Back then, I asked for five apps. It took two years, but today I've got them all. The last one just came in yesterday. It's not Voice Candy, but Voices looks as good, if not better: Retro tape recorder and microphone, cute icons, simple touch interface, and sharing via Twitter, Facebook, and eMail, so you can spook everyone with that infernal Reverse Voice effect. For $1, it's impossible to resist. [iTunes App Store—Thanks Juanlu and Lisa Bettany, who stars in the Voices' promo video] Now that I think about it,… -
These Two iPhone Apps Made Me Realize That My Love Life Sucks
19 Nov 2009 | 8:40 pmWhile trying out Stud/Dud and Single?, two romance-themed iPhone apps, I've realized that I've got a lousy relationship history. First I discovered that several ex-boyfriends were "duds," then that one was actually married...to his grandmother. I can't look anymore! Stud/Dud and Single? are pretty much public record search engines repackaged in a neat app format. There's not much to making a search with either aside from entering a name (and any details that help narrow down the query) and you'll get partial results on the iPhone and the rest emailed. But if you want, you can see video guides… -
Sign Documents on Your iPhone Through Zosh App
19 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pmEvery time I receive an emailed loan agreement for a product review, the process of signing it becomes a complete pain. I either have to print, sign and scan the document, or paste a signature in Photoshop. No more! Zosh is a $3 app that allows you to sign attached documents on your iPhone. Basically, you forward the emailed document to Zosh from the iPhone's mail app, then you open the Zosh app to sign it (plus you can add a date and stuff). Testing the app, the signing process actually work pretty well. Maybe the neatest component of the interface is that the signature line auto tracks your… -
Threadless Shirts Become iPhone Cases
19 Nov 2009 | 7:20 amIn a surprising but sensible partnership, Griffin will be adding Threadless designs to their iPhone cases. So far, only two models are available, and the going rate is $35. [Griffin via Gearlog]
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Flickr
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Meetup with some pals
19 Nov 2009 | 3:04 pmHere are images of Flickr members getting together for photowalks, photocamps, and meetups. Followed by images that were the result of meetups. Getting together with other photographers for a day of shooting can be fun and enlightening (that is not a Strobist pun). On the left of the Flickr Blog you can always check to see if there are any get togethers in your area. If you don’t see one near you, set one up! Have fun! :) Photos from… -
Try not to scream!
18 Nov 2009 | 1:05 amPhotos from Dave G Kelly, beatnikside, Chezas, valentinokh, King Power Cinema, candiwam, ardenstreet, and Compmouse. -
wfh (working from home)
16 Nov 2009 | 12:55 pmWorking from home today? Show them how it’s done in the telework / telecommute / work-from-home group. Photos from mccun934, sean dreilinger, jocelyndale, Bareg L Noor, limahuli, lwaldal, and wrumsby. -
Red
15 Nov 2009 | 1:47 amBased on the Gallery "Red" by Wurz Photos from yosigo!!!, photosapience, lomokev and Trapac. -
Global printing and more with Snapfish
12 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pmWhy hello Snapfish! We’ve always wanted to extend printing services to more of our members around the world and today we’re happy to do just that, just in time for the holidays! Please welcome Snapfish as our go to partner for all your printing needs. Now, all Flickr members can create photo prints, books, collages, calendars and more and get them shipped to most anywhere in the world. We’re thrilled that Snapfish has direct local facilities in 22 countries for fast, simple and affordable printing. To get started with Snapfish you can use the “Order Prints”…
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chookooloonks blog
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random thoughts
19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmIf Javascript is disabled browser, to place orders please visit the page where I sell my photos, powered by Fotomoto.Remember that rule in physics that says that gas expands to fill a vacuum? It occurs to me that a chock-full to-do list does the same thing. I am spending far too much time wrestling with whether sunflowers or gerbera daisies are the happier of flowers. So much so, in fact, I am starting to believe that my tenacity in trying to resolve this dilemma is just my new way of procrastinating. (Which, now that I think about it, might be the cause of my to-do… -
love thursday: preparations
18 Nov 2009 | 10:15 pmIf Javascript is disabled browser, to place orders please visit the page where I sell my photos, powered by Fotomoto.In 2 days, my in-laws will be coming to visit. Probably like most of you, when I have guests coming to stay who I haven't seen in at least a year, this means that there is a long list of things to do to prepare the house for their visit: things to clean, linens to put on beds, that sort of thing. Because my regular to-do list has been exceedling long lately, I decided that instead of waiting until the night before they arrive to do all my preparations, I… -
houston, we have lift-off: the kirtsy book launch (and a giveaway!)
17 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmThe scene. Last night, I attended the Kirtsy book launch. It was pretty fabulous: Laura Mayes (my good friend, who also happens to be one of the founders of Kirtsy, and is the book's editor) was there, along with several other women who contributed to the book. The event was held at the beautiful loft space of Bubblegum Tree Photography, and was full of great food and great cheer. Laura Mayes and designer Kris Kleis, who did the layout of the book. The best part of the night was, of course, getting to finally see the Kirtsy book, which is beautiful. It's filled with… -
9 things i collect
17 Nov 2009 | 4:53 amIf Javascript is disabled browser, to place orders please visit the page where I sell my photos, powered by Fotomoto.1. Buddhas. Of all shapes and sizes. 2. Ajoupa pottery. Particularly Ajoupa pottery houses. Although I haven't bought any since moving from Trinidad. 3. Swatches. But recently, I decided to stop wearing a watch, so this collection may not grow for a while. 4. Superhero necklaces. 5. Silver rings. 6. Cameras. Mostly inexpensive, vintage ones. 7. Crosses. Of all shapes and sizes. 8. … -
soul sister
15 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pm"Hey, Al, guess what: S is coming over with her dad, so I can take photographs of them for their holiday cards." "She's coming over today?" "Yes!" "Awesome!" "You know what, Mom?" "What's that?" "Sometimes S and I pretend we're sisters." "Well, you know what, Al?" "What?" "There's something called 'soul sisters,' or 'soul brothers.' It's when you meet someone, and you feel so connected and close to that person, she feels like your sister, or he feels like your brother. That's your soul sister, or your soul brother. It's a very special thing." "Mom?" "Yeah?" "S and I…
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Lightroom for Digital Photographers
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Creating Presets In The Library Filter Bar
19 Nov 2009 | 2:22 amSpeed up your work flow by creating presets in the library filter bar. -
Comparing Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS4 - Part 2
12 Nov 2009 | 4:22 amHow well do you know the differences between Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS4? Watch part 2 of this tutorial to find out. -
Comparing Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS4 - Part 1
5 Nov 2009 | 2:42 amHow well do you know the differences between Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS4? Watch this tutorial to find out. -
Lightroom 3 Beta - First Look
29 Oct 2009 | 5:11 amAdobe recently released a new pubic beta - Lightroom 3 beta. In this tutorial we'll look at some of the highlights from this new beta release. -
How To Organize Complete Chaos
22 Oct 2009 | 5:01 amDo you happen to have a bunch of images stored on multiple hard drives? Would you like to learn an easy way to import and organize them in Lightroom? Watch this tutorial to find out how.
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Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips
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Worth-a-click
20 Nov 2009 | 6:20 amHere's a few things worth checking out as you surf around today or this weekend. • Adobe has released a beta of Lightroom 2.6 (and Camera Raw 5.6). The major thing I can see is that it now supports the Canon 7D, G11, and Nikon D3s. You can get it over at Adobe Labs if you're dying for support for those new cameras. • My brand new Photoshop Elements 8 Book for Digital Photographers (co-authored with Scott Kelby) is out in stores and online. Since Adobe released the Mac and PC version this time around we changed things to cover both. • If you're a photographer (of any level) and… -
Lightroom Sharpening – Which Brush to use?
18 Nov 2009 | 9:17 pmOver the last few months, I've done a few of those Before/After videos that involve sharpening as one of the steps. Each time I've done it, I go into Photoshop and do the sharpening there. I've noticed a number of good comment/questions asking about why I don't use the Adjustment Brush in Lightroom to sharpen instead. So it got me thinking about why. I mean, I knew sharpening was there in Lightroom and that I could selectively do it with the Adjustment Brush but I never really find myself using it. So here's the answer(s) that I've come up with: 1) Old mentality of sharpening last I've had a… -
Tip – Fading a Lightroom Preset
17 Nov 2009 | 6:19 amI've got a big article due for Photoshop User magazine this week so I'm gonna make this one short. In fact, I'm being so lazy today that I'm stealing a tip from some one else. See, for a while now I'd have to say the most common preset-related question I get is how to fade a preset. Say the effect is just too strong and you don't feel like going through each slider and lessening the amount it applies. Instead you basically want a volume control for the preset. Well the other day Piet (one of the blog readers) posted a comment pointing me to a video he's done on fading Lightroom presets. Now… -
Tip – Graduated Filter Modifier Keys
13 Nov 2009 | 5:50 amFirst off, thanks for all the great feedback on the Before/After video the other day. For those of you who watched it (and commented on it), the grayish pumpkin that I darkened was brought up a few times. I thought about trying to do something more with it, but then I showed the photo to several people including the mom in the photo. I asked about the pumpkin and the resounding answer was "What pumpkin?" - mission accomplished in my book :-) But I'll probably try to tweak it as a personal mission to see if I can add just a little color back in without looking to fakey. Tip #1: Anyway, I… -
Video – Before & After Family Photo
11 Nov 2009 | 8:38 amPlease install flash player to view video. Here's another one of those before and after videos for you folks. I know these are popular because they really show the workflow and the link between the two programs we tend to use most - Lightroom and Photoshop. I thought this particular photo made a great candidate because I was able to do some very neat things in Lightroom (more than a lot of people think is possible) but I also needed to move into Photoshop for some quick retouching. Hope you enjoy it. I'm actually taking the day off to spend with the family since they're off from school, but…
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PresetsHeaven
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Like facebook but just about photography!
4 Nov 2009 | 3:42 pmGreetings all! I’ve just made a special social network for all of you who are interested in photography, post-processing, sharing thoughts and everything related to it. Facebook is great but it’s about just everything. The Social Photo Network I’ve started are for those who like to share thoughts, photos, videos with others who have the same [...] -
Export to FTP with Lightroom
27 Oct 2009 | 1:19 pmWhen you’re making webgalleries in Lightroom you are able to upload your gallery directly to an FTP-server. But if you are a photographer who just wants to upload your files to an FTP-server, without the gallery files (html, flash etc.) you’re toast… until now. Scott (Principal Photographer) mailed me and asked if I knew any [...] -
Lightroom 3 public beta is here!
22 Oct 2009 | 12:36 amToday you can download the latest release of Lightroom 3 beta. The Adobe team have really made some nice adjustments on this release compared to LR 2 with lots of new and improved functions. What’s new in Lightroom 3? There are so many new things so you should really download a copy of the beta release yourself, [...] -
PH in Japanese or Greek? No problem
14 Oct 2009 | 5:21 amI’m not sure if you have noticed it, but in the sidebar I added a translation tool a couple of weeks ago. Everyone knows these translation tools doesn’t match a human translation, but it’s good enough if you just want to get a summary of what the content is about. Try it out to see [...] -
6 new presets to “wow” your photos
12 Oct 2009 | 5:34 pmI’ve been sitting here for hours now. Playing around in Lightroom, testing and adjusting before I finally got satisfied. Photoshop have a nice feature called “Curve adjustments” where you can change the color channels (RGB) separately with a few clicks with your mouse. I really wish Lightroom had that feature built in. Anyway, I started [...]
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Lightroom Queen Blog
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LR3 Beta – Popular Bugs & Forum Threads
30 Oct 2009 | 11:57 amUpdated with a few more regular bugs 9th November. Lightroom 3 beta’s been out for a week now, and the main beta forum alone has seen nearly 3000 posts already. So, a quick run down of the most popular themes and bugs… No PPC, No Tiger – yes, you read that correctly, minimum system specs for Mac are Intel processor and 10.5.6 or newer. The subject has been beaten to death now. Soft Proofing is not in LR3 beta. LR3 is not feature complete. Jeff Schewe has been dropping heavy hints, but no one can say what will or will not be in the final release. Lens correction… -
Lightroom 3 Beta Book – Extracts now available
29 Oct 2009 | 3:02 pmJust a quick post – the free PDF extracts and full table of contents for Adobe Lightroom 3 Beta – The Missing FAQ are now online at http://www.lightroomqueen.com/lrqebook3.php. You can download the beta book today, and get the final release included in the price when version 3 is finally released. The book’s had a great reception so far! -
What’s new in Lightroom 3.0 Beta?
21 Oct 2009 | 9:21 pmAdobe have just announced the release of Adobe Lightroom 3.0 Public Beta! Here’s the official announcement: http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/ And the download link, of course! http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom3/ So what’s new so far…? Image Quality One of the primary improvements in 3.0 beta is image quality. Lightroom’s been taken back to its bare bones and the raw processing engine has been given a complete overhaul. Even the demosaic algorithms have been substantially improved to give a cleaner file which will respond better to subsequent… -
Adobe Lightroom 3 Beta – The Missing FAQ Book available now!
21 Oct 2009 | 9:00 pmTo coincide with the release of Lightroom 3 Beta, I am proud to announce the release of my new book – Adobe Lightroom 3 – The Missing FAQ – and the rough cut is available for immediate download. The Lightroom 2 version of the book’s had such great reviews, I had to update it for version 3! You can pre-order the final Lightroom 3 PDF or paperback, which are due for release at the same time as Lightroom 3 final, and anyone pre-ordering gets immediate access to the PDF rough cut free of charge. What’s a rough cut? A rough cut of a book is like a beta version –… -
Lightroom Secrets Spotlight
19 Oct 2009 | 2:04 pmI’m still here… very busy with a huge project… watch this space a little longer to find out what I’ve been up to! In the meantime, I’m in the spotlight at Lightroom Secrets this week. Gene’s got a great site, so go and have a wander round and get your Lightroom fix.
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A List Apart
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On Web Typography
17 Nov 2009 | 12:00 amUntil now, chances are that if we dropped text onto a web page in a system font at a reasonable size, it was legible. But with many typefaces about to be freed for use on websites, choosing the right ones to complement a site's design will be far more challenging. Many faces to which we’ll soon have access were never meant for screen use, either because they’re aesthetically unsuitable or because they’re just plain illegible. Jason Santa Maria, a force behind improved type on the web, presents qualities and methods to keep in mind as we venture into the widening world of web type. -
Real Web Type in Real Web Context
17 Nov 2009 | 12:00 amWeb fonts are here. Now that browsers support real fonts in web pages and we can license complete typefaces for such use, it's time to think pragmatically about how to use real fonts in our web projects. Above all, we need to know how our type renders in screens, in web browsers. To that end, Tim Brown has created Web Font Specimen, a handy, free resource web designers and type designers can use to see how typefaces will look on the web. -
Can You Say That in English? Explaining UX Research to Clients
3 Nov 2009 | 1:00 amIt's hard for clients to understand the true value of user experience research. As much as you'd like to tell your clients to go read The Elements of User Experience and call you back when they’re done, that won’t cut it in a professional services environment. David Sherwin creates a cheat sheet to help you pitch UX research using plain, client-friendly language that focuses on the business value of each exercise. -
You Can Get There From Here: Websites for Learners
3 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am"Content-rich" is not enough. Most websites are not learner-friendly. As an industry, we haven’t done our best to make our content-rich websites suitable for learning and exploration. Learners require more from us than keywords and killer headlines. They need an environment that is narrative, interactive, and discoverable. Amber Simmons tells how to begin creating rich content sites that invite and repay exploration and discovery. -
Getting to No
20 Oct 2009 | 3:00 amA bad client relationship is like a bad marriage without the benefits. To avoid such relationships, or to fix the one you’re in, learn the five classic signs of trouble. Recognizing the never-ending contract revisionist, the giant project team, the vanishing boss and other warning signs can help you run successful, angst-free projects.
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Smashing Magazine
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The Big Showcase Of Online T-Shirt Stores
20 Nov 2009 | 5:22 amT-shirts, as you’ll surely agree, play a big part in the design world. Sometimes, we designers don’t get the kinds of projects we want, and so we are left to apply our creativity in some other way, many of us opting to submit graphics in t-shirt competitions or printing them ourselves and selling them through shopping cart systems such as BigCartel. In this post, we bring you a showcase of online t-shirt store Web designs, all of which serves as a great source of inspiration for Web designers, graphic designers and even illustrators.You may be interested in the… -
The Death of The Boring Blog Post?
19 Nov 2009 | 6:34 amLet’s face it: the classic blog post is boring. Barring the text and images, each one generally has the exact same layout. We see little originality from one post to the next. Of course, consistency and branding are extremely important to consider when designing a website or blog, but what about individuality? Does a blog post about kittens deserve the same layout as one about CSS hacks?Too Easy?Because installing a WordPress theme is so easy, anyone can have a blog up and running in minutes. While this is great, and we now have a wealth of blogs on countless topics, perhaps… -
Designing CSS Buttons: Techniques and Resources
18 Nov 2009 | 7:23 amButtons, whatever their purpose, are important design elements. They could be the end point of a Web form or a call to action. Designers have many reasons to style buttons, including to make them more attractive and to enhance usability. One of the most important reasons, though, is that standard buttons can easily be missed by users because they often look similar to elements in their operating system. Here, we present you several techniques and tutorials to help you learn how to style buttons using CSS. We’ll also address usability.Links vs. buttonsBefore we explain how… -
Designing Social Interfaces: Overview and Practical Techniques
17 Nov 2009 | 8:20 amThe standard approach to interface design is to craft a channel that allows you to easily and efficiently control hardware or software; it’s all about the interaction between people and computers. But today, the two entities on each side of the user interface are changing: it’s no longer about people interacting with computers, but rather about people interacting with people through computers.This is the nature of the social Web. Social news websites, message boards, social networks, online stores and blogs all have some sort of user interaction going on, whether… -
Brushing Up On Photoshop’s Brush Tool
16 Nov 2009 | 9:54 amWhen laid by a learned hand, brush strokes can convey a sense of energy, tactility and humanness. These qualities speak to your audience’s subconscious, whispering ideas that words alone can’t convey. In the digital realm, a website with beautiful brushwork is a welcome break from the stark precision of most corporate websites.Mastering the digital brush is by no means easy. It carries the same difficulties as the sable brush hidden at the bottom of your art bin. In fact, the difficulty is multiplied by the disconnect between the hand and monitor. Developing Photoshop…
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Jeffrey Zeldman Presents The Daily Report
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A Design Apart Q&A
19 Nov 2009 | 12:11 pm“Content informs design; design without content is decoration. Content has the same relationship to design that product has to advertising. Good ads are based on the product; good designs come from and facilitate the content. This is one reason we bring content strategy to every design assignment, and one reason we insist on working with real content, not lorem ipsum (placeholder) content. Nothing is sadder than a beautiful design that works great with lorem ipsum but doesn’t actually support the real content.” A Design Apart: Q&A with Jeffrey Zeldman | Sparksheet -
As we were
18 Nov 2009 | 9:11 pmTitle images from the early years of A List Apart “for people who make websites” are now available for your viewing pleasure. Were we really ever that young? NAME THAT FONT! Here’s a nice rainy-day activity for ya. Visit the ALA historical header images collection on Flickr and name the fonts used in individual images. Short URL: zeldman.com/?p=3035 -
FontShop Fonts on the Web
18 Nov 2009 | 1:08 pmFontShop announces that they are ready to deliver their font library as web type: [S]tarting today, Typekit users can pick from dozens of FontFonts, including FF Meta, FF Dax, and FF Netto. Plus, the Typekit service lets you test any of those FontFonts on your page before you publish. And tomorrow? Typekit is just one piece of a holistic strategy for FontFonts on the web. The library should be licensable in a more traditional way too. That’s where WOFF fits in. … Soon anyone will be able to license and download for their website the same professional quality FontFont they use in desktop… -
More Web Fonts
18 Nov 2009 | 4:46 amEllen Lupton and Jeffrey Zeldman talk about web fonts, part 2. That is all. This has been a belated part of Web Type Day. -
Web Type: Lupton on Zeldman
17 Nov 2009 | 8:01 amToday in Print, Ellen Lupton interviews Jeffrey Zeldman (that’s me) on web typography, web standards, and more. Part one of a two-part interview. Ellen Lupton is curator of contemporary design at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City and director of the Graphic Design MFA program at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore. She is the author of numerous books and articles on design, a frequent lecturer, and an AIGA Gold Medalist. This has been a nutritious part of Web Type Day. Short URL: zeldman.com/?p=2932
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Just Creative Design
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Taking Time Off & Other News
14 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pmAfter two strong years of blogging, I’ve decided to take two months off to go traveling. I will be monitoring my three sites while I am gone but there will be very limited posts throughout this time. I am off for a road trip across 22 states of USA for 6 weeks then back to Australia for a 2 week family holiday / Christmas. I then fly back to New York to start full time work at Carrot Creative of which, I hope to continue to blog on a fortnightly basis. I also plan to keep running Logo Of The Day and to a lesser extent, Logo Designer Blog. Birthday, Graduation & Moving Out I’ll… -
Recently Completed Work
10 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pmI’ve been pretty busy of late so I thought I should show you what I have been up to. Here a small showcase of my most recent freelance design work along with a brief description of each. Sikh Youth Australia Website Design This is my largest and most recent website to date. It has been built from scratch and is currently in coding, using Expression Engine as the CMS. It will feature a rotating article slide show, an article accordion (similar to the left side bar of this site) and a nice drop down CSS Menu along with loads of other user interactivity. The right side bar & footer… -
10 Twitter Design Lists You Must Follow
8 Nov 2009 | 6:00 pmTwitter just recently introduced Twitter lists, a helpful way to better organise the tweets of those you follow. Twitter lists also allow you to find interesting groups of people to keep track of via the use of others recommendations. After much research looking into other Twitterer’s lists and via the use of Listorious, I’ve compiled these ten design twitter lists that are definitely worth following. No Blab, Just Design Links A list of Twitter profiles that only post high quality design links and have very little to no other ‘daily life’ tweets. An alternative to… -
A quick copywriting tip to get more subscribers
4 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pmI recently wrote an article for Freelance Folder about how to get more subscribers by adding an email subscription box and within the comments, Troy Peterson left a great tip on how to optimise the copywriting to maximize subscription signups and I thought it was worth sharing… One thing that will improve your signups as well, is to replace “Subscribe” with “Get Updates”. Many people tend to associate “Subscribe” with some type of commitment. This is typically carried over from the old days of Magazine subscriptions, where people had to commit for a year and pay a price. -
Tutorial: How To Create An Iconic Logo Design
1 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pmLogo design is arguably one of the hardest parts of graphic design though with a little insider knowledge, you may find it’s not so difficult after all. By understanding what makes a “good” logo and the principles behind effective logo design you will be on the right track in no time. In this tutorial you will be guided through the logo design process, from initial brief right through to delivery while being given vital logo design tips along the way. For the sake of this tutorial we will be creating a fictional logo - for now I’ve gone with a logo that reflects the…
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Lifehacker: iPhone
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ShopSavvy Prices and Locates Better Deals
20 Nov 2009 | 8:00 amAndroid/iPhone: ShopSavvy proved itself one of the most popular Android apps out of the gate, and it's easy to see why. Now on iPhones, the app lets you scan item barcodes, see who has it for less, and locate them. Beyond the simple price comparisons via barcode scanning, ShopSavvy saves a history of items you've looked at, and can send price alerts when items drop below the prices you've already seen and given a casual "Meh" to. It locates the stores nearby that have your items for less, and allows you to save items you've scanned to wish lists. In other words, it harnesses all the cool… -
DIY Cameraphone Zoom and Lighting Lens
19 Nov 2009 | 11:30 amIf the iPhone's zoom just isn't doing it for you, and you prefer a higher-quality optical zoom to lesser digital zoom apps, DIY web site Instructables details how to make a contraption that'll help you achieve just the frame you're looking for. While this particular how-to is built for an iPhone, the idea can be easily used (or adjusted) for any phone with a camera. For this project, you'll need a jar lid, a suction cup, and some old camera lenses—generally, if you're a camera buff, you may have some scrapped cameras around that you can steal these from. If you want to add a light… -
Drive a Car with Your iPhone
14 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pmA lot of people have been impressed with how you can find an app for everything. What about driving your car? With this (very) ambitious DIY project you can drive a car with your iPhone. Why use your iPhone as merely an accessory to your car? You can flat out control it with this crazy DIY modification. Check out the video below to see how the mad scientists at Waterloo Labs modified a car—definitely not their daily mode of transport—to be controlled by an iPhone. Check out their web site at the link below to see additional videos, as well as all the schematics and part lists you… -
Apple Adds Some Transparency to App Store Approvals
12 Nov 2009 | 9:00 amThere's been a lot of controversy surrounding Apple and their practice regarding the iPhone App Store, like multiple app bannings (including the Google Voice fiasco), inconsistent rules, and a lack of communication with developers. A few days ago, Apple decided to take a step in the right direction concerning the latter point (albeit a small step), giving developers the ability to see the status of their submitted apps. When they log into the Dev Center, they can see if their app is "in review," "waiting for review," or "ready for sale," complete with a timestamp for when that status was… -
Photoshop.com Mobile Fixes Photos on Smartphones
9 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amiPhone/Android/Windows Mobile: Photoshop.com, the online home of Adobe's market-leading image editor, has released a native photo editor and photo uploader for Android phones, and it's a fairly versatile solution for fixing or offloading images while you're out and about. On Android phones, photos can be cropped, rotated, resized, and adjusted for saturation, exposure, and tint, as well as have a soft focus or black & white effect applied. Multiple effects can be undone and re-done, and if you're concerned about making a bad choice, you can upload any pic to a Photoshop.com account first. The…
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Cool Mom Picks
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Eco play dough - is it worth the dough?
20 Nov 2009 | 9:00 amWe've all got play dough connoisseurs for children at Cool Mom Picks, so I know that a few of the organic versions I've had a chance to try out recently have some tough standards to live up to. -
Shutterfly Photo Books Contest - Keep those entries coming!
20 Nov 2009 | 8:11 amWe've been blown away by the awesome entries to the Shutterfly Contest so far. We love seeing your families and your amazing books - so keep 'em coming! -
Web Coolness - Thanksgiving crafts, Modern family trees, and the return of Kurt Cobain
20 Nov 2009 | 7:38 amRight now, we're thinking about family, food, fall...and turkey. Here's some stuff we liked reading this week, and maybe you will too. -
Paper dolls that will blow you away, not the other way around
20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amI've become a strong advocate of paper dolls since realizing that my girls can spend hours entertaining themselves with them. The only issue? That whole paper thing. -
Children's games still made with wooden pieces and great design? It's true.
20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amNext week is Thanksgiving, and if you're like my family, that means lots of little kids around. The cousins are all getting to the age where they can entertain themselves (hallelujah!) which means we're stocking up on craft supplies and games.
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The Bloggess
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Hope for Anissa
20 Nov 2009 | 7:26 amI don’t think I’ve ever done this before on this blog and I hope that I never have to do it again but I’m asking for your help. If you read this blog a lot then you already know Anissa Mayhew because she’s a regular commenter. She’s a blogger, a reader and a faithful friend. More than once Anissa has had my back during rough times. She’s a founding member of The Bloggess Army (codename: Kaiser Soze). She’s publicly defended me more than once…mostly from myself. She’s hysterical and witty and bitingly sarcastic and now… -
Breaking news: Waffles
18 Nov 2009 | 3:59 pmMy friend, Hannah, just sent me an email to alert me about breaking news on Yahoo: Not a joke, you guys. Real. Live. Screenshot. Holy shit, y’all. And my first thought was “I have to share this with the internets immediately because WTF, news media? Why is this a top story?!” And then my second thought is that I shouldn’t tell anyone about it until I have a chance to go out and buy all the Eggos I can find first because this way I get a headstart on the hoarding. But no, I decided to share with you now because I have integrity. And because I already have a box… -
Japan, part 2 (ish): Tommy Lee Jones needs to mind his own business
16 Nov 2009 | 8:18 amOMG, you guys. I actually published a “part 2″ to a post that I labeled “Part 1″. I think that’s the first time that’s ever happened. Is there a medal for this, or some sort of ribbon? If so, please mail one to me. Unless it’s that bullshit white participant ribbon. No one wants that ribbon. Unless you buy it yourself and wear it ironically. Then it’s kind of awesome. Or desperate. One of those. So where was I? We’d just landed in Japan and luckily I was still using my journal at the time because I’ve already… -
It might not even be pudding. It may have been lotion. Or some sort of spackle.
14 Nov 2009 | 5:46 pmA video of weird/offensive/awesome stuff I bought in Japan. Also, I suck at making videos. That’ll be evident if you make it to the end. But about halfway through I eat a boobie. So there’s that. Totally redeeming. Comment of the day:Peppermint creeps the everliving crap out of me. Totally did not expect the eye color change thing. And since she’s Japanese, there’s probably some horrible karmic consequence of pulling the ass-string. Like, in seven days you’ll be forcefed boobie pudding until you die. Unless this whole Vlog was like “The Ring” and then we’re… -
Why, Google?
11 Nov 2009 | 10:34 pmTaking a short intermission from stories of almost getting murdered in Japan to demand that you go right now to Google and type in “Why”. Then look at the auto-suggestions. I’ll wait. Why are you still here? Okay, fine. I’ll do it for you. Awesome. Bonus: What comes up when you type in “Why won’t”: Technically I've wondered about that second one too. And that’s why the internet was invented, y’all. (Hat-tip to Relo who saw this phenomenon and instantly thought of me. Thanks?) Comment of the day: “Why won’t my parakeet eat…
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Design Mom
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Oscar + Betty + New Clothes = Rad
20 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pmThis post is for Ben Blair. Who is out of town. And missed the darling-ness that was Oscar and Betty dressed for preschool this morning. Ben, these clothes arrived from Toobydoo yesterday. I probably should have saved them until Christmas and put them under the tree, but they were too cute to wait even a minute more in those (admittedly stylish) boxes.Also. You don't have to believe me, but I did not pose either one. I pulled out the camera and they were instantly in rockstar mode.I love all the details. The leather zipper pull. The fringe on the skirt. The ruffled cuffs and collar on the… -
A Paper Holiday: Best of the Press — by Guest Aunt "Papergirl" Lyndsey
20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pmHello again friends! Today’s my last day posting here on Design Mom, so I thought I’d go out with a bang. I’m a major sucker for anything letterpress, so here’s a little roundup of some of the cards that have really caught my eye this holiday season. The awesome holiday postcard, pictured at top, is a chic alternative to your typical folding card. Parrott Design Studio prints these using vintage wood type and hand-mixed ink onto the recycled chipboard card; the back is printed with an old-fashioned postcard graphic to add a little extra fun to your seasonal greeting.I also love the… -
Spread the Word about Alt
19 Nov 2009 | 6:10 amHave you heard about Alt? It's possible — because I posted about it a couple of weeks ago. Basically, Altitude Design Summit is the first conference geared toward Design Blogs and Lifestyle Sites. And it's going to be amazing. It's happening the same weekend as the Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City — which means attendees will be able to go back and forth between the two events — and fit in some (free!) world class skiing in their spare time. : )The speaker list is pretty fantastic — Design*Sponge and OhJoy! just signed on — and the list of superstars grows all the time. But… -
A Paper Holiday: Eco-Friendly — By Guest Aunt "Papergirl" Lyndsey
18 Nov 2009 | 6:00 amHello friends! I’m back and ready with a slew of new and different holiday cards to inspire your imagination. Today, let’s talk about being green. Of course, when I say “green,” I don’t mean your holiday cards need to be printed in forest or lime green ink – I mean finding an eco-friendly card solution! We all know how important it is to protect our environment even in little ways, and a great way to contribute is by sending green holiday cards this year.I adore the woodgrain cards and gift tags by Night Owl Paper Goods (pictured above). This is a real wooden card, made from… -
Childbirth Story from Amber Johnson
18 Nov 2009 | 5:50 amHadley Johnson's Stork Report On May 25, 2004, my daughter Hurricane Hadley graced the world with her presence. Her birth...and subsequent life have been a WILD ride (and I'm not just talkin' about them thar stir-ups....)Monday, May 24th, 2004 — More than one week before Hadley's due date. Busy making final preps on our brand new house until late. Husband Jamie is incredibly stressed with projects at work and yearns to skip out. His final words to Hadley before bedtime: "If you come tomorrow, I'll buy you a car when you're 16." Daddy's final lesson before becoming a parent: be careful what…
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Insanely Great Mac
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TomTom to release car kit for iPod Touch
20 Nov 2009 | 11:19 amIn the flurry of recent iPhone GPS news, comes a second slightly less expensive car kit from TomTom -
Belkin recalls TuneBase accessories
20 Nov 2009 | 8:59 amCompany recalls accessories due to fire hazard. -
NAVIGON 1.3 Update w/ Traffic Live for iPhone 3G/3GS (Review)
20 Nov 2009 | 8:21 amA review of the latest update to NAVIGON MobileNavigator for the iPhone 3G and 3GS. The big feature in the update is the new Traffic Live services. -
Other World Computing posts holiday gift deals with free shipping over $150
19 Nov 2009 | 2:44 pmSelection of tech gadgets offer something for the Mac, iPhone, and iPod geek on your list. -
Business Card Reader -- App Scans Cards into iPhone's Address Book (Review)
19 Nov 2009 | 8:29 amThis app essentially uses the iPhone camera to scan business cards, which then are inputting into the iPhone's Address Book.
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Hulu Popular Videos
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The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - s14 | e150 - Thu, Nov 19, 2009
19 Nov 2009 | 10:26 pmCalifornia rock band Jack's Mannequin performs a song from their new album, "The Glass Passenger."Add this to your queueAdded: Fri Nov 20 06:26:04 UTC 2009Air date: Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 UTC 2009Duration: 21:41Rating: 4.7 / 5.0Closed captions available. -
The Colbert Report - s5 | e150 - Thu, Nov 19, 2009
19 Nov 2009 | 10:26 pmJohn Pike, the founder of GlobalSecurity.org and singer-songwriter legend, Elvis Costello stops by the show to pay tribute to the Colbert legacy.Add this to your queueAdded: Fri Nov 20 06:26:04 UTC 2009Air date: Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 UTC 2009Duration: 21:41Closed captions available. -
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - s14 | e149 - Wed, Nov 18, 2009
18 Nov 2009 | 10:07 pmLou Dobbs, the former host of "Lou Dobbs Tonight" talks about his departure from CNN.Add this to your queueAdded: Thu Nov 19 06:07:04 UTC 2009Air date: Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 UTC 2009Duration: 21:39Rating: 4.2 / 5.0Closed captions available. -
Bones - s5 | e8 - The Foot in the Foreclosure
17 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pmBooth's grandfather tries to play matchmaker.Add this to your queueAdded: Tue Nov 17 20:20:05 UTC 2009Air date: Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 UTC 2009Duration: 43:13Closed captions available. -
House - s6 | e6 - Known Unknown
16 Nov 2009 | 5:42 pmA patient is unable to distinguish fact from fiction.Add this to your queueAdded: Tue Nov 17 01:42:04 UTC 2009Air date: Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 UTC 2009Duration: 44:04Rating: 4.4 / 5.0Closed captions available.
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HowStuffWorks Daily Feed
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5 International Holiday Meals
20 Nov 2009 | 10:00 amWe often associate holidays with food. But which food depends on where you live. What do people eat in Japan, Germany and other countries during the holidays? -
How Facebook Works
20 Nov 2009 | 10:00 amAccording to the New Oxford American Dictionary, "unfriend" -- the act of removing someone as a friend on a social networking site like Facebook -- is the word of the year. What else has Facebook brought to people's lives? -
Travel the World: Famous Landmarks
20 Nov 2009 | 10:00 amWhat's a famous landmark? A destination that gets a lot of attention. Whether it's a natural world wonder or the site of a historic event, millions of people each year travel from all over the world to visit these interesting places. -
Today's Video - Destroyed in Seconds: Million Dollar Wreck
20 Nov 2009 | 10:00 amSlick conditions stop these supercars in their tracks. Watch this video from Discovery Channel's "Destroyed in Seconds." -
5 Tips for Planning a Move
20 Nov 2009 | 10:00 amWhatever the reason for your move, getting everything you own from one home to another can be difficult to orchestrate. So rather than just play it by ear, it's a good idea to make a solid plan well in advance of your move.
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kirtsy / Popular
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ohmygosh. she's my friend. and she's rachel zoe. ohmygosh.
20 Nov 2009 | 1:26 pmholy heck. rachel zoe loves her work! this is huge, yes? yes. a million times over. yes. enjoy.23 Vote(s) -
Don't Wait Until You Are 50 to Get A Mammogram
20 Nov 2009 | 9:57 amDo you need another reason not to wait until you are 50 to get a mammogram? I don't care what the guidelines are. Your friends and family need you.23 Vote(s) -
Fun Interview with Laura Mayes About the Kirtsy Book and Other Things!
20 Nov 2009 | 1:32 amThe other things made me laugh out loud!31 Vote(s) -
Sweet Paul Does it again. He is ready to rock out our HOLIDAYS!
19 Nov 2009 | 4:55 pmI love me some Sweet Paul. I am such a fan girl62 Vote(s) -
The 5 grossest health problems for kids
19 Nov 2009 | 1:45 pmA collection of the top 5 ickiest health problems for kids! (with pictures!)90 Vote(s)
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Mighty Goods: Shopping Blog
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Brooklyn Advent Calendar
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Deco Dress
OK, click through on this. You want it, and the thumbnail doesn’t do it justice -
Technical taffeta dress
Super-villain meets Breakfast at Tiffany’s. -
Dylan’s Candy Bar Advent Calendar
Why do we only use advent calendars in December again? -
Mussel Shell Wreath
I want a beach shack just so I can hang this on the door as a holiday wreath.
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Simply Stated
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Black Friday Deals on Home Goods
20 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amTypically I try to avoid Black Friday at all costs, but this year I'm considering braving the shopping elements and taking advantage of the deals.Considering the economic climate, both shoppers and retailers are looking for ways to recover a bit from the rough year. If there is an item that you've been itching to buy, now may be the time to get it. Stores will be vigorously slashing prices and consumers are ready to cash in on them. The key to surviving Black Friday is to go in with a plan, so I've compiled the list below (with the help of FatWallet.com), of this year's must… -
Streamline Your Holiday Card Mailing Process
19 Nov 2009 | 6:00 amI'm the strange person who likes to take care of holiday cards the weekend after Thanksgiving. Experience has taught me that if I don't do it early in the holiday season, they just won't get done. As a result, I'm already cleaning up my mailing list and figuring out how many cards I need to purchase. Here is one organized way to get your holiday cards into the mailbox before March 2010: Have a digital address book: I use a Mac computer and Address Book is part of the basic operating system. If you're on a PC and use Windows, the Contacts list in Outlook does the same thing. Over the course of… -
Do You Bring a Hostess Gift to Thanksgiving?
18 Nov 2009 | 2:48 pmSince I won't be traveling home for Thanksgiving this year, a friend's family has generously invited me to spend it with them. My mother raised me better than to ever show up empty handed to a gathering, but I'm a little bit stumped on Thanksgiving. It's not technically a potluck, since my only contribution will be pies. (I'll be making the Gingery Apple Crumb Pie and the Bourbon and Orange Pecan Pie from our November 2009 issue.) And I will of course bring a bottle or two of wine. But I need your advice on whether or not I should be bringing a traditional hostess gift. -
Skinnyskinny: Organic Bath & Body
18 Nov 2009 | 6:52 amFor the next six weeks or so, I'm going to be popping in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week as usual but with a twist -- I will highlight fab things for gift giving. So let's get started, shall we? Have you heard of skinnyskinny organic bath and body products in Brooklyn? They are my new favorite shop because of their organic goodies -- like lavender eucalyptus soap wrapped in pretty paper. Once you try a bar of their soap you won't be able to stop lathering and oooing and ahhhing -- just like an Herbal Essences commercial. Only you will be using something on your body that… -
Holiday Décor: When do you start decorating?
18 Nov 2009 | 5:30 amI came home last week to a nice surprise. There were two small plants at the top of my stoop covered in festive red bows. It had my mom's name written all over it. She'd come over while I was at work and set them up. I was the perfect starting point to my holiday decorating. Usually I'm scrambling a week or two before Christmas to pull it all together, but this year I have been determined to get an earlier start. Even though it was two week before Thanksgiving, my mom's gesture was the perfect push toward an early holiday high. While Christmas is more than a month away, and my…
