so they were called "world's best bubbles"....

I first heard about Pinterest in the photography forums in January of 2011.... and I staunchly avoided it.  I knew, I just knew, I didn't need something else that would suck my time away.  I managed to keep this approach for a little more than two months.  Finally in March of 2011, I caved.  Oh, how glad I am that I caved.  I adore Pinterest.  Adore it.  I've found so many awesome ideas.  It is a creative researcher's dream.

One of those things was a pin called "world's best bubbles".  Of course with two young kiddos, this caught my attention.  It seemed super easy and I already had all the ingredients on hand.  I mixed up a batch and then we headed outside to check it out.  Little did I know...

These truly are the World's Best Bubbles.

So, these images are from early May 2011.  Almost a year ago, to the day.  To say that I'm behind in blogging my photos is an understatement. A grand, grand understatement.  In fact, every month of this year the item "blog flashback photos" has been on my master ToDo list in the "Imminent" Category.  (yes, I have an "imminent" category.  And yes, my husband laughed his head off at me when he discovered this.)  Needless to say, just because I write something under the Imminent ToDo list doesn't necessitate its completion... ironically.  But I have a whole boatload of images from last spring, summer, and fall that I've never blogged.  Some I've processed, like these I'm sharing today.  Most I haven't.  Perhaps this summer with all that extra time that is supposed to come with summer (yeah right) I'll get it done...

Back to the bubbles.  These spectacular mind blowing bubbles.  This recipe is truly too good not to whip up yourself.  Again we have an instance where my kids will never know that some people grow up with teeny tiny wimpy bubbles.  They'll think these awesome mac daddy bubbles are just how things are supposed to roll... or pop.

So, the recipe, you ask?  Of course you can follow my pinterest links up above to find the original blog post it was pinned from.  But if you are in a hurry, it is... 

6 cups water

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 cup dawn dish soap

Just mix the corn syrup and water until dissolved and then slowly stir in the soap.  Works best for the solution to sit overnight before using.  Check this site out.  

I shot these with my D90 Sigma 30mm f1.4

Project 26 | Post 9 | Me and Mine

I've had this idea for a Me & Mine shot for a while.  I wanted to get the camera low on the tripod at the back of the kitchen and get an image of me teaching the Lady how to clean the kitchen and do the dishes.  I don't have a ton of childhood memories, strangely enough, but I do remember standing on the orange kitchen chair pushed up to the sink and washing the dishes.  I was too small to reach and do, and needed the chair for help.  That was my inspiration.  You've got to learn how to do these things sometime.  While I very much want to let my children be children and experience the carefree bliss that is childhood, I want her to understand our family is a team and we all contribute.  Her contribution isn't just nice - it's necessary and valuable.

So, that was the idea.  Monday evening the light streams in, I set everything up, and I started shooting... er, remote-ing, as we cleaned.  I intended to have 10 or so images that I'd post all in a series in this blog post.  How fun would that be!!??  Then I uploaded the images onto the computer.... and there were many more than 10.  Several many more than 10.  And as I was scrolling through, no one image stood out to me from the others.  How on earth would I narrow this down??? I knew I couldn't. (who is surprised?)  And then I thought of iMovie.

Now I have created my first photo slideshow.  I cannot get over just how awesome this is, at least to me.  It so, so, so perfectly captures her, and then the dynamic of us.  I so very much hope you enjoy it as much as me, and are inspired to do something along these lines with your little lady or buddy.

(not sure if you need to click the 'HD' at the bottom or not, but this is a HD video)

Me and Mine - Doing the Dishes from Carey Pace on Vimeo.
Music Selection is "Whole Wide World" by Mindy Gledhill

Don't forget that I'm doing this project in a group.  Click over to Celeste Jones and see her Me&Mine perfection.  I love how Celeste is never afraid to put herself in front of the lens, not to mention I just love her daughter and her spunk.  

I shot these with my D90 Sigma   &  30mm f1.4

FOOD CHALLENGE | April | Pasta

Several days late, here we are.  The real Pasta post.

In case you aren't aware, I'm participating in a Food Styling creative project with a group of photographers around the country who are interesting in learning about food photography, just like me. In fact, we've named our group:  The Inspired Plate.   Every month of 2012 we have a difference theme to photograph, and this month is Pasta.  I lovelovelove pasta, so I was very excited for this month's challenge.  However, I've tried pasta before with my Capellini Pomodoro post and my photos are evidence:  photographing pasta well is harder than it looks.

I've had a family favorite recipe on my "blog this someday" list for a long, long time and this was just the nudge I needed to make it real.  Without further ado, here is Guy Fieri's Tequila Turkey Fettucini.

Back in my previous life (before kids), the Food Network was a big part of my life.  I watched both the first and second seasons of FN's The Next Food Network Star.  In one of the second season episodes in 2006, we watched Guy prepare this dish and could not wait to try it out.  It looked simple but utterly delicious.  And dude. It was, and it still is.  It became the dish that Shawn requested for any special occasion.  The recipe has almost all of my favorite foods:  cilantro, lemon, lime, real parmesan, cilantro, pasta, tomato, cream, cilantro... oh and did I mention, cilantro?



Now, of course, this is me we're dealing with and because of that, I tweak the recipe.  Rarely do I make things to the recipe, exactly.  So my changes....  we don't drink alcohol, so instead of tequila, I use lime juice to deglaze my pan.  Dude, I love lime.  Also, my favorite way to do the turkey is to use a turkey tenderloin.  I sear my tenderloin in the pan and get it nice and brown on the outside (see my photos??). I put it in the oven to finish cooking in a separate pan and then use those drippings in the original pan to cook the vegetables.  Much more flavor this way (but the sauce has a more brown tone to it).  I use way more jalapeno that is suggested and probably less onion.  And then... I stinking forgot the tomatoes for my photos!!!!  It is NOT the same without the tomatoes.  But I realized too late for these images. You'll have to forgive me.  But please, if you make it, don't omit the fresh tomatoes at the end.




I love this recipe because it is with fresh ingredients.  It is a cream sauce, but not from a jar with all those synthetic additional ingredients.  It uses turkey which is a very underutilized meat in my opinion, and throws some variety into our family meals.  It is truly simple, but oh so delicious.

I learned a lot about photographing pasta for this challenge.  For the photograph, you really need to prepare the dish differently than you would for your family.  To arrange pasta, you must use your hands and you will be a mess if it involves sauce:  this is okay.  I wish I'd used a slightly larger bowl - mine is really very small and to show the turkey, garnish AND pasta.... well, I wish more pasta were showing.  And I didn't even have to worry about the tomatoes since I forgot them.  And lastly, every time I shoot one of these food images, I'm utterly shocked at the aperture required.  I'm so used to shooting a f2.0 or less for my lifestyle images of my kids.... but I'm shooting these food images at f6 and sometimes f8.  That is just foreign to me!



Please take a moment to visit the rest of my awesome comrades in my Food Styling Challenge Circle.  Next up is Kim Kelly | San Diego CA | Food and Travel writer.  One of my favorite things about Kim is that she loves words, just like I do.  A visit to her blog blesses you with fabulous food images, but words that warm your heart as well.


I shot these with my D90 &  Nikon 85mm f1.8.

project 26 | Post 8 | Tablescape

Another Thursday brings another Project 26 post.  This time the theme was Tablescape.






This was the one theme that I had to give an annoying sigh over when I read the list at the start of the project.  Isn't that awful?  I'm trying to teach my kids about being respectful, particularly with tone of voice and facial expressions, and I realize, I do this, too..... all the time.  But the source of my sigh is that "tablescaples" just aren't "me".

It isn't that home decor isn't important to me, because it is.  I truly want my home to have a feeling of "haven" and "refuge" and the decor is a part of that.  But my style is more utilitarian.  Like my favorite Alton Brown, I like things to be useful, functional, and hopefully serve more than one purpose.  So decorating a table with lots of froufrou things that are there merely for ornamentation.... yeah, I will struggle with that.  Add to it that this theme falls just a few days after a long trip for us and I've spelled for myself certain disaster.



Before we left for our long trip, I knew that I would HAVE to shoot for this theme on the Monday after our return.  I simply must.  Tuesday I would be running for my C25K during the right light, and Wednesday I'd need to edit the photos, blog prep them, and make my post to go live Thursday morning. Monday was my only window.  I hoped so strongly that we'd have sunshine.

I knew before we left what I'd do.  Decorating MY dining room table was out of the question.  I yearn for authenticity... and let's face it.  I don't decorate my table.... ever.  So I wasn't going to for this project either.  However, we've entered the land of tea parties with the Little Lady.  So I would do a tablescape for HER tea party.... outside in our yard with beautiful backlit sunshine.  I'd use the little white table, her pink chairs, her tea party stuff..... and come up with something for decoration.

We pulled into the driveway at 6:45pm Sunday evening after our long away.... and I knew it was then.  I needed THAT light, right there.  Tomorrow at 6:45... it was set.  Now I needed sunshine.




Thankful that God blessed our Monday with warm temperatures and sunshine!!!

As the time approached, I gathered up the supplies to lug out to the yard.  I needed a tablecloth.... and thought of her play silks.  The size was perfect.  I grabbed the carnation centerpiece from her birthday party last year that I kept in the party box... and we went outside.

I really detest these "set up" situations, to photograph.  I usually shy away from these types of things.  I like to photograph reality.  What really happens.  I suppose it is that part of me that craves authenticity.   And if I am going to be honest, I also hate unmet expectations.  Whenever I contrive a set up.... the result never, ever meets my expectations and I end up sooooo sad, disappointed, and frustrated, beating myself up for the failure.  In this situation, I did have some expectations though.  I knew I'd set up my tea party in the yard with my backlit sun.  So again, I was setting myself up for failure... like what happens 99% of the time.

However, this time.... the result exceeded my expectations.  By far.  I'm so thrilled with these images.






But the reason why is that although I created this activity, it was the Little Lady who took it and ran. I set one pink playsilk on the table... I arranged the tea party.... and ran inside to get my camera.  I came back out and she had decorated everything with the remaining playsilks.  She had draped the chairs.  She even draped a leg of the table.  Later she would drape the pink cup/vase of flowers.

She was sooooooo excited about this tea party and her "guests" as she called us.  She was getting VERY frustrated with the wind they kept blowing things around ("would somebody PLEASE stop the wind!!???).  She was also frustrated that I kept photographing instead of sitting down to enjoy the tea party, as any good guest would.






But here she is in all her Little Lady glory.  Her crazy curly hair.  Her unmatching clothes that she selected.  In her decorated tea party in the beautiful evening glow.  It is beautiful, and her, and authentic, and the tablescape of my dreams.  A Tablescape that is still "me".... and "her".







So as it turns out.... the theme that made me roll my eyes, turns out to be my favorite one yet that generated images that swell my heart with joy.  Thanks, Jayme, for submitting it.  It thrills my heart.






In case you wondered, those little toy cupcakes are awesome.  So so awesome.  They are the Whipple Cupcake set.  We bought ours from Bear n Friends in Kingsport for Christmas, and she loved loved loved making them, and has continued to love playing with them.  I think I want to do another set.  You decorate the cupcake with the "icing" and then the beads/etc... then let them dry for a day or so and voila!  Perfect for a crafty little girl.


Don't forget!!!
The next photographer on the circle is new to our group this month, so please take a moment to visit her take on Tablescape and leave her some good comment love!  Christine Blaylock

I shot these with my D90, Nikon 85mm f1.8 , &  Nikon 50mm 1.4D

10 on 10 | April Edition

Nearly impossible to believe, it is the 10th of April in 2012.  This brings another of the 10 on 10 posts - my ninth!   My favorite photographic day of the month.  [The 10on10 is a creative project I'm working on this year along with 10 other photographers around the country.  On the 10th of each month, we post 10 images and link to each other to create a blog-circle.  Our contribution can be 10 photos over the course of one day (as I do it), 10 over the month, 10 favorites, whatever.  Just 10 images that will help us remember these times.  Not perfection photographically, but perfection for our memories.  The goal is to purposely capture our days.]

I shot for this month's edition on March 27, 2012.  In three days time, Shawn and I would be leaving for a trip to Sedona, Arizona during spring break (our first ever travel during a spring break...).... to celebrate our 10 year anniversary that we accomplished last June.  This was the first time we've been away from the kids for more than a few days.  So I had to shoot early!  And I ended up editing the images in the Phoenix and Dallas airports on the way home!

Please enjoy my share of how we spent our lovely March day and then take a moment to enter the circle and see how film photographer Jayme Franklin spent her day.

[1]:  This morning, Little Buddy had his kindergarten registration screening, so we got to hang out at home a hour longer than normal.



[2]:  here he is walking into what will be his school in the fall.  So hard to believe we are finally to this milestone.


[3]:  Stopping by the grocery store to pick up snacks for the preschool Easter parties that are as soon as we return from our break.


[4]:  A few days before this the Little Lady tested me to see if I meant what I said.  Perhaps I should see a little bit where her stubborn determination comes from, since I happen to posses that, too.  She's been giving us an awful, awful time with cleaning up her toys and frankly, I'd had it.  So I let her know that if she chose to cause more trouble, to disobey, to play instead of tidy her things, that   e v e r y  s i n g l e  t o y   she owns would be removed to the attic.  Every one.  She made her decision, a poor one, and then had to live with the consequences.  Thankfully, I think this has made quite the impression.  Unfortunately, with little miss strong willed, it takes things of this degree to get her attention.

All that to say, she'd gone several days with none of her toys.  No stuffed animals.  No ponies.  No squinkies.  Nothing.  Resourceful as she is, she decided to play with Gizmo's - the dog's - stuffed toys.  Alas.

But here she was happily playing a peekaboo type game with me, the stuffed bear, and the camera after enjoying an oreo. She insisted we buy Daddy a package of oreos while we were at the grocery store.  And just so you know, I didn't touch her eyes with my photoshop.  These are her eyes, 100%.








[5]:  Picking up Little Buddy from preschool.  He made an awesome nest for a bird this day and couldn't wait to show me.


[6]:  Homemade chocolate chip cookie snack.  This is not an everyday occurrence, but man, I love freezing the extra dough so we can quickly pop these on the baking sheet and enjoy!



[7]:  She is a gatherer.  She gathers and gathers and gathers.... and drops and regathers... and drops again and regathers.  Here she was choosing which would accompany her outside to play.  After snack, I let her choose one toy to return to the playroom, and she chose the stuffed animals.  No surprise there.



[8]:  Karate.  Little Buddy complained just recently that his karate pants were too tight in the waist (and they were - I'm surprised we made it this far), so his new and bigger pants are red, since he's taken for more than a year.  He loves his new red pants.


[9]:  Hurry home from Karate, transfer kid care to the wonderful Aunt Dana, and take off for my Couch to 5K running class.


[10]:  I came home from running to find the kids outside, creating a "witch's brew" with Aunt Dana.  They were having a ball!  This extra early warm weather has been such a blessing.  When Little Buddy got his shirt wet, he asked to take it off and I said yes.  Immediately the Lady insisted she was hot and sweaty and needed to remove her shirt, too.  I figured the days of this are fleeting, so I told her to go for it.








Please take a while to journey through my friends' blog circle and see their perspective of the [10 on 10]. Next up is my west coast comrade Jayme Franklin | San Francisco Lifestyle and Film Photographer.  

I shot these with my D90, Sigma 30mm f1.4, Nikon 85mm f1.8, & Nikon 50mm 1.4D.