happy...

I snuck into Eden's room with my camera right after her nap and this is what I found...



Eden is always so happy :)

that is one...

weird looking snowman that Ryan built!



I like his hat :)

6 inches of snow in March... we have such weird weather sometimes!

a talk with Eden...

me: "Eden, say Momma."

Eden: "Dadda."

Me: "no, Eden say MOMMA."

Eden: "DADDA."

Me: "MOMMMMM-MA."

Eden: (looks me straight in the eye, big grin on her face.) "Dadda."

*sigh*



9 months old today :)

it's a party...and a giveaway!!!

Wow, this week flew by me like I was standing still! I almost forgot to post the Ultimate Blog Party that has been going on! It's not too late to join and win some cool prizes so hurry and go sign up!

For those that are new, I'm Erin, sahm of these 4 little ones...



...and a jewelry maker (see my shop link over there on the right----> )

...and am currently venturing into photography also! Thanks for visiting, please say hi!

For the blog party I donated a $35 gift certificate to my shop, so be sure and include it in your list of prizes if you want to win it! The number for it is INTL 41 :)

You can also win one of these here on my blog...



Just post a comment here, anything random will work... say hi, or boo, whatever you're in the mood for and you'll be entered! Please let me know if you are new!? Everyone- new friends and old friends can all enter!

A winner will be drawn on Tuesday, March 31st, the same day they draw the blog party prizes and it's also my birthday that day :)


Prizes I would love to win...

1. 49 (want-actually NEED- this BAD!!!)
2. 19
3. 21
4. 22
5. INTL 19

Have fun!

vintage color tutorial...

I get asked often how I give some of my pics the vintage color look to them... it's very simple and I'm sure not how the "professionals" do it, but it works for me :)

(I found it by total accident)

So here it is!

(This is for adobe photoshop users but you can play along in other programs also!)

Pick out your picture and get it sharpened up how you want it...



the turn it black and white-

go to IMAGE, then ADJUSTMENTS, then BLACK & WHITE...



then you fade the black and white to bring out a touch of the colors in the pic-

under EDIT, then FADE BLACK AND WHITE.

This will vary with each picture, this time I faded down to 85% opacity...



then you brighten and contrast, this will vary with each pic also-

under ADJUSTMENTS then BRIGHTEN/CONTRAST...



sometimes I will add a bit of color with the COLOR BALANCE--

under ADJUSTMENTS then COLOR BALANCE, and then boost with a bit more CONTRAST to get my final pic...



I hope this was helpful and I would LOVE to see your pics you edit using these directions! Please let me know if you do!

Have fun!

birthday getaway...

Ryan took me on a little early birthday getaway to Dallas this weekend!

he decided we had to celebrate since it's a "special" birthday...

on the 31st of March I will be 30 :P

so no kids, a couple of movies and lots of shopping...

I'm loving these colors this spring (a new shirt and scarf I bought)...



thank you Ryan!

And thanks to gma and gpa d for hanging out with the kiddos :)

mommy's helper...

it's breakfast time...



I walk out of the room for just a sec and return to this...



Tessa was so proud of herself...



she helped Eden eat the rest of thr jar...



she's gonna be a great momma someday :)

clap for the winner...

The winner of the pixisette earrings is pretty*in*pink*designs who said:

Such gorgeous pieces, it was a tough decision but my favorite was the copper string pearl gunmetal bracelet. I like the casual yet grungy (in a cool way!) effect it seems to have. I also BLOGGED the giveaway... Count me in!
http://prettyinpinkdesigns.blogspot.com/

congrats!

Eden is clapping for you...






please email me- thevintagepearl@gmail.com.

Thanks to all that entered!

Jennifer will give all readers of this blog 10% off your order for a week! Be sure and mention the vintage pearl blog as you check out and she will refund you through paypal :) Go shop!

oh the chubbiness...

I *think* she gets enough to eat...



don't you?



I love her little rolls :)



my sweet eden...



I wish you would stay little forever...

introducing pixisette... a giveaway!

My good friend Jennifer has recently begun making jewelry- and she is amazing at it...



aren't those earrings BEAUTIFUL???

You can win a pair!

Just go to her etsy shop, PixiSette, look around and then come back here and tell me what your favorite piece is.

I personally love these,and this and this bracelet is gorgeous and may have to be mine...



Get 5 extra entries if you blog it! (Be sure to tell us if you do!)

A random winner will be drawn thursday, good luck!

waiting...

for daddy to come home.

so she can say "dada" to him.

while taking 2-3 steps.

and then shake her head no.


she is getting WAY TOO BIG!

did mother nature not get the memo?

that it's March?

Which means Spring.

And yet this morning we had snow...



BIG snowflakes...



perfect for catching on your tongue...



"tastes like snow", she says...



thank you, Mother Nature, for giving us a snow snack this morning :)

now bring back the 70 degrees of sunshine...!

some bunny loves me...

new on eBay!



I fell in love with this bunny charm as soon as I saw it, isn't he cute?! It's sterling silver with a pearl face and belly! Sooo cute!

Find it here!

our cookie experiment...

last night
we discovered
that you CAN cook
the cookie dough
that is inside
the yummy Blue Bell ice cream
and get
chocolate chip cookies...



they are small
and chewy
but still yummy :)

a winner & a ballerina...

The random winner (always picked by the random number generator!) is Amanda, email me Amanda!

BIG thanks to all of the sweet comments :)

And something new... a little ballerina necklace, new on ebay...



isn't she cute? You can find it here!

love gives wings to the heart...

inspired by a quote I recently found...



a new piece... a sterling silver oval charm that is handstamped, lightly hammered around the edges and brushed to a matte finish. Hung on a sterling chain with a sterling heart with wings charm dangling on top.

Let's give one away!

Just leave a comment and you'll be entered, a random number will be drawn tomorrow :)

You can also find them in my shop!

happy thursday!

winter grass...

while Tessa played at the park, Eden sat frozen still in the grass, not wanting to touch it or it to touch her...



she leaned over for about 2.7 seconds...



then she decided my keys were much more fun (why do all babies love keys and remote controls? And they know if you're trying to fool them with fake/old keys or broken remotes!)...



love her little piggies...



we are so ready for soft, green SPRING grass :)

8 months old...

hard to believe my baby is 8 months old...



she is all smiles.

loves to give big, wet open mouth kisses.

singing to her calms her down when she's upset.

when singing doesn't work her paci will.

enjoys chasing the cats.

favorite snack is cheerios.

on the verge of taking steps.

tries to eat every speck of anything off the floor.

sweet with a little bit of feisty in her. ok, alot of feisty.

by far the loudest baby we have had.

loves her brothers and sister.



isn't this polaroid fun? Make your own here! be careful though, it's quite addicting :)