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If you've ever clicked around on my blog - you may have followed a link over to "The Pioneer Woman" - an incredibly humorous blog writer, great cook, and awesome photographer. I have long admired some of the fun effects that she uses on her photos with something called "Photoshop Actions". She has a bunch of free one's available for download on her site.... only trouble is - I have Photoshop Elements, and sadly for me, her actions don't work on PSE, they only work on the full blown, and very EXPENSIVE Photoshop.

Fast forward to today - I got an email from my favorite digital scrapbooking store - Polka Dot Potato - (that's where I bought the kit that adorns this blog!) - and they have a whole set of Photoshop Actions for sale - and they work on PSE!!!


I couldn't help myself - I downloaded several, and have been playing - I thought I'd show the results, and perhaps tempt you to download and play with some actions yourself!


(What exactly is an "action" you ask? Well, if you ever used Macro's in a word processing document - it's pretty much that - it's a program that executes a series of commands automatically in Photoshop - sometimes it does the whole thing and is done - other actions pause and let you tweak things along the way.)





This one is my favorite - it's called midnight color - and this tiny size hardly does it justice - it makes a great photo into a stunning photo! Just love how it made her hair so rich! It also made the leaves in the background almost appear to be painted!

This one is called EZ Vignette. I actually applied this action to the photo twice - because I wanted it slightly darker than one application creates. I just love how it seems to add depth to the photo


This action is called Contra Soft. Again - hard to see in these little examples - but it softens out all the lines in my mom's face - and heightens the color a bit. This one is not my favorite - or maybe this isnt' the right photo for it - because I found that even though it soften the lines - the colors became harsher. I'll keep playing with this one.

Finally - this is Vivid Color. It's the first one I downloaded and used. The first picture I applied it to - I didn't like it - but this photo - which I already thought was great- I added the effect and WOW! (Isn't my goddaughter cute? And what the heck is all over her face?)

So - have some fun - download some actions and play with your photos!! And if at first you don't succeed - try the action on a different photo! I need to go play with that Contra Soft some more - I think I just haven't found the right photo for it yet!!

(Perhaps instead of commercial message, I should have called this a Public Service Announcement - because I didn't recieve anything for this promotion!)

Brand New Smile!

We've been 15+ months without this smile!!! But now that the braces are off - doesn't she have a totally Anne Hathaway smile? She's absolutely giddy about having all that metal out of her mouth - but now she has retainers! (And yes, Mom - it's egyptian smelling salts all over again!) I'm sure the lisp and the saliva production will recede after wearing them a couple of weeks!

And here's another photo with the retainers in. I just love this pic!

PS: Morgan (and any of E's other friends that might read this) - don't tell your mutual friends - E wants it to be a surprise! :-D

Happy Birthday to ME!!

That's right - it's been 30 days, and I caught up to J! The night before my birthday, J's parents came up and took us all out for my birthday dinner. We went to Benihana's - I just love a Japanese steakhouse, and watching them cook at my table. I forgot my camera - so the pics we snapped were on my cell phone! E took this cute one of us!

After dinner, J handed E the keys and told her to go pull up the car. A went with her, and as they pulled up in front of the restaurant to pick us up - this is what A was doing! Too funny!!!

A went home with Grandmom and Poppo, and will be heading to the cottage later this week for some "Camp Grandmom" time! E had dance practice, and I had a skating club board meeting - so it was a good thing that we went out the night BEFORE my bday! Although - thanks to my skating friends for celebrating my birthday with me! Christine baked brownies and stuck candles in them for me!! SO very cool!!

I also really enjoyed the e-cards, and the phone calls that came in from all over - Brighton, Grand Rapids, New York, Texas, Shelby Township, Hartland, Warren.... It was so nice to talk to everyone yesterday! And after talking to most of you- I know you are out there reading this... even though you never leave me a comment to let me know you are there!! :-D

Well, off to be 42. Here's hoping it's a good year! (Oh - and I'm counting this as my June 30 photo!)

Fabulous Fowl Fourths Forever

Here are a few shots from our 27th annual family reunion this weekend in Howe, Indiana! We had a great time, and the next generation of cousins are making fast friendships!

I am so grateful that our family decided years ago, when I was still in high school, to have a family reunion each Fourth of July. I know my kids have connections to cousins that they might otherwise not have known without this annual event.

Because the kids love it so much - I'm sure that this annual event will continue for a LONG, LONG time.

Enjoy some of my fun shots of the next generation!

Photos I wish I'd gotten....

A and her cousins N, J and T sleeping out in the tent together, telling scary stories.

Wish I'd gotten video of the impromptu "sing inline" after turkey dinner.

E, driving MY cousins to the movies... too bad the movie theater turned out NOT to have the 9:40 showing that they advertised on July 4th!

A photo of me! End of the month - and no photos of me for the June 30 blog post! aack.

A photo of E the camp counselor, teaching and leading games to all the little kids.

A pic of K - because she's the ONLY one who can lead the "key game" properly!

She's Got her Permit!

So, you might want to watch out for our Orange Mini-Van...
especially in the early mornings, on the way to the rink!