moved moved moved!

Just a reminder that Chatting at the Sky has moved to www.chattingatthesky.com If you haven't updated your feed or re-subscribed, it will only take a second so please do! I miss you! To subscribe in a reader, CLICK HERE!

chatting at the sky has moved

Stories and snapshots of the holy and humorous persuasion can now be found here: www.chattingatthesky.com.

(If you have Internet Explorer, you may have to scroll to the right to read the posts...an issue that is still being worked on).

in which I tell you later

As it turns out, soon is a relative term. Thanks for caring about my new blog design. I've loved reading the comments and emails from you who have been waiting with me. I'm glad you all are excited too. We have to wait a little longer, as my fabulously talented, hard-working blog designer is not quite ready. I can't wait to tell y'all about her.

In other news, this weekend I'm having 22 high school senior girls to my house. All night. No, my house isn't big enough for that. Yes, it was my idea. No, I haven't lost my ever-lovin' mind. This sleepover is a product of a project I've been working on with Kendra (you know, the beautiful and talented cook from My First Kitchen?) I look forward to telling you more about it.

How about something I can tell you now?
BlissDom is next week in Nashville. If you haven't heard, it is a blogging conference hosted by the online magazine Blissfully Domestic. I can't wait to meet some of my favorite bloggers in real life. Last BlissDom was a blast, as seen here. I'll be sure to tell you about this years conference later.

Until then, I'm off to stock the bathrooms with toilet paper. I'm having lots of company tomorrow. And if you are reading this and going to BlissDom, say so in the comments if you'd like.

a new find

The new design is in the works and the big reveal is close at hand. And when I say close I mean close. I will wait to post more lazy photography tips after the change. So be sure to check back soon-like. In the meantime, click on the image below to check out one of my new favorite blogs:

Kelly is a new find for me and I am enjoying everything she writes. Even more, she is a fantastic photographer so I get doubly inspired when I visit. You can peek in on her photo blog as well.

Once you start to look at her awesome photos, you may not be able stop. Don't say I didn't warn you. Now come back soon and see if my blog looks different. See you then.

motherhood for the introvert

Shy was the word used to describe me in elementary school. That, and the girl with the freakishly skinny wrists. But then my family moved from the only town I had ever known to a new town several states away. Suddenly, my need for friends and fun outweighed the fear, and my life as a social butterfly began in full force.

That move was a turning point for me. I had lots of friends and I liked it that way. I wanted to be with people and always know what was going on. Still, I craved alone time but often skipped it for fear of missing out. As a result, whenever I took personality tests through high school and college, I was always pegged an extrovert. That is how I saw myself.

Years later, after I had children, I realize the truth: I am an introvert. People who know me in real life are sometimes surprised to hear that. I wouldn't call myself an extreme introvert, but I think I am returning to my kindergarten roots in a way. I'm no longer shy with people, but my energy is found only after time alone. The pressures of motherhood smoked the introvert right out of me.

Lately I've been thinking about parenting and personality. Sometimes it feels like I will explode from the inside if I don't have the opportunity to just be. Alone. Without the chatter. A girl needs time to do important introverty things like stare out the window, sit for no reason, or write bad first drafts without an agenda.

But having three small children at home does not allow for such luxuries a lot of the time. Instead, I improvise. I find little ways and crazy times to squeeze in the quiet.

How does your personality effect your parenting? What are some things you have discovered to help you maintain the balance between being who you are and being who those little ones need you to be?

Tips for the Lazy Photographer: Faces

One of my favorite things to photograph is people. Last week when I introduced this lazy series, I mentioned that I'm no professional. But there are some general things I have learned to help make people photos a bit better, no matter what kind of camera you have. This is also referred to as portrait photography, but that is kind of fancy so I like to call them face photos.

1. When photographing faces, get close. I know it seems obvious. But when I want the face, I want the FACE. Especially with kids. Grown ups tend to shake, giggle, or threaten physical harm when you get too close. But with kids, start out as close as you feel comfortable.Then, GET CLOSER. Bring the camera to the point where you feel uncomfortable. Then move in another inch. Yes, that is what I said. This is where a zoom lens comes in handy, as you can get close without being annoying.

2. Lose the background. In photographing people, I prefer the background to be blurry. It keeps the focus on the face. If you have a fancy camera like a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex), you can control some of that depending on the size of the aperture. But if you are lazy or don't have a fancy camera, fill the frame with face and person so the background is unnoticeable.

You can't imagine how messy this room was when this photo was taken. But who cares about the room? You want to see those beautiful blue eyes.

3. Don't wait for the smile. Remember film? You had 24 or 36 chances to get a good shot. Those days are over. Click before, during and after the shot you want. Some of my favorites happen this way.
Provoking your subject with potty humor works sometimes too. In fact, I highly encourage it.

Related Posts and Link Love:

Tips for the Lazy Photographer: Indoor Lighting

Browse more face photography at I ♥ Faces.

And for those of you who aren't quite so lazy, check out Digital Photography School on aperture and depth of field (ie. blurry backgrounds).

i heart faces

I just discovered this new blog and I am fast falling in love with it. They state that the purpose of the blog is "to provide a photography sharing forum that focuses on the art of capturing faces and their various emotions." They have two categories: kids and adults. Each week, readers enter their favorite face photos. This week is Anything Goes week, so when I ran across this photo in my archives, I thought I'd give it a go.
You can enter through Wednesday at I ♥ Faces Go check them out!

transitions

Winter descended overnight and is still shedding her evidence all over town. As we prepare to witness the peaceful exchange of power in our country, the snow is a reminder of a greater truth. There is One who longs to bless, to blanket our days with peace and promises.
Even in the midst of war and conflict and opposing sides, there is hope. And between the snow and the Inauguration, I have 2 perfect excuses to avoid any productive activity and watch TV in my pjs.