ISO Challenge: Light

This photo is of the nativity set that my mom gave to me. She and I used to carefully unwrap the figures and place them in the wooden manger each Christmas as I was growing up. I put it out every year as a reminder of what this season is all about; Jesus came to be the Light of the world...

Winning!

Granted, there were only two entries for the ISO Photo Challenge: Nature - but it's an honor to be chosen, none the less!

ISO Challenge: Nature



I believe I shared this photo a while back, but didn't use it for a challenge yet. I love being outside (mostly when it's warm outside, though)! This photo was taken while on a hike in St. Croix Falls, WI a few months ago. It was the perfect day; warm in the sun, cool in the shade and the autumn colors were starting to emerge! My husband and I are making it a tradition to go there each year. It's perfect for a day trip, not being too far from the Twin Cities. We usually follow our hike up by heading to one of the local restaurants to try some new food and a local brew and/or wine!

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If you want to join in on the photo challenges go to:

http://isophotos.blogspot.com/p/weekly-challenges.html

ISO Challenge: Thankful

Thankful for this time of year...love all the lights and celebrations!

Give-away!

http://isophotos.blogspot.com/2011/12/its-giveaway-iso-in-search-of.html

Hey All: No challenge here...it's a give-away! Go check it out and then join in on the weekly challenges! While you're visiting there, head to the ISO facebook page and give them some love by "liking" their page! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Running toward new goals...

I didn't do so well with my 2011 goals...so now I've decided to beat the New Years resolution deadline for 2012! I've just joined the gym and am starting to train for a 5K. I have a bunch of girlfriends (including my sister) supporting me and it feels really good! I decided that, instead of going home to sit on the couch and watch the Biggest Loser, I am going to the gym to watch it as I speed-walk/slow-jog my 5K tonight!

Another goal of mine is to set a bedtime and stick to it! So far that's going well...the part I need work on is getting up in the morning when my alarm clock goes off the first time. I think I need the coffee pot next to my bed!

My third goal is to start eating healthier. I've always been a bit overwhelmed by this one but I feel that once my body is on track with sleep and more regular exercise that will happen a bit more naturally - or so I hope! Wish me luck! Hope this is of some motivation to those who happen to read this!

Stay tuned for the next ISO Photo Challenge: "Thankful". Coming soon to a blog near you!

ISO Challenge: Love

I feel that so many of my photos have an element of love in them so

I thought it would be tough to choose just one photo to enter into this challenge, but that changed when I heard my pastors sermon on marriage today.

 It made me realize just how truly blessed I am to be married to my husband Chad.

We have had our ups and downs and faced some difficult challenges along the way; we have also had some great times and made some wonderful memories together.

I know that we have learned to love each other more than we could have imagined we would, and I'm so thankful that he loves me the way that he does.

That's why I've chosen this photo to share with you:

Love ♥

ISO Challenge: New

So the challenge this week is "New" so this is a photo of my latest up-do. I am not a professional, but really love doing hair...check out the link to my facebook album below to see my other work!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.524783813314.2038060.144302205&type=1&l=143fdd0f3e

ISO Challege: Dark

Went on a 'spooky hike' today with my family at a tree farm/pumpkin patch

and thought this could qualify as 'dark'...

ISO Challenge: Faceless Self-Portrait

My husband and I spent the day hiking and looking at the beautiful changing leaves along the river in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. The air was crisp and cool in the shade and fragrant and warm in the sunny spots! It was my definition of a perfect fall day! While taking a rest from our hike to enjoy a view of a lake, I decided to try one self-timer shot for the ISO Challenge: Faceless Self-Portrait, and was very happy with the result. Hope you are able to experience the same sense of peacefulness I did....

I'm also including a few of my other favorites from the day!

ISO Challenge: Accidental Letters

We were of course...you guessed it....fishing, when my husband (who knew I was looking for an accidental letter to photograph) tells me, "Hey look, an 'S' in the clouds!". Funny enough, I had already spotted it and gotten the camera out and was ready to take the picture right as he told me!

Here it is, do you see it?

ISO Challenge: Silhouette

This is the church I grew up going to. Even if someone didn't know where it was exactly but they were familiar with the White Bear Lake area, you could usually give them directions to it by saying, "It's the tall pointy church on Highway 61, across from the Dairy Queen.". I met some life long friends and made many

good memories with them there, including -but not limited to- sneaking out of confirmation class to go get cream cheese wontons from Sam at King's City! Sam is still there and remembers me to this day, by first name and I don't have to wait more than about 3 minutes before my wontons are in front of me. So I guess, long story, short; many memories were made at this church or within a short radius of it!

I like Chicken Dinner!

Won another challenge...granted there were only two photos entered! Still fun :)

Guilty Pleasure

I knew this weeks challenge wouldn't be hard, since we are celebrating the Great Minnesota Get Together (the State Fair) and there are plenty of guilty pleasures there! One that we found to be really tasty was this walleye sandwich and an ice cold beer upon arrival! You may wonder why it would be such a guilty pleasure...I felt a little guilty enjoying this for breakfast ;) But hey, it was 5 o'clock somewhere, right?!

Yay!! I won my 2nd challenge! Go check out ISO if you haven't yet!

Working on this weeks challenges over this long holiday weekend.

Hope everyone has a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!

Reflection Challenge

I thought I would end up blogging a lot more, but here I am scrambling at the last minute to enter my photo for the "Reflection" challenge...this photo was taken at the Back to the 50's car show at the MN State Fair grounds this past June. We go every year with my Dad and love to spend time with him and look all the old cars!

I hope to take more time soon, to blog about other things!! :)

Water

I'm always snapping pictures when we are out on the lake. This photo was taken on my first trip with my boyfriend (who is now my husband) up to his Grandparents home in Merrifield, MN (near Brainerd). That was my first real day of fishing and I've literally been hooked ever since! It was the perfect day to catch some bass, as you can see in this photo. I thought water falling into water would work for this ISO challenge!

Dream catcher

Dream is the theme for this weeks ISO photo challenge....

I took this photo at the beach the other day and it reminded me of a dream catcher (also has a little flare...I couldn't resist)!

I won my first ISO photo challenge!

How fun to win my first ISO Photo Challenge with a photo that I love so much! This photo means a lot to me because it captures...

An amazing sunrise that reminds me that God's mercies are new every morning. 

A quiet, peaceful lake that helps me get away from the daily grind and be thankful for all of my blessings.

A fishing pole which symbolizes the wonderful time I get to spend with my husband - a time to have fun together and really talk, without all the other distractions in life.

Thanks again, Michelle for choosing my photo! Keep up the great work with ISO!

Dog Days

I took this photo while enjoying an early summer evening on the front steps with my dog, Daisy. It's fun to just sit and watch her; not a care in the world. Helps me to unwind and relax after a day at work.
I wasn't sure if a dogs paws count for the "Feet" photo challenge, but this photo op was just too good to pass up. So here goes...

This weeks photo challenge: Flare

I am obsessed with taking photos of sunrises and sunsets

when we are out on the lake fishing!

It is amazing to me that I take these photos all the time

 and they all still come out with their own look.

So far this is one of my favorites!

Enjoy!

 

it's wine-o'clock somewhere

it's wine-o'clock somewhere

Summertime ISO Photo Challenge

Summertime! I love it! I took this shot while up at my Aunt and Uncle's home on Lake Holcombe in Wisconsin....can't wait to head up

there again this weekend!

Mission accomplished!

Our trip to Cabela's was a success! I now am the proud owner of some pretty 'sexy' boots! They even have some camouflage on them. He may get me to go hunting yet, but I don't think I could do it...Bambi is just too dang cute!
After our trek out to Roger's we headed back and I got my first tattoo done! It is in remembrance of my two beautiful grandmothers; Lorraine, who loved irises and Mable, who loved owls.

I may have some color added so you can spot the 'owl' a bit better , but I really think I like it the way it is!

Had fun out in Hudson with friends last night,  made some french toast and had a relaxing morning with my husband (didn't quite wake up in time to go fishing), took Daisy on a long walk and then got to see my folks for a little treat at Cup and Cone! Now to get the laundry done in time for a glass of wine and my guilty pleasure, "Keeping up with the Kardashians". I figure one half hour per week won't kill me, lol!!

And the winner is...

Excited to see who wins the first challenge! Everyone has been entering beautiful and creative photos!

Fish Tales

It's been extremely hot here in Minnesota for the last week, so my husband Chad and I have taken a little break from fishing.

It seems only natural that we start planning for our ice fishing adventures. Don't worry, I'm not wishing the summer away at all! I much prefer summer over winter, but ice fishing is one of the only things that gets me through the MN winters!

The boots I have been wearing for the last few years are neither very warm or waterproof, so finding me a good pair of boots is our mission this weekend. I think that by offering to buy me boots, he thinks he is somehow tricking me into going to his favorite store. Doesn't he realize that my wish list at Cabela's is probably just about as long or possibly longer that his!?