Team-Up Thursday: Week Fifty (STACKED)

Love the colors and light in our diptych this week. STACKED was a fun theme, even though mine might be more accurately described as a "cluster" rather than a stack. I took mine in Las Vegas this weekend. The Bellagio had some wonderful displays celebrating Chinese New Year, and I loved this tree filled with colorful decorations. Melody couldn't have been more on target with V's stack of wood. Melody has a way capturing soft lighting that I adore, and this photograph is no exception.

Next week, we're tackling BEHIND for our theme.

Now, I have a shameless plug: I'm a finalist in the Greeblepix January Photo Contest and I would love to have your vote. Mine is the black and white shot I used last week in my diptych, so it's easy to spot. Pop on over and check out all the great shots ...and vote for me while you're at it :).

Can't wait to see everyone's dips!

P.S. I've got someone waiting for a partner, so if you're lurking and want to join the fun, email me at monamegs@hotmail.com.

I'm Watching You

We didn't go to Vegas to gamble. But we thought it would be fun to pull some slots, especially those nice nickel ones. At least the nickel ones they used to have.

Since I grew up going to Las Vegas a lot to visit my grandparents, I remember the thrill and simplicity of the "one-armed bandits." Put in a coin, pull the lever, see if the little fruits line up and you win.

Not so much these days.

Now, you press a button. No more pulling the handle. And, instead of coins, you put in dollars...or your credit card (and we wonder why gambling's an addiction).

The worst part is that we couldn't even figure out how to play the machines -- seriously. There were all different kinds of lines and combinations to choose from even before you pressed the button.

So Keely went a-stalkin'. And she picked this little old lady to watch. Can you see how Keely's studying her? She tried to ask her a question, but either the woman didn't speak English or (more likely) she was too busy and purposely ignored her.

Gambler's Anonymous doesn't need to worry about us. We're too stupid to figure out the two cent slot machines.

Cosmopolitan

Vegas, Baby!

We had a great time in Las Vegas. I'm not sure this is really a quintessential Vegas shot, but I love it! Especially the fact that Lisa is losing her shoe:).

Will be posting more shots when I get past Monday morning.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Leaving the boys to their own devices this weekend and grabbing a little R & R in Vegas. Hopefully I'll come back with some fun photos!

I just realized how geeky that last sentence is. Sheesh.

Go to Vegas and take great pictures! That'll be the new tourism slogan for sure. That's exactly why most people go there.

I probably need a new hobby ;).

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Nine (BLACK & WHITE)

I think I've got a new favorite:). I've always loved BLACK & WHITE shots, and this diptych makes me smile. I had planned an abstract shot of an umbrella against a white wall, but it just didn't work. Then I got this shot of Harrison. Paired up with the wonderful shot of Melody's girls in the bathtub, well, I love this combination.

BLACK & WHITE lets the viewer notice the stripes in H's shirt and the pebbles in the walls in the bathroom. And of course, you can't help notice the cute kids. Actually you notice them in color, too, but that's another theme altogether.

Can't wait to see what you have to show us today.

Next week, we're working with STACKED as our theme, so join us!

Quiet

It was awfully quiet upstairs, so I went to check on the boys. This is what I found:

Sky High

We went to check out the new Sky High today. It's basically a warehouse full of trampolines. If it weren't so expensive, the boys could probably live there.





Can you tell they liked it?

Quote of the Week

Backstory: Last year, Owen couldn't get enough of Michael Jackson's music. We were constantly listening to "Beat It," "Thriller," and "Billie Jean" in the car. But this is what he told me yesterday:

"Justin Bieber is my favorite for peppy songs. He's even better than Michael Jackson. 'Cause Michael Jackson is old...and dead."

And really, what could I say to that?

Watching

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Eight (ALL IN A ROW)

Oh, those piggies! Love Melody's interpretation of our theme this week. And once again we have a contrast in subject and even processing. Melody's is so soft, while mine is a bit more bold in the color scheme. Can you tell it's basketball season again at our house?

Can't wait to see what everyone lined up (get it?) to photograph this week.

Next week we're going with BLACK AND WHITE as our theme. Great possibilities there, so get those lens caps off and we'll see you back here or on flickr next week.

P.S. If you'd like to join in the fun, email me at monamegs@hotmail.com and I'll set you up with a partner -- we'd love to have you play along!

P.P.S. Looking for another great challenge? Check out the ladies over at the lucas zoo and i miei due bambini for 52 weeks of me (you). They've started a self-portrait project that you won't want to miss.

The Haircut

In the beginning, there was hair. And it was big.



Lo, the clippers descended upon the hair.



And the clippers worketh hard.



And the people rejoiced throughout the land. And it was good.

Winter

Well, I've already missed one day in my quest to photo-post everyday in January. Oh well.

This one's a Hipstamatic shot from my phone this morning.

Hoops

Basketball season is upon us.

Books

I finished a good book today. And then I realized I couldn't loan it to anyone.

I love new technology, and it's great to always have a book to read on my phone if I'm stuck somewhere. But I can't tell my mom I'll mail it to her, or swap it out with someone at book club. It's just there, on my phone. I'm finished and I can't even donate it to the Book Corner, where I could then buy another book for a dollar.

It was a book centered around death, and although it was beautifully written, I have to say I was looking forward to finishing so that I could move onto something less depressing.

Now that I'm done, I'm just depressed that I can't hand it off to anyone else.

Team-Up Thursday: Week Forty Seven (NEW)

Happy 2011, all you Team-Up people! And welcome back. I hope you had a restorative break, one that renewed your creativity and left you hoping it was Thursday again.

Melody and I tackled NEW this week, an appropriate theme for the new year, and ended up with contrasting photos. In fact, when I was creating my diptych, I couldn't decide whether to put a white border (which looked better with Melody's shot) or a black one (which helped mine). It seems that the contrasting tones in our photos are echoed in the contrast in subject matter. I think Melody is ringing in the new year with sparklers, and I am looking at the new year through the rain on my windshield.

But that's the fun of Team-Up, isn't it? Looking at different creative visions of each theme and seeing them paired up. What do you have to offer us this first week back?

Don't neglect our flickr pool, and be sure to leave a link here in comments.

Next week, Melody and I will be doing ALL IN A ROW....so join us or pick your own theme. See you then:).

Through the Windshield

Don't worry. I was parked.

Sunrise

We were so cold out walking today at five that I'm still not warm yet.

But what a fabulous sunrise.

Strummin'

James is teaching himself guitar this year. Since I'm the only one in the family who can sing (at least the only one who can match pitch), I'm looking forward to many tune-filled evenings around the firepit come summer.

Maybe I can get them all to play guitar so that I'm the only one singing? :)

Every Day in January...Maybe

I'm too chicken to try the 365 project, so I thought I'd start small and promise to photo-post every day in January.

This photo involved some cajoling, as you can see by the "smile" on Owen's face. The rest of my month may involve photos of inanimate objects only. They can't get mouthy when you try to get them to pose.

Two down, 29 to go.

Happy 2011

New year, new smile. I'm willing to bet not many of you can say that!