this is our happily ever after

photographing the details of life

This past weekend I took a bit of time to look through some older blog posts to help  me focus on the direction of my blog over the summer.  You wouldn't know it by my lack of blogging recently, but one of my focuses of 2014 is to grow my blog readership, share more of my story, and challenge my readers to focus on their blessings.

One of my favorite things to photograph are the details of everyday life.  Recently I've found myself using my iphone camera more and more...it's easy, it's with me almost all the time, and frankly it takes great photos.  I love the "pic-tap-go" app to edit photos!  

Tips for taking detail shots:

• Zoom in
• kneel down or even lie on your stomach
• look for the small moment in a big story

Here's some inspiration to get you thinking about the little details of life

washi tape---love this stuff and use it all the time

 

 

edamame---a healthy snack

 

Close up shot of your child

Art supplies at a recent Mom's Night Out

 

Easel and blank canvas at the Mom's Night Out

Stack of papers waiting to be graded

Sunset on a recent road trip

 

Recycling basket

 

Zoe enjoying some sunshine

Not only do I take lots of photos each month I print them and document them too.  I use the Project Life system to store and journal about my photos.  This summer I will be catching up on my 2014 album and sharing my pages here!  

You can also see my everyday photos on my instagram account at angelaemoore  follow me!

how to make a terrarium

I used a large apothocary jar for this one.

Ever since I went to this great garden store in Franklin, TN I've loved terrariums.  They're actually becoming a big thing right now.  Our local grocery store, HEB, has some big ones you can buy for $40, but I knew I could make my own.  

When I decided on the Dino theme for Karsten's birthday I knew that terrariums would play a role in the decor and favors.  

I gathered my supplies; cactus potting soil, a variety of succulents from our local Lowes, decorative rocks from Target, mason jars with special lids (from Michaels), and mini dinos.  

First, I placed a handful or two of rocks in the bottom of each jar.  The rocks are crucial for drainage.

Next, top the rocks with some potting soil. Karsten helped me with this part.

 

After you have soil in your terrarium you can begin adding the plants.  The beauty of succulents is that you can break them off and stick them in the soil.  They are very tough and resilent.  I did have some cactus plant food that I mixed with water and watered each jar.  Succulents don't need much water, so you only really need to water them once a month or when the soil dries out. 

 

Choose a dino and place among the succulents in the jar.  I also added a few more rocks on top of the soil for decor and to help hold some of the plants upright until they are rooted.

 

 

I lined up the party favor terrariums on the dining table and attached a tag and dino lollipop.