Vampire Mania Mix

It is a fact, vampire mania which has been sweeping the world for the past few years. With all the revival of bodice ripping gothic novels and the what seems like millions of offshoots of vampire chronicles and novellas I decided to make a vampire mix cd for all those on both sides of the love/hate relationship that is vampire mania.

So heres to you: Twilight Saga, True Blood, Underworld, Interview the a vampire, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Let the right one in, Nosfaratu, Blackula, The Count and of course Count-chocula!

Kiss Me Deadly - A Vampire Mix

ENJOY!

MJ

This week the world lost a great performer, despite all the odd behavior and image changes Michael Jackson has gone through, I still think he is pretty freaking cool. I have fond memories of making up dances to MJ songs and his music and persona were a fond part of my childhood. I am sad for the way his life turned out and hope that he will find love and peace in the next life.

JUST FINISH!

Today I got back from girls camp! It was such an amazing time with all the girls in the Burbank 1st! They all are so fun and thoughtful and really just a great group of young women. I had a great time getting to know each of the girls unique personalities. It was a busy week of challenges, certification, the 3 mile hike (and 5 mile hike), doing Pilate's AFTER the hike (what were they thinking?). I loved the spiritual refill that I received by listening to the testimonies of the young women and leaders while at camp. The night hike was so wonderful and the trust walk was really humbling. All the girls were wonderful and were especially spunky, funny, smart, compassionate, talented, and just kind hearted girls. I LOVE YOU GUYS! The leaders were awesome and we all survived...even through a dramatic poison oak hysteria that hit the camp (that actually turned out to be common rashes). I laughed, I cried, I sweat, and I had a blast! .....and I am glad that I am not going to girls camp for at least another year.

Max Photos

This weekend I was able to take photos of Baby Max again. It was a blast, It is great having friends with cute babies so I can photograph them.

Roughing it

For a quick update... this coming week I will be 'roughing it' at girls camp. If you call roughing it sleeping on beds in cabins! Well, its time for all the hard work of girls camp to come to fruition. I can't wait! It is going to be such a blast with all the great girls and leaders of the Burbank 1st Ward and the North Hollywood stake. Stay tuned for pics!


Shortly after getting home from camp Chad and I will REALLY be 'roughing it' at the Gibson/Doxey family reunion at Navajo Lake, near Ceder Breaks in southern Utah! There have been some pretty amusing emails about a so-called solar shower system that is going to be keeping 50+ people clean for the camping trip... I will keep everyone informed about how that turns out! ha! I am so happy to be hanging out with my family and to be back in Utah even if it is for a couple days. And for the record Navajo Lake is one of my favorite in-land bodies of water to swim in, even if it is freezing!

1 year ago TODAY

I can't believe it has been a year! Life is great! Happy Anniversary Chad!

I am OFFICIALLY a Californian

I want everyone to take a moment of silence to honor the fallen warriors that are my UTAH license plates. Today I spent joyous hours at the DMV officially making myself a californian. As I took off my beautiful 'Arches' license plate in the DMV parking lot I got a little sad. However, after a year of marriage I think its safe to say I have a good reason for leaving my home. Although I miss it, and I will no longer see a reminder of my Utah roots every time I get in the car, I will always be a Utahan at heart.


To further 'initiate' me into being a true Californian (or LA-ite) I for the first time since living here, saw an actual movie star going about their day to day lives. Granted I've been to a few TV show tapings but this was the first time I just happen to look over and see someone from TV in real life. It was at costco of all places! I saw a guy named Eric Lange, he's no Reese Witherspoon but he does appear on one of my favorite shows, LOST. He plays this kinda nerdy angry character named Radzinsky. The best part about it, is he seemed to walk kind of angrily which made it all the more entertaining! So, it is officially official. I AM a Californian!

Attempts at digital Scrapbooking

I found this neat-o vintage photo border online. In the past I have really loved photo borders (I used to have a CD of them but lost it). To add a border you can use mask tools in photoshop and use different blending options to add them to your photos. I took the profile pics against a window and made them black and white in raw conversion and with levels. I Basically just winged it!

I thought I would make a 1st step in the direction of digital scrapbooking. I think I may try and take a community college illustrator class because doing it all in photoshop is more complicated that it has to be. I will keep everyone posted on new projects or ideas. Warning: this may be a passing phase so dont be shocked if this is the last you see of this sort of thing! Let us hope I can get better so that I will get excited about this!

I would love any tips or tricks anyone has, or online teaching videos or anything! Also, If anyone knows of any websites for stock borders, patterns or prints that are inexpensive I am all ears. I have seen many of my photo friends using some really awesome vintage looking photo treatments and am looking to get a hold of some actions so I can learn how to replicate the vintage look and feel. Thanks!

Almost 1 year and blog schmogg

Lately I have been busy with girls camp stuff, and I have pictures and stories piling up that I have been wanting to blog about. However, until the craziness blows over all the millions of people our there who are dying for my next blog installment (*cough... 5 of you*) will just have to hold your horses. I did blog a secret rant aka a fleeting moment of blog honestly. But then I realized that I probably just sound like I am holding a pity party for myself. Rest assured that was not my intention and that is why I speedily removed the post.



About 8 days from now Chad and I will be celebrating our 1st anniversary! I cant even believe it has been that long! It seems like yesterday! We are making our first trip to the Newport Beach Temple in honor of our anniversary! It has been a wonderful, exciting, different, challenging, rewarding and a scrumptrillescent year!



photos by Emilie Campbell @ www.emiliecampbell.com
Animation photos by Joan Prusse