Oh, how I wish...

I guess I'm kind of a strange girl. I can honestly say that there's no pair of shoes, sunglasses, perfume, or article of clothing that makes me drool more than a new camera (o.k., maybe the new Audi S6, but let's be real here). To be more specific, the Nikon D80 has me all a-twitter! I'm teaching myself a bit about photography, and I've come to realize that I need more power behind the lens than my little Cannon Powershot A75, 3.2 megapixel, digital camera provides. She's been a great little camera for the past five years, but recently she's started going lips-up on me. I've started seeing shards of light flash across the screen that translate into the pictures. Bummer!

Prior to my Cannon, I had used 35 mm and (gasp!) 110 mm film, and I would still (ultimately) like to be able to shoot 35 mm well and to develop my own film. (We'll save that and the chemical exposure for AFTER we birth children). There is, however, something awful convenient about being able to download the photos, instantly, to my computer. Being able to send them to family and friends and to store so many photos for future reference and documentation is also quite attractive.

The Nikon D80 has some awesome features including shooting 3 frames per second, a shutter speed of 80 ms, the ability to perform manual or automatic focus, and 10.2 megapixels for under $1000. Plus, thanks to Amazon, I can get a 200 mm zoom lens with the standard lens and camera so that I can shoot some of the amazing birds, bugs, and nature that Paul and I see on our regular hikes and walks...all at an amazing price.

So, hopefully within the next few months, with the help of our lovely tax return moneys, I'll be acquiring a new camera and the ability to take the kinds of pictures I've been longing to for a very long time. I guarantee our blogs will have much more interest!

Thanks for listening to my rant...

Hands Full Creations

I was quite fortunate, not too long ago, to get in touch again with a dear, old friend of mine. Sarah and I go way back...to the days of Belinda Carlisle, New Kids on the Block, and Adventures in Babysitting (do you remember that movie, too?). I have some of the greatest childhood memories with Sarah, my first best friend. Years later, she's living in Los Angeles with a beautiful family and a burgeoning business of her own.

Sarah was always an amazing seamstress and one of the most creative people I've known. These days, she operates her own home-based handbag and accesory design company. She designs and sews, by hand, an adorable and utilitarian line of handbags, glasses cases, wallets, and more. She has an amazing eye for fabric and texture and a real penchant for retro designs. She operates her store, Hands Full Creations, on-line. I've been meaning to post a link to her shop for quite some time, but (as always) I've allowed time to get the upperhand. Please check out her store. I know that you'll find something (probably, like me, MANY things) to tickle your fancy. She's coming up with novel designs all the time and truly considers function in her form! I know that you'll love her line of handbags and, right now, she's offering free shipping on all items.

I think I might get myself a little something for Valentine's Day!

Disneyland, here we come!

I'm so excited!!! This year, for my birthday, Paul is taking me to the happiest place on Earth. He's never been to Disneyland, and I haven't been in many years. When we used to live in southern California, we went quite often. As a child, growing up, it was a favorite destination for us. We've taken friends, family, and even our Girl Scout troop. (Yes, we sold enough Girl Scout cookies one year to fly an entire troop of 20 pre-teen girls to Anaheim, spend three nights in a hotel, and play around Disneyland for a couple of days. What a nightmare for our parent chaperons!)

So this year we're going, and I get in free on my birthday! We'll be flying down on Saturday, March 21, and spending four days and three nights right across the street from the Magical Kingdom. I can't wait to show Paul all of the rides, shows, and baubles that were hallmarks of my childhood. I want to take him all over Adventure Land (my favorite area of Disneyland), spin in the tea cups with him, and have a yummy Cajun dinner at the Blue Bayou as the Pirates of the Caribbean boats float by. We have so much to look forward to!

I'll keep ya'll up to date as the trip gets closer! Woo hoo!!!