stream of consciousness
(If you're new here, you should know that I'm scaling back a bit on the blogging until next week so that I can accomplish some things on my to-do list. I'm not usually this random or off-topic, and things will be back to normal soon. )
It's Tuesday. Mr. FG and I are not big fans of Tuesday.
Tuesday is the day when we are rudely thrown back into the get-up-very-early routine, and even after two years of doing this, it's still sort of a shock to our systems.
Boo.
Yesterday I didn't work on my ebook at all, but I did work on decluttering the office.
Not that it needed it or anything.
I shredded paper, listed books for sale, freecycled books, and Mr. FG and I worked on listing some of our extra electronic stuff on ebay (clutter out, money in? Yes, please.).
Isn't this a cool-looking computer part? I think I took a picture of it upside down, but that was the only way it would stand up.
I'm not done with the decluttering, but my desk, Mr. FG's desk, and the bookshelf are organized and free of clutter. So, that leaves my craft desk and the closet.
Would you like to see the closet?
Brace yourself.
In my defense, most of the closet clutter belongs to my girls, who love to do crafts but who do not love to put craft supplies away.
We're going to work on that.
I was in a nice decluttering groove and didn't at all want to stop and make dinner. But I did anyway. We had a BLT green salad, the bread you'll see in today's 365 post, and watermelon.
-After church on Sunday, we had a get-together at my parents with all of my siblings and some relatives from my dad's side that we hadn't seen in forever.
This is my dad, my uncle, and my brother, and this picture makes me smile because this side of the family tends to have lots of body hair and they're prone to taking their shirts off. It WAS very hot and humid that day, and I might have been tempted to take my shirt off too had I not been in the pool. 😉
I don't get to see my relatives on my dad's side of the family very often, but they're a fun bunch and I always enjoy hanging out with them.
Can you believe how big Adriana (my younger brother's baby) is getting?
And miss Annalise is looking as cute as ever.
('scuse the bad lighting...it started to rain, so we had to go hang out in my parents' garage until the storm passed, and of course the lights in there are flourscent.)
-I'm pondering ethics and frugality after reading the comments on one of Katy's posts, and I think I'll write my own post on the subject later this week (it's one of those posts that I've been thinking about writing for months and months, but just have never actually typed out).
-I updated my photo on my About page, so if you haven't seen my new short haircut, go take a peek. A little while ago, I also added photos and a few sentences about each member of the FG family, so that may be new to you as well (though if you've been reading here for a while, you probably know all about my family!).
-My friend recently bought a DSLR and a 50mm 1.8 lens. She wanted to compare it to my 50mm 1.4 lens, so we talked Zoe into being our subject for some test shots.
Interestingly enough, the two lenses produce very similar-looking results unless you zoom in really close.
Can you tell which one was taken with a $100 lens and which one was taken with the $400 lens?
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Don't forget to enter in my $100 bodycology giveaway!
Today's 365 post: nom, nom, nom
Joshua's 365 post: Rushing Lights
Appreciate your post, as always! Am curious to note that you are selling stuff on ebay -- I have a pile of things I'd like to try to sell, but I don't know how to do it. Might you care to share any advice?
I'm actually a total novice at it...I take pictures, list it with a description, and hope for the best.
I am not camera-savvy enough to even guess which photo was taken with the pricier equipment, but whoa! Zoe looks so much like you in these photos! The top one especially--I recognize her expression as yours in photos of you that have appeared here.
Now I sound like a creepster or a dummy (of course children look like their parents!)..... Just kind of fun to observe. 🙂
That's interesting! No one usually thinks that she looks like me...usually people say that about Lisey.
It's hard to me to tell who any of my kids look like. I think it's always easier for people outside of the family to see that.
I thought the same thing! She is sporting a Kristen expression! 😉
Can't tell, but I think I need to start saving for another lens! I got a Nikon D3100 with an 18-55mm kit lens. So far, I haven't used anything else, expect for borrowing my husband's fish-eye lens. Now that was fun!
Zoe is such a cute subject!
I'm going to guess the bottom one is the $400.00 lens. At least it appears to be clearer to me.
You talk about your family a lot. I'm curious about how many siblings you have.
I have 3 siblings...an older brother, a younger sister, and a younger brother.
But I also have a fairly large extended family...my dad has 3 siblings, my mom has 4 siblings, and especially on my mom's side, there are some larger families (two of my uncles have 5 children, my one aunt has 9, and the rest of my aunts and uncles all have 3 children).
Thanks for the info. Kinda puts it all in perspective. I'm the last of ten children (three boys and seven girls) and I love our large family. We always have an excuse for a party!
I have yet to attempt ebay selling to. I guess my first problem is not having a camera! :p I'll add that to my wish list, of course since I'm a novice, I wan't be needing anything to fancy.
Your nieces are adorable, I only have nephews and they are 23, 20 and 8, so no babies anymore, until grandkids come along.
I think the bottom picture was taken with the more expensive lens. ???
I'm going to say the bottom picture was the more expensive lens.
Awesome post as always. I wonder if there is a used...com in your area? We've sold a lot of things (and bought) on usedottawa.com. You don't pay to ship and it is pretty quick.
I checked and there doesn't appear to be one. Bummer!
Suggestion for selling books. Here in Portland, besides having the great Katy Wolk-Stanley, the Non-Consumer Advocate, we have Powell's book store. It's a huge store, covers several floors on a whole city block. They sell both new and used books and they buy used books, even online! Here is the link to their instructions on how to sell your books: http://www.powells.com/sellonline/
They pay in trade or in cash (through PayPal) although you get more (at least selling in the store) when you take trade. For online sellers, they pay the shipping.
I don't know which picture was taken with the expensive lens, but I like the top picture better. I just know what I like!
Miss Annalise is so cute.
I just went over and read the post and comments about frugal vs cheap. I would be fairly interested I suppose if you wrote about it as long as it stays true to you: classy. I think that is my favorite part of your blog - that you are classy and encouraging. IN fact I have a hard time reading some other money saving blogs because sometimes I don't get the charm and classy factor that I get when I read yours!
I have something a little different to say than I said in the comments over there...sort of how I deal with the temptation to "fudge" on things when it would save me money.
Very honored that you think I'm classy. 🙂
Do it do it please! I'd like to read those thoughts.
I'm guessing the top one was the 1.4 her nose is out of focus so less depth of field?
The picture on the bottom is the better picture. The lighting is sharper, as is the oveall picture, but that is not always an indication of equipment, sometimes it is the operator.
Would have been better if both photos featured the same pose (smile) and from the same angle, as there is s slight difference.
Great post again, thanks Kristen. Shopping for a 50mm for my Nikon D200 and therefore reading a lot of reviews and tests like this one: http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikon-gears/discuss/72157594288609458 I think the lower image is the 1.8 (both cute of course!)? This one has great information as well http://www.popphoto.com/gear/2011/04/round-which-nikon-50mm-lens-should-i-buy?page=0,1 and I am now moving towards the 50mm f/1.8G Lens.
The babies are so cute, more pics of them please!
Oh, those beautiful babies -- so so adorable!
And I liked the little peek at works in progress such as the closet and office -- very encouraging to me! I think it is smart to keep addressing how much you DID get done this week, showing it crossed off. I even read somewhere that the physical act of checking completed tasks off a list actually increases endorphins (or something) causing us to feel a rush of good feelings. So true, right? It's so easy to focus on the thing that didn't get done (and there is ALWAYS something that didn't get done) instead of the lovely progress being made. So you are modeling a great cheer-inducing practice. Oh, and is the bottom lens the more expensive one? Either way, Zoe is one adorable tadpole!
I'm guessing the top pic is the 1.4? The bokeh seems just a tad more blurred and Zoe's face seems just a tad bit more focused. But I could be totally wrong, they are both excellent pictures. Either way, it makes me glad I bought the $200 35mm 1.8 for myself rather than the $400 35mm 1.4. 🙂
Hi, I am wondering if you will share your favorite site for reselling homeschool books?
Thanks in advance!
I use half.com or amazon for quickest results
The second picture is the $400 lens and the 1st is the $100 lens???
I've just finished (with LOTS of help from my husband) declutter our game/toy closet! It just makes me happy seeing shelves filled with clear tupperware labeled with there contents! I feel rather shallow but man it makes me happy!
I hope your declutter goes well. Why do we homeschoolers have to declutter in order to start school? Don't we all realize that it's going to get cluttered again by November maybe earlier? 🙂
The bottom photo is the $400.00 lens?
Great photos!!
Looks like the craft closet could use some shelves. I hope you're planning on telling us which picture is which! 🙂