we scout wednesday: summer in black & white

Before I get started with work in the morning, I drag Lola to the coffee shop for an iced latte and then we go for a good “wee!” at the park. The park in our neighborhood is aptly named “Happy Hollow,” as it is kind of carved into a hill and blanketed with trees. The light is always beautiful but this morning the sun was poking earnestly through the tree tops.

I thought the black & white “film” on my Hipstamatic iPhone camera really picked up the contrast beautifully… even if Lola ends up looking a little creepy!

your turn!

This week’s We Scout Wednesday is super easy. Just share a bit of summer – but in black & white. Whether it’s a piece of art, some cool photographs, or warm weather clothing, interpret this idea as you like. Take this easy, breezy assignment and show us what ya got!

Here’s how it works:

Post your response to this week’s We Scout Wednesday on your own blog, Twitter, Facebook, or Flickr stream. Link back to this post (http://www.scoutiegirl.com/2010/08/summer-black-white-iphone-photography.html) in your response. Then come right on back here and post your link in the Mister Linky below. When you’re done, visit the other scouts to see what they’re up to!



3 ways to put your fear in a cage

Saturday was a freakishly beautiful day. When I saw the weather forecast earlier in the week, I announced that we’d be going to the zoo on Saturday and I kept reminding Mike subtly. When Lola woke up that day, I got her dressed and poked my head in to Mike one last time.

“We’re going to the zoo. Can you be ready to leave at 9?”

He grunted.

By 9:15, we packed into the grey-blue station wagon and hit the road.

We arrived at Zoo America, Hershey’s attempt at a zoo (one of the areas features white tail deer…), paid the entrance fee and walked through the sliding doors. The first animal we saw was a pacing – probably hungry – lynx. I eagerly pointed out the large kitty to Lola but she wrapped her scrawny legs around my waist and refused to look.

She put her head on my shoulder, then I would turn so that she could see. Then she would flip her head and I turned back again. And again. And again.

“It’s just a big kitty. Me-owwww….” I coaxed.

Little by little she warmed up to each new pen and enclosure. She started making her signature animal sounds and even allowed Mike to put her down to walk between exhibits.

When we got to the black bear cage, she excitedly watched the fish and promptly ignored the giant bear that swam directly in front of her!

Fear is a funny thing.

If Lola had come across one of these animals in her backyard, she’d have every reason to be afraid. In fact, I hope she would find me as fast as possible and use those scrawny legs just as she had when she saw the lynx! But the zoo makes it easy to forget fear.

Fear is misleading & fickle. Often, once you have a grasp of your situation, fear is irrational & fleeting.

We feel fear when:

1.) We’re doing something new.

When there’s a new way to do a familiar task or a new adventure you’re about to embark on, there’s fear. We wonder if we’ll ever get it right. We wonder if we can meet expectations. We wonder if others will see we’re a newbie.

All things that are new become old! Before long, new things become routine, commonplace, comfortable. Waiting out fear isn’t so hard when we concentrate on what will come.

2.) We’re doing something we don’t fully understand.

Things that our mysterious – like a bump in the night – can be frightening. When we take the time to understand our situation better, fear starts to fade away.

It’s important to not become obsessed with the details of the mysterious, though. In an effort to find out more, we often fail to move forward. Get enough information to assuage your fear and then press on!

3.) We’re doing something with a crutch.

It’s easy to feel fear when we have something or someone to comfort us. When we shake off our support, it’s often easier to see our goal plainly.

Lola was so focused on clinging to me and Mike that she didn’t pause long enough to realize there weren’t any animals that were going to eat her. Just animals in cages that she could look at without fear!

Fear is a funny thing.

Pause, breathe.

Fear is often more a misunderstood situation than the true reflection of reality.

Live & laugh a little.

You’ll see it’s just a big kitty in a cage.

two.


two years of giggles. too few kisses. two big brown eyes that are only getting sweeter & smarter. so many hours spent wondering what you’ll be like – how you will grow. two little feet that started as fleshy little balls, now running faster than i can keep up with!

watching toy story two times a day. too difficult to judge what you want to eat for lunch.

too tiny!

two ears that hear but don’t listen. too many toys scattered around the floor. so much love i have given you – too much love left to give.

Happy Birthday, Lola!

{adorable pennant graphics by pugly pixels. get your free download here!}

beauty is a little girl with no hair

Lola loves our new house. She has tons of room to play, run, and jump around. She loves that her toys are in a special little area. She loves that the kitchen is big enough that she can watch me cook – even if it makes me a nervous wreck…

But Lola did not take kindly to the process of packing up the old house. She started pulling her hair.

At first, it was nothing. Then she started pulling out bigger chunks. When it became clear she wouldn’t stop, I cut it into an adorable little pixie cut. Very cute. When her hair could no longer cover the spot on her head without looking like a balding man’s comb over, I cut it completely off – just so that she would stop. Not exactly the kind of hair cut I enjoy giving my tiny princess.

Of course, I still see her for the beautiful little girl she is. And goodness knows, she doesn’t realize her hair isn’t supposed to be a quarter inch long. She does, however, know how many people have told her how ridiculously beautiful she looks in her candy pink Phillies hat. With no hair, her eyes look bigger & brighter and you can see her fantastically expressive eyebrows.

When was the last time you cut off your hair?

So often we fixate on details that don’t matter. We can’t see the beauty of what we’ve created because an assumption gets in our way. Letting an assumption cloud our judgment while we’re creating is a surefire way to create something mediocre. It may be nice, functional, practical – but is it innovative? unique? beautiful?

Need help challenging your preconceptions & creative assumptions?

  1. Ask for a second opinion. A stranger’s eyes see past your every day, in the box notions.
  2. Keep a clear focus. When you’re concentrating on solving a problem or meeting a specific need (like getting your daughter to stop pulling her hair!), it’s easier to make difficult decisions that challenge the status quo.
  3. Consider alternatives. Especially unexpected or just plain crazy alternatives. By allowing yourself to break from “reality,” you’re more likely to reimagine reality in a way that helps you meet your goal.

west philadelphia born & raised…

fresh prince toddler shirt louella press

west philadelphia, born & raised on the playground is where i spent most of my days…

I happened on this Fresh Prince inspired toddler shirt on the Louella Press blog a couple of weeks ago. I was pleased as punch to see that they were going to be debuting them at Art Star! As soon as I saw the booth, I grabbed this little lovely off the table. And also purchased a copy of the Philadelphia print (complete with Liberty Bell crack!) below.

It looks like the t-shirt are sold out right now… but you can pick up this great design in paper form right at the Louella Press shop.

philadelphia letter louella press