It's Time to Say Goodbye

So, I planned on sticking around until ClubMom pulled the plug on me but it's getting hard. Most of the other ClubMommers have hung the closed sign in the door and it's starting to get a little eerie around this here ghost town.

It's almost Christmas and I figure most everyone is in a flurry of festivities anyway so it just feels like it's time to wrap myself up in my scarf, button up my coat and go join in the holiday hustle and bustle of the tangible world for a few weeks. That is just until Shutter Sisters awakens with the bright, shiny New Year. Our goal is to launch in Beta on January 21st. Even though we plan on it being a soft, rolling launch, you are all officially invited to come for a visit as soon as we open the doors. And stay a cup of tea. And scones. And if you like it, maybe we'll grab a pizza for dinner. What the heck.There is no one else I'd rather have come over than you ladies.

In the meantime I will be writing at Mother May I of course (everyone must come by for Best Shot Mondays-pleeeease) and I even might revamp things a bit over there which would include trying to get the archives from this blog to that one. Blink blink. We'll see how that one goes. None the less, it's time I let go...

And for fear of getting overly emotional, I will only say thank you. You all have given me so much..you have no idea. I only hope that we can continue to encourage and inspire one another along the way because wherever we are and whatever we do, we will always be shutter sisters.

Thanks for the Memories

This is the post that was meant for Thanksgiving Day as a tribute of thanks to all of you. A mushy love post written not only to you fine ladies (and the few fab men that read once in a great while) but also to the folks at ClubMom for providing this platform where a year and a half ago I  began this journey of writing about one of things I love the most in this world; Photography.  I know, it sounds so dramatic. And I guess it is a little bit because...

Are you sensing the vibe here yet? You know that looming feeling that the other shoe is about the drop. Hard and with a sudden 'clunk' because it's a high heeled number on a finely buffed out hardwood floor. Yep, it's that kind of drop. Ready?

...ClubMom is shuttin' down the blogs. I know it may be old news to many of you (I've been getting the inquiring emails to prove it) but I will admit I didn't find out until just before the holiday and I'm still in process mode. I'm not that surprised really but I am disappointed for sure. As far as the big picture goes, it certainly isn't the end of the world, but it is the end of a chapter and I am a bit sad to see it come to a close. I'm sentimental like that. But, I'm also one of those kid of gals that knows that this just means something wonderful is on the horizon. And surprise surprise, I've had this something wonderful in the works for a while, it's just taken more time to get it going than I had anticipated and now, here it is, the perfect time to begin the latest installment.

Does Shutter Sisters ring any bells? I've only been talking about my "next project" in one form or another for months now and if you were at BlogHer you may even have a token of the project in your hands. Talk about pressure. Nothing like giving out free stuff to market your "soon coming" blog only to not launch it for what feels like forever. But, I digress. The fantastic news is that I will be launching Shutter Sisters soon. And it looks like I'm going to be able to seamlessly transition from Picture This to Shutter Sisters. Coincidence? Nah. Just Universal synchronicity at it's finest.

So, what's this new blog all about? I guess the title gives it away but there are some elements that will make it unique...some of you even know bits and pieces...but that's for another post. And believe you me, I will be talking about it a lot soon, very soon. Today, I just want to let all of you know how very thankful I am for all of you. Your comments and questions, support, encouraging words, and perhaps most of all, the images you have created and shared over the last year and a half or so have inspired me so deeply. I am beyond glad I have had this place to call home and that I now have all of you to call my "shutter sisters".

And as far as the details...well, I haven't gotten that far yet. I do know that I WILL BE POSTING HERE until they unplug me which is going to be sometime at the end of December and I will be carrying on My Best Shot Mondays until the bitter end when I will probably parlay them over to Mother May I. Just because I enjoy them. And, that's all I got for you today. Just a gigantic virtual hug to you and a load of appreciation for everything you've given me here at Picture This.

The Happiest Walk on Earth

Last week my family and I had the opportunity to attend a Parent Blogger Reception at the happiest place on earth. Yep. And considering the yummy food, the sweets, the kid's crafts and the chance to experience Disney's Halloweentime, we were pretty happy.

For the family, the fun was just being there but for me, it was that I got to be there with a bunch of other mom bloggers like Kirsten, Mandy, Elaine and Y ! I love when that happens and I will tell you, it doesn't happen nearly enough. We had a ball hanging with Mickey and Minnie and dancing with Belle and Chip and Dale. Maria Bailey of Blue Suit Mom and newbaby.com fame (among like a gazillion other amazing achievements) hosted the event in conjunction with Disney. Thanks Maria for inviting us! It was great.

After we gorged ourselves we got to attend the Halloweentime extravaganza at California Adventure. We WALKED

and trick or treated

and WALKED some more. We danced...

and WALKED again. When is was all said and done we were all pretty tired. Happy but tired.

Where did you WALK this week?

A Story of Me...

and a tree. Or two or three.

Ritual in the Rain

You know I was planning on doing something wonderful like what Jen did (the whole inspiration behind today's theme) but I didn't. Instead I reflected on the one Rainy Day we've had in months and what kind of day that was.

My Best Shot this week showed the boots but my interpretation of RITUAL is better told perhaps by a portrait of a little someone we found on our rainy day walk. Mind you the boots and umbrella were out at 7am and we began our stroll not much later (like we always do in the rain) but long before the neighborhood awoke; quietly conversing about our observations and sharing our thoughts and we discovered the critters and creatures that were up with us in the early morning hours.

I think what makes this RITUAL special for us (rainboots and nature walks) is that it doesn't rain very often here so when it does, it's something to celebrate, something to mark with time spent between a mother and her daughters walking in gratitude of what Mother Earth offers us.

Freedom Found

Hey, the photo I posted yesterday popped up over at Mamazine this morning. How cool is that? Yes, of course they asked permission to post it and I was thrilled to share.

I love what Sheri shares in her post. What are your thoughts on the subject of finding your freedom? Have you experienced any of these conflicting feelings? Her line about feeling guilty for the happy resonated with me. Not because I feel guitly for the time or the happy but I discussed this with a friend just yesterday--Without the struggle of the juggle, without the angst of feeling pressed for time or anything else for that matter, who are we? As mothers? As women? Have we gotten so attached to all that baggage that we actually do feel guilty for taking a moment? For feeling peace? For the happy?

I think this is a very important subject to ruminate on. Let's discuss, shall we?

I'm Feeling This Theme

Since my girls have both been in school full time (have I stressed the magnitude of those 2 little words--full time?) I have felt nothing but the overwhelming and glorious feeling of FREEDOM. Perhaps some may call that callous or cruel as maybe I'm supposed to be lamenting at how I miss them being home. Well ladies, not this mom. I haven't had this much time at my disposal in TEN years. TEN. I am thankful for every minute I have to myself.

My take on today's THEME was shot in my car, while I was just about to leave the coffee shop to pick up my daughter from school. I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of my laptop and I liked what I saw.

Me as a free woman.

And you?

What Lies Before You

Something about this photo with this quote really moved me. Sigh.

It was just what I needed to start my day in a heartspace of appreciation and gratitude. Hope you start yours the same way. It makes everything that much sweeter.

Putting the Fun in Monday

Well, it's Monday and both of my girls are now in school. All day. It feels amazing. I have been waiting for this day for a long time...the day I reclaim my life. For a few hours anyway. I will actually now have almost a full work day to get my work done in. Crazy, isn't it?

My vision? To get my work done during work hours (OK, and a little time for Yoga) so that in the evenings (when I usually am pounding away on the keyboard under some sort of deadline) I can do other, more self-nurturing things. Like reading, crafting, relaxing. It sounds so wonderful, it makes me want to cry. Anyway, with the creative nudges from blogs like Melody's latest blog Wrapped Emotions, MamaSaysOm, flickr groups like this one, and Magpie Girl's Creativity Challenges there's no telling what might happen.

My husband was out of town this weekend so I stayed up until the wee hours playing. And I came up with this.

 

My Playful Best Shot for today may just be the beginning of a new artistic phase for me. I am giddy with the possibilities. See what a little taste of freedom can do for a mom?

What inspired you this week?

Beautiful Inspirations

I have been inspired lately by how so many photographers are capturing everyday in the loveliest of ways. Even the most mundane of life's routines can prove themselves pretty if we just recognize it. The fun part is capturing it and sharing it with others. I love that.

I stumbled across Today is Pretty only to realize that it's a blog by someone I already know (but I had never seen this particular offering).  Small blog world, isn't it? My favorite is this shot.

And then there are people like this gal who can even find poetry in breakfast. How she does it, I have no idea. But, she does. And it's awesome.

In honor of those who inspire me through their keen eye for gorgeous daily details (consider yourselves as muses as well) I am giving you the word PRETTY for your Thursday's Theme. What do you consider PRETTY? I can't wait to be inspired.

It seems I'm not the only one who has beauty on the brain. I got the call from Crazed Parent of Maya's Mom to post a photo under the guise of "beautiful things". I encourage you to join that pretty invitation. I did.