How To Take Great Pictures on Your Phone

If you're anything like me, then the majority of life's little moments are captured via your cell phone camera (especially if you have a child or pet). It's not hard to figure out why that is. In today's world we are attached to our cell phones so when that picture perfect moment occurs, we can instantly capture it. Camera phones had a bad reputation regarding photo quality until recent years, now you don't even need a pocket digital camera because your phone can do just as good.

I by no means consider myself a professional photographer, but if you're like me, just your average bear, then this post is for you. The key for taking pictures with your phone is to snap as many as possible so you are sure to capture that picture perfect moment. Don't worry about centering your subject or zooming in just right because if you wait too long your baby's smile can quickly turn into a frown.

 

Charlotte was making the cutest faces while we were shopping so I quicly snapped this picture. As you can see from the edited version, I was able to center it a little better to make it look like I captured this picture perfectly the first try.

 



Always know you can edit your pictures. In fact, I edit almost all of my pictures right off the bat. You'll be surprised what cropping a picture can do for you! But if you're looking for a little more editing functionality then you should try out the VSCOcam app.

I am still learning how to use all the features, but what I like is you aren't forced to rely on filters to fix your pictures. Don't get me wrong, I love the Instagram filters just as much or more as the next guy, but sometimes there isn't a filter to fix your picture. What's cool about this app is you can use filters if you want or  go into the settings and change the sharpness, exposure, tinting, shadows, temperature etc. I can continue to bore you with all the details or you can just check it out for yourself! Download the app, give it a try and let me know what you think! 

 

In this picture I was able to straighten the horizon from my original. I also worked with enhancing the colors to give it more of a pop.

This picture needed less shadows and a bit of sharpening to get it the way I wanted it.

H54F

This has been a crazy week in case you couldn't tell by the lack of posts. I feel like I've been all over the place with no time to catch my breath. Don't get me wrong, I love being busy but I hate when I don't have time for the things I want to do, like blog. It is all just a matter of getting in a routine, so hopefully by next week I'll be back in full force! In the mean time, take a look at my highlights from the week!

1. We spent Easter in Richmond at my in-laws and this was the sunset from their back deck. Can't beat that view!
2. On Friday, my friend and I made a pit stop at our favorite winery and enjoyed a bottle of local wine. It wasn't quite warm enough to sit outside but lucky for us they have a cellar inside that provides a fun atmosphere. I can't wait to take the whole family to La Grange this summer and picnic outside. Living in VA wine country definitely has its perks.
3. Charlotte hit a milestone this week! She can sit up with a little assistance from a boppy or couch! Her head control has gotten really strong which allows her to balance without folding over. Makes her seem like such a big girl already.
4. If you follow me on Instagram you probably already saw this, but how amazing is this hidden Mickey chip?! It was just staring at me from the chip bowl and I couldn't resist snapping a picture. It has already gained some popularity over at the HiddenMickeyEars Instagram account! It's the little things in the life.....
5. Our little girl is such a content and happy baby. She loves to babble, blow bubbles, and talk to whoever will listen. This is her caught in the action of a really intense conversation. 

Linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for H54F!

Our First Family Easter

Easter has always been an important holiday growing up. Like Christmas, there are the secular traditions and the non-secular ones; my family celebrated both. We had the Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets but still kept the focus as a religious holiday by going to all the services Holy Week had to offer.

Now that I'm the parent, I find myself really getting into the spirit of the holidays. I had so much too much fun getting Charlotte's Easter basket together and picking out her sweet little Easter dress. I have a feeling Christmas is going to be dangerous! 

Since Charlotte is so young for her first Easter, I just put things I was going to buy or had already purchased in her basket so it didn't feel like another expense. I put bottles, an Easter rattle that I got last year after Easter for just $.98, a Vera Bradly blanket that a friend gave me, an outfit and a headband and shoes set that I had ordered a while back on GroopDealz.

As you can see, she LOVED her Easter basket! 

 From my family to yours, I hope you had a wonderful Easter however you chose to celebrate!

H54F - Good Friday

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. Since it was my first week back full time in the office AND the start of daycare, things have been a bit hectic to say the least. We are all getting a routine established and I totally forgot to account for blogging time! Busy or not though, this has been a great week! 

1. My friend was at Old Navy last week and picked up this hilarious onsie! So fitting for our little family, don't you think?!
2. I couldn't resist stopping by the mall to get an Easter bunny picture for Charlotte's first Easter. I'm so glad she cooperated and had a genuinely good time. I'm sorry but this picture is just my favorite!
3. I have never seen a DVD release sell out so quickly than with Frozen! I saw that Best Buy finally got it back in stock this week so of course I had to pick it up! Now if only I could make some time to sit down and watch it since I've only seen it once when it first came out...
4. As you know, this was a big week with Charlotte starting daycare. I'm not going to lie, it's been awesome! It's forced me to start a nighttime routine with her and now she sleeps through the night in her crib. I think daycare tires her out!
5. After about 2 years of debating on buying one of these planners, I decided to just bite the bullet and do it. Erin Condren was having a sale, so there was no better time than now to give it a test run. Everything you need is in this planner and I can't wait to organize my life! Not to mention, it came with cute personalized labels too. Basically I'm in love and have decided that every January I will be sure to budget for a new one. I don't think I can live without it and I haven't even had it a week!

I hope everyone gets to spend some extra time with family this weekend and enjoy Easter and the rest of your spring break! 

Linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday!

The Drop-Off

Everyone talks about how emotional it is when you drop your baby off at daycare for the first time, so needless to say I've been dreading this day for a while now. Even though I've been back at work for a month, but my mom has been watching Charlotte on the days I was in the office so it hasn't been a big deal.

 

Prepping is the worst part. You see, when Charlotte was with my mom, I didn't have to pack or worry about anything! Grandma always has diapers, wipes, bottles, formula and even spare clothes. But daycare, that is a different beast. I have to provide all those things plus sheets! I was running around last night trying to label everything and hoping I didn't forget anything. Think I have enough bags?!

 

Not only was I packing for the drop off, but I'm also trying to work out at after work so I don't have to do it when I get home. Needless to say I had a TON of bags. So much so that I had to have my husband help me load the car because all these bags plus Charlotte would have been impossible in one trip!

The drop off went well. I think being packed and prepared the night before helped with the stress and anxiety of such a big day. Everything ran like a well oiled machine because I also made sure that both out outfits were laid out for the whole week. The key is going to be to make sure I keep up with this routine every week!

H54F!

1. As usual, I've been super busy with embroidery this week. It has basically consumed all my free time, but I have been loving the end result! Now I just need to make some time to do some embroidery for myself and Charlotte!
2. Last Friday was the home opener for the Nationals. My husband went to the game while we stayed home to cheer them on. They ended up losing but it was still a good game!
3. I was working from home and had Charlotte at one end of the couch and Milo at the other end. I love how he fell asleep with his hand on the remote.
4. I found this AMAZING Disney Vera Bradly bow from Classyellebows on Instagram and I just had  to have it. 
5. I didn't take a picture of my last run, but I finally reached my goal of 3 miles in 30 minutes! I started just a few weeks ago running 2.61 in 30, so major progress has been made!

I can't wait for this weekend's weather. Unfortunately next week it cools down again, so I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. 

Linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for H54F!

Charlotte's Three Month Update

Today is April 9th and that can only mean one thing....Charlotte is 3 months old today! Time for another month update!

Eating - Charlotte just seems to not be able to get enough. We bumped her up to 5oz hoping she would last longer between feedings....nope. She still eats every 3 hours during the day, but at night she will go 6-8 hours between bottles. I guess she is stock piling during the day for nighttime. I'm definitely not going to complain about that!

Sleeping - She has really gotten a hold of this whole sleeping thing. She takes cat naps during the day but will sleep most of the evening starting at 8pm. Sometimes she will sleep through her next bottle and will wake up around 4am to eat, but now I'm trying to get her to eat again at 11 or 12 because then she'll sleep until 6am!

We found it easier to have her in our room at night in the beginning because she liked sleeping propped up and it made waking up and feeding every few hours a lot easier if she was right next to us. Now that she is getting older, we are putting her in her crib at night but are finding she isn't sleeping as soundly. If she sleeps in her crib, she wakes up between 3 and 4 no matter what. So sometimes we let her sleep in our room again because we can almost guarantee a full night's sleep. 

I can't handle the way she looks at Minnie every single time! Three months of this same picture cracks me up!

Likes and dislikes - There aren't too many things Charlotte doesn't like these days. She is still indifferent about the bath, but other than that she is quite the happy baby. She loves car rides, peek-a-boo, and her Wubbanub. She giggles and babbles a lot in the morning and in the evening. Charlie loves her bobby, blankets and anything she can put in her mouth.

Here is her comparison from last month. I think she grew A TON!

Check out her other month updates here:

1 Month

2 Months