Do you remember last year when I shared a self portrait photo challenge with all of you? Well, I think it was a fantastic challenge that had a TON of interest and participants! I’m SO excited to do this challenge again. I can’t wait to see all you beautiful bloggers/readers!

When you put yourself out there in the blogging world, it’s almost impossible to avoid any negative comments. You can receive 100 fantastic and encouraging comments, and all it takes is that one damn negative comment to bring you down. I hate that it’s that way, but goodness… it’s how seems to be (P.S. See this comic, from The Oatmeal). I get a negative comment… somewhere in my social media… “Damn, you’re so ugly!” and that seems to be the only comment I hold on to and remember. In a sea of positive and lovely comments, that one stupid commenter sticks out. I don’t like it, but it’s there in the back of my mind.

I love the challenge of a self portrait. Even though I don’t love every photo taken of me, I have a bit more control when taking a self portrait. A quick candid snapshot usually means my chins will come out to say, “hello”. Ha! A self portrait gives me more control.

//Beautiful Mustard Bow from, Just Lovely Things//

Sooooo, what does all this mean? I want to see a self portrait from YOU. Yup, you. Beautiful you. Share this photo on your blog, tumblr, flickr, or Instagram… and link that URL to my linky tools (at the bottom of this post). One lovely participant will have a chance to win a camera from me! Yeah! This challenge is NOT based on photography skills/style. The winner will be chosen at random. ALL you have to do is share your image below. I can’t wait to see you! <3

This year I’ve decided to share an Instax mini 8 prize for the challenge! What? Yeah. All you have to do is share a self portrait of yourself and you’re entered. Simple as that. Plus, share a bit of info about you at the moment. For me…

Currently:

Obsessing over…

Getting myself more organized. I am attempting to create and editorial calendar for the year. Goodness, I hope it works out. I need to be more prepared.

Working on…

Like I said above, working on getting myself organized. PLUS, working on so many DIY’s and blog posts and DRAWINGS!

Thinking about…

My kiddo’s schooling. I’ve been throwing around the idea of homeschooling. BUT… that’s a major maybe. I have never seen myself as a teacher, but I am willing to look into this a bit more. We’ll see.

Anticipating…

Planning the upcoming PNW Blogger meet up for this Spring!

Listening to…

The most recent episode of Downton Abbey.

Eating/Drinking…

I had a bit of yummy chocolate. ANNNNnnnnd, a glass of wonderful wine.

Wishing…

I was more organized and had more time in the day.

————————————————————————————————————————

What can you win?

- Instax Mini 8!

Rules:

- To enter, link up your blog post to my linky below. (Please don’t link to FB pages, I wont be able to view your image).

- Post must include a self photo of you. It can be an old photo if you’d like… but, why not take a new one?

- Please link back to my blog on your post. You can copy and paste this link if you’d like: ” Linking up with The Paper Mama for her Self Photo Challenge! ”

- Share what is currently going on in your life. You are welcome to follow my “Currently” prompt.

- If you enter this challenge: All photos entered into my Self Photo Challenge may/will be shared in a blog post(s), on The Paper Mama blog. There will always be a link back to the photographer’s URL (instagram) that was shared.

- PG please.

- One entry per person.

- One winner will be chosen at random from Random.org.

- The last day to enter a photo is on February 28th, 2013 11:59 PST.

- Good luck!

P.S. The sweet bow in my photos is from, Just Lovely Things. It’s my favorite hair piece at the moment!

My kiddo is in preschool…. SO that means Valentines cards! I know I’m more excited about these cards and this whole “holiday” than Miss R, but I know she’ll get more excited on the day. Why? Well, she’ll get a ton of candy. AND, in my kiddo’s world… candy = a good day.

The hardest part of this whole project: getting my child to participate and smile for this photo. She was happy one minute, then I mention taking her photo and it all went downhill. I eventually bribed her with a piece of chocolate. I got ONE sorta smile (see above) and MANY grumpy photos (see last photo).

How to do it:

- Get your kiddo to hold a stick (maybe a broom) and take a photo. We had an old dowel, so that worked. This will help you place the fishing pole (aka stick).

- If you’d like, add the wording “You’re a reel catch!”, or “You’re reel neat!” to the image in photoshop or another photo editing program. OR, you can just handwrite this out on a piece of card stock and tape it to the photo.

- Use an x-acto knife to cut a couple slits to slip in the fishing pole (the sticks I had came from an old floral display). Tape the sticks on the back of the photo to make it more secure.

- Tie a string on the end of the fishing pole, and the other end of the string to a piece of candy. I purchased some swedish fish and individually wrapped them up in saran wrap.

- Print out my free Trout Printout (right and left). Cut them out and tape them to each side of the swedish fish.

- Done!

The whole assembly of this project took about 1 hour (maybe a little longer since kiddo was “helping”). Cost was around $8 for 20 Valentines. Even though this photo below is super grumpy/sassy… I think it’s my favorite. This is pretty much a look she gives me EVERY day. We’ll save these special Valentines for her BFF’s. Hee.

- Chelsey

P.S. if you make this Valentine, please share a photo link in the comments below! I’d love to see it.

Yeah. New Year. New goals. I know. Ha! But…. last year I really let my photography practice slack. BIG time. I didn’t take nearly enough photos. The only way I’ll get better with photography is to practice. That’s why I’m going to start up Scavenger Hunt Sunday, with Ashley Sisk, again. This was always my favorite photo challenge. It pushed me to keep practicing and refining my photo skillz. I miss it. This week, I’m going to pull from my archives, but next week will be all new photos! She gives you 5 prompts each week. Hopefully I’ll see you over there.

1. BREAKFAST

2. MULTI-COLORED

My colorful girl.

3. STARTS WITH THE LETTER C

Chelsey starts with the letter “C”.

4. ROLL

OKAY. This is sort of a stretch… but, you can roll those apples… if you really try. Ha!

5. FUTURE

 

I still haven’t had my caffeine this morning. This is my future. Hee.

Next week’s prompts:

Outside, Backside, Little Things, A Cup of…, Reflect

- Chelsey

A year in photos. One of my favorite end of year blog posts. This is my 3rd year participating in Ashley Sisk’s year end photo round up (my past 2 years: 2010 and 2011). I always love wandering through past photos, and this is always like a scavenger hunt. I hope you all enjoy, and if you’d like… join Ashley!  

1. Me! – What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2012? Goodness, just making it through the holidays was an accomplishment. I have never been so busy in my life! A ton of orders, blogging, life, and selling at a local craft show.

2. I Love You – picture of your husband, boyfriend, children, pets, etc.

3. Still Laughing… – I’m still laughing at these two girls. Jess and Stephanie. We stayed up past 3 am playing Mad Libs. Yup. It was hilarious… because we used dirty words. Yeah, we’re a bunch of 5-year-olds.

4. Winter Wonderland – This photo is as wintery as things get. We had one day of snow, but I didn’t take any photos. Santa screams winter time, to me.

5. Birthday – My kiddo’s 3rd birthday.

6. Friends

7. I Was Inspired… – I was so inspired by my trip to Alt Summit last January. It was an amazing learning experience, and I met so many talented and amazing people. I can’t wait to go again, and I’ll be speaking this time. Whew!

8. Spring Fever – Warm day at Jamison Square!

9. Travel or Vacation – a trip to the Oregon Coast.

10. Summer Days – a trip to NY in August. Holy hot!

11. A Day In My Life – Just another day.

12. All Smiles – 4 generations.

13. Autumn Harvest – Welcome Pumpkin.

14. Home

15. Celebrate! – A pie to celebrate a birthday.

16. Let’s Do It Again… My Napa trip was AHmazing!

17. I Miss You – My sister. She lives in New Zealand.

18. Beautiful

19. Dress Up – Halloween.

20. Close Up

21. Holidays

22. My Favorite – This is my favorite photo from 2012.

23. Don’t Ever Change

24. Just Because…So There! – My cute little Chihuahua man, Angus.

25. Hopes and Dreams – I hope for the most beautiful year, with more happiness than sadness. Lots of growing and journeys with friends. AND, an exciting year for my beautiful daughter…. who’s starting preschool in a couple days! <3

- Chelsey

P.S. I hope you all have a happy and SAFE New Year!