The Paustenbaughs

52 Fridays: Winged Creatures

This week from The Bloom Forum our group of photographers is taking on winged creatures.  This week we are traveling and transitioning over to Japan, but in the midst of all that some winged creatures essentially placed themselves in my lap to be photographed!  Unfortunately I didn't have "the big camera", but did have my phone.  Not the same, but with a bit of photoshop and picmonkey effects, it's at least suitable for now.

Those little ducklings are some serious cuteness!  We went to the park one afternoon since it was so nice and these little darlings came right up to us.  As you can see the mama was not too happy with them and especially with us, but we enjoyed them while we could!

Now head on over to Amy Ames, NC Photography to see what they have in store for today!

Slowing Down

We have been running and moving pretty much non stop since about February.  So to have a few days where we can actually slow down and be bored is kind of welcomed at this point!

We came to Indiana originally to drop off our car and see family, but with flight changes, that turned into just coming to see friends and family before driving back to Virginia for our flight.

We started off with a reunion with college friends which as always was tons of fun with stories to be told and re-told.  I realized about 1 am that I never got my camera out, which honestly I'm ok with.  It was a time to just sit and visit with friends and I was happy to not be snapping away and didn't feel like I missed a whole lot.

We have great parents and extended family so we enjoyed a day in downtown Indianapolis the next day and it was so nice to get away with just us.  And luckily we had beautiful weather to boot!

Even before the Super Bowl this year downtown Indianapolis has really grown and become a great place to see and explore.  It had been a while since we were just down there to walk around and we thoroughly enjoyed it!

Lots of good food:

A great morning of running through the canal:

And great views of downtown:

We have T minus 4 days until departure and soaking up some more family time for a few days.  It's getting real now!

52 Fridays: Slow Shutter

This week The Bloom Forum has 10 participating photographers in our weekly theme for capturing photos each week.  This week's theme is Slow Shutter speed with a Long Exposure.

I have to admit this is the hardest to date!  This is something I've been wanting to try, but have never gotten around to doing it.  I think I need to keep trying!  I nearly didn't participate/post this week, but I figure I can't learn if I don't try, right? 

So here goes.  Slow shutter speed for the girl who never stops moving, especially at the playground:

Now head on over to Jenny Singleton Frisco, TX and take a look at their takek on this week's theme!

 

The Moving Process

We are currently undergoing move #8 right now and to say we have this down to a science would be an understatement.  Although throw in our first international move and it's thrown us for a bit of a loop!  I think we did pretty well though and hoping it all works out on the other end too!

We have been organizing for months and figuring out what stays, what gets thrown away, what will go in storage, etc.  Nearly a neverending process.

And because my husband is full fledged OCD when it comes to moving and I'm partially OCD, this is what pre-moving looks like in our house!  We have 3 shipments so we separated out our house into that.  Accocording to Maya "Our house has never been this messy. I don't like it"!!  Me either kid, me either.

One of the few perks of moving all the stinking time is that I don't have to pack a thing besides what goes with me personally.  I'm spoiled in that respect.  I don't foresee me ever moving myself even after Terry retires!  Let's just hope this all gets to us in one piece!

It gets me a little choked up seeing all the rooms start to empty out as our belonging get loaded on crates.  I start remembering all the memories we've had here and how happy we were.

And when it's completely empty?  Yep, more than a little weepy.  I'll miss this house and I'll miss this neighborhood. 

I've been strolling down memory lane as we pass through the house and give it one final cleaning.

Most places don't hit me this hard when we move, but this was our house and we made it our home and I'll miss that.

I'll miss our friends, our great neighborhood and so many other things about it.

But now, onto the next adventure, with more memories and more friends.

Moms Gone Wild

*Due to the big move the scrappy/creative posts will be at a minimum over the next couple of weeks, so my apologies in advance!

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Some of my friends threw me a going away party this past weekend the likes I have never seen before and probably won't see again for some time.  And this could be a good thing for us all!

Within 5 days we went from looking all dolled up:

To looking like we were found on the corner of our subdivision street:

That's right, my amazing friends threw me a Real Housewives going away party, complete with blown up {wax} lips and all!!!!  Big hair, low cut dresses, too tight track suits, caftans, lots and lots of wine-we had it covered!

Holy fun and obnoxiousness!  We had such a great time and laughed until we nearly peed ourselves.  And that may have even happened as well (shhh).  Doesn't take much to entertain 4 moms who don't get out much.

We had lots of housewives represented, but we all agreed Tiffany (aka Kim a la Atlanta) in the blond wig took the prize.  That wig was out of control!

And that is why I love these ladies so, so, so very much!  We dress up in ridiculous housewives outfits/ensembles and have an all night laugh at ourselves.  I am going to miss them so very much and hope I can find friends half as amazing and funny as they are!

52 Fridays: Vintage

This week we have 12 photographers taking part in this week's The Bloom Forum weekly theme.  The theme for the week is Vintage and I knew exactly what I wanted to photograph when I saw the theme.

I just got vintage camera last month from a small shop in Indiana when I went to visit my family and I'm in love!  I'm dying to get another one to start adding to a collection of one!

Now head on over to Faye Kingston, Miramichi, NB to see her take on the theme!

Pause

I've said this before and now I wanted to turn it into a layout in honor of Mother's Day.  I would love a pause button to pause time right now.  I love the ages of my girls and the place our family is in right now. 

I try to get out from behind the camera every once in a while because I want to be in those photos too!  We had this taken while in Indiana visiting family and I treasure it so much.  I'm so proud to be their mom and hope each day I am doing the best job I can.

I love this heart background from Silhouette.  A great way to add embellishment without lots of embellishments!

Today is filled with zoo animals and first graders for a field trip.  Hope I don't get anyone confused and bring home a baby panda instead!

Give It Away Day

Time for moving which means it's time to clean out ye old scrap room, mainly the drawer o'stamps.

So here goes.  I'm listing them here and it's first come, first serve.  I'll cross out the ones taken and get them sent out later this week.  Sorry, no internationals, trying to save some money!

When you request a stamp just email me at tcpaustenbaugh (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address.

From Daydream Believer and unused:   GONE

From Boardwalk used once:   GONE

 

From Mind the Gap used once:    GONE

From Paper Moon never used:    GONE

From Back 40 used once:    GONE

From Cotillion used once:   GONE

From Into The Woods never used:  GONE

And these I'm not sure about and too lazy to go digging around on the SC site!

 

 

Thanks for taking these off my hands!  Enjoy!

52 Fridays: Self Portrait

This week we have 12 photographers from The Bloom Forum taking part in the 52 Fridays project.

This is normally a difficult one for everyone, especially photographers since they are the ones since they are the ones behind the camera most of the time!  I don't love my self portraits, but I have come to embrace it more.  Mostly because I know my family and children want me in those photos too.  Plus I like to do a little tongue in cheek sometimes with them.  Like today!

We are knee deep in organizing, packing, rearranging, and just basically in a moving 8000 miles away frenzy.

I'm tired.

Very, very tired.

Now, head on over to see Genevieve Flynn's beautiful self portrait!

May PageMaps

I have worked with PageMaps in the past and just love them so I was stoked when the Write.Click.Scrapbook team was asked to take part in this month's PageMaps sketches! The new sketches are all up now so head on over to take a look at the team's layouts!

This is the sketch I worked with:

I stuck pretty closely with the sketch and it came together pretty quickly!

I wasn't so sure about using the larger iPhone photo, but it ended up working.  I really wanted to document this change in my life recently because it was HUGE!  I've had horrible eyesight since I was 11 years old and was dependent on glasses and contacts to see anything beyond a foot in front of my face. 

I finally broke down in February and had Lasik surgery and it is the absolute best thing I could have done!  And like everyone I have talked to who also had it done, I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner!  Love it and love waking up and not blindly feeling around for my glasses!

Thanks for stopping by!