by Cathy Baker | Photography/Blogging |
by Cathy Baker @cathysbaker
“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.” ―Marc Riboud
Photography isn’t something I’ve always appreciated. The lack of photos I’ve snapped (and posed for) proves my point. But something changed when I found a Sony a6000 camera under my tree in December.
Since then, I’ve spent many hours perusing sites to help in my efforts to take better family pictures, as well as blog photos. Many bloggers share how quality photography increased their readership by ridiculous numbers. We’re a visual bunch, aren’t we? It’s for this reason I’d like to share three of my favorite go-to sites when it comes to photography. {These are in no particular order.}
PinkPot
PinkPot – Chaitra has yet to fail when it comes to delivering eye-popping photographs on her blog — but it gets better! She shares tips on props, lighting, and how to snap high quality photos, whether it’s on your phone or your DSLR.
Mary Denman
Looking at Life Through the Lens of a Camera…Capturing One Moment at a Time – Mary Denman shares weekly tips on practical ways to take quality photographs of all sorts. Her site is ideal for beginners but her expertise behind a camera can’t help but offer even the most experienced photographers a takeaway.
Emma Davies
A Year With My Camera – Emma Davies offers a free photography workshop that’s well worth your time. She also hosts a Facebook group where we share a different photo every month, based on criteria she emails to members. It’s a hands-on approach to learning that easily enriches the way you approach the art of photography.
Learning how to take quality photos, whether through our phones, point and shoot cameras, or DSLR, enables us to capture irretrievable moments. The three sites mentioned above have been my go-to resources in recent months and I hope you’ll find them just as helpful. {Let me know!}
Is there a photography blog or other resource that’s helped to guarantee success with your photographs? If so, please share in the comment section below.
by Cathy Baker | Wellness |
by Cathy Baker @cathysbaker
After an 8 week recoup time last November, I’d planned to hop back on the Weight Watchers wagon without missing a beat. And then Oprah and her bread-eating self entered the picture and everything changed. The plan (PointsPlus™) I credit for helping me lose 30 pounds last year switched over to SmartPoints™.
Flexibility is one of the main reasons I chose Weight Watchers last year, and now there is very little of that, especially for those of us with a sweet tooth. {Despite my sugar allowances, I passed every health requirement for insurance with flying colors⎯the first time in years.}
Having choices on the PointsPlus™ plan also helped me to not feel deprived. I’m concerned many will end up feeling exactly that on the new plan, but we all have our choices to make, and with those choices, changes. My change included cancelling my membership. I’m sticking with the PointsPlus™ plan using my old calculator. Yes, I miss not being able to access online tools but it’s worth the sacrifice. I know what works for me, and even though it’s harder to stay on track without the support of the Weight Watchers leaders (whom I love by the way!), I’m determined to try.
So, while change is often a good thing, this one doesn’t feel like it. I’m disappointed, a little timid about going it alone, and a tad frustrated that the company had to go and change what was working for many people.
Graphic courtesy of PictureGraphics
I hope the new program will be the right direction for many. I really do.
How about you? Has anything changed in your life lately as a result of choices made by others? Hopefully, it’s a good change! Please share in the comment section.
by Cathy Baker | Faith, Home |
by Cathy Baker @cathysbaker
Years ago I heard a pastor say he doesn’t believe God cares where we live — what area, what house, etc.
I respect his opinion but I tend to disagree.
I see God’s specificity throughout His Word, as well as our own home situations over the years.
Over twenty years ago, we built a home in our new little town. As relatively new believers, we knew nothing about the beauty of tithing, but it didn’t take long to realize our budget couldn’t handle that kind of mortgage if we were going to tithe fully.
So we sold the new house and moved into a 50 year-old two bedroom, one bath house. People thought we were crazy moving into such a small home with two little boys in tow but some of our happiest memories were made in that home. As a matter of fact, our oldest son and his wife bought the home years after we’d left because he had such good memories there.
Our 50 year-old home. Image Courtesy of Google.
After eight years of living in our “tiny” home, we felt the boys needed more space as teenagers so we went in search of a little larger home. We put a full price offer on a home across town but they denied it. {Whaaat?} We scratched our heads at the time but remained confident God closed the door for a reason bigger than we could understand. A few weeks later we landed in a home/area where our boys made life-long friends, and had room to play music.
When we decided to move a few years later, with the boys were entering their college years, God sent a buyer from NY who had one weekend to find a home. He gave us a full price offer because he didn’t want to squabble over price. We look back now at our own full price offer that was denied and thank God for it.
That closed door opened many others that would’ve never been opened otherwise.
The examples could continue but suffice it to say I’m convinced God does care about the details of our lives. He cares about the community where we’ll live, the people we will meet, the friends our children will make, the church we’ll belong to, the money we will spend. Why? Because He cares about you, me, our families, and those around us.
I believe our heavenly Father delights in leading us to places where we can flourish emotionally, physically, and spiritually — all for His glory! And because He cares, why wouldn’t we pray for His direction?
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8
So, what do you think? Do you believe God cares where you live? Please share below!
{You may be asking what this subject has to do with change. I’m asking myself the same thing but this is what the Lord laid on my heart to share.}
by Cathy Baker | Home |
by Cathy Baker @cathysbaker
I marvel at the ways the internet has changed the way we do life.
At the touch of our fingertips we locate new recipes, learn how to cover popcorn ceilings in creative ways, spiff up our blogs, and countless other things.
Lately, I’ve started setting aside time to peruse a variety of blogs via Bloglovin ← (which I love!) Today, I’m sharing a handful of sites that are sparking changes in my life, both in small and positive ways. I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I do! They’re in no particular order.
Thrifty Decor Chick
Sarah shares simple, inexpensive ideas on decorating. Her ideas are easy on the eyes, as well as the budget.
Changing…how I tackle decorating. With Sarah’s creative penny pinching ideas, all things are possible. I’m hoping to use some of her Pinterest ideas in our next home.
The Nester
With a mantra like, It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect To Be Beautiful, how could you go wrong? Myquillyn Smith won me over with her book The Nesting Place and her blog never disappoints.
Changing…the way I see everything, not just my home. Imperfections hold their own kind of beauty.They’re to be embraced, not shunned⎯in our daily life, as well as our homes.
City Farmhouse
Inspiring DIY projects, decor ideas, and yummy recipes. {And it doesn’t hurt that she too has a big crush on buffalo checks.} She also uses a lot of white…my favorite color.
Changing…the way I spend my time. Her Project Gallery alone convinced me of the need for an allotted guilt-free perusing time. Check it out and you’ll see what I mean.
Magnolia Market
Chip and Joanna Gaines. Enough said.
Changing…the way I view house projects with my own hubby. Instead of calling my hubby Bob Vila (because he has to touch everything he sees in antique stores) I will bite my tongue pause, and thank God for Brian’s sense of humor. Oh, what I would give for a Chip and Joanna makeover!
Modern Homesteading, A No Fluff Look at Rural Living for Newbies (for all my fellow chicken lovin’ friends!)
Victoria is the real deal. She lives in a 80+ year-old log cabin, in the boonies with chickens and blueberry bushes. She blogs for GRIT and Mother Earth News and is a huge proponent for essential oils and self-reliant living.
Changing…this full-fledged city girl into a, dare I say, country girl? Okay, so you won’t see me relying fully on the land (how far is the nearest Starbucks anyway?) but you might just catch me picking blueberries and feeding chickens.
So, there it is! My list of favorite lifestyle blogs. Which blog do you think you’ll visit first? If you have a favorite lifestyle blog, please share it with us!
{If you like lists, stay tuned for more favorites in March! Hint: Blog/Photography, Foodies, Inspiring.}
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker @cathysbaker
Welcome to the first Saturday of the month when we join a fellow follower on the bench of life to learn from their experience.
Today, I’m delighted to introduce Susan Stilwell to you.
Susan and I actually “met” via Vonda Skelton’s site in the comment section. {Who says leaving comments isn’t beneficial?} In our case, we became eternal friends and I thank God for her often. Since our initial meeting on Vonda’s site, we’ve had the opportunity to meet at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. It feels like a family reunion every time I see her sweet smile! And it doesn’t hurt that she’s a Hokie friend. 🙂
Susan is a prayer warrior to the very core of her being and much wisdom flows from her as a result.
Please
remember, these glimpses of quiet times are shared to simply show that our quiet times can look very different. My heart is to invite
you into the freedom that awaits when we meet with our heavenly Father
{Thank You, Jesus!} in a variety of ways.
So, welcome, Susan.
If we were to join you during your time with God, what might we observe?
I’ve always been an early riser, so I look forward to my
one-on-one times with the Lord around 5:45 A.M. I love those quiet dark moments
when I have the fewest distractions. I have a cozy stuffed chair in my office
and snuggle in with a creamy cup of hot coffee.
I start by praying the Lord’s Prayer, and then I read from a
devotional guide. I also try to review any text I’m teaching, and I journal
thoughts from those two sources. I keep a list of prayer requests, and I close
by praying a collection of scripture verses I’ve memorized over the years.
Other than the Bible, what is your one go-to “tool” you
use during your time with the Lord? I can’t pick a single go-to resource, so let’s call it a
tie: my journal, which is actually a day planner, and a good devotional book.
|
| Andrew Murray’s, Humility |
I lean toward classic writers like Spurgeon, Chambers, and
Andrew Murray. A.W. Tozer is a favorite contemporary writer, although he’s not
so contemporary compared to the others! A short devotional that slays me every
time I read it is Murray’s Humility.
I try to read it at least once a year.
Is there a particular experience you’ve had during your one-on-one time with God that you would like to share?
I consider every day to be a unique experience with the
Lord! For Yahweh—the all-sufficient, all-powerful, all-knowing and all-wise
Creator and Sustainer of the universe—to condescend to me—an all-needy, all-dopey, all-failing spec of nothingness? I’m
awestruck by that every single day of my life. (Can you tell I’m reading Humility this month?)
Is there anything else you would like to add about your
one-on-one time with the Lord? I do my best to be consistent, but I also allow myself to
bathe in grace on the days I get sidetracked. I strive for authenticity and
fluidness with my devotional times. I don’t ever want it to be a checklist
item, which is an easy trap for Type-A personalities like me. God forbid I
become a Pharisee who honors Him with my lips but my heart is far from Him.
Two closing thoughts:
- Don’t do what I do! Not only are we are fearfully and wonderfully
made, but we’re also unique. Sit in His presence, bask in His word and let Him
direct your intimate times.
- A devotional time is an excellent discipline, but it’s
not what sustains me throughout the day. I’ve developed a habit of spending “simple
seconds” with Him as often as possible. I turn my attention away from my
activities and acknowledge that the God of the universe is present with me. I
thank Him for the privilege of living for Him and ask Him to empower me for
whatever is ahead. I hope it blesses Him because it certainly blesses me.
Thank you, Susan. The one truth that stood out to me the most? How, every time we sit in the presence of a holy God we are having a unique experience. Amen! As we approach Easter, it’s yet another reminder of the costly sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf, ushering in the very possibility of having a relationship with our heavenly Father.
Is there a particular thing that Susan shared today that stands out to you? Please share in the comment section.
Susan Stilwell consults, writes and speaks on a
variety of topics. Her clients appreciate her technical expertise and attention
to detail on their websites, projects, and social media strategies. Technical
“how-tos” are Susan’s favorite articles. You can find her working as a blog
designer and contributing writer at
Fistbump Media.
Susan also serves as a hospital chaplain
associate and is a voracious scripture memorizer. She’s a conference speaker
and passionate expositor of God’s Word, and she’s active on Twitter, Facebook,
and SusanStilwell.com.
by Cathy Baker @cathysbaker
Having choices on the PointsPlus™ plan also helped me to not feel deprived. I’m concerned many will end up feeling exactly that on the new plan, but we all have our choices to make, and with those choices, changes. My change included cancelling my membership. I’m sticking with the PointsPlus™ plan using my old calculator. Yes, I miss not being able to access online tools but it’s worth the sacrifice. I know what works for me, and even though it’s harder to stay on track without the support of the Weight Watchers leaders (whom I love by the way!), I’m determined to try.
