renee oakenfull photography

I love...

shopping!

I never used to be a girly girl. Pink, pretty, frilly, anything like that - ick. In the last year I've started to turn into a girly girl though. My mobile phone (cell phone) is pink, I buy girly clothes now, gosh... it's so strange.

Anyways - I went shopping today! Woo hoo...

I couldn't decide whether to get it or wait and get my much-beloved-never-been-held lens... the 24-70mm2.8L. Well... I leant all the way over into waiting but when Danny got his, I couldn't resist. And now... I LOVE my laptop! Sitting up nice and comfy on the lounge at night, just chillin' and surfin'... aaah, paradise :)

And of course... the new girly girl has to have a girly laptop bag, right?

Not the best photo - product photography doesn't seem to be my thing - and not as pink as I would have liked it... but it's gorgeous. It's so soft and luxurious looking and I love that it looks like a handbag. It hasn't come across like that in the photo though. It has two pockets on the inside and between them is an insulated pocket for the laptop.

And then... well...

a girl's gotta have a handbag to match, right? The leather on this bag is soooo soft. It's gorgeous.

This one I bought because I really did need it. My other one was starting to look a bit used...

 

I also got some clothes on sale but these are the things that have made me smile all day long.

And now? Well... I'm going to sit here on my oh so comfy lounge, with the heater on, a blanket, a freshly made hot cup of coffee... and do a little blog hopping on my new laptop.

These days are few

I have loved the time we've been able to spend with Pacey this year. With the others all at school now it's just him at home during the day. He is seriously the cutest kiddo I've ever met. His sense of humour is already so defined and he has the cheekiest smile that makes it impossible to be mad at him, no matter what he does.

The days that we go shopping are probably my favourite. We go out together... Danny, Pacey and I. We hang out... chat... spoil him a little too much and usually finish up having lunch somewhere - Pacey's choice.

I savour every single one of those days. There's another feeling that has started to creep in though... it's a bittersweet touch. In six more months he's going to leave me. He'll be off to 'big school' with the others and the time for hanging out all day one on one will be gone. I look at him and I still see my newborn baby. How can it be that's he's getting that old? He definitely doesn't seem big enough yet.

I know I have to let him go... just as I did with each of the others when their time came. But he is my baby... my last. I want it to last so much longer...

No new photos today so I'll pop another one in that I took yesterday. I've been taking Wendy Schulz's class and she's just amazing. Our assignment this week is to focus on the art of photography... capturing the moment... forgoing the 'technically perfect' photo. So here it is... embracing the grain and forging ahead with very slow shutter speeds in my winter lit house. I don't take enough of these kinds of photos anymore so I'm enjoying being pushed by this assignment.

What does a superhero do?

When he's not out fighting crime... when he's not saving the world... when he's not working on his muscles...

What does a superhero do?

Hang out with his sister... playing with Bratz and Barbie dolls of course?

And the winners are...

Jamie, Kelly and Carrie - CONGRATULATIONS!

I'll get them out to you in the next few hours. I can't wait to see what you do with them!

I know the rest of you are just dying to get your hands on them...
Check my extras blog for all the details. It's had a makeover in the last 24 hours and all the details and some sample photos have been added.

Back to normal...

No more entries accepted into the draw now. In 24 hours I'll have the winners posted. YaY! I love giving presents! So you have to check back tomorrow :)

Here's a photo I'd not processed yet... he got this camera for his birthday back in April. I love listening to him give the other kids direction. Future photographer?

Actions run: Gentle Boost and Vignette My Way

24 hours to go!!!

If you're wondering whether you should put your name in the hat or not - do it now!

If you're still wondering... I'm guessing that you're an PSElements user and unsure about whether or not it's worth the bother since most people don't have actions for Elements. Right? Guess what?

There WILL be actions available for PSE5. I can't guarantee for earlier versions though. The whole set will not be available, but there's still going to be a rockin' set for you.

And here's another sneak peek for you...

Another taste

WoW - you guys rock!

Thanks for the fantastic response. I almost can't wait another 2 days to be able to do the draw!!!

Here's another taste of what's to come...
(click to make larger - especially the grain conversion)

 

By the way - update on my furbaby:
He's doing just fine. He's still finishing his course of antibiotics and hasn't gone back to the vet for a checkup yet, but he seems to be doing great. In the last 2 days he's really perked up and started to run and jump around again. He's eating and drinking again and generally just so much better. Thanks for caring!

Introducing

Here are a few of the new actions I have coming. The entire set should be ready by the end of the week (just tweaking them here and there) but I wanted to put these ones out because...........

Yep - a giveaway!!!

This time, I'm smarter though. The response to the last giveaway totally knocked my socks off. I never expected that much interest. This time I'll be giving away 3 full sets.

How to get it? Same deal as last time. I know you're out there... I have stalkerish tendencies, remember? I check my stat counter so I know you're visiting - all you have to do is post. Simple! Every person that posts between now and when then full set is launched (by Friday night) will go into the draw.

Don't forget to let your friends know - you know they want it too!!!

...a simple, soft, vintage kiss...

...the vintage kiss me hard has added texture, without going too far...
(you can't see it here so great but on a full res file it rocks)

and here they are side-by-side for comparison. Click on the image to see it better.

A teaser...

I am working on all the new stuff that I told you about. I promise. It's just... well, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out, didn't it? So... I'm finished it! It's fantastic!!! I'm soooo happy with it. If you haven't rushed out and gotten it it, do so!

And now... for the teaser... this is part of something that I'm hoping to have done by the end of next week. It's almost there now.

What do you think?

Puppy hospital and fake puddles

My poor furbaby is in puppy hospital tonight. He's going to be okay. He has an infected butt gland (they think). The vet couldn't examine him properly so they had to knock him out. If it's what they think it is, he'll get a shot of antibiotics and come home with 2 sets of tablets... one is antibiotics and the other is to keep his poop soft while he heals. Poor thing...

Since last Thursday I have been waiting and waiting for it to rain. I bought the 2 youngest kiddos new gumboots and raincoats and have been dying to take puddle photos. No rain. I know! Can you believe it? Well... today I cracked and faked a puddle. I'm pouring the water in hoping that it isn't going to soak in... Voila!

We started with nice clean water...

and ended with some funky mud...

and everything in between...

and these are my 2 favourite splashes...