Picture the Holidays--The Last Few Days

On Saturday, I finished Picture the Holidays and truly enjoyed this inspiring project.   It was a great way to capture the spirit of the season and it reminded me to take time out during this busy time of year to do what I love--snap photos.

So here you go.....my last few days of Picture the Holidays.


Day 29--Try a Little Tenderness
When was the last time you did a random act of kindness?  Today we were asked to do something kind for someone else and to take a picture.  I've been on a fingerless glove knitting kick lately and decided to send a pair to a new friend...just because......

Day 30--Now, There's No Looking Back
With 2011 coming to an end, today we were asked to visually translate the idea of looking forward.  While this may not be very original, there is something about starting a new weekly planner that is so exciting.  And yes, I still love a paper based calendar.....I find it hard to embrace my iPhone calendar.  I like to see the week ahead of me laid out on pages.....no buttons to click....just pages to turn.....

Day 31--Gather Your Thoughts
Today we were asked to gather up some of our images from the month and actually print them and enjoy them--imagine that!   I decided to photograph a few of the images which encapsulate how I feel about the new year--joyous, celebratory, and ready to dream.

Picture The Holidays--Week 4

I'm almost done with my Picture the Holidays photo project.  This has been such a great way to capture the holiday season.  I highly recommend you try this next year!  Here is a recap of week four.....

Day 22 You are Getting Sleepy
Today we were given permission to "shut down and reboot" even if it was for only 10 minutes.  Here I snapped a quick picture with my iPhone while taking a little rest with my pooch.

Day 23  Life is Sweet
The prompt for today involved taking a picture of a sweet treat.  I knew right away what I tasty goody I would snap....my seven layer bar.  Every year my friend has a cookie exchange and every year I make (much to her ribbing) seven layer bars.  Suzanne, this photo is for you!

Day 24  Enchantment
Today we were asked to take a photo through the eyes of a child.  What better place to capture a child's excitement than a good old fashioned candy store.

Day 25  This Magic Moment
Here we were asked to capture something off the beaten path, to find something that sheds light on the day.   Here is my 12 year old daughter playing with her new horse and doll.  I think these moments may be fleeting.......but seeing her play so innocently is magical.

Day 26 The Day After
Even though the day after Christmas might find our homes in a bit of disrepair, there is beauty in the aftermath.  As I looked at the traffic jam of cars on my kitchen table (which has yet to be cleared), I found that bit of clutter that made me smile.

Day 27  A Breath of Fresh Air
After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there is nothing better than getting a breath of fresh air.  Today, I took my kids and a few of their friends to the park to enjoy their new RC toys.  While the boys ran around the grass chasing their buzzing airplane, my daughter and I walked our dog around the path.  Ahhhhhh.........

Day 28 Through The Looking Glass
Today's prompt involved finding something that changes the way things look.  Here is a picture of my Christmas tree (taken outside through my window).   I love how this image captures the bare tree's reflection and how it looks as though it is adorned with lights.

Picture the Holidays--Week 3

I'm in the homestretch of the Picture the Holidays photo prompts.   This week I found it a little tough to keep my momentum going with all of the holiday commitments on my plate (school party, our own holiday cocktail party complete with 50 guests, kids being home from school, finishing up holiday shopping, etc.) but I plugged away.  After all, the whole point of this project is to take time out for myself and enjoy a few moments with my camera.  So that I did......

Anyway here is a recap of week three......

Day 15:  Got Gifts?
The idea here was to shoot an image that you would use as a gift tag.  I have not had a chance to turn this into an actual gift tag yet (I better get on it).  This ornament is special to me because not only does it signify love but it was made by my mom using lace from my wedding dress (which she also made--yes, she is amazing!).

Day 16:   Season of Lights
Here was our chance to capture some intentional bokeh.  I never really tried to do this before and found this to be a fun little exercise.

Day 17:  Warm Glow
There is nothing like the glow of lights during the holiday season.  Rather than photograph candles, I decided to capture the glow of the lights through my tasty champagne cocktail.

Day 18:  Recharge
Today the prompt involved taking a moment to recharge your batteries.  The holiday season can get hectic and feel rushed and sometimes all you need is a nice hot bath, a diet coke and your favorite magazines to unwind.

Day 19:  Make a List
I love making to do lists.  I feel an enormous sense of accomplishment every time I cross off an item.   For this photo,  I decided to make a list of my hopes and dreams for 2012.  I used the inspiring texture from Kim Klassen to give myself a few extra reminders.....

Day 20:  Wrapped with Love
Here the idea was to find a gift adorned in its holiday best.  Typically, I find wrapping a presents a bit of a chore.  But taking a few moments to wrap even just a few gifts with extra special touches was actually a great way to spend time this afternoon.

Day 21:  Attitude Adjustment
Here we were asked to have some fun.  Capture something that would help you lighten your mood.  This photo was taken earlier in the month (on a girls' trip to San Francisco) but it makes me smile every time I look at it.  I love my zany friends (and the unsuspecting tourist who was willing to take our photo in the wee hours of the morning).

Picture the Holidays--Week 2

The Picture the Holidays project has been so much fun!  I'm half way through the month and am loving it!

Here is my recap of week 2.......

Day 8:  Reflecting on the Season
Here is my attempt at capturing a reflection of the season.  My husband brought home these sweet red and white carnations.......

Day 9:  It's A Sign
Today's prompt was to notice the signs that are around us everywhere and to interpret them as they fit into our lives.....I saw this sign at Union Square and it spoke to me......

Day 10:  Twinkle, Twinkle
I loved the way the palm trees were lit up at Union Square in San Francisco.

Day 11:  Shaping Up
Today we were asked to look for things that remind us of something else.  In walking around my yard, I noticed that the leaves on this plant look just like a frosted Christmas tree....

Day 12:  A Whole Lot of Happy
This prompt involved focusing on smiles.  While I would have liked a big ole grin from my kiddos, they were not so into it.  So instead I snapped the grin on the sweet angel ornament hanging on our Christmas tree.

Day 13:  Simply Divine
Today we were asked to share the divinity in our life.  To capture something that speaks to you---that showcases the forces that are grander than ourselves........The light in this photo drew me in......

Day 14:  Sincerely Yours
At first I wasn't sure how I was going to capture the handwritten word.  Then I picked up my mail and found this card waiting for me from my dear, college friend.   Oh how I love her.......

Picture the Holidays--Off to a Good Start

by Kristina

I can't believe it is December....that 2011 is coming to a close.  Once again, another year has flown by.  But this month, I'm going to try and slow down and savor each day with a little help from Tracey Clark (of Shutter Sisters and so much more) and Paper Coterie by participating in Picture the Holidays.

For the next 31 days, I will receive a seasonal prompt that will remind me to take a few moments for myself and capture an image that documents this holiday season.   I  have never done a project like this before and all I can say is that I'm so excited each morning to wake up and see what is waiting for me in my inbox.

Another fantastic aspect of taking part in this experience, is seeing the inspiring photos taken by other participants in our private Facebook group.  The images are so creative, beautiful and amazing.  I feel like I will learn so much over these next few weeks.

Anyway, here is my week in review.....


Day 1:   "Holding onto Gratitude"
I picked the image below because it reminds me of the fun I have every year crafting with a group of friends.  Each ornament holds cherished memories.

Day 2:  "Reframing the Season"  

Today's prompt was to use a frame and to look at things a little differently.  I truly feel that you must always believe in the magic of the season........

Day 3:  "All You Need is Love"
For this prompt it was suggested that if you used a heart as an image that you find one that might be out of the ordinary.  I went on a photo walk in San Francisco and found this graffiti wall.  Yes, I may have embellished it a bit--but the heart was already there. :)

Day 4:  You Hold the Key

The idea here is to think about something you do or enjoy to give you a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  What is it that gives you piece of mind?  For me, it is putting my feet up for a few moments and reading my favorite magazines.....

Day 5:  Your View

The idea here was to take a few moments to enjoy the view.  Instead of doing a nature landscape photo, I thought I'd share my view while listening to my son read to me before bed.......

Day 6:  Every Little Thing

Today the prompt was about finding the little things around us that enhance our day.  I decided to photograph the frost on the grass---an unusual occurrence here in Northern California.  

Day 7:  Express Yourself

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays it can be difficult to stay balanced. Today we were reminded to take time out to check in with ourselves---to take that deep breath and allow ourselves to be and feel.  In the photo below, I attempted a self portrait (something new I started doing since Camp Shutter Sisters).  Here I am taking a few minutes to read through a book I bought as a Christmas gift for a friend.  I love this book  Love Life and the series of other titles by Dan Zadra and Kobi Yamada like Believe  and Live Good.  (If you are looking for special holiday gift s that are filled with inspirational quotes about hope, courage, and love these are the books for you).