Get Creative with Adobe

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Over the past few years I’ve really been trying to improve my photography skills;but I learned that the final results of a picture, are more than just learning your way around a camera – almost as important as taking the picture, is learning how to edit it.

I  am going to admit, up until recently I didn’t use any fancy editing software – in fact, the paid PicMonkey subscription was as ‘professional’ as I got. But then I had a chance to try out Adobe Creative Cloud Photography – and I’m hooked.

The Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan is a 1 year subscription )encompassing Photoshop Creative Cloud and Lightroom Creative Cloud) to photography bliss. You can edit, organize and share your photos from anywhere on any device with the creative cloud.

“Take your best shot and make it even better with the Creative Cloud Photography plan.”

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Whether you love sharing your work on social media with small edits or showcasing your work on a website with complete makeovers this is the software for you!

The Adobe CreativeSync technology is amazing because if you start a project on your computer, or on the web and you need to finish it on the go it automatically saves everywhere and you can continue it on your smartphone or tablet!

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I love editing photos especially of my little loves – my kids and my nieces and nephews. You know with children you could get that ‘perfect’ shot, and it all be ruined by one of them closing their eyes, having a spot on their shirt, or their hair out of place. With Adobe Creative  you can fix all that, plus add some extra bling when it needs it.

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If you have a photography lover in your life, this would be the perfect Christmas gift – you can pick it up for a great price at Best Buy today!

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Register for the Luvs Loyalty Club for Great Offers, Savings and More!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Luvs. All opinions are 100% mine.

As Moms we want to make sure to  give our kids the best of everything in life – always have the right answers, feed them the right foods, send them to the right schools – and save money while doing it.
That’s why I love affordable, dependable brands like
Luvs. Luvs Super Absorbent diapers have a leakguard core, refasten-able stretch tabs (my favorite part), contoured shape (for a great fit) and a leak barrier where the leg gathers to keep the diaper from leaking.The  Luvs Super Absorbent diapers helps lock away wetness 2X better than other competitors. Luvs offers not only quality but savings as well.

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Luvs is a brand that values Moms so much they’ve started the Luvs Loyalty Club. The Luvs Loyalty Club offers the latest offers and savings, exclusive access to news, tips, and articles available only to Luvs Club members! You can sign up for the Luvs Loyalty Club on the Walmart website –  it’s super easy to sign up, just fill out your info, answer a few questions and your in! Right now registrants will be entered for a chance to win a years supply of Luvs,valued  at $1000! (the drawing will take place in November, so hurry and register!) So go join the The Luvs Club now!


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Come join us tomorrow 10/29 for the #LuvsClubParty at noon EST hosted by the @RookieMoms! The party will focus on great baby activities for fall, Halloween tips, adorable baby photos and of course some awesome prizes!!

 

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Star Wars Mickey Mouse Cookies

Who isn’t excited for the new Star Wars movie opening on December 18th? That’s my birthday, so we’ve already decided that we will make it a Star Wars celebration!
What’s a celebration without treats right? I love these super cute and tasty Star Wars Mickey cookies! They are easy to make, and the kids are going to love helping decorate!

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Cookie Recipe:

Cookie Ingredients:

5 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 C soft unsalted butter
2 C granulated sugar
4 eggs

Royal Icing Recipe:

Anakin & Princess Liela  Icing Ingredients:

2 egg whites
1 C powder sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
Black, white, grey, brown & blue gel food coloring

Royal Icing Recipe:

Chewbacca & R2D2 Icing Ingredients:

2 egg whites
1 C powder sugar
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
Beown, grey, black, blue & red gel food coloring

Cookie cutters:

Mickey Mouse

Cookie Directions:

– Cream the soft butter with the sugar until the combination is smooth not grainy to the touch in a mixing bowl.
-Add all 4 eggs at one time. Continue to mix.
-Add the vanilla.  Continue mixing.
-Sift the four, baking powder, and salt together.
-Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.
-Continue mixing to make sure all ingredients are thoroughly blended.
-Make the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling wrap completely covering the entire dough ball.
-Put in the refrigerator for about 6 hours or overnight. Check to see if the dough is firm.
-Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
-Pull the cookie dough out of the refrigerator and sit it out to soften up a bit.
– Put flour out on the wood cutting board, rub flour on the rolling pin, and work some flour into
the batter. (if needed)
-Roll the dough out on the cutting board and using the plaque cookie cutter begin to make your cookies.
-Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper.
-Using a metal spatula move the cut cookies to the parchment lined cookie sheet.
-Bake at 325 degrees for 8 minutes.  Check to see if the cookies are thoroughly baked.
-Take the  cookies off of the cookie sheet and put on a wire rack to cool completely.
(About 10 minutes).

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Anakin & Princess Lela Icing Directions:

-Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl mixing on medium speed for 4 minutes. (except your food coloring)
-If icing is  not stiff enough add 1/4 C powder sugar.
-Take out 2 TBSP of icing add several drops of blue gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
–  Take out 3 TBSP of icing add several drops of brown gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
– Take out 3 TBSP of icing add several drops of grey gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
-Divide the remaining icing into two bowls.
– The first bowl add several drops of black gel food coloring.  Stir to blend.
-In the second bowl, keep this bowl of icing white.
-Spoon each color of icing into individual  frosting bags with a #5 tips. Twist the open end of the bag to push the icing to the tip.

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Icing  Directions:

 Anakin Mickey


-Using the Anakin in the picture as the outline.
-Outline each of the Anakin  cookies in white except for the ears and the top of the V-neck.  Allow to dry for about 30 seconds before filling in the cookie. Fill in  where the cookie has been outlined in white with the white thinner  icing.*    Allow to dry for about 30 seconds.
– *Squeeze  the half of the white of the icing into a bowl then add  1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies.
-Referring  the Anakin /Mickey’s picture as an outline, draw a brown belt in the middle of the cookie . Outline the belt in brown then fill it in. Use the thicker icing.
-Outline the buckle on the belt and the detail on the shirt in grey icing and fill the buckle in with thicker grey icing. Allow for it to dry for 30 seconds.
-Add a lite sabre in the blue, outlining and filling in with the thicker icing across the middle of Anakin’s body. Add a small square at the bottom of the lite sabre in grey, outline then fill it in with the same icing.
– Outline  Mickey’s/Anakin’s ears & collar in black then after 30 seconds for drying fill in the ears and collar in the thinner black icing. – *Squeeze  the half of the white of the icing into a bowl then add  1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
Allow these cookies to dry from 5-10 hours

Princess Lela Minnie:

-Outline each of the Minnie/Princess Lela cookies (the top half) in black . Allow to dry for about 30 seconds.  Fill in the top half of the cookies in with the black thinner  icing.*
– *Squeeze  the half of the icing into a bowl then add  1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies.
-Outline  the brown hair on Princess Lela, allow the 30 seconds to dry. Fill in the hair with the thinner brown icing. – *Squeeze  the half of the icing into a bowl then add  1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Follow the Minnie’s/ Princess Lela picture as an outline.
-Outline the bottom half of Minnie in white  allow to dry to a few seconds before filling it in white thinner icing.  Allow 30 seconds for this part to dry before moving on.
-Outline  the top of Princess Lela’s dress in grey, (the shape of a V) allow the 30 seconds to dry. Fill in the “V” with the thinner grey icing. – *Squeeze  the half of the icing into a bowl then add  1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Allow these cookies to dry from 5-10 hours

Chewbacca & R2D2 Icing Directions: 

-Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl mixing on medium speed for 4 minutes. (except your food coloring)
-If icing is  not stiff enough add 1/4 C powder sugar.
-Take out 1 TBSP of icing add several drops of red gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
–  Take out 3 TBSP of icing, add several drops of blue gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
-Divide the rest of the icing into three  parts. In the first bowl add several drops of brown gel food coloring, stir to blend.
-Divide the remaining 2/3 s icing into three equal parts.
-In the first bowl add several drops of grey gel food coloring, stirring to mix well.
-In the second bowl add several drops of black gel food coloring, stirring to mix well.
-In the third bowl keep this white.
-S
poon each color of icing into individual  frosting bags with a #5 tips. Twist the open end of the bag to push the icing to the tip.

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Mickey as Chewbacca

-Using the picture of the Mickey as Chewbacca as an outline.
-Outline each of the Mickey  cookies in brown.  Allow to dry for about 30 seconds. Fill in the cookies in with the brown thinner  icing.*    Allow to dry for about 30 seconds.
– *Squeeze  the half of the brown icing into a bowl then add  1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies.
-Further following  Chewbacca’s picture as an outline, draw the shoulder belt in two separate lines in the white royal icing.
– Allow for the white belt  to dry for 30 seconds.
-Add the brown belt loops to the white belt in the brown icing.
-Allow these cookies to dry from 5-10 hours

Mickey  as  R2D2

Using the picture of the Mickey as R2D2 as an outline.
-Outline each of the R3D2 ears on the cookies in black.  Allow to dry for about 30 seconds. Fill in the ears on the cookies with the black thinner  icing.*
– *Squeeze  the half of the black of the icing into a bowl then add  1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies. Allow to dry for about 30 seconds.
-Follow the picture  of R2D2as an outline.
-Outline the top half of  R2D2  in grey icing. Allow several seconds for the outlining to dry.
– *Squeeze  the half of the grey of the icing into a bowl then add  1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies.
-Fill in the top half of R2D2 with the thinner  grey icing.
-Outline the bottom half of R2D2 in white icing. Allow 30 seconds to dry.
– *Squeeze  the half of the white of the icing into a bowl then add  1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies,
-On the top half of the cookie near the top of the head add a small square in blue icing. Allow to dry for 30 seconds then add a small black dot.
-Just above the half way line between the grey and white halves add three small squares in blue icing. Allow 30 seconds for these to dry,  One the third small blue square add a small red dot. Next to the small square with the red dot add a small grey dot. Allow it 30 seconds to dry before you add the smaller  black dot.  On the end of the head add a small square in the blue icing.
-Draw a  line in the blue icing  dividing the white bottom and grey top.  In the white bottom half add three more lines in blue icing.
-Outline R2D2  the black icing.
-Allow these cookies to dry from 5-10 hours

 

 

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Healthy Mouths Equal Healthy Kids

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Orajel™ Kids
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Did you know taking care of your teeth and gums does more than just give you a pretty white smile? A healthy mouth and a healthy body go hand in hand. So teaching your kids healthy habits in childhood can pay off in adulthood.

Taking care of your mouth may help lower the risk of heart disease, preserve your memory, reduce risks of infection and inflammation in your body, help keep your blood sugar stable, and many other health options.

That’s why I love brands like Orajel; from teething relief to learning to brush Orajel has your little ones covered.

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Baby Orajels Natural teething gel uses the soothing power of chamomilla and passion flower to help has relieve babies teething pain discomfort and calm the restlessness that comes from teething so they can get a good nights sleep. I can tell you Orajel has always been my go-to for comfort and relief for all my kids. Not only does it work great, but it’s the only all natural teething relief offered.

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My son loves Orajel toothpaste (and toothbrushes as well of course),and I love that they are fluoride free, helps strengthen and protects teeth, soft bristles  and a fantastic fruity flavor!

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Orajel™ is offering one lucky winner a chance to turn milestones into Smilestones with a $1,000 gift card along with an Orajel™ product prize pack to keep their smile healthy for capturing their next big Smilestone!

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Laughs and Giggles, Hallmark Approved. Sorta.

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This is a sponsored post on behalf of ShoeboxHallmark approved. Sorta.
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Most of you that know me, or have been reading my blog for any amount of time, know that I was born with the gift of sarcasm (thanks Dad!) It overflows into my work, and of course into my personal life. I don’t think I’ve ever not sent a serious non-funny, inappropriate card. It’s just in my nature, and I love to see the smiles and hear the laughs when someone opens a card I chose for them.

shoebox_cardsI know in the world of e-cards and text messages sending snail-mail cards seem to be a lot of work; but it’s a fun surprise to get something in the mail besides bills, right?
Shoebox is my favorite humor brand in the greeting card industry. The fun-loving branch of Hallmark has tons of hilarious, inappropriate and sarcastic cards to chose from for all sorts of occasions.

shoebox_cards2One of my favorite things to do is walk up and down the card isle reading all the Shoebox Cards (and laughing inappropriately in the store isle) picking out cards to send to my friends and family just because. My best friend and I have been doing this for years – in fact, I have a few shoe boxes full of cards we’ve exchanged over the years. Sometimes it’s fun just to sit down and read through them (which you definitely can’t do with e-cards, and text messages).

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If you haven’t checked out Shoebox cards, you need to visit your local Hallmark store and check out all the hilarious, inappropriately funny cards to share with your family & friends!

 

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This is a sponsored post on behalf of Shoebox.

Posted in Entertainment, Uncategorized | 18 Comments