New Face - New Year

I am excited to reveal the new face of Life-n-Reflection...

Catered to fan favorite topics (and mine too of course) - Natural Bath and Body, Handmade Home, and Naturalist Photography

Finding Beauty In Simplicity

Welcome to Life-n-Reflection a journey to look at our lives in reflection. Rooted in the natural beauty and simplicity of seasons. Savoring the aromas, colors, fresh herbs and flowers, and rural lifestyle. May you be inspired to take a deeper look into life's ever changing seasons. 

Come see what it's all about at www.lifenreflection.com 

The Journey: Migratory Sunshine

As the days spread into weeks and weeks into months; the days of sunshine migrate across the calendar. 

Here we are half way into the year. Reflecting on the year thus far,  I think of happy days as sunshine in our lives. Although, some days we have to make our sunshine it's still certainly been a sunny year.

 

"Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows." 
- Helen Keller

Photo Before and After: 

Enhanced with Hazel #3 Overlay and Seventeen Cool Texture from Texture Masters Collection Vol 1

Join me on Instagram and Share your Photo Stories: I Heart Macro / Image-in-ing / Communal Global / Our World Tues / Garden Tues / Life Thru the Lens /  Through My Lens / Maple Hill Hop / Little Things /  Photo Journal / Photo Friday /

The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

Weekend Reflections: Long Distance Call

Does anyone still use the term - "long distance call"?  As a kid, Grandma and Grandpa would call long distance and we knew what a treasure that was.  What a joy it is today, to have a video phone to talk live unlimited! It's the simple things such as sharing a smile that mean the most!

Reach across the miles and added a warm, worn texture

1. Faded your photo by layering the Gray Skies Texture soon on a blending mode of darker color around half opacity
2. Add a hidden massage with the Carte Texture on the overlay blending mode at opacity between 50 and 60 percent

Get creative and join me in a weekend photo challenge!
Show off your shot
Be Joyful
Texture Twist
The Sunday Creative
The simple things
Scenic Sunday

Weekend Reflections: No Limits

Keeping with the one little word challenge, I define- each day shall hold no limits!  I captured this photo at sunrise, looking out from my driveway.

Take your photos past your limits with texture!!

1. I applied a soft Gaussian blur for a dreamy finish
2. Next, I added the Dawn's Message Texture on the overlay blending mode and reduced the opacity to 82%

Join me in a photo challenge this weekend:
Joyful Jones: Be Joyful
Live Every Moment: Trees
Oh [snap}: Show off your shot
Newtown Area Photo: Weekend Reflections
Life...As I See It: One little word captured
Skywatch: Look to the Skies 
The Sunday Creative: Perspective
Ni Hao Y'all: Sunday Snapshot
Simple as that: the simple things
Scenic Sunday: Meme of Scenery

P.S. I just opened up Sponsorship space here to promote artists, designers, vintage shops and more!  I'm offering the month of February Free with a one month paid sponsorship!

Weekend Reflections

I have defined that - Windows with or without glass hold reflections. This is photo I shot while "Barn Hunting" - one of my favorite things to do on a Sunday Afternoon. The window looking out from inside the vast empty barn, behind wild weeds, and tangled trees must have a secret to hide.  I wonder what I would learn if I could see what it sees?

Titled: Secret Window

It is a beautiful morning here, high in the mid 70s!!  I think I'll take another hike around lake with my Aussie.  After I enter every photo  challenge of course!! 

Join me in a Photo Challenge:

Foto Friday: Reflections

Newtown Area Photo: Weekend Reflections

Life...As I See It: One Little Word Captured

and then, she{snapped]: show{off}your shot

LEM Photo Challenge: Anything 

Living with the Lowrys: A few my favorite things 

Twisted Fate Photo Challenge: Bulidings

Joyful Jones: Joyful Moments

Simple as That: Simple Things

Scenic Sunday

The Sunday Creative: Extent

Under the Old Oak Tree

What I simply love most about collage is - you must look into your images and find something they share.  This could be color, texture, a season, an occasion, a person, or a feeling...

I found memories of Sunday Spring mornings in the garden, when everything seemed to be a shade of green!

Download the collage on the Goodies Page at the Lab.  If you're not a member, sign up today it's free!

Today's Challenges:
Simple as that: Simple Things
Ni Hao Y'all: Sunday Snapshot
The Sunday Creative: Grizzled

Nesting - A Fresh Start

Do you find yourself nesting in winter?  
I tend to add lots of texture and hints of spring to our home.  
It feels like a fresh start to a New Year!

Add a glow and touch of script to your images!  Start with the Mr. Smith texture and set the blending mode to vivid light at an opacity between 50 and 60 percent.  Next, layer the Cinnamon texture with a blending mode of darken and slip the opacity down a just few percent.  Don't forget to download the screencast to use in Photoshop.

Titled: Nesting

Take a Photo Challenge:
Foto Friday: Fresh
And then she snapped: Oh Snap- Show Off
Live Every Moment: Anything

Ring in the New Year

I'm embracing the new year! The sun's shining, "Rush"- Aly and Aj is blasting from speakers, I have all but 6 photos from 2010 edited, 
my files are backed up, paper whites are budding in the kitchen, 
and I'm creating like mad! 

A collage of memories from 2010: Simple pleasures - long walks with my Husband and Aussie, quiet discoveries in the gardens, reading novels by the pool, and sharing a love of Photography with all of you!. Share your Simple Things, memories of 2010 at Foto Friday, Embrace the New Year at a new photo challenge - One Little Word Captured, Recap 2011, and if you've felt a Flourish like me - link up at the Sunday Creative!

Collage inspired by Kristin at the Faded Prairie.  Join the Texture VIPs, and download this collage on the Goodies page at the Lab!

It's New Years

Guess what? It's Friday and I'm posting!   The office is closed for the Holiday!  I feel like a kid on Christmas Vacation!!

I really liked the SOCC - So, I just added a little texture...
Layer the Cinnamon Texture on a blending mode of color burn and keep the opacity at 100%.  Check out Macro Friday, Oh Snap, and Give Me Your Best Shot!

Capturing a Mood

 What is it about the Lotus flower that makes us feel calm?
I did a little research and learned that at night the flower closes and sinks to the muddy depths of ponds and streams.  When dawn comes the Lotus rises to the top and opens again.  The Egyptians regarded the flower as a symbol of the sun, creation, and rebirth. OK, enough research, share your Tuesday Sweet shots and Today in your part of the globe!