Camera Angles

In photography camera angle is a common way of adding drama or interest into a photograph. Today the subject is the Grassmere Home located in Nashville, Tennessee and build in 1810. The home and farm is part of the Grassmere Zoo.
I shot these pictures this summer. And I made sure to get all of the homes angles. The first photograph below is a simple angle, which I think brings a welcoming sense to the photograph. I picture how people in the 1800s as they approached the home. I am a history buff so I pause and think of all the people who were around in pre-Civil War Middle Tennessee. The problem with this shot is the stroller a zoo patron left while touring the home, but a quick Photoshop can send that into oblivion.

This next photo is a dead center shot, and my least favorite of the lot. When planning photographs think of how they will look framed. This shot can be adjusted to bring more interest by chopping the extra grassy area out. But it would still lack the interest of the first photograph.

As you can see by the photo below, a slight angle accentuates the home’s height. However a crop of the extra sky would help its appeal. In this photo a shrub all but hides that pesky stroller as in the first photo.

 In my personal opinion this last photo is the best one because it has the trees and extreme angle to draw the viewer into the photograph. Also I believe this makes the home look a bit ominous, which is one of the great attributes of older homes.

When taking your own photos, remember to frame your work in a pleasing manner. Angles accentuate qualities of subject matter. Greenery, clouds, or other background elements all can work for or against the photograph. It can be added that using camera angles on portrait photos can be a bit trickier since your goal is to make a person look their best, so perhaps angles would not be the best option. 

Small Town Activity Ideas

Many people have friends or family that arrive around the holidays. If you are like me, you want to show them a god time while they are in town. East Texas is a great area for living but sometimes it is possible to overlook attractions you know just because you live in town and don’t think like a tourist.

This area has many small museums that showcase the rich history of the area. Jefferson, Texas is probably the most notable small town because it gets more press. The bed and breakfast inns and shopping bring people to town. There is also the Jefferson Historical Museum, which houses art, Native American artifacts, items from an old General Store, and memorabilia from East Texas. It is a good place to visit and it is self guided so you have plenty of time to look at the items. There is also the Gone With the Wind museum. It houses memorabilia from the movie and it the building is a style much like the movie home.

Carthage, Texas, has a small but informative museum. There are murals depicting Native American life in Texas. The museum houses artifacts also from the cotton and oil industries, as well as other pieces showcasing small town life. The Tea Room restaurant is on the first floor and they serve lunch options. Try the spiced-orange tea. It is different but good. Carthage also has the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and the Tex Ritter museum. Both have fun things to look at.

Kilgore has the Oil Museum on the campus of Kilgore College. That is one of my favorite local museums. Interactive exhibits put you back into the oil boom days. There are guided tours and videos that explain the oil industry in more detail.

If art is more your style. The Michelson Museum of Art in Marshall features a mix of artistic styles. There are permanent exhibits but also traveling exhibits. The museum is free but they ask for donations.
There is another somewhat unknown art museum in Tyler Texas on the campus of Tyler Junior College. They offer changing exhibits. There is also a café with good food and reasonable prices.


So hopefully with these tips you can entertain guests during the holidays. Below are links with more detail on the museums.


Historical Museum of Jefferson: http://www.visitjeffersontexas.com/content.cfm?p=details_view&LID=2&CID=3
The Gone with the Wind Museum: http://www.scarlettohardy.com/
Museum and Tea Room: http://www.carthagetexas.com/Chamber/tea_room.htm
Texas Hall of Fame: http://www.carthagetexas.com/halloffame/
Tex Ritter: http://carthagetexas.us/halloffame/museum.htm
Kilgore Oil: http://www.easttexasoilmuseum.com/Pages/contact.html
Marshall Art: http://www.michelsonmuseum.org/michelsonmuseum.org/Welcome.html
Tyler Art: http://www.tylermuseum.org/

Jeni's Beauty Favs 12.8.11

Jeni's Beauty Favorites 

of December

What?! No weird new bands or concert going tips?  Blasphemy!!

Mint Julep Mud Masque by Queen Helene

About $5 at CVS

Black heads? Check.  Clogged up pores? Check.  Grand canyon sized pores? Check.  This stuff is the bomb diggity when it comes to ultra deep pore cleansing.  I use this about once a week for a good spa treatment for my nasty pores (you can drive a hummer into my pores, they're HUGE.)  The best part is it's bright green and gives you the perfect opportunity to run around the house scaring the dogs :)

This is actually VERY affordable and it's the only mud mask I swear by.  Get it.

Chance Eau Fraiche by Chanel

Fragrance

About $70 at Sephora

This perfume is downright heavenly.  I would describe it as clean and fresh (vague, sorry) with floral undertones, totally and completely different from the famous Chanel No. 5. 

Yes, it's on the pricey side but so very worth it for date nights.

 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray by CHI

$13.88 at Wal-Mart

If I were to take "Jeni's 10 Beauty Commandments"  Thou shalt always wear heat protector when using heated hair tools would be commandment numero dos (right behind Thou shalt always wear sunscreen.)  Yes, a tad pricey but this product is king when it comes to keeping your luscious locks from frying in that flat iron.  Heat protector sprays seal important moisture into your hair that is otherwise robbed when its super heated which can cause scorching and breakage. 

 Equate Eye Makeup Remover

$3ish at Wal-Mart

Cheaper off brand for the win!! I've seen some mixed reviews about this product but for me it works wonderfully.  I've used eye makeup removers that leave me with blurry vision and/or continually flakey leftover mascara and. that. sucks.  This is easy to apply and it does a great job of GENTLY getting rid of my eye makeup.  I strive to use very gentle and non abrasive products around my eyes so I don't cause damage to the sensitive skin in that area.  We want to keep our eyes bright and unbaggy right?? Right!

 Glycolic Herbal Wash by Rhonda Allison

$32 on Amazon.com or from my facialist :)

 Ok. Wild Card alert.  This product is (mostly) available only on Amazon.com and through independent licensed estheticians.  I've had so many issues with my skin from ginormous pores to premature sun damage (darn you fair skin!!) that I have recently begun seeing a facialist every other month for microdermabraision and chemical peel.  It's really not at all as bad as it sounds and yes, it makes a difference.  I received this little gem from my facialist at the De Leon Spa in Paris, Tx, Angie Doroba-Martin, and I'm hooked.  Proactive ain't got $#%^ on this stuff.  I actually find myself looking forward to washing my face at night!  It leaves my nasty oily skin feeling squeaky clean and clear all day long.  Again, it's a little pricey but worth the splurge.

Brilliantine Shine Glossing Spray by Garnier Fructis

$3.33 at Wal-Mart

This product is simple.  Spray it on your ends (and JUST your ends or you will have greasy gravy hair within an hour) for glossy shiney goldilocks.  I usually do 2 spritzes on my ends after styling and hairspray just for a little extra helping of that coveted "glowing" shine.

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Jeni & Deanna's Top 10 Money Saving Tips from Pinterest

Have we mentioned that we love...

This week Jeni & Deanna have brought to you our

Top 10 Money Saving Tips from Pinterest!



http://pinterest.com/pin/77053843594187587/



1. DIY Reusable Swiffer pads!
Why buy a box of Swiffer dusters for $7-11 just to toss them out! Go to a Dollar Store, buy a microfiber dusting cloth, cut and boom shakalakaaa.



http://pinterest.com/pin/77053843594187590/

2. DIY Wallflowers!
Apparently, what BBW sells you might be bad for your health.  Read this website and get a quick (and eye opening!) chemistry lesson.  A 2 pack refill of these babies is $12.50, just add your favorite essential oil instead :)

 

://pinterest.com/pin/77053843594203218/

3. Chip bag holder!
httpI'm guilty of actually buying special clips for my chip bags.  Never again my friends.



http://pinterest.com/pin/77053843594203228/



4. PANCAKES!!
Ok, so not really a $$$ saving tip but a tip none the less! I always make a king size mess when cooking pancakes.  This pin kinda makes you go, "Doh! Why didn't I think of that?!"

 



http://pinterest.com/pin/77053843594187594/



 5. DIY Laundry Soap!
$11.21 for 10 gallons of clean clothes awesomeness?  I think so!

http://pinterest.com/pin/156007574561546364/

6. DIY modge podge

If you are a crafter like me, you know how ridiculously expensive this stuff is! Save money by making your own.



http://pinterest.com/pin/272101764/



7. Envelops



My husband and I started using envelopes with cash in them to budget ALL of our money 3 months ago.  We have been able to save hundreds of dollars just by giving every dollar a category to go into. 

http://pinterest.com/pin/77053843594187590/

8. Save money on gift wrap!

Isn't this super cute?  Giftwrap/ giftbags can get a little expensive, so save money by doing something like this.

 



http://pinterest.com/pin/204299627/

9. Starbucks Frappucino



I LOVE Starbucks...but unfortunately the closest one is 40 miles away from our small town.  So not only will this save money but it will also provide an excellent treat for all you rural goddesses out there.

10. DIY Clorox Wipes

We go through about 1 big tub of these every month.  I use them on everything!





http://pinterest.com/pin/453288887/



From photo to artwork

With the holiday season upon us, it is time to freshen up your décor for guests. Photographs can make home feel cozy, but also be used as a conversation starter. This post will give tips for choosing photos and correct wall placement.

Perhaps one pauses to think about the usual family portrait in your grandparents’ house with stilted people with grimacing faces. That is one way of making a statement with a photograph. “Oh look, at those outfits from the 60’s.” The pictures on AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com are fun to look at, but who really wants to be in one?

Today people have the chance to get more pictures of their relatives with digital cameras, so hopefully there are less of those awkward family photos. So you get you perfect picture of your child, pet, or loved one. Now what? Time to frame it and get it on the wall.

• Framing
  • Like most things, less is more. Choose frames that are understated. Neutral wood frames, black, or subtle metallic will make a photo stand out without drawing all the attention away from the subjects. Also it is best to avoid matching frames with the photo’s dominant tones or the room for which it will be placed.
  • Frames can be expensive when you have them custom made, so if possible print photos in standard sizes such as 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 18x24. Another way to save a little money is to go Biglots, Target, or another discount store and buy a cheap print and use the frame and ditch the print. Plus you can used the print as a guide for trimming pictures to fit.
• Placement
  • Height: Hanging art always takes a bit of trial and error, but if you place your pictures a few inches above the nearest piece of furniture, then you will be on the way to picking the perfect spot.
  • Horizontal: Placing several photos in a horizontal line will make the room seem wider. This placement is said to be the more casual approach to hanging artwork.
  • Vertical: On the other hand vertical placement of art groupings is to emphasize formality and give the illusion of height.
  • Arrangement: Grouping photos by color, theme, or subject can also create an interesting effect. If you have a collection of smaller framed photos, place them in a group of four and you have an interesting effect.

With these tips hopefully you will be interested in finding good photos to put in your homes for the holidays and after. There is now a feature at AllPosters.com that allows people to take personal photos and create high quality giclée prints on canvas. The prints are gallery quality and are made with light-fast pigments that will last longer than normal prints. Once you upload your photo to the MyPhotos site, you choose the canvas type and size. The pictures come ready to hang and are returnable should you not like the result.

For added info check these sites:

http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

http://www.allposters.com/myphotos

http://interiordec.about.com/cs/homedecarticles/l/aaarttipse.htm

11.30.11 - Rock Concerts 101, Part 1

Rock Concerts 101, Pt. 1

with professor musical snobby pants herself.

Rock on Grams, rock on.

By no means do I consider myself a "well seasoned" concert groupie (yet) but I have been through the gauntlet of venues.  I've been to huge festivals like EdgeFest (3 times!) all the way down to small intimate venues where I was only 1 of maybe 100 fans (The Spill Canvas at The Loft! Excellent show.)  I've also leaped through genres from Kevin Fowler at Billy Bob's Texas to Judas Priest at the Gexa Energy Pavilion in Dallas.  Here are just a few tips and tricks I have picked up along the way. 

Choosing your show.

           This is the easy part.  Who do you like listening to?  For obvious reasons, preferably a singer/band that is still alive (sorry Pantera fans.)  Be smart about this one kids, if you're into bands like 10th Avenue North you probably don't want to end up at a Metallica concert. 

Procuring your ticket.

          Ticket buying goes best this way:

1) Find who you want to see.

2) Determine where the show is to be held, duh.  What city, venue, etc. 

3) Double check the time and date of the show.

4) Observe when the tickets officially go on-sale (be sure to keep your eyes peeled for pre-sale options)  TIP: For bands you REALLY like, put yourself on their online mailing list. Often, you not only receive news on the band, but also tour dates, and ticket options before the general public.)

5) Find where the tickets are to be sold.  This sounds like a dumb option but sometimes the tickets are only sold at the venue on the day of the concert.  Don't get left out in the rain!

6) When the time is right, POUNCE (on the tickets) (with money)

7) Avoid creepy scalpers.  Do you really want to pay a 200% markup on your ticket?? 

Here are some helpful links of places I usually purchase tickets from for larger shows. 
Livenation
Ticketmaster
Ticket Supply 

THE BEATLES!! I would give a kidney to have a time machine and see these legends in concert.

Swag

          What you wear can really make or break your concert experience.  Seriously.  

• DON'T wear revealing clothing.  There's a good chance you'll be packed up against strangers (especially in a smaller venue) and you don't want to worry about exposure or Lester the Molester beside you.  
• DON'T wear a t-shirt of the band you're seeing.  It's just lame. (Exception! If you purchased a concert tee before entering the venue, go ahead and put it on if you feel so moved.)
• DON'T wear heels!  I don't care how incredibly HAWT your legs look in those wedges/heels/pumps/platforms, do. not. wear. them.  Your back and hips will thank me later.  You can never go wrong with a good comfy pair of well broken in Chuck Taylors.  (I have 6 pairs of chucks, but who's counting...)
• Be cautious of what purse you take.  Again, the size of the venue can be a factor here.  I typically don't even bring a bag into a concert but if you must, I would suggest a small bag that can be worn across your shoulders and back that sits close to your body. 

Kurt Cobain, the late great lead singer of Nirvana and famous Chuck Taylor wearer.

Onward!!

          Use a dang GPS.  Especially if you're traveling into foreign territory (ie. driving through downtown Dallas in a typhoon to get to the House of Blues and you've never ever been there before aaaahhhh!!!)

           

Have your ticket out and your government issued ID ready.  If you're going to a music festival concert (warped tour, EdgeFest, etc.) the ID is not necessarily required to enter.  However, at venues where a bar is readily accessible (The Loft in Dallas, The House of Blues) your butt will be sitting in the car for the remainder of the evening if you forgot that drivers license.

May I also take this opportunity to make an obvious (but unfortunately overlooked) point.  Ahem.  TRIPLE CHECK THAT YOU HAVE YOUR TICKETS BEFORE LEAVING YOUR HOUSE.  That is all.  

_______________________________________________

"Rock and roll music, if you like it, if you feel it, you can't help but move to it. 

That's what happens to me. I can't help it."
Elvis Presley

Happy Wednesday!!

 \m/  Jeni  \m/

11.25.11 Video Killed the Radio Star Friday

Jeni's picks for most "interesting" 

music videos (so far)

...and I use the term "interesting" VERY loosely. 

Ok Go - This Too Shall Pass

We are all too familiar with Ok Go's famous treadmill video (oh, you've never seen it? Get out from under that rock and watch it here HERE!)  The awesome factor of this video is not only the absolutely nutso contraption they've created, but that it was filmed in one take! Meaning there was no cut and paste cheating here ladies and gentlemen.  I'm guessing there were lots of curse words involved in this filming of this little gem. %&@#$*!!!!


Jamiroqaui - Virtual Insanity

Giant treadmill floor?  Tacky black top hat?  Crows?  Moving couches? YES YES YES!! I recorded this video onto a VHS (am I dating myself??) and watched it over and over back in the 90's and was mind blown.  This video was pioneering in the fact that it broke the rules and got away from the run-of-the-mill-stand-there-and-sing video by challenging your depth perception.  Not to mention the song has an addicting head bobbing beat.  Yep, you were dancing in your chair while watching this.  I know it.  This video received 10 MTV video music award nominations in 1997 and walked away with 4 wins including Best Video of the Year. 


Klaus Nomi - Lightning Strikes

Ok, before you watch this video with one eyebrow raised hear me out.  May I introduce to you Klaus Nomi, one of the most famous countertenors of this century.  FACT TIME!  A countertenor is a man who's singing voice can reach into the range of an alto or soprano (ladies voices) while still maintaining their (ahem) manhood.  It's actually a rare finding in the vocal world and is quite a sight to behold if you ever have the chance to see one in concert.  Klaus was quite the, um, "visionary?"  His performances included his trademark plastic tuxedo and bizzare hair-do.  He was also one of the first celebrities taken from us prematurely from HIV/AIDS in the 1980's.  Enjoy.


The White Stripes - Fell In Love With a Girl

Simply put, this video made the list just because it was filmed with Legos.  Period. This video also won MTV's Best Breakthrough Video in 2002.  

Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star 

This video made the list because it was (gasp!) the first ever music video broadcast on MTV at 12:01am on August 1, 1981.  None of the Small Town Girl bloggers were even on the planet yet!  On February 27, 2000, it became the one-millionth video to be aired on MTV.  The song is ironically about a small time singer whose career becomes an epic failure when music goes to television.  Ouch.  Also check out The Limousines rebuttal to this song with their single Internet Killed the Video Star. 


MGMT - Kids

 

If you can get past the first minute of a fireman's wet dream then you will see why this video is, well, "interesting."   The premise of the video is a look at a toddler who is trauamtized by monsters that are invisible to his mother.  I would really like to know how they kept from totally scarring this poor baby for life!  The band released a "behind the scenes" video through its official YouTube channel that shows the toddler laughing while interacting with the puppets and actors in monster costumes.   Also the wannabe KISS/Spaceman costumes?  Ah.Maze.Ing.  I know its weird but music videos that leave me with a confused look on my face are some of my favorites.  This video takes the cake.  Weird.  Odd.  Awesome. 

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"Did you hear what they said? That rock and roll is dead? 

Yeah it's like a zombie, it will dig itself back up again." - The Limousines