Hot Air Balloon Festival in the Wine Country

Got up at 3:45 a.m. to make the "Dawn Patrol" at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic. It seemed like a great idea yesterday afternoon when we got our tickets. Seemed like a horrible idea at 3:45 a.m. But then seemed like a brilliant idea at 5:00 a.m. when my friend Tricia and I were sitting in our beach chairs, huddled under blankets with our cups of coffee, watching the first balloons go up just as the sun was beginning to rise.

This was the 23rd year for this event and the morning was perfect. In years past the balloons could not go up because of wind or fog. Today was gorgeous launch weather. Do you know why hot air balloons launch so early? The air on the inside of the balloon has to be 100 degrees hotter than the air on the outside of the balloon. That difference is what makes the balloon rise.

There were lots of photographers out with tripods and fancy cameras. I took all of my photos using my iPhone camera. I used the Hipstamatic app. The top two collages were shot with the JohnS Lens and the Blanko film. The third collage was shot with the Tinto 1884 Lens and the C-Type Plate film. I then made the collages with the Diptic app.

There was a DJ at the park, playing the best songs for the day - songs like...
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Up, Up and Away - The 5th Dimension
Come Away with Me - Nora Jones
It's a Beautiful Morning - The Rascals
Higher and Higher - Jackie Wilson
Come Fly with Me - Frank Sinatra
Fly Like an Eagle - Seal
Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
I'll Fly Away - Etta James
Good Morning Starshine - From the Broadway Play Hair

iOS7 - Can the New iPhone Be Far Behind?

The new operating system for the iPhone, iPad and iPod is being released this fall. It's looking very cool. Lots of new features. I am guessing it's coming with a new iPhone this fall. What do you think?

Another Beautiful Day in Santa Cruz

It doesn't get much better than this... breakfast outside at Aldo's, watching the sailboats leave the harbor.

AIDS LifeCycle - 545 Mile Bike Ride to End AIDS

The ride begins this Sunday, June 2nd. My wonderful friend Les is riding for the fourth time. It's not too late to support and encourage him, even if it's only a few dollars. Let him know we have his back as he climbs those monster hills!

I still have some of those I AM MAKING A DIFFERENCE wrist bands to send out if you donate. Thanks so much. Donate here...

iPhoneography in the Rose Garden

I wandered around the San Jose Rose Garden for a bit yesterday. It is in its full blooming glory! Pulled out my iPhone and took some pictures with my Hipstamatic app, using the John S lens and the Blanko film.  I then made a collage of my favorites in the Diptic app. It was mid-day and the sun was bright... definitely not a good combination for photography. However even under those conditions I get great shots with the John S and Blanko combination.

How can you not love a rose called Mardi Gras?

Life is Good

Stopped at Starbucks for a vanilla iced latte and a charge for my iPhone. Now my iPhone and I are both fully charged. I also have a full tank of gas. Off to take more pictures!

iPhoneography At Elizabeth Gamble Gardens

Friday and Saturday I taught iPhoneography workshops at the Elizabeth Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto, California. The day was gorgeous. The garden was magnificent. The class was full of enthusiastic people. We laughed and smiled a lot. Everyone learned 100 iPhone photography tips. The day was just about perfect!

Candice Glover - My American Idol Favorite

I almost didn't watch American Idol this year. I was just a bit tired of it. Then a friend saw an early episode and told me to watch as there were some fabulous women on this year. I am so glad I listened, otherwise I might have missed Candice Glover. Her voice quite literally sends chills up my arms. 

I can always tell which ones I like best, as I re-wind their performances and listen several times. I also really like Kree and Amber. And as Jennifer Hudson has proven you don't have to come in first to have an amazing career. There is no doubt that Candice, Kree and Amber have very bright futures ahead of them. However I think Candice is heading for super stardom... I am talking Barbara Streisand, Whitney Houston kind of stardom.

I also am glad I watched because of the new judges. They are a kick. I don't miss Paula or Simon in the least. I know Nicki Manaj is kind of over the top, but she's funny and really does know the music industry (and shoes... Nicki knows a lot about high heel shoes). I love the little nicknames she gives everyone. Mariah is an industry pro and is so generous with suggestions. And then there is Keith Urban. Now wouldn't you consider it a win to get a standing ovation and be called "baby" by him. 

Here are some of the wonderful songs Candice has done on American Idol's 12th Season.

I Heard It Through the Grapevine - New twist on a classic 

I Who Have Nothing - She gave me goose bumps when she sang this 
Don't Make Me Over -  
Chasing Pavements - I didn't know this song before, now it's a favorite 
Love Song - Wow!!!!
You've Changed - The woman can really sing the blues! -
Come Together -
When I Was Your Man -
Emotion -
I Am Beautiful - Yes your are Candice. Thank you for so many wonderful songs

 Update: And she won! Congratulations! You so deserved it! I can't wait to buy your albums.

More Photos Are Taken with an iPhone Than Any Other Camera

My New Rose Bush

I am building a rose garden along the side of the house. This is my latest bush. It's called Ketchup and Mustard. Isn't that a great name. It makes me smile every time I look at it. It's so colorful and just says summer. Do you have a favorite rose?

I took the pictures with my iPhone, using the Hipstamatic app with the Jane lens and Blanko film. I then brought the four images into the Diptic app to make the collage.

Rumor Has It...iPhone5S

I still am using the iPhone 4S. I decided to wait when the iPhone 5 was released because there was no update to the camera. I use my iPhone more often as a camera than as a phone. Well, rumor has it that the iPhone 5S is going to be released this summer and that it is going to have a 12 megapixel camera and improved low light shooting. Now that's what I've been waiting for!!!!

A Beautiful Day

It was an amazingly beautiful day here in California. Richard and I decided to take the afternoon off and take Lola with us to Santa Cruz for a walk along the beach. I took this picture with my iPhone and the Hipstamatic app with the JohnS lens and Blanko film.

Hipstamatic app

This Month's Top Ten Tips From My Favorite Magazines

1.   I saw this picture in a John Frieda ad. I love both the cut and the color. Of course I just cut my bangs...

2.  The number of dollars women are expected to control by the end of the decade.

3.  For quite awhile I have been using coconut oil on my skin. This month I read in More Magazine about putting coconut  oil on your hair after washing it, then leaving it in your hair for a couple of hours before rinsing it out. I'm giving this a try this week.

4.  I saw this cool wristband in O this month. It's just the kind of gadget that I love. It's a cool band to wear that works with an iPhone app to track my sleep, movement, food and more. You can find out more about it at Jawbone.

5.  I am really taken with this color palette. I never thought much about putting tans/browns with grays. The day after I saw this I tried a tan t-shirt with a gray cardigan and really liked it. Now I think this might be a good combination for our bedroom.

6.  From HGTV Magazine, I saw these pieces from Restoration Hardware Baby and Child and thought they would go well with the brown/gray color scheme.

7.  I have always wanted a kitchen nook. This is the place where I would love to work with my computer. I would be so happy!

8.  I also saw these beautiful juice glasses in HGTV magazine. They are from Anthropologie and are even more beautiful in person.

9.  I saw this white tweed suit in April's issue of O. I am not a big "suit" person, but this one that I would wear a lot. It's from Rebecca Taylor. 

10.  I also saw this skirt in O. Love love love it. O suggests wearing it with a t-shirt and gladiator sandals. It is from Benetton.

Floral Print Shoes and Ten Songs to Go With Them

I do like the new Spring floral print pants. However I think the last thing this rear-end and these thighs need are flowers all over them. So I have decided to forego the pants that will make my less than best parts look even bigger. 

Instead I am looking for some floral print shoes for Spring. (1) Love the cork wedge bottoms on these sandals from Jimmy Choo (2) I am not really an orange person but think that these flats from ModCloth would look so cute with a pair of capris. (3) The heels on these shoes are more reasonable than most and I really like how they mixed the prints. Anthropologie always seems to have shoes that I am crazy about.  (4) Saw these shoes with the pinks heels at MSN Living. (5) Okay, I probably would not wear these shoes from Dr. Martens, but I needed shoes to go with the song These Boots Are Made For Walk'n. (6) These flowered flats have just a hint of a heel and are on sale at Zappos. (7) Another great pair from Anthropologie. (8) Such a flirty bow on these Palm Beach wedge shoes. (9) These Nine West heels are one of my favorite flowered shoes. Question is would I only be able to wear them out to dinner where I would be sitting most of the time.

Thought I would add a playlist, so we all can dance around the house in our new floral print shoes...

Ten Songs About Shoes

 1.  In These Shoes by Bette Midler 

 2.  New Shoes by Paolo Nutini 

 3.  These Boots Were Made for Walkin' by Emilie Claire Barlow 

 4.  Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis
 5.  Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes by Paul Simon  
 6.  Boogie Shoes by K.C. and the Sunshine Band
 7. Those Shoes by the Eagles
 8.  Shoes by Shania Twain
 9.  Red Shoes by Chris Thomas King
10. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem by Kenny Chesney

Making a Difference

Did you know that as of 2010 1,148,200 persons aged 13 years and older are living with HIV infection, in the United States?

My friend Les is riding 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money to end AIDS. (Find out more about the ride and Les here...) This is his fourth year riding. In the first three years he raised $14,000. He trains all year long to prepare for it. Les is one of the kindest and best men I have ever known. At 62 years old, he is determined to keep training and riding until there is an end to HIV. 

If you could help him make a difference, I would so appreciate it. Even a small donation makes a difference, if we all work together. And... Les will send you an "I Am Making a Difference" wrist band as a thank you. 

You can donate here...
You can find out more and follow Les' ride online here...

Just Breathe - Perfect Timing

I was just skimming articles and blog posts on Huffington Post when I ran across this article called Just Breathe. It includes an exercise and 10 songs about breathing, to use while meditating. 

When I meditate I usually don't like to listen to music. Soon as music starts (fast or slow) my body wants to get up and dance. Instead I watch my breathing. However, listening to songs about breathing might be just the thing to listen to even when I'm not meditating... and the timing is perfect.

Thursday is my long awaited surgery day. I am to have plastic surgery to fix my kidney (More later on my first plastic surgery being on the inside of my body!) or if it can't be fixed they will remove it. I've felt pretty mellow about the whole thing up until a few days ago, when I started to freak out a bit. I was beginning to make lists in my head like...

1.  Tell Richard if I die to make sure that my friend Susan gets the chandelier hanging in the guest room.

2.  Leave my amethyst earrings (the ones from Aunt Ossie) to my sister.

3.  Decide who gets my gold high school charm bracelet.

Then I lost a favorite ring and thought it was a bad omen. WTF? I'm not even superstitious. (I found the ring, by the way, in the bag of dog kibble.)

My hynotherapist friend Tricia came to my rescue and made a customized healing tape for me. It's fabulous and the freakiness has "left the room." (More about Tricia's custom tapes soon. I have listened to meditation tapes before and usually think..well that was nice to listen to ONCE. What a difference it makes having an MP3 custom made for me.)

So now I have a tape to listen to pre and post surgery. I'm feeling all positive and thought I would download my own list of breathing songs.

1.   Keep Breathing - Ingrid Michaelson
2.   Breathe In Breathe Out- Carrie Newcomer
3.   Breathing Under Water - Ali Handal
4.   Breathe - Anna Nalick
5.   The Air That I Breathe - K.D. Lang
6.   Breathe Again - Ning Baizura
7.   I Can Breathe Again - Baywood
8.   Keep Breathing - Kerrie Roberts 
9.   Breathing - Anggun 
10. Breathing Life - Salvador 
11. Breathing - Casey Stratton 
12. Breathing - Joni Laurence 
13. Breathing - Dr. Opin 
14. Keep Breathing - OwlCappella 

Aging Gracefully - A California Steel Magnolia

Not long ago I was called a "steel magnolia." It was said in a way (actually it was kind of hissed at me) that made it clear that it was not meant as a compliment. But I was thinking..."Wait I saw that movie. Isn't that a good thing?"

Since I am a Californian and am lax in the ways of southern traditions, I did what any good blogger would do and googled the words "definition of steel magnolia".  The Urban Dictionary says it's "a southern woman who is strong and independent yet very feminine."

That sure doesn't sound like a bad thing. A Carolina Blogger says "steel magnolias are known for their beauty, grace and charm as well as their resourcefulness and inner strength."

When I think of what aging gracefully means to me, I think of just those things...kindness, loving concern for friends and family, charm, being feminine but strong. I think of a woman who does not get thrown by much anymore and has her feet solidly planted, yet can kick up those same feet in a dance. I think of a woman who stands strong during difficult times, but also doubles over in laughter when hanging out with her friends. She is someone who can write a heartfelt thank you note, knows the words to "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," and always sings along to "Let the Good Times Roll."

iPhone Hipstamatic Collage

I always love photographing with the Hipstamatic camera app. This collage was created using the Jane Lens and the C-Type Plate Film. I took three pictures and then blended them in the Image Blender app.

iPhone Photography Play Time - Hipstamatic and Diptic

I was playing around with my iPhone camera, using the Hipstamatic app camera with the Libatique 73 Lens and the C-Type Plate Film (one of my favorite combinations). I then made the collage in the Diptic app.

A Second iPhoneography Class at Elizabeth Gamble Gardens

Good News - I just talked to the very nice people at Elizabeth Gamble Gardens and they are scheduling a second iPhoneography class. My May class filled up quickly and they have a waiting list already. So the second class is going to be the day after the first class. First class is on Friday May 17th. Second class is on Saturday May 18th.

Details are here...

The gardens are gorgeous and we're going to have a great time. Hope you can join us.