Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Where ever you go...

...go with all of your heart


*Linking up with Kim over @  Kim Klassen cafe 
for the free and easy e-dition using her new URBAN texture and sweet new clone stamp. 
 Sometimes I feel like Kim has been inside my head when all of a sudden the perfect texture or stamps come out.  Maybe it's because as women we all go through the same trials, have the same worries, care a great deal about those we love and hold dear. We also have a tremendous capacity to share in one another's tender moments and joyous occasions. Whoa...Not sure where all that came from! In any case,  I'm following my heart...with more confidence these days slow but sure footed!
Happy (summer) Snapping!
xo
Kelly


Monday, July 30, 2012

Hats off...

...to Canon


*For putting out such amazing cameras. I could scream jubilantly from the roof tops at how much I love Matilda, but that would probably make it to someones
 MONDAY LISTICLES
 as a sound that drives you bonkers!
Linking up w/Stasha over at:

10 SOUNDS THAT DRIVE ME BONKERS

1. My neighbors dogs who basically bark at air
2. Handling styrofoam. (shivers)
3. Rap music so loud you can hear it 3 cars away...WITH the windows up
4. Nancy Grace...enough said
5. Static on the radio so you can't hear the music clear as a bell
6. Obnoxious, whinny kids while shopping-NANNY 911
7. My bank's ATM buttons that beep SO loud...announcing I'm withdrawing money
8. Crickets...at 2 a.m
9. Hearing the "F" bomb repeatedly
10. Leaf Blowers
This list was just a little too easy...hmmm-scary!

Happy (Summer) Snapping
xo
Kelly

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Scavenger Hunt...

...Sunday

I have to say shooting the prompts this week was a joy with MY new edition! You can read about her here:  Third time's...
I'm over playing at Ashley's today

I'm ready to post!

PAINT
*I had some craft paint left over from an " I don't even remember" project & it would dry up long before I ever had a chance to use it again, so I reconstituted it & gave it a whole new life!

GREEN
* Oh...hello bee! Thanks for popping into the picture!

EYE LASHES
*You CAN NOT say I won't go out of my way to get a shot I see in my head! The lash adhesive ALMOST won...but I was determined to get THIS shot!

SHAPES
* This is like candy for my eyes!

CLOUDS
*HAH...You can rarely say clouds and Southern California in the same sentence! It just doesn't happen...So, I shot the sky with my iphone this morning and added clouds...are you ready all you IGer's out there...with this cute little app called SigNote. You can add 1000's of images and even draw and snap your own to use in your pics.
Now...I'm off to link up and go be amazed with your blogs!
Happy (summer) Snapping!
xo
Kelly

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Third time's...


...a charm
*Happy sigh*
 I just have to say I've missed being here with you. Priorities have a way of rearranging your life and instead of fighting it, I'm just rolling with it knowing that everything evens itself out eventually.
This entry is dedicated Deanna, over at
 http://deannaswauger.blogspot.com/
Her and I have been exchanging emails and she's so sweet patiently waiting for me to post. That is such a compliment. I guess the first thing I'll share with you is my first canvas (12x12) with my photo on it.

Here it is! Oh my gosh I love it! I cried for 5 minutes staring at it! The service was speedy but that might have more to do with the fact that it's printed in Santa Monica which is like 20 miles from me. Second, I'm blown away that my little iphone takes pics with such clarity. Third, quality work from Instacanv.as & I have it proudly displayed. Remember when your mom bronzed your baby shoes? This photo is like that, only 21st century style...because these are "my baby's" shoes forever immortalized on canvas.

One reason I haven't really been blogging is because I made a decision to buy camera #3 (hence the title today!) I've upgraded from the 50D to the 60D and she came yesterday! (yes she's a she...I'm a camera whisperer!) So in the meantime, I packed my other cameras away so that nothing happened to them before I had a chance to sell them!


  Remember how I said life is crazy busy here? I got to take ONE photo yesterday and this was it! Oh...I'm in love already and I can't imagine needing or wanting anything else!

Meet Matilda!
 LMAO...crazy right? But Frankie laughed when I called her a she & I needed a name for her. Matilda was the first thing that fell out his mouth, it made me smile & I went with it. I Love the fact that Frankie takes an interest in my hobby!
Looking at my pic...I probably should go clean my lens...and color my hair...and the list grows...
Until next time,
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly
P.S. My Insta-gallery is
http://instacanv.as/kellykardos

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

INSTA...

...love
Hey you all! I haven't abandoned you...really...I promise. Summer is crazy busy for some odd reason and I have found a fun way to extend my photography. Are YOU on Instagram? OMG...Apple has made it so easy & so fun to snap, edit and post. I'm in the process of opening an INSTA-CANVAS e-shop. I ordered this photo below to see what the canvases COULD look like!


I took this for a weekend project called "lowdownground" for Instagram and I instantly fell in love with photo. They're Austin's Converse. I'm really excited to see it and hang it! I still can't believe these pics are from my iphone! You can find me on Instagram...kellykardos


I felt bad not participating in the Scavenger Hunt on Sunday, I had all but one prompt done and we decided to go on a day trip so that day came and went...Monday came and went...not sure what happened there...and here it is Tuesday already! But I wanted to come and say hi!
 Over at Beyond Layers with Kim Klassen, we are to look for fences this week.  
I didn't have to go very far for my first shot...just my patio in fact.


I went out to take an i-photo of a hibiscus over where this guy landed...Whoa, hello! I slowly slipped back into the house, grabbed my camera and slowly and steadily snapped and walked as close as he would let me.
THEN...

*Look who had a baby...actually 3 babies! Our backyard bird with the wonky feathers is a mommy! All 5 came to visit today mom, dad, and the 3 kids...It was a good day!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Can we talk...

...cute

NOT to be confused w/Joan Rivers and a "dis" session...On the contrary
Happy Tuesday!
Before I post pics I just wanted to say that So Cal has joined in on the triple digit temps. But I'm not complaining. I've got a pool, A/C, lucky to have had cooler weather 'til now & lots of photos to edit that will keep me happily entertained. 


*Case in point! Is this little one stinkin' cute? Looks like I have a new found friend that sits on my patio every morning to watch the feeder. Did you know, hummers are constantly hours close to death? They are very social creatures but am still amazed he lets me get this close-especially when I have that big honkin' 55-250 lens coming right at him! Truth be told, as I slowly approach, (click click) I talk so sweetly & gently. (click click) Compliment him on how brave he is to let me see how good looking he is (click click) I was thrilled that I was able to snap this. I can while away the morning snapping pics of all my backyard critters!


*Me oh my... talk about cuteness overload...puffing up for me! I am adding this photo to Texture Tuesday over at Kim Klassen cafe - I used her Robin's Egg Texture for this. He's a NATURAL beauty cutie huh?

Oh and Danbo?

*It goes without saying about how cute HE is!!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Scavenger Hunt...

...Sunday

Happy Day Friends! I trust you all had a great & safe holiday. For all my blogger buddies in the all that dreadful heat back East, we'll FINALLY be joining you mid week w/triple digit temps. NOT looking forward to it. At the very least, I can cool off in the pool. 
Before I commence with the hunt, BIG congrats to our beautiful hostess & proud new mommy of Felicity,
 Ashley Sisk http://www.ashleysisk.com/

So, except for MOSIAC, every photo I originally took for the prompts, I ended up editing a completely different photo...go figure. I'm just glad I had enough sense to be flexible and go with it!
Here we go...

PATRIOTIC

*My all time favorite quote about military aircraft! This the Globemaster C-17 that flew overhead before our CAP color guard posted colors on the 4th.

VIEW FROM ABOVE

*Frankie bought me a sweet bouquet of flowers last week.

MOSAIC

 *We have extra pool tiles & when you put 4 of these together...it make a mosaic design. (tada?)

SOMETHING TINY

... self explanatory!

VIBRANT

*Woo Hoo...I LOVE Sprinkler Day!

I had fun with the prompts this week. Now I'm going to hop over to Ashley's and a look see!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly


Thursday, July 5, 2012

Theoretical vs...

...practical

Hi friends! Not to worry~I'm not going to get all philosophical on you, well not too deep anyway. Don't want to lose you!
 So, Yesterday...4th of July...fireworks...once a year...

I understand the theory of shooting fireworks-

*But it's the practical part I only get once a year to test the theory...

*A series of camera remote malfunctions, too close, wrong lens, too many people that my "best" spot from last year was taken, blah blah blah...

*But I had to show proof that I tried putting the theory to a practical use!
The perfectionist in me says "ugh...are you REALLY putting those up?" 
The "other" part of me is telling the perfectionist to shut the heck up!
Guess who won? 
And in conclusion, (because all "great" (cough) philosophers say that (wink))
There's always next year!
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

Monday, July 2, 2012

Monday...

...listicles


*Yes, I meant to say the word listicle, and No I'm not reinventing the English language...although I have come up with words that I really swore I'd find in the dictionary!
Ok. So I started following a Mom, Stasha, on IG. Fabulous photos and stories. Then I decided to check out her blog and saw she does this cool thing called Monday Listicles. Now, for some reason, I can't right click my mouse to grab her buttons so the best I can do is cut and paste her address.
http://www.northwestmommy.com/
I thought I'd play and link up.
1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 23, and find line 4. What is it?
*Back in 1940, Anna recalled, the very summer when Jewish friends...
From:
Skeletons at the Feast
my mom and I are reading.
2. How many times a day do you say hi?
*ALOT!!! I'm just friendly that way!
3. Have you ever worn a uniform? 
*For a very short time when I was a Brownie.
4. What do you think about the most?
* Besides my family? Where Frankie and I are going to retire...That and what's for dinner tomorrow!
5. How many keys on are on your key ring?
* Ok...I'm looking at my purse...way over there...to lazy tired to get up...I think just two...house and car...and then all those savings cards from every store possible!
6. What was the last thing you bought?
* Why just today I bought Austin a cool new t-shirt....and groceries.
7. Are you growing anything these days?
* My hair, herbs, peppers, squash, tomatoes, and pomegranates 
8. What's under your bed?
* You mean besides dust bunnies? A plastic bin to keep holiday paper, tissue, ribbons in...I don't REALLY have dust bunnies...or do I?
9. What is most important in life?
* Health
10.What is the strangest word you used this week?
* Shitbucket...From The Help...It was necessary.
There you have it!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

Sunday, July 1, 2012

It's a beautiful day...

...in the neighborhood


*Happy July 1st & what a perfect day it is too. It's 3:45 p.m. & the temp. is barely hovering at 80*, my windows and sliders are open & a gentle breeze is blowing. That's MY kind of summer!  I decided to share a typical morning at the Kardos household with you. My feathery friends did NOT disappoint! The shot above? There's ongoing battles pretty much all day to see who gets to actually drink from the feeder.


*This is Poe the Crow. I love this guy & his wonky feathers to no end. These birds are incredibly smart. Did you know crows possess the ability for face recognition? I kid you not. Poe and I have a whole routine to feed him. He allows me to get pretty close to him. I know it's Poe by his distinctive color and by how close he actually gets to me.  I like to push the envelope with him. 


*I've blogged about the scrubs in the past but I tell ya, I love these guys as well. They remind me of velociraptors. They are equally as smart and VERY territorial. There are 2 clans & they really go at it.
What do they LOVE?


*Peanuts! This is the bait! I actually imitate they're bird call whistling and the clunk of the peanut on the table brings them right to me...
Why here's a taker now!

He's brave and doesn't mind me or my camera's lens shooting him.
Isn't he cute?

*This one actually "weighs" the peanuts! He picks one up, drops it, picks another one up, drops it, goes back to the 1st one, drops it...this will go on till he finds the heaviest. 
But you know, every story has a villian right? 

*Just look at her. Evil I tell you...pure evil. These squirrels destroy any and every nice thing you own. Unfortunately, they come with the territory. (shivers) 
It's always busy here...busy busy busy like we own a zoo or somethin'!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly