Archive for the ‘five on fridays’ Category

the “how to” of five on friday

Friday, November 13th, 2009

how to do a five on friday
After a couple of requests, I decided to do a “how to” for five on friday! Five on Fridays really originated out of my laziness to do a Ten on Tuesday and my ongoing need to not go with the flow:) Then I got to thinking that I wanted it to have some more jazz too…which is where the pictures and theme weeks came into play. So, without further ado, the 5 “how to’s” of five on friday!

1. Here is a template for the picture I use. It is a psd file with layers so you can change the background and text and then add your pictures in.

2. What to write? I write mine on whims, what is going on, what I’m thinking about that week, the time of year. You can get some ideas by looking my past posts at the category of five on friday on here. Ideas only please, don’t copy my five exactly…no one wants a used five:)

3. What pictures to use? I usually just google search for what I’m looking for and find a picture that is legal to use. Clip art works well too depending on what your theme is. Sometimes I use my pictures, again depending on what I’m talking about.

4. I could email out a theme per week/month if you guys were interested. Are you? Email me at shann@shannonkelleyphotography.com and I can put you on the list.

5. Let’s make this about some community and share with each other! I’ll put a little box, like the one below, on the five on friday posts so you can put up your five on friday when you do it! Oh, and don’t forget to link back over here to share all the fives!

five on friday is bizzack! | Holiday gift edition

Friday, November 6th, 2009

five

Seriously, I have no idea why every.single.time I need to write a blog title I go into Snoop dogg mode in my head. Weird. But I ran with it today just to show you my nerdiness:) Woohoo for five on fridays! So, what with everyone getting into the holiday spirit already (ah-hem, Becky!) and the stores a bustling I thought we would have a little holiday guide for you.

1. For the cooking enthusiast: We have one of these that we got from Ecuador but this one from Williams Sonoma is sexy. Carved from volcanic rock, this Molcajete would probably make guacamole even better!

2. For the crafter enthusiast: This year our family is doing a crafting Christmas. The rules are you have to make it or buy something that is homemade (think Etsy). Totally stealing this website from my sis, but what a fun blog to read and get fun ideas! SewMamaSew has a Handmade Holidays section with great fun ideas, including my favorite on Furoshiki. I have some great ideas for my crafting Christmas that I need to get on the ball with. I’ll post pictures after the Holidays when presents have been opened:)

3. For the photog enthusiast: If you are going to have a nice point and shoot, this is one to get! It’s in the PowerShot family but has oh so many yummy details, the PowerShot G11. Can we say wide angle! Plus you can adjust for lighting and such so it gives you more control over your images than other cameras. And did I say wide angle!!!!! :) Of course there is also the new Canon 7d coming out if you are opting to buy larger and for a more dedicated enthusiast.

4. for the music enthusiast: Well, first off cnet.com is the place to look for reviews on gadgets galore but when I ran across this I was impressed by just the looks of it. And I’m not even big on music. What a fun gift though huh? Something you probably wouldn’t buy yourself but some would love to have.

5. For the world changer: Love doing this and always find unique awesome gifts here. I got the pleasure to visit the Ruth and Naomi work spaces in Guatemala and got to see first hand how buying these products at Ten Thousand Villages is truly impacting the world. Love that! They even have a gifts under $25 section on the site if you are needing to budget.

Happy Friday!

Dear Five on Friday,

Friday, October 30th, 2009

I have missed you. It’s not that I haven’t thought of you, because I have, but I have neglected you and for that I am sorry. Please forgive me and know that next week you will have my undivided attention.

xoxo,
Shannon

a random five

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

five
so this week its a random five. partly because I don’t have too much to say on any one topic, partly because I have too much random stuff floating in my mind and it helps to get it all down. So there. :)

1. I’m sure you have heard of the earthquake and tsunami’s hitting the South Pacific. If you follow the blog you know the South Pacific is close to my heart and most definitely one of my fave places here on earth. Please keep them in your prayers! I’m a fan of YWAM on facebook and they are doing a great job of keeping up with what is going on directly through their missionaries there and have a place where you can donate at www.ywam.org.

2. I’m thinking of having a yard sale. Is it weird to have a spur of the moment yard sale in October? I’ve been decluttering the house with thoughts of putting the stuff on craigslist…but I may have a yard sale to get rid of some of the bulk of it. 1930′s house=very small closets=need to stop hoarding stuff (this is a recap of what Brad (aka: my lovely hoarding husband) hears at least 1x/week…usually after I’ve had to move 3 things to get to the one thing I need…said in a non-nagging way of course) ! If you are reading this and have a girl from 0-2 in age and need some cheap nice (as in Gymboree, Gap, Old Navy, some Target) clothes, hit me up:)

3. This month is PACKED! I’m so excited about all the fun weddings and fall sessions coming up! So I’m mentally gearing up for the overdrive my brain is sure to be inalready in. Two words… bring it! :)

4. This is really random but #3 made me think of this. I love random things/songs/quotes that get you inspired and there is this one song on the radio by Fabolous that has become my theme song. and yes, its a rap song. don’t judge…first, go listen to it and tell me it doesn’t make you want to do the Rocky victory dance:) Here are some lyrics…

Go hard, today
Can’t worry the past, cause that yesterday
Ima put it on the line cause it’s my time

5. So, not sure where September went. Time is flying! Flying so fast that my newsletter that was supposed to be out the other day is still being perfected. Yep, that is my excuse and I”m sticking to it:) If you aren’t on the list to get it, you’re missing out! Let me know in your comment if you want to be included and I’ll add ya! No spam, promise:)

oh, and a #6 for the local Knoxvillian’s. Kroger on Broadway in Fountain City is moving to their brand new store that I can’t wait to open! So, they are getting rid of their current inventory and just stocking the new store. Means up to 50% off on a TON of things! Bring your coupons for an even better deal! Shampoo, almost all the brands, are marked down to around $2-$3. I used a $2 off coupon and scored shampoo for .20. Holla!

an autumn five | east tennessee photographer

Friday, September 25th, 2009

five
Well, here we are, late September. Where did the year go!!? We are officially in the season of fall/autumn! The cheers for football have already started at the Kelley house and Brad is anxiously awaiting the day to put out his outdoor fall decorations and hit up a few haunted houses (sans me of course…I’m a wuss!) So this week, a few fall festivities I’m looking forward to!

1. of course, the leaves! I love driving through the Smokies with all the leaves flying down on you like rain. A must do! And then of course, making a pile and jumping in it:)

2. Pumpkins! We saw our first in Kroger yesterday and Brad wanted to buy them all :) He tried to show Lena the ropes in picking out the best pumpkin….she’s still learning.

3. Hayrides. Although I think this one will also incorporate corn mazes, apple orchards, and the like. All those fun things you can go do in the fall!

4. Mmmmm…the nice weather! Its that thin light where its hot but cold. You know, the weather around 78 degrees that when you walk outside you cant help but breathe in and say a little thanks for being in the world. Love that weather!

5. And my ALL TIME fave thing about fall…drum roll please!….the blessed time of year when you can wear your fave hoodie and still get away with wearing flip flops. No greater joy let me tell you.

Happy Autumn!

five on friday | wedding planning for the brides (knoxville photographer)

Friday, September 18th, 2009

weddingplanningsites

Something a little different this week. It’s for the brides! Or for those of us helping to plan a wedding, know a bride, or a wedding photographer…so it can be helpful for us all! Yay! We’re focusing on some wedding planning sites this week! I just love these sites and I’ll give you a hint…. they are GREAT inspiration if you are planning any kind of party and need ideas! So here are a few of my faves…

1. The Knot. Of course, the mamajama of them all! I used this site to help me plan my wedding and now am a proud Featured Vendor! This site has it all and has a great list of local vendors that you can use!

2. 100 Layer Cake: A recent addition to my bookmarks for blogs I read. This is more of a blog than an actual site but I just love the uniqueness. For the bride looking for unique ideas/inspiration.

3. WedPlan: A bit like the Knot…lots of fun info and vendors along with some great ideas.

4. Wedding Wire: Another one I’ve loved since my wedding. Know why? Because you can go and give reviews for you vendors and get gift certificates!! And its on the up and up…I did it and got a sweet canvas from Canvas On Demand.

5. And last but not least..my fave! Project Wedding! I knew I was a fan when I photographed this wedding and was blown away by all the awesome details of the day…done by the bride herself! She was a Project Wedding fan and I was hooked! Love me some wedding with awesome DIY projects that just make the wedding completely unique! This is the site I go to if I need party ideas!

the five! 9.11.09

Friday, September 11th, 2009

five
Before we get into the five… My twitter and facebook shows so many people remembering this day, as they should. So I didn’t want to go into really trivial things in the five when you put it into perspective acting like this day doesn’t have some significance in all our lives. On this day several years ago I was at Penn State. The dorms were silent except for the tv’s on the news channels. There were so many students who didn’t even know if they would see their parents again because they commuted and worked in the WTC. It wasn’t something that you were just seeing on tv, you saw the grim reality of people breaking down when they were told their family member was in the buildings and didn’t make it. We all remember where we were that day, just wanted to share my story a little. So let us remember, honor, and appreciate this day and those who have died for it.

On a lighter note…the friday five. Running a business is hard. Can I get an AMEN from the all the photog’s reading this:) And for those reading this that have dreams of being a photographer, this is your warning! It’s hard. I have a constant to do list of things I have to do, want to do, need to do, will someday get to, would like to get to but probably never will. So, today I’m dedicating the five to those items that so often get neglected but so need to get done. I’ve been trying to find a few minutes every day to work on at least one of these…so at least there is a little progress:) I think I should revisit this post in a few months and see where I am…

1. Lena’s birthday pics. I completely forgot that they were sitting all lonely in their folder on my computer until the other day! I’ll get them up on the blog someday. But, hey, at least they are there:)

2. Writing a book. Heck, reading a book. I have a book that I’m halfway through, Bird by Bird, that is amazing! I would like to get through it and then one day maybe start my own book/s that I have in my head. This is one of those that is on the want to do but high likelihood will never happen list.

3. This is on the doing it slowly list:) I’ve been working on transitioning my blog to a book for each year I’ve had it. I started this when I transitioned to wordpress because I wanted to have the old blog in print from the time when I was pregnant and Lena was little. Let’s face it, this blog is the closest to a journal that I’ll ever had. Want to do this for yourself? Check out blurb. They will slurp your blog up and put it in a book form where you can edit it!

4. Goodness, this five is turning into more of a book five than anything! On Brad and I’s anniversary I try to do a book from the past year in pics and some dialogue. Guess what wasn’t done this year? Yep, the book. So its on the need to do list too.

5. I have delusions of grandeur that life could be simple enough that I could cook a fantastic meal every night. So never happens. I do manage to throw something together but I’m a simple girl and don’t like crazy recipes. So, simple chef it is. Afraid the dream of being an amazing chef is on the never ever going to happen list:)

have a great weekend!

Shannon Contact me

Shannon Kelley Photography | Shannon Kelley Photography Blog | Knoxville wedding photographers

a travel five

Friday, September 4th, 2009

five

this weekend we celebrate Labor Day! While all odds that we will probably sit at home and lounge, maybe take a trip to the Smokies for a hike or go to nearby lake Norris, lately I’ve been dreaming of a little traveling and wishing upon a beach somewhere:) So, we’re dedicating this five on friday to all the places we wish we were or hope to go someday!

Here is my five…what is yours?

1. Tonga. Hands down my favorite place on this earth. In a weird way I consider this my home. Perhaps it was living there in my formative pre-teen years, or the way the beaches seem to fade all your worries away. Regardless, I would love to go back there. I know it would be different now, through the eyes of a 20 something mom rather than a 12 year old, but man, would I love to experience that difference.

2. Africa. Yes, this is very broad but its a place that I’ve always wanted to go.

3. Some big nice resort in Mexico/Caribbean. Not too picky here on the location, its all about the amenities in this one. I can only dream of the awesomeness! I’ve never been and am usually not one for froofy hotels. Yes, froofy…not sure if that is a word but we’re going with it. However, I’m pretty sure I could soak up some luxuriousness of those resorts!

4. Anywhere in an RV. Always wanted to take a trip in an RV and I’m hoping that one may be on the horizon for next year! We could be in the middle of nowhere, doing nothing, and I’d still be happy in my RV. ahhh…

5. NYC. An old staple. I could go every year. I love it. The hustle and bustle of it all, yet you find these little areas of such community. I’m usually not a taxi girl that but next time I go, I’m definitely taking one in hopes it will be the Cash Cab!