Allison of allilaney on Xanga! Congratulations, Allison!

So here's the rules: All you need to do to get in on the fun is to simply leave a
comment with your name, recommend this post, and you are entered! Entries close
at midnight on Sunday, June 29th. The winner will be announced on the
following Monday morning, June 30th. The winner will communicate with me about
the desired layout and design of their new custom header! They can send
pictures (as many as they want!), graphics, quotes, and wording as they so
choose and I will design the header of their dreams!

So pass the word along and join the fun! Remember this is a regular
feature at the end of each month so if you don't win this time there are more
chances to win so stay tuned!

Good Luck!

It turns out that maintaining 3 blogs is proving to intimidate the tar out of me! Not that I have posted in the past few weeks on more than one of them but just the thought that I need to is daunting! My Captivemoments blog, where I am supposed to be keeping up with my latest thoughts and family pictures, started getting me bogged down just with trying to get my old posts moved to leave this blog free for professional photos. And then there's the whole issue of posting my professional photos. I feel like I need to watermark them or sign them somehow. I've seen all the different ways that my photog friends do this and I just can't settle on one that works well for me and is quick to add and have my photos internet ready at a moments notice.

Then there's my third and newest blog on the new Momaroo side of Xanga. The Momaroo blogging community was looking for writers and after chatting with the founder/editor I was brought on as a guest writer on photographing children and families. I was just thrilled with the opportunity and will have a regular weekly feature HERE as Photographer Jess! But I'm finding that not everyone thinks the topic is a good idea. Photographers are deeply divided on the whole issue of MWACs (that's Moms With A Camera) and their effect on professional photographers. The fact is no matter how cheep pro-sumer cameras become or how many mom's think they can take really cool pictures the profession has to change with the market. If photographers loose money 'cause savvy, creative type moms are taking over their market then I say, tough! They need to figure out how to compete. Not everyone is creative, and not everyone will want to do this themselves. For my mind there will always be the need for their expertise and once the photography craze dies down their expertise will either once again be in demand or they will need to find a more specialized field of focus. Controversial, but not really that economically complex.  Just as in the early 1800s everyone (even extremely poor people) hired help for around the house work. Today we have replaced the need for hired help almost completely with dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, self timing ovens, vacuum cleaners, and compactors. We can fully be 3 places at once with these machines so the whole service of the housekeeper had to change and many had to find a new line of work. Change of this nature, to my mind, is often a very good thing although unsettling and intimidating to some. That said, we'll see how it goes. I'm having fun so far!

  Father's Day gives me pause each year when it comes around. My husband isn't really into holidays on the calendar. He prefers to acknowledge people quietly and without fanfare. But he married a woman who loves certain days to commemorate certain things; who is always looking for ways to add special days to the yearly calendar. LOL! Another one of those ways we are completely polar opposite. Funny, though, that the kids somehow got a double dose of their mama in this area! Since Todd and I are opposite on so many things like this it is always interesting to see which ways they end up being more like daddy or more like mama. Anyway, the kids purchased cards, planned elaborate and expensive gifts (that I gently talked them out of), and helped cook favorite meals. Todd was a good sport even though he was fighting a stomach bug. He even dragged himself to church and then took the whole family to Cabela's and out for ice cream after. It was a fun day!

On what it means to be a Father, I am deeply grateful for a father who struggled hard out of his comfort zone and overcame what seemed to come naturally for him  (more of a work focus than family one) to become an example to many on the meaning of Fatherhood! I love him dearly and am soooo blessed with vast memories and fun moments to cherish! He's been there for me in some of my loneliest days and been a rock for me that I can't imagine life without!

Just wanted to share with you the finished product from May's Header Fun!! Contest:

Congratulations to this months winner of the Header Fun!! contest:

Michelle aka: CurrySparks!!!!!

When Michelle and I are finished crafting her dream Header we'll share it here for all of you to see! Thanks to everyone who participated! And if you didn't win this time, good luck next month!