march photo challenge // night. // + february winners

March. It's a month of winter-breaking-into-spring, fickle weather (at least for us Oregonians--today was sunshine + sleet), and timid blossoms. I'm not crazy about this time of the year; I don't like these in-between-seasons months. Full-force for me, that's what, whether it's winter, spring, summer, or fall--I just want one direct season.

No matter what the season, though, I can usually count on a beautiful night. It can be stormy, it can be clear, it can be snowy, dusky, warm or chilly, but night it night. And tricky as darkness is to capture with a lens, I love to do it.  And I want you to love it, too.

This month's photo challenge is night. Capture the lights of a city piercing the darkness. A bonfire illuminating a beach. The full moon rising. It's a harder one, and this time the winner of our challenge who best captures night will receive:

 

A camera strap of choice from

A Handmade Heart 

Um, pretty sweet, right? Thanks to Mae Anne for generously donating this prize! 

So, time to get clicking! I never cease to be amazed by the many talented photographers that fill the blogger world and somehow find their way into my photo challenges. I hope you have as much fun as I do. :) 

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Last month's photo challenge was black-and-white love. The winners are posted below--great capturing, ladies! If you have been following the polls on the sidebar, you will see that it has been a close match all week, and we even had a tie for first place. I guess that just means that everyone's photos were equally spectacular. ;) 

 

1st place -- Jennoelle

&

 

Beth 

 

2nd place // Marie

 

3rd place // Neigh Girl 

4th place // Hannah E. 

5th place // Mary Katherine

So. Ready to take on the new challenge?


Grab your camera (or your computer's picture folders, whatever is most handy), take an amazing shot, and then come back here and link up your blog post, flickr photo, or whatever you want to use to link it up. Just fyi:

-"Linking up" means to copy & paste the link to your blog post containing your photo, or the link to your photo on flickr, into the linky box below. Just submit your name, and voila! You're all "linked up." 

-Please include the button in your post, or beneath your flickr (etc.) photo, give the link to this challenge. That way, others can join in, too!

-If you can, visit other entries and give them some support. :) Everyone likes a comment or two! 

Have fun--I can't wait to get started. :) This challenge ends on March 31st, 2012. Finalists will be announced soon afterwards, and we will all vote on a winner the following week. 

  

<center><a href="http://one-beloved.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-photo-challenge-night-february.html" target="_blank"><img alt="lucia, etc." src="http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9465/photochallenge.png"/></a></center>

-lucia

Shall We Partaaayy?? Announcing..

I never thought I was the "blog party" hosting type. Last month, however, when Miss RJ from Virtuous Girlhood contacted me inquiring whether I would be up to co-hosting one, I immediately saw the fun in it. We get to think up random questions {something I'm really quite skilled at} for you to answer, we get to read your amazing answers, we get to find jaw-dropping prizes for you to win that we wish we could win ourselves..

But, all this is beside the point. The only thing that needs to be considered right now is a simple question.

Are you ready for some fun?

 ...Because only fun-loving, prize-loving, and {most importantly} summer-loving fanatics are allowed to join in on the: <br /><center><a href="http://www.virtuousgirlhood.com"><img src="http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx292/arieltheauthoress/mai-tai-ver1-ps.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br /> We would absolutely love it if you would join in on this bash. If this is the first blog party you have ever laid eyes upon, have no fear: the rules are really quite simple. Here is all the info you will need: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~The Rules~ Simply answer the following ten questions with all the goofiness, solemness, or heartfelt-ness you can muster.  You can post the questions and your answers on your blog, facebook, twitter, OR {only for non bloggers/facebook-ers/tweeters} by sending them to at least five friends via e-mail.  *Make sure to post/send the link to this blog party post OR RJ's blog party post after or before your answered questions.*  Once you have posted/sent your questions, come back to this post OR to RJ's post, and link up using the linky {for posters/tweeters/facebook-ers only}, OR {for e-mailers only} leave a comment with your ten answers, along with the names of the people you e-mailed.  Finally, if you are linking up here, leave a comment on this post telling me two of the following available prizes you would most like to arrive on your doorstep. ;) *Make sure to leave your e-mail address in this comment!* -----------------------------------------------------------------------------~The Prizes~ You will have from today {June 1st} until June 14th to link up your party posts.  At the end of the party, RJ and I will randomly select winners from the link-up numbers to award items to. If you are linking up, you have the chance of winning any of the prizes, though we may take your "preferences" into consideration. :o) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now. What lovelies do we have available for the winning, should you decide to join us? If you think about it, there is really nothin' to lose..answer a few fun questions...maybe win an amazing prize...;) 1.)  from TheElephantGarden 2.) from BlueSunEmporium 3.) Because of a recent death in the family, thevintageattic10 will unfortunatley be unable to donate the dress to the giveaway. :( Please keep the family in your prayers! <3 4.) from CreativeKates 5.) "Prize Pack" with necklace, ring, and hair flower from TheCove  

6.)

Two tinted lip balms

from Burt's Bees

7.)

from AdornmeGirl

8.)

from rawolive

9.)

from TheJeweleryBar

10.)

from justpureminerals

11.)

from PureMineralSource

12.)
from MollythePirate

13.)
from PatchworkMill

14.)
from Ahmelie

15.)
from OlivesandPearls 

..how amazing can you get??! 15 prizes for the winning!! ...I'm not even going to go into how jealous of y'all I am. ;)

Now. On to...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

~The Questions~

Just copy & paste, then get rid of my answers!


{via}

What are two songs that describe you? I don't listen to enough music to answer this one. :] But a song I've been really feeling this month, just because of its cuteness and bounciness, is "You Make Me Smile" by Uncle Kracker. :o)

What do you most fear? Many things. Mainly anything that bites, stings, poisons, or hurts. Bad things in general. :P

What color(s) dominate(s) your wardrobe? White and blue.

How do you normally do you hair? Ponytail or messy bun. But, I go through phases.

Do you prefer milkshakes or smoothies? Depends on what I'm feeling like..smoothies are definitly healthier, but then again, icecream always hits the spot! ;)

Do you like the color pink? Not as in hot pink. I like light, floaty pink in skirts or sweaters or ballgowns.

What is your favorite flower? I'm an all-pretty-flowers-in-general girl. :] But roses are a weakness. <3

How many states have you been to? Hmm..*one..two..three..four..* ..about eight. :)

What is your favorite thing about June? That it is almost summer--duh! ;) Also, there are always weddings, and I love weddings. Not to mention school is almost out when June rolls around..
 
Describe your "dream wedding location." A little country church with roses outside and a flower-covered arch. <3

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And, that about covers everything! Get out the punch and cookies, my friends. Let the partying begin!! ;) If you are planning on particpating, please consider grabbing the above button to spread the word!



Quick!

Today is the last day to enter Raquel and I's co-hosted photo contest:



..you have until midnight, NWPT to enter. Yes, the link-up is closed, but you can still e-mail me your entries at:

lmmorud@gmail.com

..there are some pretty awesome prizes up for winning, including the grand prize:

A camera bag from Martilena

So, what are you waiting for? ;)

Click on the above button to read the rules, then send 'em on over! The ten finalists will be announced tomorrow, and then places will be awarded later this week. :]

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::Also, I have an amazing surprise for you, which I will announce as soon as we reach 400 followers!.::

Introducing..."Of Shadows And Silhouettes" Photography Contest!

*New prizes added!!*

Hello to all of my dear readers!

I sincerely hope everyone had a simply delightful Mother's Day. I know we did! After church, we had our grandmother over for brunch, exchanged cards, gifts, etc., then set off for the beach. It was a lovely time! Now, here is some fun news for you...

This month, I put up a poll for you to cast votes upon, inquiring whether you would be interested in participating in a photo contest hosted here. The large majority of you said that yes, you would be interested. So..it is on!

..Unbeknownst to me, my friend Raquel also put up a similar poll on the same exact day I did. She noticed our matching polls, and presented the idea of hosting a photo contest together. The perfect plan!

Now, this is no ordinary "photo contest." We wanted to make it special--unique. We wanted to find amazing prizes to award the well-chosen winners. We wanted to choose winners not just by quality of photo, but of creative and imaginary dispositions. Thus, after much thought and consideration, we are happy to announce that from today, the 9th, until the 23rd of May, Raquel from God's Daughter and my own From Under My Little Umbrella will be joint-hosting:

<br /><center><a href="http://one-beloved.blogspot.com/2011/05/of-shadows-and-slihouettes-our-first.html"><img style="WIDTH: 198px; HEIGHT: 205px" src="http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx292/arieltheauthoress/tumblr_lju2u3syqZ1qhnm73o1_400_thumb.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br /> Super exciting, right? We thought long and hard for a 'unique' theme, and finally came up with this one: shadows and silhouettes! Do you plan on participating? Then read the details carefully! :) ---  

Details:

Theme: Shadows and silhouettes. Any shadow, silhouette you can find out there! The more unique the better. :)

Examples: A cowboy's silhouette, a couple kissing behind something, the shadow of a ballerina, a candle's shadow...

Prizes: The entries will be judged by Raquel, myself, and perhaps some family members/friends according not just to photo quality, but to uniqueness. There will be first and place prizes awarded, with more masculine prizes available should a winner be a guy. :o) We are still working on the 'prize' aspect, but here are some of the lovelies that will be for sure available:


Camera bag from Martilena

 
"Camera Necklace" from ninexmuse


YOUR choice of a "Lens Bling" from HappyAcresFarm


Camera strap from RhyahPapaya


Camera print from RobertRatPrints

Don't have a blog? You may e-mail us your entries at lmmorud@gmail.com or miss.raquel316@gmail.com with "Photo Contest!" as the subject line. However, please e-mail at least three friends about the contest, since you are unable to use the button.


Rules:

You must be a follower of both Raquel's blog and my own blog to enter.

You must have the contest button on your sidebar to enter.

To ADD THE BUTTON:

Go to your blog's "design" section. Click "add a gadget." Scroll through the list of "gadgets" until you find "Add HTML." Copy the HTML code given below the above button, and paste it into the white box that appears after you have clicked on "Add HTML." Click "Save."

Up to two photos per entrant, taken soley by you.

Editing is allowed.

You may link up either here, below this post, or here at Raquel's blog.
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You may begin your photo challenge! We simply cannot wait to see your entries. :) You don't need to have wonderful photography skills to enter..just find something creative and unique to capture, and you migh become a winner!

The linky will be up until 12:00 a.m., May 23rd, 2011.

"Timeless Wonders" Entries!

Here are the five photos I am entering in Raquel's photo contest. I had a hard time choosing, and even went out and took most of these on one day...:)

"Face of Winter"

{I thought this was a unique shot...I had the idea that my "eskimo" fur coat would look kind of cool in a photo. It turned out rather well...a little odd, but, very "original," I guess! ;) }

"Forgotten Rose"

{A rose from our dining table bouquet that someone recently gave us was left forgotten on the table for a moment, so I took the opportunity! I like how the macro turned out...:) }

"Secluded Dew"

{THIS shot was very difficult..I had to get down on my hands and knees, try to force the camera to focus for many long minutes..then, at last, SNAP! I captured it before the dew could fall.}

"Pink and Creme"

{Another shot of the beautiful roses, in their full color...there's just something about roses that makes you want to take pictures of them, isn't there?? ;) I just love the vivid pinks.}

"Perished Beauty"

{This was obviously taken way back in Summertime; I also got wayy down for this one..it focused pretty well, and dead dandylions make great subjects...}

...So, how do you like them? Which one is YOUR favorite? My personal favorite is "Secluded Dew..." that was a really hard shot to get, too! ;)

~~*~~