I support a blogger...LITERALLY.

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Hello I am Amy's husband and I am hacking her blog to say some things about how blogging has affected her.

1. See the video below for a list of ways blogging has changed her into an even more amazing woman. She's always been wonderfully creative and focused, but blogging and being part of the Allume community has given her a great way to develop that.
2. Blogging has given her a good outlet for her emotions. She's not drinking as much and not hitting me as often.
3. She's hot. That doesn't apply to blogging really, but it's true.
4. It's made us very wealthy. She doesn't like me to talk about it, but she made $400,000 last year. She bought me a jet-ski with last month's ad revenue!

xoxo Ace Subscribe to our newsletter

I’m smiling because it’s potty time!

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Ok, so maybe I’m not SMILING smiling, because who like potty training {???}, but at least I’ve got smiley FACES now.

Our 2 year old will be 3 this winter, so I am attempting to get the poor guy potty trained so diapers will be a thing of the past in this house.  The first two boys trained in a little under a week right after they turned three.  I think I am pushing things because I am very, very finished with 6 years of diapers.  So let’s get potty trained – RIGHT NOW!!  Of course, that is easier said than done.  Enter the potty time chart.  Cute right?

Of course, ours is looking a TEENY bit more beat up from tiny baby hands putting on stickers, but it is slowly but surely working!  He’s still not making it to the potty every time he needs to “go”, but potty time IS a happy time in our house.  That is a battle WON!

See that star on the “20”?  There are stars every ten smileys for a “prize”, so kiddos are not only rewarded with a sticker each time they go, but they have a push towards a goal for the next time.  Get them thinking about stickers in the future and now they are thinking about going POTTY in the future.  More stickers for them – less diapers for me.  SCORE>

Are you potty training a little guy or gal at home right now?  What has worked/ not worked for you???

Share your opinions – ideas – strategies on the FORUM. (look under the ‘for Parents’ section!)

Want to try the PottyTime Chart?  You can buy your own HERE for $2.99.

Headed to Allume and want to try your own potty time chart?  Just holla at me and I’ll hook you up!

So you wanna be a forum host. What can the FORUM do for YOU?

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As a blogger, you want to make the FORUM work for YOU.

Here is how:

1: As always, things work best when you are active. If you aren't active in the forum, your readers won't be either. I know it is a canned answer, but get in there are talk! Start asking questions, making polls and go ahead and make a challenge post if you wanna.

2: Not only do you need to be active, but you've got to let your community know it is there. They have no idea that you've added a forum unless you TELL them! I shoot readers to the forum at the end of posts with a comment or question. Check out the example HERE.

Another way to get readers involved is to encourage them with "homework" at the end of your post. If your post encourages a "call to action" at the end, you can direct them to the forum to share THEIR own blog posts -- THEIR comments -- THEIR photos. It is similar to the way you encourage comments, but a forum allows readers to "get lost" in more information and more networking once they are in the forum.

3: Help out the other hosts. I've put a list of the hosts HERE (and will continue to update it). When you are on your own blog, your hits don't count. So if you are going to go in the forum and comment, go on another one of the host's blogs and do your forum work in there. You are giving them hits and building the collective forum at the same time. It is a win for everybody.

4: Link to relevant posts. The forum is a great place to leave links, but only if they make sense. When a person starts to over-promote, it ruins the feel of a forum, but well placed, relevant links to your blog posts are perfect!

5: Tweet questions from the forum and pin polls. When you think you have a good post in the forum, draw people in by tweeting directly from the post. You will see the social media buttons just above the posting box in classic view.

6: Anything you would ask on facebook, ask it in your forum. Facebook is losing traction (for us bloggers!) as they start to monetize. Don't give up facebook, but consider using the forum in a similar manner to facebook to start conversations.

7: Think about keywords in your posts. Google spiders will start picking up on forum posts, so use specific names and proper nouns when speaking on a topic to pick up as many outside hits as possible. Once someone enters the forum on your site from Google, it is almost certain they'll want to see what the rest of the blog is about.

Want the latest updates from the FORUM? Sign up below for the monthly newsletter!

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FREE TEXTURES from Amy Renea

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Ready to dive down a rabbit hole of interesting effects on photos?  Get ready for textures!  Today I'm giving you a VERY basic intro to textures, but once you get started, you will find more and more applications for these fun layers.  Ready?  Let's go!
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 Have you ever shot a roll of film and double exposed a photo?  You get the roll back from the printer and one (or ALL!) of your photos have 2 photographs layered on top of each other?  Usually it ruins the roll, but once in awhile, you can come up with something fun.  I remember once I ended up with a cheerleading photo with spraying water all behind my back :)  Anyway, photographers can double expose purposely, but it was a lot more difficult with film.  With digital tools, the art of double exposing is much easier and you can simply layer textures onto your photos.

Textures can be urban edgy or classically romantic, simple or detailed, and they are SO easy to use.  Trust me, they really are!! They can take a ho-hum photo and give it more interest, more depth, a little more soul.  See this photo of a marigold?  It is fine...interesting composition, exposed well, sharp and clear, the right dof....but it is just fine.



Add a little bit of texture and that bombastic gold chills out a bit and the background gets a pebbly "textured" look to it.

ALLENAIM TEXTURE   moon rocks

Take this photo which is pretty gorgeous in its own right.   You could certainly print it as is, but how about a little romantic texture?

The photo retains the color intensity, but gains an added dimension.

ALLENAIM TEXTURE  cement

Do you see the subtle texture on this photo?  It is barely there, but gives the wood a bit more depth and the background and flowers take on an almost watercolor look.

original photo

So you barely feel literate in basic photoshop and feel like this might be too complicated for you to try?  Well, at least attempt it.   I'm your cheerleader here...YOU.  CAN.  DO. IT!   You might be surprised at how very easy it is!  

To make the texture application easier, download this FREE TEXTURE ACTION from MCP ACTIONS.

Then, you can download these FREE TEXTURES from me below!  
Simply right click and download these photos to try layering on your own photos!  Go ahead - right click!  I'm giving you permission!  Just don't sell them!

I have given a few tips in the captions of each texture, but the main thing to remember is to ADJUST THE OPACITY to make the texture layer (photo) more or less "see through".  If you are a beginner start with cement and then try out the more complicated textures!

ALLENAIM TEXTURE cement

This is one of the easiest types of textures to use.  It simply adds a tiny bit of texture, and a nice grey tone to your photo.  The little "bits" and blurry grass lines add interest. 

ALLENAIM TEXTURE  lava rock

This is an easy texture because it is uniform.  Use it on a photo you want some warmth (orange/red tones) and texture.

ALLENAIM TEXTURE  moon rocks

This is also an easy texture.  Make sure to lower the opacity anywhere from 10% to 40% for a subtle texture, and you can raise it to create a more detailed texture.

ALLENAIM TEXTURE  ragged bleu

This is one of my favorites...the blue really looks beautiful on top of florals.  Be careful of the lines that they don't cross your original photos in inappropriate places.

ALLENAIM TEXTURE urbantrek

This texture is a little more complex to use die to the shadows and angle.  Play around with a shot that doesn't have a lot of detail already to come up with a really cool look!

So are you ready to give it a try??  I'd love to see what you come up with.  Make sure to link up your posts and images in the FORUM! 
Looking for a good beginner camera?  I started out with the D40, then moved up to the D5000.  The d5100 below is the newest version and is a great price right now!  By clicking through to Sam's Club and purchasing any camera, you are supporting 'A Nest for All Seasons'.  THANK YOU!

Santa Monica Pizza and Pasta Grand Opening in Ogden

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Darby and Shelly Debellis are the new  owners of Santa Monica Pizza and Pasta at at 2327 Washington Blvd. in Ogden. After taking ownership a few months ago, they had three goals: to make sure every customer is provided with exceptionally tasty, high quality food; to provide excellent and friendly service. And last, to create an energetic fun atmosphere with beach décor, multiple televisions and live music  Friday and Saturday nights.

 Santa Monica Pizza and Pasta will launch its grand opening Saturday, October 13, with free samples and food specials all day and live music from Royal Bliss. The restaurant serves  gourmet pizzas, pasta dishes, an array of appetizers and calzones, including the Legendary Long Board calzone that weighs over 5 pounds and can be measured at 16 inches long!  Every pizza is handcrafted and loaded with toppings, then baked in their wood stone oven that reaches up to 600 degrees. This cooking method creates perfectly cooked pizza and calzones. They also offer gourmet salads, chicken wings and a new kids' menu. Santa Monica Pizza and Pasta are currently running an “all you can eat” pizza lunch special for $5.99. It is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. The restaurant offers 25% discount to all active military, veterans and their immediate family with proper identification.For more information, visit the website  www.santamonicapizzaogden.com or call 801-334-4295.

Win A Year of Groceries in "Use Up The Box" Contest

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Creative cooks everywhere still have time to enter the Hungry Jack Use Up the Box Recipe Contest through October 23, 2012 at www.useupthebox.com. You can  submit original recipes in the Breakfast for Dinner, Appetizers and Sweet Treats categories that use pantry staples such as Hungry Jack pancake mix, syrup, and/or potatoes as ingredients. The grand prize is a  year’s worth of groceries (ARV: $8,000).
To give you an idea of what they're looking for,  Hungry Jack has developed some recipes such as this one for  Chocolate Waffles with Bacon Caramel Syrup. 
Chocolate Waffles with Caramel Syrup and Bacon
CHOCOLATE WAFFLES3/4 cup water1/4 cup Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil1  large egg1 tsp. vanilla extract1 (7 oz.) packet Hungry Jack® Easy Pack™ Chocolate Chip Pancake Mixor 1 (7 oz.) packet Hungry Jack® Easy Pack™ Pillsbury® Funfetti® Buttermilk Pancake Mix1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder3 tbsps. sugarCrisco® Original No-Stick Cooking SprayCARAMEL SYRUP1/4 cup Hungry Jack® Original Syrup3/4 cup Smucker's® Sundae Syrup™ Caramel Flavored SyrupWhipped creamGround cinnamon1/4 cup diced cooked bacon               For Waffles: HEAT waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions.    WHISK water, oil, egg and vanilla in large bowl. Stir in pancake mix, cocoa and sugar until evenly moistened. Allow to stand 1 minute.COAT waffle iron with no-stick cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cup batter for each waffle into waffle iron. Bake 4 to 5 minutes or until done. Repeat to make a total of 10 4-inch waffles.For Caramel Syrup: WHISK together original syrup and caramel syrup in small bowl. Drizzle 1 tablespoon on serving plates. Cut 2 waffles in half diagonally to make 4 triangles. Arrange on top of syrup. Top with additional caramel syrup, whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon and bacon pieces. Repeat to make additional servings.CARAMEL DE LECHE CHOCOLATE WAFFLESTOP waffles with a scoop of caramel de leche ice cream. Omit bacon.