Yesterday, we got to go to take the kids to the premiere of a cool new show on the Sprout Network called Nina’s World (I’m covering it for Mommy Nearest). The event had a bunch of stuff for kids to do, like glitter tattoos, face painting, hair stations, pictures, cookie decorating, and a music area. The kids had a blast on the carpet and playing at the music station.
But I was sooooo excited to see Rita Moreno. She has the EGOT! She’s a legend! And she looked amazing.
Around The ‘Net
~Why the Best War Reporter in a Generation Had to Suddenly Stop
~The Most Misread Poem in America
~What the World Got Wrong About Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
~Welcome to hell: Apple vs. Google vs. Facebook and the slow death of the web
~The Forgotten Project That Could Have Saved America From Drought
~Air Canada pilot diverts international flight to save dog
~If Anyone Finds MH370, It Will Be the Men on This Ship
~Russian 5yo boys dig way out of kindergarten, try to buy Jaguar sports car I think these boys are in Annabel’s class.
~Just a fan no more: Although blind, Jake Olson joins USC football team as long snapper
FM In The AM
~Last month, I filmed a bunch of segments for a new web show, FM In The AM. It’s going to have a bunch of quick bits on style, food, wellness, home design, family, and crafts. The host is Susie Meister, who some of you will recognize from MTV’s Road Rules/The Challenge. It was really great to work with her – I was in on the first day of filming, so we had fun figuring everything out as we went along. The first segment I filmed is up, ways to upcycle your sneakers. I hope you like it – there are more segments to come!
Get The Boot-ie
~This week I got an email from Nordstrom about booties, and I clicked through to look at what they have in stock. As I was scrolling, I came across these Pink Shearling Ankle Booties that look like something a FemBot would wear, and holy sheep, they are by Fendi and they are $1600! I don’t understand fashion.
On Our Book Shelf
We recently picked up some books for the kids that I thought I’d share:
~Adventure Annie Goes To Kindergarten this one is obviously huge in our house
~The Rhino Who Swallowed A Storm I am obsessed with this one.
~Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs This one is just so amazing for helping kids with separation – great for death, divorce, moving away, etc. Highly recommend!
RadLab & PicTapGo Giveaway
~I have another fun giveaway today! One of my favorite photo companies, Get Totally Rad, wants to give away some of their cool products (products that I have been using for years and spent my own money on!). The first is an amazing program called RadLab, which works inside of Photoshop or Lightroom. RadLab has about 80 different effects you can apply to your pictures – like Instagram filters, but 1,000 times better because you can control every single element of each filter – and you can use as many effects as you want until you’re satisfied with the results. Since I’m usually taking pictures of my kids, or taking pictures with my kids nearby, I rarely have the time to set up each photo perfectly (I shoot in manual). RadLab lets me fix my photos on my computer until they look amazing. Here are some examples:
Statue of Liberty, straight out of camera.
Statue of Liberty after using: Lights On > Oh, Snap! > Sugar Rush > Boutwell Magic Glasses x2
Just a throw-away picture before RadLab.
After using RadLab effects Lights On > Sugar Rush > Claire-ify > Highlight Separator > Boutwell Magic Glasses
Do you see why I bought RadLab the second they released it?! So awesome. You can see some other stunning examples here.
The second thing we’re giving away is one of my favorite phone apps, PicTapGo! It’s like Radlab, but on your iPhone. I love using it to brighten my pictures, or add other effects.
My pictures of James often look like this, because he never stands still long enough for me to adjust the light balance on my iPhone camera.
To fix that picture, I used: Lights On > Lights On > Auto Color > Warm It Up > Crispity
PicTapGo! has several black and white options I love:
I used the same recipe in the above photo, but then I added the Old Skool effect.
There are some great examples of PicTapGo! on their page here.
The cool peeps at Get Totally Rad are giving away one copy of RadLab and five copies of PicTapGo! All you have to do to win is leave a comment letting me know which one you’d like to win (or both, if you want!), and what you love to take pictures of. I’ll pick winners via Random.org and announce them next Sunday. Good luck!
UPDATE: WE HAVE WINNERS!
PicTapGo
#74 Sarah
#16 Tammi P
#43 Beth
#92 Julia Kay
#42 Colleen S
Get Totally Rad
#27 Kristin
Look for emails from me!
Congrats to the winners, and thanks to everyone who entered!
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Suzy says:
I love surfing Sunday – I look forward to it every week. My husband is the photographer in the family – he would love rad lab!!
Laurel says:
I have an android phone and am constantly taking under exposed photos either would be welcome.
Alie says:
I would love PicTapGo! I take almost all of my pictures of my daughter with my iPhone
Michelle says:
I would LOVE to win RadLab. I also take pictures of my kids – about the same ages as yours: third-grade girl, kindergarten girl and 2 1/2-year-old boy. I would love to be able to correct some photos I have. I have no photo editing software at all.
Sarah says:
At least there is free shipping on the booties? Both RadLab and PicTapGo looks awesome! I would love to win and improve the quality of my photography!
Kim Root says:
Ah I love your surfing sunday posts! A highlight of my lazy sunday afternoons. I’d love to win either of those products for my boys. They are both starting to get into photography and one uses only his iPhone to shoot and the other a hand me down DSLR. Even if I don’t win I’ll have to check those out for christmas.
Sheila says:
Both look amazing!
Thank you
Angela says:
They both look amazing! I have a busy toddler boy as well and adjusting my settings quick enough is hard!
Stephanie says:
Both look amazing!
Lisa says:
I’d love a copy of RadLab!
Jordan says:
I KNEW the poem one before I clicked the link! God bless my English professors for explaining that one to us. Our professor explained it a bit differently than Orr though; she told us it was all the same road! And if you read it intentionally, you can see it. I’d love to read that book! So interesting.
The war reporter and google vs. iOS articles are interesting.
I’d love the app for the phone! I have a regular camera (just a point and shoot) but use my phone camera more.
Kaley W says:
i knew about it because of orange is the new black, haha
KDot says:
I’d them both. They look amazing!
Mel J. says:
Both look wonderful. I love your Surfing Sinday. i am a great cancer survivor and I take so many more pictures than I did before my diagnosis. Kids, dog, outdoors, travel-whatever!
Mel J. says:
Sunday. Not sure why that autocorrected.
Laura says:
Both of them look very cool!
Tammi P says:
I would love both! Beautiful new grandbaby to take pics of!
Suzanne says:
PicTapGo would be amazing! I use my iPhone camera exclusively and like to take photos of my food, whatever I see whole out and about (often while running), and my cat. Having a robust and simple editing program handy would be so fun.
Kaley W says:
wow, those are seriously impressive. i’d love to get PicTapGo! i pretty much only take pictures with my phone these days and i’m in serious need of help
kristine says:
Pictapgo!! Looks awesome!
Alexa says:
Radlab looks like it would make photo editing so much easier.
Alexa says:
I would love to have Radlab.
Carla says:
I would love PicTapGo to take pics of my two-year-old. I have the same problem as you with getting her to stay still long enough.
Sarah says:
I’d love both! I mainly take pictures of my kids and occassionally random things that interest me as I’m passing by.
Teri B says:
Rad Lab sounds awesome! I take TONS of photos – family and vacations!
Charlene Ramirez says:
I would love Radlab- I bought a Sony DSC-HX300 and have had a blast taking pictures. I do have some that would love popping with the effects Radlab has to offer!!!
Sharon H says:
I would love both, but the Rad Lab for my computer would be so amazing!!
Kristin says:
RadLab sounds awesome! I love taking photographs, but am fairly new to manual shooting (Nikon) and Photoshop. I would love to use this and explore making scenic pictures or family photos even better (I love taking photos at the beach, in the mountains when we’re lucky enough to go, and of course- photos of my children.
Jody Munn says:
Would love to have Radlab! I love taking pictures of my kids.
Elaine says:
RadLab sounds amazing, but I’d love both! I just bought a DSLR for grad school and know my teacher will love my pictures even more if I have it! Fingers crossed!
Cora says:
I’d love both too!
Erin says:
I need PicTapGo! My kids are always on the go and it’d be nice to have an easy editing option
Wendy says:
I’d love to try RadLab!
Shana says:
I’d love PicTapGo– great for editting pics of my kiddos
Lauren says:
I would love both. I would use them to take pictures of my first graders, my nine year old son and our newly rescued puppy, McKinley ( and NO, we are not changing her name to Denali!). My son and his puppy are forming the most loving and beautiful bond. I want to document as often as possible!
Heather says:
I’d love both, but might use PicTapGo a bit more since my phone is always with me. RadLab would be great for when I drag my DSLR along. I’m always snapping pics of my boys.
KateB says:
PicTapGo. Very cool. Thanks for showing actual before/after pics.
Layne says:
I would love to win the app. I mostly take pictures of my dogs or my nieces. And of course, selfies.
JennS says:
PicTapGo sounds awesome! This is an awesome partnership/giveaway!
Gaby says:
I would love to win either one, or both! I take a lot of pictures of my kids but can never seem to get a good one because they move too fast!
Natalie says:
Hmm both look awesome. I’m guilty of mostly using my phone but was just thinking that I need to get out my dslr again! My fav subject is my dog!
Sharon says:
I’d love both since I take lots of iphone photos and occasionally pull out the big camera, too. Thanks for the giveaway!
Colleen Salling says:
I would love either or both! I take photographs of the students in the special needs school I teach in. From class photos with Santa, to formal Valentines portraits to winning the gold at Special Olympics; there are limitless possibilities to highlight their amazing lives!
Beth says:
I’d love PicTapGo — I only ever take phone photos. It looks great!
Cathy K. says:
I’d love to try out PicTapGo for my iPhone. I love taking photos of my family, and we’re not always outside in the sunshine – so this would be helpful for those indoor pics!
Melanie says:
PicTapGo, only because I rarely pick up my real camera these days, unfortunately.
Becca says:
PicTapGo sounds awesome!
Melissa K says:
I would love to try RadLab! I love to take pictures of my kids.
Marci Pluss says:
Both I love taking pictures. Of anything. But usually my dog is in them
Denise says:
I would LOVE RadLab. I love to travel and take a lot of landscape photos in RAW format, and that program would be awsesome!
Sidnie says:
RadLab looks amazing! I already use PicTapGo on my phone, but I’m trying to pick up my real camera more.
Haley says:
Your Sunday columns are the best! I would love to try either Radlab or PicTapGo
Kathryn K says:
Would LOVE PicTapGo! Pics turn out great!
Elizabeth says:
PicTapGo! Sounds fabulous~
Monika Smith says:
I take tons of pics of my kids and pets =). I am not gonna be picky, I take whichever one is compatible with my Mac Laptop where all my photos are stored =).
Marjorie Steele says:
I am always snapping shots on my phone so PicTapgo would be so handy!!! I love taking pics of my family when they are out having fun. I got some great skateboarding shots yesterday that could use some help from this amazing app! I can’t believe the difference in the ones you showed us. Amazing!
Laurie L says:
Both look awesome and super useful!
thanks for the book recommendations, the last two are now on my Amazon list!
Danielle says:
Those both look so fun! I have no idea what I am doing with Photoshop so PicTapGo would be phenomenal!
Robin Wyatt says:
Wow, I have hundreds of photo that could use a clean up especially the ones with my parents.
C says:
I bought a DSLR so I could have nice pictures of my new baby, but I still default to the iPhone more often than not. Both would be awesome!
Kate says:
I’m with you, and probably most mom’s of little kids, I take pictures of my kids. I’d love either Radlab offering!
Anne says:
I would love to win either, I have 2.5 year old twins that move too fast to get great pictures of anything!
Amy L says:
What awesome apps! Perfect for busy moms that always carry their phones around and not always their good cameras to get those moments captured! Now they will have perfect pictures. I would love either app. thanks so much!
Ann says:
RadLab for iphone please – I also have a 2 year old that doesn’t sit still
Great links this week – I loove forward to your Sunday Surfing each week.
Ann says:
whoops – I meant “look” forward.
Laura says:
I would love them both! As a wedding planner sometimes I’m not shooting in the best light and I don’t want to wait for the professional photos to update my instagram or my facebook pages. Just this weekend I asked someone to snap a photo of the bride and groom with my team and I and it came out so dark! I could totally use them to fix it!
Lori says:
I have thousands of photos, mostly of my 3 kids, taken with my Nikon and would love RadLab!
Barbi Emel says:
I’d like the Radlab, I love to photograph pretty much everything, thanks for the giveaway
Sara Mc. says:
I would love both! I take pictures of everything. I’m the family photographer and I am also getting more into photo sessions for others. Love your Surfing Sunday posts.
Kayla K says:
PicTapGo! I have a 2yr old and a 1yr old so I hear you on kids never sitting still for pics!
Kelly says:
I would love both–but unsure if pictapgo works on android. I’m always taking pictures of my kids–and my youngest is a gymnast and never sits still–so these would be awesome!
Julia says:
RadLab would be AMAZING!!!!
Hilary says:
How exciting! I would love both and I regularly use Lightroom, but I find the phone most interesting. I’d love more control editing my photos on my phone.
Jennifer Mehl says:
I would love a copy of either of those apps. My photos are often dark and end up getting deleted…
Cathy says:
I would love RadLab! Also, the picture of Annie and James on the bridge looks exactly like one of my engagement pictures, and it made me realize that I should do a photo shoot with my daughter on the same bridge. So thanks for the idea
Sarah says:
Love them both! I am always taking pictures of my boys!
Joelle says:
RedLab!!
Jannette says:
Thinking of you Heather Spohr:
http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/09/21/indiana-car-spider-crash/72555298/
Heather says:
OMGGGGG
Bridget says:
Loving the app PicTapGo! I usually just take pictures of my kids!
Sara Waltz says:
I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE RadLab! And btw . . . I love surfing Sunday’s – I get lots of good tips
Pattie says:
Neat apps. I’d love either or both since I take so many pics on both my camera and my phone.
cheryl hill says:
PicTapGo! I’m always taking pictures of my twins that never turn out because two 3 year olds don’t sit still for long.
Jaime says:
I would love both apps. I love taking pictures of my 6 year old daughter, Sophia.
Amy says:
I would love to try RadLab – sounds easy to use!
Emily Reed says:
I would love to win either! Trying harder to take (and keep!) good pictures and this would be awesome. Your pics always look professional! Thanks Heather!
erin says:
i’d love the pictapgo app! would get tons of use on it because i take 4353453453 pictures a day on my phone!
Amanda says:
I would love to win RadLab. But PicTapGo would be nice too. Thank you for the awesome chance.
Denise says:
Oh I would love to win PicTapGo! I am new to the iphone world.. yes – a slow adapter but taking pics that way has become my way of life. This would be a GREAT addition! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Rachel says:
Both tools look amazing! (And seriously, those pink booties – what’s up with those?)
Lacey Sanders says:
PicTapGo!
Anna says:
I’d love PicTapGo to take pictures of my kids!
Erin says:
I’d love the iPhone version for taking pictures of my daughter! She turns one tomorrow, so “still” is not in the vocabulary yet.
Lisa says:
I’d have to choose???? RadLab then….and of course pics of the kids. But then I would do animals, scenery, work, life, then some more. Maybe I could even get into food pics.
Lisa says:
WAIT-I read your final comments-BOTH!!!!! Because I’m greedy and I WANT!!!! Wait….NEED!!!!!
Julia Kay says:
I have 3 little kids and i take a lot of photos. I am guilty of mostly using my iphone since it is always with me. Will try to use dslr more though. I would love any of the two to edit my photos.
Jenn Dorr says:
PicTapGo!! It looks amazing especially since my of pics are on my phone these days!
Erin Christine says:
Either of these would be welcome! I take pictures of my daughter that need some serious help with the editing!
Mallory says:
Would love PicTapGo!!
REK981 says:
I would love PicTapGo!! Also, I really enjoyed your segment on FM in the AM. Looks fun! THank you for pulling together all these links. I read this every week and then save a ton of the links for later. But I didn’t save the article on CJ in Esquire – I read that immediately and loved it. I have read from of his work and glad he made it home to his family.
Jen says:
PicTapGo Please!!
CM says:
I’d love radlab!
GreenInOC says:
I see your pink shearling and raise you a foot muppet:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/gucci-princetown-slip-on-loafer-women/4089297?origin=related-4089297-0-3-PP_4-Rich_Relevance_Recs_API-4&recs_type=related&recs_productId=4089297&recs_categoryId=0&recs_productOrder=3&recs_placementId=PP_4&recs_source=Rich_Relevance_Recs_API&recs_strategy=4&recs_referringPageType=item_page
Heather says:
OMG! Are you sure that’s not Donald Trump’s hair?!
Jennifer says:
I’ve been so anxious to try photo editing. I take lots of pics of my kiddos and would love either one.
Lisa says:
i would be SO ecstatic to win RadLab! I’m a part-time photographer, mostly portraits, and it would help me out SO much whole editing my shoots!
Rebecca says:
Thanks for a great give away! Would love to win!
Jaimie C says:
The iPhone app looks cool!
Megan K says:
I am that mom that only takes pictures of her kids on the iPhone so I’d love PicTapGo!
theresa says:
Most of my pictures are on my phone so PicTapGo, and of course they are of my kids:)
theresa says:
Most of my pictures are on my phone so PicTapGo, and of course they are of my kids:)
Jessica says:
Radlab would be awesome. I like to take photos of my daughter.
Laura says:
I’d love PicTapGo, I have some concert photos I’d love to fix up
Jolene says:
I’d love to win both! I love taking pictures of my kids. Doesn’t every parent?
Caitlin says:
Oh man, I would love either of these! For part of my job, I take pictures of kids in theater classes, and so I feel your pain about not being able to get all the settings just right. I also do a lot of snaps on my phone for the social media part of my job, so the app would be great too!
CMB says:
Would love PicTapGo!