Suzanne McGrath Photography

Welcome! {Kansas City metro area babies, kids, family photographer}

Hi there.  Welcome to my blog and thanks for stopping by.  This blog originally started out as a photography blog but has really blossomed from there.  I like to talk about decorating, my family, recipes, photography, and generally just whatever floats my boat!  

I do a little photography here and there - but I no longer order prints.  Rather, I will shoot, edit your photographs, and give you the disc of images.  If you are looking for a photographer, please just shoot me an email:  psmcgrath@everestkc.net.  

Cheers!

Suzanne

Project Life Week 16

Week 16.  I'm catching up...

I didn't want to forget the tragedy of Boston so I included a small insert with a bib I rec'd at one of my long runs.  I think it's a simple way of remembering.

I love this project.  Seriously.  Love it.

This week was a big one for us - #4 turned 4 years old.  That is big time.  4 years is no longer little.  It means independence.  Putting on her shoes by herself.  Riding in a booster seat rather than a 5-point harness carseat.  And most importantly?  Not asking to be carried everywhere.  I am loving four!  

Full spread:

Left side:

And some of the details:

I adored the picture above of #4 before blowing out her candles.  Since it was taken inside, with low light, I decided to embrace the grain and just turn the picture into a black/white.  I love it.  It tells the whole story without one word.  

Getting a sprinkler system installed was big time for us.  After living in this house for 10 years without one, we decided THIS was the year.  We pulled the trigger and the hubby was and still is THRILLED!  So of course I had to document the occassion.  Just a couple words on the picture and presto!

 

Right side:

More details below:

This next picture shows how I documented #4's birthday party.  Since it was such a low-key event I didn't include a special spread - just a couple pictures, instead.  Also, I included one of the tags she received on a present.  So cute.

I highlighed the picture of my new dining room chandeliers by cutting up a journal card and just writing a little something to document the occasion.  I like how the little something helped to break up the gray space.

Another Ali Edwards inspired overlay:

Lastly, I just made my own flag to attach to my picture.  I like how it turned out and it was super simple.

And there you have it!  One more week down for the record.  I love it!

Project Life Week 15

I had this post all scheduled and ready to go.  But I wanted to take just a moment to say those in Oklahoma dealing with the aftermath of the tornado are in my heart and mind today.  I am wishing them a safe and speedy recovery.  If you'd like to do something, you can donate to the Red Cross.

On a lighter note...

I'm getting caught up...Welcome to week 15!  April 8th - 14th

Full spread:

I included both the hubby's and my race bib this week.  I just stuck them together so you can see it from the front and back.  I chose not to put it into a plastic page protector again because it's just so easy to do it this way.  Easy is good.

Here's the left side:

This page makes me happy.  I think it's all the green repeated throughout.  Green is one of my favorite colors!  (And pink.  Duh.)

This notecard below just happened to be the perfect size for the 6x4 pocket so naturally I had to include it!  I mean, seriously, how cute is that?!  Love #3.

I thought it was a fun idea to include the paint swatch that matched the walls of #2's room.  I just put a little asterick next to the color we used.  

Right side:

I just loved this Instagram shot I took of the big girls and their friends.  Since Instagram is only 4x4 I just put an inch of black on either side of the photo before printing.  (Basically, just opened a new canvas in Photoshop, Filled with black, and Moved my picture on top before flattening.)  I wanted to give it a little something-something so I added the glittered SONIC letters.  Fun!

I loved this picture of me and my "sole" sisters.  And I wanted to highlight it in some way.  Hence, the Ali Edwards-inspired rectangle and arrow.  

And of course I had to document my PR (personal record for those of you non-runners).  And what better way to do that then with green, sparkly stickers?

I'm still loving adding journaling using a bit of a journal card cut to size and adhered to the photo.  It's a great way to add just a little bit of oomph.

And there you have it.  Week 15 done!  

Six on Sunday

Howdy!  I hope everyone had a great week.  Ours was typical and busy.  Let's get on with it, shall we?

1.  My parents came for a visit this weekend.  Their goal was three-fold: 1.  See their six grandkids play their respective sport, 2.  Pick up their Crate and Barrel purchase, and 3.  Check out the goods at Nebraska Furniture Mart.  They were 95% successful.

They picked up their purchase.  They even made more purchases - one each day from NFM.  So where did they strike out?  Well, they made it to everyone's game or meet with one exception.  #1 was supposed to have her last regular season soccer game tonight and it was cancelled.  At the last minute.  Due to lightning.  UGH!  That cancellation also meant I wasn't able to shoot her soccer game with my big girl camera.  Double UGH.

However, they were able to see #2 play soccer Friday night, #3 play soccer Sat. morning, #1 swim in two events Sat. morning, my niece play soccer Sat. afternoon, my nephew play baseball this afternoon, #3 played soccer again tonight, and then CANCELLED.  I think they are tired.  Probably more like exhausted!  But we were so glad to have them:)

#2:

#3:

2.  South Beach Phase 1 is still going.  I'm not going to pretend I haven't cheated here or there.  Maybe I had ONE beer last night? (Definitely earned!)  Maybe I had one bite of an English muffin this morning (pure heaven)?  But I'm not telling.  Anyway, it's been fine.  I'm just getting sick of tired of vegetables.  I just really want to bite into an apple!  We're only going to finish up the week and then ease back into normal eating.  Hopefully it will be worth it!

3.  While running around to activities this weekend we were busy at the house.  The hubby and my dad (with a little help from me) managed to re-lay the hardwood floors.  (Remember the ceiling debacle?  Yeah, it's been THAT long we've been living with a 4' x 5' patch of subfloor.)  The hubby also managed to lay a bunch or quarter round tonight.  Score!

Meanwhile, I was able to finish upholstering a chair for my bedroom.  I even spent an hour or so out on the deck sanding the gross white paint.  I figure this is my year!  I WILL tackle the deck!  And honestly, it can't get any more gross than it already is.  For reals.  

4.  Darby.  Our cat.  She has taken to eating grass and then puking in my house.  It is disgusting!  Any suggestions?  Because I need HELP!

Here she is looking innocent.  She probably puked 5 minutes prior to this picture and hence the satisfied look:

5.  Let's talk about Sonic, shall we?  I am growing in my love and appreciation for the little drive-up joint.  Happy hour slushees?  Yes, please.  My kids love to walk up there and get a slush.  I have to admit, I think I enjoy it just as much as they do.  And now?  Now half price shakes after 8pm?  I feel this could cause my waistline problems after South Beach is over.  Do you know how reasonable their shakes are at half price?!  It's probably too good of a deal for me.  Here is the evidence where I cannot say no to half price shakes on a Friday night:

6.  I finished reading The Great Gatsby.  It took me a little longer to read than I anticipated.  It was not a book I could fly through.  I had to read it carefully.  Actually, sometimes I had to re-read a sentence or a paragraph to make sure I understood it correctly.  I have to say, I no longer want to see the movie.  The ending was so bleak.  So disheartening.  I don't think I want to see it played out on the big screen.  And Daisy?  I wanted to ring her neck!  She made me so mad and that is not what I want to watch in a movie, either.  In the end I'm very glad I read the book, but the book shall suffice.

I've moved on to Anna Karenina.  I saw it at my girls' bookfair and thought, Why not?  Plus, it was the only book that appealed to me and I had just finished Gatsby so I needed something new.  I hope it's good.  So far I'm enjoying it and it didn't take long to get into it.  At over 900 pages, I doubt I'll have a review for you any time soon!

And there you have it.  My six on Sunday.  Have a great week, everyone! 

10 Tips to Painting Ceilings

After painting our kitchen, breakfast nook, family room, and later the dining room ceilings, I now consider myself to be an - ahem - expert.

Here are 10 tips I picked up along the way:

1.  Use a drop cloth big enough to cover your whole floor.  It's so much easier than having to move a drop cloth as you go.

2.  Get a nice roller.  Don't cheap out.  Take it from me, the few dollars extra is totally worth it.  It will paint a nice, even coat without leaving chunks behind.

This is the one I used and I loved it.

3.  Use a nice, angled brush to cut in the perimeter. 

4.  Tape off your walls.  I usually don't tape off anything anymore.  (I've done so much painting that I have a pretty steady hand.)  However, this is where I make an exception.  It's much easier to spend the time taping your walls since you are looking straight forward than it is to have to oh-so-patiently-and-slowly trim your ceiling since you are looking upwards. 

5.  Saturate your roller.  Don't be shy.  Don't skimp.  Trust me on this.  And because your roller is saturated, twirl it while you are brining it up to the ceiling to prevent the paint from dripping.  But alas, if you do - you have a whole drop cloth covering the entire floor (See #1)!  Don't try to eek out every drop on the roller.  If you do, you'll end up having to do more than two coats.  Again, trust me on this.  We had to do three coats on our kitchen/family room.  NOT FUN. 

6.    If possible, paint during daylight.  I've painted both during the day and at night and daylight is much better - even with a spotlight at night.  I used a really light shade of gray so it was hard to tell the gray from the white primer.  Good light is key.

7.  Wear a hat.  Enough said.  Wear long sleeves.  Again.  Enough said.

8.  Get an extension pole for your roller.  I can't even imagine trying to paint a ceiling without one! 

9.  OK.  Here is where I'm going to get a little technical.  I wish I knew this the first time we painted 1,000 square feet of ceiling vs. 100 sqare feet!  But, I'm glad I learned:

• Start on one end of your ceiling and work your way over.
• Paint two stripes.  Leave about half a roller distance in between the stripes.
• Go back and paint in between the stripes.  This will provide solid coverage.
• When you paint a "stripe", start in the middle of the ceiling and push your roller to one end then back over your stripe to the other end and then back to the middle.  This will give you two swipes across your "stripe".  Again, solid coverage.
• Keep up this pattern all the way across the ceiling.   
• Below is my attempt at a visual explanation:

10.  Walk away.  Again, trust me.  The ceiling will look horrible while it's drying and you'll think you did a terrible job.  Nonsense. 

If you employ these strategies, painting your ceiling is truly a job you can do yourself and save some bucks in the process!  Good luck and holler with any questions.

Project Life Week 14

Two days in a row!  I'm catching up, I tell ya!

Week 14.  I worried I wouldn't have enough photos and I have to say, I stretched it.  But it worked out, as usual.  I'm still loving this process.

I stuck the bib from my Bentonville half marathon in here.

Left side:

As you can see above, the bottom left picture shows our new dining chairs.  And below you can see the small journal card on the far left tells "their" story.  A story of compromise:

 

I used my trusty old Photoshop to add words to the photo below.  That is so easy because, print. Done.  I love that.  

 

And now for the right side:

I wish the hubby was better at taking pictures because this entire side documents our trip to Bella Vista but fails to touch on what the hubby and big girls were doing back here.  I suppose I'll have to lean on my girls to fill in when I'm gone.

I included this letter #3 wrote to my parents shortly after we left town.  I added the transcription notes so I'll remember what it says when I'm old and can no longer read 6-year-old writing:

It says, "I do not want to leave Arkansas because I had too much fun.  Bye Gamma.  Bye Papa."  Seriously, how sweet is that?!

Since I run with my iPhone, I had it handy and took a picture of the start of the half marathon:

I added the stickers to give it a little oomph.  I used two different kinds of stickers but thought it was a great way to use up letters or make up for missing letters in one set.

And finally, I added my race bib.  Since the material is somewhat silky and tear-resistent, I just threw it in here by itself rather than using a page protector.  Easy peasy.

And there you have it. One more week COMPLETE.  Score!

 

Project Life Week 14

OK.  So I am committed to catching up since my pages are done.  The pages are now all photographed.  I just have to edit them!

Week 14:

This was clear back in March - the week after spring break.  I know.  Awhile ago.  What you can't probably see very well on the photo above is that the top three photos are a series from a panoramic shot of our first floor.  That was the view when we walked in the door after being gone for a week!

I had to document the hubby hitting the ceiling with mud to commemorate his 40th birthday.  The picture isn't the best (iPhones don't like backlit shots!) but that's OK:

And of course I needed to document the loot delivered by E.B. (Easter Bunny):

Now for the right side:

The shot above showcases the girls in their Easter dresses.  I really liked the portrait orientation but wanted to put it on a landscape canvas so I turned to Photoshop.  I created a blank 6x4 canvas and colored it with a coordinating color.  Then I took my original photo and resized it to 2.5" x 3.5" and moved it over and dropped it on my larger canvas.  After adding a white stroke around the picture, I was done!  Presto magic.

I did the same thing last year where I put a small picture of each of the four girls across on one page.  I liked it so much I repeated it this year - with the addition of a sticker with the first letter of their name added to the page:

And lastly, we documented our dinner to celebrate the hubby's birthday at his favorite restaurant, Tanner's.  (I know.  We're very classy people.  A bar and restaurant is his pick every. single. time.)

I loved adding that piece of a journal card on the corner of the picture.  Such a cute and easy little detail!

And there you have it - Week 13!

 

Six on Sunday...the Mother's Day Edition

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!  I hope you all had a fantastic day - for reals.

1.  I had a nice Mother's Day.  We didn't have anything scheduled - no soccer games, no swim meets, nothing!  It was almost strange not to be running from activity to activity.  We enjoyed a slower day, that's for sure.

I slept in - 'till 8am.  Seriously awesome.  The hubby made a fantastic breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls, sausage, and scrambled eggs.  The coffee was ready right when I rolled out of bed.  That is perfection.  This afternoon the whole family rode our bikes to the playground.  Now that #3 can ride a bike without training wheels it's getting really exciting!  And after a steak dinner we headed to Orange Leaf for a little dessert.  So nice.  Not to mention the weather was beautiful.  All in all, it was a lovely day.

2.  My friend, Carmen, and I paced the Scout Strong half marathon yesterday.  I have to say - it was my least favorite half marathon.  Ever.  It was out by the Legends where there is not a tree or a building to block the wind.  It felt like gale force winds plus it's really hilly.  I didn't mind the hills but the wind was out-of-this-world awful!  And to make it worse, the first aid station wasn't until mile 3.8!  That's a little far.  Lastly, the mile markers were WAY OFF.  And for someone like me who doesn't wear a Garmin, I count on the mile markers.  I doubt I'd do that one again.

3.  #4's class had a birthday party for a dog on Friday.  It was so funny.  The kids were SUPER excited!  #4 informed me that I was expected to attend as were all her sisters.  Of course we didn't want to disappoint her, so we hit up the party.  Too funny.

4.  Carmen and I just couldn't get enough of each other this weekend and she came over last night to catch up on a little scrapbooking!  I've been doing great keeping up with my Project Life but I want to have a School Years book for all the girls.  Well, I had only gotten through first grade for #1.  (Remember, she's now almost done with 6th grade.)  I had purchased a kit years and years ago for #2 (who is almost done with 4th grade) but hadn't even started it.  

Well, I have now ordered all the pictures that need to go in those books.  The next time we get together I can assemble the books.  They're really very simple - just a few pages for each grade.  And this way each daughter will have a book of her own.       

5.  The hubby and I are going to South Beach it (the diet) for the next two weeks.  We'd like to get back to a baseline weight and start the summer off on the right foot.  That means one important thing - we are giving up beer for almost two weeks!  Yikes.  It will be hard but it's time.  Wish us luck.

6.  My friend, Christi, and I went thrifting again this weekend.  We had so much fun!  We each came away with some sweet items.  Here's my loot:

I found two cute milk glass vases - $2.50 each.  I can afford that!  I also found that sweet milk glass serving bowl - or whatever it is.  It was just too pretty to pass up.  I think it was around $17?  Those two brass ducks?  $3.  Yeah, baby!  And finally, Pyrex.  I've been wanting to buy new stacking bowls for awhile and these were so cute.  $45 for the set.  And the Pyrex rectangle container with the lid?  Already used it today.  Sweet!  $20.  

And there you have my recap.  I hope you have a great week! 

 

Thrifty Thursday...How to Make Your Own Umbrella Holder

Hi there!  I have been trying to blog a little more consistently, but MAN, it's hard!  I have been trying to generate one than one post at a time and schedule them but it really requires dedication and organization.  It seems I'm generally lacking one or the other.  But I'm here tonight so here goes...

When we had new hardwood floors installed, we carried the intallation into our small coat closet that is right off our garage.  That is where I kept our umbrellas - just smashed in the corner.  My "system" worked just fine because the carpet kept the umbrellas upright and in the corner of the closet.  Fast forward to wood floors.  Wood is slippery.  And I had umbrellas laying all over the floor.  It was messy and the Type A part of my personality didn't like it!

I decided I needed to find an alternative.  I googled Umbrella stands and I shopped TONS and TONS of websites but either they were ugly or crazy expensive.  Seriously, who wants to spend $399 on an umbrella holder?!  Not me, that's for sure.  So I got creative.

I spotted this at my favorite store ever - Target!

Only $34.99 and not $349?  Yes, please.  (It's actually a large vase.)  

I knew it needed just a little bling.  And then I remembered Jenny over at Little Green Notebook had posted about oil-based markers.  I found one at JoAnn's but here it is over at Amazon:

Gold oil-based marker:

 

Seriously - this thing was SO MUCH FUN to use!

I just taped off my lines on the vase and started coloring.  (I did the bottom line first and waited a day before painting the top line.)  The taping took about three times as long as the coloring.  

And I ended up with this:

It looks uneven but you have to be this close to notice.

How cute is this?

I really like how the gold details in the umbrella holder pick up the gold accents I have elsewhere around the foyer!

And there you have it.  Now I just need to get myself some really cute umbrellas!  Wait...isn't Mother's Day coming up?

 

Six on Sunday - it's Cinco de Mayo!

I'm in a much better mood tonight.  We had a nice weekend and The Blind Side is on TV right now.  Sunday night anxiety is very low:)

1.  We celebrated Cinco de Mayo tonight by eating Greek food.  Oops!  I wasn't thinking when I planned the menu for the week.  We tried out a new recipe from my BFF Iowa Girl Eats.  (OK, she doesn't know who I am, but I love her recipes!)  We had chicken gyro mini burgers.  Her site is down right now or I'd link up.  Anyway, they were good but they were small.  Next time I'll make the burgers regular size.  But they were so easy to put together and so delicious.  We'll definitely have them again.

2.  We had an exciting development this afternoon - #3 learned how to ride her bike, sans training wheels!

It didn't take much.  The hubby took her to an empty parking lot and she was off.  A few more hours back home practicing her starts and she's got it DOWN.  I'm so excited for our bike rides this summer.  I'll still have the tandem with #4, but we're making progress!

3.  The hubby took #2 - #4 down to Bella Vista Friday night.  He went down to help my mom and dad unload their storage unit since their new house was complete.  And the girls were dying to go down and spend the night in the new house.  

I stayed back since #1 had swim practice on Friday night and then a soccer game Saturday afternoon.  She ended up sleeping over at her friend's house after swim Friday night.  And I'm not going to lie.  IT WAS NICE!  I had the whole house to myself.  No kids.  None.  Zip.  Zilch.

I worked on a few projects and then bought myself some beer and rented Zero Dark Thirty.  It was fabulous.  And then?  I slept in.  Until 8am!  Can you believe that?!  I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  It was beautiful.  I got up, made coffee, and drank the entire pot myself.  Ahhhhhh.

What projects did I work on?  I painted and poly'd my bed, finished up last week's Project Life, fancied up my umbrella holder, and put the last coat of poly on the last remaining stair.  Phew.     

4.  #1 and I went out to lunch and shopped a little Saturday afternoon before her soccer game.  We had a fun trip!  We each found a pair of summer shoes at Target, she spent her gift card money at the Gap and I found a maxi dress and an army green khaki skirt there, too.  As we were heading home I decided to make a detour at DSW where I found an adorable pair of rain boots.  Given the amount of rain we've had lately and the amount of soccer games I attend each weekend, I thought it was a natural fit!  (See, I can justify just about any purchase?!)  But seriously, aren't they SO CUTE?

5.  Speaking of rain...we went from this on Wednesday:

to this on Thursday evening...

Yes, that's snow.  In May.  Crazy, huh?!  And that was only the beginning.  I think we got something like 4" before it was done.  Thank goodness it didn't really hurt the roads.

6.  #2 had an orchestra concert this week.  Here she is with one of her great friends.  Aren't they sweet?

And there you have it.  I am hoping we get some May weather this week.  I would like to wear flip-flops for more than just two days in a row.  Cross your fingers and have a great week!

Project Life Week 12: Spring Break

This will be a long post! (3 inserts)  You've been warned:)

Full spread:

Here's the left page so you can get a better idea:

Yep, more Ali Edwards heart overlays.  Sue me.  I like them.

The right side:

Here are some shots of the Inserts I included this year:

You can see I used an Instagram insert (on the left).  To tie all six pictures together (front and back), I made little flags for each picture.  I like the result.  Here it is a little closer:

I also included a small 5x7 insert to highlight Breckenridge at night and during the day.  Behind the 5x7 is Design D with the right column cut off:

In the photo above you can see the 5x7 flipped over and that gives you a clear view of the Design D that I cut off.  I was really happy to be able to stick some memorabilia in the pockets.  I think they are really fun memories!

 

And this is the back side of Design D.  I adored the night shot of Breckenridge and very much wanted to include it!  The shot out of the car window is of the sign saying "Leaving Colorado" so the words "the end" seemed fitting.  Plus, I like that font and rarely get to use it!

Here are a few more detail shots:

I included our ski passes.  They change every year.  Remember when you used to have to use a wicket to attach the pass to your jacket?  Now they are wireless.  Such progress!  Since the pass kept slipping out of the pocket I used a paper clip from Staples to secure it.  I love that the orange really pops and ties in with the "epic" on the pass!

 

On the backside of the pocket I included a Ski School card.  I just cut it in half but you get the idea.

 

I wanted to highlight the picture with my parents and the kids.  I think the ombre effect of the heart buttons accomplishes it!

I thought this angle of the hot tub was cool and wanted to highlight it.  After all, we spent a LOT of time out there!

 

There I go adding text directly to the photo.  Love the result and love how easy it is to pull it off.

 

I added another overlay that I copied from Ali. (I used this in last week's spread, too!)  A great way to highlight a fun photo!

And there you have it.  Week 12 is definitely the most involved week I've done so far.  In fact, I think it will be the most involved I will do this whole year.  But I just love Breckridge and wanted to highlight our trip.  I think it worked!