About Me

Daughter. Friend. Girlfriend. Single-Mother. I am a 24 year old enthusiast of the aspect of creation. Thank you for stopping by.

Follow me here:

People I Follow

1 of 6 Next »

Hi All!

Really quick. Sorry I’ve been MIA the last couple days. Lots of things going on. Lots of learning most definitely!

1) Learning photography edits and templates on Photoshop.

2) Learning more camera techniques.

3) Learning how to BALANCE EVERYTHING.

(Those are just three I can think of right now.)

I had my first baby session last Saturday, so I’m working on editing at the moment (post to follow once I’m done).

In my 3^rd week of my visual literacy class.

And did I mention I’m 34 weeks pregnant?? Heheeh.

Above is a board I want to have printed for my Bella’s first softball season. She had a great year! Thought I’d share a board that I finally finished. Very simple but I’m proud of it nonetheless.

Oh and by the way,

For those who haven’t heard… the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS WON THE PENNANT!!

More to come; Sorry this post is so scrambled. I will have an air of clarity the next time I post. I promise.

♥ Sherilene

Fun Photo Weekend.

Spent some time this weekend helping my friend Daisy (jiggynation.tumblr.com) with a project in which cameras were involved. Of course I couldn’t resist helping (because I’m just oh so helpful [ha!] and I wanted to pick her photographer brain).

I’ll let her tell you about her project if she wants but let’s just say tons of balloons were involved.

She needed a couple shots where my little Bella got involved. The lighting was horrible this weekend (Mother Nature decided to unleash first rain on Sunday) so we busted out my handy dandy lighting system and had at it. This was a great opportunity to play with backdrops and light compensation.

Here are some of the results from our Bella photos.

CC is always accepted here. I love getting feedback.

Follow Miss Jiggy Nation here.

♥ Sherilene

Any thoughts?

Finally A Model to play with!

My daughter is not shy in front of a camera, so she is always the perfect subject for modeling. I fiddled with my on camera vs. off camera flashes and how far to move the strobes as opposed to the sync flash, etc etc. Above are the results (disregard my major need for post production editing software… it’ll be here soon hehe) I have labeled which are on camera and which are off camera, but I’m pretty sure you could tell. I am in major ♥ with studio lighting and I’m not going to lie, I don’t care how over-exposed some of those photos are, they’re my favorite.

What I am in major need of is lighting criticism… Photog junkies.. that means you.. is my lighting too far perhaps… too close (besides the obvious shots hehehe)… anything I could have done better… pointers would be fabulous!! hehe. Any suggestions would be FANTASTIC!

Thank You!

♥ Sherilene

Any thoughts??

Playing with lighting.

I finally got my lighting stuff in the mail a last Thursday. It came in a cute little package and everything. I’ve been itching to test it all out and finally found some time. I have never used studio lighting till now and have come to the conclusion that it’s a lot more difficult than just placing a light in a box and facing it towards whatever your photographing. You have to do all this light metering and syncing for instance. Nonetheless I’m glad I’m learning.

My dear brother wouldn’t hang out with me long enough to photograph him, so he left me some of his jordans to photograph. I need some post production editing tools.. can’t wait till my photoshop comes in `w0ot! Other than that, lighting (esp. off camera lighting) makes all the difference, especially in low light conditions. Let me know how the “product photos” look. I was too lazy to put a background up so the grainy background is because of my wall. My brother says they look nice, but I don’t count his judgement since its his shoes. hehehe.

♥ Sherilene

Making her pre-delivery debut! (Kind of)

Hamilton and I went to have our 4D ultrasound done for our new arrival. For those who are in the market for a place to have the their ultrasound done I would definitely recommend 4D Miracles. They are located in Fremont California and are excellent. They have rave reviews on Yelp and their pricing is excellent. For 129 even we received 7 4x6 photos, a CD of over 60 photos , a DVD of the entire session and a diaper bag (A very nice diaper bag!). The staff is so friendly and accommodating. The room was so homey and I especially loved beautiful Jennifer convertibles sectional couch (yes I do notice these things). The session itself was supposed to be 30 minutes, but because Sticker Flower (as my Bella affectionately calls her) was sleeping our tech worked with us to get her to wake up. We ended up staying for an extra half hour at no charge.

I am so amazed at the level of detail you can see on a 4D ultrasound. It’s absolutely mind-boggling.

And as always, here are a few things I learned from my 4D experience.

1. It’s best to have your ultrasound done between your 28^th to 30^th week. Any later and the baby might be too cramped to get a good shot, any earlier and you might not really see much.

2. Schedule your appointment around the time you know for sure your child will be moving. You want to be in prime movement time.

3. Eat about 45 minutes before your scheduled ultrasound. This will get the baby up and moving around for your DVD. If you eat too early she’ll get all her movement in and by the time you go in, she’ll be asleep and if you eat too late she’ll be moving 15 minutes after you have left hehe.

4. Bring Snacks. Just in case your little one needs a boost. I suggest something sugary.

5. Come 15 minutes early. There is paperwork that needs to be signed.

6. Drink water or March in place if your baby fell asleep. Cold water is best.

So there you have it. I didn’t think it would be worth doing, but now that I have it’s such a wonderful experience. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Okay, I have decided to take my own newborn photos this time around. Mostly because i can’t give up my left kidney to pay for them, and also because I figure this is something I’m going to need to learn. I’m not always going to have an awesome professional around to take the photos for me.

My little one is due in the first week of December, so I have much practicing to do. I have been trying to pose with my little Bella (my lovely little 4 year old), but its getting tough trying to fit her on things hehe. I do have a few shots. I’m not super happy with them, but my little Bella is adorable.

I always take the photos in the evening (the only time I have) so the indoor lighting is absolutely TERRIBLE!!! but here are a few things I have learned so from all the research and minimal personal experience I have so far.

1) Natural lighting is ideal. I haven’t had much time with studio lighting, but natural lighting (when I’m home in time to use it) works beautifully.

2) Aperture priority is a must with babies.

3) Black and white gives such a beautiful emotion to baby photos especially.

4) Patience is HUGE!

If anyone has any tips, suggestions or ideas for me.. PLEASE POST THEM. I need all the help I can get! Thank You!?

It’s been a while!

Wow, I have been gone for months! Sorry everyone. In my own defense I’m super pregnant (okay, maybe not the best defense, but that’s all I’ve got). I am two months away from delivering my second child; a little baby girl. So you know what that means! Someone new to take pictures of!

Some things I have learned from this second pregnancy:

Once you’ve gone through it, you’re not so much a worry wart about everything. I remember in my last pregnancy, I worried about EVERYTHING. Every movement and what it could possibly mean Baby Center and pregnancy.com were my go to sites.

You show faster. I looked like I was 5 months at 3 months… sad… I know.

Diapers.com I wish I knew about this website in my first pregnancy. You can get your diapers and other essentials overnighted to you (check shipping requirements in your area) and the pricing is fairly competitive to retailers; in my case Target & Walmart. For those who are interested use my Referral Code: Sher2043 to get 15% off your first order!

9 months goes by faster. I remember with my first daughter I just wanted her out ASAP so I can play with her and be with her and do all the mommy stuff I’ve been learning. This time around I’ve learned to just tell myself “she will be here when she’s ready”. I still want her out soon so I can play with her and all that, but it’s easier for me not to be sooo anxious this time around.

You don’t have to buy EVERYTHING. I’m too concerned about all the baby things that Babies R Us says you HAVE TO BUY this time around. I’ve learned to realize that not everything is ESSENTIAL.

Despite what other mothers say about jealous kids, my kid is actually SUPER EXCITED for her sister to come. PHEW! My little Bella will be 5 in February. I think she’s just happy she won’t be playing alone once her sister comes.

There you have it. I have 2 months left till I’m due, hopefully I’ll be better about blogging in that time!

♥ Sherilene

The Golden Coast

To Drunk Drivers: STOP BEING IDIOTS!

I opened my email this morning to find this note in my inbox from my daughter’s softball league manager:

Fellow Softball Parents,

I regret to inform you that a tragedy has struck one of our players and her family. Lila Bruno, from the Baby Jaguars team, was hit and critically injured by a drunk-driver on Saturday, while playing in her yard. We will be setting-up a donation table at our League event on Saturday, to assist the family through this hard-time.

Donations in any amount are welcome, and greatly appreciated.

_______________________________________________________________________

I later found out her story was placed in the san jose mercury news saying, “…a suspected drunken driver — whose brother later told police had downed “20 Tecates” beforehand — caused a chain-reaction accident that sent cars plowing into the Serenos and three children playing in the front yard. All five were injured, two of the children seriously.”

It later went on to say,” 4-year-old sister, Lila Bruno, suffered the most serious injury — a fractured skull. She underwent brain surgery and was transferred Tuesday from Valley Medical Center to Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

“The doctors had to clean her brain from dirt,” Brandy Sereno said. “They’re not sure how half of her brain will recover.”

I could not believe what I was reading. My daughter just played them in softball a couple of weeks ago. She’s only 4 years old!

To drunk drivers: STOP BEING IDIOTS! Look at the damage this person did to an entire family; An accident that wouldn’t have happened if he wasn’t so far under the influence. You can say “I drive better drunk” or whatever, but one day, this will be you and who knows who’s life you’ll destroy.

I pray for this little girl and her family. For God to place his healing hands over her and provide a covering of safety for their family. I pray for the drunk driver as well… that his story opens the eyes of other drunk drivers out there.

To read the rest of the story please click on this source: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15016111?source=rss

Also if you would like to help The Sereno family and neighbors are holding a carwash on Mother”s Day and May 16, both from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 3136 Story Road in San Jose, to raise money for the two hospitalized children.

♥ Sherilene

Any thoughts?

LIMITS

I have learned this past week that I don’t like to deal with things for a long length of time. I am not a creature of change, or a creature of patience.

I’ve been doing a lot of private thinking and writing (hence why I’ve only published 8 posts this month). My stress level has been high lately with all this internal venting. I have been keeping everything inside and trying to put out my own fires left and right.

Then God said… “What am I? Do you not remember my promises to you?” and it hit me. I haven’t been coming to him at all. I’ve been thanking him every day for life and asking forgiveness for my sins, (which you should ask as soon as you realize you’ve sinned, because if you don’t acknowledge your sins, you’ll bet that the devil is already telling God. Better to hear it from you I think) but when it comes to my problems or issues, I’ve been so internally hush hush about it, that I forgot He’s there for my burdens too.

So I sat down and wrote to God. I wrote to God about everything that’s bothering me. Things showed up on that list that I didn’t even realize was bothering me at all. It was such a freeing experience. In Matthew 11: 28-30 Jesus said 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” And I did just that. I told God, here is my stress. Everything I have pent up for the last couple of weeks exposed for you to see.

To be honest, I felt guilty for giving it to him. Sure I was drowning in my battles, but they were MY battles; and I hated to have to pass it on for someone else to take care of. Then I remembered he’s not just ‘someone else,’ HE’S GOD! He wants to take all your burdens so you’re free to do His will. There is so much love in that last sentence that it’s just hard to fathom someone so willing and patient.

I am blessed. We are blessed. We have a God who is willing to say,” Give it to me babygirl, I’ll take care of it. Just relax.” The hardest part to understand is that I don’t deserve it. I’m a sinner and he’s still willing to love me and all my ugly truths.

Is anyone experiencing the pain of suffering right now? However large or small it may seem? I implore you to sit down and talk to God however way you do it. He’s waiting patiently (the gentleman that he is) for you to come and ask for His help.

♥ Sherilene

Any thoughts?

I’m pretty sure I have the sweetest kid EVER.

I’ve been a little stressed about turning in my final paper today. My Bella was hard at work on a little project. She had all her stickers and pens lined up on the carpet for her little crafts project.

I’m so engulfed in my paper that I barely realize she asked me for an envelope. Luckily my sister had one, she placed her little craft in the envelope and placed it behind my pillow.

She asked me to open it, and ran off into the hallway. I figured I’d take this moment to relax from my paper and opened the envelope and this is what my little 4 year old placed inside.

Seriously, I am one blessed mother.

Yours to take - Jimmy Needham

Current song stuck in my head.

Please Remember:

If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

Agree?

Francesca Battistelli - Beautiful Beautiful<br><br>looove it!

jeannalove:

jesustotheworld:

(via ifollowthee, myalphaomega)

jesustotheworld

sherilene.tiopo

This is so true.