Skywatch Friday (or Thursday)

Today we are participating in a meme that our good friend Yogi is hosting called Skywatch Friday.  It's pretty simple, really.  You just post a picture of the sky in your area of the world and share it with the others.  The trick of it all is that they post on Thursday afternoons.  Those tricky tricksters.
I've seen Yogi's posts for a long time now, but today was the first time I checked out some of the others.  Apparently, I have been missing out.  There are posts from all over the world. I could lose myself for hours.
If you tend to take pictures of funky clouds or beautiful sunrises and sunsets - this is the meme for you!
Anyone who knows me even a little is probably aware of the fact that I truly hate getting up in the morning.  When my alarm goes off at 6a on the weekdays I have to force myself into motion and begrudgingly begin my day.  As a way to stick my tongue out and nanny-nanny-boo-boo the weekdays, I stay in bed on Saturdays long after I wake up.  So there, Monday - in your face!  
My neighbor and I take turns driving our teenage boys to the bus stop in the early morning hours and sit in the car with them until it arrives.  Waiting in the cold at the bus stop is one of my least favorite childhood memories, so I took that one out of the running for my kiddos.  During these treks, I see some beautiful sunrises. These sunrises make getting up so early a little more bearable. I'm still going to tell that I wouldn't get up in the morning just to see one.   I'm stubborn like that. My picture today is from last week when I was driving home from the bus stop. It's iPhonography at its best!  You know... fuzzy. It still shows you the beautiful colors peeking through the trees and houses.  I prefer my sunsets to be peeking through trees.  It shows off the intricacies of the trees with their branches with a spotlight!

I'm hoping you will participate in Skywatch Friday with us!  All you need to know is on their website HERE and their Facebook page.  Be sure to pop over and tell Yogi a big hello in the comments! We will be linking up our post this afternoon. Will you?



~ Mrs. Priss

Making the most of her mornings like...

Insta-What?!

I, along with a couple of the other housewives, have posted about the iPhone app Instagram in previous posts. Instagram is a fast, easy way to share your life in pictures. But, it really is even more than that. It is giving average people the ability to be artistic with the pictures they take on their iPhone. Yes, as of right now, Instagram is only available on the iPhone. But, don't fret none. Android will soon have an Instagram app. I can't wait for more of my friends to join this fun community.

I love connecting with others who have similar things in common, those that are local and those whom I can learn from. Let me tell you, there are some incredible iPhoneographers out there. It amazes me what the camera on the mobile phone can capture. The following are just a few of my personal Instagram pictures.

You'll notice that every picture I posted was edited in some way or fashion. As addicted as I am to Instagram, I am just addicted to editing apps. I have 6 folders on my phone FULL of editing apps. I don't just use one per picture either. There are times when I will use 3-5 different apps to edit one picture. 

I'm really excited to share some news with you! Every year for the past four years, Instagram has done a worldwide Instawalk. What is that, you ask? It's when someone organizes a time and place for people to meet up and walk around and take pictures and then tag them with the same tag so that everyone can see what you've captured. Well, as far as I can tell, the 918 area hasn't participated in the previous Instawalks. We are about to change that this year. Woot! 

The worldwide Instameet/Instawalk will be held on March 11, 2012 at noon. Literally people from all over the world will be gathering in their communities to share ideas, tips, editing apps, etc., and then taking a walk and capturing pictures. 

We hope you will join us this year on March 11 at 12:00pm at McNellie's Pub in downtown Tulsa. We will gather there first for introductions and a time to talk "shop." 

In the meantime, we'd love for you to join us on Facebook - Instagram918. Please invite anyone you know in the 918 area code who uses Instagram to join us on Facebook and to join us on March 11.  When you join the group on Facebook be sure and go to the documents and enter your IG name so that we can follow your gallery. And, if you'd like, feel free to share some of your favorite pictures on our page. 

If you'd like to follow the Housewives on Instagram, you can find us as:

• dawnsdiversions 
• nightowl918
• sharhonda
• jonnibaloney
• ajsouthern

I thought I'd take the time and share some of my favorite editing apps with you. Some of them are free and some actually cost anywhere from .99 cents to $5.00. What's neat is that sometimes these apps will run a one day to one week special and you can get them for free. Sadly, I have no patience and can't wait for when they are free. Thank goodness I have a supportive husband who actually enjoys what I capture with my phone and what I can do with the pictures. Whew! 

Here is a list of apps I use, in no particular order:

• Camera+
• Filterstorm
• iDarkroom
• CameraBag
• qbro
• PhotoStudio
• Fotolr PS
• Filter Mania
• ScratchCam
• Dynamic Light
• Be FunkyPro
• Photo Wizard
• Diptic
• Squaready
• Photo Toaster 
• MagicHour
• Blender
• Pixlromatic
• ScribeIt
• iCameraHDR
• Phoster
• Snapseed
• Phonto
• PhotoForge2

If you haven't stepped out and used some editing apps on your iPhone pictures, now is the time to do so... even if you don't use Instagram. I'd recommend any of the apps that I've listed. 

If you use other editing apps I'd love for you to share what they are in the comments. Also, if you aren't in the 918 area code and use Instagram and would like to share some of your favorite photos with us, please feel free to post them to The RHOK on Facebook. 

If you think you'd like to join us on the worldwide Instawalk please go HERE to RSVP for the event. 

~Mrs. Albright
Capturing life one picture at a time and posting it on Instagram, like.....