So, I need to talk to you about something very important. And yes, it has everything to do with books. I need to know how you're reading these days. Are you reading hard copies of your books - as you always have and always will? Hardbacks. Paperbacks. Mass Market copies that fit in the smallest bags you own?

Or have you gone to the technological side and got yourself a Nook or a Kindle? Any sort of eReader at all?

I can't decide. I love my books. But believe me, I'd have a lot more space in various rooms of my home if I had less of them. And I'd never have to leave my house to buy the latest title that sparks my interest. AND I could carry more than one book at a time with me when I travel (not that that's frequent or anything - but still) and switch it around if I wanted to without worrying.

And no more tearing ads out of magazines to create bookmarks. That would be nice. You know the kind? The little tear outs that are in every magazine? Oh, and magazines! I could subscribe to more and not worry about how quickly I read them and whether or not I'll be able to recycle all those pages well enough to feel a little bit greener.

But I would totally miss the page by page feel. I would totally miss how a book feels in my hands. The weight of it. The smell of it, even. I would miss living in the bookstore like I normally do. More than once a month we head there to take our daughter to play with the trains at Barnes and Noble.

But see, there's another concern. Kindle or Nook? I live off Barnes and Noble, ALWAYS. But I am saving the Amazon giftcards that I have been getting through Swagbucks so I can buy one [a Kindle] for practically nothing. Sort of.

So what do I do? What did you do?

Fill me in on why you switched to an eReader, or why you think you never will. And I'll just keep reading. And reading. And - well - you get the idea!

Happy Reading -- however you do it!

Originally posted on the TriangleMommies blog on 5/7/11
Andrea is a SAHM who blogs about her everyday life, motherhood and more over at http://goodgirlgoneredneck.blogspot.com

Taking photos of your families is something we do all the time. I have over 1000 photos of my daughter's first two years of life! Even after all that practice, I could still use a few pointers!

Take a Great Photo
Photographs are an important way to preserve special memories and document events in the life of a family. Following are some tips to help you get the most out of your camera:

1. You never know when a good photo opportunity will arise. You are at the park and your child learns how to climb the monkey bars all by himself. Or you are at lunch with a friend and Junior decides to kiss the waitress. Photo opportunities pop up when you least expect them! Be prepared by keeping your camera and a spare roll of film with you all the time. If you can't do that, invest in a small disposable camera to keep in your purse or diaper bag for those surprise moments.

2. Avoid posing your subjects. The subject of your photo does not need to be looking directly at the camera to get a good photo. The best
photos I have of my daughter are "the mistakes" -- the ones where she moved when she wasn't supposed to or turned slightly away from the camera. These types of photos show action which makes them more interesting than a formal, posed shot.

3. Use the right kind of film. For all purpose use, 400 speed film is best. If you know that all the photos you will be taking with a roll will be inside, you can use 200 speed film. Don't hesitate to experiment with black and white film. It lends a timelessness to your photos that color film sometimes lacks.

4. Pay attention to the background. Sometimes a tree that looks fine while you are taking a photo looks like it is growing from Uncle Harvey's head when you get the print. Pay special attention to the composition of your shots and look for possible problems. Don't hesitate to recompose your shot by having your subjects move a step or two to the left or right. That will usually clear up and problems.

5. Include yourself. So often, Mom is the one behind the camera. Remember that you are an important part of the family too! Hand the camera over to Dad or the grandparents every once in a while and jump in the shot with your family. Better yet, invest in a small tripod for group shots. Don't let your kids look back on your old albums and find you MIA! Join in the fun!

Some special tips for digital camera users:
1. Make sure your camera is set to the highest quality and resolution possible. When you take a digital photo, it is important that the camera get the most information possible. The higher the resolution, the more information your camera is collecting. Your prints will be clearer and more precise. You will also have more flexibility when editing your photos. Beware -- this will take up more memory space. However, memory cards are reasonably priced and are a one time cost. When the card is full, it is quick work to burn the photos to CD, clean off the card and get back to taking more photos. Make sure you purchase a card that will hold an outings worth of photos!

2. Take lots of photos. Keep only the best. Since digital cameras don't need film, you have the flexibility to take photo after photo. Take advantage of this! Don't hesitate to take the shot of your child playing. You may take fifteen shots before you get "the one," but that is okay because you only need to print the ones you want.

3. Avoid using the flash when possible. Flash lights up shadows, which is not always a good thing. Shadows can add a depth to your photo that the flash will take away. Experiment with the flash and learn the best times to use it. You will be surprised at how little you actually need it!

4. Watch out for digital zoom. Optical Zoom is similar to a magnifying glass -- it makes the photo bigger. Digital zoom is not the same as optical zoom -- it essentially crops the photo as you take the picture. Sometimes when you don't want to mess with photo editing software, this cane be a real timesaver. As I said before, however, you always want to get as much information with the shot as you can to give you flexibility while editing your photos. So only use your digital zoom when time is more important than flexibility.

We hope these tips help you to take great family photos! Enjoy!

Originally posted on CharlotteMommies