Pink Panda Says…

Gone are the days when I borrow books from the library or purchase them from the bookstore to read before bedtime. I don’t have time to finish a whole novel.

I started reading other people’s blogs while I was nursing my daughter (what else is there to do at 3am in the morning?) and fell in love with many of them. My list has grown over the past year and a bit and now I’m so addicted I spend a good chunk of my morning reading them all. LOL. Most of the posts are short so it doesn’t take up a lot of my time like a novel would (did I tell you I’m only half way through the last book of the Twilight series? I started that in February!) and many are easy to relate to as it’s about crafting, motherhood, working from home etc.

The addiction is so bad that sometimes I want to email the writers and say “Please, WRITE MORE! Do you think it would be too much to write 2x a day?” HA HA HA. Many of the blogs I follow are written by people living on the West Coast so every day around noon I go and check up on them to see if there’s a new post. Seriously… I’m a blog stalker!

By queenvanna creations

I’m in love with the way people write, the stories they share, and the pictures they post. It’s so inspiring – I kinda wish I was a better writer and photographer. Maybe one day when I have time to take a course or two.

So here is a brief list of what I read daily (more to come in future posts):

Lisa Leonard Online – I love the way she writes about her family and how she makes everyday things like having a cup of coffee so much fun

Keeping it real in the suburbs – Photos and captions are too cute for words. Well written and inspiring. Many of Amber’s posts make me laugh out loud. It helps too that she used to love 90210 and MC Hammer. 

My Cakies – I’ve mentioned this blog before and I had to mention it again. Ruby Ellen is a talented designer, photographer and awesome mom who is going to welcome baby #3 in a few months.

OK so those are my 3 blogs for today. I’ll be sharing more in future posts (and hopefully they won’ t all be from West Coast writers – just so happens that these 3 work are situated there!).

What do you like to read? I don’t think Google Reader has a limit so let me know what I should add to it!

P.S. I would like to have a blogroll somewhere on this page but I’m not sure how to organize 30+ blogs! Do you?

I can admit it. I’m an 80s gal. I spent most of my childhood in leg warmers, side ponytail and neon bicycle shorts.

No, you will DEFINITELY not see a photo of me from the 1980s posted here.

The one thing that I remember about the 80s (aside from NKOTB – yes, I was and still am a huge fan and call waiting – best invention ever when you are a 10 year old girl and you HAVE to talk on the phone with your grade 5 friends about annoying boys and other ways to style your hair) is the Polaroid camera.

 I remember begging my parents to get one for me. What’s not to like? Take a photo and it gets processed instantly! I never did get one (got a 35mm instead as film for those were cheaper than Polaroid film) and now that I’m older and maybe a bit wiser (husband likes to challenge that statement from time to time) I think I’m finally ready for one and I can afford it.

Yes, I know we have digital cameras that have much better picture quality and picture programs that can “Polaroid”-ize your photos for you but there’s something fun about having a vintage Polaroid camera. I don’t want to edit my photos to have the faded yellow / blurry effect and would rather be suprised by what the camera produces.

Along with sewing, I love to scrapbook. Hence the reason why I’m on the hunt for a working Polaroid camera. I want to create my daughter a photoalbum of Polaroid pictures because it’s something “different” and hopefully something she will cherish. And ok, maybe she’ll think I’m cool when she’s 10 yrs old because I have an antique camera (it’s either she thinks I’m cool, or really old. I’m hoping for cool.)

Photo by Arthur Smokes

What’s the reason behind this 80s Polaroid camera madness? Ruby Ellen of mycakies blog also has another blog – 52 weeks of polaroid which I am totally in love with even though there aren’t many posts — just a collection of photos. I love the pictures she’s taken so far and find myself always looking forward to the next week to see what’s next. Ruby is an amazing photographer, inspiring writer and talented craftster (I recently bought a felt crown from her store for Pink Panda and she loves it!).

So it begins.. the hunt for a working camera and some film. My tweeps have been telling me that Polaroid has stopped manufacturing film so now I’m debating whether or not I should get a camera or just give in and use a software program… although it’s kinda fun having pictures with that thick white border around it!

Any other 80s fans out there? What do you think? Worth the money or is the camera just going to collect dust on the bookshelf?

P.S. Yes I know I promised to write about my classes at The Sewing Studio and I will! I’ll show pics of the tote bag and apron I made. Turned out ok for a newbie!

P.P.S There are many new things arriving in September and I’ll be doing a post about it soon. Stay tuned!