Changed My Life?

What are 5 consumer products that have changed your life?

1. My Camera. No question. I've always been a photography nut - I mean FOREVER! My friends will tell you, I'd bring my camera to school, to dances, I'd make my friends pose with me, for me - you name it. There was nothing like seeing those memories captured on a print for me to relive again and again. But my Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi helped me take my photography to the next level. I remember first opening it, thinking to myself "Wow - this thing is going to make my photos look AWESOME!" Then I tried taking my first photos - UGH! They were awful. Seriously. I couldn't grasp the relationship between aperture, ISO, and shutter speed (and I had studied up on it beforehand, lemme tell ya!). Now, I admit I wasn't using the "auto" setting here - I was trying to use manual, but still. It wasn't all that. It took a lot of practice and learning how my camera sees light to get my photos to the level I'm at now. Learning to focus was hard, too, and I'm still learning. I love this camera now - it's so easy for me to use and I love the results I get with it.

Why has my camera changed my life? Well, it's given me an outlet to release my creativity which involves other people. It also has given me opportunities to make some money for me, and to help with the finances in a way that doesn't take me away from my kids for more than an hour at a time. It's been awesome. Everything I've wanted! I love the work, I love meeting new people, and I love the bit of ME it has brought out - more confidence, more creativity, more freedom to express in a way. So, there you have it. my #1~

2.
Photoshop! This will be obvious to anyone who visits this blog regularly. Photoshop has helped me take my photos from "nice" to SHAZAM! I don't change the subjects of a photo in photoshop as much as the technical adjustments like color, contrast, brightness etc. I love being able to do that - just like a dark room! I love being able to add text, add fun effects, or take my photos from color to black and white with a click. It's something I love using, and I've used it often in a hundred different ways.

3. Sihouette Digital Craft Cutter - this thing has changed my scrapbooking/crafting life since buying it. I love being able to cut out titles in any paper in any size for my scrapbooks. I've especially loved getting the vinyl to cut things out of - I've made such cute projects with it! Anyone who's scrapbooked with me might remember how cutting out letters etc. was the bane of my crafting existence! UGH! I like pages to come together in a hurry - and this little machine has made that a possibility where it wouldn't have otherwise.

4. Our GPS system - I've never been very comfortable driving somewhere I've never been. I can read a map - I can google an address and get directions - but I still get anxious when I get behind that wheel, knowing I don't really know where I'm going. My husband (always the sweety) came home with a little system that suctions right to our windshield and tells me exactly how to get somewhere, when to turn right or left, how far the place is, and all with a nice calming man's voice (I just couldn't deal with a woman's voice telling me she's better than me :P) The best part, for me, is that if (or usually when) I make a wrong turn, it reevaluates the route and helps me get back on track. Hey! Kinda like prayer, isn't it? ;)

5.
Crystal Light Drink Crystals - I hate the taste of water. I'll drink it, sure - I mean, I need it to live, right? But these little diamonds of tasty goodness make my water sing and dance. I love it. My fav? Lemon Lime.

Now I tag - Tiffany (I just need a good laugh, and your comments will be side splitting - no pressure), Rachel, Michelle, Debbi, and Juliette. Have fun!