Yesterday, I posted some tips about taking Halloween pictures of your grandchildren.  You’d think that I knew something about photography, huh?

Ha!  Fooled you.

I only know a teensy bit. Like how to turn my camera on and which button to push to snap a picture.

Are you like me in that you wish that you knew about stuff like shutter speed, exposure, ISO, and aperture?

Well, I just happen to know a wonderful photographer who is holding a workshop where you can learn all about that kind of stuff.  And more.

This is a hands on workshop so bring your own DSLR. You’ll get instructions, take pictures, and then get feedback on your photos.  In my humble opinion, that feedback is priceless.  That’s one of the quickest and best ways to improve your photography skill.

The workshop will be held on November 12 near American Fork, Utah.  It will go from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  It costs $75 and lunch will be provided.  (I’m sure the lunch will be absolutely and delightfully yummy!)

Go here to learn more about the workshop.

You can also read about the fellow who is teaching the workshop and see some of his amazing photographs.

Check out the website for the workshop and sign up.  So hurry!  Don’t delay.  There’s limited space.

(Do you think I can convince my husband that we need to buy a DSLR so that I can take this workshop?  Hmmm?)

Winner, winner, winner!

I’d like to announce that Susan Adcox from Baytown, Texas, is the winner of the Chip Taylor CD.

Congratulations!

I’ll pop that in the mail to you.

Remember the song Wild Thing?  I had just barely turned a teenager when that song came out.  I loved that song!  As a thirteen-year-old, I had no clue as to who the songwriter was.  But now, as a grandmother, I have just learned about the person who penned that song — Chip Taylor.

In addition to writing Wild Thing, Chip also wrote songs for Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, George Strait, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin.  Those are big name performers!

Well, Chip will be releasing a new CD on October 18.  Do big name, popular musicians sing his songs on it?  Nope.  His grandchildren do.  And I think that is fabulous.

Taylor recorded the songs on this CD with his granddaughters Riley, Kate, and Samantha.  One song, “Magical Horse,” is based on a poem that Kate wrote for school.  Other songs include the theme song Golden Kids’ Rules, Big Ideas, Daddy Is a Red Sox Fan/ Mommy Is a Yankee Fan.

My favorite song is The Possum Hunter.  Taylor’s granddaughters love their Uncle Kristian (Taylor’s son).  This song is based on a true experience when Kristian was afraid of tipping over a doghouse to free a trapped possum.  His future father-in-law nicknamed Kristian ‘the possum hunter.’ The song has a catchy tune and fun lyrics.

Another interesting fact about Chip Taylor.  He has a very famous brother.  Jon Voight.  Amazing.  (If you see a picture of Chip, you can tell he and Jon are definitely related!)

Here’s a little video where you can see Chip and his granddaughters sing.  Cool.

So here’s the giveaway.

I am giving away a copy of Chip’s CD “Golden Kids Rules.” Just leave a comment telling me about one of your favorite songs — or a favorite song of your grandchild. You have until midnight October 20 to leave a comment.  I will randomly select a person and announce the winner on October 21.

It seems like I always have dried out lips.  Could it be because I lick my lips?  Most likely. (Or else I’m one ol’ desiccated biddy.)

I’m always ‘swabbing the deck’ (applying Chapstick(R), Vaseline, lipstick, or any other lip-smoothing emollient-thingie).

Imagine my delight when I chatted with a co-worker and discovered that she was a maker of fine lip gloss. And, the more that I talked with her, and the more that I checked out the lip gloss making process, the more my little grandma heart got excited.

I dare you to show me one granddaughter who is not interested in lip gloss.  (Those under three-years-old may be more interested in eating it or smearing it on walls instead of wearing it.  But that’s still interest, no?)

I can envision a grandmother-granddaughter gathering on a Saturday afternoon, making lip gloss, giggling, using newly made gloss, and then having pizza and milk and cookies or crème brûlée.  (If you’re the crème brûlée making grandma, sign me up to be your granddaughter.)

Or, you can make lip gloss as Christmas gifts to give to your grand-kiddos.  I know it’s not the Christmas season yet, but it will be here in a blink of an eye.

Eleanor (my co-worker) talked to me about making lip balm. She also talked about making little decorative soaps.

Eleanor gets her supplies from Majestic Mountain Sage. They have kits for the lip gloss that has everything for the making of the gloss — the base solution, jars and lids, pipettes, flavoring and labels. Absolutely everything that you need. (You can get glitter to add to your lip gloss for a dash of pizzaz.) The kits cost $25 and  you get 40 jars of lip gloss.  That makes each lip gloss about  $0.63 each.  That’s a cheap activity and a cheap gift.  I like cheap.

Here is a link to Majestic Mountain Sage’s recipes for lip gloss.

Here are links to their different kits:

• Lanolin lip solution gift kit (with flavoring choices of Vanilla Banilla, Raspberries and Cream, Buttercream, and Sugar Kisses)
• Mango lip solution gift kit (with flavoring choices of Grape, Mango Mango, Black Cherry, and Chocolate Cream)
• Shea lip solution gift kit (with flavoring choices of Huckleberry, Island Delight, Cucumber Melon, Rootbeer)

As I was poking around the Internet about making lip gloss, I came across these two tips.  First, lanolin is great for healing and protecting lips. Second a touch of glycerin softens the lips.  I also came across a kit from Joann’s that was only $18.  You only got 5 containers of lip balm but it had cute tins to put it in. (I couldn’t find any lip gloss/lip balm kits on Micheal’s web site.)

If you’re interested in making soap, here’s an easy Glitter Heart soap to make.  Basically, you melt the glycerin soap base, add coloring, glitter, and aroma.  Pour into a mold and cool.

A word of warning.  Majestic Mountain Sage’s web site is not the easiest to navigate and find things.  I had clicked away from the Glitter Heart.  I had a hard time when I wanted to copy the link.  I used their search feature and it didn’t come up. I clicked under topics where I thought it would be located.  It took quite some effort to relocate the link.  Don’t get discouraged just because their site needs work.  They have good products — but not necessarily a good webmaster . . .

You can find fun soap molds (animals, a baby onesie, hearts, stars, flowers, flip flops, crayon, train, cupcake) on SoapMolds.com.

Joann’s has Melt ‘n Pour which is a product that you can use to create your own molds.  So, if your grandson loves Matchbox cars, you can make him a bar of car shaped soap.  (Maybe then your tween/teen grandsons would be encouraged to bathe more often, eh?)

Have any of you had any experience making lip gloss or designer soaps?  Please share your experience if you have.