Shooting Photos this Holiday Season
As the holidays approach, everyone likes to run for their cameras. Grandma's hugs need to be captured along with the little ones' joy over gifts and holiday lights. The outdoor sights glisten with snow, and promises of winter adventure. Why not make this year's photos, both indoor and out, look better than ever before? We recently spoke with Lakewood photographer Ben D'Andrea to see how he comes up with his best shots. "Good photography always boils down to composition and light," said Ben. "This lesson is easy to understand, but is an ongoing process of learning the entire time[...]
Cold Weather Getting To You? Try A Fire Pit!
As the thermostat continues to drop over the winter season, it may seem difficult to imagine a great Outdoor Living Experience for you and your family. Yes, you can head to the mountains for a day of skiing or snowshoeing, but what happens when you get home again? Where's the après ski experience? Why not continue your fun with a family gathering around your own fire pit in the back yard? According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are among the most popular outdoor additions with a 97% rating in popularity for 2013. [...]
Protect Your Pets This Winter
Pets add so much fun and love in our lives that it is no wonder we have as much as 164 million furry friends throughout homes in the United States.* But as winter's cold and snow keeps us humans inside, it is important to realize that our pets need much of the same sheltering and care. "Our highest times of lost animal intake is after heavy winds, snow, and thunder storms," said Operations Manager Susan Fredinburg of the Humane Society of the South Platte Valley. This low-euthanasia and not-for-profit shelter takes in strays and lost animals from seven cities[...]
Fried Turkey Safety Tips
Turkey. It's as American as—well—eating turkey on Thanksgiving. This patriotic bird, once promoted by Ben Franklin to be our national symbol, is the centerpiece for many holiday festivities. Question is, how do you cook such a large bird? There are the traditionalists who enjoy it roasted, of course, and those who will grill it, but a growing number of people seem to enjoy the added flavor and fun of a deep-fried turkey. The challenge to deep-frying a turkey is the bird's large size. With the average weight of a turkey being about 28 pounds, this is not a project[...]
Developing a Grateful Attitude at Holiday Time
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with it marks the beginning of another major holiday season. Turkey Day melds into Black Friday sales, holiday rush, parties, and a hoopla of wonderful activities. But the holiday season is also rife with stress and anxiety, which can lead to depression and other nasty side effects. What can you do to ward off these unpleasant events? Develop an attitude of gratitude. That's right. According to Linda Osterlund Ph.D., LMFT, president of the Colorado Counseling Association and associate dean and associate professor at Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, things like shorter days, colder[...]
