Where to Find Props for Food Photos

Hey guys, it's Christina. I'm one of the Maryland/Delaware Reps and blog over at Mom's Messy Miracles. Today I'm sharing with you some ideas on where to find props for your food photos.

I'm far from an expert, but I think my food photos have improved immaculately.

While a lot of food photography is actually using your camera correctly, you can really help your photos by finding some great props. It's kind of become a slight obsession of mine now to look for things I could use wherever we go.

Dollar Stores

At the dollar store, you can buy single plates, cups and bowls for $1. But... do you think about what else you can get there? Grab a roll of wrapping paper for a nice back drop. I have a couple of "wedding" design wrapping paper rolls that are just striped or small really light circles. Also, check in the dish aisle for shelf liners. You can get adhesive shelf liners in different designs that will allow you to make your "table" granite or various wood patterns. 

If you need something seasonal for a few added props in the background, you can grab them at the dollar store without breaking the bank. 

Yard Sales, Flea Markets or Consignment Shops

When you're at Yard Sales, Flea Markets or Consignment shops, keep an eye out for things that you can use.

 

You'll be able to find clear glasses, random plates, bowls and napkins for super cheap at these sales. If you go to a store, you'll usually have to buy a set, but not at a yard sale! I'll also group Goodwill into this because you can find some great pieces there that are sold individually.

Look for oddball white dishes (they're best for most of your food) in different shapes or with different designs. Antique plates can bring a completely different look to your food photos. I've really added to my collection while paying about .50 for each dish. 

Ebay

When you figure out what it is that you want, search for it! If you add primitive or antique to whatever it is that you're looking for, you'll be overwhelmed with great possibilities. 

Finding a lot (meaning a large group of items) or a few items from the same seller is probably your best bet on ebay. 

Retail Stores

In a craft store, or even Walmart, you'll find so many great options. Try not to get too crazy though. Simple is best when it comes to your food photos. Anything you get shouldn't take away from your food, so keep that in mind while you're going crazy throwing things in the cart. 

I've been buying Fat Quarters (fabric pieces) instead of fabric napkins. I can pick them up for much cheaper than napkins and they're larger if I wanted to cover my whole "table" with it. 

Holiday Clearance

I've been really lucky lately finding super cheap clearance on holiday items. I'm still finding Valentine's Day items and Christmas items! I paid 10 cents for a pack of 10 paper straws last week and found a few more packs this week! I love being able to sneak a little color into a picture with just a straw. The pop sticks were 10 cents, too! 

Yes, some of the holiday clearance will only be useful for said holiday, but many times it'll be good for general use, too. Like those pink and red straws. They're Valentine's Day straws, but I'm pretty sure I can use pink and red any time I want.

Where do you find your props for food photos?

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Staying Sane While Snowed In – With Help From The Library

Winter has not been kind to me over in MA.

The 1st blizzard of 2015 left us with 2 feet of snow.  Before that snow had a chance to melt, another foot of snow was dropped. Now, the news is reporting that Boston could see another 2 feet of snow over the next 10 days!

I was sick of winter before it began this year.  I’m a rare New England resident that has never skied.

As you may have guessed, I’ve been snowed in a few times already this winter.

I am not someone who enjoys being cooped up & I go stir crazy pretty quickly.

How have I kept my sanity so far?

With help from the OverDrive app! The library may be snowed in & closed, but I can still borrow e-books using the OverDrive app.  I highly recommend checking it out for your reading pleasure.  I mean – free ebooks?! Can’t beat that!

It's Danielle Kempe taking over the blog today. I'm your MA state rep and a blogger at Getting Fit in MA.

Have you ever heard of tried the OverDrive app?  What books are you reading this winter?

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Do's and Don't of Social Media

Kaitlyn, of the blog Translucent Brown, has some great social media tips for all bloggers (and non bloggers, too!) to keep in mind this year!  She shares five great tips for social media etiquette with us below.

 

1. Think about what you post and share.
You are what you tweet. You are what you post. Use some good common sense before you hit the post button. Think about if this is something you want representing you and your character. If its not something that you would say or show to your grandmother, than you most likely should not be posting it on social media networks.

2. Don't overshare!
No one needs to know that you and your boyfriend got into another fight. My point is that you shouldn't share everything! What is meant to be personal should stay personal.

3. Think before you tag.
No one likes the person who tags all their friends in that embarrassing drunk selfie. Before you post and tag a photo, think about what that photo represents and what that photo says. What would a potential employer or your Dad think if they saw that picture? Not good? .... Don't do it then.

4. Don't overload our newsfeed!
Ugh!! Have you ever gone on Instagram and there's that one person who posts 10 pictures back to back to back! PET PEEVE!! If you're looking to increase your following, posting all those pictures is not going to be a good look for you. Be more structured in your postings. The best time to post on any social media site (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest) is between the hours of 1PM and 4PM. Be wise people!!

5. Ignore!
I am a very opinionated person. And I have a lot to say. But not everyone feels the same way I do about certain situations. And with that.. comes the mean, dreaded comment. If someone isn't being so nice to you or says something that you just don't agree with, my best advice to you would be just to ignore it. I've learned from my mistakes! Don't add fuel to the fire. By ignoring it, you are defusing the situation.

Bottom line... is to just act right. Don't use your social media networks as a means of an outlet for the inappropriate. Keep it classy. You'll appreciate it later on down the line.
 
Be sure to check out this post and more great posts over at Kaitlyn's blog!

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How To Use Hashtags

how to use hashtags

One of the biggest social media mistakes a business or blogger could make is not utilizing the power of hashtags. Using hashtags gives you the power to grow your brand's social media organically. What is a Hashtag?

“...the pound sign (or hash) turns any word or group of words that directly follow it into a searchable link.” - Mashable.com

Hashtags instantly will link your social media post to a group of others with the same topic. As a small business owner, using appropriate hashtags can help drive your brand recognition and boost the reach of your advertising campaigns. How to use Hashtags

1. Use the #hashtag symbol (#) before a relevant keyword or phrase.
2. They can occur anywhere in the body of your text - beginning, middle or end.
3. They will not show up in searches if your accounts are private
4. Twitter recommends using only 1-3 hashtags per tweet. Whereas on Instagram, you can use up to 30 hashtags per photo.
5. Using too many hashtags devalues your brand, so do not use them spammingly. An example of a bad tweet would be: #DIY #ValentinesDay #Crafts you can #create at #home with your #kids #today. A better Tweet would be: 15 #DIY #ValentinesDay #Crafts to do at home today with your kids via @mommalewsblog.
6. Using the “@” Symbol will speak directly to an individual’s account, "tagging" them.

Create a hashtag to develop your brand! Although you might want to be creative and quirky, keep it simple and easy to remember.

1. Use no spaces between more than one word in a hashtag
2. It does not matter if your hashtag has a capital or lower-case letters, as your search result will yield the same results.
3. A popular marketing strategy is to use your brand's name as a hashtag ie: #NorthEastBloggers or #BloggersGetSocial. By doing so, you can see all of this person's work in one place.

 

You can currently use hashtags on:

• Twitter,
• Instagram,
• Facebook,
• Pinterest,
• Tumblr and
• Google Plus

Just because a hashtag is on social media, doesn’t mean that your brand’s hashtag cannot be seen outside of the internet.

• While your small business may have a small budget, you can advertise your hashtag on posters, stickers, sidewalk chalk outside of your storefront or any well trafficked public location.

Now that you know what a hashtag is or how to use them, how can you use hashtags to find new followers?

• Use relevant hashtags that are being used in your field.
• See what the trending hashtags are and use the hashtags that are relevant to your business.
• Search hashtags and follow those who are using similar hashtags. For example, locally I often search hashtags like #Princeton or #NJMom and follow accounts using these hashtags because they are targeting the audiences I would like to be following me.

 

Quick tip: Not sure what hashtag is being used for an event, campaign, etc? Search! For example, I recently had a client asking what the hashtag was for the Tribeca Film Festival. We searched Tribeca Film Festival in a Twitter search and quickly found out that it was #TFF14. Hashtags allow you to include yourself into conversations and network with potential new customers or business relationships! The best way to gain followers is to follow others! Engage with your new followers. Be social! You already have something in common!

What are popular hashtags you search or are common in your networks?

 

  Reesa Lewandowski writes at www.mommalew.com and www.njmom.com. You can find her at @mommalewsblog on all social media networks.

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5 Quick & Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas

Hi! I’m Christina, one of your state reps for Maryland & Delaware, and you can find me at Mom’s Messy Miracles. I have two little boys, ages 1 and 3, so decorating for the holidays is a bit of a challenge for us. I love getting out my decorations, but don’t have all day to do it.

1. Use Toys

In our house with two little ones, I can’t have a bunch of breakables and beautiful displays set up around the house. I can have toys though. I like being able to put out my Christmas Mickey and Snoopy dolls. They look cute out and it’s not the end of the world when someone pulls one down and decides to play.

2. Wrap Wall Hangings

We have a couple of pictures on the wall. It’s super quick and easy to pull them down, wrap them in some fun paper and rehang them. You can do this all over the house to add some holiday magic in every room (or maybe just the rooms that people will be occupying).

3. Toss Ornaments in a Dish

Now that our tree is covered in special ornaments, we don’t put our plain ones on the tree anymore. If you have a couple vases or big bowls, toss some of your extra ornaments (or hit the dollar store) in a dish. You can put this on the table for a quick centerpiece, on the mantel, or a random shelf.

4. Pinecones

Pinecones can be found everywhere it seems right now. They seem plain, but grab a couple and put them in a basket with a piece of fabric or ribbon tied around to make a bow, you’ve got another easy decoration.

5. Ornaments from the Ceiling

Use some ribbon and tie up ornaments from the ceiling or chandelier. Really, anywhere you can attach them around the house would be a fun addition. Easy enough and will only take a couple of minutes to do a bunch.

What are some of your favorite ways to decorate the house quickly?


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Party-Perfect Banana Pudding

Hi! I’m Christina (one of the MD/DE state reps) and I blog over at Mom’s Messy Miracles.

We love party food. I mean, who doesn't really? With the baby, we have a ton of the little glass baby food jars left over that I've been saving for craft projects. Did you know they also make perfect party portions? We made this yummy banana pudding this weekend that is perfect for any party!

Ingredients:

• 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups cold milk
• 3 bananas sliced into thin wheels
• 1 tub of frozen whipped topping
• about 25 vanilla wafers cookies (crushed)
• 25 whole vanilla wafer cookies
• 25 clean empty baby food jars

Directions:

1. Mix vanilla pudding and milk.
2. Let set according in fridge for at least 5 minutes.
3. Fold in frozen whipped topping.
4. Place one spoonful of pudding into jar.
5. Put a thin layer of crushed cookies into jar.
6. Put a layer of 3 banana wheels into jar.
7. Add another spoonful of pudding into jar.
8. Put 1 whole vanilla wafer cookie on the top.

Enjoy your awesome party food that looks super cute!


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The Friday Five Hop and 5 Running and Workout Essentials

Welcome to the Friday Five Hop!  We invited you to link up your Friday Five post with us every Friday!  There is no theme or questions- just a post of five things!  Today's guest Friday Five comes from Amy who writes the blog Amy Buchner, PhD.  Amy is sharing her top 5 running and workout gear essentials!  Here are some of her favorites!

Old Navy Workout Tank Tops

I like tank tops for any workout that’s not running (for running, for some reason, I require sleeves). Old Navy makes fun, colorful, lightweight tanks in a variety of styles and they are cheap as hell. Wait for a good sale or Google for a promotion code and pick up a couple in a rainbow of colors. The best part is, I don’t feel bad sweating all over something that only cost me $8.

SmartWool Socks

They gotta be the real thing, Smartwool brand. I’ve ventured out into other specialty sock brands and have always come back to Smartwool. They don’t cause blisters, they come in a variety of thicknesses for different times of year, and they dry quickly for those times you step in a puddle or, you know, train for a marathon in the middle of a nasty winter. Each pair is $15-20, but they last forever and it is so worth it not to have beat-up feet. You can also find deals by looking at REI Outlet and my new favorite sock source, GoBros.

Petroleum Jelly in a Tube

Yep, Vaseline. Anyone who runs distance has experienced chafing. The issue is even worse (at least for me) in warm weather. BodyGlide helped, but wasn’t eliminating the painful cuts that made post-run showers agony. Someone suggested I use petroleum jelly and I’ve never looked back. It works. Yes, it does stain my running shirts, so I tend to wear either my grubbier shirts or dark-colored ones on long runs where I’m Vaseline’d up.

Zensah Compression Leg Sleeves 

These are like giving your calves a hug. They are super comfy and help reduce calf soreness following a long or strenuous run. I pop these on after my long runs under my pants and just chill on the couch with them. They’re also great to wear on long flights. I’ve tried other brands and like Zensah the best–the compression feels very even, doesn’t tug, and doesn’t get too tight. Some people like to run with the compression sleeves on but I’ve never tried.

Salted Caramel Gu

I’m relatively new to mid-run fueling, but I’ve experimented with several different types. My favorite is Salted Caramel Gu. Most Gu flavors are weird, but Salted Caramel tastes like a packet of candy. I would seriously eat this stuff just for enjoyment if I didn’t think people would judge me. I tend to slow to a walk while I eat or drink, being in agreement with the Oatmeal that a running drink is akin to waterboarding. Even so, I appreciate something that doesn’t require chewing and is not likely to choke me to death (ahem, Jelly Belly Sports Beans).

What are some of your favorite types of gear or tools for keeping fit?

Thanks Amy!  Check out her original post and the rest of her blog, too!

And now it's your turn!  Link up your Friday Five post below and be sure to "hop" around and visit a few others in the link up and leave a comment!


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Bloggers Meet Up With a Purpose

Today we are sharing a great opportunity from one of our members, Rebekah.  Rebekah is organizing a nation wide blogger meetup for charity!  Here's all the information from her:

Wouldn't it be nice to see the blogging community in the community? This fall, I’m dreaming big — a nationwide blog meet up with a purpose: #givethanksgiveback. Here’s how it works:

I’m looking for (at least) one blogger per state to step up as a leader – your job will be to plan a charitable blog meet up for the month of November – run a canned food drive, serve lunch at a soup kitchen, serve others wherever you feel passionate about giving back! Each host will display a master post in October linking to each state’s event info. All throughout the month, bloggers can access the information and sign up for November’s event. All are welcome to link up about their experiences after their event.

Interested?  Here are some ways you can help out!

Would you consider posting an initial invitation for leader sign ups? Ponder whether you would be interested in leading an event in your state?  

Here is the timeline:

Sep 5 – initial post describing event with rules and timeline

Sep 8-13 – sign ups for state leaders

Oct 3 – leaders must have November event scheduled and turned in for the master listing

Oct 6 – all leaders post master listing to their blogs and post about their specific event between now and 10/10

November – Meet up and give back by Thanksgiving! Blog about it and link up. Link up will be live 11/1-12/7

Thanks for sharing this great opportunity and idea with us Rebekah!  If you are interested in helping her out in any way or have any questions about this event please contact her through her blog or Facebook page!

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