Travel Tuesday – Hibiscus Pink and Ocean Blue Bermuda

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment

Traveling from Boston to Bermuda by Norwegian cruise line with two children under the age of 7 was an absolutely fantastic way to celebrate my son and his wife’s 9th wedding anniversary.

Due to my complicated medical issues, my goal to spend time with my oldest son and his family wasn’t going to involve flying, driving or taking the train. Cruising on Norwegian Gem was the perfect answer, we drove to the cruise parking lot, paid the fee, walked a short distance to the terminal, easily checked in and walked onboard, heading to the buffet.

Norwegian Gem has a children’s Splash Academy program that my 3 yr old granddaughter Gigi loved. For the most part, my 6 yr old granddaughter Adrianna really liked it, we just had to be mindful to promote it as fun for her (not just her parents lol). I also volunteered to have the grandbabies sleep in my room for a few nights so Mom and Dad could spend quality time together.

The photo above is me enjoying the wonderful ocean breezes on the top deck and one of the many beautiful images I took of the hibiscus plants throughout Bermuda.

Travel Tuesday: Ancestral visit – The Alamo

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment
My cousin Sharon, who lives in San Antonio, and I were excited about my first visit to see her in Texas! I made sure to pick the month of April 2016 as I figured the weather would be bearable and I had major surgery scheduled for September 2016 so I wanted to see who I could, while I could. One the “tourist attractions” on my list was visiting the Alamo . While acknowledging the complicated history of The Alamo, it is also part of my My Dad’s side of the family being related to Davy Crockett through marriage.  My Dad’s aunt, Janie Sheffey (1897-1925), married Harold Lee Crockett. Both were from Wytheville, VA.
My ancestral history/DNA journey continues to add many wonderful layers and experiences.
Visiting The Alamo during my first visit to Texas
Visiting The Alamo during my first visit to Texas

Stock Photo Sunday – when the model is me in Iceland!

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment

The majority of my 40+ years as a photographer has been behind the camera lens with rare photos of me as as an actual participant even during family events. Due to painful complications from successful cancer surgery in 2016, my previously active life has encountered some serious challenges forcing me to adjust how photography fits into my new phase of life.

Over the years, I’ve dabbled in contributing to various photo stock agencies like Alamy with modest success and only a handful of sales. My youngest son and former travel companion (he has a serious girlfriend now lol) was always happy to indulge me in “posing” during our trips. Two of the pictures I took and submitted of him were accepted as stock images. Getting a model release from my son vs a stranger seemed like a no brainer and he’s quite photogenic.

My next, very recent, ah ha moment was to begin submitting photos of someone else I know, me!! So far I’ve submitted four and all were accepted.  I’m pumped!

This newest one of me was taken during a birthday trip to Iceland in January. I updated it by adding a fun comic art filter to give it a bit more pop and sent it to my stock agency with my fingers crossed that they’d accept it. They did! “African American Woman Comic Art” is now part of my Alamy portfolio.

Next steps; manifesting some appropriate sales of my stock images and submitting more selfie images and those of my family members.

Fashion Friday – Patterned Leggings with Matching Bandanas

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment

Abstract patterned leggings with matching fashion accessories
Very comfy, feel great and look stylish wearing a fabulous pair of leggings with matching bandanas, tote bags and even flip flops in most cases. These Yellow and Gray Tapestry selections are perfect for New England autumn weather. Enjoy viewing selections in my shop or feel free to contact me below for specific colors relating to your upcoming special event.

Thank you! Aundrea Celeste

Stock Photo Sunday – when the model is me – Westman Island, Iceland!

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment

 

The majority of my 40+ years as a photographer has been behind the camera lens with rare photos of me as as an actual participant even during family events. Due to painful complications from successful cancer surgery in 2016, my previously active life has encountered some serious challenges forcing me to adjust how photography fits into my new phase of life.

Over the years, I’ve dabbled in contributing to various photo stock agencies like Alamy with modest success and only a handful of sales. My recent, ah ha moment was to begin submitting photos of someone I know, me!! So far I’ve submitted four and all were accepted.  I’m pumped!

This is one of me taken during my son’s 21st August birthday trip to Iceland with an overnight stay on Westman Island. It was accepted as taken, no filters, no clean-up and is now part of my Alamy portfolio.

Next steps; manifesting some appropriate sales of my stock images and submitting more selfie images and those of my family members.

Travel Tuesday – Lisbon’s street art, hills and stairs

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment

Graffiti art in Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has lots of vibrant graffiti artists, some government approved others are free style. There are even street art tours, however, you’ll see many of them on your own by riding or strolling around the entire city. Day two of our June trip to Portugal, my youngest daughter stayed in to sleep so my oldest daughter and I headed out to explore locations I had found online before leaving the states.

I had no idea Lisbon had so many hills and stairs so I’m sharing these for future visitors.   Thankfully, the weather was beautiful, low 70’s but I needed to stop a few times to rest and even my gym going daughter also appreciated ‘my’ breaks lol. Of course, I looked back to see how far we had come and decided we needed to reward ourselves with lunch at the top of the stairs and down the street before reaching our first destination in Graca

Sunday Sales Summary Smiles for August 2019 – Celeste Sheffey Zazzle shops

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment

Thanking my wonderful August Zazzle customers from Canada to France!

Sharing below is a bit of my background story for each of the above items.

🙂

Send me a note if you have photos or special colors you’d like to have designed as gifts saving you time and energy by not searching online or in crowded stores! 🙂

 

 

Throwback Thursday – unexpectedly wonderful visit to Jardines del Buen Retiro Park in Madrid, Spain

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment

Planning and traveling with painful surgical after effects hasn’t totally discouraged me but has made me even more appreciative of new experiences. My favorite travel company Great Value Vacations posted a fabulously priced vacation package  in November 2017 to Madrid, Spain. I immediately booked it for August so that my son could celebrate his 22nd birthday in Spain.

Due to my recurring medical issue, on day three, I was stuck in my hotel room until 3pm which was fine for my son who was a bit jet lagged and napped until I could manage to leave the room.

We chose to visit the enormous public park located in Madrid. It was well worth the visit and was only a 10 minute walk from our hotel on Calle de Atocha. Thankfully, there are plenty of benches throughout the park, most of them under tall, shady, breeze inducing trees for those folks like me who have to take frequent rest breaks.

Featured in my  collage:
The Crystal Palace in Madrid
The artificial lake to the Monument to Alfonso XII
Retiro Park in Madrid

My blog post about Retiro Park in Madrid

Stock Photo Sunday – when the model is me!

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment

95% of my photography career has been behind the camera lens with rare photos of me as as an actual participant. Due to painful complications from successful cancer surgery in 2016, my previously active life has encountered some serious challenges forcing me to adjust how photography fits into my new phase of life.

Over the years, I’ve dabbled in contributing to various photo stock agencies like Alamy with modest success and only a handful of sales. My youngest son and former travel companion (he has a serious girlfriend now lol) was always happy to indulge me in “posing” during our trips. Two of the pictures I took and submitted of him were accepted as stock images. Getting a model release from my son vs a stranger seemed like a no brainer and he’s quite photogenic.

My next, very recent, ah ha moment was to begin submitting photos of someone else I know, me!! So far I’ve submitted two and both were accepted.  I’m pumped! Next steps; manifesting some appropriate sales of my stock images and submitting more of me and my family members.

 

 

Travel Tuesday – Waterfront Boston Staycation

Celeste SheffeyLeave a comment

I managed to string together four decent days of feeling pretty well, so my oldest son and his family drove into Boston, picked me up, to spend a relaxed day in town. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to the New England Aquarium. Taking pictures through glass is tricky but I had fun using my iPad to take approximately 30 decent photos without reflections of background lights and people, lol.  My 6 yr old granddaughter bravely touched the stingrays and absolutely had to see the 5pm seal show. We left the aquarium fifteen minutes before it closed and walked up to listen to a talented violinist named violinviiv.  The girls happily ran over to contribute money to the artist’s bucket and keeping their momentum going, we headed down the street to Tia’s for dinner.

Eating a kids meal pizza at Tia’s, was my 3 year old granddaughter’s favorite part of the day. Located near the waterfront, I normally don’t care to sit and eat outside but it was a nice day and my daughter-in-law really wanted the staycation experience. Our very friendly server Chris, helped make our delectable dining highly enjoyable by being pleasantly entertaining to the girls. 🙂

Christopher Columbus park playground, also by the waterfront was where we let the little ladies run off their excess energy with a later stroll through Faneuil Hall and finally through The Rose Kennedy Greenway. The rainbow color lighted water against the evening backdrop provided an awesome ending to a fabulously family day.