Slideshow 2.0

Here's the latest version of the slideshow. I've added a few things (be sure to check out mamachanga (aka Dalia) and Andrea. We finally know what they look like, and I assure you they are beautiful ladies indeed) and also I fixed the timing issues... I think. Please take a moment to check it out and let me know what I still need to fix. I am still not having luck with making this a full-screen video. I've converted it to every file type imaginable (wmv, mov, flv) and inserted it into various media programs, including onetruemedia and GOM. The problem seems to be that blogger prefers to use Flash MediaPlayer. My brain is fried from working on this (I hear sizzling and I'm almost certain that's bacon I smell), so if anyone has any flashes of brilliance on the subject please, please tell me now. (Does anyone hear '80's music?) In case you can't tell, technology is not my first language but I welcome help and/or translation. :-)

PS- Don't forget to pause the playlist.



I told you my little brother is a genius! Check out the BIGGER version of the video at the bottom of this page and let me know what you think.

More on Amanda (plus a little housekeeping)

I know many of you have been praying for Amanda today and some of you have expressed an interest in contacting her. I asked her for permission to share her information and she agreed, as long as we take it down before the blog goes public.


Also, several of you have raised good questions about what will happen on the shower day. Remember that we're making this up as we go along (so far, so good); I'm thinking that everyone will write a blog post(can be done ahead of time) and publish at the same time. In that post will be a link to the shower site, which we will make public at that time (does anyone know how to create a link button?). We'll have the chatbox up and running (I'll repost the direct link if you want it larger so its easier to read), and anyone who's available can hang around and chat it up with Leslie. It sounds like Susan will be visiting Leslie to deliver treats and presents, and I'm guessing we could twist her arm and talk her into taking lots of fabulous photos. There will also be some on-line baby shower games going on, with fabulous prizes from Chelle, Fairlight, and Katie (we've seen how creative and talented this group is... who wouldn't want to win one of their prizes?!). If anyone has any suggestions for making the shower more interactive, please speak up. Like I said, we're making this up as we go along.

I'm still making changes to the video, so if you want to add anything please try to get it to me by noon (PST) on Thursday 10/2. Onetruevideo isn't liking my file, but I'm still working on a solution for getting the video to play full-screen. Again, suggestions welcome.

Hugs and Blessings to you all! ~Dawna

First Draft of Slideshow

Ok. Here's my first attempt at the slideshow. I've tweaked things about 150 times, but I'm guessing there are probably that many more things that still need to be adjusted. I'm still missing a few photos (Andrea, MamaChanga... do you really exist??? I couldn't find photos of you) and I know Katie is sending one; I tried to dig out everyone's current photos and quotes from all the sources (emails and posts) but I'm sure I'm missing some. Please email me anything you've got (mudpies4all@gmail.com). I'm also willing to make changes if you don't like the way I've set up your slides (flower choices, colors, layout, etc.) Please let me know what I can do to make this better for everyone. Thanks, Dawna PS- Don't forget to pause the music on the playlist (sidebar) before starting the video.

Updates: Shower Date and Slideshow

Wow, ladies! The energy and love in this blog is pretty amazing. You are all amazing. And I am grateful to be a part of this process!

I earlier suggested Saturday, 9/20 as a potential date , but Saturday doesn't work for many of you. As a teacher, workdays don't normally work well for me; however, I am now off work recovering from surgery for the next three weeks and I would like to propose Friday, September 19 as a possible date to be considered (or some other day that week). I am hoping to maximize the amount of time we have to put our gifts together, while still getting things to Leslie well in advance of Cade's anticipated arrival.

As for the slideshow, I'm glad to hear that many of you are interested in adding things to it. I can build the basic slideshow before I get all of your pictures and well-wishes, then add them as you e-mail them to me. If 9/19 will work as a shower date, how about 9/15 as a deadline for photos and quotes. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I would love to have a picture of each lady with her gift (we won't reveal the slideshow until she has received her presents), and also any sentiment you would like to share with Leslie.

One more thought for the slideshow.... I love the photo collages that Chelle and a few others have made. I would love to have a collage with the quilt in the middle and the pictures of all of the ladies involved around the outside to use as the opening/closing slides for the slideshow. Do you think that would work and, if so, would someone who is good with collages volunteer to put it together?

Slide Show

For the slide show, I would like to include something from each of you ladies. I would love to have a quote from each of you along with a picture -- almost like an animated greeting card set to music. What do you think about pictures of each lady holding the gifts they are sending? Since Leslie hasn't met everyone in person, this may help her make connections. We would just need to make sure that her gifts are delivered before the slide show is unveiled, which shouldn't be a problem. (I'm not sure if this link will work, but this is the slideshow I created for my daughter's birthday. It was a quick one I threw together in a very short period of time, but it will give you an idea of what I have in mind.)

I'll be away from my computer for a few days, but then I'll be back and ready to work on this. If you don't love the idea, let me know and I'll do something else with no hard feelings (I've already discovered that this group is amazingly creative and talented and has much better ideas than I do!!!). Otherwise, feel free to email anything you want included in the slideshow to me at mudpies4all@gmail.com.

Thanks, Dawna