i ♥ faces - "Pink Week"

This weeks theme is Pink Week in honor of October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The photo I chose while not related to breast cancer, does remind me how delicate
life really is and I pray that neither of my daughters are ever touched by this dreadful disease.

This is a photo of my daughter when she was just a week old.  There's just something about those tiny little toes!!

i ♥ faces - "Excited!"

For this weeks challenge I chose a picture that I took this summmer during our annual lake week (25 years and counting!) with a few of my husband's high school classmates and their families. The photo is of my daughter Elli and Amanda, the daughter of close friends.

Elli has practically idolized Amanda since she was born and we laugh because she's almost a mini-me.  She looks so much like Amanda did when she was little!  Elli was especially excited to be a part of Amanda's wedding earlier this spring and insisted that I use this photo this week.  How could I resist that face!?!

This is not my photo but a shot from I ♥ Faces on Constructive Feedback Friday that I played with a bit.

i ♥ faces - Constructive Feedback Friday

Here's my original SOOC. I feel that the bright colors could looks so beautiful with her dress and hair but it's not working here.  Also her face is obviously too dark.  I could really use some help with this one!

Shot with Canon 40D  Tamron Lens 18-250mm f/10.0 1/250 sec ISO 400

Focal Length 39 mm Exp +2

Here is my edited version, or rather where I gave up trying to edit.  It just seemed to go from bad to worse and I quit when I seemed to be washing out all the bright colors. 

I honestly can't say everything I tried with this edit as I tried a little of everything.  The program I'm working with is Photoshop Elements 4.0.  (If I can get alot of you to say that it's a completely outdated program and not worth the time maybe I can get my husband to buy me the complete Photoshop, hint hint!!  :-D)  Needless to say, I tried using a screen layer to bring out her face at one point.  I know I did a slight color burn layer at one point.  And I played with the levels alot!!!  That's about all I can remember!!  Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!  Thanks so much for looking!!  Everyone needs to check out i ♥ faces.