My Clever Friend...

If I had to pick a photographer that has been my mentor through my journey thus far, it'd be Maile of Daily Relish Photography.  It's not even that we talk "technical" but it's more like she gives me that gentle nudge to encourage me to keep plugging away. To hold my dreams in my hands and not place them up on dusty old shelves.  I've learned the importance of having the courage to use your talents.   And apparently she had a new talent up her sleeve that I did not know of : a designer extraodinaire!  She designed the cutest camera bags that don't scream "fanny pack for professional photographers".  I love that these could be used for a camera bag, purse, and even diaper bag (in the future...very distant future).  I'm a practical girl, so as soon as I find an item that is multi-purpose...I'm in!

All this to say I'm so proud of her and I hope you guys will stay tuned to her blog or shutter sisters to keep up to date with the release of her fabulous camera bags!

It's Inevitable.

No matter how sly I try to be, I always manage to end up in a shot one way or another.  Sometimes in the reflection of their eyes [in a close-up shot] or in this case, in the reflection of the window. 

Thank you, oh Photoshop creators, for the clone tool.   Saves me every time.

My Current Album Survival Kit.

As much as I love albums and their glorious new album smell... they make me loco! I'm backed up on album orders, so I needed a serious survival kit to accompany me in my cave.  Usually graphic design and the idea of creating templates makes me leap with glee, but this time I cheated a bit and purchased Image Garden's Album Template for one of the albums because the thought of creating rulers and measuring things out in Photoshop started to make me feel woozy.  I'm no mathematician.  I'm actually not even sure that the left side of brain works.  I think the right side became overly dominate and just ate it.

My mix that's aiding my pep and soothing my ADD bringing out my madly-amazing determination skills...

--Maria Mena's CD

--My warrior dog, Mars

--Vegan Food from Costco.  Mrs. Mays is surprisingly very good!

--My favorite drink ever.  It is like Christmas in your mouth.

 

Snippets of Myself

A few weeks ago I was browsing around on my old laptop that I've had for half a decade but haven't checked in years.  A plethora of old memories just oozed out of the files. I found tons of my old writings.  It was almost a bittersweet feeling. Sweet: because I could look back and truly appreciate where I am now. To know that I made it through the roller coaster ride known as the teenage years. And I didn't always ride with a big grin and my hands in the air...somedays I wanted to run for the nearest dumpster [tmi? sorry about that.]  To measure my emotions then and see how many prayers and questions have been answered. Bitter: because it's a surreal feeling to witness the truth that most things in life are temporary. From lost friendships to lost braces on my teeth [thank the Lord!]  Time is fleeting. Each second ticks and new seconds form one after the other...giving birth to a new moment which is unique from all the others that had passed before it.  It's certainly more sweet than bitter to reflect- but this little technology critter took me back, nonetheless. I found some of the lyrics, one-liners, and poems I have written on there and I thought I'd get personal and share a few snippets of myself...

When I'm with you the whole world settles

all the thoughts in my spinning mind fade away

no more worries about yesterday

Its only me and you

enjoying life with a front row view.

you know a relationship is strong if you can put miles in between it without having any distance.

Success isnt a plaque hanging on your wall or a number in your bank account. It is loving...and loving well.

today i got a clear view of the sky.

the clouds parted.

my new hope started.

love took me by the hands,

and showed me the sunny side of the world.

 

California, I Miss Thee.

I'm convinced the people around here must consider me the village idiot.  I'm just waiting for the day when they present with me with a plaque.  The heat makes me look like a fool.  I wear as little as possible [while still being socially acceptable], do the shuffle outside to take the dog to relieve herself, then hurriedly head back indoors.  Or today, I headed to the dumpster and had a mental picture of mini water stations set up along the way.  Because what used to be maybe .25 of a mile walk, with the Texas heat factor, it feels like a 4 mile walk.  In ski gear.

A couple weeks ago we got a cup full of California.  And let me tell you, it went down smoooooth.  The memory of the refreshing taste still lingers. The air was so crisp.  I wore jeans without getting in a public place and my mind playing through the possibility of just ripping my jeans off and there was no need for my mind to have to tell my arm to refrain from grabbing my glass of ice-water and dumping it on my head.  

Californians, count your blessings.  And in the meantime, I will be counting down the days until Autumn like a kid waiting for Christmas.