Live Life Playful

The Library

2012-01-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

I am revisiting another old friend today. The library! I used to live here during the summers, first of all because I absolutely love books, second for the free WiFi, and third for the air conditioning. Haha! I haven't been here in quite some time and with a free afternoon before me, I decided to spend it here.

It's the same old library. Same smells, same sights. Same librarians, even! Though there are a few new people here. New books, too, of course! As I walked in the front doors I made a beeline for the staircase, and headed to my favorite section.

The tried and true Young Adult section! I absolutely enjoy reading books of all genres, but this section has always been my go-to for the majority of my reading. Plus, there are fun coffeeshop-esque tables here in my library. And big purple butterfly style chairs. Perfect for setting up my laptop and working, as I have done today, or kicking back and reading! I love it here. =)

Project Life: Week One

2012-01-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

So, as we have come to the end of the first brand new week of the New Year, I have come to the finish of week one of Project Life 2012! I am absolutely LOVING this! It's so simple to write any thoughts, quotes, or whatever each day and slip them in the book. And I already take a ton of pictures, so it's great to have a reason to print them out!

As I said before, I am approaching this on a week-by-week basis. I've added journal cards and other little things daily, but I printed all of the photos today. I also added any finishing touches, such as rounding corners, this evening. It seemed fitting to me to add a caption card for the photos. I'm not sure if I'll do that every week, but I liked the idea this week! =)

Keeping a record of all the positive and fun happenings really helped me look back at the week and realise how truly blessed we are!

Project Life: Title Page

2012-01-08T22:50:00.000-08:00

Well HELLO again, dear blog! It seems that I come and go quite sporadically, eh?

I've started a wonderful project, Project Life, by Becky Higgins. I guess you could say it is a scrapbooking project? More memory keeping than scrapbooking, I would say. Anyways. Everyone uses Project Life differently, and I've decided to approach it using a week-by-week method to tell the story of my/his/our life this year! I am really really excited for this as I ADORE memory keeping, but don't really always have the time/energy/motivation to sit down and scrapbook! =)

I'd like to share the title page of my little project:

Simple. No fuss. Just as my goal for the project is overall. I think the ease of it all will really help me keep up with it, unlike the stacks, envelopes, and boxes of photos I have waiting to be added to a scrapbook layout... =)

I do love the weekend!

2011-04-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

The weather was so beautiful this weekend! I spent the majority of it outside and with friends!

Saturday we went hiking in the park, then we went to the beach. We also saw Never Say Never! You know, the Justin Bieber movie?! For $3! I have to give it to the kid. He's very talented! He is also extremely passionate about music, and has been from a young age. He's an inspiration, really, but I'll admit that I didn't like him much before. Then I realised, who am I to hate on him? He's doing what he loves and is fortunate to be able to make a living doing it! I respect that.

Sunday was spent at another park! This time we brought a blanket and did some serious reading after a short hike through the woods. (I'm reading Water for Elephants!) We also played a pretty mean game of Scrabble, which I won. Woohoo! =D We wrote a super silly story by each taking turns writing a sentence. Haha! I enjoy doing nerdy things like that. Then we had dinner at our favorite Mexican place, and after that met up with some more friends at Applebee's. Just to hang out and catch up, though, since we already ate! Since the weather was still super lovely, we came back to my house for some drinks and conversation. Always a fun time!

I finally got a chance to wear the Polos I bought over the winter! I hadn't wanted to ruin them by wearing them in the snow or anything like that! By the way, all of these photos were processed using the Instagram app on my iPhone. I seriously love it! Best app I never paid for. Gotta love free stuff! =)

I hope you had as splendid of a weekend as I did!

20 things to do!

2011-04-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

This is a repost from my favorite blog Little Chief Honeybee! It was so fun that I had to share! =)

Twenty Things I'd Like To Do!

1. Go on a search for as many good climbing trees as possible, climb as high as we both can in all of them, compile photo evidence
2. Go to a major chain bookstore, and leave notes to future readers in copies of our favorite books
3. I'll dress up as a ghost and you dress up us Pacman. Walk around downtown holding hands, and whenever anyone sees us, pretend to be embarrassed, and run off screaming “wocka wocka wocka.”
4. Create photo evidence suggesting that we went on an adventure that didn’t really happen
5. Dress up as superheroes and stop at least one petty crime “ie. jaywalking, littering….”
6. Build forts out of furniture and blankets, and wage war with paper airplanes.
7. Try and visit as many people as we can in one night, and turn as many things inside their apartment upside down as we can, without them noticing.
8. Go to the airport, get the cheapest, soonest departing flight to anywhere when we show up, and stay there for a weekend.
9. Write a piece of fiction together. Outside at a cafe. Ask strangers when we get stuck.
10. Dress to the nines, pretend to be married, and test drive very expensive vehicles at an auto dealership.
11. Do the lamest tourist thing in our area that we have both secretly wanted to do forever. Have an unabashed good time!
12. In the middle of the night, drive to the beach, so we arrive just as the sun is rising. Have a breakfast picnic, then fall asleep together. Bring a sun umbrella.
13. Drive somewhere unknown and have dinner in a city we’ve never been to. With fake names.
14. Go to a minor league baseball game under the stars. Tell each other stories about how bad we are at athletics. Randomly cheer for both teams. Eat lots of Cracker Jacks.
15. Go around the city with sidewalk chalk and draw hearts with equations inside on random things
16. Walk around a city and perform short silent plays in front of security cameras
17. With camera and pair of boots, make photolog of a day in the life of the invisible man.
18. Walk around the city all night and find a place to eat breakfast at dawn
19. Go to a restaurant and convince the cook to create something completely new for us.
20. Rent a movie we’ve never seen before. Set on mute and improvise dialogue.

Friday Favorites: Cupcakes!

2011-04-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Check out these oh-so-adorable cupcakes!! =)

Hope you have a super weekend!!

Urg!

2011-04-07T20:43:00.001-07:00

Today was a little bit of a rough day! It started out alright, and then as I was driving my check engine light came on and my engine was all jumpy and such! Obviously not good. So I stopped at my mother's work and had her look at it. She told me I need transmission fluid and oil. Okay... So I stopped at the Auto Parts store and got that. Although I was embarrassed to admit it, I told the guys there that I had no idea how to put either thing in my car. So after some joking around at my expense, someone finally came out to help. He even showed me how to check everything and put everything in... And all of the technical terms, you know. I'm kind of like an expert now. Just kidding, of course. Hahaha! But the guys at the shop were all very nice.

So then the problem was solved, I thought. Not so much... The light came back on during my drive home this evening and the engine started jumping again. Urrg. So hopefully I can get it checked out tomorrow. If it's a serious problem, I don't know what it means for my new job! I'm supposed to start Monday. It's about a 45 minute commute one way. If I can't rely on my car to get me there every day, I don't know what I'll do!

It was very hard to keep a positive attitude today, that's for sure. But anyways, that's enough negativity. I'm sure everything will work out in the long run!

I did have a pretty good day between the troubles! I had dinner with a friend at Subway. Then we went to Michael's craft store to pick up some new drawing supplies for me! I always find other fun odds and ends, like these adorable flowers! I'm sure I could make them myself, so I didn't buy any, but they are still super cute!

After that, we made a trip to Target, just for funsies, where we found a set of Disney Princess dolls! Please excuse my appearance in this photo. I was HIGHLY excited!! I love the Disney Princesses! Actually, I pretty much love all things Disney! =)

I also found these neat-o Hello Kitty Easter eggs! How cute are they?!

We then ended up at Arabica, a coffee place by our school. I always get a blended turtle mocha! Delicious! We played a couple of games of Scrabble, with him winning once and me winning once. That's when we came out to find my car troubles we not yet over, as I thought they were. Hopefully tomorrow will bring good news as far as all that goes!!

Just Wednesday

2011-04-06T23:43:00.001-07:00

I didn't have to much going on today. I went to choir and sang my little heart out, then I went to lunch at Chipotle with some girl friends. I adore Chipotle. It's delicious!! I kind of hung out at home for the rest of the day and did some sketching and such. And then I went to Applebee's with another friend later in the evening. We just got drinks and chatted away for a while. Fun times! =) Like I said, a pretty chill day!

Check out this absolutely ADORABLE picture! Where can I find a shirt like this for me??

Huzzah!

2011-04-05T21:18:00.000-07:00

I woke up today feeling very optimistic. And... I got the job!! Yay for a source of income! I wore this to my interview:

After I found out I got the job, I went out for some celebratory Mexican food with a friend. It was delicious. Then we bopped around to some stores and such before seeing Hop!

What a cuuuute movie! Highly recommended! I laughed soo much. I definitely think I'd like to take my cousins to see it! They would just love it.

Overall, today was a grand day! Blue skies and sunshine. This whole 'positive outlook on life' thing is really working out for me, I think. I've never been happier, and things are only getting better!

Forty-Two Things

2011-04-04T23:50:00.000-07:00

I'm borrowing this list from another blog I read. I just thought a lot of these are good to think about! Some may be a bit outdated. In any case, it's a list worth sharing.

42 Things To Always Remember:

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
3. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, “I love you”, mean it.
5. When you say, “I’m sorry”, look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt, but it’s the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don’t judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly, but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Say “bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.
16. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
17. Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
18. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
19. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
20. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
21. Spend some time alone.
22. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
23. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
24. Read more books and watch less TV.
25. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.
26. Trust in God, but lock your car.
27. Create a loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
28. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
29. Read between the lines.
30. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
31. Be gentle with the earth.
32. Pray. There’s immeasurable power in it.
33. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
34. Mind your own business.
35. Don’t trust a man/woman who doesn’t close his/her eyes when you kiss.
36. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
37. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.
38. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
39. Learn the rules then break some.
40. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
41. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
42. Remember that your character is your destiny.

{images from we<3it}

Outfit of the Day, etc...

2011-04-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

I wore my new Target dress today! The weather was chilly and rainy and not at all dress friendly, but I didn't care much! =) This outfit could use a belt, I think, but I still like it. Check out this super fitting room photo! Haha.

I went shopping with Lindsay today! We tried on tons of dresses. Tons! I think this outfit was probably my favorite of the day. I didn't end up buying anything new, though.

We finished the day up with some bowling! The bowling alley by my house has a super dollar special on Monday nights. Games are $1 each, shoe rental is $1, they sell hot dogs and soda for... You guessed it! One dollar! It's a pretty sweet deal!

I processed this photo using the Instagram app on my iPhone! It's pretty nifty.

Tomorrow I have a job interview! Yay! I sure could use the income, so I really hope I get hired! What to wear, what to wear...?! =)

Daily Inspiration

2011-04-03T23:28:00.001-07:00

There is a big difference in what we long for, what we settle for, and what we are meant for.

Every day we wake up is another blessing! Follow your dreams, and don't let anyone stop you!

Saturday happenings.

2011-04-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today was a pretty chill day by my standards. I decided to spend the weekend at Ashley's house, because I haven't really visited with her in awhile. She didn't really have a photoshoot scheduled for today, but somehow managed to find a newborn baby for us to photograph. So that was what we did for the better part of our morning/afternoon. Newborn babies are just the sweetest! They are so tiny and seem so fragile. Just the thought of such a young little life, only days old, right in my arms is amazing to me. I always feel honored to be able to capture such an important time in someone's life.

Newborn shoots take a pretty long time. Sometimes like three or four hours or even more! But stopping for feedings and diaper changes and lulling the little ones back to sleep takes up the majority of that time, typically. It certainly takes a lot of patience!

Anyways, after our shoot we were very hungry, so we headed out to a place called Logan's Roadhouse. They have these delicious mini cheeseburgers called Roadies, which we both ordered. Yum! I always take the pickles off and give them to Ashley, though. Haha.

There is an Old Navy relatively close to Logan's, so we decided to pop in there. We were both pretty disappointed in their clothing selection for women, to be honest, but we sure did find a bunch of darling clothes for little girls! Funny how that works out, eh?

The rest of the day we kind of just hung out and watched movies. Eat Pray Love being my favorite of the evening. I've seen it once before and I loved it then, as well. Such a quotable movie, and I do love quotes! And I really feel like the lessons learned in that story couldn't have been presented to me at a better time, coincidentally. Some things I really needed to hear, which offer a lot of food for thought for my Sunday, I'm sure.

Polyvore!!

2011-04-01T22:55:00.000-07:00

So I found this really neat site called Polyvore that allows you to create fashion collages and design outfits and such. I had a lot of fun creating some outfits for my Spring wardrobe! As most of these items are top dollar designer pieces that my wallet just cannot handle at this time, I'm now accepting donations!! ;) Just kidding, of course. But check out my creations!

Internet window shopping is super fun! I just wish I could afford all of these things! Oh well. A girl can dream! ;)

Getting to know myself better...

2011-03-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

I took a quiz today to do just that! Haha. I thought I would just share my results!

Your view on yourself:
Other people find you very interesting, but you are really hiding your true self. Your friends love you because you are a good listener. They'll probably still love you if you learn to be yourself with them.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you meet that person.

The seriousness of your love:
Your have very sensible tactics when approaching the opposite sex. In many ways people find your straightforwardness attractive, so you will find yourself with plenty of dates.

Your views on education:
Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:
You have plenty of dream jobs but have little chance of doing any of them if you don't focus on something in particular. You need to choose something and go for it to be happy and achieve success.

How do you view success:
You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:
You are afraid of things that you cannot control. Sometimes you show your anger to cover up how you feel.

Who is your true self:
You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

Oh! In case you were wondering, I went back to Target today and purchased the cream colored dress with the little pink flowers that I posted yesterday! I was afraid it wouldn't be there, but it was. Yay! =)

Waiting for warm weather...

2011-03-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

It's snowing today, and I don't like it. So, naturally, I went to Target and tried on some Spring-y dresses.

Please excuse the terrible cell phone pictures... Heh. These were two of my favorites. The first one is my very favorite, but I really like both. I didn't purchase them today... But hopefully when I go back they will still be there? =)

Time Flies!

2011-03-28T21:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is already almost April! I have to say that April is probably my favorite month. I love Spring. I love finally being able to go outdoors and enjoy breathing in fresh air and seeing new life sprouting up everywhere. I love being able to wear pretty dresses and heels again! =)

I feel a renewed sense of hope in the Spring time. Almost like a second New Years, you know what I mean? I like to set new goals for myself and think about improving my life. Because there is always room for improvement. I get rather down and out in the winter months, as I know a lot of people do, and I've sort of been a pretty negative person lately. It's really out of character for me. But we've been experiencing a lot of sunshiney weather lately, and it has really just brought my spirits up! I truly am blessed to have this life, and I feel really optimistic that this year will continue to bring about awesome changes in it.

A quick post on my weekend vacation

2010-07-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I went on a trip to New York. It was super fun getting to see people I haven't seen in a while, and also to meet new faces. I made a lot of new little friends. I think kids like me. It's kind of funny. I like them too, though, so it all works out. :) For example, I was sitting next to this baby (well, I mean he was sitting on somebody's lap) and he was just staring at me. He would not look away. I did all the little cutesy things that one does to babies. You know, like tickling and making funny faces... And he continued to just stare. So then I held out my hands as if to say 'I don't know what you want, little guy...' And he held out his arms for me to pick him up as if to say, 'Finally you offer to pick me up! I have only been sitting here patiently for like ever!' Haha. Babies, I tell ya. ;)

Anyways, here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend. I took quite a bit more, including some shots of the fireworks we saw, but these were the ones I especially liked while looking over all the shots I took.

Okay, so someone told me that this coffee place is much more popular than Starbucks in the area of New York that we were in. There wasn't even a Starbucks anywhere near where we were!! It didn't matter much to me, because I don't drink coffee, but aren't most of us used to seeing a Starbucks on like every corner??

This little guy absolutely did not care about getting his picture taken. All he could tell me about was, 'Pawpaw's tractor'. He just wanted a ride!

These little cousins are the best of friends. It is really adorable to watch them together. :)

There weren't really any amazing sunsets over the weekend, much to the dismay of my photographer heart, but I took this around sunset and I think it turned out pretty cool.

Little golden child... Her hair was so fair and her skin was so tan. She was so sweet! :)

Thanks for sharing my quick overview of my weekend! It was certainly a great time.

Blackberries

2010-06-28T21:54:00.001-07:00

Ah, Summer. One of my favorite parts of the season is picking blackberries! They are so delicious. Sometimes I even eat them right of the bushes, after checking for any bugs, of course. We have quite a lot of raspberry and blackberry bushes. It is a little out of hand, really. Picking the sweet berries can be painful, but the results are oh so worth the effort!

Another wonderful thing about blackberries is making blackberry jelly. I will only ONLY eat my aunt's homemade blackberry jelly. It is... Just so fantastically delicious. Nothing else compares. We make enough of it to share, and to store for the winter months when the bushes are covered in snow, and there are no plump berries waiting to be picked.

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it." ~Russel Baker

Moday Wonderings...

2010-06-28T00:34:00.000-07:00

Just a quick question post I was tagged to do... I don't know how many people actually read all of my posts, so it was a nice surprise.

1. If you could go on vacation anywhere, to do anything, with anyone, what would that vacation look like? Money isn’t an object in terms of this fantasy — it shouldn’t ever be in a fantasy! — but no NASA shuttles, deprivation chambers or trained monkeys, please. Ahem.

Well, since we are talking like DREAM vacation, I would say a Grand Tour of Europe would be on my horizon. Ireland, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Greece... No time limit. We could just spend as much time as we wanted! Also perhaps later in life we could go on another vacation to see Australia and New Zealand... ^_^

2. What would your ideal dinner party look like (venue? menu? attendees?) And would you rather host your own, or attend someone else’s?

I would, of course, rather host my own dinner party at my own lovely future home. I love hosting parties! No potluck, since I am a minor (I said minor!) control freak... Hehehe... I would whip up a winning array of dishes a la the Food Network Divas... Since I am not a fabulous chef yet, that menu is to be determined at present. I prefer sort of intimate affairs when I think of *dinner parties*, so I picture a few couples maybe. We won't use the fine china, but not the everyday dishes, either. I can see a breezy summer evening with the sheer curtains billowing ever so slightly, while the sunset bathes our guests in a soft, warm glow. Michael Buble playing in the background... ;)

3. Create the perfect seven-song mix tape that expresses who you are in musical shorthand. Favorite bands, favorite songs, favorite song concepts, favorite instrument… what’s at the heart of what makes it so “you”?

Hrm... I am all over the place when it comes to music! Seven songs?! I like all different sorts of songs at any given time, so this is going to be a little difficult. I think my most favorite tunes are pretty laid back and sort of jazzy. (Clicking the links will take you to a music video of that song.)

~How He Loves-David Crowder Band
This song gave me goose bumps the first time I heard it. I don't know what it is, but I love it so much. I love when we sing it in church. It is just a completely wonderful worship experience for me, and it reminds me that our God really is merciful and He does love us. So much.

~All At Sea- Jamie Cullum
I used to listen to this song a lot in my early high school years. School was a great experience then, but my home life really sucked. My family was miserable. I would come home from school every day and head straight to my room, only leaving to use the restroom or the phone. I turned to books to hide in someone elses' life, if only for a while. I would escape to my Grandmother's house every chance I got, staying with her every weekend, and every summer. This song was one means of escape and peace for me. I still listen to it when I feel troubled.

~Sunday Morning-Maroon 5
There isn't really much explanation. I just like this song, I guess. Reminds me of some people.

~A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes-Disney
I am just a dreamer. It comes from all the books I have read, I think... I've always had my head in the clouds. I have many plans and ideas and schemes... And I'd like to think they will come true someday.

~You Raise Me Up-Josh Groban
This song is just... Beautiful. The instrumentals in the beginning, his smooth, pure voice, the lyrics. It's like a spiritual experience if you really and truly *listen* to the song. I like to look at this song from two perspectives. Sometimes I think it is to God, because he quite literally raises us up to be more than we think we can. Other times it is to a significant other. I have always hoped for someone that could be my partner in everything, and that we would encourage and raise each other to our highest potential in life.

~Haven't Met You Yet-Michael Buble
I just really love this song, honestly. I don't know how much it applies to my life. Who knows? It just makes me happy to listen to it, and I had to include a Michael Buble song in this list somewhere. And I LOVE the trumpet solo in the middle-ish. It is perhaps my favorite part of the song.

~Don't Stop Believin'-Journey
Perhaps this goes along with my dreamer self. I just love singing this song, and I have to represent my love of classic rock... :)

Now that I have been thinking, I could list sooo many more! But, since this is already a super long post, and the question calls for just seven, I will refrain.

4. Name the six things that drive you up the wall consistently — and six things that cheer you consistently.

(In no particular order.)

6 that drive me up the wall:
~Smokers stinking up my air supply.
~People who don't use their turn signals.
~People who act one way around you, and then completely change around other people.
~Not having any privacy, and when people mess with my stuff or read my private journals.
~When someone says they want to spend time with you, and then make up every excuse to not do so. Just tell me if you don't want to hang out with me... I have other friends... It's cool.
~Selfish people that have a sense of entitlement.

6 things that cheer me:
~Hearing one of my favorite songs on the radio.
~Getting to talk to or see my favorite person!
~Hanging out with my best girl friends and doing anything. Just being around them is enough.
~Singing. I do it all the time.
~Photography. I love taking photos and making memories. I love looking at other peoples' beautiful photos and memories.
~Art in general. I love being creative.

5. Politics, sex, religion, etc.: what four things do YOU wish never came up in conversation?

I don't really know. I will talk about most subjects, depending on who is asking, although I haven't got much to say about politics.

If you actually read to the end, congratulations. You probably know me at least a bit better now. If you skipped all that other stuff and came straight here... Well, you probably don't really care that much. That's cool, too, I guess...

I have no quote for today, since this post was like all over the place. Stay tuned for the next one... :)

Be Your Own Boss

2010-06-28T00:09:00.000-07:00

When I think back to my childhood years, a lot of memories surface. One thing I remember about my father is that he was always looking for different entrepreneurship opportunities. He despised having a boss or board or anyone telling him what, when, and how to do things! (For some reason he didn't even like it when my mother tried to tell him what to do... ;P)

There are a few of his endeavors that stand out in particular. The first was an e-mall sort of website. Each member of our family had a page that sold a different type of item. I think I chose like books and CDs or something, because I had always loved literature and music... Another time he built and managed websites for different small companies. I remember he needed a graphic of the state of Ohio and he just couldn't find one that he liked, so he had me draw it. I was very proud to see my own artwork in use, which helped fuel my creative passions...

Anyways, my point is that I think this desire to be independent of authority has been passed on to me. I never really had a desire to work under anyone. Whenever I pictured my future, I was always in charge of my own work. For example, I wanted to be a teacher at my own preschool. That was one of my very first dreams. I also wanted to own a bakery business. I wanted to be an artist. Went back to teaching. Now I want more than anything to have my own photography business. I don't know why it took me this long, but I honestly just recently realized the trend of the desire to be my own boss.

Perhaps it is because I never really had a job until a few months ago. I mean, I babysat and ages ago I had a little paper route. But until I had to be somewhere from *this time* to *this time* and all of the time in between was filled with doing things that *someone else* told me to do, I guess I had no reason to realize that trend. I mean, I am not a total anarchist, but personally I just don't like being told what to do. I like to spend my time my own way, you know? Okay, so perhaps that sounds a bit childish, but I want to be in charge of my own affairs and that's just how I am.

So, in the end, I think I have to end up working for myself. I don't think there is any way to avoid it, really. It's in my blood.

"The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it."
~ Debbi Fields

Filing Cabinet

2010-06-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

"Filing cabinets are a world of wonder and treachery." -A friend's status on Facebook today...

When I see or hear something, anything, my mind moves in many directions! Then, I find myself saying something or asking a question about what I am thinking, and having to explain my thought process to the people I am with.

Anyways, I pictured a standard filing cabinet. Maybe white. 3 drawers. Someone sifting through the countless numbers of files. Then I thought about memory banks being a series of filing cabinets. I have seen the comparison before, which is probably what made me think of it.... Then, thinking of that made me think of my own personal memories.

I know I have just finished my second year of college, and that means I have been out of high school for two years... But it's still pretty difficult for me to believe. So many memories that seem like they could not have happened 2+ years ago. So many decisions then that already have affected who I am and how I live now.

It's not a bad thing to think back, but it wouldn't be very good to dwell on the memories and not to live in the present. Sometimes I do that. I get lost in thoughts of what has happened and sometimes I wish I was back in high school. Would I make different decisions? Of course. I don't know many people that wouldn't... There are a few key choices I sometimes wish I would have made differently. For instance, I don't think I would have taken college classes in high school, for one. That kind of goes back to my last post. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life then. I still don't. But, do you see what I mean? Thinking about all of that makes one feel stuck. And I don't want to be stuck anymore.

I don't have a crystal clear picture of where I want to go in life, but at this point I know a lot of things I would like to happen. Living in the past isn't going to bring me any of what I want. So I try to live the best I can, enjoy what I have in the present, and work, hope, and pray for a happy future.

"All that I'm after is a life full of laughter..." ~Daughtry

Summer Fun!

2010-05-25T22:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I am not very good at keeping my blog updated! I go through spells like that, though. Sometimes I really feel like writing everyday, and I have so much to say and talk about, and then other times I'm just not that into it. Which is fine with me. I would rather not force it.

So but anyways... The weather is getting much warmer. It has been in the 80s so far this week. It really makes me want to do things outsides and not be at work... Ha.

After church this Sunday I went to an outdoor mall to just hang out and enjoy the weather with a friend. I all of a sudden go the urge to take my younger cousins to the lake. Soo... I went ahead and picked them up from their babysitters, and we went to the lake! It was really a lot of fun. They'd never been before!

We walked a bit to get some ice cream and then went to *wade* in the lake. Yeah, that didn't exactly work out the way I planned...

I turned away from one of them to take THIS shot:

And turned around and saw THIS:

I know I might have gotten upset about it, but they just looked so joyful and hearing their laughter and squeals of delight made me more happy than I can even describe. These boys have had such a rough life already and they deserve every moment of happiness. Even if they are ornery and out of control at times. Typical boys! :)

I love them so so very much. I am taking them to the zoo next Sunday. It's going to be so much fun. I'm just as excited as they are, if not more. I love going to the zoo! There will be many photos, obviously. So stay tuned!

Oh! I just wanted to share my favorite photo from the beach. So cute!

“Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.” ~Richard L. Evans

The Beauty of Handwritten

2010-04-24T21:34:00.000-07:00

I was just now thinking of making a list of the "things I want on my new website". I briefly considered opening up a word document, which I suppose would make sense, seeing as I am already on my computer and all... But I instead reached for my pen and notebook. There is just something about putting pen to paper that the plastic-y whir of a keyboard will never do for me. I just enjoy hand writing things, most especially letters, and I typically do so in the all but forgotten cursive style.

While we are on the subject of letters... I might as well say that I am not very fond of email. Sure it is fast and convenient. What isn't these days? But it is just so impersonal. I mean, I don't know about you, but the majority of the mail that is delivered to my house consists of bills and just rubbish. It feels so nice to look through the envelopes and find my own name, in the hand of another actual human being as opposed to a computer printed label.

As you can probably tell, I am not a very big proponent of most sorts of technology. Of course there are plenty of things I love and find very useful... Such as my DSLR camera and other photography related items... But I use these things to capture personal memories for families and people. Most technology, as with email, makes me feel as though we as humans are growing further and further away from one another. I have one friend who, when in the same house as another family member even, will call or text that person to talk to them rather than getting up and having a face to face conversation. That's just so impersonal to me! Not to mention rather lazy... But I digress.

The virtual world has created many "tough guys", too. Since we don't have to actually speak to, or see, the person we are texting, emailing... Whatever... We are much more able to say hurtful things that we normally would not want to say face to face. For example, one friend recently was dumped by her boyfriend via poorly written, not to mention utterly insulting text message. I truly do not believe the young man would ever have the courage to say those things to anyone's face, let alone someone he shared his life with for any length of time. How very rude!

One last thing that I really cannot stand... Virtual books. I am a collector. I admit. I like *stuff*. I know that making the entire world virtual will "simplify our lives" and all that jazz... But I am in love with books. The smell, the feel of the pages, especially with untrimmed edges. Wondering who has held the same volume... Read and reread the same passages you have. It is just an experience that e-books just cannot hold a candle to.

With that, I will finish. But first allow me to urge you to close the inbox that we all know is constantly open on your screen. Instead of sending a **virtual birthday card with flash animation**, go ahead and send a tangible birthday card that you will sign your actual name to! I am sure the person receiving it will be tickled!

Happy Sunday!

(I must say I adore this quote...)
"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves."
~Anna Quindlen

Easter

2010-04-02T20:01:00.001-07:00

I would like to wish anyone who reads this a Happy Easter. While the thought of the Easter holiday may evoke vision of bunnies, colored eggs, and candy treats, I strive to remember what it is really about. It is a celebration of the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus. Easter Sunday was the day that He rose again after being crucified. To honor Him and the gift that He has given us, the hope of eternal life, I would like to share one of my favorite songs.

Amazing Love-Chris Tomlin

I'm forgiven
because you were forsaken
and I'm accepted
you were condemned
I'm alive and well
your spirit is within me
because you died and rose again

I'm forgiven
because you were forsaken
and I'm accepted
you were condemned
I'm alive and well
your spirit is within me
because you died and rose again

Amazing love how can can it be
that you my king would die for me
amazing love I know its true
that it's my joy to honour you
in all I do
I honor you

I'm forgiven
because you were forsaken
and I'm accepted
you were condemned
I'm alive and well
your spirit is within me
because you died and rose again

Amazing love how can can it be
that you my king would die for me
amazing love I know its true
that it's my joy to honour you

Amazing love how can can it be
that you my king would die for me
amazing love i know its true
that it's my joy to honour you
in all I do
i honor you

you are my king
you are my king(x2)

Amazing love how can can it be
that you my king would die for me
amazing love I know it's true
that its my joy to honor you
in all I do
I honor you (x2)

you are my king
you are my king(x2)

Jesus, you are my king
Jesus, you are my king
you are my king
Jesus, you are my king

Relief

2010-03-07T17:46:00.000-08:00

I am so relieved this weekend is over, sadly enough. It was just a rough few days. Car troubles and other sorts of drama... Blah! But, it has passed and it's time to start a new week!

Speaking of new things, I will be starting a new job at a daycare center tomorrow! Even though I had to give up something I was really looking forward to, I am very excited about it. A little nervous... But excited. :) Wish me luck! Haha.

Also, my friend and the person I consider to be my photography mentor of sorts asked me to be a second-shooter at a couple of weddings she has been asked to shoot this year! I am very flattered, and am excited for the experience!

Just because I hate to blog without adding an image, here is a recent favorite!

Anyways, here's to new things:

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."

Cheers, Jo

Additions to my obsessions... And such.

2010-02-14T18:31:00.000-08:00

As my sister pointed out, I forgot a couple of my FAVORITE obsessions...

Michael Buble. Amazing voice. Great lyrics. Old fashioned style. Super cute. What's not to love??

Gerard Butler. My husband. Scottish. Also has an amazing voice. Hello, Phantom of the Opera, for Heaven's sake! And did you know that he never knew he could sing like that?? Talk about talent. Obviously, he is gorgeous, too. And he's just a really great actor. Sorry we didn't invite you to the wedding. ;)

So there you have it!

And such:

Happy Valentines' Day! I don't much care for the holiday, myself... It's just silly and sappy. Maybe I just haven't found the right person to celebrate it with. But!! I wanted to share a photo of me and my Valentine. Okay, so maybe he's not human... I still love him! His name is also Gerard, funnily enough. ^_^

"Forget love - I'd rather fall in chocolate!" ~Sandra J. Dykes

Current Obsessions!

2010-02-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share a few of the things I have been obsessed with as of late...

Cookie Dough Poptarts! Warmed in the toaster, enjoyed with a nice cold glass of milk. So tasty. :)

MAKEUP! I love watching tutorials on all SORTS of makeup styles. It is just something fun that I've had fun playing around with. This has been mostly inspired by my sister. She loves playing with makeup even more than I do. If she weren't so into computers, I would say she should go to cosmetology school!

Of course... My CAMERA! :D

"It is a happy talent to know how to play." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

What are your current obsessions?

A poem.

2010-02-10T21:37:00.000-08:00

Sleep just would not come to me last night! I read until I could barely keep my eyes open, and then I still couldn't fall asleep! It was 4 am and I had to be up at 10 am. I attempted writing my thoughts in my journal, but that didn't help either. So, I left my bed and tried out the couch. Still nothing. Finally, this poem formed in my mind! I typed it out in my phone's notebook and AT LAST I was able to fall asleep!!

Can't sleep
My thoughts just wander
I try to write them down
But they fight the page
They squirm beneath my fine tip pen
And jump back into my head
To reel past again.

Luckily, I didn't even have to wake up for school. We had a snow day! So I was able to take a nice afternoon nap. :)

I mentioned that I read for awhile... So I might as well share what book I am pursuing. I am finally reading the third book of the Twilight series, Eclipse. I read Twilight a little while before it became super popular. I remember seeing it advertised in Seventeen magazine. Reading it began my obsession with books about vampires. I don't even remember how many different books I read, but it was a blood drinker filled summer for me! I am about halfway through Eclipse, and so far I am really enjoying it. One learns a lot more about the Cullen family's history and the history of the Quileute legends. I love love love history, so I have found this book to be quite interesting.

And now... A quote from the book:

"I love him. Not because he’s beautiful or because he’s rich! I’d much rather he weren’t either one. It would even out the gap between us just a little bit — because he’d still be the most loving and unselfish and brilliant and decent person I’ve ever met. Of course I love him. How hard is that to understand?" -Bella Swan

Ahh, love...(This isn't from the book.)

"Love involves a peculiar unfathomable combination of understanding and misunderstanding."

Sometimes if we would just say precisely what we mean, we wouldn't suffer from the pain and hurt of the misunderstanding. But... We don't. We are afraid of rejection. I know I am guilty of holding back my thoughts. Even now, when I want so badly to share my feelings with the one person I think about most often, I just can't do it.

(And now I am going to blunder on with more thoughts... :P)

I believe in God. I have faith that He does exist. I am not a perfect person by any means. I do make mistakes and I do sin, but the wonderful thing is that I believe He forgives me for all of my missteps, and I believe my mistakes are meant to happen and that they all play a part in shaping the person I am. I also believe that He has someone planned for us. Like, I believe that He knows who He wants me to spend my life with. Thing is, I just wish he would let me in on that knowledge. I know the exact person I would choose if I had to right now. Is that who God has planned for me...? I don't know. I trust in Him, though, and I know in His time I will know. Funny guy, that God. Probably laughs when we talk about things getting done when WE want them to be done. So, I imagine the aforementioned individual will know my exact feelings in time, when we are all ready.

If you feel ready to share your true feelings with someone, then just take the leap and do it. If you trust, God will catch you, even if you fall.

Winter Wanderings

2010-02-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

Last week was the first relatively nice day we've had in awhile, so I decided to take my camera out for a walk. I didn't feel very inspired at first, but as my mind cleared I was able to actually stop and pay attention to the little things. Here's a look at some of the things I noticed...

I feel rather dark and brooding today, so I originally chose this quote:

"I like these cold, gray winter days. Days like these let you savor a bad mood." ~Bill Watterson

But...

"The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination." ~Ward Elliot Hour

...then I read this quote and felt inspired. Instead of thinking about winter as dull and boring, I like the idea of thinking of the snow and bare trees as a blank canvas... Ripe and ready for whatever our minds would unleash upon it. And that's what I want to share most. Inspiration, creativity, and exercise of the imagination.

I hope you have a beautiful week!

Into the Mind's Eye...

2010-01-19T00:10:00.000-08:00

This evening I had a fun night out with some of my girl friends. We went to Chipotle, which is my absolute FAVORITE place to eat. I know it isn't fancy or anything like that, but the food is just really good, and I like the atmosphere. I dunno. Anyways, after dinner we saw a movie. Let me tell you, the movie we saw is now one of my favorite movies and I cannot wait to see it again! (Maybe this post should be titled favorites, instead... Nahh... Now I have an idea for a future post. *Ahem*) To continue... The movie we saw was The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. I won't give an overview of the plot, because I am sure that you can find that easily enough by following the link... But I will give my opinion and some of my thoughts... I have read some negative reviews about the movie, but personally I rather enjoyed it, and I found it to be brilliantly made...

**Spoilers lie ahead. If you don't want to read them, by all means don't! Scroll to the end for my closing thoughts...**

Just my thoughts as they come to me:

~This was a very visually rich movie. There were many things to capture the attention of one's eye, most especially when characters enter the Imaginarium, or their imaginations. The deliciously tactile layers of the costumes and props were just wonderful.

~I loved the sort of grunge feeling of the whole movie. It was set in a kind of slum type area. There was dirt. It wasn't all "glammed up" like a lot of today's movies can be.

~Sadly, this was the very very last movie Heath Ledger was in. He played his role wonderfully well! He passed away about halfway through the production of the movie in January of 2008. Because of this, obviously some changes had to be made. In the "real life" portion of the movie, Ledger played the role of Tony. When he entered the "Imaginarium" the role was played by another actor, differing each time he entered the realm of the imagination. The role being played first by Johnny Depp, second by Jude Law, and finally by Collin Farell was, I believe, an ingenious way of coping with the loss of Ledger. It made you kind of feel that even Tony didn't know who he really was under his concealment, and it added to the fantasy feel that is supposed to happen when one enters the Imaginarium. I think the choice of actors for Tony's roll was excellent, too. They are all four in the same acting universe and have proven extreme talent.

~Honestly, I didn't let the passing of Ledger cloud my perception of the movie. Some said that the fact that he "enters the film with a hangman’s noose around his neck is disconcerting" in light of his death and "there could have been some clever cutting around that"... But the truth is that his character is ever running from the noose, whether figuratively or literally, and to cut his opening scene would have lessened our perception of that, and loosened the plot of the rest of the movie.

**End of spoiler alert**

Many have said that this movie is a throw back to some of director Terry Gilliam's works, so if you enjoy his style, there you go. Not being familiar with any of his previous work, I can neither confirm nor deny this. I can say, however, please do not let my opinion, or the opinion of anyone else deter you from seeing the film! Yes, it is different from what you are probably used to. I strongly believe in forming one's own opinion about things and not relying on others to make up your mind for you.

If you have seen the movie and have anything to add, favorable towards it or no, please feel free to do so in the comments!

"Nothing is permanent, not even death." -Tony

P.S. I Love You

2010-01-14T21:30:00.000-08:00

Dear, I thought I'd drop a line.
The weather's cool. The folks are fine.
I'm in bed each night at nine.
P.S. I love you.

Yesterday we had some rain,
but all in all I can't complain.
Was it dusty on the train?
P.S. I love you.

Write to the Browns just as soon as you're able.
They came around to call.
I burned a hole in the dining room table.
And let me see, I guess that's all.

Nothin' else for me to say,
and so I'll close. Oh, by the way,
everybody's thinkin' of you.
P.S. I love you.

I do my best to obey all your wishes.
I put a sign up. Think
now I got to buy us a new set of dishes,
or wash the ones that have piled in the sink.

Nothing else to tell you, dear.
Except, each day feels like a year.
Every night I'm dreamin' of you.
P.S. I love you.
P.S. I love you.

Okay, so I love love love this movie. It was through this movie that I discoved my love for Gerard Butler! <3 Anyways, lately I have had the song, P.S. I Love You, on my mind. I just love the sound of the singer's voice, and the lyrics are cute. It is like a letter, quite literally. Love it. I thought I would finally find out who sings it in the movie. Her name is Nellie McKay. She actually plays Holly's (Hillary Swank) sister Ciara in the movie. She seems very vintage chic. Absolutely adorable! She has a CD out. So go give her a listen! Go on!

So... Obviously I am going to quote P.S. I Love You today... But I have so so many favorite quotes from the movie. I will try to limit my selection to just a few... Heh.

"All I know is, if you don't figure out this something, you'll just stay ordinary, and it doesn't matter if its a work of art or a taco, or a pair of socks! Just create something... new, and there it is, and its you, out in the world, out side of you and you can look at it, or hear it, or read it, or feel it... and you know a little more about... you. A little bit more than anyone else does... Does that make any sense at all?" Holly

"We're so arrogant, aren't we? So afraid of age, we do everything we can to prevent it. We don't realize what a privilege it is to grow old with someone. Someone who doesn't drive you to commit murder or doesn't humiliate you beyond repair." Daniel

"Well, you're an American. They expect us to be idiots." Denise

And, of course, we have to have a quote from Gerry:
"Every morning I still wake up and the first thing I want to do is to see your face."

Hope you had a great week, and have an even better weekend!

XX,
Jo

Fabulous Friday

2010-01-08T23:57:00.000-08:00

Lame title, I know... But I did have a Fabulous Friday!

I picked my younger sister up and we went to Target, which is always fun, even if it is only for groceries. My grandmother has been ill lately, so I offered to do the shopping. I actually really enjoy grocery shopping. I don't know why. I like to bake... I am not so fond of actually cooking. I think if I had to cook more often I would probably grow to like it more. But I don't really know what that has to do with shopping for food. Anyways... We also looked at cute accessories. I found the most adorable cashmere gloves on sale, but I did not buy them. They were $13 or so in the store if anyone is interested in them. ^_^ I may yet go back and purchase them myself... I mean, I don't really need them, but they were just so lovely and so buttery soft! And they looked very vintage-y and feminine! *sigh* I found a photo of these wonderful gloves to show:

I would probably choose the pale pink color for myself... But here is a look at some white ones.

After shopping, my sister, another friend, and I went to a local coffee shop where a couple of my friends from choir were giving a little performance. It was just really casual and laid back, which I thought was pretty cool. They did some covers of some popular bands. Very fun time! My sister had a white mocha something or other, and I had a hot chocolate. I don't drink coffee... I just don't like it. I like the smell of it, but I do not like the taste. I am also not really a tea drinker. I love the idea of being a tea drinker. Sitting down to afternoon tea, or drinking it while I knit or read... You know. But I can't say I really enjoy the taste of it. I guess I haven't tried all the teas out there, and what I have tried certainly hasn't been the best. But... Perhaps some day I will become A Tea Drinker. And then I could dress up and wear my fancy lace gloves and my hairpiece with the netting and...

Here is a photo of me... Drinking my hot chocolate...

We all decided to grab some dinner after we left the coffee shop, and then we went bowling. I really love bowling! I can't say that I am particularly skilled at it, but I do enjoy it. I got 100 the first game. Usually I do pretty well the first game and then terrible on any games following, but this time I did a little better... I got 110. Yay me!

After all of that excitement, we went home and watched Julie and Julia. Such a great movie. Meryl Streep is, obviously, amazing. I just love love love Amy Adams, too! She is adorable, and I think she is a great actress. ^_^

So enough of this rambling! I hope you had a fabulous Friday, too, and wish you a great weekend to come!

I will leave you with a quote from Julie and Julia:

"Perfect! Even if it isn't, never apologize! No excuses and no explanations!"

Literature

2010-01-06T20:25:00.000-08:00

I do enjoy a good book! Lately, I have been reading a series call The Luxe, written by Anna Godbersen. I am currently on the third book of the series, Envy.

Here is a short little description of the series from the website:

"THE LUXE IS . . .
Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan in 1899."

Sounded good to me... :) I would highly recommend this series, based on my reading of the first three novels, anyways. If you are interested, these will likely be found in the young adult area of the library or bookstore.

Gosh, these books are lovely to display on my bookshelves, too! Here is where I admit something... Often times I tend to "judge a book by its cover" in the most literal sense. Obviously the cover is meant to be the first attractor, right? So if a book has a beautiful cover, I am drawn to it. Interesting titles attract me, as well. Then, of course, I will read the back cover, or the inside of the dust jacket, or wherever the summary of the story may be. That is always my main deciding factor in whether or not I will pursue the story further. Regardless of how beautiful the cover is, if the story is completely uninteresting there is no way I will force myself to read it.

Please do let me know if you decide to read any of these books, or if you have any other suggestions to share!

ETA: Nearly forgot to add a quote for this post! Since I am talking about what I am reading, I decided it would be appropriate to use a quote from the book...

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that there will always be a gentleman to dance with, except at just the moment when you require one most."

New Things

2010-01-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

Well... I know I am a couple of days late, but what the heck. It is still the New Year, so Happy New Year to everyone!

I like to start off a new year with a fresh new journal. For Christmas this year, a friend got me a gift card that I used to purchase this one:

(I did not take this photo. It is from the Barnes and Noble website.)

Lately I have been wanting a Vera Bradley something, so this is perfect! The pattern is "Imperial Toile", for anyone wondering... :) Typically I would look for a journal that has quotes and other fun things, but I thought this time maybe I could find my own to write after each entry. Just like here on the blog. One thing I totally love about this journal is that it has a pocket on the inside back cover to hold little treasures... Like photos and ticket stubs... And maybe love notes?? ^_^

Another way I usually begin the new year... Resolutions... So I have been thinking a lot about "Resolutions" and how everybody makes them, but most people break them. Sometimes they feel forced to keep up, and maybe somethimes they just aren't really relevant to their own big picture. I am typically one of those people. I like the idea of resolutions, but I hate feeling restricted in anything and I think maybe that is what makes me fail. I feel like I have to keep them and I end up just stressing myself out about it almost! I think it will be much better to set personal goals. The key to this will be setting specific goals. Also, rather than waiting until next year to look back and see what I have/have not accomplished I would like to be able to look back maybe at the end of each month and measure my progress and how I feel about each goal.

Anyways, I have come up with a short list of goals that I feel are attainable and will definitely help me reach my long-term goals in life.

~Get my camera out more often, but make the photos I take count. Quality over quantity type of mindset...
~Spend more meaningful time with my friends. Sometimes I feel like friendships can be just surface relationships. I have a few friends that I really know, and that really know me, but I would like to further develop more relationships.
~Really focus on my relationship with Christ. I am still a fledgling in this world and I need His guidance, even if I don't always want to admit my struggles.
~Be myself. I don't want to go through life always trying to please others. I think this blog will really help me just put myself out there!

Okay, so now here are a couple of the "typical" goals, but I will still share them:
~Drink more water and less soda. I live on Dr. Pepper. Seriously. I need to cut back. It isn't very healthy, first of all, and I think I will probably just feel better...
~Spend less money. I like to shop... Haha. My friends and I eat out A LOT. I think this could also tie into my friendship goal above... Maybe staying home and playing a game, or even making dinner together is much more personal than going to the mall or out to eat.

I welcome anyone who cares to share their ideas, goals, resolutions... Whatever you like!!

In closing, I found a quote that made me think that life can be a lot like my new little journal...

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
Edith Lovejoy Pierce

~Jo

Hey Everybody!

2010-01-02T22:13:00.000-08:00

My name is Jolynn. A lot of people call me Jo. I have been inspired by a lot of fun blogs that I read to create my own blog. This is not my first time blogging, but it will be my first journal-y type of blog where I will just kind of write any old thing that pops into my head.

(Here's me. Found this really cute hairpiece today!)

So... I think I will start with giving a little info about myself... I am a 20 year old college student. Photography is my passion. I love love love it. One of my life goals is to become a really great portrait photographer. People are my favorite subject to photograph, although I like experimenting with all kinds of subjects and techniques. I am a pretty crafty/artsy person. I am currently taking ceramics classes which I am enjoying a lot. I love music and I love to sing. I love clothing and fashion and makeup! I also really enjoy reading and writing.

(A recent favorite photo)

(Some of my pottery... Please excuse the crappy cell phone quality...)

So I think that is probably enough info for the mandatory "About Me" first post. Haha.

Oh, yeah... I love reading random quotes and such, so I decided that I would like to end each post with a quote or phrase of some sort.

"We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing."

~Jo