Yesterday, when Justin and I ventured out into the snow, I could not tap into any creative juices in my head whatsoever. Finding the perfect things to photograph was hard. I get inspiration from so many bloggers and other photographers, but there was a block in my creativity. Part of me wanted to push forward because it never snows in Georgia. And part of me wanted to just enjoy the walk in the snow and not actually worry about symmetry, color, or shooting anything of any particular importance. I didn't want to challenge myself or my skills.
I am sooooo glad that I did.
Otherwise I would have missed seeing the very happy car. :)
I challenge you to go out and do something you consider difficult today. Then come back and share your results. :)
While all of Atlanta was shut down today, I got to spend a "snow day" in (and out) with my husband. With the whole city shut down thanks to poor planning from the mayor, Justin spent the day working from home.
Here are a few of the highlights:
- Sleeping in (until 7, but that is sleeping in when Justin usually gets up at 4AM)
- A delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs and cheese, thick applewood smoked bacon, and toast with a special butter from Vermont (The Vermont butter is soooooo delicious and creamy!)
- SNOW PICTURES!
- A beer and lunch out at the local "pub"
- Relaxing this afternoon
- Beer cheese soup for dinner.
- And spending the whole day TOGETHER.
Over the weekend, Justin and I ventured into Anthropologie to make a return. That combined with the phrase "Something I'm Wearing" means that you all get a review post!! Woo!
I've been liking Free People a bit more than Anthro, because the clothes are more casual. I like being able to pair cute Free People tops with some nice, fitting jeans. But when you have a bit of extra money at Anthropologie, it's hard not to look.
Back during the after Christmas sale, I bought the black and pink version of this cardigan. They are both really sparkly, and the sequins are really easy to see (much easier than you can see on the models). I love that you can wear the cardigan both dressed up and dressed down, but do keep in mind that the cardigan definitely dresses up any dressing down you may think you are doing. I tried on and bought the xs in both which fit well; I recommend going with your actual size. One thing to note though: the fabric is a bit stiff and scratchy. This is one of the reasons I am considering returning it; I don't like having scratchy material at my neck. If you don't mind the material, this cardigan is perfect, as I said before, for dressing up even the most casual outfit for a fancy dinner or even wearing to the store.
The lace on this dress is exquisite. I imagine it's the perfect dress for tall, skinny girls; unfortunately, I am neither. The fabric is stretchy and soft. I tried the xs and it fits true to size. If this style dress is your thing and you have a modelesque stature, I completely recommend this dress. If you are more curvy, you may want to look for a different style dress.
After having bought a sheer pink dress during Anthropologie's after Christmas sale, I needed something to wear under it. This slip, in pink, seemed perfect. :) It's a tight fitting slip, but the fabric is also stretchy meaning you don't have to have the perfect body to fit into this slip. I bought the xs regular, but it also comes in petite, which I probably would have considered if it had been available in my size. The slip comes down to nearly my knees. It works quite well under the dress I bought (which I can't seem to find on Anthro's site). The fabric is cotton, but it feels almost silky, so any dress would work over it.
The following is the dress paired with the slip and a sweater (also from Anthro). Can anyone tell me the name of the dress or the sweater? I can't seem to find those items? (They are both in the sale section.)
This was another fun dress I got to try on during the after Christmas sale. I have to admit that I was on the verge of purchasing it, but Justin and I decided the dress only added weight to me through the waist and skirt of the dress. :( I tried on the size 2, and it fit tightly in the chest; you may need to size up. Also, the skirt is more of a pink color than white. You make think you are seeing wrong when you look at this image of the model, but you are in fact seeing the skirt in the exact color it is.
And here are just a few things at Anthro I've got my eye on…
It's January and it's cold. All of a sudden my interest lies in eating things that are warm. Here are just a few things I've been craving this month:
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1. Black Beans – I don't know what it is about black beans, but I have been loving them. :) They are delicious, warm on cold days, go great with Mexican meals, and they are filled with protein (which I don't get enough of). Yum!
2. Spaghetti Squash – I'm not sure what it is that I love about this squash, but when it is cooked right (not like spaghetti noodles), it tastes absolutely delicious. Plus, it's super fun to eat!!
I've never had the outer bit, but this blogger recommends making a baked margherita out of the outer portion of the squash. It looks good. :) I may have to try it.
3. Chaurice Sausage – Ok, seriously, I am one of the first (among any group of people) to say no to eating sausage. I mean look at it! Gross! All of that texture?! And the awkward shape?! Yuck! Usually when you talk about anything that even remotely looks like a hot dog, you've lost me. I know what's in hot dogs and it isn't pretty. I imagine sausage isn't much better.
But chaurice sausage, when cut into little circles and fried is delicious. It has just the right amount of spice (for someone that doesn't like spice) and it's tiny so the texture isn't as apparent. Whether or not I want to like chaurice sausage, I do. *sigh*
4. Blood Oranges – It's the most wonderful time of the year! :) Blood oranges are in season! Pair an orange with some cheese, strawberries, and French bread to make a fantastic, delicious, healthy breakfast. Plus, I will always remember the late night wedding planning I did while sucking on these magnificent fruits! :)
5. Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese and Ice Cream – I know what most of you are thinking: you are thinking I must be insane! Since when do you eat cheese with pie and ice cream?!?
Well… guess what?!
You should!
Seriously. One bite of a warm (all American) apple pie topped with melted cheddar cheese and just a bit of ice cream (or skip the ice cream if you wish) and you will thank me for providing you with this little tid bit.
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So what are you craving this January? Share with me in the comments! :)
Now that my trip to Europe is quickly creeping up on me, I'm trying to make sure I am prepared for whatever is to come. I've been assembling my camera gear and watching CreativeLive to make sure I have the equipment and skills necessary to accomplish my goals of taking fantastic photos.
I wasn't incredibly impressed with my most recent addition, but (to its defense) I was looking for a wide angle lens. I was worried when it said "standard zoom", but I assumed anything bigger than a 50mm would work. Not so much. I failed to realize I already had something wider than a 50mm in my kit lens. Despite my disappointment, I decided to keep the lens. As Justin reminded me, I got the lens (brand new) for nearly $1000 off the asking price and it will be a good (standard) lens for that time in the far, far, far future when I can upgrade to a 5d Mk II or III.
Before I go to Europe, I'm planning on rounding out my camera collection with:
I think after that I will be able to shoot in any given situation and achieve what I want. I will be able to shoot in fairly low light at a wide variety of distances. Best of all: I'll have my husband to help carry my equipment. I'm so glad I bought a turquoise camera bag; it will go so well with his eyes! ;)
Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Also, if you have any suggestions for traveling with camera equipment or what you think I should buy next, let me know in the comments!!
Basically, if you don't like swallowing your vitamins (or being an adult in general), these are a fun alternative…especially in comparison to those gross gummy bear vitamins. I got to try the pineapple and the grape vitamins, and they were quite yummy. With a crunchy outer coating (think peanut m&ms) and a chewy inside, the vitamins aren't too sweet and have just enough flavor (like starbursts) to be enjoyable to take. Unfortunately, this vitamin does contain a bit of sugar, so it may not be the best for people on a diet.
The vitamins come in 3 different flavors: Mixed Fruit, Tropical Fruit, and Grape or you can try the Raspberry Lemonade Multivitamin supplement drink. In fact, if you go here, you can get $2 off on the vitamins! (Who doesn't like coupons?) You can also get a free sample here. (Totally recommended!)
So maybe we can call these vitamins a bundle of flavor?…Or a bundle of happiness?
Eh! I give up on the whole bundle thing! Hope everyone is enjoying their Thursday! :)
Last night Justin and I went to a meet up with photographer Scott Jarvie. He gave a little bit of a talk on fate and how you can plan all day (all week, month, year) and still not find that "perfect shot", but occasionally (or more often if you are him), you can make a perfect shot happen by stumbling upon a spot randomly. Crouch down in the bushes or walk across the street looking for a different angle and suddenly you have a beautiful scene before your eyes.
In the past, I've gone to a talk with Lindsay Adler and watched a number of photographers speak on CreativeLive. As much as I love those artists from CreativeLive, they all had one thing in common – planning. Brooke Shaden in particular is big on planning each individual aspect of her shoot. For example, she picks out one element (e.g. the location, the model, a piece of clothing) and develops the rest of her shoot around that particular (or those particular) elements.
As for me, I'm more of a "Scott Jarvie" kind of photographer. I like to plan where I'll be when the sun sets, but other than that…who knows?? I especially loved that he talked about not wanting to be "in the way" of other people. He says he doesn't like to ask people to move when they are in his shot, he would prefer to step out of his comfort zone, challenge his skills, and find a new location to shoot. I absolutely loved hearing about this skill in a photographer I like.
And then of course, he talked about the equipment he used and his methods of post-production which were also interesting to me. He mentioned using a polarizing filter to keep glare low and how he uses subtle vignetting to draw the eye in. The more he talked, the more I felt I had in common with him (in terms of photography). Except for the whole Nikon thing. Grrrrrr Nikon! (Not really. I actually like Nikon.)
So now I am even more determined to buy a wide angle lens and a polarizing filter. I am encouraged to continue searching for the "decisive moment" and challenging my skills as a photographer while looking for beauty in what seems to be an ugly space.
One thing that Scott Jarvie said that really inspired me was the concept of being prepared for anything. He was talking about shooting stars and using the moon to help guide his shots of buildings. It really intrigued me and made me want to go try it. I love stars. I love photographing. That should be easy right? ;)
Justin suggested we go on a tour of Atlanta (Georgia?) and find everything there is to photograph which I am totally up for. (If Scott Jarvie can travel across the US, then I can travel across the state.) I love the prospect of getting a wide angle lens to practice shooting some architecture…and I'd love to get a polarizing filter to practice shooting water. I was very inspired by the talk yesterday, and I only hope that some of Jarvie's ideas can be used and reflected through my own work.
Sam: "Well, I'm going to get out of bed every morning, breathe in and out all day long. Then, after a while, I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breathe in and out…And, then, after a while, I won't have to think about how I had it great and perfect for a while."
Marcia Fieldstone: "Sam, tell me: what was so special about your wife?"
Sam: "Well, how long is your program? Well, it was a million tiny little things that when you added them all up, they meant we were suppose to be together. And I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her; it was like coming home…only to no home I'd ever known. I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car, and I knew. It was like magic."
When I mentioned it (Mona Lisa made out of coffee cups) to someone I was with over the weekend they remarked on how much time the person (artist) had. (i.e. Rather than doing real work, the artist was creating. Shame on them.) Part of me wants to agree, but part of me was like ARGH! That artist chose to take the time to make this. It took time and creativity (lots and lots)…and how many people in the world would have that much patience?!
So kudos to the creator of the coffee cup Mona Lisa and the people who designed Atlanta out of legos; you have my respect. Thank you for providing me with something fun and beautiful to remark on.
Usually I like the rain, but for some reason today it is just depressing. Probably because it is cold and I have to go outside. Anyone want to go for me?!
The phrase for today was "looking up" and all I could think of was Mary Poppin's "Let's Go Fly A Kite". Fun song, but I don't have any pictures of kites. (Clearly this must be remedied!) So instead I share pictures of my Christmas tree and an ornament we got this year of a sleigh. (Does it make a difference if I mention that I was laying on the floor looking up trying to take the picture of the sleigh?)
I suppose Christmas pictures are always better later than never, right? Plus, due to circumstances we haven't had a chance to take down our tree yet. It IS coming down this weekend, but until then I might as well practice with my new lens on it.
If you really must see a looking up post, you can see where I wrote one in October. It is also not very life affirming or optimistic. Apparently I really struggle when it comes to "looking up". Usually all I see when I look up is the ceiling. I need to get better at that. I could at least go outside and see the clouds, right? Or stars?
But no. On a rainy day like today, I'd rather stay inside. Maybe next time. :)
Well my newest challenge for myself is to take The Idea Room's Photo-A-Day challenge and make it my January break challenge. I may post text based on the word of the day or a picture…It will all be dependant on my mood. I tried a few other challenges (including The SITS girls January challenge), but nothing was really working out. I think I'm still on "break" mode from my week and a half off in December. Plus the crazy rush that was December really makes me want to take the time to appreciate this month. I like the idea of sitting under cozy blankets, watching movies, reading books, and spending time with my beloved husband. Do you blame me?!
Best of all: doing a challenge like this will hopefully encourage me to pull out my camera since I just bought the most expensive lens I have ever owned: a canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens.
I bought it thinking it would be wide enough to photograph landscapes. As much as we paid, I was thrilled to receive it this past Monday. Unfortunately, when I pulled it out of it's packaging, I realized it wasn't as wide as I had hoped. Justin, in his infinite wisdom, has encouraged me to keep the lens and get a Sigma or Tokina wide-angle for our trip to Europe. I really want to be able to take interior and exterior architectural shots while abroad. And the most important thing of all for me to keep in consideration: I don't want a fisheye. ICK!! :-/
While I was looking for a good challenge to take on, I started listening to the Saving Mr. Banks soundtrack, which I just downloaded today. Sometimes I think soundtracks have some of the best music out there.
Or at least it's nothing like listening to (another favorite of mine, since I've never been in this situation before) Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" over and over again while waiting to talk to United Airlines customer service.
Obviously, listening to this version from the movie Fantasia 2000 is much more appealing:
(Well…when it isn't broken up into parts that is.)
Just being Disney probably makes it wonderful, right? Oh - and the color blue. Of course, it couldn't really be any other color given the song name.
But where was I?
Ahh yes! Thomas Newman!
The guy who wrote the music for Little Women, Finding Nemo, WALL-E, and Skyfall. Who doesn't like the scores he produces?
The end title (and really a number of other songs within the Saving Mr. Banks soundtrack) spoke to me. They are fun songs and beautifully written.
But despite the fact that I could only find the End Title to the soundtrack on youtube, there is a lot of beautiful music in between the opening credits and the last song. Another song I'm in love with "One Mint Julep" by Ray Charles is also found on the soundtrack.
But I guess all of this beautiful music got me thinking about how many wonderful, little, seemingly insignificant details we tend to miss out on when we are in between the beginning and the end of something. Obviously the beginning is important, because it tells us where we need to go and what our current status is…and the end is important because it's the end. What about the middle?
I watched the movie About Time this morning with Domnhall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams. It was cute, sweet and definitely a chick flick. But one of the key ideas from the movie was actually left out of the film. The director was trying (I think) to suggest that the middle of one's story (life) is just as important as the end. Rather than providing a middle for his audience, his story fell flat and was far short of my (not-so-great) expectations. The main character didn't really change much at all throughout the movie; he didn't really learn much (except how to get what he wanted) and he didn't really grow. In the end, the audience (me) felt like I was deprived of a good story. (Or any story at all, really.)
Truthfully, I was probably only watching this movie because it had Rachel McAdams in it. I should have suspected I wouldn't like it since I didn't actually like Love Actually (like everyone else on the planet did), but sometimes movies are surprising. I just thought I'd give it a chance.
And the same is true for moments…including thosein between the beginning and the end.
We don't often give those moments a chance to surprise us with great music, beautiful storylines, picturesque scenes and overall happiness.
So while my post may have been a little drawn out with pop-culture references, today I encourage you to live for those once-in-a-lifetime in-between moments. Enjoy your whole day, even during those moments when you really wish you were somewhere else (or with someone else). Then when you are tired of living for the in-between moments, realize that you are one day closer to the weekend and rejoice. Because you can.
