LIFE thru a LENS

One of my favorite things to do when I visit my parents' house is to browse through all the old family photo albums.  It's amazing how fun and entertaining looking at old, crazy photos really is.  As much as I despised having my picture taken constantly by my mom (I still do, actually), she is very quick to remind me that her consistency with taking pictures has been the source of much fun and laughter all these years later.

As an adult and a relatively new mom, I can appreciate my mom's persistence, and realize how important it is to document my life via lens.  So, I try to take my camera with me wherever I go because a great picture can literally be anywhere.

I definitely don't have the best camera or lens out there.  I'm not a pro at Photoshop.  I don't lack complete inspiration, and usually know a good "photo op" when I see one, but I'm by no means a professional when it comes to photography.  And, I'll admit, sometimes that makes me a bit discouraged.  

Then I heard about The PEN Ready Project.  Thanks to the good people at Olympus, over 1,000 unsuspecting people in 6 different cities were given a brand new Olympus PEN E-PM1 camera to show how easy it is for normal, everyday, non-professional people to take amazing pictures.  What's even better is you can see all the pictures that were taken here.

What a fun project!

It definitely helped me remember that it's not about being the best photographer or having the most expensive equipment, but just about taking pictures in the first place.  

After all, the most difficult thing to replace is yesterday.

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Olympus

my ROOTS...

As this year comes to a close, and we welcome 2012, I feel inclined to make some changes to my blog.  I'm working on organizing it and focuses my posts on the topics I love most:  relationships, parenting, every day observations and pictures.  In all honesty, my blog won't change too much, but I feel the more consistent it is, the more "theme-ish" it is, the better it will be.

I've also spent some time reflecting on why I began this blog to begin with.  Examining my roots, if you will.  I was inspired by this video, which is where I got my blog description, "The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul."  The message from this video, which is based on an address specifically written for women, is that we all have an inherit need to create.  I have felt that need before, and this blog has helped me feel more fulfilled, more creative.

I absolutely love this video and I hope you will take the time to watch it.  You have less than 2 minutes to spare, right?

I hope I can continue to invite readers to my blog and that you can learn from my experiences and that I can learn from yours.  Let's be creative together!

INSTAGRAM wednesday: CANDY CANES

Her decoration of choice this Christmas season is for sure candy canes.

last WEEK...

My week off was great.  In fact, I had so much fun that I keep forgetting Christmas is still yet to come.  Here's a look at what we did last week.

Attended two different events:  First, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra at Temple Square Christmas concert.

Being creative with our stockings since we don't have a fireplace.

Visiting our old house that we sold a little over a year ago.

And enjoying all the Christmas cards we've received from friends and family.

Now that things are back to normal, and my husband is working his usual late night shifts, I relish the time, late at night, after my daughter has gone to bed, when I can sit by the Christmas tree and look at the lights and just think.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

a little VAY-KAY

I meant to post this on Monday, but I am on VACATION!

Well, not really, but my husband has this entire week off from work, so we're soaking up all the extra time we have and trying to do as many fun things together as we can.

Before I sign off completely though, I should thank Karen for her lovely Blog Awards post.  I am happy to announce I won for Most Thought Provoking Post.  Haven't read the winning post?  Check it out here!

Don't forget:  Boycott Arby's and NEVER drive drowsy.

CHANGE is USUALLY always GOOD

My daughter received a very generous gift from her grandparents a few months ago:  Rapunzel pajamas.  She fell in love with them INSTANTLY, and it has been rather difficult to get her to wearing anything else ever since.

So, this week I decided I was done seeing her wearing her PJs 24/7, and have enforced a new rule that she must be dressed during the day and only wear her PJs at night.  

And, it has been a challenge.  Days one and two were successful, but today was a different story and I ended up letting her wear them because I just didn't have the patience to endure another tantrum.

As I watched my daughter prance around the house in her beloved PJs, I decided if I was going to make her give up wearing them all day long, I needed to sacrifice something too.  So, I'm going to limit my time on the computer and iPod to only when she is asleep.  This gives me nap time and bedtime to catch up my e-mails, blog and to post whatever irrelevant status I need to on Facebook.

I hope to accomplish two things.  First of all, I hope my sacrifice helps me be more patient with my daughter.  If I can relate my wanting to be "on the net" to her wanting to wear her favorite piece of clothing, I imagine I'll have more patience with her when the tantrums and the whining begin.

And second, I hope to spend more quality time with my daughter.  Too often we'll be in the same room together, but we're doing two different things.  Sometimes I'm folding laundry and she's playing, but too often I'm wasting time on the computer while she's playing.  Sure, often times I'm doing legit things like paying bills, but when all is said and done I should be playing more with my daughter.  My time with her is precious, and I should take advantage of every minute I have.

Wish me luck!

INSTAGRAM wednesday: stability

This is hanging in our entryway.  It means "Always Stable."  My husband bought it when he was in China.  I absolutely love it, and hope I can always provide a stable, comfortable home for my family.

Monday means "What the..."

What happens when the wind gets mad.

Really mad.

Seriously, What the...?!

Watch out for the wind!

you LITERALLY can't make this STUFF UP

I have a love/hate relationship with the local news in Utah, specifically the news on KSL.  I love watching it because some of the stories they consider Top News or Breaking News is just insane.  And I hate it for the exact same reason.

The other day, I learned about a man that had been shot in the butt by his dog.  It was the Top Story on the KSL website.  Little did I know, a major windstorm was heading in my direction, and nowhere did I find a front page article about that.  But, that's besides the point.

Anyway, as I read this article, I was reminded of my favorite TV comedy show, 30 Rock.  In the episode 2.6, "Somebody to Love" Jack (Alec Baldwin), who is a staunch Republican, falls for a Democratic congresswoman, C.C. (played by guest star Edie Falco).  After a spontaneous evening together, Jack learns C.C. originally got into politics after her neighbor's dog shot her in the face, requiring her to have many reconstructive surgeries.  He also learns that her "getting shot in the face story" was made into a Lifetime Original Movie called A Dog Took My Face And Gave Me a Better Face to Change the World: The Celeste Cunningham Story.

Hilarious.

If you're not watching 30 Rock, which could be because NBC is playing Whitney (gag) instead, the new season starts on January 12th.  If you're a fan of shows like Arrested Development or New Girl and aren't already a fan of 30 Rock, you'll probably like it.  Give it a chance.  If How I Met Your Mother or Mike & Molly is more your style, I don't think you'd like 30 Rock.  But, you never know.  Give it a try!

After all, their episodes do mirror real life events.

Here's a video clip of Jack watching C.C.'s movie.

my DECEMBER birthday

Today is December 1st which means it's 16 days until my birthday.  Some people may think having a birthday one week (technically 8 days) before Christmas would suck, but I love it.  I've ALWAYS loved having a December birthday, and here are my top 5 reasons why.

5.  It's during the school year

I don't know about you, but on some level I think having a summer birthday and never being able to go to school on your big day (when, oddly, YOU have to bring treats) seems like it would kind of suck.

4.  It's hoodie season

I'll be honest, I don't put make-up on everyday.  I'm not completely vain that I can't stomach the idea of people seeing me looking "less than" in public.  I just don't care.  I probably should, but I just don't.  This all stems from my constant need to be comfortable.  I'll admit, I will put fashion over comfort sometimes, but 9 times out of 10, if I'm not comfortable I change.  Hoodies are the epitome of comfort as far as I'm concerned.  No, they sure aren't flattering but they sure are cozy!

3.  Deals, deals, deals!

Black Friday.  Cyber Monday.  Hello, everywhere you turn there is a sale in December which my gift cards and/or cash presents go a lot further!

2.  There is SO much going on!

December is a busy time of year.  In fact, I have four things I absolutely HAVE to go to on December 10th.  I'm not hte kind of person that needs to be doing something at all times.  I definitely have "home-body-ness" in me, but the fact that I have options rules!

1.  Everyone is happy!

Sure, the holidays tend to bring out the worst in us, but that usually goes away when once we've exited Wal-Mart, or the mall or aren't driving.  I've always loved my birthday in December because people are generally really excited and happy.  

So, there you have it.  The reasons why December birthdays are so fab.

Do you like when your birthday is??