Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Day 16 - Something Orange
The tag from my first attempt at running in a crowd - it hangs on the bulletin board near my desk at home... my mom surprised me at the finish line :) March 2008
*swapping Long Exposure to Saturday*
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Day 12: Sunset
I actually took this photo on July 3 this past summer, waiting for the fireworks in Frankenmuth. Tonight's sunset was non-existent... I tried, but it was just too grey, so this is a look-back photo for today's challenge :)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Day 11 - Something Blue
In loving memory of my G'pa Bobby on this Veteran's Day. That's him in uniform in front of the Eiffel Tower in the background. The clown, is the only one allowed in my house... his favorite (and once his), Emmett Kelly Jr. <3
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Day 1: Self Portrait
Effect used in camera: "Color Sketch"
I am actually home sick from work today, so I didn't shower and I'm still in my pj's with bed head. I didn't want to "get ready" just to take some rad self-portrait, so it was a perfect opportunity to use the effect... and I like it actually, makes me feel like a cartoon.
30 Day Photography Challenge
So... I finally bought an SLR camera (back in June). I've been wanting one for a while because I love pictures and I love taking them, but had to save for a bit before I could justify the purchase. I ended up buying a Nikon D-5100 and so far, I love it! For the most part, I've kept it in the auto modes, though I have played around with a few settings. My goal is to learn as much as I can with this camera and venture into some of the semi-manual modes and really learn my way around all of the incredible features it has.
I stumbled on a "30 Day Photography Challenge" online... and thought, "Hey, that sounds cool!" So I printed it and plan to see it through. Each day, for the month of November, I'll upload the photo of the day. The title will be the day's challenge, the photo will speak for itself.... I may or may not include more text. I'm hoping to try a few new things with my camera to experiment along the way... :) Stay tuned....
I stumbled on a "30 Day Photography Challenge" online... and thought, "Hey, that sounds cool!" So I printed it and plan to see it through. Each day, for the month of November, I'll upload the photo of the day. The title will be the day's challenge, the photo will speak for itself.... I may or may not include more text. I'm hoping to try a few new things with my camera to experiment along the way... :) Stay tuned....
Sunday, August 28, 2011
A New Era
Well, it's official.
I'm 30...
...and I'm also ENGAGED!
Embracing dirty 30 sure is a lot easier, when the love of your life asks for your hand in marriage and eagerly presents you with a diamond ring, while vacationing in West Michigan with some of your closest friends. Sounds awesome doesn't it?! Well, it was!! The ring is beautiful, Grand Haven was incredible, and we are so ready to take it to the next level together... J
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| Our reenactment of the proposal.. :) |
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| So happy togetheeeeeeer! |
That was nearly 3 months ago. Since then we’ve celebrated our engagement with family and friends, picked a wedding date, researched area vendors, secured Ty’s pastor/church for the ceremony, booked a venue, and signed a contract with the venue’s exclusive caterer. What a whirlwind!! As any newly engaged couple will tell you, there are so many important & lasting decisions that make it really fun and exciting, but also quite intimidating and stressful. Church or no church? Inside or outside? How many people will we invite? What is our budget? How do we envision our big day playing out?
No pressure, right!? HA!
Now that we’re planning our own wedding, I have so much more respect for all of the brides that have come before me and who have made it look easy. It’s such a HUGE undertaking and you can only hope that while you plan a celebration of your new lives together as Mr. & Mrs., that all of the important people in your lives will be there by your side, to support you and to help make it a fun, wonderful, unforgettable day. Who cares if the chicken is just OK or if mother nature brings grey clouds and rain. Who cares if the chairs are uncomfortable or if you don’t like the flower arrangements. The entire event is meant to be a representation of the bride and groom and of their love for each other and most importantly, to share that love and commitment with the special people in their lives that have helped shaped who they are today. I vow to not lose sight of that as we continue to plan plan plan. Sure it can be stressful, but I’m having a great time doing it and I’m so excited to marry my best friend and to blend our amazing families together as one.
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| Celebrating my 30th & the new bling! |
My wish for our wedding day is to fill the hours with carefree, honest, warm-hearted memories that we will fondly look back on as one of the best times of our lives. Add to that a healthy mixture of laughter and smiles, love and tears of joy, and a bride who, for once in her life, isn’t late to the party... J
Monday, May 30, 2011
Almost There...
30.
Thirty.
Three-Zero.
Yup... looks weird no matter how you write it or try to fancy it up.
This Saturday, I will trade one decade for another as I leave 29 behind and do my best to embrace 30. The only thing that freaks me out a bit is the NUMBER, sounds so... defining. Beyond that, I can honestly say I am looking forward to my 30's. Lucky for me... I haven't over-achieved enough in my 20's to feel like my 30's will be dull or uneventful by any stretch of the imagination. I still have a some major milestones ahead that I'm so ready for... marriage, becoming a homeowner, starting a family... the good stuff, the stuff dreams are made of. Life isn't a race. It's something I've learned (not always willingly) along the way.
I find it fitting to reflect a bit, before I enter into a new age bracket. As a challenge to myself (and my memory) I am going to think of 29 things from my 20's that made it a great decade (in no particular order and by no means all inclusive):
My 20's have actually been quite amazing.
No pressure 30's, but you better be good.
Thirty.
Three-Zero.
This Saturday, I will trade one decade for another as I leave 29 behind and do my best to embrace 30. The only thing that freaks me out a bit is the NUMBER, sounds so... defining. Beyond that, I can honestly say I am looking forward to my 30's. Lucky for me... I haven't over-achieved enough in my 20's to feel like my 30's will be dull or uneventful by any stretch of the imagination. I still have a some major milestones ahead that I'm so ready for... marriage, becoming a homeowner, starting a family... the good stuff, the stuff dreams are made of. Life isn't a race. It's something I've learned (not always willingly) along the way.
I find it fitting to reflect a bit, before I enter into a new age bracket. As a challenge to myself (and my memory) I am going to think of 29 things from my 20's that made it a great decade (in no particular order and by no means all inclusive):
- Graduating from Michigan State University... Bachelor's Degree in hand, head held high.
- Living with an awesome true-blue friend for 4 years, she still never fails to make life fun.
- Getting my first "real" job in local TV news as a videographer for WLNS in Lansing.
- Traveling to Europe for the first time, flying solo... Madrid, Paris, Barcelona - Amazing. (Thanks Ry)
- Getting matched with Rakell, through Big Brothers Big Sisters, a match I hope lasts forever.
- Witnessing my good friend give birth to her first daughter in person... new life is an incredible thing.
- Realizing that my weight was out of control and turning my health around for the better.
- Rescuing my cat, Vada, from the local shelter.
- Taking my career to a new level by giving producing a try. (Thanks HOM-TV)
- Buying my first vehicle (& second)... and no, I don't name them!
- Traveling to the deep south, twice, for hurricane-related storm coverage... so shocking to see.
- Witnessing the marriages of so many beloved friends & in many states: MI, CA, OH, TN, GA.
- Realizing the true ups and downs of dating, something I never did in high school.
- Dining on the 66th floor of the Sears Tower overlooking Chicago, just wow.
- Getting my first beautiful diamond engagement ring, only to graciously return it one day.
- Experiencing real Mexico: Cancun, Cozumel, & Cabo san Lucas (Tijuana doesn't count).
- Running my first half-marathon with my mom, during our first trip to Disney World!
- Meeting so many amazing, unforgettable people through school, work, & play.
- Moving to Grand Blanc to begin a new chapter and my journey with ABC12 in Flint.
- Buying new bedroom & living room furniture, felt so "adult" to replace a few hand-me-downs.
- Meeting the man who completes me and makes me long for growing old together.
- Taking in the beauty that is Michigan's Pictured Rocks coastline, it's breathtaking.
- Being moved by all that remains at Ground Zero in NYC... words cannot express.
- Helping that same true-blue friend move to Virginia to begin her own new chapter.
- Getting over my fear of wine and its snooty reputation... still working on reds, but yum!
- Asking Tyler to move in with me, as hoped, we've proven to be quite good at this roomie thing.
- Celebrating my parents and their 25th & 30th wedding anniversaries... I hope to be as lucky ;-)
- Visiting my Uncle Mike in San Diego... it was great one on one time that I'll never forget.
- Receiving my first Emmy nomination... :)
My 20's have actually been quite amazing.
No pressure 30's, but you better be good.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Every Day Should be Earth Day
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-- Margaret Mead --
Reduce/Reuse/Recycle: To be honest, recycling is a bit suffocating within a small apartment, the piles just grow and grow, but we proudly do our best! We recycle 1 & 2 plastics, glass, aluminum/tin, cardboard, newspaper, and a bit of regular paper. I can't WAIT until we have a basement or a garage, where we can have big sorting bins!! Someday. I also LOVE the reusable bags for shopping and especially for groceries. They are amazing, so kudos to the person who made them a mainstream trend that's so very convenient! I always have a water bottle with me, most of the time it's one I'm reusing a few times, prior to recycling - other times it's a BPA free bottle. My goal this Earth Day is to make a conscious effort to "reduce" more.
Growing a Garden: Tyler and I are taking on a new challenge together this summer and I couldn't be more excited about it! Our apartment complex is starting a unique "community garden" option for tenants. For $20/season you can cultivate your own 4x10 raised garden bed. They even promise to have a gardening expert on hand to help the rookies figure things out. I generally kill plants by forgetting to do the most basic thing - add water. But-- I hope the payoff of veggies and pretty flowers will motivate us to give our plot the TLC it needs... :) Wish us luck!
Earth Day Mural: Tomorrow, Rakell and I, will be taking part in a service project with Big Brothers Big Sisters. We'll be painting our own Earth Day inspired mural panels to be hung all over Old Town Lansing. I'd like to put in a request with mother nature for some sunshine, especially after the dreary, rain-filled week we've had! I'm looking forward to the activity and to seeing my little sis... :) She's very artistic, I bet our panel will look awesome!
What do YOU do... to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle?
What do YOU do... to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle?
"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do, interfere with what I can do."
-- Edward Everett Hale--
The Chop
Well... I did it! :) Goodbye pony-tail, hello smoothing creme & finishing paste. My trusty stylist and I combined a few things we liked about the photos I shared with you and came up with *this*. I thought I'd regret giving up the length, but not yet! I feel free actually... and lighter! It's very easy to maintain and I don't mind the extra time I've added to my "morning" routine. The bf, who prefers long hair like most men, says I should have done it along time ago, imagine that! :) Thank you for all of the incredible support!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Help Wanted!
I wear my hair in a pony tail every single day. EVERY SINGLE DAY! Why? It's quick and easy! Truely, I just like it away from my face and off my neck. When it's down, I typically get several comments on how nice it looks, but it just gets in the way and makes me hot. So... I think it's time for a new approach. Short. REALLY SHORT! Something low-maintanence that I can keep up without a huge daily commitment. My hair is really thick, so it might be nice to get rid of the bulk. If the cut looks tragic, it's just hair, it will grow back and so will my trusty ponytail. I think it's time for a makeover!
I'd LOVE some input, before I let Ashley D-B at Style & Grace Salon work her magic... :)
Please comment & if you think, short? NO WAY, please...weigh in too! Thanks!
I'd LOVE some input, before I let Ashley D-B at Style & Grace Salon work her magic... :)
Please comment & if you think, short? NO WAY, please...weigh in too! Thanks!
From this....
To this...
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Mission Accomplished
Three weeks ago, I became the proud, first time recipient of a beautiful half-marathon medal and words cannot describe how good it feels! Never in a million years did I think I'd ever even set out to accomplish a 13.1 mile road race... but I did. I made the commitment... I trained as much as my body would allow with a flaring IT band... and I powered through a distance unknown to my body until I crossed that finish line.
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| Picture c/o my dear friend Elizabeth of Rearview Photography |
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| My mom made our tutus... :) We had JUST arrived to the race site, it was 3:30AM! |
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| Magic Kingdom! (miles 5-6ish) |
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| WE DID IT! 13.1 baby! Amazing. |
We celebrated our own "strong finish" with a trip to the hotel pool to relax in the refreshing water, let our legs/feet rest, and soak up the warm Florida sunshine. After deciding a nap was a waste of time, we went BACK to Epcot to stuff ourselves silly with Mexican food... my mom had a beer, I had a margarita. Well-deserved I'd say!
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| Wearing our expo shirts & medals proudly! |
"All our dreams come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." ~Walt Disney
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