#11 Favorite thing right now

Netflix.

I know Kyle and I were probably the last people on the face of the planet to get Netflix. But we got it. And we love it!! Mostly because of the online streaming!!!

So far I've watched countless movies... as well as Rowan has been able to have some of his favorite cartoons available immediately. But I think the best part for me are the tv series I've never seen before. I've already watched all of Arrested Development (can I just say WHEN is the movie coming out??) and My So Called Life. I can't believe I had never seen My So Called Life!!

We are now on Rescue Me. ;-) This is going to make the television off season much more enjoyable!!

My First Roll of Film

I picked up my first roll of 35mm film today. I kind of rushed through the roll because my eBay purchase only had a 7 day return policy. So I felt the pressure to power through the roll and get it developed... just in case something was wrong. And although the pictures are nothing spectacular because they were just taken around the house, I'm so excited over the color and feel of them. To many of you... they look like just snap shots. Because they are. The film isn't nearly as sharp as my digital camera... and there was no additional editing after I got the roll back. Plus, Costco (yup... I got them developed at Costco) forgot to scan the images on a CD so these have been scanned from my much lessor quality scanner at home. Either way. They give me the warm and fuzzies.

#9 Last Item Purchased

Personal projects. All creatives need them. With out them, our passion, that we've turned into a job, would simply return to being just a job. I don't often get the time to work on personal projects. Partially because it requires a baby sitter... but mostly because I haven't had any good ideas for decent projects lately.

My last project was probably 9 months ago. I loved it and it literally consumed me. But that's the thing with personal projects. They stir up passion. And if that passion is not being fed, then it will leak into my professional work. And what good of a photographer would I be if I lost passion for my work.

Anyway... I've been really feeling the need for a new project. And I've finally settled on trying out film!! Yeah!!! So today, after a few ichats and emails with other photographer friends who I know have already dabbled in it... I settled on a Nikon FE.



Then after doing some quick searching it appeared eBay was my only option. Ugh. I hate eBay. It gives me anxiety. I found a number of Nikon FE's on eBay... 4 of which were ending within the next few hours!!! I made some grave mistakes on the first two cameras. I placed bids with about 10 minutes left and then the price got to high... so finally on the 3rd camera (which actually also came with a 28mm lens too... when the first two cameras were 'body only') I placed my first bid at 10 seconds left... AND I WON!! And I spent $10 less than what the first two cameras closed at!

So... holla!!!!

But the best part about buying a Nikon is that I can use ALL my current lenses on it!! I doubt I'll be putting on my massive 24-70 on this camera, but my 50mm 1.4... OH YES!!!

Anyway... in 3 weekends Kyle and I are going on our FIRST weekend trip away from Rowan!! We've both been away from him separately, but never together. So we're heading up to Kernville with our good friend Joel and Erica... and its going to be a photographic hoopla!! Joel is a photographers as well... and I think I've convinced him to dust off his Canon ae-1 and shoot some film with me that weekend. I'm so excited and I can't wait to see the results!

Soooooo... that was my most recent purchase. ;-)

#10 Fifteen Facts About Me

#1 I have a hard time getting interested in reading a book if there isn't some sort of romance/love element to it. It doesn't have to be the main focus, but I feel like it needs to be there in some context. Like The Hunger Games. Just finished that series and REALLY enjoyed it.

#2 I'm afraid that after I lose weight from working out and eating right, my stomach will still never be the same and I'll always have to wear Spanx in order to feel comfortable. My stomach was so huge the day I delivered that I'm afrait its beyond anything that working out and eating right can fix. Meaning, I will probably never wear a 2 piece bathing suit again.

#3 I find my dog really annoying. Which breaks my heart. But he jumps and barks and is impossible to control when guests are over. He used to be my "child" before Rowan... and now I often find myself wondering if I'd be mad at myself if we just gave him to a good home. But Kyle would never allow it. But the dog hair on our wood floors is DRIVING ME CRAZY. Oh... and he is also $80 or more to feed each month.

#4 I struggle with feeling "original." And feel like people think my style (both with my own self and my photography) is just a cheap copy of somebody else's.

Wow... lets move onto more happier things.

#5 If I could live off one meal for the rest of my life... it would be Nachos. But pizza would be a close second.

#6 I'm OBSESSED with this season of The Bachelor... and I really really really want Emily to win.

#7 I drink a LOT of black coffee. And I would rather hit up a gas station for black coffee than going to Starbucks for something expensive that just tastes burnt to me.

#8 My side of our bathroom looks like a tornado hit it... and it drives Kyle crazy.

#9 I can't pick a favorite Girl Scout Cookie. But my top favorites are the Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Trefoils & Samoas.

#10 Sometimes I miss living in Bakersfield, but then I go back and visit... and I become so thankful Kyle and I never moved back. Because it was (briefly) an option. Now, I just miss my family.

#11 I am super paranoid about wrinkles... so I have been using anti-aging moisturizers for YEARS. I mean, like 8 years. So far so good... but I honestly don't know if its as a result of expensive face creams, or just staying out of the sun, or good genes.

#12 I LOVE makeup. And while I have no problem going to the store with out makeup, I will never, under any condition, go out in a social setting with out makeup.

#13 I often miss my long hair... but know its just not the look for me. Nor do I ever want to deal with growing it out again.

#14 I think I would be comfortable and capable of living on the East Coast... New York maybe.

#15 I still occasionally Facebook stalk some guys I used to date.

#8 The Last Thing I Bought

If I'm being honest... the last thing I bought was a car full of groceries. But a) I don't have a picture of it and b) that's pretty darn boring.

Buuuut... at my last trip to Target... amongst the diapers, baby whipes, birthday cards, wine, and beauty products... I bought a new book. The Hunger Games. I've been hearing lots of good things about it... and I was fully expecting on buying it on my iPhone. I've been come addicted to my iBooks... already reading 5 books this year. But for some strange and frustrating reason, iBooks doesn't carry The Hunger Games books. So I went back to reading a good 'ol fashioned paper book. I'm about 1/4 of the way in and its already got me hooked. I can't wait to finish it this weekend. Oh wait... its only Tuesday. I'll probably finish it tomorrow. That's how I get with books.... I can't put them down once I start.

Emo & #7

I hate feeling low on myself. For the most part, I am generally a confident person. Minus a small issue with my weight... that I'm working on. I feel like my style really says something about who I am. Creative, outgoing and slightly off beat.

However, there are those days when I come across a picture online and realize, I will never be "that girl." The girl with the flowing long locks and the legs and waist she never has to work for. The girl that doesn't have to work at being pretty because she looks just as good with out makeup as she does with makeup. And the girl that always gets described as "so beautiful" when somebody is talking about her.

99% of the time... I'm happy with me. But that 1% still has the ability to sting... and make me want to go eat a plate of nachos.

Me... in the last hour of an 8 hour day shooting a wedding.

Me... right now, with out makeup and in an old t-shirt.

I actually didn't plan on making this #7... me with out makeup. But it kind of turned into it. So here is a REAL picture of me with out make up... and zero "iphone changes."

#5 and #6 Talent I Wish I Had

#5 Meaning behind my blog name... that's pretty self-explainitory. Three months from YESTERDAY I will be turning 30!!! And this is my blog about that.

#6 Talent I Wish I Had... I don't know if I have a good answer for this one. As I've grown up, I've changed what I wished I could do. Play piano, play guitar, sing well, be and exceptional athlete, act.... but really, I've become pretty content with what I can and cannot do. Photography has become my "can" and while I will never be able to sing well... photography has become my artistic outlet. When some people write poems, or play guitar... I bust out my camera and photograph. Its theraputic. And I REALLY wish I had time to shoot more for myself. That is one of my [unwritten] New Years Resolutions.

Oh... I just realized I should write down my resolutions in a place I can see them daily... to remind me what I'm working on and towards. This blog post just took a 180 turn, but it made me realize that is almost February and I've yet to lose anymore weight and I haven't been photographing anything for myself yet!!!

The resolutions to keep the house clean has actually been working out well. Our bedroom is still a disaster zone, but every night Kyle and I clean up the downstairs. One of us works on the dishes while the other picks up all of Rowan's toys in the living room. Its nice to come downstairs in the morning to start with a clean slate... and quickly gets destroyed all over again.

As for the weight thing... I was doing REALLY well on my 1200 calorie diet, but then we had a death in the family right before Christmas and comfort food was all I was surrounded with. And since then I haven't been able to get back on the wagon (horse?). Anyway... today is a new day... and today starts 1200 calories AND working out!!! I think I'll keep a daily record of my working out too. Someplace I can see every day and easily write down what I did that day. I already use an awesome App for calorie counting... MyFitnessPal. Its really awesome!! Try it if you need help counting and keeping track of your calorie intake.

Anyway... maybe I'll post pictures of what I come up with for tracking my resolutions and my daily food/exercise. Maybe. ;-)