This Weekend…
I want to…
- Bake chocolate chip cookies from scratch.
- Shoot some film on my 35mm.
- Have an awesome shoot with the family I’m meeting with Friday evening.
- Serve with my band/Apex family at all the gatherings.
- Sleep in on Saturday. Past 9am.
- Start thinking about moving/packing up the apartment. I’ve really felt at home at this apartment- but I’m excited for a new challenge and a new season in life.
- Watch a sad movie. (check. I have ‘Bright Star’ waiting for me)
- Laugh.
- Have a open and willing heart.
I think I can fit that all in this coming weekend, no?
Future of Forestry
Last Wednesday I went with some friends to see Future of Forestry in Columbus while they were on their Travel tour…. (I highly recommend Travel I, II & III) I was able to pick up Travel III while at the show…and that’s pretty much what I was listening to all last week in the car.
Here are a few blurry shots from my point-and-shoot, if you want to see some better ones- head over to my friends flickr & check them out. (they are way better than mine) I’m not really one for toting around my camera/gear at a show… I know- what’s wrong with me?
The drummer/computer techie/ bassist/ guy who played every instrument played a toy piano at one point (and a trombone) and I took some video of it, however, I filmed it….sideways. Because I’m awesome like that….so, I’ll have to figure out how to rotate it so I can post it.
Guilty Pleasures: Television edition
So…I don’t watch a whole lot of TV. In fact, when I first moved out on my own, I had a TV, but I rarely found the time to watch it. Then they did the whole digital TV thing, and I never really got around to plugging in that box… (I finally DID plug it in this year so I could attempt watching the Oscars- lame.)
TV is such a waste of time… and almost everything on is crap…. but… sadly, since I’m keeping a running dialogue on Facebook right now with my sister and one of her friends about one of those said ‘crap’ TV shows… I present to you…
Emily’s guilty pleasure television list:
#1
The O.C.
Confession? I’m actually watching an episode of the first season at this moment. (I own it- BUT I bought it at a thrift store…so, that’s cool, yeah?) The O.C. is(was) soapy, melodramatic, most times terrible… but so addicting. Plus it was one of the first shows that paid close attention to the music it played and showcased. Death Cab, The Killers, Rachael Yamagata, Modest Mouse, The Thrills, Rooney… all of them were bands that ‘played’ live shows on the show. And I mean… Seth Cohen anyone? The ultimate awkward/nerd/indie boy. Me and both my sisters all had huge crushes on him. The O.C. has been done with for a few years now… and I don’t miss it. It got worse with each season… by the end… it was… well, lets just pretend the fourth season never happened…
#2
America’s Next Top Model
Tyra is CRAZY. There is no doubt about that. The drama and the cat fights are obnoxious… actually, the show drives me crazy. BUT- the photo shoots are fun to watch. I love seeing the styling (hair & make up/fashion) and the concepts. I’ve even been inspired in some of my shoots by concepts on the show… so I watch it. Online. I meet with my quad/LTG on Wednesday nights, so I catch up with ANTM on the internets. That’s what’s horrible. I can’t find the time to catch up on The Office, but I watch this?! What is wrong with me!?
#3
Gossip Girl
This is the one that I was having a running dialogue about on Facebook…. its pure awful. Soap. Melodrama. Cheese. Teenage smuttiness. Its horrid. But its like a train wreck that I have to watch…. and… the clothes are pretty amazing… or, at least they were the first season… but by the time I realized that that had sort of fizzled, I was sucked into it. But this past season was terrible… and I didn’t even feel interested when they “killed” a main character off on the season finale tonight… I think I may be over it.
#4
Project Runway
I own three seasons of this show. Its amazing. Reality TV that doesn’t suck. Actually…this isn’t a guilty pleasure. Its just fun to watch and I have no qualms admitting to this…
Music: The ‘Non-Guilty Pleasure’ List
Current list of music I am not semi-sheepish about?
She & Him ‘Volume II’ (currently playing in my apartment)
Miss Zooey and Mr. M. Ward. Retro and fun.
The Civil Wars ‘Poison & Wine EP’
I had downloaded their free live EP from Noisetrade a while ago- and I had the chance to see them live at Cedarville back when Switchfoot played… they were amazing. (I feel like I use that word too often… they were, fantabulous? Beautific?) I finally got around to downloading their official EP the other day. ‘Go’ was my song for catching the moon the other night. Please, listen to them immediately.
Side-note: chances are, if I follow you on FB or Twitter(mostly Twitter- I don’t have a whole lot of use for facebook) and I know you have pretty impeccable taste in music? I Twitterstalk you. Not even joking. You mention music and I’ll be all over that. That’s how I found The Civil Wars (thanks @philwing and @livethisdream) and that’s how I was reminded of this next band I’ve been listening to. (thanks @jelchison)
Paper Route ‘Are We All Forgotten’ & ‘Absence’
I had stumbled upon ‘Are We All Forgotten’ a while ago thru another blog I read and RelentvantMagazine.com, but I had forgot that a full album was coming out… till I was twitterstalking the other day. Yay for twitter- double yay for atmospheric, semi-80s over the top- full on dramatic- music.
The Glorious Unseen ‘Tonight the Stars Speak’ & ‘The Hope that Lies in You’
- I really love their lyrics and overall sound. They’ve been my soundtrack to and from work for a couple weeks now- I try to take my morning drive to pray, so, its been a great choice.
And lets not forget Jonsi ‘Go’:
We all know I’m a sucker for “Sigur Ros’ (Yeah, my tattoo is Sigur Ros inspired, sucker, nerd, po-tay-to, pa-ta-to) and this album is great. Magical. Sparky. Happy. Inspiring.
Anyone have any more recommendations?
I Heart Lists-I’m a Nerd. Its Cool.
“I’m intentionally ADD today- I feel like I have a million things I want/need to do… so I’m going to do them all at once.” - my latest tweet.
(Tangent- I kind of hate that word. ‘Tweet’. It feels like I should be starring in ‘Bambi’ and talking about being twitterpated. I hope whoever invented Twitter gets a good laugh every time a sane, grown-up uses those words- end of tangent.)
On my to-do list today:
-start cleaning/fixing up the apartment for next Saturday night (party!)
-Run to Goodwill to find some vases/glass-ware for my book shelf display
-Get sidetracked by the dress wrack at Goodwill and end up in the dressing room with 5 dresses. (I only purchased 2)
-Purchase a tray with GOSH-AWFUL cherubs on it to at a later date recover with decorative paper (something else to do!)
-Dishes
-Make Mac ‘n Cheese for a cook out tonight (its gonna be boxed, but its from Trader Joe’s, so, that’s healthy, right?)
-Driving home from Goodwill (in the full 3.5 minutes it takes me) I came up with a topic to blog about so I had to sit down immediately before the idea floated away and get some words down. I have written three(!) essay/posts this week… I haven’t posted any of them, but they’re there, waiting to be edited and posted. In the past few months, God has re-awakened the desire in me to write. I find myself putting pen to paper quite often, and you’ve probably noticed the blog containing more WORDS as of late, (partly due to the fact that photos+winter=blah) but I am so excited. I hope you all don’t mind me posting more ‘personal’ posts mixed in with the photos?
-Watch the ‘Anne of Green Gables’ movies with my sis-in-law and a friend
-My roomie is GRADUATING from CEDARVILLE Saturday!!!! (Go Evonne! You’re done!! YAY) and I have to figure out a super awesome grad gift for her… because she’s amazing and made it like Christmas the other day when she blessed me with an incredible random gift of encouragement.
-Finish my momma’s M-Day gift. Seriously. I told my friend to keep me accountable on finishing it (I’m kind of a ’start-a-project-then-go-on-to-something-else-without-finishing’ kind of gal… ) but I HAVE to finish this. She actually asks me, and… I kind of want to give my mom something next Sunday… because she’s pretty amazing and wonderful and super, and beautiful and one of the reasons I have my many artistic and musical talents.
So… here I am blogging when I have a million things to do…. yup. Sounds about right.
And because this IS a photography blog…here’s one from one of the first Spring days we had a month or two ago… straight outta the camera… my beautiful sister:
Guilty Pleasures…(music related)
I thought I’d do a ‘bare-my-soul-guilty-pleasures’ post…. Its a long time coming, especially because I’m usually a self proclaimed music snob (oh, the pretentiousness- I’m so sorry). Read on and mock mercilessly. I’m prepared.
1. Taylor Swift
Initially it was just a fascination with her hair… I was trying to figure out how to curl mine like it… and that lead to watching youtube videos of her to see her hair… and then ‘Love Story’ was stuck in my head for three days straight… I’ll admit it. She’s in my itunes library now.
2. Kanye West
Just this album. I can’t make it through any of his other stuff. But ‘Heartless’ and ‘Love Lockdown’… um. Sickeningly catchy. Besides, William Fitzsimmons’ cover of ‘Heartless’? Ah-mazing.
Who else… hmmm…. I know there’s more…
I’ve admitted that ‘Owl City’ makes me feel like a giddy pre-adolescent girl (which, I’m not sure I ever truly was) so, that’s a bit of a guilty pleasure, right?
I used to have a thing for Ashlee Simpson… (in the MUSIC sense ya’ll) so she’s in my library. (nostalgic) Strangely enough it was the hair style that started that one as well. That was when I was in the layered, BLACK BLACK hair faze of my life… But ‘Autobiography’ is the album I have. And am most ashamed of. But hey, at least if you ever scroll thru my ipod, I’ve confessed!
Jewel. Specifically ‘This Way’ (I never really listened to any of her others)
I listened to this album during… junior year? Senior year? I don’t know. But its majorly nostalgic for me. I love it.
Enya.
I like Enya.
Yup. So corny. But she’s like a crazy soundtrack… to a non-movie.
scanning for more…
Oh, okay. One Republic. Am I permitted to say that I like the song ‘Apologize’? Sorry. (oops, its too late to….well, you know…) I do. I admit, a lot of these are songs/artists that are SO over played on the radio and television… but, see, the thing is… I don’t listen to the radio. (ever) and I rarely watch TV. So… that really doesn’t effect me.
Michelle Branch.
I’ve always liked Michelle Branch. And I still do…
I do have Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’- I bought it for a mix I made for a friend and it sort of just stayed in my library.
Oh…. and… here’s probably my biggest confession. See, I bought it for the same friend I bought ‘Single Ladies’ for… (cough, Kate, cough) and then we listened to it a LOT… and now its got goofy memories… and its catchy… gosh darn it… I have a Miley Cyrus song on my ipod. ‘Party in the USA’. I’m so ashamed.
Other than that, you’ll find a Black Eyed Peas album, (Boom Boom Pow- catchy and awful at the same time), one Fergie song and a Rhianna song because I like them if I work out… I DO have one of the Twilight audio books in my itunes library… (sorry.) plus I have the soundtracks from both the Twilight movies. But those are actually GOOD. Bands like Muse, Death Cab, Bon Iver ect… (I don’t have any of the Linkin Park songs, OR even Paramore… I never got into Paramore.)
So maybe I’ve lost all my cool points. Maybe my blogsphere readers will drop off (not that I’d know… I have no idea how to tell who reads this and who doesn’t.) and maybe I’ve lost all cool points and you’ll never take a music recommendation from me again… (that would be sad) but at least I won’t have to blush and explain myself if you’re ever scrolling thru my ipod (my sister likes to do this and say “a Rhianna song, really?” and then I point out that SHE has Katy Perry on hers… plus, I update HER ipod on MY computer, so she’d better not complain.
Music to Fit the Mood
So if I had to describe my mood tonight with music… these two songs by Tegan & Sara come to mind…
Call it Off & Where Does the Good Go . Both these songs have been played over and over again on itunes, on mix CDs, in the car, on the ipod…
Snow,Snow, Go away….
All these snow days are like a time warp- leaving me with no real perception of time….
These snow days leave me bored… here’s a few things I’ve found to occupy my time while stuck indoors….
- Jeremy Larson, Stacy Dupree & Darren King Silver Springs download (so pretty!)
- I found this girl’s blog the other day… I adore her photography: allister ann
- This tutorial on creating faux light leaks on photos via Totally Rad Blog- I’ve been having fun playing with this
Post Processing…
I’ve never done a typed out tutorial before… I’m not sure how good I’ll be at this… honestly folks, I just google something if I want to know how to do it- that, combined with countless hours just trial and error in Photoshop is how I do it… but I’ll try to show how I do a few things… I get a lot of questions about how I do the “light circles”… or, ‘light bokeh’ as us photographers like to call it (I don’t even know how to pronounce that correctly, but I know how to spell it!) so, what I thought I would do is walk you thru processing a photo step-by-step. Sound good?
First… let me tell you, when I first started shooting with my DSLR, I was a fan of aperture priority mode… loved it. Then one of the photographers I follow online mentioned how they only shoot in manual, and they only work with other photographers who shoot in manual, and I freaked out. MANUAL?! Too hard! I took one photography class and had a hard time with all the manual settings… but I was bound and determined to nail it… and I’m pleased to say I am a 100% manual shooter now. Getting your exposure correct in camera will do amazing things for your photos….
- steps off of her soap box-
onward!
I edit all my photos with Adobe Photoshop CS3. Just so you know. I also own several sets of Totally Rad Actions. ‘Pool Party’ in some form or another is one of my staple actions. If you’re just playing around with photos, The Pioneer Woman has basically the same actions (created with the help of some of the Totally Rad people) HERE, for FREE.
SOOC image: (straight out of camera)
I over-exposed this on purpose, as I wanted the window in the back to be blown out, and the rest of the photo to have a soft glow.
Next, I usually tweak the color balance a bit… but I won’t show that since its a minor change. When I add a texture, ‘light bokeh’ or lens flare to a photo, I usually try and remember to do that next, before I do any other post processing. For this photo, I’m going to layer on a light bokeh I took of some Christmas lights:
(just a hint kids- to get these? Just take an out of focus photo of lights. Christmas lights, city lights, ect… turn your lens off of ‘auto-focus’ and shoot! Super out of focus will make the light circles large, closer to focused will give you smaller circles.)
So, I have both this, and the other photo opened in PS. Hit your ‘V’ key, and that should give you your dragging tool. Drag your light photo over to your original photo. So you should have your first photo with the lights photo layered on top.
I’m not going into layers here… if you’re wondering about that please Google them and read some of the really good info out there. If you use Photoshop, you need to learn about layers!
Next step…. go to your menu on the side… your layers palatte… and see where it says ‘Normal’ and has a drop down menu?
Hit that drop down menu and you can choose from a myriad of different options for layering your top layer over your second layer. For this particular photo, I’m choosing “screen’ mode. Its soft and light, which is the feel I’m going for with this series.
Now, this one turned out pretty good, sometimes I tweak the opacity of the ‘lights’ layer, or the color balance, or stretch it/shrink it to look how I want, but this worked perfect at 100% opacity, in the location it was originally placed.
Next, flatten the image.
Then, I’ll use my ‘Pool Party’ action, or, if you have The Pioneer Woman actions, ’70’s’. I’m pulling it down to about 60% opacity:
Flatten the image again.
Then, open the ‘brightness and contrast’ menu, and I’m setting the brightness at -41, and the contrast at +31. No particular reason, those settings are just what my eyes like. I’m then opening up the color balance menu again. My settings for this particular photo are; Cyan@ -22, magenta@ -12, yellow@+22:
I decided it was too dark for what I was going for, so I opened curves, and in the first menu tweaked it a bit:
And then…. I guess I’m done with it… here’s the original and the finished product, side by side:
so… sorry if it was hard to follow? I hope this made someone happy, or answered a few questions? I don’t think I’m very good at this tutorial thing….
Inspiration Friday Vol. VIIII
I kind of love 80s movies. Specifically John Hughes ones… which is a touch weird, since I really wasn’t an 80s kid… being born in ‘85 I kind of missed the best of the 80s (was there really a best? Maybe that was sarcastic.) I was more of a 90s kid (blech) but I’ve never really hung out with people who are my age, generally they’ve always been older (or occasionally younger, back when I worked in youth ministry at my old church) having an older brother, and an older cousin who was like my big sister for a while growing up…I’ve always felt like I was more of an 80s kid.
My all-time favorite of these movies has got to be ‘Pretty in Pink’… although I would prefer the ending that John Hughes had in mind rather than the official ending. (I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of watching… but just a hint…. Ducky will always have my vote!)
love it. (and I love Molly Ringwald. She’s in all my favorite ones)
… and then there’s ‘Sixteen Candles’… the first time I watched this was at my friend’s house one Sunday afternoon after church. There was an 80s movie marathon on cable (score! Friends with cable are cool.) and we watched this one and ‘The Breakfast Club’ all afternoon…
the nerds are probably my favorite part of this movie…
Then there’s ‘The Breakfast Club’…
I posted on my twitter account last week that I had been listening to Phoenix’s ‘Lisztomania’ on repeat… and I think THIS video is one of the reasons I love it so much
Inspiration Friday Vol. VIII
I think its volume eight. Whatever- I never cared too much for numbers.
I admit, I’m a weird mixture of a cynical person/complete cheeseball… and I sort of love Christmastime… (I’d really love it if it didn’t usually include freezing weather and snow… okay, the ONLY acceptable time for snow is at Christmas…)
I already admitted to loving Holiday music… and I now, I’m confessing my love for Christmas movies… they just make me feel like a kid again (hence, why most of my favorites are geared towards children)
Who doesn’t LOVE the original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”? Its so good, with the crackly audio track, and poor little Max having antlers strapped to his head and having to drag that huge sleigh around for the Grinch… (we shall not even talk about that horrid remake with Jim Carey that I could not even watch 20 minutes of…yeck!)
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”… with the choppy puppets and the blinky-beeping red nose, the mean Santa Clause who doesn’t like Rudolph because he’s different… the Island of misfit toys… its so terribly awful that its amazing. Seriously amazing. Plus, it has an elf who wants to be a dentist and de-tooths (is that a word? Should it be de-teeths?) the Abominable Snow Monster.
“Its a Wonderful Life”… I love Jimmy Stuart. And I really love this movie… and I had a friend tell me she had never watched it before… um, can we say travesty?
“Mickey’s Christmas Carol” is one of those ones I grew up watching. I think my Papa had taped it off of tv, (like he did with everything) and me and my siblings would watch it every year. I don’t really know why its called Mickey’s Christmas Carol… because Scrooge is played by Scrooge McDuck… (who I love) and Mickey is just Bob Cratchit…(and I sort of hate Mickey Mouse. He’s so squeaky and annoying) But its good, trust me.
I think “Elf” may be one of the only two movies I like with Will Ferrell. (The other one being “Stranger than Fiction)… its so very quirky cute… plus it has Zooey Deschanel in it (yes, as a blonde, but I’ll forgive her) and she sings!
…Lastly, a Christmas movie list is not complete without “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. My favorite scene is when they are all dancing in the beginning. It’s where I learned all my dance moves. Plus, the part where Linus quotes Luke chapter 2 is pretty awesome too (as is the fact that they still play this on TV every year.)
So… there you go. My list of Christmas favorites… anyone have any to add?
Sunday Night
I took a three hour nap today starting just before 5pm… I slept for three solid hours. I don’t do that very often, so when it happens, I figure I need the sleep- probably catching up from Wednesday night when my roommate and I stayed up till 3:30 a.m. talking- I loved it, but I just can’t stay up like that anymore.
Tonight I decided to put together a playlist of songs that represent me… an ‘Introduction to Me’ as it were… I ended up with 61 songs, clocking in at 4.3 hours worth of music. Closer to a boxed set than a mix cd. Its not even all the songs I currently love… more like the classics I always go back to… songs that I consistently love, and have loved, for a long time.
So, then I took an editing eye and cut it down to 1.2 hours worth of music, which is the amount that fits on a blank cd… here’s what I came up with:
Mostly mellow, and yes, even sort of sad and depressing at times… its not that I don’t listen to up-beat and happy music, but these are the songs that make me feel something deeper than just bouncy and sun-shiney… these are songs I have a connection with. (In fact, I think I’ve heard almost half of them performed live I just realized- how cool is that?!)
So… enjoy this is a small part of me.
Inspiration Friday Vol. VII
I’ve been feeling crafty lately, meaning I want to make things, not in a Hogwarts wizard/witch type of way… (just so we’re clear.) So I’ve busted out some DIY stuff and its been great. Plus, now that Thanksgiving is over I’m letting myself listen to Christmas music! I’m probably a total dork, but I love it….
A little sample of my holiday music collection… a little Frank Sinatra, some Copeland, Sufjan Stevens ect…
…and then here’s a few things I’ve made lately…
some cake plates made from vintage dishes and cups I thrifted (and two-part epoxy glue) the link to a site with directions is on my Flickr
Cooking counts too, right?
Some Chocolate Trifle I made for Thanksgiving… So easy, chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, whipped topping, chocolate chips all layered pretty in a Trifle dish….
Then I put this little wreath together today after I put up some Christmas lights…
Now I think I get to go get dinner with some lovely ladies and possibly visit my little sister while she’s working retail on Black Friday….
Inspiration Friday Vol. VI
This week…. its music. Because I am finally catching up. Whew. So happy. I cannot describe how much I love finding new music or hearing a new album by an artist I love… almost as much as hipsters love skinny jeans and v-neck t-shirts. Seriously.
First up…
Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot
I honestly haven’t listened to a Switchfoot album since “The Beautiful Letdown” (which I LOVED by the way) “Nothing is Sound” and “Oh Gravity” just didn’t appeal to me when they came out… but I was hearing how amazing this album was, and after really digging Jon Foreman’s solo projects I decided to give it a listen. So good. First song that grabbed me was “Always”. Figures. Piano. A bit softer… but my goodness. It kind of sounds magical when you first hear it… at least to me. “Love is a Song”, “The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)” are also good ones… but I think I like the whole album.
Strict Joy by The Swell Season
Still listening to this one… I’m not sure it’s as catchy as the “Once” soundtrack, but that had the movie to back it up and add emotional connections so I can’t really compare. I like it, but not sure its too incredibly special. “Low Rising” is definitely catchy, and it reminds me of Ray Lamontagne, who I like, so, its not bad. “I Have Loved You Wrong” is good too… piano + Markéta Irglová’s vocals… again, can’t be bad.
NEXT….
Church Music by David Crowder Band
- I just got this, so I haven’t really formed a solid opinion… but nothing really has grabbed me other than their version of “How He Loves”
(M)orning EP by Mae
… so after “Singularity” I was sort of bummed with Mae… “Singularity” was all crunchy guitars and catchy hooks and not the piano driven rock that I had come to love. (so much so that I think I have seen them play live at least 5 or 6 times, a record for me) I had listened to a couple of the songs on this ep when they had them up on their website during the past year, but I was just sort of “eh” about the whole thing. After discussing this EP with a friend I decided to check it out… first listen it was a bit strange. Especially the instrumental pieces. (flute solo anyone?) but after a few listens I’m warming up to it… “Night/Day” is definitely one of my favorites on it, and even though some of the lyrics on “Boomerang” sort of weird me out (”…You’re my boomerang…”?) I really like it musically towards the end of the song.
“Ocean Eyes” and “Maybe I’m Dreaming” by Owl City
OMG! Sorry… Owl City makes me feel like I should exclaim everything while giggling and bopping my head… but in a good way. I seriously got early highschool flashbacks when I listened to “Ocean Eyes” … of what, I’m not sure specifically, but they were there. Giddy was the original word I used… its ridiculous, poppy music, a hint of Postal Service, a dash of PlayRadioPlay! and a pinch of Matt Thiessen’s vocals. (did I spell his name right? Relient K’s vocalist?) This guy knows how to rhyme his words, that’s all I have to say… love the song “Fireflies” (gosh, this is music I should probably be embarrassed to love, but I don’t!!) “Hello Seattle” is fun as well… but then again, it’s all fun.
25 Before 25
In recent conversation with someone and in happening upon a blog where there was a list like this… I have decided to create a list of “25 Things to do before I turn 25″….
I probably should have started a bit sooner as I only have till February… but hey, I’ll make the list more achievable… and maybe I’ll start a “26 before 26″ a bit sooner?
So… I randomly threw this together today… but I think it works. I’ll cross them out as I do them…
“25 Before 25″
(in no particular order)
1. See three more shows/bands/artists live. (at least)
2. Make and give handmade gifts for Christmas
3. Go on a date. (This goes on all my lists… haven’t achieved it yet, but hey, I like to dream)
4. Throw a Christmas party and invite new friends
5. Decorate the apartment with hand-made/thrifted items for the holidays
6. Dye my hair RED. (I always swore I would do it bright, cherry red at least once in my life… the dream has toned down a bit, less Clementine from Eternal Sunshine… more, “I work in the real world”)
7. Sponsor a Compassion International Child
8. Make official plans to go to either NYC or Seattle (or both, in 2010)
9. Shoot with film more often
10. Work on an art journal
11. Re-connect with some old friends
12. Get a group together to go to hocking hills to hike/take photos
13. Organize a photo-scavenger hunt
14. Only purchase clothing if I commit to giving away something that I already have
15. Pray for those I love and care about on a daily basis and put my whole heart into it
16. Start a new journal with the new year, and appropriately title it (it’s tradition, every new year I start a new one)
17. Write a song with music AND lyrics. Together. (scary… I’m not sure I know how to do this)
18. Learn how to use Garage Band with my piano/keyboard
19. Not drink ANY soda
20. Practice guitar on a regular basis
21. Try cooking some new recipes, like chicken curry and other dishes with meat in them (scary!)
22. Read Jane Austen’s “Persuasion”
23. Try not to be so sarcastic. (I don’t have a whole lot of hope for this one)
I need two more… suggestions?
Inspiration Friday Vol. II
This week I have been nesting in the apartment. We’re having a few people over tomorrow night, so I’ve been working on getting some things together… decorating, grocery shopping, asking my mom for her chili recipe (I’m cooking tomorrow… here’s hoping I do an half-way decent job…)
Have I mentioned that I was an interior design major in college? I don’t really do anything with the degree professionally, never have… but I am an interior design magazine junkie, and I am always trying things out at my own place…
So I’ve been inspired by beautiful interiors this week…. (once again none of these photos are mine, ALL photos found via WeHeartIt)
Music I’ve been listening to this week includes Peter Bjorn & John, and Feist & Ben Gibbard singing “the Train Song” (soooo good. Please find it somewhere and have a listen.)
Open Windows
I’m thankful my car dings when I leave the headlights on. My Civic didn’t do that. I ran my battery down…lets just say…many times because of this.
I’m thankful that I am able to afford picking up food after a looooong day at work, and I have no mental energy, or other energy left. I get cranky when I’m not fed…and having to then cook in my non-existent kitchen would have “not been fun” this evening.
I’m thankful that I only have one more day to work this week…it’s been the longest work week ever for me, but I have three days off looming ahead…
I’m thankful for red nail polish.
I’m thankful for Bible verses that pop up at the end of books that I’m reading late at night, and directly apply to what I am going through.
I’m thankful for plans for this weekend. I’m glad I won’t be at the VFW watching fireworks again. (not that it isn’t a good show…but I’ve done that for 3 years now)
I’m thankful to have my windows open.
I’m thankful that I get to go to bed soon.
Summertime Wishes
- Things are not going as planned, but then again, they never do. I’m in a hard place at work right now, prayers are appreciated.
- I have lots of hopes and plans for the months to come, I’m praying and trying my best to trust God…He’s never let me down
- I need photography work. If anyone needs a photographer for anything, PLEASE, let me know. (this ties into the hard place at work deal….anything extra I can pick up would be a God-send.)
- The air smelled like summer tonight. It reminded me of being younger, and staying out till all hours of the night in our backyard…then falling asleep to the sound of a fan in the window…..Mmmm
- I’ve been making stir-fry zucchini with cheese raviolis for the past few weeks at least once a week. Its delicious, all you need to add is some olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. Its good cold or hot. Addicting.
- Gotta remember to B R E A T H E
Lists
- I’ve started messing around on my guitar again. I have calluses on my fingertips. This makes me feel like an uber-cool person, but probably just makes me a gigantic dork.
- I want the weather to stay this pretty. I want to take walks every evening as the sun goes down
- I get to play a lot of music/piano this week
- I’m getting a tattoo in about 2 weeks.
- I am a 16 year old girl in a lot of ways…and a grandma in a lot of others. I don’t know how to act around guys, (teenage me) and I need to get to sleep on time, or I don’t know what to do with myself. Plus I wear knitted hats, even in the summer (grandma me)
- I get excited about the silliest things. Like an icebreaker project we’re doing in my house church.
- I ate avocado yesterday for the first time since being in Guatemala in 2001.
- I like zucchini
- “In the Sun” by JOSEPH ARTHUR, “Wonderwall” as done by Ryan Adams, and “Hallelujah” done by Jeff Buckley are three of my most favorite songs ever.
- I take WAY too many photos when I shoot an event. My hard drive is about to scream “MUTINY!!” at me. I swear. Thank God for external hard drives.
- If I had three wishes…I would want to be able to sing, to play cello, and the third would be a secret
Blur
- Grandpa is out of the hospital and doing good.
- Made a quick over-night trip to West Virginia to see our cousins, and meet little Max. (photos to come when I have a chance.)
- An old friend came to Ohio to visit (lots of trips back and forth to Columbus in the rain)
- Had a lovely tour of Cincinnati while trying to find the William Fitzsimmons/Rosi Golan show…Google maps has failed me AGAIN.
- Loved the William Fitzsimmons “karaoke” night. It was a good show. He’s a funny guy.
- Doing final editing on some wedding photos tonight. Going to be another late one.
On the way to West Virginia
A fond (and slightly crazed on my part) good-bye to Dustin
and one of Mr. Fitzswilliams.
This song is permanently stuck in my head….
Life&Lists
Things I am learning:
- To say “No”. I have a hard time with this. I am a people-pleaser. I hate confrontation. I love to go the extra mile. But sometimes, you just have to say no.
- I hate to ask for help. I am a single, independent young woman. I live alone. I have my own car. My own business ect… I have a terrible time asking people for help/assistance. But I find this carries over into my walk with God, and it makes it that much harder to rely on Him.
- I struggle with the business aspects of my business. I’m an artistic person. I’m horribly disorganized, scatterbrained and semi-introverted. But I am learning. To be outgoing. To be more organized and scheduled. I’ve grown leaps and bounds in the past year.
- I love Ben Gibbard’s voice. Oh, wait. I knew that already.
- To read and study the Bible, and not just read it like a “good book”. I’m grateful to my house church and a couple of close friends who have helped me with this recently.
- To constantly be in awe of what God is doing for/with me. Two years ago, I never would have imagined the different opportunities I have happening to me. The people whom I’ve met and grown to love and appreciate. I fail to be as thankful for these things as I should. I pray that God teaches me to take each day as the blessing it is, and not focus on the things I “don’t have”.
“I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.”
Psalm 119:58
Favorite Albums of 2008…
So I usually do one of these. There’s probably more, but this is what I got tonight.
In order by preference:
9. MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
They pronounce their name ‘Management’, but I refuse to smush letters together to make a word (sk8ter boi, anyone?)
Favorite tracks: Electric Feel and Time to Pretend.
Good music for…dancing to. I don’t really dance. But its fun to listen to in the car. And bop my head to.
8. She&Him- Volume One
Zooey Deshchanel (who is totally, if the gossip blogs are right, engaged to Ben frickin Gibbard! Of Death Cab for Cutie) and M. Ward front this fun, retro and a bit folky/country sounding album. Love, LOVE it.
Favorite tracks:
Why Do You Let Me Stay Here and Sentimental Heart
7. Ingrid Michaelson- Be Ok
This is more of a compilation of live songs, ones that haven’t been previously released ect…instead of a full album. But its good.
Favorite Tracks:
Be Ok and The Chain
6. William Fitzsimmons- The Sparrow and The Crow
Quite honestly, I’m not sure if this is a 2008 album, but I just bought it in December, so, it works for me. At the prompting of several friends, I purchases it, and love it.
Favorite tracks:
Even Now, Just Not Eachother, They’ll Never Take the Good Years….um, I like the whole album.
5. Jeremy Larson- Salvation Club
His music is incredibly melodic and pretty much the definition of the word beautiful.
Favorite Tracks:
Where they Sleep and Goodnight
4. Coldplay- Viva la Vida
I have to say, this was a breath of fresh air after X&Y….I liked that album okay….but it wasn’t anything impressive. (Fix You is the only standout track that comes to mind) Viva is classic Coldplay, plus some. Love the strings and orchestration. Strongly dislike the song Strawberry Swing. I have an acoustic version of ‘Lost’, its better than the original.
Favorite Tracks:
Viva La Vida, Lovers in Japan (even if Chris Martin cheats live, and creates a loop on his keyboard, jerk.) and Yes. (I just like all the spikey strings)
3. Death Cab for Cutie- Narrow Stairs
Everyone claimed that Plans was awful (?), I still don’t get that. I loved it. I don’t love Death Cab’s work before Transatlanticism, so maybe that has something to do with it….but Narrow Stairs exceeded my expectations. Which is super. I love it. I love Death Cab. They have a song with an instrumental 4 minute intro…and I love it. Oh, and did I mention I got to see them LIVE last year!?!
Favorite Tracks:
Grapevine Fires (gorgeous live), Ice is Getting Thinner, and Bixby Canyon Bridge
2. Copeland- You are my Sunshine
Once again, everyone said Eat, Sleep, Repeat sucked. And they all love this one. I don’t see how they can hate that one, and love this one? It seems like the natural progression from E.S.R. Maybe that’s just me. But…basically, I would marry Aaron Marsh’s voice. I think he could sing anything and I would swoon. Gorgeous. But the guys got a way with music AND lyrics. Lucky.
Favorite Tracks:
Good Morning Fire Eater, The Day I Lost My Voice, Should You Return
1. Sigur Ros- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Another one I was blessed (!) to see live last year. The best live show of my life so far. All the way to Detroit to see them. Its the perfect mixture of upbeat and joyous (yes, JOYOUS) and mellow, atmospheric crescendos. Love it. Seriously.
Favorite Tracks:
Gobbledigook, Inní mér syngur vitleysingur, Med sud i eryum, Fljavik…
Also, just for fun, a few of my favorite songs from last year:
(these are not all from the year 2008, just what I listened to in ‘08. See down below for the playlist!)
The Call- Regina Spektor
-from the Prince Caspian soundtrack. At first, it was weird in the movie…then it made me cry. Because I’ve grew up with the Narnia books, and I could feel what the Pevensie kids were feeling in that moment. I’m a nerd.
You and I- Ingrid Michaelson
-from Be Ok. Its one of the cute ones
Sour Cherry- The Kills
-Another great song for the car. In a loud, kind of obnoxious but not, way.
Elephants- Rachael Yamagata
-Interesting lyrics, but the sad melody and piano get me.
My Love Goes Free- Jon Foreman
-Same with this one. Simple, sweet, and I love Jon Foreman’s solo stuff
Elephants as Big as Whales- PlayRadioPlay!
-This is one from the beginning of last year. Loved his first full length album (I’ve been known to get people addicted to PlayRadioPlay!)
Sundrenched World- Joshua Radin**(this song is NOT on my playlist…I believe I have the edited version. Playlist.com did not.)
-Another favorite from earlier last year. When I heard the strings in the beginning of the song for the first time, I knew I’d love it.
Is There a Ghost- Band of Horses
-I heard this song on Pandora , (another reccomendation from EVERYBODY) and was like, “who is this?!” I’m not a huge fan of B.O.H. other stuff, but this song is amazing. (musically, the lyrics aren’t really anything to write home about.)
Full Moon- The Black Ghosts
-Here comes the nerd again. I read ALL of Stephenie Meyers Twilight books. Yes. I like them too. I found this song on the soundtrack to the movie. Which I saw. But I am not ashamed. I’ve found some of my favorite bands by listening to movie soundtracks. This song is fun.
If You Find Her- Future of Forestry
-oooh…pretty. I wish the rest of their stuff sounded more like this.
Flightless Bird, American Mouth- Iron and Wine
-ha. Another one off the Twilight soundtrack. I admit, I wasn’t crazy about Iron and Wine a few years ago. But I’m loving them now. William Fitzsimmons reminds me of them a lot.
Sea of Love (remastered version)- Cat Power
-This was on the Juno soundtrack. Its so sweet and sad. I love the simpleness of it.
Because I love my itunes Library
The whole “Hit next on your itunes, write down the song that comes up” deal….some of these are surprisingly accurate, and don’t blame me for having a lot of soundtracks/scores with cool titles to the songs….I am obsessed with soundtracks.
Begin….
IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY
“This is Your Life” The Killers
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
“No Lights After 11” The Vanity Fair Soundtrack (oh dear, that’s totally me to a T….little grandma Em who needs her sleep)
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
“Hard to Explain” The Strokes
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
“When Paula Sparks” Copeland (“It’s a glorious day
And my lonely heart is tired again”)
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
“I Turn my Camera On” Spoon (HA!)
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
“When You were Young” The Killers
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
“Love Dog” TV On the Radio (umm?)
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
“Rangers” A Fine Frenzy (Those forest rangers are so sexy!)
WHAT IS 2+2?
“Summertime” Mae
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
“One ‘heck’ of a Party” Air
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
“Virtue Betrayed” the Vanity Fair Soundtrack (hmm)
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
“Freedom” Tegan and Sara
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
“A Little Better” Gnarls Barkley
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
“The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” Postal Service
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
“Shove It” Santogold (haha)
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
“Somebody’s Baby” Jon Foreman
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
“Leisure Suit” Feist
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
“Talking Bird” Death Cab
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
“I Saw it on Your Keyboard” Hellogoodbye
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
“Breathe Me” Sia
WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
“What Do I Know?” (Copeland)
HOW WILL YOU DIE?
“Limousine” Brand New (classy of me)
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
“Chicago” Sufjan Stevens (not really…I loved it!)
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
“Minding My Own Business” Coconut Records
WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
“When You Leave” Britta Persson
WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
“Hope For the Hopeless” A Fine Frenzy (I guess that’s good?)
WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
“California” Mates of State
DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
“She Changes Your Mind” Copeland (ain’t it true)
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
“The Sound of Settling” String Quartet Tribute to Death Cab for Cutie
WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
“…And Then I Kissed Him” Pearl Harbor Soundtrack
Random Lists
- I love Mae’s The Everglow. It’s one of my “desert island” albums.
- I cannot wait for it to be autumn. My most favorite season of all. Goodbye summer!
- I want to learn a new instrument. Cello, hammer dulcimer, accordion, or maybe harmonica (I’m betting on that one, since I am fresh out of funds.)
- Even though I am fine with being a quiet person, I wish I was more outgoing. Its something I struggle with daily.
- My top played playlist on itunes contains almost all of Jon Foreman’s Fall/Winter EP, Explosions in the Sky, Arcade Fire, Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, Coldplay, Death Cab, a score from Pride and Prejudice, and some Helen Jane Long (an amazing pianist/movie score composer)
- I have yet to be sunburned this summer. This is good.
- My mom’s birthday is Saturday! Happy early birthday to her!