Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas from my whole family to yours!!!

A Break from Online Living

I struggled briefly over the title of this post.  I first wanted to write "A Break from Life," but that would be silly because the entire intention of this 'break' is to embrace life.

You see, I've found myself living more and more online these days.  Slowly I've become more interested in what my facebook status, twitter update or instagram shot are going to elicit from my friends than whatever it is that I'm doing in 'real time.'  I've found myself spending my evenings falling down the 'facebook rabbit hole' and wasting time in the social media world.  I've found myself itching to check my phone at stop lights, or looking down at my phone while spending time with friends.

Dare I say, I've found myself becoming rather narcissistic.

I have many intentions based in health for the year 2013.  I'm increasing my workouts, paying closer attention to nutrition, and focusing on healthy friendships/relationships and quality time with others.  A major factor in my health is to live both simply and mindfully.  For me, this includes deleting my facebook account and taking a break from blogging.

I don't think there's anything wrong with having a facebook page, I just know that my activity on there has reached a level of unhealthy.  Over the past year I've considered deactivating it a few times but always had the excuse that it was my way of keeping my photography and design business moving forward.  Now that I'm living in Portland and basically starting from scratch with my company, I no longer have that excuse.  Watching marketing trends (a ridiculous hobby of mine) it's clear that facebook is no longer the major player in creative business, and it makes sense to focus on face-to-face networking and relationship building. The major players in the creative industry are on facebook and twitter, but you'll rarely see them using it.  Why?  Because they are working!  They are out creating... something I need to be doing.  Makes sense, right?!

Anyway, all this to say, I'm taking a break.  It may be permanent, and it may not - I won't know for some time - but it's what's happening now.  I feel really good about it.  I feel like I'm taking care of myself and allowing space for more healthy (and active!) habits to form.

So I won't see you online, but I want to continue building my friendships, so if you have my number text or call me and let's meet for coffee and catch up.  If you're interested in going to the gym with me, I'm down with that too!  If you don't have my number, you can always email me - motormouthmacey@gmail.com and start the conversation.

Take care!

30 Day Posting Challenge | Day 24 - Five Words or Phrases That Make Me Laugh

It's not difficult to make me laugh, I'm not gonna lie.  I love to laugh!  Laughing makes me feel awesome!

Here's a few phrases that, when heard, elicit giggles (or full on belly laughs depending on the situation) from me:

1. "Ermahgerd!"
2. "Bazinga" (or when The Kid messes it up and says, "baboomba")
3. "I think I broke my ass bone."
4. "It does what it's told!"
5. Religion is like a penis...
   
   

What are some phrases and that make YOU laugh?

30 Day Blogging Challenge | Day 23 - Something That I Miss

WARNING!  Picture overload!

I miss the snot out of my niece Joie.  She is the most fabulous person on the face of this earth and I cannot wait to give her the biggest squeeze when I see her in 3 weeks!!!!!

Catching Up on the Blog Challenge | Days 20-22

Whoops!  I fell off the wagon HARD on this 30 day challenge!  I have 10 prompts left and am going to try my darndest to finish them in 10 days or under.  In order to do this, I'm going to finish 3 today!
WHOA, that's right, THREE in one day.  Mind blown?!

Day 20 | My Fears

I've always thought fears to be irrational.  They don't accomplish anything, hold us back from experiencing and oftentimes stifle growth.  That being said, I am human and have a physiological response to certain sounds/creepy crawly-ness.  I don't like that things-that-go-bump-in-the-night send my heart rate soaring, but they do.  Show me the scariest shit in broad daylight or scrape fingernails across my window when the sun is shining and I'll just laugh, but as soon as it's dark outside and I'm alone... all hope is gone.  I'm the biggest girl and it's downright embarrassing.

Day 21 | What I Hope My Future Will Be Like

You know what's awesome?  I don't have to hope.  My future will be exactly as intended.  The only thing I know for certain is that right now,  this moment right here is all I have.  Everything in the "future" is yet to happen, and everything in the "past" is just a memory.  But right now? Yeah, it's awesome, and that's what I'm focusing on.

Day 22 | My Academics

The school of hard knocks. 

My November Recap | Instagram Style

Trip to Palm Springs | Running with friends

Lots of coffee | Lots of chats

Palm trees | Sunshine

Egg Nog | Puppy Cuddles

New Haircut | Movember Mustaches

How was your November?

Want to follow along on Instagram?  Follow me: @motormouthmacey

30 Day Posting Challenge | Day 19 - Five Items I Lust After

Here they are, in order of what I would drop my hard earned, cold hard cash on first... if I had the cash to spend...

Canon 5D Mark III -image source

27 inch iMac desktop - image source

VW Bus - image source

Felt Bicycles Claire Style Beach Cruiser - image source

Golden Retriever puppy

What are 5 items YOU are lusting after?

Want to join the 30 Day Challenge?  See the list here!

30 Day Posting Challenge | Day 18 - A Problem I Have Had

There are many things I could write about today.  My car has been having issues, I have too many dishes needing washed, my laundry is piling up and my diet could improve.  But I don't like to think of these things as "problems" per se, but more as opportunities for growth. 

For the sake of this entry though, I'll go ahead and expand on a particular problem I've been having... if that's what you want to call it.  Really it's both a blessing and a curse.

You see, I see beauty everywhere.
I mean it.
EVERYWHERE.

I take a walk down the street and see 15 thousand things I could photograph.
Picking The Kid up from school?  160 million smiling, beautiful faces.
Drinking coffee with a friend?  I can't count that high.

This is wonderful, of course, I'm surrounded by beauty and it makes me happy.  But it also drives me CRAZY.  Why?  Because sometimes I don't have my camera with me.  And other times I'm driving, so it's not safe to take a picture, and most of the time I'm with someone who's not patient enough to let me take a picture (aka The Kid).

So while I'm mostly being silly, I'm also quite serious.  Seeing how awesome and beautiful light, shadow, people, things, etc are is wonderful, but it can also be extremely distracting.

Here's a few of the beautiful things that have been catching my eye lately...

What is a problem YOU have been having?

Want to join the 30 Day Challenge?  See the list here!

Weekend Recap in iPhonography

Designed and sold this Dumbledore quote poster

Ran a few miles with the lovely Bee and Kayla to Starbucks, then walked back with yummy drinks

Spent some time at the nickel arcade with 3 of my favorite people

Hung out with this adorableness and his momma

Holiday window shopped with Jenni and X

Hung out with a friend I haven't seen in too long

How was YOUR weekend?  Did you get 3 days off?

30 Day Posting Challenge | Day 17 - Something I'm Proud Of

 

I hemmed and hawed for a good long time about moving to Portland.  I knew that I wanted out of small town Idaho and to experience something new and exciting.  I knew that I wanted to pursue art and creativity and individualism in a city where all that is celebrated.  I knew I wanted to get lost on purpose, as often as possible, and discover new joys while finding my way back to familiar territory.  I knew all that, yet I was denying myself the opportunity.

On May 1st, 2012 I packed up my car and drove away.  I didn't have a job lined up, and my grandma's floor was going to be my home until I could arrange something more permanent, but I didn't care.  I was finally moving on with my life and embracing a life of design rather than default.

I have grown in many ways over the past 6 months, and most in ways I didn't expect, but all in ways I choose to embrace.  These past 6 months I have felt more at peace, more humbled and more centered than I have experienced in the prior 30 years of my life.  Portland isn't the reason for this growth, it just happens to be a catalyst for change.  

I'm the reason.  

I chose to let go of the control I thought I had over my life.  I chose to move to a new place and open myself to whatever opportunity and experience comes my way. 

I chose to live.  

And of this, I am quite proud. 

What is something YOU are proud of?

Want to join the 30 Day Challenge?  See the list here!

30 Day Posting Challenge | Day 16 - Something I Always Think 'What If' About

I'm not one to live in the land of 'what if.'  In my core I believe that everything happens exactly as and when it should in order to shape us into the people we are.  I mean, we've all seen those movies where someone goes back and changes the "bad thing" that happened to them which causes this giant chain reaction where someone they love dies, or they end up homeless, or...  Right?

But this quote has been going through my head a lot lately...

And I can't help but wonder what kind of shape I would be in today had I stuck with a strict, healthy lifestyle over the years.

BUT, there's no time like the present right?  I've started running more, doing small daily stretches and strengthening exercises, and journaling what and when I eat in order to focus on nutrition.  I have surrounded myself with many friends who are healthy and all of them are supportive and helpful.  I feel like this is the tipping point for me.  Yay!

______________________________________________________________

In other news, today is my niece's 4th birthday!  I'm super bummed that I can't be there for her celebration this year, but I'll be seeing her over Christmas, and I'm sure we'll FaceTime soon.  I also have a super special surprise being delivered to her tonight, so that's exciting!

Happy Birthday baby girl!  I love you so, so much!!!

What do YOU think "what if" about?

Want to join the 30 Day Challenge?  See the list here!

Yesterday in iPhonography

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hanging out with my friends Jenni and Brian's little guy.  He is such a happy little kid!  We spent time at the library (where I finally got my Portland library card!!), enjoyed some yummies at Starbucks and shopped a little at Old Navy.  It was a lovely morning.

I'm so thankful for this little family.  They are proving to be good friends and amazing spirits to have in my life.

After I dropped X back off with his mom I drove back to the west side of Portland to pick up The Kid from school.  I can't believe how beautiful Portland is this fall!  There is color EVERYWHERE.  I couldn't help but grab my phone and snap a pic of the orange in front of my apartment.  I'm so grateful to be living here.

30 Day Posting Challenge | Day 15 - What's My Zodiac Sign and Does it Fit My Personality

"The Virgo is highly discriminating, but not necessarily as prudish at some might believe. In ancient times, a Virgin was a woman who was not the property of man, and therefore had the legal right to just say "no." Now, in modern times, Virgos are known for the ability to be highly discriminating -- especially when it comes to matters of personal desire. When Virgo is ready, however, to say yes, the laser-like focus of your passion is anything but prudish."

I've never put much stock in horoscopes or zodiac signs.  I have, however, often found the descriptions of a Virgo to be laughably coincidental of my personality (please see the highlighted portion above).  Yes, I am loyal to a fault with most, introverted by the true definition and naive dammit.  But everyday and every moment is a choice. 

If my foundational personality happens to be formed by the date/time and location of where I was born, well then awesome.  But I'm still just me.  I don't like the idea of telling someone I'm a Virgo and having that person "know" everything about me.  I want people to spend time with me to get to know me.  
The real me.  
 

What is YOUR Zodiac Sign? Do you feel it fits YOU?

Want to join the 30 Day Challenge?  See the list here!

30 Day Posting Challenge | Day 14 - What I Wore Today and Weekend in Reveiw

Wow, I fell off the wagon with this 30 Day Challenge hardcore!  Life got BUSY.

Since today's prompt is "What I Wore" and I also want to write about the awesome weekend I had, I decided to roll it all into one!


Saturday began with a run around the waterfront loop with my girls Kayla, Ashely, Bee and our newest group member, Jill.  (Jill is a reader of Kayla's blog and asked to join us!  How awesome is that?!)  Sadly the run was only ok this time for me due to a painful cramp in my left calf and a strain feeling on the side of my right one.  I've been running in my Vibram Five Fingers, which I LOVE, but my feet, Achilles and calves have been angry with me the past week because of me forcing them to work so hard.  So I ran with the girls for the first mile, but then I just couldn't keep up.  No matter whether I was walking or running, I hurt.  I told the girls to go ahead because I was holding them back and Bee, Kayla and Jill trudged on.  Ashley was very sweet and insisted on staying with me.  She can go forever and never needs walking breaks, so she bounced along beside me (very slowly bless her heart) and kept me entertained and my mind off the pain.

After our "run" Kayla and I joined Bee back at her place and worked on blog stuff.  She was a very kind hostess and gave us some DELICIOUS apple crisp and yummy coffee to fuel our work.

Stolen from Kayla

Then Saturday night was the PNW Blogger Holiday Party! This was a fun event all centered around bloggers getting out and networking!  It was hosted at West Elm in the Pearl and Whole Foods was on hand with yummy appetizers and libations.

Thanks to Bee for snapping this pic of me!

I wore my purple silhouette dress that I picked up at the Dress Barn last spring.  I realized about 15 minutes before I needed to leave that my one pair of black tights is missing, so I made a quick decision and gray tights with gray shoes it was!  I actually like how it came together, so I guess the tights missing was a good thing!

Jenni and I looking cute | Party organizers Chelsey and Jenni talking to the group about the awesome event
The ever adorable Bee and I posing for a pic | Owls were everywhere and I loved it!

Chelsey announcing winners of the giveaways | The prints I prepared for all the bloggers
Bee looking quite dapper | My favorite piece in our SWAG bags!

It was a great evening and I met lots of fun and fabulous bloggers!  Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to put on the event!

Sunday morning I met up with my friend Heather for a pancake brunch.  I had delicious pumpkin pancakes and enjoyed catching up on everything that's happened over the past couple of weeks.  We try to get together at least once a week and I always feel so uplifted after seeing her.  She's such a good person to have in my life!

Here's what I wore to brunch Sunday.  New hat from Old Navy.  Scarf that I've had a few years,
my new Silver jeans (that I LOVE) and my TOMS

Then Sunday afternoon I met back up with Kayla for a photoshoot for her blog.  We got lots of fun running pics and I can't wait to share them all after she sees them!  Here's just one sneak peek though of one of my favorite shots we came away with!

Whew!  What a fun and BUSY weekend!!  In between all this fun I also cleaned my apartment, cleaned my car, did some grocery shopping, finished my laundry and cooked some meals for the week.  

How was YOUR weekend?
What fun things did YOU wear?

Want to join the 30 Day Challenge?  See the list here!