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?

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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?

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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!

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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?

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