Monthly Archives: May 2008

So, Why Do You Do It?


Shoot selfies? Because they are fun and they relax me. Self-portraits are the one thing I do for myself with no major expectations. It is when I am the most free, less judgemental and I play. You have to have that one thing that brings you joy and gives you a sense of satisfaction when it comes out as you expected or better than you expected.

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I have many happy accidents with self-portraits and as a result, I have been able to turn the accidents into part of my style. I used to use all the latest actions and photo enhancers out there, but I don’t use those much these days. I like natural, timeless looking portraits where you see the person and not the "stuff" to make the picture look a certain way.

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Self-portraits have helped me learn what my "side" is. I have noticed we all tend to favor one side of the face and body when we take pictures. Wonder why that is. Even still, I find it interesting. I have also discovered smiling really does make a portrait better unless you are trying to create a mood. I get it now when Tyra Banks is always telling the girls to "smile with your eyes" on America’s Next Top Model. It makes a difference.

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So, that is why I currently shoot selfies. For the love of exploring, experimenting and discovering more about myself.

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Make It, Don’t Buy It


My intentions with taking these portraits was to show off the necklace I made. Instead, I ended up with really nice portraits and bokeh because I forgot to change the aperture on my camera.

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In an effort to watch my spending and keep more of my money in my pocket, I am making more of the little things I like. I love, love, love necklaces, but I refuse to pay what some people are asking for them when I can make them myself. I jacked up many beads, but ended up with some nice necklaces in the end.

Today, I went to my favorite store to pick up a few things to add to my wardrobe only to find out they have made it harder for you to use one of the thousands of discount offers they send in the mail. I decided then it was time for me to pull my sewing machine out and start making my own clothes. This is a good thing for me, because I can tailor my clothes to fit my behind. As a woman blessed with curves, I get so tired of not being able to find jeans that fit without the big gap in the back. What is up with that?! Everyone does not have flat butts! Nor do I want to wear my clothes to the point my butt is hanging out or the clothes are so tight, you look like a squeezed sausage in lycra. Good Heavens.

So, this weekend, I am hitting the sewing store to see what’s out there, check out the fabric and get started. This will prove to be an interesting adventure.

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Oh, my freakin’ goodness!

Wake up! If you knew for certain you had a terminal illness–if you had little time left to live–you would waste precious little of it! Well, I’m telling you…you do have a terminal illness: It’s called birth. You don’t have more than a few years left. No one does! So be happy now, without reason–or you will never be at all." – Dan Millman

I am a woman of words and after reading these, they resonated with me big time. I had a friend tell me a few years ago that her husband would look at their daughter and say how happy he was and how sad he was at the same time. Looking at his young child reminded him how beautiful youth is and also reminded him of his own mortality. I used to tell her he was extremely morbid, but he had a point as does the above quote.

There are no guarantees in life except that it will pass you by if you do not seize your moments. All we have are 0ur present moments and for the ego, memories of past moments. Living in the present and fearlessly is my goal for the rest of the year. 2008 has not been anything like I expected. NOTHING like I expected and this is the first time I surrendered to not knowing what was going to happen in ever situation of my life so that I can experience everything I am suppose to. It is an adventure, exciting and ok not knowing. It is not the how that I am concerned with anymore. It is simply being in the now that interest me.

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Online Connections

Each week, I receive this interesting newsletter about various trends going on around the world. One of my favorite finds has been Picnik . Basically, it is free photo editing software online. My favorite thing to use is the rounded corner feature, plus I can easily pull my Flickr images into Picnik and upload the edited files.

Another great website to check out is Girlfriendology . Debba is the creator of this fun and inspirational site for girlfriends. She host all kinds of podcasts and contests surrounded around celebrating women and their friendships.

As if I need another reason to be online with a bunch of scrapbookers, I just found Scrapblog . You can combine your photos, videos and text to create multimedia scrapbook pages. It is very cool.

The new internet crack among quite a few friends of mine…Twitter . Twitter is a form of micro-blogging. You get 140 characters to post whatever is on your mind. It is rather addicting and even the politicians are hip to Twitter. Are you?

Just when I had given up being online so much, I am connecting with so many new and old friends through Facebook and Linked In and of course MySpace. My alma mater even has site and I know people who are on it all the time!

It is suppose to be a beautiful day today, so I plan on spending the day enjoying the weather. Maybe get in some pruning of my garden and add a few shade plants, get my BBQ on early so I can relax tomorrow and indulge in my latest obsession, jewelry making and get in some reading. Fun times!

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Dandelion Seeds

When ever I think about opportunities in my life, I think about dandelion seeds. Each one of those seeds represents an opportunity ready to be released and you have a chance to grab hold of the opportunity before it goes to someone else. I have missed an opportunity or two to do something or say something to someone. And, at the time, I did not know why I did not grab that opportunity and hold on to it with all there was in me. Looking back, I now see I was scared of what the person would say or that the situation would not come out quite like I thought it would.

I read somewhere recently that Fear is F alse E xperiences A ppearing R eal. When I think of it like that, I wish I would have taken a leap and said what was on my mind, grabbed that opportunity and not let it go. Too bad I could not be like I am now when I was in my twenties. My life would be very different. I am sure of that. Don’t get me wrong, my life does not suck. I don’t really have any major regrets, just a few missed opportunities.

Since I realize they are so fleeting, I jump on them now. Especially ones that present themselves at the most unexpected times. As a result, I am bolder than I used to be. I say what is on my mind, I make sure people know how I feel and I see an opportunity for what it is. A precious moment allowed to you usually once and sometimes a second time. What you do with it is up to you, but you have no one to blame when it goes out of your life again because you did not seize it.

You must be fearless, have faith and leap. In the end, all will be as it should.

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