Life in the Works

Current things going on in life.

Dad Update.  Dad is about the same.  His numbers are continuing to go up and he is able to eat and get out of bed.  He even comes out into the living room to watch a movie occasionally.  He acts pretty normal and is still constantly eating peanut butter cups or fudge bars.  2 weeks ago he rode to KC with me and did pretty well.  It wore him out, but I think it was good for him to get out of the house and have different scenery. 

Junior League.  Early spring I was asked by a good family friend if I would be interested in joining our city’s Junior League.  I know quite a few a few ladies in this group and I know that it is an honor to be asked.  However, to be honest, I was a little skeptical.  I am just out of college, not married, and don’t have kids.  And the majority of the league is much further into life than I am.  (They are married, have kids, have worked longer, etc.)  But I joined.  I knew if I said no now, I would never join and it was something I knew I wanted to be a part of.  And I am so excited I joined.  I have met and become closer with some amazing women.  It has connected me to some great causes.  It has made me more aware of my community.  I love that I help people.  I know this is going to be a great aspect in my life.

December Daily.  I am so excited to be doing this project this year.  I absolutely love Ali Edwards’ projects and this year seems to be the year that I embark on all of them.  Not purposely.  (I did her Week in the Life project in April and her 31 Things project in May and June, however, it is not completed yet…Oops!)  I have been thinking about this project since end of August.  Ali Edwards collaborates with Studio Calico to create a kit specifically for each year.  It went on presale in the middle of September and I purchased it right away (ahem, the night of).  My brain has been raking in things to incorporate into this project.   I want it to have some planned, prepared events, but also have spontaneity.  I know that there are some things in life you can’t plan or prepare for.  I’m trying to give myself time to think of some cool pre-thought ideas while leaving room for the unplanned events that are bound to happen. 

Photo Projects.  I am still doing my 12of12 and 52 week photography projects and I plan on continuing them in 2013.  I am still working through my photo-a-day project; however, I don’t think I will do this again next year.  It was fun and so awarding to see my life on a daily basis, but it is too much to keep up every single year.  I do plan on doing this project again, just not this coming year.  Maybe I’ll do it every 5 years?  Or the first year of a big event; first year of marriage, first year with child….we will see what I choose to do when the time comes. 

101 in 1001.  Still working on my 101 in 1001.  Absolutely love this project and have already started making a second list.  Over doer much?!  I think so.

Books.  I am still working on turning my blogs into a book.  I started this process in early August and it is so hard to catch up.  I should have thought of this when I first started my blog, but I didn’t know I would continue with it like I have.  I have created a nice little system to help me catch up and stay caught up for the coming months.  Hopefully it will help me stay on top of it next year!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  I really enjoy this project and this year I tried to make a commitment to not miss one week this year.  And when I did, I unload a bunch of photos all at once, but it is still accounted for.  However, I think next year I will not be so strict on myself.  If I don’t get a week done, no biggie.  I’m not going to go over and beyond just to get my 5 photos that I might not have taken if it weren’t for this project.  But, I do like this project and have ‘met’ some great people through it so I hope to continue hunting next year. 

Gratitude.  I have created a gratitude journal for 2013 through paper coterie.  I hope this will make me become more aware of everyday events.  I think it will help me with a lot of life events that have happened in the past; not to feel sad, but grateful for my time with them.  I want to catch and remember the little moments.  This is like a photo-a-day project, but in words.

Project Life.  I plan on doing Project Life next year.  I am SO EXCITED for this project and I can’t wait for the next year to start just so I can start this project.  Again, Ali Edwards does this project; however, she didn’t create the idea.  But she is how I learned of Project Life and has been the one who has inspired me to do my own.  (Along with a few other people who I’ve discovered their blog through their project life.)  I plan on sharing my book each week.  I hope you will like following along!

Trips.  My high school girl friends are planning a trip (to visit another high school friend, the only one that lives over 1 hour away.)  I am excited!  I need this!

101 in 1001 Update

Start Date:  May 27, 2012
End Date:  February 22, 2015

Days Left:  905
Percent Complete:  11%
Completed: 11
In Progress:  8
Left:90

1.  See the Pacific Ocean
2.  Photograph a Wedding (August 25, 2012)
3.  Go to the Kansas City Aquarium
4.  Research my family tree
5.  Build a blanket fort and sleep in it
6.  Adopt an animal
7.  Have a yard sale
8.  Donate blood
9.  Take one photo a day for a year (In Progress)
10.  Get a massage
11.  Go on a family vacation
12.  Go to the Omaha zoo
13.  Start an herb garden
14.  But a new phone
15.  Read a chapter in the bible every night for a week
16.  Do a Week in the Life project 2013, 2014
17.  Start my Project Life scrapbook 2013
18.  Go to a concert
19.  Take a hot air balloon ride
20.  Pay for the person behind me at a drive-thru
21.  Put flowers on the graves of my deceased family members (May 28, 2012)
22.  Take a yoga class
23.  Volunteer at a soup kitchen
24.  Send Christmas cards
25.  Visit the Northwest
26.  Get married
27.  Watch all the Best Picture Oscar movies (In Progress)
28.  Watch all the Best Actor Oscar movies (In Progress)
29.  Watch all the Best Actress Oscar movies
30.  Watch all the Best Supporting Actor/Actress movies
31.  Grow tulips
32.  Pick strawberries
33.  Visit a state I've never been to before
34.  Paint one wall an outrageous color
35.  Stay up and watch the sunrise on New Year's
36.  Visit my childhood home
37.  Visit a butterfly sanctuary
38.  Try 40 new recipes
39.  Spend whole weekend without using computer
40.  Get a job  (May 7, 2012)
41.  Develop a 'bill station' (May 27, 2012)
42.  Try 5 new local restaurants
43.  Take an online class (In Progress)
44.  Meal Plan
45.  Don't eat fast food for a month
46.  Don't eat sweets for 2 weeks
47.  Find a personally inspirational quote and work it into a piece of art or home decor. (In Progress)
48.  Do 10 projects from my pinterest board (In Progress)
49.  Grow carrots (June 16, 2012)
50.  Ride a roller coaster
51.  Have a pancake dinner reunion
52.  Go to a tulip festival
53.  Go horseback riding
54.  Embrace my natural curly hair for a week
55.  Clean out the garage
56.  Visit a lighthouse
57.  Go back to Washington DC with the family
58.  Travel to Hawaii
59.  Go whale watching
60.  Go on a picnic
61.  Read 50 books (In Progress)
62.  Go to Shatto Dairy farm with the family
63.  Paint a piece of furniture
64.  Make my own ice cream
65.  Play bingo (July 6, 2012)
66.  Visit Mall of America again
67.  Be in a parade
68.  Have a Godfather marathon
69.  Make a quilt
70.  Go to World War 1 museum in  Kansas City
71.  Buy a new lens for my camera (August 21, 2012)
72.  Go to a drive in movie theater
73.  See a Cirque du Soleil show
74.  Learn to make cheesecake
75.  Vote in the next election
76.  Go wine tasting
77.  Make pizza from scratch
78.  Plant a tree for Earth Day (June 24, 2012)
79.  Complete a 5000 piece puzzle
80.  Donate hair to Locks of Love
81.  Visit a waterfall
82.  Paint the front porch
83.  Take a pottery class
84.  Take a cake decorating class
85.  Go to a show in Branson
86.  Search for a rainbow on a rainy day (August 8, 2012)
87.  Go to a high school football game
88.  Learn to mow the lawn with the tractor
89.  Visit 5 museums
90.  Eat 3 things I've never tried before
91.  Try a new hair style
92.  Go to a fireworks show on the Fourth of July
93.  Make a playlist of 26 songs (each starting with a different letter of the alphabet) and listen to them in alphabetical order on a road trip (June 30, 2012)
94.  Watch 5 Disney movies to discover what it is I missed during my childhood (August 12, 2012)
95.  Send a letter to someone living outside of the United States
96.  Have a John Hughes movie marathon
97.  Go to a midnight showing of a movie
98.  Keep a gratitude journal for a year 2013
99.  Go on a hike
100.  Have a game night with family
101.  Make a collection of 25 black and white photos (In Progress)



If you want to follow my journey, you can follow here: 
http://embracingmylife101in1001.blogspot.com/

12of12 | 2011

I can't believe that tomorrow I will doing my 15th month of 12of12s.  I cannot tell you how much I love this project.  I think it is one of those things that you have to do it yourself to find out how cool it can be.  I never did a year post of 2011's 12of12s and wanted to share my year.  According to 2011, my 12's experienced a snow storm, a new faucet, or ordinary spring day, 2 sick days, growing flower in pots, my first surgical procedure, my last semester of college, buying my cap and gown for graduation, a trip to Chicago!, and finishing my last college assignments.  (I accomplished a lot in just 12 days!)

January | Wednesday

February | Saturday

March | Saturday

April | Tuesday

May | Thursday

June | Sunday

July | Tuesday

August | Friday

September | Monday

October | Wednesday

November | Saturday

December | Monday

12of12 | February 2012

01.  Getting ready.
02.  Church.
03.  Me.
04.  We bought this plant last year and it wasn't suppose to bloom again, but it did.
05.  Accidental photo, but I really like it.
06.  Tulips.
07.  Mom and I went to see the movie The Vow.  So good!
08.  Sleepy girl.
09.  My day turned a little sour in the late afternoon.  And then I had this reminder :)  Thanks Kim!
10.  Had a little Bruce time....'Secret Garden'.
11.  She knows how to bring a smile to my face.
12.  "and they lived happily ever after"

Happy 12th everyone!

January Daily Photo

January Daily Photo

Day 1:  Cinnamon Rolls for New Years...Yum!

Day 2:  Petsitting.  Waiting for his dog buddy to come back inside.

Day 3:  I was watching a movie and Abby decided she wanted to cuddle.  No worries--I don't need the use of my arms.

Day 4:  Revenge and Pinterest.

Day 5:  Flags at the funeral home.

Day 6:  Sunrise, new lens (graduation gift to myself), sorting through photos of my grandpa Bailey

Day 7:  Mom.  Doestn' look like January at all.

Day 8:  Having a hard time getting to sleep and then staying asleep...

Day 9:  Going to grandpa's visitation.

Day 10:  Celebrating grandpa's life, flowers from his funeral, graduation gift from She-she.

Day 11:  Hot chocolate

Day 12:  She is needy today.

Day 13:  Babysitting, playing and cuddling.

Day 14:  Chicken Pot Pie. 

Day 15:  Mother/Daughter day with some friends.  We made v-day cards.

Day 16:  Clouds

Day 17:  New socks
Day 18:  Visiting my aunt and her kittens
Day 19:  Finished reading The You I Never Knew by Susan Wiggs
Day 20:  Hearts.
Day 21:  The one who did it and what she did...
Day 22:  Scarf
{Day 23}:  Finished this book in 3 days.  (Finished on the 22nd.)
Day 24:  Believe
Day 25:  KC with dad, sunset, and The Stinker.
Day 26:  Streeeetch
Day 27:  Lazy Day
Day 28:  The sweet gift I got from a friend!
Day 29:  My guard dog.  She is something fierce!
Day 30:  65 degrees in January.
Day 31:  Errands with dad, natural hair day, dad survives Wal-Mart, and another warm January day.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday | October 8, 2011

Landscape

A photo I took while photographing a wedding.

Color Wheel

Black and White

I know this doesn't follow the typical black and white photo, but I had to leave it in color because I loved the little spec of green grass in his mouth.  It was there the entire photo shoot and I thought it brought a lot to his personality...I'm assuming.  (I'm counting this as black and white because the cow is black and the background is pretty much white.  I figured that counted!)




 

Food

Recipe found here.

Blank Space

Week 40 | October 7, 2011

In the blank space and vast openness of a pumpkin field.





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Scavenger Hunt Sunday: July 31, 2011

Walking Empty Streets

Week 31 | July 31, 2011

Repeating Patterns

Mom's apron she just finished for her first customer!

Floor

Abby on the floor.  She loves people--espcially if there is a possibility of food being dropped.

Then/Now

THEN--Pieces of my new quilt--in the process

NOW--squares

Finger Tips

Week 30 | July 29, 2011

Linked up here.

Friday Five | July 9, 2011

1. We have been watching the Casey Anthony trial every day all day. It has become a part of our daily conversation. I don't want to go into many details but I will say that we are Shocked. Stunned. Amazed. Bewildered. at the outcome.

2. I got badly burned on the 4th of July and I'm starting to peel. Badly. I mean skin is just falling off. It is gross.

3. My creative side is starting to make it's appearance again. I made my own bulletin board. (I'll show you at a later time.) I've also been picking out material for a new quilt and I'm so excited about starting it. I'm ready to get started now--I just need to get all the material first.

4. I've been thinking of little day trips to take that are close to home. We have been needing to get out of house and have some new scenery. We went on our first one today to go to a farmers market in Wathena, Kansas and it turns out it was shut down. Major fail. But I think we will go to the one in our hometown. We are needing some watermelon and don't want to pay 5 bucks for an itty bitty baby one.

5. The flodding along the Missouri river is getting even worse. It is fascinating to go downtown and see roads closed off because the river is now going on roads (that are not right next to the river).

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you also have a great weekend!

100

In honor of my 100th post I made a list of 100 Things About Me.  I have to admit, compiling this list was much harder than I thought it would be.  In fact it took a few months.  But it was fun and I would randomly thing of little quirks I have and would have to make a mental note to not forget them.  All in all it was a fun little project.  

Can you think of 100 things to describe you?

1.  I am an only child.

2.  My family means the world to me.

3.  Sharks terrify me.

4.  I don't like having my nails filed.  It sends chills down my back.

5.  I like routines.

6.  My dog Abby brightens my day.

7.  I'm slightly ambidextrous.

8.  I have to eat breakfast every morning.  I don't function well without it.

9.  My favorite food is chicken alfredo with broccoli.

10.  I like vegetables better than fruits.

11.  I've lived in three different states.

12.  Having my toes painted makes me happy.

13.  I clean at night when I don't want to go to bed.

14.  I enjoy driving.

15.  Becoming a wife and mother is something I desire the most.

16.  I have a love/hate relationship with technology.

17.  I love scrapbooking.

18.  I like surprise parties.

19.  I get car sick when I ride in the back seat of a car for over an hour.

20.  I am not claustrophobic, but I can get claustrophobic when I'm driving in the middle lane.

21.  I  danced ballet for 6 years, 3 years on pointe.

22.  Dressing up always makes me feel special.

23.  My favorite flower is a tulip.

24.  I am a list maker.

25.  My favorite ice cream is 'the green kind' i.e. Mint Chocolate Chip from Baskin Robbins.

26.  I love everything about photography and enjoy getting 'surprise shots'.

27.  I went to 2 different high schools.

28.  I've never colored my hair.

29.  I like falling asleep to the sound of rain.

30.  My favorite song is Secret Garden by Bruce Springsteen.

31.  I have tendonitis in the bottom of my foot and cannot run anymore.  I developed this while training for cross country.  How ironic!

32.  I haven't grown in height since I was in 6th grade.

33. I am a people watcher.

34.  I love to bake.

35.  I believe prayers can be answered.

36.  My favorite season is fall.

37.  I don't cry easily.  When I do cry it means I am extremely upset about something.

38.  I do not like roller coasters.

39.  I am a mac person.  I own a mac laptop, iPad, and iPhone.

40.  My favorite colors are teal and pink.

41.  I am ticklish.

42.  I don't like how I look with my hair up...at least I don't look good in pictures this way.

43.  I love getting letters in the mail.

44.  I would love to see Celine Dion in concert.

45.  I love finding new music.

46.  I hate drying my hair.

47.  People think I am quiet, but once they get to know me they know I can talk a lot.

48.  I like cutting coupons in the Sunday paper.
49.  I love having my back rubbed.

50.  The foods I usually crave the most are chocolate milk and kraft macaroni and cheese.  

51.  I split my tongue and chin open during a bowling accident when I was 4.

52.  I am a Canon girl.

53.  I love the look of freshly fallen snow.

54.  I love pj pants.  I own way too many.

55.  I'd rather save my money and buy something with quality than buy something similar but cheaply made.

56.  I love it when Abby howls.  It brings a smile to my face every.single.time.

57.  I'm terrified of losing the people who mean the most in my life.

58.  I like car rides.

59.  I hate waking up early.

60.  I don't like it when people try to manipulate me.  It is a huge pet peeve.  (I would think this is on everyone's list though.)

61.  I'd love to have a summer home in Colorado.

62.  I do not like scary movies.

63.  I hope people feel inspired when they see my photos.

64.  I would rather stay at home than go out every night.

65.  I wish my extended family were much closer than it is.

66.  I often eat cereal multiple times a day.

67.  I have a new love of decorating.

68.  I don't drink soda.

69.  I'm an 'indoor girl'.

70.  I spent a summer watching the movie Titanic almost every day.  I even watched all the extras and learned a lot about how they made the movie and random facts about Titanic.

71.  I spend way too much time on the computer.  A habit I'd really like to break.

72.  I have seen Matt Nathanson in concert 3 times in one year.

73.  I play with my hair...another habit I need to break.

74.  I am too good a procrastinating.

75.  I've never had braces.

76. I don't like to eat fish.
77. I love kids. I babysit all the time.
78. I love tv shows, but not reality shows-unless if it's a competition like the bachelor/bachelorette.
79. My favorite type of books are ones that are a part of a series.
80. I like to keep things organized but often go through messy, cluttered times.
81. I always have multiple water bottles scattered around the house or in my car.
82. My eye brows grow in every few days. Thank you grandpa.
82. I care what other people think.
83. I enjoy making mixed CDs.
84. I enjoy going to the grocery store on the weekends with mom.
85. I don't like making decisions-especially when other people are involved.
86. I have to have all my doors shut when I sleep.
87.  I've never broken any bones.
88.  After I eat I either get really quiet or really hyper.
89.  I like being a girl.
90.  Twinkle lights are my favorite type of lighting.
91.  I don't like feeling lonely.
92.  I don't like to get wet (unless if I'm showering or going to the pool).
93.  I have a new found love for leopard print.
94.  I almost never wear sweats unless I'm at home.
95.  I'm often blown away by sunrises and sunsets.  They are always so beautiful and so different.
96.  I like Christmas, but it often makes me sad.
97.  I like quotes.
98.  I never leave the house without some kind of makeup on.  (Unless if I'm just going for a car ride and I can wear shades.)
99.  I like to see movies at the movie theater, but almost never do.

100.  Chick Flicks are the best movies.

Shape Collage

I found this awesome download that creates images out of your own pictures.  It creates shapes and words.  I haven't been able to explore with it yet, but this is what I've created so far.  Thought I'd share it with you.  Click here to get the download!