22 Accomplishments: April Update

Another month down and eight more to go... This is what I have accomplished according to my 22 accomplishment list: 

-I'm sure some time long long ago I tried apple pie, and I wasn't a big fan.  The only kind of pie I will eat is pumpkin.  Someone at mom's work brought in apple dumplings.  She said they were sooo good and I just had to try it, so I did.  Ehh...  It was alright, but I couldn't eat more than two {small} bites.

-Read the small novel Borrowed Bride by Susan Wiggs.

-I absolutely loved my 12 of 12 for this month found here.  It was full of everything spring.  I always find myself wanting to do it all again the next day...too bad I have to wait an entire month :(

-I watched the very first Oscar winning movie ever-Wings.  It wasn't too bad after you got over the shock that there are absolutely NO words what so ever.  Note:  It takes about 45 minutes to get over this.  That and the shock that the movie is  2 hours and 22 minutes...of no words.
-I watched It Happened One Night.  Very very cute movie.  Definitely recommend if you have never seen it.  It is a classic black and white chick flick.  I may have to own this movie some day.
-Watched Mutiny on the Bounty.  Not a big fan.  Couldn't keep my attention.
-Took our monthly family photo on Easter Sunday!
-I trued a mango!  It was actually really good!  
-I have completed 17 of the 52 weeks for my portrait project.  I have some photos in mind that I think are going to turn out really cool!  Stay tuned!

This is what my list looks like now:

1.  Make dinner for a family who is going through a tough time. (January 22, 2011)
2.  Get back to my ideal weight.
3.  Finish college.
4.  Get a 'big girl' job.
5.  Go a day without getting on the computer (or getting on the internet via iPhone.)
6.  Send birthday cards to all my good friends. (January, February, March)
7.  Make a Christmas advent tree like this one.
8.  Fix and paint my desk chair in my room.
9.  Try 5 new foods. (Soy beans, raspberries, Apple dumpling, mango)
10.  Create (and do) a cleaning schedule to keep my room better organized.
11.  Take a family photo each month for a year. (January, February, March, April)
12.  Do a 52 week portrait challenge. (Have completed 17 weeks so far)
13.  Feel more comfortable cooking, especially meats. 
14.  Plant tulips in mom's garden. 
15.  Do a painting.
16.  Clean out my closet.
17.  Finish the quilt I started 4 or 5 years ago.
18.  Learn to make French Toast.
19.  Reach $2100 PCV  in my Silpada sales for 3 2 months. (February)
20.  Go on a family trip.
21.  Read 20 books.
  Here is the list I've read so far:
1.  Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin (I love this author!  She is one of my favorites.  I've read every single book by her.)
2. Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah (Good, but wasn't expecting the last twist.  Hit a little close to home.)
3.  Marrying Daisy Bellamy by Susan Wiggs. So good!  One of my favorite out of the Lakeshore Chronicle series.  It has been really hard to not spoil the book before mom read it.  So far, so good!
4.  Borrowed Bride by Susan Wiggs

22.  Watch every movie that made 'Best Picture' in the Oscars.
 Here is the list: I've marked off the ones I've already seen.  There are a few that I've already seen, but I need a refresher before I check them off the list.  (Too bad, I could cross off another 6 movies...)

*Note: The ones that are marked out but don't have a date by them are movies I've already seen in the years past.

1928 Wing (April)
1929  The Broadway Melody
1930  All the Quiet on the Western Front
1931  Cimarron
1932  Grand Hotel
1933  Cavalcade

1934  It Happened One Night (April)
1935  Mutiny on the Bounty (April)
1936  The Great Ziegfeld
1937  The Life of Emile Zola
1938  You Can't Take It With You
1939  Gone With the Wind
1940  Rebecca
1941  How Green Was My Valley
1942  Mrs. Miniver
1943  Casablanca
1944  Going My Way
1945  The Lost Weekend
1946  The Best Years of Our Lives
1947  Gentleman's Agreement
1948  Hamlet
1949  All The King's Men
1950  All About Eve (March)
1951  An American in Paris
1952  The Greatest Show on Earth
1953  From Here to Eternity
1954  On the Waterfront
1955  Marty
1956  Around the World in 80 Days
1957  The Bridge on the River Kwai
1958  Gigi (March)
1959  Ben-Hur
1960  The Apartment
1961  West Side Story
1962  Lawrence of Arabia
1963  Tom Jones
1964  My Fair Lady
1965  The Sound of Music
1966  A Man for All Seasons
1967  In the Heat of the Night
1968  Oliver
1969  Midnight Cowboy
1970  Patton
1971  The French Connection (March)
1972  The Godfather
1973  The Sting
1974  The Godfather Part II
1975  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1976  Rocky
1977  Annie Hall
1978  The Deer Hunter
1979  Kramer vs. Kramer
1980  Ordinary People
1981  Chariots of Fire
1982  Gandhi
1983  Terms of Endearment
1984  Amadeus
1985  Out of Aftrica
1986  Platoon
1987  The Last Emperor
1988  Rain Man
1989  Driving Miss Daisy
1990  Dances With Wolves
1991  The Silence of the Lambs (February)
1992  Unforgiven
1993  Schindler's List
1994  Forrest Gump
1995  Braveheart
1996  The English Patient
1997  Titanic
1998  Shakespeare in Love (March)
1999  American Beauty
2000  Gladiator
2001  A Beautiful Mind
2002  Chicago

2003  The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

2004  Million Dollar Baby

2005  Crash

2006  The Departed

2007  No Country for Old Men

2008  Slumdog Millionaire

2009  The Hurt Locker

2010  The King's Speech

31 Cents

(Please excuse horrible phone picture)

It was 9:45PM.  Dad was watching tv in the bedroom.  Mom was in the shower.  I was checking facebook.  (Excitement of a college student.)  I saw someone had posted something about Baskin-Robbins having 31 cent scoops today.

O.M.G.  

For those of you who don't know--Baskin-Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is my all time favorite!  So in my excitement I ran into the bathroom telling mom we just had to go!  Two seconds later I realized that it was almost 10 at night and Baskin-Robbins might not be open.  So I searched for their webiste, found their phone number, called and asked...
...How late are you open?
            Till 10.
...Are you participating in the 31 cent scoop night?
            Yes...  But only until 10.
...Ok...Is it one scoop per person?
             3 scoops per person present.
*Click
We had 15 minutes!  So the 3 of us got into the car and headed to the ice cream store.  Dad didn't have shoes on and mom's hair was wrapped up in a towel.  (Thank goodness our Baskin-Robbins has a drive thru!)  We made it just in time with 6 minutes to spare!
 
$3 for 9 scoops of Baskin-Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip (a.k.a. the green kind) ice cream.  Yum!  What a perfect way to finishing 2 of my 4 classes this semester!  Perfect way to start my summer!

Tuesday Tunes: The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars

I saw this on VH1's Top 20 Countdown and thought it was hilarious!  Now every time I hear this song I get the head bop!

On another note-- I am SO ready for summer.  I recently got a job babysitting a few times a week for a family with 3 kids and I agreed I could start tomorrow.  Yep!  No problem!  I only have TWO FINALS that day-sure!

This is not a good sign if I'm already losing my mind before finals.  Lets just hope I make it through all four of them by next Thursday!

Afternoon Nap

Happy Easter!

Week 16

One field

One chair

One girl

Tuesday Tunes: All the Way by Carolyne Neuman

The first time I heard this song was during an episode of One Tree Hill.  It was back ground music and yet it still stood out to me.  Ever since it's September debut (at least in my music world) I have been on the hunt to purchase it.  Unfortunately I have been unsuccessful.  Apparently she changed her musical name to Novi-which I didn't know until today- and came out with a CD and doesn't have this song wasn't on it.  It has been quite frustrating!!!!  But I am still posting it.  At least you can play it over and over on YouTube, right?!

Enjoy!

Racing Mind

I have a bad habit of spending hours upon hours online.  I get bored and get on facebook, look on flickr, read blogs, and find different photo projects to enter into (through blogs where there isn't an award-just the hope of getting some awesome comments or a new follower!).  The next thing I know 3 hours (who am I kidding-it's more like 5 or 6) have past.  Who would have thought spending so many hours on the computer would actually come to benefit.

Yesterday I was asked to take photos for a local dog walk sponsored through Big Brothers/Big Sisters.  Umm, heck yeah I will!  (I will be considered a volunteer, but at least I'm getting my name out there!)  However, this event has left me with a lot of questions because I have never taken photos for an event before, only for my pure enjoyment.  In return this has left my mind racing.

How many people are expected to be there?  What happens if it rains?  Would people spend $5 to have a photo taken with their pet?  What if they want me to print it?  Where do I do that?  Should I make business cards?  Where do I print those?  How much would it cost?  What if they don't like my work?  What if they do and they want to hire me to do other photos?  What should I charge?  Should I make a facebook page?  Website?  How do I do that?  What if I'm missing something important?

You see...I am left with a LOT of questions.  And some of those questions won't be answered until the event actually takes place and is done and over with.  I have been brainstorming different ideas and trying to decide what is the best way to go about them.  (And mind you, this is in the mist of preparing for finals where I am trying to shove school information into my brain as well.  Of course, this photography project is overpowering everything else because it is something that I am actually excited about.)

I guess all I am saying is if you have any ideas, recommendations, or answers please share!  I'll keep you updated on how things go!  On Friday I'm meeting with the lady who is in charge of the dog walk so hopefully I won't feel so overwhelmed! And my mind can slow down to a 'brisk walk' :)

You are...

...beautifully unique

Beautiful Disaster

The last few days I have tried my hand at shaped bokeh.  I've read many tutorials and tried many variations and my photos are still not coming out the same.  It has lead to a lot of frustration.  I wish it would just work the way I want it to.  But things don't happen with a snap of your fingers.  Guess that is life though...

However in my attempt I have gotten a few photos that have somewhat turned out.  In the mist of my frustration here are a the ones that I do like.

*****

Last night I was up late talking to dad.  We were trying to figure out the correct way to pronounce 'bohek'.  So we googled it and this is what we found online--it lead to many, many laughs!

'bouquet' or 'bow-kay' 

'book-uh'

'iceberg-as in silent i,c,e,b,e,r and g'

I think I will call bokeh iceberg for now on!

Note: Most people say it like the first 2-bouquet or bow-kay, and someone who speaks fluent Japanese said it this way so I guess that is the correct pronunciation.

Week 15

Friday Five

1. I woke up and it was grey and dreary. I wish I could have slept in another hour or two.

2. Yesterday I tried my first attempt at shaped bokeh. It didn't work out the way I was hoping. I'm a little frustrated. Guess I'll have to keep trying.

3. I love the way Abby gets so excited when I first wake up. It is pure joy! I love her so much.

4. Dad had a doctors appointment yesterday. His cancer is continuing to go down! Hoo-Woo!! When he hit is 100 days after the transplannt back in February, he wasnt in complete remission. The bad protien was at .3 and yesterday it was at .1!!!! I sure hope it continues to go this way. Let's bring on the complete remission! (The doctor also said dad's transplant was the worst he has ever seen. It is a blessing he is doing as well as he is.)

5. Happy Friday! (Even though I thought today was Saturday--wishful thinking?)

Tonight

iPhone pic

Abby was walking around with her 'stick' trying to find a place to hide it.  

She jumped up on the sofa and placed it in a wadded up blanket.  

Mission accomplished.  

Then she settles down and curls up in my lap.  

We have a brief cuddle session.  

In the meantime, Mom was sitting on the other end of the sofa where the stick was hiding.  She didn't want the wet sticky stick to be laying on the leather sofa so she put it on the floor while Abby wasn't looking.  

Two minutes later-Abby gets up in search of her stick.  

Mom got busted!

Oops!

12 of 12 April

01.   Cheerios for breakfast.

02.   Tree in bloom.

03.   Playing with light.

04.   Abby had the entire front yard and instead she had to sit ON me.  I know-I need to work on my tan.  Lol.

05.   Me and Abby.

06.   Robin.

07.   Abby’s water bowl that was left outside from the weekend.

08.   I love bulldogs and I finally got to meet our neighbor dog, Dot.  I also found out that Dot’s aunt was my government teacher during my senior year of high school and got to catch up with her.

09.   Shadow of me and mom while we were walking into Target.

10.   Planting seeds.

11.   The pots.  Can’t wait to see the flowers!

12.   Played 2 rounds of Rummikub with mom.  We each won once.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable and fun 12th!

Random Memory #6902

Every morning that I drive to KC for school my mind gets flooded with memories.  Some memories are happy and some are sad but they all are usually focused around my dad.  I'm not sure why.  It must be the 1 hour drive where there is nothing to do but think.  Think about the uncertain future.

The memory that came flooding into my mind today is about 8 or 9 years old.  It was during one of my many dress rehearsal's for a ballet recital.  Mom had been helping me and a friend get ready.  Do makeup, hair, get dressed, etc.  Dad wasn't there.  I don't remember where they had told me he was, but mom had told Jenny, my friend, what he was up to.  I tried to coax it out of them, but failed.

About an hour later it was my dance classes turn to rehearse our piece.  When I got out on the stage and looked out into the audience I saw my dad standing on top to the auditorium arm chair rests with a new video camera.  He had just gone out to buy it and was taping my ballet dance piece.  Mom knew not to tell me so I wouldn't freak out and tell him no or end up messing up my steps from nerves.

I have no idea why it was this thought that had entered my mind.  It is not a common one or a particularly memorable one, but it is a memory I'm glad I have.

I think this was after a Nutcracker performance.  The pale pink roses, on the left, are from my dad.  He always gave me pale pink roses after every single ballet recital.

My dad standing on top of chairs to video tape his little girl dance.  

Weekend Sunshine

This weekend has been full of spring!  I am so glad my allergies didn't decide to make their grand entrance of the season and that I was able to go outside and enjoy the fresh air--even if it is for only a few days.

On Saturday, mom and I made our weekly trip to Wal-Mart.  I truly love these trips--we have so much fun and usually end up finding things we don't really need.  Then in the afternoon the whole family went to get a new battery for our lawn mower.  Dad was able to mow a little bit and then mom took over.  In the meantime, I was changing out my closet.  Surprisingly I did this in ONE day and I organized my clothes by color.  I finished up the evening by watching the very first movie to win an Oscar, Wings, with mom and we played three rounds of Rummikub--I won all three times!  Go me!

Today, Sunday, mom and I took Abby on a little car ride while we picked up the newspaper.  She enjoyed barking at all the people and their pets.  She even made some of them laugh.  She can sound pretty fierce for her size.  When we got home, we worked out in the garden.  I realized I really, really, really do not like to share the dirt with all the creepy crawlers while I'm digging in it.  So instead of digging, I raked out all the leaves that had built up over the winter.  Then we took a little break, had lunch, I worked on a presentation for school, and then went back outside to finish up in the garden.  Actually, mom was working in the garden...I watched while giving Abby ice cubes :)

That has been my weekend in a nutshell.  I hope everyone else had a good weekend and was able to get out in the sunshine!

Changes and Decisions

A lot has happened the past 2 days.  A lot of decisions.  I don't know if I am excited or what,  but it has resulted in losing sleep.  I hope this doesn't last too long.

Two days ago I got to see Matt Wertz in concert for the first time!  He was awesome live.  Ben Rector opened and another one of my favorite singers, Dave Barnes guest appeared and sang my favorite Matt Wertz song with Matt.  I was in heaven!!!!

(I apologize for the horrible photos.  I could kick myself for not bringing my good camera.  I have learned my lesson.)

Ben Rector-opening act

Matt Wertz

Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes

Matt Wertz and Ben Rector

Matt Wertz with the band

Me and my friend Mallory

Picture taken from Matt Wertz-I'm on the left :)

Some other things that are going on around here--

-I registered for Silpada Conference.  I can't wait!  And I ordered the new event bracelet, it is SO pretty. 

-Found out that I can graduate in December rather than splitting up my last 6 classes in 2 semesters! Woo-Hoo!!

-Bought a new shirt and I cannot wait for it to come in the mail!

-Cuddled with Abby last night.  I can tell she missed me the day before because I didn't come home after the concert-I spent the night with Mal.

-Need to pick out a dress for formal at the end of the month.

-Planning some little trips for the summer (and some big).

-School is ending in 4 weeks and there is still a lot to get done....

-Thinking about upgrading my phone when the new iPhone 5G comes out.  I've never upgraded, I always wait till my phone dies.  If I don't do this-then I'll probably keep my old iPhone and get a new camera...maybe.

-Debating if I want to start doing photography as a side job.  If I do, I don't want it to take away the joy I get from having it as my hobby.

-Taking my winter clothes out of my closet and putting in the summer clothes!

I hope this becomes a great spring/summer.  I can feel it in the air!  

Tuesday Tunes: Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol and Grey's Anatomy Cast

Every time I hear this song it gives me the chills.  I don't know if it is the piano, the melody, or the rhythm, but I do know it has to do with the words.  There is something about them that seem to hit home for me and connect to a place deep in my soul.

I particularly like the original version by Snow Patrol, but last week Grey's Anatomy performed the song and it still gave me the chills.  I was really surprised on how much this version of the song seemed to connect to me emotionally--the same way the original song does.  It goes to show how important the words of this song are to me and I hope you can feel it too when you listen to this song.

I hope you enjoy!

Visiting Candice and baby Jaelynn!

On Friday I got to visit my good friend Candice and her sweet baby girl, Jaelynn.  We live about 45 minutes apart so we don't get to see each other very much.  The last time I saw Jaelynn, she was 6 weeks old--and now she is 7 months!

I was given the privilege to take photos of Jaelynn.  This is one of the few times I've been given the chance to take pictures of a little one.  I had so much fun capturing her personality through the my camera.  I hope I will be able to do so again in the future and be there to watch Jaelynn grow up into her own person.

Friday Five

It is 11:30 at night, and I totally forgot to do my Friday Five. Oops! Here we go...

1. Spent the day with my good friend, Candice and her little 7 month old baby girl, Jaelynn. (Photos to come!)

2. Used my garmin for the first time today! It did me proud, got me to where I needed to go without any trouble. I cannot tell you how many times I have called my mom telling her I was lost and she having to look up on a map to figure out where I was and how to get me to where I should be.

3. Went to The Pizza Shoppe with Candice and Jaelynn for dinner.

4. Getting ready for mom's Silpada party that is tomorrow. Hoping she gets lots of orders!

5. Time to go to bed. Good night, sleep tight!