all adventurous women do 12:13 AM

Do you ever think about when it is that a show hooks you, that you consciously make the decision to invest your time and concentration into actually following a series as opposed to simply catching it when it's on? Anyone who does not reside under a rock knows Lena Dunham's success at the Golden Globes this year, and I figured I'd give Girls a chance. This is the moment that hooked me. There is something unapologetically magical about how Dunham completely captures a moment, even one as simple as coming home to your roommate having a solo dance party, that you can't deny is just good television.

Anyone else hooked?

Bright-eyed and broke as all hell. 12:05 AM

Alright, friends. This is one of those posts that feels mildly desperate.. but when you think about it, everyone has been there. Insecure, unsure, worry... about the future. About your career. As someone in their early 20's, bright-eyed and broke as hell, just scrounging for any solid tidbit of hope that the path you're on is the "right one". So I've gotta ask.

Do you feel that you're on the right path? Do you feel like the decisions you've made have been the "right ones"? And if not, do you let the worry get to you that you may not be where you want to be right now?

I find my problem is one that is probably common for recent graduates and those from my generation: I want to do everything. Blog, shoot, sing, write, assist, direct, report, and maybe sleep. It's taking all that I can to not come up with an even new ambition each night to add to my melting pot of somewhat-unrealistic, pipe-driven dreams. My passions branch across so many genres that it is so difficult to say THAT. I want to do that. And then when the "that" is decided, a second can of worms opens up, and I have a second question for y'all:

Are you driven by money, or driven by passion? Both? Neither? Following your parents advice? Following your own drum? Too broke to afford a drum?

Lately, I feel like I've been put on one of those conveyor belts in an airport. You know, the sorter types, but this one has a time limit. If you don't claim your bag within the appropriate time, it lands in the incinerator. BOOM. Bye. If I don't pluck my career choice from the lineup right now, I'm going to end up in the inferno.

I have to say, I never thought I'd end up here. I always secretly scoffed at the various highschool friends that had graduated, and suddenly turned around and took a completely different turn in career choice. From drama to dentistry, photography to biology, I scoffed with satisfaction. That will never be me; I'm so grateful that I love what I pursue, and will enjoy my career path because I am doing what I love.

It turns out... doing what I love, is harder than it looks.

Maybe I'm just complaining, maybe I'm lazy, maybe I'm not working hard enough. But what scares me the most may just be the truth: maybe my heart isn't in it anymore. Maybe my heart, like my wallet, is suddenly budgeted and cannot spend anymore. And it's for this reason I'm scared, and asking for some advice. Some stories from experience, to let me know that it's going to be ok.

I think, worst of all, I'm incredibly sad that I'm disappointing the girl that was so proud, the girl that worked so hard; the girl that knew what she loved to do and would do anything to get to where she wanted to be. I'm letting that girl down, and I don't like it one little bit.

Thanks, friends.

12 in 12 - Resolutions in a new light 1:14 AM

 And now for something completely different....

Thinking of what to do for this year's bound-to-be-broken new years resolution, I thought I'd take a more practical approach. So I've come up with a new goal list instead, one goal per month throughout 2013. Stay tuned for the actual goals (they'll need some brainstorming) but I'm stoked to welcome anyone who wants to join me with a more practical tradition this year. Let the goal ship sail!

 

 

Office progress! Keeping you entertained (or filling in the gap between shoots) 12:40 AM

This one time, I painted a room.

 

This room used to be orange. Kudos on the colour, but for a photographer's office... not so much.

 

I then added furniture.

 

 

Such lonely furniture. Good start, but not enough.

 

Slowly but surely things started to come together. Rio used to reside under here:

 

 

And now resides on here.

 

 

The couch isn't pretty... but will do for the price of FREE.

 

Today I finally bit the bullet and purchased a better monitor (can't just go out and buy a mac tower yet).  This is my new setup, according to instagram:

 

The space is really starting to come together, and as -soon- as it doesn't look like a bomb went off.. I'll present the office in all it's glory.

 

Until then, I'll just keep channeling my inner Martha.

It's going to be great, I can feel it.

xo

winter chill 11:15 PM

This song needs to be shared with the blogosphere. It warms my heart every year around this time, and whether good or bad my memories attached to this melody flood back to me every time I hear it. At least two years now I've listened to Winter Song for the full month of December and beyond, alone or with others, and I can't help but force y'all to hear it too.

 

 There's something about this time of year. Yes, the commercial hype of the holiday season is jammed down our throats with little room left after eggnog and candy canes, but the world changes. It shifts. There is a subtle change that tickles my senses and makes me think positively no matter what is happening around me. Something about the chill in the air and the crunch on the ground makes me yearn for that mug of tea (or coffee, or cocoa) and a warm hand to hold. I'm a sucker for the romanticized holiday season, but this year something is very different. Without the stresses of school I can, for once, appreciate the holidays without looming fear of deadlines and marks (granted work provides that stress, without written academic record, at least). I can finally breathe in the chill without rushing to class, decorate the house without procrastinating an essay (just photo editing), and smile without the hidden frown for what is hiding beyond the academic semester.

I feel like time has slowed just enough to let me savour the season, and there has got to be a rule instated that each household have a pet in attendance for the holidays. Something about his little nose (growing bigger) on my hand and his warmth next to me slows down my heartbeat enough to really take everything in. A dog's life is a steady cacophony of unbearable joy towards his humans, and I can't help but be thankful that I get to share my monotonous day to day happenings with not only the love of my life, but the new part of my life I didn't know I could love this much. 

To those breathing in the chill, or soaking in the sun, I hope your December beginning is heartwarming and light. Keep smiling, friends. 

xo