A Dream

 

Guys. Gals. I have a dream. nothing HUGE and life changing, at least not yet, but a dream nonetheless.

You see, my interest in photography began just over three years ago. I somehow came across the blog of a wedding photographer. I stayed up for hours browsing through her beautiful photographs. That's the first time I remember truly desiring a DSLR. Now, three years later, I have one. Canon T3i. Nothing too fancy - it's no Canon 5D Mark III, I'll tell ya that, but it's my baby, and it is absolutely perfect to me.

When I first saw those beautiful pictures, though, as well as those of several other photographers I still follow today, I wanted to do that. I wanted to capture the love between two people. I wanted to have all that fancy gear. The former is still true, but the latter pretty much went away once I got a little bit of experience under my belt. I've taken photographs at a couple different low-key weddings at church, and done an engagement session. And you know what? It's hard work. My arms and feet ache afterwards, and I worry I didn't get a single good shot.

None of those have been since I got my camera, though. I'm not sure I've improved a whole lot in my photography since then, but I know I have a little bit. Solely because I've taken the time to learn how to use the camera. From day one, I have shot in manual. It takes quite a few tries, but I've kinda gotten it down now. I adjust the ISO, the shutter speed, and occasionally even the aperture. I'm really beginning to see how different each type of lens is. I'm looking into getting a second, cheap, one because I feel it can bring a whole new look to my photography if I can get an aperture like f/1.8.

Ok, I'll stop beating around the bush here, because I'm not sure I'm making much sense: I want to do some photography. Of people. Although I'm not really sure I want to do photography for a living. I want to make money, and I want people to get some pictures of them and their families in a natural state and for a low price. When I say low price, I mean like $15? 25?/hr. I don't know how much. I want to try a few things. I want to get out of my box.  Not in a studio. In a field (not that I have a clue where any open fields are). In your house (ok, that sounds creepy, but just look at pictures like these - I love her photography and would love to try that style).

In case you were unaware, today is Halloween. AKA, less than two months until Christmas. And, as if it's even all that important in the grand scheme of things, who doesn't love to have a great picture to send to the relatives for Christmas?

I hope my tone is coming across as I intend it to here - I don't just want money. No. Please don't think that. I want you to consider allowing me to capture you and your loved ones in this moment. Life goes by fast. I don't know how to explain it in words: it's just a feeling. Unlike three years ago, I don't have the desire to work up to charging thousands of dollars for capturing a wedding. Instead I actually kinda have the desire to capture families just being together.

(I do want to be paid, though, because I definitely still hope to head to Chicago next fall. And, while I am getting a lot of hours at Chick-fil-A, I want to make sure I'm doing as much as I can to save money for that. I even have one more idea of something I want to try, but I'm still working up the courage to make that public.)

Well, I guess that's it. I've been wanting to write this post for about four months now. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can (obviously) comment. email. facebook. call. text. talk. whatever way you know of - connect with me about it. Oh, and thanks for reading. (:

- rl

Reading Material: 2 Months Down

How has it already been a month since the last update?! Working sure does make time fly! I have yet to get my full license (we'll work on that this next month...), so my mom drops me off at the mall on her way to work in the morning, and either her or my dad will pick me up after I get off. Most days I have somewhere around two hours of waiting, so I read.

So this is what I read this month. Or...am in the process of reading:
1. Love Does by Bob Goff
I hated this book...because it was convicting, in ways. It made me want to do something. Not move away and start a school in Africa, but something simpler. This book really challenged me to take it easy. Everything doesn't need to be planned out. In fact, it's more fun if it's not! I did a lot of highlighting in this book. Goff definitely has an interesting take on life that is truly inspiring.

2. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Sigh. Like I said last month, I love this book. I'm nearly done with it. I've really picked up the pace the last week or so. If you've ever seen this book in real life, though, you know it's huge. There are over 600 pages, and they're large pages at that. It's so worth the read, though. Don't believe the reviews on goodreads.

- rl

Reading Material
Reading Material: 1 Month Down

Victory

Our Cougars are 8-0. Wow. This is only the second game we've attended this season, but boy was it fun. We sat with some friends from church and had a blast. By the end of the third quarter it wasn't looking so good, but this team fought for an eighth win by getting two more touchdowns in the last five minutes. Everyone was on their feet cheering. It was awesome! 

It also gave me a reason to wear my letterman again, which rocked. You can view some pictures of that here. Yes, I lettered in football, and I'm quite proud of that. (;

 I can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out! 

- rl

I Want to Remember: Dinner and Cookies

Just a few pictures from the time my mom and I spent in the kitchen on Sunday preparing dinner and cookies.

- rl

What I've Been Up To This Week

Realizing I should probably clean up my room a little bit. 

Getting my first paycheck! Very surreal.

Reading! For a while now I've had the desire to read, but not the motivation. Very sad for a slight bibliophile.

Enjoying the cooler weather!

What have you been up to?

- rl

Celebrating Dad

Last night, the five of us got together and celebrated our dad's birthday! We enjoyed dinner at Olive Garden with lots of catching up. Not that we haven't all seen each other recently (four of us DO live together), but my parents went to the Cowboy game on Sunday, so we were a tad behind. We're a close knit family, I guess.

For whatever reason, I didn't take a picture of little sister, but she was huddled in the corner of the booth reading some part of the Old Testament, meaning that when we started to eat our entrees she asked about scared sacrifices. Ha! I did, however, get a picture of our favorite appetizer. The name? Some sort of cheese fondutta? Second one in the second column.

- rl

One Frame

I desperately wish I could remember what blog I got this idea from. I don't even know how they did it, but this is how I'm going to do it: once in a while, I don't know how often, I will post a single frame from Margo (my Canon T3i). I will feel no obligation to give a description or a story, just the photo. Preferably, the photo will describe my week in some way.

Weaving: Attempt #2

This is my second attempt. I don't know if I really consider it weaving, since it's made up of five separate parts. I love it, though. It, obviously, won't be able to hold a lot, but I should be able to find something to keep in it. I made it to fit in an expedit-like piece of furniture in my room. It does have two holes/handles. 

There's not much to say about it. It's a basket. Kind of weaved. Lots of hot glue. Took...maybe three evenings of work? Once I finished it I slipped it over my head during a particularly stressful scene at the end of season eight of Supernatural. #fangirlmode 

This is one of those things that, yes, I enjoy making, but just isn't really productive. (I kind of talked about that struggle here.) Regardless, I love it and I'm glad I tried. I expanded my skills and know a little bit more about something I knew nothing about before.

- rl

I Want to Remember: Nightly Routine

This is my nightly routine. It's always evolving. Here's how:

Picture 1: I'm always doing a different craft. Sometime it's looming. Sometimes it's knitting. Right now, it's either reed making or weaving. When I took these pictures the other night, I was still watching Supernatural, but, since then, have caught up and am moving on to getting caught up on a few other shows I'm halfway through.

Picture 2: I've had the snack - banana, rice chex, and milk - every night for a year now. It's the best. Seriously. THE best before bed snack! In April, I started watching an episode of The Office (U.S.) every night. I'm just starting season seven.

Picture 3: Journaling. I go through ups and downs with this one. I journaled consistently for a few years, but have been off and on for the last 18 months or so. I just recently decided to stick with this simpler style of journaling: memorabilia (which can include clock in/out receipts, the notecard I used to keep track of my to-do list, etc.) + a run down of the day.

Picture 4: My boy. Sleeping, as usual.

I decided to blog about this because this is something I want to remember. I mean, that's why I blog in the first place: to put pictures I take and words to go with them together.

- rl

(p.s. Ignore the picture quality. Once the sun goes down, I turn on two strings of Christmas lights I have hanging in my room, so it makes for some fuzzy pictures. I don't mind, so I hope you don't.)

What I Learned Today

I guess you could say I learned a few things today.

1: Tumblers cannot survive a fall from a truck to the driveway. Bummer. I've been using it to get drinks during work, but now it looks like I'll have to get a new one before too long. (No, I am not the kind of person to buy new things at every opportunity. Yes, I am the kind of person who is a tad too awkward to deal with anything spilling; therefore, I will be looking for a new tumbler.)

2: I've always hated sunglasses, but they sure come in handy when your mom has you drive to work and the road you're on happens be in the direct line of the sun at 8AM. So, as it turns out, I'll need to get some of those, too.

3: Our Chick-fil-A does not sell Asian salads, despite that they're on the computer screen. Thank God for managers who catch that & deal with the customer for you.

- rl

Weaving: Attempt #1

Last week, I shared about how I was itching to get crafty using magazine reeds. So, I did. I made over 200 reeds, then decided to try my hand at weaving. At first I only tried the method I knew, then did a bit of research, which is when I realized I could weave by making them farther apart. Since I don't feel like researching again, I don't know what it would be called, but you can compare the one I made with something like this. I know what I did wrong this time, so I'm hoping when I try again this week I can be more successful. I don't know what this basket could be used for. It's pretty flimsy, and not an exact square. Oops.

After I finished that, I asked my little sister if she wanted me to make anything for her, and she brought me two composition books to recover for friends. Those were quick, both done in the time of two Supernatural episodes. 

(You know you watch a lot of Netflix when you measure time by how many episodes you can watch. Needless to say, season nine is just over 48 hours away and I only have 18 or so episodes to go. I've watched a lot in this last week. I recommend it, but not in such a tight time limit.)

Now I'm off to watch more Supernatural and try my hand at weaving another basket or two. 

- rl

Upcycling, of Sorts

 

The first time I can recall seeing magazine reeds was in Earthbound. They had them surrounding picture frames, and it inspired me to give it a try. I did some googling, and got to it. I don't remember the order in which I made things, but I've kept a few of them, which can be seen in the first two pictures.

The first one is simple: reeds hot glued to a can. I currently use it to store hot glue sticks. The second thing took a bit more time. It's a Converse shoe box, and I decided to cover the lid with reeds. It just stores string for when I'm in a mood to make bracelets, which is pretty rare, considering that I usually end up frustrated that I can't get past the one simple knot I know how to do, but that rant is for a whole other day. I've made a few other things too - like a picture frame - but I've gifted those so I don't have any pictures.

The other day I saw a post on instagram of someone making a trash can with reeds rolled up. I've seen it done before and considered trying it out, but I already have two trash cans so I just don't see the need. I was wanting to work with them again today, though, so I started making some more reeds. I think I may attempt to make a weaved basket, but we'll see.

If you couldn't already tell, I like to craft a little bit. Whether or not I decide to make something depends on two things, though: if it's worth the cost/time AND if it's useful. I wouldn't consider it upcycling like I did in the title of this post, but more like cheap. I just hate spending money on things.

I'm not quite sure what the purpose of saying all this was, I just felt like sharing what I'm up to creatively. I've been knitting and unraveling a lot, because I cannot decide on what to make, but I want to keep my hands busy. I also want to attempt quilting the project I mentioned here, but I don't know if we have the right supplies to do the actual sewing and quilting. I want to loom, but don't want to spend money on yarn that will be made into something that will just sit there. And then I also want to improve my minimal crochet skills, paint, cross stitch, and just make art in general. Although I'm sure these things will be pushed back even more than usual as I started my first job on Wednesday. I now work with my sister at Chick-fil-A, so that will be fun. I spilled lemonade on myself my first day, so it can only go uphill from here, right?

- rl

1 Month with Sam

It's been four weeks now since that Sunday afternoon when I brought home this little succulent. He's sat on my nightstand every day (except for a few days there when I thought he was getting too much light and I moved him to my desk). I should have watered it at week three, but ended up waiting until week 3.5, but then I watered two days in a row, so I think he'll be fine. To water I've just used a spray bottle, putting some on the soil and some on the little leaves. 

While taking these pictures, I accidentally discovered all these dead leaves when they fell out. Whoops. Anyway, he's looking fresh now with all that out of there, and he's doing well. Not dead yet, so I'm happy. 

- rl

(p.s. With another month down, you can view some of the videos I've watched over the last month here. It hasn't really consisted of lots of music these last few months, which I blame on my fandom obsession. In true nature of a fangirl, "I regret nothing".)