NEW BABY!

No, I'm not having an actual baby, but I did just get a new camera. My DREAM camera! I've registered and began my first official college photography class (which required this spendy purchase) and now I'm hooked.  

I have always been the photographer of the family anyways, so I think it's a perfect fit. I take pictures of everything, everywhere, no matter what. I feel like my life needs to be recorded (duh?) and sometimes words just aren't enough to describe a situation or object. 

Canon EOS Rebel T3i

So, brace yourself, because the next few months (or years?) are going to be filled with even more photographs. You love it, don't lie

Now, please excuse me while I try to figure this baby out.....

writer's block

I seriously don't know what to type. It's like the words are stuck in my head...maybe? Or there's just a lot going on which eventually leads to frustration. Even Kona is stressed out. But, I have been very efficient at taking pictures, so here you go!

favorite movie

kona is just always so focused!

i just love the little samples they always give out. it makes me feel like i have gigantic hands!

Kona has been freaking out because we're getting our apartment building painted.

 Problem: the workers have to power wash and cover windows with plastic, requiring them to stand on our porch. 

Well, according to Kona, they're not allowed there. like at all.

So, she gets to spend another week at Camp Grandma!

And of course if I'm bringing her down to my mom's, it's almost necessary to go to lunch!

Location: Cafe Girasole

On the menu: Ponderosa wrap (for me), Curry Chicken salad sandwich (for mom)

And let me tell you, it was AMAZING. the combo of the warm, fresh turkey and bacon with crisp romaine lettuce and cucumbers was perfect! I'd go back over and over to get this exact thing.

sorry it's so blurry! :(

i love all the sunflower decor :)

I want to make this poster sized to put in my room!

after a night of NO sleep...

I am going to rant..... Ready, Set, GO!


Sometimes I feel like I'm missing out on that oh-so-special "college experience" of drinking til the sun comes up, attending numerous frat parties with girlfriends while dressing in the least amount of clothing possible, and spending my weekends in my dorm room trying to figure out the events of the previous night.

Some probably say "yeah, you are missing out..big time!" because instead of finding me at an Animal House style toga party with some random dude on my arm, you'll find me at home with my dog, my boyfriend, and a book or a movie. Or I'm at home with my parents. Cool, right?

But you know what? I'm perfectly content with being the party pooper because I've already seen what college has done to my friends. They're gaining weight, losing brain cells, and will probably regret most of their decisions in about five years. Or maybe not. Maybe they'll never grow up.

Sometimes I just wish I wasn't so responsible and didn't care so much about my future or who my actions will affect. Sometimes I wish I could have that close knit group of girls to hang out with 24/7. Sometimes I wonder what in the world I did wrong to end up like this......

and then I remember: I have dreams and people that cared about me enough to set boundaries when I was younger so that I now know how to make wise decisions. And I love my life, just the way it is.





Okay, I'm done. Today has been a whirlwind of serious ranting moments, but now I'm over it. Tomorrow will be better :)

where in the world...

...have I been, you might ask?!

Well, I've been instagram-ing every picture I take, eating lots of yummy cantaloupe, chasing kona around, visiting my parents, and getting ready to start school once again. I've realized that throughout this whole summer, I've only soaked up the sun by the lake (or pool) like...three times? maaan, I missed out!

I can't even begin to explain how excited I am for school and yes, I know it's just college, but I feel like a little kid. I'm ready to have a set schedule, be super busy to the point of passing out as soon as I hit the pillow at night. I AM READY. 

This afternoon Brian and I drove home to eat some steak for dinner and went for a walk downtown to check out the old cars. Of course, being a small town, it was already starting to close down because it was 7pm. haha! 

My dad would love this truck

the old gas station. i love that they didn't tear it down!

cantaloupe...as big as my head!

mmm

I've been a master cook the past few days. Plus I'm back on paleo (day two!) and I feel great.

Berry Sorbet:

handful of frozen peaches

handful of frozen berries mix

cup of ice cubes

1/2 cup of almond butter

BLEND!

(I also made pulled pork but forgot to take a picture because I was so excited to eat it)

Pulled Pork:

1 large pork shoulder

onion powder

garlic powder

salt/pepper

chili powder

1 cup water

place in crockpot on low for 9 hours or so.

it literally falls apart.

  SO YUMMY.

and I've been drinking orange juice like it's going out of style.

(Plus everything is better when it's in a mason jar)

goooooood morning!

My alarm didn't go off this morning, so instead of waking up at the crack of dawn to eat breakfast and whatnot before going to the gym at 9...

I WOKE UP AT 9. 

and i'm okay with that. 

Breakfast: oats with almond butter, strawberries, honey, and cinnamon. 

I don't know how I feel about oats. weird and slimy, but good all at the same time.

My mom got this coffee cup for me on a trip to texas and it's been my favorite ever since.

except there's orange juice in it, not coffee.

Today is just one of those days where you feel like you want to be productive (cleaning, organizing, setting up school and work schedules) but it just takes soooo much to get going. I guess I could start with actually going to the gym. Then we will just wait and see what happens. I'm off to do more handstands!

fears: conquered

So I have used to have a fear of handstands, as in, handstands against the wall or free-standing. Weird, seeing as I used to do gymnastics and all sorts of flips on the trampoline.... It's like as soon as I "grew up", these fears developed. Well, as of a few weeks ago, thanks to Crossfit and Brian and some of his friends, I conquered the handstand.

 Even though it's just up against the wall... for now...

  I am damn proud of it!

oh, and i'm slightly obsessed with the instagram app on my new iphone. I just love all the different color tones you can use to change a photo!

nectarine the size of a softball!

deeeeeelicious pizza for dinner 

from Eclipse Pizza

my superman