that one time...

me and the besties took the same picture in three different locations.

i miss the days when all my friends lived in the same state, same city even, and we got to hang out whenever we wanted. i want those days back.

Smile Friday

New York Post #1:
This was the first full day I had in NYC!! We walked around Central Park that morning and did a bunch of other wonderful things that I will tell you about soon enough. I was just playing around with Aperture last night and finally figure out how to make collages.

gpoyw

This is the "Christina looks like a house elf" 

and

"So Happy I get to see Sarah in 2 weeks"

Editions.

Enjoy.

GPFromMyTripToSeattleW

St. Patty's Day 2011 (Thursday evening that I was in Seattle)- a wonderful evening. We went to an Irish Pub-a can't remember the name, got in sans cover charge-thank you random bouncer lady, and had a green shot. Later that night we went to another restuarant/bar to get pizza. This pizza was the best I've ever had... the girls shared a vegetarian pizza, with mushrooms and spinach, while I mooched off the guys and ate some meat lovers!!

anyways... hope your week is going swell.
happy humpday.

\snicker

FINALLY!

Mark David Manders sang, "I love my weekends, the holiday God made."

Amen to that brotha.

It's Friday, and I couldn't be more excited. Tamura finished Harry Potter yesterday, Praise the Shepard, so in honor of her I'm posting this little gem. Not her last night in Angelo, but her last weekend. Thinking about his night just makes me smile shakee my head cover my eyes in embarrassment laugh.

(please excuse the deranged smile on my face - there's a reason for it I assure you)

HAPPY FRIDAY ALL!!

And this is just for you Tamura.

gpoyw

Best Friend/Fisheye/Black & White Edition.

This is one of our friday night dinner pictures.

love.

this.

girl.

Seattle: Post 1

Ok, here's what I'm going to do... Every week, at least once, maybe more, I'm going to post a little bit about my trip to Seattle. It won't be in order and it might not be interesting. BUUUT it's my blog and I will do what I want to. For the first post we have March 17th. This isn't the entire day... just a few parts. And there is no cool pictures of anything interesting, unless you count Jessica, Tamura, and I as interesting... which I do!

This particular day was our first day in Seattle. Tamura made us a handrawn map (which was very cool and helpful), told us how to ride the bus to downtown and sent us on our way. We did several cool things this day, but I'm not saying exactly what just yet. So for today, all you get is some pictures.

This is me and Jess eat our Poroshky's (spelling?) at a lookout point. Apparently this particular place has totem poles left from the Indians (I didn't see them, but Tam and Jess don't typically lie, so I'm probably oblivious - wouldn't be the first time). It was a cool place, to look out over the sound, there were tables to eat on, etc. There were also street vendors nearby as well. Very eclectic place.

Obvi, this sequence of pictures was all taken at the same time, later in the day from the Poroshky's picture. We met up with Tamura after she got off, did some shopping at H&M, then went to this cool little bar for happy hour. Seriously, Seattle-lites know how happy hour is done. All three of us ate for 14 bucks, and we each had a beer for 10.50. So three meals + three beers = 24.50. The food was really good too!! So after dinner we were walking around, or back to the bus - I don't know, and found another excellent lookout. Naturally, we stopped to take pictures because the night was clear, the sound was gorgeous. Unfortunately without a tripod, there was no way my camera was going to capture the true beauty... so we improvised and just took pictures of each other. Eventually the self timer came to mind, then we all got in!! 

**Disclaimer: this picture need to be edited, but I was just too excited to start posting. Don't judge me.

two questions.

What's saving you?

What do you do?

These are two questions that I got asked while I was in Seattle.

Let me tell you, not the easiest questions in the world to answer. At first glance they seem somehwat vague, open ended, which they are, but try answering them in a way that you are happy with. I don't know if I'm making sense, but I'm going to continue rambling anyway.

What's saving you?

This could change day-to-day, and after discussing it with several girls, I think it should. I definitely have some constants, but everyday, there is usually a few different little things that save me that day.

Family. It's always saving me. My family is my rock. The one constant on earth that I can always count on. We might get mad at each other, but they are always there. always.

Friends. It could be a different friend from day-to-day, but I always have someone who understands, who gets me.

Food. Honestly. No lie. Sometimes the prospect of going home and stuffing my face with some seriously wonderful nosh saves me throughout the day.

What do you do?

I feel like the obvious response is whatever you do for a living. Buuut I would like to believe I'm so much more than my job; however, other than work I didn't really know how to answer that question. Here's what I came up with after some thinking:

Work.

Read.

Watch.

movies/tv.

Photograph.

the neices/plants/buildings.

Spend Time.

with family/friends.

Thinking about this has made me wonder...
Do I depend on the right things to save me? Do I spend my time in an adequate way that is reflective of my morals, ethics, goals, dreams, etc?

The answer: To be determined... I will get back to you when I figure it out, probably in another post at a later date.

Because every post needs a picture:

It's a repeat, but it has many important people in my life in it and it's super cute.

I'M BACK!!!

bills, jobs, and the real world beckon...

I do have this little gem though to brighten the day. I haven't even began to sort through/develop/upload pictures yet. However, I do have this from out trip to the Needle. I had some seriously fun times with this girl. and Tamura. and Tamura's wonderful friends.

I love how we took the sunshine to Seattle, the weather was beautiful pretty much the entire time we were there. Apparently, we brought back the overcast skies... I did miss the warm weather while we were gone. I put shorts on the minute I walked in the door.

More pictures and stories to come soon!! Have a wonderful Monday!

another one bites the dust...

I had three best friends growing up. We were always together in elementary, and in jr high  and high school we made new friends, but we were still always the 'core four'. We could get together (and still can) after months of not seeing each other, and talk as thought nothing has changed.

Well, the last of the three got married on Saturday. It's just strange that I'm already to the age where all my friends could be married, or getting very close. What is it about the south? Why is it that everyone feels the need to get married right out of college. I know it's not like that in the rest of the country, women graduate, get a job, start a career, THEN get married. I wonder why it's different down here. Why is that thought process, college-marriage-kids, ingrained in us? It makes no sense to me.

So how do you deal with these stupid rules of society? How do you make through countless wedding showers, lingerie showers, bachelorette parties, receptions, bouquet tosses? There are several things you can do, but I've found that Chelsea Handler has all the answers.

Juuuust kidding. I was completely sober at all three two. But seriously, I couldn't be more happy for these girls. All three married totally great guys that treat them like queens, love them, and repect them! So now comes the kids... hopefully not too soon, but I can't wait to have more neices/nephews to spoil and send home. I prefer the aunt role as opposed to wife/mother.

gpoy...

bfw? yep.

GPOYBFW.

(gratuitous picture of your best friend wednesday. DUH.)

She's coming into town today. Her plane will arrive in about 12 hours to be exact. I'm so giddy I can hardly sit still at work!!

I got new pictures developed, however, I think Wal-Mart lost roll number two. There might be a smackdown.

happy funday sunday!!

I mentioned about a month ago that I bought a new fisheye camera, from Lomography. It is the coolest, little camera I think I've ever owned. It shoots film, which is different, but I love it for several reasons. Here's why:

1. You think about the pictures you're taking. You think about why you're taking it, how to make it work without being able to instantly see it.
2. You don't take useless pictures. Each picture has a meaning and a story behind it.
3. There's imperfections. Like the following roll, each picture doesn't turn out perfect. (Notice the blue lines on EVERY. SINGLE. PICTURE) But that's what makes them unique, and you know, I look at these pictures and I am reminded of some very good times, no, GREAT times. I have a memory for every picture regardless of the blue lines. I also have a memory, fond or not, of the blue lines (Keaton Kolor, and that's all I'm gonna say about that.).
4. Different film=different colors, textures, and light. This is redscale, not my favorite, but I still like it.

So, without further ado, here's a few from my very first roll:

This, ladies and gentlemen, is my heterosexual life partner, Tamura Turney. If you wanna know what a heterosexual life partner is, read about it here.

J. Baker. This girl is the light of my life, the sweetest person I know.

And agian, on her wedding day.

Taegan Jewel, eating a popcicle.

Taelye Joe, what a beauty. She just gets prettier, and more mature, and older, everyday. Makes me feel old..

After a glass a lot of port.

On Jessica's big day!! Such fun memories!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Wow!! The holidays have ended. It makes me happy and sad all at the same time. The end of another and another new beginning. Every year I have so many emotions regarding the year to come. Twentyten was a big year for me, I learned so much about myself and I graduated from college. Yipee. However, I know that twentyeleven is going to be a rollercoaster of a ride... finding a job, going back to school (possibly), moving. It all makes me want to crawl back into bed. But I'm also excited.

NYE was an interesting day...
...found my lost phone, and didn't have to mourn its death!
...drove to Austin with Sarah. A wonderful trip that included many deep (and not-so-deep) conversations and singing along to loud music.
...bought a new outfit at Express. I'm now in love with their jeans.
...went to see Black Swan (a post regarding this experience will follow)
...Mexican Martinis at Trudy's. Along with some really good chicken quesadillas.
...rang in the New Year under a canopy of baloons at the Ranch on 6th street.

New Years Day was even more interesting...
...had brunch at Taverna. We really need a good brunch place in San Angelo. I want to be able to get eggs benedict more often than when I'm in Austin. They also have $1 mimosas!
...dropped yet another best friend at the airport. I drove Tamura the day after Christmas, this time is was Sarah's turn. If my best friends were truly concerned with my mental and emotional health they would both move back to Texas. Sorry, thats so selfish, no true.
...decided spontaneously to drive to Mansfield to see my family. That was a great decision.

And finally yesterday, we had lunch at P.F. Chang's. This was my fortune:
"New and rewarding opportunities will soon develop for you."
Well, if thats not the best fortune to get at the beginning of a new year, I don't know what is.

Also, started my picture-a-day challenge (number 1 on my life list). I took them on the Fisheye, so I can't post them immediately. They will be posted as soon as they are developed.

Pictures from christmas are coming soon!! :)

I got a new fisheye camera... it shoots film!! I've had it for a few weeks, it was my graduation present to myself! are you allowed to do that?? Anyway, I finally got the first roll developed! Unfortunately, either the film was damaged in the camera or during processing, so every picture has a blue line through it.


But here's one cute picture of Tamura and I! I love this girl, she's in from Seattle for Jessica's wedding and Christmas. Seriously, she's like my soul mate, the only person in the world that follows my wack-o train of thought and gets my logic. Hopefully it's only a matter of time before she ditches the rain and comes back to the Texas Sunshine!

its almost over.

day 28 - a picture of you a year ago and now. how have you changed? this was almost a year ago to the day.

this was not too long ago... end of august-ish.

and this was like last week or so ago.

I don't really thing I've changed that much (looks).. just the way I wear my hair. However, I'm much more mature today than I was a year ago. I'd like to think I'm a bit more self-aware. Certain situations and circumstances have allowed me to discover alot about myself. I also actually have a sense of direction now as opposed to a year ago when I had no clue what I wanted to with my life.

a day late..

day 11 - another picture of you and your friends..

I used all the good ones in the last post... I probably should have read ahead. you only get one today..

love these girls...

three.

day 3 - a picture of you and your friends.
because it would simply be too easy to post one picture of mi amigos... im going to post several. enjoy....

this is me and tamura.

this girl rocks my world.jessica and clayton. sarah.

not sure what i would do without her. :)

carissa, tamura, and whitney.

my wine wednesday girls.taylor.

too many adventures to recall...

carlos, cristin, and tony.

somehow, i dont have a picture of me with them.

so many good times with these three.

kayla.

we can read each other's minds.

seriously.

tamura and anne.

anne the fish. love. her.

the cake ball adventure...

me and tamura decided to try our hands at some cake balls... of course i documented the entire process on camera. are you really surprised??

we did lemon and strawberry cakes. baked them.. and crumbled them up. that was the fun part.

add a tub of icing to each. it just keeps getting better...roll into balls and dip in almond bark. the hardest part.. they tasted wonderful, but didn't look too hot.