Photography — Page 3 — This Mom's Wired

Kitchen Through the Lens: What it’s about

July 17, 2012 by sarah 1 Comment

First of all: I hate naming projects. I hate naming projects because despite my marketing background and despite the fact that I’m totally hilarious and funny (it’s my blog, I can say what I want), I have a difficult time coming up with cool catchy names that make you want to pay attention.

You want to pay attention.

In scope of a lot of stuff going on in my world, I decided I needed a project. I needed a fun project, but something… productive. I needed to incorporate something I love, but I also needed to incorporate room for growth. I think this project does both.

I have picked (with some help!), 50 recipes. They’re not all main dishes – some are desserts, some are beverages, some are appetizers, some are sauces. I don’t love cooking (you know this, right?) but there’s no reason for that. I love baking, so, uh… why not cooking? Each week, I’ll prepare one of these new things (not necessarily in order of the list!), and – here’s the fun part – document the process with my camera. Food photography? It’s freakin’ hard, y’all BUT this gives me the opportunity and reason to work on those skills also.

(Win, win)

Without further adieu, here’s the list of 50. I don’t anticipate changing any of these items out – but it could happen. And if and when it does, you won’t roll your eyes at me too much, will you? You’ll be super understanding and supportive and say, “That’s okay, Sarah, you really didn’t want to make that other thing anyway.”

salsa
tortilla soup
pesto
tomato sauce/marinara
caipirnha
croissants
sourdough bread
patatas bravas
potstickers
roast chicken
char siu bao
vinaigrette
strawberry shortcake
fortune cookies
tequila bars
a savory biscotti
cream puffs
Emperor’s pancakes
beer bread
mashed potatoes
homemade pasta
chicken enchiladas
salted caramel ice cream cake
hamburgers
margaritas
prosciutto wrapped melon
tamales
infused vodka (okay, I’m not making the vodka part)
caramel corn
fruit smoothies
Grandma’s molasses cookies
spaghetti tacos (you have kids that watch iCarly, don’t you?)
a homemade treat for the dog
blueberry muffins
fresh juice
cinnamon bread
lemon pasta
Greek salad
Hasselback potatoes
chicken tacos
hummus
risotto
feta stuffed gyro burgers
chipotle stout braised beef tacos
key lime cheesecake
taco pasta shells
empanadas
Narsai mudslide cookies
Wendell’s cookies
Thanksgiving dinner (turkey & stuffing)

The last several are recipes given to me by others – so pretty specific versus the mostly vague first half of the list. Wendell is my grandfather who died in the late 80s – the recipe I’ll be making, Wendell’s cookies – those were his favorite. I received the Narsai mudslide cookie recipe from my dad – who has brought them up in conversation several times. Joe from The Hungry Dudes gave me links to recipes for items 43 – 46 and when a foodie gives you recipes, you take note.

The kids wanted to make some kind of biscuit for the dog – granted, I won’t be taste testing that one, but… why not? Tequila bars are a Guy Fieri recipe (yeah, I know) that I pulled from a magazine because…tequila. I’m more inclined to pay attention to his recipes if I don’t have to listen to him. Or watch him. Or want to rip the sunglasses from the back of his head and want to beat him with them. Anyway, worth a shot right? I pull a LOT of recipes from magazines…and never make them. This project will help me face down some of that list – maybe discover some new favorites.

Alright. Are you with me? Here we go.

I’m starting tonight. Got my lemon zester ready for some lemon pasta. Let’s do this.

Filed Under: Eats, Kitchen Lens, Photography Tagged With: cooking, food, food photography, Photography, recipes, Through the Kitchen Lens

Thursday Ten: You Can Share Now edition

July 12, 2012 by sarah 1 Comment

1. My friend, Erica, mentioned the other day that I hadn’t enabled any functionality to share my posts (Isn’t everybody already reading already?). She then swooped in and got me all set up nicely – she’s a kickass WordPress guru and hey, now you can share my stuff if you want to. I suppose that means I should try to be interesting now.

2. For those who stopped by and commented on my photography post the other day… thank you! I love how many of my favorite people are also such visual and creative beings. I wouldn’t trade my creativity for the ability to calculate a waiter’s tip without using a calculator. Give me my right-brain any day.

3. Musically, this week I had more than one person talking about St. Vincent – so I’ve downloaded some of her stuff. But really, I’ve still been listening to a lot of Alabama Shakes. This is “Be Mine”, though if you want to listen to more, I also really love “Hold On”.

4. My sister is now working in the same building where I work. I was able to meet her for lunch yesterday and it was kind of a nice diversion in the middle of the work day. Lately, we never seem to be able to catch up without kids all over the place – so we walked and talked for 30 minutes on our way to and from lunch. It was a good thing – and it’s something I hope we do more frequently.

5. This past weekend, I had my friend take photos of me and my daughters. I’ve never had a formal portrait done of the three of us and I’m kind of eager to see how they came out. The cobblers kids have no shoes, the photographer has no pictures of herself with her kids. Changing that.

6. I’ve decided to do a new project to incorporate my lack of cooking skills with my desire to improve my food photography skills – by making a new food/dessert/beverage each week for 50 weeks, and TAKING PICTURES OF THE PROCESS AND END RESULT. My list so far has 40 items – including: potstickers, a burger (never made one. Shut up), homemade salsa, cream puffs, and lemon pasta. I need TEN more items. What should I make? I am actually not sure if I’m more excited about expanding my cooking repertoire or flexing some photography muscles (or both?), but I think it will be a fun thing to do and really will force me to step outside of my comfort zone a bit on occasion.

7. Today I have lunch plans that include tacos and dinner plans that don’t include cooking (as well as seeing a friend I haven’t seen in ages). Thursday is pretty amazing for my belly. Oh, and I won’t be working out. So… uh, Friday, double cardio?

8. Gymnastics strikes again. During Monday’s four hour practice (FOUR! HOURS!), The Princess injured her shoulder doing a back walkover. There was no bruising and she appeared to have full range of motion despite extreme discomfort with some movements. With ice and ibuprofen, the pain seems to be lessening, but if it doesn’t continue on this path to healing she’ll have to go to the doc. I have to admit, these gymnastics injuries freak me out a bit – not that there’s been anything severe, but the potential is there. Her former coach, barely 20 years old, has already had hip surgery. Chew on that, would ya? A little scary.

9. Because this post needs a picture. Sometimes you accidentally shut the garage door on a doll’s head. Clearly when I shot this, I knew both of my children were safe in my car… and then when I realized that the doll didn’t quite make her way to safety I had to take a picture (and then I rescued her). My caption when I posted this was: “I always make sure my kids are out of the way. I don’t always check on their toys.” Sorry, doll.

10. The Princess was flipping through the channels last night (I haven’t mentioned Pumpkin this week, but she’s been around, I promise!) and stopped at “Toddlers & Tiaras”. This is her new obsession, I guess, which I’m not sure is any better or worse than Cupcake Wars. I watched her watching incredulously and I turned to her and said, “Aren’t you so SO glad I never did this to you?” She replied, “Well, you could’ve given me a tiara, but NO WAY would I want to be in one of those pageants.” Later, as we were watching a four year old with a stripper pole in her room being told by her coach to do a “booty pop”, I turned to her and said, “You can rest assured that booty pop are two words you’re NEVER gonna be hearing from me.” I think I saw a little flicker of relief.

Filed Under: Eats, Mom Shtuff, Photography, Thursday Ten

If you have to ask, I’m not sure I can tell you. But I’ll try.

July 10, 2012 by sarah 8 Comments

“Excuse me?” I had been focusing my camera on the sidewalk and a woman stopped as she was walking to address me.

I lowered my camera from my face. “Yes?”

“Everyone’s always taking pictures of this building,” she said. “So, what’s so special about it?”

In that moment, my mind flashed to the myriad of things that I love about this building, and admittedly, one of the things that my mind thinks is, If you have to ask, I’m not sure I can tell you. I look at this building and its characteristics are apparent – one glance and I can name so many reasons why it’s special. This building, like a person, has traits and qualities that are its own, that are unique, that render it both dignified and decayed. From the moment I first walked by this building, I have been drawn to it.

“I can’t tell you why other people photograph this building,” I started, “only why I do.” I gather my words a moment – because I don’t know if I can make her see what I see, or if she really wants to see it. Maybe to her I’m just another crazy person, pointing a camera at an abandoned building. I’m not sure that I care, though. “Do you see those faces up there?” I ask. I gesture to the bearded faces that appear at regular intervals over our heads. “I love those guys. I’m not sure what they’re called – they’re like little gnome faces.” Her eyes flash upwards.

“And do you see that?” I said, pointing to the sidewalk to the right of her feet. “The lettering from the windows is reflected in the shadows on the sidewalk. I think that’s kind of neat.”

She nodded, but her face remained blank. I don’t think she was seeing what I see

“If you go around the corner, you’ll find a wall that has these really neat turquoise tiles. If you’re taking portraits, they make a really cool background – because they have a funky, weathered look to them.”

“Oh.”

She thanked me and walked away and I put my camera back in its bag and walked the other direction. I could have gone on for so much longer describing the little nuances of this building I have grown to love. The recessed doorway, the chipped cement, the signs in the window, the intricate details of the molding along the top of the building. Really, I’m not sure they even make buildings like this anymore.

But I accept that I do sometimes look at the world around me differently than some. To me, it’s completely foreign how someone could look at this building and not see what makes it special – but surely, there are people who don’t see it. And those people probably don’t miss that thing, that thing that makes a gnome face seem like a quirky magical wonder, that makes you want to see how it looks at different times of day, when the sun hits it in different ways, when snow falls around it. But I can’t imagine just walking by, not soaking it in, not seeing the wonder, and not finding a smile curl my lips when I see it. It may take me longer to get where I’m going, when I stop every few feet to capture a new sight at a new angle, but I wouldn’t trade it. I would rather be slow, than not see the things I see.

And there’s really nothing wrong with the way that woman sees the world. I’m guessing.

But I’d rather see it my way. I’d rather see the joy in the little details and the magic in unexpected places. I’d rather frame my world as if through a lens, even when my camera is not with me. I’d rather take it all in and see everything and embrace it: chipped tile, gnome faces, shadows, and all.

I can’t imagine my world any other way.

Filed Under: Photography

Thursday Ten: Midweek Holidays Are Not As Great As You’d Think edition

July 5, 2012 by sarah 2 Comments

1. The Fourth of July being on a Wednesday means that here it is, July 5 and I’m back to life as normal, only now it’s a Thursday that feels like a Monday. Sigh.

2. So instead of doing the firework thing last night, I decided to go to a movie. I saw Moonrise Kingdom, based only on random posts I’ve seen on the internet raving about it. I went in with zero expectations. And actually? I kind of dug it. The cast was excellent, and it was a quirky story with a lot of truly funny moments. Never really a Bruce Willis fan, I loved him here. Ed Norton rocked the khaki shorts and knee socks as a scout leader. And Tilda Swinton? Well, Tilda was Tilda (I never know what to say about her – still really wanting to see “We Need To Talk About Kevin”. THAT may be an interesting role to see her in). The film is getting great reviews by people who know how to say things about movies that I don’t. But it was visually beautiful and human, and it was a lovely escape from life for 90 minutes.

3. Ugh. So, a forecasted high of 100 degrees? UNWELCOME. Sad when I see next week’s predicted 85 (still too hot) and feel relief.

4. A lot of new music this week thanks to Amazon and their album sales – $.99. Nice. Picked up Kimbra’s album Vows. I also purchased the Gotye album – I know people are getting pretty burned out on “Somebody that I Used To Know” but I was told the rest of it was good, and hey, if it’s not, I’m only out a buck. Also, the Lumineers. I haven’t listened to it yet. It may or may not be awful. I don’t know.

5. My iTunes is still broken, by the way.

6. Gave light-painting a try for the first time this year. While I know it can be done better, I was pretty tickled at how it worked.

7. Cuticles are stupid.

8. I went for a walk to get lunch and saw some black eyed susans along the path. Something about them makes me smile. Seems like they are usually around later in the summer, but they’re fun (And yeah, I like to take pictures of ’em).

9. Today I got a message from a friend I hadn’t talked to in a very long time – it was a lovely sweet message and I was happy to hear from her and I can’t help but think it’s amazing sometimes how, even if you go months, or even a year, without having any meaningful conversations with a person, your friends are your friends and they’re still there reminding you that you’re loved.

10. I have an itch to travel right now. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?

Filed Under: Mom Shtuff, music, Photography, Thursday Ten

some posts don’t have titles

July 2, 2012 by sarah 1 Comment

I’m not entirely sure what to write here lately. I hope you don’t mind. We just tiptoed into July and already I think the summer is a third of the way over. I keep wishing it away. Pumpkin said to me the other night that she couldn’t wait for school to start, and you know, I kind of look forward to it also. Summer has a different flavor now that I’m in an office every day. While I struggled hard to find balance when I worked from home, struggled to be an excellent mom as well as a reliable employee, I still was present for their daily activities. Now I regret whining about the balance and lack of it – because I miss that daily stuff sometimes.

The temperatures are scorching these days and I’m grateful for when the mornings and evenings provide a respite from the heat. That feeling when you can get outside and breathe in and out, and it’s not like you’re passing through air as thick as pudding. Pudding air. It’s a thing. An awful thing.

–

I’ve gotten to, this summer, spend time with friends a lot more than I have in the past – and it’s partly a concerted effort to reconnect with people and friendships and an effort to add some fun to my days. For a lot of years, I put friendships on the back burner – and I’m sorry I did. While I don’t think I ever forgot how much I love to laugh and have fun, I think for awhile I downplayed just how much it renews me. I’m an introvert, so I focused instead on finding time to myself to recharge and rejuvenate that way – but… I like people. I love sitting down at a table with friends, drinking coffee and exchanging bits and pieces of life.

When I was in college I had those moments all the time. I remember one night sitting outside talking to someone from midnight until five a.m. It’s hardly realistic now, those conversations in a dorm entry way (anyone have a dorm entryway I can borrow?), those marathon gab fests until all hours of the night.

But I don’t need a marathon anymore.

I had forgotten, though, because I let myself forget.

–

I baked a cake yesterday, a lemon pound cake. One I’ve made and blogged of before. All I wanted was a tiny piece of it – the tang of the sugary glaze and the soft spongy cake melting on my tongue. So I baked. I squeezed lemons and combined eggs and butter and sugar (oh so much sugar!) and measured and mixed and poured and baked. The process is a healing one – there is a precision required in baking that you don’t necessarily need when cooking. While I’ve done it so much, I’m a little less precise in my measuring, in large part, baking is about science and chemical reactions and sometimes the act of following step by step instructions alongside the sensory effects is soothing. Eating cake is pretty soothing too.

–

I don’t know what to write here. I feel like my thoughts should be more coherent, but they’re not. I have a lot to talk about these days, but I don’t. The air is heavy and thick outside and there is a cake hidden out of the dog’s reach in my kitchen.

But I am making time for cake and coffee and laughter and friends and all of those things bring me much joy these days. And joy matters.

Filed Under: Mom Shtuff, Photography

Day 300

June 26, 2012 by sarah Leave a Comment

Today is the 300th day of my fourth year of my 365 Project.

For those of you mathy types, that means that by the time today ends, I’ll have taken (without fail) at least 1395 photographs to define the past 1395 days of my life*. And you know, if you know me, that I don’t just take one photograph a day – that odds are at the end of any given day I will have a selection of shots from that day to choose from.

Some are works I am truly proud of. Some are just okay. And some are just purely placeholders for lack of any better moments.

A year ago this morning, I stood on a beach in Muskegon with friends following the June Love Drop in Michigan. I know this because when I look back on my picture of the day, it’s a picture of the shadows on the beach at the edge of the water. That made me look up other shots from that morning, including the one above.

I also know that three years ago today, my daughters and I filled up massive amounts of water balloons and had an epic water balloon fight that was over in minutes.

I cannot believe a project that I joined on a whim has become such a big part of my life. When I began all these days ago, I was armed with a point and shoot and an iPhone camera and no real idea if I could stick with the project or that I would enjoy it. I certainly didn’t realize that I would fall in love with photography and in the midst of this whole deal find something that I truly love to do and am passionate about – that I would find yet another way to embrace my creative side and to show people a bit of a slice of how my brain works and how I see the world around me.

And so I am relieved when I look through these slices of my life – relieved that I have these moments captured – that I am tied to my memories by more than fleeting thoughts. My photographs make those moments concrete for me once more instead of letting them vanish.

When each year is over, I put all my pictures together and I watch them set to music – it’s roughly 12 minutes – and I watch a year go by, frame by frame. I watch it and I smile and I hurt and I laugh and I feel because it’s all still there, right in front of me in pictures.

And I’m grateful for that. Even with the bad pictures. (They’re not all good, y’all)

We never really know what a year will bring. You kind of have a vague idea at the start – birthdays, big events, trips planned – but those little moments, and not so little moments, they sneak up on you. And you have to embrace those too.

And I do. Daily. One at a time. Photo by photo. Year after year.

*So help me if my math is wrong and one of you corrects me, I just may cry. So don’t. Just…don’t.

Filed Under: Photography

Thursday Ten: Lemon Verbena is Disgusting edition

June 14, 2012 by sarah Leave a Comment

1. Yes, lemon verbena smells gross (what’s a verbena?) but the scent of it means that my house is CLEAN – at least until I finish all of these lemon-verbena products and I can get something that doesn’t have a cringe-worthy scent. I spent quite a bit of time the other night cleaning the house and trying to unclutter. The end result is that it looks quite a bit better and it feels less chaotic to my brain. I’m really trying to eliminate chaos where I can. With the kids being home with a sitter all day during the summer months, it gets messier than usual (ESPECIALLY THE KITCHEN!) – it’s hard to keep up with it.

2. My sister invited me to go out to dinner with her last night, and she arranged for our mom to watch my daughters and hers. It was nice – we ate tons of chips and salsa and talked. It really is nice that we can do that now – I was ten when she was born, and we shared a room. I remember when she learned to climb out of her crib and she’d come wake me up. It’s kind of nice that she’s a friend now – back then, I wouldn’t have thought that the age difference would allow it. Guess it’s hard to see it that way when you’re changing diapers!

3. Pumpkin’s favorite song of the summer so far seems to be Train’s “Drive By”. It seems that Train is contractually obligated to produce at least one hook-heavy radio-friendly tune every year. “Drive By” is this year’s “Hey Soul Sister.”

4. I am feeling the need to take advantage of the summer months in a way that I haven’t in a long time. I mean, I’m pretty sure I’ve never taken the girls to spend the day at the beach. Ever. Granted, I think I always figured that Pumpkin was just too young, but she’s nearly seven and I’m being ridiculous. This summer, I’ll take my daughters to the beach. Not sure what else – but surely there’s summery stuff to do that we haven’t been doing in years past. I think we need a summer to-do list.

5. I made dinner the other night (that’s not the part that is blog worthy. I make dinner frequently) and both kids liked it. They liked it enough to have seconds. THAT is the part that’s blog worthy. It was kind of a spicy dish too – so the fact that The Princess liked it so much kind of blew me away. So, I’ll definitely be filing that away in my brain to make again. Cooking is so much more rewarding when you’re not serving a meal to people who are turning their noses up at it.

6. Last week, I went grocery shopping and while I was looking for the basil, I found oodles of fresh mint. I decided that mojitos sounded good. I made a great mint-infused simple syrup and then followed the directions I found online. The verdict? Meh. I’ve had better. But it was pretty.

7. I shot my niece’s three-month portraits on Sunday evening. I’m pretty pleased with how they turned out. Makes it a bazillion times easier because she’s so cute – but yep, pretty cute. Also, how is she three months old already? I remember waiting for my sister to go into labor!

8. I was going to write about how yesterday’s cooler weather was a relief from the hot weather we’d been having but I just went outside and it was miserable. So never mind.

9. It’s been a long time since I’ve written a real blog post here, and I feel like I should write something. I will. Soon. I’m sure you’ll be entertained BECAUSE I AM ENTERTAINING, DAMMIT.

10. I am fascinated by the differences when one common thing is photographed by so many. This happens often with landmarks – Golden Gate Bridge, Flatiron Building in New York, or even more locally to West Michigan, the red lighthouse building thing on the Holland Pier. It’s amazing that varying details – the angle, the perspective, the processing, the distance, the camera settings – can make the same thing look SO DIFFERENT. I was just looking at ferris wheel pictures the other day thinking this – all the same ferris wheel (by the way, if you ever want me to GET ON A FERRIS WHEEL, be prepared to work very hard to convince me. I hate them), but the images were all so different. Sure, some commonalities remain, but it’s amazing just how much you can make something your own when you capture it.

Filed Under: Mom Shtuff, Photography, Thursday Ten

Thursday Ten: It’s ALMOST WALK WEEKEND! edition

May 17, 2012 by sarah 1 Comment

1. It’s finally here! Tomorrow, I’ll head to Boston (I’ve never been there!) for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and I’ll walk 39.3 miles (or somewhere over 40 miles in Avon miles… their mile measurements never seem quite right!) to support breast cancer research and programs to help those with the disease. I’m SO excited (but still a little freaked about the airplane because y’all…airplanes). It will be a good weekend, the weather looks like it’s gonna be great (maaaaybe a bit too warm, but, I’ll get over it), and I can’t wait to spend time walking with friends for a good cause.

2. In anticipation of my trip out of town and a bit of missed time at work, I haven’t been out and about as much during my lunch hours to take pictures. I haven’t even really taken lunch the past few days. I miss that time mid-day with my camera in hand. It means that my picture of the day could very well be… my lunch? Yawn. Sorry.

3. The Home button on my iPhone is being severely cranky and a bit of a Google search tells me that this is a) common and b) likely easily remedied by cleaning it out. I should probably try giving it a whirl with the cleaning idea because it’s DRIVING ME NUTS to push that button and have NOTHING happen.

4. Yesterday, The Princess made cookies for me to take on my trip. She knows I love cookies – she recently made me cookies for mother’s day. However, she was following a Rachael Ray recipe and mid-process realized we didn’t have enough flour and there were no chocolate chips (I think they’re just hidden in the fridge… seems like we have some). My girl altered the recipe, omitting the chocolate, mixing all-purpose flour with whole wheat and you know what? They’re PRETTY GOOD. Kinda proud of her getting creative with baking.

5. I asked for some recommendations for new music to add to my iPod for my trip, and got several recommendations. One of my favorite recent additions is “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons (h/t to Amanda for the recommendation).

6. Found out yesterday that the awesome card thing that has been going on was coordinated for me through Hallmark’s CARD SHOWER program (You can find info on their website). I can’t even describe how cool it is, and how much it’s lifted me. The Card Shower makes it easy for someone to set up such a thing – for whatever the occasion – and I’m grateful someone took the time to do that for me.

7. And also in the music category, that which is old is new again? Added some old stuff to the music library this week, which is why Dido’s “Here With Me” has been stuck in my head all morning.

8. I need to go bathing suit shopping. I bought my last suit at an outlet mall somewhere in Maryland while out of town to shoot a wedding (it’s a Gap suit, I think), and if I’m remembering correctly, it was a mildly traumatic experience. Nooooot so much looking forward to doing it again.

9. The airline called me this morning to check in for my flight. It kind of freaked me out and I hung up on them. That was probably an inappropriate reaction. Also, I hate flying. But, I did check in online and am good to go now.

10. How many times have I listened to Augustana’s “Boston” in anticipation of my trip? Eleventy, but mostly because of shuffle. Love that song. I wonder if it annoys the people in Boston.
I think I need a sunrise, I’m tired of the sunset…

Filed Under: Do Good Feel Good, Photography, Thursday Ten

Thursday Ten: Talking About Things edition

May 10, 2012 by sarah 1 Comment

1. First things first, because you know I’d mention it and I’mma get it out of the way and then move on. Season Two of The Voice ended with Chris Mann placing fourth and while I am tremendously bummed that he didn’t win it (OH THE TALENT, Y’ALL), I have faith that good things are in store for him. Besides, does anyone even know who won Season 1 of The Voice? I sure don’t. He’ll find his way – that I’m sure of. It was just really nice to see his face on my TV for all those weeks. Quite nice indeed.

2. In the midst of feeling massive amounts of stress lately my friends had bombed me with love in the forms of cards in the mail and random texts and DMs on Twitter. It feels amazingly good to know I have such great people in my corner. It makes my heart lighter to feel loved and I appreciate it.

3. A week from tomorrow, I’ll be on a plane (GAH) heading for Boston for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. This will be my FOURTH Avon Walk, and I’m excited and nervous. I’ve never been to Massachusetts and I’m looking forward to seeing so much of a new place over the few days I’m there.

4. I wasn’t going to mention it – because I don’t do politics here – but I’m pretty damn pleased that President Obama voiced his support for same-sex marriage yesterday. Whether or not you think it’s a ploy to get votes in an election year, or whether you believe his sincerity — it’s still huge and I am tremendously glad he took that step in that direction. I am choosing to tune out the haters about it – because who has time for hate? Not me.

5. So, it’s totally rational when feeling stressed out to make massive changes to your hair. Cut three inches off the bottom and colored it (myself! Can you tell?!). I think I’ll be taking it a little darker soon and getting rid of some of the red, because WHOA.

6. Tonight The Princess has a school musical. I added it to my iPhone calendar a month ago. Never thought about it since. The reminder popped up last night. Her teacher sends reminders about EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME. Not this. Soooo… guess I have plans tonight. Don’t get me wrong – I love love love seeing my kids involved in school and shining their light and being their best – but apparently there are TWO HUNDRED KIDS IN THIS PERFORMANCE. 200.

7. I posted briefly last night about my intent to write more and I meant it. Some of that writing will fill this space. Not all of it, but some. I love writing, and I want to find my way back to it.

8. I haven’t downloaded anything new lately that wasn’t The Voice related (see #1) or wasn’t for the kids (which is how “TTYLXOX” popped up on Shuffle this morning). What are you listening to these days?

9. While I am working to make writing a bigger part of my life again, my time with a camera in my hands remains some of my favorite waking time. I cannot imagine not having this outlet. I love getting to show people the way I see things. Needing to find a way to keep challenging myself and seeing things differently.

10. It’s Mother’s Day weekend approaching – so if you are a mom, have a mom, know a mom, have heard of this strange concept called “mom”, or whatever. Enjoy yourself. Or don’t. But if you’re not enjoying yourself, can you make some waffles for me? I’d like to celebrate this whole mom thing.

Filed Under: Do Good Feel Good, Mom Shtuff, Photography, Thursday Ten

Thursday Ten: There’s No Witty Subject Line edition

April 19, 2012 by sarah 1 Comment

1. First and foremost, congrats to my dear sweet friend who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl yesterday. I’m guessing that she won’t see this post until the middle of the night while she’s awake with a baby… maybe days or weeks down the road… but, WHOOHOO! Congratulations and much love to your family.

2. I’m not always the biggest fan of Grand Rapids so I try to embrace the things about it that I love. This week, not only did I have a spectacular cappuccino (I may never look at Starbucks the same again), I found a great shop that makes these awesome desserts in house in their cute store. Had a taste of an amazing chili sea salt brownie the other day – frankly, that worried me slightly but it was SO GOOD (can you really go wrong with chocolate and sea salt?).

3. Was thrilled and over the moon excited to see Chris Mann advance to the next round on The Voice. While I admittedly LOATHE Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” (as you know), Chris’s version was better than Coldplay’s (much as I adore him, though, I really really hope he doesn’t revisit the Coldplay catalog in the next round). Rooting for you, Chris!

4. What am I reading now? Well, I just started John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. I’m not far enough into it to give a decent review, but so far, I’m interested in reading what happens next, and I’ll probably be able to tell you more about it next Thursday.

5. Massive winds whipped through Michigan earlier in the week – sent the kids’ trampoline flying across the backyard and into our fence. I don’t know if it’s gonna be salvageable, but man, The Princess is heartbroken at the thought of that trampoline being out of commission.

6. I have decided I need a new project! Why? It’s not as though I need more ways to spend time – god knows, my time is at a premium as is. I just need to find things that are fun and challenge my desire to utilize my creative brain in different ways. I’m not sure if it’s a photography project, or a baking project, or hey, maybe I need to tackle some new challenges to get myself back into the swing of writing again… I’m not sure. Ideas?

7. Sometimes I think that I should decorate with white Christmas lights all year also. While I guess the look could say, “I’m too lazy to take my lights down”, to me, it’s kinda joyous and whimsical and pretty.

8. I am so way overdue for having my eyebrows waxed. If you’ve seen me lately and wondered about the caterpillar on my head… I’m sorry. I really need to get better at making time for the important things.

9. It’s funny, I went over ten years without having a hamburger and right now (perhaps because I am chew-my-arm-off starving!) I am craving one. I did not plan for lunch very well today and have spent far more time than I care to admit thinking of food. Frankly, this post has been excessively about food… Sorry. Guess sometimes I just write what I know.

10. A month from today I’ll be wrapping up day 1 of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer – 26.2 miles. It’s a lot and I’m so very excited because even though it’s hard work, it’s a great deal of fun for such a good cause. Time’s flying! I’ve never seen Boston before, and I haven’t seen my walking team in awhile. So much looking forward to it.

Filed Under: Books and Stuff, Photography, Thursday Ten