a new day..

i'm back
it's been a while
life has changed for me
but i like it that way :)
i'm at a new chapter in my photography
all the sappy quote filled photos i swore i would never do
ah c'est la vie

 

 
  

 

I

when all have gone.

sometimes you have to wonder if it's all worth it

all of the worrying and shame

the things you've tried to get love

there really isn't anything left in the end

in the end your just living alone in a broken house

the people you've loved have gone

footprints of dirt line the halls

reminders of things gone before

there was a time lights were left on

carelessly, shamelessly

now the house is dark and shuttered

people pass by without truly seeing

there used to be life

both in you and the house

now both are wrecks

breaking under the weight of remorse

if you could push a button

to bring everything back to the way it was

you would, 

with the final weight of  your last breath

thanks.

To Make You Feel My Love - Adele

so things have been tense with my parents lately, and the more i've been thinking about it, the more i realize how amazing my parents have been to me. this song by Adele describes the unconditional love i've been given by my parents. i can't thank them enough.

When the rain is blowing in your face

And the whole world is on your case

I could offer you a warm embrace

To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear

And there is no one there to dry your tears

I could hold you for a million years

To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet

But I would never do you wrong

I've known it from the moment that we met

No doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue

I'd go crawling down the avenue

No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do

To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rolling sea

And on the highway of regret

Though winds of change are blowing wild and free

You ain't seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true

Nothing that I wouldn't do

Go to the ends of the earth for you

To make you feel my love

(Songwriter credit Bob Dylan) 

oh the songs in my head..

happiness hit her

like a train on a track

happiness hit her

like a bullet in the back...

run fast for your mother

run fast for your father

run for your children

for your sisters and your brothers

leave all your love and

 longing behind 

you can't carry it with you

if you want to survive

   -the dog days are over-

~florence and the machine~

    

Monday Mugs...Winter Wonderland

Monday Mugs - Winter Wonderland

how fortunate that i just happen to have a photoshoot that i did with my friend amanda :)

enjoy!

more than words to me...

regret is a just a word...until it becomes your entire life

love is just a word...until it breaks your heart

peace is a just a word...until it tames
your soul

pain is a just a word...until it pulls you to pieces

happiness is just a word...until it lights up
 your life

fear is just a word...until you can't sleep at night

freedom is just a word...until you no longer have it

forgiveness is just a word...until it sets you free

Monday Mugs...Favorite Photos of 2010

i was super excited when i heard this monday mugs topic. however, choosing my favorite photos of 

twenty-ten has proven to be the harder than i thought it would be! 

to start this post off, i had the privilege of taking senior pictures for two lovely girls.

Caitlin

Emily

one of my favorite things to do is go on photoshoots with random people, just for fun! over the past couple months i've taken several photos that i absolutely love..

one day i was wearing a headband and my sister told me i looked like the karate kid. what else was i supposed to do except have a flying ninja photoshoot with my sisters?

this summer i had the privilege of working at a bible camp as a counselor. i have so many amazing memories from my time at camp and i love this picture of me and my friend Augusta..

our family took a weekend vacation in the upper peninsula of michigan this summer. this graffiti caught my eye and made me think..

beyond all the fun and games, i love going on artistic photoshoots with my family and friends

my little sister anna..

amanda..

                   this was taken after a friends wedding. i love the lighting in this picture

                             i love the look of excitement and innocence on my little sister lani's face

 I also took another one of my favorite pictures of my sisters friend kelsie. 

     only twelve but already a heartbreaker!

             this is one of my hands down favorite edited picture. i love this picture of my little sister anna.

             this picture always evokes a sense of peace for me...

                                   the oredock is the pride and joy of my new hometown...

i am oh so proud of this picture, the slightly (ok a lot) morbid brainchild of me and my friend amanda

i love the jungle feeling of this photo

embracing individuality

The nail that sticks out is hammered down. 

   Japanese Proverb

its amazing how, in a world so individual, so unique that everyone tends to band themselves together into common rationales and thought patterns...if enough people dislike Justin Bieber, he is suddenly anathema, if enough hipsters dislike Urban Outfitters, the store is suddenly jinxed, if enough people decide they love Ugg Boots, the boots will sell out until people find something new to follow...

I have come to understand this as the herd mentality, now its not like this is brand new concept, it was in the Bible for crying out loud. herd mentality is so frustrating to me because it takes away the individuality every person has inside them. every person doesn't want to stick out and so they end up listening to the same things and talking about the same things.

at the same time there are many people who have decided they would never conform to this mentality, goths, indie peeps and hipsters, the problem i have with these non-conformists is that they are so quick to shove their "different" views and choices in your face. like if you haven't heard of the right band you're just another cog on the wheel of conformity and corn fed complacency.

to me individuality isn't about  listening to the most obscure bands or having the quirkiest clothes. To me individuality is about being you. no other person in the world has had the exact same childhood as you, no one has the exact same thoughts as you, and no one has the exact same interests as you do. i know so many people who don't think they have a personality, who hide behind other peoples shadows. don't!! even in your shyness you are unique..


individuality [ˌɪndɪˌvɪdjʊˈælɪtɪ]

n. pl. in-d-vid-u-al-i-ties

1. distinctive or unique character or personality

2. the qualities that distinguish one person or thing from another; identity

i consider individuality as being your own person, liking things that you like because you like them..making your own decisions without letting others make them for you, thinking for yourself and asking your own questions. 

think about it? are you conforming?? is there something that you like, but no one else does? is there something that you really want to do, but no one else is interested?  go on..be yourself :)

put that on repeat

so, an eight hour roadtrip to lansing iowa..what's the one thing you need? 

if you said music, you know me too well!

my love - crash kings..loving the retro beatles feel of this song

heaven's on fire - radio dept..i like the editorial piece at the beginning of this song that makes you think, i also like the catchy lyrics 

jar of hearts - christina perri...I fell in love within two seconds of this song, her voice, the lyrics, the beautiful acoustic feeling and the vocal harmony..perfection

sun in my pocket - locnville...a mellow pop song sung by deep voiced twins is something you don't really find that often, beyond the novelty i like the rhythm of this song and the fact it calms me down after a 

tough day

closer than far - viva voce...a simple guitar hook and a breathy female lead building to a great chorus, reminding me of the soft rock songs of the early 2000s

sweet disposition - the temper trap...i know this song has gotten a lot of play lately and i'm a little behind the times, but i have rediscovered my love for this melodic song

strip me - natasha bedingfield...its only a matter of time before this song becomes a huge, overplayed top 40s hit. this is a fighting for individuality anthem, declaring "i'm just one voice in a million, but you ain't taking that from me"

non believer - crash kings...ok ok, this is the second crash kings song on this list, but i can't help it! this song wakes me up every time it comes on, the powerful voice of the male singer and the beautiful piano chords that help move the song from verse to chorus captivate me every. single. time. 

sleepyhead (acoustic version) - passion pit...the acoustic version of this originally techno/house song is weird, weird in that you can actually understand what the male singer is saying! combine that with piano playing and i'm hooked

radioactive - kings of leon...i remember the first time i listened to kings of leon, my first thought was "yuck!" now i laugh at my poor, heathenish attitude about such a great band. this song has all of their signature trademarks, a driving beat, good old fashioned wailing by the lead male singer and a catchy chorus

so light is her footfall - air...every time i hear this song i immediately think of a spy movie. every time! i love the sense of mystery about this song, the hushed singing, muted bass and quiet assembled bells and whistles in the background

in for the kill - la roux...i just love this song, the lead singer (elly jackson) wrote this song about telling someone how you feel..the great techno threads of this song tie in perfectly with her high, clear voice

so thats what's been playing (and playing and playing) on my ipod these days..how about you??

oh yeah, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

i hope God blesses you and yours wherever you are!

Monday Mugs...Best Friends

i'm new to the Monday Mugs postings, i wasn't planning to blog this week, but when i heard the topic

 i couldn't resist.

best friends...

there are so many people when jump to my mind when i hear those two words. so many people have accepted me, laughed with me, cried with me, for that i consider myself truly blessed.

best friends come in all shapes and sizes

Anna

meet my little sister anna, i think she summed up our relationship one day when she told me i was like her built in best friend. its so true, not only do i have an amazing little sister, i have an amazing friend in anna.

Anna

she puts up with my crazy..

Anna

she makes me laugh...i mean really laugh

Anna

she's always willing to play along with whatever crazy scheme i'm cooking up...

Anna

she's my little baby sister...

Anna

did i mention she makes me laugh???  

as i mentioned, best friends come in all shapes and sizes, they also characterized by the things they do

 and the way they take care of you

Lauren

a best friend is someone who can see you at your worst, and love you afterwards...

Shania

a best friend is a beautiful little girl who will call you on the phone and chatter on about her day just because she wants to talk to you...

Amanda

a best friend is someone who will listen to your problems and then let you be hurt, upset or sad for a while, and then pull you back to your feet...

Mom

a best friend is a mother who takes care of you, loves you and makes you clean your room

 every once and a while..

Ellen

a best friend is someone who can live over a thousand miles away and yet you still feel close...

all in all, i consider myself blessed to have amazing friends like these

To see other best friend pictures

click over to Oswald Cuties