Photos Galore

I am a picture taking fanatic. I have never taken a photography class in my life (I do plan to when my schedule allows) but I am so hooked on capturing life moments. I have a Nikon Coolpix, but I cannot find the disc for it so I cannot upload my pictures to my MacBook. So, I have been using my iPhone to take pictures. For the most part it takes very good pictures. I have an iPhone 3GS. I hear the 4G takes spectacular pics, and since I am planning to get the iPhone 5 when it comes out next month, my hope is that the camera is even better on there!

When I learned about Project 365 I knew that I wanted to participate. I started it a couple years ago but never finished. 2012 is my year. Project 365 is a project where you take a picture a day for a year and document them anyway that you like. When I started it before I was doing it with the app, but quickly realized that there was no way to print out the pictures. Then I found out about Project Life, (www.BeckyHiggins.com) which is a book created by Becky Higgins where you can print your photos and insert them…kind of like a scrapbook. I have been a follower of Ali Edwards for a while, and I love her Project Life book. Here are a few photos. (You can see more at www.aliedwards.com)

I am torn between these two binders.

So, I am amped up and ready to start this project. One of my wishlist items is a Nikon D90. Until I buy one I am content to use my iPhone camera. Actually, it is probably more convenient.

Since I plan to do the scrapbook version of Project 365, I need a printer. I have found two printers, and I am leaning more towards a specific one.
The first one is the Canon Selphy. It is very compact so it won’t take up a lot of space. You just plug your camera into it and select your photos and print.

Although the Selphy is cute, the next printer is more of my style because it will allow me to dock my iPhone and print my photos directly from the phone. My plan is to purchase this along with the Project Life book before the end of the year so that I am ready when January 1 rolls around!

Have you ever thought about documenting a year of your life through photos? What’s holding you back?

Peace and Blessings,
Michelle

 

Some of the things I’m feeling right now…

This is a collage of some of the things that I am feeling right now. I will go clockwise and end with the center photo.

1. iPhone I have been in love with the iPhone for a long time. Instead of getting the iPhone when I upgraded the last time, I tried to give Sprint a chance. I got screwed for having done this. My bill went from $70 to $104 because of a lie told to me by one of the “customer service” folk. I am not going to do the whole two years on this contract. I disregarded the signs, and now I am paying.

2. Be Natural Tee As you all know, I am going natural. My wife bought this “Think outside the box” tee for me when I first decided that I wanted to start the journey. I love this tee, and the whole premise behind it.

 3. Natural Beauty This tee can be found on BNatural’s website also. It is linked above. I really like this one because of the definition on the shirt. It says, 1. One whose beauty radiates from the inside out. 2. One whose beauty does not rely on outside manipulation. 3. ME.

4. MacBook This has also been a long time love of mine. One day I will be able to go to the Apple Store and drop a thousand bones for it, but right now we’re trying to get our budget straight. But, just so you know, MAC is the best laptop out there.

5. Commitment My wife bought me a “Courage” print from this website. I searched the site and found the Commitment one. I work for the Board of Elections, and I know the importance of each vote. I know that my ancestors died for my right to vote, and I value that a lot. This will be the next print that I get.

6. ColorSplash App I don’t even have an iPhone yet, but I’ve searched the Apps on iTunes millions of times. The search for this one came about today. I am making Christmas cards for my co-worker Anna. She is a dog lover, and she plans to put her two dogs Odie and Pete on her cards. I plan to do the picture of them in black and white, and have their Santa outfits in Red and white. So, I did a search for a program that could do that, and ColorSplash was one of them.

7. Cable Cardigan I started knitting again, and was really excited about it. Then the holidays started approaching, and I began making cards to sell on my Etsy site. Now that I am pretty much done with that- except for making Anna’s cards, and the cards that my wife and I plan to send out – I can once again focus my attention on knitting. This sweater will be my first project. I am interested in seeing how long it will take me.

8. Celebrate Equality and Diversity in America If you read my blog, then you know that I am a lesbian. I am serious about diversity. It really pains me that we have not made more progress as far as diversity is concerned. I plan to get this tee shirt to wear to work on Casual Fridays.

9. Total Money Makeover This is where I am now. Working through Dave Ramsey’s money makeover plan. It is my goal to be debt free. No credit cards, nothing. I am so tired of being a slave to debt. It is so important to let this stuff go. We are planning a family, and when we do so, I don’t want any of the issues with debt to stand in our way.

10. African American Art Work I am so interested in African American art right now, especially when it has to do with women rockin’ natural hairstyles. This is a piece that I also want to get in our home. I think this would be a perfect addition. This decal can be purchased at Ten23Designs.

11. Golashes For some reason I have acquired this liking for Golashes. I am still looking for the perfect pair for me. I saw a cute pair in the DSW ad by Tommy Hilfiger. I have to go try them on to see how they fit. The last few times I tried some on they didn’t fit the way I wanted them to.

12. Nikon D90 Ok. This is another item that I have been wanting for a while. In case you all don’t know this about me, I will spend my last dime for others, but I am somewhat cheap when it comes to buying things for myself. This is on my “to buy” list.

13. Natural Hair I love anything to do with natural hair. I love to see photos of African American women rockin’ their natural hair styles. I love the way T’Keyah’s hair looks in this photo. This is my motivation. I am getting it cut tomorrow, and I will only have two inches of hair. This is what I have to look forward to.

 

Self Help

I have been very introspective over the past week or so. I have been thinking about things of the best, as well as present day things. I am thinking about my life now, and how I want more…not material things, but more in the way of relationships. I want to build a better relatinship with my wife. She is my heart, and I want her to feel that, to know that within herself. I want us to build a family together. I want the love that we feel for one another to grow stronger each day. I know some people drift apart or become complacent after marriage. I don’t want that for us. I want it to be new for us every day. Some may say that’s a lot to ask for, but I don’t believe so. I believe that it will take work, but I believe it can be done.

There are times in my life where I feel the need to get back to my center…the things that really matter. That’s where I am right now. I know that some things are more important than others, but at times I get away from myself. I allow wants to supercede needs. So, as a result of this, I am getting back to where I should be.

An example of this would be the fact that I have been wanting an iPhone for a long time. But, I had to look within myself and ask if that is really doable right now. After some back and forth talk within my head, I knew that I didn’t need the phone, and at this point in my life cannot afford it. So, I passed on that, and I bought a Samsung Instinct s30.  I must say, I love the phone.

Gotta have facebook on it...

There is another aspect in my life that I am dealing with. One of my cousins outed me to some of my Aunt’s on my mother’s side. She didn’t just out me, she told them about my wedding before I could. The one Aunt that she told took the story and ran with it. I am dealing with this right now. I have decided not to attend the family reunion in September because I don’t want to deal with the mess. I don’t want to put my wife through the mess. A few of my family members are telling me that I should go, that I have their support, but I am not feeling it.

I am also working up to forgiveness. I am hurt and I am angry with the cousin who did this. I am trying to work up to the point where I realize that some people are miserable, and when people are miserable they want company.

So, my wife bought the Maxwell CD. I put it on my iPod and I listened to it at work. I thought it was ok. I believe “Pretty Wings” is the best song on this CD. I think his last CD was so much better than this one. I loved every song  the last CD. I can remember buying it and putting it into the CD changer in my car and jammin’. It is very rare for me to like every song on an album, but I did with that CD.

After listening to the Maxwell CD, I thought I would give Day 26 a try. Why did I do that? Oh my goodness. I think some things are better left on the shelf. I thought I would try it because I liked one of the songs that they did on “Making the Band”, but this CD was a flop to me.

Well, I have to get up at 5 am to get ready for work, so I am going to say good night to you all. I leave my wife up working on her blog. She’s new to this, so please check her out and give her some support. MusicNMyHead.

Peace and blessings,

Michelle

 

could be doing something else

Sitting at work waiting for the Christmas party to start. They had us come in at 8 only to sit around waiting until the board meeting is over. I could be home in the bed with my baby. The party won’t start until 11, so until then, I am left to my own devices.

The company catered the Christmas party. I work for the Board of Elections and we FINALLY put the November 4th election to bed. It has been a long, hard road. Working 7 days a week, 18 and 19 hours a day since August. We are all so glad it’s finally over. I start my vacation next Tuesday and won’t return until after the New Year starts. I need a break.

As I said, they catered the Christmas party. They ordered a ham from Honeybaked Ham. They did the same last year, and the ham was cold. I mean, straight out of the refrigerator cold. I am sorry, but I do not roll with cold ham. I took a bite and my first thought was, “What the hell?” LOL So, this year I will pop mine in the toaster oven that we have in the break room.

It’s almost time for me to get a new phone. I am torn between two phones.

This phone is so sweet

I think I am leaning toward the iphone because the service plan is better. I love the sleek looking of the iphone as well, but the clicking noise of the Storm is somehow throwing a monkey wrench into my plans. If any of you have either of these phones, please contact me with your pros and cons.

Well, I am going to go to my desk and read my book. It’s starting to get really good. I am reading Someone to Catch My Drift by Jacqueline Powell.

Someone to Catch My Drift