Housewife

A photog friend and I have been planning to do a 1950's advertisement and pin-up photo shoot for sometime now but never seemed to find the time to do a test run. Well, last weekend we finally found the time to do some "test" photos. Since I will be acting as the artistic director for the shoot; organizing shoot times, designing outfits and gathering props, I opted to be the model for the test run. Mike (the photog) and I learned a lot from the test run. We learned that we will definitely need someone to do hair and make-up in order to nail to 50's look. We also learned that creating the right "look" relies heavily on the "movement" of the photo and how the model is posed.

Hopefully sometime this summer, we will be able to do the full pin-up shoot and gather some models who want to have some fun recreating 1950's advertisements and pin-up shoots. If anyone is interested in modeling, let me know and we will be sure to call you when we schedule the shoot.

A Poem A Day . .

Just found some old poetry from my "moody" teenage days. Some are actually good, atleast I think. Enjoy!

The shingles on the roof that protects the house Shakespeare grew up in.

Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

One day closer to spring . . .

Can you feel it? Everyday the air seems warmer and the frozen ground unthaws a little more. The days are getting longer, the storms are getting shorter, and I don't have to scrap off my car so often.

On another note, my friend Anna and Casey had their first born child today.

Welcome to the world Sofia Ibez!

My List of Love

1. Life-all of the ups, downs, and unexpected turns. Isn't it fabulous that we can experience so much in one lifetime!

2. Spring-when the air begins to smell sweeter and there is a hint of warmth in the breeze.

3. Summer-short shorts, sandles, and sun burns. And most of all, the wonderful memories that summer always seems to be puctuated with.

4. Fall-colors, colors, colors! There is nothing better than living in a kaleidescope of color!

5. My boyfriend-he is super great. I can never wait to see what adventures we can add to our memory book.

6. Forever best friends-Kayla, you are the best friend I could ever have and I am lucky that our friendship just keeps going.

7. The golden hour-that time of day when the setting sunlight peers through the blinds and fills the room with most amazing warmth and glow! If I am lucky enough to see that time of day, my window and curtain will be wide open to let in the sun for those precious moments.

8. Family-I have a pretty great one, wouldn't trade them for the world.

9. Heartbreak-it's a hard thing to love but I appreciate every heartbreak that I've endured. The lessons learned have been invaluable.

10. Puppies-wouldn't this world be a terrible place if there were no puppies in it?

Just a fun look back one year ago, this is a photo I took on an afternoon walk on February 14, 2010.

A Quick Getaway

This year for Christmas, Steve surprised me with an overnight stay in Park City along with a nice dinner. Although the weekend threw us some curve balls, we still managed to find the time to enjoy ourselves in the snow covered mountains.

Steve and I stayed in the Yarrow Hotel just outside of downtown Park City. The room had a kitchenette, king sized bed, and a fireplace.

After finding a place to park, we walked a little bit of main street to our restaurant, Café Terigo. We definitely looked a little out of place at the restaurant in our dressy clothes but we thought an expensive restaurant meant you were supposed to dress nice. Everyone around us was wearing casual clothes and looked like they just came off of the mountain. I guess one major difference between Salt Lake and Park City is that a pricey restaurant in the valley means you a dress up and a pricey restaurant in Park City isn’t expensive at all.

The next day, before heading home, Steve and I stopped at the outlet stores and did a little after Christmas shopping. We didn’t buy much but it was nice to be away from the inversion and outside in the clean, fresh air.

The quick getaway was fabulous and exactly what I needed although a longer weekend would have been better. There is another hotel we want to try in Park City so our plan is to visit Park City in the summer and enjoy its cooler temperatures.

New Year, New Decade . . .

New Year, new decade, new goals. New Year’s Eve rolled around and the questions about new year’s resolutions popped-up but I had no answer to give. 2010 was a BIG year for me, I checked off many of my bucket list items and I achieved all the goals I had set out for myself. So when 2011 came swooping in, it caught me by surprise that my list was essentially complete, all of my boxes had been checked; I graduated from college, traveled out of country, landed a job, and saved some money. 

It is a little daunting to look at a blank slate, especially a slate that was once a list that took 22 to years to complete. What other worthy goals could grace my life check list? Well that’s maybe where I need some help. I need some help redefining my goals, discovering my new found potential. 

General ideas are floating around in my head but nothing solid. The thought of one day going to Graduate school is somewhat appealing to me. Traveling some more sounds like a great goal but it is so hard to decide where to go. 

I do know that I want to put some effort toward strengthening my friendships and relationships. Now that school can’t get in the way of my free time, I feel I owe it to reconnect with those who have been great friends over the years.  

I also want to expand my photography portfolio. I feel like I have plateaued and my photography has become stagnant. I want my photos to stop people in their tracks and evoke strong emotions. I want to be more consistent with my photographic work and I want to become more adept when it comes to posing and directing people.

As for long term goals in the next Decade and beyond, I feel I have the common goals; get my own place, maybe get married, climb the career ladder. But as for now I am completely undecided, nothing has been set in stone. 

Hopefully as the year progresses, resolutions and goals will formulate . . . but for the time being I will just exist.

Christmas

I am not a huge fan of the holidays. In my mind they are chaotic, too commercial, and too rushed but I always try to do some holiday activites to capture what I can of the season. Here is a look at the festivites of 2010.

 First, we went and saw the lights at Temple Square.

Next, dinner with friends.

Then, Christmas Eve dinner with Steve's family.

And giving the perfect gift to two Star Trek nerds.