A Day In The Life...

How often have you felt envious of someone? Whether for their status, wealth, health, possessions, success, family, etc..This list could go on forever. Because for me, I unfortunately do this everyday. It's not the greatest way to live, constantly comparing yourself to others, and I am not proud or boisterous of it. But it is what I have done, for as long as I can remember. It has become part of who am I.

Sad, right? Well I have been working on it over the years, and have gotten a little better! The main reason being, I think this thought:: "What if I put myself in their shoes, lived their life, for just one day?" I always remember this. No matter WHAT the circumstance - good, bad, happy, sad - because everybody has a story. A history that has made them that person you find yourself envious of {in one way or another} today.

The grass is not always necessarily greener on the other side! When I think about my struggles, failures, success, hopes, dreams and wishes, I stop to think about everyone else. Because they too, have all these. They have had to work hard, and no doubt struggle with somethings, at one point or another.

So I try to keep this in mind. About every aspect. If I am having a bad day, I try to remember that my bad day may just be somebodies version of a GREAT day! And visa versa. No matter what your circumstances, there will ALWAYS be others out there {somewhere} who have it better, and who have it worse.

Too often I take my life for granted. And when I realize this, it makes me angry! Because I know first hand, how short life truly is. It is something to be cherished and proud of! Every second of everyday is honestly a miracle, in it's own right. So I am doing my best to remember all of this! This post is in a way, my own personal reminder to myself - the bright pink post it on the dashboard - to forget about what everyone else has! To focus {and worry about} ME, MYSELF and I. To work as hard as I can to succeed in what I want to accomplish, and find MY best ways to reach MY goals!

While I am totally not all about "Me, Me, Me", sometimes in this life you have to be! Because after all, there is only ONE you, and you will never be duplicated!

XoXo

Touch Up Tuesday - Little Man

Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure of meeting some of my mom's co-workers, one of which wanted ME to take some practice photos of her handsome little {2 month-old} guy!

How could I pass up a chance to practice, or to play with this little man! 
Here is shot from yesterday, for today's Touch Up Tuesday ~

SOOC::

AFTER::

The touch-ups were simple - cropped the bottom out, added a little fill light, and a slight glow. Voila! I am pleased!

Music Monday:: GLEE

I have recently jumped onto the "GLEEK" wagon - and I am actually enjoying it! I know a lot of people who can't stand this show, or it's music, but I do love musicals {go ahead and laugh}! And I believe that the people who perform these songs are truly talented and should be the ones who are recognized. Rather than the performers who call themselves singers, because they add a synthesizer. For the most part, their versions of the songs they perform are usually better than the originals {now that's saying something}!

In fact, I have recently purchased a few of the soundtracks, and they are quit FUN to sing along to! Not only can these people SING, but they can PERFORM! The show is entertaining, and has sucked me in...I know that it has a cult following, and now I guess I am one of them!  I am surprised by myself {really} that I haven't joined in before - what with my obsession with music and all! But hey, better late than never!

Has Anyone Seen the Time?

This past week completely slid through my hands. Where did it go? If you find it, can you please let it know that I have been looking for it, and would like it back? Thanks!

As much as I love being busy and getting things done, over with, and taken care of, sometimes it just exhausts me! The past week left me no time, really, to enter any of the weeks photo challenges that I had in mind...ARGH! So I am hoping that this week, though still jammed packed with busy goodness, I will be able to set aside a few hours a day {preferably not during the night} to find some inspiration. Wish me luck? OK, you don't have to - just a passing thought! 

In another thought:: I had one of my most favorite families of all time come visit me this weekend - The Bechens! I had not seen them for quit awhile, and it felt good to have some adults our age to hang with! It is a four hour trek from one house to the other, so I know it's not always the funnest drive. Especially since they have two beautiful kids of their own! I have made the trek their way a few times with Em, and it makes for a LONG day! But well worth the visit! We were able to take advantage of the few hours of SUNLIGHT that we had, and headed outside! 

I am not sure how people have 3 or more kids...They are all-over-the-place exhausting! Fun and adorable, but exhausting! 
P.S. ~ I am hoping to make at least ONE photo challenge either today or tomorrow. We shall see!

Busy Bee!

What a busy little bee I have been! Working, preschool, dentist appointments, photo taking, park outings, errand running and out-of-town visitors:: My oh My! But I wouldn't have it any other way! 

So for the next couple of days I will most likely be on hiatus. I will just be getting busier as the days pass, but I will do my best to keep up! In the meantime, I must post a few pictures I snapped today while at the park, of the cutest little 10 month old girl, whom I happen to nanny! Take a gander, and let me know what you think!

CUTIE, right?!

Touch Up Tuesday

This is my first time joining in on Touch Up Tuesday. It's pretty fun! I think I will start using this challenge as a way to better my editing skills and techniques. So without further adieu, I give you...

SOOC::

AFTER::

As most of you professionals can tell, I played with the exposure and lightened the shadows. Nothing too Fancy Pants, but I am pretty happy with the end result! 
P.S. ~ I HEART THIS KID!

Music Monday:: Pick of the Week

Anyone who knows me, knows that my coffee & music obsessions go hand in hand. Which just so happens to be how I am starting off my Monday morning! With iTunes blaring, and coffee in hand. That makes this Music Mondays theme very much appropriate ~ Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week.

How many of you frequent Starbucks dwellers have noticed the Pick of the Week card sitting on the coffee bar? I have! They choose a handpicked song selection each week, and let you download it for FREE! And I don't know about you, but I LOVE FREE! Each week is a different song, and a different artist. Whenever I actually make it INSIDE of the store {I usually just drive thru with Emma}, I make it a point to check it out and see what they've got served up that day. And whenever my Mother-In-Law makes it inside the store, she makes sure to snag one up for me too! 

Most recently I snagged a new Adele song {I heart her}. And one my favorites that I found was an Eddie Vedder song, entitled "Better Days". Anyways, the moral of this story is take advantage of FREE MUSIC! After all, you never know what you might come across ~ You may just find your new favorite artist! 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

This is my very first post from our brand spanking new iMac computer! We have been in serious need of a new computer for YEARS! So we saved for a little while, and bit the Big One! We bucked up and purchased what we have wanted for quit awhile! An iMac, and we are LOVING it! Anywho...today marks my first entry of Scavenger Hunt Sundays::

1. CAMERA PHONE

#2 CAMERA

#3 SHOES

#4 CHAIR {BENCH}

#5 IMPERFECTION


{For some reason Blogger is not letting me copy & paste the code for the button, so here is the LINK to Ramblings and Photos}

The Paper Mama Photo Challenge: Green

This is my first time entering a photo challenge, and I thought it sounded like fun! My example of Green::

Photo Friday:: Spring

To kick off my version of Photo Friday, I have chosen a picture that I did not take {I don't believe that I have taken enough to show anything off yet}. Since I am longing for Spring, I found a picture that depicts it perfectly {for me}!



Photo found on weheartit

To me, everything about this just screams SPRING! OH, how I have been seriously craving for some sunshine and blue skies!



Just The Beginning

I would like to start this post by giving a shout out to all of those who have been supportive of me on my Creative Journey! After all, it has only just begun!

X's and O's to you all!

It's not like I am Irish or anything, but green just so happens to be my favorite color. So today, I think I am going to practice snapping some shots of things that are green - we'll see how that goes! Mainly, however, I would like to share a few shots that I captured yesterday. Em and I went outside and wondered around our property for a bit. Granted, it was cloudy and quit cold, but these are what I have come up with so far

{keep in mind, these are all SOOC}::

This is Porch Kitty, who adopted us



Meet our Yard Bunnies, who live under our shed

 

My personal Favorite!

* Feel free to let me know what you think! *

Doing the Happy Dance!

It's here! It's here! My camera has arrived {as of yesterday}! And ever since it appeared on my doorstep, I cannot seem to put it down! I can't stop playing with it to see what it can do, or what I can do. Which obviously isn't much at this point!

My hopes and dreams are that I am able to catch on to this so naturally, that I am like a fish in water! But we shall see...

In the meantime, I have joined an online photography community, and I figured that maybe if I join in a few photo challenges that are swimming all over the net, that maybe it will help me. Even if only a little bit. I don't see how it could hurt!

Well I'm off to continue playing with my new toy!

Happy Wednesday!

Late Night Inspirations

While laying in bed starring at my ceiling, I realized that I could be doing something much more productive with my wasted time:: becoming Inspired. And so I have.

I thought I might share with you a mixture of different photographs that inspire me in one way or another. Each one in their own right, and all for different reasons. I cannot help but to find all of these beautiful and eye catching. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I do!

{all photos found on weheartit}