Picture of the Day 235

August 23rd: John 5:19-47; 1 Chronicles 20:1-22:1; Zechariah 8

"Fish, to taste right, must swim three times - in water, in butter, and in wine."
―Polish proverb

Picture of the Day 234

August 22nd: John 5:1-18; 1 Chronicles 18-19; Zechariah 7

"Gardening is how I relax. It's another form of creating and playing with colors."
―Oscar de la Renta

Boyfriend Tee Heaven

Picture of the Day 233

August 21st: John 4:43-54; 1 Chronicles 17; Zechariah 6

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast."
―John Gunther

Picture of the Day 232

I heart my new 55mm f/1.8 lens...
August 20th: John 4:27-42; 1 Chronicles 16:7-43; Zechariah 5

"The safe way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket."
―Frank Hubbard

Picture of the Day 231

August 19th: John 4:1-26; 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:6; Zechariah 4

"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."
―Franz Kafka

Engagement: Danae & Adam

Wanna see pictures?

This isn't a SIKE moment, it's a redirecting you and presenting you with...

Courtney Ann Photography

This site will be where I'll post pictures from photo gigs I get. And maybe as I become a little more comfortable in Photoshop I'll post "how to's".

For awhile I'll also post links here, but be sure to bookmark or add Courtney Ann Photography to your favorites!

Picture of the Day 230

August 18th: John 3:22-36; 1 Chronicles 13-14; Zechariah 3

"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it."
―James Bryce

Picture of the Day 229

August 17th: John 3:1-21; 1 Chronicles 12; Zechariah 2

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself."
―Maya Angelou

Motivation Monday - Flattery

Picture of the Day 228

August 16th: John 2; 1 Chronicles 10-11; Zechariah 1

"Sing out loud in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children."
―Marilyn Penland

Should I feel bad?

I'm leaning towards no. Actually, no, I don't feel bad.

Why do I not feel bad do you ask? Well let me tell you.

A little over a month ago my long, long time ago ex found me on facebook and requested to be my friend. Fine, whatever, I can do that. Then he wanted to chat, which kept cutting out so he asked me to text and we'd catch up. Fine, whatever. I figured a few formalities and we'd be done and not "talk" for another 5 years.

Well, he apparently is lonely (and rightfully so being as he was in a really bad accident while on the job and is not paralyzed) and started bugging me to stop by his parent's house to see him. I'm not so comfortable with this, for obvious reasons.

It got to be that he would text me every couple days. I was always courteous and would reply back. And just about in every conversation he was bring up me stopping by.

Finally I couldn't take it any more and I flat out asked why he wants me to visit so bad. (Pretty much because we haven't seen each other in at least 6 years, so why now?) He responded with "nevermind." No, I wasn't let that happen, so I pushed it. Why do you want me to visit so bad? His response, "I've made a life for the past 6 years 2 hours away and it would be nice to see a friendly face 15 minutes away. "

Ok, I am a friendly face, I'll give him that. But why would he think that I'd just drop things to visit him. I told him that I'm honestly busy and am hardly home myself, that I always have something going on. His response, "Even when I worked 70 hour weeks I still made time for people." Yes, you know, that's true, even when I'm busy I'll make time for people. But these people that I make time for are my friends, people who have known me for years and who lift me up.

So that conversation was a few weeks ago. And I haven't heard from him since. And do I feel bad about that? No.

I can't worry about being cold hearted because I didn't visit an ex boyfriend of mine that years ago broke my heart and now happens to now be paralyzed. I can't add that to my list of things to worry about. I've forgiven. I forgave years ago. But that doesn't mean that I've forgotten. And it doesn't mean that I've forgotten to the point to being chummy with him.

Can you see where I'm coming from?

Picture of the Day 227

August 15th: John 1:35-51; 1 Chronicles 9; Haggai 1-2

"For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned."
―Benjamin Franklin

Picture of the Day 226

August 14th: John 1:19-34; 1 Chronicles 7-8; Zephaniah 3

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
-Zephaniah 3:17

Kaitlin: The Practice Dummy

So last Saturday I took pictures of a friend from high school and her new fiancee. I volunteered to do it as practice and just to see how I would do shooting people. Not places. Not landscape. Not flowers.

But I also knew that before I took pictures of Danae and Adam I should probably practice on someone else. Or at least go scope out CSUS for good locations.

So I went to my go to gal.

Kaitlin.

So let me show you what I did. What my pictures look like...

I love this one. It may actually be my favorite (or in the top 5). Doesn't it look like she's praising God?
She thought she was being so cute. Pretending to walk down an aisle. She's right, she was b
Scary face! Or is that the "oh no it's hideous" face?Just a cool look with the sun flare and the leaf.
She was getting way into the jehovah witness propaganda. NOT!Ain't nothin' wrong with laying on a bring wall wishing and dreaming.Isn't this one adorable? I think this was taken after she rolled down the hill (intentionally). Then Kait was just being goofy.Classic black and white.Embrace the freckles! Kaitlin's typical laughing face.
Pondering life.Something about this pictures speaks to me. The way the sun is reflecting off Kaitlin and the water. The sun flare. The warm feeling.Last picture because the sun had gone down.
So... What do you think? Did I do good?

What I learned is that I need to work at posing. I learned that even more come Saturday. With practice I'll get better. I'm just so used to taking the candid pictures of people in their natural element. Oh well, that's why I practiced.

Picture of the Day 225

August 13th: John 1:1-18; 1 Chronicles 5-6; Zephaniah 2

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."
―William Shakespeare

Testing

Checking to see if this iPhone app will upload pics and more than one.

Test

123

Help!

Ok, so most of you know that I like photography.

Shocker I know!

And what I've really wanted to do now for awhile was have some sort of watermark or marking on the pictures that I post. I want something simple, not too busy, doesn't interfere too much with the actual picture. I have photoshop, so the sky is the limit; but my knowledge of the programs full capabilities is not.

Why? Cause I'm proud! Not boastful, just proud of my work.

So I have a few options that I'd like your opinion on. Ready?

Option A:
Option B:
Option C:
Option D:
Side-by-Side Comparison:
Now which do you like?

I know that I like something in one of the bottom corners. Most likely white, unless it's a light picture in which it'll be black.

Also, what should I call myself? Currently it says "Courtney Ann Photography". Should it say something different?

HELP!

(fyi, yes, this would be a picture of Kaitlin from my practice photo shoot that you have yet to see pictures of. i'm getting to it!)

Picture of the Day 224

August 12th: 2 Corinthians 13; 1 Chronicles 3-4; Zephaniah 1

"My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass."
―Leslie Grimutter

21 days and counting

Counting down that is!

In 3 weeks. 3 WEEKS! I leave for Florida. Although, I do have an overnight stay in Seattle. In which I still need to book a hotel room. Dont' worry, I will, I've got time. 21 days still.

Let me tell you. I'm ready for this vacation. I'm ready to get out of California. I'm ready for a break from work. I'm ready to go somewhere new. (that's right, I've never been to Florida.) I'm ready to see a friend that I haven't seen in many months. I'm ready.

All I have to do is pack.

Oh, and get my hair done. My appointment is on the 25th.

And the eyebrows! My oh my, they need attention. While I get the eyebrows done I might as well get the toes done too. Right?

So here's the big question...

WHAT DO I PACK??? What kind of weather shall I expect while I'm there?

I've been told (which may or may not happen...) that I'm not allowed to bring my giant suitcase. You know, the kind that is the size of a steamer trunk that can easily hold WAY over 50 pounds worth of clothes, shoes, make-up, toiletries, etc. I'm going to try my darnedest to fit it all into a "reasonable" size suitcase.

But let's me honest here, this is me packing. I'm packing for about 11 days. I took the giant suitcase for 5 days to Southern California.

I was told that "If you bring that giant suitcase I'm going to be SO embarrassed.", "Are you sure that thing will even fit in a car? What about an SUV? Are we going to need a trailer to get it to my parent's house? It's not like you're coming to Alaska in the winter. All you need is shorts and a shirt or two."

My reply: It fits in the trunk of my compact car. And I will drag it myself. I don't need your stinkin' help!

At least I'm not going to Alaska in December (unlike last year). Sweatshirts and lots of jeans are not needed, bulk is not needed.

I still like my options though.

Is it a blue shirt day or a green shirt day? The brown flip flops or the black ones?

So. For those of you that have been to Florida or live there (or near there), what kind of weather should I expect?

Keep in mind, I have crazy hair. Please let me know how the humidity should/will be. I've been playing around with some new products that I think may be of help. I'm praying they'll help.

Pray for my hair. Pray for my packing. Pray from my buddy whom won't be carrying/dragging my suitcase (mainly now because I have a point to prove to him). And for those of you that really know me, pray for me as you know whom I'm going with.

Picture of the Day 223

August 11th: 2 Corinthians 12; 1 Chronicles 1-2; Habakkuk 3

"A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age."
―Robert Frost

Picture of the Day 222

August 10th: 2 Corinthians 11; 2 Kings 25; Habakkuk 2

"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash."
―George S. Patton

Motivation Monday - Disservice

Picture of the Day 221

August 9th: 2 Corinthians 10; 2 Kings 23:36-24:20; Habakkuk 1

"Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach."
—Michelle Held

I did it!

I officially, unofficially did my first photo shoot today.

After an old high school buddy of mine announced that she was engaged I asked if I could take their engagement pictures. She's an amateur photographer like myself, so I knew she'd be all over it and would be patient as well.

Plus I didn't charge.

Upon her agreeial (is that even a word?), I asked another friend that is getting into photography if she'd like to join me. I was honestly really hoping that she'd be able to. Not only for help and ideas, but also to get her practice too.

See, I learned to share.

So this morning we all met at CSUS to shoot so photos and witness some love. Mandy and I accidentally, not on purpose even wore the same colored shirt, green.

So, here's a sneak peek at what I got...
Later I'll post some of the pictures from my "practice" photo shoot with Kaitlin. She's a good subject!

Picture of the Day 220

August 8th: 2 Corinthians 9; 2 Kings 22:1-23:35; Nahum 3

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
-2 Corinthians 9:7

I'm so excited!

Last week sometime I ordered a new lens for my camera.

A 50mm f/1.8.

It comes with tons of compliments from lots of people.

Today I got notice that it has officially been shipped from the amazon.com warehouse. I should have it in my possession by August 14th.

Watch out world!

July Update

July. And I hate to break it to you, but you probably won't get August's update until mid September. Sorry, geez!

1. Run (not walk) a 5k race.
   07 - Dare I tell you the truth? I'm sure you can guess what it is. Boo me!
   06 - How do you spell out the sound that is made on games shows when they get the wrong answer? Yea, that's the sound I'm making right now.
   05 - Ummm... I admit it. I SUCK! Besides moving the massive pile of bricks from my backyard I did nothing.
   04 - HA! Well, I maybe went on a couple walky-jogs. I've yet to sign up to race in anything. Need more training!
   03 - Definitely went walk/jogging more often in March. Oh, and crunches, I've done some crunches!
   02 - I've gone walking a few more times than I did in January. That's progress!
   01 - So, ah, I've gone walking once or twice. That's a start!
   
2. Read the Bible in a year.
   07 - In July I finished reading Mark, Hosea, 1 Kings, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, and Jonah.
   06 - On track! Finished reading Romans, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel and Daniel.
   05 - Keepin' up! Finished reading through Judges, Job, Ruth, Acts, and Joshua.
   04 - Still goin'! Finished Matthew, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
   03 - On track! In March I've finished reading though Leviticus, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
   02 - I'm doing just dandy with this. I've completely read through Genesis, Exodus, and Hebrews. I'm almost done with Leviticus and Proverbs.
   01 - So far, so good!
   
3. Lose 10 pounds.
   07 - So I don't know where I am. Mid July I got a new scale, which wasn't the same as my old one. There was about a 4 pound difference. So you'll get a number come next month. I'm just gonna go out on a limb and say I maintained.
   06 - From the first day of June to the last day of June I weighed the same. There of course was variation throughout the month.
   05 - Broke even...
   04 - I warn you, I wasn't down. I kinda slipped. See chart below... (Shown is March and April)
   03 -Down 1 pound. Hey, it's a loss! See chart below...
   02 - 5.5 pounds down...from returning cruise weight...
   01 - So what if I told you that I was down 9 pounds by my own scale in just January alone? Yep, it's true. Wanna see my chart? Of course you do!
   
4. Post a picture a day...taken on that day... instead of a quote a day.
   07 - Yep.
   06 - Something like that. It's getting done regardless. I have been playing more with photoshop and have been using photoshopped pictures.
   05 - Yep. A picture is going up each day. Sometimes there are lags between days due to intermittent internet.
   04 - Still not a picture from that day, but posting pictures from within the time frame of the date. Flowers are in bloom and beautiful, plus they're easy subjects, so I've taken a lot of flower pictures.
   03 - Still not doing the best on the picture being from that day, but whatever, I'm posting a picture a day.
   02 - After the cruise I slacked on taking a picture a day. But I was still posting a picture a day. I'll work on that...
   01 - Ok, so I've slacked a few days. But I get caught up!
   
5. Have monthly dinner party, or at least invite some friends over for dinner.
   07 - Hosted family. That's about it. July = hot = me no wanna cook in my west facing kitchen.
   06 - TND was at my place last Tuesday of June. Other than that it's just been my family. Nothing new and exciting has been made though.
   05 - Boo! I've had my family over. But I did gather friends for my birthday dinner!...at BJ's...
   04 - Well, I had people over, wait no that was May 1st. Ah! Yes, I had a lunch buffet sandwich building business thing for those giving souls that helped work on my path. (I still need to share my path don't I?)
   03 - Woot woot! Hosted TND on the 5th Tuesday. Total about 15 people came. I made this for dinner. It was good! Making a vow to have people over more often.
   02 - The last couple weeks I've had my family over for dinner on Friday nights. And I've volunteered to have TND at my house the 5th Tuesday of March. I'll let you know how that goes.
   01 - I failed for January. February isn't over yet though...
   
6. Down size possessions...aka clutter
   07 - Moving things every now and then. I've got a little pile building up to get rid of.
   06 - Finally got the stuff from my baby box transferred into a rubbermaid box. I've found a few things around the house to move into the yard sale pile. Always a work in progress.
   05 - I rearranged my back room. Now when looking in it looks less cluttered. That counts, right?
   04 - Decided that my back room needs to be cleaned out and rearranged, especially the closet. So that is going to be my project for May.
   03 - Sure...? I actually physically removed the bags of stuff to get rid of. So I guess that counts since it was cluttering up my room.
   02 - I rearranged the living/dining room and went though some more of my closet.
   01 - I've gone through my closet and through my pile of purses.
   
7. Try new recipes from the cookbooks I have. (see #5, they will be guinea pigs...)
   07 - Yea, ok, you got me. I'm pretty sure I didn't try anything new.
   06 - See #5.
   05 - New recipes tried for Memorial BBQ. One recipe is posted on my recipe site, the others will come shortly.
   04 - Sure I've made stuff. What have I made...? Cake pops, I made cake pops!
   03 - Family = guinea pigs. Poor family...
   02 - Ummmm... I haven't tried anything new. But I've tried new things that my mom has made. Does that count...?
   01 - Boo me! How does cereal sound? Mac & Cheese...?
   
8. Exercise a minimum of 3 times a week (walk/jog, Wii Fit, DVD, etc., see #1 which will lead to #3)
   07 - I think maybe I went on a walk. Once. I did do some yard work. Three times. Wait! No, I lied. I went on more than one walk when I was down south. Haha! Victory!
   06 - See #1. Eeerrrrnnnnttttt, maybe that's how you spell it.
   05 - Boo...
   04 - See #1. I really need to start doing something, anything.
   03 - Need to make a REAL commitment to do this on a regular basis. Once the habit is made I'll be in good shape. The time change has really kicked my butt though, I get home and I just want to be lazy.
   02 - Boo! I'm still on the once a week average. Time to kick it into gear!
   01 - I've averaging about once a week of exercising on purpose. But I do activities that include activity.
   
9. Daily make time for God.
   07 - Started an awesome bible study book with my group called "Me, Myself & Lies" by Jennifer Rothschild. I highly recommend it.
   06 - Reading the bible daily is a help, fo shizel. Daily being stretched and molded.
   05 - Will be a continuous work in progress for the rest of my life.
   04 - Prayer, reading, bible study, church, worship, etc. I do it all, but I'm still lacking. I'm by no means perfect.
   03 - If you count my daily readings as time spent with God then I'm doing well. Although it's not always necessarily quality time though...
   02 - There is always room for improvement here. But I'm human and I'm trying. I pray more regularly and I'm in the Word daily. That's definitely moving in the right direction.
   01 - Doing well. Spending lots of time in prayer. I'm not even kidding.
   
10. Travel somewhere new.
    07 - Drove, by myself, down to Southern California for a twofold vacation: visit my college roommate and her family in Rancho Santa Margarita and to attend a cousin's wedding in Claremont.
    06 - Didn't go anywhere in June. Stay tuned for later months.
    05 - Traveled to ummm, the big town of Lodi. For the Zinfest. I had never been to that part of Lodi before, so it was new, therefore I traveled somewhere new. Go me!
    04 - I went to my favoritest place in California, back to where I went to college, San Luis Obispo. Although it was a quick day trip, it was well worth it. I saw family, I drank wine, I ate at Firestone's and walked around downtown, and went to Pismo. I need to go back again, but next time for a little longer.
    03 - Currently there are no travel plans and I don't like that! I need to plan something asap to make me feel human again!
    02 - Um, did I go anywhere in February? I don't think so. But that's ok!
    01 - Just got back from a cruise to Cabo about a week and a half ago.
    

Picture of the Day 219

August 7th: 2 Corinthians 8; 2 Kings 20-21; Nahum 2

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."
―Sydney J. Harris

Picture of the Day 218

August 6th: 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:16; 2 Kings 19; Nahum 1

"My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors."
―Bette Midler

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

So a few weeks ago I went and saw HP with my parents. Yea, I know. But hey, none of us had seen it yet and it was hot at home. So we went to the theater.

Being as I haven't read the book since it first came out, I couldn't really remember what was supposed to happen. Except for one part. (But I won't mention what it is as to not ruin it for those of you who haven't seen it.) I must admit though, I was a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the movie was very well done; but something was lacking. There wasn't as much action as I thought there would be. Some of the story lines and characters weren't well developed and introduced. And they changed a few things from book to movie. Good thing I had gotten warning about these few things or else I wouldn't have realized it. It was still an entertaining movie though and I liked it.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, you get 3.5 stars out of 5.

Picture of the Day 217

August 5th: 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13; 2 Kings 18; Micah 7

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
-2 Corinthians 5:17

Picture of the Day 216

August 4th: 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:10; 2 Kings 17; Micah 6

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
-2 Corinthians 4:18

Picture of the Day 215

August 3rd: 2 Corinthians 2:5-3:18; 2 Kings 15-16; Micah 5:2-15

"There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it."
―Logan Pearsall Smith

Chris' Photo Shoot

Man! These pictures still crack me up every single time I look at them.

And it makes me miss Hawaii.

I present to you the next Sports Illustrated swimsuit model... Chris!

(click the pic to make it bigger)

I love my brother. He's such a goof, ham ball.

You've gotta admit. He's a kick in the pants.

Ok everybody, you gotta swear to me that you won't tell him this is available for the world to see. He'll kill me.

Let's let this be our little secret.

Shhhh...

Motivation Monday - Compromise

I heart FroYo

While going to college, my roommate and I frequently would take late night trips to Bali's.

Self serve frozen yogurt at it's finest. And the only place I knew of that offered that service. You could get as little or as much as you wanted of yogurt and toppings, paying for your treat by the ounce.

While visiting Melissa and Mark a few weeks ago we went to Yogurtland. Again I was in love.

I must admit, Yogurtland was better than Bali's. Probably because they had about 15 more choices of froyo/tarts to choose from.

I was in froyo heaven!

I don't know where the nearest pay by the ounce frozen yogurt place is in relation to my home, but by golly, I'm gonna find it!

Anyone up for the hunt with me?

FYI...I did found out that there is a Yogurtland in San Ramon. So next time (in like 3 years) I'm in that part of the Bay Area you better bet I'll be stopping.

YUM!

Picture of the Day 214

August 2nd: 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4; 2 Kings 14; Micah 4:1-5:1

"Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless."
―Bill Watterson

Picture of the Day 213

August 1st: 1 Corinthians 16; 2 Kings 12-13; Micah 3

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.
-1 Corinthians 16:13-14