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

Picture of the Day 212

July 31st: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Kings 11; Micah 2

"You're never fully dressed without a smile."
―Martin Charnin

Days of August

August
1	Girlfriend's Day
	Spiderman Day
	Work Like a Dog Day
2	National Mustard Day
3	Sister's Day
	Friendship Day
4	National Chocolate Chip Day
5	National Night Out
6	Hiroshima Day
	National Halitosis Day
7	Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day
8	The Date to Create
	Happiness Happens Day
	Sneak Zucchini on Your Neighbor's Porch Night
9	National Garage Sale Day
	Veep Day
10	S'Mores Day
11	International Left Hander's Day
12	International Youth Day
	Sewing Machine Day
13	National Underwear Day
14	Assistance Dog Day
	National Navajo Code Talkers Day
15	Best Friends Day
	National Relaxation Day
16	National Homeless Animals Day
	Sandcastle Day
17	Meaning of "Is" Day
18	Bad Poetry Day
19	Aviation Day
	"Black Cow" Root Beer Float Day
20	National Personal Chef's Day
22	Southern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day
	Be An Angel Day
24	Pony Express Day
	National Waffle Day
25	Kiss & Make Up Day
26	National Dog Day
	Women's Equality Day
28	Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day
	Crackers Over the Keyboard Day
	Dream Day Quest
29	More Herbs, Less Salt Day
30	National Holistic Pet Day
	National Toasted Marshmallow Day

Picture of the Day 211

July 30th: 1 Corinthians 15:1-34; 2 Kings 10; Micah 1

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
―Lao Tzu

Me? An Aunt?

No, Chris, Paige or Kaitlin is NOT going to be a parent.

Well, not a blood aunt, but an honorary aunt.

My bff in the whole wide world announced that she and her hubby are expecting.

Rylen is PREGGO!

WITH TWINS!

See. Baby A and Baby B.

(I'm gonna be honest. I can never tell what I'm looking at with these sonogram/ultrasound things. I feel like Rachel from "Friends" when she was having a sonogram.)

I'm so uber excited for both she and Jim. They're going to be wonderful parents.

Please pray for Rylen's pregnancy. That it would progress without trouble and problem. That it will progress with ease and without discomfort. Pray that God will bless Jim and Rylen as their family grows from 2 to 4 (practically over night).

I do know this though. Pea A and Peanut B (a girl and a boy) are going to be spoiled by their Aunt Courtney!

Now to figure out how to convince Rylen that she should start a blog... Ashley, help with this one!

Picture of the Day 210

July 29th: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40; 2 Kings 9; Jonah 4

"Fitness-if it came in a bottle, everybody would have a great body."
―Cher