My oldest niece is part of her school’s jump rope team. Here she waiting to perform at halftime for a local high school basketball game. Little does she know I snapped her photo AND her team coach gave her the old bunny ears. It was fun watching her in action. She’s quite the jumper.

This is the 6 yr old daughter of a dear friend in our small group Bible study. We meet every other Thursday so this little munchkin gets to do her homework while we all catch up on life. I know she’d rather be hanging out with us or watching My Little Pony but she gets her work done even so. And with a grin. How fun is that?!

<blink> It’s Thanksgiving

<blink> it’s New Year’s

<blink> it’s Valentine’s Day

Is anybody even still out there?

I’m still here. At least I was last time I checked. There are some days I wonder.

And I’m still taking photos. No project 365 this time around – well, not with the big girl camera. Still doing the fat mum slim photoaday challenge. I enjoy the prompts most days but trying not to let myself get too hung up on it. I can get stressed out when I miss a day or 2 (or seven) so I’m taking a more laid back approach this year. It’ll get done when it gets done. Just gotta enjoy the ride. Join in the fun!

Now, I am tackling photos with the Nikon in a different way than the past. Trying to challenge myself and grow in many ways. I really want to work on my portrait skills. (guys only like girls with really mad skills… nun-chuck skills,  computer-hacking skills…) So my goal each week is to capture photos of people. Obviously, I started with those peeps I spend the most time with (~ahem~ the boy).

It’s nearly March so I am already WAY behind in my postings. Here’s the image from week 1. I’ve got some serious catching up to do.

::swoon::

It crossed my mind one day months ago and I wasn’t totally opposed to the idea – which caught me rather off guard. So then I started thinking about what I would get. I wanted something meaningful… something that represented where I am right now. If it was going to be on me forever (for. ev. er.) I didn’t want it to be trendy or trite. Well, for the first time in my life I feel like I have the proper perspective… that even though I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, I know the important things in life – that’s what I wanted it to convey. And I wanted something sort of photography related since it has become a passion over the past few years - not completely centered on it, just related to it.

So I started to think about where… that part was settled pretty quickly. I decided on the wrist for a couple of reasons: 1) I would see it often and 2) it could be easily covered up by a watch or bracelet (yeah, how weird is that?! planning on how to cover it up before I’ve even got it – those are the things I think about). Then what to get was next… a word. What word? That was the question. I played around with a few ideas – even having them done in Greek or Hebrew because it’d look cool. A word that would encompass several meanings – that was the tough part. It hit me one day like a ton of bricks: focus. That was it! I feel like I’ve got the right things in focus right now - and it’s such a photography word. Often the story you tell is reflected by what you’ve got in focus – in life & photography. So I thought the tough part was over since I’d chosen what to get – right? Oh no… being the font addict that I am, it took me longer to settle on the font than it did to choose a word. Sheesh. Who’d have thought that part would be soooooo difficult?!

Have I ever mentioned that my baby brother is a tattoo artist? Well, he is. And I considered having him do it but he’s in Texas – makes for a VERY long trip just for some ink. I figured I’d have to just go to a local place but then… he took his kit to a family vacation over 4th of July week. Apparently, tattoo gear is like AmEx… you don’t leave home without it.  I almost got inked then. No, I didn’t chicken out – we just ran out of time. So back on the local hunt I went until… B was coming in town for a concert the weekend of his birthday. And you guessed it, he brought his gear. So not only did I get ink, but my baby brother (12 years my junior) did it. How cool is that?! It became a family affair… sis 1 & sis 2 as well as bro-in-law 2 were there as witnesses. That is a memory for the record books.

B at work – all professional & stuff

It was strange seeing him in his element – so focused (ha!) and serious. But I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better. Sure, it hurt a bit but not too much. Thank goodness I chose something small. I can’t imagine having complete sleeves done… ouch.

So there it is… I’m inked. And I couldn’t be more pleased.

Somebody remind me how this works again. Please. It seems there were words and photos involved but it’s been so long that it’s all a bit foggy.

I haven’t forgotten about you, my dear readers. My life has been twitterpated. Anybody remember that phrase? You know… the one from Bambi? Yep. I’m smitten. And when I’m smitten, I’m all distracted and not quite sure which way is up.

Life has been busy and I’ve decided to blame it on The Boy. Yes. There’s a boy these days. Though he does have a few years on me so I’m not quite sure I can call him that… on second thought, I do tell him he’s 8 yrs old quite often so scratch that… he shall be called The Boy.

I’m not quite sure how I feel about sharing much here about The Boy… he is pretty social-media savvy and I’m sure he’ll read anything I end up posting. We have yet to have a discussion on things like this so until then… just know there’s a boy. He occupies a lot of my free time. We laugh a lot. And he’s pretty darn great. So that’s all I have to say about that.

TONS of stuff has happened in the past several months. Things that I’ve been meaning to do. Things that I didn’t know I wanted to do. And things I thought I’d never do. Because I’m sooooo far behind on posting my Project 366 photos (but still taking them!), posts for it are going on hiatus. Instead, I’m going to highlight some major events that have occurred lately. Not exactly sure what order I’ll go in but it’ll happen. I might even shock you with more than one post a month! {{gasp}}

Don’t worry, I really am still taking a photo a day with my big girl camera… which has been upgraded! woot! I’m just thinking I’ll end up with some mosaics for each month at the end of the year. This project has been good even though I haven’t been faithful with posting.

Until the next post, which I hope to be this weekend, I bid you adieu. Though I do wish you would stick with me while I figure out where I’m headed on this crazy thing called life.

Until next time… Love ya bunches!

Can you believe it? I’ve actually spent time editing photos from the big girl camera… from May. MAY! Wow, I didn’t think I was that far behind. In the past, I’ve tried to get them done within the month so the images are typically fresh in my mind. Not so with this bunch. It was fun going through them and reflecting on some of the events of the month. There are quite a few random subjects but a handful from specific activities & outings that put a smile on my face (those nieces & nephews usually do).

Without further ado, here are the images from May…

It’s Wednesday and girls night once again. Instead of taking a photo of the junk food we consume, I opted for a spider web outside Beka’s house. Funny thing about spider webs… before she had the bushes removed next to the driveway, we always had to be very careful when leaving at night because those little buggers would inevitably build a web between the bushes and whatever car was parked there. And, yep you guessed it, someone would walk smack dab in the middle of it with lots of flailing soon to follow.

130/366 {may 9}

Shop Cat loves to taunt Gus by hanging out just outside the fence line and just out of his reach. Look at him peeking out around the building all smug.

131/366 {may 10}

love these heart-shaped clovers

132/366 {may 11}

Nephew Gavin’s birthday party… cannot believe he’s 4 already. He’s becoming such a character – quite the little comedian.

133/366 {may 12}

134/366 {may 13}

Found a little hitchhiker on UGA.

135/366 {may 14}

136/366 {may 15}

137/366 {may 16}

138/366 {may 17}

139/366 {may 18}

Nephew Nate (#7) in one of his last soccer games… go Nate go!!!

140/366 {may 19}

What’s this? An empty laundry basket? This NEVER happens. It just HAD to be documented.

141/366 {may 20}

142/366 {may 21}

Kelsey at the bat.

143/366 {may 22}

Still love. love. loving my olloclip.

144/366 {may 23}

The Barracudas… came in 2nd place in the championship tourney. It was an i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.e. game and these girls played amazingly. They should be so proud of the season!

145/366 {may 24}

pizza + cold libations + friends = perfect friday night

146/366 {may 25}

it’s rare to see all 4 kiddos vegging out at the same time.

147/366 {may 26}

another game night with a dear friend. I seriously never grow tired of nights like this.

148/366 {may 27}

Memorial Day… taking time to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the love of country.

149/366 {may 28}

150/366 {may 29}

151/366 {may 30}

Jackson is another dog that makes an appearance at the shop. So sweet and such a gorgeous dog.

152/366 {may 31}

And that’s a wrap on May! One month down… 3 to go? ugh. But I better get crackin’ before I lose my motivation

garden: some yummy cherry tomatoes in grandma’s little flowerpot garden on the patio

lunch: making the long trek home across 5 states and stopped for a picnic lunch. Would’ve been grand had it not been hotter than the sun and the bees had left us alone!
BEES!!! Runaway! Your firearms are useless against them!
(name that movie)

big: yep. that tire is bigger than I am. ok so that’s not saying much really…

your favourite color: red. red. red. r-e-d. red. and every girl should have at least one pair of red shoes that make her feel special. (ahem… with my obvious shoe obsession, of course i have more than one pair but who’s counting?)

letter:  S is for Super Aunt (always ready with gum and fun)

texture: denim. up close & personal with my olloclip. Have I mentioned how much I love that little gadget lately? And if I have, tough. I love love love it. seriously. you think I’m kidding.

playing catch up from fat mum slim’s july photoaday meme

busy: 4 year old nephew is constantly in motion, playing with toys, talking non-stop, and singing about bars of soap (that story is for another day)

best part of your day: we arrived in Kansas City and the family convened for dinner upon our arrival as always. It’s chaos but I love it. A chance to sit down for a visit with Pappaw is such a blessing.

fun: 4th of July traditions… opening ceremonies, the national anthem, a picnic, catching up with old friends & family and of course the annual Bill Couser Memorial Horseshoe Tournament. I played for the first time this year with cousin Michelle as my partner. It was miserably hot but we had a good time even though we lost both our games. Gotta start practicing for next year…

on the floor: Addi was kind enough to oblige me with a silly face and then chose her filter for this shot. She’s such a nut and has the most adorable giggle on the face of this planet.

chair: settled in after happy hour at the hodie (this is what the kids call the hotel). Time to chill.

.

movement: driving home from a friend’s birthday party. super fun evening with peeps I haven’t seen in ages!

on your mind: Sunday was a crazy busy day so I had a lot on my mind. Lots of good things… happy things… fun things… things that make me smile…

something cute: Oh Gus. you seriously are cute. don’t you wanna come home with me?

where you shop: tar-jay is my go-to shopping spot. those little red clearance stickers get me every time.

bathroom: my little bathroom – kinda messy at the moment. ok, so it’s like this most of the time. just keeping it real, folks.

on the shelf: so I’ve got this friend that has some super cool vintage cameras. I wonder if he’d notice if any of them went missing.

soft: Shop Cat’s little pink fuzzy nose

a friend: a long road trip with one of my sisters… so grateful we’re friends too

And that’s a wrap on June! Whoa. the year is half over.

participating in fat mum slim’s photoaday challenge

a fave photo you’ve ever taken: this was just a quick snapshot of my niece. she was so done with my camera in her face but she still wanted to ham it up.
it’s so Eva… ♥

where you slept: this is my bed. it’s all mine and yes, i use 4 pillows.

participating in fat mum slim’s photoaday challenge