Blessed. Loved. Happy.

I am an extremely blessed girl.

I forget how blessed I really am sometimes, probably more often than I care to admit to. Somehow though, I get snapped back into forgetting what I don't have and want to finding peace and gratitude for what I have and need.

I don't speak a whole lot about my personal life on this blog. I do share my cute nieces, or things I like to do here and there, but when I struggle, I usually don't publicly look for solace. I find my different outlets to get past my struggles, but they are far from being public. Most of the time it's internal and I eventually find ways to see the upside, find lessons in my trials and become that blessed girl I was all along.

Usually every year for probably the past 3-4 years I've tried to come up with a theme for the year. Things that I have learned from the previous year usually lead me to the theme for the following year. Most of the time, I don't have my theme until maybe the end of February beginning of March. This year, I've been stuck. I have had the hardest time figuring out what I needed to remember to keep striving for. What my focus needed to be this year. Finally, I realized about two months ago that I've had my theme for a while, I just didn't admit to it.

Love.

Not like the "oooh, I'm so in love with you" love, or the "I just loooove your shoes" kind of love. I'm talking about unconditional. I forgot how important it is to love unconditionally. To just care about someone because they need it, and maybe even want it, but more importantly deserve it. This doesn't even have to be love. This is about giving without receiving. Caring without motives....I hope I am making sense here. It's about being kind, unconditionally.

This has been easy in some ways and hard for me in others to follow. I have realized while trying to remember to give unconditionally how much I can put a side my loved ones to try and give to those that don't know me from that one person who went out of their way to hold the door open for me because they saw my hands were full.

The other day I was standing in line to get a movie ticket and this woman turned around and said "hey, I have an extra coupon to get a discount on your movie ticket, do you want it?" She had no need to do that, I didn't know her, she didn't know me. She was just being nice. I had my own coupon, so we said thank you anyway. Where as I would have saved that extra coupon for another time I'd go to the movies, she was willing to give it up for nothing in return.

It's about trying to see outside of myself to see how I can reach out to help others in spite of my quick judgments, my fear of rejection, my time, and so many other things. And more than anything doing those things daily, without thought, but just to do them because I should. I have been lucky to be reminded constantly by the examples of the loving and caring people around me how much more I need to work to be like them.

I think I will be working on this for a lot longer than this year. I'm sure I will make it a sub theme for some time after this year. I am happy because I know how blessed I am. How loved I am. How much I know that even though I can be grouchy or complain that I am able to find my way back to the kindness, care and love BECAUSE I am given those things daily, hourly, in minutes and seconds even when not deserved. Which means, I need to give it back in return with that same gratitude and unconditional love.

The answer can be SO simple, you feel silly.

I found this quite a while ago from another blog I was reading and loved it instantly that I "ran" to the artist's website and bought it without the need to think twice.



Sorry, I tried looking, but I can't find the link to put up here to actually buy it. The blog and website has changed a lot since I had last been on there...and also it might possibly be because it's not available anymore. It was a limited edition print (if you want it bad enough, maybe you can find the link easier, if it exists, sorry). But the artist, Alex Koplin, is pretty awesome, so check out his other work. Support artist and BUY their work. Don't steal it, please...it's really sad when that happens.

Quenching that thirst.

I drink a LOT. I am part camel, I'm sure of it. On a good day I can probably drink about 5 liters of water. That doesn't include the glass or two of o.j. I probably drink in the morning, or the can of soda (sometimes two) I drink here and there at dinner.

Well there is a restaurant that my sister has to eat at whenever she is in town. Here is what they serve the drinks in.
I am in heeeaaven when they bring these jars out! And I think, "oh good, I won't be waiting forever for the server to come back around to fill up my empty glass." I can almost guarantee you that I can have probably 4 of those jars in one sitting.

It's the little things in life I tell ya!

Sun bathing.

I was trying to decide if I was one of those people that does blog posts about their pets...and then I realized, I have posted pictures of my dog before soooo, I guess I am.

This is my dog Mandy. When my brother left on his mission in 2004, soon after, to fill my void of lack of a little brother (hahaha), I adopted Mandy from the shelter. She is a sweet dog that loves to hug...literally. I've broken her of the habit of jumping on people, but when it comes to me, she jumps up and wraps her paws around my waist and digs her head into my stomach and hugs me. Since I love hugging, I'm pretty sure we were meant to be! ;)

Well anyways...

The other day, I was walking past the back doors when out of the corner of my eye, I see her sleeping in the sun. She usually does, and in the spot she was in. She loves to lay in the sun to be warm during the winter. Buuuut this time, she was sleeping in the funniest position. I had to double take, and also quietly run and grab my camera.

She looks dead, right?! But I assure you she is still kickin'! You can tell she was sleeping good, she was rolling all around in the dirt!

Pretty funny.

Sooo ONO!!

Ono is a Hawaiian word that means good or delicious...and it's what I'm about to talk about! It is said how it looks, O-NO.

Having a dad that is part Hawaiian that grew up there and has family there, I've been lucky enough to have been able to go there a few times. Granted I was fairly young when we did go and I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have. I hope to have the opportunity to go back there as an adult and enjoy the islands more fully.

The one thing I did appreciate and really loved as a young naive girl was something I didn't realize was the best of the best until I came back to the main land and have never enjoyed anything quite like it.

That little something is manapua. I first tried it when we were in Hawaii from the best place on earth, Libby's.

It is a special sweet tasty bread roll with meat inside. There are different types of meat for manapuas but the best/my favorite is the one with a sweet roasted pork.

Starchy, smarchy...deliciousness!!

I love homemade french fries...probably too much. And I probably make it the wrong way, but it's my way and they are delicious to me.

I have discovered one thing for sure, vegetable oil will make the potatoes stick to the pan and extra virgin olive oil will not.

Good Driver Test.

I don't know how many of you really know, but I get motion sickness. Sometimes more easily than other times. It's a bit odd. I never know if it will hit super fast or if it will not effect me at all.

There are few people that I call "good drivers" in my mind because most of my motion sickness comes from driving with other people. So if I am road tripping, I have to be the driver or be with someone that I feel is a "good driver" so that I can actually enjoy the road trip. Don't feel bad, my list consists of like 3 people of all the people I've driven with in my life. And they only made that list because consistently I've never had motion sickness from their driving. If I willingly let you drive my car while I'm riding shot gun, you have passed the test. But the true test is when I get off of an airplane and you still don't make me feel motion sick on the drive home.

Well one of those people is my sister Lani. She is just a good driver in general, not to mention she passes MY good driver test. So I am usually a passenger when we drive anywhere, especially on trips.

I remember we were driving home from Utah and usually the sun has already set and it's dark as we drive into Vegas. But this time we hit the sun setting. All I had on me was my point and shoot camera...and the picture is blurry because it was just too dark...but I had to get the colors of the horizon. This is straight out of camera.

It's amazing right?! Plus when I look at this picture (which, though blurry it grows on me every time I look at it) it reminds me of all the times Lani and I drive together. We turn the music up loud. We sing specific songs that we love to sing together. And I'm happy to be sitting in shot gun next to one of my big sisters that I love so much. And plus...I'm not feeling motion sickness so it's an even bigger bonus of awesome!

Happy driving! :)

It's what I'm aaaBOUT! - Taking a drive.

I kinda enjoy taking a casual drive.

Actually, I would take a lovely early evening stroll, walking around a neighborhood any day over driving, but there are safety issues involved with walking around at night, especially alone, darn it. Plus, I'm cute, so I'm an easy target for getting stolen...kiddddding! ;) So to suffice, I like to drive around.

Well, I don't get to do that very often lately. I've realized how much I miss it. I like it as a way to think about things going on in my life. I like to listen to music that is a part of my life at the moment and just drive and think. It calms me down. I am able to regroup. I am reminded of how blessed I am. Sometimes I do it just to get out of the house. I love going at sunset or late at night when the roads are a little more empty.

I also looooove driving with the windows down when the weather is just perfect. I'm smiling just thinking about it.

One night, I was driving home after visiting a friend of mine. We hadn't hung out in a while. We chatted, laughed, cried, smiled, and just remembered why we need to do this more often. We both had recently had big things happen in our lives and we just felt a commendatory that we didn't feel anyone else understood at that moment. It was nice. It was a beautiful night. The stars were super bright. And the weather was oddly really nice for it being "winter". So I drove with my window slightly down and listened to music. Drives are just that much better when I am able to think about the conversation I had just had with a good friend.

I took the above picture with my phone to remember that night.

I enjoy taking a casual drive.

Blast from the Past! A-woo-hooo!

My niece Kealani, loves to watch the old cartoons that my parents still have. Well when I say 'old cartoons' that means, tapes. VHS tapes.

She usually likes to watch "Bongo".

Which I love/loved this movie too, so I'm happy to watch it with her. I too like to sing along about how bears tell each other they love each other with a slap...but by the 5th time, it gets old.

So I told her to pick a new movie. She picked Duck Tales. So we stuck it in, and just like riding a bike, when the theme song came on I automatically started to sing with it. I had to laugh at myself kinda surprised that I remembered the words like I watched it yesterday.

I thought you might want to take a little trip down memory lane with me too...I found the theme song on YouTube. Enjoy.


(seriously though, this theme song is like the Kenny Loggins soundtracks of cartoon theme songs, right?!)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope that this holiday season will bring some good times and special memories in your life as they already have mine.

I'm very excited to have family here and to enjoy a nice warm crackling fire!

Mele Kalikimaka!!
Lots of love!!
Lori

My family makes fun of me when I take the stairs...

...but see...it can be fun AND exercise!! :)

Inspiration...photographers that move me.

You've seen this photo before. It's extremely famous. It is by Steve McCurry; Peshawar, Pakistan, 1984

He works for National Geographics. He is an amazing photographer. I have a few dream jobs I'd like to have as a photographer. Working for Sports Illustrated. And working for National Geographics. I don't think there are many photographers who wouldn't want to work for one if not both of those magazines. I love looking at his work to feel inspiration to travel and to capture photos of complete strangers that just move you.

Here is his blog.

Here is his website.

Another photographer that I was lucky enough to go to a seminar of his, that also works for National Geographics is Sam Abell. This photo, Pears in a windowsill, National Hotel, Moscow,(June 1986) is one of many of his famous works publish by National Geographics. What he is best known for is his ability to have more than one scene in a photo. He is able to capture more than one subject/story line in a photo. His composition abilities are amazing.

This photo is also another famous piece of work by him that shows his "two-view concept". The photo on the bottom showing what he is best known for. Two views of the annual branding and castration
Ken Rosman Ranch, Utica, Montana

It had been awhile since that seminar I had attended, but when I saw this photo recently, I remembered his composition abilities and was awestruck yet again. Not only for his abilities to tell a story by a photograph but his actual story telling. I could have sat there for hours looking at his work and listening to him. I was engulfed in this romantic photographer glow and my mind was filling with so much inspiration I could have burst.

While searching online for the pear photo, I found a website where Sam Abell is recalling his life and this photo and story moved me. It made me miss working in a dark room....because it is so true.Mother and Daddy, Flower Hospital, Sylvania, Ohio, 1975

I continued recuperating at home in Ohio. Things weren't good there. My mother was dying of emphasema, which she only referred to as asthma. She was the strongest person I've known, an esteemed teacher of Latin and French who imposed high standards on both her students and sons. She just wasn't stronger than Lucky Strikes.

I still have the hammered copper ashtray that I emptied every morning as a boy. In it were stubs of cigarettes with her lipstick stains on them.

My dad lived alone when Mother was in the hospital, and after she died in 1981 he didn't move or remarry. He wasn't unhappy living alone so one time in the darkroom - where you could say such things - I asked him "When was the happiest time of your life?" After a silence he said "When your Mother and I were courting."

And one last one that I couldn't help but share...go to the website and you will see what I mean by his story telling. Amazing.
My Dad and I,
International Center of Photography,
New York City, November, 1990
I suppose everyone has a moment in their lives they wish could 'stay'. This would be mine. I'm with my dad at an opening of my work at the International Center of Photography in Manhattan. My dad is the guest of honor. I've asked him to stand. The applause makes him emotional and to keep from crying myself I grip his shoulder, smile and look down. We are a long way from our tiny darkroom in Sylvania, Ohio.

The title "Stay This Moment" is drawn from a diary entry of Virginia Woolf written on New Year's eve 1932. She writes "If one does not lie back and sum up and say to the moment, this very moment, stay you are so fair, what will be one's gain, dying? No: stay this moment. No one ever says that enough."
But photographers say it when they make a heartfelt photograph, as this one by my friend David Alan Harvey proves.

It's what I'm aaaBOUT!

If you know me, you know I say this pretty often. It's my go-to funny line when I have to convince someone that my nerdy/geeky/weird ways are actually cool. Now your asking yourself (or your computer. no judgments), "does that really work?"

It usually is a pause of confusion along with the thought of 'what does that mean?'

Then it's a chuckle of 'did she really just say that?'

Then usually they forgot what I'm aaaBOUT and they just go along with it.

Yeah.

I know.

Genius.

Well I decided that when there is something I'm diggin', something I can't live without, a new discovery that will make you happy too, ooor maybe I'm just finally catching up to the rest of the world and I want it noted officially, I'm going to blog it, and "it's what I'm aaaBOUT!"

First on my list is one of my FAVORITE websites/apps on my iPhone.

This is not a new discovery or something you probably don't know about. I'm just sharing because I love this website SO much because I am a horrible speller, I second guess myself over the simplest words and I love to make up words, so validly that the word has an actual root word, I use this website/app.

I'm sure you never noticed...

...that I haven't posted anything since, uh...whoa...JULY 11th?!?!

Wow.

Sorry.

I could go on with excuse after excuse. And really they are extremely valid. They include, going back to school, keeping up with post work (aaaand not so much with posting it) and taking about two months to move from one place to another (that was not fun, believe me)!

Anyway, (confession, I always want to put 'anyhoodle' because one of my favorite bloggers says it all the time and when she does it sounds cute and fun. But when I type it, I don't see myself actually saying it out loud so then I erase it and type 'anyway' instead)

...here are some pictures of my fun lil' day trip I took to Huntington Beach back in April with one of my friends, Jackie.

We left Vegas around 6:30am. Ate breakfast, sat on the beach and people watched (okay, I slept on the beach, but what I thought was only maybe an hour was..well, not. an. hour. But I got a lovely tan from it, eventually), walked around the pier and HB, had Chick-fil-A, and got back to Vegas around midnight. It was a LOT of fun and don't ask me why, but liberating. Oh wait, I remember why! I was on a jury for 4 days at the county court house and what was suppose to be a spur of the moment trip was post pone because of that jury duty.

Here are some pictures:
It was a tad cold in April...and no we were not the only ones wearing jackets, everyone else was too! But as you can see the beach was pretty empty.

A delicious Huntington Beach breakfast:


And just a few pictures I took as we walked around:




I really do have a lot of catching up to do. Please be on me if you are not seeing updates a lot more regularly! :)

**edit: I don't know what is up with the font on this post. sorry! I can't seem to fix it!**

Buckle UP for safety!!

Yes.

I did actually do this.

And yes.

I felt like it was much safer and more secure this way.

Some of you have actual children...I have my iMac.


Do not judge me.

Another Driving Picture

Yes, I did it again. Man! This is really starting to come off like I'm a bad driver. I actually think it shows that I am an awesome driver because I am able to multitask safely while driving. And here and there really get some decent if not lovely shots too! :)

I took this photo quickly with my iPhone. I was getting off Summerlin Parkway and I was looking at the sky and was having a "that looks fake but it's not because it's real!" moment. I thought the sky and the clouds looked like they were not real. Especially more in the distance. It actually almost reminded me of a Pixar movie's clouds, I just can't pin point which one. So this photo was not really at all about getting a shot as much as I just couldn't believe how the clouds looked.

I just need to find someone to drive me around. Just imagine how more awesome my shots would be if that were the case! I am now taking applications for someone to be my driver! Applicants need not apply if they are not okay with compensation coming only in the form of my pleasantries while we drive and the occasional Cafe Rio or Chipotle.


...okay...and sometimes In N Out.

Wait for it....

It's almost to the date that it will be five years that I bought my car and this is my mileage...I thought that I was kinda cool.







(I hope I remember to look at it again before it goes past it!!)

Picture(s) of the "Week": Red Rock Canyon in May

I was driving home from a photo shoot not too long ago and for some reason, my car took me to Red Rock. It was like highway hypnosis. ;) I'm glad I went, it was a beautiful sunset and actually a great 30 minutes for me to take a breath and enjoy the place where I live. (did that sound cheesy? GOOD!! I wanted it to!)








Now if you follow my blog, you know that I do this pretty often. I just seem to see really good shots while I am driving! I can't help it!!! What am I suppose to do...pull over?!?! PSH!! ;) This shot just might be my favorite.

I bet you I'm right!!! ;)

So while I was in the middle of doing some editing, I was here and there texting with a friend and was given yet another reason to love my iPhone...the opportunity to prove to people that I love that I am right (yet again)!!! hahahaha!

I took a picture of my screen and emailed it to prove what was typed was "awesomeLess" not "awesomeNess" (my text are in green). But the email was not coming through on their end, so I decided the next best thing to do is blog about out! :)



Date, times and the name has been withheld for pride purposes...I'm not THAT mean!! ;) hahahaha!

I love you friend whose name has been withheld!

Dear Winter: Sorry, but I'm Falling in love with Spring.

Today is GORGEOUS!!!

I hope that you were all able to enjoy at least some of this day. I sat out on my balcony for a little while to breathe in some of the beginnings of spring. I hope that I can get off the photo editing train soon and get out side to enjoy the sweet slight breeze and cozy warm sun!!