Life as of late:

1. Missing my favourite person (photo from our trip to California last March)
2 & 3. We rented a puppy to cure the January blues.
4. Abby had the flu
5. Our apartment is always full of flowers c/o boyfriends. Lucky us,
6. Pretty curtains from my trip home at Christmas
7. Little sister is not so little.
8. Tumblr and juice and the couch
9. Kyle smiles in his sleep and it's the best (photo from Thanksgiving)
10. I miss my room in Washington

Please don't judge me for my online presence...

photo by Kyle

I have this problem that things don't turn out how I want them to.
I feel like this blog and the photos on it don't really reflect me, or the style I want it to have, which really really sucks.
And I don't really have the time right now to fix it, which also sucks.
But I came across this quote (via an interview of Lorde by Rookie)
and it's keeping me okay with the current situation for the time being:

"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work..." -Ira Glass

Anyways, that's all I've got for today!
Blog/photo style inspiration... Three Mints, The Secret Life of Bee, Chalk White Arrow

My heart likes to smile

Sometimes my heart just gets so excited!
I'm an all or nothing kind of girl when it comes to emotions
which is a blessing and a curse.
Here are a couple of things that make me Oh So Happy as of late.

The photos above make me happy
the one on the left was taken by Kyle on our one year anniversary,
(see the rest here)
and the one on the right was taken on
The Great Bestfriend Roadtrip with Kirs last March.

General Conference makes me happy.
It is one of those things that never fails to answer
some of my questions and prayers.

Wonderful Roommates make me especially happy.
And I was definitely blessed with the best of the best :)
I would never put the six of us together, but we fit so well.
I'm glad this whole "being away from home" thing
is so much easier because of them.

My Two Cents

I know I just posted a video, and I hate posting them so close together, but I feel it's necessary this time. Besides, the last one was technically a song and this one you actually have to watch ;) Also: This may seem a little self centered, it definitely feels that way for me, but I think it's important.

I don't think I have low self esteem. I used to love when people would ask for group photos, or funny photos, or any photos really! I mean, I had a fashion blog where we took pictures of ourselves everyday. I don't get embarrassed with karaoke and love to go crazy with Just Dance. I love being on stage. But a couple weeks ago, we were hanging out with some friends when someone gave me a compliment on how cute I was, and I replied with something like "Nah, thanks though!" Kyle turned to her and said "It's hard to give her compliments because she has low self esteem and doesn't see how great she it." I was shocked! What was he talking about?? I don't have low self esteem! It made me stop and think about how I act. Then I watched this video....



Dove - 'Camera Shy' from Epoch London on Vimeo.

...And I realized that that was me. Especially with Kyle, since he's a photographer and is always pointing the camera in my direction. When did that happen?? I mean, our first date was a photoshoot with all eyes on me! When did I start getting so self conscious and stop loving who I am?
I decided to look at myself through different eyes, to see myself as my friends and family see me, and not be so hard on myself. I'm also focusing on accepting the compliments and not putting myself down, since I LOVE compliments (I mean, everyone does, but they're one of my love languages)

After I decided this, someone sent me a message and said they loved the photos of me on the beach!
I had no idea what they were talking about, so I asked them to explain and they sent me a link to Kyle's blog where he sneakily posted photos from our trip to California back in March. I checked them out, and actually liked them! Which sounds horrible that I wouldn't have before, since Kyle took them and they are great, but like I said that's just how I was! So here are a few :)
You can check the rest out here if you want.

Yes.

"If I could travel and photograph people and places in all their intricate beauty for the rest of my life, that would be all I could dream of."

- Sarah Loven

I tried to find a photo to go with this, but I'm lazy and on vacation.

T-2 Days

Birthdays, as I've said before, are a big deal at my house.

And it's this cutie's birthday on Wednesday!

We're going Go Karting and trying a new burger place to celebrate :)

I think I'm more excited than he is.

C & P

I love love.
And I love too many of these photos.
C posted some of her favourites over on her blog too :)

How to Avoid Editing Photos: A Guide

1. Open all photos needing to be weeded and edited
2. Start weeding.

3. At around 25 photos, open an internet page.
4. Check ALL social media.
5. Stalk some people on Instagram.
6. Stalk some people on Facebook.
7. Stalk some blogs.
    BONUS: If they are photo blogs, make yourself feel inadequate.
    (My blogs af choice are Tim Coulson or Andria Lindquist)

8. Start talking to people on Facebook
9. Take obnoxious photos of yourself and send them to your boyfriend

10. Make pasta
11. Give up and get ready for work
12. Repeat tomorrow.

I'm a housewife

(Haha not really. I just thought the subject matter of this post makes me seem like it, which TOTALLY contradicts my "we're not getting married" post below)

Did you know I used to be really great at documenting life? I did!
I took my camera EVERYWHERE. Even going to the groccery store! I don't really do that anymore (read: at all)
And that makes me kind of sad.
I barely took any photos on this last roadtrip to Utah,which my Mum and I did all on our own. I've never really had alone time with her like that before and there is next to no proof that it actually happened! I think it's in part because of my new lens, that I LOVE but doesn't really work with my camera (the whole crop body thing, you know?) but also because I'm dating a professional photographer.

And that's just intimidating.

Even though he doesn't read this blog and would never see the photos.

Anyways... Long explanation just to say: I am making it a goal to carry my camera more.
Then work up to using it all the time again. Because I'm really great at taking photos so other people have memories (engagements/family photos/weddings etc.) but I don't have any memories of my own anymore.

I was also very sad I didn't take my camera today because Kyle and I had SUCH a great adventure. We drove around as the sun set, talking & laughing & (me) singing, then stopped along the way and picked blackberries on the side of road. Then we came home and made blackberry/apple crumble.

IS THAT NOT ADORABLE AND PICTURE PERFECT OR WHAT?!
I know.

Soooo more pictures from now on! Not just the stuff I do for other people, but the stuff for me too :)

My favourite thing.

On a recent Sunday afternoon trip to Gasworks Park, I was taking a few photos of my sister near the water, when I spotted this guy reading his bible on the wall. I just love that. I love when people are actively living their faith! He was outside, enjoying all this beautiful world has to offer, and reading his bible on a lovely sabbath day. It's just cool, you know?

So I obviously had to creep on him a little bit.

Heartbreaker

I'm a big fan of family
(which is good, because mine is rather large)
and I'm lucky enough to have a family
that LOVES spending time together.
My cousins and I went up the canyon
to take a few photos, and I haven't
edited them all yet,
but this one was too perfect not to straight away.

Miss Katelyn is going to be a heartbreaker for sure.

Missing my bestfriend today.

Still here in Utah.
Still hot.
And I am literally 5 minutes away from my bestfriend,
but I can't see her :(
Summer just isn't the same without my sidekick!
But I know she is where she needs to be.
Luckily, I found a place that delivers to the MTC for two dollars.
Needless to say, unicorn socks and cookies have been sent her way.

Happy little accidents

Sometimes light and lens flare and t shirts and moments between yawns & smiles make pretty awesome images. 

These are some of my favourite :)

Currently: Melting

I've gone to Utah to pick my older sister up from school and to attend a wedding of one of my favourite people. Let me tell you, Utah is NOT Washington. I am a puddle on the floor with this heat. How do people live here?? It's moments like these I like to whip out pictures of snow and dream a little.

These were taken on a day trip to Mt Rainier last February.

ps. Aren't my parents the cutest? I know.