Sarah's 101 in 1001: 2011

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Picture Day Draft

It was picture day, I was all set to go

I woke with a smile and face all aglow.

Each year, a new picture goes up on the wall,

to show how I'm growing so big and so tall!

I lathered my face, all clean and fair

And brushed and de-tangled, my bed-ridden hair.

Then I donned my favorite outfit

With some well chosen flair.

We got to the studio, the lights were so bright

I was ready for my closeup on that background of white.

I looked all around, I looked left and looked right,

but there was no body there, nobody in sight.

The camera sat on its stand big and tall,

It made me a little nervous, and feel rather small.

But there in the corner, on a shelf on the wall

Goodies and toys, and baskets and balls.

Mr. Teddy was there, a regal brown bear.

I asked, “Can you please, take my picture,

I'll sit on this chair!”

But Teddy just sat there, up on his shelf

keeping so quiet and all to himself.

There was a basket of goodies, I'd just take a peek

I picked up a ball that had a slight leak.

I held it tight and said with a squeak,

“Can you please take my picture,

I'll show you my teeth!”

But it flopped and deflated, letting out air

and fell back to it's place right over the chair.

I sighed and I hummed, then what did I see?

Hiding under a blanket, a small yellow duckie.

“Oh please” I said in a bit of a plea,

“Won't you please, take a picture of me?”

The duck squeaked in the friendliest way

and stayed where it sat, without even a sway.

“OH where, oh where can I find

someone who would please be so kind

to take my sweet picture

and give me peace of mind!”

Then walked into the room, a friendly new face.

Someone I knew belonged in this place.

She looked like a pro, a real camera ace!

She smiled, bent down, and looked right at me

“Are you ready to get started, and show me your teeth?”

I grinned and I nodded, and hopped into place,

and stood right like she said with a smile on my face.

And shortly thereafter, the pictures were done.

The flashes and poses – it was all lots of fun!

Then we looked at our pictures and picked out the best,

And now on the wall, as you might have guessed,

Are all of those pictures, the ones we liked best.

I wrote my children's book...this is just a first draft. Don't know if I'll take it anywhere from here...what do you think?

(Font is called "Sweetie Pie and is available at www.fonts.com)

Thursday, October 27, 2011

1.    Establish my own photography business. – It is called City Country Photography
2.    Acquire pro quality tripod and off camera flash with softbox. - I got a Kirk ball head and Manfrotto legs with a L Plate made for my camera as well as a softbox for my flash. Check!
3.    Develop a secure price list for my photography. – This is always something to edit, but I do have a solid price list that I am comfortable with.
4.    Maintain a client basis with a mailing list and at least 10 references.
5.    Find a fun cool group of people in Missoula with common interests for me and Rob. - Rob and I have friendships with 3 of our neighbors, some friends now here from UI and some friends of Rob's from work. We also know quite a few kids from church and have plans to do something with them...eventually. They're all grad students at the University of Montana so they're rather busy. It also is a big bonus have our sister Janice here. I think Rob feels outnumbered with three ladies in the house
6.    Move into my new house and decorate it with a style that emanates the “City-Country” feel. – My living room is themed on my final project for photography school – “America”. It is based on me moving from NY to MT.
7.    Get a puppy/dog and train her. – she knows sit, lay down, stay, come, out, enough, leave it, and a few tricks like shake, wave, high five (and she knows "other paw"), “bang” = play dead, and "dance" = she does a cicle on her hind legs, and "walk tall" = walking on her hind legs. She knows how to heel, and go to sleep, she knows "don't be rude" and "say please", she knows how to "go potty" on command and lots lots more.
8.    Get bicycles for Rob and I.
9.    Go bicycling with our dog regularly.
10.    Cook dinner at least twice a week . – we set up a schedule and I cook dinners usually on sun or mon and thurs or fri.
11.    Start going back to church on a more regular basis and develop ourselves in the church community. – we have a chili cookoff that we organized this Sunday night. I’ve also met a couple cool girl in our church that I’m looking forward to getting to know better.
12.    Honeymoon. – Hawaii or Disney World.
13.    Visit the other location ^ at some point. - we went to Disney in September
14.    Make and drink some Butterbeer.
15.    Print a bunch of my fine art photos and frame them – either for myself, as gifts, or to sell. – I printed 3 western themed prints to hang in my house.
16.    Photograph at least 2 weddings. - I have my third booked for next August!
17.    Be photographing the equivalent of at least 1 event a month – so 12 a year.
18.    PROMO material. – I now I have awesome business cards, fliers and price sheets. When I get a mailing list, I’ve also designed 4x6 postcards that can be sent out as well.
19.    Pay off RMSP loans.
20.    Own at least 1 additional lenses – an 85mm F1.8 lens, or maybe a fisheye
21.    Spoil my husband with breakfast in bed. – to be fair, he didn’t eat it in bed, but I did wake up at 7am on a Saturday and made him mickey pancakes, bacon, and sausage.
22.    Develop a habit for keep my new house clean and tidy. – I’m still working on this with the 2 dogs, it’s tricky, but I never let it get too bad.
23.    Go on a Road trip with the girls. - We went to the Augusta Rodeo about 90mi. NE of Missoula.
24.    Manage my budget efficiently – business and personal. - I set up a document on my computer to get on track with my business bookkeeping. It'll help for taxes next year for sure!
25.    Photograph at least 1 rodeo a year.
26.    Go garage saling this Spring and put aside some of my stuff to sell in one of our own.
27.    Make homemade ice cream.
28.    Visit the Southwest, the only corner of the country I’ve never been to – AZ, TX, or NM.
29.    Develop a solid pantry in my house – a good supply of meats, seasonings, and non-perishables.
30.    GARDEN!!! - pretty flowers, a patio, a lawn, and some amazing landscaping – done by me and Rob.
31.    Learn something new every day for 2 weeks – textbook style.
32.    Take a photo every day for a month. Plan ahead.
33.    Research photography projects and complete 3. – so I’ve got my projects…just need to get out there.
34.    Cook dinner for my parents at least once a month every month for 6 months.
35.    Family get-together/get-away with all 8 of us - parents, “kids” and spouses. - it was quick and I think we need another one, but we all went to a glass blowing gallery in Beacon. It was only about an hour, but it would be nice to all go on a trip somewhere together sometime.
36.    Write a Christmas letter and send it out to family and friends. – I also sent out cards and a video slideshow via e-mail.
37.    Develop an address book of all family/friends.
38.    Keep in touch with RMSP folks for photography support and advice. – It may be unfair that they're back in town, but we're re-building old bonds. Great!
39.    Put money away into savings.
40.    Start eating healthier – more veggies and less fried foods – we’ve had a real cooked meal almost every night for 2 months.
41.    Fix my antique rocking chair and set it up on my new front porch.
42.    Making a posing guide/manual to utilize it at photo shoots.
43.    Make a habit of calling my brothers more often.
44.    Network! Talk to local photographers, and ask about a second shooter relationship with some of them.
45.   Find a few doggie friends for Jasmine to play with. - Jas has made a few doggie friends for doggie playdates including a chow mix and a german shepherd. She is getting better with other dogs. she's come a long way.
46.    Design/have a real working business site for my photography
47.    Update my Blog at least twice a week for a month.
48.    Build a snowman.
49.    When something good happens, pay it forward and write about it.
50.    Learn how to sew.
51.    Make some unrecognizable-as-DIY Christmas gifts.
52.    Go on a real “date” with Rob.
53.    Get a part time job. – Sears Portrait Studio - even a photography gig - even if the job is terrible
54.    Organize all of my documents and develop an efficient filing system. – Now the trick will be to keep up with it.
55.    Go to the beach/ocean.
56.    Tie a note to a balloon and let it go.
57.    Update my driver's license and SS with my husband's last name.
58.    Stay up one night to shoot the sunset AND the sunrise in the morning, with star trails in-between.
59.    Go snorkeling.
60.    Write a thank you note to everyone in my life who has helped me get to where I am now.
61.    Get crafty - develop a craft hobby for homemade crafts. – I’d say 80% of my Halloween and Christmas décor this year was homemade.
62.    Document fun and interesting family history for the future kids - Kennett and Whaley - I started an account on ancestry.com, but I’ve come to a dead end. I’ve got a bit more work to do. So this may just be to document the history my parents know about their parents.
63.    Have/go to a BBQ.
64.    Bring homemade baked goods or homegrown veggies the new neighbors.
65.    Start a bucket list.
66.    Make a list of fears and face one of them.
67.    Sign up for and volunteer at the humane society/animal shelter at least once a month.
68.    Laser Tag!
69.    Have my photography/artwork on display in a local hotel, cafe, or restaurant.
70.    Make a scrapbook or photo album for the year.
71.    Renew my passport
72.    Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind" – if you’d like to see them, they’re up on Facebook.
73.    Make a pinhole camera and use it! - I've got the plans, it's time to execute!
74.    Get crafty for the holidays - make decorations and get traditional.
75.    Make a difference to 1 child. – Make a Child Smile. - I sent a note to a child with a heart defect.
76.    Learn/teach myself some unique photo editing tricks in Photoshop - I found some cool sites with tutorials. granted, most of them are Lightroom - but they have styles that I really like and are very simple but effective.
77.    Find an awesome dessert recipe and invite friends over to share it with us. – counting my cookie pizza as this one. Recipe is here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cookie-Pizza-2/Detail.aspx
78.    Have a board game night – we’ve had at least 3; once in Whitefish, and again for the holidays.
79.    Photograph a landscape from the same location, capturing all four seasons
80.    Photograph lightening
81.    Scan old photos into computer and post a few good memories.
82.    Make a “My day in 6 words” Journal and make a habit of using it.
83.    Go to the planetarium and look at the stars through their telescope.
84.    See 5 famous NY/NYC landmarks I've never been to before. - we went to the empire state building, the MoMA, Top of the Rock, The Plaza Hotel, and the Statue of Liberty. Plus lots more - we also went to the MET, Central Park, FAO Schwarz, Hard Rock Cafe, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the Today Show....and lots more!
85.    Make an idea journal and sketch ideas/photo visions/dreams as they come to me. - now I just need to be better at using it!
86.    Learn to say "Hello, Thank You, and I love you" in 5 languages. – I posted this one on my blog.
87.    "Adopt" a child to sponsor for Christmas and spoil them like crazy! – we “adopted” a 2 year old little girl and got her books and puzzles. Then we worked with the church to help organize and sort the gifts that everyone bought. It was fun!
88.    Host a dinner party – For the first one I made spareribs for the first time ever and my hubby still has dreams about them.
89.    Learn how to shoot mini videos with my DSLR.
90.    Christmas cookies!
91.    Carve pumpkins for our porch and make bread from the guts. – ok, so the pumpkins rotted and we couldn’t make the bread from that, but I made the bread with my mom from new pumpkins.
92.    Go a week without TV.
93.    Draw something in wet cement. – We drew our initials in the sidewalk outside our house. It sort of got rolled over, and now it’s just a faint impression, but still, we did it!
94.    Put together a scavenger hunt or go on one. - the hunt exists, but i need some people to get involved with it!!! pick up those cameras friends...let get this show on the road!
95.    Plan a trip overseas and put some money aside to go.
96.    Finish a crossword puzzle book. – Almost done with the second one!
97.    Make a list of my 10 greatest accomplishments from each decade of my life - so that'll be 3 lists by the time we get to day 1001!
98.   Go on a fun photoshoot with a friend. - Kristian I am still waiting for you to visit for this one!
99.   Identify 100 things that makes me happy
100. Do something or go somewhere spontaneous.- I am claiming Rob's reunion as this one - it wasn't supposed to be spontaneous, but we weren't going to go until about 2 hours before we actually left, so it kind of was.
101. Put $1 for every goal completed in the first year into savings. $5 for the second year, $10 for the third year and $15 for everything not completed.

Completed as of today -64

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

List of fears

ok, this is on my list and it's not one I'm looking forward to, but I think it will make me stronger.

First and foremost, I am afraid of snakes. It all started in 1st grade at the bronx zoo when I thought a snake got out and was on my shoulder - in the end, it was my mom's camera strap that fell off her arm and onto mine when she picked me up, but I was terrified. I have been truely terrified of snakes ever since.

Second I am afraid of getting in a car accident. This isn't one I plan on facing. I was scared of driving for a long long time, but Rob pulled me out of that. Now I don't mind driving and even find it mildly relaxing, but I still get nervous when I think of going long distances and don't like to travel such distances on my own. I have been in a few minor accidents, but I'm afraid of someone being taken from me, or seriously hurt in a tragic accident.

Earwigs. This isn't a detrimental fear - in that, I can still crush one if I see it, but I heard an old wives tale that if they get in your ear they can eat your brain, and those little front claws they have are so icky, that just it just must be true.

Big scary rides. By this I mean anything that has any sort of a long vertical drop at Disney this comes to Tower of Terror and Splash Mountain. these are the two rides at Disney that I am really adamant about not going on, but i feel bad about it bc they are two of rob's favorites.

Ok, so I am a nervous nelly. I am always afraid that the worst is going to happen. It's really annoying in situations bc while I'm not expecting it, I am - perhaps trying to prepare for it. So I am always on edge when I am in the car and someone else is driving, or on edge watching kids or dogs play. I am always "preparing" myself for some big tragedy rather than just letting things be that will be. Its something I inherited from my dad. perhaps his only bad quality. It's something I'd like to get over.

I am afraid to let people get to close. It's really hard for me to make friends because I am just afraid of being burned. I am very open with people so I trust them in that I can share myself with them - i am very extroverted, but I am very afraid to actually trust people bc I haven't made many friendships in life with people that treat me fairly. Ok, I have a lot of great friends - lots of them, but they are all far away and it would be nice to find a few nice people here close by that I feel I can trust fully to be there for me, no questions asked. If that's the level of friendship I offer to others, that is something I expect of my friends in return.

I am afraid of confrontation. This doesn't need much explanation, but I don't like having to defend myself bc frankly, I'm not very good at it on the spot. I am much better at expressing myself on paper then I am in person in a confrontational setting. I care way to much about what the other person says, then I end up seething about it for a long long time. I need to learn how to tell people how I feel to their faces, and let them know that what they do/are doing upsets me, when it is happening.

this is a good start, but I am sure that there are others that belong on this list. most of these are emotional fears ... now it's time to face one of them. .....

update

1.    Establish my own photography business. – It is called City Country Photography
2.    Acquire pro quality tripod and off camera flash with softbox.
3.    Develop a secure price list for my photography. – This is always something to edit, but I do have a solid price list that I am comfortable with.
4.    Maintain a client basis with a mailing list and at least 10 references.
5.    Find a fun cool group of people in Missoula with common interests for me and Rob. - Rob and I have friendships with 3 of our neighbors, some friends now here from UI and some friends of Rob's from work. We also know quite a few kids from church and have plans to do something with them...eventually. They're all grad students at the University of Montana so they're rather busy. It also is a big bonus have our sister Janice here. I think Rob feels outnumbered with three ladies in the house
6.    Move into my new house and decorate it with a style that emanates the “City-Country” feel. – My living room is themed on my final project for photography school – “America”. It is based on me moving from NY to MT.
7.    Get a puppy/dog and train him. – she knows sit, lay down, stay, come, out, enough, leave it, and a few tricks like shake, wave, “bang” = play dead, and she’s working on heel and sleep. There are other’s that I’m sure aren’t on here. And there are other things that aren’t really tricks like I say “walk” and she goes to her leach on the hook and touches it with her nose, or I say treat and she goes to her treat cabinet, or I say outside and she goes to the backdoor to be put outside. She also twangs the door stop when she needs to be let out and it hasn’t been offered in a while. She’s an awesome dog. We have just taught her beg and bow as well! =)
8.    Get bicycles for Rob and I.
9.    Go bicycling with our dog regularly.
10.    Cook dinner at least twice a week . – we set up a schedule and I cook dinners usually on sun or mon and thurs or fri.
11.    Start going back to church on a more regular basis and develop ourselves in the church community. – we have a chili cookoff that we organized this Sunday night. I’ve also met a couple cool girl in our church that I’m looking forward to getting to know better.
12.    Honeymoon. – Hawaii or Disney World.
13.    Visit the other location ^ at some point. - we are heading to Disney for my birthday in Sept.!!! YAY!
14.    Go to Harry Potter World at Universal and drink some Butterbeer.
15.    Print a bunch of my fine art photos and frame them – either for myself, as gifts, or to sell. – I printed 3 western themed prints to hang in my house.
16.    Photograph at least 2 “destination” weddings.
17.    Be photographing the equivalent of at least 1 event a month – so 12 a year.
18.    PROMO material. – I now I have awesome business cards, fliers and price sheets. When I get a mailing list, I’ve also designed 4x6 postcards that can be sent out as well.
19.    Pay off RMSP loans.
20.    Own at least 2 additional lenses – an 85mm F1.8 lens, and …(?)
21.    Spoil my husband with breakfast in bed. – to be fair, he didn’t eat it in bed, but I did wake up at 7am on a Saturday and made him mickey pancakes, bacon, and sausage.
22.    Develop a habit for keep my new house clean and tidy. – I’m still working on this with the 2 dogs, it’s tricky, but I never let it get too bad.
23.    Go on a Road trip with the girls. - This weekend we're heading to the Augusta Rodeo. about 90mi. NE of Missoula.
24.    Manage my budget efficiently – business and personal. - I set up a document on my computer to get on track with my business bookkeeping. It'll help for taxes next year for sure!
25.    Photograph at least 1 rodeo a year.
26.    Go garage saling this Spring and put aside some of my stuff to sell in one of our own.
27.    Make homemade ice cream.
28.    Visit the Southwest, the only corner of the country I’ve never been to – AZ, TX, or NM.
29.    Develop a solid pantry in my house – a good supply of meats, seasonings, and non-perishables.
30.    GARDEN!!! - pretty flowers, a patio, a lawn, and some amazing landscaping – done by me and Rob.
31.    Learn something new every day for 2 weeks – textbook style.
32.    Take a photo every day for a month. Plan ahead.
33.    Research photography projects and complete 3. – so I’ve got my projects…just need to get out there.
34.    Cook dinner for my parents at least once a month every month for 6 months.
35.    Family get-together/get-away with all 8 of us - parents, “kids” and spouses. - it was quick and I think we need another one, but we all went to a glass blowing gallery in Beacon. It was only about an hour, but it would be nice to all go on a trip somewhere together sometime.
36.    Write a Christmas letter and send it out to family and friends. – I also sent out cards and a video slideshow via e-mail.
37.    Develop an address book of all family/friends.
38.    Keep in touch with RMSP folks for photography support and advice. – It may be unfair that they're back in town, but we're re-building old bonds. Great!
39.    Put a substantial amount of money away into savings.
40.    Start eating healthier – more veggies and less fried foods – we’ve had a real cooked meal almost every night for 2 months.
41.    Fix my antique rocking chair and set it up on my new front porch.
42.    Making a posing guide/manual with the help of models/friends and utilize it at photo shoots.
43.    Make a habit of calling my brothers more often.
44.    Network! Talk to local photographers, and ask about a second shooter relationship with some of them.
45.    Find a few doggie friends for Jasmine to play with. - Jas has made a few doggie friends for doggie playdates including a chow mix and a german shepherd. She is getting better with other dogs. she's come a long way.
46.    Design/have a real working business site for my photography
47.    Update my Blog at least twice a week for a month.
48.    Build a snowman.
49.    When something good happens, pay it forward and write about it.
50.    Write a children's book.
51.    Illustrate it.
52.    Go on a real “date” with Rob.
53.    Get a part time job. – Back at Block. Only temporary, but It’ll suffice for now.
54.    Organize all of my documents and develop an efficient filing system. – Now the trick will be to keep up with it.
55.    Go to the beach/ocean.
56.    Tie a note to a balloon and let it go.
57.    Update my driver's license and SS with my husband's last name.
58.    Stay up one night to shoot the sunset AND the sunrise in the morning, with star trails in-between.
59.    Go snorkeling/scuba diving.
60.    Write a thank you note to everyone in my life who has helped me get to where I am now.
61.    Get crafty - develop a craft hobby for homemade crafts. – I’d say 80% of my Halloween and Christmas décor this year was homemade.
62.    Document fun and interesting family history for the future kids - Kennett and Whaley - I started an account on ancestry.com, but I’ve come to a dead end. I’ve got a bit more work to do. So this may just be to document the history my parents know about their parents.
63.    Have/go to a BBQ.
64.    Bring homemade baked goods or homegrown veggies the new neighbors.
65.    Start a bucket list.
66.    Make a list of fears and face one of them.
67.    Sign up for and volunteer at the humane society/animal shelter at least once a month. – I have decided that I am going to visit the shelter and take photos of the pups, and take them for “training walks” whenever I am able.
68.    Laser Tag!
69.    Have my photography/artwork on display in a local hotel, cafe, or restaurant.
70.    Make a scrapbook or photo album for the year.
71.    Renew my passport
72.    Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind" – if you’d like to see them, they’re up on Facebook.
73.    Make a pinhole camera and use it! - I've got the plans, it's time to execute!
74.    Get crafty for the holidays - make decorations and get traditional.
75.    Make a difference to 1 child. – Make a Child Smile. - I sent a note to a child with a heart defect.
76.    Learn/teach myself some unique photo editing tricks in Photoshop - I found some cool sites with tutorials. granted, most of them are Lightroom - but they have styles that I really like and are very simple but effective.
77.    Find an awesome dessert recipe and invite friends over to share it with us. – counting my cookie pizza as this one. Recipe is here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cookie-Pizza-2/Detail.aspx
78.    Have a board game night – we’ve had at least 3; once in Whitefish, and again for the holidays.
79.    Photograph a landscape from the same location, capturing all four seasons
80.    Photograph lightening
81.    Scan old photos into computer and post a few good memories.
82.    Make a “My day in 6 words” Journal and make a habit of using it.
83.    Go to the planetarium and look at the stars through their telescope.
84.    See 5 famous NY/NYC landmarks I've never been to before. - we went to the empire state building, the MoMA, Top of the Rock, The Plaza Hotel, and the Statue of Liberty. Plus lots more - we also went to the MET, Central Park, FAO Schwarz, Hard Rock Cafe, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the Today Show....and lots more!
85.    Make an idea journal and sketch ideas/photo visions/dreams as they come to me. - now I just need to be better at using it!
86.    Learn to say "Hello, Thank You, and I love you" in 5 languages. – I posted this one on my blog.
87.    "Adopt" a child to sponsor for Christmas and spoil them like crazy! – we “adopted” a 2 year old little girl and got her books and puzzles. Then we worked with the church to help organize and sort the gifts that everyone bought. It was fun!
88.    Host a dinner party – For the first one I made spareribs for the first time ever and my hubby still has dreams about them.
89.    Learn how to shoot mini videos with my DSLR.
90.    Christmas cookies!
91.    Carve pumpkins for our porch and make bread from the guts. – ok, so the pumpkins rotted and we couldn’t make the bread from that, but I made the bread with my mom from new pumpkins.
92.    Go a week without TV.
93.    Draw something in wet cement. – We drew our initials in the sidewalk outside our house. It sort of got rolled over, and now it’s just a faint impression, but still, we did it!
94.    Put together a scavenger hunt or go on one. - the hunt exists, but i need some people to get involved with it!!! pick up those cameras friends...let get this show on the road!
95.    Plan a trip overseas and put some money aside to go.
96.    Finish a crossword puzzle book. – Almost done with the second one!
97.    Make a list of my 10 greatest accomplishments from each decade of my life - so that'll be 3 lists by the time we get to day 1001!
98.   Go on a fun photoshoot with a friend. - Kristian I am still waiting for you to visit for this one!
99.   Identify 100 things that makes me happy
100. Do something or go somewhere spontaneous.- I am claiming Rob's reunion as this one - it wasn't supposed to be spontaneous, but we weren't going to go until about 2 hours before we actually left, so it kind of was.
101. Put $1 for every goal completed in the first year into savings. $5 for the second year, $10 for the third year and $15 for everything not completed.

Completed as of today - 58

Monday, June 20, 2011

Halfway there!

My list was started, September 7^th, 2010, so I have a bit of progress already, but here is where I stand as of today.

I have just completed my 14 topics - one a day for 2 weeks. You can view them on my blog.

1.    Establish my own photography business. – It is called City Country Photography
2.    Acquire studio equipment for shooting on location.
3.    Develop a secure price list for my photography. – This is always something to edit, but I do have a solid price list that I am comfortable with.
4.    Maintain a client basis with a mailing list and at least 10 references.
5.    Find a fun cool group of people in Missoula with common interests for me and Rob. - Rob and I have friendships with 3 of our neighbors, some friends now here from UI and some friends of Rob's from work. We also know quite a few kids from church and have plans to do something with them...eventually. They're all grad students at the University of Montana so they're rather busy. It also is a big bonus have our sister Janice here. I think Rob feels outnumbered with three ladies in the house
6.    Move into my new house and decorate it with a style that emanates the “City-Country” feel. – My living room is themed on my final project for photography school – “America”. It is based on me moving from NY to MT.
7.    Get a puppy/dog and train him. – she knows sit, lay down, stay, come, out, enough, leave it, and a few tricks like shake, wave, “bang” = play dead, and she’s working on heel and sleep. There are other’s that I’m sure aren’t on here. And there are other things that aren’t really tricks like I say “walk” and she goes to her leach on the hook and touches it with her nose, or I say treat and she goes to her treat cabinet, or I say outside and she goes to the backdoor to be put outside. She also twangs the door stop when she needs to be let out and it hasn’t been offered in a while. She’s an awesome dog. We have just taught her beg and bow as well! =)
8.    Get bicycles for Rob and I.
9.    Go bicycling with our dog regularly.
10.    Cook dinner at least twice a week . – we set up a schedule and I cook dinners usually on sun or mon and thurs or fri.
11.    Start going back to church on a more regular basis and develop ourselves in the church community. – we have a chili cookoff that we organized this Sunday night. I’ve also met a couple cool girl in our church that I’m looking forward to getting to know better.
12.    Honeymoon. – Hawaii or Disney World.
13.    Visit the other location ^ at some point. - we are heading to Disney for my birthday in Sept.!!! YAY!
14.    Go to Harry Potter World at Universal and drink some Butterbeer.
15.    Print a bunch of my fine art photos and frame them – either for myself, as gifts, or to sell. – I printed 3 western themed prints to hang in my house.
16.    Photograph at least 2 “destination” weddings.
17.    Be photographing the equivalent of at least 1 event a month – so 12 a year.
18.    PROMO material. – I now I have awesome business cards, fliers and price sheets. When I get a mailing list, I’ve also designed 4x6 postcards that can be sent out as well.
19.    Pay off RMSP loans.
20.    Own at least 2 additional lenses – an 85mm F1.8 lens, and …(?)
21.    Spoil my husband with breakfast in bed. – to be fair, he didn’t eat it in bed, but I did wake up at 7am on a Saturday and made him mickey pancakes, bacon, and sausage.
22.    Develop a habit for keep my new house clean and tidy. – I’m still working on this with the 2 dogs, it’s tricky, but I never let it get too bad.
23.    Go on a Road trip with the girls. - This weekend we're heading to the Augusta Rodeo. about 90mi. NE of Missoula.
24.    Manage my budget efficiently – business and personal. - I set up a document on my computer to get on track with my business bookkeeping. It'll help for taxes next year for sure!
25.    Photograph at least 1 rodeo a year.
26.    Go garage saling this Spring and put aside some of my stuff to sell in one of our own.
27.    Make homemade ice cream.
28.    Visit the Southwest, the only corner of the country I’ve never been to – AZ, TX, or NM.
29.    Develop a solid pantry in my house – a good supply of meats, seasonings, and non-perishables.
30.    GARDEN!!! - pretty flowers, a patio, a lawn, and some amazing landscaping – done by me and Rob.
31.    Learn something new every day for 2 weeks – textbook style.
32.    Take a photo every day for a month. Plan ahead.
33.    Research photography projects and complete 3. – so I’ve got my projects…just need to get out there.
34.    Cook dinner for my parents at least once a month every month for 6 months.
35.    Family get-together/get-away with all 8 of us - parents, “kids” and spouses.
36.    Write a Christmas letter and send it out to family and friends. – I also sent out cards and a video slideshow via e-mail.
37.    Develop an address book of all family/friends.
38.    Keep in touch with RMSP folks for photography support and advice. – It may be unfair that they're back in town, but we're re-building old bonds. Great!
39.    Put a substantial amount of money away into savings.
40.    Start eating healthier – more veggies and less fried foods – we’ve had a real cooked meal almost every night for 2 months.
41.    Fix my antique rocking chair and set it up on my new front porch.
42.    Making a posing guide/manual with the help of models/friends and utilize it at photo shoots.
43.    Make a habit of calling my brothers more often.
44.    Network! Talk to local photographers, and ask about a second shooter relationship with some of them.
45.    Find a few doggie friends for Jasmine to play with.
46.    Design/have a real working business site for my photography
47.    Update my Blog at least twice a week for a month.
48.    Build a snowman.
49.    When something good happens, pay it forward and write about it.
50.    Write a children's book.
51.    Illustrate it.
52.    Go on a real “date” with Rob.
53.    Get a part time job. – Back at Block. Only temporary, but It’ll suffice for now.
54.    Organize all of my documents and develop an efficient filing system. – Now the trick will be to keep up with it.
55.    Go to the beach/ocean.
56.    Tie a note to a balloon and let it go.
57.    Update my driver's license and SS with my husband's last name.
58.    Stay up one night to shoot the sunset AND the sunrise in the morning, with star trails in-between.
59.    Go snorkeling/scuba diving.
60.    Write a thank you note to everyone in my life who has helped me get to where I am now.
61.    Get crafty - develop a craft hobby for homemade crafts. – I’d say 80% of my Halloween and Christmas décor this year was homemade.
62.    Research my family history - Kennett and Whaley, and document it. - I started an account on ancestry.com, but I’ve come to a dead end. I’ve got a bit more work to do. So this may just be to document the history my parents know about their parents for my far in the future kids.
63.    Have/go to a BBQ.
64.    Bring homemade baked goods or homegrown veggies the new neighbors.
65.    Start a bucket list.
66.    Make a list of fears and face one of them.
67.    Sign up for and volunteer at the humane society/animal shelter at least once a month. – I have decided that I am going to visit the shelter and take photos of the pups, and take them for “training walks” whenever I am able.
68.    Laser Tag!
69.    Have my photography/artwork on display in a local hotel or restaurant.
70.    Make a scrapbook or photo album for the year.
71.    Renew my passport
72.    Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind" – if you’d like to see them, they’re up on Facebook.
73.    Make a pinhole camera and use it! - I've got the plans, it's time to execute!
74.    Get crafty for the holidays - make decorations and get traditional.
75.    Make a difference to 1 child. – Make a Child Smile. - I sent a note to a child with a heart defect.
76.    Learn/teach myself some unique photo editing tricks in Photoshop
77.    Find an awesome dessert recipe and invite friends over to share it with us. – counting my cookie pizza as this one. Recipe is here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cookie-Pizza-2/Detail.aspx
78.    Have a board game night – we’ve had at least 3; once in Whitefish, and again for the holidays.
79.    Photograph a landscape from the same location, capturing all four seasons
80.    Photograph lightening
81.    Scan old photos into computer and post a few good memories.
82.    Make a “My day in 6 words” Journal and make a habit of using it.
83.    Go to the planetarium and look at the stars through their telescope.
84.    See 3 famous NY/NYC landmarks I've never been to before. - 2 weeks!
85.    Make an idea journal and sketch ideas/photo visions/dreams as they come to me. - now I just need to be better at using it!
86.    Learn to say "Hello, Thank You, and I love you" in 5 languages. – I posted this one on my blog.
87.    "Adopt" a child to sponsor for Christmas and spoil them like crazy! – we “adopted” a 2 year old little girl and got her books and puzzles. Then we worked with the church to help organize and sort the gifts that everyone bought. It was fun!
88.    Host a dinner party – For the first one I made spareribs for the first time ever and my hubby still has dreams about them.
89.    Purchase a new camera body and have my D90 as a backup.
90.    Christmas cookies!
91.    Carve pumpkins for our porch and make bread from the guts. – ok, so the pumpkins rotted and we couldn’t make the bread from that, but I made the bread with my mom from new pumpkins.
92.    Go a week without TV.
93.    Draw something in wet cement. – We drew our initials in the sidewalk outside our house. It sort of got rolled over, and now it’s just a faint impression, but still, we did it!
94.    Put together a scavenger hunt or go on one. - the hunt exists, but i need some people to get involved with it!!! pick up those cameras friends...let get this show on the road!
95.    Plan a trip overseas and put some money aside to go.
96.    Finish a crossword puzzle book. – Almost done with the second one!
97.    Make a list of my 10 greatest accomplishments from each decade of my life - so that'll be 3 lists by the time we get to day 1001!
98.   Go on a fun photoshoot with a friend.
99.   Identify 100 things that makes me happy
100. Do something or go somewhere spontaneous.
101.   Put $1 for every goal completed in the first year into savings. $5 for the second year, $10 for the third year and $15 for everything not completed.

Completed by 6/20/11 =51

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

disney challenge

1: Your favorite character

Tinkerbell. I have so many that it's really hard to pick just one, but I love Tink's tenacity and her ability to overcome her faults to still save the day.

2: Your favorite princess

Cinderella. She's classic, and I've been in love with her castle since I was five, so when I think princess, I immediately think Cinderella. I love how she overcomes all odds to turn her life around.

3: Your favorite heroine


It's a tie between Meg from Hercules,

Jane, from Tarzan.

And Tiana from Princess and the Frog

4: Your favorite prince

The Beast. Hands down, his personality and sense of emotion are the strongest of all the princes around. The fact that my husband is most like the Beast helps too.

5: Your favorite hero

Hercules. Because he has values beyond physical appearance and status. And, he has a pegasus. Come on...that's just cool.

6: Your favorite animal

This one is a no brainer. Bolt is hands down the best friend anyone can imagine.

7: Your favorite sidekick


Another tie between Louis

And Pegasus.

8: Your favorite villain

The Queen of Hearts. We still need to play croquet.

9: Your favorite original character (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, etc.)

My favorite to visit in the parks and remind me of one my of my bests, Chip and Dale

10: Your favorite song

Won't Say I'm in Love from Hercules. Love the beat and the message.

11: Your favorite love song

A Whole New World from Aladdin.

12: Your favorite villain song


Poor Unfortunate Souls.

13: Your least favorite song

Hellfire from Hunchback of Notre Dame. Ok, this is so not a kids movie. The man is literally talking about forcing Esmerelda into bed with him to save her soul. Because that will help...riiiight.

14: Your favorite kiss

From Beauty and the Beast; when she saves him. Second was Snow kissing the top of Grumpy's head and he goes all red.

15: The first movie you saw

I remember getting Snow White on VHS for Christmas when it first came out on VHS. This and ET that Christmas.

16: Your favorite classic

Fantasia. Walt's original concept is just as much of a masterpiece as the music that comes to life in it's scenes.

17: Your least favorite classic

Pinocchio. I don't know, just wasn't a fan. But I do love Jiminy and the blue Fairy.

18: Your favorite Pixar film

I just love Sully so much!

19: Your least favorite Pixar film

I didn't dislike this movie, but it was far from my favorite.

20: Favorite sequel

Ariel's New Beginning. Ok, really, I'm not a fan of any of the sequels, and this one really is a prequel, but this one was fairly cute and not completely cheesey. I remember liking the story of how the girls weren't allowed to sing and I liked seeing more of her family. Toy Story 2 is a better sequel, and I don't know why I didn't pick it, but there it is.

21: An overrated movie

Ok, don't shoot me, bc I like Sleeping Beauty too, but this movie is about a girl who sleeps for 100 years a man kisses her and wakes her up. Even the 60 minutes it takes place in can seem a little long.

22: An underrated movie

One of the cutest and most original stories Disney has ever come out with. It has a great story and great characters. It's a shame it was the beginning of the end of Disney animated movies.

23: A movie that makes you laugh

Lion King. Timon and Puumba are amazing sidekicks.

24: A movie that makes you cry

Dumbo - where the mother gets locked up for protecting her baby, and the reunite but this is as close as they can be. It's making me sad just thinking about it.

25: Your favorite scene from your favorite movie

Flying to Neverland in Peter Pan

Lilo and Stitch when he's trying to be like the family and makes a castle around himself.

26: Saddest death

Brother killing brother. Mufasa's death is by far the saddest.

27: Your favorite quote

From Walt Disney, rather than a movie, but a fantastic quote. Words to live by.

28: Your favorite theme park

MGM. or currently, Hollywood Studios. Love the rides, love the scenery, most of all, I love the '50s feel of it all.

29: Your favorite theme attraction

Rockin Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith.

30: Your favorite theme park show

Muppet Vision 3D

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Photography Scavenger Hunt.

The first is a scavenger hunt.
the rules: Myself and as many friends as would like to participate have a scavenger hunt. There are a few ideas as to how it would work:
I or someone will identify something that we would like to see photographed, and the first person to respond gets to identify the next item.
Another option is to create a collage of 5 topics that must be somehow connected. 5 random things, all different, but somehow alike - be it a theme, a word, a mood, a color - whatever.
A third idea is to make a list at the beginning of each month, and you have 1 month to find all the photos, but you must photograph everything on the list. The first person to submit all the images get to make the next list. I kind of like this one, because it will keep me out there shooting.

Items on the list(s) can really be anything, the only rules are to keep it clean, but some cool suggestions are:

A Smile
Quiet
A reflection
A tradition
A texture

For any of these, I'm thinking of making a new blog, or FB group to start up, so multiple people can edit and post to the blog. Let me know if you're interested.

Here is one blog that does just this:
http://forum.photojojo.com/viewtopic.php?id=273

My Day in 6 Words 4/23

American Eskimo at the mall love.

My day in 6 Words 4/22

Needs a new doctor. Taking referrals.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

My Day in 6 Words 4/21

Rented some flicks for the weekend.

My Day in 6 Words 4/20

From Cooking Light

Cleaned, vacuumed, organized and cooked chili.

Sarah's Chili Recipe:

1 lb. ground beed

1 onion chopped

Cook together in a large frying pan until meat is cooked

1 bell pepper cut into large pieces

1 tbsp minced garlic

Add to meat and onions and cook until peppers start to sweat.

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce

1 1/2c. Corn (fresh or frozen)

2 tbsp. Chili powder

1/2 tsp. Cumin

1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning

2 tbsp. Sugar

Add all ingredients to the current mixture and cook together on a low boil for about 30 mins.

3 Cans of Beans - can be red or white kidney, black, pinto, or chili beans.

(I use 1 red kidney, 1 white kidney and 1 black bean)

(drain all liquid from can except kidney and chili beans)

Add to mixture and cook on low until mixture start to boil.

Add some shredded cheese and your favorite cracker and enjoy!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

My Day in 6 Words 4/19

http://www.germanshepherdtrainingnow.com/separation-anxiety-in-dogs/

Jasmine begged me to stay home.

My Day in 6 Words 4/18

Tending to my sore stiff back.

My Day in 6 Words 4/17

English Daisies. This is the one flower that is currently blooming in our garden. The rest are seeds that will take about 2 months to start to show growth. Excited for the summer.

Greenough Park and an afternoon gardening.