I cannot wait!

I can't wait to be a quarter of the human cargo on a journey to Oregon, come July 10th.  I've got big plans to wear a floppy sunhat, large sunglasses and maxi dresses.  I imagine I'll be comfortable (in reality, more fabric probably means more sweat, but that balloon can pop later) with the wind in my hair, soaking up the bonds of sisterhood, taking in the mountains.  I really need a vacation, see? :)

I've been blogging outfits that I have been apprehensive to wear into public.  In an area like the one I live in, people are more likely to notice or judge (which is my personal issue) an outfit that's...not ordinary.  I imagine people to be thinking (because I'm guilty of it) "either she has a lot of money or she belongs in an institution."  That kind of reaction deters me from wearing things I want to.  So this trip is also about getting a feel for my own style (second to bonding with 3 really awesome girls).  I hope to gain some confidence in my style so that I can walk around on regular, non-heart-stopping road trip days and be comfortable.  :)

XOXO Can't wait for this adventure.

What's been goin' on

Two weeks ago, I spent the day with my grandparents.  Not only was I able to photograph them (a big deal since my grandma had brain surgery a week prior) but we also had lots of time to bond.  It's been a really long time since I got to hear my grandpa's stories about WWII.  He has this wooden box with a bunch of little treasures from his time in the service, and it only comes out every few years.  The entire time he talked, he was teary-eyed.  It was wonderful to hear all of the stories about the pieces and photographs in the box again.  The last time I remember hearing about everything was the first time, and I was probably eleven.

My hero (Grandpa Bud) helping Grandma get around. :)

This chair is from the first kitchen set they had as a married couple.  It's over 63 years old.  :)

This image is the best thing I've done all year.  I haven't edited shadows or anything yet, but the fact that I got them with my [copied] sign makes me so happy.

My new camera bag came and I couldn't be happier.  Copper River Bags is an amazing company.  The products are stellar and the fact that they're made in the U.S. really floats my boat.

I haven't been spending much lately, since we're talking about buying a house.  I did buy this for myself though, just to take the edge off of my work week.  Thank you, Kelli Murray and Etsy.

Finally!

Despite the fact that it's finals week, it's a great day!  I finally got my new lens...and another one, too!

So here are a few other ones from my point and shoot.  I've been waiting to use a real camera again and the evidence that I have will come sometime this month.  For now...

I made some Thank You cards in advance...I have a lot to be thankful for :)

Liz and I visited this AMAZING place and I should've taken more photos.

The Theda Clark house
<3  

Change

Last Thursday I made a few important (maybe insane) decisions.  For my American Short Story class, we had to read The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.  Reading the story before class made me sick to my stomach.  When we began to discuss it, the feeling came back tenfold.  I feel guilty (good job, Ursula! you succeeded.) about the entire situation.  We are all informed of the awful things that happen in the world, at some time or another.  Sometimes it takes films like Blood Diamond to reach certain people, but there aren't many adults in our society who are unaware of horrendous situations around the world.  

My professor started out by saying, "I don't know who made these jeans, but I can bet it wasn't an adult."  That hit home for me and when he started explaining that his wife's best friend from the east coast decided, along with her husband, to only purchase American-made products, a light went on.  They have successfully purchased clothing, gifts and anything else they may have needed since January first of 2012, that was made in America.  I realize our country isn't perfect, but we have to start somewhere and promoting products that aren't made by impoverished children chained to sewing machines is a good place to begin.  I am a little ashamed to say that I used to think, "Well if it's that bad for the adults working in those places, they can leave.  They have minds, they can decide to change their lives."  The fact is that most of them don't; and I got a pretty severe reality check in taking the opportunities in this country for granted.

I don't want to sound preachy, but I'm hoping to enlighten someone else, who may have had the same mind sets.  

The second big decision I made is to not eat meat if I don't know exactly where it came from.  Adam and I are lucky enough to have aunts and uncles with family farms.  Venison is my exception; it's not like people pump a bunch of growth hormones into deer.  It will be fairly easy for us to make this a habit (the eating out part will be much harder).  It seems as though all mass produced food is much different than we think.  All of the fillers and chemicals used make it a pretty scary things.  We should really know what we're putting into our bodies.  I watched Food, Inc for the second time on Thursday night.  While it's obviously a biased documentary, it doesn't take much to prove their point.  Something to think about, anyway.

I've been doing well so far with both changes.  If I can't find something I think I need that's made here, I convince myself I don't need it.  I have been having a little bit of trouble with the meat end of things.  All I want is bacon when I work, but I just remind myself that as soon as I get to a butcher, I'll have some.  I think it'll be cool to look back on this post in a year and see what I stuck to and what else has changed.

(More) Goals for 2012

• Put more effort into my appearance (covered in too much detail yesterday)
• Paint my nails at least once per week
• Take more walks
• Get more tattoos
• Read at least twelve books (almost done with Water for Elephants! Hunger Games is next. Thank you, Heather :-D)
• Don't drink soda.  At all.  
• Let go of the negative people in my life, even if they are family members
• Thank people much more often
• Save money
• Dance around more often
• Do what makes me (&Adam) happy and rise above the opinions of others
• Get this in order to brighten and organize
• Craft more
• Get Remy the sister I always wanted her to have, provided the timing is right
• Take more pictures, especially of the kids in my life who are growing up way too quickly
• Take things lightly and just smile 
• Get a family photo taken of my parents, brothers, me, my sister and all of the kids (even if I have to do it myself)
• Bake more often/try new recipes