My second film print of the semester! Yay! It took us a while to get started in the darkroom, but now the printing shall begin. This is a photo I took of my friend's parents in Napa when we went on the wine train. It is a perfect representation of them.

Gosh how I love film. Especially black and white. Classic and elegant.

Happy Friday!!

P.S. Please excuse the dust particles from my drying book! :)

A rant about life.

Sometimes in life things become too routine. Sometimes you need something to come along and shake things up a bit. Sometimes this doesn't always happen in the way that you had hoped or imagined. Most of the time, you don't even notice this lingering stagnancy in your life. But then something happens and suddenly you are awake from this dream.

Tonight I had a few of these moments.

It has been pointed out to me by my father that I am not currently really pushing myself in any way. I have been going through the motions of my every day life, going to school and then to work and then coming home to spend my evenings quietly. The fact that I don't have much schoolwork is concerning to him, but to me it is a nice change from the stress of my senior year of high school. But, I will admit, things have become stale. My math class bores me to tears, as I have already completed the homework before receiving the lesson in class. But I must go to class anyway. And yes, I am taking photography, which doesn't require much outside work and isn't technically a transferable class for my general education. But I need it for my sanity. I don't know an education without at least one art class. My junior year of high school, I took four art classes. Four.

I think that living at home while everyone I know is leaving to take their place at their respective campuses is making me feel a little left behind. Or a lot left behind.

So, yes maybe I could be challenging myself a little more, but I have to just get through some of the classes that are required to transfer. Eventually they will get harder, and it's okay.

Additionally, it dawned on me that I really don't know what to do about my further education. Last fall, or even this past spring, I thought I had it figured out. But now that my world has been seemingly flipped upside down and shaken around a bit, I don't know. What should I major in? What should I "fall back on," as my father suggests? Honestly, I don't think I need something to fall back on, because it makes me feel as if I do not have faith in my abilities to achieve what I have set out to do. And that is to have a career in which I am constantly creative and am free to explore the world. 

Lastly,  tonight I received an unexpected, totally random phone call from an old "friend." Okay, an ex-boyfriend. It went something like this:

Me: Hello?

Him: Hi, so I know this is really random, but you know those times when you are just so deep in procrastination that you will pretty much do anything to avoid doing homework?

Me: Yes...

Him: Well, I was listening to the CDs you made me and The Rocket Summer came on and it made me think of you and remember that I haven't talked to you since you started college and it's a time of big changes in your life and I just want to see how you are and how you have been doing. 

Me: I'm good. How are you?

Him: I'm good. I really do have to start that homework, but this weekend can we talk on the phone and you can tell me about how life has been?

Me: Um, yeah that sounds good.

Him: Okay cool. I should have gotten my act together and driven down to see you over the summer. I'm sorry.

Me: It's okay.

I don't even know.

This has been the most random thing to happen to me in a while. 

Does that tell you how interesting life has been lately?

P.S. I wish that I had lovely photos not taken on an iPhone to share with you all, but the fact of the matter is that I have been shooting a lot of film lately. And let's be honest, there hasn't been anything too interesting to take photos of.

If we had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm ready for cold weather.

I'd tell you that I miss my sister.

I'd tell you that my math class is too easy and I am bored.

I'd tell you that I haven't really made any friends at community college yet.

I'd tell you that I am going to San Diego in October. And I'm really happy about it.

I'd tell you that I wish my best friend hadn't left for college.

I'd tell you that I love the new color of my hair.

I'd tell you that my nannying job is great. I hate retail.

I'd tell you that I don't want to work at Lucky anymore, but for some reason I can't bring myself to quit.

I'd tell you that I've had the same bouquet of flowers on my sidetable for almost 2 months.
They are dead, but I like them.

And lastly,

I'd tell you that waking up next to a warm, sleeping pup is the greatest way to start my day.

Goodness the weather this weekend is wonderful! I have been craving colder weather, but I know I'll be glad I got to soak up the last of the warmness. Yesterday my friend and I had brunch in San Francisco and then took a drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, not having much of a plan. After getting stuck in traffic and taking some wrong turns, we decided to check out some viewing points and take a drive through an old military base. I wish I had my film camera! I will definitely have to go back to take photos of the rustic buildings. 

Napa

This is a little bit late, but last weekend I went to Napa with some friends. I know that I'm not old enough to enjoy the wine, but I enjoyed the pretty views and shooting 3 rolls of film! The food was great and the weather was so nice. I loved the vintage feel of the wine train and there was plenty to take photos of. I can't wait to develop and print my photos in my photography class :)

My best friend left.

I have anticipated this day for over a year, pushing it aside in my mind because it felt so far away. A year ago, we had no idea where we would be this time this year or what our lives would look like. I thought that hopefully I'd be starting college in a new place and living in a dorm, but obviously that didn't really work out. This day never really seemed like it would actually come, but it has. My best friend left for college. In another state. What am I going to do without her? I haven't decided yet. 

As much as I am going to miss her, I am really excited for her to get that full college experience and to be on her own for a while. Plus, I can live vicariously through her and I now have an excuse to go to Seattle :) Good luck Tots! Kaitlin and I will be waiting for you :)

I just want to go places.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the things I want to do in life and how I can feel like I have made the most of all my time here on earth. There are so many beautiful things to do and so many beautiful places to go. I sometimes wonder why I am sitting in a classroom instead of out in the world exploring.

So here's a little list that I made while sitting in class.

- Big Sur, CA

- Filoli Gardens

- Lake Tahoe

- Apple picking

- Yosemite National Park

- Half Dome

- Mono Lake, CA

- The "Big Trees", CA

- Take a train

- Bodega Bay, CA

- Santa Barbara, CA

- Portland, OR

- Yellowstone National Park

- Seattle, WA

- Sonoma, CA

- Angel Island

- Colorado
- Utah

If I were to make this a list of all the places I wanted to go to, pretty much all of Europe would be on it, but let's be realistic, a  college student's budget does not allow for European excursions. So that will come later, but at least I have some things that I can cross of right here in California!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Dear Jack

You have no idea how incredibly excited I am to tell you that I AM GOING TO THIS.

Oh yes. That is right. In November I will be in LA at this wonderful show with my wonderful Andrew McMahon, supporting young people fighting leukemia just like he had. I mean, it is Jack's Mannequin's final performance. How could I not go?

I will never forget when my dad and I saw him play at a little club in Sacramento last year. After waiting over a year for Andrew to announce another tour, we finally got to see him together. My dad cried. It was magical. It was like, there's that kid, the one we saw almost on his death bed, jumping on his piano and climbing on top of 6 foot speakers. 

Though this is the end of the Jack's Mannequin era, this is not the end of Andrew. Like Bryce Avary of the Rocket Summer, Andrew McMahon is a man that I will continue to support and attend his shows until he no longer makes music.

So, need I say that I am beyond excited? November 11th, hurry up now.

How to have an awesome night by yourself.

1. Rent some movies.

2. Make some recipes you have been wanting to try, like pesto/tomato/mozzarella grilled cheese sandwiches or salted caramel brownies.

(caution: may be awesome)

3. Light a candle.

4. Make some tea.

4. Pamper yourself with DIY masks and face scrubs. Maybe even a pedicure.

5. Don't care what you look like.

6. Cuddle with your dog.

7. Watch said rented movies.

8. Go to sleep at a decent hour.

I love Fridays.

Life has been pretty good for this little pup lately. It turns out that the kids I nanny for are completely smitten by him, so they encourage me to bring him almost everyday. It is a win-win-win. They get to hang out with an awesome dog, I get paid to spend time with my dog, and he gets out of the house!

It's really pretty perfect.

Also, did you know that apparently no one cares if you bring your dog into the grocery store? 

No one stopped me... And the cashier loved him...

Lately on Instagram...

1. Me and my buddy in the car // 2. I will keep going to the pediatrician until they tell me I can't // 3. Bro-in-law's shorts

4. Sol Food! // 5. My favorite baby // 6. Spoiled dog

7. Empty dog park // 8. Cookies Rule Everything Around Me // 9. Feeling like a 50's housewife

10. New glasses! // 11. The hair salon // 12. Babysitting.

Oh how I love weekends. I love getting to spend time with friends and family, exploring the city and eating good food.

This weekend I went to dinner with some friends, got my hair done, went to San Francisco with my dad and his fiancé to take photos of them, ate a great italian place in the Castro, got some new glasses in SF, went to church, and worked at Lucky!

Wow that seems like a lot now that I write it all out! Crazy that next weekend will be even busier...

Anyhow, it is always funny returning to school and work after a haircut. I feel unrecognizable sometimes, but I like it & love all the compliments I have been receiving about my new hair :)

Here's to a good week!

I finally did it.

Surprise!!!

Yep! I finally went red! More ginger I suppose, but I'm not really an expert on all things concerning red hair. So I will just say this: I think I like it. It is so very different. I have been blonde my entire life, but this...this just feels kind of liberating! I was scared, but you only live once and it is only hair. Plus, fall is coming and what better time to go red than fall? I got a much needed haircut and rid of those awful (really, they were horrible) roots. After 3 hours at the hair salon, I'd say it was a productive Saturday.

Also, let it be noted that these shoes are horrific. I snatched them up on a super sale at Urban Outfitters (they were only $14!) and when they arrived in the mail, they were utterly disappointing. Not to mention that I read the product reviews after I had already ordered them in-store, and only bad things were said. When I opened them up, the wood platform was beat up and part of it was cracked like someone took a hammer to it. And the fit, oh goodness, don't get me started. My pinky toe sticks out the side of one of them AND I seriously fell on my bum TWICE while taking these photos. One second I was standing and the next I was on the ground. They are a death trap, and no it is not due to my lack of experience wearing high shoes. These shoes just all around suck, and after wearing them just for these photos, the sole was already coming off. Back to Urban they go.

Anyway, I promise my rant is over. Let us rejoice in the name of all things red headed.

5 things.

1. "Two Scoops of Cute" top by Modcloth

2. Mason jars. For anything and everything.

3. Trader Joe's Fleur de sel Caramels

4. My lovely Nikon F film camera

5. Simply Lemonade with Mango. Where has this been all my life?

I thought we'd kick off the weekend with 5 things I've been loving lately! This weekend I plan on roaming around SF a bit, relaxing, cuddling with the pup, and getting some reading done. It is wonderful to be free. What are your weekend plans?

Also, stay tuned for a surprise tomorrow! You won't want to miss this.

Happy weekend!

The story of Marly.

This is my pup, Marly. But of course you already knew that. As this blog has been getting further along, I thought I should share the story of how Marly and I came to be, which I suppose leads to how this blog came to be.

When I was four or five, my dad found a little tan dog that was the same mix as Marly (Dachshund/Chihuahua). He brought him home and I named him Cubby, after the polar bear in my favorite movie at the time, Alaska. We had Cubby for a couple years, but to make a long story short, he was lost by my babysitter. It was devastating.

After that, I always wanted another dog. I begged and begged and begged my dad all year around, especially at Christmastime. On Christmas morning six years later, I opened up a cardboard box with a set of bowls and some dog toys in it. I think I started crying. I got to finally pick out my own dog!

I was twelve years old. I searched many websites, visited several humane societies, and did a lot of research. I wanted many of the dogs I came across, but nothing was quite right with them. Not right enough to be the one. 

One Sunday afternoon, after a draining day of looking at houses we couldn't afford back then, my dad decided to stop by the humane society before they closed to cheer us up. We walked down the aisles until we came to a kennel with a little tan dog and a little black dog in it. We asked to see them both in the yard. We played with the tan one first. She was cute and I had already named her Bailey. My dad pointed out her paws. They were pretty big. Too big for us. We knew she would grow to be bigger than we wanted. 

Next we played with the black one. My dad sat down on a white plastic chair in the yard. He hopped right up onto his lap. This was the one. He was so sweet and licked my face with gentleness. He was who we were waiting for. I know he was waiting for us too.

We wanted him. We had already made up our mind. He was our dog. It was too late that evening to adopt him though. We had to go home without him and hope that while I was at school and my dad was at work the next day, that no one would adopt him. It was the longest day of my life. 

School was finally over and when my dad got home from work, I rushed him back into the car and made him speed to the humane society. Were we too late? What if he is gone?

(look how young we both look! I was only 12 and Marly boy was 9 months old)

As soon as we got there, I hurried right into the humane society, dragging my dad along with me. I walked quickly past the dogs eager for attention, and straight to my dog. My little black dog. And there he was waiting for me. You just knew that he had been waiting for me.

And there you have it. We've been best friends ever since. 

It is amazing for me to look back on these photos and see how much we have both changed. Gosh, it seems like it was just yesterday that I got him. I'm growing up and Marly is getting grayer.

With that, I encourage you to adopt your pets! There are so many loving, hurting, and lonely pets out there who just need someone to love them back. I do not regret adopting for one second. It's like they say, who really rescued who?

Did I tell you guys?

That I love the Rocket Summer? Do you know what that even is? Well it is a band, my friends. A one man band, the creation of Mr. Bryce Avary. I was in a hurry this morning as I was getting dressed, and came across my TRS tank top that I got at the last show I went to back in June. Wow his shows are simply amazing. I take people who don't even know TRS to TRS shows and they are stunned by the end and giddy to start listening to his music. 

After this particular show, B released to us his latest CD, which wasn't supposed to be released to the public for another two days. But you know, we are special here in SF. After the music club people kicked us out, my friend and I hung around outside with other fans, waiting for B to come out and chat.  He signed my CD and I got to tell him how I am able to experience and worship God through his music, even though his music isn't labeled Christian (though he is). I'm so happy I got to share that moment with him and I will continue to return to the small music clubs for a night of singing along to the songs that I know by heart as long as he continues to make music.

Annnnd here's a video. I couldn't go on and on about him without leaving you a video, right?

Also, I got a remote for my camera! This is my first attempt at taking photos with it and a tripod. For some weird reason, it wouldn't let me go more than 5 or so feet away, when I could go about 15 to 20 feet away when I tested it in the store. May be taking this one back...

Let it be known that taking photos of yourself with a tripod is harder than it looks! I will need some practice.

Happy listening :)