Laughter Is The Best Medecine.

Okay, I missed a day. But it's because I was out having fun.
(Yesterday)
8. A picture that makes you laugh.

I don't think I really need to say anything about this... It's still one of my favorite pictures I've taken that still makes me laugh. 

At Garrett's graduation party

 9. A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Trying to fit in the front seat with Joelle.

At my solo show opening

Well. That's easy. My darling mother. She puts up with me all the time. I mean, my dad does too, but I don't call him four times a day to ask random things and give random facts.  And I can call her and tell her ANYTHING... and she pretends to not act too shocked most of the time. After her it's Maddie and then my biffles Erin and Joelle again, but my mom has been there for EVERY crisis in my life from temper tantrums over sleepovers to terrorist attacks in foreign countries (though I think she was freaking out about that one more than me). And my mother is wonderful, beautiful and hilarious. I love her so much and I have absolutely no clue what I would do without her. So.... some of my favorite pictures of my mother....

My favorite picture of my parents....

There's Something In The Water

7. A picture of your most treasured item.
Another hard one, yet easy at the same time. I don't really have many material things that I treasure (only my laptop, iPhone and hard drives, but I kinda just count those as essential for my life, not necessarily treasured items. Though they really do contain all the pictures I've ever taken. Hmm. Food for thought).

Isn't he just too cute?

And I can't consider Earnest an item. He's more of... cat-person. love bundle. wheezing bed hogger. but oh so cute and I love him so very much.



So. I think that my most treasured item would have to be my Tahoe necklace. Which may seem silly to some people. Because, yes, it is just a necklace. But almost all the people that I grew up with, my mother, my cousin, most of my friends... we all have one. Tahoe isn't just a place, it's kind of a feeling. And Tahoe people are weird. We know. There's something in the water.  Most people aren't in touch with the majority of their friends from high school, most people didn't grow up doing 5 sports and spending summer days next to one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. One can forget and take for granted the Tahoe way of life... but it always loops back around. I wouldn't be the person I am without most of the people at the lake, in both a positive and negative way. There are so many people that pushed me to be so much better by not doing anything themselves, by wanting to live "the high life" in the Sierras. I mean, don't get me wrong. I know it's amazing. And it's an amazing place to raise children and have a family, but there are so many people that are still just THERE. And I have had my doubts in myself because I'm going back. But I'm going back for a few month vacation before I get to start "real life" with a job and everything. I don't plan on being there past December, January at the latest. Next year will find me with a new job, a new city, maybe a new boyfriend or girlfriend. Who knows. But my years of living next to the dazzling blue lake are over. Until I retire and take my parent's house.

Tahoe, front and center. And my hair at the longest it's ever been.

But back to my necklace. It reminds me of this. Every. Day. Because I never take it off, I'm constantly reassured by the fact that it is there, it is my past, that I look at every day and urge myself to be better. Because I don't want to just be that small town girl, the one that went to art school and didn't go anywhere after that. I'm better than that. Because there's something in the water.

Travel-Life

6. A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
Well. Top of my list is my cat, Earnest because he literally sleeps all day, and when he wakes up he gets to cuddle with me...
Besides that. Let's see.
I would have to say Samantha Brown, from the Travel Channel. She seems so together, she gets to travel to beautiful amazing destinations all over the world!

http://blog.travelchannel.com/samantha-brown/

Tis The Season

5. A picture of your favorite memory.
Oh lordy. So many to choose from. How about pictures from my where my favorite memories are made every year? And "favorite" is so hard. Because I'm blessed enough to have a million different amazing memories... ones from France, India, Savannah, home.... So this is a collective of... The best party of the year in Tahoe. Yes, yes, I am talking about my fantastically amazing Christmas party, and the new addition of my summer party, but mostly my Christmas party. It's the best place to be on December 22nd! I have so many memories (and the loss of many as well) with so many people that I only get to see once or twice a year.... <3 <3

Red Lipstick: The Beginning

4. A picture of your favorite night.

Or lots of pictures. The amazing Lauren Howe's 22nd birthday, the night we all started wearing red lipstick. Namely, the night that I started wearing red lipstick and realized that I'm one of those strong, beautiful women that CAN wear red lipstick. Might I add this is also the night that I realized that second chances are a good thing, as they are exactly what they need to be.

Pre-lipstick

On a side note, I miss my French family ever so much. This really was one of the most amazing nights there.

When The Rain Starts To Pour

3. A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

 There are no words to how much I truly love this show. I own all 10 seasons and I've watched every single episode so many times.

So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D O A
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week
Your month or even your year but

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast so far things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world
Has brought you down to your knees that

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me
Since you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I'm best with you, yeah

It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week
Your month, or even your year

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

They Make My World Go Round

2. A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

I'm modifying this. Because, growing up in a small town, I've been friends with a lot of people for a really long time. But being the closest with them. Hmmmm. How about the two people that have been the most amazing people and influences in my life for the last 13 and 11 years. I think that counts. 

Erin and Joelle have been with me through everything. Erin has been one of my best friends since we were 8 years old and everyone had their little cliques, and we were the "spies" in between. We had a rough patch from 5th-6th grade, but since then, we've been inseparable. Joelle has been my best friend since the day I met her in 6th grade. We've been in one fight ever. For a stupid reason.

So. Between these two, I'm always safe, I'm always happy. I always get stuck sleeping in the middle. But I couldn't live without the two of them. They've been the closest to me for the longest, more than a decade for both of them. And we're still young. They'll be in Savannah in 31 days for my senior showcase, and they're staying through my graduation. I can not wait to see them, I've never been as homesick and missed them as much as I have in the last 6 months.

Challenges and Facts.

On occasion, I attempt to do challenges in photography, like the Flickr 365 challenge (I think I got to day 55). So I'm going to attempt to do a shorter one. 30 Days, a picture every day. So. Here's the whole list... what to look forward to...

1. A picture of yourself with 15 facts
2. A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
3. A picture of the cast from your favorite show
4. A picture of your favorite night
5. A picture of your favorite memory
6. A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
7. A picture of your most treasured item
8. A picture that makes you laugh
9. A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
10. A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
11. A picture of something you hate
12. A picture of something you love
13. A picture of your favorite band or artist
14. A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
15. A picture of something you want to do before you die
16. A picture of someone who inspires you
17. A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
18. A picture of your biggest insecurity
19. A picture and a letter
20. A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
21. A picture of something you wish you could forget
22. A picture of something you wish you were better at
23. A picture of your favorite book
24. A picture of something you wish you could change
25. A picture of your favorite day
26. A picture of something that means a lot to you
27. A picture of yourself and a family member
28. A picture of something you're afraid of
29. A picture that can always make you smile
30. A picture of someone you miss

Day 1: A picture of yourself and 15 facts.

1. My life is not what I expected it to be. At all. Not in a good way or a bad way, just different than I planned, hoped and expected.
2. I consider cutting off all my hair daily. But I don't think I can bring myself to do it because it just took so damn long to get it the way it is.
3. I'm terrified of graduating college. I really feel like I have no direction at the moment and it scares me that I spent $100,000 on my education and I don't know what to do with it.
4. Women with curves are sexy.
5. I will always have an obsession with chocolate. It's just too good to give up and it doesn't make me break out, so I love it. I will always love it.
6. My cat, Earnest, makes me ridiculously happy. Even when he's trying to chew on my eyelashes at 4 am.
7. I am really, seriously obsessed with my iPhone. I don't know how I functioned without it, I can multitask so much better now.
8. I want to move to Seattle, and have a fresh start. Yes, I know it's rainy, but I also wanted to go there for school 4 years ago. I still want to go, want to try, and I can deal with the rain. I'll just buy a cute rain jacket.
9. I want to travel the world, and I would love to work for a travel magazine.
10. I've just recently realized that I'm quite terrified of water that I can't see in. As in almost every body of water on the East Coast, minus some sections in Florida. At first I was just snobby about swimming in water that isn't clear, but then I realized I'm actually afraid of it.
11. Regardless of the fact that I might be slightly terrified of gross water, it will always make me feel better, feel more grounded if I'm upset and I get in a large body of water. Tahoe works best, but I'll make due with the Atlantic, Pacific or a variety of swimming pools.
12. I have realized that men really, honestly are intimidated by confident women. And not in the "he's just not talking to you because he likes you" type way, but in the fact that in the last 6 months, I've had three men whom I've given multiple chances over the last six or seven years, all of a sudden decide to tell me that they were naive and cared about me and were just afraid to admit it. I mean, come on. Get over yourself. I guess I'm intimidating.
13. I actually decided to go to SCAD and move to Georgia on a whim. It obviously worked out, and I'll take it as a sign that I should follow my gut more and do what feels right.
14. My personal philosophy includes "If it's meant to be, it will happen".
15. I'm addicted to sourdough bread.