Letter to My Mom

Dear Mom,

     When I was little I remember you walking me to and from school everyday. You didn't drive at the time and so we would walk in both good and bad weather, and every once in a while we would stop at the local corner shop where you would treat me to my favorite Whoopie Pie cookie and Yoo-hoo drink. You moved here from Italy in your early 20's when you married dad. Even without knowing the language, you adjusted to the new lifestyle, thousands of miles away from your family. 

     Sometimes when I find myself complaining about daily troubles, I start to think about the struggles you went through at about the same age I am now. With a language barrier, family far away, me, and being in a different country....you were still able to accomplish so many things. You went to school, learned the languages, and became an amazing mother. If there is one woman I aspire to be like most, Mom it's you. You have unbelievable strength and courage through everything. You've taught me to always have faith, and most of all to forgive and love with all my heart. 

     Even though you decided to use my hair to experiment on and totally cut it like a boy when I was three... I forgive you. Mom today is your special day, and so I want to say thank you...

• Thank you for putting up with my crazy tweeness and waking up extra early to blow-dry my hair EVERY morning so that it looked perfect....well sorta. 
• Thank you for then be patient with dying my hair a rainbow of colors in high school within a span of three weeks....I think I was about ready to chop it all off -____-.
• Thank you for coming with me to interviews and telling me it will all be okay. 
• For holding my hand as they took not one, but TWO bottles of blood from me, as I squeamishly stated I was about to pass out....clearly I wasn't.
• For listening to my cries every time I've wanted to give up.
• For supporting me with every silly idea that comes to my mind.
• For dealing with 3 crazy children constantly chasing each other around the house and hearing way too many "ma!!!"s in a 24 hour period. 
• For telling me my outfits looked nice when I was 13....Mom really? That was WAY too gracious of you.
• For spending time with me at recess when I moved to a new school...those years were tough, but Mom you made them all better. 
• For teaching me that being myself is worth a million times more than being someone everyone else wants me to be.

     Mom this is just a short list for some of the things you've done for me, truth is there is a million and one things that even if I could write out...there just wouldn't be enough room on the internet to do so. Mom I love you more than any of the words written here could ever describe. I hope to one day become half as wonderful a mother and person you are to me. Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies in the world. Take the time to tell your mom, grandmother, aunt, friend,... any mother in your life how much you love and appreciate them today. Happy Sunday!!♥

Spring Mix

     The past few days the light during sunset has been so incredibly beautiful. It was warm with a hint of pink and so I thought it was perfect to practice some backlighting. I took my camera outside and placed it on my tripod and shot some self-portraits. I know I know... many dread self-portraits but I think they can be the funnest thing ever! Not only can you make adjustments to the lighting and camera position as many times as you want, but you could totally be yourself. You could make as many silly faces as you like, dance around and laugh all you want without having to actually be laughed at... (although keep in mind if there are people watching you do this from afar, I won't promise they won't get a good laugh from watching you) =P. 

     I also took photographs of a few of my favorite things this week. After every vacation, I either print or make a book out of the pictures for keepsakes (I love prints of all of my photographs...it makes them that much more special). I also get bored easily with the décor in my room from time to time, so I snapped a photo of a new way I found to showcase my favorite necklaces (the Martha Stewart likes to creep out of me from time to time and experiment with many things). Enjoy and happy first day of May!! 

A collection of my Summer memories in print

Arm Candy!

Simple dyi décor with a few favorite necklaces

Oh pretty light you make my heart so happy

Blurred Happiness

Weekend Getaway: The Poconos

     Every once in a while, it's nice to take a few days and get away. This past weekend a few of my friends and I drove up to the Poconos in Pennsylvania for a small getaway. We relaxed at the spa, shopped at the local outlets, and saved a day for horseback riding. We arrived at the stables super excited (I LOVE horses), and were anxious to meet the horses we would ride (being my friends, something funny was bound to happen). We began the trail a little anxious but nonetheless happily riding, all pretty, hair whipping in the wind gallantly (Black Beauty meets Cinderella sorta thing)....that is until we began to trot. Being it was the first time, my friend's horse Boomer trotted her into a few tree branches, and I struggled to keep my horse Patch from eating up the grass instead of staying on the trail -____-. But don't worry, after a while we began to get the hang of it, I'm definitely ready for the next time! Here are a few photos I took during my stay....Happy Wednesday!!

Wanderlust

     When you look up the word wanderlust in the encyclopedia, it is defined as having a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world. Flipping through the newest J.Crew catalog, every beautifully styled photograph and gorgeous location left me awestruck. I couldn't have found the more perfect word to describe how I have been feeling the past few days. There is just something about traveling to a place you have never been, that leaves you feeling enchanted, almost as if another piece of the treasure map of life has been unlocked. I dream of the day where I get to photograph at an exotic location for a styled shoot...ahh yes a girl can dream. 
     Reading other photographer's blogs about their awesome adventures leaves me feeling inspired and hopeful (and sometimes I can't help but feel a bit hopeless), wondering if I will ever get that chance. It's amazing how a single photograph can motivate you to do something (well it sure works on me!). Here is a photograph I snapped of my brother's light up globe, the rest of the photos are beautiful inspirations I found on weheartit, that pretty much describe the images floating around in my head that totally make me want to pack up my camera and gooo. Happy Friday!

Sparkling Fruit

     I'm not much of a fruit person. Honestly I'd rather have a piece of chocolate cake if I had the option. I know I know, you can't really compare the two but in my eyes the chocolate cake would always win---unless maybe you dip the fruit in chocolate. ;) Regardless, I try to eat more of it by mixing it in smoothies, cereal, shakes etc, anything to make it less bitter. 

     I'm always brainstorming and thinking of new projects I could do and so the other day I decided to photograph fruit in sparkling water. The fruits or vegetables always look so fresh and inviting in many ads, and so I experimented and gave it a try. I simply set up by an area with natural light (right before sunset), and then placed sparkling water in a tall glass right in front of the background. I then simply would drop the fruits in the water and used my macro lens on a fast shutter speed to capture the vibrant bubbles and splashes of the fruits. It took more than a few tries to keep the fruit from quickly floating to the top, but I eventually got the shot. Of course I ended up with a frozen wet hand....but anything for the perfect shot right? =) Happy Wednesday!!

Easter Celebrations

     This week has been all about Easter preparations, along with the beautiful feeling that Spring has finally arrived. I remember having Easter egg hunts with my cousins as a kid and always wanting to find that super huge egg with an unknown amount of money tucked inside...which I would later use to buy a Barbie, obviously. Although I didn't participate in any egg hunts this year, I did keep the tradition of dyeing eggs in vibrant colors with my little brother. 
     Even though the day is filled with candy eggs and chocolate covered bunnies, I never forget the real meaning as to why we celebrate Easter. The day Jesus rose and overcame death and took away all of our sins...past, present, and future. He who was God, didn't have to, but because he loved us so much sent his son down to Earth and became just like us. He took all of the pain and endured it for us....He became imperfect so I and others don't have to be perfect. He gave us more than anyone could ever ask for and more. Forgiveness before we were even born. He thought of you and me on the cross that day...and today I'm so thankful that He did. Here are a few photos for this weekend's festivities. I wish you and your family and friends a beautiful and Happy Easter!!

Pretty Tulips

Our Colorful Eggs

A Traditional Italian Easter dessert called Pastiere.

A Beautiful Poem by John Jacob Raub that describes God's perfect love for us

Thank you, God, for becoming a human being, 

so I don't have to be like the gods. 

Thank you for becoming finite, unlimited,

so I don't have to be infinite, unlimited. 

Thank you for becoming mortal, 

so I don't have to try to be immortal. 

Thank you for becoming inferior,

so I and others don't have to be superior. 

For being weak, 

so I and others don't have to be strong. 

For being imperfect

so I and others don't have to be perfect.

For being disapproved, 

so I and others don't have to be approved. 

God, thank you for being wrong,

so I and others don't have to be right.

For being a failure, 

so I and others don't have to be a success.

For being poor in every way.

March Flowers/ Floral Still Life Challenge

Oh I really love this time of year. When the flowers start to bloom and the trees create canopies of green leaves for you to drive under...everything just really comes to life. Isn't it beautiful how every Spring the cycle starts all over again? Flowers range in beautiful different colors, but have you ever gotten really close to see one's texture? A flower can have so much detail and pattern that stem (literally) from a single bud. Here is my photo for Rock That Shot's March Photo Challenge. Have a great Monday! 

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