In the last few months I have spent a fair amount of time experimenting in the kitchen thanks to a little thing called…no job. But on the bright side, I have been able to make some pretty tasty treats! I’ve been trying to cook healthier, better food without sacrificing yummy taste. For the most part i’ve won, though I kind of threw healthy out the door for Christmas time! Haha. I just think that we should think about what we put in our bodies more, not in a tree-hugger way or because of vanity, just because its good for us. Anyway, I hope you are having a good winter and if you want a recipe, let me know! Here are some of the things i’ve been cooking up.
Wedding Photos
well after shooting my first wedding I have to say I have a whole new appreciation for the art. There is so much responsibility and the job doesnt end after the cake is cut, then there is editing! I really like the process and the chance to help someone remember their wedding day so I think its worth it and Id love to try it again! Here are my favorite edited shots.
Learning to howl
So I just watched a video online while I was bored, and it had the strangest effect on me. The video was of a baby wolf who was being taught to howl for the first time. http://www.maniacworld.com/baby-wolf-learning-to-howl.html It was first of all, dang cute, and secondly it got me thinking about all the instinctive things we are born with. That baby wolf already knew how to howl, he just had to be introduced to it. There are so many things like that for humans as well. When we are born we instinctively know how to cry, if we don’t a lot of times something is wrong. A doctor rushes to come to the rescue of a non breathing baby and to help it be able to do what is natural. Sometimes I wish that this practice would continue past the delivery room. I think that there are other things just as vital and instinctive in our lives that we never find or choose to stuff down and as a result, spiritually die. The thing is, is that many times we don’t even see it happening. We are too scared to chase a dream, follow a cause, sacrifice our comfort or to upset someone else that the passions and talents we were born with, that we were created to tap into, are smothered. And in life there is no one to chase you down and try to rescue you, there is no concerned doctor in life. That is to say that there is not a “trained professional” who is ready and knows exactly what needs to be fixed. but there are the heros in our lives that will try if only we let them know that we are dying inside. Even the little wolf needed to learn what he already knew, how to howl, how to communicate, how to express himself. I guess what im trying to say is that God has placed passions in each of us, ones that we can choose whether or not to explore, but passions that were meant to lead and improve our lives. So follow your dreams, go on that mission, sign up for that class, learn that sport you’ve always wanted to, take the chance to make a friend, sing like your heart is leaping out of your chest. Not to be the best, or that you have to make it your job, but because it was what you were made to do it and nothing is more powerful or beautiful than a person doing what they were created to do. If need be ask for help and take someone with you. Sometimes on the road to your goal, there will be obstacles or closed doors, but they don’t mean “throw in the towel”, they might mean, “try another way to get there” or “this door sticks a little, put your back into it”. So try new things and follow what makes you come alive. Life is too short to regret not being who you were meant to be. im learing and struggling with this too but here is to never giving up the search for ourselves. Aaaaaooooooooo!
Hug Analysis
During the past few years of college some of my friends and I have made an educated study of the “common” hug.
That’s right hug.
What we have come to realize is that there is no such thing as a common hug. We have even gone so far as to categorize some…
• The Bear Hug- A very tight and extended hug…animal growls optional
• The Raptor Hug- This hug begins at a distance. Hug-ers crouch into a prehistoric dinosaur position, extend pointer and middle fingers into claws and run squawking at each other with the end result of a clawed embrace.
• The Awkward Backpack Hug- Let’s face it, any hug with a backpack turns out weird. Either you stretch your hands as far as you can over their pack and end up doing a pat-pat on the sides of the bag, or you go UNDER and feel like a big creeper.
• The Man Hug- This hug involves a quick and carefully maneuvered handshake, chest bump and back beating. Just enough contact to display affection with enough violence to balance out the mushy-ness.
• The Aggressive Hug- Similar to the Raptor hug. Begin at distance, retract claws and accelerate speed. When reaching your “target”, extent arms out and jump for your friend. This hug is not for the inexperienced hugger or those who break easily.
• And The Penguin Hug- The epitome of awkward. Lets just say that penguins cant lift their flippers that high so when shuffling up to a CLOSE friend, you don’t exactly hug their middle. Yeah.
The hug I want to talk about though is The Eraser.
The Eraser is the purist of hugs. It is a seamless connection between two hearts. An Eraser can be found in grief, joy, love and pain and is sometimes accompanied with tears.
The Eraser takes a hug and strips it down to the pure need and contentment in being held. There is something about a prolonged and comfortable embrace that is completely disarming. It’s as if all the feelings you are trying to hold back or let show get absorbed by the other person and together, even if just for a moment can take a breath and just let the world slip away to simply enjoy the existence of the other.
I think that Snow Patrol says it nicely in their song “Chasing Cars”
Those three words
Are said too much
And not enough…
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world?
Though The Eraser is a vertical version of this, the song is right, sometimes we just need to let the world slip away so we can truly appreciate our loved ones.
Sadly The Eraser is a rare hug, people only remember its existence and power when an emotional extreme rocks their world. I wonder if by purposely giving out Erasers, we could change ordinary moments into extremely joyful times without needing the prodding of life. Let those you love know how you feel. When life feels like its becoming too much, just “step outside” and appreciate those that have the ability to journey with you if you let them.
A final note to be aware of:
Be careful not to let your Eraser turn into a very common and awkward type of hug…
The Dementia Hug- You know this one, the hug that is so long you wonder if the person has honestly forgotten you’re still in their steely grip, and like an elderly person it just seems rude to point out their forgetfulness.
Happy hugging!
Let them eat cake!
One of my favorite things to do is baking. I love making treatsies that i can share with friends, family and sometimes people I don’t even know! Cookies and brownies are fine, but in my mind, the best is making cakes. I love the idea of making edible eye catching art. I find the challenge of making the baking ingredients perform fine art jobs. my latest stint has been to try to make pretty cakes that are good for you, well, at least cakes that don’t have a pound of frosting on top! i would love to start my own cake/ coffee/ art shop someday. We’ll see, but for now I will just stick to a one at a time portfolio. 
PS I just found a delicious muffin recipe for the leftover cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving! Its Yummy!
http://www.joyofbaking.com/muffins/CranberryUpsideDownMuffins.html Enjoy!
Leefs
Commonly mispronounced as “leaves”.
Leefs are one of my most favorite things. Especially the fall variety.
I love the way they turn such brilliant colors and how when you walk by them, the slightest breeze makes them whisper,
“Hey, pay attention to me, I’m dancing!”
I like the way that when they fall from their mama tree they flip and swirl and gently touch down.
Even when they are old, wrinkly and all dried up they still give secret little joys.
Like when you’re walking and all of a sudden a giant herd of them have been moved into your path and you get to crunch through them.
Or when you see some just floating on the puddles before they turn to ice.
Some of them are more sophisticated and like to ride on cars…their favorite places are the windshield wipers or the air vents. Upper class leefs.
I like leefs because they are happy beings that like to share their happiness through their whole lives.
When they first peek their bright green selves from their houses, to the prime of their life when they are strong and wave to everyone and finally when they delight our eyes with contrast of their frail old colorful bodies on the heavy white snow.
Leefs are so friendly I cant help but smile when I see them on the street. Next time you see a leef, smile…it makes them happy.
Under the Magnifying Glass
It seems to me that sometimes we get so caught up in life we forget to live.
I don’t know how to completely remedy this, but it seems like consciously looking around and taking in your surroundings is a start. Nothing is ordinary, even if its there every day.
I want to see life through a magnifying glass.
