Black & White

"There's just something really appealing about the simplicity of black and white images."  -Joseph Gordon-Levitt

After a recent pin on Pinterest about black and white photography, I've been aroused to capture a few myself.

I've always loved the look of colorless photos, although I've never been quite able to take any. When I'd edit photos from a shoot, I'd often run it through a black and white filter but I would always like it better in color.

There's just something about black and white pictures. They're iconic and if you do it just right, breath taking. We see the world in color and when a photo is not in color, it makes it more intriguing, different, fascinating.

If you honestly think about it, many legendary photos have been shot in black and white. Not to mention photos from sixty years ago when color was not an option, have lived far beyond their time. Black and white photos have a timeless essence, something that many photographers hope to create, as do I.

I love the power of black and white photos. The possibilities, the look, and the feelings associated with them.

This has probably been one of my favorite projects since I started my blog and I hope to do many similar posts as well.

Friday Phone Dump:

Have a fabulous Friday.

Make Mistakes

After my recent post on normality, I've been putting a lot of thought on the particular subject. I've started a quest of breaking free from normalcy, taking the road less traveled if you will.

And I'm not even referring to the thought of normality in terms of socially, blending in with your friends, peers, etc. For instance, I try to go to bed at a decent time. Usually between 10 and 11, but where's the fun in that? Nobody ever remembers the nights that they got enough sleep.

So instead I broke free from this habit and went to bed at 12. Sure, I regretted it this morning at 6, but I had one hell of a time playing Temple Run 2 and watching reruns of my favorite 90s sitcoms. Even if it was a mistake, that's the point in life isn't it? I wouldn't be a teenager if I'd never made a few bad choices.

Also this morning I made my bed. Why? Because it wasn't usual, the same, normal. It was a break from my routine. Change a habit for one day, not forever, but do it just once. Make your bed. Don't make your bed. Eat breakfast first. Brush your teeth last. Spend way too long on the computer.

Make mistakes.

Stay up late.

Don't be normal.

Have a fabulous Tuesday.

Mondays Aren't That Bad

I've come to a conclusion: Mondays aren't as agonizing and dreadful as we make them out to be.

Like you know how you get on Facebook Monday morning before school and EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN POST is about how everybody's mother's brother's sister's cousin hates Mondays. Well it's not necessarily the day that is hated, it's the mere thought of having to rejoin society (going to work, school, etc.) that is really hated upon.

Like for instance, today was Martin Luther King Day and if you attend school or work for certain businesses, you have been blessed with having today off. Then when you must go back to work on Tuesday, those same Monday feelings resurface, but a day late. See what I'm getting at?

Now there's no way in humanity that I'm the first to dawn upon this conclusion, but I'm just feeling a little sympathy for Mondays. Like they can't all be bad?

For instance, the end of WWI was on a Monday and I bet it was a wonderful Monday at that.

Anyways.

Make tomorrow fabulous.

(Insert Snow Day Title Here)

Our two days of rain slowly turned into white flakes around seven last night.

Where I come from snow happens a couple times a year. Just enough for us to know what it's like, but not too much allowing us to still get excited about it. Not to mention, we always get out of school.

Although this time around the snow didn't stick and only a blanket of ice kept us from going in to school this morning. I'm not one to complain though and after all, a snow day is a snow day.

I woke up to wrap myself in my Christmas blanket and lounged on the couch until what would've been third period. I vowed to not put my contacts in until lunch time and to play new games on my iPhone until fourth period.

I sipped hot chocolate all morning while watching my favorite childhood movies, including but not limited to, Cheaper by the Dozen and Finding Nemo.

In essence it was a snow day without the snow, but fabulous none the less.

Friday Phone Dump:

Rainy Thursdays

I'm currently sitting in the dark, illuminated by the faint glow of my TV and iPhone, with the soft hum of rain in the background.

With a can of BBQ Pringles by my side, I'm bringing you my thoughts on this drizzly day.

Aside from the constant drops of water on our government bought windows, school was the same. During fourth period I came to a boredom led conclusion:

Normality is bad.

In the land of high school, everybody wants to be normal but nobody wants to be the same, two things I feel go hand in hand. Honestly, the latter is usually a silent wish. A dream that never happens because becoming different requires becoming abnormal, social suicide if you'd like (yes, I just semi-quoted Mean Girls).

I guess one of my favorite quotes helps sum up the dilemma:

"It is only when we decide that 'ordinary' is an insult, that we become the exquisite miracles we were born to be.”

And we are exquisite miracles at that.

Have a fabulous day.

Just Keep Swimming

Seldom do I write posts that truly get into my "personal" life, but I'm feeling the need to venture outside of my blogging box. 

Today I had my last high school swim meet of the season. I'm no Michael Phelps, but it's something that I truly enjoy doing. 

I love getting up onto the block and the excitement of all eyes on me. Then I get a wrenching feeling in my stomach. There are so many things that could go wrong. 

My goggles could fall off.

My swim cap could slip off my head.

I could finish completely last.

Everything goes through my mind and I rerun my self made game plan.

When I finally get into the ready position, for a just a half second, I feel like an Olympic swimmer. And in that millisecond between "take your mark" and "go", I am on top of the world. I dive with confidence and imagine how great it probably looked. 

There's no better feeling than getting out of the water with a good time reflecting on the score board behind you. I walk with an unseen arrogance back to my team and let the "good jobs" sink in slowly.

Have a fabulous Wednesday.

Beach Blog Part 2

I'm going to start off by saying most of my pictures I just cropped and ran through a filter. The lighting was a little weird on the beach and to save myself from frustration I just used a combination of instagram and random editing websites.

I know it's been a while since I've promised this post, but life's been pretty busy.

Even though the beach seems like a distant memory, I look back on it pretty often.

I can still hear the ceaseless tumble of the ocean and the shrill call of the seagull (and yes please excuse the multiple seagull pictures).

Our trip was like a glimpse into summer, what all could be ours. We started planning her senior week (I'm a year younger but I've already been given an invitation to this special event) and quite honestly our lives. We talked futures, colleges, kids, boyfriends, jobs, everything. I left feeling excited for what is to come.

Every time I visit the beach I get an urgency to want to live my life here. I want to raise my kids with constant sand in their diapers and sun bleached blonde hair. I want the rhythm of the waves to sing them to sleep every night and for the ocean to not be a once every summer visit, I want it to be their home.

I guess you could say the beach turns me into a dreamer, not that I'm not already one anyways. 

There's nothing more fabulous than the beach.

My Beach Trip Through an iPhone

I adore the beach.

I'll never move to a land locked state, for the pure reason of never having a beach on the horizon. My dream is to move to somewhere like Florida or California where there's a beach on every avenue and everybody's tan (this is probably far from the truth, but a girl can dream).

If I don't move to the beach I'll most definitely buy a house there. A pink one to be exact. I love seeing all the rich and vibrantly colored houses and reading their witty names that adorn the front.

Over the past year, I've grown a love for seafood and we found a quaint little business that sells fresh fish.

And you know what my absolute favorite thing about the beach is?

Palm Trees.

They're like the universal indication for paradise. I swear there must have been fifty or so pictures on my phone of just palm trees, but I narrowed them down for your sake.

Since it was new years, on Monday night we lit off fireworks *cough cough* illegally *cough cough*. I got some pretty great pictures considering my only weapon was an iPhone.

And of course, the beach wouldn't be complete without a couple (or five) pictures of the sun setting.

The beach is like my sanctuary. I find peace in delving my toes into sand and listening to the continual lull of the ocean. There's nothing more fabulous than the beach.

Additional pictures. (Sorry for the multiple pictures of the ocean. I found something beautiful and different in each one, making an inability to narrow them down.)

 P.S. Can anybody tell me what's wrong with this elevator?

P.P.S. The pictures that were taken on my real camera will be uploaded in a day or two.

Remember.

Make tomorrow fabulous.