52 Weeks of Me 2012~ Week 52

YES!  I made it.  I finished another year of this project.  Whew....It wasn't easy.  I lost all interest a little over a month ago.  My blog has been neglected.....and I just haven't felt like being here.  I'm enjoying Blipfoto very much though.  Here is a link to my journal there:  http://www.blipfoto.com/Livingandloving

The last theme of the year was: Celebrate

For probably the first time EVER, we were home on Christmas Eve with no company and no place to be.  It was a wonderfully relaxing day.  My Sugar Bear and I head out to a local State Park to see the holiday lights to celebrate Christmas Eve together.  It was such a treat.  Sugar Bear took the last photo of me for the year. 

After two years of this project, I'd say that it was a success. I have an amazing amount of photos of myself for my Sugar Bear to cherish when she is older. She will be able to look back and remember her mama being there. :) This isn't the end of photos of me, though. It has become a bit of a habit to get shots of me now. I'm grateful for this. I let go of looking perfect in photos...and just allow them to look like me....as I am.

 

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and I look forward to the New Year.

52 weeks of me 2012~ Week 51

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo not ashamed to say that I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooo ready for this challenge to be over with.  I really cherish the photos that this project of the past two years has brought about, and I know that my child will be ever so grateful for them in the future, but my creativity, motivation, and enthusiasm for this project is over. 

This week's theme was:  MERRY

I set up my tripod and used my remote shutter to grab a few shots of my girl and I by our tree the other night.  I did some posed.....and them just let it snap a few while be goofed off.  I adore this one.  It is so US.  Sugar is being goofy, and I'm over the moon in love with her. 

 

The last theme for the year is: CELEBRATE

52 weeks of me 2012~ Week 50

The theme was JOY.

My Christmas tree always brings me great joy.  I love looking at the sparkling lights, and all the amazing ornaments I've gathered through out my life.  Here is a shot of me looking at my tree.  You can see the lights in my eyes.

 

 

 

The theme for next week is: MERRY

52 weeks of me 2012~ weeks 48 and 49

I'm limping to the finish this time folks.  It's not like to me to give up on a challenge.  I'm struggling to find the motivation, but come heck or high water, I'm gonna finish.  :) 

Week 48 was: LOOK

So look at me......so happy after my first concert in like 20 some years.  I went to see the Lumineers.....and it was AMA........to the ZING!  woo hoo. You can read what I wrote about the event on my blipfoto journal entry HERE.

 

 

 

Week 49 was: Together

 

I grabbed this quick shot of my hand holding a little heart my Sugar Bear got in her advent. It is a fun tradition we enjoy together. She is my heart in every sense of the word. LUV HER!

 

 

This week is: JOY and I still need to get my shot.

 

  Hoping to find my way through the sadness of today's events in Connecticut to get a JOY shot. My heart is so broken for all the families of those lost. There just isn't enough words.....

52 Weeks of me 2012~ Week 47

The theme/prompt for the week was:  Thankful

It isn't hard to know exactly what I am thankful for.....My Girl!  I am one VERY blessed mama.

Here we are on Thanksgiving, wearing our matching scarves I made this week. 

 

 

The theme for this week is: LOOK

52 weeks of me 2012~ weeks 45 and 46

Hello there Internets.....this blog needs to be dusted off.  I've been a busy little person, and finding myself spread a bit thin.  I even went to work this Saturday...that NEVER happens.

I'm finding myself being so very forgetful.  This self portrait project hasn't been high priority, and the week often flies by without my remembering to get the shot.  I had to get two shots this week to make up for missing out last week.  oops.

The theme was: FALL

Here is a shot of me driving in the rain. 

 

 

The theme for this past week was: Black and White

 

Here is a shot of me outside my home today. I think I was feeling a bit blue when I took it. I really did have a good day, but I don't look all that happy in this shot.

 

 

 

The theme for this coming week is: Thankful

52 weeks of me 2012~ week 44

Theme/prompt for the week was: SCARY

okay...okay...okay....so I really really really wanted to take the time to play with this theme, but ACK....so busy.  I didn't have a chance.  That's okay though.  I took some quick up close snaps of my face and got quite a scare.  Gee.....I'm getting old. 

 

 

The theme/prompt for this coming week is: FALL

52 Weeks of me 2012~ week 43

The theme/prompt for the week was: MOVEMENT

 

I had intended to play around with the camera and come up with some really fun for this week, but alas.....it was a crazy week, and I didn't find the time.

 

I did grab this shot of myself when I got home from work last night. It is a movement of sorts. You see I haven't worn a skirt or dress in at least 8 years. In fact, Sugar Bear has never seen me in a dress or skirt. (she still hasn't, because she was off to grandma and grandpa's farm on Friday.)

 

Anyhow.....I have been wanting to get some fashionable, good quality, comfy boots for a long, long, long time, and I finally bit the bullet and did ordered some. Remember....I don't spend money all that easily. They came in the mail Thursday, and I was so excited to show them off. I want to be a bit less lazy about my appearance. I'm hoping these boots motivate me. I purchased 6 skirts for only $23 Friday afternoon at The Goodwill.  It is a skirt MOVEMENT in my life.

 

My hand looks wierd because I was trying to hide the remote shutter release.  I need to work on looking more natural when shooting remotely.

 

 

 

The theme/prompt for next week is: Scary

52 Weeks of me 2012~ Week 42

The theme/prompt for the week was:  Jewerly

I was sooooooooooooo uninspired this week.  I grabbed this quick shot while I sat in my truck waiting for Sugar Bear to get out of her dance class. 

The Hubby has always given me Blue Sapphire jewerly since it's my birthstone. His birthstone is the diamond, so it works well.

 

 

This next week is: Movement

 

52 weeks of me 2012~ weeks 40 and 41

OH man.....could I be more lazy blogger these days? I just haven't been feeling it lately. I don't want to see my blog end, as it has been such a blessing to me over the past 5 years. I'm just needing to slow it down, I guess.

 

I'm behind on my 52 weeks of me challenge as well. This will get me all caught up though.

 

The theme/prompt for week 40 was: Can't Live Without

 

My life wouldn't be the same without humor.  :)  If I can't laugh or be silly.......I'm not, well.....ME!

 

 

 

The theme/prompt for week 41 was: DARING

 

Can you believe that I'm showing you the ugly tile in my bathtub?  YUCK! 

A year of books

As some of you know,  I a bit of a reader.  I read mostly as night after everyone else is asleep.  If I'm in a really really REALLY good book, I'll read on the weekend a bit.  I'm really surprised at how many books I can get through in a year.  My year of reading starts on my birthday.  This year I managed to read 71 books.  WOW!  For the first time, I included some of the chapter books I read to my Sugar Bear as well.  I only included the LONGer ones, though.

 

A list of all the books I read this past year is as follows.  The bolded ones are my favorites of the year.

From 9/14/11- 9/14/12

“The Help” by Kathryn Stockett

“I Shall Wear Midnight” by Terry Pratchett

“The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove” by Christopher Moore

“A Killer Stitch” by Maggie Sefton

“Who by Fire” by Diana Spechler

“Island of Lost Girls” by Jennifer McMahon

“Plum Pudding Murder” by Joanne Fluke

“Thanks for the Memories” by Cecelia Ahern

“Fluke, or I know why the winged whale sings” by Christopher Moore

“Dyer Consequences” by Maggie Sefton

“Garden Spells” by Sara Addison Allen

“The Chocolate Cat Caper” by JoAnna Carl

“The Stupidest Angel: a heartwarming tale of Christmas terror” by Christopher Moore

“The Chosen One” by Carol Lynch Williamson

“A Visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan

“Fleece Navidad” by Maggie Sefton

Start of 2012

“My Lobotomy” by Howard Dully

“The Apple Turnover Murder” by Joanne Fluke

“The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Wells

“The Sugar Queen” by Sara Addison Allen

“Bone by Bone” by Carol O’Connell

“History Lesson for Girls” by Aurelie Sheehan

“V is for Vengeance” by Sue Grafton

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

“The Chocolate Bear Burglary” by JoAnna Carl

“The Chocolate Frog Frame up” by JoAnna Carl

“A cure for Dreams” by Kaye Gibbons

“Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins

“The Cat Sitter’s Pajamas” by Blaize Clement

“Mockingjay” by Suzanne Collins

“The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd

“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs

“Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?” by Steven Tyler

“Gingerbread Cookie Murder” by Joanne Fluke

“The Big Over Easy” by Jasper Fforde

“The Girl Who Chased the Moon”  by Addison Allen

“Dropped Dead Stitch” by Maggie Sefton

“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” by Kate DiCamillo

“Dismantled” by Jennifer McMahon

“$10,000 in Small Unmarked Puzzles” by Parnell Hall

“A Dog’s Purpose” by W. Bruce Cameron

“Chocolate to die For” by JoAnna Carl

“The Wise Enchanter” by Shelley Davidow

“Gods in Alabama” by Joshilyn Jackson

“A Dog’s Journey” by W. Bruce Cameron

“Devils’ Food Cake Murder” by Joanne Fluke

“Little House in the Big Woods” by Laura Engalls Wilder

“A Dirty Job” by Christopher Moore

“The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet” by Reif Larsen

“Skein of the Crime” by Maggie Sefton

“Stuart Little” by E. B. White

“The Peach Keeper” by Sarah Addison Allen

“Unraveled” by Maggie Sefton

“The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett

“Good Omens” by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett

“You Suck: A love story” by Christopher Moore

“Henry Huggins” by Beverly Cleary

“Bite Me” by Christopher Moore

“The Dressmaker or Khair Khana” By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

“The Chocolate Bridal Bash” by JoAnna Carl

“The Weight of Silence” by Heather Gudenkauf

“Before I go to Sleep” by S.J. Watson

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Johnathan Safran Foer

“The Chocolate Jewel Case” by JoAnna Carl

“The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger

“Cast On, Kill Off” by Maggie Sefton

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky

“The Knife of Never Letting Go” by Patrick Ness

“Gregor the Overlander” by Suzanne Collins

“The Ask and the Answer” by Patrick Ness

“Fool” by Christopher Moore

52 Weeks of Me 2012~week 39

The theme/prompt of the week was: NATURE

 

After really feeling DONE last week, I rallied and tried to pull some creativity into my shot this week. I came up with an idea of using fall leaves. I like how it turned out. I really love fall. It is my favorite season. We have been having perfect fall weather around here. Cold,crisp mornings with awesomely sunny afternoons. Love it.

 

 

 

 

The theme/prompt for next week is:  CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

 

 

52 Weeks of me 2012~ Week 38

Theme for the week: MUSIC

 

 

I don't know folks.....I'm losing my mo-jo.  I am just not feeling this project.  ACK.  BUT.....I'm not a the type to stop what I start, so I'm soldiering on.  It's all good.  Only a few more weeks to go, right? 

 

I did not get a photo that met the theme this week, but heck...I got a really real shot.  This is me...on a Saturday morning making breakfast for my girly girl.  

 

 

Theme for the next week is: Nature

My Week~ 101

September 3rd was another perfectly peaceful day at home. I found myself sucked into a book I'm reading while my girl busied herself outdoors. I read a lot. I'm on book 56 of 2012, but it is really truly rare that I read while my girl is awake. I do nearly all of my reading when both Sugar and my husband are asleep. Today....I just had to read. HAD.TO. READ!

My girl surprised me with some jewelry and a barrette she made out of leaves, sticks, and a huge old staple from a box she found outside. She was more than happy to model the myrtle leaf barrette she made. It was not only beautiful....it smelled so good, too.

For this collage, I chose a photo I took of Sugar Bear and Toby cat in the morning hanging out on the deck together.  I adore watching these two together.  Toby used to prefer to spend his time out of Sugar's reach, but now they are two peas in a pod. 




September 4th was interesting because the weirdest thing happened the night before. My little Sugar had a freak accident in the bathroom. She was standing too close to the door jam and had a HUGE sneeze, which rammed her face into the latch plate busting her lip and chipping her PERMANENT front tooth! ACK! all because of a sneeze. The chip is minor...hoping to just have it sanded down to even it up a little, but she is very worried about it. Poor girl. She cried herself to sleep, which is so unlike her.

She woke up feeling better about it, but still so unsure. She was worried the kids would notice her chipped tooth.

It was great to see her get off the bus after school so very HAPPY. She said that no one even noticed. :) That made her happy. 



September 5th made me realize that things are NUTS at work right now. We moved into a brand spankin' new building. Seriously.....it is HUGE and such a move. We consolidated FOUR buildings into ONE. We will be serving around 160 0-5 years old in this building. It is amazing, and something so very different from what we are used to. There is so much work to do to get ready. The MOVE has been fast and furious, and now the settling in. People are fried....on edge, and quite a bit grumpy at times. I am trying to be a light in that mess. I keep reminding folks to "go with the flow". Things are tough right now, but it will get better with time.

I came home without having grabbed any photos for the day. I wanted to wash some dust off my truck, and I noticed the pretty light coming through the trees and just knew it would make lovely bokeh.

September 6th was a busy day at my new office, and Sugar Bear had a spectacular day in 2nd grade. We hurried home to pack up for a weekend trip we are taking. I can't wait. I even get to take a baby bunny to work with me tomorrow, so we can leave directly from town. The baby bunny is the reason we are using to finally go see some friends in their new house. They will be the proud owners of this sweet little baby bunny, Jack. They are going to love him.

I intended to get a shot of Jack, but I just walked out the front door, and around the corner and this insect was hanging out on the flower. It seemed to want me to take it's picture, so I did. It was just there.




September 7th was super AWESOME. Work and school went fast, and my girl and I were so happy to be heading out of town to deliver a special little bunny to some special friends. Jack Jack, the baby bunny was such a good little buddy in the truck the whole trip. It was 96 degrees at his new home, and he isn't used to the heat, but he settled into his new bunny hutch quickly.

I think this is one happy little boy....and a sweet new bunny friend. We will miss you Jack, but we know you are going to have a GREAT life.  Not a great photo of Jack, Jack, but the kids are happy.



September 8th was spent with our friends. There was MUCH talking. LOTS of laughing. So much fun.

The kiddos get along great. The mamas......well, we've always loved each other's company, so it was delightful.

We went up the river, had a small hike, and the kiddos took a dip in the river. It was quite easily a perfect sort of day.

September 9th sent us on our way home from our weekend adventure, we stopped by my parents house for a quick visit, and a harvesting of their garden. They are always ready to give us produce. We got raspberries, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, carrots, and green beans.

This shot shows the pole beans, and in the back ground you can see my mom and my sugar bear. 

 

52 weeks of me 2012~ Weeks 36 and 37

The theme/prompt for the week was: REAL LIFE

 

and real life done got in the way and I forgot to get a shot. Ack. It's okay though because I'm forgiving of myself, and I just made sure to grab two shots the following week. whew.... So here I am driving. It's as real as it gets. I feel like I'm in my truck a lot. It is about 45 minutes a day, and it feels like more. Sugar Bear took this shot of me on my birthday. 38......older AND wiser.

 

 

 

 

 

The theme/prompt for the week was: HAIR

 

I managed to get a shot of myself this week that showed off my curls. I seriously need a haircut, and my bangs have been out of control. Some days they are fly away and frizzy and other days....I have three perfect ringlets on my forehead. NICE.

 

 

 

 

The theme/prompt for this coming week is: MUSIC

My Week 100

August 27th was "meet the teacher" night at my Sugar's school. It was fun to go hang out in her new classroom, and see some friends we haven't seen all summer. The event is designed to build excitement for the new school year.  I am looking forward to the new beginnings that 2nd grade has to offer my girl, and she is already looking forward to NEXT summer. She loves being home with her mama.  I nabbed this shot of the pencils on her desk.  I don't know about you....but I'd love to try some of those out. 

August 28th was my girls last day of summer vacation, and she had the opportunity to spend the entire day with her friend. They had lunch out, good times at the pool, and ice cream before dinner. :) What a wonderful way to say goodbye to summer. These little girls don't go to the same school, so it isn't always easy to get them together, but I'm definitely going to make a better effort.  I adore this shot of my girl and her sweet friend. We haven't done a good enough job of getting these two girls together often enough, and I think by the looks of this photo...we need to remedy that. They are so darn cute together.

August 29th was the first day of school.  Sugar Bear started 2nd grade today, and I'm just not sure how we got to this day so very fast. I blinked and summer was over. She started her day unsure....anxious, and a bit disappointed that she was going back to school.

She ended her day happily exclaiming, "It was the BEST first day of school EVER!"

AND....she is looking forward to tomorrow. :) I'm a happy mama.

August 30th was the second day of school and according to Sugar it was "better than ever".  As for me....my day was strange. I spent the entire day moving out of the building I have worked in for the past 12 (or more) years, and into a brand spankin' new building. AND.....AND....my very own office......AND.....AND.....it has a window. :) :) :) There is joy in my heart about that, right there.

So much change though.....I'll be a bit off for awhile, I'm so very sure. Change isn't always easy for me. 

August 31st was an excellent friday. I worked at unpacking my office. Sugar had another AWESOME day at school, and an even better time at some friend's house after school. 

September 1st was....Oh me oh my....what a fabulous afternoon and evening. My little Sugar and I attended a "end of summer/beginning of the school year" beach party with several families from her 2nd grade class. The weather was perfect. I mean really truly perfect. Not too hot...not too cold (it is usually that later here in Oregon on the coast), and both the kids and adults had a wonderful time.

I took....ummmm......321 photos. yes....yes I did. I couldn't help myself. I love to take pictures at the beach, and so rarely get to do so. I was also joined by two other photog friends so we had just toooooo much fun snapping and talking about snapping. :) 

 

 

 

September 2nd was a really relaxing day at home for my girl and I. We enjoyed a little bubble blowing in the early afternoon. Ivy, our dog, loves to run around and bite the bubbles blowing in the wind. It's fun for the whole family.

52 Weeks of me 2012~ Week 35

The theme/Prompt for the week was:  TEXTURE

 

I am not very good with texture. I like the look of it when it is done right, but alas....I can't seem to get it down.

 

Sugar Bear snapped this shot of me today while we were blowing bubble. I just threw a graffti overlay on it and called it good.

 

 

 

 

The theme for next week is: REAL LIFE

52 weeks of me 2012 ~week 34

The theme/prompt was:  CLONES

and you know I was all excited and reved up for it.  Alas...I had a bad week.  Busy....sick....coldsore....cranky.....exhausted.  So.....it didn't happen.  I just plain could NOT find the energy. 

I will make it up though.  I will fit it into another theme before the year is up.  I have already done one this year...and I will do another.  They are too much fun. 

Wednesday of this week, I snapped a shot of who could only be my CLONE because I wouldn't be caught dead eating a Maple Bacon cupcake in broad daylight....right?

 

 

 

The theme/prompt for this coming week is: TEXTURE

52 Weeks of me 2012~ Week 32

The theme/prompt for the week was:  HAT

Sugar Bear snapped this quick shot of me wearing her newest sun hat.  She didn't tell me I had it on backwards.  What a goofy girl...with a goofy mama!

The next theme/prompt is: FEET

52 weeks of me 2012~ week 31

Theme/Prompt:  The Jump Shot

Okay...okay...so you know that the "52 weeks of me" challenge has done it's job when you are willing to post a photo of yourself looking like this:

I mean seriously...I would have NEVER posted a photo of myself like this a few years ago. ACK. but...for some reason, it just doesn't bother me anymore. This is who I am. I hang out in my jammies....I make crazy faces....I'm on the upper side of what I allow myself to weigh.....and I don't wear make-up or brush my hair. Just be glad I brush my teeth. :)

  I wanted to do an awesome jump shot for this theme, but I was so worried about my already sore ankle. I waited until literally 20 minutes ago, and just gave in and did a quick little leap off my deck....wearing what I've been wearing allllllllll day longggggggggggggg. I am so very cool like that.

The theme/prompt for next week is: HAT