Dreaming In Snowflakes...

Canon EOS 20D | 1/160s | f /6.3 | ISO 400

"Welcome to Narnia..."

This morning I woke up in the mood for spring. So I started editing some portraits I had of tulips, but I was rudely pulled out of my reverie. Why? Oh, a few inches of snow. And then some {to be expected}. So forget dreaming of flip flops, Ice Cream and pedicures...

I'll settle for french press coffee, making some headway in my stack of books (be sure to check out the link to my latest challenge!)...and probably a snow fight or two with my hunk.

So, what do you like to do to combat the winter blues?

***

Exercise Log for today:

• 20 Minute Cardio Dance Workout
• Abs: Crunch (3 sets of 15), Backward Crunch (3 sets of 15), Bicycle (1 set 100), Boat Position (2 sets of 12)
• Arms: Arm Curl (3 sets of 15), Shoulder to Side Raise (3 sets of 15), Overhead Press (3 sets of 15), Pilates Push Up (1 set of 12)
  

Romance, and all that mushy stuff...

February is one of my favorite months. Not only is it the month of all things Pink, Red, and Chocolate...it's my birthday month!

But, I think I got one of my valentines presents early...yesterday, I got up at 6 am, jumped into my jeans and a t'shirt to head out the door. I was taking Josh to meet someone, so I didn't bother to put on any makeup. My hair was a mess...and well I was pretty much still half asleep. But, you know what?? Josh took one look at me as I headed out the door, and said "Babe, you are so cute early in the morning"... talk about feeling truly beautiful!! Gotta love the romance. ;-)

I love him. I do, I do...a million times over!

What about you? Do you love the month of love? If so, what has been your best valentines?

***

Exercise:

• 30 Minute Pilates Workout
• Abs: Crunches, Leg Cruches, Side Twists, (3 sets of 15 for all)

Totally gone take the weekend off, I'm needing it!

Welp, I'm off to bake up a nice dish of fudge brownies... :D

Date Nights, and such.

We had an impromptu date night this week...


Random dancing in the kitchen...pesto for dinner with Starbucks for dessert. We went home to play scrabble (Josh won!), and finished the night off with an old rerun of Murder She Wrote. We laughed the night away...and I loved every single second. <3

I love dates night. Where we just do what we feel like, and enjoy each other. It's the best.


What's your favorite date night combo?


**

Actually made myself stay longer on the track at the gym. Sigh...I just get so bored! Thank the Lord for my Ipod!! :D

• 3 Miles on the track
• Leg Exercise: Leg Curls, Squats, Lunges, and Side Lifts...all in 3 sets of 15
  

A journey worth a thousand words...

"Sunset over Paris"


Canon 20D |1/1000s | f 7.1 | ISO 400


I love photography. For those of you who may not know, I studied photography for years. Beginning with a local college class, I eventually enrolled in a series of classes through IPS (a Christian photography school located in Dallas. Learn more here.). Over several years time I worked on my portofolio, with everything from children portraits sessions to weddings to travel photography. I found my passion was often in weddings and missions/travel related photography. I find them a challenge, and love to continue learning. I eventually put together a "faces of hope" composition, documenting the children of Guatemala, and photographed over 10 weddings...all just friends, people that I wanted to bless my work with (or least hoped too!).

However, to make a long story short, I took a job that was photography related. Frankly, it ended up being the worst possible situation for me. Before I knew it, I'd lost the passion I once had, and found myself bitter. Bitter in every form you can imagine. I eventually moved on. My camera started collecting dust...as well as my skills.

But, in an effort to return to my "first love" of photography, I've been taking pictures here and there, and learning new editing techniques with Photoshop (thanks hubby!). So in the months to come, I hope to set aside time each week to focus on my work, and restore what I lost...

Then again, I never really lost it. It was all His to begin with. Learning to refocus my heart, my camera, and my work...for His glory. Maybe this time I won't be so easily persuaded to set the camera aside. <3


***

Workouts continue full force!

• 12 Minute Interval Run on Treadmill (walk 2 min/jog 1)
• 20 minute cardio workout (aerobics & basic kick boxing move incorporated..loved it!)
• Abs: Crunch (2 sets of 30), Backwards/Leg Crunch (2 sets of 30), Side Twist (2 sets of 30), Bicycle ( 2 sets of 70)
  

Where Art & Coffee Colide

Friday morning, we woke up to this:

Snow & Ice.

But, it didn't hinder out plans. We loaded up the car and headed south to Texas, enjoying some good times with our friends Mark and Namoi...

Highlights of the trip were visits to the Dallas Museum of Art, my favorite coffee shop in all the world, Opening Bell, and some of the most amazing Sushi we've had to date...at Wild Sushi.

Seriously...absolutely amazing sushi. I think it's worth moving to Dallas for. Think I can talk the hubby into it? Hmmm... ;-)


Then there was the side trip to Opening Bell, my favorite coffee shop that I've yet to visit. An underground coffee shop, with the most eclectic decor ever. Just the fact that it is underground should clue you into how amazing this place is...a truly fantastic weekend with some great friends...they also took us out for Korean BBQ....our first time ever. LOOOOOVED it!

**happiness**


Workouts continue on...It's pretty much amazing how much more sore I become with each passing day. One of these days, I'm scared I won't be able to move. HA. I found some pretty crazy workout videos that I'm enjoying even though it's a bit on the painful side (okay, maybe not painful...but it's putting me to the test, ha!)

Todays workout:

• 30 Minute Pilates Full Body Workout
  
• 20 Minute Cardio Dance Workout
• Arms: Arm curl (2 sets of 50), Side Raise (2 sets of 10), Lat Push (2 sets of 25)
  

Well, I'm off to clean this house from head to toe...er...top to bottom...er whatever works for you. :P