Sunday, November 23, 2014

November //:

INSPIRED + IN NEED


A girl has got to have her space. 
Am I right?

        Throughout our two and a half blissful years of marriage, we have lived in the same...tiny... 4'11" tall me can touch the ceilings on my tippy-toes + an inch rent house. We are still in the beginning of our twenties and trying (scraping and scrounging around extra money any way we can) to get through college to be school teachers.  We both love kids! Something else we love? Space. And we have none of it. (Just ask our two cats. Ughhhh) It was humorous squeezing our queen size bed into our teeny bedroom. Side shuffling around it every morning and night isn't exactly what I dreamed for "master bedroom". As pleasant as it is taking a shower in the add-on bathroom, ( where the installation wasn't don't by carpenter who valued perfection as a must) and stepping onto cold, cracked linoleum, having a real, insulated, quality bath, and floor will be just what the doctor ordered. A girl can dream can't she? 

Here are a few spaces I have pinned over the last six months that keep me hoping for a place I can call home.  


^^^
Tall ceilings, subway tile, maps, lights, reclaimed wood, open shelving, brick flooring, leather cabinet pulls, bed board panelling, modern table, Edison bulbs, gorgeous map




Striped rug, simple rustic table, gorgeous sink, (why? why are you $1,000??)
giant windows, light unstained wood floors, simplistic bed board walls, glass pained cabinets.
I love so many elements of both of these kitchens. I would combine my favorite parts!

^^^
So many things to love about this bathroom. 
Small, but spacious because of the reflective subway tile.
moroccan rug, subway tile, herbal soaps on open shelving above a claw foot tub
chevon wood flooring, gold accents
Wow. 





^^^
I don't think I can even begin to go into why I love this bathroom so much.
You have eyes! You should know!

^^^
My favorite right now!
Such a classic industrial piece that says "Hey! I'm modern AND rustic!"
My kind of light bulb.

^^^
See above comments about Edison bulbs and apply to this light fixture.
Yes, please!

^^^
I think of all the things I am most excited about, it is being able to host our family and friends. 
In this little abode we share, there is room for one couch, a small dining room table, (It seats four comfortably) and only one person (or two very, very small people) at a time in the kitchen. It will be so nice to be able to celebrate holidays, and have fellowship with the ones we love without me stressing out about us all being crammed into what feels like a corner. 

^^^
Neutrals. Yes yes yes.
There is something so calming about literature. I find myself pouring over books more and more as  this winter comes into its full chill. When you are gone, what will remain? Your words are immortal. I want that to be emphasized in my home.


^^^
Exposed brick, platform bed, love notes written above the bed, crates, white bedding, dark floor.
and SPACE.

         We are looking into buying our first home around the end of January. It has so many elements that give it the potential to fulfill the desire I have for this style of home.  My thoughts are so divided. I want to move off to far away places and experience the world, alone with Zachary. Just the two of us. But I have family that I love and would hate to leave behind. I know that both of our family would miss us terribly. On the other hand, we live in a nice little town. It isn't as culturally diverse as I would like it to be, but we are the ones who develop culture, right? The home is so close to the little Art Gallery in town and I tell myself that is culture enough. 

I don't really want to have the biggest, nicest house in town.
I just want to have a house I am comfortable in and am proud of. 
Being a young something isn't easy, ya know?

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

There's a first time for everything!

Jera, tall Robert, and short Robert.

These were the first family pictures that I have ever attempted! I was pretty happy with the way that they turned out. The Morse family was a dream to work with. It was hot and sticky outside, but they were troopers through their whole session. Enjoy!









Monday, November 17, 2014

October 24th // My twenty-third birthday.





OCTOBER 24
My twenty-third birthday all in film from my pentax; a gift from my parents.









Sunday, November 16, 2014

Thursday, November 13, 2014

B&W // September 21, 2014.

A + L
Aimee & Laramey Tillman.



"Black and white focuses on the moment, the memory.
There is no distraction from the subject."

It was the most beautiful day in September. This special day will be shared eventually on here, but these are my favorite moments.






Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Wednesday //:

12:00 pm.

Over the past 4 years, Zach and I have eaten a less than healthy diet. Some of us gained a little and both of us felt like, pardon my bluntness, crap. Over the past 6 months we have cut out almost all processed foods. (Sweets are still my vice. Chocolate, why ya gotta taste so good??) Ingridients. You would not believe the kind of things that are in the day to day shopping cart. We made a decision that we would not buy anything with high fructose corn syrup or an excess amount of sodium. High blood pressure runs in both of our families and added salt isn't something that we want to be consuming. 

Here are a couple tips to help cut some of these health affecting ingredients at a minimum:

1. Buy frozen vegetables.
I thought that eating canned vegetables was making me some kind of health conscious expert. Wrong. Check out that sodium! Also, there are often added preservatives.

2. Buy fruit. LOTS of fruit!
(But be conscious of high sugar fruits if you have diabetic tendencies.) 

3. Use lemon, garlic, and onion on your meat!
"But without salt or seasoning my meat will be bland!" Wrong! Lemon, onion, garlic, lime, chili powder, orange, apricot, the possibilities are endless! You can find so many different ways to flavor your food without over processed, sodium filled spice bottles and sauces! Get creative!

4. Eat more green!
(Yes, more than just green beans!)
We're talking spinach, kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts, leafy lettuce. It's ALL good!!

5. Limit dairy.
This is the one I struggle most with.
Want clear skin? Cut out cheese/milk/yogurt and switch to spinach and eggs and soy milk!! Plus, you have to increase your fiber when you eat cheese, or uncomfortable results are sure to follow! 

6. No more red meat.
If you love your heart, don't eat red meat. "But the protein!' Shhh. Almonds, friend, almonds.
Chicken, pork, turkey, fish. That's where it's at. I don't remember the last time we bought ground beef or any kind of beef.

7. Stop eating out.
"But it's chicken!" 
And you're still at McDonalds. Check out the sodium levels and you'll be surprised to find that your "healthy option" is worse than a burger. Eating out is convenient. That's why you like it. It doesn't taste better than a well thought, home cooked, health conscious lunch. Let's be real and consider that making a sandwich is not that hard. Make time for food. It's important!

8. Butter.
Remember dairy. Butter is dairy. Just don't.
There are healthy alternatives in baking! Check it out!
Margarine too. Do your self a favor and just don't!

Happy healthy eating!!
Also, I might add that this is not a weight loss post, just a "you get one body! Take care of it!" post!











Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Small Milestones //:

Today I have hit a small milestone in my creative career.  I received my first children's book written and illustrated by yours truly! The book was inspired by a class that I am currently enrolled in. We were all given the task of writing and illustrating a 14 page children's book and I did just that. Looking at my hardbound copy this afternoon, I see it for what it really is, which is a first draft and publication of a book that still needs some work. That being said, I am still incredibly excited about seeing my work on my bookshelf next to authors and artists that inspire me.      



Family defined //:

Family is progressive.
It isn't alway's defined by blood.

Watching a baby become a toddler, and then a child, you develop a love that makes that little person your family. That's what we felt when we photographed Hannah and Henry, a bond that was shared between the two of them. Something special.