S/S 2014.

Spring has arrived here in otherwise chilly Edmonton!
People are out and about, and the streets are a little messy!

Spring means new adventures, and new outfits! And that summer is on its way in.
I couldn't be happier.

daily photos.

I've started a new project for myself, and I'm excited about it!

I just celebrated my 27th birthday this past Saturday, and I've decided to take a photo from each day for the next year, starting and ending with my birthday.
These photos will capture a variety of things; a moment in time that sums up my day, a tiny detail that I find inspiring, something that I love.

In the past I've done something along the lines of a daily photograph; my thoughts on an image I've taken that intrigues me. But I've never been able to keep at it.

I hope that I have the discipline, so I may need help!
My friends and loved ones need to keep me accountable. I need to be reminded; "Have you taken your daily photo?".

I can't wait to look back and see what the year has brought for me. I hope that I begin to find some of the things that I'm looking for (you can guess at what those might be).

Alas, here are a few of them so far:

Feb. 15, 2014 - My 27th birthday! Decorations that my lovely friend Joelle brought and helped put up in my house.

Feb. 17, 2014 - My Oma (great-grandma)'s 100TH birthday! Here she is holding my 6 week old niece, Quinn. The oldest and youngest members of our family.

Feb. 18, 2014 - Shopping on Whyte Avenue. Too much eye candy.

Feb. 19, 2014 - Faux leather leggings and Converse. Wardrobe staples.












Some photographs I won't be able to post because they're taken with my film camera. But I'll share when I want to and can. It is mainly for my benefit after all.

J.

risky business.

I'm a little bit late on this, but it's a new year!
You know what that means? New adventures and opportunities!

So far the start of this year has been fantastic: I rang it in with great friends, and became an auntie!
Those two things in themselves are pretty glorious, but I can't wait for more splendid things to happen.
I'm hoping that this year will be a great one; full of great experiences spent with friends and family. As well as new opportunities for myself!
That may be setting the bar a little bit high, but I think it's okay to dream and have expectations like those!
How else are we going to reach for those expectations and goals?

On New Year's Eve my friends and I were talking about New Year's resolutions. My only resolution (if you can call it that) is "Take Risks". My friend Joelle joked that I'd write a blog about it, so I'm going to follow through with that assumption! (you know me well!)
This resolution is extremely vague, but it's one that I need to make for myself. I need to say "Yes" to more opportunities, to try things that I've never done, and do things that I want to do.

Continually I struggle with what I want to do with my life. I waiver between pleasing others, and reaching for my goals.
This year, I'm going to do my best to figure out what it is that I love to do, and strive towards it.
I have some ideas, but for now I'll keep those to myself and see how things go.
It will probably be a slow gradual change, but who knows where it will lead me!

J.

money.

Why do we spend so much money? I mean, what really is the point?
Most of us humans constantly want this and that, always more than we need.

For myself, when I get bored, I always feel like getting out of my house and buying things.
That's horrible. None of the stuff I buy is needed.
It's always clothes, more house decor, beauty products, etc etc. I don't need these things! I have more than I could ever ask for. Yet I'm always wanting more.

It's been ingrained in our society to want, and to have. We feel like without "things" we aren't worthy. These "things" make up who we are and how we're viewed by others. Or so we think. Who cares!
Sometimes I just feel like leaving everything I own, hopping in my car with my cat, destined for a far off place. Not caring about possessions, but living for moments.
Today in order to keep friendships and relationships alive we usually have to spend money. We meet for dinner, see a movie, get some drinks, go shopping, buy presents for each other.
I'd love to just sit at home, make some tea, and have a conversation. A real conversation. No distractions. Just love and laughter. No money required.

This post has come about as a direct result of my previous post, inhibitions. I want to be able to take charge of my like; travel the world, meet strangers, and share experiences. But I can't seem to save money in order to do it. Mainly because I spend on nonsense.

Instead of going out to spend all of the time, there is so much I can do right here at home! Create art, read, organize, clean, go for walks, play with Willow!

I've come up with a small list of to-dos that I want to stand by, that will help with budgeting.

1. Buy groceries from Walmart or Superstore as opposed to Safeway.
2. Do not buy magazines each month. Go online instead.
3. Only buy clothes from thrift stores, if they are needed at all.
4. Do not go out for lunch. Bring one to work.
5. Run errands immediately after work as opposed to making a separate trip later in the day.

For now, this is what I will do. The list may increase as more items come to mind. Can you think of others?


Life is not measured by material goods one possesses, but by moments that can be shared and remembered forever.

J.

inhibitions.

At what point do we need to make a decision to take charge of our life?


This past weekend I didn't do much but sleep and watch non-stop One Direction on youtube. It sounds totally lame, but it has helped me reevaluate what I want to do with my life.
I was quite content relaxing in my little basement suite alone with my cat, listening to the Midnight Memories soundtrack over and over again when I wasn't on youtube. The songs actually ring true to a lot of my life, even though the boys may be years younger than I am.
They talk about relationships, family, and living life. Things that everyone can relate to. But mainly, they LIVE. By this I mean not simply making it through each day, but doing things each day that make you happy. Going out into the world and sharing experiences.

I've talked so much about doing things with my life that I haven't done yet. And time and time again all that I do is talk. Travel, create art, move somewhere else, get more tattoos, find love, go to lots of concerts, visit galleries, eat at cool cafes, colour my hair, etc etc.

Over the past year and a half I've definitely begun to do the things that I want: move out, get a cat, get tattoos, colour my hair turquoise, start a blog! But yet that list is so short. I've begun a bucket list, as well as yearly to-do lists, which have helped immensely! But that needs to continue.

I want to take charge of my life. Stop caring about what others will think, and start doing things for me! I put so many inhibitions upon myself, and use those as excuses. That's not ok!

Inhibitions cause regret, and I don't want any of those! I'm still so young, and don't yet have any regrets. But before I know it I'll look back at my life and what I did. I don't want to look back with any regrets. I need to take my brother's tattoo advice: no regrets!
A little over a week ago I was in Mexico with some great friends, and had a fantastic time. I was able to cross an item off of my bucket list! It was an awesome and hilarious experience; one that I won't soon forget. I need more of those!
Why do we as humans have inhibitions? For myself personally, they come from a lack of confidence. Over the years, my confidence has increased significantly, and my inhibitions have decreased. But it's not enough! I want to be able to dance in the street, talk to strangers in a coffee shop, dye my hair blue, hop on a plane set for a foreign country!

The only way to achieve these things is to simply do them! It really is that easy.

What are you going to do with your life? It's time to take charge.

J.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY276IcdlhU