week 51: merry + bright

week 51. wow. I can hardly believe that there's one week left in the year, one week left in my 52 weeks project. it's been an interesting experience... different from what I had expected [but then again, isn't everything?] but I've learned a few things in the process, and am giving serious thought to another project in 2012. definitely not ready for a 365. but another 52 is likely in the works...

week 50: trimming the tree

we decided to go minimalist with our tree this year. mostly because the cats like to pull the ornaments off the tree and use them for toys. partially because we were hosting a dinner party and ran out of time after a 9pm grocery trip left us both asleep on the couch. so we stuck with just lights, and the simple star I made a few years back.

sometimes, less is more.

week 49: sparkle and shine

I am so obsessed with these glitter nails. Essie power clutch from the fall line coated with the holiday luxeffects set in stones. I seriously think from now until the new year my fingers are going to be sparkling.

[not that there's anything wrong with that.]

week 48: coming home

on the car ride back to the east cost

I spent all of Thanksgiving week at home in Michigan. Seeing all of my family, [a few of] my friends, my sister’s wedding, running with my Dad, making pie with Husband…. I know I say this every time I go home, but: every time I go home, I appreciate it more and more.

week 47: thankful

thankful for Husband... who will humor my request for a photo shoot in chilly Michigan weather. who will take test shots with me while I wait for the family to assemble. and who will make goofy faces and crack me up the entire time. I kinda like him.

week 46

how I do business casual:

essie "size matters", grey tweed dress, pattern tights

week 45: weekend warrior

Husband and I drove up to Connecticut this weekend to watch our friend compete in a Crossfit competition. I took a lot of awesome photos of pull-ups and burpees and max weight snatches. this was on the drive home... traffic on the Tappan Zee Bridge is always a b.

[nail color is Essie "size matters" from the holiday collection]

week 44: selective focus

week 43: fall fun

week 42: wild thing

week 41: DIY wall art

week 41 comes with a DIY wall art project I found on pinterest.

I started with masking tape and a blank 12 x12" canvas

tape on a design

paint...

peel...

instant art!

this made a perfect easy sunday arts + crafts project.

[and the perfect thing to hang on the wall above our bed!]

12 by 2012

The other day I stumbled onto a new blog through something I pinned. And on that blog I found something that she had found through another blog that I want to try: accomplishing 12 things by 2012. It didn't take me long to come up with a list of things I've been meaning to finish or wanting to try. I tried to keep it simple and concrete- you'll note a lot of crafting and baking are involved.

1.       Use the fall cookie cutters I bought 2 years ago.
2.       Exercise 3 times a week, even if it’s just a walk around the block.
3.       Make a set of these adorable mugs to give away as Christmas gifts.
4.       Finish the last 10 weeks of the 52 weeks project.
5.       Pay off my car loan and say hello to financial independence.
6.       Buy and decorate, paint, or carve a pumpkin to sit outside our door.
7.       Roast the leftover pumpkin seeds.
8.       Try this newsprint nail technique- one of the first things I ever pinned.
9.       Edit and post all back-logged photos. [this means you, Colorado trip!]
10.   Clean out my wardrobe of all those things I’m hanging on to but never wear.
11.   Make marshmallows.  I’ve wanted to do this for years but never tried.
12.   Participate in NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month] 

I hereby pledge to attempt to accomplish these 12 things by the end of December. And to document and post each of these things here, in hopes that will keep me honest. Bring it!

faceless [week] forty in the forest

a little bit of [slight rule-bending] 52 weeks catch up:

Week 36: my gorgeous sari for the P+S engagement extravaganza

 

Week 37: the modern saddle shoe- perfect mix of nerdy and trendy

Week 38: a peek at my Chicago whirlwind weekend

Week 39: good cop/bad cop impressions

52 card pick-up

thank you technology. I never would have been able to keep up with the 52 weeks project without my iPhone. I cut it a bit close a few weeks, but I've made it all the way to week 35 so far!

here's what happened after Colorado:

 

Week 30: Beau and I had lots of quality cuddle time. 

he knew I missed Husband and so he kept me company.

Week 31: I took Lola and my favorite stripey Anthro dress on a date to NYC with Katie.

 

Week 32: I coordinated outfits via phone for after-work birthday drinks.

Week 33: I took a road trip through New England with newly returned Husband.

Week 34: I braved Hurricane Irene.

Week 35: I was finally able to take some time to slow down and enjoy my morning coffee, 

some photo editing, and some blogging :)

week 29: in the mountains

Colorado. a morning fresh and full of possibility.

hiking solo through the most gorgeous wildflower-covered mountains. 

Nikes on my feet and blue skies overhead.

rocks and stumps and branches and signs made makeshift tripods.

I slowly wandered down a trail unknown, breathing it all in.

stopping to see. stopping to be thankful. stopping to worship.

I discovered a stream, ice cold from melted snow.

so I plunged in my feet until they went numb.

I sat and pondered the great mysteries of the universe.

then I let the sun dry my feet, put my shoes back on and left.

week 28: return to the road

step by step. go baby go.

week 27

it was hot and sticky, but I was having a decent hair day. I grabbed my tripod and this vintage camera I've had for 2 years but have yet to use as a photo prop. it actually belonged to Husband's grandfather... and probably still works. maybe one day I'll buy some film and give it a whirl.

I went to one of my favorite running trails. the light there is always so gorgeous, and I take mental pictures as I run through, but this was the first time I've ever taken my camera. it certainly won't be the last. all that delicious light and green bokeh, yum.

somehow I always find myself gravitating towards shots where I'm not smiling. I feel like this one looks guilty... like I've just been caught photographing someone who didn't realize it. I guess I find shots like this more interesting. they have a little more story than just "smile".

on my was out I came across this sweet little baby. he was kind enough to sit and wait for me to dig my camera back out of the bag before scampering away. just the icing on the cake of a great little shoot :)

twenty-four-five-six

a quiet morning with a good book and coffee.

a windblown sunset and a kiss from my love.

an unplanned stop for popsicles and smiles.

it's the little things in life...

week 23: love yourself

week 23 combines the message challenge with something I've been wanting to try out for a while: a mirror self portrait that doesn't show the camera.

[and in case you're wondering... that is not a real tattoo. it's not even a temporary tattoo. it's edited in. I have always wanted a tattoo, but never really knew what to get or where to put it. thanks to pinterest, I've been collecting ideas. currently loving the shoulder placement, obviously.]