Got some rolls of film developed and they ended up not having much in them so I will show you a little from my weekend taken on my phone.  I love that I have a camera everywhere I go and apps that help me edit, make collages, and share them online. 

 Bottles from a thrift store.  My new addition to the Polaroid camera collection.  Cant wait to get film for this camera! And a trip to Universal City Walk. 

Spring is probably my least favorite season.  So unpredictable with it's hot days that quickly turn into gloomy rainy days.  However, it is a sweet reminder that we must take each day as if it were our last day.  Not knowing what to expect and making the most of it.  

Are you dreaming big?  Are you enjoying every minute of your day? Taking in the sights around you?  

Where ever you find yourself today, remember to enjoy yourself.  

Happy Monday!

Looks very similar to the digital one... but the range of light is so much more dramatic in film. And no editing required.

Jodie McGuire takes photos, adds quotes, and sells them as postcards.  Clever and cute, yes please! 

Louis Garcia painted this.  Completely self taught.  

Here are some photos from the weekend by the sea and a midnight bike ride with a friend.  Also a few photos from the Riverside Arts Walk, held the first Thursday of every month. 

Enjoy :)

Spent the weekend by the sea. Watched the sun set behind the cliffs and the sea darken.

Took my film camera out too so film images are soon to come.  

I've mentioned many times before that I am with out a doubt a hopeless romantic. So, I thought, why not share with you guys my favorite hopeless romantic movies!   Here we go :)

 Shakespeare +  Leo.  Enough Said.

A true kaleidoscope infusing story, music and all of the characters involved.  The moral of the story: Love.

The Holiday I must admit is a bit cheesy.  Especially towards the end but at some point or another in my life I have been both Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet.  And Jude Law is it in... hello?!

This one is like one huge big DUH!

Memoirs of a Geisha is probably one of my all time favorites.  Simply the carefully thought out soundtrack and cinematography separates it from most romantic movies.  And the story is just absolutely beautiful.  Almost identical to the book, which I've read.

Happy Monday!

Sometimes I like 35mm more than digital.  Especially when it's with a Canon. 

Memories of my weekend in Long Beach :)

Hope everyone had a special day today.  Mine was just another ordinary Monday to be honest.  However, being the hopeless romantic that I am, subconsciously I wore pink today.  As I got dressed this morning I thought nothing of it as it is one of my favorite t-shirts.  I began driving and looked down to put my seat belt on and noticed that I was wearing pink.  I let out a little chuckle and set out to conquer my day.

And so I spent the rest of the day smiling and enjoying the weather and my pink t-shirt.  Just another normal Valentine's Day.

A quick shout out for V-Day:

Mom, Dad, Sister, friends, family, and everyone else who is special in my life:

I Love You.  

I appreciate you.  

My life wouldn't be the same without you.

Hello Monday!  Usually I am reluctant to even consider Monday as a good day but this week I'm feeling great!  Off to a great start from an even better weekend.  Lately, I've been really successful in keeping up with my

goals for 2011

:

• Laugh More:   Check!  I've been doing a lot of this lately.  Mainly because I've been hanging out with friends more often and even when I'm at home.  It makes the soul feel alive and calm.  Try it.  Today just smile for no reason and I guarantee that after a little while, you'll be feeling just as happy as your smile.

• Read More.    This I actually haven't been doing!  Well not when it comes to the books I have but I have been reading up on all the blogs I follow.  Does that count? I know, I know, I'll make more of an effort!

• Speaking of Soul.  I plan on finding myself and God. I have been finding myself praying more and more.  And not just for things I want to happen or for help from the Big Man upstairs but simply giving my thanks.  Even when I feel overwhelmed and when life seems to go in a different direction.  I have begun to trust that the Big Man (as I'll call him) has something planned for me.  This, before, was a foreign concept and I kinda like not having to think about controlling my life all the time.  Somethings just happen the way they should and I thank the Big Man.  No church yet nor denomination or religion.  I'm starting with believing first.  And I'm sure he's okay with that :).

• Making life be remembered.  I journal almost everyday.  More and more lately.  I have even begun to draw what I see and feel.  Which is pretty funny considering I can't really draw all that well.  But hey, practice makes perfect, no? Yes! So I'll keep drawing horribly but at least I'll understand it.  And that's all that matters.  As far as photographing my life... I've been slacking.  Definitely going to concentrate on this more.

• Take time. I have been so busy that I haven't taken advantage of this goal.  But this weekend I did get some good alone time as well as some really good sleep. 

• Donate.  And not with money.  But with time. I will be doing some of this later this month.  And keep all of you guys posted!

• Reconnect.  And not on fb, twitter, or by text but in person with my friends and family :) I'm kinda doing this.  I've been connecting with many new people lately and as much as it pains me to admit, I haven't been doing so well with the reconnecting part.  Friends and family:  Expect more from me this year because I do truly miss you and want to see you all more.  I'm going to double time this one starting today!

• Dream bigger. When do I stop? I say that sarcastically.  Albeit I do dream, it's just that my dreams are usually logical and safe.  Not outrageous nor inspirational.  Time to step it up a notch and surprise myself!

Keeping this updated I think will help me really achieve them.  Making myself be honest and see how I am completing or not completing will help me stay true to what I want.  I know that as the year begins rolling on by, some of these will evolve into bigger goals.  We shall see what happens :).

Anyway... A couple of weekends ago, the

Inland Empire Photog (& Beyond)

Facebook group had a shoot get together up in Big Bear and we had a blast!  I know I've shared a couple of images from that day but here are more! If you'd like to see more visit the group and become a member.  Each of us that attended will be uploading as we go so there are definitely more to come!

And here are a couple from Brent Stanley and you can check his work out at

HERE 

And a shot from Engin (one of our group members who is still learning!) What a great shot Engin!

Happy Monday!

My hand grabs the round handle as I swing my right leg over the leather seat that separates me from the hot chrome.  I place my feet firmly on the pavement and slowly pick this powerful machine off its kickstand.  From head to toe, I'm ready.  Bandana.  Check.   Hair in braids.  Check.  Jeans and boots.  Check, check.  I turn the key and hit start and it comes alive.  And now machine and me are one.  Hugging turns and the wind in my hair. 

Then just like that, everything becomes peaceful.  Everything becomes quiet.  Just my bike, me, and the road ahead.

This is what riding a motorcycle feels like. No, wait.  This is what driving your own motorcycle feels like.  Ever since I can remember, my dad has always had a motorcycle.  We only knew a life with a motorcycle in it.  It was normal and growing up I thought that was what families did. 

But no, not all families do what we do.  And that is what makes it special.  This is who we are.  This is what my family does on the weekends.  We ride.

And remember:  Loud pipes saves lives.

When I was about 10 years old, I remember going to the beach.  The whole family went.  My parents sat in beach chairs on the sand where it morphed from wet to dry.

My dad was playing his acoustic guitar and had his Pentax 35mm slr.  He always had his Pentax near.  Which is the cause of the bins and bins of photographs that we have stored in our house.  That day, he taught me how to hold it, focus the lens, and where the shutter button was.  That was the very first time I had held an slr.

I'm not going to say that since that day I was a devoted, die-hard-Bruce-Willis photo-lover.  I used it from time to time after that, after all, it was the family camera.  I'm not one of those photogs that once they held a camera that was it for them, the light turned on.  That didn't actually happen for me until my junior year of college.

Anyway, I digress.  I still have that Pentax.  And every now and then, when I'm feeling overwhelmed and in need of some motivation, I'll whip that baby out and shoot.  Shoot and forget about looking at the back of the camera.  Shoot and think hard about my exposure.  Shoot and feel the metal of the focus ring gliding smoothly between my fingers.  Shoot without pressure to get it perfectly right.

And I don't get it right every time.  And I'm okay with that.  And I'm okay with starting sentences with "and".  But the best part, my favorite part about shooting film, is taking it in to get developed.  That's my favorite.  Because then I see the wonderful memories caught on film...literally.  And the feel, the look, the surprises.

I know film is "in" now and more people are shooting with film and to me that's really awesome.  Something nostalgic about taking my time to shoot film.  And perhaps that is why I shoot when I am in need of something more, something relaxing.  Something that brings me back to 10 years old with a bob haircut in an oversized t-shirt on the shore of the beach listening to my dad's guitar and the sound of the ocean.

Happy weekend!

This last shot I have no idea what it is.  I don't have any lamps like that anywhere and I think to the right it looks like a hotel room? Who knows, this film has been in the camera a looong time so maybe I just forgot where I took it!