Photography

I love capturing moments.
It amazes me how you can catch so much passion, an evoking of memories, and so many emotions in just one photo. That's why I've decided to look into photography.
I have some money saved up, which I'm thinking about spending on a nice camera--and preferably soon. My goal is before I go on my summer trip.
The problem? There are so many cameras to chose from. And I'm not exactly an expert in the area.

Quotes on Expectations

I think that one of the most difficult things in life is to let go of expectations. Because those are what screw us up the most. More often times than not, life doesn't exactly play out like we expect it to. Once we're able to let go of the all of the unnecessary thoughts and concepts about the future, we'll be able to "go with the flow" more. 

Rose Water

• Pick rose petals from a fresh, natural rose

• Place the roses in a large pot and fill it with just enough distilled water to cover the petals

• Cover with a lid and let it simmer until the petals lose color

• Drain the liquid into a jar

• This is your rose water!

• Store it in a cool place and use it whenever you need a sweet and refreshing pick-me-up!

Recipe for Nirvana

Recipe for Nirvana

Ingredients:

• Egg of life
• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons of sugar
• 2 tablespoon of vanilla simplicity
• A pinch of clarifying salt
• Chocolate chips of love
• Butter of connection
• Baking soda of forgiveness
• Additional: almonds of perseverance and/or walnuts of gentleness

Directions:

First, begin by cracking the egg of life. You can discard the shell because, although it offers protection, it is an illusion. The shell is the ego. It suggests beauty is on the outside, not from within.  And we must learn to toss it aside in order to get to the significant contents inside. Next add 2 tablespoons of vanilla simplicity. Because simplicity makes the recipe more happy and less stressful. Then add 3 teaspoons of sugar because, after all, couldn’t each of us use a little sweetness? The last thing you’re going to add to this bowl is the butter of connection. This is the mold--the glue. It holds everything together. It’s what connects each of the ingredients.

 Next, in a separate bowl, add two cups of all-purpose flour. It creates a foundation to build upon and a passion to encourage. Add a pinch or two of clarifying salt. It will assist you in riding some of the negative contents in the recipe. It will absorb the negative substances and clarify it before exuding it back out.        

Last, but certainly not least, add chocolate chips of love. Additionally, you can add either almonds of perseverance or walnuts of gentleness. They’re nice additions.  

It’s okay if all of the ingredients aren’t the exact measurements. That’s the beauty of it; this is just an experiment. The good news is that you can always round up more ingredients and continue to attempt this recipe until you reach some type of perfection.

How to Recuperate After A Long Day

We've all had those days. Where you've worked your butt off, you've dealt with dreadful people, you've bit your tongue so much it hurts, or maybe you just went off. Whatever the case may be, we've all been there, done that. It might not seem that reassuring. So instead of trying to assure you that you're not the only insanely overwhelmed person out there, I've compiled a list of things for you to do to help recuperate.
You definitely don't want to just throw your head on a pillow and go to sleep. I know that sounds extremely tempting--and, believe me, I'm guilty of doing it. But doing that will only give you a few hours of rest before everything comes right back at you when you wake back up. Eventually, things will just pile up and become more of a hassle. I know this from personal experience. And it happens to each of us.

Let's move on to the good stuff now, shall we?

1. Put your cell phone away. I know it's tempting, but you don't have to deal with it all. Tell people you're busy. You have other things going on in your life. They don't need to know that you're taking time for yourself. In fact, if they actually care about you, they'll let you do just that.

2. Pour yourself something to drink. Hot tea, refreshing juice, wine... something to help refresh you a bit.

3. Listen to music. Preferably music that makes you feel good. Turn up the tunes that transport you into a happier, calmer state.

4. Take a warm bath. Light some candles, put some essential oil in the tub, drop a couple of flower petals onto the surface... Just set a relaxing scene for yourself to unwind in.

6. Write. Writing is a great way to vent, even if you're not the best writer. Who cares, though? Chances are, nobody is going to see what you put down onto paper. You could even crinkle it up and toss it if it makes you feel better. Write about things that are bothering you. But, please, please, please, don't forget to add a couple of things you're thankful for. Because even though there are stresses, there are still blessings.

7. Meditate. You can light a candle and/or incense. You can even play light background music. I like listening to flute music. There are websites that play the sound of rain, too, which is always nice. Pandora has a few meditation stations that are generally pretty tranquil. You can always just sit in silence, too. Whatever floats your boat.
Just clear your mind and center yourself. Sometimes life can throw us off track. It's easier than we think to ground ourselves, though. All of it takes is stillness and quieting the mind.

New Beginnings Are Always Scary

I'll be the first to admit that I don't always accept change. Not at first, anyway. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy it. Change helps me move along in my life. It helps me clear out anything that's been holding me back or distracting me. And it helps unveil my vision, so I'm granted clarity to the future. It's a wonderful thing. It's just... not everyone is accepting of it immediately. Not only those around me, but especially myself.
You might as well admit to it because, honestly, we're all just human (unless you're not, which is totally cool too). What I'm trying to say is that it's okay to be unsure about things. It's also okay for you to dip your toe in the water and test it. Even if it's freezing, at least you tried, right? And wasn't that cool shock a little thrilling?
So, you're probably wondering what the purpose of this post is. To be honest, I think it's pretty self-explanatory in what direction I'm headed. It might sound cliche at first, but just hear me out. I'm here to tell you not to give up. I know you've heard it a million times. I have, too. But just listen. Really listen this time, alright? By listen, I don't just mean hear the words and register their definition. I mean understand them and see how to make them applicable to your own life.
Don't give up. Can you let go? Yes. There's a difference between giving up and letting go, but that would take a whole other post to cover.
Start over.
Yes, I do realize it's February. But it's never too late to make that New Years resolution. It's never too late to start that new project or finally get the courage to talk to that girl. You don't need a January first to define the beginning. You don't need a specific date to justify your actions. The time is now. So begin.