Vanelope Von Shweetz

This year for Halloween I dressed as Vanelope Von Shweetz, from the Disney movie, Wreck-it-Ralph. She is my favorite character, for her bravery and witty humor.

To make the costume I found an blue sweater from Wal-Mart, and stitched pink ribbon on the pockets, as well as thread it through the hood.

The brown skirt is from a thrift store, it was originally very long. Because I ran out of time, the morning of Halloween my mom finished it. She cut the bottom half with shaped scissors to make it look like a candy wrapper, and sewed it to the waist, making it two layers.
I found a great video tutorial for the leggings, in which you spray paint white leggings. I put the leggings over and old pool noodle covered with a trash bag to make it slip on easier, then wrapped tape around the leggings. The purple stripe is fabric paint.

For the candy hair pieces, I found a wonderful website, Delish Beads, with all kinds of resin candy pieces, including gummy bears, peppermints, hearts, and tiny dots. I attached them to hair clips and mini bobby pins.
I wore my black combat boots along with this outfit.
Everyone at work adored it, though while trick or treating for my first time, with friends, only one house recognized me, which made my night perfect just with their reaction.

My guy friend from work asked for these pictures of me holding his friend's five pound wooden sword, for a few laughs at the opposite prop. I had a lot of fun swinging it around while another friend took pictures.

Inspirational

Day 21, Faceless Self Portrait
This was new to me, but I like the idea of the photographer behind the camera.

Day 22, Inspirational
What can be more inspirational than a sleeping kitten? So peaceful, so blissful. Here lies Fuzzball, on the couch on a Saturday afternoon.








 Day 23, Patterns
I've always noticed patterns in everything around me, they lie in the floor, the ceiling and every object around us.

Red Worn Shoes

 Day 17, Technology
I often listen to my music on my phone, without it I would be left with my thoughts running off on their own, without any kind of control. Music helps me concentrate on what I need to be thinking about.

Day 18, Your Shoes
My red converse have seen it all, an entire year of my life. From my doctor who cosplay, to getting caught in the pouring rain, more than just once.

Day 19, Something You Want
I always want the chill of autumn, the bright colors, but without the changing seasons it wouldn't be the same, so I enjoy it while it's here.

Could Never Live Without

 Day 13, Can't Live Without
I could never live without my pocket knife, the first pocket knife I ever owned. My dad got it for me on one of his trips, to see his friends from the airforce.

Day 15, Silhouette
I am not familiar with taking silhouette photos, but I liked this photo with the intricacy of the pieces to this object.

Day 16, A Good Habit
I sprained my wrist over the summer, last July. Although It's healed, It may never be as strong as it was, meaning I have to wrap it with athletic tape to keep it secure when I do stunts. It's become habit for me to do this every swing night.

Something Old, Something New

Day 8, Routine
 It has always been routine, since I was a kid to get kettle corn at Old Iron Works in Meramec Springs Park. Where they reinvent what things were like a hundred years ago. We got to continue this routine last Saturday.

Day 10, Childhood Memory
I still remember clearly how these gates would open, slowly like they were opening the passage to a great castle.
This is where my dad worked, the reason I was born in the house I was born in, why I live in this town, and have made the life I live now. This is how I learned what it means to give your work your all, and your respect.



 Day 11, Something Blue
Blue happens to my favorite color ever, so it wasn't difficult to find something to photograph. I put my ear buds on my blue high top converse, two of my favorite things.

Changes To Come

Day 5, After Dark
I put up white lights from my sister's wedding among the trees in my back yard, creating a wonderland of starry lights in the dark.















Day 6, Obsession
I have many hobbies and likes, but to be obsessed would mean that's the only thing I think about. The closest I could come to is rain, and water.
There is a sense of freedom in the middle of the pouring rain, at least for me. Being wet is not a bad, uncomfortable feeling, but a release. I begin to twirl and jump and dance as the beating drops pound against the earth.


 Day 7, Changes To Come

Through the change of summer, to fall, comes winter. Fall always seems to bring us new beginnings, another chance. I love the bright vibrant red yellow and orange colors filling the branches of the trees. I have always been fond of the crisp cold as well, it's refreshing and wonderful.
This photo is  my brown scarf laid near the window, my summer swim top, fall gloves, and three acorns, double exposed with changing leaves.

The Challenge Continues

Day 2, What You Wore
This challenge was even more difficult than the self portrait. A challenge, however is just what I needed, to get my creativity at it's most fierce. For "what you wore" I went through many shots, different angles, but this is what it came out to.
I wore my black jeans, minion shirt, and black fedora which I often wear swing dancing. It adds a lot to the dance, when you and your partner can pass and steal the hat between each other, or even other couples.








 Day 3, Clouds

It was a perfect day for taking pictures of the clouds, this was my favorite. A bright blue sky with pure white, always brings about a lovely day. It was my first time taking pictures of the sky, definitely not my last.

 Day 4, Something Green
The light shown beautifully through this young maple sapling at the time of taking this picture.
In itself it is inspiring to me, so simple, so small, with a light so powerful. A light seeming to shine from the heavens.

Day 1, Self Portrait

I love photography, but I needed a way to get out of my comfort zone, to challenge myself. I found a 30 day photography challenge on Pinterest many months ago, and finally started it this weekend.
Day 1 is to take a self portrait, my greatest nemesis, I find them difficult to take. For this photo I stood next to the window with the curtains open, holding the camera at arms length, then the most difficult task, to look natural.
My mom asked me what that expression was, it's concentrating deeply on my work while also trying to smile and look attractive.

FuzzBall, The Impossible Kitten

 This is FuzzBall, a little gray ball of fuzz with the roar of a lion and the energy of a cheetah.
FuzzBall was one of the fortunate, of the unfortunate ones. I was coming home from swing, Sunday night, September 21st. As I pulled in to town, I saw something in the middle of the road. My first thought was someone had hit a squirrel, but it moved. The first thing that I noticed of the ball of fur, were the pointed ears. I stopped the car, and barely having time to take the key out of the ignition, jumped out to hear pitiful mews of a tiny kitten.

 I called for the little fur ball to come to my car, but out of fright the kitten ran to a telephone post, surrounded by tall weeds, as I got closer, the kitten ran farther, to a pop machine. At this point, I considered giving up the chase, thinking to myself this cat is feral, and will never come near me. But with some hope left, I moved my car out of the road and into a near by parking lot, and with my phone in hand, to call my mom and let her know why I was late coming home, I found the kitten against the pop machine, he was scared but still let me pick him up, and settled into my arms.
It was at this point a policeman came around to ask what I was doing out so late. I explained in all honesty that I found this kitten in the middle of the road, and that I was taking him home with me just a few miles from town.
FuzzBall was so little, he was only just weaned, and still has some blue in his eyes, that are turning a beautiful gold.

FuzzBall is pure grey, and fluffy as a duster. He was starving, and had a sore on his lower lip when I found him. I fear what may have happened to him if he had spent the night in town. He is quite happy in this home now, the wound has healed, he has become accustomed to his new life style, and runs the house, as well as ridding it of Hello Kitty socks.

Baking Music

 I took this photo of my thirteen year old brother's black high top converse, and thought it appropriate for this topic.










UnkamenKitchen made a post about his favorite baking music. I like the idea, I do listen to music while I cook very frequently. But... I would add some swing dance music to that playlist. Nothing like dancing around the kitchen while cooking, especially when there's no one around!
Give UnkamenKitchen your two cents about his music here

And here is a list of my favorite swing baking music, no order of what to dance to when, swing just comes together.
Brotherswing - Caravan Palace
Catgroove -  Parov Stelar
Moondance - Van Morrison
A-Tisket A-Tasket - Ella Fitzgerald
Opus One - The Mills Brothers
Superhero - Kormac
Snake Charmer - Benny Berigan
Dragons - Caravan Palace
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitzgerald
Flip Flop and Fly - Ellis Hall
Cantina Band Electro Swing Edit
Yakety Yak - The Coasters

"It don't mean a thing, if it aint got that swing!"

Blanket Fort

 I was talking to a guy friend of mine late one night over text message. Somehow it turned to how stubborn men can be, as a joke, I said that I had had enough of boys. His solution was to make a fort, out of blankets and pillows, and make a sign that said, "No guys allowed". Naturally, I took him up on the idea. Making my bed into the best fort I could imagine. This, of course, is what followed;

I've noticed that some people think life is about standing straight and tall, holding your head high, showing how mature you can truly be, and all that pristine nonsense. Even with two months before I turn eighteen, I still hold on to my light hearted child side. And I hope to keep it for many years to come. Let loose, take a running jump over a puddle, that skip step along a dirt road, playing a joke on a friend, even to hide in the bushes with your best friends. Without that, we are just another perfect face in a world that is far from perfect. The ones who show their true colors will be noticed, maybe in a bad way by some, but by many, a very good way.

UnkamenKitchen - Introduction

UnkamenKitchen recently made his first blog post. I am proud to say that I work with someone with such talent, between cooking, and what came as a surprise to me, his most entertaining writing, making everyone who reads it feel as if they are having a common conversation. I had not read more than a paragraph of his writing before this, not knowing the hidden talent he held for it. Here is the link to his first post, giving the recipe for a Fried Egg Sandwich;  UnkamenKitchen - Fried Egg Sandwich

Follow his blog for future recipes! -Stay Shiny

 

Lemon Spritzer Drink

A great, refreshing drink through the summer days!
One juiced lemon
1/4 cup of water
2 Tbs sugar
Fill the rest of the glass with spritzer water, excluding room for ice!

Forest and Moon

It's finally up! My sister and I will be selling our own handmade jewelry on Etsy, under our shop name, Forest and Moon
We have been working hard to get listings in our shop. Sabri makes jump rings for all of our projects, and I do more technical computer work. Sabri and I both design new pieces, photograph, and post on our Facebook page. Here is our shop; https://www.etsy.com/shop/ForestandMoon?ref=si_shop and our Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/forestandmoon
These a few upcoming designs!
Sabri designed this bracelet, with mint leather cord, silver plated jump rings, and a swarovski button!
I just love the smooth feel this gives to my wrist.















And these are a pair of earrings that I designed for St. Patrick's day, but I think they would be fun for any day! They show nickel stainless steel ear wires, for sensitive ears. These are done in gold plate, with emerald swarovski and a clover charm.

Lunch From The Employees

While the family was away on vacation, the employees had to cook for themselves. It was a great time, seeing everyone bringing in their favorite and best dish.








The first Day was Chili.

Next was Bibimbop, containing a fried egg, rice, then the optional toppings of ground beef, carrots, hot sauce and mushrooms.










I brought Tater Tot Casserole.

Gimbop, rice, carrots, cream cheese, bacon, sliced hot dogs, spinach, and cooked eggs all wrapped in sea weed, resembling sushi.







It was fun, but I think we were all happy to see the chef return. Especially after the day I was gone, and everyone else had to figure out how to preheat the "Darth Oven," as they now all put it. I am now considered one of the masters of the oven. Never again shall they question my experiences with the dark forces that lurk inside that oven.

Lying In The Grass

This a picture of one of my best friends, Laura. We go on walks with another friend each day we work, after lunch. Yesterday I brought my camera.
Half way around our trail, I was exhausted from trying to walk in step with both of them, so I sat down in the grass while they made fun of me. I laid my head down, and notice the dry grass against the clouded sky.
I then exclaimed to them, "Look at the this! The grass against the sky!" Laura lay down next to me, and agreed that it was rather cool.
As I looked around, at her laying beside me, I noticed something I had never considered before. I pulled out my camera, hoping that I would have two seconds to catch it, and I did.
I tried to continue, when she moved her knees, thinking that I was trying to look past her. I cried out in frustration. Laura looked at me as if I had lost my mind, wondering what went wrong.
Byron, who was laying beside her, said, "You moved. Lily doesn't like it when you move." How true this was, I get so set on taking a picture, I do not appreciate when life moves out of focus.
In fact, there are times when I am taking pictures, I do not see what's happening in the photo until it has been taken. As odd as it may seem, those are probably the best moments for me. Because I was too busy to notice then, I get to look back and see their face again, seeing what I didn't before. This has happened numerous times with children.

Forest Floor

My sister and I took our cameras out before the snow hit, these are some of the photos that I captured.

  

 I went for a lot of contrast in this photo, to bring out the magical, fantasy look. At any given moment a young unicorn may come out from behind the tree...

A hollow tree leaves space for small dragon. They must hide somewhere, just until the day the human race is ready, once again, to bask in the awe of such amazing creatures. They share many of the same traits as house cats that way.

This photo reminds me of a recent dream. A monster, created to look like the trees, and the ground. Skin of bark, wood grain showing where it had been scarred, and leaves as well as morel mushrooms protruding from it's biceps.

I love the soft sparkling light behind the dog wood branches in this picture, and the branches look so much like antlers.

I did not realize until getting this photo back from the woods, that I was photographing a small creature resting it's wings on the barbed wire fence. Just think, how often this must happen to us.