Capri Sun: Juice Dreams (16)

This is my nephew, Camren. He will be three years old next Saturday. Even though he drives me absolutely insane on pretty much a daily basis, he is my favorite person in the world. He is the smartest little boy I ever met. Don’t try to fool him; he will shoot an answer right back at you. It’s partially because he is in a house with all adults. But sometimes the things he knows even surprises us.  And he is so funny to be around; his energy level is always so high, no matter what. Although he can be a pain sometimes when I need to get things done, he is always there to tell me I love you at the end of the day. I guess that’s all that really matters.

problems? none...! (15)

Yeah, so I decided this week to be...well, you know...attractive. I was messing around towards the end of VisCom class when one my friends behind me asked if I was having fun. As a matter of fact, I really was. I love being silly in PhotoBooth because when else in life can you make your face look this funny?

where will I go...?(14)

This was the picture that inspired me to do photography. I took it on vacation in 2008 in the island called St.Kitts. It was with a point-and-shoot camera, set to the lowest possible resolution because at the time I didn't know any better, just that it gave me more shots. This is still one of my favorite pictures (when it's small). This photo gave me inspiration and courage to pursue something I never even thought I could. It broke me away from what I took I was going to be at the time and took me on a path to something better. I have met some people I never thought I would meet and have been just as inspired by their ideas, art, photography and many other things that I would not have ever known had I chosen to be a lawyer or a doctor. With all the knowledge that has been given to me by my professors and fellow art students and photographers, it's up to me to chose the path that will best fit me. I'm not sure if it's in landscaping, fashion, food or even weddings but I know as long as there's a camera in my hands, I will know I'm happy with the career path I chose.

Rockin' it (13)

DON'T LET THEM SILENCE YOU.

Girl, you are sensational, what you have to say is important. 

It is relevant.

You are undeniable, you are capable, indescribable, revolutionary.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

When I read this the other day, I literally felt empowered. Like, “I am woman, hear me roar”. I know, very cliché, but that’s alright.

 It let’s girls everywhere know that they have a place in the world and to not just let themselves go unheard. That the part they play may be small, but nevertheless, just as important. So many people in my generation feel as though if they aren’t a celebrity, they aren’t anything. But they should know they are as important and have as much impact on this world as a celebrity.

CELEBRATE YOURSELF FOR WHO YOU ARE. YOU ARE THE FUTURE.

Unless you're feeling sappy, stay away.(12)

Not exactly the best quality or a self-portrait but this really is a photo that displays part of who I am. This is my boyfriend and I. We haven't been together long but he makes me happy. With him, I can be myself no matter what and he accepts it. He might not agree, but he accepts it.  Love gives people the power to break another but it's trusting that they won't. With him, every wall and barrier I built comes down, leaving me vulnerable to anything. But I still feel safe because I know he's there. This was unusually sappy, but he's part of my story.

Ever wonder...?

Ever wonder what the day holds? You could plan it out in your head a million times what you're want to do, but if you make no moves to do it, then why bother? People talk about what they want, who they are, the things they plan to do pretty much everyday. However, I notice that the people who have nothing to say are the ones who go out and do great things. One cannot simply talk about something; they need to BE about it. Small minds can only talk about ideas, but great minds put those ideas into actions.

Set Fire to the Rain (unedited)

I let it fall, my heart,
And as it fell you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me

My hands, they're strong
But my knees were far too weak
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet

But there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew.
All the things you'd say
They were never true, never true,
And the games you play
You would always win, always win.

Turn it around.

Turn it around.

She's got a different beat,

a different sound.

I think I hear it about a hundred times a day from my boyfriend; that I'm strange. I always laugh at him and say I'm not, my reality is just different from his. It’s so boring to just keep life moving as it is. To accept reality is one thing, but to make it more interesting is another. If we keep moving through life only accepting what’s put in front of us, what’s the point? So don’t just accept that things as they are; if you want change, go out and change it! Make things different, BE different. How terribly boring would things be if we were all the same?

I reserve...

the right to be me.

I took this picture a while ago actually but when I saw it again, it made me remember the reason I took it. An old friend of mine, who is going to school for theology, seems to be one of the most judgmental people I’ve ever met. And I never remembered him being that way until recently. So when I bring up my own opinions, he always has something judgmental to say. For those of you that don’t know theology is the study of religion, which means he’s going to school to be involved in the church in some way.  So this strikes me as odd. How can you listen to and help people if all you do is judge? It doesn’t make sense. So, whenever I feel like someone will think I’m crazy for the things I do, I think of him. Because no matter what judgment he or anyone else passes, I will remember that I am myself and no one can take that from me. At the end of the day, only God can judge.

how can you tell....?

Can you really tell what’s going on in my head? Are you taking random guesses based on my facial expression? Or perhaps even the look in my eyes? Wouldn’t it be nice to know, to figure someone’s whole mindset, their whole being only based on the look on their face? Too bad no one ever could. A face could tell you nothing, everything or simply only what it wants you to know. A smile could hide pain or a look of calmness could hide the chaos that invades in head. But can you really tell? Expressions are what we let people see and determine as how we feel…only we can give the answers to the questions  that people are guessing.

Strong.

I don’t ever want to be that girl again. You know, the girl who always is upset or always has a problem that stems from the same thing…a BOY. I don’t want to cry all night and wake up in the morning and pretend everything is okay. I don’t want to have to tell people nothing is wrong when everything is the real answer to that question. I don’t want to have to force myself into believing in a love that no longer exists. I don’t want to hide from the truth knowing that my misery lies within. I don’t want to live in fear, I want to live fearlessly. I want to experience a love like in the movies, even if doesn’t exist. I want to make my own happiness instead of depending on someone else to bring it to me. I want to know that when I wake in the morning, I’m not just going to tell myself I’m okay; I will be okay. I want to be strong…I will be strong.

Yeah, it's classy.

"Nice dalmatian shirt," says the boy that sits across from me in lab, with a smirk on his face.

I reply calmly, "Thanks, I know, it's pretty classy."

It was from his remark that made me wonder why people are so concerned with others style and fashion choices, but even on a broader spectrum, with other people in general. People go through life every day judging others and trying to dictate their lives. But why? Why is it so important that everyone have their input on what other people do? If it doesn’t directly affect you, than leave it alone. Yet I feel people make it a duty to be concerned with others but only to make them feel small. What happened to the age old saying, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all…well, except in art class. Critique is essential! 

....ahhhh!

"Patience is the greatest of all virtues." -Cato the Elder

That is indeed true. And I learn this more and more every day. Between working a full time job and going to school full time, sometimes, I feel like I don’t even have the time to breathe. This whole week and weekend that went by gave me some serious focus on what needs to be important to me and what can wait. I really need to start putting myself first because at the end of the day, that’s the reason I’m even doing any of this. Of course, I am in school for my mother because at all costs I do want to make her proud. But the reason I’m working so hard for my good grades this semester is for myself, so I can say that I was able to do this because I wanted these grades and I  know my own ability to perform well. Time management and the patience to handle what is thrown at me…it will help me through the next fourteen weeks.