#capturingmymoments + Nov wishes

Happy November!  November 1 starts the beginning of one of my favorite times of the year.  I am a Thanksgiving and Christmas kinda gal.  I just love the anticipation of it all.  

Guess what today also is.  The last day the husband is in his 20s.  We are just an old couple in their 30s over here.  We are having a party at our house tomorrow.  It's not a birthday party because husband doesn't want to make a big deal out of his 30th but I do, so this is how we compromised.  I love entertaining friends. 

And since it is a new month, I need to make some new goals for myself.  I have been slacking a lot recently.  I haven't been eating well and feeling really scatter brained lately.  I am hoping that if I put them out to the blog universe I will be better about holding myself accountable. 

1) eat better (isn't that always the case?) - limit sugar and carbs, no gluten. 

2) workout - get moving at least 3x a week.

3) blog more - schedule my posts in advance, look into sponsoring other blogs 

4) be more productive - complete projects, finish decorating the dining room, hang up photos

5) lose weight - keep track of what I eat in MFP

It is also the first day of the month, so if you are new around here, today is when I share my favorites from my #capturingmymoments hashtag project I have on Instagram.  

1 // @tariq105 2 // @bzlaforte 3 // @bustinjustin1986 4 // @mrsfence 5 // @mskoka_nofear 6 // @_kellyscott 7 // @mbbrantley  8 // @diesel_girl_18 9 // @kateholquist

I love checking #capturingmymoments out on Instagram and look forward to seeing what everyone captures.  So if you are on instagram, I hope to see your photos (just make sure if you are set to private make sure you follow me.  I won't be able to see your photos if you are set to private and we don't follow each other.).  Thanks again to everyone who participated!  I appreciate it:)

What are you up to this weekend?

Will I be seeing your moments on Instagram?

Linking up with Whitney today!  

until next time

Capturing My Moments {+ a huge favor}

Hope you enjoyed your last unofficial weekend of Summer (depressing, right?) and are having a lovely Labor Day!  I am gonna go ahead and be cliche and say, "wow, I can't believe it's September!  Where did the Summer go?"  

Our weekend was pretty crazy.  We left the house once to watch the Pirates play the Cards and have a few drinks.  We were home by 1.  Like I said, crazy.  

Anyway, around these parts, a new month brings a recap of my favorites from my #capturingmymoments hashtag project over on Instagram.  If you are new around here, here is the story behind it.  

@mrsfence*@_kellyscott*@andiepants15*@ctomana*@bzlaforte*@bustinjunstin1986*@jennycorn11*@diesel_girl_18*@jennymcelle*@jenminn

Again, I am blown away by everyone's perspective of their moments.  And like always, keep up the great work and do follow your fellow Instagrammers.  The more the merrier, right?

I do have one teeny tiny favor to ask of you though.  I would really really really like for #capturingmymoments to reach 1000 photos by 2014.  As of right now, we are at 615.  I think it is possible, I just need your help to spread the word and keep up the hashtagging.  Danke!

How did you spend your long weekend?

Are you as sad as I am that Summer is practically over?

And what are your favorite moments from the month of August?

Linking up with Molly, Bre, and Sami (a day late) today!

until next time

the sweetest thing

So, the other day I took a sweet little 4 year old boy on an adventure.  This was a special kind of adventure.  The little guy was recently given a goldfish won by a friend of his at the fair they both went to last week.  He was so excited that I hardly had time to say good morning before he was dragging me into show me his prize Tuesday morning.  Mommy was honest with him and told him that the chances of the fish surviving more than two days were not high so she gave her little guy a choice.  He could take the chance the fish would live or let it go.  He chose to let it go.

You see, this little guy is already familiar with death. He lost his Great Grandfather and family pet within months of one another. He knows what it feels like when someone or something he loves is no longer around.

So, even though he knew he would miss having a goldfish to show off, he selflessly let it go in hopes it will "find family and maybe make new friends." His words not mine.  If that doesn't melt your heart, I am not sure what else would.  

After saying good-bye to the goldfish we stayed a little while longer so little guy could make sure the fish made it okay (and do boy things like throw rocks into the creek).  I checked a few times and didn't see anything gold floating belly up so I take that as a good sign.  Little guy wants to come back to this creek to check up on him.  Seriously, the sweetest thing.

-------

This post was meant for Friday but once I got home I had no motivation to do much but watch TV and drink my gin & soda.  Sorry.  And I think I am going to start sharing my 365 on Wednesdays.  I have noticed my motivation is pretty much gone to shit once the weekend and gin & sodas hit.  So, until Wednesday... 

Aug 1, 2013.  Day 224 of 365. 

"Car Wash"

Aug 2, 2013.  Day 225 of 365. 

"Climber" 

Aug 3, 2013.  Day 226 of 365. 

"Drink"

Aug 4, 2013.  Day 227 of 365.

"Sleepy Jack" 

 Aug 5, 2013.  Day 228 of 365.

"Unruly"

 Aug 6, 2013.  Day 229 of 365.

"Mr. Fish"

 Aug 7, 2013.  Day 230 of 365.

"Rock Love" 

  Aug 8, 2013.  Day 231 of 365.

"Pre-Storm Ambiance" 

 Aug 9, 2013.  Day 232 of 365.

"Sister Toes" 

Linking up with Tarole today!

everybody yeah, rock your body yeah...

Alyson's back, yeah.
Welp, July has come and gone. As did my month off from blogging.  Did I miss it?  Yes.  Did I love having more time?  Yes.  Will I do this again?  Most likely.  Did I do all I wanted to accomplish?  Absolutely not.  I made the silly assumption that I would have more time to do what I wanted to do but I hardly had any Alyson time, let alone any time to do anything I had planned.  Girl needs some her time.  But I am not complaining though because it was packed full of great memories celebrating 3 years of marriage with the husband at our favorite Mexican place in Pgh followed by a long weekend in Erie, spending more time with my favorite 4 & 1 year olds, celebrating a friend who is about to come a Mrs, and spending time with my parents in St. Louis.  So I cannot be that upset:)

I wasn't sure how I wanted to begin my first blog post back after a month off but since I have been wanting to post my bucket list somewhere I figured why the hell not.  Do I think you really care?  Not necessarily.  But being the nosy person I am, I have always enjoyed reading others' and have even gotten some ideas.  So here it goes (in no specific order).

*walk across the country

*visit all 50 states (been to AL, MS, TN, GA, FL, NC, PA, NY, IL, OH, HI, CA, CO, NY, MO, AR, and OR).

*hike the PCT (I mean have you read Wild yet?) and/or the Appalachian Trail.   

*explore Europe

*go to the Middle East

*visit all of the continents

*see the Grand Canyon

*see the Northern Lights

*speak another language

*live in another country

*hike Machu Picchu

*have children

*nanny/opare in a foreign country

*become fluent in American Sign Language

*complete a 13.1 under 2 hours. 

*complete a 26.2

*see London at Christmas

*wine and champagne taste in the countryside of France

*write a book

*inpsire

*sell my photos successfully

*grow this blog

*ride in a hot air balloon

*witness a hot air balloon race

*learn html

*master manual mode

*learn how to edit in Photoshop

*drive up the east coast in the Fall

*photograph Maine lighthouses

*attend a musical festival

*forgive

*see Dave Matthews Band perform at Redrocks

*see icebergs

*renew our vows on a beach surrounded by both sides of the family

*complete a triathlon

*bike from Pgh to DC. 

*fill up passport

*go to Iceland

*make more time for girl time.

*complete a 365 photography project

*couch surf or house swap

*read camera manual

*increase vocabulary

*understand off camera flash photography

*go scuba diving

*bungy jump

*go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and/or Mobile, AL (the original). 

*hitch-hike up the West coast

*stop comparing

*go to Greece

*grow #capturingmymoments on Instagram

*announce and have a monthly link-up on the blog. 

I am hoping to cross off some of these within the next year.  And I am sure I will be adding some along the way as well:)  Do you have a bucket list?  What's on it?  Anything similar? 

Before I leave you though, I'd like to share my favorite July #capturingmymoments from Instagram with all of you.  As always, thanks to all of you who participated!  Keep up the great work!  I am continually blown away by the moments y'all capture!

*@butinjustin1986*@bzlaforte*@diesel_girl_18*@lizbethjoy*@_kellyscott*@andiepants15*@mrsfench*@jennycorn11*@jessd412*@ctomana*@kateholquist

   

Thanks for sticking around over the past month.  I did get a chance to write down some ideas for blog posts so keep a look out for those.  In the mean time, I must get back to posting my 365 project (I am so beyond on uploading these it's not even funny, ya'll) and Cali Adventures.  Hope everyone had a great July!  I am glad to be back and hope to share some ideas I have with y'all in the near future!

Until next time

time off

Oh hey, July!  Where did you come from?  I have one favor to ask of you.  Please, pretty pretty please, do not go as fast as June went.  Much appreciated.  Thanks!

Anyway, I know I haven't been posting my recap of our California adventures like I said I would.  I haven't been in the mood.  Plain and simple.  Please do not take offense to that.  I haven't been in the mood for much these days except for reading, chillin' poolside, and drinking a gin & soda.  Preferably all three at the same time if I can help it.  

With that being said, I would like to take the month of July off from blogging.  Don't worry, I'll still be stalking all of you in the mean time.  I just need to take some time off to collect my thought, perhaps figure out where I want this here blog to go and focus more on my photography and re-open my Etsy shop.  I have a lot to look forward to this month and hopefully re-cap those moments along with my Cali adventure posts when I return in August.  I just didn't want to disappear on y'all.  I mean I would really hate to end up one of those missing persons signs or news segments when all I needed was some time off.  Because we obviously know y'all all would so very worried hehe. I hope you do decide to stick around and not give up on me quite yet.  I really have been surprised by how much I have enjoyed blogging on the regular for the last 6 months so I have every intention of returning.  Hopefully with a lot more to say and photos for your viewing pleasure.  

But before you go, check out June's #capturingmymoments Instagram photos.  These are some pretty talented folks, y'all. 

@ctomana * @principessaxox * @jennycorn11 * @diesel_girl_18 * @bustinjustin1986 * @andiepants15 * @bzlaforte * @_kellyscott * @kateholquist * @mrsfence. 

Be sure to check those folks out and follow if you'd like.  Who doesn't like more friends?  And as you may notice, in my tired/gin & soda induced haze I didn't add my correct IG handle in the collage above.  There is no man, just @acornphotography.  So if you want to follow along with this project and participate as well please be sure to follow me, I'll follow back as long as you aren't spam, so I can see your photos.  Spread the word too!  The more the merrier, right?  

Thanks to everyone who participates in this little project of mine!  I really do look forward to checking out what you are up through your eyes.  It's one of my favorite things about photography, being able to capture a second of time and being able to share it with others:)

But if you miss me that much feel free to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or here, and Flickr for my 365 photos:) 

Until August

letting go {and #capturingmymoments}

I am not sure why, but I have had an influx of GFC followers

this week, but I love love LOVE it!  Hello to you, my new

follower:)  Welcome!  And thanks so much for staying.

Happy Friday to you!  Today is the last day of May, which means 

today is the last day for topics from Story of My Life.  Also, for those 

of you who are new around here, sharing my #capturingmymoments

hashtag project over on Instagram.  I'll get to that a little later though.

Like I said, today is the last day for blogging everyday in May

from Story of My Life.  While I did not participate in all of the prompts, 

I did enjoy having it there as an excuse to blog more.  I really had fun
with this and I have no idea what I am going to blog about in June (well at 

least until I get back from our trip to Palo Alto).  

Anywayyyyyy, yesterday's prompt was to respond to "Letting go."

I really liked the idea of this one since I have been doing a lot of

that recently: 

I have let go of the idea that my parents will always approve 

of the decisions I make in my life.  I have to live my life, for me.

No one else.  My parents have raised me to the person I am today.

While I would like to think they are proud, I cannot let worrying 

about what they think get in the way of living. 

I have let go of the person who I thought I was supposed to be so 

I can become the person I am meant to be.  Sound familiar?

It is the new-ish motto of this blog (and my life).  When I was younger I

had my life planned out completely different than it has so far turned out.
So instead of  being disappointed by that I am choosing to love the life I have
because if I am really honest with myself, I am, for the first time in
my life, actually happy and content.  

Now, it's time to share some of my favorites from the hashtag project

on Instagram.  New around these parts? Here is the what the project is

all about.  

Thanks to everyone who participated:)  I was excited to see some

new names on there!  Please spread the word.  Also, if your account

is private make sure you follow me (I'll follow back!) so you show

up in the #capturingmymoments feed.  

And yes, I do realize I did not share my 365 last week.  I was going

to today, but husband just got home and quite frankly, I am starting to sweat 

my tush off so I am signing off until tomorrow.  

Today's link-ups:

      

April recap, goals + Capturing My Moments {a possible link-up?}

If you are sick of this, sorry? If not, you're welcome. 

But I have to admit, I didn't get it until I sang this song in my head. 

Anyway, Happy May! 

I know I am not alone in thinking "wow where did April go?" 

But I am ready for Cinco de Mayo May and more consistent warm weather. 

To recap this month: 

*This country experienced a lot of sadness.  But it does all of us good to remember, in the face of tragedy, that good and love always prevails. 

*Shared some pretty good tunes, if I don't say so myself, here and here. 

*I also shared some goals I had for this month. I accepted this girl's challenge to complete 50 miles in 30 days.  And since that didn't seem like enough, I decided to try the Squat Challenge the House of Glass shared.

As for those goals, I completed a total of 50.54 miles.  I did not run them all as I had originally intended but do plan on continuing this.  However, this time I hope to run 30 of the 50 and/or walk 20.  We shall see.

As for the squats, I did pretty good but did not complete the entire challenge.  The most I did was 220 squats.  While I am a little disappointed with myself for not doing it every day, I am proud to say that I didn't just quit but continued it anyway.  And I definitely hope to continue this one as well.

Way back in January, I started out the new year with 5 goals and even though I haven't shared them consistently like I was hoping, I am pretty happy to report that I am doing pretty good.  The husband and I are saving, I have taken one photo everyday since I started in Dec (I have just put off sharing because we need to get a new hard drive because our current one is out of space.  Who runs out of a terabyte of space?  This girl. #photographerproblems), and I have been relatively healthy

So this month, my goals are:
 *to be healthy and continue to only allow myself to have 15-20 grams of a sugar a day.  If I want to actually see the results from all these squats and all the sit-ups I plan on doing, sugar has to be cut back.  Ain't gonna happen otherwise.  So far it hasn't been as hard as one would think.  I also want to give this a go plus some ab work, in addition to the squat challenge and 50 miles in 30 days.. My upper body is weak as hell and have absolutely no definition in my arms.  Besides, how bad ass would be it to be able to say I can 100+  push-ups?
*Blog more often.  At least 3 days a week but hopefully more.  I would also like to start to figure out where I fit in in this blogging world.  Currently, I guess I'd say this is a lifestyle blog but I am not sure how I feel about that category.  Hopefully I'll find my voice.  I am still really enjoying it though:)
*Continue to save save save saaaaave.  If we have been able to save as much as we have in as short of time as we have without having to cut back as much as I thought we would, this whole savings business isn't so bad.
*Be better about spreading the word of my Instagram hashtag #capturingmymoments project.  I love what I have seen so far and so grateful to those who have shared from the beginning but I would really like to see this grow.  Any advice would be great!  I am not much of a sales minded person so I am really at a loss. I would really love this to be a possible link-up.

So with that, here are a few of my favorite April moments:  

@acornphotography

How I look after realizing I locked myself out of my car in the cold after a 3 mile run. 

@diesel_girl_18

"Clearwater Beach"

{How many of you are dreaming of your toes in the sand, sun shining, and the sound of the water crashing the shore?}

@ctomana

"Strike a pose"

{Stella showing off her best side:)}

@jennycorn11

"The gangs all here..."

{Looks like a fun night with great friends}

@bzlaforte

{This looks delicious!}

@mbbrantley
{Converse American Flag}

@bustinjustin1986

"Getting his belly rubbed"

{How happy does this pup looks?}

@kkh825

{Beautiful family on a gorgeous Spring afternoon.}

Thanks to everyone who continues to participate in my little project:)  It is appreciated more than you know!
And to those of you are new, welcome and thanks!

I am liking what I am seeing so far from May!
I hope this is a good predictor of what is to come:)

 

easter sunday // #capturingmymoments

Happy Easter everyone!  

What does your Easter Sunday look like?

What are your traditions?

Husband and I will head over to 

his parents a little later to search for our Easter 

baskets quickly followed by stuffing

our faces with chocolate (at least I will be)

and ham.  

Well, today is the end of the month

so that means I am going to share with you

my favorite #capturingmymoments 

photos from Instagram from the month

of March.  In case you are new around here,

the idea behind this project is to use the

hashtag above on Instagram to share your

moments with the IG community.  I hope to

see your moments in April!

Without further adieu, 

@bzlaforte - "Home made Alfredo sauce"

{my good friend, Bryan is an amazing cook and is always experimenting} 

@andiepants - "Taking advantage of a beautiful windy day"

{I wish I had places like this to go to a regular basis.  Isn't it gorgeous?}

@bustinjustin1986 - "fishing with my dad"

{What a special thing to be able to with you father.  Looks like a beautiful day too}

@ctomana - cute little family

{good friend's sweet little Cocker Spaniel.  And check out her bling!}

@diesel_girl_18 - "Smiling is my favorite"

{Looks like a fun time with girlfriends.  Laughter and girlfriends always does the body good}

@dontcallmejanet - "Sitting in the Park"

{One of the rare nice days we had this month.  What a great way to spend the afternoon.} 

@jennycorn11 - "Ziva lovin"

{SIL stealing kisses from family's foxy golden retriever, Ziva}

@juliewootv - moments 

{Gorgeous capture of lit candles}

@kel_dub - "Missing you"

{Reunited family}

@kkh825 - "Happy Birthday"

{Gorgeous family out to celebrate a birthday}

@krissythemcmc - "When small things are the big things"

{Sweet capture of a little hand.  Love moments like this.}

@sydthekid15143 - "Sunshine with Murphy"

{Fun moment with an adorable pup while out enjoying some sunshine}

@jennymcelle - "Up!"

{Flower buds and blue skies.  What's not to love?}

Thanks to everyone who participated.  This

seems to be growing a little.  Last month I

only shared 9, this month I had 13.  Please

keep it up!  Be sure to follow everyone and 

share with your friends.  I look forward

to checking out everyone's moments throughout 

the day.  

***And please remember, if you do not want me to share your photos on my blog just let me know.  However, I would still love for you to share your moments using the hashtag though***