life's a beach

This is the first week since June 2012 that I have worked five days in a row.  And it is the week before I leave for vacation with the husband and his family.  I have pretty much been thinking of nothing but waking up to the waves crashing the shore and days spent with my toes in the sand.  Vacation mode has already set in. And since I haven't quite mastered the skill of apparating yet, the pictures I recently pinned will just have to do... 

{My Pinterest}

Truer words have never been written. 

{Via my Pinterest}

{Pinterest}

{Via my Pinterest}

{Pinterest}

{Pinterest}

{Via My Pinterest}

{Pinterest}

{Pinterest}

{Pinterest}

*if you know of the correct locations of any of these photos please let me know!  I couldn't find them. 

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It's Wednesday.  And that means time for sharing my 365 photos. 

Aug 10, 2013.  Day 233 of 365. 

"Steelers"

Aug 11, 2013.  Day 234 of 365. 

"1088"

Aug 12, 2013.  Day 235 of 365. 

"No Excuses"

Aug 13, 2013.  Day 236 of 365. 

"Nostalgia"

Aug 14, 2013.  Day 237 of 365. 

"Favorite Activity" 

Linking up with Shanna and Melissa! 

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.

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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!

Cali Adventures {Elizabeth Gamble Garden}

Continuing the recap from our Cali Adventures; 

Our wine purchases

M's sassy cat, Biscuit. 

This used to be where the Borders was.  Cannot believe no one has purchased it yet. 

Anyway, we got back mid morning from our adventures in Napa Valley with hopes of checking out Santa Cruz but decided against it because no one wanted to get back in the car after dropping M off at her apt for her nap/sleep before her night shift that night.  Instead we decided to check out a little more what Palo Alto had to offer so we googled (you can't tell but 'googled' is underlined in red, I cannot believe it isn't in the recognized yet) free things to do in the area and it recommended Elizabeth Gamble Gardens.  It was a short walk through the nice neighborhoods of Palo Alto.  Our only mistake was that we didn't bring a bottle of our wine we purchased the day before to drink while we sat under the trees among the beautiful and colorful flowers.  It would have been a lot cooler if we had.  Next time. 

Lemon trees everywhere. Imagine, unlimited access to lemons for my gin & sodas!

We were starting to get a little famished so we hit up The Old Pro so that the husband could watch the Penguins play and KDKA and I could have a Bloody.  YUM. 

Loved the different framed Sports Illustrated mag covers on the wall.  

We left after the 1st period.  While the husband watched the rest of the game at M's, KDKA and I hung outside on M's patio, drank wine, and played UNO after M left for her night shift.  It was rather uneventful day but was much needed after our first 2 days of adventures.  

*linking up with Tori and Melissa today!

Until next time

Senior Cowgirl Beauty {Sneak Peek}

I would love to know where the past 14 years have gone.  Because it feels just like yesterday I was baby-sitting for this girl and her younger brother on a Saturday night.  But here I am, 14 years later, photographing her Senior portraits for her.  Just crazy.  And she has certainly turned into such a beautiful young woman.  Which made my job a whole lot easier.  

Thanks for thinking of me to photograph your Senior photos, Sydney.  I had so much fun!

Stay tuned for more from the shoot in the next few weeks. 

*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