just laugh and let it go | weekly inspiration

What song lyrics are inspiring you recently?

on the other side of fear | weekly inspiration

 

 

What words are inspiring you lately?

 

where you feel free

A Tom Petty favorite. 

spirit lead me

After our run/walk on Saturday mornings, my friend and I have been treating ourselves to warm Chai Lattes (with almond milk thank you very much) from a local juicery in town called Salud Juicery.  As soon as you walk in the door you are greeted by the friendly staff.  The decor is something straight out of a magazine or off Pinterest - nothing I would ever be able to dream up.  Hanging on the shelves containing the different Chai teas you get to choose from (!!!!) was a wood  painted pallet with this quote on it.  In that moment, as I was still catching my breath from our workout, it was just what I needed. 

Have you heard of Hillsong United?

What quotes have you stumbled upon recently that have spoken to you?

scars | weekly inspiration

When I first set my 2014 reading goal I had every intention of sharing a little review on the books I read.  Alas, it is now September and I have not shared one review.  I honestly cannot remember what I liked, or didn't like, about each book.  I mean I have a hard time remembering yesterday. 

Instead I thought I would share some of my favorite quotes from some of the books that stood out to me.  

I have not finished Little Bee yet - had to take a little break not because I don't like it, in fact I found it rather hard to put down, but because it's pretty dark at times and I found myself getting too emotionally involved in the characters' stories (and it's fiction).  Does that happen to anyone else?  Anyone? No? Bueller? 

Anyway, the quote (below) from the beginning of the book really struck a chord with me.  Accepting our imperfections and not allowing others to knock us down is something everyone needs reminded of on daily basis.

"... and I ask you right here please to agree with me that a scar is never ugly.  That is what the scar makers want us to think.  But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them.  We must see all scars as beauty.  Okay?  This will be our secret.  Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived." 

Have you read Little Bee?
What does that quote mean to you?

What are you currently reading?

Any favorite quotes that have stood out?

Linking up with Shanna and Julie today! 

when nothing goes right | weekly inspiration

photo: alyson cornman photography | quote: pinterest.

Linking up with Shanna and Julie today! 

be you | weekly inspiration

source | tumblr via my pinterest

Linking up with Shanna and Julie today!

link-up reveal

{one} I recently discovered a Starbucks card that has $100 on it.  I think my parents put it in my stocking last Christmas or something.  Talk about the best surprise.  Hello skinny cafe mochas.

{two} I had my first ever chiropractic adjustment this afternoon.  Not sure what I was scared of, but I loved it.  Feel so much better. 

{three} I picked myself up Chipotle for dinner.  I am hanging out with my little girlfriends tonight so in an attempt to make working on a Friday night, instead of sitting on my couch with a glass of wine, I now have something to look forward to.

{four} One of my photos was chosen again for #findbeautyfriday!

{five} Do you remember me mentioning that I had a link-up I wanted to start come the new year?  Well, today I would like to share my idea with you.  So many of y'all take such beautiful photos and I want to see them on the daily.  So I guess consider this a formal invitation to join me in completing a photo-a-day project.  Although I am almost done with my first year, I find myself really enjoying it and want to keep it up.  Have you ever wanted to complete a 365 photo project before?  This is your chance.  Interested?  Let me know in the comments below (or email me at acornmanphotography@gmail.com) and I will write a new post with even more details and thoughts.  I hope to hear from y'all!  

One of my favorite photos taken from the week and I saw this simple print on Pinterest and just couldn't resist. 

And last but not least, a recent find on my favorite Pandora Station, Nu, for #backthatazzup. 

What 5 things made you smile this week?

What is your favorite photo you took this week?

Interested in completing a photo-a-day project?

Linking up with April, Whitney, Jess, and Aimee today!  

until next time

[insert caption here]

Well, it's Friday and you know what that means?  Last day of holiday in Topsail, NC (pronounced Topsuhl around these parts).  Since I am not really sure what I wanted to write I thought it would appropriate for my second Happies & Crappies. 

Happies: 

I have been on vacation all week * I have woken up every morning to the sun shining through our sliding door and to the sounds of the waves crashing the shore * I finally have myself a tan * laughed ourselves silly last over a game of Cards Against Humanity * Our last day is sunny * I am getting tattoo number 2 tonight * While I am sad vacation is ending, I am looking forward to our bed. * We will be coming home to a clean house. WOOT. 

Crappies:

*Today is our last day.  You know how they say that if you lived by the beach you wouldn't probably wouldn't go to the beach.  I am pretty I am not that person. * It is a 10 hour drive home. 

While I was doing my usual Instragram browsing routine this morning I stumbled upon this quote from Invisible Children and felt it to be appropriate for how I felt seeing the moonlight glowing across the Atlantic the other night.

If you follow me on Instagram you will have already seen this photo.  This time I used my favorite Word Swag app for the quote and Rhonna Designs app for the cute little designs.  What do you think?  Pretty good quote, huh? 

And since it is Friday, a good Friday post is not complete without #backthatazzup! 

 

What are your happies & crappies for the week?

What about your "can't put into words" moments?

Linking up with Whitney, Jelli, and Stephanie today!  

Until next time

american beauty

I love quotes.  Always have. And I have been collecting them for years.  

Some are in journals.  Some are sitting in the junk drawer under Honest Tea caps. 

I have 4 favorites but since this is listed 1st on my FB page I thought I'd go with it. 

"... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude..." - American Beauty 

I think I have only seen this movie once and don't remember being 

particularly blown away by it.  I mean, it was a little depressing but 

when I did see it I was going through a rough patch, not really understanding

my place as a young 20-something year old.  

At the time I was living at home, commuting to a branch campus of Penn State 

and single.  My life was not what I imagined it would be when I 

daydreamed of being in my early 20s as a kiddo.

I don't want to ruin anything for you if you haven't seen the movie before,

just know Kevin Spacey's character (who says the above) has had 

something really shitty happen to him at the end.  But instead of letting

what happened to him piss him off, he chooses to look at the beauty 

of his life.  Sometimes it can take something really bad to happen for 

us to see how beautiful our life really is.  It is in that moment of clarity 

that we start to become grateful for what we have been given, both the 

good and the bad.   

What about you?  Have you ever felt such happiness toward something or someone

it felt like you were about to burst?

I have.  And it is truly the best feeling. 

love actually is all around

Copyright @ acornphotography

This time last week (I am typing this at 9am) people were most likely easing into their Monday morning routine.  Hating the fact that the weekend flew by yet again and it was another start to a long week.  Going about one's business completely unsuspecting of what would happen in the next few hours. 

I do not watch the news.  I used to but not anymore.  It all started when I first moved out on my own and all the different stories of robberies, fires, gun battles, deaths, etc kept me up at night.  At the time it was not much of a conscience effort, it just didn't make me feel good so I stopped watching.  And like most things, since I haven't watched in a while I don't miss it. 

My main source of "news" now comes from Facebook. So when I was scrolling through my news feed last Monday afternoon and my "friends" were talking about the bomb that went off during the Boston Marathon I was completely thrown.  Of course my heart broke as I started to learn more about what happened and hearing of the fatalities and casualties throughout the day.  How did this happen?  Who would do this?  

During the past week there have been many posts like this one wondering why there is so much more hate than love in the world.  And when awful things like what happened in Boston and West Texas happen, that is a hard thing not to wonder.  But let me tell you a little secret, my friend.  There is more love than hate in this world.  It happens every day but we tend to overlook it because of how often it happens.  The love we experience every day is not necessarily huge or significant but it is there.  

There is love when:

a complete stranger smiles at you, just acknowledging your presence 

when you hug a friend you haven't seen in a while

when you say "I love you" to your significant other, family members, children, etc before leaving in the morning

a complete stranger opens the door for you

when you make someone laugh or vice versa

when we support one another in our goals and dreams

when the cashier at your local coffee shop or grocery store says "have a good day" to you

a complete stranger says "good morning" to you

See?  There is more love than hate but since it happens so often we seem to take these small expressions of love for granted. 

So today and every day, I challenge you.  Look for love.  Share love.  I guarantee you will see it more then you might think.  I promise. 

Because "If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

Dave Matthews Band - "Everyday"

Pick me up, love! 
(Pick me up, love) 
Hey, how long, how long, how long (Everyday) 
Everyday, ah 

Pick me up, oh, from the bottom 
Up to the top, love, everyday 
Pay no mind to taunts or advances 
I take my chances on everyday 

Left to right 
Up and down, love 
I push up love, love everyday 
Jump in the mud, oh 
Get your hands dirty with 
Love it up on everyday 

All you need is 
All you want is 
All you need is love. 
All you need is 
What you want is 
All you need is love. 

Everyday 
Everyday 
Oh, Everyday... 

Pick me up, love, from the bottom 
Up onto the top, love, everyday 
Pay no mind to taunts or advances 
I'm gonna take my chances on everyday 

Left to right 
Up and up and inside out right 
Good love fight for everyday 
Jump in the mud, mud 
Get your hands filthy, love 
Give it up, love 
Everyday 

All you need is 
All you want is 
All you need is love. 
All you need is 
What you want is 
All you need is love. 
Oh... 

What you've got 
Lay it down on me 
What you've got 
Lay it down on me 

All you need is 
All you want is 
All you need is love. 
All you need is 
What you want is 
All you need is love. 

Everyday 
Everyday 
Oh, Everyday... 

Pick me up love 
Lift me up love 
Pick me up love 
Everyday... 

Up from the bottom, everyday 
Up to the top love, everyday 
Pick me up love 
Lift me up love 
Pick me up love 
Everyday

       

saw it. pinned it. dit it. // if not now then when

According to Pinterest, I pinned this 14 weeks ago. 

I even wrote a blog post about it
way back in December. 
Well, I finally decided where I wanted
to display the simple yet powerful quote.

However, when I scored the cheap cheap cheap
cheap mirror in a black frame from the dollar store
I knew exactly what I wanted to do
with it.  And if I don't say so myself,
I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. 

Source via Pinterest

Whatcha think?

Linking up with Stephanie & Katie for my second 

Saw it.  Pinned it.  Did it. 

Happy Thursday everyone!  Maybe it is your Friday, as well? I hope so:)

Change

{Source via Pinterest}

Like I have mentioned before (I think?), I quit my job of 6.5 years as a psych rehab worker back in June.  It started with tears on a Sunday night because I was dreading the next day, Monday, of work.  There weren't any deadlines I was behind on or anything.  I had just reached a point where I just had enough.  Husband, being the ever supportive and sweet man he always is, just said "why don't you quit?"  And that is what I did the very next day.  And I immediately knew it was the right decision as once I made the decision to just quit (without a back-up) I no longer dreaded going into work (well, other than to tell my coworkers who I love dearly and consider to be some of my closest friends). 

This was a decision I decided to keep from my parents.  This was a decision I needed to make for myself.  I knew they would not approve and words would be said that would be difficult to take back or easily forget.  I decided my last day of work would be the day I left for my first trip abroad to Ireland & Scotland with my sisters to visit friends for two weeks.  The three of us met in Philly and while waiting for our red-eye I shared with my sisters that I had quit my job and hoped to keep this from our parents until I was ready to share it with them.  

We had a great trip but as it goes with family, and especially siblings, spending every waking hour together and in small spaces we started to get a little annoyed with each other.  But hey, I knew that was inevitable and did not let it ruin our trip.  We parted ways in Philly again en route to our respected corners of the world.  

Little did I know that one my sister decided to take it upon herself to share with my parents that I quit my job.  And as you can imagine, my mother was not too happy that I kept this from her.  However, I did not know she knew until my old coworker called to let me know that my mom called where I used to work to see if everything was okay with me.  Apparently she was worried because the sister who decided to share this said I had changed. 

And she was right.  I did change.  And for the first time it was for me.  And me only.  For years I had been looking for excuse (go to school for Exercise Psychology in Miami) after excuse (get pregnant) after excuse (move to Tampa, FL) to leave that job.  I started to feel stuck where I was.  Like I had no direction in my life.  Looking in all the wrong places and ways to happiness.  

My parents have always and always will want what is best for me.  But only what they feel is best for me.  So this was a decision I needed to make on my own.  As much as I hated lying to my parents I am glad I made the decision I did because I am not sure I would have been brave enough to make such a leap knowing that they felt it was the wrong one.  And to this day it was the best decision, the decision to leave my job, I have ever made.

While my experience of working as a psych rehab worker toward to the end was more bitter than sweet I will always cherish what I learned over the years.  And one of the most important lessons I learned was that change, while terrifying, can be a good thing.  And just because someone (no matter how important they are to you) doesn't necessarily agree with said change, does not mean it is wrong.  If it feels right to you then it most likely is.  

And for the first time in my life I am happy.  And for no reason at all.  Just happy.  And I contribute that to making the changes I need to make for myself and to stop living how others feel I should live.  Because, after all, it is my life.  

Starting over

{Source via Pinterest}

This really speaks to me as of late.  For some of you who know me know that I hoped to start a photography business.  And some of those of you who know me even better know I am not a go getting, business minded person.  Never have been.  And I have finally decided I no longer want to try to pretend that I want to be one.

When I first started taking photos, I did it because I loved capturing a moment in time and sharing with others what I saw.  When I was first asked to take portraits of people I was beyond flattered.  Still am.  But the joy of taking a photo was no longer there not because of the people but because of the pressure I put on myself to take a perfect image.  That was when I started to lose interest in photography and to use my camera less and less.

So, I am going to start at the beginning.  Back to where I first fell in love with photography and capturing whatever moves me in that moment.  Does this mean I am not going to be photographing anymore portraits?  No.  Photography is what fuels me and I think going back to where I started, just taking pictures, is where I need to be.

So, no "I'm not giving up, I'm just starting over."

if not now then when

I am not a crafty person.  I browse Pinterest on a daily basis in search of inspiration/motivation pretending to be.  One of my goals for 2013 (assuming the world doesn't end before hand) is to seriously buckle down and really decorate our home.  I have recruited my sister-in-law and have a few ideas up my sleeve that I can't wait to start (and hopefully finish.  I have the ADD).  

I have loved seeing the different ways people have decorated their homes incorporating their favorite quotes.  I love quotes and have my favorites.  When I came across this one yesterday, I thought "PERFECT!"  No really crafty talent needed.  Just a black sharpie and frame and voila!  I already know just the place I want it to go.  I mean that is half the battle, right? 

{Source}

What, dear readers, are your favorite quotes?  Have you used any of them as decor in your home/apt?  If so, please share!  I would love to see:)  

Happy Hump (hehe I said hump) Day!  

xoxo,

Alyson

Quotes

I am such a sucker for a good quote.  And it seems that quote appears when I need it the most to encourage me to keep going, remind me there is hope and I have a lot to be grateful for when I'm just having one of those days.  Today was one of those days.  Starting to feel discouraged again and letting those no good, very bad negative thoughts cloud my thinking.  


This morning I was reading through my Twitter feed and KEV!NOU's tweet (is that what you call them) caught my attention:

Just what I needed to see/hear today.  Does anyone else find that to be true?  You read or hear something that you just really needed?

I have been a collector of quotes since I was probably 12 years old.  I have three or four diaries (yes, diaries - even ones with a key) full of quotes (and the occasional rant).  I'm hoping my mom has them somewhere in St. Louis because I would be curious to look through those now.  

Anyway, what are your favorite quotes?  I have SO many but here are two of my all time favorites:

"... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude..." 

- American Beauty - 

"I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it." 

- Harry Emerson Fosdick -

I would love to hear from you, who ever you are, on quotes and what they mean/say to you.  Look forward to hearing from you!

Happy Hump Day:):):)