day two hundred fourteen.

happy new years!

2010 had its ups and downs but who doesn't love a fresh start?

I didn't mean for this to be the picture of the day but its so pretty and so new yearsey...but this is the second time a picture of the day has surfaced from whipt cream cupcakes.  they're the winners:)

sweet start.

not a bad way to ease into 2011.

day 213.

last official christmas celebration!

we had our celebration with my mom's family.  we go to monical's, stuff our faces, and then do gifts back at my grandma's.  as always, my cousin's little boy mason, was the highlight of our time.  he's a little entertainer and he knows it.

this picture is living proof.

about face.

what a silly boy.  he's the best.  the best part about this is that my grandma kept telling him to put his hands down.  thanks for not listening to her, mason.

212.

hello.  I'm back from a holiday hiatus.

so I had a lovely dinner this eve with my two wonderful bffs - lyss and al.  we went to kelleher's and had a nice late night meal.  as always, it was delicious.

I love that pub, its picture perfect.

literally.

pub life.

amazing.  I love the peoples faces and the coziness of it all.

two-hundo-eleven.

lucky again.

this was taken from the parking lot at red barn.

just little nuggets that are waiting to be picked next year.  just love it.  I've been meaning to go over there all year, and after I messed with this one a little...I just love how it turned out.

I am so happy when captions just come to me.  the last picture I sat here for twenty minutes before I thought of something.  sometimes its just easy breezy.  this one goes out to k stinny - furreal:)

fir friends.

I can't deal with it, I love it so much it hurts.  stinkin' nuggets!  they're so cute.

two.ten.

soooo...

basically I'm in love with this picture and can't get enough of it.  I'm having some more fun with editing lately.  lots of fun, actually.

I don't usually have too much time when I get home to go out and take pictures, especially during all this holiday madness.

so I try to take them during the day more, even if I don't think it may turn out that well, later when I mess with pictures, they usually surprise me.  sometimes it just takes seeing it in a larger format too.

this one I took while sitting on an off ramp.  no one was behind me, but its still pretty funny.  this tree was so far away, I love my freaking lens.

well here you go, its a beaut.

winter bouquet.

GAHHHHH!

two hundred nine.

this one is more christmasey than the christmas day one!

oh well.

love for both.

as I was driving from my parents to my apartment, I knew I wouldn't want to venture out again, so I took pictures along the way...from my car.  thanks to my sweet new lens, that's not that big of a hindrance anymore.

I love this picture.  although I did feel like a cop on a stake out, or a straight up creep, taking photos with a huge lens from my car.  oops.

eve of wreath.

there are few things I love more than a good silhouette picture.

day two hundred eight.

merry christmas!!!

so I know this one should be super christmasey.  but its not.  not in the typical sense, I guess.

for my family christmas day is spent being lazy, laughing a lot, playing games, and eating tons of food.  and what's food without drink?  I paired my smorgasbord with framboise, a delicious belgian concoction.  thanks to jess steffy for the recommendation:)  it should be noted that I received a telephot lens for christmas, and this photo was taken with it.  needless to say, I'm in love.

christmas cheers.

looks good, huh?  beautiful beautiful lens.

two.oh.seven.

christmas eve!!!

it was quite quite snowy out this evening.  I wouldn't have cared if it weren't for a couple of factors: 1) I wiped out on the ice, twice.  my butt still hurts.  and 2) I had to drive to lincoln.

but, regardless, it was a lovely evening.

it stared at imago dei's christmas eve service and ended with a night full of yarchos.  quite polar opposites but equally good.

this is from the service, during the candle lighting.  amazing.

all is bright.

beautiful.  thank you, dean family, for being my models.

day 206.

a quiet day at home spent with my good friend kelly.

we had a nice lunch and just chilled.

we also had a lovely few minutes to enjoy some chocolate.  this is some of the best chocolate I've ever had.  we got it the day before in chicago at this amazing specialty store called pastoral.  deeeeelicious.

choco lot.

it tasted like heaven.  I want to drive to chicago to get more.

205.

stupid days with too many good pictures!

its not fair, I want to spread them out!

anyways, I spent the day in chicago with my dear friends kelly and nick.  we had a brilliant day, full of food and fun and surprises.  it was perfect picture taking weather, melty and clear, not too cold.

it literally took me hours to narrow this down.  but sometimes after editing, I immediately know.  I love this.  I love that its sort of at an unexpected angle and the colors and elements are great.

city speak.

delish.

day two hundred four.

holidays put me behind.  so do day trips.

but this day I was preparing for a trip to chicago so I didn't get out much.  I was cleaning and preparing and had to venture about my apartment for a photo op.

I still like this, anyhow.  its one of my favorite things in my house.  I messed around with it in lightroom and I loooooovvveee it.

bottled up.

YES.

day 203.

yay for the prettyness of winter!

like seriously.  I could do outdoor pictures every day.  you might get bored.

this one is outside at night, which is one of the best times in winter.  its so pretty.  I'm sure in february, I won't be saying so, but still.

I passed this the other day and I knew I wanted to come back to take a picture.  I do that a lot.  I mentally take pictures and come back and actually take them.  I'm weird.

anyways, this is downtown peoria.  they decorate gloriously down there.  I love it.  this picture is exactly what it says it is.

what a wonderland.

blues and hues.  blurry lights.  lovely.

day two hundred two.

oh man.

this day was full of goodness.

it was our carrousel christmas party and there was just picture after picture of awesome awesome christmasey fun.

but it was also some of the girls' sweet sixteen birthdays.  and I am just so in love with this picture of birthday joy and christmas goofiness.  it's awesome.  there's lots of action going on:)

sweet wishes.

aren't they cute???  I love the colors.

two.zero.one.

sometimes I just have to limit myself to my house.  cause I'm too tired, or cold, or whatever.  but I still enjoy these pictures.  they're a little piece of me.

I had just recently wrapped up some presents and they just looked so cute under my charlie brown tree.  by the way, they totally sell those.  like specifically, charlie brown trees, at walgreens.  a'merka.

well here it is.

under the tree.

:)  yay christmas!

200!!!

yo, how exciting!  another milestone!

well today was a good day for it.  an elfey day.  I love my insane friends.  I love that they'll wear tights and sleeveless turtlenecks.  its a beautiful thing.

thank you, unknowing model.  I love this picture.

kick up your heels.

it looks straight out of an old movie.  featuring elves.

1-ninety-9.

ok so today I had to "venture out".  I had a lot to do today to get ready for some weekend parties and I kind of didn't make picture-taking a priority.

but I had to go over to carrousel to pick something up so I just messed around with my camera there.  and I actually did set this picture up but I really like it.  it's purty.

show ready.

so broadway.

198.

it snowed again today!

and it was the really pretty kind.  yet there was still some icy stuff left behind from our "blizzard".

I've always love icicles, they're beautiful and terrifying at the same time.  I always think they're gonna pierce me as I walk under them.

there were some great ones outside when I left dance.  and the snow was coming down.  it was nice.

ice breaker.

pretty cool. ha! "cool".

one-niner-seven.

so this one could either be really cool to people, or really creepy.

but I like it.

I drove past johnson's floral and it has so many different things out for display and cool lighting at night so I pulled in there and took a ton of pics.

there's a giant santa standing there, he's the winner today.  it almost looks like its really him there, hence the cool/creepy.

you better watch out.

little st. nick has cute ringlets.

day 196.

so today I didn't even know if I'd make it.

I was exhausted from the drive home the night before.  I felt a cold coming on.  didn't want to awake and go to work.

well, I did.  and there's this great area in washington that has brick roads...old school...like wonderful lincoln.  the snow was swept all across them and this one turned out AWESOME with the focus.

brick by brick.

seriously?  it looks like somewhere in florence.  delish.

day one.ninety.five.

chicago!

always a fantastic time.  went to wicked to see my cousin jason as the conductor and he tore. it. up.  the girl who played elphaba blew me away, it was unreal how good she was.  I wanna see her perform again, she was the perfect elphaba.

before the show we went to pizzaria due`.  talk about delicious.  I wasn't sure if I would enjoy dep dish but it was so so good.  before we ate, the waitress had all the pizzas stacked.  I took a picture really fast with my manual setting.  I had to tweak it and photoshop it a lot but I like its imperfections.  it looks straight out of an old italian movie or something.

pie high.

tasted like italy.

1-9-4.

so I know this one will be slightly cheesy but I don't care...its time for christmas.

there's a nativity over at dairy queen that I really think is cute and simple and sweet.  I wanted to take pictures of it and I had time to when I was driving home after work.

I really like this and the angle that its shot at...the focus of it is pretty specific and meaningful.

mary's gaze.

we've been talking about mary at church, who she was and what her story means.  but I like to think that at that moment right after giving birth, she was just like every other mom, lost in the love for her baby.

one hundred ninety-three!

some days its just not fair.

I have TOO many good picture opportunities.

it was really hard to pick this one.  but in the end, this was the most stunning.  it was a gasper.

smoke on the water.

I'll post the others soon on my website.  they're amazing.

day 192.

sorry about the delay - but there are many many posts that are yearning for comments...so I don't feel too guilty right now.

busy busy week.

this day was just pretty typical, went to work, so and so.

but on the way to an appointment I saw this amazing barn.  I really couldn't get that good a shot of it from where I was on the road, and it was freaking cold so I didn't want to get out.  but I'm really pleased with the angle and how this turned out.

winter rust.

good stuff.

191.

today I went to fresh market.

I'm gonna tell you right now, stay. away.

especially if you like these two things: food and originality.

everything looks like it was wrapped up and made especially for you.  they had an olive bar that made me salivate.

out in front they had a precious tree display that was so classic.

pine for you.

pretty tree.  and I love the letters.

day 190.

today I had a lot of appointments so I was out and about a lot.

I have actually taken pictures of this before - once was a runner up.  I love this though and I think that it looks clean and sad and beautiful.

seeking shelter.

I love how its leaning and how crisp the roof looks against the sky.  the patchy snow.  the worn out walls.  nice.

day 189!

I went to one of my favorite country spots today for an appointment.

its such a pretty spot in the winter and has lots of different fences and nature.  its really beautiful.

this is from that place and I also started using my newly purchased photoshop today.  I love adding texture to photos and I haven't messed around with photoshop since college, so it was super fun to do again.

I think this looks like a greeting card or something, its lovely.

snowy terrain.

mmmmm take it in...this is currently my desktop:)

one hundred 88.

sooooo...

this was the day I was literally locked in a building with two hundred jr. highers.  like, wow.  it was rough.  but those kids are awesome.  and this picture is proof of that.

I captured a moment if I do say so myself.  and this is just capturing the hilariousness of these girls that I love so much and it pretty much encompasses why I continue to do this even though the calendar ages me.

up all night.

these are the things people do when its three in the morning.  I hope you can appreciate the phenomenon that is wyldlife.

one eighty seven.

I'm in love with this picture.

it has a lot of movement to it yet its still life!  that amazed me.

this is a little bush outside my apartment with sweet little winter berries on it.

little buddy.

isn't it so sweet!??!  I love the colors.  I wanna blow it up but I have no more wall space.

day 1-8-6.

this was our first real downpour of snow.  it came down in buckets and it was the good kind.  that perfect, fluffy kind that looks like heaven.

this was taken out of my bedroom window. 

I tried to capture the beauty of that night and how good it felt to watch it come down.

winter scape.

like a dream.  absolutely love it.

185.

sunrise sunset, doesn't matter.  they're all gorg up in illinois.

this one was particularly pull-the-car-over worthy.

rosy range.

I love the little smoke cloud billowing and the small peeks of houses and trees.

day one hundred eighty four.

so I am continually having computer issues.  so that is where this delay is coming from.  I'm taking my computer to a mac guy tomorrow to see if he can help me properly restore my pictures.

moving on!

I went down the road and took pictures at dq.  I originally had a different subject in mind but it wasn't there at the time so I took a picture of some great lights - just as a test - and they turned out really cool!

star bright.

bundles of glowy goodness.  I love this.

day 183.

first snow!

not a whole lot came down, but it was there, and it was kinda nice.  at first I was annoyed and then I was like, "pictures!"  winter photography is gonna be fun:)

I took this in a parking lot.  me and my parking lot pictures, right?  I barely even had to edit it, maybe I'm getting better at setting up my camera.

beautiful.

frosted beginnings.

yes!  proud.

1-8-2.

one more and then I'm caught up!  I'll post today's blog later on.


it was a beautiful morning yesterday - that is before the disgusting rain started.  but when I was out for an appointment I was lucky to drive by a little pond.  it was so sweet and you could just feel the transition from autumn to winter coming, just by looking at it.

time for change.

delish.

day one hundred 81.

winter is here.

christmas is coming.

I have a little tiny charlie brown tree in my apartment.  he was itching to be photographed.  so cute and so holiday.  new descriptive word.

star of wonder.

don't you feel all warm inside.

day one eighty.

I stopped at gold's one night and the sky was brilliant.

so I obviously wanted to take pictures of the sky.  but then across from gold's there's a really sweet industrial area.  I don't know exactly what its for but I like it.  it looked brilliant with the sky and the cars driving by.

enjoy:)

speed of light.

SO crisp and luscious.

179.

so another day at home.

but I LOVE my apartment and all the little details...so here's a peek for you out-of-towners.  I'll post apartment pics soon on facebook.

home sweet home.

it's pretty cozy:)

day one hundred seventy eight.

so originally I was behind due to the holidays...but then last night something awesome happened.

I tried to install the newest version of os x and something damaged my hard drive in the process.  so today when I was consulted with a mac tech, he basically (regretfully) informed me that I had to reformat my computer.  aka wipe my hard drive.  sooooo...luckily I backed up everything only TWO days ago.  I'm in the process of restoring it now...so far so good...got my pictures up.

so let's continue on!

thanksgiving!

this post has to feature food, obviously.

my cousin amber and my aunt cindi cooked up some goooood stuff for us.  everything was delicious.  my family is awesome...cause we know how to EAT.


feast your eyes.

I'm having trouble with iphoto - its not cooperating with me and its not under my "pictures" folder in my finder.  so I gave up and dragged this photo on to my desktop so that I could post this blog.  but its late and I'm tired so I'll do the rest later.

sorry for all this drama!

1-7-7.

get ready for some deliciousness.

round three of poff 'n' cho hanging out.  sushi with chilks.

we had a nice ol' time at sushi gawa - tasted amazing as always and jess ordered something quite pretty.  I love the angle of this shot, and the color.

on a roll.

 oh yeah. 

one seventy six.

so, I know this blog will be of similar subject matter...but when the steffy's are in town...you's be drinkin' somethin'.

tonight's drink, coffee!  of course.

we had a coffee geek gathering of sorts, this particular drink was made by my buddy ty.  a nice smooth cappucino.  josh made me one too.  i was a little jittery that night.

anyways, here it is.

roasted with love.

or as jess likes to put it..."square one coffee - lovingly roasted on the premises".

check out my lovely friends coffee from lancaster, pa.  you won't be sorry...


http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/squareonecoffee
www.squareonecoffee.com

day 175!

best friend home. 

this was probably one of the most enjoyable times I've had with jess, and one of the best nights period.  we had mojitos and a million laughs, reminiscing...heart to heart...glorious time.

here is the master at work, girl knows how to make a DRANK.

pour me another.

delicious.  thanks, jess.

174.

great night.

went to "reel dialogue" for imago - this great guy in our church, blane, loooooves movies.  so he has created this great thing where we will watch movies and discuss them after.

this time we watched "seabiscuit".  so good.  cried like three times.

we meet at this great old theatre and its beautiful.

here's a taste of the details of the building.

apollo glow.

so warm and cozy.

and I'm out of laptop battery, so I'll post some more later!

day one hundred seventy-three.

thank God for betsy.

if mom hadn't told me to get some pics of my dad's huddle at his game, I wouldn't have pulled my camera out ONCE this day.  seriously?  it completely slipped my mind!  I had a near panic attack that I had ruined my 365 project!

so thanks, mom!

I'm glad though, because I love my dad and I love how amazing of a coach he is, he does it so well.

check this out, I edited it too, and this...fyi...is my dad's face most of the time when he's coaching.  yelling and spitting.  it's all for love.

big red.

:)

day 172.

mmmmmm.

get pumped about this cause it features something delicious.

my favorite thing and one of the only desserts that I actually desire, cupcakes.  me and kelly went to a new place that she hadn't taken me to before, whipt cream.

SO good.  the cake was fluffy, the frosting was airy and sweet.  and everything was adorable and awesome.

cuppa joy.

I am in love with this and it was a total surprise after I took that.  it is so bright and crisp and delicious.  check out those turkey cupcakes in the forefront.

thanks, whipt cream!

be sure to check them out!  www.whiptcream.com

171.

sorry I'm behind.

I blame Jess.  she's home and I like spending time with her while she's here.  but I'm catching up now, while sitting next to her:)

this day is very VERY important.

harry potter day!!!!

kelly and I went to the midnight release and it was amazing!!!!  please read the book before you go, I hate it when people do that.  but yes, it was beautiful and awesome and I loved it.  here's a small nod to the boy wizard, you are awesome.

potter parade.

 I love my fellow geeks.

day one seventy.

I kind of forgot to take my camera out today.  I mean, I was really busy but still.

so I walked around my apartment to take pictures of some more knick knacks and things I love.  I really like this one.  it feels pretty and feminine like day 49: my eau my.

bits and baubles.

pretty pretty pretty.  I love the black and white too, takes me back, if you know what I mean.

one sixty nine.

got lucky this day with my driving route.

was out on that glorious farmdale road and headed to bittersweet.  that's just the best street name ever, I wish I lived on bittersweet.

anyways, check out these little friends.

horsin' around.

how sweet.

168.

today I was lucky enough to go to imago to talk with dave.  I just love being at that building, it gives me warm fuzzies.  it only added to my exceptionally good monday.

anyways, while I was scoping out the place I took pictures of the instruments and equipment.

I really like this one.  album art, anyone?

strum along.

beautiful.

day one hundred sixty-seven.

this one is really cool and sort of by chance.

before wyldlife I walked around our building and took pictures of random things.  there was a ladder in a closet and the attic door overhead was open, letting some light in.

I think this looks wicked cool.  I'm pretty proud of it.  especially since I did the settings manually.

ladder up.

this blog is uploading faster!  hooray!

day 166!

so its totally not fair that I'll have these days where I get a ton of pictures that could be the picture of the day.  I wish I could save them for those more challenging days.

but today is about a little guy named oren.  my lovely friends jeff and jessey welcomed their first son into the world today and he is so so so so beautiful.  he's my buddy already, we're tight.

we were in the hospital room and it was so cute, he just stretched and crossed his little feet.  such a winner.  this picture is awesome.

first step.

what a sweet boy.  I love little obi.

day one hundred sixty-five.

what a day.

random terrific run-ins, driving and a jam session, and arriving in good ol' chicago.  miss alyssa kirk welcomed me in and we had a nice pj catch up session and just got to relax together.  I realized at some point in the late hour that I hadn't taken many pictures - so I just walked around her apartment and took some.

she just recently made some delicious homemade applesauce and I thoroughly enjoyed it:)  here's a nice little shot of that applesauce, canned up and ready to eat.

do the can can.

I like the faded color of it and how the jar lids look.