Lately

At the beginning of this year, I knew I'd have to make some radical changes. Last year was one filled with trials, lots of tears, and worst of all, a prevailing attitude of complacency.  I remember saying on January 1st, "2015 is my year!" I was right, in a sense. It was "my year" to be beaten senseless by my own irrationality. My year to embrace my own mortality. (Three funerals in six months will make you do that.) My year to lose out on sleep, opportunities and precious family time because of my career. It was a rough one. I started out this year with the same ill attitude until I snapped. Didn't take long. Maybe the second week in January? I quit my job, did some serious soul searching, and honestly, I've been better than I've been in a very long time. I've been sort of absent from this blog so I figured I'd take some time to tell you all what's been going on in my life since then.

Pinafore

Now that I work from home, it's been somewhat difficult to find a balance amidst "it all." It's so easy to lose track of time when you're not counting down to the end of your shift. It's easy to get into a rut since it's just you... by yourself... and only you to motivate yourself. It's easy to throw on the same pair of jeans and a tee every day. Lately I've been trying to get out of the house at least twice a week, not counting events, shoots, time in the studio, et al. It's not too hard to get myself to go to a coffee shop (being cooped in my tiny apartment isn't fun) but believe it or not, getting dressed for the occasion has proved kinda difficult. Have I lost my je ne sais quoi?

Comfortable In My Skin

I've struggled with my weight, both openly and in secret. It's one of those seemingly unavoidable issues, especially when you're getting your picture taken on an almost daily basis. It's kept me from being healthy in the past and recently, it's kept me from going for my goals. I've been slowly overcoming it. It's taken time and a lot of moxie but I'm finally starting to feel comfortable in my skin. Gather 'round friends, I've got a story for you.

Stay Inside (Playlist)

It's not that I don't enjoy winter, I'd just rather admire the snow and the grey skies from indoors. Under layers upon layers of blankets. With some sort of piping hot beverage. Luckily, I work from home now, which means I can do just that. It also means that my playlist-making skills have been on point. Okay, maybe not but I still made one for you guys.

Lace Up

Sunset on the Ben Franklin Bridge

I live so close to the pedestrian entrance onto the Ben Franklin Bridge. I used to go by it every day on the way home from work and think "I'm gonna do that walk someday." I did it when I was a kid and it was fantastic. It's neither difficult nor inconvenient, I guess just like anything else that's not overtly "productive," it kind of gets lost in the shuffle. At the last minute, Danielle and I decided to shoot these photos up on the bridge. We ended up accidentally watching the sunset over the Philly skyline. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Casually Clad

Some days, I have a lot to say. Others, I do not. Rather than trying to force it, here are some photos.

ICELAND - Skógafoss

So sad! I'm sharing photos from the last day of our trip today. To make the trip back to the airport a little less somber (before we all went our separate ways to different homes, countries, and time zones) we stopped at Skógafoss. Of course my wedding dress came along as well.

Photos by Violet Short.