365 Project - Days 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, & 89

April 25th, Day 84:

I recently had friends visit from Texas. While they were here we went on a few walks around the neighborhood. During one of our walks we stopped by this cute little apartment complex. I love seeing these older buildings. The architecture and design of the buildings always leave me breathless. I am thankful to be able to find beauty in the space around me.

I snapped this photo with my Holga BC.

April 26th, Day 85:

We went to Seattle for my friend's birthday. We took time to walk around Pike's Place and went to the Experience Music Project.
I love walking around Pike's Place. Every time I visit I have a new experience.
While walking around Seattle we stopped into a little cafe. The baristas were very sweet and the coffee: delicious. My interaction with the baristas added to the positive experience I had while in Seattle. I am glad that I am able to appreciate the everyday kindness of others.
 A simple smile from a stranger.
This is where I find joy.
I took this photo with my Holga BC.

April 27, Day 86:

I have been living in my apartment complex for over six months. From the very beginning I wanted to stop and take a photo of this laundromat. I love the alternating colors. Usually, there are at least a few people doing laundry. On this quiet morning it was empty.
I took this opportunity to finally snap a photo.
I took this photo with my iPhone.

April 28th, Day 87:

While walking or driving around town I often find things I want to photograph. One example is this little store front. I love the the rain clouds and the welcoming, "hello". I am not in need of new furniture but I now have a desire to check out this store!
I was very excited to stop and take this photo.
About once a month I have photography days with my good friend, Justin Buchanan. We walk around and take photos together. On this day we decided to walk around 6th avenue in Tacoma.
I finally took a photo.
I am very excited about capturing this store front and hope that the photos I took with my Holga BC turn out.
I took this photo with my iPhone.

April 29th, Day 88:

I am always testing out new jewelery ideas. This evening I decided to try making a beaded bracelet.
I am not a big fan of gold but I have always loved these bracelets.
It took me around an hour but I finished!
I am very excited about the way it turned out and am excited to continue to refine my technique.
If you want a bracelet, just let me know!
I took this photo with my iPhone.

April 30th, Day 89:

Today I took Lily out for a walk. She wasn't feeling very well so I decided to make it a quick walk around the block then back home for dinner. The sun was shining bright and the trees green and healthy.
I am very fortunate to have such a beautiful neighborhood. Lily loves getting out and sniffing around and I feel safe walking. Going for walks allows Lily to keep fit and also prevents me from sitting on the couch too long!
I love days like this.
I took this photo with my iPhone.

New Holga Photos!

Hello Beautiful Person.

 I thought I would share a few of my newest moments captured with my Holga bc. I used Lomography film which produced a grainy look. 

I hope you enjoy the photos!

365 Project - Days 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, & 83

April 19th, Day 78:

Muffins!
I decided to make pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and it was a wise choice on my part. These were delicious! It was my first time making muffins and I was really pleased with the results. When I decided to make muffins I thought it would be a quick and easy task. Boy was I wrong.
The major inconvenience was that I only had one pan. I realized after I made the batter that I needed at least one more pan if I wanted to be done before ten. After the first batch I went out and bought one more pan to finish up the muffins.
Overall it was a great way to spend my Friday night and I really enjoyed sharing these scrumptious treats with friends and co-workers! 

April 20th, Day 79:

I haven't been back to PLU in a very long while.
I can't believe that it has been almost two years since I graduated from that very expensive, yet rewarding, school.
I ventured back to the Parkland area to meet two dear friends, Justin and Helene, for dinner. It was a lovely time filled with good conversation and yummy food.
I find myself busy during the week getting errands and chores done. It is nice to take time to enjoy the company of friends every once in a while.

April 21st, Day 80:

I love milkshakes. That is a known fact.
During one of Fletch's breaks we went to Red Robin and were served by one of our favorite servers. It was very busy and while service was still good, it wasn't it's usual greatness. To make up for it our server brought us a milkshake to share.
This simple act not only made my night but also made me feel like a valued customer.

April 22nd, Day 81:

As you may remember, I love taking Lily for walks around the neighborhood. Tucked away on a side street we found this. A stunning mural.
It amazes me that there is so much beauty in my backyard.
What a wonderful thing.

April 23rd, Day 82:

My favorite house in my neighborhood. This house is gorgeous. The color, the style, everything. When I walk past this house I instantly feel joy. The only addition I would make is a cherry blossom tree in front. That would be beautiful!
I think it is important to appreciate the things around us. If we learn to find the beauty in everyday then we are able to find happiness in our lives. 

April 24th, Day 83:

This week my friend, Porsche, visited from Texas. We had a lovely time touring around Tacoma. We found this awesome new dig, Shake Shake Shake. It had a wonderful, retro feel. The food was delicious too! I would definitely recommend this place if you need quick munchies.

365 Project - Days 75, 76, & 77

April 16, Day 75:

How could an avocado bring such joy? I will tell you. This avocado was perfect! Something you see on a commercial. It was ripe and cut evenly. I was so amazed by it that I showed it to my co-workers. It was delicious and was a perfect compliment to my sandwich. 

I took this with my iPhone.

April 17, Day 76:

Fletch and I saw Jess Walter do a reading. Mr. Walter was entertaining and witty. The drive there and back was surprisingly very enjoyable. I love spending time with Fletch and being stuck in a car for two hours is the perfect way to do so. No distractions. Just us.

I took this with my Nikon P310.

April 18, Day 77:

Today I became an Auntie to one Jackson Scarbrough. Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of him that I took. See, he is in Florida with his mother, my sister. I hope to meet him very soon. Once I save up enough money for a ticket, and a few presents to spoil him with, I will be there to see him. I look forward to that day. In honor of Jackson, I treated myself to this. A Java Chip Frap. It was delicious and helped me stay awake for the rest of work. To you, little Jackson. A toast to good health and happiness.

Cheers.

I snapped this photo with my iPhone.

365 Project - Days 71, 72, 73, & 74:

April 12th, Day 71:

This is a photo from a long drive that Fletch and I took. I will first tell you that Fletch is a wonderful person that, so long as he is available, will do anything or go anywhere with me. At the last minute we decided to take a drive to visit a friend in need. We left immediately after work and we didn't get home until 8pm. Fletch's flexibility amazes me. If something comes up that needs to get done, he does it. He doesn't complain or whine. He smiles the whole way through and kisses me on the cheek as I drive us to our destination. I am thankful to have such a wonderful person in my life.

I took this with my iPhone.

April 13th, Day 72:

Just another photo from my neighborhood. Every time I go for a walk I notice something new. I notice another reason to be happy and to appreciate my neighborhood. Today, it was this little bird house. It reminded me of the bird house my family had in Alaska. My parents loved working in the yard. They were constantly adding new features and decorations. It brought both my mother and my father great joy. I remember my mother trying to get me to work with her in the garden. At that age I didn't like dirt so it wasn't an option. The only yard work I enjoyed was raking the leaves. I LOVED to rake leaves. I would put them all in a giant pile then jump in. When I was in that large pile with the leaves all around me I was at one with the world. It was nice to be brought back to that moment.

I took this with my iPhone.

April 14th, Day 73:

My little sweetie. Lily cuddled with me most of the day. I had some chores to get done and she sat patiently beside me, waiting for me to finish.  We watched one of my favorite shows on TV while I wore a moisturizing mask to relax. 

Lily just seems to get me. She loves me unconditionally, as long as I feed her on schedule and take her out to potty. She keeps me company when Fletch works late and she walks with me when I feel out of shape. I love my little puppy dog.

This was taken with my iPhone.

April 15th, Day 74:

One of my co-workers brought these flowers up to the front desk and it completely brightens up the space. It can get pretty quiet up there but having these flowers to stare at is a big help. These flowers, combined with the sunny weather, make me want to go for a nice long walk. Many co-workers commented on how beautiful the flowers were and that makes me very happy.
I took this with my iPhone.

365 Project - Days 68, 69, & 70:

April 9th, Day 68:

 This coffee was generously provided to me by a co-worker. I am happy to have such wonderful co-workers. They make me feel welcome and appreciated. Enjoying your environment plays a huge part in whether you actually like your job or not. I am a receptionist which isn't too terribly exciting but I enjoy it because I like the people I see daily. 

I feel very lucky to have these people in my life. I worked hard to get where I am and it was worth every struggle.
I took this with my iPhone. 

April 10th, Day 69:

Living in Washington forces you to get used to the rain. Sunny days are seldom experienced but are greatly appreciated when they occur. Fletch and I took advantage of this beautiful day by taking our dear Lily for a walk. We love the beautiful neighborhood we live in. The houses are gorgeous and the neighbors are friendly. We find great joy in walking around together as a family.
I took this with my iPhone.
  
April 11th, Day 70:

Fletch and I were walking home from the corner bar when we saw these sad little balloons in the tree. I tried to take a photo to remember it but obviously, it was too dark. This morning we stopped for a photo. I love seeing lost balloons. I always hope that maybe the child that lost it will find it again and take it home. I took this photo with my Nikon P310 and edited it with an app on my iPhone.

365 Project- Days 64, 65, 66, & 67

April 5th, Day 64:

I love that I am able to visit Fletch during his breaks at work. True, I would rather have him work the same schedule as me but hey, you can't get everything you want from life. If that is my biggest problem then I have a pretty good life. You may be asking, "Hilary, what does that have to do with this delicious photo of a milkshake?" Great question. On the 5th I visited Fletch for his dinner break and decided to treat myself to a scrumptious milkshake. Yes, it is as yummy as it looks. It was a great way to spend my evening: seeing my man and enjoying a cookie magic milkshake from Red Robin. If you haven't tried it then you are missing out and you haven't fully lived.

April 6th, Day 65:

First off, I love my friend Meagan. She is a wonderful, loving, caring, and considerate individual. I am thankful to have her in my life.

I think it is important to recognize the people in our lives and their importance. I have the most amazing friends. They support me through all of my endeavors and they even read my blog. Thanks everyone. This photo features a magnificent pretzel that I enjoyed while spending quality time with Meagan. What is the significance of this pretzel? Well, Meagan and I live a bit of a distance away from each other. Living more than 20 minutes apart makes for an easy excuse to not see each other. This isn't the case for Meagan and I. We make it a point to meet halfway, taking turns traveling to each other's homes. We value our friendship and each other, so we make it work. 

Thank you to Meagan, and all of my friends, for continuously loving me for who I am.

I love you all.

Pretty deep for a pretzel, right?

April 7th, Day 66:

Fletch and I are big movie lovers. It is one of our many shared interests. I love sitting down and enjoying a good movie with Fletch. It makes the experience even more special.
This weekend we went and saw Jurassic Park in the theater. Fletch is a little older than me and had the opportunity to see the movie when it first came out in theaters. I, on the other hand, was too young. I am very happy that we had the opportunity to share this experience together. Fletch loved this movie when he was little and now we have a shared moment of us enjoying it together.

April 8th, Day 67:

My new work gets very excited about March Madness. This is usually something I wouldn't pay much attention to but I was excited to join in the spirit of things. In honor of March Madness we had casual days and today we had a potluck! It was all very delicious and wonderful. The photo above features some of the yummy food that I enjoyed. I am thankful to have a job that I enjoy at a company that appreciates me with co-workers that are cheerful and friendly. It brings me great joy to go in to work day to day, even if it is difficult to wake up before 7am.

New Minolta XG-1 Photos

I recently purchased some tungsten colored 35mm film from the Lomography.com store. I was extremely excited to test it out and see how different colors turn out. Below I am including some photos. What do you think?

365 Project - Days 59, 60, 61, 62, & 63

March 31st, Day 59:

I recently tried out some tungsten tinted film. I love the way the sky turned out in this photo. I enjoy film photography because it is always a surprise. It brings me great joy to see how the photos turn out.

I took this with my Minolta XG1.

April 1st, Day 60:

 My Fletch and my Lily. Lily has learned to squeeze her head through the blinds to see who is coming by the apartment. Lily decided to use Fletch to prop herself up and it was an adorable photo opportunity. I am thankful to have them in my life.

I took this with my iPhone.

April 2nd, Day 61:

I have already told you about my exciting new job and my nice new co-workers. These are the items that I keep on my new desk at work. The Tardis coaster, paper cutout of Doctor Who, and the 3D glasses were all gifts from co-workers. They are fellow Doctor Who lovers and I am glad to have them around to discuss the show with. 

I took this with my iPhone.

April 3rd, Day 62:

I  am having a difficult time getting used to waking up early for work. My body isn't accustomed to waking before 7am. But seeing this view before heading to work makes it completely worth it. I love my neighborhood and I am glad that I chose to live there.

I took this photo with my iPhone.

April 4th, Day 63:

On my way to work I passed by the chalk wall in downtown Tacoma. Usually, people write things that are quite crude. I ignore the wall because it lacks substance. That is, until today. I thought this was a beautifully simple message. It brightened my day to see such kindness from strangers. I knew that I had to take a photo to remember the  moment and to share it with others.

I took this with my iPhone.