the day in shades of grey

Yesterday afternoon was begging to spent with coffee in hand, Pandora on, editing photos (and procrastinating a certain Civil War essay).  I decided to go through some forgotten files from our trip to Destin last October, and man did those files deliver.  I love seeing older photos.  Because to be honest, looking back and smiling and remember is a pretty huge part of the reason I take pictures.  They get better with age, and the nostalgia factor is always a good thing.

Oh, and the black-and-white-loving-monster in me needed feeding too.  Beach photos without colour are pretty much the best.

One of the days of our trip in (mostly b+w) photos :

it started by packing up and spending a few minutes at a downtown beach.

 and then we went parasailing.  which was both a dream-come-true and exceedingly frightening experience, as I was five hundred feet above jelly fish infested water, connected to a far away boat by this little cord, with a brother who likes to cheerfully come up with worst case scenarios.  but the view was lovely, and I would probably do it again some day.

that would be us.

then we had a delightful lunch.

and also a quick starbucks run.

before heading back to the house and watching and photographing another sunset on the beach.

put simply, it was lovely.

ever been parasailing?  do tell!

-hannah

ps - annnd, two posts in a week?  I know.  I'm thinking this deserves to be celebrated.

february favorites

some things that I've been hearting this month.

i. pinterest.
I finally started using my Pinterest account, guys.  And there's no turning back.  It's full to bursting with such good and inspiring things.  Oh, and typography is wonderful.  The end.

source: etsy.com via hannah on pinterest

source: http://perricatherine.tumblr.com via hannah on pinterest

source: http://dreamyourselfalong.tumblr.com via hannah on pinterest

 (see my pinboards here)

ii. making smoothies.

Because that's the only sensible thing to do when it's about 20 degrees, right?  Thought so.  Basically, I've found myself gravitating towards our ice cream/milk/yogurt supply recently.  It's been delightful.

iii. downton abbey.
This would be my latest little viewing obsession.  I first started watching the show about a week and a half ago.  Season 2, actually, before I saw Season 1.  But that's irrelevant.  Long story short, I've seen both seasons now and am kinda in love.  With the era, the house, the music, the people, the stories.  To the point that when I watched the last of the second season last Sunday, I cried through most of it.  Bates and Anna, guys?  Oh my gosh.  Sob.

Okay, I'll stop now.

iv. our crazy weather.
As is typical for our area, it's been snowing one day and beautifully warm and humid the next.  And because I can never decide what type of weather I like best, it's been enjoyable.

 Of course I chose the coldest day of winter to make the sis come out with me on an impromptu photo session.

v. and, some blog favorites.

--  a week in paint chips by abbey (on the ever-lovely fernweh; gorgeous)
--  love ever after by lauren fleishman (this is all kinds of adorable...)
--  my life in pins by hannah (it's about pinterest and it's lovely.)
--  enjoy project | making gift boxes by kristen (crazy-creative and darling)

what have you been hearting as of late?

-hannah
xo

hello, twenty twelve.

My friend Rose and I are sharing a chair, each of us perched on an armrest, sparkling apple juice in hand.  The basement is crowded with lovely families, and there is laughter and chatting and just a bit of apprehension.  From the little ones there are squeals of excitement and some noisemakers being blown.  We're watching as the TV counts down the seconds to 2012.

And then is comes.  A surge of fresh, new, lovely.  A scribbled, maybe crumpled page is turned to reveal a blissfully blank new one.  Blank and yet filled with endless possibilities.  I clink my class with Rose's and we drink our juice and hug, just like we told ourselves we'd do.  And then we proceed to do it with everyone else.  It's loud and a little crowded and everyone is smiling.  I realize that I wouldn't want to welcome twenty-twelve any other way.  Because New Years traditions are the best.

just dance on wii.  and much laughter.

oh, and i met this baby.  love.

So of course the whole new beginnings and fresh possibilities aura makes my list-making-heart happy.  But I've decided to do my resolutions a little differently this year.  Since, I must admit, I have never actually followed through with any of the resolutions I've made for myself in the past, I'm bringing things down to a monthly level.  At the beginning of each month I'm going to list a few things that I want to accomplish, maybe building off of past lists, maybe new.  Seems a little more...manageable, right?

So for January of twenty-twelve, I'm going to:

-create a daily school schedule for myself that is successful.

-read for 30 minutes everyone morning and night.

-take seven photos that i'm proud of each week. and take advantage of golden hour.

-stretch as much as I can.

-start keeping a diary (yes, again. i am determined.)

-be thankful. every day.

January is going to be so much busier for me than usual.  This is generally the time of year when I have nothing on my schedule but school work, it's too cold, and I'm constantly dreaming of being in Europe or at a beach (oh hey, a European beach works too). But what with various things on the weekends, our co-op play coming up, and then my very first time going on the Pro-Life Walk in DC, I'm thinking I'll be pretty occupied.  And that makes me excited.

What are your exciting plans for this January, or for 2012 in general?  Do tell!

love,
hannah