10 things you might not know about me...

 
{LC-A, Kodak Portra NC 160 film}

I've been slowly reading through Susannah Conway's book, This I Know, savouring it, thinking over it and really, really enjoying it. This I Know is not a book to be rushed.

In one part of her book Susanah talks about blogging and sets a little challenge to share 10 things about yourself that people don't know, so I decided to just do it. I've been so distracted these past couple of weeks that I haven't felt as in touch with the blogging community as I would like to be, so maybe you could share something about yourself too below? Let's reconnect!

Here goes...

1. I've been in a relationship now for nearly 10 years and it still amazes me.

2. I'm an extrovert. I've never thought about it seriously before but whilst reading Angie's post it just made sense that I was, I talk a lot and to anyone and I am so easily distracted (heh). In many ways its nice to know that I'm not completely crazy but I also know that it doesn't really define me, it just explains (a lot of) the things that I've had to learn to work around and also why I totally don't get some people.

3. I thought that when my little sister got married I would be less worried about her, it turns out that now I just have a little brother (in law) to worry about too.
(Has anyone read the part in Susannah's book about being a big sister? I cried.)

4. In writing that point above, I should probably write that I worry too much.
 and...some nights I'm so worried/anxious I can't sleep.

5. I am the pickiest person when it comes to music, Thomas has almost given up recommending music for me - though I personally think it is this that kept him on his toes for the past 10 years, hehe.

6. We watch a lot of TV and films - there is so much good TV at the moment, we're currently catching up on Dexter, Boardwalk Empire, Parks and Recreation and we've just finished watching the whole of Seinfeld for the second time through and about to start again.

7. I loooove classic old films and we've been slowly watching more and more, I've only just seen Casablanca but it was so good - next on our list is To Kill a Mockingbird and I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

8. The healthier you eat, the harder it seems to lose weight.... I'm 100% sure that my body is in super suvival mode and stores any and all food that I eat, just in case... It is incredibly frustrating and slow for me to feel any progress when I'm trying to be good and although I'm not unhappy with how I look, I do want to be trimmer, sometimes I just wish I didn't have to watch every single thing that I eat, all the time... and that sugar free things actually tasted nice.

9. Putting my new site together has made it harder for me to blog here at the moment - I think my heart has already moved home, even if its not official yet... its also made me realise how much I love blogging and how much I've done with it in the past three years. I've seen posts about blogging changing a lot and it has... but I've changed too and I still want to be here and I hope that you do too :)

10. One of my favourite things is hanging the washing out in the garden. Isn't that sad. But it means that one, I have a garden(!) and two, its not raining and even more, its sunny. 

Thomas laughed at me for putting this photo up in our house but I really like it as it reminds me of the little things to be grateful for...

p.s. the photo is totally unrelated, but I like it :)

4 Simple Goals for 2012

{Image from A Beautiful Mess}

I first saw about Elsie's 4 Simple Goals post over on Diana's blog and I first put my own together last August... so here are my 4 simple goals for 2012.

1. Get fitter and healthier and stay that way.

2. Stop worrying so much.

3. Take too many photos.
 (inspired by my friend Anna)

4. Be happy.

Don't try and be happy, just be happy.

It really is a very simple list, lets hope I can do it! 

Here's to 2012.

Here's to happiness (with photos)

I've slowly been going through my old blog posts and resizing/tagging them all and I realised it's been well over a year since I put together a 'Here's to Happiness' post (inspired by the lovely Naomi, way back in April 2009! Did you ever write one?)

So here is my latest list... with photos (of course...)


1. Happy post - my new perfect custom ordered brooches from Much Love Illy and a lovely unexpected package from Elizabeth at Rosalilium.


2. New cameras to add to my collection.
I will update my collection image soon promise.


3. Visitors in our little garden
(Note. Thomas took the picture of the squirrel with the posh digital camera,
I just edited it with Vignette to suit...)


4. Yellow yellow yellow!! :)


5. The cutest cat... on a trampoline... enough said.


6. Wearing skirts and dresses
(see also tea...)


7. Taking pictures of pretty horses.


8. Nails that match flowers.


9. Amazing window shopping finds
(I really wish my sunglasses had fit in the pug case)

10. More fun (slightly pixely, oops) jumping photos.
(Also my best friends and that rather amazing vintage skirt I'm wearing... I love it)


What's making you happy right now? Aren't these just the best lists!


p.s. You'd think from these posts that I wear skirts/dresses a lot - I really don't, I love my jeans and it takes a lot of encouragement from Thomas/friends to stop me covering my legs, which is why these photos make me happy.

Top Bloggers Who Use Analogue Cameras... Part 1

This list was originally put together as a Lomography article (which you may have already seen here) but I love all of these blogs so I think it's only fair I share them here too!!

So here you are, in no particular order, is the first part of my favourite bloggers that use analogue cameras list...

A Polaroid magician, DJ and retronaut, Cesar’s blog is all about beautiful and inspiring photography, great music playlists, and a gnome with the ability to make you smile whenever he appears on your screen. That’s pretty much everything that you want from a blog.

Susannah has an amazing blog which expresses her passion for photography, writing and her unravelling e-courses. A self confessed Polaroid addict and very proud aunt, Susannah’s blog is the perfect balance of creativity, wisdom and instant photography.

Although Katrina’s blog is predominately a resource for web graphics, blog bling and tutorials, Pugly Pixel is also home to Katrina’s personal snapshots, which include her amazing Diana Mini photos.

Written by the lovely Anna, Much Love is a blog that celebrates everyday things through photography and the sharing of amazing finds. As well as using a number of cameras, Anna uses a variety of films that let her share her view of Australia.

Jen is a dedicated Holga fan, sharing amazing resources, fantastic interviews with other Holga users, and of course, her own gorgeous photos on her blog. A must see if you have the camera!

Everything Reminds Me of You is the personal photography blog of Elle, also of Diana Mini Love fame. As well as taking photos with her Diana Mini fame, Elle experiments with her other analogue cameras, trying out new films and capturing the details of her life around London.

Fieldguided is a collection of thoughts, inspirations, DIY projects, love letters and stunning photos that you wish you had taken. With beautiful tones and attention to detail, Anabela shares her life through her blog wonderfully.

This blog is a delight and although not well known (yet), Michelle’s severe case of wanderlust, her addiction to film photography and romance with books are a wonderful read. Sharing her amazing photos of Singapore and other places she has visited, Michelle experiments with different cameras and films and documents it perfectly.

Here Comes the Sun is the online scrapbook of inspiration of Amanda Thomas, which focuses on film photography, everything vintage, handmade products and fashion. She also documents her adventures with her Husband, who also shares her love for analogue photography.

A fun, great blog by Ana, a 20-something super geek and engineer who loves taking photographs and has a silly Boston terrier and wiggly French bulldog. Whether posting her digital or analogue photos, Ana’s shots are fun and delightful with a passion and spark for life that shine through her entire blog.

Aren't they great, I feel so inspired reading them!
I'll be sharing part two soon too...

I'm back!

Over the past week we have

~been to two castles ~
~paddled in streams ~
~ seen lots of lambs, calves and ducklings ~
~eaten in 8 different restaurants ~
(Wimpy is included Dad, haha!)
~ and had some amazing desserts ~
~ and two delicious ice creams ~
~ sat in a hot tub at 7am ~
~ visited some childhood haunts ~
~ seen some stones dated back to 3000 bc ~
~ got lots of hugs from family and friends ~
~ traveled for about 10 hours through various means ~
~taken a lot of photos with at least 4 cameras ~
~ visted Shakespeares Grave ~
~enjoyed the Cotswolds ~
~listened to the royal wedding on the radio ~
(we're bad Brits, oh well)
~ had so much fun ~

I can't wait to blog all about it!!

Spring cleaning...

{beautiful wide instax photo by Ashley, I'll never get bored of blossom photos in Spring...}

Today I'm Spring cleaning my digital life... which consists of...

~ deleting the For the easily distracted... facebook and tumblr ~

~ reorganising my many USB sticks ~

~ making new social buttons ~

~ updating my little yellow ipod ~

~ planning to finish off my blogroll ~

(If I write it here, perhaps I'll do it....)

~ relabelling the blogs in my Google Reader ~

~ organising my sets and collections on Flickr ~

Imagine how productive I would be if I wasn't sat at a computer all day!

Goodbye 2010!

In some ways, this post could be a lot like my Goodbye 2009 post... I took a lot of photos of our feet, I brought even more film cameras (I now have quite a ridiculous collection) and we went to the beach a lot. I'm easily pleased :)

However, the best thing about blogging is that you remember the extra special things as well! So here are some special memories from 2010 that I particularly loved!!

In January...

I took my new fuji instax mini out in the snow and got some unexpected results.

In February...

I received some rather amazing mail!

which resulted in some very pretty pictures!

In March...

We went to Edinburgh!!!

(gosh I love it there)

In April...

We went on holiday with our parents and it was so much fun!

And K and P got married! Eep!

In May...

I officially went camera crazy!

In June...

We went to Berwick Upon Tweed

(gosh I love it there too)

In July...

I celebrated a year with my holga in style and shared my favourite holga photos from the year!!

In August...

I had a break and took alot of photos!

In September...

I had a pretty amazing birthday with a new (to me) camera and a bbq with cake!

In October...

We went to KRAKOW!

(gosh I love it there too)

In November...

We recovered from October and my parents came to visit with the little man...

In December...

It snowed...

A lot!

All in all I think 2010 was rather amazing! I still can't believe how many places that we visited and how many new things we did... or even how many pictures that I took.

I can not wait to get into the swing of 2011

I think it has the potential to be amazing too!

4 Simple Goals

I first saw about Elsie's 4 Simple Goals post over on Diana's blog and now that I've thought about it I decided to take part too!

{Index card from Pugly Pixel!}

1. I have so much to do - I'm meant to be catching up this month but right now I'm heading for a fail in that department... I just need to take a deep breath, make a list and stay calm...

2. I can't wait to do this one!

3. Let's face it - film photography can get expensive but I think its worth it...

4. must do this one

Is anyone else taking part in this? I'd love to see what your goals are!

p.s. is it really monday already?!

A birthday wishlist...

It's one month until my birthday and the things I'm most excited about at the moment are moving house (we get the keys Sunday!) and getting ready to visit Krakow, Poland! So this list is full of prints for our new walls and pretty bags I wish I had for being touristy with :) oh and a few cameras of course!

Pop Music Print by Violet May
Or any other print from Violet May - I love everything!

(oh and theres a folksy page for my UK friends!)

Superheadz Yellow Slim Peace Camera

Photography House by City Light Photography

I Heart You Print by Courtney OQuist

Vintage Caramel Slouchy Textured Shoulder Bag from Beta Boutique

French Macaroons Print by City of Blackbirds

Modest Print by The Light Fantastic

Yellow Harris No More by Breagha Designs

and finally... one can dream right... a LC-A camera!

p.s. If anyone already has my address and was thinking of sending me a card (you never know)

we're moving soon! So email me if you want our new address :)