kiwi in sunlight

Anytime Daniel and I are both home at the same time it is special.  Since we have been married we have had jobs that have kept us away from each other quite a few nights out of the week.  We have learned to make the most out of the time we do get to see each other, even if it isn't for very long.  This morning was no different.  Although we both needed to do some school work, we sat beside each other in the office to keep one another company.  The office is one of the spaces we like to spend as a family because of the awesome light it lets in during morning hours.  It's also carpeted so that Kiwi can run around and play as she likes (she is quite afraid of hardwood).  While we studied Kiwi intermittently played and basked in the warm glow of the sunlight.  I couldn't help but snapping a few shots of this fur baby.  She was incredibly relaxed and warm...her favorite!

See you next time!

Liv

Mama Fox's vanity

Just wanted to pop in to show the transformation of a piece of my childhood furniture.  

Sometime in the 90's my mom acquired a chest of drawers and a vanity.  It had belonged to my great-grandmother, Mama Fox and up until that time had been sitting in the barn at the old dairy farm in Crossville, TN (see here and here).  My sweet mother, being the lovely woman she is, took this on as a project for my room which at the time was painted pink and had a sweet little kitty cat border.  I'm fairly certain that if either of us saw this room today we might barf.  Because she was, and is, the best mommy EVER she painted this furniture pink, then sponge painted a darker pink over it.  Now I must insert here that I have very vivd memories of my mom not being happy with the darker pink color.  In her words, it was "too dark."  I also have vivid memories of LOVING THE COLOR.  In my 90's childhood state I really thought it was just the best thing ever.  After a while I got my own, new furniture and these pieces went to live in the attic. 

Fast forward to earlier this year when my parents were moving...they came across a ton of my junk the furniture and asked me if I wanted it.  It was either take it or give it away and my sentimental self couldn't bear to part with it. So, even though we didn't really have a lot of space for it we brought it home as a summer project. 

Most projects of mine go this way:

1. I have a grand idea (or a little one, it really doesn't matter)

2. I get started with all my happy little supplies

3. Everything goes wrong

4. It turns out ok 

This project was no different.  The dreams I had of painting Mama Fox's sweet furniture quickly faded into mounds of icky stripped paint, saw dust so thick it made me ill, fragile pieces falling apart and being fixed again, faulty primer, wrong brushes...the list goes on and on. Here are some not so great pictures of what it looked like before. 

The color I painted was Benjamin Moore's Ballet White.  I thought this was a really subtle white that I could use in any room in the future.  I'm not completely sold on it now that I have it in the house, but for now it'll do the trick. :)  Shout out to Mom and Dad who helped me strip and sand one day... huge help.  Daniel snuck a picture of me sanding (most likely because he'll never see it again).  You can see the blonde color of the furniture once I got it to bare bones.  Looks like I might have an asthmatic attack at any moment. 

I have to say, after Daniel saw how much I was struggling with it, he really stepped up and helped me finish the project.  I couldn't have done it without him helping me wood glue, nail, prime and paint.  I have finished both pieces but I'm waiting on the right drawer pulls for the chest of drawers.  Here is the vanity all finished up in our bedroom!

The quote is just something I found on Pinterest, wrote on a piece of scrapbooking paper in "livigraphy" and popped in a frame.  The flowers are part of a bouquet I purchased at the Chattanooga Market.  The bench is recovered in material left over from the chair in our room that my aunt recovered for me when I was younger.  I purchased the glass knobs for 50% off at HobLob...score!

Overall I am so excited to have a little place to do makeup and hair everyday.  It is so special that I am using the same mirror that my great grandmother used and I cant wait to pass it down if I have a little girl one day.  Mostly, Daniel is excited that I don't have hair and makeup all over the bathroom counter anymore. :)

Until next time, 
Livvy

the watermelon

When we planted our garden in late May, Daniel insisted on planting watermelon.  I'm thinking, how random.  No way are we going to be able to grow a watermelon.  That little green guy was about 3 inches high the entire month of June. Not working.  I knew it. 

I can't help but compare the similarities in my own life.  For so long I have felt like the little green sprout that just wouldn't grow.  Wanting to.  Longing to. But just can't get enough water or light. 

In June, it started spreading, and spreading and spreading.  It began to take over the garden and part of the yard for that matter.  

But still no produce.

Then while playing with Kiwi in the yard last weekend I went to check on my tomatoes and BAM! 

There he was in all his glory.  

It was a little dark but I was so excited I snapped a picture.  

How little I had trusted that little melon.  

Lying there in the grass snapping pictures of my little melon like an idiot, I couldn't help but make the connection.  Wait.  You'll grow.  

You'll be just fine with a little sunlight and water. 

Hello Monday...

Hello Monday...

Hello final exam.

Hello to being 1/2 RN!

Hello Taco Mamacita with friends I met in nursing school, but I'll have for life.

Hello to coming home to a note straight from the heart of my Daniel telling me how proud he is of me.

Hello SUMMER! 

Hello re-reading my favorite book since Middle School, The Great Gatsby, for the 50th time and then seeing the movie soon with hubs!

Hello to new adventures. The beginning of a new degree.

Hello vacations, pool dates and using my camera in the near future.

Hello to the beginning of goodbyes.

Hello to not being a zombie 24/7.

Hello more gym time and less paperwork.

Hello to cooking dinner for 2.5 and walking the .5 around the block afterward.

Hello thankfulness for a Lord who loves me regardless of my mistakes and shortcomings. 

Hope you had a wonderful Monday!

Livvy

Hi my name is Olivia...

And I'm addicted to Facebook. 

Well, I used to be at least. 

For a while I have been contemplating deleting my Facebook account.  To be honest, the only reason I was on it in the first place was to see cute pictures of family and friends as well as a means of communication with people I may not keep telephone numbers for.  

But at some point along that happy road and after friending many people I only slightly know, I became a bit obsessed.  Checking it constantly.  Get in the car, check Facebook.   Go to class, check Facebook.  Sit down to dinner, check Facebook. 

It was even more than that..it was ALL THE TIME.

...Why? The people I am closest with call me or text me on a regular basis anyway.  So what was the point?  I would find myself constantly scrolling through pointless posts of babies, parties, vacations and, let's not leave out, ridiculous comments people post publicly.  

The sad thing is that half the time I would think to myself, "why would they post that?" or "what are they thinking? Why am I friends with them?"

Can you guess what I was doing the other half of the time?

Daniel heard a piece on talk radio once, about a few years ago, that partially blamed Facebook for user depression.  He immediately spoke to me about it.  The research showed that people compare themselves to their friends on Facebook, who seemingly have perfect lives, and become upset that they don't have the things their friends do. Daniel was concerned.  It made sense to him.

As you know from reading this blog, I am no where near where I thought I would be at the age of 28. It is no secret that I have made some decisions that took me off the path of "having it all by 25."  This particular conversation with Daniel came on the tail end of a very confusing time for me; family problems, not getting into nursing school, newly married, ect. "Do you think this Facebook depression could be you?" Daniel asked.

No, never...I mean, I'm just going through a rough time.  Anyone would be upset in these circumstances.  And besides, if I wanted to compare myself to anyone I could just go to the gym.  I didn't need Facebook for that. 

I was right to a certain degree, but so was he... and I knew it. 

A few weeks ago my darling sister-in-law posted this article.  It really spoke volumes to me and made me think twice about my social media life. 

So it is understandable that I snapped when I was tired after putting the girls to bed last week at work and found myself comparing my life to my Facebook friends.  I knew something had to be done.  

Don't get me wrong, it felt a little like social media suicide...jumping off a ledge even.  I knew if I was going to do it, I needed to do it quickly.  

Deactivate.
Delete apps.
Did I really just do that?

When Daniel called to tell me goodnight I reported the good news, knowing he'd be ecstatic. Instead my words were met with concern.  "Are you ok?  No really...are you like, going through something?" ...Just confirmation that I really needed to get off the grid a little. 

What I realized is that mostly I need a break.  I need to focus on the things that I'm doing RIGHT, and what my strengths are as I near the end of my goals. Above all of this, I need some time to learn how to focus on what God has blessed me with, instead of the things I'm waiting for Him to bless me with.  

It is currently Day 2 post Facebook cut.  I kind of miss it, but not really. Much like a smoker, I still haven't broken the chain of the manual feeling of picking up my phone every 10 minutes, but I can already see improvement.  Now I will be honest, I did not get rid of Instagram or Twitter because I am not as "addicted" to them.  When I'm done with school for the semester I will re-evaluate and decide if I want to reactivate my Facebook account. I do still feel like it is a good way to keep up with friends and family.  I just need to learn to use it correctly.  

Until then, I will try to post more on my blog.  This blog is such a great outlet and provokes so many interesting thoughts in me.  I really wanted to share my thoughts and this little story just in case anyone is going through something similar. Anyway, I will definitely be back with more ramblings soon!

Liv

Manual

Such a terrifying word around these parts...shudder. 

When my Daniel bought me a DSLR camera for Christmas in 2009, I really wanted to learn how to use it the right way, really I did.  
So, I did what any new electronic device owner does and read the little book that came with it.  Over. And. Over. 
After a disappointing display of trying to understand gibberish, I gave up.  
I just continued to shoot in auto as most DSLR beginners do, hoping for a decent picture I could work with.  Slowly though, as I learned more about my camera from trial and error, I began to take pictures in Aperture (where you control how much light comes into your camera) priority.  The quality was good, but not great.  

Still awake?

While I was on Spring Break, my neighbor Jacky, taught me how to work with Manual...shudder. 
It's intimidating because there are multiple things you have control over (shutter speed, aperture, ISO), therefore multiple things that can go wrong.  It has always seemed so over my head and just way too much to worry about.  
But Jacky had some REALLY great tips and explained it perfectly. 
Let me just say, shooting in Manual makes all the difference in the world.  I am always happy when I can improve my skills and take better pictures of my family and friends. It's so rewarding!

What I learned:
1. Photographers have a lot going on when they take pictures. It's not easy although they make it look that way.
2. I really need to pick up my camera more often so I don't forget everything about it. 
3. Be ready to change any setting at the drop of the hat, finger on the button, in case a pesky cloud goes by or the sun moves. 
4. Cinderella makes a really good model with setting up a shot. 
5. I desperately need a watermark...although I am not professional by any means, I would like credit for my pictures. 
6. What are those little numbers in my viewfinder??  Oh just every current setting I need to see....It's literally been there the entire time at the tip of my nose.

Here are some of the pictures I took. They have minimal editing which I love!

Bailee had just woken up from nap and eaten lunch, can you tell? :)

Those little fingers clinging to mommy's shoulder  make my heart do a flip. 

Sweet girl

Bouncy trampoline hair

Downtown Chattanooga

ooooh lights

Sometimes you need to stand on a a scary bridge to get the shot. 

Jacky and I stayed out far past our bedtimes to get some of these.  We had a blast and I can't wait to see more improvement the next time I pick up my camera (which is likely far away because I'm back in school-boo.) Not to say I've mastered it by any means, but I'm definitely not as scared of shooting in manual as I was before.  

Baby steps.

What are your favorites?

See you next time!

Liv

Manning and Dolly

Hello everyone!!  It's spring break for me and I couldn't have started it off any better than a sunny weekend full of fun.

Friday was a beautiful and April asked me to take some 1 year pictures of her German Shepard, Manning, and her husband's new Bloodhound, Dolly.  Remember when Manning was itty bitty?? He has grown into an absolutely gorgeous dog (Kiwi would have fur envy) and Dolly is sweet as pie (as well as hilarious to try to photograph).  

The weather couldn't have been better at the Greenway!

Enjoy some of my favorites!

Have a wonderful week!

Liv