So simple, yet so hard.  Print this out and put it to work.

Oh how true this is.  It reminds me of that quote “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us” or “Man plans, God laughs.”

I spent my entire childhood and my later high school years with this set plan.  It then shifted a bit in college but for the most part, stayed the same — Stay in New York, live like a Sex in the City girl, and be working at NBC/ABC as a producer of some hit show and then move to LA to work behind-the-scenes. I was on my way to that goal until my life did a complete 180.  It’s so funny to see how my plan differs from what is now reality but I often think about how what I didn’t plan has ultimately changed my life (and myself) for the better.  For that, I am grateful.

Is this not the truest statement?  Before you know it, another year has flown by and that certain something you promised yourself that you would begin doing is now just a faded desire.  We are all guilty of this - more often than not.  I suppose it’s harder as you get older and more engrained in your every day life but I want to make sure that I don’t keep saying I’m going to do these things for myself, only to then be put in an unfortunate position where I suddenly don’t have a choice.  With that being said,  Carpe diem damnit.

#PenReady Project - I’m #801!

Olympus selected me as #801 of 1,000 to participate in their new #penready project.  I was contacted by them and asked if I’d like to receive one of their cameras (for free) in exchange for taking 20 photos and uploading them to their PenReady.com site.  Seeing as I LOVE to be an (amateur) photographer, I am thrilled!  I just received the camera tonight and it is amazing. I feel like this is my version of an early Christmas. Seriously.

The first thing I noticed is that it’s SMALL in comparison to other DSLR cameras.  I absolutely love my Panasonic G1 but my biggest issue is that it is so big and hard to travel with and carry around in general. This one is tiny in comparison and it even came with a small backpack as a camera bag.  

My second favorite thing is that there is built-in FILTERS.  I oftentimes use iPhoto or Instagram to add fun effects to it and with this camera, I can automatically put these effects on the shot before I take the pic.  My favorite (so far) is the “Dramatic Tone” filter (used on the below two pics).  I think I finally found my replacement camera.  Thank you Olympus!  So excited to get started.  Here are my first test pics taken around the house:

So many more to come.  Cannot wait.

“Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

How true — especially with little ones.

“I’d rather have a life of ‘oh well’s’ than a life of ‘what if’s’ - Anonymous”

Love. 

This.

“Don’t be pushed by your problems; be led by your dreams.” -Unknown”