Monday, December 17, 2012

photography confessions // winter is here to stay


~~ This post was supposed to go 'live' about two weeks ago, dears, but unfortunately I have been having a bunch of issues with uploading photos, but I have gotten it up and running again somehow(at least for now) so I will hopefully be up and posting again! ~~
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 
 
I'm going to make a huge confession today. I am quite sure that it will surprise my photography friends a lot, but I'm gonna say it. :)

     I shot in Manual mode for the very  first time today. And it was amazing.

There. I said it. Are you shocked? You have a very good reason to be, that's for sure! I've had DSLR's for over two years and I've just shot in Manual mode!?!

I felt  in control of the camera , (the kind of control that they portray in the cartoons, where some guy is in front of a TV and he just has to have the remote. Like, he'd be completely lost without it. yah...),  and it was very exciting to get a good shot, because I put way more effort into getting it, than just pointing the camera and clicking a photo. And I found out that I can make a picture turn out the way I want it to, not just the way it does when I set the camera to Automatic mode.
 
 
These are my first Manuel shots. And I'm happy. (and since that day, I haven't set my mode to anywhere else, and I don't plan on doing again!!)
 
xo,
Becca Anne

colors dancing in the sky


 
 
    
 
 
I love the intense colors in the sunsets that seem to dance across the sky as though the clouds were bidding this part of the world adieu and sail off to other skies.
     They're so beautiful this time of year, and I have been enjoying shooting them lately. Sunsets are something that is just gorgeous, and aren't super complicated to capture, so while I've been experimenting with Manuel mode and all that lovely stuff, it's been nice to have something lovely to capture. Now I need to learn how to capture the same thing from different angles so that I don't end up taking photos of different sunsets in the same exact places every day. :) That would get old, even for me!!
     Do you have any tips for how to look for different angles? Actually, I would love to get any tips from the photographers that read my blog!! I am so new to really pursuing photography, and I would love your tips. :)
     Can you believe that Christmas is in only seven days? This holiday season has gone so fast it amazes me, and makes me quite dizzy to think that in two weeks this year will be gone. o-O  
     Tell me what your favorite things have been this month so far, and what you're really looking forward to in the next thirteen days, 'kay.
xo,
Becca Anne

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

rapsody in pink // giveaway

I do apologize for two posts right in a row, but I wanted to let you know about a wonderful giveaway going on over at Rapsody in Pink.

Go check it out, lovelies,
 
Becca Anne

twelve.twelve.twelve


It's twelve.twelve.twelve today, and I'm happy. :)

 

~ Fall is gone ^ but winter is here, so I'm okay with that. :) (So, even though it's been December for twelve days now, I am still gonna take a moment to say: Good-by fall. Thanks for visiting. I enjoyed your stay, and will be very excited to see you next year. Come back, 'kay? :)
~ It's cold but quite sunny outside,
~ I got to drive today, I just finished my school for the day,
~ got part of a letter written,
~ took a piano lesson (and my piano teacher gave me the most beautiful shawl for a late birthday present. It is so beautiful, and I am in love with it. I am gonna have a lot of fun styling it with different outfits.)
~ The clouds are so pretty.
~ I found a new jean skirt yesterday at the thrift store that fits perfectly, and looks brand new! Denim skirts get me excited. I wear them all the time, like the way a guy wears jeans all the time, so a new one is awesome. And it's beautiful too.
~ I'm gonna see my grandparents this weekend, (the ones that live 7+ hours away, and I haven't seen since July.).

What makes you happy today?

Oh, and did you know that this is the last time that the month, day and year will be the exact number for 989 years! (If i did the math right.) So enjoy the date, people, it won't happen again in your life time.

xo,
Becca Anne

Monday, December 10, 2012

Outfit post // Teal with a little wind

I realized something laetly. (I do that occasionally.)  I realized that I really like fashion. Some of my very favorite blogs are fashion blogs, and I've recently started trying to put more thought into my outifts. And I have found it really fun. Imagine that, getting dressed in the morning is actually fun! :) But, before I go any further, I will say, I am not proposing to make this  a fashion blog. So, with that being said... :)  May I present my first outfit post. :)

IMG_0842
It was pretty windy, and my hair was all over the place. :)
IMG_0857

IMG_0860

IMG_0866

 I am obsessed with rings. So usually I have to many on, but that's besides the point. :)

IMG_0863
My purity ring. I just got it sized ( almost two years since my parents gavie it to me) and it is now a size and a half smaller!! I am so lucky i didn't loose it! :)
 
The details:
Skirt: Thrifted
Sweater: Thrifted
Cami: Fred Myers
Boots: (I forgot to put them on for the photo. :) J.C. Pennys
Neckalace: Gift
 
And photo credit goes to my brother Daniel. :)
 
xo,
Becca Anne

Giveaway over at Cowgirl Dirt

There is a $200 dollar giveaway going on over at Cowgirl Dirt, a completely natural cosmetics store, and I am entering. :) Mom and I really like the products we have gotten from this store so far.

Check it out at:
http://www.cowgirldirt.com/christmas

xo,
Becca

Sunday, December 9, 2012

My story in elevens // a tag... or three




I was tagged by two different good friends (with the same tag) last week, and I decided to do them together, to save a little time and repetitiveness. :) 

The rules for this tag are simple, Post eleven random facts about yourself, answer the eleven questions the awarder has given you and make up eleven questions for your awardees to answer in return. Tag eleven fellow bloggers, and notify them of the award. And most of all, have FUN!!!!


So, eleven extremely random facts about myself... this can't be that hard!! :)

1. I have 10 siblings, and when i tell people that they are usually completely shocked!! :)

2. I love Christmas so much I wish that it came around once every month.

3. Big trucks are really fun.

4. I got my permit on Thursday, and i am in love with driving.

5. I am terrified, really terrified, of heights. That's part of the trouble I had climbing Mt. Adams this year.

6. I work once a week cleaning for a lady. And I think it's really fun.

7. This is harder than i thought.

8. I love wearing rings and earrings, but other jewelery than that is mostly just a bother.

9. Teal is an awesome color. :)

10. I'm only on number ten?!?

11. I just bought the cutest pair of boots. And now love boots so much.

So, these are the questions from a friend I've known for twelve years now!?! Sierra, from Musings of an Inkheart.


1) Which literary/movie character reminds you most of yourself? I don't know how to answer that question honestly. :) I've taken the Jane Austin Character test multiple times, and have always been told I am Elizabeth Bennet, and while I will agree that I do form rather hasty judgements of people, I don't think I am exactly like her. So I suppose I must go with that answer, as I can't seem to think of anybody else that I am particularly like. (I'd love to know who you think you are most like, Sierra. :)
 
2) What is your favorite music genre? Currently I am really enjoying Opera, even though that seems kind of weird for me. :) I really love singers like Sarah Brightman and Jackie Evancho
3) When creating characters, do you name them first and then come up with the character (Tolkien style) or do you create the character first and then name them? I name a character first, and then start to develop them. Somehow it seems more realistic that way, like how you name a child before he is born, a parent doesn't wait until he is twenty-one to decided what to name him based on his character. :) 
4) Do you collect pictures/models of your characters (I most certainly do)? I've never done that, although I do think it would be helpful.
5) When writing, do you start at the beginning and work to the end (same way you read) or do you just write whatever scene fits your fancy? It depends, I suppose on what I am writing. Mostly I've just written short stories, most of which I threw away, but I think that I would probably end up writing the parts that interest me at the moment, which would be way more convenient than trying to write all the way though.
6) What are your opinions on adding mythical/fantasy creatures (elves, dragons, etc) to a story? I don't really know. If it's a fairy story, such as ones by George MacDonald, there should, obviously, be fairy's and elves. And adding dragons to a medieval storyline is fine, as long as you don't overdo it, like making them talk. But just adding mythical creatures to just a normal story would probably annoy me most of the time. Unless they were really, really interesting and mysterious, and then I'd probably be so drawn into the story I might even consider changing my opinion. :) Although I don't think I would ever consider writing about them, personally.
7) Do you play any musical instruments? Yes, I don't think I could live life without my piano. And I also play flute, although that's not such a big part of my life.
8) If you were to use a weapon, which one would you choose? I've been in love with swords for the past four or five years, ever since I read my first medieval book, so I probably would choose that. But, on the other hand, I have always loved bows, (to the point of wanting to get my own someday.) so I might choose that as well.
9) Are you a part of any fandoms (ex. LOTR, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Marvel, Jane Austin, Percy Jackson, Inheritance Cycle, etc.)? Not officially. but I am a pretty big Jane Austin fan. Really big Jane Austin fan, that is. I love her, have seen a lot of her movies, and just read P+P for the first time. Awwww. Yes, I'm a fan. :)
 
10) Sunshine or Rain? I love sunshine, but I am in love with rain. There is something captivating about the way rain falls from the sky, it's beautiful and quiet, then it's loud and stormy, rain is always changing, always beautiful.
11) What is your favorite type of character (cheerful and bubbly, spirited and saucy, uppity and snobbish, or dark, angry/sad and mysterious) I find the angry, sad and mysterious characters the most intriguing. They are confusing, hard to decipher, and most of the time are found to be amazing if you can only figure them out. Spoken like an Austin fan, thinking of a certain Mr. Darcy, I suppose. :)
 
And Hannah's questions, from Simply Hannah Elise:  
 
 
1) Have you read The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit? No, my parents don't approve of either. :)
2) Who is your favorite author? My favorite author... Charles Dickens, Catherine Marshell, Alexander Dumas, Louisa May Alcott, etc... :)
3) Do you use Pinterest?  No. my mom is afraid that I'll spend too much time on the Internet if I do. :)
4) Do you have a common name, or a rare one (e.g., as in Hannah is extremely common)? I believe that Rebecca is a common name... I know at least four or five of the top of my head. :)
5) Do you like your middle name (you don't have to give it out)? Yes, I like my middle name. I'll even tell you. It's Ann... with an E. :) Anne... I love sharing names with Anne Shirley, even though I am pretty sure that my mother didn't pick that name because of her.
6) What's your favorite animal? horses? dogs?
7) What's your favorite number? 12... Just as my mom. :)
8) Do you have any weird pet peeves?  I have to be really warm while I sleep, so I pile on the blankets like crazy, but I can't sleep in lots of clothes. So I'll end up having seven or eight blankets, and only be wearing a tank-top and shorts.... random?! :)
9) Do you like the city or the country better? I am a complete country girl, and always will be, but right now I think a city experience would be really fun for a while. After living in a little hick town, I think living in a big city would be pretty awesome. But only for a while.
10) Are you a fan of the "tall, dark, and handsome" or the "pale, wan, and blond"? Tall, dark and handsome, of course... but I think I would be fine with pale, wan, and blond if he was the right guy.
11) Do you like linkups or book reviews better? I have to say link-ups. They are so interesting to look at, going from blog to blog seeing all the different post that are different, yet the same. :)   
 
And while I am at it, i thought I'd link up to Hallie, from Hallie Jo Photography, who is doing the tag in a link-up. :) 

Hallie Jo Photography


1) Are you a morning person or a night owl? I am totally a night owl. Mornings are perfectly awful. You have to get out of bed (the first awful thing) and then you're supposed to eat sometime between 7-9:00. that would just ruin my whole day right there in a hurry! Eat before 10:30?! Seriously, those people have issues.

2) What is typical December/Christmas weather like where you live? Very cold, and wet, and beautiful in every way (except the mud. :)

3) Can you speak any second languages? My parents would say that I do. I can speak teen. :) (example: It was like, totally amazing, and I was like "this is totally awesome!" :)

4) What is the biggest traditional meal at your house during the holidays (e.g., Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas morning breakfast)? we don't really have a big traditional meal. We should though. :)
5) What were the three best parts of your week? Turning sixteen, getting my permit, and driving a little car for the first time ever.


6) What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream? You mean there's flavors other than chocolate and vanilla?!? lol Um... I like coffee flavored basically anything, and chocolate-chip mint is great to.

7) What fictional character do you think you’re most like? This question is so hard, but I think that I can relate with Jo March, Christy Huddleston and Anne Shirley the most.

8) Would you rather take a vacation to the tropics or to Europe? forget the tropics, let's go to Europe people!!

9) What was the last thing you tried for the first time? Driving!!

10) Do you get a real or fake Christmas tree? We don't get a Christmas tree. My parents didn't like the mess, and the whole "put the presents under the tree" thing.

11) Are you making any New Year’s resolutions? If so, what are they going to be? Yes, but I haven't begun to think about what exactly they are going to be yet.

So, my questions for the future tagees. :)

1. Do you have a favorite name (besides your own)?

2. If you had to be transported into any time period, which would you choose?

3. Lemonade or Dr. Pepper (and coffee or tea is not an option. Those are a given! :)

4. Favorite person, fiction or otherwise?

5. Best day of the week?

6. If you were given the opportunity to visit two country's for a month each, with your trip completely paid for, which would you choose, and why?

7. What are your thoughts on ice-cream? Is chocolate the only flavor worth mentioning, or do you have a favorite?

8. How many siblings do you have?

9. What inspires you to write the most?

10. You are given the chance to visit New York. What is the first thing you plan to do?

11. Favorite book by your favorite author?

And as I have spent so much time on this post, anyone who wants to do this tag may do it, but be sure to comment with the link to your post, so I can read it. (and I do know that was a cop-out. I apologize! :)

 xo, 

Friday, December 7, 2012

I did something incredibally crazy today (yesterday)

This post, (actually my journal entry.)  was written three days ago. We've been having trouble with our internet, and I haven't been able to post it.  And I can't post any photos either.  I have a serious love/hate relationship with computers right now. I love them most of the time, but sometimes they just really bug me. Like right now! Just in case you were wondering that. J 

          The house is quiet, the children fast asleep, and it’s officially my favorite time of day. The clock says it’s 10:15 and 45 seconds, and I am wide awake. Not from coffee, (although that would have been my first guess to,. J), no it’s from complete excitement.        

          You see, I did something incredibly crazy, (technically yesterday. But we celebrated today.) I would even dare say insane, today. I still can’t believe it really happened, even though I’ve been counting down since 67 days ago. J
     So, what did I do? I didn’t already mention that?! Man, my head is in the clouds for sure…   

          I turned sixteen today.  I know. Unbelievable, right?? Everybody on earth turns sixteen, (except for those that don’t… yah, whatever.) but for some reason, sixteen seems really big to me. Like I’ve gotten somewhere with my life. I know everybody always says “don’t rush your childhood,”: and “once you’re an adult you’ll always be one, so be happy where you are,” but I am so happy to have reached sixteen, and be well on my way to adulthood. J 

          In this new year, I want to grow deeper in my relationship with Christ. I want to become a better pianist. I want to start an etsy shop. I want to learn to drive. I want to take my hobby of photography to a much bigger level. I want to start (and finish!) the novel I have written inside my head. I want to start making journaling a part of my life, (instead of just an occasional thing.) I want to improve my blogging, both in my writing, and my photography, making my blog more interesting, thought provoking and fun. I want to improve my relationship with my siblings. I want to learn how to capture what I see, think and feel, and put them into words that are powerful, captivating, basically I want to learn to write things that can emotionally move people, making them feel what my characters are feeling, see what I am describing. I guess you could call these my resolutions for my sixteenth year. J

          This year is going to be so full of opportunity’s, and I don’t want to miss them. 

     I recently ran across a wonderful quote that I have come to love. I actually bought a 365 day journal (that I plan on starting January 1st. J) and this quote was on the front: “When one door of Happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” Helen Keller.

     That’s what I don’t want to do this year. I want to move on with my life, to the new door that God brings me, and with his mercy and grace, walk through that door and pursue all that he has for me.   

          This past year has been a rough one for me. I’ve had to adjust to having both my older brother gone, and being the oldest at home, and that’s been extremely emotionally hard for me. Thomas, Andrew and I have always been really close, even though I am 3 and 5 years younger than them, and it’s been crazy hard to not have them around, but I’ve realized, mostly in the last two weeks, that felling upset and angry isn’t gonna help any, besides making me miserable. They have moved out and moved on with life, I need to stop staring at that door. It’s closed, all the way shut, and sitting here staring isn’t gonna open it. J 

          Anyway, I ‘m rambling, as I tend to do, mostly completely unsure of what I’ve been talking about anyway…
      


          God,
                  I ask you to bless this new year for me. I ask you to put a thirst in my soul for you. I ask you to show me yourself in ways I can’t even imagine. Thank-you for the blessings you’ve given me i; my family and friends… a home, an amazing country to call mine.
          I love you, Jesus.   
               Amen
 
 
 
                                                                                    Love,


Saturday, December 1, 2012

gift exchange // thank you, Emma

  I entered in a gift exchange, over at Katherine’s blog, earlier this month, (auctually last month. o-O is it really already December?!) and I had a lot of fun with it. I was assigned a girl from Maine. Talk about opposite sides of the country!!! I don’t think we could live further apart, while still living in the US, (excluding Alaska and Hawaii, of course. J) I get her box in the mail yesterday morning, and loved it.
 

 
Emma knew how to make me happy!! ^ 


 And I love big coffee mugs, ‘ cause then I don’t have to go back for more coffee or tea nearly as often
 A coaster to go with the mug. Brilliant!! I needed one for my desk, as I am always drinking something or other while I do school.

This ornament is so cute. My family doesn’t put up a tree, but it will look adorable in my room. J


A cute note pad for my purse. I am always writing something down, the name of a song I want to look up, or something I really don’t want to forget. (A tendency I seem to have. STMLD is something I battle constantly. And that stands for Short Term Memory Loss Disorder. J yes, I have issues. lol)
 
 
These are too cute, Emma! My family loved them. J  Pumpkins are something I really love, and I have a feeling that these are gonna be out for display in my room for quite a while after the holiday season is over.
 
Isn’t this fun? ^ I’ve never seen a pencil like that before. Very creative.


Emma is a card-maker, and this was the lovely card she sent me. Cute, yes?


*dies and goes to heaven* I could exist completely on GHIRARDELLI Dark and Raspberry chocolate (and White Mocha Lattes. ) for an entire month, and be perfectly content. J  This is wonderful, Emma.
(I thought this was funny. The serving size is three balls. Don't those people try to save the cocolate and make it last as long as they can? Isn't that the fun of having a chocolate stash? Dying to eat a piece, but telling yourself that you don't really need it, and you don't really want to go through it as fast as you have been?! :P)
 

 And I already ate some of the chocolate, Emma. :) It was lovely, and delicious and made me feel happy. :)
 
Thank you, Emma, for the thoughtful gifts. You put a lot of thought into putting the box together and everything was perfect. J I enjoyed being your partner a lot. J
 
And yes, I was lazy and took all those photos on the floor. But hey, it was a clean background. :) That's always nice.
xo,
Becca Anne

rambles about my smoothie

My friend Hannah commented on this post about the photo of my smoothie wondering what I put in it. So, I am about to unleash the secret. Actually, it’s pretty simple, and pretty boring, considering I’ve made it nearly every morning for the past year. J  Mom and I were diehards about green smoothies every morning for almost a year, but then I just started making them without the spinach and other green stuffs, and was I happy!! I’m really a wimp when it comes to nasty food, even if it’s good for me. (I could care less about whether it’s good for me. J If it tastes good, it’s good. lol) Anyway, mom’s been having me add the green to hers after I take mine out. There, we’re both happy. J
 
So… the smoothie. 
Nectarines
Bananas
Nancy’s plain yogurt
Kiwi (added it for the first time today. Yum!!)
Lemon cube (we freeze fresh squeezed lemon juice in ice cube trays. )
Homemade grape juice (We can it every year, and it’s heaven on earth, people.)
And a little water.
 
And for mom’s, I added,
Kale
Spinach
Chia seeds
And heart health powder, from the Bulk Herb Store
 



These two ^ are of mine, before I added all the green stuff. :) Delicious, yes?
 
And this is mom's.  :)

Mine was amazing. I loved the lemon and kiwi in there. They gave the smoothie a wonderful sour pop. :) (Funny story about why I added the kiwis... I was talking to my uncle yesterday on the phone, and somehow we got on the subject of foods with weird textures. And kiwi's were on his list of foods that are to be avoided, due to awful textures.  He said that if he was on a planet that only grew kiwi's he'd starve... My solution was to make a kiwi smoothie, 'casue then you don't have to taste the texture. And that's why I added the kiwi. 'Cause I would have never thought of that all by myself. I'm just not creative like that. :)
 
I didn't taste mom's, but she said it wasn't bad.... or good either. :)  But it was definantly very healthy and all of that good stuff. :)



So now i'm curious, what do you eat for breakfast normaly?
 
xo,