It's been a while...

I know, I know, it has been forever since I've been in the mood for this little blog. Strangely, even with a move to a beautiful new place and a more regular schedule (i.e. not too busy to blog) inspiration has been missing. My camera rarely comes out of the closet and even the camera on my phone gets little use.

I decided not to worry about it, figuring my energy was simply focussed on assimilating in a new job and culture. Still I missed having a creative outlet. So when my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas I decided I'd ask for tuition for a Lightroom class I'd wanted to take for a while. Hoping that taking the class would force me to pull out the camera again.

Taking the class inspired me to get up at 4:45 on a Saturday morning in hopes of capturing some sunrise beach shot. As you can see, the weather didn't cooperate, it was a very moody morning with only hints of sun peaking through.

I loved the morning I spent on the beach, and realized there is a lot to love here in Australia. Being a 15 minute walk to the beach is just one of them.

I'm not going to promise to start blogging regularly again, because who knows. But I do hope the camera comes out a bit more often as I've missed that creative feeling I get when it does.

You said, remember that life is 
not meant to be wasted
We can always be chasing the sun
So fill up your lungs and just run
But always be chasing the sun
Sara Bareilles - Chasing the Sun Pin It

Greatest Mistake

I saw this quote a few weeks ago on one of my favorite blogs, Smart Pretty Awkward and haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing that you will make one."  

Elbert Hubbard

I can't help but think of all those times when I've been paralyzed, so afraid I'd make a mistake that I couldn't move forward.  Sometimes over something really silly like what color to paint a wall, other times over more important things like what job to take or what city to move to.  But with the benefit of hindsight I can say I don't regret the choices I've made (even those that didn't work out so well, because at least I learned a lesson.)  What I really regret are the opportunities I've missed because I was too afraid to make the choice.

Have you heard the new song from Sara Bareilles yet?  I'm kind of in love with it.

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Christmas Eve

By mid-day Christmas eve the snow had stopped and the sun was out - it was simply beautiful.  Dad and I needed to run to the grocery store to pick up a few last minute items so we took the long way there and back and grabbed a few photos along the way.

Not only did I collect some gorgeous photos of my hometown, I learned something new.  As a teenager my dad helped build the beautiful barn in the fourth row, right photo.  I love learning things like that.

Here's a fun little video for "Winter Song" from Sara Bareilles, it always makes me smile.

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Love

I'm in love.

I'm in love with the Genius button on my iPod.  It made the most amazing playlist for me today.

On Monday I hit shuffle and then a few songs in got stuck on "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles.  I must have listened to the song 5 times.

Today during my commute I pulled the iPod back out and "Gravity" was still playing, but this time I hit the genius button, and look at the amazing messages I found in the music I listened to on the way to work.

Here I am and I stand so tall

I'm just the way I'm supposed to be

I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none

 Everything's falling, and I am included in that
Oh, how I try to be just okay

I asked God who I'm supposed to be.
The stars smiled down on me, 

God answered in silent reverie. 

I said a prayer and fell asleep.

Afraid to see that she's lost her direction
She never stays the same for long
Assuming that she'll get it wrong
Perfect only in her imperfection

An entire commute full of beautiful music with lovely lyrics that kept me going all day long. Pin It

City

I loved the contradictions of the architecture in Dubai - some of the world's most beautiful modern architecture - including the Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, and buildings such as my hotel built with a more traditional Arabic feel. I love seeing the two styles exist side by side.

Dubai is a city known for its shopping so it is no surprise they also have the world's largest shopping mall. I spent a day trying to see the entire mall and wasn't successful - but I sure enjoyed the attempt.


Best of all I enjoyed coming back to my hotel and relaxing in my beautiful room with the giant tub and heavenly bed.


Dubai probably isn't a city I would travel all the way from the US to see - but since I'm already over here it was well worth a weekends visit. I have a feeling I'll return again a time or two over the next 18 months - the shopping really was amazing.

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