Light Painting

Photography fun doesn't have to stop when the sun's gone. Grab a sparkler, flashlight, or lighter and you can create luminous, dreamy light shows. Granted that I'm fairly a greenhorn (these pictures definitely could have been clearer), I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out!

Here's the recipe I did with my dSLR: set ISO high (anywhere above 2000), my f/stop was at 11, and my shutter speed varied anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds. I know I probably could have used lower ISO, but it was practically pitch black besides the porchlight, and I'm new to this whole manual photography thing. I should have seen what I could have gotten with a lower f/stop, too, but hey, this was my first time! I think my shots turned out pretty cool for an amateur. Oh, and check out Viktoria's blog Sable to see my "tripod".

For writing in the pictures, write the word from right to left while making sure you write the letters backwards. Basically your camera is like a mirror, so practice a few times drawing out the mirror-image of letters before you take them. You can always lengthen how long the shutter stays open, so there's no need to rush. This technique may take a few practice takes before you get it, but the results are worth it!

19. Write Kyle Love Letters

I'll post how I did this technique in a few days.

I found a love letter I wrote to Kyle dates July 23, 2012 two days ago. I don't know why I never sent it or gave it to him, but I definitely will. I guess that I must have known that this would be one of my thirty before thirty goals before I even wrote it down. I'll have to continue the tradition and keep writing him cheesy-pie smoochy-woochy love notes in order to fully fulfill this goal. 

This newest love letter is in picture form with a photographic technique called light painting. I guess tonight I was just lovin' my boy and my new camera.

New Holland Brew Company

So today I went to the New Holland Brew Company in Holland, Michigan. It's about 50 minutes from my cottage in Union Pier, and I've been meaning to go since my friend Tim works there. Unfortunately I missed Tim, but I definitely had a fantastic time with my lovely Mummy and Uncle. I had the Full Circle and the Dragon's Milk. I really enjoyed them both, especially the sweetness and heaviness of the Dragon's Milk. I tasted the their Oatmeal Stout and one of their IPA's, but they weren't really my style (to be fair, IPA's really never are my style).

When my Mom tried beer you know it's something special

I had the chicken pesto sandwich, which I thoroughly enjoyed. My meal came came with fresh chips, which were so crispy that they made me forget that I'm cheating on my usual diet. But I do let myself cheat a bit when I go out to dinner. I can't have no fun all of the time, can I?

Heck, we even got dessert - blueberry vodka cheesecake baked in an adorable jar no less! 

Between the rainbow on the way to Holland and a great time at the Brew Company, I'm really looking forward to spending more time here next summer. Oh, and I came home with a growler for my brother who couldn't make it out with us, so everybody wins!

#9. Buy a DSLR

The lovely Viktoria from Sable

It's done! After a few years of dragging my feet and one year of researching, I finally took the plunge and bought a DSLR. It's a long road of learning, but I'm excited for better pictures and better post-production capabilities. It just makes like more beautiful. All of these pictures I've taken in just the first few days.

Setting the table for breakfast.

My pictures aren't anywhere near consistent, but I am still quite smitten with my Nikon d5100. I was sure I'd be a Canon girl, but the d5100 gave me all I needed and more. Plus it fits well into my oh-so-tiny petite hands since it's a smaller camera.

Ridiculously fantastic Bacon Chocolate Sable cookies courtesy of Viktoria from Sable. Recipe can be found here.

Plus I'm excited to rely more on the quality of my photos than the amount of work I spend in fixing /editing. Each picture I shoot is saved in JPEG and RAW formats, so I have a ton of options for editing on top of everything. Rita from the CoffeeShop Blog has also provided a vast resource of Photoshop actions / tutorials that work wonders and let me experiment with my new pictures. I've used other free actions before, but none compare to the quality of Rita's (so go check out all of her fun stuff and support her!). 

Yours truly with a big smile on her face!

I'm just so excited to be at a new level of my hobby, and hopefully, you'll see that reflected in my blog. I hope you're looking forward to the changes as much as I am.

Blueberry Season

The best summers have little rain.

Since this one's been a complete drought, I guess you could say it's the best one ever? Well, it's certainly been pretty spectacular despite the lack of precipitation and major blistering heat. :o)

July means blueberry season, which is even better with your closest friends. Silliness always ensues.

Case in point.

We came home with about 20-25 pounds of blueberries! Bethie was a blueberry-picking fiend. Me? I just talk too much and eat too many.

Lovin' my girls Jill, Viktoria, and Bethie. <3

Adventures in Adventuring

Summer weekends are magical times, aren't they? When the only light you need is from the fireflies and stars.

She rarely takes good photos, but when she does, she prefers Dos Equis.

A few hidden strands of blue in her gloriously dark hair.

Jeff and Andie sneaking away to the beach for a few quick photos.

 Nothing like a walk while the sun sets in order to catch the sun bursting through the tree skylights.

Siblings are your first friends, right?

Lazy Days

Typical morning. 

I-don't-want-to-admit-this-was-my-breakfast-so-let's-ignore-that...

I was bored... so I covered my ugly lamp in lovely cream-colored burlap. Such a quick fix with instant pretty gratification.

Be Spontaneous

Monday was a low-key day with only a few people staying for the "Monday Club" as we call it. Honestly, we were even doing leftovers for dinner - that's just how low-key the day was going to be. 

But sometimes spontaneity happens. And by spontaneity, I mean your brother comes home with a 29-inch fish. And no, not one person who was at the compound that day had gutted a fish EVER before yesterday. It was definitely a life experience, but hey, how much fresher can you get? Seriously, the thing was alive not even four hours before we were grilling it!

Almost two and half feet!

And so we pulled together a meal with fresh strawberries for dessert, and everything was perfect.  Austin even ate his own fish! The fish was so incredible that it didn't need anything more than a bit of salt. It's just funny how something so unexpected can change the course of your day, but hey, sometimes life is just a series of coincidences, right? That's what makes it an adventure.

Summer!

Yes folks, it's that place I love most: Union Pier, Michigan. Oh how I've missed it so. I guess the weather was expecting my arrival since it has been nothing short of hot, sunny, and beautiful. Even my Dad made it down to the beach, and that is certainly a rare site to see (especially before 3:00 pm).

All in all, I couldn't have had a more relaxing weekend of beach, sunsets, great family and friend time. The Baldacci family and my family went to a fantastic Italian place for dinner called Tosi's. I guess when your meal lasts three hours, you know you've had a great one. I can't wait to go back and bring Kyle. And I wish I had my camera because I've finally had something that I've really wanted to try for a long time - fried zucchini flowers. It was the standout of our dinner with such a unique, delicate flavor. Truly, I know it sounds a bit bizarre, but if you ever have the opportunity to try them, go for it. The photos I do have are courtesy of Gabriela (love that girl).

Honestly, it was great to finally see everyone again. I am so blessed to be able to have a place like Union Pier.

Can you ask for a more perfect ending to a day?

<3 summer. True life.

DONE

Oh wow. The dental board exam rocked me hard. But after hours of studying and nerves, I can officially say it is over.

After waking up incredibly early, I arrived at my testing center and saw that the lovely Andrea from my class was there! It definitely helped to have each other and calm the other down.. :)

After the morning session, I had my second testing session. That one thankfully went better than the first. I was definitely not expecting the caliber of questions I encountered, but all I could do is get through it. And I did, and in a month I know if I passed! Here's hoping I did.

This was my expression after completing my exam. No joke.

So seven hours and 400 questions later, I was done. Kyle started driving to St. Louis so we could have our celebratory dinner. I was frazzled and stopped across the street for a post-exam coffee while I waited. We stopped at the Trader Joe's before dinner -  for a bottle of wine, of course!

This was well deserved.

Click on "Keep on Readin'"  link just after this to continue.

Moving... and Kittens!

Ok, so everyone knows moving sucks more than pulling teeth (dental joke fully intended).

And moving sucks even more when you're preparing for an eight and a half hour long exam that is this Tuesday because it is the biggest distraction in the world! I can usually sit for hours and hours and study, but the fact that my apartment needed cleaning and was in boxes was a big distraction. And now that I'm all happy and settled in the new place, there is still TONS to do. Luckily my mother came for a few days to unpack some boxes, set up my kitchen, and clean, which was a huge relief. Regardless, this move really impacted my studying ability. I think I'll pass, but I just cannot wait for 2 months of no studying and relaxation.

In any case, there are so many perks to the new place. And a real kitchen is one of them, especially a working gas oven (which means no more half raw / half burnt lopsided cupcakes and baked goods). You know what, I think electric ovens might actually be worse than moving.

And now for your viewing pleasure, my first successful muffin in over a year due to the fact that I now have a real oven:

Banana Muffins with oven-toasted walnuts, banana chips, and Nutella frosting

The muffin was a box mix, but shh, we won't tell anybody because I dolled it up nicely.

Oh, and we have some adorable visitors that are living under out next-door neighbor's porch that keep the mice at bay. Say hello to Little Gray, Runt, and Blackie as I affectionately call them.

(If I give them real names, I swear I'll want to keep them more than I already do).

(Mostly) Notions

1.  Summer Satchel DIY from Sincerely Kinsey // 2.  The Last Iced Coffee Recipe You'll Ever Need from Craving Comfort // 3. Magnetic Spice Rack from Kitchen Table Scraps // 4. DIY Rustic Pallet Coffee Table from Wonder Forest

Oh, and I have to mention that Dana from Craving Comfort also has a recipe for sweet cream on her iced coffee page that is absolutely incredible. I've been using it every day for a great creaminess and sweetness to my iced coffee.

Science Joke

Apologies in advance for the nerdiness.

Get it?

24. Vacation with Kyle Before We're Married

If I haven't complained about it enough, let me tell you once again that dental school is TOUGH. In the beginning of March, I had eight (yes, eight) exams in three weeks. And that is exactly why one needs a break.  

Spring Break, that is.

Click the "Keep on Readin'" link at the bottom left to continue to the post.

In Progress - 22. Graduate Dental School

So the first part of this goal started a loooooooooong time ago. I'm the daughter of a dentist, so I kind of always had the idea in my head. Unfortunately, around the time I was ready to apply (after working my butt off in high school and college), everybody else was! Seriously, dental schools closed during the nineties, and now suddenly there was a big surge to apply just when I'm ready to start the process? Awesome.

And despite my stress, you know how that story ends.