2011: In Review

WARNING: This post may will contain run-on sentences, but really what’s new, i’ve never been good with grammatics…is that even a word? Ok, moving on.

2011 was an absolutely crazy, amazing, stressful, beautifully chaotic, exciting, eventful year full of OMG’s, tears of joy & sadness & holy mother’s of every word imaginable! This year has taught me to really take my time & enjoy every moment because it really does go by so quickly. Live each day better than the last. Oh…& find a balance. That’s been a major thing for me lately. More on that later.

2011, In Review

In January, i started my last semester of college. I thought I knew how stressful it was going to be, but I really had no idea. Then after months of coffee, all-nighters & exact-o knife injuries, it was finished. I was a college graduate (with impeccable grammar). Wow, i mean, i wasn’t ever going to have classes again! This was a bittersweet moment for me.

In June my sister Jen & her husband Daniel (who were in the adoption process) got the news that a birth mother had chosen them to be the parents of her child. This was a super exciting time for them & the rest of our family. I was over the moon to become an aunt to this unborn child. Then a couple days later we find out this baby is friggin’ twins! Whoooah, holy mother of every word imaginable!! They are the most precious babies I’ve ever seen & I can’t even explain how happy I am that they are a part of our family! I seriously can’t get enough of them.

In July, my graphic design internship with Johnston & Murphy turned into a full-time position. It was like, alright, you’re officially an adult…overnight. It’s been an amazing learning experience & I’m enjoying every minute of it.

I moved twice in 2011, at the end of July & then in October. I have a goal to not move in the year 2012!

In November, I went to New York for the second time. I loved it so much. I love the pace, i love the tall buildings, i love the atmosphere. I love New York.

The day before Thanksgiving, I got a call from my other sister Rebecca & her husband Robert (who are also in the adoption process) and they received the news about a little girl in Ethiopia that was going to be their daughter! Whaaat?! Yeah! They were going to be parents & I was going to be an aunt for the 3rd time! Crazy! At this time she was around 7 months old. It was still going to be months before they get to bring her home, but we’re hoping in time for her 1st birthday, which is in April!

December 31st, 2011. I was sitting up on a mountain, a fire burned behind me, i watched the last sun of the year set & disappear behind the mountain, there were songs, there were laughs, there were memories being made.
It was a perfect end to the year. It was a tale as old as time. (@Allen Laseter)

Now it’s 2012. These past few days I’ve actually had time to sit & reflect on all that has happened this past year. It got to the point where I felt like I wasn’t even thinking anymore, I was just going from one thing to the next, no questions, just…going. My calendar’s been controlling my life lately, when it should be me! Yikes. I really need to slow it down a bit & figure out what I’m doing or I’m going to get burnt out really fast. And boom, full-circle, we’re back to that balance thing I mentioned earlier. I need more balance in my life and by golly, I will make that happen! I will not rush things, I will not give up, I will not give in. I will learn to say no, I will embrace the pain, I will enjoy the journey, I will succeed…and I will need help & that’s not an easy thing for me to say.

I will rock the heck out of 2012, who’s with me?!

To my family & friends - You are the most amazing people I’ve ever met & I don’t know where I would be without you. You teach me & help me grow every single day. Thank you for being a part of my life & allowing me to share mine with you. May 2012 bring you many blessings.

Love you all.

My Top 10 Favorite Typefaces

Here is my list (in no particular order). What are your favorites?

1. Trade Gothic
2. Eames
3. Bodoni
4. CG Poster Bodoni
5. Clarendon
6. Univers
7. Baskerville
8. Din
9. Interstate
10. Helvetica

Nice ampersand usage!

If I start a photography blog

will you follow me?

Directions

A couple of years ago i facebook messaged a friend of mine, directions to my house. this is what i gave her as instructions when entering the street. wow.

press #47 for access into gate if after 6:30pm
then enter in as normal, if asked by a guard who you are visiting, just answer with
“The Hawk wishes to visit the Owl”
He’ll radio all other officers and you will have a clear and smooth travel down to your destination.
This is all just safety precaution considering the current situation we are in.
You will be fine though as long as you follow these strict instructions and to not deviate from the course.

Other Things to Remember
1. Before entering the gate, please turn off all electronic devices( this helps so they don’t think you have a bomb). Which brings us to number
2. We please ask that you refrain from bringing any bombs or anything that can explode and injure pedestrians, bike riders, homeowners or local neighborhood pets.
3. When talking to a guard/officer always tell the truth, be polite and look straight into their eyes and do not look away until they have given you the green light of safety.
4. Have ID Ready. Like I stated before we are in a sensitive security state, and the officers are doing everything they can to know exactly who is on the grounds at all times.
5. The last thing to keep in mind. Echelon…ever heard of it?
Just be careful what you say in conversation over the phone and through e-mail.

Flashes of Lightning

Focus Test, T2i.

View high resolution

i call this one “simply orange”.

missing teeth and gun shot wounds.

So, for about 2 weeks now, I’ve been having crazy weird/bad dreams. Dreams where everyone I know dies, houses catch on fire, i drown, the world ends, i’m a spy and I get shot (whaat?) ha. but the most recent is where my teeth keep falling out. I’ve had this dream many times before but lately it’s been different. It’s like it’s a natural thing (annoying) but not surprising to my dream self. I keep a plastic bag with me and I just spit the tooth out and put it in the bag! It doesn’t hurt when it comes out and multiples will come out at a time. It’s so weird! The last tooth I remember falling out in the dream was this huge shark tooth looking thing, then I woke up. Oh and if you are my friend, family member, co-worker, celebrity or acquaintance you have probably made a cameo in my dream. These dreams are filled with so many people, it’s like a party every time I go to sleep…with missing teeth and gun shot wounds.

I’m sorry for anyone I know who has died or been hurt in my dreams. I didn’t do it. I’m always trying to save you. ha.

On that note. I think I’ll go to sleep. Here’s to better dreams and a mouth full of teeth.

-a

camillewynn asked: Hello! I'm thinking of transferring to Watkins, but I am worried everyone is very young. Do most students come straight out of high school, or are there also a fair amount of older students?

Hey! Well, i was actually a transfer student. I came to Watkins at 22 and I had an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design. I know 22 is still young, but there are a fair amount of mid 20’s and even older who come to Watkins. Of course there are a lot of just out of high schooler’s that are here, but it’s a good mix! Where are you from?

-a