Lonnie and I took a photo walk around the River Arts District so that I could get photos for my first Photography project. The project was about line, but I was more drawn to color. Oh, the woes of being a painter at heart.

But in all seriousness, I think I did a decent job at the point of the project. These aren't all the pictures I used in my project, and I didn't use all of these pictures: these are just my favorite ones.

The River Arts District is basically a hub of super old buildings that are spray painted and falling apart which all sorts of artists have turned into studios. There are painters, sculptures, glassblowers, ceramicists, you name it. Lonnie and I walked up and down a street with mostly restaurants and bars, so we didn't explore many studios. Last semester, Samm had an interview with one of the artists who works in a studio in the District, and I went with her then to see it. It was an incredible experience and I wish I got pictures of it.

The River Arts District is so unique that it's hard to describe in words. It's just full of art and color and noise and inspiration. I'm not one for shooting urban settings, but I was non-stop inspired while working here. I was wide-eyed and I couldn't stop finding things that caught my interest.

It was the perfect day, too: sunny and really warm for February. I ditched my winter coat. Lonnie and I stopped in this bar/restaurant called The Junction for a mid-day snack. We split an order of fries and the best cinnamon bun I've ever had in my life. I'm not kidding.

I'm so happy to just have gone out on a day trip with Lonnie to explore a new place, because it's my favorite thing to do together.
I'm really excited to see where the rest of my Photography projects take me.

curing the winter blues.

Some little things making me smile:

1. A "Forget Me Not" coffee mug I got from a thrift store, and filling it with coffee as a pick-me-up on cold, windy afternoons.

2. Samoas. Girl Scout cookies in general. But mostly, Samoas.

3. The Chrysanthemums that Lonnie got me.

I am clearly looking forward to spring as I search the everyday for warm, sweet, and colorful things to get me by in these hardest days of winter.

I know my posts lately have been inconsistent and minorly slacking, but I promise I have a few "out of the dorm room" posts coming up. I've just entered into the Photography portion of my basic level art rotation class. At the same time, we are making the switch from Illustrator to Photoshop in my New Media course. I have been in a photo funk of sorts, so these two things could not have come at a better time.

one year.

Today marks one full year since I've had this blog! I'm pretty proud of myself for keeping up with it fairly well. I'd still like to post more regularly, but I'm happy enough with what this has turned into. I always look forward to posting, and that's what matters most to me. I am also thankful that this blog has become an excuse for me to take pictures. I find myself not wanting to pick up my camera and then stopping to think, "This would make a great post!" and changing my mind.

I love this blog more than my past blogs that I've kept. I feel like I'm finally old enough to blog without it sounding like a teenage girl's journal or looking like a myspace photo album. (eek...at least I hope!)
I'm also hoping that as 2013 continues, this blog will show more and more progress. I said it a couple posts back, but I'm very happy with where I am right now and the person I'm turning into. I'm at a point in both my life and my college career where I am so ready to be engulfed by a creative lifestyle, and I want to value this blog as an outlet to capture and reflect that transition.

Pictures above are my roommate's tulips that her boyfriend gave her for Valentine's Day. They are so beautiful, so I snapped a couple of quick pictures before they completely wilt away.

a snow day.

I went home for the weekend and it snowed for the first time in a long time.
I ate way too many Girl Scout cookies and got completely caught up on the second season of GIRLS.
It was wonderful.

sweet like honey.

Prior to Valentine's Day, I painted my nails sparkly pink and gold.

I also did some much needed toiletry shopping and and bought jars to organize my office supplies. I couldn't find a desk organizer I liked, but these jars were perfect. I can always use them for something else if I happen to stumble upon an organizer I like, but for now, this is working really well.

I worked on this Valentine for Lonnie the day of Valentine's Day. I had a dream the night before that I was back in Mrs. Sowle's classroom painting with oil and mineral spirits. I woke up aching for it. Now this is by no means considered serious art, but it felt good to break out some watercolors and brushes and put paint to paper.

One of my hallmates, Corey, taped candy to everyone's door. Corey's awesome like that. I got a laffy taffy but traded it with Brandon for this pink lemonade lollipop. I love pink lemonade anything.

I wore a loose fitting pink shirt, burgundy jeggings, a cream colored cardigan, my gold sparkly flats, dogwood shaped earrings Lonnie gave me, and a ring shaped like a heart with floral detail. Curled hair and pink lip butter, of course.

As a complete side note, dorm room pictures are killing me. The light is always bad and the grey and blue (and messy) floors and tabletops do not make pretty backgrounds at all. I apologize.

Despite me telling him not to get me anything because we don't celebrate Valentine's Day, Lonnie showed up to pick me up with potted Chrysanthemums. I am so not a roses in a vase kinda girl(unless they're orange roses), so I accepted these. Now I just have to try my best to keep them alive.

He also ignored my meal request. I wanted to go to Taco Bell, but he took me to my favorite restaurant that we've been to so far in Asheville: The Moose Cafe at the Farmer's Market. It's nothing fancy, but they serve their drinks in mason jars and give you biscuits with honey and (as I found out yesterday) have some damn good fried chicken. It's just a really happy place.

Another side note: my restaurant taking pictures are always the same, I know. I get so shy taking pictures in public so I just snap one quick picture and try to hide my camera by keeping it super low. It's something I need to work on.

Overall, my Valentine's Day was filled with love. The need for me to call my loved ones was pretty much erased because I am heading home today! In less than an hour, actually. I'm still not packed. Of course.

made for each other.

These pictures are from a night where Lonnie and I went out to eat at this place called Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack. We got fried pickles and I got chicken and waffles and everything was delicious. We went back to his house as snow was starting to fall outside. I had a very cuddly kitty following me around, and I learned how to play poker.

These pictures aren't the best but the night was.

A lot of little things seem to be falling into place and I'm in a really good place right now.

I'm happy.

the "V" word.

It's February and you know what that means.

Oh, Valentine's Day. There is no other holiday that people seem to have such bipolar emotions about. Everyone either loves it or absolutely loathes it. And in most cases, it depends on the relationship status of the individual.

Now, I have a boyfriend, so maybe this is all biased. But my boyfriend and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day. Last year, I threw on a pair of heels and we went out to get pizza and that was the extent of our Valentine's Day extravaganza. 

Personally, I have very mixed feelings about the holiday. I just don't really see the point in dedicating one day of the year to expressing your love for your significant other, because I think you should be doing that every day of the year.

However, there is a huge part of me (the Notebook watching, Country Love Songs singing, embarrassingly gushy part), that loves the idea behind Valentine's Day. I love the fact that there is a day in the worst, coldest, and most depressed month of the year where people look for ways to warm each other's hearts. I think Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate all the different kinds of love and the idea that love exists.

And as a true believer that love exists, I am choosing this year to welcome the dreaded holiday. I won't be buying my boyfriend a giant stuffed monkey that says "I Love You," but I will probably spend the day with him. I might make him a card or maybe something like this. I will call my parents. I will send my best friend a heartfelt text, or maybe send her a letter. I will try to find some old school Valentines to give to my hallmates, like the ones you send in Elementary school. I will probably eat a whole bag of Dove dark chocolate. I will paint my nails a sparkly pink and twirl around in my favorite dress and maybe even watch The Notebook.

all images can be found here.