LB Says Hi

The Hipster Revolution has done much for thrift shops and garage sales. And when Macklemore and Ryan Lewis came out with their hit song "Thrift Shop" everyone jumped on the second-hand band wagon! I think it is in my blood to search for deals and it's inevitable as a girl that good finds excite me! There seems to be something about restoring something back to value and worth that draws me in. I've realized that I used to hold the same attitude about my relationships too. I see know that I used to be attracted to guys who needed dramatic help in areas of the personality and emotions. I'd take them on not as an equal but as a project that needed fixing. It's terrible, I know, but what's funny is that while I was taking on the role of curator, I noticed myself losing sight of my own soul and began to acquire bad habits in my own personality. Aside from that tangent, I am happy to say that I only search to revive old THINGS now, and leave people to be people...

My babies (nephews) My best friend and I at Secret Beach.

Yesterday I had the privilege of shooting some pictures for my friend Marissa. She's graduating from college this June and needs some pictures done so she can send out a graduation announcement. The day approached and it rained-typical Ashland, Oregon. Still, we went ahead with preparations (makeup, hair, outfit, etc.) She looked beautiful! We headed to Lithia Park, the air was chilly and bit at our bare shoulders. Her black and white dress flew about her, but we made a go at it, using benches and trees as her props. The park was empty, people had seen the rain and dismissed strolls in the park for indoor activities. This only set up a more comfortable atmosphere for Marissa's photo shoot. Trees similar to that of cherry blossom trees, were abundant and in full bloom; their flowers littered the walkways and the sun seemed to touch each one. The shoot became a symphony of human and nature, in which we laughed and skipped. I took some photos for Marissa's graduation annou...

The above is a photo of literally a handful of cookies I made ten minutes ago. Yes, they are smaller than the average oatmeal cookie, and yes, they are thicker too. No, I did not do this to be purposefully creative. You see, I am without cookie pans, flat pans, or any real pans at all to cook/bake on. What to do? When you really want cookies...you make it happen.  I rummaged through the almost empty cupboards of my kitchen and found bite-sized cupcake pans? I have no idea. Anyway, I improvised . Now, I don't know if I'll ever buy cookie sheets. These soft-on-the-inside, crunchy-on-the-outside delights were amazing! They are definitely easier to scarf down, which may or may not be a good thing; to me, it's a great thing .  So the next time you're under-equipped and not prepared, take the step to use what you've got and maybe, just maybe you will discover something new about the things around you and most importantly, about yourself. Sadly, most of my ...

My sister (Racie) and my twin nephews (Rustyn and Rycen).  This was taken a few weeks ago during our vacation getaway to Kona, Hawaii. We were at a local farmer's market.  The boys just recently lost their father to cancer. Pastor Rick was a great man, and during this hard time, the boys are blessed to have such a strong mother. I am so proud of my sister for all that she's been through, and for her ever-burning spirit and faith in God. There is no doubt that they will grow up to be great servants of God too. This is my family.

I guess it all started with my Precious Moments' diary. It came to me pink and darling with its own lock and key. What secrets I needed to keep locked away at the age of 5, I haven't the slightest clue, but that's when I fell in love with my own mind. The first entry described a visit to the doctors, in which I boasted about how I DIDN'T cry when getting a shot. The next few entries went on to talk about my then kindergarten crush, Jacob. My spelling was horrible, and I had a strange fascination with sparkly pens, however, I have had countless diaries/journals since that first one and have never fallen out of love with writing. You should see my books, they are dog-eared and highlighted to death. The margins are full of notes and random words are circled on each page, either because I liked how the word sounded or because I didn't know the word altogether. I am stubbornly against getting a Kindle or a Nook. I like the smell of a real book in my hands. I like the...