They say a picture is worth 1000 words, although in our modern society of selfies and food-stagrams, most pictures seem to be worth far less.
But every once in awhile you see an image that makes you remember that photography is an art form, and that some people have the ability to capture an amazing story with just the snap of a shutter.
Reuters released their top images of 2013, and they are awe-inspiring. You can check out more of the images here.
The last few days have been kind of a blur, Thanksgiving was lovely but I was too sick to be hungry so I consoled myself with tequila and cheesecake. The next morning I got up at 3 am to drive 7 1/2 hours to Oregon to see my best girl.
The good thing about being an adult is that for the most part you are completely in control of everything you do, there is nobody that can tell you not to do something, but that’s not always a good thing.
When I was in high school and was too sick to move but would still try to get up to go out to a party, it was annoying, but nice in a way to have my dad there to say “You are sick, you aren’t going anywhere,” whereas now there is nobody but me to tell me not to do things when I’m sick, and I clearly won’t be listening to anything I have to say.
Aside from waking up in a panic on Saturday morning because I felt like I couldn’t breathe, it was a great weekend. It was really nice to be back in the “winter”, well it was plus 12 most of the time I was there, but it’s as close to actual winter as I’m going to get for awhile.
We went skating, sat by the fire, drank Caesar’s with pickle juice and ate at some of Bend’s adorable and delicious local restaurants. Why more restaurants don’t have a chicken fettucine alfredo burrito on the menu is a mystery that will never be solved.
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| Oregon is sooooo lovely |
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| gracefullll |
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| brunch at CHOW in Bend. Go. For real. |
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| guava mimosas by the fire. I usually have some kind of make up on my hand, but that’s what life is like sometimes |
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| old books in an antique shop |
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| there should always be cupcake cafes |
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| way too many craft beer to choose from |
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| new boyfriend Koa |
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| cute store in Bend called Gypsy Soul. I want everything. |
I don’t really need anything for Christmas, I’m pretty much just so excited to see my family and be in Mazatlan again, but I decided to make a list anyway just in case someone was trying to shop for me and was at a complete and total loss for ideas.
I actually do kind of need a new purse, mine was $20, I’ve had it for 3 years, and it is basically being held together by super glue and hope at this point, but I can’t find anything I like nearly as much.
The bag on my list is gorgeous, but I would probably get it and keep it in my closet for a few more months until my current one finally gasps its last breath. We’ve been through a lot together, even casually glancing at other purses feels a little bit like cheating.
I’ve been looking into an Around the World ticket for a few years now, I’ve had friends that used them and honestly, it seems like the best thing you could ever spend your money on (I’ve been trying to remember that when I see a new shirt or pair of shoes that I think I need to have). You can spend as long as you want in each place, and then move on to the next one when you’re ready.
We’ve been saving money for a big trip for a couple of years now, we’re planning to go next summer. I’m getting excited because it’s creeping closer but also a little bit nervous. There are so many places I’d like to go, and it scares me sometimes because I’m worried I won’t be able to go everywhere I want to.
I think people put things off sometimes because we keep telling ourselves we have lots of time, that we can always do it later. But the truth is that none of us really knows how long we have. If something is really important to you, you need to make it a priority, and do everything you can to make it happen now.
There are a few different companies that offer RTW tickets, I’ve been looking into this one and this one so far.
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| An example of my dream itinerary |
I’ve wondered about this for years, and then I saw this video. I had to share.
I’ve been into burlesque for a long time now, I always find myself watching documentaries and reading books around it, so when I was creeping around on the internet and found out that there was going to be a burlesque show at the Fillmore, I was so excited.
After about 3 weeks of begging and wheedling my husband to the point where he began to lose the will to live, he eventually gave in and bought us tickets (he LOVED it, by the way). I loved it too, it was really fun to watch. The girls were beautiful, and amazing dancers, and a few of them were really curvy but still gorgeous.
They had different “numbers” including a Star Wars dance, and a Planet of the Apes dance where all the girls danced and stripped wearing gorilla masks.
One really neat thing was when they brought up some of the girls that had been a part of the show in the ’80’s, to talk to them and see if they had any advice for the new ladies, you could tell that it had been a really enjoyable time in their lives, and they were still a part of the act so many years later.
The troupe I saw were called the Black Heart Burlesque, definitely check them out if they are in your area.
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| The Fillmore is so gorgeous |
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| Band posters of all of the musical acts that have played the Fillmore. It’s almost like going back in time. |
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| Another accidental gif from my phone. I don’t know how it happens, and I couldn’t make it take a gif if my life depended on it |
I’m off to my first Sharks game of the season. This is about to be me:
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| Luckily I look amazing in Kelly green spandex |
Nothing takes me back home as fast as the smell of a hockey rink, the snap of the cold and the sound of a blade cutting into the ice. The second I walk in the door I’m five years old again, and I’m eating old rink burgers (a truer delicacy has never been found) and fries with salt and vinegar, with gummy cobras for dessert, and then running around through the entire rink, under the bleachers and back to the zamboni playing tag with my friends.
I don’t think I went on a single date that wasn’t to a hockey game until I was 18, and let’s be honest, why would you want to go anywhere else? Plus they serve Canadian at the Shark Tank, and to be honest I’m not much of a beer girl, but I’ll take my Canada where I can get it, and I haven’t found anywhere else in California that serves it.
Plus he plays for the Sharks. Enough said.
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| Dibs. |
A few more picture from my trip. Ok a lot more pictures. I literally can not resist taking a billion pictures, it’s so beautiful there. Even when I lived there, my phone was just full of pictures of the places I saw every single day.
You would think it would get old, but it really doesn’t. Just when you think you’re immune, it sneaks up on you and takes your breath away again.
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| cromwells |
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| I have this dress in black and white, and it’s a bit of a struggle to wear anything else, ever |
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| Brandy Melville |
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| these trees make me happy |
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| Ocean House in Waikiki. Almost too beautiful to eat, best served with a POG mimosa |
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| hello lover |
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| brunch with my second family |
My little rat sister turned 21 last Tuesday, and I really wanted to be there to celebrate with her. One night in August after a lot of red wine I decided to buy a ticket to Hawaii without telling her about it. As it got closer, I started to get really nervous. What if she had plans or was not that excited to see me? I felt like she would be really excited but I’ve seen too many romantic comedies not to appreciate the true awfulness of a grand gesture gone wrong.
I flew in last Wednesday night and walked up to what I hoped was the right door (I’d never been to her place before). She opened the door, and absolutely did not recognize me at first. An instant later when she realized it was me she got a look of sheer terror on her face, like she thought I might be there to tell her some really bad news.
A second after that she must have remembered that it was her birthday and put the pieces together, because she was really excited and happy to see me, and I didn’t have to go sleep on the beach for the night.
I had such a fun weekend, I love hanging out with my sister, and her friends on the island are really fun. Hawaii is my favourite place in the world and always will be, I feel happiest and most like myself when I’m there.
What will you do with the time you have left?
loveliness. 