365.3/31/10: Day 87

Every so often, I search around the internet for sites of amateur photographers and usually end up spending/wasting hours of time looking at their photos. Today I stumbled upon a blog of a woman who is a mom to a little boy who looks to be maybe 3 years old, who posts a week's worth of her amazing pictures at the end of each week (I probably looked at year and a half of her pictures before deciding that I really should get back to work). I figured she must have some super expensive, high quality camera that helps her take all of her great pictures. But come to find out, she mostly uses a regular Canon point-and-shoot camera (granted a very NICE point-and-shoot), or her iPhone (via an app called Hipstamatic). So I instantly downloaded the app and am already obsessed with it. Took this photo of a toothpick flag w/ my phone at my desk.

Ok... I just realized that this post probably is going to sound incredibly boring to a lot of people, buuuut, learning and discovering new things makes ME happy, so my lovely followers, deal w/ the boringness. (ps. love you!)

365.3/30/10: Day 86

Another rainy day. A fun, bright umbrella makes it a smidge better.

365.3/29/10: Day 85

Surprise, surprise... another rainy Monday. On a sunnier note, we bought our first batch of strawberries of the season, and in Alex's words, they looked better than they taste (they are still a bit bitter).

365.3/28/10: Day 84

Sunday was filled w/ family too, the Verdaguer family. (o:

365.3/27/10: Day 83

Saturday's a rugby day. Alex's first home game of the season.

And a family day today too... I'm so lucky to have an amazing family. We had a fantastic family reunion (is I guess what you could call it). Loads of laughs and love.

Ok, ok... I know 3 pictures in one post is a lot... but I couldn't resist this picture of sleepy Shauna in Alex's arms.

365.3/26/10: Day 82

Went out w/ the girls to celebrate a very special birthday... came home and realized I hadn't taken any pictures... so snapped one of my coat and scarf. It was freezing out tonight!

365.3/25/10: Day 81

25th of the month... self portrait day. An awful picture that doesn't really look like me (at least I don't think)... but that's precisely why I chose it. This self portrait thing is definitely something I need to work on... but I don't like taking pictures of myself, sooo this will be a challenge.

365.3/24/10: Day 80

The weather has been super crappy for the past two and a half days. So coming out of work to a beautiful blue sky was very refreshing. I love sunny evenings.

365.3/23/10: Day 79

Went food shopping tonight on an empty stomach. Came home with what seems like every fruit Whole Foods sells.

365.3/22/10: Day 78

The challenge has officially been thrown down. Matty sent around the message that the Winthrop Seaside Stride 5k Footrace is just a short 12 weeks away (this would be the 2nd year that a whole bunch of us compete in this road race). I'm in... and I wouldn't mind relinquishing my 110% Effort Trophy (aka, The-Nice-Try-But-You-Still-Came-In-Last Award), but Alex's 1st Place Trophy is up for grabs! Who's in this year?

365.3/21/10: Day 77

A marvelous Sunday.
Woke up to the sun streaming down on me.
Picked Alex up at the airport.
Chatted w/ Mom.
Split lunch and had an ice cream w/ Alex in Salem.
Walked around enjoying the sunshine & cool air.
Went to the Peabody Essex Museum (got in at a discounted price)
Came home, had some tea and watched a movie (and maybe napped a little too).

365.3/20/10: Day 76

Today was a simply beautiful day filled w/ warm air, the shining sun, happy people and amazing fun with friends. My team, the Purple Bandits, participated in the Hunt For A Cure Scavenger Hunt (a charity scavenger hunt for cancer research). A crazy 5 hour hunt all throughout the streets of Boston. From Faneuil Hall, Beacon Hill & Boston Common, to Newbury & Boylston Street to Fenway Park and Park Plaza. Our competitive streaks definitely were in full force, and we ended up in 2nd place of about 6 teams. Out of everything we took pictures of, did and found throughout the evening, the most amazing part of the day, was all the genuinely nice people we met and talked to. The sweet family from Newport RI, that let us take a picture w/ them because they were wearing "fanny packs" on their waists. The kind man who came along with us to the check-point so we could get points for his Boston Public Library card. The 2 guys working in the cafe on Newbury Street who were so reluctant to give us a job application until we told him that we were doing this for charity and that Whitney promised not to actually fill it out. And finally, the girls and 2 guys on the Green Line who definitely went above and beyond. The gentlemen of course overheard our very loud conversation about the few final items we needed, so they chimed in and asked to see the list to see what they could help out with. A Shaw's key tag loyalty card... check! A "Livestrong" bracelet... one of the men pulled back his shirt sleeve and told us that he's been wearing his Livestrong bracelet everyday for the past 5 years. With a little less than a moment of hesitation, he handed it right over to 4 very tired, very gracious ladies, dressed in purple plaid w/ purple bandannas around their heads... check! There were more acts of kindness during that 5 hour scavenger hunt than I've seen in quite a while. These moments are what keep me going, keep me positive and remind me that in this world of chaos, and hardship, there is even more happiness and kindness... sometimes, you just have to hunt for it.

365.3/19/10: Day 75

Alex was off to Charlotte, NC for the weekend ~ so I threw the heels on and had a fun night out w/ the girls.

365.3/18/10: Day 74

We're good doobies... filled out our 2010 Census. We hemmed and hawed on if we were roommates or unmarried partners...

(o;

365.3/17/10: Day 73

St. Patrick's Day was a fantastic day.
Kristen, Maeve and Mary-Kate came for a visit at work and brought me sweet green carnation. Mary-Kate was cracking me up because she just couldn't get over the automatic flushing toilet in our bathroom and she was practically doubling over in giggles each time it flushed unexpectedly. When I used the bathroom later on in the afternoon, and got an unexpected flush, I nearly giggled out loud myself.
I won a $20 Target gift card in a raffle at work.
Whit brought me a DD iced-tea w/ a lil surprise note.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day outside - so I drove home from work in the sunshine w/ my sunglasses on and sunroof open.

Sláinte!

365.3/16/10: Day 72

Our extremely high value refrigerator artwork.

365.3/15/10: Day 71

This past weekend was daylight savings... I've changed all the other clocks in the apt... but those ones are all digital and within reach of my short little arms. This one will have to wait.

365.3/14/10: Day 70

After a nice slumber party in Reading, watching the girls... Alex and I headed to the mall and had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. I realized, as I looked at our empty dessert plate, that I really should have taken a picture before we ate it, but I wasn't thinking anything more than, "get in my belly" as soon as our Red Velvet & Cheesecake (w/ cream cheese frosting and white chocolate shavings) hit the table...
... then it was home for a relaxing afternoon of reading magazines and napping. What could possibly be better on a cold, rainy Sunday afternoon?

365.3/13/10: Day 69

The ladies and I went on a little adventure to the Aquarium. It was their first time "on the blue line" as Maeve kept saying, verrrry rainy, and very busy, but still very precious time w/ the girls.

365.3/12/10: Day 68

Finally went out and bought my new lens I've been wanting forever... 55mm-200mm zoom lens. Now... just need to keep practicing!

365.3/11/10: Day 67

Boston.com has a section called RAW where they feature all amateur photography. Each month they have a different themed contest where people enter photos and a professional judge picks a winner. I was thinking of entering the contest this month, and the theme is "the items we carry." The general rule is to take a photo of the most commonly found items in your pockets or on your person. So this evening when Alex and I both had gotten home and emptied our pockets, I noticed "all the items we carry" and snapped a pic. Now, I wouldn't say this is contest worthy, but damn, we carry a lot of stuff...
2 iPhones
Sunglasses
A guitar pick
3 tubes of assorted chap stick
Earbuds
3 sets of keys
A wallet
Some mail
... is this shelf was a little bigger, I'm sure much more stuff would accumulate.

365.3/10/10: Day 66

This, my lovely blog followers, is THE "purple brush." If you grew up at 147 Cottage Park Road, chances are that you brushed your hair w/ this very brush the entire time you lived in that house. If you are anything like me, when you find a quality hairbrush, you will use it until you lose it or until every bristle falls out. This is one of those classic hairbrushes. It's not fancy, it's not made out of any special boar-hair or whatever hairbrushes are made out of today... I think it's a good 'ol Conair plastic hairbrush. I used this just about everyday, to get that perfect tightly pulled pony-tail all through middle school. Almost everyday getting ready for school you'd hear someone yell, "Mom, where's the purple brush?!" Today, as I got ready for the day at 147 Cottage Park Road, I used the "purple brush" and was instantly thrown back in time and felt like I was 13 years old.

I love that purple brush.

365.3/9/10: Day 65

Driving into Boston on 93S... times like this I couldn't be happier that I don't even have to get on a highway when driving to and from work. But on the positive side... I witnessed a beautiful sunset.

365.3/8/10: Day 64

Although it was a beautiful almost Spring day, I missed most of, or all of it, being at work, so there wasn't much to take a picture of on this Monday... so I took some time to use the macro setting on my camera after dinner. Can you guess what this is?

... I bet you can... it's not too difficult (o:

365.3/7/10: Day 63

Birthday party at the Verdaguer's... this is Seba after his 2nd serving of cake (o: how could you not smile at that face?

365.3/6/10: Day 62

It's a fantastic March Saturday. It's roughly 52 degrees out, although my car thermoter did read 61 at one point. Alex is in NY for rugby, so I got myself a perfect iced-tea from Atomic Cafe and drove to Winthrop w/ the sunroof open. Love it...

365.3/5/10: Day 61

A perfect Friday night at the Wild Horse Cafe.

World's best nachos (legit, they are the most incredible nachos you'll ever experience), an Allagash (a delicious belgian-style white ale), a burger with the most amazing cheddar cheese ever and great conversation w/ 3 people I love.

365.3/4/10: Day 60

I was SO determined to go to bed early tonight... but there was some good TV on! So ended up going to bed late again, but atleast I got to stop and take a moment to make a wish.

365.3/3/10: Day 59

Whit and I saying goodnight after what was a bit of a rough day... can you see why I love this girl? Her and her crazy optimistic view on life (o:

... if you click on the pic, you might be able to actually read it. (o:

365.3/2/10: Day 58

There's nothing wrong w/ buying yourself flowers every once in a while, right? (o:

365.3/1/10: Day 57

Alex's most recent bruise (from his rugby trip to FLA), is the same color as the red onions we had w/ dinner.

365.2/28/10: Day 56

My gorgeous niece Maeve. Her and I had a lil one on one time Sunday afternoon. I treasure every single moment I get to spend with each of my nieces and my nephew. They make me feel like no one else can, and are a constant source of smiles and laughter.

365.2/27/10: Day 55

Best buds.