I'll quit talking about how seldom I post here. Obviously my blog is not a priority!
However, apparently making a random video is high on the list, though it really only took a few minutes. It's super short. Recently I've remembered that my new camera has video, so I've taken a few clips here and there while I'm out taking pictures. I thought it might be fun to put them together for you. Don't get too excited, my only video editor is Windows Movie Maker. :)
Also, I've been wanting to use this song on something ever since the first time (or maybe seventh time...who knows...) I heard it on Parks and Rec. Even if it isn't May yet, and some of this video was taken in March. Details!
And here are a couple more photos of those adorable goslings that I saw just tonight. Sometime maybe I can show you the ducklings from the other day, plus some flower photos from the past couple of months. Maybe!
(Just an old photo I found. It was taken in December of 2008 when we strung up some lights in our office, and had a nice sunset one night.)
I have neglected this blog, and part of the reason is that I haven't been taking bloggable photos. But I know I can post even without pictures, so here I am.
Thanksgiving was great! I went to the Seattle area (like last year) and every day was different, but I think I got to experience a nice balance of activities. It snowed a little, and was generally FREEZING for most of my visit, but that made it fun and memorable. I really hated leaving to go back to normal life after the nice 5-day break.
But normal life hasn't been so bad! Last Friday I got some good news and it seems to have given me a jolt of Christmas spirit. I was feeling overwhelmed by all I wanted to accomplish this month, but now I'm feeling much more on top of things. I've shopped, baked, hung lights, sent a bit of mail, wrapped gifts and lots of other little things. I LOVED Christmas when I was a kid (like most kids), but then I started feeling stressed and sometimes bummed about it for part of my adulthood. In the past few years, I've been getting some of my childhood excitement. I can point to some possible reasons, but I don't really know why. Life just has its phases with things, I guess.
Anyway, I am glad that Christmas gives us an excuse to do special things for people. It gives me the push to step slightly out of my comfort zone and contact old friends or try new projects. Sometimes I think Christmas is dragged on too long when I see stores decorating before Halloween. But then as the day approaches, it feels like there's never enough time to do everything I'd like to do. (Like go to the Festival of Lights at The Grotto in Portland. I just learned of that this year, but I don't really have the time/energy to go. How cool does that sound?)
I have several more things to accomplish in the next two weeks, but I am trying to enjoy each step of the process instead of just dwelling on the list or wishing it would all be over.
And oh yeah, I just remembered I've taken some pictures and wanted to share some recipes with you! I'll try and get to that this week. We'll see, chickadee.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite Christmas songs:
We listened to a lot of Mannheim Steamroller when I was younger, so it has a lot of good memories attached. But the choir version of this song is great, too.
I meant to blog this past week, but I've been fairly tired and unmotivated in the evenings. I was also overwhelmed by how many ice photos I had and didn't know how to narrow them down. To be honest, most aren't very fabulous; it's the subject matter that I find really interesting, so I still wanted them to do more than sit on my hard drive. So I made a slideshow! Fading photos in and out to music is one way to make them seem a bit prettier. ;)
This might seem kind of long, but hopefully it's entertaining. There's music, but feel free to watch without--it's not pertinent. I did want to give a shout-out to my friend Michael, though, because his music is the soundtrack. He composed and recorded these years ago and I've been wanting to use his music in a slideshow for awhile now.
Here's the video, and then scroll down after it so I can tell you about some fun paper snowflakes!
The other day my 15-year-old niece, L, learned how to make these snowflakes at school. Then she came home and made some for her bedroom, and her mom instagrammed them. I loved them and wanted to learn how, so last night we Skyped and she taught me. It's pretty simple once you get the hang of it (it took me a few tries to cut the paper correctly--I felt so incompetent since my 7-year-old niece got it on the first try). You can make all sorts of sizes and colors depending on what paper you have on hand. I used some cheapy (better, since it's thinner) scrapbook paper to make the one above (seen above my couch), but you can use printer paper, origami paper, maps, newspapers, anything.
A friend on Instagram said she wanted to teach her daughters, so I thought I'd link to a few videos that teach you how. You can also just do a search for "3D snowflake tutorial" and find some options. Here are a few:
I really enjoyed doing a craft via Skype and I think we'll have to do that again soon. I've also learned how to make rubberband bracelets from my niece N via Skype, and my friend Dan was even able to tutor L in math! It's obviously way better to hang out with my nephieces in person, but since we live a few states apart, I'm really glad I can still see them and spend time with them.
Have you ever made these snowflakes? My friend Dania said she made them at work one year, and they hung them all over the office!
Before I post photos from my niece's visit, I thought I'd start with the video I made for her. You may remember I made one for her older sister two years ago (see it here) and she seemed to really like it, so I thought it would be a good idea to continue that idea of taking various video clips throughout the visit and putting them together with some photos as a sort of keepsake. Enjoy, and thanks for watching!
I thought I'd post a general update about my life, for those of you close friends and family who might care.
A couple of weeks ago I decided not to travel home (to Yuba City, CA) for Christmas. Normally, I stay in Salem for Thanksgiving and go to YC for Christmas, but this time I had the week+ vacation in Mexico with my parents over Thanksgiving. Still, I was all set to buy my Christmas plane tickets, but looking at the cost and thinking about all of the stress of air travel this time of year stopped me. I felt bad about it, but it just makes more sense to wait and visit my parents later, in the spring. It'll be cheaper, less hectic, and nicer weather.
I will instead spend Christmas with some friends up in the Seattle area. That way I can drive on my own time table instead of arranging airport rides and being at the mercy of flight schedules, luggage requirements and airport busyness.
This decision, along with a few other ways I've simplified this year, has made for a much less stressful season. It's been SO nice. I have limited myself better on gift-giving and only sent out a few Christmas cards. I haven't even been baking (though I am trying out an easy recipe this weekend), when normally I like to give cookies to friends and coworkers. I do enjoy it, but it can also be expensive (depending) and time-consuming, not to mention messy.
I've also felt more available to take on some freelance design projects recently. The projects have been fairly enjoyable and the extra money helps a lot. So does having a nice new laptop!
I've been thinking about types of blog posts that I've neglected lately. Wallpaper Wednesday, Graphic Redesign, and Thankful Thursday, to name a few. I hope to get back into them in the new year. Feel free to give me input on the ones you miss most.
There's more I could say, but this is getting long. I'll leave you with one of my favorite pop/contemporary Christmas songs. I was a big Mariah Carey fan growing up (judge me if you must!), and I know some will think this is cheesy, but this song always makes me happy. I know Brenda likes it, too, so I'm in good company!
Here's the video I made for my niece. It's just a compilation of little clips I took throughout her visit.
[I'm in a couple (actually it's just one sliced up), though I don't look directly at the camera because it's practically impossible to look at it and also watch the screen to make sure the camera is aimed correctly. Why don't they put the camera more central, I ask you?]
I could add a bunch of disclaimers, but I think you can figure them out. It's not perfect, but oh well. (Words I live by. :P)
Music: Brighter Than the Sun by Colbie Caillat
Have a great week!
PS I forgot to say thanks to my sister R for providing a few photos and video of L's return to ABQ! I think that last video of her homecoming might be one of my favorite clips. :)
