b&w challenge one.

Photography has always been an outlet of mine. From disposables, polaroids, point-and-shoots, SLRs to DSLRs, I have always enjoyed photography. But it wasn’t until recent that I have took it more seriously and have decided to start from scratch. To hone my skill by starting all over from the beginning. In order to do that, I have decided to focus on shooting nothing but b&w photos for the next month. A challenge, if you will. :) I don’t shoot much in b&w and only convert my photos if the colors frustrate me so this is going to be quite the challenge. I guess you can say I lack the artistic eye to see past the colors to bring out the focus of details…? I don’t know. But I am hoping that by the end of this month long challenge, I will come out a better photographer.

a piece of my day in photos.

i turned 30 today. After I got out of class Ariel and I had dinner at Stanley and Seaforts. We haven't had time alone for ourselves in a loooooooooong time so this was such a nice time for us. thank you MIL for watching the kids. :) we both looked like the happiest duo while sharing stories and poking fun at each other. this has become a must do every month now...

 

basil grimlet. my official fav!

ariel and his lady drink. haha

halibut cheek. or as ariel calls it, hella-buttcheek. 

the view from our table. beautiful, isn't it?

just another week.

A normal day at the Arellano house.

This is Leo's attempt at helping me fold laundry.

Trina getting her Supernatural fix on Hulu with a hair roller on.

4 years.

I'm a little late on this post because well, 4 years ago was two days ago.

Confusing, right?

4 years ago (from two days ago) was when my husband and I married. It's been almost 4 months since he deployed with two more months to go until he comes back home (I'm seeing a pattern here...). This husband of mine that I've known for more than half of my life still manages to give me butterflies from the other side of this planet.

I miss him. So much.

Two more months to go.

hello, old friend.

I am guilty.

I am guilty of neglecting this place where my thoughts are drawn. I’ve also been neglecting the photo-a-week project I set out to do. I’m terrible.

But…

I’m doing great! I’ve started school again and have been pretty busy (and sleep deprived) balancing everything from spending time with Trina, attending to little Leo, keeping a 96% average in school, and everything else that life demands. Ariel and I chat just about every day (thank God for the Air Force!) so it’s almost as if he’s just at work only half an hour drive away.

Almost.

I’ve managed to stay strong this far. We’re just about a third of the way through and I haven’t cried once. Maybe it’s because I have so much going on that my mind and body is always running about but I haven’t hugged myself crying in a corner yet. haha! I am reminded of him every day though. His razor still hangs in the shower, his toiletries still on the dresser, his winter gloves and hat still tucked away in the car, his coolers in the backyard, and the weather that demands BBQ all whisper his missing presence. Sometimes I catch myself feeling alone and really, really small. I daydream from time to time and I can picture him vividly enough that it almost feels like he never left. It also helps that we chat like we’ve always done.

A third of the way through.

I learned something about myself though. I always feared that I had become too comfortable and the part of me that survived through pre-Ariel times was long gone. I mean, I shudder at everything I went through and the girl that I was. I was a pretty tough little thing that was difficult to break down. Very stupid, but tough. Point is, she’s still here somewhere. A lot less stupid thank God, but I’m still pretty tough!

I hear Leo squealing. My time here is up folks! Until next time.. :)

14/52

Trina and I’ve been having SO MUCH FUN with her school’s spirit week. It was wacky hair day yesterday! Can you tell?

Leo started out looking like my Dad but his features are changing! My Step Mom said that a baby will change at least 20 times as he grows and well, she was definitely right about that.