Selfie Sparingly

While I love documenting life's moments through photography, I almost can't stand being in front of the camera lens.  Blame it on 12 years of Catholic school with the token "mean girls" or the fact that I was always a very physically awkward child until about age 23 -- I mean the whole gamut: braces, glasses, brakes and sprains of my spindly limbs and the complete inability to style my own hair.  Needless to say I'm not used to being comfortable with the way I look.  Reaching that point has been a slow process of learning to accept myself with it's hiccups along the way.  The only lens I've ever felt comfortable in front of belongs to Daniel Ballesteros of Ballesteros Photography.  Back in the days when I worked with his beautiful and talented wife Kari of Kari Jane Make-up at Sephora, Dan took THESE photos of my horse and I and later on they both came out to the ranch to take John and my Engagement photos and then our Wedding photos.  I've always been curious as to what it would be like to be in front of my own lens and I've always wanted to do a shoot with a tripod, timer and/or mirror.  Well, the other night when I was supposed to be packing to go out of town, I got a wild hair.  In my workout clothes and freshly cut hair (I blame the saucy haircut really), I grabbed my beloved Canon 60D and went at it.  I did not allow myself to be my own worst critic and instead kept snapping until I was tired... and really panicking about not packing.  I only viewed the images at the end rather than critiquing each one as I took it and kind of laughed at the end of the little exercise.  It really was fun and kind of interesting in a way I don't fully get yet.  It was just... playing - with big(ger) kid toys.  I guess, this is how I "Selfie"! #selfiesparingly #selflove

Blogger Reading List

I'm thinking of expanding the blog section of this site to encompass all of what I like to do since people get a little confused sometimes when I say "I like to paint and bedazzle cow skulls...and paint deer antlers...and make necklaces... and shoot photo's...".  It's understandable.  Also, I may have un-diagnosed A.D.D. in case you were wondering.  If you weren't wondering we can just move on. 

I am constantly amazed by the talent I am lucky enough to be surrounded by.  For today, I'm just focusing on the ladies in that "friendship demographic" - though I do know some talented gents as well. There are artists, bloggers, entrepreneur's, real estate agents, CPA's, mom's and more.  If you see me trying to be all that I can be, it's because I'm surrounded by such great motivation.  Life and moving away and everything else sometimes gets in the way of recognizing that but lucky for us we have the magical internet machine to thank for reminding us.  One of my favorite ways to "catch-up" on my gal pals is to head to their Instagram and Facebook account to see what they've been up to and a handful of them even have blogs.  If you know me, you know I LOVE reading blogs!  I don't know what it is exactly that I like so much about blogs.  Maybe it's the idea that as a blog writer, you can never be quite sure of who specifically is reading them so you just kinda say "screw it" and write whatever you feel like.  I dunno, just a thought.  There always seems to be an element of "raw" in a blog that I find believable.  Let's be real, we only allow ourselves to be tagged in photos on Facebook and Instagram where we look good, we only post photos where we think we look good... but a blog - that's just your thoughts (with or without illustrations).  And some of my friends have amazingly beautiful and deep thoughts that they are willing to put on THE INTERNET.  The internet guys, where anyone can see.  As someone who has attempted to "put them self out there" I can tell you it's a very exposing and scary feeling.  So the ladies I am about to mention deserve a virtual standing slow-clap for their bravery as well as their unadulterated real-ness, drive, ambition, depth and of course their thoughts that they are so eloquently able to convey in Helvetica or whatever the popular font of the moment happens to be. 

Without further delay, here are my favorite lady-bloggers that I check into on the regular:

Hickory and Hunt by Jessie C.  Excerpt:  "Hickory & Hunt brings together the delicious and gorgeous with a refreshing dose of bold and unapologetic wit. My philosophy is simple: Real is always better — particularly in the case of people, ingredients and handbags — hairspray and a good laugh can brighten any day and Nordy’s really is the happiest place on earth."  And that's just the first line!  Do yourself a favor and read her blog, especially the post about rompers being "adult onsie's", you will die.

Perfect 10 SF by Caroline Curran. I've known Caroline since we were little sprites and fellow SF Native's together.  She started her blog a few years ago and has managed to grow along with her family and readership and has turned the blog and herself into a virtual force in stylish yet affordable shoes.  A perfect size 10 of course.  My favorite thing about Caroline is that in the sometimes competitive world of bloggers, she takes her time to create posts that teach others how to start and grow a blog.  Now that's a classy lady if you ask me.

Buckaroo Barbie and the Sophisticated Lemon by Liz Brannan. Buckaroo Barbie was one of the first blogs I really became dedicated to due to Liz's wit, charm, realness and hilarity.  Since she also likes the many things life has to offer, like myself, she started a second blog called the Sophisticated Lemon in order to express both her cowgirl side as well as her girlie side.  Sometimes I still ask myself, "What would Buckaroo Barbie Do?" ;) To truly stay up to date with Liz, you gotta check out her Instagram.  Bonus:  You'll meet the most adorable Jack Russel Terrier ever named Roo.

Buckaroogirl by Adrian "Buckaroogirl".  Adrian is little sister to Liz and these two have creativity and beauty oozing out their pores.  Not only is Adrian a well-know singer/songwriter, she's also a cartoonist of sorts with her amazing Buckaroogirl sketches.  When she's not jotting down her next lyric, or traveling to her next gig, or sketching a buckaroo scene, she's keeping up with her fans motivating them to do well, try harder, persevere and be general all around beautiful bad-A**'s.  I dig that message.

Crowhopper by Kelli Neubert. She's like the New Yorker of the western world I kid you not!  Journalist by trade and cowgirl by nature, Kelli is smart, funny with a dry-wit, and a dash of clever genius.  I have been known to read some of her blog posts out-loud to my husband and friends just to be sure they hear/read it.  My all time favorite post is HERE!  You are welcome.

Meg, Paper, Scissors by Meg S.  My college roommate documents her baby Graham's activities and discoveries with the most hilarious captions set on the backdrop of New York and sometimes the Central Coast.  I think she should be a travel writer since she is hands-down the best traveler I've ever met.  She's even proficient in the German language and owns a dirndl... or two.

The Lazy and Beautiful by Shannon F.  I mean... that title right?!  Shannon just graduated from CSU and happens to have an adorable doggle that looks like my fur-baby's twin.  She also packs around a very smart brain inside that beautiful blonde noggin of hers and manages to post on a variety of things with great depth and insight.  I met Shannon when we worked at the same company when she was on a summer internship and the entire time I felt like I wanted to get to know her better.  Thankfully, again, we have the internet and I am able to stay up to date on her ponderings and adventures.

Kim's Fab Finds by Kim B.  I've known Kim since college through one of my childhood (and of course present-day) bestie's, Jenna. Kim shoots great photo's and has a soul that just glows.  She expresses all this through her new lifestyle blog where she lets us know all about the fabulous things she finds --trust me they are always amazing and she's now my new go-to for finding new music.

Cavvy Savvy.  Cavvy Savvy is a blog written by a collection of writers officially on the subject of the working ranch horse but reflects its multiple writers with each individual post.  My favorite writer so far has been Jolyn Young.  She will make you laugh, cry and everything in between.  The gal has a gift. 

Well, that's the list!.. For now.  Now you know how I spend my mornings in bed when I should be getting up.  I'm one of "those people" that procrastinates getting out of bed and drops the phone several times on my face before I give in and haul myself up and out the door, newly armed with the wit and humor my Blogger Ladies have written that day.