oscars 2008!

One of my favorite party events...the oscars! every year for the past 7-8 years (can't quite remember, I know i missed one year when I was in Hawaii, but we held a mini-oscars at Jenny's :) I throw an Oscars party. I always find a fabulous dress (either old bridesmaid or great find from goodwill, etc) and go all out with the snacks, booze, prizes and ballots. It's a lot of fun and over the years, I've managed to get a few of my friends to dress up with me :)

This year, Maggie was in town and graciously offered to host at her swank condo (with the really big TV). It was very successful and she was a fabulous co-hostess.

Queen of the kitchen - but don't worry, I helped clean up!

lunar eclipse

I didn't think we would actually get to see the lunar eclipse here in rainy, cloudy Portland - but yesterday afternoon the skies cleared and it was gorgeous. I ended up getting home late from my Women Build meeting so I only caught about the second half of it...which was still pretty cool.

Of course, I ran inside, grabbed my camera (also bumped in to the neighbors on my way out and got them out to see it). So, I don't have a tripod or the steadiest hand so I quickly gave up (after a brief moment of cursing my tripodlessness) on getting any really good shots and just started playing around. And I think they turned out kinda cool...

My neighbor asked me (as we were all standing around in the cold gaping at the moon) if I was a photographer and of course, I immediately said "oh not really." Still working on the ole confidence thing, I guess!

Superhero Photo Challenge #3

Superhero Photo Challenge #3: Shoot in to the sun

This photo challenge came at just the right time. Sun is very fleeting in Portland in February but we had a little sun on Saturday and lots of sun today. I got a couple decent shots but never exactly what I was going for...of course! This is definitely a challenge I will revisit...

Here's my fave:

And a couple runner-ups:

my funny valentine

In honor of valentines day, here are two funny columns I ran across this week - so I'm going to share them instead of whining endlessly about my dislike of valentine's day (which is in full force this year).

First up is a blog from Carrie Brownstein (of Sleater-Kinney - one of my all time favorite bands who are sadly on permanent (?) hiatus). She blogs on NPR now.

Let's Get It Wrong: Guidelines for Valentine's Day Mix CDs

Next up is Mark Morford - columnist for the SF Gate.
I especially like the one about the Zales heart pendant - I swear if I see that commercial one more time, I'm going to stab my eye out with a pen.

The 20 Worst Valentine's Gifts

Enjoy!

a bit of a whine-o

I went on a sewing rampage today in an attempt to ignore the fact that I felt like crap and couldn't breathe. I - like most people - do not enjoy being sick and I tend to be overly dramatic and whiney about it. I'm also big on the 'lay low' theory to getting over colds, so I stayed home most of the weekend. Saturday, I missed my wine-tasting trip with Kim and gang but managed to get out and enjoy the balmy Portland February weather on a little 'photo walk'. Here are a couple shots from my trek:

And I sewed three bags this weekend! Two from my old faithful Lotta pattern and one was putting together the tote bag kit (Xmas present from my sewing guru nan).

mindful

I'm having one of 'those' days...work is stressful, feeling weirdly insecure and anxious about posting self-portrait photos on flickr, just kinda blah overall...

I was reminded of a poem that my yoga teacher often reads before and/or after class. It speaks to me about yoga but also about photography and my quest this year to be more aware and mindful of the world around me.

Mindful

Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less

kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle

in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for –
to look, to listen,

to lose myself
inside this soft world –
to instruct myself
over and over

in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant -
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help

but grow wise
with such teachings
as these -
the untrimmable light

of the world,
the ocean's shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?

~ Mary Oliver ~

Superhero Photo Challenge #2

Time for another superhero photo challenge from Andrea at shutter sisters. This time it is "self-timer self-portrait": Set the self-timer, set the camera on the ground, click the shutter and get in front of the lens.

Perfect timing since I just figured out how to use my self-timer the other day - and of course, I'm been pondering the whole self-portrait thing. So I did a little photoshoot in my kitchen after boxing class tonight...note to self, do not attempt to do self-portraits contorting your feet into ballet poses you haven't done in years after suffering through an hour long boxing class.

anyhoo, here are some of the results...a fun exercise and always good to see things from another perspective...

Kaylee was a little confused (or annoyed) by all this so she had to get in on the action...

swedish coffee cake and the superbowl

Today I was inducted in to the secret swedish coffee cake making society by Dad. I think they turned out pretty darn good :)

We also had some help sampling the coffee cake and breaking in the panini maker at our little superbowl party. Tracy, Rick, Kim, Brad, Sid, Maralea and Sarah all came over - we had a great time. Sarah and Kim were the only Patriot fans and were a bit outnumbered but a good time was had by all...maralea and sid prepping paninis

yoga + action figures = hilarious

So I'm wasting time before heading off to happy hour with Dad and I ran across this website that completely cracked me up. This one is for all you yoga nerds out there....

yogabeans! "Your internet source for plastic action figures demonstrating ashtanga yoga"

So far my fave is parsvottanasana - with Barbie and Spiderman

spidey demonstrates reverse namaste