Live Without Regret

I've looked at so many tattoo designs and have accumulated a rather large collection of pictures of tattoos that I've spotted all over the internet and have been inspired by. I've said so many times, "I know what I want for my first tattoo," but then I find something that I like better (or want sooner). I found a beautiful black and white design of a wooden skeleton key, which I would color a rich oak, with a vine wrapped around it, colored forest green. It was love at first sight, though I still don't know for sure where I want it. A more grand tattoo that I have wanted is "We Are Just Misguided Ghosts Traveling Endlessly" gracefully written across my chest. The line is from Paramore's song "Misguided Ghosts," which has opened and changed my mind in so many ways. I would also love to get a tea plant on the lower, outter side of my left leg because I absolutely love tea! On my right thumb, facing outward, I want the Zibu (language of the Angels) symbol for "Hope" and on my left thumb, facing outward, I want the Zibu symbol for "Choose Life". Though they won't be my first tattoos, I'm 1000% positive that I will get them because they're for my family, in which some members, including myself, have struggled through (not all, but not limited to) depression, anxiety, cancer, alcoholism, etc. It's a beautiful reminder from the Angels to live the life we were meant to have and when in times of struggle, there's always hope. Recently I've been inspired by all the french tattoos I've been seeing. I figure there's no going wrong with getting a tattoo in a language that is part of my nationality. As an artist, I draw, and as a photographer, I shoot (or photograph), but neither of those phrases translated in French peaked my interest. But since a photographer is an artist (in my eyes), I thought about what an artist does, generally speaking... Ah, yes... Create! So, for my first tattoo, on the outter side of my right foot in French, I'm going to get "Je Crée."

I Am Not My Hair, I Am Not This Skin, I Am The Soul That Lives Within

Ah, it's time to face the naked truth. My hair isn't the prettiest, but it used to be. My family tells me that when I was a little girl, I used to have these beautiful curly locks. I know that that all ended when my dad (who is black) and his girlfriend (who is white) persuaded me to relax my hair (opposite of perm). Since then, I've been doomed to frizzy curls, dry hair, and breakage. So I stopped with the relaxing for a while and found other ways to deal with my hair. Though it was long, it was still damaged, which took away from the beauty, so I decided to get my hair cut the shortest it's ever been (since birth, haha). I liked the cut, blah, blah, blah, and it was so healthy that it started to grow out again. I got too excited and figured I should relax it so that it would be gorgeous straight frizzyless hair! Little did I know, I was relaxing my hair the wrong way - applying it throughout all of my hair instead of just the new growth. Now it's breaking off horribly. My bangs went from straight across to short and jaggedy. The (my) left side was about 2-3 inches shorter than the back and the right side. Every morning when I did (and still do) my hair, it covers my whole shirt - front and back. It was just a disaster! I was so upset about my hair that I had a couple of breakdowns (especially when I could easily pull out my hair in chunks). So I got it evened up, and now I'm patiently waiting for my hair to grow back down to the middle of my back, which will take well over 2 years. :(

Back In Black

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I took a break from blogging I guess (even though I just started). The last time I even touched the Nikon was in January... =/ I am still not sure what I want to blog about. As much as I would love to make this a fashion blog, I'm not one with the money, the clothes, or the body to show off cute trends. On the other hand, I'm very inspired by fashion - so much that it's the reason for my passion for photography. So I'm thinking I should just make this a photodiary... I'm satisfied with that! :D I need a job so I can keep up with my hobby. I really want a 35mm film camera because I recently discovered I like technical photography a little teeny bit more than digital photography... But that's just because it's a little more hands-on. Anywho, I snapped this photo yesterday around 3:30pm, which happened to be perfect timing and weather conditions. It was really serene and it was finally a chance for me to collect my thoughts... That is until a family had to come over to the bridge with two kids and a screaming baby. :T Click it and it will take you to the picture on Flickr, where there's more information about it. (:

California Dreamin'

This is totally where I want, and need, to be! There's so much energy there and I can really vibe with that. Illinois sucks. If only you knew... :( I need to be around people - so many people, that if I mess up with a few, there are plenty more around that I can make a fresh start with - unlike Illinois. There's nothing out here that's the least bit interesting besides Chicago, and after a while, Chi Town starts to get old. I hate living in the country and being around all these racist, redneck, country people! Not to mention the weather in Cali is just the best!! It's always nice (even when it rains) and there's no horrid snow!! :D Oh my gosh, and I want to be able to go to the beach to sit and bury my toes in the sand, watch the people, listen to the waves crashing on the shore, and just find pure inspiration. Oh, and I just love the urban areas - the culture, the food, the lights... It's just so... warm.. So...... me.