goald

As this new year approaches I feel more excited than usual when a new year rolls around. I'm not sure why. In 2011 I want to embrace the things I'm doing right, and develop certain traits that I am lacking. So here are my non-goals, the choices and habits that I like :
1. Keep reading as much as possible. Continue to learn from others through reading about the things you love and other peoples' experiences.
2. Continue to develop good financial habits.
3. Keep spending time with your sister. Having a lifelong friendship and sister is continually such a blessing in your life.
4. Continue to seek the creative outlets that make you feel more alive.

My goals:
1. Make exercise a regular part of your life. Seriously. Your body will thank you in the long-run (and hopefully the short-run too).
2. Develop the discipline required to make yourself put aside time each day to spend with God. Don't just know God, but live with him day-in and day-out.
3. Take full advantage of this oppourtunity you have to save money. Be frugal. Don't buy things you don't absolutely need. Spend the next three months (Jan1st- March 31) SAVING AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE!
4. Continue to work step by step towards creating a career that you love where you can use your creative urges.
5. Take at least one picture everyday.
6. Don't compare.

And finally, my recent obsession with the color gold (my new gold toms make me so happy!). Which you may be seeing in the upcoming photoshoot that I have planned. I have been majorly slacking lately in the photography-developing department, but that will change! Any model volunteers? You'll get free photos!

Have a happy and sparkly New year!

(photo from designsponge)

some christmas wishlist items...

Several things that have caught my eye or that I would love this Christmas...

ipod touch. time to catch up with the times, and to finally get non-broken music device.

Sanctuary T Sampler Kit. Maybe if I find a tea I like I'll be able to cut back on my coffee addiction.

I personally find this an amazing alternative to hanging a real animal head on my wall. Just look at it, how great is that?

believe

Found this on Design Love Fest, and I love it. This is the attitude I will embrace when it comes to my dreams...

Tis the Season

I know that Thanksgiving is over, but there are so many things I am grateful for right now! I LOVE December and all the little things that work together to make up the spirit and season that leads to Christmas. Here are some things that have been making me happy lately...

My Rudolph chapstick- Target- $1. They have the other characters from the original Rudolph as well!

My new Starbucks Jonathan Adler ceramic mug with lid. Made getting up this morning that much easier.
Seasonal flavored creamers.

My new mousepad/notepad. The one in the picture has an M, but mine has a K with a print of a koala wearing a crown. It's great.

The hand-illustrated Christmas cards I ordered from the greatest place called Rifle Paper Co. Their hand-done illustrations are great and they even do custom ones! Check it out.

Shopping online for Christmas presents. I've never been much of an online shopper, but wow, it makes it so much easier. And the shipping fees don't really bother me much if I can get all my Christmas shopping done at once without even leaving my chair. Especially when shopping from stores that aren't very close to home.
Listening to Sufjans Stevens Songs for Christmas. This is my favorite CD ever, no matter what season it is. Slightly eclectic christmas music that also has beautiful hymns, including my favorite, "Come Thou Fount". This is one of the songs we sang at my baptism :)
Treehouses. The inner child in me wants to live in a modern treehouse someday. How peaceful and beautiful it would be to live in the trees with all the wonderful natural wood. Mmm. I like this one.


Anthropologie/The Anthropologist.
A site that is a part of/owned by Anthropolgie. I'd describe it to you but I will quote, because I think they desribe what it is better...

"The Anthropologist is an online space for inspiring works and inspiring individuals.

It is a testament to the idea that revealing the passions and pursuits of one person can result in the progress of many.

Our premise is simple: we illuminate those who move us in order to move you. We champion the idea that sharing sources of creativity in turn kindles it."

I completely agree with this. I feel like I have been so inspired, and would not have the same creativity that I have, without being able to see the creative work and ambition of others. That is probably what I love the most about the blogging world. There are so many creative individuals that desire to share that creativity with the community, that reach out to share the joy of art, creating, and design with others. I love when people are willing to share and help others within their industry and community rather than see them as merely competition. Here are a few blogs that often inspire me... (Click on the icon for the link)

Stephanie Fay Photography blog

Carter and Cook Event Company blog

Most of all, I am grateful that our cat, Indie (aka "the boy"), who was attacked by a coyote a couple nights ago, is okay. Unless you know my family and this cat (which you most likely do if you're reading this blog), you probably won't understand how much this cat means to us. He is a sweet, fat, spoiled cat with so much personality and so much love for us all. My dad saw the coyote and I found Indie laying on the ground outside, bleeding to death. We rushed him to the animal clinic and got him all fixed up. Thankfully there were only a few external wounds and some impact trauma. We think the fact that he was so fat is what kept the coyote from running off with him. I guess being fat can save your life every once in awhile, at least if you're a cat. Now he's just healing and very slowly becoming himself again. I think the emotional trauma of it all has scarred him for awhile, because he's not acting like himself at all. Anyways, now my boyfriend and dad are set on shooting coyotes from our backyard with a shotgun. Here is a picture of the sweet, beloved boy.

dear friends

Tonight I got to visit with my lovely friend Hillary. We hangout every Thanksgiving and Christmas, sometimes other times as well. Hillary goes to school in Nashville, TN. But before she transferred out there, we lived across the hall from each other as baby freshies at Point Loma. We instantly became good friends, and despite the distance, we've been good friends ever since. Even though we don't get to talk much between visits, hanging out with Hillary always feels like there's never been any time apart. She is one of the sweetest people I know. On the rainy, night drive home I was thinking about how spending time with quality best friends just feeds my soul. To know that someone really gets you, and loves you, to laugh about things, catch up, bond over a cup of coffee, or a favorite store. Today I am truly grateful for the close and dear friends that I do have. Here are the friends that have fed my soul lately. Thank you. :)

This is an old picture of Hillary and I on one of our hangouts at Victoria Gardens.

This is my one of my oldest and dearest friends Lauren right before she got married.

This is my sweet sister.

Chalk walls and Polaroid coasters...

I can't wait for the day when I have my own place to decorate. I think it would be so neat to have a chalkboard wall like one of the ones below. Wouldn't that be neat in a kitchen or a child's room? Or even an office. The other pictures are just images of decor/house items that call out my name. Someday....

SO Blessed

Today I am grateful for my love of over two years, Alan. He is my best friend, my partner in crime, and an amazing boyfriend. Boyfriend does not even sound like an appropriate word for the depth of our relationship at this point. Whether we are off on adventures or, more often than not, sitting around watching endless movies, I cherish every minute I get with this guy. I admire how hard he works even when he's running on fumes. Even though we have our differences, like his passion for sports and my complete lack of athletic enthusiasm, we just click. And the days we don't always click, it doesn't matter, because of these three things that are my favorite things about him: (1) His love and passion for God and desire to live his life for God, (2) His extremely committed and loyal nature that I too often take for granted, and (3) How much he cares about me and loves me. I hope to spend the rest of my life growing with him and trying to make him happy, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for him. This is us. (I'm obviously ketchup and he's obviously mustard).

My Sissy

I won't be sharing all of my thoughts of gratitude, but I will share some of them. Today is my sister Cheri's 18th birthday! Happy Birthday Cheri! Today my thought of gratitude is how grateful I am for her and the friendship that has developed and that we've been able to foster since I've been at home. She has become not just a sister, but a best friend. She puts up with the incessant amount of talking I do when I'm with her, and lets me use her as a model for my personal photography projects. She is mature for her age, is so much fun to be with, and just gets me. Thank you God for the friendship that continues to grow with her. This is her. Is she gorgeous?!

Entering an Attitude of Gratitude

It's been awhile since I've posted something. I've been pretty busy with work and whatnot lately. I was thinking yesterday, after talking with my best friend about life and our outlooks on life. I thought about how the last few years when Thanksgiving rolls around, I never feel like I fully spend enough time focusing on what I'm grateful for in my life. I think that we ought to be continually and daily living a life of gratitude, but it's far too easy to get caught up in the "busy-ness" of our lives and dwell on the things in our life that aren't the way we want them to be. I think this affects our outlook on life and gets in the way of the peace and joy that God has intended for our lives. At least I know this can be true for me.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
-Colossians 2:6 & 7

I've decided that every day for the rest of the month I am going to think about one thing that I really, truly grateful for in my life. Hopefully this way I can enter into a mindset of gratitude as this year's Thanksgiving approaches, and develop an attitude that hopefully lasts much longer than that. I want to overflow with thankfulness. I would encourage anyone else to do this as well. Let's give thanks to the Lord where thanks is due, and let in the peace and joy that God has in store for our lives.

I'll share today's thought with you. I am so grateful to be working in a place that I enjoy working, with people that are enjoyable to work with, and that allows me to have a flexible schedule. It feels good to know that even though I'm doing 5 million minor things, I am working with a group of people that are working to create a community that seeks and glorifies God. Here's a picture of the people I work with :)

happy halloween

My thoughts on Halloween...
Quite honestly, I might be the biggest scaredy cat there is. I hate scary movies. I close my eyes in haunted houses. I get freaked out in Halloween costume stores (ask my boyfriend, it's sadly true).

I also realize that Halloween is kind of (ok, IS) a kid's holiday. But I can't get over how much fun it can be. To me it's like the beginning of the holiday season. A time to wear orange, to buy pumpkins from pumpkin patches, carve jack-o-lanterns, buy, eat, and handout candy, dress up in silly costumes. Oh, and who can resist seeing babies dressed up in ridiculous costumes? It doesn't matter what you put on a baby, if it's dressed up, it's adorable. It's all just too much fun to completely look-over, even if I am 23. Most of all, I'm just happy that I get to see my man this Halloween weekend :) So have a safe and enjoyable Halloween weekend!

blogosphere

Ok, so my favorite thing to do now is get lost on the world of creative, design, photography, etc. blogs. Sound pathetic? Maybe. But i just LOVE getting inspired! I am in love with this clever header for the blog "Design Love Fest"- where type and images totally make out. Anyone else feeling this? Design junkies?

Boo

Did a really fun Haloween photoshoot with my sister this weekend. Go check out some of the pics at http://www.katiefenwickphoto.blogspot.com/.

Quote for the Day

"God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait"
-C.S. Lewis

photography blog

One of my current personal projects is developing my photography style and skills. I've created a blog to keep track of my development. The link is http://www.katiefenwickphoto.blogspot.com/. Some of the pictures I've already posted on this blog, but but there are new ones as well, especially if you scroll to the second post. I'm really excited to learn more and develop a portfolio, so let me know what you think and if you'd like your picture taken!

Remember-

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

missing him

That's all.

Pumpkin Muffins

Hello. Last week my friend Emily and I made Pumpkin Muffins, and they turned out quite nicely if I do say so myself! It was really fun because we got vanilla frosting, and mixed in some cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg. And then we topped the whole thing off with a few gold sprinkles we found in my pantry. One of our (mine and emily's) many common goals is to start baking and cooking more. So this was a fun start. There will be more to come, and I will include recipes as well!

On a new note, Fall did not come as quickly as I had expected, as there was a heat wave that lasted for quite awhile. 113 degrees in Fall? No thank you. But today it is cloudy and rainy, and although I'm sure I'll be sick of it by January, but today I'm loving it.

Another one of my goals is to take as many pictures as I can, as I want to work on my photography skills. I love taking pictures and and doing photoshoots! I would love to gain more experience, so if you or someone you know wants to do a photoshoot, or needs a photographer for an event, or wants portrait photos, let me know! I'd love to take pictures for you :) I'd gain experience, and you'd get free photos- what a win-win!

That's all for today! Enjoy the rain.

It Is Well

"Thankfulness is not a trick to ignore the pain in reality, rather, it keeps worry from interpreting life through a faulty lens."

I recently read this quote and not only did it make me smile, because I know the person that posted it is struggling with feeling joyful in a time of need right now, but it was refreshing for my own life too.

Why is it so easy for us to become caught up in worry? Worrying about the things that are going on around us, the things that aren't going on around us, the things we need and don't have, the things we want and don't have. Worry about how things will work out. Worry about if we are doing the right things. There are a million things people worry about- some not worth worrying over, and other that are extremely worth worrying about.

That's one of the downsides of having a personality that is so focused on the future. My top two strengths on Strengths Quest (a pretty valid personality assessment, even if Point Loma does hammer you over the head with it) are Futuristic and Focus. I'm a dreamer. I'm always looking ahead, always imagining what's next, what could be. When I do finally see what I want, my focus kicks in and I go for it, one step at a time.

Okay I got sidetracked. Small window into my personality. The point is, or was, that it's easy for me to worry about what's to come. To stress over it. To feel hopeless and frustrated when I can't see what's next, or feel like I can't control what happens. I think most people struggle with this though.

And that's where the beauty of needing God comes in. We don't want to be needy or dependent, and yet, isn't that how God created us? To completely and utterly rely on Him? In the good and the bad. Not only are we created to be utterly dependent on God, but dependent on each other as well, even though so many people don't want to. It's not always easy to admit that we can't do things on our own, and rely on another person. And yet we are called to be a people that loves others and provides for those in need. And isn't relying on another person still easier sometimes than relying on God? On the promise that God will provide for us? And the promise that God hears our prayers, cries, and petitions?

I sometimes become numb to the power of prayer and the awesomeness of how God truly HEARS and CARES about what I'm lifting up to him. And that he promises to answer me. Not necessarily in my way or my timing. But that's when I remind myself that I don't know the whole picture. I need to remind myself that God works all things for good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
-Romans 8:28

Lastly, I love this hymn that speaks of how God desires us to be at peace and have the joy of His Spirit no matter the circumstance. Viewing these lyrics with the quote that I started this post with in mind, it reminds me that I'm not called to manipulate my emotions, rather, I am called to not submerge myself in the worries that cause me to view the world in a way that I shouldn't, and to remember that I am and will be loved and cared for by my creator.

When peace like a river

Attendeth my way

When sorrows

Like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot

Thou hast taught me to say

It is well

It is well with my soul

Thanks for reading my blurb, my thoughts and personal reminder to myself to be thankful and not allow worries to affect the way I view things.

Fall- A Fresh Start

Hello (all of you 3 or so people that read my blog), I am BACK! It's been far too long. I suppose when life gets busy, blogging is one of those things that sits on the back burner. However, I was recently inspired to start blogging again by my best friend's blog that she just created. It's just so therapeutic! So, here is a little catching up, through pictures...

Fall.

It's starting to feel like fall. Although the weather here (here being back home in Glendora, where I am now living) seems to be mood-swinging from hot to cold, I can tell it's starting to become fall. You can just feel it in the air. It's a time to start new again. Time for cozy sweaters, fires in the fireplace, yummy-smelling candles (although that's kind of all year for me...), walks outside in the brisk air with the few leaves that change color here in California. I've always been a summer girl, but I love fall more and more each year!

Fall Candles.

Every year growing up, when it becomes fall, my mom puts out yummy, fall-scented candles, has fires in the fireplace, and brews apple-cinnamon cider on the stove to make the house smell good. So these candles always remind me of fall in a nostalgic, comforting way.

Post-College Photoshoot Sesh # 1.

This is my lovely sister Cheri. She willingly obliged when I asked her to be my model because I want to continue using my camera and working on my photography skills! I'm nervous that now that I'm out of school I'm not going to make time to do all the creative things I love to do, so I am MAKING myself do them. Photography is quite high on the list. This photoshoot was a lot of fun and ended up with a fall/fashion sort of vibe. Isn't my sister gorgeous?!

Lists.

I now have a job (and feel very blessed!) that requires me to make lists, lists, lists! So it's a good thing I am naturally obsessed with making them. I don't know how people get by without them. then again, I do have a pretty bad memory...

To expand on the job, I was recently hired to be an Administrative Assistant at Glenkirk Presbyterian Church. More specifically, I'm in charge of all the publications they put out (weekly bulletin, devotional, brochures, advertisements, etc.), a lot of the website stuff, and other such projects. It's such a good fit as a first job for where I'm at in life right now- it's full-time, it's VERY close to home, all the people I work with are great, and it's allowing me to use the skills I attained in college. It's a good stepping stone for now.  

Puppy.

At this particular stage in my life, a puppy isn't the best idea. But I can't wait til I can get one in the next stage of my life! I am dying for a French Bulldog puppy or Boston Terrier puppy. This little guy is a French bulldog, and I love his coloring! In general I'm more of a big-dog person as opposed to a small-dog person, but these stout little guys are so flipping cute without being annoyingly small and yappy (Sorry to the people that like those kind). 

Israel.

This sumer I had the amazing opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip and serve in Israel. It was by far the best trip I've ever been on so far in my life. We stayed half the time in Nazareth and the other half in Jerusalem. We put on Vacation Bible school, served the church through various work projects, put on kid's festivals in very poor communities, helped at an orphanage, helped at a disabled home, and other similar things. We got to build amazing relationships not only with each other (the team) but also with people living in the places we visited. Such an amazing culture shock, my first of it's kind. 

In our spare time, we were able to visit amazing sites from the Bible, sites central to the life of Jesus. We were able to se some of the tension of Israeli-Palestinian conflict first-hand. And very excitingly, I was baptised by my dear friend and team leader Dr. Smith (for the first time besides my baptism as an infant) in the Jordan River (where John the Baptist baptised Jesus)! The entire trip was so full of amazing experiences. I would love to share them with you if you are interested at all. Just let me know!

That's it for now! There will be more to come soon...

Alan & Cosmo

So it's been much longer than I anticipated since I last posted on here. i don't have much time, but I took some fun pictures and I wanted to put a couple up on here. This is Alan, and the beloved Boston Terrier that he "babysits" (with kids as well), Cosmo.

photography

Now that I've made it through the first week of school and am in the swing of things I have some time to write a new post. My newly developed hobby? Photography. I have always loved taking pictures however I would go in and out of phases of being camera-happy. I am currently taking a Digital photography class and last week I finally received my Christmas present- a Canon Rebel Xsi! I am convinced that this beautiful camera could make anyone look like a professional, however I still have a lot of learning to do! First assignment? Color. I took lots of pictures in downtown Ocean Beach and did a mini photo shoot with my friends Danielle, Stephanie, and Stefanie (thanks girls!) down at the cliffs. So much fun! I'm putting some of the photos that i took below. I also am going to help out at a photo shoot tomorrow for my internship that I'm doing at Exquisite Weddings Magazine (owned by San Diego magazine). We are doing a groomsmen shoot tomorrow and although I will probably just be fetching food and directing models, I cant wait to see all the action!

Here are a few of the pictures I took. I just took them on Automatic so hopefully when I start doing things more manually from now on they'll be better.