General

What’s next for 2013?

It’s a great feeling to have accomplished my daily photo challenge throughout 2012! Thanks for following my creative journey. I’ve pulled together some of my favorite photo highlights below to share with you. What’s in store for 2013? Of course I’ll still be taking photos and I have much to learn, though I won’t be posting every day. Instead, I plan to focus on:

Music. Most of my creative energy will go toward my next piano music album, writing new music and arrangements, and updating a website that was last overhauled before Facebook even existed (10 years ago!). I also can’t remember what year I last played my saxophones (alto and soprano)–yikes!

Fitness, which drastically took a lifestyle hit in my move from Chicago to Minneapolis. I know it’s cliché to say that in January, but it’s true. Aside from half marathon training last spring, I had unintentionally quit the gym cold turkey after a 5-6 gym visit per week regimen for the latter three years I lived in Chicago. I started a new gym membership in October and have gone twice, because I honestly didn’t have much time or energy between an increased office workload and a new home and partly because I couldn’t find any of my iPods. My workload has re-balanced, my home improvements are near complete, and I’ve found all three iPods. I’m in good health, but my fitness can no longer be neglected.

Food. I love to cook homemade meals. I need to do more of that. I also need to buy more Tupperware to store meals that serve 5-6 people and freeze the extra. And it will probably be healthier to boot.

Reading. I’ve always been an avid reader. In 5th grade, we were required to do 32 book reports during the year. So I did 106. I still read a lot. But since grad school, my attention span has shifted to short magazine articles, online news, and social media status updates. I’m hungry for some novels.

Relaxation/Sleep. I finished MBA school more than five years ago, yet I still have the sleeping schedule of a grad student. Case in point: it’s 1:30am right now and I’m wide awake. Making do with less sleep is not a smart idea. This will take some weeks of adjustment to find my optimal hours of sleep. (Tips anyone?)

So that’s my resolution list for 2013. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite 2012 Photo Highlights:

Architecture and Cityscapes

People

Favorite Places

Most Visited Retailers

Animals

Favorite Holidays

Religious

My most Pinned Photo on Pinterest: Haight Ashbury (the Victorian homes)
Life Lessons: Driving Lessons

Stay tuned for more! (and please subscribe if you haven’t already!)

January 3rd, 2013|General|2 Comments

Photo Studio


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A fun visit to my company’s Photo Studio–lots of creative vibes here!

January 2nd, 2013|General, People|Comments Off on Photo Studio

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Trinity Heights, Sioux City, Iowa
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For unto us, a Child is born. This Sacred Heart of Jesus statue joins the other impressive statue at Trinity Heights of Mary.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Trinity Heights, Sioux City, Iowa
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Trinity Heights

January 2nd, 2013|General|1 Comment

Queen of Peace

Queen of Peace, Sioux City Iowa
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Trinity Heights in Sioux City, Iowa offers more than two dozen shrines, memorial garden spots and quiet corners for prayer and reflection on the grounds of former Trinity College and high school.

Two impressive statues anchor Trinity Heights on each end — the Immaculate Heart of Mary Queen of Peace and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Mary Queen of Peace, Sioux City

Queen of Peace

Mary Queen of Peace, Sioux City
Mary Queen of Peace

January 1st, 2013|General|2 Comments

Lowe’s

Lowe's Home Improvement store
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When I bought my first home this past August, I had no idea how many trips I’d take to hardware stores–Menards, Home Depot and most notably Lowe’s. I’m there regularly enough to be an employee. It’s amazing (and impressive actually) how much work we’ve done on the house in the first four months, thanks to help from my mom, dad, uncle and aunt. Pretty soon, I can complete my “To Do” list…at least for 2012.

December 31st, 2012|General|1 Comment

Settlers of Catan

Settlers of Catan
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Nerd Alert! Today was a Saturday filled with fun and games. We watched The Hobbit in 3D, ate dinner at Big Bowl and played hours of strategy board games, including Settlers of Catan.

December 31st, 2012|General|Comments Off on Settlers of Catan

Little Giant

Little Giant ladder
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I went all over town searching for the Little Giant ladder. Finally, I found it, and it’s the only ladder I’ll ever need.

December 25th, 2012|General|Comments Off on Little Giant

Christmas at Capella Tower

Capella Tower Christmas tree
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Christmas tree in the lobby of Capella Tower.

December 21st, 2012|General, Minneapolis|Comments Off on Christmas at Capella Tower

Bow Wow


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Learned how to create my own bows = savings!

December 21st, 2012|General|1 Comment

O Christmas Tree

Christmas tree, light painting
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I installed a 9-foot tall Christmas tree and had some fun ‘light painting’ with my camera. Way cooler than if I could have planned it.

December 21st, 2012|General, Photography|Comments Off on O Christmas Tree