be lovely

promise after promise

2012-02-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

....seen through rainbows. It's such a lovely feeling. Rainbow after rainbow after rainbow. All fulfilling the same promise. Another seen today.

Unbelievable, if you ask me.

matched

2012-02-08T18:33:00.001-07:00

Since I keep most of you updated on my blog, I thought I'd go ahead and let you know that........

we are matched.

It's kind of an insane feeling. I can't even begin to tell you my disbelief I felt when I read the text from my mom. Here's the story:

We had been pursuing an adoption locally, which seemed a bit fishy, so we waited. In the meantime, my parents talked to a birthmom on the phone. More waiting. I learn that the local adoption is quickly falling apart. About a week later, I'm sitting in a government class/conference, and got a text from my mom: we are matched!!! I about died. I was sitting here in a group of 90 teenagers trying to listen, and I can't contain my excitement. I was in such disbelief at the text in my hand.

God worked it all out. I thought that this local adoption was "the one" for us, and, obviously, it wasn't.

To my wonderful friends: to the one who asked "What, you're not excited at all?", I wish you were sitting next to me so that we could have been quietly freaking out during that class. And.... to the one that jumped up and down and hugged me (after I informed her that I wasn't talking about matching as in outfits), you are the best. To the one that freaked out over a text and told me she wished she was there with me to jump up and down with me, I love you to the moon. Thank you to all of my amazing friends who've been with me since that day, through everything, to be excited with me - I love you all dearly. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.

And, to be cautiously excited, there is a countdown on my computer dashboard that says "2 months and 1 week until Titus." We will continue to be "cautiously excited" (as we call it) for the next 2 months and 1 week. We would absolutely covet your prayers as we enter into the long await ahead of us.

love you all,
emma

this girl

2012-01-31T13:00:00.002-07:00

this girl.... in between laughing and making lots of jokes.... makes for a great model.

i can be who i want to be as a photographer. so this shot has a major twist, and i think i kind of like it.

nothing is impossible through the power of God

2012-01-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

Those are the words I read as I logged into my Pinterest account. Everything that has happened in the past year went flashing before my eyes.

Nothing is impossible through the power of God. Those words hit me harder than a brick hits the ground. The past week has been crazy - a whirlwind of thoughts. And, to top it all off, the one thing I've wanted since last August just fell into my lap, and I was struggling to believe it all or not.

If nothing is impossible through God, then I shouldn't question anything. For the past few months, I've been denying everything. Thinking about the impossibilites is so easy.

The way this simple sentence was worded was the most encouraging to me. Nothing is impossible through the power of God. I had to ask myself if that was what I believed.

It was this girl that I don't even know who encouraged me the most today. It was the girl that followed me on Pinterest who had a bio that was so encouraging. And I'm pretty sure it wasn't just a coincidence.

Thank you, anonymous girl, for encouraging me with your words today.

Luke 1:37.

P.S. I'm still kind of on that break. I'm finding a lot of inspiration through usually-ignored things. I'll be back soon with a lot of thoughts. xo.

P.S.

2012-01-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

i'm still on my blog break. i'll be back very soon.

but.....

....i hope i can publish the post that i saved as a draft last night....

but in the meantime.....

tonight

2012-01-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

tonight all i will say is this.....

when you think you are ready to give up....... keep going. you never know what's over the next horizon. and when i say never, i mean never.

lately

2012-01-23T09:50:00.001-07:00

blogging is like songwriting. you get a thought, write it down, and words spark from that thought. sometimes, though, it just isn't there.

you aren't inspired. you aren't encouraged. so you can't inspire or encourage other people if you aren't, either. that's where i've been, lately.

blogging is like songwriting. you can get in a rut and not want to do it anymore. and then one day, it returns.

i'm just sort of taking a break. just waiting for my writing inspiration to come back. i'm not going to write just to write.

meanwhile............................

what will i write about when i come back? i guess God only knows.

life through a different lens

2012-01-19T15:35:00.001-07:00

the lens of my iPod, that is.

thoughts

2012-01-12T14:51:00.001-07:00

this image was hard to see when i was looking through my old instagram photos. it's hard to think of how excited we all were.

last night, i dreamt we got a baby. a baby girl, to be exact. she grew up to be really bratty. but it taught one thing / i have no idea what this child will be, and there's no bother trying to make it what i want.

so i will wait. i will wait until i can put that countdown back up on the wall. i will wait until i get to see what God envisioned this baby will be, not me.

best feeling in the whole wide world

2012-01-10T15:19:00.005-07:00

the best feeling in the whole wide world :

when you get emails, comments, chats, and everything else saying that what i wrote touched their heart. this is why i blog. just being who i am, living my pretty regular life, and saying what i believe encourages people. best feeling in the whole wide world.

encouragement

2012-01-09T15:04:00.003-07:00

if you are needing encouragement today.... reread this verse in your head all day.... and repeat this song all day.

all day.

adoption

2012-01-07T23:41:00.001-07:00

adoption is one of the best gifts on this entire earth. two of my best friends are adopted. some of our closest friends have adopted. it is truly a special thing to experience.

a lot of people don't understand it. they don't understand what it feels like to be adopted. they don't understand why someone would do something like adoption. most people ask why. most people wonder why you would want to do that, after you already have biological children. most of the people that say these things are believers. but what they don't understand is that they've been adopted.

adoption is one of the greatest things God has done for us. He loves us enough to adopt people who ruin everything. sinners who turn their backs on God; he chose me. why not show that to an orphan through adoption?

my mom has a magnet that says "got love? adopt.". it just makes me smile. God had enough love inside Him for me that he adopted me. what about loving orphans enough to adopting them? after all, God calls us all to orphans. just read james 1:27.

Ephesians 1:5 tells us "He predestined us for sonship through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure and will."

it's His pleasure to adopt us. it should be our pleasure to help orphans. sure, adoption isn't for everyone, but orphans are.

there are more than 145 million orphans in this world. not many will step up to adopt these children, but yet 40% of pregnancies in New York last year were aborted.

what is this. what is this that in a world of abandoned children, no one notices? what is this that in our culture it is okay to kill unborn children because of "convenience"?

maybe it's our obliviousness to the truth. maybe people want to help but just can't. maybe we're too selfish. or maybe we just don't like dealing with reality.

whatever it is, it needs to stop. whatever we are doing, needs to change. and i for one, am here to do just that.

twenty-eleven :: in photos

2012-01-06T16:00:00.002-07:00

this year was one of my favorites in photos. lots of faces. and, i realized what photography is all about for me :: the people.

people

2012-01-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

i am a people person. i one-hundred percent love having people around me.

i try to notice everything i can about the people around me. i want to remember your name. i want to remember your personality.

when we started the adoption process, i never thought that we'd have so many people come around us and bless us with giving. i've seen it firsthand with friends' adoptions, but this time, i got to feel it firsthand.

i get to see firsthand what it feels like to be given something, just because we were called to do something. there is no better feeling than looking at the people around you and saying, 'wow, i am so blessed.'.

people give their time, their money, their handmade lovelies, anything and everything just to help a family who's doing what they were called to do.

i've been reading katie davis' kisses from katie. it's an outstanding book. she says so many powerful things that just make you have to read them over and over just to really understand them. she talked about how she was blessed just because she said yes and was obedient to what God was commanding her to do. and i thought about how many people have given to us in the past few months, even when we have almost no hope left.

how much longer must we wait -- i have no idea. how much longer can we wait -- it feels like no longer. but when i see that God is providing through the people around us, i know that something has to come out of this.

listen

twenty-eleven

2011-12-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

twenty-eleven was an interesting year.

twenty-eleven was a long year. it seems like the easy parts of life are so far away behind me.

but nobody said it was easy. nobody said it would be simple. no one ever said twenty-eleven would end like this.

but it is. twenty-eleven is ending on a low note. i thought it would just be like every other year: we live our easy life and just enter a new year like that. but this year, it feels so wonderful to leave this year behind.

a lot happened this year. a lot i didn't even talk about here.

my best friends moved away.

the one thing i ever wanted was taken from me.

i think katie davis said it best: "Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully." i'm just waiting for the putting it back together part to happen.

maybe 2012 will be filled with joy. maybe 2011 will bring fulfillments. but maybe it won't.

all i know is... i am overjoyed to say goodbye to 2011. goodbye pain. goodbye sadness. hello new friends. hello new adventures. hello new year.

listen.

i like it like that

2011-12-29T16:05:00.002-07:00

note :: i may or may not be listening to this song blasting w/ these:

+++

i'm sitting here with music blasting, and if i look to my left, i see two crazy boys dancing along to the wii. it's the funniest thing ever, but it makes me think "i like it like that".

they go crazy and run around screaming and it bothers me so much, but if sit back and watch, i like it like that.

they invite their friends over all day everyday and it can get annoying... but i like it like that.

they attempt to sing songs really loudly and i like it like that.

they wear the same shirts as they wore to bed, they hit me with wooden spoons while doing dishes, they trick me into thinking they're talking to me while i'm listening to music, they make stupid new years resolutions and mock the news people... but i like it like that.

i've said it a billion and two times before, and i'll say it again....

i would never change a thing. having boys around all day everyday is the best feeling in the whole world.

i like it like that.

the boy with the swag

2011-12-29T12:37:00.001-07:00

he's always making me laugh. he wears the coolest color of jeans ever. he is secretly a boy belieber.

this is logan, and he's the boy with the #swag.

the girl with the crazy-cute attitude

2011-12-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

she has the biggest, brownest eyes. she says the funniest things. she has a crazy-cute, so fun attitude.

this is evelyn, and she is the girl with the crazy-cute attitude.

(more)

the baby with the giant eyes

2011-12-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

she is only a few months old, and already the most prettiest baby girl ever. she is always so happy. her eyes are her best feature, in my opinion.

this is willow, and she is the baby with the giant eyes.

(more)

the girl with the beautiful voice

2011-12-28T19:40:00.002-07:00

she is so fun to be around. she has the most contagious laugh, the most captivating eyes. she has the most crazy-awesome voice.

this is dorian, and she is the girl with the beautiful voice.

(more)

the boy with the monkey hat

2011-12-28T19:09:00.003-07:00

[i'm starting a new collection... people... who they are... portrayed as they are... on camera.]

he has the funniest sense of humor. he has the best hair. he is obsessed with his new hat.

this is liam, and he is the boy with the monkey hat.

when it's all gone

2011-12-27T22:03:00.000-07:00

for me, the cliche saying came true. you never know what you've got until it's gone.

my best friends moved away, and i didn't know i loved them as much as i do now until they were gone.

but, goodbyes make the hello's so much sweeter.

when you have to say goodbye to someone you love, it's best to look forward to the next hello. it's the running-jumping-hugs that make the goodbyes worth it.

the girl with the big glasses

2011-12-27T17:31:00.002-07:00

she has the biggest heart. she has the biggest glasses. she is beautiful.

this is jemima, and she is the girl with the big glasses.

(more)

CHRISTmas

2011-12-25T21:18:00.001-07:00

this year, less is more. i didn't get any new fancy gadget or smart phone. but i gave. and i laughed. and i learned. and i let it all go. this year, less is more.

merry CHRISTmas, my dear friends.

afterall

2011-12-23T13:31:00.002-07:00

i'll let it speak for itself.

but maybe.

just maybe.

what i think i want

isn't really

what i need

in the end.

i love you to the moon

2011-12-22T22:44:00.002-07:00

sometimes the best posts are ones with less words.

i love you to the moon and back, sister. i miss you with all my heart.

questioning

2011-12-22T10:35:00.002-07:00

via

will it ever come, i don't know, but waiting patiently is the hardest thing ever.

i will wait for the Lord, my whole being waits. and in his word i put my hope. i wait for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning. more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6

give

2011-12-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

if i get nothing this christmas.... knowing that i got someone a gift.... i will be perfectly fine.

boys

2011-12-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

there's something about the constant laughter, always noisy, sometimes annoying thing about boys that just makes me smile. there's something about always having boys over, playing and being mischievous that just makes me happy. most people sort of gasp in astonishment when they realize i don't have any sisters. i most definitely do not.

someone once told me that they can't handle "chaos" very well. the thing with boys is that there's always chaos, no matter what's going on. if you can't handle chaos, don't come here. there are always always always at least five boys over here at all times. it never gets old. okay, maybe it gets slightly annoying at times, but i enjoy it with all my heart.

it's these three boys that give me joy. i've said it in the past, and i'll say it again:

i would never.

ever.

change a thing.

new launch!

2011-12-10T10:04:00.001-07:00

my lovely friend jemima and i love fashion. i've always wanted to blog about fashion, but it just hasn't really been my thing here on be lovely. one night, we were talking, and came up with the idea of having a fashion blog. we both sort of had a freak out moment. it took us forever to come up with a good name, but we finally came up with one that we both love. be now.

be now is now live! go check it out. we're so excited about the future of this little blog.

xoxo
emma

dorian.

2011-12-09T15:36:00.001-07:00

one of the most talented people i know. beautiful inside and out. amazing voice. amazing friend. so blessed to know her.

check out her youtube channel here. girl's got talent, and is gonna go somewhere someday.

guess what

2011-12-05T19:50:00.001-07:00

Does this ever happen to you? "What's wrong?" You just say "nothing", because it's easiest. But really, you want to say, "I'm just having a hard time."

I'm just having a hard time. Sometimes, words escape you. You don't really know why you're having such a hard time, but you are. I guess that's sort of where I am at.

I'm just having a hard time. I'm really not exactly sure why. I can't really pinpoint what's in my life that's causing me to have a hard time. Maybe it's nothing. Maybe I'm just making things harder than they have to be. But maybe it's something. Maybe it's waiting. Maybe it's patience. Maybe it's expectations and hopes.

I'm just having a hard time. Life right now is of those things where once this trial over, I'll realize exactly why. Why I'm just having a hard time. Why waiting and patience and expectations and hopes made me just having a hard time. I guess I just have to get through it to realize why I'm just having a hard time.

Guess what, I'm having a hard time. But: 'Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.' Psalm 25:16-18

(p.s. something someone said in the comments on my fb link : "Than...God shows up and I get it.")

adventurer

2011-12-05T17:41:00.001-07:00

sometimes i want a place where i can throw everything into my bicycle basket and ride four minutes down the dirt road to a secret place underneath a big oak tree. a place where i can read or just simply enjoy myself. maybe i'm imagining the one from because of winn dixie? or maybe i'm just a dreamer. :)

most evenings i throw on a sweater and uggs, grab my camera, and walk out to my bike. i usually then attract the neighbor girl. the neighbor girl i speak of is five years old. she likes to walk beside me and "find interesting things to take pictures of." i can already see a spark of interest in photography in her, as i saw her crouching down to get the shot of an orange with my iPod camera.

we walk around the neighborhood and find things to take pictures of. today, i spotted an orange tree hidden between two houses. sure, maybe javelinas do dig in there, maybe there are snakes and bugs, but sometimes you just have to lose the fears and give in to the photographer's eye. it's probably not my "secret place" that i'm thinking of, but it is sort of secret. sometimes, you don't even realize that you have something amazing right in front of your eyes.

all the time

2011-12-05T13:34:00.001-07:00

when life falls apart, you wonder.... is God really good all the time? Or when people get angry at God for what he does in their life.

when everything fell apart, someone said to me that they were so impressed with me, because i wasn't angry at God. i wasn't upset with the choices he made for my life. it made me think... how could i have been angry at him???????? i was racking my brain trying to figure out what reason i could think of to be mad at Him. there was none. there is none. there will be none. i will try my best to make sure it always stays that way.

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Psalm 86:15

december, be kind.

2011-12-01T20:54:00.001-07:00

i browse tumblr blogs. i browse tumblr blogs and then pin my favorites to pinterest. today, i saw this:

i sure hope december will be kind. i don't want any more falling apart moments.

i enter each month going "maybe this month will be the one!". it gets old. really fast. because, months past, and it never happens. maybe it will never happen. i guess time will tell.

i do, however, hope that this month is kind to me. even if we don't get matched, i don't want another month like the last one.

listening to: +++++

adventurer

2011-12-01T10:33:00.001-07:00

sometimes i want a place where i can throw everything into my bicycle basket and ride four minutes down the dirt road to a secret place underneath a big oak tree. a place where i can read or just simply enjoy myself. maybe i'm imagining the one from because of winn dixie?

most evenings i throw on a sweater and uggs, grab my camera, and walk out to my bike. i usually then attract the neighbor girl. the neighbor girl i speak of is five years old. she likes to walk beside me and "find interesting things to take pictures of." i can already see a spark of interest in photography in her, as i saw her crouching down to get the shot of an orange with my iPod camera.

we walk around the neighborhood and find things to take pictures of. today, i spotted an orange tree hidden between two houses. sure, maybe javelinas do dig in there, maybe there are snakes and bugs, but sometimes you just have to lose the fears and give in to the photographer's eye. it's probably not my "secret place" that i'm thinking of, but it is sort of secret. sometimes, you don't even realize that you have something amazing right in front of your eyes.

one life

2011-11-29T19:05:00.001-07:00

this picture speaks for itself.

i only have one life to live, so i want to spend it doing what i love and loving what i do. hanging in my bedroom to remember forever.

all the time

2011-11-29T18:42:00.001-07:00

when life falls apart, you wonder.... is God really good all the time? Or when people get angry at God for what he does in their life.

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Psalm 86:15

the Trouble with Coldplay

2011-11-29T13:48:00.001-07:00

Okay, I'll say it now, that I hated Coldplay..... until last month. Last month when everything fell apart. When the one thing I cared about came crashing down. Then I listened to Coldplay.

Why is that, you may ask? Because Coldplay reminds me of sad depressed rain. I am a happy person and I don't want sad-depressing-rain music to influence me. But when sad-depressing days happen, out comes the sad-depressing-rain music.

There's something about music. During the summer I listened to Beyonce's album, 4, while browsing pinterest. Now every time I hear Beyonce's album, I think about browsing pinterest.

So when it all fell apart, I listened to Coldplay. I didn't want to listen to my happy music anymore, because honestly, I thought sad music would make me feel better.

So Coldplay it was. And today, I listened to Coldplay... again.

Here's the trouble with Coldplay. Their music is sad. I was sad, so I listened to Coldplay. When I listen to Coldplay anymore, it reminds me of that day. That day was one of the worst days ever. I guess you could say that Coldplay's music is super sad-depressing-rain music, but it cheers you up. There's something about the way it's written, the words they use, that makes you happy.

I can hardly listen to Coldplay anymore because it reminds me of that day. Remembering that day is not the best feeling in the world. Life is terrible sometimes. When it never goes your way, when you've been told no too many times and you feel like giving up.......... good music always helps. Coldplay's songs are so well written. I guess you could say that their music helped me get through that day. Of course I didn't solely get through that awful day just because of Coldplay, but they definitely turned it around.

So when I listen to Coldplay now, it may remind me of hard days, it may make me remember things I don't want to, but their music helped me to move on. Sometimes, if you just sit there and listen close to every word someone is singing, it hits you. Fix You changed that for me.

When you try your best but you don't succeed, when you get what you want but not what you need; When you feel so tired but you can't sleep, stuck in reverse. And the tears come streaming down your face. When you loose something you can't replace. When you love someone but it goes two ways. Could it be worse? This was exactly the way I felt. I felt like I tried my best to get to that date, but I didn't succeed. I lost something I couldn't replace. It was like I loved that baby inside this strangers womb, but I didn't even know him. I couldn't replace him. I kept asking myself if it could get worse. It most definitely could have been, but at that point in time it hurt so bad that it couldn't have been worse.

So what exactly is the trouble with Coldplay? I think I just realized that there is no problem with them. I have to leave the past behind.

Coldplay helped me get through the worst few days ever. This probably sounds really silly to you. But every time I think of loosing that baby, I think of Coldplay.

When you're having a bad day, listen to Coldplay. Just do. I have a friend that's obsessed with Coldplay. This person kept telling me everyday to listen to them, and finally, when this fell apart, I did. And today, I'm so happy I did.

thankful for :: in a collage

2011-11-24T16:01:00.001-07:00

To sum it all up:

//I have fantastic friends. They are fun to be around, make me laugh til I cry, encourage me, and are always there for me.

//My family is the best.

//I have the most hilarious, fun, insane, and AWESOME three brothers!!! They're the best!

Have a lovely Thanksgiving, everyone!!!!

much love

today.

2011-11-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

today is thanksgiving. and today, we are commanded to give thanks to the One who gave us it all in the first place.

today, i am thankful for ::

01/ my family. they are the best.

02/ the chance to be able to be home-schooled.

03/ my three really crazy brothers.

04/ my amazing friends.

05/ the house i live in, which is taken for granted everyday.

06/ the Lord and what he has done for me.

07/ my camera.

08/ my ability to see. i can see the beauty in the world because the Lord has given me eyes.

09/ the people i am surrounded with.

10/ health. i am alive and healthy and the only reason is because God has chosen to keep me from sickness.

11/ a bed. i get to sleep on a comfy bed while others are sleeping on the dirt.

12/ a family!!!! there are so many without one today, and i am thankful for that.

13/ an education.

14/ to be able to live in a free country, where i can worship who i want and be FREE!

and on. and on. and on.

there is so much to be thankful for today. but today, i will be thankful for everything i do have, not what i want to have, and i hope you will too.

happy thanksgiving, everyone! have a lovely day; stuff your face with good food, fill your home with great friends and family, and be thankful for everything you have.

xoxoxo.

actions speak louder than words.

2011-11-23T14:30:00.001-07:00

"God in eternity looked upon me, foreseeing my faults, my pride, and said 'I want that man in my family. I will pay for him to be in my family, with my son's life.' That's love, folks. That is mega, off the charts LOVE."

thanksgiving

2011-11-18T22:46:00.001-07:00

believe it or not, my chemistry teacher said something that really made me think yesterday morning.

first of all, i am so blessed to be able to go to a christian school. i get to learn about science through a biblical perspective. i get to read biblical literature. my teachers pray before and after class.

my chemistry teacher is fantastic. he can make any concept seem easy.

but, there is something about the way he prays that makes it even better. his prayers are always very meaningful, and not just something that he has to do.

but today, he said something that was so true. he said, "help us to remember to be thankful everyday, not just the day that is set aside for our thankfulness.".

it got me thinking. we shouldn't just wait until this one day a year to be thankful for everything we have. i have everything i could ever want, but yet, i'm hardly ever thankful for it.

that's all the world says we should be. we always need more. if you buy this iphone, in six months, you'll need the new one. it is so dysfunctional.

so, take my chemistry teacher's advice. be thankful everyday, not just the one day that is set aside for us.

in Christ alone

2011-11-17T21:07:00.001-07:00

no words. just listen.

there is nothing better than seeing a huge star believe Christ, and better yet, living that out.

this song is the best. you can replay it as many times as you want, and it still has the same impact on you. "in Christ alone, my hope is found". as he said when he blogged about it, it's one of those songs that can make you cry like a baby. although, i do admit, i am so not a crier ;)

if you're ever in a bad mood, listen to this version of the song.

adam young is the best.

the end.

thoughts

2011-11-16T19:19:00.001-07:00

for a long time (even like two months ago), all i ever blogged about was life. all the photos i ever shared were of my life.

and now, i don't really want to go back to that. sure, life is awesome, and why not document it? but, i would much rather write blog posts about things that mean more to me, and would bless you, then everyday life. although everyday life really can be a blessing to people.... as they see the way i live because of my belief in Christ.... it still means more to me to write things with meaning behind it.

i want to post about meaningful topics. meaningful to you and me. there's something about reading what you wrote, that feels great. especially when it turned out the way you wanted it.

that Africa post is one of my favorites, now. it turned out exactly the way i wanted it. i said what i wanted to say. i impacted the world with the words i used.

and that's the thing that i love about blogging.

i can impact the world by the words i use..... with just a few pushes of the keyboard, a click of the mouse, and the unlimited ideas & things on my heart, my words can be posted for the world to see. and i can impact them with what i say.

one of the things i've been thinking about is how people buy into the media a little too much. especially when you watch CNN. this is because the way they speak and tell the breaking news and act like everything is the end of the world, makes you believe them. is there really that much drama in this presidential election? is the world really ending? it's almost as if news is more like gossip these days. it doesn't really benefit you, and you walk away from your television going "yeah, what they said about blah blah blah is really true."... and then live your life with the influence of what Anderson Cooper has to say, not what the Bible says.

so why don't we, as believers, write in that manner? if people read my blog posts, and begin to live their life like what i talk about, i would be overjoyed. that's my purpose of writing here.

because, personally, i enjoy reading something, and walking away being impacted. i definitely strive to walk away from blog posts i write hoping that people will be impacted by my words.

and i think if we all write like that, we can impact more people. make people believe us and the truth we are speaking of, rather than what's on CNN, or whatever you choose to watch.

although life is completely wonderful, and can indeed impact people by living your life w/ Jesus Christ as your truth and way of going about daily life, but I am choosing to write about things that will impact you, and make you want to do something for the Lord.

ii: africa

2011-11-16T06:45:00.001-07:00

today from Natalie Crane on Vimeo.

In response to my Africa post..... I am in love w/ this video. And the song.

I've been following the blog Like Morning Sun for a while now. And I am amazed by her willingness to just give up her life for seven months to go to Rwanda As hard as that may be, I would do that in a heartbeat. I just have to figure out where, how and when, first.

As crazy as it may sound, I am so excited to return to Africa one day. The feelings and memories that it brings back are amazing, and I can't wait to fulfill that place in my heart again.

crafts

2011-11-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

it's always good to keep your hands busy. and the weeks when i don't have too much school, that's when the crafts come out. my typewriter comes out, and the ideas never end.

i had been searching the internet almost all day today looking for a diy CD sleeve of some kind for photos for clients, and finally found what i was looking for here. after some more thought, i went ahead and did her tutorial, only, with a twist. i wrapped a sheet of graph paper around it, like a present. i cut out a red heart, and used my lovely typewriter to type away. i absolutely love the results. i'll probably add a ribbon of some sort, and will happily hand it to my client :)

be looking for a exciting new launch and preview of a sweet baby girl i photographed last weekend!

xoxo

closer to love

2011-11-08T11:33:00.004-07:00

I've been listening to Mat Kearney's Closer to Love, and today, I looked up the lyrics. A lot of the stuff he was saying sure hit me hard.

It said "I guess we're all one phone call from our knees.". And that lyric is so true. All it takes is a phone call, and your world can come crashing down.

Two weeks ago, all it took was a phone call, and it was like we were on our knees. It's so easy to act like you're really trusting, but to find out later that you're not.

It's been two weeks, and sure, it's gotten lots easier, but the thought is still there. It's hard remembering that today we'd be so excited, and anxiously awaiting that phone call. A phone call can change your world in an instance. It sure did for me.

But if this didn't all happen... if we were still matched today... if I was blogging about my excitement, I wouldn't be as happy as I am today.

This whole thing happened on purpose. It wasn't an accident. It fell apart for a reason...... to pull us closer to love.... with Him.

ii. the arizona desert.

2011-11-07T13:56:00.002-07:00

it's the rawness of this desert that gets me every time.

africa

2011-11-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

i wrote this post a few weeks ago, and saved it as a draft because i didn't know if i wanted to share it or not.... but today, i'd like to share it.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Today, I did a speech on my Africa trip. And although maybe it didn't turn out as perfectly as I had imagined it to be, it was sooooooo good to talk about Africa again.

For those of you who don't know, I went to Africa in 2009. It was the most life-changing thing I have ever experienced. Suuuuch a blessing. No one actually realizes the gratitude and overwhelming blessings you feel unless you've been there. So when I was gathering thoughts about this speech, I knew I had to talk about this on my blog.

The memories, they make it feel like yesterday. The photographs, they make me want to go back. And so I got to thinking.... why did I go to Africa in the first place? To be honest, when this trip first came to my attention, I didn't think at all about how it may be life-changing. I really don't even know what I was thinking. But... after I saw the faces, met the people, lived a tiny piece of their life, I knew this was where I was supposed to be.

Africa is like a second home, almost. No matter how uncomfortable or hard or scary or anything it was there, it made me feel most happy. Being with those kids, those people, those faces. After that trip, I realized that I was supposed to be there. I think it's kind of part of me. Africa is a part of me. Without Africa, I would not have the heart for orphans, love for children, and longing to help needy people that I have today. Also, the gratitude. After experiencing life there for just ten days, I came home and took the longest shower ever. And I remember standing there with hot water spraying down at my face, telling myself how amazing it is to have a never ending supply of clean water.

I still today wonder why do I have the house I have, while the people in Haiti are in ruins. Why do I have a family, and there are millions of orphans all over the world who have no one. In America we are blessed to have clean water. We are blessed to have money to buy anything we want. Anything we want. And we always wonder why God takes away. But we never wonder why He gives. Why would He give me everything I want, but give them hardly anything?

I think it is so much more of a blessing to them, but also you, to give time. It's not always the money that blesses them. It's the presence. No person has any idea how blessed you feel the moment you step onto Africa's soil unless....... you've been there. Overwhelming emotion that enters your soul.... and it stays with you forever.

I sure pray that I can go back.

xoxo

thoughts

2011-11-05T18:01:00.002-07:00

i've been thinking lately..... who am i as a photographer? what am i here to do, for you? what am i here to do.... for me? it's been lingering in my mind and i thought i'd share.

there is nothing better than looking thru a set of photographs. but for me, there is nothing better than capturing the moment. it is so easy to just sit back and watch life. to remember the moments in your head. but for me, there is nothing more special than everyday moments, through photographs.

sometimes, the sweetest moments are captured through photographs. i don't think there is a better way to capture life than through this amazing way. no other way on the planet can i literally hold those moments again in my hands...... than through photographs. all i really want to do is capture the moment. the moment when your child turns one. the moment when you're pregnant with your first, second, third, etc, child. the moment when you walk down the aisle. the moment when your teenage daughter is a senior in highschool. because, honestly? life is so short. and, life goes by so.fast. one day, you're five years old, and the next, you're seventeen, driving yourself to school. and what better way to capture the moment, then through photography????

people define me as a photographer. without people, my work would not be art. i can look into the eyes of a person i just photographed and feel as if they are right here with me. the people are who make my photographs my photographs. sure, flowers and landscape and the beach and nature is really beautiful, but there is nothing better than looking into the eyes of a photographed person. and in my eyes..... photographing people is what gives me the most joy. and i want to capture people, so that their beauty may be alive forever, even when they aren't.

xoxo

caramel apples.

2011-11-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

enjoy:

[sorry for the noise]

the arizona desert.

2011-11-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

it's funny... how everything in life gets taken advantage of. for me, there are many. one of them is the arizona desert. i was saying last night how I wish we could have a white christmas, instead of our boring brown one. but i've come to realize how much i love this arizona desert. as much as i hate the heat, it is home, and always will be, no matter where life takes me.

emma claire photography

2011-11-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

I thought it was time for a gallery of some sorts... a more professional website for my photography. I am very happy with the results of this site. Visit it HERE.

Also... my photography blog. Be sure to check that one out for upcoming shoots. Visit it HERE.

photography.

2011-11-02T19:09:00.004-07:00

yesterday, i did a speech on photography. and it made me think about how awesome photography is, and how much i love it.

it's capturing life in a really beautiful way. it's the personalities i capture thru photographs that will last forever. it's the people i meet and the beauty inside everyone that makes me love my gift. and today, these images made me so happy.

i take lots of pictures of these boys. but hey, i'll take whatever models i get. but this time... a different side. i love the shots i got of eli. the fourth one down makes me smile. and logan.... well.... see for yourself.

and of course... his real personality:

my favorite.... my super cool brother... sometimes. ;)

xoxo

NOVEMBER.

2011-11-01T16:47:00.002-07:00

today, it is november first. last week, when I thought about November first, i was thinking about how exciting this day would be. it would have been ten days until baby. but today, that's not the case, and i am happy and okay with that.

today, it is november first. i am so excited for the next few holidays. but for now, i'll focus on today.

november for me is fun get togethers with great people, warm colors, good food, football, and nice weather. it is the dead grass that cruches when you step on it, the hope that CHRISTmas is coming soon. november is one of my favorites.

welcome, november, i'm so glad you're here.

xoxo

nerd word.

2011-10-31T21:03:00.002-07:00

get yo nerd on.

notice.... the giant paper clip. the pens. the chemistry book.

and.... safety goggles. duh.

family.

2011-10-31T16:12:00.002-07:00

yesterday, we picked pumpkins, and later, we carved them.

oh and... we celebrated logan's birthday on saturday. happy birthday to one of the weirdest, coolest brothers ever! BIG 13!!!!!!!!

m e a n d l i a m

eli was so proud of his little pumpkin. and i am so proud of the photos i got b/c of my amazing flash!

and... because we are a big football family... GO BLUE.

Also... just to prove that I am not depressed or a sad person.

i am so happy to have the family i do have. i think i've cared too much about the family we will have, and not the one i do have.

and... thank you, everyone, for praying for us. today is monday, and i am so glad to put last week behind me.

xoxo

surreal.

2011-10-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

Today seems surreal. I woke up this morning feeling weird. It wasn't the same. Although it's just a thought, it just wasn't the same. Usually, I wake up excited. A new day, which means its so much closer than it was yesterday. But today, it was almost like no hope. I know, I know. There is tons and tons of hope for the next few months. But I didn't wake up this morning feeling "safe". I guess that's all I ever thought about. Once we were matched, it was like a safety thing. Good, now we're matched, and nothing can stop that. But, it did. And, as you learned yesterday, it wasn't the easiest thing ever.

I really love the lyrics in Praise You in the Storm by Casting Crowns. Like I said yesterday, every word is what I was thinking, and needed to hear. So yesterday, I made this, to encourage others as it encouraged me.

and then... after yesterday's post.... this.

LIFE.

2011-10-27T19:16:00.002-07:00

So after this craziness today, i've learned a lot in the past 10 hours. i've put all my time and energy into that date. every time i was completely overwhelmed, all i thought about was how once i finished it, the baby would be so super close. and then everything would be okay. And then, today happened. And it all just sort of fell into a big huge mess..... that was gone. And so I thought about how I can't live like that. Always getting through one thing just to get to the next. I haven't taken pictures more than once or twice a week. And it's all because the baby has been the only thing on my mind, and it shouldn't have been.

I felt so attached to this, that when it fell apart, I fell apart with it. Cuz all I thought about was this baby and November 11 and when it came crashing down today, I felt a huge hole.

And I forget that everyday means a lot. Today is a blessing. Not the due date. Not tomorrow. Right now.

And... yesterday (before all of this craziness), a rainbow. I saw this rainbow while we were still matched... but I had this feeling when I saw it. And now I know why.

God's promise. To me.

xoxo.

p.s. listening to +++++++++

November 11.

2011-10-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

November 11. It's the day I've waited for for two months. And today, it's all over.

I don't know if you remember this post. But that post was the first time I told everyone that we were matched. With a birthmom. With a baby. But today, that's not the case.

That baby is not our baby. That baby will not be joining our family in 22 days. And that is okay. The Lord has other plans.

This song is saying everything I want to say.

My family would be oh so grateful for your prayers. Today is pretty hard, but we're trusting in the fact that God has another baby for us, a better plan.
xoxo.

rain.

2011-10-26T17:45:00.002-07:00

it rained today. and i live in arizona. so this is so rare. but oh, it's so lovely to have clouds.

xoxo

outfit: red tights.

2011-10-26T17:38:00.002-07:00

okay. you guys should be so proud. it's my first outfit post where someone else took my photos. i thought it was about time. but anyways, i got red tights on my trip to Cali earlier this month, and the second i put my eyes on these lovelies, i knew i had to have them.

dress/h&m | tights/maple ave | shoes/h&m

xoxo

ELI JACOB.

2011-10-26T17:34:00.001-07:00

this boy..... those eyes..... that face.

xoxo

ADA.

2011-10-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

she takes my breath away with her beauty. what a lovely, lovely girl.

xoxo

elijah.

2011-10-19T12:24:00.001-07:00

"Behold, children are a gift from the Lord. They are a reward from Him." (Psalm 127:3)

cutest baby ever. those eyes. those curls. kills me how adorable he is.

CALIFORNIA

2011-10-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

i'm back after a super amazing time w/ friends at the beach. it was the most fun i've had in a long time. we had lots of surprises, and oh my goodness it was amazing.

first i surprised my awesome friends that just recently moved. and this time w/ them was needed, and so amazing. watch it go down right here:

[ignore the bad filming. my mother was too excited to concentrate. but just listen to how exciting it was]

and then, another friend of ours came out w/ us and surprised them. and pulling that off was so much fun.

then i got to see my lovely friend taylor from my online school, and that was amazing, too. i hadn't seen her since the end of the year gathering, way back in june, and it was so awesome to be w/ her again.

then, we surprised the kids w/ a trip to legoland. see their excitement below:

it was a super fun time, and the most fun i've had in a very long time. here are a few images from the fun weekend:

b e a c h d a y

a d o r a b l e

t a y l o r

WINNER

2011-10-03T13:09:00.001-07:00

It's time to announce the winner of happy flower design's giveaway!

The winner of the two fabric flower charms handmade by the lovely Jemima is....

Mary Ann!!!!! Congratulations!! Please email me your address so I can send it on over to Jemima so she can get your wonderful necklaces to you :)

Thanks to everyone for entering!! Jemima and I are so happy with the results! Be sure to come back for more future giveaways from her!

xoxoxo,

emma

this is life.

2011-10-01T17:59:00.002-07:00

i don't usually blog about my life. i mean, i blog about my life, but i often don't share all the photos that take up my life. the things i spend my time doing. so this is life. and it's awesome.

this dog takes up my life. gosh, he's weird. he has a serious disorder called being dumb.

i have the craziest brothers. ones who download apps that make interesting faces.

i do chemistry experiments in safety goggles cuz i'm just so cool like that. SAFETY FIRST, of course.

pancakes on saturday mornings make me happy.

prank calls. if you know me, you should know how much i love prank calls. and recently i just did the best prank call in the history of them. to make a long story short, i called my lovely friend emilyann and tried to sell her sap shampoo. after the phone call, i shipped her a mixture of soap and maple syrup. best.prankcall.ever.

nerd glasses. i just got some today. and goooodness i have been missing out. #nerdsruletheworld

so there you have it, people. this is life. my life.

for titus.

2011-09-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

for titus. those two words written over a glass jar that was once filled with milk. simple, yet to the point. those two words mean a lot to me.

november 11. baby titus is due to be born into this world.

my brother.

due november 11.

through the blessing of adoption.

adoption costs a lot of money. too much, in my opinion. but you have no idea how much of a blessing every penny given to this adoption is.

and we have the best friends in the entire world. seriously. every time i learned that another person is sewing, selling, photographing or giving, i was in shock. shock. i don't know why people do this for us. but it is such a blessing. such a blessing.

Cate is selling Pendants.

Dawn Gregg is selling photographs.

Jessica Fischer is making blankets.

and people are giving.

all to bring my brother home.

thank you.

thank you for filling up our jar for titus with money.

i am blessed.

xxx,

emma.

p.s. giveaway going on right here.

what means the most.

2011-09-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

sometimes, we get so caught up in life and the craziness of school that we forget what means the most in life. it's hard sometimes to remember that life is really beautiful. although it may be totally crazy and hectic and nothing is going your way, it's still beautiful. and i always forget to remember what means the most to me.

what means the most to me, is watching a bunch of boys play football together. although it may sound absolutely crazy, it means a lot.

what means the most to me, is having the best friends in the entire world. ones that are miles and miles away, but stick with you.

what means the most to me, is watching little boys play. makes my heart smile.

what means the most to me, is making prank calls with this kid right here. never ceases to make me laugh til i cry.

what means the most to me, is standing on the sand, wind in my hair, and realizing that I have a great God.

what means the most to me, is waking up every day and knowing that i have the best brothers in the world.

it's the simple, everyday things, that mean the most to me.

xxx,

emma.

listening to: xxxxxxxxxxx

p.s. haven't entered my giveaway yet? do it right here!

head shots.

2011-09-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

you know those head shots you get of people that totally and completely show their true personality? like the ones where you don't have to say anything, because it's shown in the photograph? that's what these are to me:

pssst... don't forget about my giveaway! it closes Saturday, so hurry up and enter!

xxxx,

emma

a giveaway: happy flower designs.

2011-09-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

{This giveaway is now closed.}

It's Monday! And to brighten your week, here's a giveaway for you lovelies.

shop // blog

Jemima makes handmade lovelies over at Happy Flower Designs. She makes oh-so-lovely hair pieces and many other beautiful things. She has an eye for all things beautiful, and is so super sweet. And today, she is giving away two fabric flower charms that the lucky winner can wear around her neck.

Want to enter?

Just comment on this post, and you'll be entered in the giveaway.

For extra entries:

+like Happy Flower Designs on Facebook.

+follow my blog.

+add Happy Flower Designs on Etsy to your favorites.

+blog about this giveaway {be sure to include the link in your comment}

+facebook about this giveaway. {if you're friends with me, be sure to tag me}

+follow Jemima's blog.

{be sure to leave one comment per entry}

Giveaway will end Saturday, October 1 at midnight.

Have fun, and good luck!

xxxx,

weekends are.

2011-09-20T07:52:00.002-07:00

weekends are...

photo shoots with your brother.

beautiful sunny skies and cooler temperatures...

a crazy large dog...

picnic blankets.

dinner outside by candlelight.

weekends are lovely. don't you think?

xxxx,

emma.

p.s. big news!!!!!!!!!!

The Emmys 2011

2011-09-19T13:26:00.001-07:00

my favorite emmy dresses for this year:

Lea Michelle as gorgeous as ever. AMAZING dress. Loved the sleeves.

Kate Winslet. Perfect.

I don't usually care what the guys wear, but LL Cool J NAILED IT with his outfit. While everyone else was wearing black ties, he did something different.

Evan Rachel Woods looks amazing in this dress. It fits her perfectly, and i love everything about it.

Kaley Cuoco looked fantastic, and love the red clutch.

Kelly Minka. LOVE the lace.

Heidi Klum looking AMAZING in this dress. Seriously, she is amazing.

Of course, Zooey Deschanel :) I just LOVE hers, although the colors are a little Valentines Day-ish. And my mother said she looks like she should be on a cake. I love it.

outfits.

2011-09-14T19:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been wearing outfit-of-the-day worthy clothes recently, but I haven't really been posting them. But today, I did something different. I set my camera on a stack of books on my bed, and stood in front of my camera while it was recording. To be honest, it was actually quite fun. I've been very interested in videography recently, and I am so in love with how this turned out! So here's my quick 45 second outfit video.

-e.

D-I-Y : no-sew bunting.

2011-09-10T18:52:00.003-07:00

I've been looking for something to put on my bare wall in my bedroom, and after being inspired by the lovely etsy this afternoon, I set out to do some bunting. I am sewing machine-less at the moment, so doing crafts right now is a little tough. But, I figured out how I can do bunting without a sewing machine, and it was a great Saturday evening project :)

All the materials in this tutorial you will most likely have lying around in your home. But one thing you will need to figure out before you begin is how many "triangles" you want to make. I made 12, so figure out where you're going to hang them, and then go from there.

You're going to need a hot glue gun, a pencil, scissors, scraps of fabric (make sure it is big enough for the bunting template), twine (or anything else that will hold it; not included in photo), and a bunting template (which can be found here).

So go ahead and print your bunting template onto cardstock, and cut it out. Then you're going to put it on your fabric, and trace it with your pencil.

Now we're going to cut along the lines we made.

Repeat until desired number of bunted triangles are cut out.

[At this point I ironed them out to get all the creases out, but this is optional. Only for those of us that don't fold their fabric very nicely ;)]

Next you're going to pull out your twine or yarn or whatever you are using & your hot glue gun.

Now you're going to put glue on the top edge of your "triangles", and press the twine onto it.

Next, put some more glue on the very top edge of your triangles, and fold over. This is just going to make them look much cleaner.

Yay!! We're done with the first one!!

{please ignore the messy saturday hair}

Now go ahead and continue this process until you get your desired outcome. I did two strings of 6 bunted triangles, but you can do whatever you want :)

Here was my wall before:

And after:

How simple was that????

I am sooo beyond happy with this D-I-Y! It totally makes my room so much more happy!

So happy "bunting", everyone!! have fun and enjoy :)

-emma.

instagram.

2011-09-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

along with everyone else in the world, i have an obsession with instagram. so, here are my recent shots from my world via instragram.

normal.

2011-09-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

if you know me, you'll know that i believe that no one is normal. everyone has something quirky about them. i hate it when people (especially home-schoolers) say "I wish I was normal", or "like the normal kids". it TOTALLY bugs me!!!!!!!! no one is normal. no one is average. Do people really think that if you go to public school, wear what your friends wear, say what everyone else says, then you're considered a "normal" person of society? i don't think so. everyone is quirky. everyone is kiiiiinda strange (ahem). and everyone is weird. everyone. not just home-schoolers.

adoption.

2011-09-03T16:34:00.002-07:00

if you read my guest post yesterday, then you'll know that we are adopting. i've kept it pretty quiet on my blog... and to be honest i really don't know why. i guess i just wasn't ready to tell everyone until it was "official", or, at least somewhat official. but we are adopting. and to be honest, i didn't think it would be as hard as it is.

we don't know when or where or who quite yet, but i'll keep you updated. but for now, we wait........

we wait for the right birth mom. for the right baby. it's one of the hardest things i've ever done in my life. patience isn't my strongest and easiest thing to do. but for now, if you feel lead, i have a donate button on the sidebar of my blog. i am beyond grateful for the wonderful people that will help bring my brother home.

xoxo,

Adoption.

2011-09-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

I am guest posting today over at Gathered From Afar, so go check it out!! This is my first guest post, and I was soooooooo excited when I found out that I would be talking about adoption, which is something that is very close to my heart.

w/ love,
-e.

august swoons.

2011-08-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

with august coming to a close tomorrow, i have a few things i am swooning over.

Fashion blogs. I started a fashion blog folder on my bookmarks bar, and I've added a lot of blogs that I'll look at for inspiration.

Vintage dresses. Oh my, I wish I had $5,00 so I could go out and buy every single vintage dress out there. Just too amazing.

Hipster glasses. (wait... did she really just say that?) I love. I need I want. These are just too amazing.

Vintage hair bows. I saw this photo (below) on pinterest recently and knew i needed to get my hands on one of them. And, after looking around a vintage store, i came across them. Yes. I am so excited to get one. {click here to go to the store}

Film cameras. I've been swooning over these for a while now, but I just love the outcome of the photograph that comes from a Diana camera.

Chevron design. Goodness, I love chevron right now. It all started when I saw pink chevron stripes on kate spade's tumblr, and kiiinda freaked out.

What are you swooning over this month?

-emma.

{all photos on this post are not mine--via pinterest}

summer.

2011-08-29T21:48:00.002-07:00

Summer is gone. The hot, sunny, wet days of summer are gone. Sure, it's still unbearably hot, but the sweet feeling of nothing to do when you wake up in the morning is gone. The sleeping in, staying in pajamas until the late hours of the morning -- gone. In some ways it seems very depressing to be saying goodbye to all of this, but in others, it seems very spectacular. I am very excited for school to start, and finally have some sort of a schedule again. It will also be a very exciting year for me, as I am entering my first year of high school.

But I am ready. Ready to say goodbye to the relaxation of summer days, and ready to say hello to schedules. Goodbye, boredom, hello, homework. And I know for a fact that by mid-December I'll be ready to throw homework out the window, but today, this is sounding very good to me.

Fall also sounds fantastic. The lovely, sweet smells and colors of fall sounds awesome right now. Chilly weather and jeans sound perfect for this winter-loving girl. I am about done with this 115+ weather. Cardigans, baking, jeans, pumpkin candles, cinnamon, cold weather -- all wonderful things about Fall. Fall also leads up to the holiday season (although I very much hate when people say holidays instead of Christmas). Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday - all very lovely holidays that put me in my happiest place.

Eat up these lovely moments, because before we know it, school will be upon us, we'll be stressed, and summer will be behind us in what seems like moments.

-e.

faces.

2011-08-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

i've done it before and i'll do it again.... a few of my favorite shots of faces i love....

sometimes photos tell a story for themselves

2011-08-20T17:45:00.002-07:00

[moral of the story: a bunch of shirtless boys, together for a birthday party = happy action shots for me]

boys.

2011-08-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

surrounded. by boys. it's all i've ever known. loud. obnoxious. disgusting. weird. crazy. but still, i'd never change a thing. i'm out-numbered, and i like it that way.

music i love at the moment.

2011-08-17T20:26:00.000-07:00

i love music. just want you to know that. like, i can't write papers without music. i can't read blogs without music. i can't do most things without music. so, today, i'm going to tell you all my favorite music at the moment. because i don't have a favorite song, it's always a favorite song at the moment.

I just recently found Jayme Dee on YouTube and ohmygoodgollygeez. SHE IS AMAZING! I can't stop listening to her voice. I really think all her Katy Perry covers are better than the original.

My mom was the one that actually made me really like this song :P But it's totally amazing.

With You has been something my brother and I have loved forEVER. Seriously. But I just got it again and it's amazing.

Okay so if you know me at all, you have to know that I love love love love LOOOVE Colbie Caillat. She's beachy, awesome, and I love her lots.

Owl City. I mean, duh. Owl city is ahhhhmazing, and I really really really want to see him in concert (hint hint cough mother cough cough wink surprise ahem)

and of course Justin Bieber. I mean, am I right? This song is actually really cool. And honestly, I am pretty excited for his new album in November!! fun fact: I follow the biebs on instagram. yup.

Aaaand of course the lovely Beyonce <3

What have you been listening to lately?
-e.

weekly roundup.

2011-08-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

weekly roundup... a bit late :)

calivintage // pinterest // calivintage // streetpeeper // pinterest // unknown

liam.

2011-08-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

happy birthday to my only always-willing photography model, blondest kid i know, best eyes, brother :)

<3 <3

make your school notebooks schnazzy.

2011-08-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

(first of all, i'd just like to say that i feel like my wonderful friend taylor saying schnazzy :P)

Anyways, today is officially the end of summer, because i'm starting geometry! woohoo! who's excited? i know i am!

.....

no really, i am. Anyways, i was looking at my boring old notebook and decided it needed some jazzing up, so i dug through my mom's retro/vintage wrapping paper and cut away!

I just cut paper into strips and glued it on randomly. And I ended up with this:

I also cut letters from magazine covers and glues them onto the front.

go shcnazzy up your notebooks!!!!!

-e.

fall wish list.

2011-08-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

1 :: oxfords. i think they are super cute and look great with almost every outfit.

2 :: diana camera. i love this and have wanted it for so so long. too expensive :/

3 :: a white blouse + colorful jeans. either red, pink or purple.

4 :: "I'd rather be thrifting" print. adorable.

5 :: this backpack is amazing. best one i've ever seen.

6 :: a hard, vintage suitcase w/ wheels. i found a red one while thrifting recently, but i decided that it'd be better off with wheels, so my hunt continues....

what is on your fall wish list?

-e.

home-schooler.

2011-08-12T09:43:00.001-07:00

yes, i am home-schooled. yes, you can judge me. yes, you can call me a freak. yes, i might act completely opposite from a public schooler, but i'll tell you this: i would never change a thing.

i've been home-schooled since second grade, and i've loved it ever since. sure, i've got some weird looks, some "ohhh. *walks away slowly*" and a lot more, but i don't care. because if i wasn't home-schooled, i wouldn't have gotten to meet the wonderful people i know today. and if i wasn't home-schooled, i wouldn't have gotten more time to pursue what i love.

sure, home-schooling isn't for everyone, but i know for sure that it's for me.

"I'm home-schooled" can go either way. "ohhhh *walks away slowly* you're one of THOOOOSE." or they think it's like the best thing ever and want to be your BFF right away. either way, i don't care. if you don't want to be my friend because i'm home-schooled, then that's fine by me. i like being home-schooled whether you want to be my friend or not.

funny things people ask me about being homeschooled::

-"Oh, so this is a great chance for you guys to get some socialization! You know, that's when you get together and hang out with other kids your age."

-"LUCKY!!! I wish I was home-schooled!! Then I could sleep in every day and play video games alll day!!"

i'd never change a thing.

-e.

the lake.

2011-08-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

we went to a lake on saturday for the first time ever, and had a really great time!!

The boys enjoyed collecting shells.

-e.

weekly roundup.

2011-08-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

unknown // calivintage // unknown // street peeper // hoy fashion // street peeper

Project Runway:: Season 9!!!!!

2011-08-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Project Runway is finally here. I was going to do a post about the first episode last week, but I totally forgot, so we'll just start talking about episode two today!!

First of all, I LOVE the designers they have this season. They're all so different but they are really amazing.

WARNING:::::::::: Major spoilers below!! If you haven't watched the show yet, then don't continue reading!!!

This episode was My Pet Project, which I thought was really awesome, but I was wondering why they did it so early in the season.

Anyway, let's get to the designs for this episode.

So first, my absolute favorite.....

OLIVIER GREEN!!! Okay, wasn't his design just amazing?????? I love everything about it, except the eyebrows.

THE GOOD:::

I love all of these designs. The first one is truly amazing. I love how he used bird seed over the entire thing, and the top is amazing!!

The second: I think this one is really amazing. I think the designer (I forgot who it was:P) mentioned that it was really tight, but I think that if it was any looser, it would be really bad.

The third: Okay, this one is probably number two of my favorite design this episode. I love how the top sparkles, but I think he went really really wrong with the accessorizing. Like what's the tag hanging from her belt??? And the shoes? I mean, are you kidding??

THE OKAY:::

The first: I just want to say how much I love Anya. Although she just learned how to sew, her designs are truly amazing. And this one was just okay. But I still can't figure out how she made that top!!

The second: I really love this. I was debating if this could be one of the best, but it was really amazing!!

The third: Okay, okay, okay so this wasn't okay. It was pretty bad. The colors are terrible, and I think it's just really bad.

THE BAD:::

The first: NOOOOOO. This just looks gross. Like Heidi said, "I just want to pee on this!". That's how nasty it looks. I think when he was first sketching it was going to be great, but it turned out just gross.

The second: She looks like she's in a play about the forest. 'Nuff said.

The third: Okay, I can't even look at this. It looks like something you would weave together with a kid for fun. The ONE AND ONLY thing I liked about it was the back (I don't have a picture of that). And this designer I really don't know why they put her through. She has absolutely no style!!!

What are your thoughts???

-e

fifteen things i bet you didn't know about me.

2011-08-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

number one:: i don't wear matching pajamas to bed. i wear overly large t-shirts that my dad won somewhere and shorts. my mom doesn't really like this.

number two:: i am most comfortable around just my family. as in: when i'm around them, i'm a very crazy, talkative person, and sometimes, when i'm with my friends, i'm more quiet.

number three:: i really don't like christian music. like all the stuff on christian radio stations today is just not good. now, don't get me wrong, i love the stuff we sing in church, but the stuff on the radios? nah. not so good.

number four:: whenever i get grades back, i pretty much hyperventilate and freak out right before i get them.

number five:: i listen to music while writing papers. and if i don't, then i can't write. strange, i know.

number six:: i am a TOTAL freak when i'm with my friends. it's kind of scary, actually, because i'm super quiet until i really get to know you.

number seven:: Algebra is my favorite subject. Actually, math is pretty cool too.

number eight:: I work better under pressure. as in: if i have a paper due in three weeks, i won't start writing it until the week before, if not the week of.

number nine:: i am the worst procrastinator i know. i put EVERYTHING off forever, and it kind of bothers me.

number ten:: i start lots of things and then don't finish them. and that...... that really bothers me.

number eleven:: i HATE getting my picture taken. hate hate haaate it!!!! that's why most of the photos i have of me are taken by me.

number twelve:: I do not like nicknames. Em is fine, but other than that, I like emma :P

number thirteen:: the only food i don't like is artichokes. but i'll eat anything and everything else.

number fourteen:: my favorite band/singer/whateveryouwanttocallit is Owl City. I just love him.

number fifteen:: i answer sales calls and talk to them about their christmas presents. ahem.

so there you have it. fifteen things you prolly didn't really care to know about me ;)

-e.

colored pants.

2011-08-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

i love pinterest. a lot. and part of the reason i love pinterest is because i can find tons of fashion inspiration! from vintage dresses, to bright colored skirts, i just can't get enough of it! something that has really caught my eye over on pinterest is the colored pants. i seriously can't get enough of them, and i can't wait for fall when i can wear jeans again!

via.

what's new here.

2011-08-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

so, i've been reading the westminister confession of faith for school and i am really enjoying it! it is a really amazing book and i can't wait to finish it.

i got some new shoes!!! i really love them. they're bright.

[skirt::h&m / top:: h&m / cardigan:: old navy / shoes:: h&m]

geez, i haven't done an outfit post in forever! anyways, i went shopping recently and i found this super cute orange-ish skirt and I knew i had to get it. so i did. and i love it so much.

i made this shirt. it's truly amazing, and i love it so much!

i finally finished my dresser! we painted my grandmother's vintage dresser white for my bedroom, and it's finally finished, and i love it! the handles are my favorite part :)

and since i finished it, i can finally display my collection of vintage bottles!

i am very happy with them, and can't wait to see the collection grow :)

i also found some old vintage books sitting around in our house and decided to use them for my dresser too :)

they, too, are wonderful.

I am so happy with the way it looks!

weekly roundup.

2011-08-01T10:59:00.001-07:00

[i'm starting a weekly fashion roundup]

sartorialist // sartorialist // stockholmstreetstyle // stockholmstreetstyle // stockholmstreetstyle // blushing ambition

DIY: how to make a drawstring bag out of a t-shirt.

2011-07-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

Today I'm going to tell you all how to make a drawstring bag out of a t-shirt. I thought of the idea while making my halter tops, and so I decided to try it on my mom's Help Haiti shirt!

So, here's my t-shirt that I used. I pulled out my scissors and cut part of the sleeves off so that it was straight with the sides of the shirt.

I then cut right beneath the neckline seam, just like you would if you were making a halter top. Then I cut right above the bottom seam. Now you're going to take the bottom piece that you just cut and cut right above the seam all the way around, and put this piece aside. This will be what you will use for your drawstring.

I then took my shirt (turned inside out) to my machine, and stitched the sides straight down starting from the top, and going all the way to the bottom, on both sides.

Then I stitched the bottom together and turned my bag back right-side-out again.

Now there's just one more thing to do before we're done!

To make the drawstring casing, you're going to fold over the top edge from the front, wrong sides in, about an inch down, and pin it in place. After you've done this, you can take it over to your machine and stitch around the top edging.

Now, attach a safety pin to one end of the drawstring you saved earlier, and you're going to thread it thru the drawstring casing.

And there you are!! Your super easy drawstring bag made out of a t-shirt!!

Enjoy!!

-e.