A weekend tid bit...

This is what happened on Memorial Day.

My housemates and I went to Canon Beach to see the ocean and have fun. First, we went to Tillamook, OR to the Tillamook cheese and ice cream factore and IT WAS DELICIOUS! The cheese is amazing and the ice cream is extra amazing. Let's just say, I was a very happy lady afterwards. As if it couldn't get better, I got to the see the Pacific for the first time. The beach was beautiful. The little town was so darn cute. Katie and I went to a home decor shop and it was full of beautiful smelling things.

It was a day for relaxing and enjoyoing each others company. Katie was visiting for a little over a week from the Midwest and in that time span, she quickly became part of our little family. As much as I miss her fun, quirky self, we will all see her again because she fell in love with Oregon. Oh, and us. :)

On a side note, I love washed out photos and those last two were taken with my sunglasses over my lens. Such a cool effect and will be experimenting more with that.

So grateful for friends, beautiful places, and the men and woman who fought to protect it. 

Here's a story...

When I was younger, about the time I started high school, I was really pushed to start thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. I thought about going into the medical field, so I took classes that would help me learn more about it starting my sophmore year. Around my junior year, I started taking photography classes because my friend said I should just so we could have an easy class together. Turns out, I became interested in it a lot. I mean come one, I was a teenager and teenagers like to take picture of theirselves! It wasn't anything serious, just fun. Once senior year rolled around, I was hesitant about going into the medical field because I wasn't sure if it was the right thing for me. I was really good at it and I knew a lot so it just became the safe and responsible thing to do. This year was very rough for me because I had one friend at school. Outside of school, I had plenty but I just didn't connect with anyone in school so I stayed to myself most of the time. My photography was a way for me to deal with all the pressures of finding a college to go to, our senior year projects, and all the catty girls I had to deal with. It quickly turned into a hobby that I was extremely passionate about.

After I had graduated, I got caught up in a relationship that wasn't really good for me. I strayed from what I was passionate about and I didn't go to college. Although I wanted to, I just didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life at that point (medical field was out at this point). Almost a year later, I decided to go to photography school online and that was probably the worst mistake of my life because I didn't learn anything and it left me with debt that I needed to pay back. Crap. I was at a bad point in my life and taking pictures just became less fun and I just could not, for the life of me, get it right. The passion had subsided and I was left with nothing. So I quite school and became a wife to a man that I was not happy with. Half a year later, I left and decided that, no matter what, I was going to selfishly do what I want and be happy. The next year was spent working part-time and paying bills.

All I know right now is that reading these blogs has made me happy and that passion that I had for photography is flowing into all these creative things like blogging, writing, fashion, and design. Basically, anything that I can create and be able to express myself. I never considered myself good by any means but I know that I need to practice. Picking up a camera again has been difficult because I'm kind of self-concious about myself. But, this blog is going to help me with that.

I'm in Portland now, still not really knowing what I want to do with my life but maybe if I just do what makes me happy, I'll find it. Life is a learning process and that's what I'm going to do.

 Learn.

This is what this little blog thing is about. Meeting and connecting with new people and bloggers, becoming inspired by everyone and everything.  Explore out of my shell a little bit, do more creative things and take more pictures of my daily life. Explore my personal style and personal beliefs. Not to mention, it keeps my family back home updated on what I'm doing.

So, whoever is reading this, my name is Leah and I would love to meet you. Please say Hi. :)

By the way, the above pictures are from an adventure on Hawthorne Street with my friends Katie and Michelle. They are great and we explored thrift stores, ate crepes, and bought new music.

I had an interview today...

All I have to say is good thing I left an hour early! This navigating Portland thing sucks. I decided not to stick to my normal route because I thought I knew where I was going, but that really wasn't the case. There's a river that seperates East and West Portland and since I live in the East, I had to travel across the river to get to Downtown (West). I crossed the river like 10 times too many! Find 9th and 10th streets, ok, find Burnside, ok, find Everet St, NOT OK. A bunch of driving around happened after that, but when I found the streets that I was looking for, I couldn't find the shop I was looking for. Is this ever going to end? No because I couldn't find a place to park and those two combined led to a few minutes of going around the same block a billion times.

The outcome to all this is rather enjoyable. I found a parking spot. I found the shop I had an interview at. The interview went well. Then I went to Powell's Bookstore and wandered around until my time was up at the parking meter. It was time to myself to think about my big break if I get this position. I don't want to say anything about the place I had an interview at just so I don't give myself bad luck. Don't ask.

Anyway, I'm going to go enjoy the rest of this cloudy Portland day. :)



Answered Prayers

Today has been rainy and I have been relaxing.

I wish for a full day of my emotions being relaxed. While adjusting to a new area, I've found myself feeling like a lost child. Not only with my location, but with myself, my emotions, my soul. So, no matter how much in love with this city I am, it's hard not to be on edge. It feels like my emotions are completely raw and I'm completely vulnerable.

Thus, leaving my strength and will to not fail to shine.

Now, this has all just been building up and I ended up talking to God and asking him to speak to me and give me words of encouragement.

I got nothing.

Until today.

Have you heard of the movie Elizabethtown? With Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom. I have watched part of this movie once before and I remembered it as being a slow, boring movie. Today, it was not like I remembered it. Slow, but in a good, lasting way and anything but boring. I'm not a big fan of Kirsten but she did a great job in this movie. Her role was to play a unique, one of a kind girl who is unlike all the rest. Strong, yet vulnerable. She show's Orlando's character, who is on the edge of suicide, how to relax and have fun.

I don't really know what sparked it or why, but it was like God was giving me what I wanted to hear. That little push to be more.

Afterwards, I started writing about how thankful I was to have this uplifted spirit. I made myself a cup of tea and sat down with the old record player, listening to The Eagles. Which is awesome because I have been in the mood for some Eagles. I threw my phone to the side and just sat there, thinking about what it would be like to not have newer technologies such as the iPhone, a laptop, or text messaging.

Relaxing. That's what it would be like.

Dear Portland,

It's 3 weeks in and I have already learned so much from you. You have given me a sense of freedom. Full in the fact that my soul feels nourished. Not only that, you allow me the chance to be me and grow into a spiritial, creative, and honest young women. I'm really looking forward to it. Portland, you and honesty have been my best friends and I never want that to change. Please don't ever leave my side.

"Portland, Portland take me in.

Are you aware the shape I'm in?

My hand's they shake, my head it spins

Portland, Portland take me in"

The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

(Although I changed the lryics to Portland)

Thank's Joshua for loving them so I can love them, too.

Update

I know it's been a while since I've been on here but MAN! Portland has kept me busy!

I've been here almost 3 weeks (whoa, has it really been that long?) and my days have been filled with exploring the city, hanging out with friends, great food, and job searching. This past weekend, I've been working at a temp job for Mother's Day. I didn't realize how dipping strawberries could wear you out so much. But hey, it really wasn't a bad job and I actually kind of enjoyed it. Now that my dipping days are over, it's time to get back on the job search train for a more permanent position. Although, this past week, I had a job interview for a receptionist and the interview went fantastic! That's a big accomplishment for me because interviews scare me and I get really nervous. So, most of the time I just end up bombing them, but not this one. I did GOOD. If I get the job, I will be contacted sometime this week so please pray and keep your fingers crossed. I'm not going to be down if I don't get it, just keep moving forward but I'm so ready to be working now.

There are days when I do get home sick and I really miss my family and friends, but other than that, Portland has been great! Back home, I hadn't always felt like I really belonged there. I was always searching for something bigger and better, not that back home wasn't good enough, but it just wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to explore and take adventures! Portland has given me that. In the time that I have been here, I've learned so many new things and have met some really great people. The different views, diversity, some really funky and weird fashion, it's all exhilarating. It's normal for people to be out walking or riding bicycles. For one, it's efficient and good for the environment and two, people enjoy it. You would get looked at funny back home if you rode a bicycle around all the time. The city is super into recycling and their water is filtered. I repeat, the tap water is FILTERED! Yeah, that's aweosme and I love it. The weather has been amazing lately, too. Clear, blue skies and warm. Although these next couple days is supposed to be in the high 80's, which is crazy I hear, it's been really nice.

Now that I have updated everyone (My mom is happy now!), I'm going to go and enjoy my day. :)

To my friends and family back home, I miss you.