365 photos…

At the start of this year I made a goal for myself for 2014 – for everyday of the year I have to take a different photo (on that day.) Here are a few that I’ve taken so far:

   

The point of this challenge is to practice my photography and the end result will be a huge collection of photos from everyday of this year… it’s a win-win!

It was at first difficult to remember to take a photo, and to squeeze in a good picture either right before work or after work while the sun is out. I even had to set a daily reminder, but now it’s become part of my routine.

Anyway, please check out my photo blog and follow along! http://crystal-everyday-2014.tumblr.com/

House update…

Our house…It’s been more than 2 years now. That went by quick! A lot of progress has been made towards our front yard, well especially since Chris and I at one point bought a new plant every week for a few months. The front yard is quickly filling up with our plant babies. It’s so gratifying to watch! We’re also starting to propagate our plants to make MORE plants.. what?!?!! Plants are so cool.

That dr. suess looking tree (Euphorbia lambii) only had 1 of those leafy heads when we bought it, now it has 5 big ones and there’s a couple baby ones! So cool! It’s going to have a killer silhouette once it’s bigger.

These aeoniums are the toughest little plants! These ones were all tiny and shriveled up when we got them from a friend… now look at them!

this lavender grew 10 times it’s size since we planted it. this was one of the first plants we planted!

 

Yes, you grow bougainvillea! The photo below is the boug when we first planted it you can’t really tell in the photo, but it was tiny… now it’s nicely trailing up the house! I love it!

I can’t wait until this wall is fully covered by this plant (amazon sunset, parrot’s beak) it has really pretty orange flowers that hummingbirds love.

This guy is still a baby… a scary spiky baby. But isn’t he so cool!? I love the grey. Do a google search for pachypodium geayi and you’ll see what he’ll grow up to be… do it!

This is Chris’ dragon tree. We can’t wait ’till this guy gets bigger, it seems like it’s taking forever but the growth is there, we’ve noticed a few more leaves and that the trunk has gotten a little thicker.

Those were a few of our other plants… and there are more of them, so MUCH more… Sometimes we like to go outside and just look at them all. Are you as crazy as we are about plants?

family photoshoot

 

This family is so funny, they’re very theatrical…  My brother from another mother, Greg, texted me one day saying that he had an idea for a family photoshoot (zombies, super powers, and sonic booms) and asked me to photograph them. It was fun! We have to start brainstorming ideas for their next family photos… something to top this one.. pirates? ninjas? privates vs ninjas?!

Hi again!

Wow, it’s been way too long since I’ve posted, and I’ve thought about it for quite sometime, and STILL I didn’t update. I’m a terrible person, now I feel guilty… guilty with myself. Okay, now I’m over it. Anyway, let’s see, it’s been almost a whole year since my last post… my bad.

Here’s a quick summary of what’s happened since then…

I ran my first full marathon! It was crazy. Training was intense and demanding.  The race was last year in May at Boise, Idaho and right before the finish line I totally puked, like a totally epic waterfall coming out of my face puke… (it was only water and gu that I threw up, so don’t get so grossed out.) Anyway, it was definitely a memorable race. Right after the race, I told myself that I would never sign up for another marathon, but I think I can do another one. It was a really great experience (besides the puking.)

June 2013 – I started interning for Pow Wow!! This is a big deal for me. Finally, I’ve found a place where I can satisfy my crafting itches. It’s been so great working with these girls, they’re so creative and passionate, so inspiring. I’ve been having so much fun and it’s worked out so well that they want me to be their in-house wedding coordinator! Super excited!!

The usual Saturday or Sunday morning with the SD Gooners… start the day at bluefoot and then end up at the nursery. It’s my ideal weekend…

Embracing the auntie-ness. It’s awesome actually. These 3 stooges are so funny together. The younger sister is having a 2nd so I’m just here, collecting nieces and nephews and loving them to pieces! They’re so cute!

September 2013 – Half-marathon in Philadelphia! This trip was amazing!!! The city was beautiful and the pretzels… THE PRETZELS!! You like the sign that my sister’s from another mother made me? They’re so awesome.

I’m glad to be back guys! See you next year. Hah!

Recently on Instagram…

  

1. Tide pools 2. What is that plate full of heaven you ask? That my friends, is carne asada fries.. it’s a staple for us San Diegans and it’s a huge reason why I run as much as I do, that and beer.. I’m so lady-like aren’t I? If you ever find yourself in San Diego, it’s a must. 3. Our blooming Aeonium arboreum also called “black rose”…. sometimes when succulents bloom like this it’s before they die, I know that’s true for agaves. It’s a nice way to go right? 4. I finally filled my empty pot with new succulents, cuttings from a friend and some succulent rescues from our yard.. lovely lovely lovely! 5. It’s a cheesy selfie. I don’t usually do selfies but I just realized that there are no pictures of me, at least none of my face, on my blog and I’ve had this blog for more than a year now. So that’s me in my messy dressing room, nice to meet you. 🙂

Decisions..

I’m debating whether or not I want to paint the fireplace white to match the rest of the built-in cabinets. All I know for sure is that I don’t like the current color. It’s just such a pain having to prepare everything for painting. Hmmm.. what to do, what to do?

Around the house…

Some shots around the house on a very slow lazy and gloomy Saturday. These type of mornings are the best sometimes. The last 3 days this week were super chaotic and stressful so I’m really enjoying myself right now. Also, Chris just came home with the coolest green planter from a garage sale… I’m so excited about it, it gives me an excuse to find a new plant for it. I love shopping for plants, it’s what I live for these days. hah. Hope you all have a relaxing weekend!

We went to: The Tide-pools

  A few weeks ago, Chris’ brother and girlfriend (his brother, by the way I just met after more than 2 years of us being together!) visited from Southern Illinois. They’re both really kind and pleasant people, I was really glad to have finally met them. Chris and I were able to play the role of tour-guide while they were in town and one of the places we took them to were the tide-pools in Point Loma.   

It was a gorgeous sunny day, and it was her very first time seeing the Pacific Ocean! It’s such a great feeling to see and experience new things, isn’t it? I was so happy for her.

In the desert.

Earlier this month we took a camping trip to Joshua Tree – Indian Cove Campgrounds. Finally, a successful camping trip with Max, only because he was the only dog there. Max has little dog syndrome. He’s the best ever with people, but he turns into Cujo at the sight of other dogs.

Recently on Instagram…

      

       

Not recently, more like Instagrams from the past several weeks…

1. I finally potted the heart leaf philodendron cuttings my mom gave me. They’ve grown a little since I took this picture. I can’t wait until they get all viney and take up the whole house! 2. My new bolivian jew to replace the wandering jew that I killed (somewhat purposely)… I call this one my plant ball. It’s so cute right? Side thought: what weird names for plants! 3. Playing with clay. I’ve never mastered this medium… and it’s going to take me a while until I do, if I ever. I made a few cool geometric shapes with fimo clay, that stuff is pretty awesome! 4. Casual and rainy Friday. I’m glad I’m finally wearing these shoes more often. 5. Waiting in the hallway for sewing class to begin. I signed up for a free continuing ed course called fundamentals of sewing. It’s so great, the continuing ed programs in San Diego offer a bunch of free courses… totally going to take advantage of this! 6. Last weekend in Indian Cove Campgrounds, which is part of Joshua Tree National Park, but there wasn’t a single joshua tree in our campgrounds… what a rip off!

Hope you all have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by!