Yep - I did it. totally. completely. utterly.
I failed. I feel awful. I feel like a complete fraud. I feel like nothing I say now will hold any water ... but I thought I would say it anyway. I failed.
I thought I could do it. I thought I could take a picture everyday for an entire year. Darren told me it was a stupid goal. I'd never acheive it. He was right. (on a sidenote ... has anyone every completed one of these 365 projects??)
So. I am abandoning the concept. Ly life has changed so much since that happened. Many more important things to talk about than my pictures ... don't be discouraged, I'll still write about my pictures ... but it's not the focus anymore ....
I shall explain later ... I have so much to talk about - its gonna take a few days to air it all out ... but it will be worth it ... stick with me ... if my word still means anything to you ...
Shawna
Monday, May 03, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Project 365 - Day 2!
Well - I have many hobbies -- and often they intersect! I love to scrapbook - and make cards ... And since I have card club tomorrow - I spent most of the evening crafting this beauty .... which I will share with my card making group tomorrow night! Enjoy ... Day 2!
f/5.6, 1/50 sec., ISO 640 - OCF
Project 365 - Day 1
Okay - so - this is harder than it looks! Its day 1 - and I am already almost out of time ... Here I am ... at 11:33 pm ... posting my first days picture ... Between working, curling and cooking ... no time for photo taking ... so ... I'll admit it - I was going to cheat ... until Darren came home .... and he told me that cheating was not an option ... (on a side note ... part of the reason I love him .. he pushes me - even when I don't want to be pushed....) so we were standing in the kitchen, eating our new fave snack (parmesan garlic Triscuits dipped in Herb and Garlic Cream hHeese .... YUM-O!) and looking at our fabulous christmas present from Mr. and Mrs. B ... a most fabulous wall clock ... and I pulled the Emergency flashlight out of the kitchen JUNK drawer ... here is what I got .....
1/50 sec, f/4.0, ISO 640, External Light Source (LED Flashlight)
We call our dream place here in Erskine - the Benson Estate ... hence the name on the clock ... I know that Darren will love this first picture --- because he loves this clock ... and he held my flashlight for me!! He actually admitted to me today that he was excited for my project - so we can go and try out some really cool stuff together ... so ... Here's to learning more about light and more about my husband!!
S. Benson .... Over and Out!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
I want to be a photographer ....
I WANT to be a photographer ...
It's so hard right now ... my life is pulling me in a thousand different directions; I have a zillion things going on in my head ... but the one thought that passes through my mind just about every waking hour ... is how badly I want to make a living as a photographer ... For me ... that means many things ..
...Building my Biz ... excellent customer service, spontaneous capture, perfect passion and a rockin' bis partner is only half the equation .... The other half ... lies in my ability ...
While I believe I am good at it ... I am not the BEST at taking photos ... an I need to be ... I need to step outside my box ... be uncomfortable every time ... Push the limits ... and only then ... can I find perfection ...
I have been thinking alot about how to get there ... and I have come up with the solution ... Project 365 ... you've heard about it before ... a picture/photo shoot EVERY DAY for an entire year ... yep .... I'm gonna do it ... It will give me an opportunity to push myself to new and crazy situations ... the focus of my photos will be two fold - document my awesomely insane and somewhat boring life and push myself into photographic bliss ... challenge my thoughts, try new things and finally get the balls to be a full time photog ...
Now many of you know me all to well - I bet you are already tkaing bets with your sig. other about how long I will last .... well ... I am here to prove you wrong ... I WANT this .... I NEED this .... and I WILL succeed ... So
Here we go.... Day 1 ... tomorrow !
It's so hard right now ... my life is pulling me in a thousand different directions; I have a zillion things going on in my head ... but the one thought that passes through my mind just about every waking hour ... is how badly I want to make a living as a photographer ... For me ... that means many things ..
...Building my Biz ... excellent customer service, spontaneous capture, perfect passion and a rockin' bis partner is only half the equation .... The other half ... lies in my ability ...
While I believe I am good at it ... I am not the BEST at taking photos ... an I need to be ... I need to step outside my box ... be uncomfortable every time ... Push the limits ... and only then ... can I find perfection ...
I have been thinking alot about how to get there ... and I have come up with the solution ... Project 365 ... you've heard about it before ... a picture/photo shoot EVERY DAY for an entire year ... yep .... I'm gonna do it ... It will give me an opportunity to push myself to new and crazy situations ... the focus of my photos will be two fold - document my awesomely insane and somewhat boring life and push myself into photographic bliss ... challenge my thoughts, try new things and finally get the balls to be a full time photog ...
Now many of you know me all to well - I bet you are already tkaing bets with your sig. other about how long I will last .... well ... I am here to prove you wrong ... I WANT this .... I NEED this .... and I WILL succeed ... So
Here we go.... Day 1 ... tomorrow !
Thursday, August 13, 2009
WHOA! Blogging Bad Girl!
Yep - that's me!
I often say to random people - "I should blogthis!" and it is usually met with enthusiasm for my so-called passion for blogging. Darren and I recently moved into a new house - more on that later, and while we were doing it - the famous "I should blog this" line came up. It wasn't met with enthusiasm this time. My wonderful brother-in-law, who has the ability to point out the obvious, said to me "oh the one you never update?"
I say "Yeah - I should really get on that"
He says "Or - maybe just forget about it?"
I didn't even have words! I am not forgetting about blogging! I love to share my life, my stories, my families stories, my photos and just about anything else - so I will not let it go! However - for whatever it means - I wll try hard - really really hard - to update my blog more often! Maybe if I did actually update - my words would hold substance. And if I actually did as I say - maybe I'd have some followers?? We'll my friends! Its easy for me to say ... So I can hear my mom in the back of my head ...
"Stop talking about it and just do it!"
And so I shall ...
I often say to random people - "I should blogthis!" and it is usually met with enthusiasm for my so-called passion for blogging. Darren and I recently moved into a new house - more on that later, and while we were doing it - the famous "I should blog this" line came up. It wasn't met with enthusiasm this time. My wonderful brother-in-law, who has the ability to point out the obvious, said to me "oh the one you never update?"
I say "Yeah - I should really get on that"
He says "Or - maybe just forget about it?"
I didn't even have words! I am not forgetting about blogging! I love to share my life, my stories, my families stories, my photos and just about anything else - so I will not let it go! However - for whatever it means - I wll try hard - really really hard - to update my blog more often! Maybe if I did actually update - my words would hold substance. And if I actually did as I say - maybe I'd have some followers?? We'll my friends! Its easy for me to say ... So I can hear my mom in the back of my head ...
"Stop talking about it and just do it!"
And so I shall ...
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Where Have I Been!
I cannot believe that it is almost the end of February - and what is even more horrific - is the fact that I have not updated my blog in a MONTH! I feel a great deal of shame! I LOVE blogging and I feel like I let me pretty site down! Well -I'm back - and committed to updating things a bit more regularily - after all - it was a new years resolution!!!
So for the first post back - I will just briefly update you on the happenings in the Benson household:
Darren:
Is enjoying his job immensely! I recently thanked his boss for making him much better to live with - and it is so true - the happier someone is at work - the happier they are at home - so right now - we are living the good life! Darren is playing hockey about two nights a week, and working on the bathroom on other nights...its coming along (more on that a bit later!)
Shawna:
Is busy at work - and since Darren is working late most nights - also busy coming up with healthy recipes and good food for us to eat - not to mention walking the dog, shovelling the sidewalk, cleaning the house.....basically just holding down the fort! I have been getting some scrapbooking in my new room - and curling on tuesdays - (which I must say - I am getting way better at!)
DeeJay:
Is doing marvelous! We are heading to the Dog Park everyday that she can see over the snow - and working on her listening and coming when called skills - I thought she was a bit of a bad dog - but turns out she listens better than almost all other dogs at the dog park - too bad for her she is such a sucker for cheese!
Fresh Photography:
Tricia hopefully returned from Maui today! She had been gone for two weeks for a friend's wedding - and I missed her! We are almost booked up for the summer - which is a good thing! we are working on our business plan and trade show display for April - so look ofr more exciting things to come with fresh in the near future!
Bathroom Renos:
Well - OUR TOILET WORKS! and we have some drywall up - so that is a very good start! We are going to be purchasing cabinets this weekend in edmonton and hopefully finish drywalling this weekend! It is really starting to look like a real room and a real bathroom - and the only thing we argue about daily in the tile....but soon -we must come to a decision!
Weight Loss Challenge:
Well - we are on week five - and weigh in on Monday has shown that Darren is down about 10 pounds and I am down about 11 - so we have really evened out! (However - if you ask me - I have lost more percentage of body weight than he has - but that's just me making myself a winner!)
Okay - that's enough of an update for now! I recently turned 26 - so now I am feeling old and a bit guilty for not having children yet....so.... (nope not pregnant...) we might be getting another dog!!! (Yes - this is an children avoidance tactic!) but Iwill keep you posted!
So for the first post back - I will just briefly update you on the happenings in the Benson household:
Darren:
Is enjoying his job immensely! I recently thanked his boss for making him much better to live with - and it is so true - the happier someone is at work - the happier they are at home - so right now - we are living the good life! Darren is playing hockey about two nights a week, and working on the bathroom on other nights...its coming along (more on that a bit later!)
Shawna:
Is busy at work - and since Darren is working late most nights - also busy coming up with healthy recipes and good food for us to eat - not to mention walking the dog, shovelling the sidewalk, cleaning the house.....basically just holding down the fort! I have been getting some scrapbooking in my new room - and curling on tuesdays - (which I must say - I am getting way better at!)
DeeJay:
Is doing marvelous! We are heading to the Dog Park everyday that she can see over the snow - and working on her listening and coming when called skills - I thought she was a bit of a bad dog - but turns out she listens better than almost all other dogs at the dog park - too bad for her she is such a sucker for cheese!
Fresh Photography:
Tricia hopefully returned from Maui today! She had been gone for two weeks for a friend's wedding - and I missed her! We are almost booked up for the summer - which is a good thing! we are working on our business plan and trade show display for April - so look ofr more exciting things to come with fresh in the near future!
Bathroom Renos:
Well - OUR TOILET WORKS! and we have some drywall up - so that is a very good start! We are going to be purchasing cabinets this weekend in edmonton and hopefully finish drywalling this weekend! It is really starting to look like a real room and a real bathroom - and the only thing we argue about daily in the tile....but soon -we must come to a decision!
Weight Loss Challenge:
Well - we are on week five - and weigh in on Monday has shown that Darren is down about 10 pounds and I am down about 11 - so we have really evened out! (However - if you ask me - I have lost more percentage of body weight than he has - but that's just me making myself a winner!)
Okay - that's enough of an update for now! I recently turned 26 - so now I am feeling old and a bit guilty for not having children yet....so.... (nope not pregnant...) we might be getting another dog!!! (Yes - this is an children avoidance tactic!) but Iwill keep you posted!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
"The Weigh In"
Darren and I have both started the journey to "lower BMI land"! Yesterday was our first weigh in...yes - jut like on TV - we have a weekly weigh in in which we both compare our weight loss and then gloat....Here are the results:
Darren: -0.6
Shawna: -2.4
Shawna wins week1 !!! You may wonder what i have won - well nothing - except to prove to myself that I can do it ...it's based largely on the amount and kinds of food I was eating - the minute I became disciplined about my eating habits - was when I started losing weight - at 2 lbs in the first week...I am impressed - all those highly educated nutritionists actually know something!! I'll give them this one.....
Darren is struggling with the eating healthy thing - partially becuase its his new job....He recently switched jobs from RBC to being Sales Manager at a Dodge dealership in Stettler. It was a really great move - and maybe I'll explain why in another post - but let's focus on the weight loss goals.... His dealership his having a massive indoor sale offsite - and for extended hours - so he is working 12 hour days and although the dealership provides them with food - it all comes from the many fast food restaurants around....so he has had to resist the temptation of KFC, the Tim Horton's doughnuts, the burgers, the baking and the pop....but he is not doing bad considering everyone else around him is eating constantly! Good on you D-Train!
Along with the eating healthy - I had decided that in the winter - there is nothing worse than getting up in the morning and heading to gym - when its dark, and cold and depressing.... so I brought the gym to Shawna! I managed to get myself a Nintendo WiiFit (the procedure should also be saved for another post) and just last night Darren set up our new (to us) elliptical trainer! Although we briefly exercised on the elliptical - we have realized that combining"24" and an elliptical will result in skinnier Benson's! I have curling this evening - but I cannot wait to hop on!
And that's it - so the score is Shawna - 1; Darren - 0 - stay tuned until next Monday for the next Weigh-In!!
Darren: -0.6
Shawna: -2.4
Shawna wins week1 !!! You may wonder what i have won - well nothing - except to prove to myself that I can do it ...it's based largely on the amount and kinds of food I was eating - the minute I became disciplined about my eating habits - was when I started losing weight - at 2 lbs in the first week...I am impressed - all those highly educated nutritionists actually know something!! I'll give them this one.....
Darren is struggling with the eating healthy thing - partially becuase its his new job....He recently switched jobs from RBC to being Sales Manager at a Dodge dealership in Stettler. It was a really great move - and maybe I'll explain why in another post - but let's focus on the weight loss goals.... His dealership his having a massive indoor sale offsite - and for extended hours - so he is working 12 hour days and although the dealership provides them with food - it all comes from the many fast food restaurants around....so he has had to resist the temptation of KFC, the Tim Horton's doughnuts, the burgers, the baking and the pop....but he is not doing bad considering everyone else around him is eating constantly! Good on you D-Train!
Along with the eating healthy - I had decided that in the winter - there is nothing worse than getting up in the morning and heading to gym - when its dark, and cold and depressing.... so I brought the gym to Shawna! I managed to get myself a Nintendo WiiFit (the procedure should also be saved for another post) and just last night Darren set up our new (to us) elliptical trainer! Although we briefly exercised on the elliptical - we have realized that combining"24" and an elliptical will result in skinnier Benson's! I have curling this evening - but I cannot wait to hop on!
And that's it - so the score is Shawna - 1; Darren - 0 - stay tuned until next Monday for the next Weigh-In!!
Monday, January 05, 2009
New Years Resolutions
We all Make them - and few keep them!
Well, I am tempted to make this years New Year's Resolution "not to make any more New Year's Resolutions" I need this kind of motivation to make me feel guilty enough to at least try to complete some life bettering tasks.... So below are my three New Year's Resolutions:
1. Lose 20 pounds
Well, I am tempted to make this years New Year's Resolution "not to make any more New Year's Resolutions" I need this kind of motivation to make me feel guilty enough to at least try to complete some life bettering tasks.... So below are my three New Year's Resolutions:
1. Lose 20 pounds
- This is a joint effort with Darren; we have put up a pretty hefty reward up for the first person to lose the "newlywed 20"...we weighed in this morning... although I know my willpower stinks (especially when it comes to chocolate and jalepeno and cheddar chips) I think i can do this ... exercise and eating right - that should not be hard..... Yeah right....We will document our progress here - for you all to see (I will recount the first weigh-in in another post)...which leads me to my next resolution:
2. Keep the blog up to date
- I want people to rely on our blog ot keep themselves up to date; to interact with the Benson's - in a way that our website sparked many people to track our wedding - so here - is the new "Home of the Benson's" Photos, random comments and general life updates will be posted here for all to see and enjoy.... so no more complaints about the wedding website! Hope to see many of you following our haphazard life! and the third resolution partly relates to the keeping of memories:
3. Scrapbook more!
- I love to srapbook - and that might be a bit of an understatement - the accomplishment and pride I feel when I finish a project makes me so giddy its hard to explain! And since my reorganization of the scrapbooking room - and the realizationthat I have begun many projects - I will be working hard to make sure that I finish them - and scrapbook with a renewed excitement that can only come from receiving the coolest paper rack ever.... (If you scrapboked - you'd understand)
So that its - Shawna's News Years Resolutions! Maybe Darren will post his for us all to see later today.....
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
The Migraine
Well - It's official...
I have joined the Migraine Club! Only my entry into it was somewhat scary!!
At work yesterday - I was feeling a little weird.... then my vision started blurring - my left arm went tingly and then numb - and to top it all off - my face started twitching and losing feeling!! Now - for those who have suffered throught the first aid course - you know that most of those are sign of a STROKE! I panicked!
A million things went through my head - most of which started with...I am too young to have a stroke.... SO I called Darren... and he came to me rescue! He patiently drove me into the emergency room in Red Deer - waited there for 3 hours with me while al kinds of sick and injured people passed us into the ER, read crappy magazines and listened to alot of puking....I OWE HIM HUGE!
When I got in to see the Doc - I was a bit scared.... but he ws very calming, reassuring and told me it was just a migraine... and that people react differently to migraine's..some people puke, somepeople lose vision and some people get weird nervous system reactions...(that was me!)
Since it was my first migraine - He let it slide - but any more and I may have to get some more treatment....until then - This danm headache won't go away!!
Okay - enough about me! Peace Out!
I have joined the Migraine Club! Only my entry into it was somewhat scary!!
At work yesterday - I was feeling a little weird.... then my vision started blurring - my left arm went tingly and then numb - and to top it all off - my face started twitching and losing feeling!! Now - for those who have suffered throught the first aid course - you know that most of those are sign of a STROKE! I panicked!
A million things went through my head - most of which started with...I am too young to have a stroke.... SO I called Darren... and he came to me rescue! He patiently drove me into the emergency room in Red Deer - waited there for 3 hours with me while al kinds of sick and injured people passed us into the ER, read crappy magazines and listened to alot of puking....I OWE HIM HUGE!
When I got in to see the Doc - I was a bit scared.... but he ws very calming, reassuring and told me it was just a migraine... and that people react differently to migraine's..some people puke, somepeople lose vision and some people get weird nervous system reactions...(that was me!)
Since it was my first migraine - He let it slide - but any more and I may have to get some more treatment....until then - This danm headache won't go away!!
Okay - enough about me! Peace Out!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Blogging is Hard....
to remember to do!
I wanted to update this blog weekly - if not daily!
I wanted to update this blog weekly - if not daily!
Oh well - now I will have a New Years Resolution!
In the meantime - here's a little tidbit about my newest venture....
As many of you know...I do love taking pictures - my over-filled harddrive on my computer is certainly an indication of that! I was lucky enough to get a really great camera in April of this year and my pictures have started to take a turn for the better! I try to practice weekly...with different subjects...and lately I have been improving quite a bit.
At the time that I was buying a camera - my new found friend in Stettler, Tricia, and I had a "boat" night at BP"s and put into motion our plan to become Stettler's newest photographers!! There, in BP's - surrounding by blaring music and more than one carafe... fresh. photography was born!
Well - 4 weddings later, a few baby and maternity photo sessions and some families - we are offically a business - with products, suppliers, a bank account, GST number, Business number and soon an accountant! We think our photos are different, edgy, contemporary, journalistic and different. I have taken on the motto: If you want a regular photo, with a regular backdrop and cheap prices - head over to sears - we can't and won't do that! So far so good......
We, however, know there is much to learn on our journey to excellence...so we've decided to enlist in education....ahh yes - learning....
I enrolled early on in teh New York Institue of Photography.... and am only on Unit two...but working hard on finding some subjects to take photos of - the only problem is - things aren't very nice-looking in the winter (especially when there is no snow...) ... but I have made a pact that I will work on it every week....and I have an idea for my latest assignment...hopefully it will work...I will try tonight and keep you posted!
Tricia and I have started the Excellence in Photographic Communication course at the end of October - I think we only have three classes left - but it has been quite the experience - We have both had a light bulb go off inside our head...and suddenly - WE GET IT! I have noticed an improvement in my pictures since the "Manual Only" pledge and have been excited that I am finally understanding the technical side of it....now its just a matter of putting it all together!
It is time for us to move forward - this may require a bit of risk on our part - but no pain - no gain.... and I know I am willing to work my butt off for this one.... so I am throwing caution to the wind...and come what may... (okay - bad cliches...but you get the point!)...
Just for interestes sake...here is one my latest photos for the "At Work" presentation I am working on at my "other" job (and it will be featured on their christmas cards this year!).....
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