The throes of packing

I'm warm and cozy inside while it's blizzarding (I know that's not a word but I think it should be) all around. Too bad I'm not doing something more fun than packing my house... who's idea was it to move at Christmas time? (Jeremy's... not to throw him under the bus or anything) I'm determined to be all packed before we head to Central OR this weekend. I think I just might make it. Don't expect a Christmas card this year though, I'm not that on top of things. Well, I better get back at it. If I turn my music up loud I almost mistake this for a party. Maybe not, but this lovely quirky song is helping me push through.

Traffic Light - The Ting Tings

ps- Technical difficulties- I have no idea why it's not playing the whole song. click on the link to go to imeem and listen.

All dressed up and no place to go

Church is cancelled today due to snow. (We don't get much around here and our little city is unprepared to deal with it.) We found out 10 minutes before leaving for our first meeting. (Just in the nick of time) :) Am I going to hell if I prayed for lots of snow last night? Grown-ups need snow days too!

"This must be what it's like to live in a snow globe" said Jeremy

I'm packing my camera in plastic and going for a walk. And maybe making a snow angel or two.

Something to put your STUFF in

This morning's update in my shop: Reusable shopping bags.

City sidewalks... dressed in Holiday Style

Last night I met up with Jeremy to join him on his walk home from the office. We took the scenic route cuz our neighborhood's so festive lately.

Jer waited patiently for me to snap some photos

(Rockstar was patient too.)

I want to come back here with a tripod. I kinda like it all jittery though.

Tonight we're going to watch the home team:

And I'm soooo excited to go see this tomorrow:

Congratulations!!!

I guess now you can't say you never win anything...

Nuestra Familia.

Congratulations to my sister's friend Ale!!!

Email me with your address and I'll send that calendar right over. (red rover, red rover)

carriestoddartphoto@gmail.com

Thanks to all who played! SO NICE to have your support!!!

In other news... Before my mom left town this past weekend she, my sis and I made our way over to House of Vintage. Here are some of my prizes:

would you believe $5?

ps- I know it's backwards, that's the nature of ttv photography. :)

These are vintage gym lockers. I am so excited to have found these babies because our new loft (we're moving in three weeks) has an entire wall of built in bookshelves. Super cool (there's a rolling ladder and everything) but super hard to fill. These will be a great because they can store my less-cute belongings and fill up some of that shelf space. Yay!

Same fan as above, I just kinda liked this picture.

Also, all morning I've been listening to this:

Sadly, he's not here but my daddy's Christmas album has definitely been on repeat. The sound of acoustic guitar takes me right home.

Ready, set, shop! + a GIVEAWAY!!!

My shop is updated and ready for now... there will be more goodies on the way next week! Here are some of the things my dear etsy shop has to offer:

New prints

desktop calendars

note cards

Want one of those pretty little calendars for free? Well I want to give you one! Just post a comment (of any sort, I'm not picky) and you will be entered to win win win! I'll announce the winner on Monday morning. Have a great weekend!

Lotsa Goodies

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and I hope you didn't spend your whole Christmas budget on "Black Friday". I've got fun things in store...

"Some trails are happy ones,

Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you."

-Dale Evans, "Happy Trails," 1950

Can you keep a secret?

Remember this photo: (from this post)
There's a scene with a nearly identical view of our very own Columbia Gorge in this movie:

Can you keep a secret? Ummm... I read the book and loved every cheesy moment of the movie. Can you say guilty pleasure?

On a lighter note-

Have you ever seen anything so cute in your whole life?

Rockstar HATES the rain. Poor little guy had to be born to an Oregonian breeder. I thought maybe this coat would make him more reasonable during winter walks. Turns out I just found something else he hates... doggie apparel. He wouldn't move an inch while wearing it. No amount of coaxing would make him walk. I think he felt humiliated- maybe he knew I found it in the dollar bin at Target. The little snob.

I'd like to take this opportunity to cry

That's a line from a song by Priscilla Ahn and whenever I think about the things I'm going to share with you, it always comes to mind.

I generally subscribe to the philosophy of the photographer Rodney Smith who said "I want people to see the beauty and whimsy of life, not its ugliness." Times like this however, I feel that life has ugliness that must be addressed to be overcome.

A few weeks ago, Jeremy and I saw this movie:

I first heard about the issue of human trafficking years ago and felt scared and overwhelmed. My sudden awareness to the depth and breadth of sadness in the world brought me to tears. That's all I knew to do. It seemed too big and too powerful for little me to stop it. My tears, my mourning other people's hardship was the first step in my desire to free them from it. It is too big for just me, but this movie gave me hope that in numbers we can change the world. It was changed dramatically during the abolitionist movement. It's been done before, why not now? This is a 21st Century abolitionist movement. Good is more powerful than evil, light dispels darkness, we have the power, we just have to respond. It is unacceptable to allow these crimes to continue. "Justice is what love looks like in public." These children and young women deserve justice, they deserve love. I intend to fight for them.

"It's come into my life for a reason, I have to respond."

The wheels in my brain haven't stopped turning since I saw the movie. I have a few ideas to pursue and I'll need your help. Until my plans start to materialize, visit the Call + Response website for ways to get involved. Still not feeling your power? Watch this video and listen to the Five For Fighting song beneath it.....everyday......until you believe it.

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can

change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

Thank Your Local Optimistic Tagger

I can't tell you how happy I am with the weather we've been having lately: relatively warm, completely dry and partially to mostly sunny. In November. That's uncommon at the least for Portland, and I want to publicly express my gratitude for fear that ingratitude would upset the weather gods and make them cry. Inches of tears. Rockstar and I took advantage and had a long walk yesterday. We came across the abandoned Meier & Frank building and became acquainted with our local optimistic tagger. We didn't meet her, (the cursive makes me think it's a her) but we saw her work. I think she expressed principles dear to her heart to the point of exhaustion, then bid farewell. Sleep-tight graffiti girl.

Not of Asian Descent

But my new haircut reminds me a little of these:

Couldn't look more different...

...from what I see out my window.

The beauty of the desert: Scottsdale, AZ
Photos from our trip last month- Who knew there are so many different kinds of cactuses?

Happy Halloween

From a fairy and her vampire!

A Little Give and Take

Yes, I know this blog is called "A Girl and a Camera" and I haven't posted any of my photos recently. I will consider remedying that situation shortly. For now, a little story from my little life about a little thing called Karma. I live in the city. It's Portland, OR so it's not a large city, but a city nonetheless. This means I am daily approached for "spare change". I have to admit that more often than not, I "have none". Today, a young girl approached me, looked me in the eye and apologetically asked for help. As I have mentioned, I am the leader over the 12-18 year old girls at church and thus have a soft spot for teenagers. I generously shelled out the 63 cents I had in my purse and said I was sorry I didn't have more to give. Fast forward to this evening. My taste buds were all ready to enjoy a mozzarella and tomato panini from Panera Bread. Much to my dismay my debit card was nowhere to be found amongst my purse junk. I had already ordered and could only produce $6.03 in cash when my total was $6.69. Feeling a little sheepish I told the cash register girl to never mind when another Panera employee said "it's on me!" Really? Could it have been the very coins I gave the teenage wanderer just hours ago? I realize this is a very little story with very small repercussions but an interesting study anyhow. Crazy enough, just as I was about to post this blog entry, Jeremy came home telling me to take a look at the below music video. Truly amazing the impact we can have in each other's lives... to the tune of sixty-something cents, or a whole life.

Bless You and Happy Friday

Still no Scottsdale pics to post, I've been running around preparing for our youth beach retreat this weekend. I've also been sneezing a lot. Please bless I'm not getting sick. Sure glad my sneeze is more subtle than this panda's, but I do think I've startled my sleeping dog a time or two. I hope this video kicks your weekend off right. Huh-larious.

A little inspiration

This past weekend Jeremy and I chased the sun over to Scottsdale, AZ. We had a blissfully relaxing weekend amongst the cactus's (cacti?) :) and I intend to upload/post some pics later today. Until then, I thought I'd share some inspiration I found in my various vacation reading materials.

I love Zooey Deschanel. She just seems so dang cool. She was hysterical in Failure to Launch, she has super cool style, and on the list of things I covet most in this world... her voice is tops. Anyway, there was an interview with her in Nylon Magazine and she was talking about how fulfilled she is. That she is living her dreams. How great for her! I found it so inspiring, and am feeling more motivated than ever. I want to do what's necessary to put me in a place that if someone were to interview me, I could say the same. The interview ended with a line from my favorite childhood movie (and coincidentally, Zooey's) "Sometimes, the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true." - The Wizard of Oz

I'm listening to her album right now... Sentimental Heart is my fav track.

I also read The Secret Life of Bees, a book chalk-full of inspiration. One excerpt that I especially loved is a discussion between Lily and Zach when they're talking about what they want to be when they grow-up. She says, "I've just never heard of a Negro lawyer, that's all. You've got to hear of these things before you can imagine them." To which Zach replies, "Bull... You gotta imagine what's never been."

Makes me wonder what I should be imagining.