Today's Theme: Rocks

So, a few things have happened since I last posted.  I've allowed myself to be open to opportunities that I may have generally opted out of.  I have also been trying to use my camera more in an attempt to become more comfortable with using it.

I took my camera to Thanksgiving dinner and didn't even touch it.  I was so frustrated with myself when I got home and realized I didn't have any photos to show for the afternoon.  But it's okay.  I know I'm headed in the right direction.  

I went with some friends to a game cafe in town ( http://www.empiregamelibrary.com/ ) and it was so much fun!  It was really nice to get to hang out with them!  The place has tons of games to choose from and has a very knowledgeable and helpful staff.  I will definitely be back.  I also met up with some friends in Old Town last week for the Holiday Shop and Stroll and the big tree lighting.  That was also very neat.  I had never been and it was a beautiful community event.  I was really proud of myself for going to these things because these are the types of things that I generally find excuses not to go to: too tired, too late, ugh-traffic, etc...  However, I did not regret going and they were totally worth it.  I'm really trying to have a "yes" attitude towards things like this.  Just say yes, and figure the rest out later.  It's been going well so far.

Speaking of saying yes, Daniel and I went on a trip last week.  About a month or so ago he told me to take off some specific days.  As we don't have any days off together these days I didn't hesitate at the possibility of spending some quality time together, and promptly put in the request.  We went to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend as well as Monument Valley, Four Corners and Shiprock.  (You can maybe see now where the theme of this post comes from.)  

Lower Antelope Canyon

Climbing out of Lower Antelope Canyon

At Horseshoe Bend

When in Monument Valley we stayed at the spectacular View Hotel, whose view indeed, did not disappoint.  On our first morning there we woke up to watch the sunrise over the valley in hopes of snapping some good photos (or so I thought).  Daniel made a big thermos of coffee with cocoa and we bundled up and headed out into the crisp chilly dawn.  Just as the sun was peaking over the plateau and you could feel the warmth of the sun's rays on your cheeks Daniel asked me to marry him.  And I said yes.  I used to feel like it was just so silly when people talked about "time standing still" in moments such as this.  But I have to revise my views.  After I said yes, and he put the ring on my finger, there was a moment when we just looked at each other in the glow of the morning's first light, our breath hanging in the air.  Everything else melted away.  Just for a moment. 

So early, sun was no where near up yet.

Sun is finally peaking over.

Right before the "big question".

Right after.  :)

Obligatory "the ring" picture.

 

We spent the rest of our trip adventuring around Monument Valley.

Apparently, there is a famous picture of John Wayne from this lookout point.

Daniel shows off his strength.

Totem Pole in the background.

We hiked around the East Mitten.

Even the trees seemed to be posing for you out here.  Tree with the West Mitten.

On the way home we stopped off at Four Corners and Shiprock.

Four Corners Monument.

Shiprock.

I'm very excited for this new chapter of my life and the adventures that it will bring!

-KP

Revival: Of Blog and Self

I'm quitting Facebook because frankly, it just isn't personal enough for me.  I love a good Buzzfeed video as much as the next person, don't get me wrong.  But, what I really want is to know about what is going on in the lives of my "friends", more than just what is on the surface.  I don't care who they'll be voting for in the upcoming election or how they feel about #theredcup.  I want to know how their days went.  What makes them happy?  What makes them sad?  What things are their favorite, beyond their favorite sports teams.

Facebook isn't cutting it for me; this is not how I want to connect with people.  I'm tired of being on the surface.  I want to meet for coffee.  I want to hand write letters.  (Let's be penpals!)  I want to interact in the here and now.  And in an effort to reciprocate what I wish I got from others, I'm going to be real and personal too.  I'm reviving this blog in an attempt to be real, with both myself and everyone else.  And if you are interested in knowing what that is, this is where you will find it.  This is where I'll put the things that bring me joy and be honest about the things that I am struggling with.  

One of the things that I struggle with most is being vulnerable.  I'd be happy to withhold anything personal about myself from anyone, and everyone.  It just feels safer that way.  But I can't go my whole life just playing it safe.  Risks are part of the adventure.  

So, let's be real and let's start here.

You can think of this post not only as a revival of this blog, but also a sort of revival of myself.  I have spent too long trying to be who I thought I needed to be, or who I thought other people wanted me to be.  Well, I think it's time that I figure out who I am, buried deep down inside, and who exactly I want to be.  Credit this to an existential quarter life crisis if you want, but I think it's a step in the right direction.  Bottom line, I want to spend more time connecting with people and trying new things.  

When people ask me what I do for fun I get embarrassed and anxious because I never know what to reply.  Does sleeping count??  I have nothing to answer, no go-to to fill in that blank.  I don't know how to have fun.  So I'm on a quest to learn how to have fun and find things that I like to do.  First up on that docket is using my camera more fearlessly and learning to enjoy the ups and downs of learning to take photos that I am proud of.

So, if you want to spend time with me and tell/ show me what you do for fun, I need all the help I can get.  So here's to learning, connecting, having fun, and getting comfortable in my own skin.

-KP

Dia de los Muertos

Nicole and I got dressed up for the Marigold Parade in the south valley for Dia de los Muertos this year.  It is such a fun cultural experience and I'm so glad we got to go.  I can't wait until next year.

My macaroni and cheese colored house provided a perfect background.

Nicole was such a good sport when I asked her to model for me.   The light was just too killer.

This bro snuck up on us.  Always good to see him.

I love this.  She looks so badass. 

Well, that's basically caught you up on my last year.  Hopefully I'll keep up better this coming year.  Thanks for coming along.

-K.

Julia + Ulises

I was honored to be asked this past August to take Julia and Ulises wedding announcement photos.  We took them in Old Town Albuquerque.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

I hope everyone had a great holiday!  

-K.

"Going to the Big House, Alcatraz!"

This past July we went to San Francisco.  We got to go to Alcatraz island and penitentiary.  I really love old abandoned buildings so this was a real treat for me.

  

 

 

Here's just a cute portrait of Gus, our new-ish adopted cat.  He really adopted us, actually.  He's been a part of the family since August, and we love him.

-K.

A Taste of Home.

Last year Daniel and I moved in together.  And it's been great!  I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite bits from around the house this past spring.

Daniel made this.  It looks so nice in this window.

Seriously, this window gives off the best light.

This is Daniel's acoustic guitar that I adopted.  I named her Patsy.  That seemed fitting.

We planted daffodils in the front by the door.  My favorite!

This lady bug laid her eggs on macaroni-and-cheese colored house.  They had to all have lived to hatch with that superb camouflage.

  

Naturally this isn't our house, but our tiny home away from home.  We went camping this past spring and it was my first real tent camping experience.  Pretty cool!

-K.

Last Winter

Last year was my first time going into the mountains to handpick and manhandle a Christmas tree from the wild.  Here's a nice snapshot of Daniel.

We made homemade lip balms for Christmas presents last year.  Daniel even screen printed the labels himself.  The flavors were Lemon Lavender and Minty Wintergreen.  They were a success!  Whether they were a hit or not, I'm not sure, but I really liked them.

I got a fisheye lens for Christmas.  Pretty fun! 

The yearly trip to the Yurt in Taos mountains.

View from outside the front door of the yurt.

The boys made an igloo!  These pictures are not all mine, Daniel took some and his dad Pete took the good one of the boys inside their masterpiece.  

I recently have been going through my accumulation of photos from the last year and thought it would be nice to share some of the ones that I've found.  

Hope you all have been well.