Kijk 1 - weekly update/photo challenge

So, I've decided to start a sort of weekly photo challenge for myself. This idea came from a couple of influences. One is a blog called LLYMLRS written by Lily Melrose, who lives in London. I don't remember how I came across her blog, Pinterest may have been involved... but anyway, I'm obsessed because I seriously miss the UK since studying abroad there a year ago and her blog reminds me a lot of being over there. It is a fashion blog, and I loved the way people dressed across the pond, so it just gives me my daily dose of UK fashion. Love it. Anyway, she does a really awesome self-portrait every Sunday. The other influence is one of the girls pledging my sorority, Heidi, who is taking a self portrait every day of 2012. Talk about perseverance! She is so creative, and really good with a camera, so every portrait is amazing and completely different than the others (you can see her photos here). So cool. While I don't have that kind of stamina to take one every day, I think I can challenge myself for one a week right? OK, so here's my challenge to myself: take a self-portrait once a week as well as a picture of someone or something that was a big part of my week/something that stood out and share some highlights from the week along with them.

I've decided to call these posts "kijkes" which means look in Dutch. When we were little, or if we were around my Oma and Opa or other Dutch friends, if we were to take a picture, whoever was behind the camera would say, "kijkes hier jonges!" (translation: look over here kids).

Now, why do I want to do this? Well, a few reasons. I have a really awesome camera [whose name is Waldo :)] and I love taking photos! I'm pretty much self-taught and doing this will force me to take more photos, on a more regular basis, and therefore improve and get better! I also just thought it would be fun :)

SO. Here's my first portrait. This was kind of a quick decision to do this challenge, so just a portrait for this week, but I promise something meaningful from the coming days will make it in the next portrait post.

 

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--// It was really hard to take this picture haha. I left my tripod at home in San Diego, which is not so helpful when you decide to start a photo challenge in Long Beach. So, I was definitely sitting on the floor with my camera on 2 pillows on a chair and used my wallet to get the lens angle right... talk about make-shift! I actually really like how it turned out tho :)

--// This week is test week. Thankfully I'm 2 down with just 1 more to go. 

--// As tired as I was last night after studying, I wanted to read a little bit of a book I'm going through entitled God's Passion for His Glory by John Piper. I literally read 2 paragraphs and my mind was blown. Chew on this epic tidbit: "I suppose it will not be denied by any, that God, in glorifying the saints in heaven with eternal felicity, aims to satisfy his infinite grace or benevolence, by the bestowment of good [which is] infinitely valuable, because eternal: and yet there never will come the moment, when it can be said, that now this infinitely valuable good has been actually bestowed." (quote from Jonathan Edwards as found in God's Passion for His Glory by John Piper, pg 37) 

WOAH. 

and I will leave you with that. 

love, 

emily xx

Study break... i.e. procrastination

So, the past few days have kind of been quite the emotional roller coaster, leaving me in a bit of a funk which is no place to be when you have three big tests headed your way... Anyway, hoping that a little bit of a photo and blog-therapy break will give me the oomph I need to get back on track...

For the last few events of rush, we had tie dye taco Tuesday, a bonfire, and preference tea, all of which were so fun and filled with so much joy and laughter :)

 

This is Monty, our chapter mascot :)

I love that last series of photos! :) The following week, we officially pinned our Delta class of pledges!

Aren't they precious?

 My roommate, Bethany, and me :)

All of the actives with Mrs. Furlong - an alum from our chapter! I think her pledge name was Flakey Flakes! :)

It was a great finish to rush! I love my sisters sooooo much and I'm so excited for the rest of the semester! We've already gone to convention in Georgia - which is what my next post will be about. But, for now, I must get back to statistics, biology, and electrocardiography... 

With that, I raise my coffee-filled mug -- here's to studying my brains out.

Love, 

emily xx

Blessing in the busy-ness

Wow. I have so much to blog about and hardly have the time to do it justice! These past couple of weeks have been SUPER busy! With rush week for Alpha Delta Chi, classes starting to pick up the pace and get serious, completing my first half marathon, whale watching, and the list goes on! I apologize, but it may take a couple of posts to get through all of the crazy goodness :)
I suppose I will start from the beginning: rush week(s) (since it was over 2 weeks...) this semester was an amazing time! Every event was filled with joy, laughter, and true fellowship of sisters in Christ. God blessed us immensely!! The first 2 events were a game/dessert/info night! We played catchphrase and "fish bowl" (which apparently could also be referred to as "salad bowl") and had a wide array of delicious desserts - including decorating cupcakes and sugar cookies :) On Thursday we had craft night at our apartment and decorated picture frames! Such a fun time surrounded by such wonderful young women!

Our first event: game/dessert/info night!! 

 The whole group! (minus me :) )

 Craft night!:

 

 

The end results! They came out so beautiful!! (the work-in-progress on the top left is my creation :)

That Saturday, we went whale watching for my friend Bri's birthday! Let me tell you, I had not been whale watching since elementary school - maybe 4th grade? - so I was STOKED! It was also exciting because even though I've lived in Long Beach for the last 3 years, I feel like there are a lot of things that I haven't done around here and in the city! So I was excited to head over to the pike and head out on one of their whale-watching tours! It was an absolutely gorgeous day (we are so spoiled to have lots of those!) and saw sea lions, white-sided dolphins (which are apparently pretty rare), and watched 2 blue whales!!

 Sometimes, you just have to go for the infamous titanic pose.

Sorry I'm so squinty! It was really sunny, we were on a moving boat, it was unavoidable... :)

 The moon came out early!

It was a great day! Happy birthday Bri! And thanks for taking us on an epic adventure to celebrate! 

The next day, I participated in the Surf City Marathon/Half Marathon in Huntington Beach!  It was my first half marathon and boy was I nervous! I had been thinking about doing a half for some time before I signed up and prompted by friends who were participating, I signed up 3 months prior - just enough time to train for it! For those three months, I trained 6 days a week - give or take a day or two here and there - running and cross-training. I knew I was prepared but it was my first one, so it was still kind of nerve-racking (sp?)! I was SO supported! My parents came up for the day, and my roommate, Bethany, and friends Jess, Sarah, and Faron all came out to be there for me! I felt so loved! My goal was to finish in under 3 hours, and I did! My time was 2:45:02 :) It was such a great experience! Difficult, for sure, but I feel very accomplished and like to run a little bit more than I did before - and that is a huge improvement on the subject!

On the way to Huntington! It's probably about 6am... 

Sarah's totally ready to run the race! ;)

Talking with my dad as we walked up to the start.

Heading over to get my results.

Stretch it out! 

And that's only a tiiiiny bit of what's been going on lately!! Get ready for a new post really soon! probably tomorrow... YAY!

love,
emily

PS sorry for the picture overload... there were just too many good shots!!
PPS all of the pics from the marathon are thanks to my good friend Jess! Thanks girl!!