Swedish fish

and film photos.

Mary Em

Beautiful Things

Living is Joy Enough

Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.
Emily Dickinson

Mary Em

Come Alive

Make a difference.

Mary Em

Nadav Kander

Photographer extraordinare. We looked at his work in photography today. My jaw dropped at every photo from his series on the Yangtze river. The hues. The contrast. The muted perfection. Love.





Today was nice.
I liked today because of:
My Green boots
My Sufjan Shirt
My Red Sweater
The Bitter Cold
Coffee in the morning with friends and God
Stairwell Jamming time with Chad

Mary Em

Urban Exploring Mondays

The Crew and I were tired of our Mondays being horrible.



So we decided to go urban exploring in this building near the riverwalk.



This room was huge. The massive size of it couldn't be capture with a camera.



Turns out, it was some sort of pig slaughter house thing. Ew.



So UE (urban exploring) Mondays will continue on this semester.



Mondays have never looked so exciting.



Mary Em

young and free

Make every day an adventure.



I love mango.
Mary Em

wild thing

She's a wild thing, yeah.

More from this shoot soon, I hope.
Mary Em

"Everyone wants to be Cary Grant...

...Even I want to be Cary Grant."-Cary Grant.


Reggie Lampert(Audrey Hepburn): Do you know what's wrong with you?
Peter Joshua(Cary Grant): No, what?
Reggie Lampert: Nothing.



I love Cary Grant. He was such a man.



Happy Birthday, Mr. Grant.

Mary Em

A week of things I've never done before.

I really liked this little "Challenge". Halfway through, I thought about how silly it all was though, because I should ALWAYS look intentionally for new things to experience.
But still, it was kind of nice to document.



As you already know, on Sunday I wrote a letter on a napkin. I loved the whole look of it, so that will probably happen again.



On Monday, I helped bury two people in the snow. I don't think Chattanooga has ever really had enough snow to do that!



On Tuesday, I sledded down a hill...four at a time. I spent my week with my neighbors and their friends (all boys...it was the most interesting experience of my life). These incredibly intelligent boys came up with the idea of having two people on one sled and then tying to other sleds to the first one. That was probably the most scary thing I've done in a while. But it was also super fun.


Wednesday, I thanked my Postal Worker. I've heard of people giving their mailmen little tips and whatnot, but I didn't know how this sort of thing came about. So, instead of a tip, I gave them a Gift card to Starbucks! I made a cute little card and taped it to the front of my mailbox. I really love letters and mailpeople make letters possible! I didn't get to take a photo of this.




Thursday, I bought SIX skeins (yes, six) of yarn in one color. Finding the same die lot was quite the task. The picture above the yarn is the sweater I'm going to (attempt to) make! Wish me luck.


Yesterday, I brought a mug to starbucks for the first time. I didn't get a picture of that (sadly) but let me encourage you to bring your own mug to a coffee shop...it makes the environment all the more cozy.



And finally, today I actually KNITTED. I've tried and failed many times. But I was successful this time.
Have a great Tomorrow
Mary Em

Icy Bliss

Two sparkling eyes watch the white flakes fall-revelling in the icy bliss that is a snow day.

Mary Em

Website News

You may not be aware of this...but I have a website! I thought I'd go ahead and post a link. You can view my stop motion films in the "Moving pictures" section. ( I know that before, some of the videos didn't work)
So yeah!

Mary Em

p.s. I did do something I've never done before today. I just didn't edit the photos. Just letting you know

7-day Challenge #1 Sunday

When my life begins to lose its spice, I'll throw in a challenge that I have to meet for 7 days in a row. The first one is to make a point to do one something I've never done before.

#1) I've never written a letter on a napkin. So I did. It's super hard, by the way.


Mary Em

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.

I had forgotten how much I loved Noah and the Whale until I heard their new single. Their music never stops being joyful and encouraging.

"Peaceful the World Lays Me Down", with its adorable whistling and use of Ukulele, is one of my favorite albums. "The First Days of Spring" is a glorious album with a more orchestrated feel (especially in the song "Love of an Orchestra").
And now "Last Night on Earth", with this song. That tells us that life goes on and not to be discouraged. So great.


So if you like curly headed singers named Charlie, Ukulele, Whales, or just plain good music, you should definitely check out Noah and the Whale.

Mary Em

Mr. Stevens

Mr. Sufjan Stevens is such an interesting individual. He says things like:
"Yes, I still knit. I’m part of a knitting group of mostly women, but there are a couple of guys who crochet. It’s pretty casual, but I like to do hats and scarves. Occasionally I’ll try something harder, like a sweater."

and

(about the Creepy Christmas Feeling)
"It's the kind of feeling that causes a transformation of the heart and compels me to call my grandmother, to learn to love my parents, to respect my friends, to consider the immeasurable gift of life, the incarnation of God, the Christ Child, a newborn baby, lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, who would conquer the world not with brute force, but with love."

Just wanted to share.
Mary Em

Winterwear/List #2

It's so funny to think that this was just last week.

List #2: Resolutions.
*note: I pretty much don't like resolutions...they usually never come true. But I thought I'd try to list some of my goals for 2011*
In 2011 I want
1) To believe at least six impossible things before breakfast. (yeah I stole that one from Lewis Carrol)
2) To believe the best of people. Even when they aren't the best.
3) To start running again.
4) To acknowledge Jesus Christ's Lordship in my life.
5) To be openly happy more.
6) To work at Cedar Lake Camp with Jenny.
7) To practice at least 7 hours a week.
8) To really see all that's around me.
9) To learn not to look back.
10) To learn to look forward with caution.
11) To throw caution to the wind (uh I love a good oxymoron)
12) To create for my Creator.
13) To write more letters.
14) To really perceive others hurts.
15) To travel.
16) To smile more.
17) To make others smile more.
18) To love more.
19) To save for college.
20) To hold my faith above everything.

So there you go...some of my many goals for 2011.
What are your goals?
Mary Em