Guys, I can’t fully express to you how much better I felt this month. I just had more energy and felt more productive, I have not felt this good in months. I didn’t quite get everything I wanted to get done (who does, really), but I got a lot of things checked-off and just felt back into a groove!! I feel like a huge weight has been lifted with my energy levels and overall anxiety.
In March I was able to…
Mark off some of the items from the February list:
- Ordered phone case and pillows (1,2)!!
- I’ve made a small dent in dealing with my picture problem and lack of organization. Slow progress, slow progress. I’m currently learning Lightroom, so I hope that helps.
- Got my haircut!! Yay! I had really worked myself into anxiety over choosing a hair salon and making an appointment, but it worked out just great. I love my cut and the stylist was the best. She is a native San Diegan and had tons and tons of great restaurant recommendations! This is honestly one of the better cuts I’ve had in a while! I did decide to chop it, I was so tired of dealing with my long-hair, and couldn’t hold out to grow it long enough to donate. I’m pleased as can be, with the whole experience.
- Completed a deviled-egg recipe for the blog
Get back into practicing with the camera. Do more manual practice. Resume the 365 challenge.
I did get back to the 365 Project and have been using the camera in manual again! In my March goals post I did not include any of my 365 pictures for February, but going back I did post more than I realized. Below I’m sharing what I posted in February and also what I did in this past month for March. I’m loving this project still. I also joined a few photo challenges this past month, one week of #fmsphotoaday and the #TNCLovesSpring. I used photos from those prompts for some of my pictures. My goal is to do a few extra pictures here and there to catch-up, I would like to end the year with 365 photos for the project. Follow me on Instagram to see the latest pictures I’ve been snapping and challenges I’ve been participating in!
February 365
March 365
Keep up with the whole exercise thing. Yoga at least 4 days a week, and try to get in 50,000 steps a week.
I feeling so good about keeping up with a yoga practice! I finished the Adriene 30-day yoga challenge and did yoga at least 4 to 5 days every week! I wasn’t so great with my steps. I did have over 50,000 steps for 2 of the 4 weeks and more steps overall than February.
Get some Skillshare classes done and complete a few projects. Goal of 3 classes & 2 projects.
No more mindless TV during the day. One show maximum during the day.
I have really gotten back into Skillshare. I sort of combined the Skillshare and less tv goal. I’ve started watching short lessons while folding laundry, eating, etc., instead of random tv shows. I didn’t finish a project, but I’m definitely getting back into the groove.
Food Photography: Shooting at Restaurants by Daniel Krieger (34 minutes)
This was a short lesson on as the title says…shooting food pictures at restaurants. I watched it while folding laundry. I thought he gave good tips and really gave us his process of how he approaches his shots. I would have liked to see him sit at the one table and do the shots, just to see how he might approach that as opposed to moving around the whole place. I just don’t see myself moving around, even if the restaurant was dead 🙂 It did provide inspiration, and a new way to look at taking pictures of food, so it served it’s purpose as a class.
Food Photography: Capturing a Morning Worth Eating by Adam Goldberg (33 minutes)
Another short little lesson, I did while folding laundry 🙂 I did learn a bit more technical items from this one than from Krieger’s class. Like:
- I did not know that you can tap the iphone screen to adjust exposure. No idea!
- I was not familiar with Snapseed (free) photo editing app. I downloaded it to try it out. He highlighted a few features of editing with that app that was cool.
Food Photography: Prepping a Photo Shoot by Leela Cyd (28 minutes)
I feel like this one provided the least in concrete advice, it came across pretty general in nature. I would have liked to see more scenes of her actually in action and how she does her work. I watched it while eating breakfast and drinking my tea.
Food Photography: Shooting in 5 Styles by Leela Cyd (20 minutes)
This lesson did go into a bit more detail, so I guess I was expecting too much from the first one 🙂 Still didn’t feel like it was all that instructional.
Make The Most of Instagram: Build Your Brand by Gareth Pon (26 minutes)
Nice little bit of information, nothing that groundbreaking. He also used Snapseed to edit. He mentioned setting up constraints for yourself and finding your creativity in that constraint, which is an interesting idea.
Smartphone Photography: Capturing Landscapes by Tim Landis (29 minutes)
I liked that he filmed this one all outside. Had some good tips on ways to look at composing your photos. He also mentioned using Snapseed to edit.
Go through my to-read or to-do boards on Pinterest and my other to-do lists. Read or do the things.
Much like organizing the pictures, it’s a slow process. I think I might have added more than I got through, but I’m working on it!
April Goals
- Make raviolis. I would love to have ravioli to freeze for quick meals.
- Create and share on the blog a San Diego bucket list.
- Finish guest room: buy mirror, finish putting up pictures and move random items to the garage. We are actually going to have guests in May. 🙂
- Because I want to keep it a priority, I’m going to continue to include exercise as a goal. My goal is to continue to do yoga 4-5 times a week, but increase the length of the daily practices. I’ve mostly done 20 to 30 minutes videos, and I would like the sessions to 30 minutes or longer. I would also like to push myself by going to an in-person class, though I’ve been saying that for two months. Maybe April will be the month. Again, with the Fitbit to get 50,000 steps per week.
- Pick pictures to print for existing frames we have.
- Plan a trip to LA.
- Continue with the Skillshare. At least 4 short lessons, 2 in-depth lessons, and finish the Lightroom tutorial I’ve already started.
- Get my day started no later than 7:00 am during the week.
I’m going to leave it at that for April. I still have some March and February related items I want to cross-off. I’m hoping my March motivation/energy carries into April!!
Are you feeling more motivated now that Spring is here?
I haven’t done skill share yet, but I’ve heard such good things. I have to check it out. ALso, I can’t wait to see your San Diego bucket list. I’m wrapping up my NYC one and they are always fun to plan travels.
I like Skillshare, but you do have to be selective and if you aren’t feeling the course, pick a new one 🙂 Some are better than others. Awesome a NYC bucket list, how fun! I feel like I could live in some place like NYC or Paris and have a never-ending bucket list 🙂
Good luck with all your goals. I’m working on finishing a guest room for guest arriving tomorrow. I only have a bed and lamp….
Thank you Adriana! I hope all worked out with your guest room and guests!! Though I’m sure they are happy just for the company and not where they are sleeping 🙂
So, looking at your list makes me motivated! Ha! Lots of good things. Your pictures are so pretty! Since I’ve gotten my iphone, I’m so bad about getting out the big camera. I’m trying to be more diligent about that because I do love the pictures it takes 🙂
Thanks Amanda!! iPhone pictures aren’t too bad either. I just got the newest phone in January from the 4S and I’m surprised with how crisp the pictures are. Though I completely agree and do try make a point of using the DSLR…especially as I’m still learning!
I actually kind of want to plan a trip to LA too. We’ve never actually done that before. MJ mentioned wanting to go to Universal Studios since we both love movies and are over the whole amusement park ride thing so maybe we will plan it then. Good job with keeping up the Yoga. I’ve been pretty good about sticking to my work out routine lately as well. I love 30 minute work outs especially for weekdays.
You haven’t been to LA!! We have several restaurants picked we want to go to (of course). Since it is a shortish drive we hope to plan a few trips and try not to pack too much into one trip 🙂 I would like to see the Hollywood sign, etc. So glad your routine is going well! It’s so hard to get into a routine, but it gets easier.
I’ve been to LA many times and he has been also. Actually we did a day trip last year to Santa Monica Harbor (with family + 2 kids!!) but we haven’t done the whole Hollywood touristy trap thing together.
oooh a new yoga challenge! new to me, anyway. totally going to do that one next. congrats to sticking with it! yay for getting a great haircut, it’s always so hard.. my best friend is mine and i basically didn’t get my hair done when i was at home, and if i ever move back, i’m screwed!
I enjoyed it! Thank you Kristen! Finding a new stylist is hard! If you move back, you will have to fly back to the US to have your hair cut 🙂
The phone case and pillows are soooo cute! Love it! It’s always exciting when you find a good hairstylist. I’m still searching for one … which is why my hair is so long >< Your 365 photos are looking great! Good luck on your goals for this month! Can't wait to see how the ravioli looks like!
Thank you Hsiao-Ting!! I’m happy with the pillows and the case. I like that the pillows have the design on both sides and the fabric doesn’t feel cheap…I wasn’t 100% what to expect. Finding a stylist is tough, I hope you find a good stylist soon!
Ooo I should check out that site for pillows next time! I’ve had the toughest time finding pillows for my couch and dude all the nice ones are so dang expensive! I have a hard time decorating my place since I like everything and nothing. Haha if that makes sense.
Great photos. I’m glad you found a good hairdresser in San Diego. I am still on the hunt in DC. The last lady cut my hair too short.
Thanks Denise! I wish you luck in finding your DC stylist…maybe closer to your new place 🙂 It can be hard finding a good stylist.
Wow, I just learned something new about the iphone! Thanks! I have been wanting to learn how to use my camera better, but I have been lazy and have other priorities for my time. I also prefer to go to a yoga class as well rather than doing it by myself. And I think your photos turned out awesome by the way- seems like you learned a lot already about photography. -Jess
Thank you Jessica! I still have a lot to learn about photography and using the camera, but I feel like I’m very slowly making progress 🙂 There is a ton to learn!
Absolutely love your photos! I need that avocado toast in my life. Okay, so I fixate on food. I’ve gotta say, you really have me wanting to look into Skillshare more now! I always kind of wrote it off, but I didn’t realize they had so many food photography offerings! Maybe I need to add that to my list, too!
Thank you Kristin!! I’ve been obsessed with avocado toast lately! I know, I’m always commenting on the food pictures or commentary on other’s people’s posts too 🙂 I think one or two the Skilllshare classes above are free. I still enjoy Skillshare but they are less selective about who contributes classes now and it really shows…that is not to say that there are not good ones, they are just harder to find 🙂
Great goals! I would love to see some ravioli! I’ve always wanted to learn to make it. I suppose I need a pasta maker for that though…..
I love your photos! I am considering doing a 365 photo challenge too. I’m just learning to use our camera, so maybe next year that would be a good project for me
We do have a pasta roller, but I have friends who just roll out the dough with a rolling pin. I have never tried that method but it might be worth looking into. You should totally join the 365 challenge! You can join anytime too no need to wait until the new year, though I did do it as a goal for 2015. I’m still learning to use my camera too, it is great practice!
You are killing it with the photos! I really love that one of the sun coming onto the walkway. And of course of the dog with the biscuit.
Hurrah for new hair! That’s always a booster.
Thank you Steph! I loved the lighting in the walkway picture too…I’ve been enjoying all the picture taking 🙂 I’m so happy with it turned out, and it is super low maintenance.
You had a very productive month! Good job. April is going to be awesome to you too.
Isn’t it the best feeling to find a good hair stylist and hair style?? It seems like such a simple thing but there’s nothing like it to perk me up! So glad you found yours!
Thank you so much Amy!! Yes, the haircut just seemed like such a relief…which is silly but it did 🙂 I agree a good haircut can make you feel better!
I’m so glad you sound so upbeat and energized! Your photography is on point, I LOVE your photos.
Getting up at 7am every day is intense! I find getting up early the worst thing ever, ugh. Good for you for being so disciplined! And yay for yoga!!
Aww thanks M!! I’ve been feeling so much better!
heck yes to making exercise a priority!! doesn’t it make you feel so amazing? i say go to the class – you won’t regret it!
Umm…I getting to the not dread it stage 😉 I’m hoping to be able to share your excitement about it one day 🙂