Take this weekend and center yourself. Find your inner peace and sit on the sand. Breath. Pray.

I am going to take my own advice.

I love hanging out with Mr. Chris and Miss Shannon.

They are such a cute couple.

They like to laugh and like to try new and exotic foods. These are two main characteristics that I look for in a friend.

It just so happens that during this meal, we were carded again. Which is why Miss Shannon is toasting me with her water. The fact that the husband just turned 50 years old didn’t deter the waitress from asking us for a form of ID, and she was eyeing Miss Shannon when she asked. It’s starting to be a trend. This summer, I wrote about Miss Shannon getting carded and was saved by her fishing license because she didn’t have her wallet.

I really love hanging out with them. I guess the new drinking age is 50?

Mr. Chris took a call on his phone from Yemen during the meal. He spend about 10 minutes on his cell and came back to the table to report some risky business with two of his guys, their passports and flights to Pakistan.

Miss Shannon said, “You’re not using our cell phone are you? We don’t have that many minutes on it.”

I love hanging out when them, did I say that already?

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

This beautiful landmark is the center of Chinatown in Washington DC. The exotic beauty is amplified by the lights of night time in this mass of humanity called our Nation’s Capital.

And I’m standing safely on the sidewalk and behind a parked car.

These are the tracks the dog and I made one snowy morning. I think I drag my feet…

My mother has always discriminated against what she would call lazy people. According to her, laziness is the worst characteristic in a person.

She used to tell my sister and I that if we ate laying down that we would turn into snakes. And I believed her too. We always ate at the table because of it.

For the record, she is one of the hardest working people I know. It’s hard to keep up with her.

I would work hard in school and work but when it comes to things like house work and laundry and several other aspects of my life, I am very – ahem – laid-back.

And it’s so evidenced by how many photos I have of myself and other people laying down.

I took this photo while laying down on my couch. It’s a typical night at home. Apparently the “no running in the house” rule is not reinforced in our house. Of course, it’s hard to reinforce a rule that you haven’t yet enforced.

Some tourists in DC taking a break from being tourists.

Here I am laying down in the emergency room of the hospital. Yes, I had my camera. See the little Santa over there? It’s a skeleton and there’s a patient in that hospital laying right underneath the Skeleton Santa. Creepy. I wonder what he thought about his survival chances.

Now this is sad…this homeless person was sleeping early one morning as I strolled through Waikiki beach. She was sleeping in front of one of the most exclusive and expensive hotels in Hawaii…

I’m laying down, taking a photo of this little boy who is laying down.

Yawn…now go be productive today but make sure you get your nap in:)

A patch of green and the crisp morning air revitalizes the winter landscape and revitalizes the soul.

I like to cook but I love to watch other people cook. And I love to watch the professionals do it. That’s why I’m a celebrity chef stalker. Masaharu Morimoto, watch out. You’re next.

I was tired, they were not.

I sat down to rest my feet and it just so happens that Crate and Barrel was in front of me. I stared at the stemless wine glasses for  a while and then I decided I needed some.

So I did.

Then I called the girls and asked if they were done. They weren’t. I moved closer to the exit and sat down again to wait. It just so happens that the Pottery Barn was in my direct line of sight. I stared at the pillow case covered with birds and vines and I decided I needed it.

So I did.

On the way home I started to sing to the radio again. Kaitie-girl says to me, “Miss Puna?”

“Yes?”

“I think you’re cool.”

Awwww….

And then I lived happily ever after.

Happy Monday…I hope your week is blessed.

This meet was rescheduled twice. When they finally had competed, I thought they all looked great and performed even better. However, they did lose the meet by one point. It was heart breaking for them since it was their first team loss in two years.

Here is a photo of the girl riding next to the girl that beat her all day. The first loss was shrugged off, the second loss was gracefully accepted, the last loss was met with a quivering lower lip. I wouldn’t have wanted the “You can’t win them all” speech either so I stayed silent.

It was a hard lesson in grace, humility and letting go.

These photos are SOOC since I’m running late for church. No time to edit.

“He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs 3:34

Posted on SOOC Saturday and Spiritual Sunday.

I had a camera bag on my Christmas wish list but it wasn’t this one. I bought this one for myself. I placed an order right after Christmas and it arrived a couple of weeks ago.

And I’m smittened. I don’t think I loved anything this much since we got our puppy six years ago.

It’s puppy love.

I am not an accessory person. I don’t have a bag to match every outfit I have but I love this bag.

It’s already not only well loved but well used. I carry my camera of course but I also carry my long lens and my charger and the accessories I need for a quick photo. It’s padded inside with felt separators. My camera sits in the middle part.

I love the little tag that came with it.

The details are beautiful and I love the leather. It’s soft, soft, soft.

You know what? I’ve had at least three men compliment me on my bag. Really. Men! And the bag is a very girly teal color so I was surprised at the compliments. I was tired of the masculine black camera bags and backpacks that are out there. This not only pretty, it’s well made, practical and extremely attractive if I do say so myself.

Along with my camera and its accessories, I carry my wallet and other neccessities, like my lipstick. My friend Danny gave me this tag for Christmas one year and it compliments the bag beautifullly.

If you are not already aware, Ephiphanie bags is having a giveaway on their site and they are giving away a bag on Shutter Sisters. I’m not ashamed to say that I want another one…the brown one. If you were to place your order now, I promise you won’t regret it.

Go there now!!  http://www.haveanepiphanie.com/home/2010/2/28/epiphanie-give-away.html