SPT - Resolutions

Lelly gave the new SPT challenge for this month with a "resolutions" theme! Here are this month's challenges:

Tuesday, January 6 i resolve to take more self-portraits
Tuesday, January 13 i resolve to take more self-portraits with people i love
Tuesday, January 20 i resolve to take more self-portraits while trying new things
Tuesday, January 27 i resolve to take more self-portraits doing things i enjoy

Here is my first self-portrait of the year:

I'm on my laptop, looking over my blog (which explains the weird light illuminating my face). Take note of my cute feather headband. Only $2 at Forever 21!

SPT - "Hope"

This is what I do when I'm hoping for something. I take a moment, clear my head, and think about the very thing I'm hoping for most. As of this moment...I HOPE for the safety and unity of our country and those who are protecting it; I HOPE there are no more layoffs at Geoff's company; I HOPE my sister won't give up on her classes in college this semester; I HOPE my boss thinks I'm doing a good job; and I HOPE my family will continue to stay supportive, healthy and strong in the upcoming new year.

SPT - "Peace"

It's a rare moment that I really feel like I'm getting peace and quiet. On this day, while snuggled on my sofa with a soft fleece blanket, the only lights in the room coming from my Christmas trees, watching "White Christmas" on the TV and drinking hot chocolate, I felt it. I was at PEACE.

My PEACEful living room decorated for Christmas.

SPT - "Comfort"

A cup of tea can bring COMFORT to me.



The first thing I do when I walk into my office everyday at work, is make tea in my favorite San Francisco mug that my friend, Mary, gave to me. I usually drink Earl Grey or some type of green tea. In the picture, I'm drinking Lipton's green tea with mandarin orange. It's my new favorite tea. The sweet smell of it alone wakes me up. I like to sit in my chair, wrap myself in my chunky sweater (it's usually cold in my office) and relax for a moment with my cup of tea before I begin my work day. It makes a huge difference.

SPT - "Joy"

Bringing JOY to others...

(Salvation Army lady in front of a store in Whittier. Isn't she adorable? She's so happy. Her sign says, "Sharing is Caring"...isn't that the Care Bear motto??)

Every Christmas I like to make a donation to charitable organization. I encourage you all to do it too. Whether it's giving to a toy drive, food drive, sending money to an organization, volunteering your time, or even putting a dollar in a Salvation Army bucket, every little bit helps. To donate online, you can click the Charity Navigator link to the right of my page and search for your favorite cause.

SPT - All You Need is "LOVE"

Last Christmas, he said, "I think I've been in LOVE with you since I was sixteen."

SPT (She Photographs Tuesdays)

I saw this link on my friend Aranne's blog (she has all the fun stuff on her blog). It's a link to another blog of this woman, Lelly, who does this thing called "She Photographs Tuesdays." Every month, she gives a theme for every Tuesday of that month for people to photograph. For example, the theme for the month of December:

"Holiday Feng Shui"

December 2 is "love"

Dec. 9 is "joy"

Dec. 16 is "comfort"

Dec. 23 is "joy/peace"

Dec. 30 is "hope"

*Note: Lelly updated her SPT blog to say that she meant for Dec. 23 to be "peace," and not a repeat of "joy." However, if people already have their pics for "joy" they are encouraged to go ahead and post them.

Photography has always been one of my hobbies, so I thought I would have fun and participate in this. Keep a lookout for my Tuesday pictures!