Sneak Peak-- Refuge Jeans

Here is a quick pre-processed sneak peak of a photoshoot (for a jeans ad, with my roomie) I did recently... We ran out of light, so we didn't get many pictures, but there were a couple that I liked! :)

Weird unintentional effect due to bad lighting and weird camera setting...

I'll be uploading more soon once I've edited them and chosen my favorites, so stay tuned! :P

Also-- my computer just did something super weird with its resolution, so I might reupload these later if they look weird... Let me know what you think.. are these pics different quality to you, or is it just my computer? :)

CAMERA!!

I got a camera!! Not sure if it is The One yet, but I am enjoying it so far! I got the.... [drum roll, please...]

CANON POWERSHOT S95!!!!!

Unlikely choice, right? Well, I just thought that, considering the size difference, it would make more sense for me to get the canon now, that way I can save up and buy (or borrow from my mom, heh) an awesome DSLR in the future!! Still doesn't make sense? Picture this wonderful world where I have a DSLR and a small compact camera. I use the DSLR for photo shoots, awesome pictures, important events, etc. I use the compact camera for places/ times where I can't lug around a large DSLR like traveling, parties, active events (skiing, hiking, whatevs), etc. Now, in this WONDERFUL WONDERFUL world, the point of having a compact P&S is that it is smaller and more convenient than the DSLR [See where I'm going with this yet?] and can take it places where it would be inconvenient to have a camera that doesn't just slip into my pocket. THEREFORE, using this logic, it makes much, MUCH more sense to buy the teensy tiny camera that is a little bit cheaper..aka the canon. If I had the Panasonic, and wanted to bring it places, since it's not too convenient, I would just bring the DSLR anyways, thus making the Panasonic moot. Yay canon! I feel dumb buying a camera for size, but hey. And, I realize I don't actually own a DSRL, but for now, I have an awesome camera that takes great pictures, fits in my pocket, and I bought at the bookstore with my student account :)

This is how I feel currently: A Love Letter To A Camera

Basically, I just needed a reason to CHOOSE one already, so I did, and so far I am happy. I can return it within a week, so if anything turns out not-so-great, I will just do that and order the Panasonic online. Done, done, and done.

Sample pictures you say? Oh, well, just this once.... Also, I realize there are A MILLION, but I'm super super excited, and I can't help it, OK? OK? STOP JUDGING MEEEEE!!!

These were taken for the theme this week on 365project: Your Heart... I ended up choosing the third one..

It's Love!

Self timer.. I think?

B&W:

Goofing off with ISO, Shutter, and Aperture:

Macro (weird lighting, but w/e):

And there we go! No more of my pictures for AT LEAST ONE WEEK! :)

When life gets busy the busy get a life...

....aka how loni loves to procrastinate (by "getting a life").

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the

end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow."

--Mary Anne Radmacher

I feel like I have a million things to say and no idea how to say all of them, or even if I should, since that would be one biiiiiiig post.... which is a result of the coffee and the ADD.

It's midterms season again and my week is looking like this:

MON: class from 10-12, studying from 2-7, meeting from 7-9, studying from 9-midnight, sleep.

TUES: review session from 8:30-9:30, class from 9:30-11, studying from 11-1, class from 1-3, in-class presentation from 3-4 (worth 30% of grade), study from 4-5, midterm from 5-6, study from 6-midnight, sleep.

WED: class from 10-12, study from 12-5, class from 5-8, study from 8-??, sleep.

THURS: midterm from 9:30-11, SLEEP from 11-3, work from 4-9, sleep.

FRI: work from 11-4, meeting from 4:30-7, Party from 10-2?, sleep.

SAT: AMIGOS workshop from 8-2:30.....FREE TIME! FINALLY!!! ....sleep.

Wow. Writing it all out like that definitely makes it seem worse and yet better than it actually is... that totally made sense, right? Just gotta have courage to get through it all... see what I did there? I totally referred back to my original quote... eh? Clever, huh? Thought so.

Nowwww on to the camera. I STILL CAN'T DECIDE! (transitions aren't my strong point. Again, ADD.)

Again, I'm trying to decide between the Canon Powershot s 95 and the Panasonic Lumix LX5. The canon is definitely more compact, which would be nice for traveling, and it is available in stores around here, so I could get some customer service/ help, as well as buy it on my student account... plus I like the manual control ring on the front, the look/compactness of the lens (it doesn't stick out quite as much), and I could buy it THIS WEEK!!! Here is the canon:

Then, there's the Panasonic Lumix LX5.... It has a better/ more durable lens (leica!!), supposed better image quality (it's been debated), a few more functions/ perks, but is definitely more bulky and I would probably have to buy it online... and in a few weeks, once I save up enough money. Overall, it's a more impressive and durable camera, and has a few higher numbers as far as ISO, HD video, etc. If I don't smash it to pieces trying to travel around with it, it will probably last longer too. Also, I had a not-so-good last experience with a canon powershot, but Im going to attribute that to the $90 price tag, and not the brand itself. Here is the beautiful Lumix, although to a different scale than the canon, so I guess the pics don't help THAT much...

[Note: I am not being paid nor have I been endorsed by either company to give a review on either camera, I am just interested in buying one of the two and am expressing my opinions here likewise.]

Basically, what it comes down to is, do I want to buy my camera now, learn how to use it before I leave for Panama, (and be able to take awesome pictures NOW), or do I want to suck it up and wait until I can afford the Panasonic??? On one hand, I have all these shallow (but legit) reasons for wanting the canon, and all these deeper (but not necessarily THAT important for what I will actually be using the camera for) reasons for wanting the panasonic. What a problem! I wish there was an easy answer, so I just keep stalling on buying either camera. I could always go buy the canon, shoot around with it for a couple of days, and if I'm not IN LOVE with it, return it (within like 10 days). But the problem with that is that I can't really do the same thing with the panasonic, so it's not like I'm even comparing it to anything other than my old (kodak) camera, which isn't exactly comparable. AND to top it off, I haven't been able to find any places in the area that sell both cameras so that I can compare both and hear from a salesperson who isn't just trying to get me to buy the one they actually sell. Online reviews have been helpful, but have only gotten me as far as I am now...

whine whine whine, complain complain.... :(

I should probably study now, but I have LITERALLY about 300 pages to read, if not even more, and it just seems ridiculous after all of the studying I've been doing the past couple of days. Not to mention being on campus today for over TEN HOURS (about 7 of which were spent in class). Fun!!

Good thing I have 8tracks to keep me occupied... ahem, I mean focused.

And She's Back!

"The best way to get something done is to begin."

--Author Unknown

...and the best way to never get something done is to be me.

One year later, and I've taken up the whole blog-writing thing... again. Only this time without all the delusions of grandeur. I'm just going to update when I can, write about my life, be OK with the fact that no one reads it, and HOPEFULLY start a 365 project and update with a picture every. single. day. for a year....... Once I get my camera.

Speaking of cameras I am trying to decide between the two most talked about cameras in the history of the internet: The Canon Powershot S95 and the Panasonic Lumix LX5. Both are high-end compact point and shoot cameras going for about $400. Both have their pros and cons. I CANNOT DECIDE! This is the single most important issue for me right now.... although it REALLY REALLY shouldn't be. There will be an entire post on this soon. :)

Other updates, since it has been about a year:

-I am currently living off campus with 5 (well, now 4, since one is studying abroad, but it feels like about 16) other girls

-I am no longer playing for the club soccer team, and am instead working my butt off for the SD chapter of AMIGOS

-I picked up a Global Health minor, which I lovelovelovelovelove except for all the reading, which I have (of course) yet to start

Some things which have remained remarkably unchanged over the last year:

-I still never, ever (and I mean EVER) do reading or homework, and instead procrastinate ridiculously by re-starting weird blogs (although I think that I legit have AADD, but that's another post for another day)

-I still am trying to lose those 15lbs

-I still live with Roomate #1

-I still am searching for evidence of my happiness and/or well-being, but that just sounded super hipster/emo/lame, so let's reword.....

...I am still trying to figure out my life?

Ugg I hate how whenever I am typing things they come out sounding all emo and trying too hard. Like oooh la di da this is my bloooooggggg (in a british accent). Similar to how I used to write in my diaries (there were about 87) when I was a kid and wanted them to sound exactly like the dumb-ass diaries (dumb ass-diaries) in those super lame Judy Blume books. I was all,

Dear Diary,

Today was just simply awful. You will never believe what happened to me! I had the most dreadful time at the park, and then I cried, because of my undying love for my beautiful crush who didn't even speak to me today! The horrors! How will I ever live?! OH MY! LOTS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS AND COMPLAINTS! ALSO, SPARKLY GEL PENS!

always, Loni. <3

[yes, I ACTUALLY signed my diary entries with a heart. True story.]

ug. gag me. This is why this time, this blog is for ME ME ME. Like my to-do lists, or the doodles I write in my notebooks. PRIVATE PROPERTY. (except for any random ppl who might happen to stumble upon this blog. oops.) The rules are 1. no writing because I feel like I have to, 2. no feeling guilty when I haven't written in a while, and 3. no whining (unless it's REALLY IMPORTANT or really funny).

There. This will be fun. FUN, LONI, FUN!

That's my life right now! ...What else has been going on? Hmmmmm not much. Time to wrap up. I am already getting bored of this post (SEE!!? ADD!!) and.... wait, where was I going with that?? I think I was saying something about how I was done writing for now.... Yup, that must have been it.

SOoooooooo yeah. Peace out. Next time: Cameras, AADD, and applying to be an RA! :)