13 From 13

I think the reason I like photography is that for a forgetful person, it's a way to remember. But my camera is a little… insane when it comes to dates. While I'll often set the correct date and time, it'll revert to factory settings. And when I open up various photos on my computer they claim to be taken last year, or in January when it's August, or at 3:00 AM when it's 7:00 PM.

Again, insane.

It annoyed me at first, and my lazy streak is way too long to allow going through and *gasp* fixing the dates I do remember. So after a while, my camera is no help. My "2013" photos folder once had a much more rigorous dating system—now, it's simply divided up into months and left at that.

Last night, I was editing and saving photos, clearing out Lightroom, and generally just preparing my photos library for next year. I saw pictures that made me cringe and pictures that left me in awe. Most of the time I couldn't recall anything other than a month or a feeling or a place. And those things are timeless, I think. Most of the time.

Here are some of the favorites:

xo,
happy 2014

For The Rainy Days Within // A Playlist

Uh. I guess I've fallen a bit four days behind on my August Break project… despite the fact that, yes, I have been taking pictures. Just, you know, not getting around to posting them. (I even did the 8th's prompt—a selfie! No, I'm not going to post that one, but still.)

Anyway, it's been raining a lot. I really do mean a lot when I say a lot, but I don't mind rain too much if it's not the depressing kind, you know? I've figured out you can tell whether or not rain is depressing by seeing if the Earth looks beat up or refreshed once the storm's passed.

But the other day I realized that even when it's mild out we can still have our own rainy days inside of us. Or maybe not even inside—just floating over our heads for 24 hours, Eeyore style. So I made a playlist that's short, but will hopefully make someone's internal (or floating) rainy day a bit sunnier. Happy listening.

those things which say a lot, v2

things that say a lot about a person:
their favorite character · the lyrics they write on their hands · the colors they wear · which murder weapon they prefer · how they make their tea
by riddlemehiddleston on tumblr, via kinga and jocee

— I've got so. many. favorite. characters, but my most favorite is probably Ahsoka Tano, followed by Anakin Skywalker, the Doctor, Amy Pond, River Song, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rory Williams, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Quentin Jacobsen... like I said, I've got a lot of favorite characters. And I'm not ashamed to say most of them are good, if not heroic people. I love good people, I love heroes, even if they're only doing good, heroic things on a small or maybe just personal scale.

— When something strikes a chord with me the last thing I do is write it on my hands, where it can fade and eventually get washed away. But, if I did write song lyrics on my hands, I'd probably write call my name and save me from the dark. It's from "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence, and I think it's neat yet true. Hearing your name can... remind you who you are, you know?

— Pink, because the color is just so beautiful and intense and I admire what it represents: love. I also wear a lot of blue since I wear a lot of jeans, and other than that coral. I like my bright colors, okay?

— Words, though I don't always realize they can be a murder weapon till I've used them as one. Sigh. Alternatively, this works in the literal sense too, because I'm a writer and occasionally kill my characters off.

— Pekoe, with lots of brown sugar. Simple, but unique.

xoxo | annika

My August Break - Day 05

xoxo | annika

My August Break - Day 04

Currently...

...still reading Paper Towns by John Green because I've somehow turned into a slow reader and like to bask in the glow of a story for far too long.
...listening to "Demons" by Imagine Dragons on repeat. You can't deny it's perfect for writing angsty stuff. And that's one of my favorite things to do.
...realizing I really ought to use those two rolls of film I have tucked away before summer ends.
...going asdfghjkl; over Doctor Who. That muffled sobbing in the distance is, in fact, mine. Raggedy Man, don't go.

Yeah, that was my weekend. How was yours?

xoxo | annika

My August Break - Day 03

It rained today. Ask, and you shall receive.

xoxo | annika

My August Break - Day 02

So, unlike yesterday, when I ended up snapping pictures of lunch instead of breakfast, I decided to follow today's prompt—circles—a little more to the letter. I almost skipped it, though, until I started taking pictures and realized a lot of things in the world are circular.

In other news, I'm trying out a new editing style! I normally edit in Lightroom using presets that I've tweaked, but a few days ago I downloaded this neat, VSCO inspired photoshop action. It's been fun playing around with it and seeing how it looks on each photo.

And finally, this is random, but tomorrow's August Break prompt is yellow. I'm crossing my fingers that it won't rain. Actually, scratch that. We've been having what's considered a cool summer here—which just means we haven't gotten over one hundred degrees—and I still think it's too hot. So rain would be... appreciated.

xoxo | annika

My August Break - Day 01

Even though I haven't really ever done well with photo-a-day projects, Susannah Conway's August Break appealed to me for the two following reasons: the prompts—only introduced this year after three previous years—are optional, and then there's a blogging component. A lot of people are doing it mainly on Instagram, but I've been trying to figure out ways to post more here. And I think a photo (or two) everyday for a month, with or without words, is the perfect way for me to ease back into blogging.

So, here's to photography. Just for the beauty of it.

xoxo | annika

swiggity swag, this is what's in my bag

In no particular order, this is a cross section of my bag.

pictured
Whatever book I'm reading (1)
Lipstick (2)
Chapstick (1)
SPF lip treatment (1)
Blush/Loose Powder (2)
Phone (1)
Earphones (1)
Tin filled with tea bags (1)
Nail polish (2)
Avenger's themed notebook (1)
Pens/Pencils (1)

not pictured
Library card
Camera
Moleskine

xo, I just realized I carry around too much makeup. gah. | ani

fearfully and wonderfully

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
→ Psalm 139:14, KJV (Cambridge Ed.) ←

There seems to be this trend of self hatred in blogging. Or at least, Christian blogging. Everyone's so quick to proclaim how flithy and sinful they are. And then there's me, finally catching up on posts going, "Wait, what?" I mean, this time last year the blogosphere was proclaiming from every rooftop that He loves us and sees us as beautiful--that we're made in his image, though with obvious room for improvement since we're only human.

...the heck happened to that?

Not that I'm perfect--far from it. I can be rude, snappish, vain, lazy and I really ought to simply finish more. I have days where I'm particularly ungrateful and an emotional roller coaster for absolutely no reason--laughing one minute, crying the next. There's no denying that. And I'm sure you can relate to one or all of those things.

It's not just called being a teenager--it's called being human.

But sometimes, bloggers get so caught up, so deep into 'be real on your blog' or whatever other popular mantra they've taken to heart that after a while, they become depressing bores who only ever talk about how horrible and unworthy they are, even when they're so clearly fearfully and wonderfully made.

All I'm trying to say is... there's a huge gap between being humble + honoring Him and being self hating. It's best not to mix the two up, y'know?

xo, look in the mirror and smile at His work | annika

Macarons Macarons Macarons Macarons Macarons

No, I didn't actually buy that many macarons though I totally wanted to. See, these amazing little pieces of heaven in pastry form are actually really, really expensiv--spell check. Spell check, no. Macaron is not spelled macaroon. This is a macaroon--Wikipedia. Wikipedia, no. Stahp. Someone might confuse a macaron with a macaroon, but not a macron, McCarron, or macaroni.

I don't really remember what a macron is in this moment.

...

A macron is a diacritic mark. O...kay.

I just wanted to tell you guys if you ever get the chance to try some macarons, go with the salted caramel or lemon. But then spell check, Wikipedia and the macron attacked. The only way to stop them is to enjoy four flavors of macarons. But it'll work out better if you've been frozen in an iceberg for a hundred years or so. Don't ask me how I know this.

I just really like macarons, okay?

xoxo | annika

so am i and so are you

I've never thought of myself as brave. I'm still scared of the dark and won't watch Brave (can you spot the irony?) alone at 4 in the afternoon because of Mor'Du reasons.

But it recently occurred to me that though I may not wrestle lions or disable nuclear bombs, maybe I am, just a little, brave. And that maybe you are too. Because bravery isn't just doing awesome things. It's staring fear in the eyes and telling it to get out of town. It's playing tag in the rain and totally ignoring the thunder + lightning. It's looking like a fool while dancing around to Katy Perry by yourself, knowing that you do, and doing it anyway. It's making something you hate and deciding it doesn't define you or what you're capable of. It's going on your blog and looking at posts from a year ago and seeing that, in one or many ways, you've improved. It's knowing we're all stories in the end and choosing early on that yours will be a good one. It's taking a look at a relationship, seeing it's a dementor and yelling expecto patronum. It's deciding you matter, even if only to Him. It's crying yourself to sleep and waking up with a smile. It's when a baby tries to stand and falls flat on their rear end and tries again--a thousand times over.

It is simply just having the courage to be yourself.

xoxo | annika

DIY Friday: Brown Sugar Green Tea Lemonade

Welcome to the first post in my DIY Friday series! Now, I'll admit I've had trouble sticking with various blogging series in the past, but haven't we all? DIY Friday is a pretty simple concept, I think: on Fridays, I'll post a DIY. It can be anything from a recipe to a craft project to an HTML/photography tutorial! I'll also take requests--just leave a comment on a recent post with your idea.

Anyways, my mother came up with this recipe almost two years ago, and since then it's become a family tradition. And during the hot + sticky summers we get here, it's especially appreciated -- though we drink it even in the winter! It's easy to make and healthier than a lot of lemonades you can buy in the grocery store. And it's nice to know almost exactly where what you're drinking came from for once. ;)

you will need
1-1 1/2 cup brown sugar (not dark or light, this is crucial)
1 green tea bag
Pitcher capable of holding 52 or more ounces
26 ounces hot water
26 ounces cold/purified water
4 ounces lemon juice

directions 
Pour the 26 ounces of hot water into your pitcher. Add the green tea bag. Let this steep for about twenty minutes, and then add the sugar + lemon juice. Fill your pitcher the rest of the way up with the 26oz cold/purified water. Remove the teabag and refrigerate until completely cold. Enjoy!

kick it up a notch
Instead of green tea, try a flavored or herbal tea - like pomegranate. Or try making popsicles--pour some BSGT Lemonade into an ice cube tray, cover the tray with plastic wrap and stick a toothpick through the wrap into each individual cube's section. :)

xoxo | annika

VSCO Cam!

01: frozen yogurt.

02: rainy day.

03: painting my room june morn. and it's chalkboard paint!

04: favorite shoes.

05: me and my boys.

06: new art materials are always a good idea.

just some shots from this week so far, taken with VSCO Cam. :)

xoxo | annika

People Tend Not To

 From women's eyes this doctrine I derive //
They sparkle still the right Promethean fire //
They are the books, the arts, the academes //
That show, contain and nourish all the world //
- William Shakespeare

it's the thought that counts

I haven't been posting on here very much, though I've been thinking about posting. Taking, editing and watermarking photos. Changing P&C's design again and again. Reading other blogs. And, I'll admit, being a little discouraged by the lack of you guys' lovely comments (it's been two months!).

But I was taught that one should look for a solution, not focus on the problem. So here's my solution. In the form of a question:

What do you--yes you, love--want to read? Do you want a post on writing? A DIY? A HTML tutorial? What's one of your favorite posts on here? Speak up, tell me. And I'm not fishing for comments.

I really would like to know.

xoxo | annika

where i am, the world's waking up

Where I am, the world's waking up,
it's jumping-shouting-screaming-dancing,
stretching out towards the sun,

buzzing and singing,
humming,
twisting-twirling,
swirling-whirling,

it's awake,
it's renewed,
it's alive,

and so am I.

xoxo | annika

some days

some days, I just want to share pictures. today is one of those days. happy spring, y'all.

listen - read - learn

xoxo | annika  
 + is my comment box broken or something, guys? ;)

eating sunshine

photos taken with an iPhone 4s using Tadaa, Vintage Camera and Camera Pro FX.
social media
twitter: @WritingBeyond
tumblr: (personal) skyguyandsnips, (blog related) penandcamerablog
bloglovin': penandcamerablog
instagram: @penandcamera

favorite blogs
hannah nicole
OFTHEFIELD
never mind

things i like
moleskines
writing
reading
waking up at five am 
mild weather
inside jokes
babies learning to walk
gifsets of ahsoka tano
learning how to make my own video game
classical covers of pop songs
that in brave you can see the characters breathing
skyping with my best friend
having a creative cloud subscription (marry me lightroom)
eating cantaloupe. it's like eating sunshine.

things i don't like
tcw got cancelled D:
disney, who cancelled tcw
the fact that tcw getting cancelled by disney makes me so upset
the fact that both c-a-n-c-e-l-e-d and c-a-n-c-e-l-l-e-d are correct. it's confusing.

xoxo, eat some cantaloupe | annika

don't forget

let me tell you a story.

once upon a time, there was a little girl. she loved bright colors, and these magical little pieces of plastic called legos were some of her dearest possessions. she played with them day in and day out. she traded them, she saved up her money to get them. she loved how any piece could connect to any other piece. she was creator and destroyer. it was her world, people could fly, be mayor at ten years old and start five star restaurants on a whim. you could live next to jedi and kick sith out of the neighborhood.

something happened.

somewhere along the way, those little pieces stopped being so magical, at least to her. she started losing and trading away more and more of them, until there weren't any left. and it wasn't a gradual thing. she just woke up one day and found herself like that.

but that little girl still loved bright colors, and she found other ways to express it. she now builds with words, and with photos. she loves it. but, every once and a while, she goes back to those building blocks. which didn't only hold up little plastic people, but at one point, her.

that girl was me, though I'm not so little anymore. don't forget what you love, guys. okay?

xoxo | annika