Accountabily Post 2014 - Part 2.

Hi there! Keeping in check with my goals! I can't believe it's been two months since I wrote that last post but here we go:
 

1. Lose Weight: I have started making some changes in the past two weeks and it's starting to work, so I'm glad about that :)

2. Embrace my husband's new duty station. Leave Seoul with a positive attitude, no matter where we have to go: We have verbal orders to what seems like a wonderful, beautiful place. I still can't believe it and even though, as every place, it has bad things, I can't wait to be there and enjoy all the beauty it has to offer.

 

3. Read 20 books:Yeah no. Spring has been insanely good for my business, but extremely busy so haven't had much time to catch up on books. I am ditching Aztec until new notice because that book is just too damn long and I feel stuck in it.

4. Start a 365 Photography Project and keep up with it until December 31st: Still going strong! I can't believe I am keeping up with this. My last 365 was over in March so to know that I am still going in May, is very encouraging.

5. Keep a clean and organized house: I've been getting somewhat better at it. The PCS decluttering will start soon and it will all be better.

6. Eat better and do more meal planning: Meal planning definitely hasn't happened. I am however, eating somewhat better and ditching some stuff that I know is not good for me.

7. Back up my computer files... (One more time): Found the third location, but haven't started the process yet.

8. Take advantage of the prices in Korea and print and frame some of my photos to take to our new home: Haven't. And I even have a coupon for $25 OFF any framing service and haven't used it.

9. Be more active. Go back to the gym and Crossfit and workout regularly: Going kinda regularly. I have decided not to go back to Crossfit until my body weight is considerably lower.

10. Pay off some debt: Hahahahahaha NO.

11. Travel to somewhere new. The new duty station doesn't count: Haven't done it yet, but we are taking a trip to the coast on Memorial Day Weekend and I am super excited about it!

12. Have a more organized business model: Made the switch from CD to Digital Download and it has been the best thing I could have ever done! So much time and effort is saved (for both me, and the client!)

13. Revamp the blog: Nope.

 

So 5 out of 13? That's only because I am counting the half-assed ones as halves. It still counts! I will come back in two months and let you know how it's going :)

 

Love,

Zayda 

Accountabilty: Goals 2014

So I've decided that I'm going to keep myself in check by posting how I am doing on my goals every two months. So here we go:

1. Lose Weight: Nope. Not happening yet. I'm not trying hard enough.

2. Embrace my husband's new duty station. Leave Seoul with a positive attitude, no matter where we have to go: We haven't found out for sure where we are going next, but I'm still keeping this attitude in mind.

 

3. Read 20 books: I have three down and I'm on 30% of another one. Might have some catching up to do. 800-page novels are NOT good for this project.

4. Start a 365 Photography Project and keep up with it until December 31st: This one is going GREAT. I haven't missed a single photo yet, even if one day I had to post a phone one. I'm still very excited about this project.

5. Keep a clean and organized house: Yeah, let's not talk about that. This apartment drives me NUTS.

6. Eat better and do more meal planning: Eating better? somewhat. Meal planning definitely hasn't happened.

7. Back up my computer files... (One more time): They're in two locations now, still need to find a third, just in case.

8. Take advantage of the prices in Korea and print and frame some of my photos to take to our new home: Hasn't happened yet.

9. Be more active. Go back to the gym and Crossfit and workout regularly: I started going to the gym again, however, Crossfit is a whole 'nother story. I am still not sure if it is what I want or if it is what my body needs.

10. Pay off some debt: Hahahahahaha NO. My credit card is actually maxed out right now (totally worth it, though) aaaand we bought a car. Not an expensive car, but still a car. I know we need one but yeah, this goal might not really happen this year.

11. Travel to somewhere new. The new duty station doesn't count: Still haven't left Seoul. 

12. Have a more organized business model: Same business model here. Looking into Zenfolio to make it easier on me and my clients.

13. Revamp the blog: As you can see, no. Not yet.

 

So 2 out of 13? Yeah, that sucks. I'll see you in two months and let you know how it's going. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my utter failure! You guys are the best

 

Love,

Zayda 

Goals for 2014

Uh-oh. It's that time of year again. Time to hold myself accountable for the things I said I would do and didn't. Or did. who knows. Truth is, 2013 has been AMAZING. This year has been so, so good to me. Living in South Korea has been an incredible experience and I am thankful for it every single day. I have met some of the most wonderful people here and I feel very blessed to be a part of such a caring community. 2013 was also the year in which one of my dreams came true. I am now working as a photographer. I hate calling myself that for several reasons, but.. yeah. I'm taking photos of people and getting paid to do what I love the most. We had visits from one of my best friends and from my mother, we've been out and about exploring and we just have really enjoyed this year. 

Like everything, it has its ups and downs. We miss our Chelsea dearly and even though we LOVE Korea, we can't wait to move so we can get her back and have our family complete again. We have also missed out on a lot of family moments but we are ready to go visit and make up for the time we have been away. 2014 will bring its own challenges, and I will be here waiting with arms wide open!

So let's see how I did on my goals for 2013, shall we? This is my favorite part. This is where I get to kick myself for being me.

1. Lose weight: Nope. Got fatter. A lot fatter. Even though I tried, and I tried really hard but I just have no clue what's happening. A visit to the Doctor might be in order.

2. Learn at least the basics of Korean (Hangul): Aaaaand NOPE. I can say yes, no, tell a taxi driver to take me somewhere and order food. I can ask for prices on things but I can only give back a blank stare if the price is not one of the numbers I know. I think I just got lazy. So many people speak English here that I wasn't really forced to learn it in order to make it through the day so meh. I suck.

3. Read at least a book a month: Yes!!! I am so excited about this one. I am proud that I have now found some sort of balance and can have some time to read! If you want to see which books I read this year, please click here.

4. Start school or some kind of classes: No. Shut up.

5. Keep working on Photography skills: I have! With encouragement from some amazing people, I have now started my own photography business and I absolutely love what I do. I also use my camera SO much and have learned a lot of new things this past year. It's been wonderful and I am absolutely excited and looking to learn more and more every day.

6. Pay off some debt and not get into more: Yeah, no. We're definitely financially better, that's for sure. One of the big Credit Cards got paid off but I have been spending here and there on the other one. Not good. Need to get better but Seoul is so awesome and I just want to buy ALL. THE. THINGS.

7. Visit somewhere new, outside of Seoul: Unfortunately, due to number 6 and lack of time management skills, we have not been able to do this. Hopefully next year?

 

So yeah, that was it. 2 out of 7. That is HORRIBLE, dude. What in the world are you thinking? <--- That's me, talking to myself. I completely realize that none of these goals were unrealistic... things just didn't go as planned. Now for 2014, let's do something similar, realistic, attainable goals and hopefully this year I will go through with them.

 

1. Lose Weight.

2. Embrace my husband's new duty station. Leave Seoul with a positive attitude, no matter where we have to go.

3. Read 20 books.

4. Start a 365 Photography Project and keep up with it until December 31st.

5. Keep a clean and organized house.

6. Eat better and do more meal planning.

7. Back up my computer files... (One more time)

8. Take advantage of the prices in Korea and print and frame some of my photos to take to our new home.

9. Be more active. Go back to the gym and Crossfit and workout regularly.

10. Pay off some debt.

11. Travel to somewhere new. The new duty station doesn't count. 

12. Have a more organized business model.

13. Revamp the blog.

 

There. That should do it. I feel like all of these are possible and I'm going to work hard to make each of them happen. 

 

That's all for this year, friends! Thank you so so much for reading and for understanding when I abandon this blog for long periods of time. Life gets busy sometimes but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

 

I hope you all have an amazing new year and that all your wishes come true, that you are able to fulfill every goal you set for yourself and that life brings you nothing but great things!!!

 

Lots of love!

 Zayda

 

Goals for 2013

As the year ends, I'm usually disappointed with my goals. I don't think I have ever had a year in which I was able to achieve all of them. So I decided to set more realistic goals this year, and before I let you in on them, let's do a recap on the ones for 2012 and see how I did this year.

1. Get a driver's license: I did! This made me very happy. I felt free. Now I live in Korea where I don't need to drive, and I'm terrified to drive here too, but hopefully I'll get around to it at least just to go on base, but driving here is not a goal for me.

2. Lose weight: Man, am I glad I didn't say how much. I lost some but not as much as I wanted to, but still counts. I think this one will always be at the top of my list not only for new year's goals, but for all-the-time goals. Jeesh.

3. Keep in touch with friends and family: I have kind of doing alright with that thanks to Social Networks, but there is some family that I need to work on. I am just so lazy to pick up the phone, I'd rather just text or send a Facebook message and it's nothing against them, but I know they would appreciate a phone call every once in a while. Not setting a goal for that either, I will just try my best. I get... half a point for this one.

4. Blog at least once a week: Nope. That did not happen. AT ALL.

5. Work on my photography skills: I have been working on them and that makes me really happy, but I haven't been working as hard as I should. Half a point maybe?

 6. Read at least a book a month: That didn't happen either, but I managed to read 8 books throughout the year, all of them in the last 5 months since I had absolutely no time or energy to do anything while I was working at the daycare. And yes. The Oatmeal books count. I still don't get a point for this one.

7. Start drawing again: Ummm... No. but I have been getting inspired here in Korea so I might give it another shot. Not making it a goal though, it'll just happen if I feel like it.

8. Pay off my Credit Card: I'm actually laughing out loud at this one. Man, I suck. All I did was max the damn thing out. And then they extended my credit line. Gotta love credit card companies.

9. Get (and stay) organized: ...ish. I did in Georgia and then they moved us to Korea and I'm still trying to get my stuff together in this apartment which is way smaller than what we had. I'll figure it out.

10. Think before I speak: I have been getting really good at that! Proud of myself. Still lots of room for improvement.

So that's what, 4 out of 10? That's bad. So yeah. realistic goals this time. Here we go:

1. Lose weight.

2. Learn at least the basics of Korean (Hangul).

3. Read at least a book a month.

4. Start school or some kind of classes.

5. Keep working on Photography skills.

6. Pay off some debt and not get into more.

7. Visit somewhere new, outside of Seoul. 

There, that should do it. Somewhere in my head there was one about beating some videogames but I'll just leave that one alone and play them when I feel like it. Next year we'll do a recap on these goals and hopefully it will be 7 out of 7.

I wish every single one of you a Happy New Year, filled with good things and the accomplishment of all the goals you decide to set for yourselves. Thank you very much to the ones that still read the piece of me that is my blog, you have no idea how much that means to me.

Love, Zayda

 

A kind gesture.

Lately, I've been going quite regularly to the Base Gym here in Kingsland. I've been trying to work out and lead a healthier life and I'm slowly getting used to it. The staff there is great, they're always nice and really helpful. On Saturday, I was returning my towel and I must have looked tired or overwhelmed, because one of the ladies that work there asked me if everything was ok. We got to talking and I told her about our move to Seoul, and her eyes lit up and she said "You're going to love it there!". 

As it turns out, she lived there about two years before I was even born, and she absolutely loved it there. It sounds a bit silly but I got excited because she is the first person I've met who actually lived there before, even if it was a long time ago. She said "I'll bring you my photo album tomorrow", and so she did.

She had one of those huge albums, just like my mom has of me from when I was a baby, with all of these amazing photos, and they were just breathtaking. You know film doesn't lie. There was no Photoshop for those incredible sunset colors and beautiful landscapes that I saw. She showed me photos of the house she lived in, the bars and restaurants she went to, she even had photos of a traditional Korean wedding she was invited to. I was just so grateful for her to take the time to bring this bulky, humongous book to work just because of me, I couldn't hide my excitement.

She also kept some of the money and labels from the beer she used to drink and the things she used to eat. She told me about her job there and how she didn't have a car and went everywhere on her bicycle. She showed me how toilets for women were back then, I didn't like those. I just loved hearing all her stories and how she got used to such a different place.

When she was done showing me the photos, she went back to the page in which she had the money and just took the bills out and handed them to me. I told her I couldn't take it, not because of the amount of money that it was because, honestly, I had no idea how much money was there, or even if they are using the same bills today as they did 27 years ago. I couldn't take it because it was hers, it was part of her memories from when she experienced this and I just couldn't take it away from her. She said: "Don't be silly, I haven't opened this book in 20 years, it's like $2.50, I want you to have it and go buy yourself a beer when you get there." 

My smile was huge because I just found it so nice for her to do that. This woman barely even knows me and here she is, in her own way, trying to make my transition easier. She has no idea how that gesture, meant the world to me today.

So, thank you, Karen. I don't drink beer, but I will have one for you when I get there.

Love,

Zayda

Cirque Du Soleil - {Photo Feature}

Last night, my husband and I went to Cirque Du Soleil - Alegria in the Jacksonville Memorial Arena. Now, this might sound stupid to some people (including a certain journalist who claims these shows lack emotion and it's not Art just because SHE doesn't enjoy it.) but going to a Cirque Du Soleil show had been one of my childhood dreams since I can remember. Some people grew up having parents that would take them to these kind of shows, but not mine. And it never was because they didn't want to, but because of a whole lot of different reasons like the fact that they were both too busy working to provide for our home, that these tickets were extremely expensive for us, and even if we were able to afford them, I grew up in a place that rarely has good shows coming to town. When I was about 4 or 5, before my dad moved out, on Sunday mornings they would show the Cirque Du Soleil on TV. My dad used to leave it on for me to watch it and I sat there through the whole thing. Now, I don't remember what I was thinking back then, but it must have been something like "I want to go see this people" or "I want to be this people". I really don't know what 4-year-olds think when they are watching a show they like. Last night, when I saw families with kids there, and kids who were actually enjoying the show, it put a smile on my face because it made me think of my 4 year-old self. I am now a 24 year old woman and today, I feel endlessly grateful and lucky that we get to go places and see performances like this, among other things, because I know there's a lot of people who can't afford to do it. And even though it's true that we had to stretch our budget this month to do it, I am happy we did, because it was more than I expected and it was totally worth it. My admiration and respect for these artists, their discipline and the years of training they had to endure has no limits. Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed in the arena. My husband had to go put it back in the car. Knowing how I am with pictures, I would have LOVED to have taken some, at least some of us before the show... some of the stage. I don't know. Anything. But I do understand where they are coming from when they don't allow cameras in there, even though cell phones were allowed and that's another reason I want my new phone to have a good camera. I was a little bummed I was not gonna have any pictures but part of me thinks that not being worried about holding my camera right and getting good shots made me enjoy the show more and not take my eyes off the performers for one second. Today's photo feature is about the Cirque. Thank you, if you read all of this...and enjoy!

Photo By Laurent Proulx

Photo By Shane Glenn

Photo By Mariano Fuchila

Photo By Filip Musial

Photo By Manouk Erpelding

Photo By Fabio Muniz

Photo By Lagniappemobile

Photo By Gleb Tarassenko

Photo By Brian L.H.

Photo By Stephen Desroches

Photo By Miles Storey

Photo By Evan McKern

Photo By Miles Storey

Photo By Suzanne Jager

Photo By BlackDisel

If you have any idea or suggestion for a {Photo Feature}, leave me a comment! I'd love to hear them.

Thank you

~Zayda~

Wonderful People - Peter Lik

Today's wonderful person is the Master, Peter Lik. I highly admire this man, not only because of his breathtaking images, but for the fact that his work is entirely self-taught.

Peter Lik is an Australian Landscape Photographer. He was born in 1959 in Melbourne, and in 1984 on a trip to Alaska where he started to explore the world of  Panoramic Cameras. His book, "Spirit Of America" is a compilation of beautiful photos taken in all 50 states, and it took him 5 years to finish it.

With 14 galleries all over the world and Winner of countless awards, Peter Lik's work has often been compared to that of the legendary Ansel Adams. And he now has a TV show called "From The Edge" Here's some of Peter Lik's amazing images, but I strongly recommend that you go to his website and see his Full Gallery, the shots are amazing and there's so many beautiful ones it was really hard to choose just a few to share with you. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading! Love,

~Zayda~

Wonderful People - Patrick Demarchelier

Sometimes it's hard to stay on track. It means a lot to me to share this, but I, sometimes, find it really easy to give up on my dreams. If for a moment I see that I'm not gonna be able to reach a goal that I set for myself, whether it is a big meaningful one, or one that is small and irrelevant, I get very frustrated. I have a tendency to be pessimistic about some stuff and I would really like to change that. What better way to do it than to write about wonderful people that are living their dreams and that fought hard to reach their goals? People that can inspire me to try harder, and people I can learn things from.

Today's post is about the Master, Patrick Demarchelier

Patrick Demarchelier is a very famous French Fashion Photographer, one of the best in the world. He was born to a modest family and got his first camera for his birthday when he turned 17. Like most beginners, he started shooting friends and weddings. He moved to New York out of love, started working freelance and discovered Fashion Photography. A lot of magazine editors became interested in his work and that got him to where he is today. Since then, he has shot countless magazine covers, famous actors and advertising campaigns. Here are some of my favorite examples of his amazing work.

I hope you enjoyed the beautiful photography of this talented man!

Thank you for reading.

~Zayda~