Favourite photos of 2011: Volume 4

I've decided to combine the last two categories - 'People' and 'Macro' - into one post, because there didn't seem to be enough of either to warrant a post each. So this might get a little long. But it'll be filled with (what I think are) awesome photos, so you won't really mind right? Right??? It's also occurred to me that a lot of the shots I deem 'macro' shots aren't technically macro. They're just close ups. So I'm going to call them 'macro-ish' and be done with it!

Anyway, without further ado, let's press on.

People

September - Vietnam Nurses' Memorial, Washington DC

September - Oriels vs Red Sox at Fenway Park, Boston

I really wish that wire hadn't been in the way...

September - Megan on her wedding day

December - Little Miss A

She would now be horrified by this photo because she doesn't have
decorative bits of fringe hanging in her face.........

Macro(ish)

January - A bee on lavender, Canberra

May - Blue food colouring in water makes pretty patterns

September - Starfish at the New England Aquarium, Boston

September - Aspen leaves, Colorado

September - Aspen tree, Colorado

So, which one's your favourite?

K xx

Favourite photos of 2011: Volume 1

I realised the other day that it's been a while since I did any photography posts. I am actually planning on FINISHING the 30 Days of Photography challenge at SOME point, I just need to remember to leave the house after dark to take some long exposure shots first! Hopefully I can get some taken in the next week or so, seeing as all my classes for uni are in the evenings.

Anyway, for now, I'm copying my BFF Kat and posting my favourite photos from 2011. Unlike Kat, I'm indecisive and unable to limit myself to a handful of awesome photos. (Mostly because she's a much better photographer than me!!) So to save you an insanely picture-heavy post, I've divided them into the following categories:

• Macro
• People
• Animals
• Natural Environment
• Built Environment

I'm going to start off with Built Environment, because I'm a rebel that way. And they're chronological because it hurts my brain for them not to be.

May - Reflection on the side of the museum

July - Melbourne from the roof of Council House 2

I like the juxtaposition of old and new buildings

August - Millennium Park and Cloud Gate, Chicago

August - Downtown Chicago

I like the light. Also the old/new combination

[Do you guys have any idea how hard it is to write 'Downtown' when you're a fan of Downton Abbey??]

September - The Capitol Building, Washington DC

It's kind of postcard-y. But I don't really care.

September - Metal tree in the American Art Museum Sculpture Garden, Washington DC

September - Enclosed courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC

Okay. Apparently I *really* like old stuff and new stuff close together...

September - The roof of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC

Because sometimes you just have to point your
camera straight up in the air.

September - Statue of Liberty, New York

I love how it looks like her torch has gone out
because of where the cloud is!

September - Flowers at the 9/11 Memorial, New York

September - 9/11 Memorial, New York

September - Manhattan from Top of the Rock, New York

It's a little overexposed, but I like that it incorporates New York's three most
famous skyscrapers - Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and 30 Rock!

September - The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

For such a (supposedly) haunted building, it's very pretty!

December - St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne

So there you have it! Well. The 'Built Environment' photos, anyway. I'm not convinced that my photography is getting any better over time, but that's completely my own fault for not thinking about the shots more before I take them! 

What do you guys think? And does anyone else love the juxtaposition of old and new like I apparently do? (Hell, does anyone else love the word 'juxtaposition' like I do?!)

Next instalment coming soon, whether you like it or not ;)

K xx

2011 in review

Confession: I just wrote "2001 in review" in the title line. Eventually, Brain, you're going to have to get used to writing a 1 rather than a 0...

Anyway. Here we are at the end of 2011. I honestly can't believe how fast this year has gone!! Christmas Day in Melbourne brought massive thunderstorms:

A shit ton of Doctor Who themed presents:

(In case you can't tell, that's the complete series 1-4 boxset, the complete specials box set, the 2010 Christmas special, the Doctor Who equivalent of Where's Wally, and a box of fruit flavoured Dalek shaped candy. WIN)

And an ice cream maker.

It's been quite the eventful year. I've written over 200 posts here, along with two guest posts.

January brought the dreaded Summernats car festival and me talking about being afraid of butterflies. It also brought the start of my cookbook challenge.

In February, I joined Twitter. I honestly can't believe it was less than a year ago. I also ploughed my way through five cookbook challenge recipes.

March featured me having to talk to a group of small children at work, reaching 150 posts, and being a bridesmaid for Em and Matt. I also went to see Red Riding Hood at the movies, and wished to God I hadn't.

April started off my participation in the 30 Days of Books challenge. It ended with me turning 28.

May started with ninjabread men. (That post brings me a truly disturbing amount of traffic) I also booked my trip to the US.

June? June was a big one. For starters, the gallery opened. (And if anyone wants any ACTUAL information on it, just flick me an email!) I also reached 200 posts, saw X-Men First Class in gold class, posted more random crap about myself than anyone ever wanted to know, and wrote a love letter to the BBC.

In July, I finally left Canberra and moved back to Melbourne. I also finished the 30 Days of Books challenge. And to fill the challenge void in my life, I decided I needed to do a Day Zero list.

August saw me head to Chicago for the 20SB Summit. It was amazing. As was meeting Sweeney, Lor and Penny.

September was spent hanging out with the bestest friends a girl could ever ask for, and visiting Colorado, Washington DC, New York and Boston. And an unexpected 24 hour stop over in Los Angeles. (Okay, most of those posts were written in October. That's totally not the point)

October saw the start of my Movie Mondays series. It also featured me crying a lot, when we had to have my beloved Domino put to sleep.

In November, I participated in National Blog Posting Month, and bored you all senseless wrote many wonderful posts about nothing. I also started the 30 Day Photography Challenge, which I honestly haven't forgotten about. I also took advantage of my unemployment to cross a few more things off the cookbook challenge list, and wrote a GIF-filled love letter to Doctor Who.

And that brings us to December, and the launch of Dessert Day with the lovely Deidre!

It's been a year filled with ups and downs, but also a lot of wonderful memories. So roll on 2012 - I can't wait to see what you've got to throw at me.

Source Also? I really hope you're right, Tennant.

I'm off to the beach with a bunch of friends for New Year's Eve. It's meant to be insanely hot, so it's definitely the place to be!

Who's doing something exciting for New Year's? And how's 2011 treated you?

K xx

Two years on...

Today, my lovelies, we're taking a little sojourn away from my trip to the US. Because two years ago today, I came home from the movies, sat down, and created my little corner of the interweb.

And I'm eternally grateful that I made that decision, because I've had the chance to become friends with so many truly awesome people. The blogosphere really is like a family if you want it to be! </schmaltz>

Anyway, to celebrate my second blogiversary, I'm having a giveaway!! And unlike last time, it's not chocolate related (sorry guys...).

So what am I giving away?

1. This gorgeous necklace made by the lovely Leah of Dressed for Sunday, which I bought MONTHS ago with a giveaway in mind. (And y'all should check out her stuff. It's awesome.)

2. Bee shaped cupcake/muffin pans. They're silicon, so you can reuse them again and again. Plus, they're really cute!

3. A cookie cutter shaped like a kangaroo. Because why the hell not! Oh, and this one comes with a story:
Store employee: Oh, cute. I'm going to hazard a guess and say you're making cookies!
Me: Actually, no. I'm having a giveaway on my blog.
Store employee: Oh, you have a blog on Youtube? Cool!
Me: Um, no. Not Youtube. One with words and stuff........

God, I'm eloquent. AnyI'maburblingidiot, here are the rules:

1. Leave me a comment and let me know which of the three you'd like to win! (Saying you want to win all three is fine too)
2. You don't have to be a follower (because I love my Wordpress friends too!), but if you like what you see, that'd be nice... ;)
3. No anonymous entries
4. Tweet about my giveaway for an extra entry. Leave a separate comment to let me know you've done so.
5. You have to be willing to give me your address. Half a dozen bloggers can vouch for the fact that I won't use it for nefarious purposes! ;)

The giveaway will close at 9pm AEDT on Saturday 15th October (that's 11am in the UK and 6am on the US east coast. Unless y'all go off daylight savings between now and then. In which case, I have NO clue!), and I'll draw the winners next Sunday.

Thanks for reading for the past two years. Here's to God only knows how many more!

Good luck,
K xx