HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012 has been such an exciting and beautiful year for my small family and I. I accomplished a few of my small goals, traveled quite a bit, spent time with friends and family, took tons of photos, and spent quality time with Christopher and the bunnies.

I'm excited about the prospect that 2013 holds! There are quite a few very exciting things lined up for January, I feel like it's going to be a dream! 

Happy New Year my friends! 

XO

I HEART FLICKR & TUMBLR

I've been a big fan of Flickr since about 2006 and I'm really enjoying the new resurgence of activity on there since Instagram went and scared everyone with questionable Terms of Service. Flickr had just released an awesome update for their app when Instagram announced their changes and it couldn't have been at more perfect timing!

I've slowed down on using Instagram lately. I'm still on there, but have just been enjoying uploading my film photos to my Flickr and Tumblr accounts and then writing all my words down over here. There are so many places to post on the internet these days, it's a little overwhelming. 

Here are a few places you can find me on the internets:

Flickr

Tumblr

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Etsy

Let me know where to follow you! I'm still not sure what to make of Instagram, what are your thoughts about the changes?

XO

MAKE YOUR MARK

Marilyn Rondon / Roxanne Daner / Ani Asvazadurian / Carsten Woywood / Ani Asvazadurian / Ben Innocent (some of my favorites!)

I am so excited/honored/thrilled to have had a few of my images chosen for the Make Your Mark exhibition at The Impossible Project spaces in New York & Vienna!!! I'm so excited to be a part of a show with a few friends and artist that I admire.

If you're in New York between January 17th- February 24th please stop by The Impossible Project space in SOHO to take a gander at all the wonderful instant images with hand drawings on them. Mine are of bunnies, obviously. Here is a link to the gallery of images that were submitted for the show.

2013 is already starting off right!

XO

...AND THE GOLD FRAME FILM WINNER IS...

.....Abbie Madlem!!! Congrats Abbie! I can't wait to see what magic you make with this beautiful film! A great big thank you to The Impossible Project for making such rad film editions and for allowing me to have this giveaway!


XO
Azuree

INSTAGRAM VS BLOG

Is it just me or has Instagram taken over social media?

I have always been a visual, photocentric person so when Instagram I was really hoping it would catch on. And it did! Up until then Twitter had been my favorite form of social media, outside of blogs. I loved to read my favorite blogs, then follow the blogger on Twitter and interact with them both through comments and Tweets. It seems to me as though Instagram has really changed the game a bit though. Although I'm still a huge fan of Twitter I feel as though I read my favorite blogs less and less- mostly because bloggers are micro blogging their content via Instagram. Why should I read the blog post when I already saw pictures of the content with brief descriptions via Instagram? People are even setting up shops on Instagram!

In my opinion, Instagram is a great way to share pieces of your life with people, which is what blogs were originally for. An online diary of sorts, that has changed here and here through the years but ultimately a blog was a way to share whatever it is you had to say with others. Now it seems like Instagram is a much more effective way of doing just thought...and with pictures that can be edited within the app! I mean, it doesn't get much easier than that!

I personally still love my blog. I know it's a place to write more than a sentence or two about something and still a place to reflect for me but I've found that there is so much more interaction and community on Instagram.

What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear some opinions about were you think blogs will go from here. Oh if you're on Instagram, follow me - @xoazuree !

XO

THANKFUL

A forgotten photo from this Summer. Shot with my Diana Mini.

Christopher and I both have the tendency to be a little skeptical about Holidays. The consumerism, the expectations, the pressure associated with family get togethers, getting the perfect gift, etc., etc. Personally, Holidays have never been the same for me after I lost my little Brother, Charlee almost 9 years ago. My Mom LOVED making Holidays special for us and so I have a fondness for them in that respect but otherwise it all seems so forced- so much tradition without much thought otherwise behind it.

I do, however, enjoy the fact that the Holidays are a time to (hopefully) reflect and acknowledge what you have to be thankful for. I don't always remember it, but I have a lot to be thankful for. Can I share a small list with you?

I am thankful for:

- Christopher, who supports my every endeavor with all his heart. He's a wonderful friend, husband and bunny rabbit Dad.

- My Mom. There isn't another person on Earth that I admire and look up to more. She's the most courageous, strong, beautiful, insightful and thoughtful person I know. I hope to one day be 50% the woman she is!

- Our bunnies, Franny & Seymour. How is it that a human can have such love for two small creatures? I adore them.

- My friends. It is such a warming feeling talking to someone who truly knows you and sharing your life with them. My heart swells knowing that I am fortunate enough to have a group of girls that have made the effort to stay in touch and remain "best friends" even though we are all so far from each other / don't have the opportunity to see each other as often as we'd like.

- The Internet. Is this a silly thing to be thankful for? I don't really care. The Internet allows me to explore the art of others, to connect with people I wouldn't have met otherwise, to remain in contact with old friends and to keep building relationships, to find out the answers to almost any question that may cross my mind, and it keeps me entertained and inspired!

- The Impossible Project. This group of people that forged a company to keep instant film alive truly inspires me. It hardly seems like they're a company at all. It seems more fitting to call them a group of enthusiasts propagating their love for instant analog photography. I've made so many friends through the instant film community fostered by The Impossible Project and am so grateful for their enthusiasm, hard work, generosity, passion for photography and for all that they do to keep us engaged/entertained/connected!

- My health

- My job. While so many Americans are struggling to stay on their feet, I am fortunate enough to have a job that encourages me to keep shooting film. I am also very grateful that Christopher is able to free-lance and have extra time to pursue his dream- making music.

- Music. The magic that hearing a song which takes you back to a specific memory will never cease to amaze me. I am in no way musically inclined so I really appreciate the folks that have the gift to put some words to a tune in a way that can be so meaningful to another person. What a wonderful form of expression!

Last but not least, I am thankful for Ryan Gosling. Have you seen The Notebook? Have you heard Dead Mans Bones?

This week, I'm going to remind myself not to get stressed out about finding the perfect gift for my sister in laws or feeling a ton of pressure to get Christmas cards out in time (I do love sending letters though!) - I'm going to think about all the wonderful things in my life! (Am I gloating?)

XO

LOVING LATELY // DECEMBER

This one was taken with my LC-Wide & Lomography Sunset Strip Film

A few things I've found here and there, that I love:

- One Second Everyday App (what a cool concept)

- The Impossible Project's Gold Frame Film (one of my all time favorite editions, leave a comment to win your own box here)

- Ban.do's absolutely ridiculously awesome hair pin set (don't forget to read this for 20% off your purchase!)

- How adorable is this Le Petite Prince Moleskin planner ?!

- I always wanted Doc Marten Mary Janes

- I'm absolutely smitten by this Lomography X Tungsten 64 film. Those dreamy purple hues! 

What do you have your eye on lately?

XO

SILVER & GOLD

Christopher and I went to the "Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-Along tour" show in Chicago this weekend. I thought it was a wonderful exaggeration of Christmas & the Holiday Season in general. The over the top decorations, the spectacle that is the big "Christmas Song Wheel", the costumes, The Christmas Unicorn -which seemed to me, a perfect representation of the bastardization of Christmas in all respects.

I thought the show was interesting, you could walk away feeling the joy that Christmas songs usually bring, have fun at the chance to dress up in your Christmas best or enjoy the mockery of the Holiday Season.

Thanks for the lovely evening, Mister Stevens.

Did you see this show when it was in your town? I'm interested in other peoples opinions about it!

These photos were taken with The Impossible Project's PX680 GOLD edition film, which I love!! The Impossible Project was generous enough to give me a pack of film to giveaway to one lucky person! Leave a comment on this post to get you some! 

XO

MY PHONE IS A FOUR TRACK

Christopher wrote a new song that I really love! Give it a listen here. 

XO

LINCOLN PARK ZOO PHOTOWALK

A few weekends ago I went on a cozy photo walk with some fellow Impossible Project enthusiasts. It's always fun to meet new people, and better get to know friends while walking around shooting pictures. I have really grown to love intentional photowalks. It's really fun to take the time to look around and capture the world / city / life we live in and all it's glory and wonder on film.

I'm looking forward to the next one. You can see some photos from the Lincoln Park Zoo photowalk here! I shot those photos with The Impossible Project's awesome new color protection film which you can find here. If you've never been on a photowalk before, I highly suggest planning or attending one. The two instant walks I went on were so fun and a great way to meet people with common interests!

Speaking of Impossible Project's awesome films, don't forget to leave a comment on this post to win a pack of their beautiful color protection GOLD FRAME film!

XO

ROCKY

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you know that last week Christopher found a dog in our yard. We brought him in, since he had a collar and seemed to have an owner he just got separated from. We called all the numbers on the tag to no avail. After spending an hour or two with him and seeing how relaxed and sweet he was we knew he had an owner out there that was probably devastated to have lost such a cute dog!

Before deciding to take him to the vet to see if he was microchipped I asked Christopher if we could please keep him we couldn't find his owners. Christopher told me not to get attached, but I couldn't help myself and we needed something to call him while we had him anyway, so we came up with Salinger Archibald. It's a truly fitting name for this dog. A trip to the vet to check on his microchip was fruitless. Sal wasn't registered so our options were to keep him until the morning and figure it out then or to let Animal Control come and take him, which was a scary option.

We brought Sal back to the house, took some photos of him and hung out until he started whining and standing by the door. We figured that maybe he needed to go out to the bathroom so Christopher took him out for a walk. After sometime had passed, I heard the door open and Christopher returned, no dog in tow. I asked what had happened to Archie and he said he had walked around the our block a little bit and eventually he kind of walked Christopher over to a house and ran right up the steps. Christopher rang the door bell and much to the surprise of a woman and her son, their dog was standing there with a stranger! She asked Christopher how he got the dog and he explained the whole situation. Turns out that his name was Rocky and that he lives...get this....in the yard of the house directly across the street from us! His owners hadn't even noticed he was gone!! Somehow Rocky had escaped and Christopher unknowingly kidnapped the dog!

I was pretty sad seeing as finding a dog in our front yard seemed like a Christmas miracle, but glad that we could return the pup to his owners. Luckily we still have our two bunnies to love and dote over and man alive, are they super cute!!

Just wanted to give those interested a little update on our funny story!

XO

STAY GOLD

The Impossible Project has brought back one of my all time favorite special edition films, Gold Frames!! This year the Gold Frame film is Color Protection formula so you don't have to shield your film from light as it's ejecting from your camera!!

I was over the moon when I heard the news and even more delighted when I saw the packaging. It's gorgeous! I think it's gift ready as is. Just add a bow and hand it to the favorite photographer in your life! 

The Impossible Project was awesome (as they always are) and sent me a pack of PX 680 Color Protection Gold Frame Film to giveaway to one lucky person! Just leave your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win) in the comments and tell me what you think you'd shoot with a pack of Gold Frame film! Get inspired by taking a peek at what other people have shot with this film on Flickr. I'll announce a winner next Wednesday, December 19th!

If you don't want to wait to see if you won (I don't blame ya), you can order a pack right from The Impossible Project here!  If Gold Frames aren't your thang (are you crazy?), you could always pick up a pack of their regular Color Protection film that comes in this cute limited edition holiday packaging which is also perfect for gifting! 

Good luck!

XO

FEEL PRETTY

The girls over at Ban.do have decided to be extra rad and offer y'all 20% off of everything in their shop this month! Perfect timing with Christmas just around the corner. I think the sequined hearts make the perfect little gift, in fact I've purchased them for one occasion or another for all of my besties! 

Just enter the code "feelpretty" at checkout for 20% off! 

There's a lot to choose from! If you feel overwhelmed, here are some of my favorites:

- sequined mini hearts (my very favorite AND they have new colors!!)

- crystal crush bobbi (my Mom bought me the "multi" one and I wear it weekly)

- metallic mini pom pom flower (the gold lame one is on my wish list)

- sequin fanny pack (this might be a little gift I give to myself)

- heart tote 

- good time blast riot (if you wanna get real fancy)

If you like the pretty Polaroid in this post, it is the month of February in my 2013 Instant Film calendar. Snag yours right here! 

XO

DANSE ALL NIGHT

After the party there's the after party.....

....and sometimes you dance so hard at the after party that you wake up with bruised knees. The true mark that a fun time was had. 

XO

2013 INSTANT FILM CALENDAR

My 2013 Instant Film Calendar is the Etsy shop! This is the third year I've made a calendar using all real deal Polaroid and Impossible Project films. 

The calendar is not bound in any way, leaving you with a ton of options for displaying it! Each purchase includes some pretty bakers twine and mini clothes pins to hang up your calendar with, or you can frame each month's pages (the Ikea Ribba frames are prefect), stick it up on your fridge, washi tape it to your mood board....the possibilities are endless!

I'm really happy with the way this years calendar turned out, it's my favorite to date! I had such a fun time putting it together! Go ahead and get yours here. I'm making daily trips to the post office all month.

XO