1. i think i'm turning into a neat freak.
One of my favorite things to do in the morning after getting ready is clean my room. Yes. You just read that right. Cleaning one's room isn't usually something that makes it on the favorite list of most people. 
But I've found if I clean everyday, the messes stay manageable. It's only when I've put off cleaning for weeks that it becomes a daunting, unpleasant task. (That's common sense, I know, but I've just discovered this truth. Bear with me, y'all.)

I'm a firm believer in the fact that a bedroom should be a place to relax, a quiet sanctuary all your own. If that bedroom lies underneath piles of clutter, there's a good chance you'd rather spend your time elsewhere. 

But if you devote a little time each day to tiding your bedroom, it will have a greater impact on you than you think. Don't underestimate how much can be done in ten minutes. Having everything orderly in my room clears my head, makes me feel calmer and more collected.

Sorry. I got a little deep there. ;)

2. this is my new favorite.
My new favorite photograph of MeMe, that is.

Doesn't her beauty just blow you away? I love this sweet sister of mine.

3. my one word.
Yes, I realize it's the middle of January. But it took me awhile to figure what my one word for 2011 would be. I've tossed around various words in my head since before the beginning of the year, but nothing seemed to really fit. I thought I'd found it, but while I was getting ready for bed the other night (Why is it that I get all my ideas then?), I discovered my real word. 


embrace.


In 2011, I want to embrace. Embrace life. Embrace the little things. Embrace the time I have on earth. Embrace those around me. Embrace.

What's your word?

(Don't know what one word is? Click here to find out more.)


4. midterms are here.
And I'm terrified. Thoroughly terrified. I'm so scared that I'm going to fail them. I will force myself to study today. I need to stop this awful habit of procrastination. Seeing a big "F" on my test is something I can definitely live without. Eek.

5. etsy lovelies: the (mostly) camera edition.

Top to bottom, left to right, starting at top left:
1. diana camera
2. camera love silhouette
3. a cute antiqued bronzed necklace, photographer, world traveler
4. point and click
5. bellissima
6. wooden spools

6. photography tip of the day.
Experiment with angles. From the side, above, looking up...the options are endless. A good angle can bring a photograph from boring to interesting. Spend several minutes with each subject, whether it be a flower or an unwilling family member, trying out different types of angles and composition. Don't be afraid to experiment!


7. bloom! magazine
I received an email a few days ago from KyAnn, the editor, asking me to add a little something on my blog to spread the word about Bloom! Magazine. Feel free to head on over and check it out their website!


8. i'm that girl.

project 365 photo [12/365]

That girl who falls in love with doorknobs. That's me! But really, how could you not love those beauties? My house was built in the 1930s, and even it underwent lots of reno I'm so glad we could keep these doorknobs. Sure, they're a pain sometimes (i.e., they get stuck, which sometimes locks you in a room...or they fall out), but to me, they're totally worth it.

8. text talk.
It's one of my biggest pet peeves. I admit that for awhile a couple years ago I typed in text-language, but I quickly stopped. If you know how to spell a word properly, then spell it properly. But typing lyk ths doesn't make you seem smarter. At all. Not to mention it's ten times harder to read. 


What's one of your biggest pet peeves?


9. my blog name.
Honestly, sometimes I wish I could change it. It's rather long and it constantly gets mangled because of all the apostrophes (i.e., pastor girl ponderings, pastor's girl ponderings, pastor girl's pondering, etc, as opposed to what it really is, pastor's girl's ponderings.). But I have a distinct feeling that it's probably too late to change my blog name to something simpler. I know that I should have made the change when I had less readers.
Oh, I don't know. What do you think?


Happy Saturday!

-carlotta

PS Get ready for a photo challenge that will be posted tomorrow! :)

Even though I don't care for the cold (though it is nice to sit by the fire with some hot chocolate when it's cold outside), I've grown to become rather fond of winter. The earthy greys and browns, broken up by pops of red from berries, cardinals, and the occasional colorful leaf still left from fall.

There may not be much that meets the eye at first, but when you get up close to nature, it's easy to see the beauty, even if that beauty might be shriveled up and dead. And then when it snows, the dark landscape is transformed into a snowy white wonderland. Everything is transformed, from branches laden with snow to the tiniest speck of grass.

Though winter can't possible replace the soft beauty of spring, it's still breathtaking.

How do you feel about winter?

-carlotta

While most of our snow has melted, I loved photographing its beauty. When I spotted this, albeit dead, snow capped flower, I couldn't resist getting a shot. There's something hauntingly beautiful about winter. Shriveled up leaves, dead flowers, crinkled leaves...as odd as it may sound, I love it at times.

On a side note, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that forty eight of y'all linked up last week! It made my day to see that so many people wanted to share joy through images. While I really did try to comment on everyone's entry, I failed. Miserably. So if I didn't comment on your photo, I apologize!



<a href="http://pastorsgirlsponderings.com/"><img src="http://imgur.com/AS92y.jpg"/></a>

Is there a photo that makes you happy? One that warms your heart or tells a funny story? One that puts you on cloud nine? Here's your chance to share it! 

Just put up a post on your blog containing one photo that you've taken. You can add as much or as little text as you would like along with it. After writing your post, come back here to link up - you have until Thursday at 9:59pm CST to do so. Don't forget to link back to me so others can join in, whether it be via the above button or a link. :) And remember to visit others' photos as well! 
-carlotta

I can say without a scrap of hesitation that Monday is my least favorite day. Being thrust back into reality after a leisurely weekend is tough. As if getting up at six am isn't enough (What can I say? I'm not a morning person.), on Monday mornings the rushed feeling of getting ready to go to work is nearly overwhelming. After that, I'm nearly always not in the most chipper mood and I usually count the minutes until I can go to bed and get Monday over with.

But last night I started thinking. Every Monday I always focused on the bad things and ignored anything good that happened on Monday. Because of my pessimistic mindset, I'd come to hate this day. I compiled a list in my head of all the positive things that happened yesterday, and I as drifted off to sleep, I felt as light as a feather.

The good in Monday...

Our sweet eighty five pound black Lab, Sarge, came in my room and greeted me with a big sloppy doggy kiss.

I woke up to snow blanketing the neighborhood, the first of the season. I guess that's what I get for living in Oklahoma ;)

I walked with my dad in the snow while it was still dark.

I discovered my new favorite song, I and Love and You, and proceeded to listen to it on repeat for the rest of the day. (I love the cinematography in the music video.)

I got a big package in the mail - snail mail is the best.

I cleaned my room. Even though I claim it doesn't bother me when it's messy, I can think so much clearly when the space I live in is clean. Plus? It only took fifteen minutes.

I told my friend Emily, who lives way too far away in Iowa, that I got the okay from my parents to visit her this summer. And we both freaked out.

Emily proceeded to post the news on her Facebook status, and her friend commented on it. Long story short, her friend and I hit it off and we're now friends. I love it when things like that happen.

My mom fixed one of my favorite dishes for lunch - homemade baked macaroni and cheese.

I taught one of my piano students and she knew pretty much all her flashcards for her note names.

I watched this video and laughed until tears rolled down my face. I'm pretty sure it's one of the cutest things ever.

In the midst of studying for a Latin test, which I'm probably going to fail, my mom came in with some hot chocolate in my favorite mug.

My shower last night was the perfect temperature.

And I ended my day by getting cozy in my bed and writing in my diary while listening to none other than I and Love and You.

What was some of the good in your Monday? Do tell!

-carlotta

PS I noticed that when I posted my confessions a few days ago, it caused a bit of a trend in the blogging world. While I realize it was partially my fault for asking if you had any confessions at the end of my post, I found so many people that took my idea and used it without giving me credit (Having said that, though, some of you did link to me...thanks!). I know that sounds totally snotty, but if there's one thing I can't stand, it's stealing others' ideas without giving them any credit. I've seen it happen to some of my dear blog friends - it's happened to me as well - and it's no fun.
So what am I trying to say? You're welcome to use my confessions idea, but please at least link to my blog. Thank you!