currently listening to skinny love // bon iver 

Black and white photographs arouse emotions like no other. When I peer at old images, looking into intimate details of past life, I feel such a strong bond to the subjects staring back at the camera. Everything seems so clear. There are no shades of color to decipher, only raw emotion and special moments captured.

Today was black and white. There were no mixed feelings, just plain happiness. And relief. I had a piano competition this morning. We were running late that morning (or rather, I forgot exactly what time I was supposed to play, ahem) and my nervous, panicked emotions went into overdrive. Upon entering the room to play my first song, my heart was pounding at an alarming rate and my legs were shaking so badly I could hardly control the pedal. After finally making it through the piece, I walked out on shaky legs. My second song was a bit stronger, but in the end, I was just elated I'd completed all that needed to be completed.

For the better part of the afternoon, I laid out on a blanket in the lush grass, engrossed in a book. A few hours later, my piano teacher called. She informed me that I was the overall winner for both of my divisions on the competition. "No way," I told her on the phone. Me? An overall winner? For both pieces? It seemed almost too good too be true. But it was. Oh, it was.

The rest of the day was spent in a blissful black and white euphoria. My room (which was recently featured on PBteen...hello, amazing!) received a freshing up, my nose was again burrowed into my book, I admired happy coral colored toes, I was judge for my sibling's disagreements in their game of "town" and I was elated.

Today was a good, very good day.

How was yours?

-carlotta

She awoke with a start, listening to the rustling of the wind outside her window, the steady drum of rain on the roof, the rumble of distant thunder. Although she could not see them, she knew that the ominous black clouds were moving closer. Smiling, she leaned back, for she loved storms such as these. Turned onto her side, she was content to just listen to the steady rhythm of the raindrops. Her bedroom was bathed in bright flashes of light, and the roil of thunder soon grew louder. Nestled deep into her sheets, her eyelids began to droop complacently until she fell back into slumber. 

the rain, carlotta cisternas

From the time I was a toddler, thunderstorms have been one of my favorite things. They were a frequent occurrence in south east Texas. When the humidity clung like a wet cloth, when it pressed down until it was nearly unbearable, the skies opened up and freshened up the earth. With the lightening flashing, the thunder rolling, and the rain steadily drumming, I've always found thunderstorms so very cozy.

Unfortunately, living in the plains of Oklahoma translates into having very little of my beloved storms. Instead, the air is dry and the wind is ever blowing.

Upon watching the clouds steadily darken and hearing the distant rumbling of thunder, I knew that it would be the perfect way to herald in a perfect spring break. Curled up in a cushy chair at the library, magazine in hand, I waited in eager anticipation for the rain to arrive. After discovering that we were under a tornado warning – another favorite, as long as we're not in direct danger – we picked MeMe up from ballet. 

The rain began falling, a slow, methodical drizzle at first, which gradually increased in intensity until it came down in sheets. Not long afterwards, the tornado sirens began to wail. Snatching my camera and a book, we all headed down to the basement. With Lilly, who was frightened half to death, nestled next to me, we read books and listened to the cacophony of thunder, lightning, and the frenzied beat of fat raindrops. 

Soon the storm lulled. Armed only with my camera while a soft drizzle was still falling, I entered the magical, vibrant, dripping wet world. The water droplets sparkled and shimmered like prisms in the sunlight. It seemed that everything was greener, the colors more saturated, after sucking up the much needed water. 




Between spinning around in the wet grass with my arms wide open, the gentle mist on my face, I photographed and photographed some more. I was in heaven.

These April showers? I'll keep them, please.

Do you like thunderstorms?

-carlotta

confession: I've been craving homemade doughnuts recently. That can't be healthy, can it?

confession: I'm currently studying the book of Revelation and I'm utterly fascinated. It's a book that I've always been a bit frightened of, but once you understand how to interpret it, it's a whole other story.

confession: until today, I've never been able to capture a butterfly with my camera. But now, I finally, finally have.

confession: procrastination is an ongoing battle. Even when all the tasks I need to complete are all neatly written out in my planner, I still leave things until the last minute. Sigh.

confession: when I find a hair style I love, I'll wear it every single day until I tire of it. Hence, the many sidebraid/fishtail braids and high buns. Actually, this is true with nearly everything, from music to clothing to colors...oh dear.

confession: flying is not exactly my favorite...but seeing this video makes me want to love it more. Stunning.

confession: speaking of flying, one of my biggest irrational fears is the plane I'm on crashing in the middle of the ocean, with me being the only survivor. Shudder. I breathe a sigh of relief every time we've safely flown across the ocean.

confession: I really don't like Lord of the Rings. Or Star Wars. Or Narnia. I know.

confession: dinner out on the patio makes me incredibly happy.

confession: I've been requested a lot recently to put up a tutorial on how I do my makeup. While I appreciate that y'all like how I do it, I struggle with how egocentric it would be. And makeup isn't the only thing...outfit posts are incredibly narcissistic. While I most certainly love fashion and creating outfits, by posting so many  outfit pictures, I'm just drawing attention to myself. Basically, I just don't feel comfortable doing a makeup tutorial and outfit posts will be far less. I hope you understand!

confession: she makes me laugh. The end.

Do you have any confessions?

-carlotta

Every night, after I get cozy in bed, arrange the pillows just so, and turn on my iPod, I pull out my diary. After tapping my chin with the pen a few times, I start writing. Sometimes I begin writing furiously, not able to get the words from my head to the paper fast enough. Other times, it's a more slow, methodical process of sorting out the day's happenings into their respective mental boxes. Following an introduction of sorts, which usually consists of whatever pops into my mind, I make a list. Instead of dwelling on the downs, I focus on chronicling the ups of that day I want to remember. When I look back on previous entries, I see all the blessings in my life rather than anything negative.

What I want to remember about today:

the deliciously cool breezes rippling through the air, a welcome break from the ninety degree, high humidity  weather we've been having.

this post on the Isle of Capri. I've been pining to visit the ocean again lately and reading this didn't help my longing any.

sipping an iced coffee while scribbling down bits and pieces of nothing into the crisp white pages of a notebook. milk + coffee + ice cubes + ice cream = perfection.

daydreaming about living out in the country, surround by a sea of fields, the grass gently bobbing and swaying in the wind. while I'm most definitely a city girl, I've been embracing my inner hippy. the idea of lying on a quilt in a meadow, daisy chain in my hair, camera in hand, gazing up at the clouds makes me giddy inside. but even though I live in the city, I happen to call Oklahoma home, which means that my perfect meadow is probably not too far away.

seeing a bunny in the front yard. so adorable.

my new design. what do you think? since I'm crushing on anything and everything nautical at the moment, I thought it only fair that my blog reflect me. and honestly? I was rather tired of all the pink. ha. feel free to grab the new button as well!

the fact that spring break is three short days away. I am beyond ready for it to arrive.

reading Jane Eyre, or at least attempting to. I have yet to get used to the old English, but I'm getting there, little by little.

Lilly's infatuation with pill bugs.

reading Aura Joon. such a gorgeous blog.

What are some things you want to remember about today?

-carlotta