1 :: PTA Reflections Contest – Back in December I was honored with a request to judge the Reflections contest here in Landstuhl. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this contest, The program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. This year’s theme is “Believe, Dream, Inspire.” I will be judging the Photography and Visual Arts categories for these divisions: Primary (Preschool-Grade 2), Intermediate (Grades 3-5), Middle School (grades 6-8). I am beyond excited for this event on Wednesday! There is something so inspiring about the works of children. To have the opportunity to help shape and mold future photographers, artists, painters, etc fills my heart with joy. I will be bringing my camera to the event and will post photos next week. To all the participants, I wish you the best of luck and thank you for all of your hard work.
2 :: Happiness Through My Eyes – I am also happy to announce another series component coming to the Kirsten Ashley Photography Blog. My fellow talented colleagues at Ming Mong Pro have banded together to start a blog circle for 2014. What is a blog circle? I’m glad you asked, because I was unsure myself. The theme of our circle will be “Happiness Through My Eyes”. Each photographer in the circle will post once a month under this theme as a heading. The awesome part is that at the end of each monthly post, everyone who is a part of the circle will link to someone else’s monthly post. So for example, let’s say Mallorie, Jane, Eve, & Alyssa were all a part of a circle. Mallorie’s post would link to Jane’s, Jane’s would link to Eve’s, Eve’s to Alyssa’s and finally Alyssa’s back to Mallorie’s to close the loop. This type of blogging is extremely popular amidst groups of photographers wanting to keep in touch, challenge each other, and showcase their work. I am especially excited because the other women in this circle are RIDICULOUSLY talented. Check out some of their work by clicking on their names: Rebecca Spencer, Romana Wyllie, Stephanie Belton, Ana Quiroga, Anna Francken, Louise Freeland, Linda Berglund, Anne Wick, Cassie O’Leary, Linda Hooper, & Willie Kers. Look for the Janurary Happiness Through My Eyes series post coming towards the end of this month!
3 :: Winter Flats – I’ve been dying to wear ballet flats lately… which must mean we are in the dead of winter. Good news is these are gorgeous shoes to slip on once you get to the office and out of your snowboots. Or hey, if you live in Texas, I hear ya’ll reached a balmy 72 degrees yesterday… so ballet flat on! Click on a shoe to take you shopping at Nordstrom! 1) kate spade new york – ‘tanya’ flat – $238.00 2) French Sole – ‘Gale’ Ballet Flat – $184.95 3) Jimmy Choo – ‘Alina’ Pointy Toe Flat – $525.00 4) Vince Camuto – ‘Ellen’ Flat – $78.95 5) kate spade new york – ‘tock’ flat – $198.00 6) Via Spiga – ‘Lilac’ Ballerina Flat – $175.00
4 :: Soups & Stews – Speaking of the dead of winter…. it’s stew time. I am a huge fan of one pot meals… and these look so delicious my tummy is rumbling just posting them! I am especially excited at finding a Boeuf Bourguignon recipe much like the one I had in Amsterdam at the household favorite restaurant of Côte Ouest. Click on an image to take you to the recipe. Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest through my Yummay Board. 1) Slow-Cooked Boeuf Bourguignon 2) Lentil and Sweet-Potato Stew 3) Southwest Shrimp Stew 4) Ridgegourd Yogurt and Coconut Milk Stew with Sriracha Garbanzo Beans 5) Tomato Basil Chicken Stew
5 :: 2013 Wrap Up – I normally don’t highlight past posts, but this one is definitely significant. If you didn’t catch a blog post from last year at all, this is the one to read. It features the Best of 2013 in a photo montage. There’s very little to read as the actual wording is short and sweet, but there is certainly a feast of colors and places for your lovely eyeballs. Get on it, I assure you it will inspire you travel itch for sure!
6 :: Photo of the Week – This is Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier. The front of the cathedral is breathtaking. You walk in and you just stand there with your mouth open in a ancient architectural induced stupor. So I walked around and did the photographer thing and turned to leave. I was then completely frozen at the view that assaulted me on the way out. They say always look backwards because you never know what it looks like from the other direction. Well needless to say, I must have this organ. Pronto. Stat. ASAP. It’s so perfectly framed in all of it’s majesty. So let that be a lesson that when walking through life, every once in a while look back over your shoulder… not to see where you’ve been or what you’ve done, but because the world looks completely different from your new vantage point and you might see something you never saw before.
Thanks for coming back this week! It’s my hope that MIAM brightens the beginning of your week so you can power through to the end!
Hit the subscribe button to the left to receive the Kirsten Ashley Photography Blog in your email whenever it’s posted! Like this post? Hit the like button or leave a comment to show some love!
