Photo Friday // Make It Snow

Ok guys, here is my photography tip for the week. It's a big one, so get ready. MAKE IT SNOW. Step 1: Do a snow dance. Step 2: Wait for the snow to begin. Step 3: Get bundled up, and go dance/run/twirl/throw around the snow. Easy enough, right? Snow always equals pretty photos. 

Today we all got our first ever adult snow day. Portland doesn't know how to deal with snow, so everything is cancelled. My car thinks it's a sled, so we're stranded at home...which I'm completely ok with! We have a grocery store, our favorite tea shop, a movie theater, restaurants, and bars within walking distance, so I think we'll be ok :) Sydney, Taylor and I decided to pack everything up and walk to Tea Chai Te to cozy up with some tea and do some work. On the way we decided to have a little photo shoot in the snow. I'm so glad I documented this little memory with my two favorites.

I had grand plans to do a Photo Friday post about lighting this week, but I decided since it's a snow day I'd go with something a little easier and leave time for snow fights and hot cocoa. All the other lessons I've learned doing this Photo Friday thing were actually pretty helpful while taking these photos, so if you've been following along let's take this week to review! Next week I'll be back with some tips that might be a little more feasible for some of you :)

In case you're curious, for most of these photos I had my ISO at 320, my aperture at f/2.5-3.5 (lower for any close ups), and my shutter speed on the lower side since the snow is so bright! Do you have any tips for taking photos in the snow?

A Sunny Day On Mississippi Ave // What I Wore

This weekend was perfect in every way...all my friends were finally home from Winter vacation, the sun came out (a rare thing for us Portlanders), and it was a long weekend! Taylor and I tried to spend as much time as possible outside soaking in the Vitamin D. On Sunday we went to Mississippi Ave in Northeast Portland to walk around, eat some food, and find a new place to do a little work. On the way, we decided to take advantage of this pretty blue wall and snap a few outfit photos. This is my go-to outfit lately...comfy, but still cute! I was so excited when it was nice out so I could wear the hat Taylor got me for Christmas. He's a keeper, huh?

[Mississippi pizza pub]

[Beers at a German Pub full of football fans]

[Mississippi Ave]

[Checking out some new food carts]

[Outfit details] Shirt & Necklace: J. Crew Factory // Pants: Urban Outfitters // Belt: Target // Hat: Brixton // Lip Color: Smashbox Electric Pink

Bits + Pieces

Today was a good day. I woke up to a house full of my most favorite people - who all promptly piled into my bed for a cuddle puddle...It felt like we were back in the dorms freshman year of college, squeezed into the bed-fort my roommate and I made. These crazy kids were my first real friends in college, when I was completely freaked out about the fact that I actually had to talk to strangers. Last night we pretended we were back in college, and it was great...and what made it even better was that we didn't have use a sink our dorm-mates puked in or get to breakfast before the cafeteria closed. Because now we are adults and have our own bathrooms and cars to drive to brunch. Best of both worlds, friends :) Anyway, here is a post with some photos I took over the last couple weeks.

1. A corny family portrait.

2. Christmas ornaments and magical bokeh.

3. Snow out the window. I was so excited for it to snow while I was visiting home.

4. I guess he's ok ;)

5. Christmas nuts before I massacred them for this post.

6. My favorite furry baby. My christmas wish was for him to come home with me. Santa did not deliver. Rude.

7. Christmas dinner.

8. Gosh he's ca-yoot.

9. So is he!

10. Playing in the snow! Photo credit goes to Taylor.

11. The only good photo I got in New York on my DSLR due to a malfunctioning battery.

12. Snowy day walks are magical.