Week 49 || Project 52

I've never really been much of a "videographer" but I try. There's something about the light, the sounds, everything. I'm a sucker for amazing shorts like this one and tear-jerking wedding cinematography like this. People can really create amazing, enticing pieces of work.

During Thanksgiving, I did a bit of exploring in the wilderness and shot more video than photographs! I write a lot about my trips in the wilderness and capture a lot of photographs of my time but I never really show it in action. This, my friends, is the wilderness. 

Welcome. 

This is the Wilderness from Alison Blunk on Vimeo.

Please, please, please share with me some of your favorite videos. I'd love to see them :)

November in Instagrams || Personal

I love November. It holds the peak of fall, chai tea lattes, candles always burning, crisp fall air, thankfulness and the anticipation of winter. This November filled me with joy, hope, faith and patience.    Spontaneous trips to the city, breakfast on Saturday mornings, fireworks, good friends, foggy mornings and road trips. 

I went a little instagram crazy because I got an iPhone 5 after being due for an upgrade. I'm kinda thrilled.

Our pleasure and our duty, though opposite before, since we have seen his beauty are joined to part no more

Day after Thanksgiving :: snow

& the greatest ending of all. This, my friends, is Ellie, the newest member of my family. We adopted her & she is a miracle. 

Happy December! So excited for all that this month holds.

Ogden Family || Portraits

After a week of rain and no sunshine, I was delighted to wake up to a beautiful fall day full of sunshine for a mini-session with the Ogden family. Flynn lead us through the woods and was such a little model. This little man had tons of energy and stories to tell. Mister Flynn was a natural, don't you think?

Week 45 || Project 52

I love roasted pumpkin seeds. I love them even more when they are so simple to make. I have loved this recipe for years...you should try it!

You need:

1.5 cups pumpkin seeds

2 tsp. melted butter or olive oil

sea salt

seasoning salt

garlic powder

cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees fahrenheit.

2. Clean off any major chunks from the seeds and rinse in running water.

3. Toss seeds in bowl with ingredients. You can really use any seasoning you'd like.

4. Spread seeds evenly on a  baking sheet. 

5. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.

I was majorly late on my pumpkin carving and didn't get this guy out until Friday...oh well! Happy Monday!

P.S. Cannot believe there are only 7 weeks left of Project 52 & 7 weeks left in 2012...WHAT?!

Friday Favorites || November

Taking a little break from Film Fridays for Friday Favorites today ;) 

This month was booked to the brim so my favorites are filled with a lot of necessities. 

1. I visited this lovely blog almost every day this month. A beautiful mess is seriously beautiful. They have something new posted every single day...from DIYs to recipes to inspiring ideas. 

2. October was super busy for me. The only way I kept up was by putting every single thing on my calendar. Simple but so key for me. 

3. C.S. Lewis is full of wisdom. He is definitely on my "I'd like to have dinner with them" list.

4. I know a lot of talented graphic designers and they can definitely teach me a thing or two about the art but I had a little fun doing some typography this month. Did you see this piece I created? 

5. I always love the music that Bethel Church puts out there. This album has found a home in my car this month and it's not leaving any time soon. Pick it up!

What have you been loving this month & what are you looking forward to in November?

Happy Friday & get ready for Film Friday next week!

Alison

October in Instagrams || Personal

October treated me well; with lots of road trips, adventures and cider. November is here now [one of my favorite months!! :)] Is it appropriate to start listening to Christmas music yet?!

1. My dear friend Masha has been in the hospital and her faith journey has started a movement. Read about it here. 2. Kari Jobe & All Sons & Daughters in one night. Such a cool time spent with friends. 3. My new home :) So excited to move to the city next year! 4. Just one of the many photos from my time up north this month. 5. Sunsets in the wilderness...nothing like it. 6. It's boot season and I couldn't be more happy about that. 7. Last night in the woods : pumpkin tea, pumpkin bread and Ephesians, fireside. 8. Walks by the lake. 9. God is the best artist. I love rainbows. 10. I voted today! Have you voted yet? 11. Lunch breaks on the path are my favorite. 12. Who says that sunsets in Illinois aren't any good?! I literally gasped at this one.

So that's my October. How was yours?! Are you ready for November?

Alison

Week 44 || Project 52

"I love Your voice,

singing over me every morning.

I love Your voice,

calling out my name every morning."

-Your Voice || The Royal Royal

There's something about waking up before the sun even rises to spend some time with the Lord. Nothing like it. I woke up at 4:30AM this morning. Thankful for a pot of coffee, deer sightings in the suburbs, a warm home, another day. It's so easy to get stuck in the daily grind and take life for granted. But when you think that we are not even worthy of one day, it puts everything back in perspective. Whether the world seems quite and still or loud and busy, the Lord is always there.

Week 43 || Project 52

Autumn is bliss. I just love the crisp air. I love snuggling up in a blanket with a delightful book with way too many candles burning. I am a lover of all-things-autumn. I am a scarf addict, chai tea enthusiast and cider sipper. The grass is covered in a blanket of colorful leaves. Falling leaves are like God's confetti...why rake them up?! 

All the fall love aside, can you believe there are only 9 weeks left in 2012 meaning there are only 9 weeks left of the Project 52? Where has the year gone?! 

What is your most favorite thing about autumn?

Into the Wilderness Again || Personal

Fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons. Crunchy leaves, apple cider, pumpkins, apple picking, jackets, scarves, and Trader Joe's having everything pumpkin flavored (I'm kind of addicted to their pumpkin ice cream!) There's no better place to experience fall than in the north woods; the leaves are prettier, the wind is fiercer and the distractions are few. 

On Friday morning my good friend Sarah and I bundled up and made the road trip up to my lake house. Some good mix CDs and coffee to accompany us, there was not a moment of silence. I can talk for hours with that girl about Jesus, future and our love of pumpkin. The best part about our arrival...we got there just as the golden hour was starting! Perfection. It was a great weekend of small town, serenity, heart-to-heart, late night chatting, midnight baking, Jesus goodness.

We made pumpkin pancakes every morning and explored the small town before it got dark around 4 in the afternoon. Homemade pizzas and plenty of baking every evening. We sipped on pumpkin tea and cider throughout our hours and hours of challenging and inspiring chatter. Weekends in the wilderness always do my heart well.