Picture A Day - June 17, 2011

Today's picture was taken a few weeks ago when I was in Orlando, FL...we were sightseeing around the Disneyworld resort area and had taken the Disney bus to the Magic Kingdom so that we could take the boat to the Grand Floridian resort (one of my top choices for lodging if I was going as a romantic couple to Disneyworld) to just walk around.

As we were getting on the little boat, I looked over and saw this row of palm trees that just really screamed "FLORIDA" to me....so I snapped the below photo....we have tons of palm trees here in Southern California too....but Florida's palms are very distinctly "Florida" and just have a much more tropical feel to them.  Have I mentioned yet that I LOOOOVE Florida???  :)

Bucket List - Traveling

Do you have a bucket list?  Did you see the movie The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman?  If not, you should check it out because I think it's important for everyone to have some form of a bucket list....whether it just be a goal inside your head, a list of ideas and dreams written in your journal, or a well thought out, realistic, set of 'wants' in yours life.

For those who don't know what a bucket list is, it's basically a list of things you want to do before you die.  Sky diving, asking someone on a date, visiting Disneyworld, sailing around the world, or even something as simple as trying a strange food.  Then the intent is to make every effort to check off all of the things on your list sometime in your lifetime.

A few years back, I actually made a bucket list as I was on a flight...it was a perfect moment for me to do it since I'm terrified of flying,  and focusing on all the things I wanted to do with my life was helpful in keeping my mind off of the possibility of death arriving on the airplane (yes, I'm seriously terrified...not just a little).  I'm not really sure whatever happened with that list, but I'm sure it's in my house somewhere....not helpful though since I don't remember what was on it, so eventually I'll have to make another one.

BUT - I did decide to do a short version of my bucket list here....one thing that I would love to do before I die is to visit every U.S. state there is at least once.  Ideally I'd like to stay in each of them and explore the state and all it has to offer, but for now I'm counting ones that I've just driven through as well, but I'm going to note the difference.

I'll come back to this post and update it as I visit more states, and I'll link back to it in the future as well. :) 

Below is my list - I'd love to see you all post your own bucket list, or portion of one....link it back here if you do so I can check it out!!!  :)

Crystal's Traveling Bucket List

GOAL: Visit every U.S. State at least once

PROGRESS: States visited are outlined below

1. California (obviously, cause I live here)

2. Nevada (a second home to me practically)

3. Pennsylvania (went to college here)

4. Arizona

5. Florida (aiming to go again this November!)

6. New York

7. Massachusetts

8. Colorado

9. Utah (my most recent visit just this past weekend)

The rest of these were more of a drive-thru on the way to my destination, although I did stay overnight and explore a bit in a few of these states

10. West Virginia

11. Virginia

12. North Carolina

13. South Carolina (stayed and explored a bit)

14. Georgia

15. Ohio

16. Indiana (explored a bit)

17. llinois

18. Missouri

19. Oklahoma (explored a bit)

20. Texas (stayed overnight and explored a bit)

21. New Mexico

22. Maine (did a photoshoot here and explored a bit)

23. New Hampshire (just a quick drive through)

So it looks like I'm just about halfway through the states...not bad for being 29.5 yrs old (I turn 30 in June!).  I'd like to expand on my quick trip locations though and actually do a little more exploring in those states.  My next road trip though is likely going to be driving up the West Coast from California, and I think going up to Seattle and then back down.  Really looking forward to that one!!  :) :)

And just so I can leave this post with a picture - I took this photo yesterday at the Zion National Park in Utah - I hiked up this trail with my son and his father - a little scary cause it was really icy and slippery, but there were railings on the scariest parts...and I never would have taken my son anywhere that I wasn't confident about the safety of it or my ability to get him through it safely, although it was rated "Moderate" on the trail scale.  My son is fairly well behaved though and isn't the type to run off or anything like that...his hand was firmly attached to mine the entire hike. :)

I'll have to post more about this glorious hike though in another dedicated post, cause it was AMAZING.  Below is the view we received once we reached the top! :)

New Feature - Giveaway List!

NOTE: I'm constantly updating this post, so keep checking back!

Lately I've become wrapped up in this giveaway world....how could you not I guess??  For those of you unfamiliar with the blogging world, did you know that there are hundreds (if not more) of free giveaways on the internet?  You can win some pretty awesome things too....some are smaller like from people's Etsy shops, and some are major like laptops, and then there's everything in between.

Since I've been entering them left and right, I figured I'd start a list here so that I can share all these awesome giveaways with you.  I guess this lowers my odds of winning if you all enter, but in the end I hope that it increases some traffic to my blog, so I suppose I'll take the trade off. :)  Besides, I like to share exciting things that I come across!

With that said, make sure you share this blog post with your friends so they come visit too! :)

So here's a few to start off with, I'm not posting every single one because there's just too many, I'm just going to post the ones that I like.  I'll update this specific post with new ones, and then I'll note which ones are closed....every once in awhile I'll put up a new post altogether so it doesn't get too far down on my blog.

Want your giveaway featured?  I'm offering sponsored giveaway space as well - your giveaway will be listed here, but noted as a "Sponsored Giveaway", you will also be given space for a button on my sidebar through the length of your giveaway.  Currently selling the space for $5.00, get it while the price is hot!

And before the list, I wanted to share one of newer fine art prints because I just love how this turned out!  You can purchase any of my fine art prints on my Etsy site here: Blue Marbles

1. The Johns Family: Read and Share Bible for kids - ends Jan. 21

2. My Giveaway Today: Pillow Pets games - ends Jan. 24
3. Being Frugal and Making It Work: $65 CSN gift certificate - ends Feb. 2
4. Life with the Dietrick's: Month's supply of Popchips - ends Jan. 21
5. Living On Ashley's Allowance: $25 gift card to Victoria Secrets - ends Jan. 31
6. The Scent Peddler: Gold Canyon Baking Line candle - ends ??  (maybe Jan. 31?)
7. Brixton Street: $10 Amazon gift card - ends Feb. 9
8. Aubut Family: Hearthsong Spinning Seesaw - ends Jan. 26
9. Momma Told Me: Anybook Reader - ends Feb. 1
10. Black Nail Polish and Lip Gloss: Zoya Intimate Collection Nail Polish - ends Feb. 4
11. Misplaced Jersey Girl: $35 CSN gift certificate - ends Jan. 30
12. Living on Love and Giveaways: Kitchen Aid mixer - ends Feb. 28
13. 21. SweepStakesMania.com: Free $25 gift card to Walmart - ends Jan. 31
14. Just Another New Blog: $50 Babies R Us gift card - ends Jan. 24
15. Mimi Loves All 8: Face Candy Couture Eyeshadow - ends Jan. 18
16.

Picture A Day - Nov 26 2010 - Name this picture!

One of my blog readers, Warren B., recently inquired about another "Name this picture" post (like this one: http://averyjamesphotography.blogspot.com/2010/10/picture-day-oct-23-2010.html)....and I thought it was a great idea!  Especially since I couldn't figure out what to name the below image I recently took on a trip to Las Vegas.

It's currently up for sale on Etsy, along with other images, but as of now it's only called "Untitled".  Doesn't quite pull you in, does it?  :)

With that said - help me come up with a name for this image.  I'm not the best wordsmith, so naming my art pieces isn't really my area.  :)

"Untitled" on Etsy

Free Mini-Session Photoshoot and Fine Art Print Giveaway Contest!

There's two parts to this contest - one for a photo session, and one for a fine-art print.  Even if you're not local to the L.A. area you can enter to win a free fine-art print from AJP!

First, the free photo-session:

If you're in the L.A. area, or going to be anytime in the near future, you should definitely enter my giveaway for a free mini-session photoshoot!! :) :)  This is a great opportunity to get some updated family photos!

Deadline to enter is December 7, 2010.

You must become a fan of Avery James Photography on Facebook to enter....and for every friend that you refer, you get an extra chance to win.  If your referral wins, then you win too!

You can check out all the details here (Facebook link):

AJP Free Mini-Session Giveaway on Facebook

Part 2 (for anyone, anywhere in U.S.)

If you blog about this giveaway (note the free photo session AND the fine art print), you will be entered to win an 8x12 fine art print from my gallery.  You can see current prints in my Etsy shop, and I plan on adding more soon - so you can wait to redeem your prize if you don't see anything you like yet. :)

Please have your blog post link back directly to this post (Link: http://averyjamesphotography.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-mini-session-photoshoot-and-fine.html).  Then post the perma-link to your blog post about this giveaway in the comments.
And don't forget to include your email address!

Deadline to enter for the fine art print is also Dec. 7, 2010.  A winner will be chosen at random  and posted here as well as contacted via email.

This is the first blog-style giveaway I've done, so I hope I did it right.  Happy to answer any questions - crystal@averyjamesphotography.com  :)

And to leave you with a picture, here is a gorgeous sunset that I photographed about a month or two ago outside my home.  The sky was just absolutely amazing that day.  This, and other fine art images, are up for sale in my Etsy shop! :)

The view...

Just wanted to share a quick picture I took this evening from our front porch....absolutely gorgeous sunset...I love how the clouds are sitting just above the water so that you can still see the gap between heaven and earth...this kind of view just makes me smile....

Santa Monica Pier (continued)

Just sharing another shot from my Santa Monica Pier excursion the other day....practicing night photography.  I love the light trails from the cars....very neat-o.  :)

Santa Monica Pier

I checked out the GLOW art event at the Santa Monica Pier this past Saturday (9/25/10)...interesting event...not quite what I expected, but neat to see nonetheless.  I went to go take pictures of fun glowy stuff, but that didn't work out quite so well without having a tripod (based on the way you have to expose pics in the dark, you have to have the camera completely still for numerous seconds at a time).  So I only got a couple of good pics, and mostly just of the regular pier stuff....here's one for now, I'll post more soon. :)