Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts

3/4/12

sunday letters


Dear North Carolina,
   My, my, my. You are bipolar. I mean come on - two weeks ago we had a thirty degree climate + snow. And now? We are having sixty, seventy, and eighty degree weather. I am tickled pink to have Spring arrive quite early. Thank you.



Dear School,
   Please be extra good to me. That is all.

Dear {Early} Spring,
  Make yourself at home. The warm climate, flowers blossoming, and other Spring-y goodness are good for the soul and make Anna Gray happy.


Dear Social Media,
  This whole thing of my facebook being de-activated is working out very well. Honestly, I thought I would miss seeing my friends' miscellaneous ramblings...but quite frankly - I really do not think about it that much. Just a couple more weeks and it will be activated again. And while we're on the subject of social media, my Twitter has been deleted and my old email address (sunshinegirl) will be too. Hurrah for deleting social media accounts!

Dear Bella Vita,
    Some major changes are coming to you in a few weeks + a giveaway. What are the changes, you ask? Can't tell! They are a surprise.


Dear Readers,
  Do you have any thoughts or miscellaneous ramblings?

1/21/12

life in black & white






Black and white is one of my favorite photo edits. Though very simple, I personally believe it gives images a nice, crisp, and professional look. Not only that, but it is appealing to the eye. True, photos in color are lovely as well...but sometimes it is nice to turn the saturation down a notch and go back to a classy black and white.

Do you prefer photos in color or black & white?

xo
anna gray

1/17/12

hello & good-bye

As you have clearly noticed, bella vita hasn't been updated in a little over a week. Why?

My week in a nutshell...

<> Tutored in the morning and Tied up loose ends school-wise.
<> Home-school group and auditions for Annie Get Your Gun.
<> School.
<> School and callbacks for Annie Get Your Gun.
<> School and then two friends over.
<> Two friends over and then to the library.
<> Church & out to eat with my MeeMaw
<>  Tutored and finished school.
<> Home-school group and parent meeting for Annie Get Your Gun.

Yes, pretty busy week. The good news though, is that I got my first speaking role in the play! My character is Minnie, one of Annie Oakley's siblings. This will be fun.

How has your week been?

Good-night. ♥

1/3/12

simple. lovely. LIFE.

  When I was a little girl, I can vividly remember being eager to form into a teenager. I thought they hung the moon. The way they talked, dressed, the privileges they were allowed...I simply adored it all. I looked incredibly forward to being able to drive, shop with my friend all by ourselves, wear makeup, walk in high-heeled shoes, wear perfume and long, dangly earrings. To me, being older sounded way more appealing verses being a young earthling. Couldn't time just speed up already?


And now here I am. A teenager. Fifteen years of age. True, being a teenager, you are granted more privileges and such. But at the same time - you miss being young. What happened to those days when if you made a fool of yourself it didn't matter? Remember when just plain old "talking" was boring but playing with your barbies and baby-dolls was the entertaining thing to do? Remember when you cared less if your jeans got dirt stains on them after playing "tag" in the yard?
I look back at those days and can't help but feeling the slightest bit of nostalgia. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and be a free spirited little kid again.

Instead of wishing you could be younger again or rushing time and craving to become older...



Enjoy where you are in life.

11/12/11

hello there, i am an authentic person


Alright lovelies. I am linking up with my dear blogger friend, Abigail Kraft's, authentic people blog party. Sounds like an amusing shindig, no?


For those of you who do not know me {or know me well}, my name is Anna Gray; though you are more than welcome to call me simply Anna or AG! I would like to start off saying "Welcome to bella vita!" and I am just tickled pink that you are here! Seriously. I am.

I am a Christian fourteen year old home-schooler and adore photography, baking, acting, and of course, blogging.

Enough with my rambling and on with the interrogation (wink, wink).

What's the nerdiest/geekiest/weirdest thing about you?
Oh me, oh my. There is a vast amount of nerdy/geeky/weird things about me. Well let us see here...I literally run through our house. The majority of the time I never walk to get to a place in my home. Also, my "hang out" clothes are a pair of rompers. What can I say? They are comfortable. Oh and if I am bored, I get out some old Barbie dolls of mine and do *ahem* engagement photos with them.


If you could live in a fictional universe from any book, movie, or television show, what would it be?



Once Upon a Time. Hands down.



Little or big, practical or frivolous, what is one of your favorite items in your house?







It is itty bitty, but honestly...it is the funky little duct tape bow on my hamster's cage. He is a boy, but what can I say? The bow spices his cage up a little









Do you like animated movies? If so, what is your favorite?
Heck yes, I do! Shrek is my favorite because it is just plain adorable. How can you possibly turn down a green ogre with teeny little ears?



What is your favorite household chore?

Probably laundry. It takes less than five minutes (the majority of the time) and there is just something about pouring that liquid detergent that makes me feel rather happy. Dorky, eh? Neh.



What's your favorite thing to get at Starbucks (or your favorite coffee shop)?



Did someone just say Starbucks?! Goodness, my favorite coffee would most certainly be the iced white chocolate mocha. It tastes like pure Heaven. If Heaven has a taste.
 
What is your favorite pizza topping?


Honestly, I am not that outgoing when it comes to pizza. I typically stick with just plain 'ole cheese. I will eat other toppings, but usually do not choose to do so.  
Waffles or pancakes?

Oof, this is a tricky one. It depends on what mood I'm in. Pancakes are a staple at our house, so I will just go with pancakes {chocolate chip pancakes, to be exact}!
 
 



 
 
 
 
 
 
Do you like to play games? If so, what is your favorite?


Why yes - yes I do! My favorite would have to be either Life or Sorry. Both are such fun!  
Have you ever let anyone win a game?


Heeeeck no. *grin*  
Have you ever dyed your hair?


Nope! I do not plan to either. Ok - so maybe once I begin experiencing grey/white hairs I will. Maybe.
Do you make your bed every morning?


Yes, I do. However, if turns into a horrible mess once I start school.


Picasso or Norman Rockwell?
Picasso! Quirky, abstract, funky art...I like it.
 
Do you like carpet, tile, or hardwood floors?


Hardwood flooring is shiny...therefore I like it.  
If you could put one thing in a safe under your bed, what would it be?

Sasha, my D3000. And my lens. And the stuffed animal I have had since I was five years old. Whoops, that was three things. Oh well.












What's your favorite condiment?

Parsley. Not only does it smell good but it tastes oh-so-heavenly!

Have you ever thrown up on someone (excluding when you were a child)?


Heck NO. Most of you know that I have an extreme phobia of vomiting. Seriously. The last time I vomited was when I was nine years old. Let's just say that I don't handle puking nor the sight of puking very well (for example, I had a panic attack on a bus when a girl in front of me starting spewing.). Someone has almost thrown up on me though (when I was eleven years old).

What was the last thing that made you laugh?

Um...Um...I simply cannot recall.

Think fast...what's the first song that pops into your head?


Bad Romance by Lady Gaga.

(photo not mine)

What are you waiting for? Hop over to Abigail's blog and link up!

9/30/11

a few of my favorite things.


 
I always have to let out a blissful sigh of relief when Friday comes. Why? Well because it is the weekend, of course!

Throughout the week I have documented through photography things of simplicity, beauty, and simply life.


these are some of my favorite things from the week:

sweet young, children




getting school work done in a reasonable amount of time
cookouts with friends
half eaten apples...






enjoying Wednesday & Thursday with your cousins
making silly videos
talking for well over an hour to your 9 year old cousin about hamsters
buns that happen to stay up perfectly without bobby pins, clips, or any other necessities in them...just your own hair...




feeling accomplished by knowing how to set the aperture on your camera {thanks, carlotta!}
getting nice straight-out-of-camera (aka sooc) photos
bokeh
God's creation...







clever quotes by your best friend, "I inspire me."
chillier weather
being able to finally wear jeans
skinny jeans, to be exact
rain
cooking lasagna soup for the first time {thanks, emily!}
chickens...




last but not least...

being asked to do engagement photos.

Saying I am "excited" would definitely be an understatement. I am beyond thrilled, ecstatic, happy!

Do you have any favorites? Be sure to link up at Rachel's blog!



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9/14/11

imagine.

 
   Our minds are a very odd, very mysterious part of the human body.





Our minds are a necessity. We need them in order to do things.

Our minds are what tell us the answers to things...





tell us if we do not like something...



Our minds are what choose who we spend the rest of our lives with,
our friends,
what we like and what we don't like,
our mood,
our cravings
what we want to eat...







they are what decide our morals,
if we want to go to sleep,
what we want to do,
what music we listen to,

our minds are what create imagination.


Our imaginations are what give us ideas.
they give us ideas about what types of materials to combine to form a masterpiece...




devices to create,
house design layouts,
patterns to use for sewing,
songs to compose,
graphic designing,
photo editing,
what to name children,
books to write...

What causes our minds work like this? How are we able to think up these crazy, insane ideas and do something with them?

Because when God created us, that is what He intended. He is who constructed our minds to work the way they do.

'Nuff said.
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14







9/12/11

miscellany musings

  It seems that all I have been posting on this here little blog are random musings. I know, pathetic, right? I will try my best to post some things other than the miscellaneous {I have many ideas floating about in my brain, no worries}.

Anyway, I am linking up with the lovely Carissa's miscellany monday...


one

  Notice anything different about Bella Vita? Yes, I totally switched back to the design that Bree did. Honestly, I really missed the whole teal and grey theme she had going on. I will admit, I hated the whole sidebar header. I just wanted to join the fad and be like everybody else.



two

Little Milo is just growing up so fast. *sniff*



three

Me, myself, and I {aka my stupid sisters and me}




four

One of the sweetest little faces I have ever seen. She reminds me of Shirley Temple with a narrower face.




five

This week has been my best school week! Everything went very smoothly. Thank you all for the prayers. God is good!

six

I keep getting emails informing me that I've won a free sandwich. (?)

seven

I have my first little photography job tomorrow! Now it is not a paying job which I am TOTALLY fine with. I am just happy that I have been asked to do some pictures! I will be photographing four girls who all have been adopted {and may I say, they are all precious!}.



Have any musings or random thoughts? Feel free to link up!

Miscellany Monday @
lowercase letters

p.s. just to clarify, I am not a triplet. I just overlayed three photos of myself to be silly. :)

7/8/11

Bliss

is...

babysitting li li, lisa, and Caroline with an awesome friend...



baking cupcakes...



listening to two girls fighting in Chinese ;)...



breanna {in her element} filling cupcakes with peanut butter...



snickers {the puffy dog} relaxing...



energy abounding...



playing the wii...



or the nintendo DS...



finally getting caroline and li li to smile...









what does "Bliss" mean to you?