Let me Introduce Myself! (Feel Good Blogging Challenge Day 1)

I've started a blogging challenge and technically, I was supposed to start yesterday, but it's better late than never. Right?

Our first "assignment" is to do an introduction. It's been so long since I've blogged here, I'm not sure if I've done this or not, but now is as good as time as any. There are questions we are to answer, so here we go....

1. Who are you? My name is Sabrena. I'm a woman, mom, creative, educator and motivator. And I have a devilish sarcastic nature. hehehe (in as good way that devilish can be)

2. Why did you start blogging? I started blogging YEARS ago on another platform and different blog name. I started it because others were doing it and I thought I'd try it. I kept doing it off and on to chronicle my life and be a source of motivation for others.

3. Who is your blog for? Right now, my blog is for me. I have to be honest. I'm not blogging right now to sell things, stake my claim on the world or anything profound. If it helps others or gives people a good laugh, that's a bonus. But right now, in this time and in this space, I'm doing it for me.

4. What's something you've been working on lately that you're really proud of? I've been working HARD on my company Ealy Films! For about 6 months I've been pouring my heart into my film company that focuses on weddings and small creative businesses that need a brand film. I'm working on relaunching my photography business as well as a design company (all three will fall under one umbrella), but for now, Ealy Films gets my attention.

5. What's the one message you want people to take away from your blog when they visit it? This is who I am. I'm quirky as hell. I cuss. I tend to tetter (I guess I spelled that wrong because I see a red line, but alas, so what... you know what I mean) between traditional and spastic. I'm a conservative creative, but not so conservative in the ways you might think. I'm mouthy. I'm wordy. I joke a lot. I'm embracing being my total uncensored self. I titled this blog Simply Sabrena, because I needed an outlet to be me. So, here ya go. It's me. Sabrena. HOLLLLLLLAAAAA!!!!!!

If you're interested in being a part of the Feel Good Blogging Challenge by Alex Beadon, go NOW! I think almost 1,000 people have joined. Can't beat having so many folks on your team. And don't let you not having a blog stop you. Just start. That's usually all it takes. Just starting. As of writing this blog post, not many of my links work and if they do, they might point to incorrect stuff. Do I care? Nope. Why? Because I'm starting. And that's really all that matters.

My top 10 (lately)

It's been a while. Yeah. I know. Why? Who knows? All I know is that I'm ready to be back to blogging. I'm not sure if this blog will take on it's original format of all cutesy and curated and sweet and shat, but I needed a place to come back to and record my thoughts. I needed a place to be private, but not so private. Meaning, I don't need to broadcast that I'm writing, but I need a place for people to see me. Yes, that's really crazy to think about. It makes no real sense to me as I wrote it, but, it's how I feel.

So, what I'm going to do moving forward is really clear away the clutter. Figure myself and my desires out a lot more. I feel like I'm being drawn to a more simplistic way of life, yet, I'm steadily moving in a manner that's nothing like that. So, I need a place to unwind and be me.  I need a place to gather my thoughts and figure shit out. This will be it.

Some things I have going on right now are:
1. Just got into filming video. I'm loving it. But getting this website up is pissing me off. Why? Because I just don't want to do it. BUT, I know I need to.

2. Moving. I've been living at my mom's place for a year now. It's time to go. My money is funny, but I can't keep living here. I was supposed to move back in late fall but a water break ended that dream. Now, I was suppose to move this weekend, but the last tenant needs until the end of the month, so another dream delayed. UGGGGGHHHHH! I think there is a conspiracy to keep me living here forever! NOT! lol

3. I decided I want to go back into Higher Ed. I miss it so much! I recently applied to a job that, if all goes well will get me back in the door.  I think I like having a 9-5 that has guaranteed money, but that offers flexibility to run my own business on the side.

4. Photography. My photography has shaped and shifted so much over the years. I've finally realized I just don't enjoy photography for clients in the traditional sense anymore. So now, I'm going to photograph in a way that I enjoy. Stop putting myself in that damn box and just shoot.

5. Love life. Don't have one. Moving on.

6. Hand lettering. Ok- this is new. When I got into design, it was purely because I could no longer stand dishing out dollars for shit I knew I could do myself. So, I started designing and from there, fell in love with typography. That love turned into a love of hand lettering. I haven't done much of it, YET, but it's coming. I want to do prints derived from my hand lettering with brush script and calligraphy. I also want to make scripted tats from one of those approaches.  I think I've finally settled on using Twizted Arrow for that. I've been holding on to that name for so long, not knowing what to do with it. I thought It would be a lifestyle blog, my photog company, and now this. Hopefully, it will find it's home sooner than later.

7. My son. He's getting bigger and bigger and I'm growing prouder and prouder. He's finally getting that relationship with his dad that I always hoped for, but sometimes it makes me sad. Only because in some ways, he's pulling away. I try not to take it personal, because it isn't. It's him getting things from a man, his father, that I simply can't give him. So as he grows into the young man he's becoming, I have to know that he will always find his way back to my loving arms. My hugs. My kisses. My love.

8. Pink. Ok this one is HUGE for me. I'm a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and for the longest, I've despised the color pink because of my ties. It's stupid, but true. I also think it's because I'm just not that girly. lol  Recently, I've started embracing the color and I will be using it in different shades and forms throughout my works and business. My how time changes things! lol

9. Social media. I'm growing tired of fb, but LOVING instagram. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be using fb bc I need to pull away from it. It's wreckless, at best, for me.  If I post here my thoughts, etc. I really wont need it anymore. I will keep it for business for sure, but personally.... ehhhhhhh.

10. Running. I'm in my second week getting into running. I can't believe it! I never thought I'd be a runner or like it. I'm still very new, but I am enjoying it more. I hope that it will last and that through it, I can regain my health, figure and free spiritedness.

So.... that's my top 10 (lately).  I'll post more about more stuff later. Until then.

#twofangas

5 Photography Must Haves

My first passion as an artist has been and always will be photography.  It kind of fell in my lap years ago and I realized I'm actually pretty good at it.  As the photography world changes and the ability to do so much with camera phones and DSLR's continues, there are some MUST HAVES for me in the future.  Below are 5 of them that I'm definitely getting and exploring with at some point this year (especially the phoneography ones, because I SUCK at phone photography lol).

1. Instax mini instant camera: Think #tbt of today.  This is reminiscent of a polaroid camera that gives you an instant picture.  It's smaller and gives smaller prints.  For a gal like me who grew up with polaroids and miss film but not ready to toss my DSLR, this is perfect.  Plus, my son can have a go at it along beside me. WIN!
2. Glass Diana + Lens: I LOVE the look and feel of film. However, I don't love the feel of how much a film camera will cost me right now, plus I prefer to see what I'm getting right away.  Yeah, the mix of two worlds.  This lens makes that possible for a gal like me.
3. Pocket reflector: I'm a natural (and available) light photographer.  I love the look and feel that natural light gives and can work with the available light that I'm given. There are times, though that a reflector is necessary but I refuse to carry my pro size around.  This is PERFECT for a daily take around and appeals greatly to my simplistic nature.
4. Photojojo iPhone AND Android lens series: Since I just migrated to an Android (oh how I miss my iPhone), this lens kit caught my eye.  AND they have 2 new lenses added to the bunch!
5. Phoneography starter kit: If you're like me and you want to take your phone photos a bit more seriously, this is a great way to start.

Note:  This post focuses on products from Photojojo.  I am not being paid from this post, it's just a store I like for photog stuff.

My Work: Photography

This series is from a shoot I did in Nashville, TN back in September.  I was there for a photography conference (more on that later) and was in a break out session about videography.  While learning, I decided to get some stills.  Below are some of those shots.  If you're ever interested in checking out my portfolio of work (in the stages of starting it over with my new style), check it out here.  Here's the beautiful Daisy for you to view....