BBL 2014-2014 | Picnic, Farmers Market, and Payson

#7 GO ON A PICNIC
#25 VISIT A FARMERS MARKET
#27 VISIT PAYSON, ARIZONA

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

Normally I wouldn't group these three times together, since they aren't necessarily related; however, my awesome hubby knew that I was struggling to complete my BBL items this year so he planned a birthday get away trip that included these things. So, I thought it would be fitting to combine them into a single post.

I added going on a picnic to my list simply because I can't remember ever going on a picnic as an adult and I really think it is something everyone should do at least once.

I added visiting a farmers market to my list because I've never been to one, and I wanted to check one out and see what all the hype is about.

I added visiting Payson to my list because I have a friend who grew up there and she has been telling me that I needed to check it out.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

Yes, yes, and yes.  I really had an amazing time doing all of these things and I can't thank Kevin enough for making them happen.

The details...

Kevin and I rented a cabin in Payson, Arizona to celebrate my birthday.  While we were there he took me to a farmers market, where we purchased a few items and I tried my first tamale ever.  Then later in the afternoon we packed a picnic and headed off to enjoy it at a nearby park.  I've already blogged about it in a special Snippets + Snapshots addition here, so head on over to that post if you want to read more about it and see some photos from our trip.  But since I'm a bit OCD, I really needed to add this post to my Birthday Bucket List accomplishments for the year.

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
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© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Remove Everything From My Closet That Doesn't Make Me Feel Beautiful

#34 REMOVE EVERYTHING FROM MY CLOSET THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL BEAUTIFUL

Why did I include these on my Bucket List?

I saw this on someone's 101 in 1001 list and thought it was an amazing idea. I'm guilty of holding on to clothes much longer than I should.  I have things in my closet that are old, out of style, no longer fit, were bad purchases from the start, and/or remind me of periods in my life that I'd rather forget.  I feel awful whenever I wear these items, so they just hang there year after year, yet I refuse to get rid of them.  I know that I feel so much better about everything when I feel good about my appearance.  That should be reason enough to commit to cleaning these items out of my closet.  But if I did need another reason, just dreaming of all that extra space was enough to tip me over the edge and add this item to this year's list.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

It wasn't a ton of fun cleaning my closet or trying on all my clothes, and it was especially depressing to see just how many clothing items no longer fit me because I've gained quite a bit of weight over the last 4 years, but it does feel great to have an organized closet and to know that every item in it is something I can put on and feel good in.  (Except for the sweat pants and t-shirts, but come on now, I wasn't about to get rid of my kickin it at home comfy clothes!)

The details...

I spent three full days cleaning out my closet.  I took everything out of it, cleaned every surface, tried on every. single. item. and decided what to do with it.  If it was something that fits and I still like it, I put it back in my closet.  If it was an item that I no longer like or if it was old and worn out, I donated it.  If it was something that no longer fits and I no longer like it, I donated it.  If it was an item that no longer fits, but I still love it, I kept it.  If I'm successful in my exercise and healthier eating lifestyle changes, I'm hoping to lose some weight and maybe the items will fit soon. If not, I will donate them when I revisit them in a few months.

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Share Some Warm Fuzzies {4 in 1}

#2 TELL SOMEONE THAT THEY INSPIRE ME
#3 TELL SOMEONE THAT I ADMIRE THEM
#14 WRITE A LETTER TO AN OLD FRIEND
#15 WRITE A LETTER TO A NEW FRIEND

Why did I include these on my Bucket List?

I decided to group all of these items together for this post since they all had the same motivation. I know how good it makes me feel when someone pays me a compliment or shares a few words with me about my importance in their life, and I wanted to do the same for others.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

It was better!  I was surprised by how happy everyone seemed to be to hear from me, and it made my heart happy to know that I was making others feel good.

The details...

Someone I know has been working her tail off to lose weight and get in shape, and she looks amazing.  I told her how much she is inspiring me to try to do the same.

One of my old friends is a rockstar!  She hasn't had the easiest life, and she has overcome so much.  She is one of the strongest people I know and I admire her so much.  I sent her a message telling her all of that and more.

I mailed a letter to my childhood best friend telling her how awesome she is and how thankful I am that I grew up with her by my side.

I mailed a letter to a new friend that I met back in the spring and told her how happy I am that I met her and how much I enjoy her friendship.

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Perform a Random Act of Kindness

#1 PERFORM A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I'm a pretty big believer in karma. I also just have a big heart and like to do nice things for people.  So I thought putting some good into the world in honor of my 40th birthday sounded like a good idea.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

It was fun deciding what to do as my random act of kindness, and I enjoyed imagining the surprise and joy of whoever finds it.

The details...

Since reading is one of my favorite past times and the library one of my favorite places, I decided to leave an envelope in one of my all time favorite books.  I explained that it was my 40th birthday and as one of the items on my bucket list I was doing a random act of kindness.  I added that I picked that particular book because it is one of my favorites and I said that I hope the person reading it enjoyed it as much as I did. I asked the person to spend the money on something they enjoy, then I signed and dated the note and added it to the envelope along with $40.

I'm sure I will be checking the book during future trips to the library and will be excited as soon as I see that someone has found it!

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

Self-Portrait | September 2014

Today is my 40th Birthday, and all I can think as I sit here and type this is 'Where has the time gone?' It seems like I just graduated from college a year or two ago!  I keep having this thought like maybe I counted wrong and I'm really turning 30.  That would feel a little more possible.  But 40?  No Way!

I expected to have a very difficult time with this birthday, especially considering how awful turning 30 was for me, but honestly turning 40 hasn't been that tough. Perhaps it is because my 30’s really weren't all that great and I'm ready to leave them behind. Now, don’t get me wrong. A lot of good things happened in my 30’s, but they were full of their fair share of disappointments, too. Overall, the decade just wasn’t what I hoped it would have been. I spent the first part of it depressed that I was no longer in my 20’s, the middle of it realizing that while I really wanted to be happy with where I was, I just wasn’t, and the end of it working feverishly toward a new life.

Basically, my 30’s just felt like a very long road between my 20’s and my 40’s. Turning 40 feels like an arrival. It feels like the start of something good. Something new. It feels like I am finally at a place where I've lived long enough to have learned the tough lessons necessary to start living life to it’s fullest. I've paid my dues and it’s time for that to start paying off. All I really want right now is to settle back into the routine of life and to start enjoying time with Kevin now that he is finally done with school.

I felt that a change was in order to welcome in this new decade of life, so I decided to enter my 40's as a brunette!  Here I am with my new hair color, relaxing in my favorite place in our backyard, ready to embrace whatever life has in store for me next...

Did you miss some of my past self-portraits?  Clicking here will take you to all of my self-portrait blog posts. Clicking here will take you to my self-portrait Facebook album.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC