Adventures of a Photo Junkie

It's been a long while. I know some of you may be wondering why I keep neglecting my blog. My usual reason is that I'm busy, which is true by the way, but I still haven't lost interest in blogging especially with photography. I am still very much in love with pictures. I just had a good reason to be out this time. Read along.

Anyway, it's been half a year that I'm living here in the eastern part of the US. I had my first Fall season here, then came the cold, harsh, Winter storms, and now it's Spring time! I'm seeing all the lovely flowers everywhere, and the cherry blossom trees too. They're my favorite by the way!

So, what have I done lately? Well, I traveled a couple of times last March for my birthday. First, my hubby and I went on a road trip to one of our favorite cities, Washington DC, to celebrate both of our birthdays there (yes, we were both March babies!). By the way, we will launch our travel blog soon. I'll keep you all posted.

After a week of coming back from DC, I traveled back to California to celebrate my birthday again, this time with my family. It was nice seeing them again after 3 months! My family moved to a new place and I fell in love with the location. Behind the house was a lovely view of the mountains. I wanted to go hiking in the mountains, but the weather had been crazy too. It rained a few times while I was there, and when it was a good day to go, I was either doing something or visiting families.

I only stayed one week, or 6 days to be exact. I didn't have much time to do a lot of things, but I spent a lot of time with my family. Good quality time. My sister and I spent time together baking cupcakes. Fun times. Yep!

Unfortunately, after all the good and fun times I had, I became sick. A couple of days before I left California, I started having headaches, cough and sore throat. I guess it was due to the sudden change of temperature or weather from east to west. Here in the east coast, we were still experiencing cold temperatures in March and when I arrived in California, the weather was nice, warm, and sunny. A couple of times, it rained hard too. Also, being on the plane could have made me sicker as well since it was a closed system. Just imagine how easily bacteria circulates inside the plane. Yes, I know it's gross.

So, when I arrived here in the east coast, I became sick with a flu. Then one night, as I was about to go to bed, I really felt so uncomfortable and had shortness of breath. I had to be rushed to the ER. In my entire healthy life, I have never been hospitalized nor rushed to the ER until that night. It turned out that I had an early case of pneumonia. As a child, I had asthma but I grew out of it. I never needed to be hospitalized. I was a tough, healthy girl. Also, when you work in this field, the last thing you would want is for you to become the patient. I hate being sick.

I am doing well now, thank God! I had to take rests from doing activities or travel especially we were still having a crazy weather here in the east. I'm glad it's starting to warm up now. I dislike it when I had been advised to take it easy and rest for a while. I'm the type of person that likes to be up and about. You can imagine how it was like for me not to be doing anything. Terrible! Well, I am being cautious now especially with my health. I have been paying attention to the weather now and been protecting myself from the cold, or rain. I've been doing a lot of exercise lately and I've been eating healthy. Your health is your wealth, as the saying goes.

So yes, I am making a comeback once again.

Life wouldn't be fun without pictures nor travel!

Let's start clicking, shall we?!?

Happy Mother's Day!

Confessions of a Travel Photo Junkie

"When I shop, the world gets better, and the world is better, but then it's not, and I need to do it again..." - Rebecca Bloomwood, Confessions of a Shopaholic

How many of you can relate to this statement? Well, at least I do, somehow! Anyway, I loved the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic. It's entertaining and we all can relate to it, especially if you love shopping and spending. Isla Fisher is so cute and did a good job portraying the shopaholic, Rebecca Bloomwood. I must admit, I've watched this movies so many times! I mean, come on, if you can relate to it, I'm sure you'll watch it over and over again!

Anyway, I've recently found out that in addition to filming the movie in New York, a few scenes were also filmed in Connecticut. I've found one of its filming locations in the state. The street is called Washington Street in South Norwalk, Connecticut. According to my research, the historic South Norwalk or Downtown SoNo is known for shopping, restaurants, museums, and the nightlife.

I took a few pictures of downtown SoNo. The place looks okay, it's small and a bit busy when we drove there. As you can see on the photos, the dirty snow on the side of the street made the place looked even smaller.

Now, I've tried to watch the movie a few times and pinpoint where exactly in this street a certain scene was shot. Although, I really couldn't tell, it looked familiar somehow.

There are a couple of more places where the movie was filmed in southern Connecticut. I am also aware that there are other movies shot in this state. Well, I'm pretty sure sooner or later I'll come across them. After all, I'm in for an adventure.

Washington Street, South Norwalk

Frozen Pond

As a result of the few blizzards that the northeastern part of the US endured this winter season, southern Connecticut was all covered with snow and the waters were frozen. The roads were slippery and wet, and yes, it was freezing cold outside. Because this is my first winter here in the east coast, I wouldn't want to miss any photos of the so called "winter wonderland!"

So, my hubby took me for a spin around town to see the aftermath of the snow storm and to take pictures. We saw a frozen pond near the beach where I have previously taken pictures of. Since it was freezing and I could not stand being outside any longer, I took these photos inside the car. There weren't any parking spots either since the whole place was covered with snow. So we managed to stop for a few min at the side of the road and there I went clicking with my camera. Funny thing is that I had to hurry clicking my camera and get our car out of the road since another car was right behind us. It turned out that the people inside the car were also taking pictures that it was following us. I guess they needed some guide where or what to take pictures. Oh well, at least they didn't follow us home!

I love how beautiful and white it looked outside.

Winter at the Beach

Going to the beach during the freezing winter time isn't something you would normally do, except if you want to catch a cold or take pictures. Well, I wanted to take pictures. Never mind getting sick! Actually, it was my hubby's idea to bring me to the beach. As a west coaster and a first timer to experience winter in the east coast, my hubby insisted on taking me to the beach to see how beautiful it is covered in snow (as a result of the blizzard a few days before). So, this was really an impromptu drive to the beach and I, who was so used to the west coast weather, was just wearing a sweater that day. I really thought we weren't really going to be outdoors that much and I had left my coat in our house. Oh my, let me tell you, it was freezing cold! Just like what my hubby tells me all the time, I was never prepared for anything. I even forgot my gloves. My hands were frozen and I couldn't even feel my ears. Yes, I forgot my hat too! As much as I wanted to stay out there for as long as I can take pictures, I had to rush back in the car. I couldn't last another minute out in the cold. Yup! I've learned my lesson to be prepared for the cold winter season. I had fun taking pictures though!

I love the trees...