Saturday Morning (Afternoon) Laundry

It's a wonderful Saturday afternoon at my parents house. What to do? Well, i did my nails (see picture above), laundry and i'm planning to help my mom make dinner after she's done skyping (yes she can use skype) with her cousin in Germany.  All this while watching the Giants kick some MAJOR Dodger booty. It's a nice relaxing afternoon thus far. 

I've also spent this afternoon thinking about what on earth to do with life. Do you ever feel like your brain isn't being stimulated? You don't have enough hobbies? Since I've graduated from college I've been struggling with not feeling... useful? useful probably isn't the right word, but I guess I just miss learning and stimulating my brain on a daily basis, learning new things and being interested in new topics or ideas. This has led me to think about what i'm interested and what I would want to do on the creative side of things.

I read Angel Babies, Paint and Cookies and Lola's Bohemian Rain on a daily basis. I know Hannah and Alexa and they are both extremely creative people. They both create such amazing pieces of art and it's really inspiring to see it all play out. Reading their blogs makes me want to paint. It's something that I was always interested in, but I never thought I had the talent. Painting seems so relaxing and therapeutic.

Music has always been a big thing in my life, I'm sure it is in yours too. When I was younger I played the piano and I've been wanting to pick it up again. Sometimes I beat myself up about giving it up. When I was younger I didn't want to practice or put time into it. I wish my parents forced me to do it. I would be so grateful for it now. 

Working out is another "hobby" that I need to keep up with. It's SO hard to get back into a routine when you get sick or go on vacation. After a recent sickness I find myself being lazy and wanting to watch movies all day. I just need to get up and motivate myself. It's so much easier when you have a friend to work out with. 

That's about where I am with ideas. Of course I want to continue with photography, that's a given. I have a few project ideas on that front, but I want to do more. Any ideas? What do you do to stimulate your brain? Any good hobbies I could try?

Defending World Champs SF Giants Opening Day

Black Orange and Cream

Congrats San Francisco Giants! You are our defending world champs! The entire city is routing you on, you have a power house behind you. There ain't no stoppin us now baby! I wish you the best for this season and am looking forward to attending a few games. Happy Opening Day SF Giants, BEAT LA!

In honor of today, here's a beyond amazing rendition of Don't Stop Believin' - Giants style. Go Team Go!!

It's a Hell of a Town! Part Three

On to day three! Day two in NYC was hard to top, so we decided to sleep in and make our way out of the room by 1pm. We made our morning Starbucks stop and then headed out to the MoMA.

Now, there are a ton of things that I don’t understand about modern art. I can look at a piece hanging on the gallery wall and I usually think it pretty or interesting, but often I think to myself, “I could make that.” Is that wrong? I mean, I could just hang a keyboard on the wall and call it art? Don’t get me wrong, the majority of the pieces in the museum are truly beautiful art and as an artist myself I appreciate them, but there are seriously some things I just don’t understand. Maybe I’m naïve. Here were two of my favorite peices from the day...

My favorite part of the MoMA was the Andy Warhol video exhibit. Basically, there are videos of people looking into a camera. It sounds dull, but I felt like I could have lain on the floor of that gallery for hours and watched each video over and over to try and figure out what they were thinking. Each video made its own presence in the gallery.

Monroe at the Andy Warhol exhibit 

Elvis at Adny Warhol

After the MoMA we had some time to kill before meeting up with Kayla’s cousins for dinner, so we walked to Grand Central Station to people watch. That place really is a sight for sore eyes. There is always movement and motion and never a dull moment. I tend to enjoy the occasional people watching, so this was a fun pit stop for me. It makes you wonder where people are in a hurry to get to or why they aren’t in a hurry. Where do all these people go to every day? It’s really fascinating.



On the way to Grand Central




Grand Central Station

 A long day of watching people/art/videos made us thirsty, so we decided to grab a drink. We stopped at a nearby bar for a few beers and then headed back to the hotel to change for dinner with Kayla’s cousins and our friend Ashley. We took our first subway ride to Pio Pio, aka the BEST Peruvian food I’ve ever had in my life. The only downfall was we waited an hour past our reservation to finally get seated. The upside was we sipped on sangria until the table was finally ready. Dinner was worth the wait and our tummies were filled with delight after the meal. We also made up for our wait but taking all the mints from the bowl at the host stand, girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!!



Dinner at Pio Pio

 What’s the point of being in NYC if you don’t go out, right? In San Francisco everything closes at 2AM, but in NYC its 4AM! After dinner we took a cab to Greenwich Village. Don’t ask me the names of the places that we went to, but it was so much fun! Kayla’s cousin was in charge of where to go and we ended up (unintentionally) going to lesbian night at some bar. Hilarious!! I mean, you think SF lesbians are butch, go to NYC. Most of the chicks had cornrows, baseball caps and dress shirts on with baggy jeans. We ended up settling in with this nice group of girls, drank and danced the night way!

The next stop was the complete opposite of the previous bar. This was filled with dudes, and most of them were assholes. Let’s just say that a San Francisco Giants fan should NOT walk into Yankee territory without a warning. I ended up having to walk away from a conversation because this guy couldn’t believe we won and blah blah blah. He was talking some mad shit. It was a complete waste of my time. After that I pretty much stuck to hanging out with the girls and laughed at all the desperate men in the room. It was pretty sad. We had fun keeping to ourselves and bugging the DJ to play songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “any AC/DC song” until he gave in and played “Anyway You Want It” because “Don’t Stop Believin’” bothered him too much. Silly man…

The night was close to an end we stayed out till around closing time and headed back to the hotel for a night cap and some pizza. Our night on the town was interesting and an all around good time!

2010 Recap

So, it’s the end of the year and that means it’s time to look back at 2010! What I accomplished and how I felt about the year over all. I’ll be honest. I had the WORST New Years Eve to date, so I was a little scared that 2010 was going to suck. Thankfully, it turned around. So, here’s a nifty list of what I did in 2010:

1.   I Graduated from College: This is pretty big. When I started making this list I didn’t even realize how amazing this was. I’m a college graduate! That’s something to be very proud of. Not only did I graduate, but I also have a full time job that I’m very thankful for. To anyone else out there that graduated this year, congratulations!!


My parents and I at Graduation

2.   I Moved Out: Yes, I graduated from college and moved out of my parent’s house. All this happened in a matter of two months or so.  I love my parent’s, but I couldn’t be happier living with my boyfriend. I love being able to decorate my own way, not worry about coming home late, watching the TV as loud as I want. It’s the little things that count.

3.   I Traveled to the East Coast: Once for vacation and again for a wedding. All I have to say is Lola Rain. She has always been an inspiration to me and we are always creating things together. Visiting Lola was one of the highlights of my year.

4.   I Went to My First Wedding: My friends Alex and Alexa got married in Vermont in October. It was, of course, the wedding of the century. It was so peaceful and personal. I cried like a baby during the ceremony and the entire trip was a blast. This was my first trip to the beautiful state of Vermont. And my first airplane trip with my boyfriend.  This leading into anther first from the trip…

5.   I Saw Snow for the First Time!!!! Thank you Vermont for my First Snow. Yes, this is true, I’m lame. Never been to Tahoe in the winter, therefore had never seen snow before.  Snow Fall is magical.

6.   I was “ALMOST” killed in McDonald’s. Ok, I’m over exaggerating, but since this incident I’ve never ever gone back to that McDonalds.  It is right around the corner from my office. I was on my lunch break and wanted somewhere quiet to read my book (I think I was reading “New Moon” and it was a sign for me to stop reading that awful book).  This McDonald’s is two stories. Upper level seating only. It is very long and narrow. I’m sitting upstairs, reading my book, DIDN’T EVEN ORDER ANYTHING, and suddenly I hear from downstairs, “He has a gun, he has a gun!!! Put your hands up!!!!” followed by a bunch of shuffling. I’m a little shaken up and I couldn’t see what the hell was happening below me. I build up enough courage to walk down the stairs and the place is SWARMING with police officers. There were undercover police, at least five cop cars outside and a bunch of officers in uniform. I think it turned out to be the bum that is always sitting outside. Naturally, I run back to my office and told everyone. That was the highlight of that week.

7.   I Attended My First Baby Shower: This was followed by a second baby shower only a month later. My friend Serena broke my baby shower cherry. It was by far the most fun baby shower I’ve ever been to (well because it was my first). It was an old family friends and I got to see some familiar faces. The food was amazing and the games were so much fun. My mom and I drank a ton of wine and had a blast. This baby shower was followed by my friend Rachel’s baby shower. I’ve know Rachel since we attended good old St. Cecilia. I also got to see a lot of people I haven’t seen in a long time at this shower  and had a great time catching up. This also leads into my first friend that had a baby. Serena’s baby girl Gia is the best baby ever! I can’t wait to meet Rachel’s baby boy Bentley.

8.   I Stuck with My Man though his…. “Vacation”: Let’s just say that my boyfriend was sent away for a few months the end of last year and the beginning of this year. We stuck together though it. It was hard, but well worth it. I wouldn’t have done it any other way.

9.   I got a Netflix Account: Dear Netflix, you have made my life 3,000 times better. Mainly because I get to watch movies like, “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia” which is the craziest white trash movie you will EVER watch. Seriously. This shit will change your life. Thank you Netflix Instant for giving me movies when I want them. And Thank you Brenda for that great movie suggestion!

10. I Baked, and Baked, and Baked some more: That’s right. No wonder I put on the pounds in 2010. I baked cupcakes like nobody’s business! Martha Stewart, I love you.

Ginger and Molasses Cupcakes

Maragrita Cupcakes

DAL Themed Cupcakes for November Birthdays

World Series Themed Cupcakes!!

11. The San Francisco Giants Won The World Series: That’s right people. You heard it here first! The Giants won the series and no one thought they could do it. A Big Congratulations to my team! You did it! Now, let’s get them Niners on the same track, the Warriors would be nice too. The highlight of this win? Seeing Steve Perry (Journey) at the parade!!!

Stever Perry!!

Huff Daddy and the Rally Thong

12. Portraits: Photography wise, this was a year of portraits for me. I’ve really tried to get behind the lens as often as possible and plan out projects. I really love taking photographs of people and really getting to know my subject. Here are some of my favorites that weren't in my Top 10 post...

Victoria

Erik and Cynthia

Cecilia Elena

even a self portrait!

Wow! I feel like I accomplished a lot this year. At first I thought this list was short, like I hadn’t done anything, but I did a lot! I’m finally done with college and moved out. This year was a big transitional year for me. I went from college student to adult in a matter of months. I’ll say,  I like adult hood a lot better than college life. I’m a lot freer to do what I want and it’s a lot less stressful. Thank You 2010 for being a great year!

Five Favorite Posts of 2010

I really enjoy making lists, can you tell? I made a Top 10 Portrait List and you will soon get a “resolution” list as well as a 2010 recap list. So, look forward to seeing more lists from me in the future.  Speaking of lists, here are my five favorite blog posts in 2010. I started blogging in August, so it’s not a whole years worth to choose from, but still a decent amount. Anyways, here it goes:

5.  Symmetry: I really love this photo of the Brooklyn Bridge. I took this back in 2009 and the symmetry still resides in my mind. This was my first trip to New York! The photo is a great way to remember the experience. Speaking of New York, I’ll be leaving for the big apple in a week!! Time to start making lists of what to bring and all the things I want to accomplish/see on the trip.

4. Orange October: This is one of two favorite San Francisco Giants related posts. Now, keep in mind we were still in the playoffs when all these shenanigans were going on. The cupcakes, the pumpkins, the pride… I think the support really made the World Series win possible.

3. Serena and Gia: This is something I’ve very proud of. This was my first time photographing Serena and my first maternity shoot. Everything turned out even better than I could have imagined. Thanks Serena!

2. Lola Rain, the Model: Now, you know that I love Lola Rain, so of COURSE she is going be somewhere in my top list. I love Lola Rain as an artist and as a model, but her modeling skills really inspire me to take amazing photographs. Her expression and ease around the camera make a picture a photo.

1. 2010 San Francisco Giants World Series Parade:  This is hands down my favorite post of the year. This is one moment that I will never forget. The thrill and pride that one city can have for a team is unbelievable. Maybe I’m bias, but I believe that San Francisco has the best fans in the country, maybe the world. :)

Are these your favorite Natalie Schlegel Photography Posts?!

The Ochoa Kids

There is no better gift for your parents then a family portrait. What more could they ask for then a well captured moment of their kids? Especially as kids grow up and move out it’s nice to see them all in the same place. This wonderful family right here is my good friend Brenda and her siblings Erik, Cynthia and Edwin. What’s better than a day at the ball park? Well, The Ochoa’s love their baseball, so this ended up being the best location for our little photo adventure. More photos of the Ochoa’s coming soon!

2010 San Francisco Giants World Series Parade

That's right people. Unless you live in a hole, you should know that the San Francisco Giants have won the World Series. Well, they came home to a magical city with amazing fans ready to celebrate their win. The parade was OUT OF CONTROL. I mean, Montgomery Street has never been so alive. White and orange confetti was falling from the sky non-stop and the streets were painted orange and black. It was Magical. The city really came together. Here are some of my favorite shots from the day. More photos are available to view on my Flickr.

People Looking from their office buildings.

Lou Seal!!



MOTHER FUCKING STEVE PERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Man Bruce

Ross the Boss

Huff Daddy and the Rally Thong

BUMBUM! I love him. Some people say my boyfriend looks like him :)

TIMMY

Confetti left behind

All the confetti was left behind after everyone cleared the street.

Oh, and one last note. I could NOT be happier that the parade went right in front of my office. I have never been more thankful to work on Montgomery Street. OHH and the highlight of the parade for me?!? Steve Perry! DUUHHH! If you don't know that I'm a Journey fan, you know now. :)

LETS GO GIANTS!!!

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants!! I'd like to think that my cupcakes and pumpkin carvings helped support my team and help make them the WORLD CHAMPS! I'm soo excited for the parade tomorrow! I'm bringing my camera to work so hopefully I'll get some pics up for you guys! Go Team Go!!!! Woot Woot!!!!

Orange October

UgH!! I've been horrible lately! I haven't posted since October 1st? Shame on me. Life has been busy. Work has been busy since it's the end of the quarter, I traveled to Vermont for a wedding and, most importantly, THE GIANTS ARE IN THE WORLD SERIES!! This is serious stuff people. I've been glued to the TV and have been engulfed in Giants fever. Phrases like, “Fear the Beard”, “Let Timmy Smoke” and “Giants Baseball: Torture” have been spilling out of my mouth all month long. It’s been a thriller and we are only 2 games away!!

So, in honor of the magnificent San Francisco Giants, I have devoted my Halloween activities to the Giants and Orange October. First off, My friend Brenda is a DIE hard Giants fan. I mean, no one loves the Giants like her. So, I went to her house to help her and her siblings carve pumpkins and we HAD to dedicate our pumpkins accordingly. This is the result.

Also, her lovely younger sister carved a scary, mean face. Appropriate? Yes, because we are going to scare those Texans far, far away.  

Other Halloween activities that turned into Giants mania? CUPCAKES!!

Here are a few of my favorites up close and personal...

LET TIMMY SMOKE!!!

FEAR THE BEARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, they are amazing. Enough Said. A few girl friends came over for a Glee/Cupcake decorating party. It was magical and the results couldn’t have been better. Well I hope you all enjoyed this long post! I feel like I had to make up for lost time. I will be trying to post more photos soon! Oh, and as always, more photos are viewable on my Flickr.