Sometimes, you just want to lose cell phone reception for a while.

Last weekend I headed up into the mountains on one of our favorite drives in the Colorado Springs area – you can make the round trip in an afternoon which makes it a great spontaneous getaway.

It has pluses for both Cory and I – he has hills where he can take his guns out and shoot, I have beautiful views of Pike’s Peak and lovely dirt roads to shoot with my camera.

There are also loads of campsites – we haven’t actually used them for camping, but we have had a picnic or two.  (no facilities or anything, these campsites are basically a permissible parking space from the looks of things)

Side note – I tried editing these in color – and it’s interesting that I really do enjoy a lot of color in my art and life (take this pinterest board or this one as an example) but for some reason, photography always hits me most in black and white.  Not sure why – but I mean c’mon, just take a look at an Ansel Adams piece or two, and you will be smitten too.  I’m sure it also helped that my first camera was an old Minolta, for a high school photography class where we developed our own film (you guessed it, black and white).

As far as the road conditions go, I have made the drive in my little Jetta before, but especially in the wintertime I’d recommend something with four wheel drive – they don’t maintain the roads so it can get icy.

If you’re driving up from Colorado Springs, the road begins in Garden of the Gods park, just before you get to Balanced Rock.  If you’re driving down from Woodland Park, look for the road right behind the McDonald’s.  Personally, I prefer driving down (WP to the Springs) but it’s pretty either way.  You definitely want to stop along the way for views like this:

With our busy schedules (full time jobs, full time school, family, volunteer work: many of you know the drill), escaping for long periods is a rare luxury.  But getting out of touch with reality for even a few hours is so worth the good things it does for your soul.  To quote one of my favorite movies lately (UP!):

“Adventure is out there!”

Your turn: what are some of your favorite escapes in your area?

 

(All images taken by me, Annabelle Needles, copyright 2011/2012 – please don’t use without permission)

Filed in:Everyday Adventure | Travel

I think the New Year comes at the perfect time – pretty much everyone could use an extra dash of motivation and inspiration to make it through the bleak grayness of winter ahead.  Motivation in winter can be hard: it’s cold, the hours of sunlight are unfairly short (but we’re on the upswing now, hooray!), and days are often grey and dreary.  Spring, with it’s freshness and color, seems so far away.  So I’m pretty sure the New Year is a perfect solution.  I always get a burst of motivation to finish an old project or get started on a new one, to make every moment count, to start living my dreams – and there seem to be less distractions in the winter-y void between Christmas to Easter.

So even if you’re one of those people who makes plans and then abandons them at the slightest hint of warmer weather, take heart.

For me, the New Year isn’t so much a time to implement new laws that will govern me and tie me to a certain regimen; rather, it’s a time where I can reflect on the year that has past and dream bigger for the year that’s to come.  It’s a time to look at the habits and patterns I have created and perform some tweaking and maintenance for the future.  It’s like an oil change or an annual physical – to make sure everything is running smoothly and to take action before huge problems arise.  This is the stuff that’s going to last the whole year – and small steps eventually lead to big ones.

So, what tweaks am I making this year? Here is the basic plan:

SIMPLICITY: I need to take more “me-time” to keep stress and emotional exhaustion in check – this includes getting enough sleep, cutting back on electronic-time, and doing just-for-fun things.

CREATIVITY: I am happier and more fulfilled when I get this stuff out of my system, and I know it’s part of my calling to do so – journalling, painting, songwriting, photography – I’m sanctioning a no-pressure no-excuses creative explosion!

BRAVERY: I am ready to take some chances and dream a little bigger this year – and stop limiting myself with the fear of failure or rejection.  Big things are going to happen in 2012!

So there you have it – my theme for 2012.  I’ll be going into a little more detail over the course of January about what each of these values means to me, and how I’m looking to implement them in my life.

 

Did you make specific New Year’s resolutions? Or do you stick with a general theme/sentiment?

Filed in:Inspiration
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  • 2012: Creativity | Beautiful GeometryJanuary 26, 2012 - 3:34 pm

    […] still January, so we’re still talking resolutions and my three themes for 2012.  Last week, I shared about Simplicity, and this week we’re looking at theme […]ReplyCancel

  • 2012: Bravery | Beautiful GeometryFebruary 1, 2012 - 2:54 pm

    […] resolutions (yes, it’s February first – don’t tell me you have given up already?) and my three themes for 2012. I’ve already talked about Simplicity and Creativity – so here comes the last (and […]ReplyCancel

This blog is about creativity and inspiration.  And few could argue that we lost one of the great visionaries and creative minds of our time yesterday – Steve Jobs.

There are many things that I can take away from words I’ve heard Mr. Jobs speak over the years about his life and career.  That no failure, even a seemingly great and insurmountable one, is truly impossible to recover from.  That to live a creatively daring life is worthwhile.  That following your heart is important, and so is filling your work with passion.  That you may not understand everything when you’re going through it, but looking back – you can see the dots connecting to take you right to where you are.

Of all the things you could say about Steve Jobs, whether you like Apple or not, this must be said – and I hope can one day be said of me – he left the world a different place for being here.  He literally changed the way many people do life.  And that right there is creative genius if I’ve even seen it.

I hung this little reminder in my office today, and then photographed it with my iPhone to share with all of you.  I hope it is an appropriate tribute.

Filed in:Inspiration
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  • Dawnell ConnellyOctober 7, 2011 - 12:30 pm

    Annabelle: Awesome thoughts. It is a great reminder to us all–live the life God called you to live. HIS creative genious will see you through–all the way from start to finish!ReplyCancel

    • Annabelle MintzOctober 7, 2011 - 12:37 pm

      It’s so true – how often do we follow others when we should be following Him! Thanks for sharing! 🙂ReplyCancel

When you get wrapped up in a string of dreary days, it’s always good to have some go-to rut-busters, things that will rejuvenate you and make you smile.  This is one of my favorites.

Take a walk as the sun goes down.

There is something about the evening air and the golden light just before sunset that is just perfect.  This is one of my favorite times, whether gardens are in bloom, leaves are changing, or snow crunches under our feet as my husband and I meander along.

Take time to dream a little.  Take time to notice the world around you – the sights and smells of the ever-changing seasons.  Take time to reconnect, away from the computer screen and with the ones you love most.

This stuff is tried and true – if nothing else sparks my inspiration, simply a quick walk in the evening time usually does the trick.

Filed in:Inspiration

Well, I had to wait a while to post this one JUST to make sure – it seems totally unreal! But…

It’s finally official. After several weeks of waiting, the final papers have been signed and Husband has his freedom from the Army!

I had no concept of the sacrifices soldiers and their families make everyday until I fell in love with one, but I will never ever forget.  I am so thankful for those who continue to serve and for the families who continue to stand by them.  In my mind, it’s not about politics, but about people – people willing to work hard for something bigger than themselves, and even to die for it.  The sacrifice blows my mind. How so many die and so many are ungrateful or unaware.

My dearest soldiers, thank you.  We can never tell you enough.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Sketch in sharpie and colored pencil, with a little help from George Lundeen

Husband and I are ready for a new chapter of civilian life – a new adventure, full of its own challenges, to be sure.  I may no longer be an Army wife, but Husband will always be my soldier.  I am so proud of everything he does to serve God, serve his country, and serve his family.

Lucky duck, I am.

Filed in:Life

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