I could not outrun them so I got tagged
May 2, 2008

Faith and Anna both tagged me to share 6 quirky things/habits that you might not already know. This was not hard and I'm sure there is plenty weirdness to be shared. Hopefully this will be somewhat entertaining - I always like knowing the less obvious about people : )

The rules:

* link to the person that tagged you
* post the rules on your blog
* share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
* tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
* let each random person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Here goes:

1. I looove drinking straws. In the midst of labor I was very concerned that Forest remembered the straws as we were heading to the birthing center. Heaven forbid I would have to drink my electrolytes straight from a cup. I actually don't like rims of glasses and to be honest, they kind of creep me out.

2. I have anxiety dreams a lot. I'm shooting a wedding next weekend and last night I dreamt that a) I didn't show up at the rehearsal, b) I forgot to rent equip. for my 2nd shooter, c) I didn't give her directions or tell her what time to arrive, and d) I wore jeans and the church lady at the catholic church wouldn't let me in to the ceremony. (Valerie, if you're reading this, DON'T WORRY! None of this will actually happen, but see how much I care about doing a good job? See you Friday!)

3. I have a habit of building a shoe pile outside my closet every week. They start out all stacked nicely on the racks, but after 7 days of figuring out what to wear it is chaos. This is because my shoe racks are behind my hanging clothes and it's just too much work to put them back. If you're looking at houses to buy or rent never believe yourself when the voice inside says having small closets will be no big deal. It will be a big deal and no matter how nice your pool is or how big your kitchen is you'll wish you had more closet space.

4. I like wearing makeup, but hate putting it on.

5. Hip hop/rap is my favorite genre of music. I love Tupac AND Biggie.

6. I'm very self conscious about my legs and do not own a pair of shorts. I've tried multiple times to purchase them, but once I get into the dressing room it's all over. I barely even wear skirts or dresses unless its to a fancy event and I have 4 inch heels on.

I'm not tagging anyone ( I know, what a party pooper), but there you go! Happy Friday to all.

Posted by raya 2:09 PM 0 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You

Meet me over at sfgirlbybay
March 26, 2008

I'm very excited to say I'm an Unexpected Guest over at sfgirlbybay today!

This is one of my favorite segments of Victoria's blog and I was so honored she asked me. She usually features fancy artists who actually have you know, work to show so I wasn't quite sure what she would do with me. But thanks to Flickr she found enough interestingness and I just love the diptics she put together. A photo can become so much more when placed next to another.

Thanks Victoria! I have a mojito chilling and a lounge chair with your name on it any time : )

Posted by raya 9:04 AM 10 comments Links to this post    

Labels: My Home, Nice to Meet You, rayaphotography

Checking In
February 25, 2008

Hi there! I'm still catching up on my 365 project posts...hopefully I'll get the rest up soon so that I can start just posting one a day. Coming up with an interesting photo every day is harder than I thought. I have to resist taking a million photos of his face 'cause it's so freakin' precious. But that would bore you all, so....

I'm trying to think of something else interesting to post today. I'm thinking it might be about fashion. All my mags arrived this week and for the first time in 9 months I'm actually excited to look at them because maybe I could wear something like what's in the photos. It's so weird to have my shirts hang loose again. I got so used to stretching them over my belly. I think this calls for a celebratory post about what I'd love to go out and buy.right.now.

Posted by raya 10:44 AM 4 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Nice to Meet You

The Paper Pony is One!
January 31, 2008

On January 31, 2007 I made my first post on this blog!

With encouragement from my good friend Faith I embarked on this new avenue of expression, sadly leaving our little family blog in the dust. It's hard to manage more than one blog! Sorry, thecarlisles.info - we'll start paying attention to you again when we have this baby I promise.

The Paper Pony has been so much fun - so much that I think I'm addicted : ) I am pretty lame with words so I will not try to write some poetic expression of what this blog has been for me. It would just sound silly. I will say that the many, many creative and talented people I've connected with because of this blog and flickr are amazing - I went for some time without using my creative side much and this has brought me back to doing what I really love most.

Thank you to all who read my blog and who have your own blogs through which I am inspired and entertained daily. I can't go a day without opening up Google Reader like, 20 times a day to see what you are all up to : )

Posted by raya 10:47 PM 4 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You

2008 :: Goals
January 18, 2008

On a drive home from LA last weekend Forest and I were talking about our goals for 2008. Not necessarily "resolutions" - I am never very good at making and keeping those - but rather long-term goals for the year.

Since we're having a baby this year we, especially me, know to set the bar low. I have no idea how being a mom and running a business is going to go and want to be realistic. So, with little fanfare here is my very small list of goals for 2008:

1. Grow my business by 50%. This might seem like a lot, but it's a really small business and this should be totally doable.

2. Open an Etsy shop. I want to keep it pretty focused - selling my paper on canvas collages and paper products printed with my Gocco. So many people do it and...I wanna play too!

3. Start a compost pile. Just because every time I cook and throw away scraps of vegetables I feel horribly guilty. We could reduce our waste by so much if we composted and maybe this would finally get me to learn something about gardening and stop my plant killing spree.

So now I've written them down and made them official. Scary. And now you know about them . Feel free to harass me if August comes around and I have still not announced the opening of my Etsy shop. I will thank you later : )

Posted by raya 5:30 PM 9 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, Nice to Meet You

Frivolous Wants
December 14, 2007

or my Christmas Wish List...

Clockwise from top left: Diana Camera from Lomography - a remake of the popular 1960's camera, Cropped cardigan from Anthropologie, Lovely by Jessica Parker, LAMB by Gwen Stefani, Ipod Shuffle, Brother Sewing Machine.

Posted by raya 10:28 AM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You

Tagged
October 5, 2007

Libby at pinkshirtsandcarwrecks tagged me to share 7 odd/unknown things about myself. I think this is the first time anyone has tagged me for one of these. Well, actually Heather at presentpastcollection tagged me to show a photo of my desk, but it is so messy and un-cool right now that I never did it. Sorry Heather!

This photo has nothing to do with the post. It's just a sweet image of our dog Maisy as a puppy. As she's running around the living room throwing her ball all over the place I kind of miss when she was this tiny. They grow up so fast ; )

And here goes:
1. I have only had 5 different jobs in the 11 years I've been part of the workforce (babysitting before that not included). I always just had jobs that I really liked (and I don't like doing interviews).
2. My first car was an '81 Toyota Corolla that I bought for $825 with my own money. It had racing stripes fuzzy blue slipcovers that my mom made. At one point the headlights would not turn off so I had to disconnect the battery every time I parked so the lights wouldn't make the car die. And I also had to give the right headlight a little kick to make it go on.
3. I love making lists and crossing things off my lists. So much that sometimes when I do something that wasn't on my list I write it down so I can then cross it out.
4. When I cook I use WAY too many utensils. I don't know why I don't wash them in between uses, but I'll end up having used like 5 different knives of the same size to make one meal.
5. I'm a beer drinker. Lagers specifically: Shiner Bock and Stella Artois are my favorites.
6. I'm left handed. The only one in my family.
7. When I was a young girl (maybe 8 or 9) I remember doing little fashion shoots with my Barbie dolls and my pink camera. This is a fond memory because maybe I really did know what I wanted to do with my life from the beginning, it just took 23 years to figure out. I wish so much I could find those photos.

Thanks Libby, that was fun!

Posted by raya 8:18 AM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You

My Day Job
July 31, 2007

For some of you who don't know me, you might read this blog and think "all this girl does all day is decorate her house and do projects". Alas, that is not entirely true. Though I do have the pleasure of working at home and usually part-time, I do have a little business I run (besides photography) that I don't really talk about much.

It's called pink penny and we design albums for professional photographers. It's all done on the computer and we don't actually make the albums, but we do design the layout and "tell the story" of the day with images. Here is one I finished recently that I really like. The photography is by a team of two girls - Amy & Megan who make up Click Imagery based in Massachusetts.

I think the reason this is on my mind today is I have four albums to finish in the next two days. The way the business works is very up and down so we can have three weeks of nothing, then get 6 albums in two days. Our goal is to crank out a first design within 2 days so you can see, I'm going to be busy this week. Busy-ness is good and no day of doing whatever I want gives me the same satisfaction as working all day and having something to show for it. It's a good balance and I am oh so thankful for both.

Posted by raya 2:08 PM 1 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You, rayaphotography

Putting Some Things to Rest
July 25, 2007

Staring at my closet this morning from bed, as I do every morning since we have no closet doors, I made a decision to finally retire some shirts that I haven't worn in ages and probably won't wear again. I share a pretty small closet with Forest - divided right down the middle - so every hanger of space is valuable real estate.

These are all shirts that I love, but either don't fit like they used or are outdated. My favorite is the sequin bolero that I just HAD to have and couldn't wait for the 200 knock offs that would come two months later. I probably wore that thing 4 times.

When I was a cocktail waitress at a busy restaurant I had to dress up every night so I have a lot of leftovers in my closet from that dressier (and skinnier) time. It's amazing how many calories you burn running back and forth from the bar for 5 hours in heels.

I give most of my clothes away to friends or thrift stores, but for any special items I have a small "hope chest" that I've started for a future daughter or daughter-in-law. Any shoes, bags, clothes, accessories that are special to me or that might be valued again in 25 years are put in there. I remember looking at photos of my mom as a girl and wishing so badly she had saved her dresses from the 60's. Some of this may not appeal to them, just like I have to accept that as much as I love my wedding dress, nobody may want to want that either, but it will be a fun walk down memory lane someday...at least for me.

Posted by raya 9:21 AM 8 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Nice to Meet You

The Ch(K)ristas
July 3, 2007

What has your blog done for you lately? Mine introduced me to the lovely Krista (far left) who I got to meet face to face while I was in Seattle visiting my friend Christa (middle). As the Internet grows bigger the world seems smaller and smaller and connections like these seem to happen more and more. Krista found me through Design*Sponge and somehow put it together that I knew Christa. I think she emailed me the week before I went to Seattle, and then I just happened to be there when she was having an engagement party - Christa is in Krista's upcoming wedding and invited me along to the party...

Both of these girls are creative and talented - I think that's what I've learned most from blogging - just how many creative people there are in the world and how each person has their own talents, etc...Christa is in marketing, currently for a cutting edge nail salon, and has great style. Krista is a writer and jewelry maker (check our her etsy shop - www.kristafayeknowslove.etsy.com). For her bridesmaids she found each one a unique dress, all on ebay - isn't that cool? Christa showed me hers and it was perfectly Christa and very beautiful.

My time in Seattle was short, and I was feeling under the weather while I was there, but this made it all worth it. Thanks girls : )

Posted by raya 7:51 AM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Link Love, Nice to Meet You

Things I Like, Things I....don't like
May 4, 2007

I was tagged by Miss Jenny over at oldbagnewtricks to share seven weird things about me...there's something like this that I've actually been wanting to do for awhile, so I'm gonna play the game but switch up the rules a bit (hope y'all don't mind).

In one of my favorite movies, Amelie, the director plays a little game to introduce his characters. It's called "things I like, things I hate". It's an incredibly charming way to get to know these people, and each time you see someone new you hear about them in this way...Now I'm going to play the game and give you seven things I like, and seven things I...don't like (hate is fine for the movie, but I don't know, my mom never let us say that word when we were growing up so it just feels a bit too strong...whenever that word slips out today I kinda look over my shoulder like, to see if anyone heard).

Here we go:

I like: watching television shows and movies at least three times, because usually I'm doing something else at the same time so I don't catch everything until the third go, when I'm really paying attention.

I don't like: chipped nail polish - on me or anyone else!

I like: looking through books/magazines and tagging everything that inspires me with a sticky note so I can refer back. I also used to go through catalogs as a kid and circle everything I wanted. Not that I would get it, but it was very satisfying : )

I don't like: unpacking my suitcase after a trip.

I like: warm towels and sheets straight out of the dryer.

I don't like: food that is messy and/0r falls apart when I'm eating it. I usually whine to Forest about it and will stop eating mid-meal if this happens.

I like: making lists and lists and lists of things to do, buy, make, etc...

I don't like: pictures of myself from a windy day when my bangs are being blown sideways or sticking straight up. Also don't like walking in wind and having all my hair blown back away from my face. Actually, I'm gonna go ahead and say it for this one - I hate this. Don't tell my mom!

I like: organizing the clothes in my closet by color - white on the right, moving through the rainbow to black on the left.

I don't like: when other people's faces get too close to mine (husband excluded)

I like: riding the carousel at an amusement park or fair and finding the horse I like best.

I don't like: sleeping in my bedroom when I'm home alone. It's too far from the front door and I get paranoid. Usually I sleep on the couch when Forest is away.

I like: fluffing up the feather comforter and falling back onto it so it envelopes around me..then taking a nap there : )

I don't like: catching someone looking at me on the street when I know I've just made a weird face. So embarrassing!

So there you have it. Wasn't that fun? If you want to play along, do it and tell me so I can see! If not, that's OK too. Here's a photo from my most recent ride on the carousel at the carnival in Santa Barbara Friday night..kind of a let down besides the girl time I got to have with my good friend Jessica and of course, this:

Posted by raya 7:43 AM 6 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You

B Day
March 16, 2007

Twenty-eight...late twenties, approaching thirty very quickly. Don't get me wrong - I am happy to be turning 28 today. I like growing up and this is most likely going to be a very "growing up" kind of year.

Yesterday a package arrived from my family, full of Bee - utiful gifts that I waited to open until today just so I could photograph them (normally I would not have been able to contain myself). I love when presents are just as good outside as they are inside, and I'm sure in this case that will be true.

Today Forest made me a birthday smoothie (my favorite) and I am just about to leave for breakfast with a good friend. Here is a sneak peek at the presents ; ) I'll show ya what's inside very soon...

Posted by raya 8:46 AM 8 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You

Fall, Winter...Summer!
March 12, 2007

I kind of feel like we've skipped a season around here. I took the dog for a walk on the beach today and there were quite a few people working on their first sun burn of 2007. I like the cold, but winter is somewhat of a joke in Southern California..if I can't wear a wool coat and a scarf I'd rather be in a bathing suit - and looks like I'll be taking my lunch breaks on the lounge in the backyard just like old times. Care to join?

p.s. this photo is from a shoot I did last Summer with little baby Raya (my best friend, obviously). She is my friend's little girl and is now the fourth Raya I know of on planet earth...click here to see the slide show

Posted by raya 1:00 PM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You, rayaphotography

Late Bloomers Incorporated
March 8, 2007

For all the girls who cringe at their junior high school photos, or even their high school photos, this is for you. We are what you would call "late bloomers". Ugly ducklings whose swan phase came a bit later than expected. The line I used to hear most when I was a kid was "when you're 16 you're gonna be a knock out". Um, what are you trying to say?!?

Well 16 came and went, and I was still waiting. Even when I was 20 I had this awful short hair cut and I can barely look at those photos without the question "why?" swirling through my head. I blame that one on my hair stylist, but still. It was awkward.



Now we're all grown up and want some nice photos that do justice to the late bloomer inside us. Vindication for all those painful photo-loathing years.

These are just a few of Faith and Christa's late bloomer shots from last weekend. We shot all of these in or around my house (thanks neighbor Mark for the school bus. This is the one time I was actually glad to have it). Aren't these girls beautiful? I think so. My confidence was boosted immensely when a friend in photo school spent a whole weekend photographing me and there were photos I actually LIKED. It may seem slightly vain of us, but we were awkward adolescents. It's our right.

Posted by raya 8:09 AM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You, rayaphotography

MIA
March 6, 2007

Wow. I feel like I have been out of commission for weeks. These last four days have been a mixture of immense fun and immense not-fun. All without much computer access for blogging or anything else, which I missed very much. Lots went on, but here's the day-by-day breakdown for you:


Thursday: Drove to LA to meet Faith and Christa (Christa flew in from Seattle for the weekend)

Friday: Getty Museum. The landscaping and architecture is just as beautiful as the artwork inside. In fact, we only went to one exhibition.

Saturday: Walked on the beach in Ventura, shopped in Santa Barbara, made my famous chocolate chip cookies.

Sunday: Photo shoot with the lovely Faith and Christa. Photos to come soon I promise.

Monday: Arrived at studio in Hollywood with Amy at 9 AM for appearance on a game show (I signed a very scary non-disclosure statement, so I'll tell you more later). Remained trapped in dressing room with no cell phone, computer, fresh air for 14 hours. Its amazing how many times you can hear "I don't know anything" in one day. Our appearance never came to fruition but they did ask us to come back on Sunday. Kind of wondering if this show is really about how people behave when trapped in a room with 4 others and have only a television with 4 channels as a means of connection to the outside world.

When I get outside of my normal routine for days at a time I start to feel very lost. So glad to be home today doing normal things like responding to emails, walking my dog, and seeing my husband for more than a few hours. And resuming back to normal blogging schedule. Until tomorrow...here are photos from the Getty:

Posted by raya 10:53 AM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You

A Good Mail Day
February 24, 2007

I love good mail days. I often check the mail before leaving the house, that way if there's something good I can look at it in the car. I know it's not safe, but I do it anyway. Today was an especially good mail day because I received a mix tape (well CD, really) from the BFF and the new GQ mag with Christian Bale on the cover.

Remember him in Newsies? That is where this 15 year old crush originated. So for over 1/2 my life I have adored Christian - don't worry, Forest knows. As for my CD, I drove the long way to the grocery store just so I could listen to more of it. Thank you Faith and thank you Christian Bale.

Posted by raya 2:47 PM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You

Hello World!
January 31, 2007

This is Paper Pony... where I post all my makings and musings. Anything from photo shoots, to collages, to my most recent thrifting finds. I am inspired daily by creative blogs and hope this one will inspire you! Welcome and please come back soon!

xoxo,

raya

Posted by raya 12:31 PM 0 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Nice to Meet You