To Write Love.

Hello there!


I'd like to show you all a website that deserves an audience. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe not. Maybe it means something to you, maybe you'll look at it and the message will be lost on you.

To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit organization devoted to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. These issues are extremely dear to my heart. Mostly because, I've been there, I'm still dealing with much of it. Learning that you are not alone, that you are loved, that hope is possible, that rescue is possible, is so vital and important to a broken person. Yet, I believe that in someway, we are all broken or have been. We were called to live together in love.

Did you know that 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression, or that suicide is the third leading cause of death in teens..?


I ask you, no I beg you to open your hearts and minds. Don't be so quick to judge. Seek help. This is so often just an issue swept under the rug. I believe so fully that this is something that needs to be addressed.

BROKEN.LOVE.HOPE.RESCUE

Thank you,


♥R

Don't Let Them Take Away Your Shine..

Hello Loves,

I wish I could look everyone of you in the eyes and just tell you that you're beautiful, you're talented, and that you're absolutely perfect just the way you are. At some point haven't we all just wished we could be prettier, skinnier, more athletic, more talented, less shy, popular, more.. perfect. We want everyone to like us. The need to feel accepted, wanted, loved. It's all too much sometimes. But who are we seeking approval from? Is it your peers? Friends? Family? Parents? Church? Getting too caught up in being 'liked' by the wrong people is so so easy as a young person. Especially a young woman. We want the seemingly right guy to 'love' us. Yet we don't truly love ourselves. We want the pretty, popular people to want us. Almost without realizing it, we've compromised our morals, beliefs, and standards to fit those around us. Losing yourself to gain the acceptance and love from anyone is wrong. You were made the way you are for a reason. Embrace it. Learn to love you for YOU. Respect yourself and the respect from others will come easily.

I just finished reading the book Burned by Ellen Hopkins and I would like to share a few parts with you.

"You shine brighter than the Milky Way. Now, there are those who might try to take it away from you, but you don't have to give it away. Keep on shining. And when the right young man comes along, he'll love you all the more for giftin' this sad planet with your light.."

"You are a gift to all who know you, whether or not they realize it. If they don't, they are blind. You have a special place in this world. All you have to do is find it. Don't give up on yourself, on the truths you have realized. Do not give in to those who would crush your dreams like nutshells. And never turn away from forever love."

Wow, how amazing would it be if everyone heard that. If everyone was constantly reminded of how wonderful they are. All too often we spend time trying to change ourselves and others to fit some unwritten standards. I can promise you that you are perfect. You are beautiful. You deserve to fullfill your dreams. You deserve love.

xo.
r

"I get by with a little help from my friends..♥"

Good day darlings!

I hope you've all been just absolutely wonderful! Thanks a million for stopping by to check out my blog. :)

"Friendship is a feeling of comfort and emotional safety with a person. It is when you do not have to weigh your thoughts and measure words, before keeping it forth before your friend. It is when someone knows you better than yourself and assures to be your side in every emotional crisis. It is when you can sleep fighting and get another morning with a better understanding. Friendship is much beyond roaming together and sharing good moments, it is when someone comes to rescue you from the worst phase of life. Friendship is eternal"

-Anonymous

My friends are beyond amazing. I am so thankful for the people in my life. I'm a firm believer that you really learn who your friends are in a crisis, and goodness knows my closest friends and I have endured some pretty crappy stuff recently. But I can think of a few extremely special people (they know exactly who they are..) who have been there through it all. We're all just doing the best we can to do what it takes to deal with everything. Even if it just takes sitting in silence, I know we'll always have each other.

So, these pictures may not be perfect quality, but they are more than perfect to me. They are some of the most amazing moments in my life. I love these people..

                                           

Gotta love The Beatles :)

xo.

♥r

Fabulous First

Hello all you beautiful people!

Last sunday was a TOTAL success. I spent all day running around the old part of Ft. Smith taking a friend's senior pictures. We went and took some by some old trains and such and then went out to all the cool condemed bulidings at Ft. Chaffee. These were the first senior pics I have ever taken and I am so excited with how they turned out. I have to give credit to my wonderful assistants though. So Momma and Shannen, thanks a million for holding reflectors until your arms are ready to fall off and giving me the best advice and making us laugh like crazy. I love you guys!


I took around two hundred pictures (Kelli is a doll for being paitent throughout the day) but these are some of our favorites!

Contact me if you want some photos done!

xo.
♥r

Thrifty Madness!

Hey there darlings!


Okay, so Saturday I had the pleasure of going thrift store shopping for the very first time in all my sixteen years. Let me tell you, I'm pretty sure I created a monster.. I LOVE it. I love just seeing what treasures are out there. Cool old things just make me smile. Old run-down bulidings, old people, photographs from years and years ago, music from the '60s and '70s,  my mom.. hahaha. Just kidding. :) I found an old Beatles record (why on earth people would throw that out is beyond me..) and a Kodak Instimatic camera. I was quite pleased with my finds and even more impressed that the total cost for the things was a whopping three dollars and fifty cents. Awesome stuff at an insanely cheap price is just unbeatable.


My little brother went to the Army Surplus store and I actually ended up with some seriously sweet photos. All in all, I'd have to say that my saturday was a huge success. Nice weather, spent with great people, thrift stores ;), and photography makes for a happy girl.

Ps. All of these photos are completely un-edited! I just used the cross process filter on my camera. So totally awesome :)xo.
♥r

Rachel Annie♥

Hello Lovelies!


This is actually the second blog I have started. The first is called Live Grey.. ♥, and I started it with my bestfriend. We don't post super often but it was started in honor of our dear friend Greyson who passed away recently. So, check it out when you get the chance! Pretty please :)
I also work with another blog, Barbwired . This super cute blog was started by my wonderfully talented mother and I take most of her crafty pictures. She seriously does the most adorable, crafty projects, (I don't just say this for brownie points!) so you would have to be ridiculous not to check her out!


Whew! Okay, now for what this is really about, the photography (and such). A little over three years ago I was outside at night and had a camera with me, I was just goofing off and snapping a few black and white pictures. When I looked at the photographs later though, I was excited. I honestly felt like I had taken some pretty cool shots and I had a blast doing it. So long story short, that was how I 'discovered' this passion.


Three years, a brand new camera, some classes, and a few sweet pieces of equipment later, we have a seriously big dream. I've been looking at arts schools, so far SVA in New York is winning. I mean, how cool would that be?? ahh.. Well, after school I would like to be able to travel everywhere (literally everywhere!) and use my photography to bring awareness to the poverty and other serious issues all around the world. It would be so amazing to make a difference using my passion.

These following shots are from one of my classes I attented on creative lighting.

This class lasted literally all day but it was so much fun and I learned a TON!

I love just grabbing my camera and taking a walk to see what I can find. That's how I end up with most of my favorites, here's a few!

  Yeah, I seriously found these shoes and toothbrush

underneath an overpass near my house.

crazy!

Thank you so much for taking the time to take a look at my blog!

Keep checking back for more photography and such!

xo.

♥r