June came in with a Hurricane and went out with a heatwave and some ridiculous thunderstorms. Early June weekends were filled with events like the Patriotic Festival at the Oceanfront and OpSail in Norfolk. I rode my cruiser to the beach often — enjoying quiet, early-morning rides on the bike path and sun-soaked weekend days playing football in the ocean. June 20 marked the first day of summer, which J and I toasted with an evening champagne picnic on the sand.
It’s been somewhat of a month-long stay-cation around here this June (days at the office aside), but July marks the beginning of a series of trips I’ve got scheduled from now through the end of the year. As much as I love Virginia Beach, I can’t wait to spend some weekends away, visiting friends and family, and (of course) photographing everything in sight. =)
People to see:
Visit Nicole in Texas
Visit Joelle in California
Visit Stephen in Pensacola
Visit Grace in New Hampshire
Visit Andrea in Roanoke
Visit as many people as possible in New Jersey
Places to go:
Soak up some rays at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel in Pensacola
Gamble at the Margaritaville Casino in Las Vegas
Dance the night away at a bachelorette party in Atlantic City – Bachelorette weekend in AC, March 9-11. Danced the night away at mur.mur and The Pool…right after I won $600 in a slot machine.
Take a long walk through Central Park
Go shopping in Chicago
Ride bikes at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge – Rode bikes at Back Bay and False Cape State Park, April 7.
Take pictures of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Taste wine in Napa Valley
Ride roller coasters at Busch Gardens
Spend a weekend in at least one other Northeast and/or Southeast city (Charleston, SC; Savannah, GA; Newport, RI…)
Things to do:
Attend a few good concerts – Attended A Tribute to Clarence Clemons at the Attucks Theater in Norfolk, January 6. Attended “Celtic Woman” at Chrysler Hall, February 29.
See a few good plays
Teach Diesel more tricks – J taught Diesel to find all of his toys by name in February. We taught Diesel “stay” in March.Taught Diesel to “throw” some of his toys in May. Taught Diesel how to run next to my beach cruiser in June.
Set up a photography website/portfolio – Photo website up and running, April 22.
Volunteer for something – Volunteered to take photos for the United Way of South Hampton Roads Women’s Leadership Council’s “Stone Soup” event, February 11.
Join a gym
Keep up my monthly facials
Host a dinner party – Hosted this impromptu dinner party, June 3.
Get contacts
Read at least 10 good books – Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Memoirs of a Bad Girl by Michelle Ferreira, I’m Gonna Live My Life Like a Jimmy Buffet Song by Anthony Bjorklund
Fit back into my Diesel jeans (again)
Frame some of my photos to hang up at my house
Learn something new every month and write about it
Old hobbies to keep up with:
Go horseback riding
Go ice skating
Go surfing
Go snowboarding
Run in a race
Draw a picture
Write poem
Do yoga
Wish list:
Get a white 16GB iPhone – White 16GB iPhone acquired, January 10.
Replace my favorite Ugg boots
Replace my favorite Tory Burch Reva flats
Acquire a bounce flash for my camera
Pick out a longer lens for my camera
Get a pretty camera bag – Got a pretty Ona bag for my birthday, April 10.
And a functional camera bag
Get a monogram necklace – My back-ordered, lost-in-the-mail Christmas gift from J finally arrived February 1, and it was the monogram necklace I’d been wanting!
Own a pair of diamond earrings
Financial goals:
Plan out a budget for the year
Stick to the budget using weekly and monthly cash allowances
Up my monthly TD Ameritrade transfer to $225 in January and $250 in July – Upped my monthly transfer to $225, January 1.
Open a Roth IRA
Get a raise
Start a business – Started Lisa DeNoia Photography LLC, January 24.
Monthly resolutions:
January – One month, no new clothes. ACCOMPLISHED.
February – Go running before work at least five times. FAILED — I only went before work twice.
March – New tires, new laptop, new camera lens, bachelorette parties and bridal showers…I just want to make it though the month with some money left in my savings account. ACCOMPLISHED — I made it through the month with more than I started with.
April – Get beach cruiser #1 tuned up for summer. ACCOMPLISHED — Beach cruiser #1 tuned up for summer, April 7.
May – Book October’s trip to Vegas. FAILED — I had to pay for my cat to have surgery instead. I’ll book it soon.
June – Shoot my first engagement session. FAILED — We haven’t scheduled the shoot yet — it will probably be in July or August.
July – Shoot my first family session
August –
September –
October –
November –
December –
