Last time I did, 25 wishes in 150 days, and I said that my next one will be 100 wishes in 1001 days. I have to admit. I am a chicken. Yes, I am really scared and hesitant to that. That’s why I modified 1001 days and turned it into 30 wishes in 365 days. Baby steps.

Start Date: Mon. Sep. 26, 2011

End Date: Sat. Aug. 25, 2011

1. Travel to a new state.

2. Buy new sweaters

3. Complete my new website

4. Complete my new logo

5. Buy at least 2 pairs of new shoes

6. Read more books

7. Update headshots

8. Attend a Zack Arias workshop

9. Go to Universal Studios. Haven’t been there in a long time, and it’s cheaper than Disney Land.

10. Visit Santa Barbara

11. Photograph a bird (humming bird if possible)

12. Lose 15 lbs

13. After losing 15 lbs, keep up the new weight

14. Second shoot more weddings

15. Get a new cell phone. It’s been 3 years. It’s about time !

16.  Network more

17. Buy more cute clothes.

18. Get a manicure and a pedicure

19. Fix the body of my car

21. Launch my new facebook page.

22. Reach my new facebook page like goal (at least 500)

23. Talk to my friends more on the phone or meet in person.

24. Go hiking.

25. Pray regularly.

26. Attend WPPI.

27. Learn more about OCF.

28. Buy 35mm f/1.4

29. Get new eye glasses

30. Complete my X Files collection. Only 2 more seasons to go. I am still a sucker for this show.

31. Become the next Jasmine Star. Alright. Just wanted to check if you’re still reading.

I’ve attended the PUG meeting after about 4 months last Thursday, and I am glad that I did. I know, I say this everytime I attend a meeting, or anything, and it’s all because I always win something. Just kidding. It’s because I always learn something new. And PUG doesn’t stand for the kind of dog. It’s Pictage User Group, and we don’t have to be Pictage users. I’ve been swamped at work lately, and last Thursday wasn’t anything different. I ended up being a bit late. Gina and Marcus Murphy from Gina Meola Photography were the speakers. Had an AHA moment. It seemed very simple but never really thought of life this way. Our vision in life should be how do we want to see our lives, not what we want in our lives. Of course they didn’t say it like how I’m writing it, but isn’t this true? I really thought about that for a moment. There are so many things I wanted at this point in my life, and I didn’t get some, and the rest I had to work very hard to achieve and achieved later than I expected. But how do I want to see my life? Very simple. I want my life to be simple, happy and no debt. At the beginning of the meeting, we had to write down our vision related to photography on a small piece of paper. Of course I used a very tiny piece of paper, and wrote down

 

They told us that we had to turn that paper in, and at the end of the meeting, one person was going to win something. Now sure why but I had the feeling that I was the winner. At the end of the meeting, Melissa Jill picked a paper. I was sitting in the back since I was so late. I could hardly see anything, but I was just waiting for them to read my writing, and TaaDaa. Marcus read, “Become an inspiration, and destination wedding.” I acted surprised, as if I just won the beauty contest ! ! ! Ok. I am being over dramatic. I won the book, “The Alchemist”. I am dying to finish this book.

I didn’t have enough room on that tiny piece of paper you’re seeing. So, I had to explain it to everyone, and here I go again. Yes, I want to inspire others, and not just in photography, but with anything in life. I am a teacher. That’s what I do everyday, but not because I have to, but because I love it. If I can ever hear from one person that he/she looks up to me, and wants to be a photographer because I inspired them, then I will achieve this. Who knows, I might become greedy, and might want more people to say this, but for now, one person is enough. I also want to shoot destination weddings in future. I love traveling, and international weddings wouldn’t be bad either. Actually that might be perfect.

Hope someday, my visions come true, and yours too. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Until then, looking forward to my first solo wedding in October.

Holidays are almost here. Before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving and then Christmas. I am offering holiday minisessions this fall both in AZ and in CA. I had to made a few changes to the AZ minisessions dates and location.

More specific locations will be announced later.

Minisessions are good for families, 5 people or less or for couples. Minisessions do not include newborn sessions, senior sessions, or engagement sessions. For extended families, please email me full session pricing. Minisessions are fun, and quick. That’s why the number photos provided are limited, and price is significantly less. All photos will be ready within 48 hours of your session. I will schedule time to meet with you to speed up the photo selection process, and you’ll receive your photos on a disk quick. If I cannot schedule a time with you, my brother, Adnan, will be scheduled to meet with you. If we cannot schedule a time for any reason, then I will upload the photos on a gallery and you can order your copies.

I will be offering custom holiday cards in sets of 25 for $50. Each additional set will receive a 10% discount.

Email me at info@memoriesbyfaria.com to book your minisession. Nov. 26th has only 2 slots left.

I’ve announced the dates for Fall Minisessions. Please email me to book your session. I’ve been extremely busy past few weeks, and last week I worked pretty much 7 days a week, and continuing this week which means I will end up working 13 days straight. The highlights are bringing back student council to our school, and I am glad another teacher will be student council advisor with me. That will make things more fun, and less stressful for the both of us. Attended the Solar Summit by SRP where I learned a lot about science especially energy.

Remember my 50 wishes in 150 days? The deadline is tomorrow; however, I just can’t wait till I review this plan and create my next one which might be 100 wishes in 1001 days.

1) Buy a new purse/bag

I did get my new bag It’s a black Cole Haan, and waiting on my next Kate Spade. Hopefully someday I will get a Prada. I know, I know but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming big, having high expectations and shooting for star.

2) Buy my 105mm lens. Want 24mm but won’t be able to afford it yet.

3) Join a gym

I did join a gym, but planter fascitis is ruining everything. When am I going to feel 90% better?

4) Get photographed by someone else

Hopefully soon I will get to be photographed by someone else, someone that knows what he or she’s doing.

5) Visit Santa Barbara (Again)

6) Finish Esperanza Rising

7) Buy a tripod

8 ) Buy a flash

9) Attend at least a couple more workshops

10) Order sample prints

11) Follow my friend Kris’s raw food diet challenge for a month. I am already freaked out a little but sushi should count

12) Send out holiday cards to past clients / models / designers

13) Make gift cards available

14) Sell my D70s

15) Visit a new state

I’ve visited CO over the summer ! Hopefully will add a few more to the list.

16) Finish my website

17) Book 2 sessions / month

18) Take at least 1 fine art photo

19) Learn more about sun flare shots

20) Improve editing

21) Be at least a day ahead on my lesson plans every week

22) Buy Microsoft Outlook

23) Save at least 60% for D700

24) Print one large print

25) Buy at least 1 pair of new shoes/sandles

26) Donate more to charities

27) Go to Disneyland

28) Start assisting weddings

29) Buy tickets to visit Bangladesh

30) Read more books

31) Lose at least 10 more lbs and become toned

32) Start second shooting weddings

33) Visit Bangladesh

34) Eat my favorite foods in Bangladesh

35)  Become a “vegetarian” again

36) Come up with a solid plan to identify the needs of each kid and how to help them

I did come up with plans which I won’t say are very solid, but so far these are working. I do have a pretty challenging class with 33 students, but I am proud of them. I left them with a substitute on Friday to attend the solar summit, and found out how they all behaved very well and tried their best so that I will be happy and proud of them. And I AM proud of my kiddos.

37) Create a price list

38) Take photographs at a beach

39) Find more locations in and around Phoenix

40) Find more locations in and around Los Angeles

41) Get a new cell phone

42) Update my wardrobe asap. That means shopping

My wardrobe is full of dresses I LOVE dresses.

43) Finish my The X Files DVD collection

44) Come up with a business plan

45) Order better business cards

46) Save all my receipts for both my teaching expenses and business

47) Get a manicure and a pedicure

48) Save at least 10% down payment for my next car. Hopefully will be able to buy one next year.  

49) Plan for a giveaway portrait session, and promote it.

50) Reach my facebook fan page goal.

Everytime I remember that morning, it gives me goosebumps. Do you remember where you were? In 2001 I was getting excited to celebrate my first year anniversary in this country, in Glendale, CA. It was coming up.

I’ve always been an early riser. That’s why I always preferred those 7 am classes over night classes. I walked to school for my economics class. After I entered my class, I saw the tv was on. That was surprising. I didn’t say anything. I sat down, and started to watch tv and then thought, “Wow, are we watching a movie today?” Then I realized that it was showing a plane hitting a skyscraper with two towers. I read the caption, and I vaguely remember something about the world trade center. Finally, I asked a classmate. “What’s this? This isn’t a movie.” She looked at me with a shock. Haven’t you heard anything yet? Right then I saw a few of my classmates going up to the window and watching outside in the sky. After I heard what it was, I just couldn’t believe if that was true or they were messing with me. I kept thinking, “no way. This sounds too fiction fictitious. Yes, it took me that entire class period which was an hour I think, and about 30 people to convince me that that was TRUE, that a history was just created during my lifetime, that history books, social studies books will have chapter dedicated to this terrifying, tragic event that changed the world history.

Do you remember exactly where you were that day?

Holiday minisessions dates and details have been finalized. Check out the dates for AZ. CA minisession dates will be announced soon. Please feel free to share this info with others as well.

 

Have you ever wondered how we tend to shift our focus towards the negativities in life? We become a glass half-empty kind of person so easily? While I was driving back from the SRP Solar Summit today, I was thinking about how much I’ve learned today. Then out of nowhere I thought, how about I just blog what’s on my mind right now. And I have to warn you that most of it might sound gibberish or random, but I would like to just blog about it anyway. Sometimes I also focus on the things that are wrong in life, or unfulfilled. I was told by a friend a few days ago that I am very fortunate that I can just snap out of the negative thoughts and feelings and I have to admit, I am very lucky this way.

Don’t know how but I do. I was thinking this afternoon that how amazing it is that everytime I go to a training or a workshop or a professional development class, I always end up learning a lot. Then for a second I thought, “wait a minute. Is it because I am not that bright and my knowledge is limited?” Then I snapped out of that negative thought. It’s because I enjoy learning so much. Knowledge knows no boundary.

If you ever feel down or realize that you are focusing on the wrong things, tell yourself, “The best thing about me is ME.” Don’t we all have at least one person at work that enjoys putting others down or bullying others? I have one too, but guess what. I didn’t hesitate to act like a diva recently, and I was able to do it because I told myself, “The best thing about me IS me, and everyone needs to realize that too.” I always say this to my students, and I am noticing a little bit of a difference in many of my students. Some of them are acting like little divas and male divas, like their teacher Ms. Munmun.

Well, I warned you that this is random, but hope you tell others to tell themselves, “The best thing about you is You.” And every blog becomes better with a photo. Here’s one.