yard sale treasures

yard sale season has begun in OC!
i got this frame and fan for $5 each on saturday!
can i tell you how long i have been wanting a fan like this?
too long.
i also purchased my dream dresser for $25!
thank you craigslist.

week 4: an 8mm film

week 3: a bike adventure

so this week i decided to document a fun bike ride with some friends.

we started on balboa island,
rode the ferry across to the peninsula
(first time on the ferry for me, loved it!),
and biked along the boardwalk in newport.

i hope this is only the first of many bike adventures!

so as part of this project i am trying to find new ways to edit
and process the images i take.
so this week i was going for a holga camera look, and loving the results!
i do own a holga camera, so maybe one of these weeks i'll dedicate a project to using it!
................................................

me, linds, jess, chantel

know anyone getting married this year?

you must tell them about this huge discount i am offering!

week 2: strangers on the pier

week two on project 52.

still going strong.

i decided this week to get out of my comfort zone.

taking pictures of strangers seemed like just the way to conquer that.

although i only had enough quarters for 40 minutes, i feel like i got some good pics.

it would have been fun to stick around for a few good hours, talk to some of these fishermen and get their stories. but we'll just save that for another week.

the 52 week challenge

jan 1st, decide to do the 365 project.
day one, successful.
day two, didn't touch the camera.
i decided that just might be too big of a challenge for me so i created my own!

the 52 week challenge!
so instead of taking a picture a day, i am going to do a fun project each week.
whether it's a photo shoot, make a video, capture a story, anything photography related.
so here is my project i did last week.
a stop motion video of an afternoon at the beach.



i had so much fun making this, and can't wait to get more and more creative each week. stay tuned for this week's project!

a goal or two

2010 was full of some good and bad times.
let's just remember the good ones!



each year i like to blog a few goals, thinking it would actually make me stick to them...
but i've been failing.
NOT THIS YEAR!

this year I WILL:
travel outside the US. italy please.
give my business 110%. working on teaming up with some magazines.
get a rockin body. this is happening, just you wait.
be more spontaneous. gain more adventures.
be more charitable & do more service. would love to travel and work in an orphanage.
spend less time on the computer. more time outside, living life.
expand my knowledge of the gospel. deepen my relationship with god.
be a better sister, daughter, auntie. more sincere, more loving, and giving.
ride my bike more. blog the fun times.

bring on the new year!

{photo of me by chantel marie}
new year. new goals. fresh start. let's do this!

where did 2010 go?
i looked back at my blogging goals i made for 2010, and i feel as if i just made them.
and not sure if i accomplished any of them...

but i feel as if there is a lot in store for me in 2011.
good things are going to happen. and i am ready to do all that i can to make them happen!
i'm in a new place. new friends. new surroundings. new jobs.
just can't wait to get out there and make things happen!
wish me luck!
love you all

update

still a few spots open for craft night tomorrow...

do come. it's going to be lovely.

so i jinxed myself.
i was talking with my fam and made a statement that it's been years and years since i've thrown up. and then what you do know, that night i did.
t lent me her copy of this book:


{no make up, in my favorite hoodie ever}

and i already finished it.
of course i had to skip a few chapters, but all in all... i learned a lot.
i have always been cautious of dating.
but now i really know the signs to look for, and how i really deserve to be treated.
if you are single, read it!

attention all crafters

courtney's {monthly} craft night is now is session.
i had a fun wintery craft planned, but some of the things were too hard to find for it,
so i've decided to make a valentines day craft!
i have some way cute ideas, so you will not want to miss.
please email me to sign up so i can get a head count and get supplies.
in a few days i will post what we will be crafting and how much it will be for supplies
{don't worry it won't be too much}

i want to get a vote on which day we should do it, so i've made a poll off to the right.
please vote which day works best for you.

remember when i painted on a weekend night?
well this time i want more people to craft with me!
this craft night will be for anyone over the age 18.
whether you are a friend of mine, a family member, or secretly stalk my blog,
i want you to come!
it would be the perfect time to meet!
so send me an email if you are interested!
{thegreenbasket@gmail.com}

can't wait!
ps girls only. sorry boys!

no thank you

one of my four wisdom teeth came to say hello last week.

it was not a pleasant visit, because now it won't leave.
i wanted it out. asap.

so a friend of a friend told me that they do studies and will pay you to take them out.
i called. made an appointment. went to the appointment.
spent 2 hours filling out paperwork. peed in a cup. had my blood drawn.found out i would be awake during the procedure.
found out i have to drink a cup of milk before the procedure.
walked out with my 50 bucks.
not going back.

dear wisdom tooth,
so you are here to stay for a while longer...
please don't invite you buddies to come join you.
and please stop moving my teeth.
thanks.

{notice my black nails. never done that before. its a new year!}

the bachelor

ok if you don't keep up to date with the bachelor... you are missing out.

it just started on monday so go to abc.com and get caught up.
want to know why i love it so much?
because the cute natalie hill reviews each episode and makes me laugh so hard.
so take my advice.
watch the show.
then read her blog!!

i wanted kiptyn so badly to be the next bachelor, jake... not a big fan.
nat we are on the same page!

the star

let me tell you about "the star"
{if you don't already know what it is}


my neighbor, harold {the star man}, for six years now has been hiking up the mountain each night during christmas time to light up the star he built himself. i love looking up and seeing the star shining over our neighborhood each night. it is now my favorite part about the holidays.
four years ago, me and my family decided to hike up on new years eve to the star.
and we have done it ever year since then.



its a fun little hike that winds up the steep mountain and brings you to the opening of a gorgeous canyon, with a view of the whole valley.



my dad had hiked up almost every night with harold this time, and they even interviewed him about it. see that here.

well this year, i brought my new little camera to document.
but for some reason i have bad luck with this cam. it died on me halfway up the mountain. i had to savor the battery so i could get two seconds of the star on film.
but here is the winnies + davies hiking to the star in less than 40 seconds.

the star from Courtney Brooke on Vimeo.

thanks kars for taking these of my fam!




oh did i mentioned its one big slide on the way down?
so much fun.

here's to 2009

2009
was an amazing year.

i started my own business
changed my hair color
made new friends
was a bridesmaid three times
went to hawaii
was an efy counselor
bought a cute bike
turned 21
almost moved to california {ha!}
but did go to california four times
bought a new car
went to the singles ward for an entire year {yikes}
cut bangs

wow. ok i thought i did a lot more than that...

alright, i'm going to do lots this year. just you wait.

so i just read over the goals i made for 2009...
hmm. i only completed a few of those. how sad.

i did not go to italy.
i did not save save save.
i did not keep my room clean.
shoot.

ok so here are my goals for

2010

be happy. every day. no matter what.
travel to new places. my first choice in the us: seattle.
go one at least one date a month.
{yes i know, i hate dating. but i want to change that. and i am even changing my mind about blind dates... weird. but if you know any cute single guys... send em my way :) }
do more charity work
start a once a month craft night. {details coming soon!}
make new friends, be a better friend, and stay in touch with old friends.
take more pictures
{no not more photo shoots. pictures of little everyday life things that make life beautiful}
get back in school! {cross your fingers i can get my student loan fast enough}
run a half marathon
oh and last but not least, be better at blogging! and commenting on others blogs.

..........

and that is all that i can think of for now.
i love starting with a fresh new start every year,
and i really cannot wait to make this year fantabulous!