Traveling to Cambodia | Still Image Photography | Siem Reap - Day 3

We woke up bright and early to make sure we had a good breakfast before heading out on our 10 hour travel day to Cambodia from Thailand. The drive there wasn't too bad. We actually stopped every two hours which made the travel time go by pretty quick. Once we arrived at the border, we had to go through immigration and customs. And like any other border town I have been to, it was pretty scary and saw some things I wish I didn't. I wish I could help every little baby/kid out there in the heat, hungry and begging for money.  

After another couple of hours, we finally arrived at our hotel in Cambodia. It actually wasn't too bad. Our tour leader scared us and tried to prepare us for the worst. Making our hotel sound like a crap hole, but it was actually not bad at all.  Surprisingly, it even had air conditioning. It didn't work that great and turned off automatically every time we left our room, but we were hot everywhere else we went so it didn't matter to much.  At this point, being hot and sweaty was just something you were about 95% of the time anyway.

We only had about an hour to shower and get ready for a short walk around Siem Reap before heading out to dinner with the rest of the group. 

Our tour guide took us to this little side market where they sold tarantulas, silk worms, beetles and crickets to eat! Yes, to EAT! They eat them like chips.  A few people in our group tried it.  Even though an insect is probably not considered meat, I just couldn't do it. It was still a living thing and ever since becoming vegan, I don't eat things that used to be alive. If it was something I would have regretted not doing while I was there, I might have considered it, but it isn't anything I will regret.  Poor little insects.  

Yes, he ate it. I think he ate another two after this one plus some silk worms.

After our quick little walking tour, we headed out to dinner with the rest of the group. Ric and I then called it a night since we had a big day the next day at the temple tours.

xoxo - Michelle

One Night in Bangkok | Still Image Photography | Day 1 & 2

When we booked this trip, we knew that it wasn't going to be the most luxurious trip we have ever taken but that was okay, we wanted to experience the country to it's fullest. I think we did just that and it was amazing. I will be working on several post in the next week or so of all the photos I took. We experienced so much and it was just all to wonderful not to share. 

After the looongest traveling day ever, we finally arrived in Bangkok, Thailand. The first thing we noticed when we arrived was the heat & humidity. OH MY Goodness the heat! And to think that I thought the humidity in Texas was horrible. There was no comparison. It didn't matter though, the excitement of finally being in Asia was much greater than any heat. As we gathered our baggage so we could go find our ride, I knew we were in for an adventure that we would never forget. 

I really hope you enjoy my photos. :)

Almost time........

This was in the Dallas airport. We had already traveled 13 hours on the road at this point and we still had another 22 hours by plane. 

Finally in Thailand!

Next morning, we decided to go to the floating market, visit the elephants and go for a short boat ride.  We also had time to visit the Grand Palace before our meeting with our tour group. A meeting where we got to meet everyone we where going to spend the next 9 days with. There where people from Australia, New Zealand, U.K., France and the U.S. and then of course Jay, our tour guide from Cambodia. 

Making faces just for fun! :)

Floating market was pretty awesome. Not the best way to shop, but it worked for them. I couldn't think about shopping, I was sweating like a pig, I hardly fit in the small boat, was scared I was going to fall in any minute and really, I was just enjoying the view. 

Once we got off the tiny boat, we enjoyed some of the delicious fruit.  Yum!

The elephants were AH-MAZING! I wanted to bring them all home with me. 

I love them. <3

I really LOVE them!

Boat ride was awesome. A little bigger boat than the floating market one. Faster too. I had to make sure to keep my mouth closed so the dirty water wouldn't splash in. 

Made it to the Grand Palace after a quick lunch and a VERY scary tuk tuk ride.

It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  It looked so amazing close-up and majestic. 

How could I not do a yoga pose here. Again....AH-MAZING!

Can you find the Emerald Buddha in the photo below?

Love!

Uh-oh another tuk tuk! 

Off to dinner with the group and then calling it early since we were so tired and we had a 10 hour drive the next morning to Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

A New Challenge - Yoga for Life: I am a beginner | Still Image Photography

I love being challenged and ever since I decided to practice yoga, I have been challenged and I love it!  All the the mind boggling poses. And lots & LOTS of sweat. Such a great workout and I am so glad that I added it to my workout routine. I also love to lift weights, do HIIT cardio, run & cycle.  Everyday I challenge myself to get better. #yogapracticenotyogaperfect

I haven't really been able to run that much. I had to take two months off due to an injury. I am finally slowly getting back to it and I am hoping that adding yoga will help prevent injury in the future. A girl can hope, right?! :)

I am a beginner yogi, not even close to being advanced! BUT......I hope to keep at it so that one day I can flow through all the poses I learn throughout my practice with ease. I think whether you are advanced or a beginner, you should feel accomplished if you pushed through it with blood, sweat and tears. I feel great when I know I gave it my all and that one day I will be better than I was yesterday. I have small goals and big goals and that is what keeps pushing me, motivating me everyday. I compete with myself and I want to be good at everything I do in life. Whether it's yoga, lifting heavier, running faster, getting better in my photography, a better wife, a better mother, etc. etc.

I hope everyone enjoys this beautiful Tuesday!! 

xoxo - Michelle    

Day 1 - Beach Run + Yummy Food | Cozumel, Honduras & Belize | Still Image Photography

Day 1

So I have been wanting to blog, but lately I have been just SO busy.  I am trying to fit in a blog here and there. The next few blogs will be from our trip to Cozumel, Belize & Honduras and believe it or not, I took all these photos with my phone. I almost feel like I cheated on my camera. LOL! I usually have it attached to my hip, but I wanted to try one trip without having to worry about my full size camera. I don't think it turned out to bad. :)

Below are a few photos from Galveston and from our half day on the cruise ship. My husband and I were training for a half marathon so we started the day with a run by the beach, which in my opinion, was absolutely perfect!   Our plan was to keep training the whole trip(which went well)!! We ended the day on on the cruise ship lounging around and eating delicious food. 

Hope you enjoy my photos!!

This run was so much fun! Not everyday we get to run by the beach. :)

Yummy coconut water after my run!  If you haven't tried it, do so now!!

Thank goodness I was bulking during this trip because once I get on the ship, there is delicious food available to me 24/7!! :) :)

My gorgeous hubby! <3 

My silly kids at their favorite bar-b-q place in Galveston! :)

Ended the day with a dinner date with my hubby and then a comedy show after!

It was perfect!

xoxo - Michelle

Charleston, South Carolina | Still Image Photography

Loved Carolina!  I took a ton of photos in South Carolina. We also went on a little road trip to North Carolina, but I lost all the photos that I took with my phone in North Carolina. Ugh!!  :/  

Charleston, South Carolina was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!   We all had a GREAT time and we can't wait to visit there again very soon.  I would have loved to seen more.  Some of the favorite places we did visit during our trip was the Magnolia Plantation and Patriots Point.  I hope you enjoy my photos!  :)  Happy Monday!!

xoxo

-Michelle

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We all really enjoyed this tour. Dad showing them how things work. He worked on a submarine when he was in the Navy. Love all these guys &lt;3&lt;3&lt;3

We all really enjoyed this tour. Dad showing them how things work. He worked on a submarine when he was in the Navy. Love all these guys <3<3<3

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Fun in Florida | Still Image Photography

I love love love Florida!  My husband and I had a wonderful time during this trip. :)  We took the kids to Florida the year before and they enjoyed it as well.  Only unfortunate thing is that I lost all the photos I took the year our kids went.  :*(  My computer crashed and all my photos are now gone. I feel photos are very important and I love to look back at all the memories, so it's still very upsetting that those photos are lost forever.  

Last year, I had a yearbook printed for us by Shutterfly and we absolutely love it.  I will be getting another one printed this year for 2013.  You can get one for your family here.  This year, I have also decided to share some of my personal photos and/or photos I do just for fun here on my blog!  Not only for me to look back on, but it also gives you a chance to see my photos that I do for fun!! 

Happy Thursday!

xoxo

-Michelle

 

**some photos were taken with my camera/some with my phone

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Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam & Las Vegas | Still Image Photography

Best little road trip EVER!  I love love love road trips and I can't wait until we go back to the Grand Canyon.  I want to spend a lot more time there so we can do a lot more sightseeing. I love looking back at all my photos and seeing all the beautiful places we have been fortunate to see so far.  Lots of wonderful memories with my family. 

I took so many photos, but only sharing some of my favorites here on the blog.  Enjoy!  <3

Some photos were taken with my camera and some with my phone. :)

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Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge | Still Image Photography

LOVED this place! I took these photos back in 2012 and I am so ready to visit this place again. I have a ton of photos of places I have visited or just photos that I take randomly that I have yet to share. I tend to get so busy and don't have time to share the photos I take for fun.  So I hope to catch up on my blog posts and share some of my past photos and new photos!

Enjoy!

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New Year's Eve in NYC! | Still Image Photography

My husband and I had the best time in NYC for the New Year's Eve Celebration.  It was so cold, but well worth having frozen toes and fingers. I LOVE LOVE LOVE New York!  So anytime I get to go it's always a blast! :)

Below are some photos of our trip taken with both my camera and my phone.  Hope you enjoy looking at them. xoxo - Michelle

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We went for a nice a little lunch at Planet Hollywood before heading out into the cold to stand for 9+hours to watch the ball drop. :) &nbsp;We were ready to bring in the new year!!!&nbsp;

We went for a nice a little lunch at Planet Hollywood before heading out into the cold to stand for 9+hours to watch the ball drop. :)  We were ready to bring in the new year!!! 

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Ric and I had an awesome time at the Today show. We even made an appearance on t.v. a few times! :)

Ric and I had an awesome time at the Today show. We even made an appearance on t.v. a few times! :)

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Beautiful!Bye Bye New York! Miss you already.

Beautiful!

Bye Bye New York! Miss you already.

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