In the last few days I’ve re-discovered how much I love branding, how important it is to show who you are throughout an entire website, and how fun it really is. After having listened to people like Jasmine Star and Promise Tangeman talk about showcasing who you are as a person through your website and not just presenting hard facts about yourself, I decided to try my best at re-creating my personal website to more accurately show who I really am in a fun way. I’ve always loved dark colors – red and black, specifically – and have stuck with colors like those ever since I started designing. But this time I decided to branch out – and I am so glad I did! Who knew that the black-and-red-color-scheme-girl would use blue and yellow for her website. ;)

Art really is about stepping out and trying different things. So. If you’re working on a design project my advice to you is this – do something different, even if it doesn’t feel like it’s “you.” Who knows, the very thing you don’t think will work could turn out to be the perfect creation!

 
It was picture-taking week a few days ago. I think we all enjoyed it.

Thanks Joy for the tag! The Rules:

1. Post these rules
2. Post 11 random things about yourself (optional)
3. Answer the questions the tagger posted for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people to answer.

1. Who are your top 3 favorite classic fiction authors and your top 3 favorite modern fiction authors? (by the word ‘classic’, I’m referring to authors of the past up to the mid 20th Century, and by ‘modern’, I’m referring to authors who wrote and lived from the 1960s and up)

My top 3 fav classic authors are Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, and Victor Hugo. My fav modern authors would have to be Suzanne Collins, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Bodie and Brock Theone. (Two people, but they co-author most of their books. ;) )

2. Which character in John Bunyan’s immortal classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress, do you identify with the most in their/your spiritual journey? (Christian, Faithful, or Hopeful)

Hopeful, I suppose…

3. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, we see that Sam’s and Frodo’s responses to Gollum-Smeagol are different.  If you were in either character’s position when they had a chance of killing him, would you have done so and rid yourself of his wickedness and treachery, or would you pity him, having carried the burden of the Ring yourself, known its temptation, and shown mercy? (P.S. if you haven’t watched/read The Lord of the Rings, you can skip this question)

No, I wouldn’t have killed him. He has a good side (in Middle-Earth; of course no one is good in reality) that just makes me feel sorry for his misery. He can’t resist the “darker” side of himself.

4. Which do you enjoy more: reading a book or watching a movie?

Don’t get me wrong – I love reading books! I love books so much that I’m actually writing two at the moment. But really, I would rather watch a movie. I’m a big movie person. ;)

5. What is your favorite kind of music to sing, hear and play and who do you think was the greatest music composer of all time?

Well, I have two types of favorite music to listen to – scores and modern songs in general. I can’t get enough of either one! I personally think Hans Zimmer is the greatest composer of all time. I know that technically I should say Bach or someone else…but Bach, Handel, and composers of their time haven’t moved me like Hans Zimmer’s music has. He is absolutely amazing!

6. Which 2 books of the Bible do you tend to read from the most?

Right now it’s Hebrews and Romans. They are so packed!!

7. Is there a figure in history (outside the Bible) that you love the most? And why?

Yes! There are quite a few, actually. Stonewall Jackson and Agnes Lee (One of Lee’s daughters) are my absolute favorite. Stonewall because he was such a noble man, a solid believer, and such an amazing man. Agnes Lee because I really feel like we would have been friends – I read her journal and couldn’t believe how similar we are. I admire her for her honesty  and her personality, as well as her very open faith in Jesus.

8. Is there a book or movie that you’ve read/watched and you’ve wished something had gone differently and would like to re-write it?

Yes. I hate the ending of Cast Away, when Tom Hanks is just standing at the crossroads!! =D It’s just so sad and depressing.

9. What are your 2 favorite scenes in The Chronicles of Narnia (taken from either the films, books or both)? (P.S. if you haven’t watched/read The Chronicles of Narnia, you can skip this question)

I actually don’t like the books at all, but I guess my favorite scenes from the movie would be at the beginning, when the kids are on the train and that beautiful music is playing, and also when they enter Aslan’s camp.

10. What are some of the books (fiction + non-fiction) or movies that have inspired and changed your life?

LoTR (books and movies), Gods and Generals, Gettysburg, Braveheart, Les Miserables, Persuasion

11. What do you love most about the place where you live?

I suppose the colors – they do seem to be very bright here! =D

I tag…YOU! Feel free to answer these questions on your own blog if you want to! =D

1. Favorite movie?
2. Biggest dream?
3. PC or Mac?
4. Favorite website?
5. Silliest thing you’ve ever done?
6. Pens or pencils?
7. Favorite book?
8. Coffee or tea?
9. Favorite color?
10. Favorite composer?
11. Opera – yes or no?