Tale as Old as Time

This past week has been quite busy and my brain is some what fried. But It has been great. We began VBS week at my church yesterday and it is going really well. For those who don't know, VBS (Vacation Bible School) is a weeklong daycamp of sorts for kids that churches put on during the summertime. I have been in charge of certain things for it and have been prepping for the past week. Our church's VBS theme this year is PandaMania! I will have to do a post on it soon!

Saturday, I went on a photo shoot adventure with my friend Natalie. Our theme was "the Disney character who you feel a connection to".  So we picked our Disney "twin" and then we gave it a modern twist.

 I chose Belle. Beauty and the Beast is/ has always been my favorite animated movie! I love everything about the movie. The music never ceases to make me smile, and the story fills my heart with a whole lot of happy.  I have always felt that if Belle were a real person, we would be kindred spirits. So, Here is my modern interpretation of Belle. The bow is actually a belt that i made into a bow and then covered it with painters tape. (I was in a hurry and didn't have time to buy material so you gotta work with what you've got) I actually used this tutorial and it was very helpful.

Natalie picked Jane from Tarzan.

Gah! Natalie os so lovely in front of the camera. She is incredibly talented. She made that skirt by hand the night before the shoot! I love how Victorian it looks!

 It was a lovely day of frolicking and mingling with thoughts of Disney! Do you have a favorite animated movie and character you feel a connection too?



On Me: 
Bow: Handmade 
Lace Dress: F21
Blue Tank: Birthday gift
Skirt: Buffalo Exchange in San Francisco


On Natalie: 
Skirt: Handmade
Locket: Found it on the street! (can you believe it?!)


Listening to: The Adjustment Bureau OST "None of Them are You" by Thomas Newman

Quest for Camelot

Faeries, Dragons, Lances... Oh my!
The world of magic and knights took hold of the Central Coast over this past weekend and I ventured in with two great friends Sarah (She also went with me to the mission) and Jackie. We headed over to San Luis Obispo on Saturday to soak in the grandeur that is the Renaissance Faire ...

There was lots to see and many fun people walking about!  Every stall was decorated with great finery and was filled with even greater treasures. This was my second time attending a Ren Faire. My first was three years back in Colorado. It was the most spectacular place ever! This one here was a lot smaller but still loads of fun. Jackie even got a proposal from a local...

She declined gracefully. He was crushed, but he dealt with it well. hehe.

Henna!! Sarah and Jackie got beautiful ankle tattoos. I got these on my arms though by this time the paste was beginning to crack. Right now it is all off and is a bit darker than the orange showing through. They represent the f-holes of the violin family (Violin, Viola, Cello). I play the violin and a bit of cello. I have a thing for the string family.

We were in attendance for the Royal Jousting Tournament. It was perfectly thrilling! And Lady Victoria of England had the most glorious hair! 

Now onto treasures...

This was beautiful but I did not have the funds for it to be mine....

I did get to bring these lovelies home though...

Ear-cuffs are my favorite jewelry item hands down. I was happy to add this one and one other to my collection.

Another love of mine is watches. Mostly old fashioned watches with gears. I find gears to be beautiful in the way they move and work together. Yes. I am a steampunk fan. You can't tell in the picture, but the necklace is round and on the backside you can see all the gears tinkering away. When I saw this I almost died. So, rather than allow that to happen, I brought it home to be with me forever. 

World of Color

Tuesday I went to Disneyland and California Adventures! My brother Matt turns 19 on Saturday and he decided to head to "The happiest place on earth"! I love that he chose that! It was just him, his lovely girlfriend Karly, our friend/ Karly's cousin Tyke, and I.

This is my Brother. I love him dearly!

He is two years younger than I am, but he looks like he is five years older and a pirate! It doesn't help that i didn't wear any makeup and that I am a very short person. haha.
I didn't take very many pictures. Stupidity on my part, but I was just having to much fun running around wide eyed.  But a few things ended up catching my eye and begged to be photographed!

We got park hopper tickets to both Disneyland and California Adventures. California adventures has more of a 20's pier carnival feel to it! It is a brilliant place.

We live about 3 hours north of LA so we really don't have to travel that far. This was my 4th time to Disneyland. The first two times I was to young to remember much, so it is nice to go back and make new memories that I will be able to remember!  I am a huge Disney fan! I grew up with Disney and my children will too. There is just something so special about it all. It may just be that way for those who grew up with it. I don't really know, but it is all dear to my heart.

One of my favorite rides is Indiana Jones. You are in a jeep riding around and boulders are heading toward you and bugs crawling on the walls. Great fun, no? This last pic was in the gift shop for Indiana Jones. This hat was sixty dollars (I did not buy it)!!! Crazy, but it was a beauty! 

To end the evening in the most remarkable way ever, we saw the new (one year old) water and light show at California Adventures called, "World of Color". This show was one of the most stunning creations I have ever seen. It is remarkable! The show is made up of projectors projecting disney classics and lights displayed on sheets of mist and columns of water. I would recommend it 100 times over to anyone who is going to the parks. Here is a video of the entire production. It is nowhere near the greatness of seeing it live, but it is still remarkable! Have a great Friday.

Mission Life

I lack savviness in technology. It is a sad truth that I have come to accept. I have accepted it but now I want to change it. I have begun research (haha it sounds so formal but its not) on different things that will help me along on my blog. I am hoping that I can turn this blog into what I have imagined in my head. First order of business is Pictures. Picture quality is what is really bothering me at the moment and I was tempted not to post until I had figured it all out. But, I will be victorious!! Oh yes I will!  I know it will take me some time and I am ok with that. But that is no reason not to post I suppose. 

So... on Saturday I went to La Purisima Mission with my dear friends Gabrielle and Sarah. Dear Summer how I love you!

I had not been to the mission since elementary school! Oh the old grade-school days. *sigh*
It is such an amazing place that has such great California history within its walls! This mission is located in Lompoc, CA and sits on El Camino Real (The Royal Road) that runs up the coast of California. Twenty-one missions were built along this road, by the spanish, from 1683-1834.  La Purisima was founded in 1787.

I  love this courtyard!

So this was my first time officially taking outfit pics for Cello&Bow! Can you say awkward! I have never never ever been comfortable in front of the camera... So this will be another welcomed challenge to conquer. So, bear with me as i find my way. 

Listening to:  "Gravity" by Lucy Schwartz

Only the Beginning of the Adventure

To begin a blog.
This idea has been burning the walls of my brain for quite some time now. I have been reading blogs for about two years now and since my discovery of this incredible, creative, and inspiring realm, I have been wanting to start one of my own. I tried multiple times but it never clicked. I think I am finally ready to just go for it. So here it is. We shall begin with an introduction.

My name is Amara.

I call Santa Maria, CA home and I am a 20 year old student of music. I LOVE MUSIC!!

I want this place of mine to be a creative outlet for me. I am inspired by so many things in this world of ours (meaning Earth and its creative inhabitants) and I just want to share those things with the world!! I also want to be part of this amazing and supportive community of bloggers that have inspired me so much! 

Listening to: "Only the Beginning of the Adventure" The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe soundtrack, Harry Gregson-Williams.