Of course the actual content of the pictures you take have everything to do with how well it can turn out, but if you have the Hipstamatic app you're an automatic pro and everything you shoot comes out looking amazing. Well.. that might be an overstatement but, I am going crazy over these pictures my friend took and each style that she chose was pure genius. If you don't have the app, get out from under the rock and start snapping at random things. See how awesome it feels to be a photographer via your cell phone :)

Rain

Austin Sky

Aloe Vern

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Megadeath

Thanks to Diana Uribe for letting me use her awesome photos :)

Abandoned Beauty by Tom Kondrat

Budapest Zoo by Douglas Friedman

These guys are two very different photographers with beautiful style. Friedman has worked for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, InStyle and V Magazine. Kondrat grew up in the art world with parents who were freelance photographers. I love finding pictures like this and feeling like I am engulfed in the serenity in which the photos portray. You can find these pictures for sale at the 20x200 website.

This past week was my spring break. I went to Austin to visit friends and family and partook in some South by Southwest events. These are some of my pictures and some things I wrote down while in observance of my surroundings. My conclusion is that Austin is, and has been for a while now, but most definitely discovered and overrun by hipsters. I know I am about the 100th person to say that but I feel like if I say it enough, I might get used to Austin again this way. I did, afterall, grow up and go to college there. I know how awesome it is. You don't need to remind me, you ragedy hipster person, you. Anyways... maybe if we all accept this fact, it might start to feel and look like home again. Regardless, here are my pictures :)

Things I noticed last week:

A more obscure amount of people wearing plaid.

No cell phone service whatsoever.

Banjos and tamborines.

Whiskey pickle shots.

Guys wearing cowboys boots and skinny jeans.

The ridiculousness of a $7 Lonestar beer.

Houses turned bars.

Photos: Own. 

Bands: What Made Milwauke Famous

Right now Jul+Lory is in a homey stage with re-vamping old apartments and decorating new ones. We are loving this site's classy designs and how they mix and match their patterns. The bed and mirror fixtures are a plus, too! Have been obsessed with spanish details for a while now.

Photos: Tulu textiles

These are some prints I bought recently by Todd McLellan and I haven't had a chance to frame yet. I always pictured myself mowing my lawn with a push mower and have been on the search for a perfect one for a while, when one day I get an email from the beloved 20x200, and my perfect push mower has been taken apart and turned into a beautiful work of art. I am still on the look out for a real one but this will do for the time being :)

Jul+Lory's new favorite innovative company and line of home and gadget accessories is Trio Design Studio based in Dallas, Tx! These three mommies are living an entrepreneurial dream all whilst raising some adorable kiddos. All-in-all these ladies know how to multi-task like a pro and can do it and design it, in style. We are LOVING the i-Pad and i-Phone cases and can't wait to come up with our own design to be displayed on our very own case! We don't have business cards yet so we think a monogrammed phone case is a must ASAP. Also, with all the weddings we have coming up, the personalized platters are such a perfect gift idea for the bride who wants to show off her new name!

We especially love how classy and clean everything is. There is a time and place to be out there and un-monogrammed and our phone cases are not that place :) As soon as Jul+Lory comes up with a design we will share it here for sure!

Photos and info: Trio Design Studio

.... to the co-founder of Jul+Lory! Hope it's the most fantastic birthday yet!

Don't know if this holds much truth but it sure sounds interesting....

In 270 A.D., marriage had been outlawed by the emperor of Rome, Claudius II. Claudius issued this decree because he thought that married men made bad soldiers since they were reluctant to be torn away from their families in the case of war. Claudius had also outlawed Christianity in this time period because he wished to be praised as the one supreme god, the Emperor of Rome. Valentine was the bishop of Interamna during this period of oppression. Valentine thought that the decrees of Rome were wrong. He believed that people should be free to love God and to marry. Valentine invited the young couples of the area to come to him. When they came, Valentine secretly performed services of matrimony and united the couples.

Valentine was eventually caught and was brought before the emperor. The emperor saw that Valentine had conviction and drive that was unsurpassed among his men. Claudius tried and tried to persuade Valentine to leave Christianity, serve the Roman empire and the Roman gods. In exchange, Claudius would pardon him and make him one of his allies. St. Valentine held to his faith and did not renounce Christ. Because of this, the emperor sentenced him to a three-part execution. First, Valentine would be beaten, then stoned, and then finally, decapitated. Valentine died on February 14th, 270 A.D.

While in prison, waiting for his sentence to be carried out, Valentine fell in love with the jailer’s daughter, the blind Asterius. During the course of Valentine’s prison stay, a miracle occurred and Asterius regained her sight. Valentine sent her a final farewell note. He signed his last note, “From Your Valentine.” Even today, this message remains as the motto for our Valentine’s Day celebrations.

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From my students :)

Saw this driving to a party this weekend. Thought it was adorable. It's someone's 60th birthday somewhere in the world today. Hope it's a good one :)

Texas Hill Country

These shoes were made for walking AND looking amazing.

After a much needed break from work, I find myself needing a break from my break! All that glitz, glam, wrapping and bows, sweet desserts, skirts and high heels, I feel an urge to just bring it all back to basics. An urge to be simple and comfortable, no more traveling, parties and weddings. Just looking forward to being back to my normal habits in my normal apartment! I did not get today off like most every person that has a normal job, so I will have to ease myself back into the complicit reality of 2012. I wouldn't mind starting the year off with any or ALL of these simple classics. :)

Source: stylein