Ten Things You May or May Not Know About Me:

1) I sweat. A lot.  I sweat in every season. I sweat in the air conditioning. I sweat, a lot!

2) I wear deodorant.

3) I love to look nice.  I mean, I have my fair share of dress down, old tee-shirt, no bra days, but I have always been a fashion horse.

4)  I can’t wear nail polish that well; it always peels off.  So, this year I have opted for doing my best at self pedi- and mani- upkeep.  Which means I often don’t have the most well manicured nails.

5)  I want a new tattoo.  I even tried it on for size the other night.  Michael drew it for me, and now I am convinced that I will have this ink really soon.  FYI: That’s a camera shutter at f/4!

6) I am at the point in my life where I don’t want to be exposed to people and situations that make me feel I’m not good enough.  Or, more importantly, people and situations where I don’t feel respected.   If you can’t  respect me, I won’t respect you.  Enough said.

7) I have one pair or black heels that I’ve had for years and I love them.  If you see me in black heels you should know that those will be my favorite ones.  I wanted knew ones, but then I put my old standby pair on, and knew I could not do them the injustice of not wearing them.  They’re patent leather.  They’re from Payless.  And, I love them.

8) I swear.  Like a sailor, I swear.  I know how to control it, but in the right setting you should know that I will cuss like nobody’s business.

9)  I talk a lot.  I talk fast.  I talk fast, a lot.  I often talk to everyone and anyone.  I very rarely don’t make eye contact. I am a people person.

10)  I like a good, solid handshake.   But, I also love a good, solid hug!

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Every year, in high school, I dreaded the time when we would have those horrendous physical fitness tests.  We’d have to do push ups, sit ups, climb a knotted rope to the top, sprints, and we’d have to run a mile.  I did o.k. on the sit ups, but that was it.  The rest were always a big, fat fail, but I never felt worse than when I was running that mile.  We had to run it in under twelve minutes, and if we didn’t make it we had to stay after school to try it again.  And again, and again; until we came in under the clock.  I hated it so much and it was something that stuck with me through my life.

I’d look at those runners in town and think, “My God, what a crazy person!”

I’d say, “Not me!  I’m no runner.”

I’d blame my bad folk-dancing knee, my lack of time, my weight, my whatever-excuse-worked.

Not. Anymore.

This is my track.  Well, it’s not “my” track, but it is the track where I started my bike training.   And, now it’s the track that I run on.  Yes, it’s the track that I run on.

Let me say that slowly:

It’s. The. Track. That. I. Run. On.

On June 27th, I downloaded the Couch to 5K app for my iTouch.  I had heard all about the app, and, quite frankly, had those same thoughts about it like, Oh My God those people are crazy, I could never run, I have a bad knee, whatever-whatever.

But, I was already in push mode. I was pushing myself with every bike ride.  My legs were strong.  My heart was feeling good.  The scale was responding.  Skirts felt loose.

So, I pushed a little harder, downloaded the damn app, and gave it a go!

I am currently in week 4.  This is the week where I run for three minutes, walk, and then five minutes straight (twice!)   The other day when I finished the last run portion, I exploded into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.  I couldn’t stop and I know that the dad and daughter who were playing soccer on the field must’ve thought I was a loon.

I don’t know?   Maybe I was laughing at Miss Callahan (and maybe giving her a big, fat middle finger) for making me feel like such a dipshit—in high school—for not being able to finish the mile in under twelve minutes?  Maybe I was laughing because I was alive?!

I did it.  I didn’t die.  I’m going to keep doing it.

Hello, my name is Mishelle, and I’m a *runner!

*Follow my training on Daily Mile!

Get your mind out of the gutter!

* * * * * *

It’s no secret: I love bags!  I’ve always loved them. There’s even a long standing joke between Michael and myself about the number of purses I own or have owned in the 16 years we have been together.  That being said, I have always  feared that my purse box would mysteriously disappear from where it is stored.  I have that many purses.  And, he has that much disdain over this fact.  But, now, my purse love has turned into camera bag love.  Mostly because I have to take my camera with me [almost] everywhere I go.  Yes, even to Wal-mart!  You never know when there will be some shopping excursion that needs documenting, right?

My first camera bag was, of course, the big Canon bag that could—at the time—house my gear and then some, but now would not even come close to fitting all my equipment.  I soon realized that I needed something smaller and less noticeable (and cooler, too!)  I got a Crumpler.  That bag was just big enough for my XTi with my 24-70mm f/2.8 and my Speedlite.  The last time I opened it up was on Christmas morning of 2009, also known as Christmas 5DMK2!  That bag would prove to be way too small, and I was relegated to carrying my big Canon bag around.  But, that wouldn’t be the best option.  I mean, who wants to roll around town with a big Canon bag on her shoulder?  This would be the end of taking my camera on shopping trips.  Then came an Epiphanie, and her name was Lola.   All was right with the world.

Recently, though, I was sent a beautiful *Kelly Moore Bag to review.  I chose the the yellow messenger style because I have always LOVED that kind of bag.  I wanted something totally different from Lola, and [Mustard Boy -oh- boy] did I get it!

This Kelly Moore Bag is great to take on photo-shoots.  I love how I can easily open the flap and get whatever piece of equipment I need out.  There are two side pockets that are perfect for my cell phone and sunglasses.  There’s a front zipper pocket that is big enough for my hardcase wallet and then two zipper pockets that I keep extra memory cards, batteries, the collapsible lenshood for my 50mm, Lensbaby focus rings, and business cards.  There’s even room for lipstick!   If I had a mini, I would definitely be able to take that with me, too, carrying it in the back pocket.  My laptop actually fits, it’s just too heavy to carry in there since I don’t have one of those lightweight, handy-dandy Macs.    Also, the bag closes with really strong magnets, and I am totally not nervous when I carry and use it.

Oh, and, there are three different styles, with many different colors to choose from; there’s a bag to suit everyone’s taste.

All-in-all, for me, the Kelly Moore Mustard Boy Bog is the perfect addition to my camera bag collection.  I absolutely love its versatility, and when I carry it around with me on shoots (or even just photo walks on, say, Lake Laniere or the fireworks show in Dahlonega) I feel totally professional yet hip, at the same time.

Which brings me to my big news:

I am giving away a Kelly Moore Bag!

However, I AM going to make you work for it!

Here’s what you have to do…

To be entered to win (1) Kelly Moore Bag you can:

1. Leave me a comment telling me which bag is your favorite. See them all: Here (1 point)
2. Follow Kelly Moore on Twitter. (2 points)
3. Join the Kelly Moore Bag Group on Facebook. (2 points)
4. Submit  a self portrait (a selfy-pee, ya’ll know how I roll) WITH your camera, camera gear, camera bag in the picture; the more creative the better!   Feel free to use your cell phone, your point-and-shoot, your DSLR, or your Diana!  (5 points)

(Make sure you tell me what you’ve done to be entered, in the comments section. Also, in the comments section—if you’ve done #4  just link to your blog post, Flickr, Photobucket, Facebook, or where ever you have your submission hosted!)

Here’s an example of what I’m looking for in regards to the selfy-pee:

You have until August 4th to get your picture in, and the winner will be announced on August 5th.  A winner will be chosen at random.

Ready. Set. Shoot.

*Kelly Moore Bag: Watch the video!!