how the summer goes by July 22, 2009

before you know it, the summer will have gone by.  The air will turn crisp, the leaves start to turn. 

But for now, we are in the very heart of it!  It seems that although the days can be lazy, with the warm sun on your skin, somehow, the summertime always proves to be some of the busiest times of the year.  We are all trying so hard to enjoy the weather.  We vacation, we spend time in the garden, we read, eat, play and socialize outside. 

Which means I don’t quite have enough time for other things: facebook, my blog, email, TV, etc.  But, I have a feeling that you don’t have as much time to read my blog, so perhaps, it is all okay.  Just checking in, want to say hi, and wishing everyone a beautiful, warm, heart of summer.  Enjoy every minute, keep the sunscreen handy, stay hydrated, and get outside!!

I’m OFF!! May 8, 2009

So, I’m off to Kingsburg in the morning, and I am so excited, it almost feels like Christmas.  Not only do I get to photograph my old friends, but I also get to photograph their beautiful babies, and their husbands for the first time!  Creating memories via photography is the main reason I wanted to get into it in the first place.  I know that  a lifetime from now, someone will look through the pictures, and ooh and aww over how little the kids are, and how young the parents look.  I am very proud to be sharing my love for photography with old friends, and hopefully make this shoot an annual, or even semi-annual event.

And, to put the icing on the cake, I get to spend a few days with my beloved family.  My aunt and cousin are driving up, my oldest little cousin is coming from college, and I’m surprising my 82 year old grandma for mother’s day.  I haven’t spent time with my mom in what seems like forever, and even though the trip is only a few days long, I know it will be totally invigorating.  There is just something about being with people who love you literally no matter what, and who just “get” the person you have become.  No family is perfect, but every family is special.  Oh,  I can’t wait to see mine.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Stuff Happens March 24, 2009

My husband and I stumbled upon a great show called, STUFF HAPPENS.  It is hosted by Bill Nye, and is on the Green Network.  Although it can be a bit cheesy, it is full of very useful information on the things that happen to the planet as we live our lives.  He points out the impact on the planet of sunscreen, for example.  Did you know that the chemicals in some sunscreens get washed down the drain, end up in our oceans, and can actually change the sex of a certain fish off the coast of California??!!  He then offers real world solutions.  We need to all be paying closer attention to our impact on the planet, and prioritizing living a little greener.  From dedicated recycling, to re-using and re-purposing, to using re-usable grocery bags, to carpooling.  Make living green a habit, and then pass it on!

Birthday Blessings March 5, 2009

Well,  I had been dreading my big three-oh for weeks.  And yet it kept creeping right on up.  But thanks to my husband, neighbors, and very dear friends, I had a wonderful birthday.  I felt special, loved, and truly blessed.  My best friend hosted so that I wouldn’t have to clean before or after (so thoughtful) and she and her husband decorated so beautifully I couldn’t believe it.  Gorgeous orchids, and paper lanterns everywhere.  My hubby cooked for four hours straight, and sweet Dan did dishes for just as long.  The food was amazing, the decor so gorgeous, and the laughter plentiful.  The night was capped off with my good buddy Nick and his roommate John’s rendition of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”, followed by some other covers and originals.  We ate, laughed, sang and had the best birthday yet!  Thank you to everyone who attended, and worked so hard.  Now, I see myself as 30 and fabulous!!

Shedding February 8, 2009

So I am almost done with the Shack, and although I know this book just isn’t for everyone, I think alot of what it teaches us can be universal, whether or not you are a spiritual person.

For one thing, a very central lesson in this book is the idea of relationships vs. roles.  When you are acting, and expecting others to act as they should, according to their roles,then you are basically setting yourself, and the other person up for failure.   What a person “should” do, may not be what they actually do.  You are asserting power over that person by the desire to punish them if they don’t meet your expectations.  You may punish them by getting upset, acting disappointed, telling them they are irresponsible.  Now, on the other hand, if you are living in a constant relationshipwith that person, not the role that person is playing (friend, husband, brother, sister, etc.) then you don’t have any debilitating expectations, that inevitably at one time or another, will not be met.  We are human after all, and simply can’t be perfect, acting in the perfect way to every situation. 

In short, the idea is that without expectations of what your husband, for example should do, and while trying to focus on the relationshipwith the man you married, you are lessening the likelihood that your husband might let you down.  Think about it:  you didn’t marry a fictional all knowing being called husband.  You married a man with a personality, with emotions, with stresses and expectations coming from every direction.  And you married that person for who they are, not for the role you might one day want them to play. 

Basically what I have learned from the Shack, is that by shedding the expectations of the roles you want people to play, you are opening up your heart to continually accept them for who they are.  Which is the truest, and best form of love.

No one is perfect, we all make mistakes.  And I think we all deserve to be treated, and treat one another with the deepest love we are capable of.  And maybe, just maybe, that means focusing more on the person and the relationship, which is always a two-way street, and less on the ROLE we think they are supposed to be fulfilling for us.  Just something to think about

Goal Setting January 16, 2009

It is that time of year again, when you do a little inventory, think about the year behind you, and assure yourself that the year ahead will be________ (more organized, more prosperous, I’ll work out more, eat healthier, be a better spouse, parent, friend, employee).  I think the whole idea of a new year’s resolution is a great one… but it ends up just making us feel guilty by, oh, February.  Goal setting is a very important part to the path of success.  It gives you something to work towards, and something to hold yourself to.  If you just want to “work out more” that doesn’t give a clear definition of what more means.  So on a good week you’ll work out five times, and on a bad one once.  But you have no way to reward, or push yourself, when you can’t say clearly: I met, or didn’t meet my goal. 

I was going through some old notes, and found the following scribbled on a piece of paper:

My goal is:      To create artistically fulfilling images that depict a typical way of life

And I am so glad to have found this past note.  I didn’t set it out as a goal, more of a note to myself.  But looking back at it now, I see that in a very short and sweet statement, my biggest goal is laid out before me.   In all of my photography, from babies, to families, to weddings, this goal is important.  Emotional, artistic images, that allow the personalities of my clients to shine through, while evoking a sense of art and feeling.  So in a way, I have been following the goal without even knowing it.  But now that I have found a clearer purpose, I can focus on what is important to me in my photography.  A sort of filter if you will. 

Think about how you live your life: as an employee, spouse, parent, friend, etc.  Think about the way you would ideally complete tasks, and ask yourself this question:

In an ideal situation, how would I most want to do this job?  Then use that as your mantra, your motto, your goal.  Write it down somewhere, and take a look at it every day, or every week.  Keeping yourself on track will lead to less stress, less anxiety, and more time to think about all the other things you have going on in your life!

Lets all work towards really making 2009 a wonderful year!

Memory Lane January 2, 2009

 

 

 

Check out this shot I took with our I-phone of Storke Tower on UCSB’s campus.  Cam and I took a long walk through campus, amazed at how much has been added since we left.  It was so fun to be there again, and we even got to hear the bells ring at the top of Storke.  Ahh the memories…

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! January 1, 2009

We just got home yesterday from a wonderful week in sunny southern California.  We got to spend a lot of time with family, meet our newest nephew, play lots of games with his bigger brother, and we even snuck away for a night in Santa Barbara, our old stomping ground.  It was a bit exhausting, as traveling often is, but wonderful too.  Now it is so nice to have slept in my own bed, be home with our pets, and get back to day to day life.  Cameron and I are puttering around the house today in PJs, doing laundry, cleaning the house, and stopping every few minutes to love on our furry friends.  We also had a new stack of Christmas cards waiting for us to open.  I love getting pictures of everyone during the holidays, and my heart is especially warmed when I receive cards from clients.  I hope everyone has enjoyed the holidays, and I wish us all prosperity, love, and lots of laughter in the year ahead.

Facebook Anyone?? November 12, 2008

So I recently insisted that Ellie join Facebook after a few of her old co-workers asked her to join in order to keep in touch better.  I told her that she should really try to keep up with the times, and advances in technology, etc. etc. etc.  So what does she do?  She joins!

Then she makes me join.  “But I already blog!” I protested.  “Too bad.  If I’m doing it, so are you.”

Day two of facebooking, and I have to admit it is pretty neat.  The network of people who are friends of friends etc. is really neat.  You can look at someone’s profile, or wall I think it is called, and see what they are up to.  You can either write something to them or not, but without too much effort you can get a sneak peek into their lives.  I have a few relatives on, and I’ve even gotten back in touch with a few old classmates.  I will make sure that I don’t go on more than once or twice a day, because I can see how easy it would be to get sucked in and sit on line for hours at a time.  If you are thinking about it, give it a try.  What do you have to lose?

“More Scarves than Tank Tops” October 30, 2008

I found these words coming from my lips when someone asked me if I thought I had acclimated well after moving here from Santa Barbara six years ago.  “Well” I said, ” I do own more scarves than tank tops now!”

So, I think it might be official.  I am now a north-westerner.  I own multiple fleeces, one for “going out”, one for camping, or yard work, and I own WAY more scarves than tank tops.  I also wasn’t all that bummed to see August go by, giving way to the most beautiful fall I have ever experienced.  This is an amazing place we get to live in, and I am loving it!  Take a good long look outside, the leaves are on fire, and they won’t be around for too much longer.  I love the crisp air, I love the smell of pumpkin spice anything (lattes, candles, muffins, etc.).  I love putting on wool socks at night, and lighting a fire to keep warm.  What are your favorite things about this time of year??