Busy, Random and Gorgeous

It has been a crazy week; well, a crazy month. So this blog post is going to be a bit short, and a lot random; topped off with some gorgeousness.

I was told this week that I was the perfect size for taking pictures, then was referred to as a human tripod.

I am having my picture taken for the second time this month. I am so awkward in front of a camera. You would think not...but honestly, it's not pretty. I'm fine with the timer and run method, but for some reason knowing someone can see me and I can't see them sort of freaks me out. My goal is to loosen up, chill out and for heaven sake relax my face. I tend to look like I just got injected with botox. I am much more comfortable behind the camera, but my goal is to make it happen this week. I'll let you know how it goes...hopefully with some presentable pictures!

I love shooting weddings! I love everything about it! The only downfall is the night after the wedding I dream in wedding all...night...long. I dream camera settings, location, posing, reception, ceremony. It's exhausting!

I am a big baby when it comes to weddings, I cry every single time. At this last wedding I cried three times. Ah...the love!

I can't have a conversation with someone if their mouth is covered. If we are sitting on the couch and Erik has a blanket pulled up so it's covering his mouth I get really irritated. He says I stare at his lips when we talk. So weird. I don't think I have a hearing problem, but apparently I read lips.

They say the average child goes through 7000-9000 diapers from newborn to potty trained. So let's just go with the lower end. We have changed at least 28,000 diapers in the last seven years! Now wonder we are ridiculously excited about NO MORE DIAPERS!! I don't even want to think about how much we spent. Don't figure it out for me please.

A few peeks of why I have been so busy lately! Okay, now back to editing before tonight's shoot!

Ways to Stay Creative

You have probably already seen this list circulating the internet; I came across it for the first time the other day. For those that have not seen it yet and maybe as a reminder to those that have...I thought it was worth sharing.

Some thoughts:

#4- Get away from the computer.  This is a big one for me. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the computer, the time passes by and we never get to exercise the creativity that we sat down to research about in the first place. Not good. 

#5- Quit beating yourself up.  I saw a post on one of the photography forums I belong to; it made me so sad. The question posted was, "Do you like your work?" Pages and pages of responses with everyone saying that they didn't like their work. I know it's very easy to be hard on yourself; I am definitely guilty but there should always be a sense of joy within our passion. I can always look through a session and find something I love; something I can be proud of. Sometimes I will catch myself smiling as I flip through pictures. It might not be the most technically perfect picture but it shines in one way or another. We all need to stop beating ourselves up and see our creativity for what it is...beautiful!!!

#6- Take breaks.  I have to remind myself of this one constantly. One of my strengths in life is "Achiever" (this will be a topic in another post) but with that strength comes burn out. I have to remember to get up, walk around, engage is something different. Read. Fold some laundry. Play with my kids. So important!!!!!

#7- Sing.  Pandora is always in the background when I'm editing. If it's not, I get irritated. 

#8- Drink coffee.  Totally have this one down!!!!

#9- Listen to new music.  Of course!

#16- Allow yourself to make mistakes.  Goes along with #5. Without mistakes you won't learn. 

#18- Count your blessings.  Perspective is huge.

#20- Take risks.   I feel like I am doing this a lot lately. Although it can be scary, my goodness, it's fun. And that brings us back to #16. It's okay to make mistakes while you are taking risks. They go hand in hand. Allowing yourself to make mistakes is a risk all on it's own.

#21- Break the rules.  I love this one. Being creative means you don't have to live in a box; something I have never been comfortable with. 

#22- Don't force it.  If it's not flowing, go back to #6 and walk away. Take a break and come back; don't force it because then it stops being enjoyable.

#25- Stop trying to be someone else's perfect.  Probably my favorite!! Comparing yourself with others is probably the one thing we as "creative people" do and the #1 thing that is most detrimental to our creativity. Let it go. Be your own beautiful!!!! Be okay with loving what YOU do and the way YOU do it!!!

#27- Clean your workspace.   I am so guilty of working in clutter and also guilty of being stressed within that clutter. I don't even realize why I am so stressed until I clean up all the junk around me. I have learned to clean my space before I begin work. My mind is clear and I am free to only focus on what is in front of me rather than the pile of unopened bills I continue to notice out of the corner of my eye. 

#28- Have fun.  Isn't this the reason we fell in love with whatever it is we do? It's our passion, it's what we can't live without doing, it's FUN! Don't let the fun fade away. If it begins to fade then look over this list. Ask yourself what needs to change and then make those changes so that you don't lose the love. 

That's a Cute Snake

I was away on a girls weekend and Erik had the kids. I never worry when he has them, even when he tells me all he wants to accomplish while I'm gone. He shows me his list of errands he plans to run with four kids in tow and I know he's got it. The truth is they listen to him. Sometimes is makes me upset thinking of how well they behave for him verses me, but it also makes me happy that my husband is a rockstar! He takes the kids to Costco and it results in strangers making comments to him like, "Gosh, you have very well behaved kids." All I get in those situations is sweaty armpits and the need to pop a few Advil...whatever!

So after a day of errands in Denver, the gang comes home to chill. I am sure wrestling matches, junk food and movies were on the agenda. Matthew these days has really taken to stiking close to Daddy. He wants to go everywhere and do everything Daddy does. We are potty training in our house...THE LAST KID!!!! Did I just say that? No more diapers? WHAT THE FRICK... IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!

Erik got up to go to the bathroom and his "mini-me" followed as predicted. He usually just messes around in the bathroom dumping out a bottle of something, turning on the faucet, or flushing before it's needed; this time he was intrigued. He was curious. He wanted to figure out how this whole bathroom thing worked for guys. He started chatting with Erik about the day. In the midst of chatting he looked up for a quick glance, without missing a beat he said with a snicker in his voice, "Oh, that's a cute snake-butt," then went on his way.

When I got home on Sunday afternoon Matthew ran up to me for a big hug and says, "mommy, mommy I have a cute snake-butt like Daddy!"

Like I said I never worry when Erik has the kids. Not only are they safe and happy but they also learn valuable life lessons!

Our Loaf and Jug

What kind of title is that? ...What kind of name is that for a convenience store? It's the name for our convenience store! I laughed so hard the first time I read the sign. Seriously, Loaf-n-Jug!? You couldn't come up with something better than Loaf-n-Jug!? Well, its original, I'll give 'em that!

Now, I know the name is a little rough, but the Loaf-n-jug is very near and dear to our hearts. The Loaf-n-Jug, aka "The Bailey Mall" is the hang-out-spot, the happenin' place; it's where you will see your peeps!! It's a grocery store, a diner, a movie rental store, an ice cream parlor and a gas station; it has it all! The ten minutes it takes us to get to the Loaf-n-Jug is something I will always be thankful for!

Now let me explain it's amenities with some pictures:

movie rental

gas station

lumber yard

park

ice cream parlor

bank

hardware store

trendy boutique

bakery

diner

Its got it all!

You never have to be concerned with how you look when you go to the "mall". It doesn't matter if you wear two different shoes or wear your husbands shoes for that matter... it's a judge free zone. Make-up is not required, pajamas get a thumb's-up and a pony tail is standard (even for some of the gentlemen). There's a feeling of "we are all in this together" when you visit the good ol' L and J!

When my Aunt came to visit, she started something that has stuck in our house. Whenever she would refer to the Loaf-n-Jug she would call it something different, making her way through her list of words that go together. So now, we don't just call it the Loaf-n-Jug, but we call it by any two words that fit together with an "n" in the middle. Here are some examples!

Tids-n-bits

Fluff-n-fold

Kibbles-n-bits

Bread-n-butter

Toast-n-jam

Shuck-n-jive

Peas-n-carrots

Curds-n-whey

Please-n-thank you

Do you have any other name suggestions to add to our ongoing list?