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?

Task Lists: I Give In

I have been a stay-at-home mom for the past seven years. I have had a very lenient schedule, a must with little kids; everyday is a surprise. I am a very scheduled person, always have been, but when you are home with four little ones your day-to-day life is very unpredictable. I had a routine in place, but always knew that nothing was set in stone. I had no deadlines, so-to-speak. It was my way of coping. All of that has changed. Going from a home-minded routine to a working-minded routine has really taken some adjustment.


I have talked the last two weeks about the changes going on in our household. My work-load, my attitude, and my stress-level. I have been extremely stressed. When life takes an unexpected turn sometimes it catches you off guard. Sometimes changes are necessary even when you think you're getting by.


I would say that I'm a very organized person in many ways, but having Erik home has made me realize he totally has me beat. I have been mocking him for about a month about his task-lists, calendars, and daily schedules. I would walk by as he was typing it up with a chip on my shoulder, "what a geek!"


I was just fine without a minute-by-minute schedule. I didn't want something telling me what to do...I wanted freedom. But, I wasn't feeling very free, quite the opposite. I found myself a complete wreck.


The other night after a big rant, I decided to cave. Cave to the thought of being a slave to a schedule. Cave to the idea that I was jealous of Erik. He was calm and at peace with life and I was a flippin' mess!


I used to be an "agenda-type" person. I was the little girl that laid her outfits out a week in advance with socks and matching hair bows. For some reason over the years I got away from those habits; I guess I thought it would simplify my life.


I was trying to become more career-focused while still maintaining my non-scheduled, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants family life; it was swallowing me whole. I had so many things to accomplish in one day; the thought of it became so overwhelming that I wouldn't get much done at all. Without a plan you fail, and I was failing miserably. The time I did have with my family I was grumpy. I didn't think I had the freedom to enjoy time with them having all of those tasks hanging over my head. I didn't have a schedule and so I wasn't allowing myself the much needed family time, house-cleaning time, and work-out time. I would rush through those things and "squeeze them in" but wouldn't enjoy them. With everything else I thought I should be doing I couldn't enjoy my most precious treasure, my family.


I feel free now. I'm a complete believer in my husband's geeky schedule, haha! I am now a saleswoman for the whole task-list thing. It just goes to show that you should never judge anything before you give it a chance. Most likely if someone is enjoying their day-to-day life, it might be because of a great strategy. It really works and you might want to give it a try.


The very first thing we did was sit down and make a mission statement. Initially, I was rolling my eyes at the whole idea (I have major attitude if you haven't noticed), but honestly it's really cool...and really easy. You can also get a great task sheet that incorporates the roles you operate in, the goals you have and the values you cherish. It really can help focus you on what is truly important in your life. I highly recommend you check it out. Here is the link, it's free.


http://www.franklincovey.com/msb/

I compiled an ongoing list of "to-do's" on my desktop. When something comes to mind it goes on that list. If it's on the list, it doesn't stress me out. Everything from cleaning the kids bed sheets to confirming a shoot with a client. I use my calendar and my task list to create my daily agenda. It's so fun crossing things off that list!

I know it sounds uncool, but seriously, it's awesome. So much stress has been lifted and I'm smiling again. I feel like I can do this. I can be and do all these things, but do them in a healthy, fun, fulfilling way. Of course there is always a need for flexibility in life; things happen. So if something doesn't get done then it just gets carried over to the next day... no biggie!

Ah... organization feels so good!

I heart faces | white

This gorgeous bride was as sweet as she was beautiful! I just love the how this picture
shows both! 

Selfishness: A Lonely Place

I was confronted this week with a person I hadn't seen in awhile. I was confronted with a different side of myself that I didn't like. It scared me and made me stop and think...stop and cry. Sometimes life has a way of hitting me square between the eyes, giving me a much needed wake-up call.


I'm typically the person that likes to look at my glass as being half-full. A person that always "finds the penny in the pile of poo," as my mom would say. But I wasn't that person at all. A Negative Nellie, a Debbie Downer, a Moody Margaret (I just made that last one up in case you hadn't noticed) would better describe me.


All that negativity put me in a state of depression. Little things the kids would do instantly set me off. Erik would just look at me and I would loose it. I was finding myself angry all the time. At what? Nothing.


I have a God that cares about me. I have an incredible family that loves me. I am surrounded by the most amazing people in my life. I live in a gorgeous place and I am constantly confronted with blessing. But if I am not willing to recognize those blessings then my world becomes very dark.


I was blinded by circumstances; not willing to see the love around me and living in a state of complete selfishness. It's a nasty place...dark, scary, lonely.


I know that God takes us down into the valley so we can appreciate the mountain top and so for that I am thankful. I am also thankful for a husband who is so willing to stick by me through everything life brings; the good, the bad and the in-between.


It was Sunday morning and we were sitting at our computers. I was in my office and he was on the couch. We had already had a discussion at length about everything, but he knew I needed some space. So he sent me an email and then watched me cry at my desk.


Honey,

I love you very much. I know you are a wonderful mommy and you deserve to hear it. Not to mention, you're a wonderful spouse, friend, lover, buddy, sweetie-girl. I wish you could see how everyone else sees you. That's the main reason I want to write this to you. We tease each other a lot and I think the reality of who you are gets lost in the playing. I want to take a step back and thank God for everything you are to me.

You are a passionate love. You brighten up the room with your smile and when you come home to me I feel like the house becomes a home. You are the hardest worker I know and you inspire me to be a better person. You care for other people so much that sometimes it challenges me but caring is always the right thing to do. I love to relax with you in the cool breeze on the deck when we have coffee and laugh. I love to drive to town with you on a date and not feel like listening to music because I would rather listen to you. I like to look at you when you are not paying attention and daydream of your beauty. I like to watch you come out of the bedroom when you wake up late and stretch your eyes to wake up. I love to listen to you become excited about your photo-shoots and rave about your camera equipment. I like reading your blogs because I get to giggle at your quirky personality without embarrassing you. I love your quirkiness because it's like the dessert of my life. I like watching the tables turn in our lives because it shows me how similar we are. I think the best things about our kids are the ways they are most like you. There are so many ways I wish I could be more like you. Know that you are loved deeply and forever. Thanks for doing me the honor of being my wife and loving me back even when it is hard to do.

Love,

Beebs