Word

Why does it feel like I haven't posted in a while but not that long ago? Nearly 2 months??

It's not that I don't have anything to say...I just haven't found the time and when I do, it doesn't seem as important or funny or interesting.

I'm in the middle of a juice fast. So there's that.

I made it to day 18, broke my fast for breakfast, then got back to it.
I was upset and yes, I ate my feelings.
I do want to talk more about the juicing thing...maybe when some time has passed and I'm a bit separated from it. I'm so up and down, every day is different and you would have me committed for extreme mood swings.

Um...Soccer is back. Spring is the short season, we'll be done by March 30th. I actually enjoy soccer season. I like practices. I can spend that time in the car, alone. Catching up on editing or reading. Alone. Or it's a good hour for Shane to run around. We have an awesome coach (who is Brandon's best friends dad) and he and his wife are amazing. They always include Shane in practice. He runs laps and does drills with the team. They still find Shane charming and cute, I'm not about to tell them otherwise. ;) I like games when I can catch up with moms on other teams that used to be on our team. I'm that mom who cheers for goals, but has no idea what the score is because I'm talking.
So yes, soccer is good.

I'm getting caught up on sharing sessions on facebook (here) and maybe one day I'll even share them on the ol' freebie blog I'm too cheap to pay for. Rumor has it that I put a deadline on my husband for a website by March 15th. Didja know...I don't even have business cards? Yeah, that's kinda self-sabotage there. In a way, it's kinda cool I was able to do the business I did last year (35 sessions plus 5 weddings I second shot) without any marketing or giveaways or specials. (Confession: I don't like running specials or "mini-sessions" or that whole "like-for-like" "like parties" or "like ladders" on Facebook. Perhaps it's silly and I should get over it, but honestly, I don't care about "Likes" or whoring out my business. I want everything to feel as authentic and personable as possible. I don't want some person liking my page from say, Newark who is a mason jar collector and makes sparkly flower holders just so I'll like their page back so both of us can say "I have 700 fans!" No. that person is not a "Fan." That person is just trying to get their numbers up. If you really want to know how authentic your "fans" are, look at the number of fans vs the number of people talking about this. End Rant...for now)

So...yeah. Wrapping this up...

I love this. Our area just got this in the middle of January and we've participated since. When I pick up our boxes, the back of my SUV is full. Which is awesome.

I'm making this. I plan to hang it in the kids living room. If this is successful, should I post a tutorial?

I'm My Dad is making this. I asked for a modification, an additional 3ft piece so I have the option of 5ft or 3ft width.

Oh, I built bunk beds alone with my mom. So much more room for activities.

And I got lockers. I dunno what I'm going to do with them. Leave them silver or paint them.

I don't know why I have struggled so much to get a schedule down. Kids to school, Breakfast, Cleaning, Blog posting, Lunch, Editing, Pick-up kids, Snack, Homework, Soccer, Dinner, Kids bed, Editing.
Seems simple but something happens between cleaning and blog posting and it all goes nuts.

I think that about covers it. :)

Currently...at 1:30 am

I'm finally....clearing out my google reader. It's been at least three months since I've logged into it. Unsubscribing like crazy. There's no point in following now-defunct blogs.

I'm finally...clearing out my pinterest boards. Holy Pin Addict, Batman!

I'm finally...finishing up the last session from last year. A very cool tae kwon do black-belt testing.

I'm finally...finishing up the last of my bookkeeping. It excites me more than I should admit. Nerd.

I'm finally...catching up on Gossip Girl. Oh rich people drama goodness.

I'm finally...finishing my third cup of coffee since 7pm. I heart my Kuerig.

And because every post is better with a photo...here's a photo of Shane on Friday after school. The weather dipped since then, so we took advantage of the last day of 50* temps.

.

Resolution

New Year!

I'm pleasantly surprised to find that my login still works. ;)
2012 was incredible. Better than 2011 which is saying a lot. I am so blessed that I can choose what some would consider frivolous resolutions.

I am hoping that this is the year I begin and complete a 365 project.

I would like to pick two pins from my Pinterest boards (one food and one project) to complete a month. We manage to bust-out a few of the kids stuff over the summer but some home decoration projects would be fun to complete.

I have more books and I don't even know where to start at this point. I get the Kindle Daily Deal email everyday and it's dangerous. In 2011 I read 65 books. Sixty-five!! I'm hoping this year to complete 15.

I feel silly sharing my business goals because I don't want to jinx myself or fall short; I've called it quits before and lo and behold, that's when my business actually took off. I took over 30 clients in 2012. Thirty! It blows me away. I'd like to continue that momentum and build on it.

That's basically it. I'd like to spend more time here, get the business blog rolling better (right now I'm strictly on Facebook for business stuff and that has to change and there are things I feel I new to do to further legitimize my business and pull away from the pack) Balance would be awesome this year, maybe this is the year that Shane begins Pre-school, maybe this is the year I finally lose the weight I want to. Being happy is far more important than being thin (remind me of that when I'm complaining in 4 months, lol)

Here's wishing everyone an amazing New Year!

It's very late

Oh man...I'm waiting for photos to export from LightRoom so I thought to myself "why not peek in and dust off the ol blog?"

It's 11:45 pm.
I've been up since 4:45 am.
Today Shane accidentally kicked a teammate in the face at soccer practice.
He kicked when the other kid bent over.
Foot meet face.
There was blood.
There was a trip to the ER.
Shane feels awful, I feel awful.
I am totally prepared for when its my kid that gets hurt; not prepared for when it's my kid that does the hurting.
I feel responsible and guilty.
I'll probably cry about it later because I feel so awful.
I'm currently watching Avatar: The Last Airbender (the cartoon, not the blue guys. Seriously one of my favorite cartoon series ever.)
Ever since I made this whole declaration of "Oh, I'm taking my hobby back and no more photography business", business has gotten...busy.
Now that I've decided to forge ahead, there's things like business cards and websites and marketing and equipment to think about.
If I think about it too much, I get overwhelmed and just want to lie down.
Champagne taste, water with lemon budget.
I have a hard time spending what little money is left at the end of the month (after setting $$ aside for taxes, helping out with bills, kids stuff) on those types of things.
Branding vs New House Fund. (yes, we're still on the hunt for a new house. The reality of this happening is getting more real. squeeee!)
My husband worked 4 night shifts last week.
He went "hunting" over the weekend.
He's now working 4-12 hour day shifts this week.
And the landlord decided she wants to finally do a walk-through on the house (2 years later).
As if I don't have enough on my plate.
Now I gotta dust and clean baseboards.
It's 11:59 now.
This episode of Avatar is over.
Because every post is better with a picture, I'll leave you with this.

A photo of the cutest kid that ever ate a graham cracker ever.
The football team reads to the second grade classes on Friday's and I went to photograph them (the son of one of the teachers comes and she asked if I would come to the class to take photos. I love all my teachers, so of course I couldn't say no. Plus Shane got all the graham crackers he could eat)