Half asleep, I scramble to get ready so I can make it to the gym before a full day of activities. 14 steps later and a severely bruised rumpus, I limp out the door making it just in time for my class. My being in a hurry had caused me to forget that my bulky wool socks and sleek wood steps are not friends. Also, my face does not like the floor.

I am always in a hurry and usually late. I am running here and there and hoping that one thing will get done so I can move on to the next. Feeling utterly important, I say yes to every opportunity that arises because the world needs me- as if I hold it in the palm of my hand. Everyone tells me to keep busy and you will be fine! My question is, since when was that a cure for loneliness? Where did we learn that? There are so many lonely, but people just say to keep busy and we’ll be fine? We are lonely because we don’t make time. I can’t speak for everyone, but I can say that for myself. We are too busy to cultivate the very relationships that we need most. Everyone has their own way in connecting with people. For some, it is doing things. For people like me, it is just taking the time of day to care. Some of the most beautiful things in life come slow and are not easily handed to us- and rarely are they things.  

Tying this in with the season- more than the giving and receiving of gifts, realize that the presence of the people around you are gifts. Cheesy? Yess. True? Absolutely! Try turning off the T.V. , leave the computer at home and purpose to BE in the present instead of wishing you were somewhere else. Listen to your great aunts silly ramblings, notice the wrinkles on your grandmother’s frail hands, hear the wisdom in your father’s voice and tell your mother you loved the lutefisk.

Speaking of the most beautiful things in life that come slow! Below is My little sweet pea of a nephew who is being carefully formed in his mothers womb. Just incredible! I can't even voice how excited I am to meet him in a few months!!!!! 

ALSO, Today is my parents 26th year wedding anniversary!!! There's another example proving my point! 26 years. I want to share this photo with everyone. I just love it so much! 

I have high hopes and so much to look forward to in 2013! Hope you all have a safe and cozy Christmas! 

Normally, snow is stressful to me. I hate being cold, I hate driving in the snow and I hate being cold.

This year I find the snow a calming, re-assuring, and hopeful blanket that covers my world. Here is my whimsical winter wonderland. This place holds so many memories and so much love. I had an overwhelming and long week/ weekend filled with hustle and bustle, meetings, shoots and work work work. It has been a great year. A busy year. This morning I am thankful for that, but I am extremely thankful for the rest that comes after a season of non-stop go. I am snowed in, and am in no hurry to get out! 

 Below are some people I love. 

I can't WAIT to welcome the new beauty that will soon be here!

I threw together some fun Christmas Cards, here are a few previews! Available in 5x7 or 4x6. Digital downloads available as well. 

Colors, fonts, and wording can be customized.

Call 763.567.8900 or EMAIL  [email protected] for more info!

1.

2.

3.

4. 5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

FRIDAY! Need I say more?! 

Here's the last of my short and sweet tidbits of inspirations for the week! Hope this fuels your heart.

5- CREATE. Sometimes to get that drive you just have to put your hands to work. I love DIY projects and anything I can create with my hands. I have found there is something in the movement of doing something rather than a click of a button (whether the mouse or shutter release) that gets me motivated to think outside the box. When I am clickin'- I get out my old film cameras and get real captures of things and people I love. Other than that I have a BILLION hobbies (those of you who know me know this!) Getting busy on a knitting project, journaling/songwriting, sewing, or making some new art for the home is a treat to this deep longing to create. Though it’s not a “paid” portion of what I do (which I feel like most of what I do isn’t) it is SO necessary to keep my heart alive and beating for love of what I do. 

6- STOP COMPARING. (probably my favorite tip) The WORST thing I can ever do for myself is to compare. Someone will always have better gear, make more money, have more business, and make life look simply glamorous while I am working so hard just barely moving forward. It is your story and your battles and victories that make you unique. We are not to be like people around us and we don’t even know what people are dealing with. I read a quote last night that said “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle” This definitely helped me keep my mind in check about how I view others and myself. Instead of letting other people’s victories disappoint where you are at, be happy for them and use them as motivation to meet your own goals. 

Be proud of your work and accomplishments. Always grow. And enjoy the journey. 

That's all I got to say for the weekend! Besides apologize for my grammer.  Sorry to all of you grammer fanatics, I am working on it!! 

So much for doing an inspiring post a day! Our internet decided to be awesome (as it allllways is) and go out for the past few days. So here's a few short and simple things I like to do to keep the ball of inspiration rolling!! 

2- SAY NO.  I am a people pleaser. It has always been a constant battle for me to know whether I am doing something to please people or because I actually want to. I have owned this baby business for a few years now and if there’s anything I’ve learned, it is that I MUST say no. I can’t possibly say yes to every opportunity, lunch date, or meeting and keep my eye on the goal. I have given myself the permission to respectfully say no to things that would drain me or distract me from my ultimate goal either for the day, month, or year to come.

3- KEEP IN TOUCH. I am a very relational person. I absolutely love one on one , in depth conversations about anything that rises to the surface. One of the biggest ways I keep trucking a long is by simply nurturing relationships around me and not only sharing what I am passionate about, but taking time to lend an ear to what makes other people tick. One of my new favorite things is meeting other people in the same creative field that I am in. I LOVE meeting other photographers and small business owners just to encourage each other and leave feeling refreshed. Competition is dumb. I like friends better!

4- CHANGE OF SCENERY. There are times where I get stuck in a rut and just need to get out of my house for a change of scenery. I take my journal and go to my favorite local cafes or go for a drive and visit the nearby wildlife refuge and just let my mind rest and not feel guilty for prying away at a project I’m not motivated to do. I won’t lie and say it always works. I get home at times and want to do the project even less. In that case, I grit my teeth, put on some good tunes and get to work. 

As seasons take a turn, I am preparing for what will most likely be a long winter. There is no doubt I am looking forward to part time hibernation because my body needs it! I’ve been running like a crazy person for months on end!  It can also be the most challenging part of the year as a photographer and creative being. It is so important to keep the groove of inspiration going to last you through until spring arrives. 

I am going to do a little bit of processing out loud and sharing what keeps me going when the going gets tough. I will be posting one tip a day this week.. so stay tuned! Or just look at the end of the week and read them all at once =D 

1. CLEAR YOUR MIND>>> For me, it’s like a clean house. My life can be COMPLETE idiotic chaos, but I clear the center island in the kitchen of all the clutter and suddenly life is simple again. I take time normally in the beginning of the week to just clear my head of anything stifling creative energy. I call it my "Monday Morning Retreat". It's a time where I set aside distractions and take time to dream (business related). I journal away some negative thoughts and dig into the book of truth to renew my mind and replace those thoughts with "God thoughts" (yes, I mean "God" thoughts which are way better than "good" thoughts). I allow myself to just dream with no hesitation and do away with the nagging voices in my head to do or be something I am not. After that, I switch gears and make a P.O.A for my week and pull out the white board to write out my tasks daily that need to be accomplished. I keep it visible throughout the week or it WILL slip my mind. I have an end goal for the week that is something short term for me to work for and focus on.

I have come to really enjoy my Mondays and I love the Friday feeling of accomplishment and less wasted time as well. If you have any pointers on how to "CLEAR YOUR MIND" or how you get organized for your week I would LOVE to hear. 

Tomorrow will be #2 and it has to do with the word "NO"! 

Love you all. 

Fun fact for the day- I have never enjoyed sleep! If I didn't need it, I could go without. That is why I am up at 3:58 a.m. and this is normal. I am just super happy to say that my wonderful husband and I made it 6 months through deployment. YIPPEE! Worth a blog post, definitely. Thanks to all of you and your never ending support during this time! I am ready to get over this akward stage of life but am also seeing the beauty in seasons of life and learning to enjoy the ride. Speaking of rides! We are planning our big welcome home roadtrip/backpacking/camping trip! We'll be starting in Arizona and making our way up the west coast. Any tips or suggestions are welcome =) We just plan on hitting a bunch of parks and doing some hiking/ kayaking/ and whatever else true mountain men do. 

September 17th. One year of marriage.

Beauty. Blessing. Joy. Challenge. Joy. 

I could not be with my husband on our one year anniversary. As somber as it sounds, that wasn't stopping my celebration! I got incredibly blessed with an incredible support group in my life. My sister, mom, and grandma decided to take it into their own hands and make sure it was an anniversary I would never forget! I got blessed with gifts like Christmas morning from so many dear ones. My mom and I got pedicures, I got a much needed massage, and then we headed up to Spicer to a little bed (as my mom would say "bread") and breakfast for the night! We shopped a lot, drank excessive amounts of coffee, and laughed even more. 

Love him more than ever. Looking forward to next year to have my husband back! 

Thanks for keeping up with my blog, hope you enjoy it!