One Little Word for 2012

All week I have been pondering my new one little word for 2012. This will be my 4th year choosing a word and it is just amazing to me how one little word can truly charge my year. First I chose "Organize" because so much of my life was just chaos. I still have times when I feel like my little world is falling down around me, but for the most part, I am way more organized than I was when I chose that word.

Next came "DO." I used to come up with great ideas but rarely, if ever, would I follow through with them. I created a notebook (that I still have today) to keep a list of my ideas and to check them off as I completed them. I still need to work on this, but I am much better about following through with things I think up.

Last year was "Create." I would say I did "okay" with this one. I kind of lost sight of this word for awhile, but I still feel it motivated me, especially when it came to creating my photography business.

This year, I was originally leaning toward "Build," but after writing that post about what photography means to me, I decided my word for 2012 is going to be "Fearless." I need to be more fearless in life. I need to decide what I want and what I want to do and go for it by putting my trepidation aside. At first I didn't want to choose this word because I try to pick action words, and "fearless" is an adjective, but perhaps that isn't so bad. I mean, would it be so bad to attach the descriptor "fearless" to all of my actions? Nope, it wouldn't.

Here is a breakdown of how I plan to be fearless this year:

1) Decorating: After painting my fireplace wall (which I still need to finish...lol!) I realized that I want to interject more bold choices into my house. Or maybe not just "bold," but taking an idea and running with it without hesitation. Like the wall of quotes/frames/stuff I want to create in the upstairs hallway, or the old window frame I want to convert into a picture frame, or the pillows I want to create for the living room, and the shower curtain for the kids' bathroom I want to finish, and the girls' rooms I want to redecorate. I want to make bold choices. I want to be fearless.

2) Photography: This is a no-brainer. I want to be fearless in my pursuit of developing a lucrative photography business. I am amazed at how far I have come since last October, and I want to be amazed at how much further I am this time next year. I don't really know how I am going to advance/grow/develop my business, but one thing I know I can do is to run with my ideas I have for props, set ups, etc. especially when it comes to studio design. I have a small dream of creating studio props that photographers can use that I sell on Etsy along with using them for my own photography. I want to find my niche this year, discover what will set me apart from all the other photographers out there. I would also like to make enough money so I can buy my own picturesque property to shoot on (this one is a little lofty...)

3) Teaching: I have some of the best-behaved students this year so if there is ever going to be a year to try new things, it's this current school year. Enough said.

4) Memory making: I want to experience more things with my family like go to museums, parks, maybe some impromptu road trips (which we have never done), a vacation or two. And this includes doing stuff with just Ray too. We need a more vibrant relationship.

5)Memory documenting: This goes hand in hand with memory making, of course. I have already ordered a new scrapbooking system to use this year. I really need to get my pictures off my computer and in places where I can enjoy them over and over. Where others can see them too. This blog will be another way for me to document those memories and my thoughts. I need to be fearless in taking pictures as well as in thinking up and trying out lots of other ways to display my photos/memories.

6)Shaping: (I couldn't think of a way to make this one a verb to match the others lol!) But I really need to be fearless when it comes to getting in shape/being healthy. This has to be the year I do this. I want to be healthy and I want to look good. I know how to go about this...I just need to do it. I also want to shape up my style...my hair, make-up, clothes. This will be the year I come into my own...grab my own identity.

So there you have it: this will be the year I grab life by the horns and go for it. It won't always be easy, my being fearless. I am a creature-comfort being by nature. I have been content sitting in my box all these years, but if I am to be truthful, I no longer enjoy it. I am no longer content. By stepping out of my box and putting myself out there with my photography this past year, I have gotten a teeny-tiny taste for what living life really feels like, and now I don't think I can just go back to existing in my box. It's too small and too constricting and too bland. I feel like I'm outgrowing my box and I don't think I really want to stuff myself back into it any more.

Emily's to-do list

Right before Christmas, Emily started carrying around this "notebook" she made with a manilla folder and  loose leaf paper (she stapled the paper to the inside...see the staples on the spine?).

Inside the notebook she had a Christmas list--a list she only compiled several days before Christmas. She put her top "wants" on the right, and then just other stuff on the left.

When Ray and I were going shopping last Friday while Jo Ann had the girls, I grabbed her notebook to take with me for some suggestions (even though I told her there was no way Santa could fulfill this list last minute). When I opened it up, I saw that she had created herself a to-do list on the first page.

I smiled to myself that #2 "win volleyball game" was marked off with a red X. She was really mad at her team for losing in the pre-season tournament. But when I got to #7, I busted out laughing:

Not only did she feel inclined to add this to her to-so list, but she also checked it off...like she is popular now.  LOL!! And looking at it today, with #12 checked off the list shows that she has updated this notebook since Christmas.

I enjoy stumbling upon these little artifacts of their childhood they leave behind. I feel like I'm getting a private little sneak peek into their lives...an insight into the little people they are.

I also enjoy seeing Emily be so creative. She came up with the idea of the notebook, made it, and then used it.  I really {heart} this kid!!!

In this moment

Something new I am going to try this year is posting a "in this moment" kind of post once a week using the following 10 prompts:

In this moment I am 

•enjoying...watching SpongeBob Square Pants with Hannah laying on the couch (with an ice bag on her head because she hit her head on an open cabinet door) while drinking a cup of green tea. I am sitting on the brown chaise lounge that is sitting in the opposite corner because we still have the Christmas tree up.

•thinking...about the new year that is right around the corner and contemplating some new resolutions for 2012.

•eating...nothing yet. Ray usually makes us breakfast but he is still sleeping at 9:45 a.m. But, I am collecting new recipes to help my family eat clean this year.

•drinking...Lipton green tea

•wearing...black yoga-like pants, socks, my faded blue GAP hoodie with my Leinenkugel's T-shirt that Tara gave me underneath.

•listening to...our new guinea pigs Santa brought us make their noises while drinking out of their water bottle and SpongeBob Square Pants (he is singing at the moment)

•wanting...a lot of things...a successful, lucrative photography business, photography equipment (like more alien bees, more backdrops...my own property to shoot on...a new L lens...to improve my photography skill so I am an amazing, highly sought out photographer...to get in awesome shape...an i-phone...scrapbooking stuff...new living room furniture...creative ways to display my photos...a new wardrobe...my hair to hurry up and grow out

•weather...is kinda gray and cold. I think it's only in the 30's...no sunshine.

•feeling...better than I have in the last couple of days. Think I need to go see the dr. about my sinuses...optimistic about the new year...excited about planning some new goals and picking a new one-little--word...content with my family...relaxed because the house is relatively clean

•wondering...what the future holds...how to achieve my dream of owning my own lucrative photography business...how I could create a blog people would want to read...how to create my own photography website...if I should take the girls to Jump Zone today

Reminding myself

I have been doing lots of pondering as I always do when the year starts to wane and a new one is on the horizon. I've also been looking back through my blog and reminiscing about times gone by. I am so lucky that I have kept this blog and that I was fearless in my pictures taking. With one computer gone and an external hard drive as well, I have very few pictures left to peruse. If I hadn't kept this blog, if I hadn't carried that camera with me almost everywhere I went, I wouldn't have those memories. They would have crashed with my computer or fried with my external hard drive. 

Ever since I decided to focus on photography as a business, I stopped carrying that camera with me. The pressure to be the photographer is sometimes just too much. I feel like people expect me to get "the shot" a lot and it takes the fun out of photography. But at the same time, I realize that a lot of this perceived pressure comes from me. Yes, it is true that I have been expected to be the one who documents the occasion instead of just enjoying it, but wouldn't I have documented it anyway? Yes, yes I would, and this is what I need to remember going into 2012: I love photography. I love capturing moments. I love the compliment I receive when someone asks me to take their pictures or counts on me to document their experiences. I love the creativity behind it. I love that with the quick click of a button, I can stop time forever. I can permanently capture a memory (that is until a computer or hard drive crashes! lol) to be enjoyed long after the moment has passed. 

So, one of my resolves for 2012 is to be fearless once again in my picture taking. I am going to carry a camera with me at all times and use it without abandon. I am going to capture those small and large moments so that I can continue to cherish them over and over. This also means that I am going to return to this blog. For me. I kinda lost sight of what this blog means to me. It became a place for me to post pictures I took of others. Keeping this blog has made me appreciate the small things in life that matter the most. I need to find that again. I can't wait to find that again!!!!

Lookout 2012!!!! I am going to document the hell out of you!!!

Tonight we had the Heckle family over for Hannah's 11th Birthday Party. She had a great time and came away with some serious loot!

Her newest obsession is with Snoopy. Aunt Jo got her this stuffed snoopy and mug and she plans to spend her money at the Snoopy store...online!

I enjoyed having the family over...today wasn't as stressful as other party days. Ray actually cleaned half the day yesterday and had most of the house in tip-top shape before I even got home from work!

Happy Halloween!! 

This year we trick-or-treated at our house--every one came over and I made dinner. It's the first year we went out dressed as a family in costumes I made for us. I loved every minute of it!! The costumes took time to make, but in the end, were worth every minute. I will post more later, but I wanted to share this awesome picture tonight.

Annual Halloween Party at Sue's

Okay...it's time for me to start blogging again. I'm missing out on documenting soooo much of our lives and I want to get back on track with that.

So...last night, we went to Sue's annual Halloween party. I made Angry Birds costumes for us to wear. I was the king pig and Ray was the bomb bird.

Here are some pictures from the party...

Our costumes didn't win the trophy...the stupid "Geeko" won...boo. But, it was fun getting into the spirit of Halloween!

Jones Photo shoot

These aren't all the pictures...just some that I have edited so far (seems like this is becoming a photography blog...maybe I should start one of those...)

I'm not sure if I am fond of the editing...I think I might check into some actions...

Using my new camera

On Tuesday I took a huge leap and bought the Canon 7D. Today, I took it out for a test run with Bryon and his girls. My main objective today was to use the light. I wanted great light in my pics, but that was assuming I would have fabulous focus.

But I didn't. Not sure if it was my camera, but every.single.picture I took today lacked sharp focus. Kinda hoping it is my camera so I know it's not me, but notwanting it to be at the same time since that means I will have to get it fixed.

Even with all that said, I have started editing the pictures and have one so far that is my favorite.

It's still a bit underexposed, though. (insert heavy sigh here). I just wonder when I will finally get it all right.

My 3rd Newborn Photoshoot & my newest niece!

Last Saturday I went to Vickie's house to meet baby Taylor and take her pictures. She was AWESOME and I enjoyed every minute I was there!

Here are her first of many pictures I will take of Taylor!!!