Wordless Wednesday - 'Round Here

Yep

Craft Weekend - Done on a Monday - Posted on a Tuesday

It's been a whole week since I've posted!

I don't like not posting on this blog.

I love this blog.

It has also been several weeks since Family Craft Time.

I don't like that either.

We love our Craft Time.

We love to see G get more and more into it with each activity.

I've seen several of my favorite blogs post this activity.

Watercolor on those little doilies.

Boy did G get into it!

"Dip dip, Mommy!" into the water.

I think I've mentioned....a gazillion times....about how much I love

the fact that Hubs

gets so into our Crafts.

(AKA "Craps")

This week's craft music was Imagination Movers.

Love those guys!

Again with the awesomeness.

Daddy needed a drink.

Daddy put said drink too close to an excited G.

Said drink becomes "Dip dip, Mommy!!".

Wine makes for very pretty water color.

FYI.

Can you locate the Wine-Colored doilies?

:)

We didn't get to do our craft until late last night so the lighting here is icky but we had such fun.

Generic paints, brushes, and Wilton small doilies from Wal-Mart

were all less than $6.

I'm going to string these together and hang them from the window.

Happy Tuesday!

Virtual Coffee will return next Tuesday!

Virtual Coffee - Pressure!

I'm liking up with Amy for some Virtual Coffee!

Or, at this blog, Virtual Diet Coke.

BUT in this case, Virtual Crystal Light.

I've not gone cold turkey with the Diet Coke but I've cut back a lot and I'm proud of myself.

*pat on back*

If we were really meeting for...Crystal Light...right now you'd most likely be

asked to rally a cheer for me.

I need it.

Cassie Allen Photography is in the process of getting a logo!

YAY for the idea and the movement!

BOO for me and my indecision.

Hubs has heard

"OR, what about THIS..."

about a million times by now.

How does one put a stamp on who one is?

Some of you might say it's not ME, it's my BUSINESS.

But really, it's one and the same.

It's my vision, my heart and soul, my passion.

All wrapped up in one, identifiable stamp.

THE PRESSURE!!

I need a hug.

**For more coffee talk and less people freaking out, pop on over to Amy's blog!**

Mondays, Locking Myself Out, and Courage

Who knew that Mondays would become my favorite?

For the first year and a half of G's life, I worked from home full time.

It was wonderful.

I was there for everything.

Then work needed me in the shop more and I went to working from home twice a week.

It tore my heart out but atleast I got a few full days with him.

Now, we are down to one. One sweet, special, normal, ordinary, blissful day a week.

It's difficult to work from home and be the Mama.

But I'll take it.

I'll take it so I can look into these eyes.

Today we spent a lot of time in front of the window.

Spring is officially here!

The wind was delicious. 

 This is G's chair.

It was once mine when I was his age.

Before that it was my great-grandmother, Maboo's chair.

I can't tell you how happy this makes me.

 Be. Still. My. Heart.

 I love this picture but feel the need to explain. No, he is not poking himself in the eye.

This is a little sticker of a telescope.

He is showing me how to use a "tesecope".

 See this? This is a sore reminder - in my kitchen - of how I had to break myself

into the house yesterday because I locked myself out.

Thank the Lord the window was unlocked!

It was a cookie kind of day.

I always roll my cookies in sugar before popping them in the oven.

A-Yum.

**********

I had a few comments on Facebook from my last post.

About courage.

I'd like to talk about courage for a moment.

Atleast courage at it pertains to me (because that's what I know).

There are countless things in my life that I just don't move on.

Important things.

Here is my reasoning.

If I DON'T start/do/try/attempt/finish something then the possibility of being

 amazing at it is always there.

If I DO start/do/try/attempt/finish something, then the possibility of failure becomes evident.

Don't you love the planning stages of things?

Visualizing yourself succeeding is amazing.

But going through it.

The trials.

The errors.

The failures.

That's tough.

I'll be honest here and give you an example.

My hair is thinning.

Like, I have to fix it in a certain way to hide certain spots, thinning.

I have an overwhelming feeling that it's from stress but I still need to go see a Dermatologist.

I haven't though.

I love the idea of going there and the Dr. gives me a miracle drug that makes my hair grow back

better than ever.

But if I go then there is that chance that he or she will tell me that there is nothing they can do.

That would be crushing.

Don't get me wrong. I'm going to go. It's just one of those things I've got to psych myself up for.

Silly?

Maybe.

But this dream of mine?

Being a full time professional photographer?

It just is. I have found a home behind the lens.

And I feel it's okay if I fail sometimes because this is what I was meant to do.

There are those things in life that come along that you have no choice but to just move forward.

Does that equal courage?

I'm not sure.

I'm no more courageous than anyone else.

But I'm grateful for those people that left comments.

You make me feel courageous.

It helps keep the momentum.

What are YOUR dreams?

Big or small.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

On courage. On dreams. On anything.

Happy Monday!

I'm Ready

I have no craft to post.

It was an odd, full, and crazy weekend.

I just wanted to take a second and jot down what I'm feeling right now.

In this moment.

In this moment I'm feeling

Ill-prepared.

Overwhelmed.

And excited.

I had a client meeting today and I had nothing to wear.

My day job + being a Mommy has killed my wardrobe.

Literally.

Shot. Dead.

I left the house wearing 1 of 6 shirts and 1 of 4 pair of slacks that I own outside of

t-shirts, yoga pants, and jeans.

It made me really think about how ill-prepared I am for this next chapter in my life.

I have people calling me weekly telling me they love my work.

My WHAT?!

I have a (small) body of work.

Wow.

I'm booking sessions and I'm going to begin 2nd shooting in May.

Weddings.

A. Dream. Come. True.

But I have nothing to wear.

And it's just me, my Rebel, and my nifty-fifty.

I don't have the clothes or the equipment or the know-how but it's still coming at me.

This is, quite literally, me jumping

*ready or not*

when the rope swings under my feet.

I am grateful for my clients who give me a chance to capture their life.

I am grateful for new friends, like Sarah

who are giving me a chance to learn and grow in my craft.

I am grateful that this is all happening.

Even if I don't look the part just yet or my equipment isn't quite the best,

I'm ready.

And Hubs is ready.

He's happy to see me chase my dream and supports me every step of the way.

So, yeah.

I cried today when I had to settle for not looking how I felt inside.

I cried today when I realized how close May was and how I don't have the next lens on my list yet.

But I'm ready.

I'm ready to accept that this isn't how I'm going to feel forever.

This is temporary.

This is good.

This is the moment right before the overture starts.
I'm waiting in the wings and. I'm. ready.

Dramatic much?

Yep.

:)

I have this quote with me and I read it all the time:

"You can start with nothing. And out of nothing, and out of no way, a way will be made" - Michael Beckwith

I love that.

Everyone on this earth had to start somewhere.

Literally and figuratively.

This is where I'm starting.

And I'm starting out with an attitude of gratitude. 

Happy Sunday!

A Date & Link Love!

After a very long week, Hubs and I went on a spur of the moment date.

It was nice to sit and look at each other and talk and laugh and share.

Before Movie Time...

It's Link Love time!

I need this necklace!

I love love love this song. It makes me so so very happy!

I recently had some time to check this site out. I'm addicted. I've sent for an invitation.

Hubs has requested the return of these. I am happy to oblige. :)

There is so much good stuff out there! Inspiration and happiness is everywhere!

What makes you happy?

Link up to Cherish's blog and spread the link love!

Happy Friday!

Wordless Wednesday - Industrial

For Wordless Wednesday (posted on Thursday)

My camera went to work with me.

Happy Thursday!

Virtual Coffee - Soda, Lists, and Momguilt

Hello, friends!

It's Tuesday so it's time for Virtual Coffee.

Or as you know it here on my blog...Virtual Diet Coke.

Only one thing.

I'm trying to cut out soda.

I know.

I'm a leeeeettle on edge. But I'm trying.

I'm working on drinking just one soda a day.

Wish me luck!

If we were really together right now we would be under a cozie blanket on my couch.

It's cold here in my house.

Celebrity Ghost Stories is on the Boob Tube. 

Today I took a 1/2 hour and just dumped my brain onto a piece of paper.

Everything that is constantly rattling around in my head that causes me some sort of stress that I feel I have to remember because it is important. 

I just dumped it all. 

It wound up being a sort of Resolutions list. 

Little things like

*take wedding ring in to be cleaned* 

*redo vision board*

*clean out car*

And big things like

*be more present with G*

*be kinder and more respectful to Hubs*

*consistently write down achievable goals*

I'm a list person.

I make lists everyday.

For work.

For chores at home.

For schedules.

But rarely do I make such a personal list for myself.

I should do this more.

I need to keep reminding myself that

I MUST FILL MYSELF UP TO FULLNESS FIRST

IN ORDER TO OVERFLOW ONTO OTHERS.

Such easy words to type.

Not so easy to live.

Especially when you are a Mama.

One of my smaller items on the list was

*get regular pedicures*

Guilt sets in when I want to leave to go get a pedicure.

But when I get back, I'm calmer, happier, ready to take on life again.

Anyone else have issues with Momguilt?

Knowing that you need a respite, a retreat, a break but feel weak for needing that?

I know you're out there. Let's talk about it!

Thanks for the virtual talk.

I'd love to hear from you!

For more Virtual Coffee head over to Lucky Number 13!

I have to post this picture.

Is there anything cuter than a toddler in jeans?

Love!

Happy Tuesday!

A Day With G, Fruit Art, and Potato Soup

This morning we woke up to this.

It was beautiful.

AND I didn't have to drive in it.

Bonus.

I worked from home.

I got to spend the day with G.

It has been 2 very long weeks since I worked from home and spent any good amount of time with him.

So smilely. All day.

We made....fruit art?

Whatever it was, G was totally into it.

We made big messes.

And I didn't worry about constantly cleaning up behind us.

Yeah yeah...Work.

:)

Plenty of Hot Cocoa.

I'm psyched that the cold of winter isn't over yet for only this reason.

What is your favorite kind of Hot Cocoa?

I actually love Ovaltine.

With milk it's rich and creamy and chocolatey.

Perfect for me.

I bet it would be masterful with some Marshmallow Fluff melted in.

Y.E.S.

This is my favorite mug.

Makes me smile.

We watched lots of movies.

We are so spoiled with Netflix Instant.

G wanted to watch Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and A Town Called Panic.

If you have never watched Panic, you need to.

It's so funny. Weird. So weird. But funny!

It's a French stop animation film.

G finds it HILARIOUS. :)

I had to get a picture of this.

This is not a site that is seen often in the house.

A sleeping G.

Potato Soup for dinner.

A-Yum.

After 4 years of Hubs getting home super late from work, he now gets home at 5:30!

Family dinners, family time, craft time, games, Hubs and Cassie time...

Yes please!

It was a good day. A normal, boring, little Monday.

Perfect.

Happy Monday!

Link Love - A Day Late

I'm a day late for showing some Link Love but there's a heck of a lot of awesomeness out there!

Come April this baby is m.i.n.e.

Everything about this blog is amazing.

I would love to make this beauty for St. Patrick's Day.

I think this will be my next lens purchase.

I love these actions. Love love love. Love.

Have you checked out this blog? Her "What I Wore Wednesday" is just awesome.

I love every single one of her outfits.

I wish she had cankles, big boobs, and birthin' hips so she could teach me how to dress.

Bah!

Head on over to Cherish's blog for some more lovely link love!

Personal note to Cherish...

I love your blog. Love.

That is all.

Happy Saturday!

Mountains of Laundry, Playgrounds, and Relaxing

I was home today.

This is a good thing.

I got to clean the house.

I tackled a mountain of laundry.

It felt good.

I cleaned cat puke out of the shower.

That did not feel good.

Ick.

I love maintaining my home.

It makes me feel important and needed.

Is that weird?

Meh...

*shrug*

It has been so brown and rainy and dreary here lately.

But we got a bit of a respite today so we headed out to the playground.

It felt good to be home.

It felt good to get out and play as a family.

Hubs and I haven't spent much time together the past several weeks.

We've hunkered down while I've been working crazy hours.

He's been Mr. Mom and has been doing such an amazing job!

But today we were together and we found that it was hard to be together.

We had to get acclimated to one another again.

We worked through it.

It was good.

Right now I'm relaxing.
Staying warm under an old T-Shirt quilt, watching Emma, and blogging.
What a great end to an awesome day.

Happy Saturday!



Wordless Wednesday - From The Archives

Happy Wednesday!