New Year, New Stuff, New Resolutions

Every January comes around and forces us all to reflect.  Reflect on life, our jobs, our families, and what is important. I'm not sure why come March everyone (myself included) forgets all of these important things and gotten back into the "same-old, same-old" that causes us again the following year, in January, to try again.  I suppose its not that I forget what is important, nor do I ignore it, but life just has a way of GETTING IN THE WAY!  But....NOT THIS YEAR.  I have started a few new projects and have been looking into adding a few more to start off continuing what is important. Life and family. 

One of my new projects is I joined a "52 week Challenge."  For everyone outside of the photography world, it pushes you to try 52 new things, ordinary and extraordinary, all with your camera and capturing more of life that otherwise might have been ignored.  Its a fun way to share "what is me" and my quirky self with all of you and makes me reflect on more of the smaller things.  The first week photo(s) are for "RESOLUTIONS"  They want me to pick just one photo that sums up all my resolutions? I am new in business, I have 2 small children, I haven't showered in 5 years with out a little knock on the glass door saying "MOMMY!!!" and I have to pick just one? Maybe a panoramic photo of my house would do some justice, but there is no way I can pick just one!

The first one, I am picking for my children.  I have wonderful children, they make my heart swell every time I look into those beautiful eyes of theirs, (totally having a mommy moment over here tearing up thinking about how much I love them) and I love how much they love each other. So number ONE is "DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!"

Here is my little princess....ON THE COUNTER TOP!!!

Can you see out that window?? Ok, good, because I can't either!!
Having two little ones, who are home with me all day, seem to have a way with causing trouble and making messes! Our house has seen better organized days, not that everything is totally discombobulated, well, maybe a little.  I know where everything is - its on the counter top, the floor, my desk, my dresser, my other desk, or this pile over here that I swear has grown eyes and is currently starring at me.

I am totally ashamed to show this, but here is my current work space, that has become a catchall for everything Mommy associated, along with my props, lighting, and things on my "to do" list.  This is real. It doesn't get any more real than this. This is resolution number TWO - GET ORGANIZED....AGAIN.  This only happened maybe the last 3 months of last year - I acquired new equipment, got super busy with work, super busy with the holidays and volia....general DISASTER!! (And again, I REALLY DO know where everything is, thankfully I have a really good memory, so nothing is lost or misplaced, and I know where I "set" everything, its just nothing is in its home!)

 And yes, those are VHS tapes sitting on my floor.

This is the rest of my dinning room converted into my main level office (I'm thankful to say at least the upstairs office is well organized, but it doesn't get used nearly as often.)

And finally, my desktop. I have all the most very important items on my desk as you will see... I have my video camera, my point and shoot camera, my phone, my Pepsi and the current information I am currently compiling for my taxes...but then we also have reindeer food, rubber band bracelets that are stamped with monkeys, a shot glass (looking at this I wish it were for drinking, but it holds the jewelry I strip off while working) and then next to the shot glass I have a Disney "Prep and Landing" ornament that needs to get fixed, and many other unneeded items!  Next photo you see of this desk - it will be perfectly organized, and beautiful.

Final resolution, number THREE!
My last and final resolution is to spend more time on the part of Photography that I enjoy while benefiting my business at the same time.  More for fun.  More for practice.  Find a way to donate my time as a photographer. Market, market, market.  Read more. Practice more. Read more. Practice more. Shadow someone local. Read more. Practice more. Share my gift (more exciting information coming soon on that!)

I'm looking forward to this year. I'm excited for the new things on the horizon, for changes and for organization. My goal is to get less gray hair this year than I did last year! Ha! Here is to wishing a wonderful, plentiful and successful 2012 to all!!