2015

2015. 

Wow, I really cannot believe how quickly time flies. I can remember being little and the summers seemed to last an eternity, and now, before I even have time to enjoy it, it's over! Please time, slow down. 

In an effort to preserve time, I've decided that I need to make some changes. I'm the worst with change, but sometimes, things just need to be done. So, 2015, are you ready?

#1. Minimize. 

In all sorts of ways - the amount of t-shirts I own, the boxes of old bills and papers, my waist, and just clutter everywhere. I really hope to simplify and minimize so many aspects of life this year. I need to start with a major clean out. Like, filling the bed of my husbands truck with junk - type of clean out. We have a small modest house, and are currently finishing our basement, and here I am thinking, oh more room for stuff! NO! I'm putting my foot down. I don't want to just fill more space. I want to clean out what we have and move things around.

I love the look of a simple, tidy house. Everything has is place, is easy to find, and organized. I have boxes upon boxes, and bins upon bins. Why am I just putting something in a bin and in the attic or a closet for later? If it's not for a holiday, or clothing for the opposite season, why do I have it? Sure, there are things I will not get rid of - old pictures, notes, momentos, but, I know I have a box of old bills from 2011. I know there's the whole 7 year thing, but let's face it, I'll take my chances and throw it on the burn pile. I can't continue on with all of this stuff!

#2. Organize.

This goes along with minimize, but it's also its own category. I need to take that which has made the "keep" pile and organize it! To a T! I've gotten way to lax with my organization and have let mess consume me for the past few years. I used to be the type of person that couldn't go to bed if there was a sock on the floor. Now, there's about 10, and some clothes, and a purse... eeeek. I need to bring back this crazy clean girl! What happened?!

I also want to get our wedding album done, as well as organize all of my pictures on my computer dating back to like 2006. I want to make up little photo books so I can just flip through them whenever I'd like! Set them out on my coffee table, or on a shelf and be able to flip back through when friends come over.

#3. Push. 

I want to push myself for more. Do more, be more, accomplish more, feel more. Just MORE. Businesswise, I need to get more sections up on my photography website, take my packaging and marketing to a new level. I also want to add more products to my etsy shop, some goodies for the home. I'd like to get myself into a great routine as far as work, exercise, home life. And blog more. I love looking back at old posts, I really want to blog atleast once a week - it's just a little collection of whats going on in life, or things on my mind. A great way to reflect upon the past.

And I want to push myself to not be lazy. I tend to take the easy way out, I need to stop being lax, and become a go getter. No one ever scored a touchdown by sitting in the sidelines, right? Time to get charged up!

#4. Plan. 

I'm a planner. I love planning. I love looking at a calendar and planning out the month. I especially want to meal plan. Minimize (see what I did there?!) my trips to the grocery store, minimize the places that I am running around to, just all in all plan ahead. Make a plan and stick to it! I really want to spend less time running around doing all sorts of things, and way more time at home, enjoying life, and cuddling with my pup!

Those are my resolutions. Sure I could also add the usual, save money, eat better, etc. etc. But, I'd like to try general concepts this year, opposed to one specific idea. 

What are your resolutions? 

Wish me luck! I'll let you know how I do next January!

Farewell, 2014

Here is our 2014 wrap up, in pictures.

Mack modeled in the hallway on my new favorite runner. 

Wayne promised Mack he'd pick him up and hold him forever.

Ton's of puppy kisses on the 4th of July!

Someone decided they didn't like the runner, it tasted better than it looked..

Made a trip to our favorite spot, Anna Maria Island, FL

Saw Billy Joel in concert in August.

 

Best concert ever!

Took a girls getaway to Atlantic City, NJ

Celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary! Wouldn't have been complete without our alien Mack.

 

Mack turned 1!

Met and became obsessed with our puppy cousin, Bentley.

Went on a few hikes.

Our sweet niece Emma Grace made her debut in September.

Annual pumpkin picking!

All you can carry pumpkins.

Feeling festive on Halloween.

Wayne & Garth, Halloween 2014

Still holding his puppy.

Snowy Thanksgiving!

Sisters on Thanksgiving.

We decorated for Christmas.

Finished furnishing the dining room.

Girls at Christmastime.

Made some Christmas popcorn! (and ate way more than pictured here)

Made some festive reinbeers.

My sweet Godchild and I on Christmas Eve!

Mack waiting for Santa Paws to swing through.

Spent our 8th Christmas together!

Excuse all the iPhone photos! Next year I'm going to do better at using my new camera! I bought a wireless point and shoot on Black Friday. Looking forward to learning that camera, using it more, and blogging more. 

Wishing you all a happy and safe New Years Eve!

See you in 2015, friends.

Dragonfly Road Etsy Shop

So as you might know, I'm a photographer outside of my 9-5. I had always had a passion for photography, and just over a year ago, was able to start my dream!  I've had the pleasure of photographing many sweet newborns. And immediately the prop obsession has begun. Wraps, blankets, baskets, hats, and of course, headbands! 

I decided to start to try my hand at making some myself! So I opened an Etsy shop to sell my goodies. Head on over to Dragonfly Road on Etsy to see some of my headbands so far. dragonflyroad.etsy.com

I also have a love for garlands and banners, so I will hopefully be adding some of these in the new year. Stay tuned! :) 

Here's a few examples of some headbands I've made so far!

Take Care! xo

Halloween 2014

I’m sure everyone is with me on this one, but how the heck is it November already? Cannot believe that the holidays are now upon us and it’s almost 2015! I can’t believe it, yet I’m more excited than ever. Let’s start with a Halloween recap, shall we?

 Two weekends ago we had our annual pumpkin carving party. We head up to the local farm and go pumpkin picking. They have a Unicef festival, complete with all you can carry pumpkins for $35.00. Of course the boys were up to the challenge. 

 

Here’s Wayne, who was given 3^rd most impressive of the day!

A man and his competitive spirit.

There's 7 pumpkins in there - somewhere!!

Then it was onto the carving! I got two pumpkins, but only ended up carving my little one, a paw print for Mr. Mack! Wayne randomly chose to carve Phineas, or Ferb is it?

 

 Mr. Mack looking so festive in his candy corn bandana!

 He said he wanted to dress up, so we agreed.

Halloween was great! I loved having it on a Friday so we could actually celebrate on the day. Wayne and I dressed as, Wayne and Garth from Wayne’s World! We have used face paint quite a few times in the past, and I definitely put the kibosh on that this year. I didn’t want to have to worry about touching my face, my hair sticking to it, etc, so facepaint was off limits. We agreed on Wayne and Garth and it was a great compromise. 

We actually had most of the costume already. There is no shortage of flannels in our house, so that was all set, and I had some old ripped jeans from college when they were in style. A white t-shirt and a black t-shirt, and we just needed the accessories! I made the hat since we didn’t want to buy one for $25.00 and never wear it again. I got a plain black hat from the craft store, cut out a stencil of the logo, filled it in with chalk, and painted over it with white fabric paint! It actually was pretty easy and I think it came out perfect for a mere $3.00! We did have to get wigs to pull off the hair. I had a hard time finding one for Wayne, we went with a long dark straight wig and just cut it to the shoulders. It was a little… crooked and looked more like a bob haircut, but what can ya do! My wig I originally got was a blonde wig with bangs from Amazon. We were planning on doing the same, cutting it short and then teasing it. Well, the wig was a white haired Lady Gaga wig and not blonde at all, so.. that didn’t work. We tried it on Mack for a laugh, (photo above). My hair isn’t quite brown, and isn’t quite blonde, but light enough, so we agreed that just teasing it would be best. Add in a borrowed pair of fake glasses, and may I present to you Wayne and Garth!

What did everyone dress up as? Hope you all had a great time! Looking forward to next year with Halloween being a Saturday! Oh that will be fun!

And now, here we are with the skeletons and some pumpkins packed away, thinking about Thanksgiving décor. I have quite a few small orange pumpkins left. I’ve been thinking about painting them white and going with a white/gold/neutral theme for Thanksgiving. Time to get brainstorming!

 

xo