Life Lately + February Goals

Happy February, guys! I hope you've been staying cozy this winter. We've been vacillating between having a great time being holed up inside and cabin fever. But the best thing for me? January was a successful month of margin in my life!

It helps that my work slows down in the winter. While I've shot a couple sessions and even a wedding, I've also been able to keep up with editing and behind the scenes things that are largely ignored during busy season. PLUS, I read two books (one and two) as a start to my #18booksin2018 challenge, spent lots of time with my little guy (he even started gymnastics classes, which is just hilarious), had a couple dates with Nathan and caught up with a few friends.

It feels SO good to be balanced.

One other huge positive to having margin in my life this month? Nolan hasn't been able to go to daycare for the last couple weeks (hello flu season!), but I haven't been stressed about trying to juggle work and having him home with me. It's official. This slower lifestyle is here to stay!

Are you experimenting with work-life balance this year? How's it been going so far?

Here's to hoping February is just as balanced for all of us.

February Goals

  • Read two books (The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin and A Simplified Life by Emily Ley)
  • Send 2017 vendor galleries
  • Create newborn guide
  • Complete 2017 taxes
  • Organize personal photos
  • Work on 2017 personal video
  • Create 2017 personal album
  • Plan and go on a date night
  • Celebrate Valentine's Day!
Personal Goal Setting

July Goals

“It’s not hard to decide what you want your life to be about. What’s hard ... is figuring out what you’re willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about.” 

―Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet

I think I'll constantly be reminding myself of this quote over and over this year. It's hard for me to realize that I can't keep up the pace I used to. And at the same time, it's refreshing. Everything seems to be a catch-22 these days: I want to work again, but I also want to savor the slow life with the baby. I want Nolan to grow, but I want him to stay tiny. I want to set goals, but I also don't want to put too much pressure on myself just to check something off a list unless it means something. It's such a new season of life, and I'm wandering my way through it trying to figure out my new normal.

Thanks for sticking with me while I figure it out. (Even if I can't blog as much as I want to right now. :) )

July Goals

  • Finish Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
  • Take Nolan to the pool again (a little baby in a big pool is my new favorite thing)
  • Get my ring cleaned
  • Blog at least three times
  • Edit my July weddings
Cleveland Baby Photographer

July Goals

July Photography Goals Well, hello! I'm not quite sure how one whole month passed without a blog post. Last month was a bit of a blur, and it ended with a wonderfully relaxing vacation to South Carolina. And now here we are. In July.

I only have one wedding this month, plus a lot of fun travel. I think it's going to be a good time to get caught up on that "Summer Fun List" hanging on our refrigerator. Nathan and I have lots of concerts + games + farmer's markets to attend. And there's definitely more ice cream that needs to be eaten. What's on your list of MUST DO'S this summer?

July Goals

Read The Girl on the Train (SO good so far!) and A House in the Sky Start Savor, a daily devotional by Shauna Niequist Book our anniversary trip Go to another Indians game Go on two bike rides with Nathan Visit the Shaker Heights Farmer's Market Be fully present while visiting two new places (NOLA and a tiny, lakefront town in Canada!) Get completely caught up on editing Get caught up on vendor galleries Submit a wedding Keep my Inbox below 10 each morning