Creative Juices: Christmas Playlist

Is it just me or did the Christmas season start super early this year? I really, really love Christmas, but I've had to hold myself back from fully indulging until Thanksgiving was past. One holiday at a time, you know? Now that we're in December though, I'm cranking the holiday tunes in my office while I work on client gifts. There's tissue paper, gold ribbon and bits of crinkle paper everywhere, but it's part of the fun. Check out my favorite Christmas music on Spotify and listen along with me. I hope you find something you like! :)

(P.S. I should note that I don't totally understand Spotify, and for some reason only a few of the songs on my playlist are showing up when you click that link. Check out my full playlist below to get all the good stuff.)

Christmas Playlist

November Goals + Creative Juices

Whitesburg Nature Preserve Chagrin Falls Ohio OK, I have to be honest with you all. I had really high hopes for October ... you know, being done with weddings and all ... but the truth is, October was my craziest month yet. I didn't get much done except try to keep up with my editing schedule. So, it looks like I'm pretty much transferring my October goals to November. And November will be all about getting caught up so I can enjoy the holidays to the fullest! :)

Professional

  1. Get completely caught up on editing (SO many sessions and one more wedding will be shared on the blog this month!)
  2. Finish all album design for the 2013 season.
  3. Get caught up on Facebook albums.
  4. Get caught up on vendor discs.
  5. Submit at least five weddings.
  6. Finalize my holiday client gifts.
  7. Blog at least three/week.
  8. Start writing content for my new website. :)

Personal

  1. Finish Weird, and read Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Sisters (i.e., watch LESS TV and pick up a book!).
  2. Watch my BFF get married!
  3. Continue training for Cincinnati's Turkey Trot.
  4. Make a new dish for Thanksgiving.
  5. Visit Chicago!
  6. Clean out my closet.
  7. Do a thorough cleaning on our house.
  8. Hang our Christmas wreaths on the windows.

And here's a musical pick-me-up for your Monday morning: Sweeter than This by Katie Herzig. This is such a carefree song and sums up the fun November I'm envisioning! :)

365 Day Photo Challenge: September (+ Creative Juices)

Arrived back in the good ol' US of A after a fantastic vacation in St. Lucia * We grew a magical pepper in our garden! * Celebrated our second anniversary with a homemade dinner and dessert * Enjoyed some beautiful weather * Played florist for my friend Sharon's bridal shower ... * ... and then celebrated her soon-to-be marriage! * Visited the lake on a beautiful, windy Sunday * Was reminded why I eat chocolate when my wrappers gave me words of affirmation ;) * Photographed three beautiful September weddings * Had our street's annual block party * Coached some gymnastics at the Y * Obsessed over the return of New Girl * Had my office destroyed by Rosie vs. packaging peanuts * Went on a brewery tour with a wedding party * Started drinking hot drinks again! * Scouted photo locations for an upcoming Gervasi wedding (that place is beautiful!) * Enjoyed hot, fresh donuts (compliments of a donut truck) at a wedding *  Had a major unhealthy eating streak and put chocolate on everything (here Nathan is modeling melted chocolate chips on top of banana bread) * Gave in to Rosie's deli meat cravings 365 Day Photo Challenge

And to make sure I get my music inspiration to you this month, here's October's Creative Juices! I'm slightly obsessed with Lorde's Royals (i.e., I listen to it on repeat while I edit, and yes, I've memorized all the words thankyouverymuch), but I'm beginning to like Team equally as much. Take a listen. Do you have a preference?

September Goals + Creative Juices

This summer FLEW by. September always means fall in my mind, but I'm hoping for one more month of summer to slow things down. Speaking of slowing things down, Nathan and I talked a lot about work-life balance and boundaries when we were in St. Lucia (easy to do when you're sitting on a beach with no distractions!). He's pretty good at those things, but me? Let's just say setting better boundaries is my No. 1 goal for next year's season. And I'm going to practice this month by not putting so much on my plate for September. It's all about closing the office door at 5:30 p.m.! I can't believe it, but I have just six weddings left in the 2013 season! I'm excited to make the most of the rest of 2013 while remembering to play at least a little bit each day. :)

Professional

  1. Shoot three fabulous September weddings and stick to a two-week turnaround on each.
  2. Get caught up with album design.
  3. Submit at least two weddings for feature.
  4. Blog every weekday.
  5. Set up my retirement (finally!).
  6. Start in on a rebrand and new website!

Personal

  1. Read two books (The Butterfly's Daughter, Weird).
  2. Continue to design/decorate our living room/dining room.
  3. Ride bikes at least once.
  4. Work out four times a week.
  5. Start training for Cincinnati's Turkey Trot (yes, I have to train for a 10K).

And for your listening pleasure, here's September's Creative Juices. I heard The Lighthouse and The Whaler (Cleveland natives!) on NPR the other day and rushed home to download their music. I hope you love them too!