November Goals

Sweet, sweet November. How good to see you! No matter how much I plan, October always seems to be way crazy, but now all of a sudden here I am on the other side! November is the month of my last weddings of the year, the start to my slow season, family, friends, good food, another Turkey Trot, lots of time to read good books ... I can't wait to get it all started!

And my BIG goal this month is to savor every piece of it. If I learned anything from October, it's that I tend to ignore everything else around me when I have a lot of work on my plate. I wish I could be one of those people who can separate each piece of their lives, but I let work take over and can't focus or enjoy anything else until I get it all done. Ugh, gross, right? I'll be working on this over the next year.

I'd love to hear about your goals + plans for November! Also, any tips on how you savor the little things in life while balancing a full work/family load are much appreciated!

• Read four books (25 in 12): The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan, Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and Boundaries by Henry Cloud
• Run 3/week to continue training for the Turkey Trot ... and then RUN IT!
• Order our Christmas cards
• Start Christmas shopping
• Make a new dish for Thanksgiving dinner
• Put together a little something something for my fantastic clients ;)
• Finalize all wedding editing and album design
• Finish submitting weddings for publication

October Goals

Hello, fall! 'Tis the season for boots, colorful leaves, cozy blankets and pumpkin spice lattes. I'll be indulging in all of these things this month … except for the latter. Try as I might, I strongly dislike pumpkin spice lattes.

I always seem to let fall get away from me, so this year I really tried to schedule myself in a way that allows for ample fall appreciation. Plus, Nathan's birthday is this month and you know we'll be celebrating!

As I impatiently wait for my Ireland and Scotland film scans, I'll share with you all my October goals. Up next on the blog are photos from our trip! :)

• Read two books (25 in 12): The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon and The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan
• Settle on the pieces for our living room gallery wall
• Finalize my fall/winter capsule wardrobe (a la this blog … a minimalist lifestyle is calling my name!)
• Have a date at the pumpkin patch
• Run at least twice a week to get ready for the Turkey Trot!
• Get caught up on all album design
• Submit two weddings for publication

September Goals

Photo by Mallory + JustinI can't believe I never shared any photos from our annual shoot! This month seems appropriate because Nathan's and my third anniversary is TOMORROW! Number three! Time flies.

This month will be another whirlwind, but in a different sort of way than the last few months. We have a lot of fun things planned, including a big trip, and I'll be working to get caught up before we leave. My fall is slower paced than my summer, and I'm looking forward to a more relaxing month. :)

• Finish my second book from August and read two more (25 in 12): Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle, Factory Girls by Leslie T. Chang and The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
• Celebrate our THIRD anniversary!
• Finish editing all August weddings and sessions so I can ...
• Explore the UK :)
• Start compiling my first capsule wardrobe (a la this blog … a minimalist lifestyle is calling my name!)
• Get back into a workout/healthy eating routine once we return from the UK (work out 5/week + no more than two desserts a week)

Simple, but full! What are YOU working on this September?

August Goals + Creative Juices

It's August?! How is it August?? This summer has gone SO quickly, and if I'm being perfectly honest, I'm having a hard time keeping the balance I was determined to stick with at the beginning of the year. Summers are always filled with lots of shooting--weddings, newborns, families, engagements--and I always want to do it all! It's a tough lesson for me to learn that I'm just one person and can't say yes to everything while still staying balanced in my personal life. I suppose I'll always deal with this struggle. It's one that reminds me I'm human and helps me appreciate the little moments in the midst of the crazy. And August will be just that … CRAZY! Nathan and I get to escape to the UK in September (YAY!), so August will be reminiscent of exam week in college--cram as much in as you possibly can and somehow, some way it will all get done. Here's to a productive month!

• Finish my second book from August and read one more (25 in 12): And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini and Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle
• Go to the pool at least one more time!
• Make a healthy, summer-y dinner and eat it al fresco
• Enjoy an Indians game
• Submit two weddings
• Edit at least five weddings
• Get caught up on vendor photos

I've been obsessing over So You Think You Can Dance this summer (it's my first season ever!), and I was captivated by Jessica and Casey's performance last week to Hozier's Like Real People Do. This song is beautiful, and I especially love the folksy + waltz feel. Check it out:

Anyone else loving SYTYCD or another show this summer? I've also been watching season after season of Survivor while I edit. It's so not something I ever thought I would get into, but I'm loving it!