Whenever I have “late nights” on the computer and it’s almost time to close up shop, I try to take a few minutes and read something that has nothing to do with work. Why? Because it’s important for my brain function at the end of the night AND in preparation for the next day. Simple! I pin a lot of inspiring quotes on my Pinterest “words” board which are great to read when I need a little pick-me-up. Sometimes I find poignant words on blog posts or even floating through my Instagram feed. Tonight, I couldn’t just re-pin or re-post this golden treasure, I had to share it, now. If it inspired me this much I know it will inspire one of you.

Source: Unknown.

Walking around your home, exploring the ins and outs of your day, your child’s day and your partner’s day is what can help you focus on and remain focused on what’s important; on your priorities. We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and over-scheduling so it’s easy to lose track of those simple, everyday things that make up your life. I’ll be the first to raise my hand and admit that I can try too hard when it comes to telling my family story. I want things to be a certain way, look a certain way, feel a certain way and I think it’s just part of my personality to try and carve it out of something that may not really exist instead of letting it just be something real. Yeah, I just admitted that to the Internet. Go me. Do I wish I had more of those pinterest-esque photos of my children? I used to say yes, but now I say no. Do I wish I had more of those moments I see in person actually caught on film? Again… what once was a yes, is now a no. Does this kind of sound like an oxymoronic thought coming from someone who’s passion (and income!) come from taking family photos?! Possibly!

My daughter is a huge paper crafter and she doesn’t need instructions or kits to do her thing. Give her a stack of plain paper, some markers or crayons, a pair of scissors and some tape and she’s good-to-go! To most people, the image below looks like a mish-mash of girly stuff; those everyday items you see, but don’t always register in your mind because they are present so often. And that’s exactly it! Those little things that are there all the time – SEE them. I saw this pile of stuff in my daughter’s room and quickly snapped a shot using my phone because I wanted to remember them just as they were before she ran back in to grab something. The baby on her table, the blankie on her bench, the coloured and cut out paper people and the scrapbook binder narrowly peeking out from underneath it all. That’s my daughter’s “everyday” and without those little things, she wouldn’t be who she is, one of the sweetest girls I know. xo

I may not be entirely into the intricacies of Lego-building, but my son definitely is. After-school hours consist of homework right off the bat (self-imposed and momma-encouraged) but those hours also dive into sketching and Lego time. It’s cute to peek down the hall and see him working intently on a new Lego set. It makes me proud to know that he’s capable of seeing projects through to completion and that he has a desire to work on something in a group or play with his sister (or family/friends), but that he also has an appreciation for solitary time. Why is that important to me? I don’t think anyone can function to their best of their ability if they always need to be with someone or have attention from someone. Happiness and peace come from the inside, first, and observing my son and his alone-time helps me believe that his “everyday”, is constantly-evolving and maturing. My little guy is growing up and although bitter-sweet, it’s one of the best feelings in the world. xo

Not too long ago, I asked my fans over on facebook to submit some photos from their ‘everyday’. I love seeing what makes people visually ‘tick’. I love seeing what parts of their lives stand out and what things mean to them. Photo wall displays, Christmas gifts or randomly found items that help us remember the good old days, and mischievous or hungry pets. Each of those things are run-of-the-mill moments, but they are still moments. They are still part of your story. They are still part of your life and shouldn’t be left out.

The seed I’m trying to plant is that there will always be a time and place for me, the professional, to come into your lives and help you capture a side of your family’s story that you may or may not be able to express on your own. But there are also equal and important components of everyday life that cannot be ignored. It’s these almost-missed, everyday moments that emphasize and help prioritize our larger focus, goals, dreams and desires. For me, the little moments and nuances of everyday life trigger pause, reflection and purpose.

Thanks Jenna, Amber, Kelly and Nina for your “everyday” :)

I have an active brain. My very active imagination is the reason why I do NOT engage in horror movie viewings – no thank you! Changes I want to make to our home and our lives flash in and out of my mind and get added to journals, notepads and post-its, no matter what time of day. Ideas for business growth and development along with photo session concepts and objectives constantly swirl in my head whether the clock strikes noon, midnight, or 3am *sigh*. And, I’ve been known to grab my mobile phone and email myself when an idea brews far from paper and pens. Don’t laugh or roll your eyes… I know many others who partake in this very same activity. Hint hint.

Generally speaking, I can function with this state of mind. But sometimes I can’t. Sometimes I find the maximum speed at which I think of things and hope to execute those things doesn’t always jive with the action and actual time required to make them happen.

One main comedic distraction for my brainwaves is to watch The Big Bang Theory. Have you seen the episode where Sheldon is searching for the answer to a physics problem but just can’t seem to catch a break? He ends up being awake for several days obsessing over possible answers and, by nature of the show, brings all kinds of entertaining situations to the viewing table. In one particular scene, Sheldon explains that he may be able to come to a conclusion with his problem by being like Einstein and engaging his brain in something menial, in order to let his subconscious work on the problem at hand, also known as, The Einstein Approximation.

Light bulbs going on and off out there? Yeah, me too.

Sheldon’s (and Einstein’s) approach struck a chord with me and I’ve found myself engaging in other activities when I feel creatively “stuck” or agitated in hopes of settling down Area A of my mind and freeing up space in Area B. Re-boot anyone? De-frag? Oh, and don’t take my use of the term “agitated” in a bad way, it’s just my way of referring to a sort of creative fidgetiness.

Because I work for myself, I can, for the most part, make my own schedule. I work Monday to Friday, but I also work on Saturdays and Sundays. I even work evenings depending on who is or isn’t home and the task at hand. My hours are definitely not 9-5 and as I look at my computer time display, I can clearly see 7:03 pm staring right back. Knowing what’s on my calendar for tomorrow means I will most definitely see 7:03 am AND pm. But it’s good! Shorter work-days are balanced out with longer work-days which in turn balance out my family-life and that’s priority #1.

All that aside, the new year is a time when I feel somewhat discombobulated. I have a ton of goals I want to achieve and a bucket-load of check-marks I want to place on my lists. The discombobulation tends to overwhelm me and instead of moving forward I find myself a little bit frozen in time. But I’m taking steps to minimize that feeling of paralyzation and low and behold, it’s working. It isn’t easy, but it’s working. If you find yourself stuck, don’t endlessly re-hash the problem. And don’t just get up and walk away, get up and DO something. My 180 degree turn on a problem has taken me to the kitchen because health is important to me. I’m constantly looking for new ways to optimize my health and I’m finding that as I prepare meals and try new recipes, my mind is clearer, more focused. Area A in my mind is being given a break and Area B is getting re-fueled and ready to go.

Sound like malarkey? Maybe. But I challenge anyone who’s feeling the same way – no matter your vocation – to take the advice of Drs. Cooper and Einstein and dive into The Einstein Approximation. Or maybe just go and watch the episode * for some giggles and Sheldon’s take on it all.

** I looked for a “proper” episode link, but this is all I could find.

Routine. Some people thrive on it and others falter. Some people love to fly by the seat of their pants while others find harmony and balance through structure. Then there are some people who prefer a combination of the two… like me. I love routine; knowing what’s coming up, where I’m going, what’s the plan and so on and so forth. BUT – and it’s a small but – I also enjoy spontaneity, surprises and shaking things up from time to time. I aim to please. And I’m also hard on myself, a personality trait that often gets the best of me and paralyzes progress instead of pushing it ahead.

Does this sound like you?

If so, try what I’m doing and go back to the basics. Why? Because simple is where it’s at and it’s where we need to go in order to evolve and grow at a sustainable pace. Everything you do in your personal circle, for your inner self, will connect to everything on the outside — family, friends and your work-life.

Going back to a simpler life is not a step backward. ~ Yvon Chouinard

Processed foods be gone. Steel Cut Oats, Strawberries and Avocado… working on cutting down the coffee, but let’s not get crazy… one step at a time ;)

This is my Grandpa and I in 1974.

25 years ago today I was in a hospital, with my parents, my sister and my Grandma. My aunts and uncles were there too. And all of us were doing the same thing…. praying and hoping that Grandpa would be okay. That “this” surgery would be the one to fix his heart. But, it wasn’t the case.

I was only 14 and my sister was 9. I don’t know how much she remembers but I remember quite a bit. it’s not a bad thing that I have memories. It’s not traumatic and I don’t want anyone to think we shouldn’t have been there because I’m glad we were. Vivid memories of life and death are okay. These memories are normal and they are a healthy way to understand what goes on around us, and inside us. They help us to appreciate the intricacies of our relationships and make us better at their growth and development.

Even though I have memories of my Grandpa’s death, they aren’t necessarily fluid… more like snapshots with a brief caption or two. I remember having the chance to go see him at his hospital bedside after he was wheeled out of surgery. I can picture his still face, amongst the tubes and machines. I also recall being in the hallway and told that he had passed. I know I cried quite loudly too because I can hear my dad saying “shhhh” and “it’s okay”. I remember the long drive back to my Grandma’s and how the adults stayed in the kitchen and living room to comprehend was just occurred, but how my sister and I went to a bedroom with one of my aunts. You know, to talk in our own way; to get it out. To go over what happened and to try and understand. It’s not easy to understand death, no matter what your age. And it’s even harder to grasp what’s happened when you really thought everything was going to be okay.

I’m the oldest of 17 grandchildren on the maternal side of my family. My Grandma, on her own for 25 years now, is 91 years young and although beginning to show her age, still lives in her own home and is as independent as she can be. I consider myself extremely lucky to be self-employed. It definitely has major obstacles and challenges, but it also has an abundance of perks. Perks such as lunching with my Grandma and mom when my Grandma is in town for a visit with her specialist. It doesn’t matter how much I need to get done, those extended lunch dates are never turned away. I can still see her face as I left a tip for the waiter only a few weeks ago after our most recent meal together. I can still picture her eyes and apple-doll face grin as she said SHE was paying for the meal.

My Grandpa was a hard worker. He was a farmer and was forever using his hands to build and create. When I think of my Grandpa I think of Friday night sleepovers watching Dukes of Hazzard and, if we were lucky, Falcon’s Crest. Yes, the man enjoyed his primetime soaps. I think of his old pickup truck and the wedge pillow on the driver’s seat to make things just that much more comfortable for his behind. I think of him always eating an apple, whole, and asking “how do you do that? seeds? core? ew”. I can still hear him calling out to my Grandma for something but yelling “mom” instead of her name, Irene. Funny how married couples of that generation used to call each other mom and dad. I can also hear his cautious words about not touching his medication. I’m glad I have these, and so many other memories of my Grandpa. I think of them often and it’s interesting how they are triggered.

After my Grandpa died, all I wanted was for my Grandma to be okay and to have an endless stream of happy memories. I wanted her to see me graduate high school and University, which she did. I wanted her to see me get married and be able to hug and kiss her very own great-grandchildren. Hugs and kisses from my children, who are now 11 and 6, continue to be enjoyed by “church” Grandma. But I only wish my Grandpa could enjoy them too. I only wish he could see how much things have changed, but how strong his wife is and continues to be.

We all miss you Grandpa. It may have been 25 years since we’ve heard your voice, but it’s still there. xo