book recommendation

I'm writing to you today from Charleston, SC.  Andy and I are down here celebrating our 10-year anniversary!  We got married down here, 10 years ago today, in White Point Gardens.  10 years is a milestone for me, and we are looking forward to some R&R.

I picked up this book last week and decided to start reading it on the ride down.  It's been a long time since I picked up a book and was instantly drawn in.  Since I switched careers, I find that I follow my heart/gut/instinct a lot more than I used to.  I find that I follow inspiration where it leads me, and I try to stay in tune with my intuition.  That may sound like hooey, but it's true for me.  Just like anybody else, my life gets imbalanced a lot, and I try to figure out how to get the balance back.  

So far, this book is just what I need to read right now.  It talks about struggling with perfectionism and getting caught up in what other people THINK about you and what you're doing, instead of just being authentic to yourself and being vulnerable.  I must be hormonal because there were many times in the first four chapters, that my eyes briefly welled up and I probably could've shed a tear or two.  However, I'm not a big crier, especially in front of my husband, and espcially not when I did my makeup that morning ;)

Check it out!

a labor of love

My humble little business is a labor of love.  And by love, I mean, my passion.  However, I've been working 45-55 hours a week for a long time without much of a break, and my love tank was getting empty.  If there are any fellow Real Housewives of Orange County fans out there, you know what I'm talking about (aka Vicky Gunvalson).  So, what do you do when you're feeling like you've got nothing left to give?  You take a roadtrip to Fairfax, VA to visit with one of your oldest & bestest friends, you do a lot of shopping, and you get a facial & body treatment from a master esthetician at Organic Plum Studio.

If you're ever in or around Leesburg, VA, I highly recommend Lisa Leach.  You should definitely check out her services!  I had been anticipating meeting up with her and checking out her space for months!  She is a sole practitioner like me, and we use a lot of the same products.  I really wanted to see how she had her space set up, how she handled booking appointments, greeting, shopping, etc.  I got so many ideas from how she runs her business and has everything set up.  I will definitely be implementing a new beverage & snack station kind of like this (these photos were taken in her relaxation room as inspiration for my new amenities)

Andy is putting together new furniture as we speak, and I have loads of spa ambience on the way here.  I am SO EXCITED!!  I feel like this is the next step of progression in growing my business.

getting out of town and girlfriend time

I'm so excited to be going to Fairfax, VA this weekend!  I get to visit with one of my oldest & dearest friends, and we're getting facials tomorrow!  I haven't had a facial since October 2010!  I am hoping to do lots of shopping.  I will thoroughly document the weekend, and keep the blog updated.  Yeah, right.  But, maybe I'll try. I'll leave you with my two favorite photos from this past week...

She is absolutely enthralled with Judy Moody right now.  I love how she likes to listen to the chapter books and can follow the story line.  Maybe she's a reader after all.

He can be a cooperative photographic subject when he gets to play video games. This week, I succeeded in turning off the t.v. and video games.  He practiced violin more, read more independently, and we all felt like we had more time to actually do stuff.  

Finally...family time

Lately it's been too much work, not enough play, and definitely not enough family time.  So when I had three facials that cancelled on Saturday, I took it as a sign that I was being given an opportunity to get some quality family time in.  We all loaded up and went to Bridgeport to sneak in lunch at Mountaineer Grill. 

We stocked up on shoes at the Shoe Story (I finally used those great Buy 1, Get 1 gift certificates!!).  

I know, I know, the photo doesn't show her new shoes (trust me, she's set in the shoe department), but it does show one of her new spring outfits :)

We even got to take the kids to see The Lorax.

The movie got me thinking.  Any time I'm not working, I get all existential and introspective.  Can't wait 'til May-that's all I'm sayin'.  And, last but not least, Mama got some new sheets!  I don't know why, but I've had a sheet fetish lately.  I am really picky about sheets, and found a beautiful set at Marshall's-score! 

We even got home early enough for the kids to get in some cartoon-watching and playtime, and I got to go  grab dinner with some girlfriends.  Thank you Saturday for letting me have a life!

I'm dreaming of...

I've been preoccupied with farmer's markets, new makeup artistry rack cards, bridal expo, business goals, and on and on.  My whole body has been literally tormented with anxious energy.  I told someone recently that I'm always at a heightened level of energy-I'm all about fight or flight.  Seriously, who am I fighting?  It's ridiculous.  Whenever I do get a moment of quiet, like when I'm doing a facial and my client is quiet, it gives me my only quiet time, and I dream about moving.  I dream of having to a bigger space to pursue my dreams.  I dream of having a real filing cabinet of my own, a desk, a place to organize and file, my own cork board, my own inspiration files.  Since I've made the transition from teacher to esthetician, I've worked off of my couch in my living room.  I literally have on expandable file and a file box, and that's what I run my business out of.  It' s hilarious. 

I dream of trips to Ikea, designing a space that I love, growing a dynamic visual business that feeds my creative spirit; of expanding in ways that I've yet to imagine, of letting my intuition guide me, of praying to God that my intuition lead me the right way, that He illuminate the path that I'm supposed to follow.  I feel like I'm on a new brink, the cusp of something exciting.  I need to not let fear and doubt play a part in anything going on right now.

more photos

Taking pictures is about all I'm getting done these days.  And, more often than not, my photos are for my work.  I did get to do two awesome family things last weekend.  First, Andy got our family tickets to the WVU v. Rutgers mens' basketball game.  It was awesome!!  The kids loved it.

Love my sweet boy

 she can be sweet when she wants to be ;)

 proof I was there

Also, I got to sneak away last weekend on a family girls' trip.  It was wonderful.  I don't get to see these amazing women nearly enough.  The trip was in honor of my grandma's 87th birthday.  We are so blessed to have her in our lives.  

My mom, her mom, and my mom's two sisters.  I am blessed.

Tea time down South

It's a joke in our family, but it's so true-when I'm her age, I hope that I laugh 'til I pee my pants all.the.time.  She really didn't pee her pants, by the way, I just love the expression.

On our last day, we had a lovely lunch at Stardust Cafe.  If' you've ever in Lewisburg, WV - check it out.

I'm doing a giveaway over on my business blog.  Check it out if you haven't already, and definitely enter to win!

Photo-A-Day

So, I don't have any craftiness to share, but I have been keeping up with my Photo-a-Day project (shhh...don't tell, but I didn't take a photo yesterday, and it's after 8pm and I haven't taken one today either).  Here's what our week (or more) has looked like...

I love my vitamins & supplements.

They love their Nintendos.  Jonah even played all of Norah's games with her.

My happy place.

Jonah + Slate at karate.

What a moon.

Errands to Bridgeport.

Joe made me lots of meals this week.  Thanks, Joe!

Candles at my shop, from Root's Seeking Balance line.  How cool that one of my Picture Winter prompts at Big Picture was, "Seeking Balance."

Awesome dinner with friends.  Mmmm.

Jonah is obsessed with chocolate.  I always follow the recipe on the hot cocoa box, but turns out he's just as happy with microwaved chocolate milk.  Go figure.

Just playing around with manual settings and light coming through the window in the dining room.

New arrangements at my shop.

I've been having the best time photographing new things at my shop, and delving into social media networking.  I think my blog feature Makeover Mondays is going to be a hit.

Love this magazine.  Just put my contact info in the Resource Guide of the Weddings issue.  Hoping to get some the staff in to feature on my Makeover Mondays.

The Clems & Too Much DSi...