Ten on Tuesday

Um.
Hello again strangers 🙂
Yikes.
Somehow almost an entire month has come and gone again without so much as a peep from me.
We’d better fix that with a little Ten on Tuesday randomness.

1. Last weekend I escaped away to the mountains to attend a photography retreat. It was awesome. I made new friends, learned a lot and came away really inspired. I am so excited to see how my photography will develop in this next year.
I think what I took away the most from the weekend was a realistic look at the business side of things. To figure out exactly what I want from my business- especially in this crazy season of raising four sweet little souls 🙂

2. Speaking of photography- This year I am really trying to focus on a few personal projects. To develop myself as an artist. One of them is called “Linked 52.”
It’s a year long project with some lovely photographer friends. Every week we have a new theme that we post on Fridays and then link to one another to see how everyone interpreted the theme. I love how it will push me in my art and force me to think of new and more creative ways to take a picture. I’m posting them on my photography blog if you’re interested 🙂 Here is last week’s:

3. Have you read “The Hunger Games”? If you haven’t, you need to. I read all 3 books in under a week. They are that good. Really. You need to read them.

4. Next up- Divergent. What’s on your reading list?

5. Hold the phone people. My baby will be a year in less than 3 weeks. How on earth did that happen!? Man, I feel like she was just born yesterday. Sniff, sniff.

6. This past summer for my birthday my sister and brother gave us a weekend away. And in 3 more sleeps we’re cashing it in baby! The countdown is on and we are all set to escape away to the mountains- just the two of us. We are even staying in a castle. For reals.

7. Highlight of my weekend- new bookshelves for our basement. This makes my nerdy love-to-read-love-to-organize heart so very happy.

8. I’ve written before about my struggle with being “that mom“. I don’t want to be her.
I want to be gentle. I want to be patient. I want my kids to feel loved, and secure. I want them to know without a doubt that they are loved- unconditionally. That they can make mistakes and that there is grace. I don’t want to lose my mind the second they give a little attitude. I don’t want to have temper tantrums with the best of ’em. This “Gentleness Challenge” has been awesome.

9. Everyone’s on Pinterest now right? If you’re not- you’re crazy.
It’s FULL of inspiration- for parenting, crafts, recipes, ideas for your home….and silly things that just make me laugh. A lot.

Bahahahahaha!

10. Number ten…. I always get stuck on number ten. What to write…what to write….nope, can’t think of anything else. Until next time, friends 😉