Practice Makes Perfect

I think I've been the kind of person who feels they have to be good at something right at the beginning.  I am, or was, easily discouraged if something I attempted to create fell short of where I think it should be to be considered "good."  I've realized though, it takes time and practice to get to the level you want to be at in any personal endeavor.  I know, crazy right?  Some people make that practice period seem so effortless.  Take my husband for example.  

For Christmas he received a new straight razor.  So for days now he's been spending time practicing his shaving technique.  First shave resulted with his head full of tiny nicks and a bloody towel that left you wondering where he hid the body.   

letting his head heal from the first round of abuse, he spent the next couple of weeks doing research online and practicing on his face.  Adjusting the angle and pressure of the blade, learning the importance of exfoliating and opening up the pores prior to starting.

He saw improvement in his technique after each shave and would come share with me how happy he was with how things were going.  Practice Makes Perfect.  That little boost of confidence you get when your practice starts to pay off is amazing.

Today, his skin is smooth and nick free after shaving.

That's what this challenge is for me, practice.  Practice finding the light and the right settings on my camera.  Practice editing photos.  Practice finding words and ways to formulate my thoughts, because lord knows I suffer from major mommy brain.  Practice pushing myself when I don't feel I can or want to take photos or write.

Yes, this will be good for my soul.

First Thing in the Morning.

I wake up each morning to the sounds of my baby girl cooing, or sometimes crying, telling me it's time to come get her out of bed.   I lay there for a minute, silently wishing her to go back to sleep so I can grab a few more minutes of rest, but I know baby girl is awake and ready to get her day started.   I slide myself out of bed, zombie walk to her bedroom, open the door,

and I see this face...

The smiles she gives when I first open her bedroom door are like a jolt of caffeine to my body.  I am instantly awake...happy.  A good way to start a day.

I scoop her up, breath her in and smoother her with momma kisses.  Then bring her to my room where we lay, or play in bed for a bit with the whole family. 

 My favorite part of the day.

One Little Monkey Jumping on the Bed

Addie is an avid bed jumper.  We do our best to keep her safe while she plays, though my heart still skips a beat when she gets too close to the edge.

Practicing writing her letters on her new A to Z Uppercase Magnatab.

 

Happy New Year and Resolutions

Ok it's Resolution time, what's on your to do list for 2013?

For me its going to be a year of better organization and time management, finding a way to help support my family doing something I love,  read and exercise more, do more creative projects. Decorate and furnish my home, create cozy spaces.  Volunteer for a good cause.  Do a creative photo shoot.

2013 Projects

PROJECT 1
I'm going to take 1 picture everyday this year, my camera tends to hibernate during the winter.  There's never enough light in my home and thus my photos never seem to turn out this time of year leaving me uninspired to shoot.  I need to change that, find the light in my home and brave the cold temperatures outdoors.  I was inspired to do this after reading the blog post "365 Day Photography Project" from I heart faces.

January 1st

My view while getting ready in the morning.

PROJECT 2
We finally finished the garage that means all the junk that was sitting taking up space in our bedroom is GONE!  Now I can finally create a cozy bedroom space, I'm very excited to start.  We have a little corner that I'd love to either create a reading look or work space.  Oh the possibilities.

For now I'm searching the web for inspiration, Apartmenttherapy has some great ideas, and this DIY wood heardboard from blogger Ana White might be added to my husbands honey-do list.

2013 Reading list so far:
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Some Assembly Required by Anne Lamott
Simple Abundance: A Day Book of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach
Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self by Sarah Ban Breathnach
I Thought It Was Just Me by Brene Brown
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown


Happy New Year friends and family.  xoxo

Our Christmas

The holiday season is just about over.  We've taken down the tree and cleared the house of lights, stockings and peppermint scented candles.  I enjoy this ritual of clearing the house of its festive wear, it gives me a feeling of creating a fresh start to the new year.  My mind is busy now thinking of things I'd like to do and achieve next year.  Will share more on that later, for now here are some of my favorite pictures from our holiday.

I Heart Faces October Challenge | Friendship

 My little lady in yellow and her friends.


This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

Tippy Toes

Before I ever had kids, I had fantasizes about bringing my yet to be conceived daughter to dance classes and how an experience like this could do so much for her mind, body and soul.   I've always enjoyed dance but never took classes growing up and so I wanted to give that experience to my future child.  If thats what she wanted to do.  So when I saw my first born twirling and mimicking the moves she saw while watching Angelina Ballerina, well my heart did a little jump for joy.  She was enrolled in a Twinkle Toes group at a local studio and is loving every minute of it!  

Living a dream.

Doing so well with her chassé

She gets extremely excited when the teacher brings out the bean bags to practice their Jetes.

Getting a stamp at the end of class is always very exciting.

I would love to hear how you help your kids shine.