Wilson Maternity Session

Mom to be, Aara, found me on facebook and booked a maternity mini session this past November. She and her husband arrived, and they were amazing to work with!! 

We shot at my favorite, "secret location", and we couldn't have asked for a better evening. The weather was great, the lighting was perfect, and you can see in the pictures--this family is super excited to be welcoming their first baby, a little boy.

Rant.

I only have 5 minutes until my pasta is done cooking....

so that's all the time I'm going to allow for this rant.

There was something on Facebook today that irked me. A LOT.

Someone made a joke about "beavers" and everyone went OFF on how hilarious it is...yatta yatta.

If you don't know, apparently people use the word beaver when talking about vaginas.

Stupid.

But there were over 30 comments on how hilarious it is, and how it makes them laugh. One talked about How I Met Your Mother. They have an entire episode dedicated to it, and because Robin is Canadian she is furious that they make it to be dirty (because the national animal of Canada is the beaver). But the "longer or more you watch it the funnier it is!!" and this is what the girls said. "I know a lot of LDS people don't like it because of the porn references but if you can look past it, it is a hilarious show".

Jace and I watched HIMYM all seasons...multiple times. We owned all the disks. Then i found out about Jace's porn addiction. Guess what? It was instantly NOT acceptable to "look past" that garbage. All our HIMYM seasons were broken and THROWN away. They were not welcome in my home and I couldn't bear the thought of sending that garbage into someone else's.

The problem with our society now is that we take things that are totally not acceptable and make them acceptable. Movies with vulgar language--we say, well it has 2 or 3 of these words, but other than that its a good movie! Shows or movies with sexually explicit or incredibly suggestive content-- we say, well if you can look past it, its great! Even restaurants are in-cringing on what is acceptable. Hooters--obviously. The tilted kilt--i just watched an undercover boss episode and the CEO was saying the outfits the girls wear are PG13 max, and he wants it to be a family pub. The girls wore a BRA with a cropped sleeve thing, complete trunk (from breasts to below navel) showing and mini skirts.

None of these things should be allowed. The porn industry has crept into every single thing. If we don't take a stance, where does that leave us?

One thing I need to get out there...you shouldn't have to "look past" something if it goes against what you believe should be, when it comes to entertainment or the like. To everyone who thinks its just jokes and "just porn" (that's what a lot of people say, by the way)--ITS NOT. Its ruining people. Its ruining families. Its ruining lives.

2017 My "word"

The trend in society in the last few years it seems, is to pick a word for the new year and try to focus on that through the year.

I've never done that...I don't know why. Probably mostly because I don't like following trends or fads.

I have done a lot of thinking about how I'd like this year to go. And I've decided to incorporate a "word" to help me focus on what I'm trying to accomplish.

My word: PRIORITIES.

2016 was good and bad. We saw the worst in ourselves and saw great moments too. One big thing I noticed was that we are quick to prioritize the WRONG things. Phones are constantly in our hands and faces, Netflix was ALWAYS on instead of spending quality family time together. I was so focused on my business that I didn't set boundaries. I found work creeping into every faucet of my life. I was spending way too much time, every day, on the computer--doing important things, but not so important that I wasn't focusing on Nash.

In 2017, I hope to prioritize my family more. To make each day count with Nash, because gosh dangit. He is growing up REALLY fast on me.

I also want to prioritize my business, but in a much more efficient way.

I want to prioritize my husband and our relationship by going on 50% more date nights than we did in 2016.

I want to prioritize the Gospel and put time and energy into my callings, especially that of a visiting teacher. And reading scriptures with Nash every night. And getting to the temple, AT LEAST quarterly.

I want to prioritize my home...making sure it is clean and a place of peace from the crazy world we live in.

I want to prioritize listening to the prophet. My goal for 2017 is to get our year supply and 72 hour kits put together.

and I want to prioritize ME. I am always the last thing to be thought of...this year I need some time for me. Even if its being able to go to the dentist to get my cavity filled. :( Boo. HA!

So lets do this 2017. You are the year I make prioritizing the important things my #1 priority. :)

DeFoe Family

This sweet family are recent Arizonans. 

Mom contacted me do do a mini session for their Christmas cards. She wanted the look and feel of Arizona, so we went off to the Riparian Preserve to get some fun desert shots without having to trek her kids out to the desert.

Her husband was stuck in traffic and after doing the kids pictures and waiting another 20-30 minutes, dad showed up just as the sun completely disappeared. 

Their middle son has some disabilities. Mom was nervous about taking pictures because other photographers have gotten nervous or exasperated when he wouldn't cooperate. I'm unique to that situation, since my oldest brother also is disabled. 

He did AMAZING for this photos, I actually cried while editing them--I was praying during the shoot that they would be wonderful, and they were. I enjoyed my time with them, and can't wait to work with them in the future!

Baby Tameifuna

I had the great privilege to do a mini maternity session with Tameifuna's parents this fall! I was so happy when mom called me and scheduled a newborn session on Halloween! 

This baby was such a good little guy. He snoozed through his session with no fuss.

His parents brought in some cultural items (like the mat) and it just made the session all the more special!!

I hope to take pictures of little Tameifuna as he grows!!

Rachel

When i went to cosmetology school 7+ years ago, I was one of the oldest girls there. At 22 I was old. There were a few women my age and some a little older, but we were in the minority. 

Rachel ended up being one of my best school friends. We had a lot in common and I trusted her to cut my hair. That's a friendship that will never fade! :)

Rachel has lived a good 50-60 minutes away from me, but fairly recently moved closer--about 20-30 minutes now. She reached out this fall asking for me to take some pictures for her Christmas cards. Of course I said yes!! She is superwoman! She takes care of her own business, her home, the land, and an assortment of animals that are just so cute!

2017

Ahhhhhhh.

The start of a new year.

Taking fresh, long breath after a LONG year!

This is the perfect time for new beginnings and goals.

I'm excited for 2017.

2016 was long and hard, with wonderful moments in-between. But I'm ready to move.

I found myself looking to take down my Christmas decorations BEFORE new years this year... for the FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. I couldn't do it--I would have broken Nash's heart. Seriously. That boy LOVES Christmas.

I'm ready to move forward. There is lots I'm excited about for this next year. Lots of changes going to happen--both for me and Jace in our jobs and as well as in our family.

I absolutely adore my little boy, and by golly, I am going to do everything in my power to be there for him day in and day out, to experience life with him, to play with him more, to show him more, to be more present.

I fell into the same trap that every self employed person sets for themselves. I didn't set enough boundaries for my work and it found its way into every corner of my life. I was thinking about work when I wanted to be spending quality time with Nash. I was working--marketing, social media, and editing during all times of the day instead of "naptime and bedtime" like I originally promised myself.

Its all going to have to change. My priority is and always has been my family--my son. My first job is to be a good mom.

:)

Jace and I have big goals, that we are hoping to tackle this next year. And as we accomplish those, I'll be excited to share them with you.

Bottom line, I'm excited to START. Hiya 2017!