Hello!
Happy New Year! Kinda… haha! I can’t believe it is almost February! I just wanted to pop in to say hi and chat! I usually pre-plan my content but the holidays and new year got the best of me so I wanted to just start back in with a more casual post.
Usually I take the month of December off of work – kind of like a mini sabbatical each year. This year however, with a couple trips and weddings late into the year I figured it wasn’t necessary. Apparently I was wrong! I’m so thankful to have a job where I set my own work hours, so I feel silly even saying I “needed” to take a break, because I know many people don’t have that luxury. That said, wedding season is no joke! Wedding photography is a job where your busy seasons are fast and furious and take all you’ve got. Especially being in the Midwest where over 90% of our weddings are from June-October. Add in some frustrations and exhaustion from my health throughout the summer and then jumping right into the busyness of the holidays and…well… I crashed. In a very helpful conversation with Dan he encouraged me to take the first few weeks of the year off of work to reset. I answered emails but other than that I didn’t think about work at all for several weeks! I read 4 books (that weren’t about business), hung out with my family, and just rested. It was so, so. Needed. By the time I started work again I actually felt ready and re-energized. Just goes to show that resting needs to be a rhythm of life, not something you do only when you feel like you need it.
I realized that I am often attempting to create a routine and balanced work schedule for the year as a whole – trying to limit my work hours in the summer (when it’s so easy to work overtime) and essentially trying to find things to work on in the winter (when I’m not shooting/editing as much). But the truth is, I just have a job that goes in seasons and that is OKAY. I don’t have to fight it. I can instead, take a step back and see how it evens out. In the summer if I need to work more, so be it! And in the winter if I want to only work 3 days a week I shouldn’t feel guilty about it.
So that’s what I’ve been up to, resting, reading, and trying to fight the winter blues (post with tips on that coming soon).
I thought it would be fun to share a few highlights from the last couple weeks!
Highlights
House Hunting: Dan I and I have officially started house hunting! We’ve been talking about it for a while and have finally dug into the process. I had no idea how time consuming searching the internet and touring homes is! We do love where we live (some days I feel like I could live in this apartment forever) but we are ready to stop spending our money on rent, live closer to family, and have a washer/dryer/dishwasher.
Little Women: Have you seen the new Little Women? It is SO GOOD. My 3 older sisters and I went and as you can imagine- LOVED IT. We all resonate with one character or another, and have walked through the trails of almost losing one of us (that’d be me… but hey, still here!! We had a happier ending). There truly is no bond like a family of 4 girls. Also, the movie itself is just phenomenal! The costumes, the acting, all of it.
Reading: This is one thing from my break that I am taking with me as I begin working again. Less technology, more books! I forgot how wonderful getting lost in a story is! Dan and I are working on forming the habit of reading in the evenings and I am so motivated to stick with it!
BSF: I don’t talk about BSF enough. If you haven’t heard of Bible Study Fellowship it is an international Bible Study program with local groups. This is my 5th year of it and it is truly life changing. It has taught me so much 1. About the Bible itself and 2. About how to study the Bible on your own. This year we are studying Acts and each week has been SO good!! If you are interested in finding a local group check out this website – I can’t recommend it enough!
Recent Outfits
Thought I would add a few recent looks with links! Looks like I’ve been wearing a lot of cream and black lately haha!
Shirt: TTS
Jeans: go down 2 sizes, they will break in
Shoes: if in between sizes go down a half size
Sweater: super old but this one is similar and I’ve been loving it!
Similar Shirt: I like to size up for extra length and a more relaxed fit
Similar Sweater:
Leggings: fleece lined and so cozy! TTS
Boots: These are my latest obsession! Totally waterproof and perfect for sloshing through snow without having to compromise style! TTS, if in between go down.
Two athletic pieces that I’m living in!! I can’t get enough of either of them! Shirt: Relaxed fit, TTS, soft, breathable, and overall amazing
Leggings: TTS and stay in place!
Slippers: I never take them off
Shirt: a wardrobe staple!
Sweatshirt: TTS
Jeans: size up, I’m wearing the short (I’m 5’5″)
Boots: forever my favorite, hunters!
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