St. Andrew's School Delaware Graduation

      I had the privilege of being a part of a team of photographers last Thursday at the Commencement ceremony for St. Andrew's School in Delaware. It is an extraordinarily beautiful campus and an amazing place to attend high school. The graduating class of 2017 was comprised of 77 students from all over the world. These students had high achievements in both sports as well as academics and are heading to a variety of excellent colleges. As a parent, I can only hope my kids have this type of drive and desire in their educational experience!

      L. Heather Mitchell, Class of '92 and member of St. Andrew’s Board of Trustees, delivered the Commencement Address. Mrs. Mitchell encouraged students to "stay 'woke" to the worlds' issues. She encouraged them to remember that they can play a part and to remember to give back to the school that gave them so much. 

The tradition of pinning a red carnation on the gentlemen has been a long standing one!

School co-Presidents Francis Alber deFrancis Kigawa and Jasmine Nicole Southerland share an embrace!

School co-Presidents Francis Alber deFrancis Kigawa and Jasmine Nicole Southerland share a smile!

Jaryd Jones receives an award

L. Heather Mitchell, Class of -92 and member of St. Andrew’s Board of Trustees, delivered Commencement Address

William Monroe Imbrie-Moore celebrates!

Francis Alber deFrancis Kigawa, School co-president

Sam Winslow sees a bright future!

Congratulations to the class of 2017 and all the best to you in college! 

Wedding Season Tip: How to prepare your "getting ready" area

Are you engaged or going to be a part of a wedding this summer? I've been photographing weddings for over a decade and in those years, I've learned a few things about what works. A special time of day is the bride getting ready. It's a sweet combination of joy, nerves, excitement and preparations! Generally the bride is surrounded by close friends and family, getting ready to walk down the aisle.  In my experience as the photographer, I wanted to share some ways that you can make the space great for both the bride and the photographs. 

1. Have at least one window available for natural light: Natural light is usually the most flattering and is a great option for helping to light the portraits of the bride getting ready. As you choose the space for the bride to get dressed in, make sure it has at least one window! 

2. Clear the clutter: I know getting ready time is hectic. Usually there are bridesmaids and moms and everyone else all prepping in the same space but when it's time to get the bride dressed, you don't want large amounts of stuff strewn across the room. It's hard for a photographer that has to both clean up the room and style/photograph the bride. 

3. Make sure details are close by: Everything from flowers to rings to invitations need to be ready to go in the prep room. The reason for this is that the details are a huge part of the story of the wedding day and every photographer wants to make sure they're a part of the photographs. If all of these things are close by and ready to go, it makes the photography go smoothly, as well as the mood for the bride. There's nothing like realizing 5 minutes before bridal portraits that the shoes are missing or on one grabbed the bride's bouquet yet. These are important things to be ready with! (True story: 20 minutes before a wedding a bride realized her specific underwear for the dress was not in the dress bag like she thought it was. Talk about frantic and embarrassing to try to get someone to go retrieve that for you!)

4. Temperature: This is pretty self explanatory but especially on hot wedding days with lots of people in the room, everyone is going to feel better if it's not smoking hot in the room. If you can get there early and crank down the AC a few points, even better! 

5. Great attitudes: Every wedding day has its drama whether it be personal or situational. The best way to keep the environment drama-free and a good vibe to leave that stuff at the door the best you can. It can be tricky with so many emotions at play, but it's important to surround the bride with positivity as she prepares for one of the biggest days of her life! 

A beautiful naturally lit room, free of clutter was the perfect spot to slip the bride into her dress with her bridesmaids help!

Monday Confessions

          Rain on a Monday should not be allowed! It's hard to be motivated with a rainy Monday but that's where discipline kicks in. I have found myself in the middle of many tasks today but all along listening to the rain. I sat for a minute earlier and just watched it fall from the sky. It's good to just stop and take life in! I confess I've been hurried and busy and guilty of being addicted to productivity. It's a constant learning curve for me!  Im the middle of my addiction to productivity though, I've been forcing myself to slow down, even if for just small bits of time.

    One of my rest activities (I know, oxymoron right?!) is reading and I have started back in on the Anne of Green Gables series that I liked as a kid. An excerpt I read last night was Anne gathering flowers among the fields in May and she says,

" I'm so sorry for people who live in lands where there are no Mayflowers."

I fully agree as I take in the beauty of these peonies from my mother-in-law's garden! I love their beauty and their scent (the ants I accidentally brought in, not so much :) So even as it pours today, I have some reminder of how the April showers do indeed bring the Mayflowers! Have a  beautiful week friends!

Wedding season and a crazy calendar!

             Hello friends, I have not fallen off the face of my blog, I've just been wrapped up in our crazy May calendar! I am excited that wedding season officially begins for me this weekend. I feel ready to shoot some beautiful details and events!  

       I also am working on a website update, so bear with me. This has been MONTHS of me working through things about my business, brand and photographs. It's good to evolve and grow but it can sometimes be a struggle to take a look at everything I am producing and prune back. Thanks for understanding and hanging with me through growing pains! I hope you have a beautiful Thursday. 

ring @susiesaltzman || ring box: @jennhellerdesign ||

Monday Confessions, It's May!

        It's May this morning and I hear the birds singing! It looks like a warm day ahead here in DE and I'm hoping the fog burns off to see the sun. Are your Monday mornings full of a  to-do list that sometimes feels daunting? Mine usually are. So here I sit, with my warm cup of coffee and just taking it one thing at a time. Here's whats on my mind to confess...

1. If you've known me for some time, you know that I swear big earrings can make an outfit (or distract you from a boring outfit or a tired face :) I am currently loving the leather earrings from Nickel and Suede  and I just wore these champagne shimmer earrings over the weekend. You know I also love supporting small, family run businesses which this particular business is!

2. I am currently listening to XM Radio's channel 61 called Y2K country. Don't laugh, it's amazing! It's all the songs I used to listen to in college and there's nothing like driving with the windows down singing Wave on Wave  by Pat Green. You should try it!

3. I confess that I am not always a huge fan of our fast paced technology driven world but I have been cracking up this week as my 21 month old climbs up on the couch and says "Lexa.." to try to give our echo dot Alexa some directions. 

4. I confess that chasing my 4th toddler in 8 years has been challenging lately. He is oh-so-cute but oh-so-feisty! It's a tricky time of him trying to insert his independence and explore his surroundings all while having no real sense of danger. It's been nice to get outside to play but chasing this kiddo is wearing me out!

5. I confess we are really missing having a dog in our family but I am trying to be realistic about the amount of living things I can take care of under my roof. I keep torturing myself looking at puppies available or dogs for adoption. I am just hoping that the right thing will eventually come along but we are just not in a position to rush into getting a pet. The kids definitely know how to get to us, like our kindergartener telling us, "We were talking about the pets we have at school and I don't have one any anymore." Knife to the heart right?! Ha.....

Well my lovely friends, I hope the week that lies ahead is a good one for you! Hope you see some sunshine today! 

Monday Confessions

Hello friends, welcome to a new week. Is it possible that we are already into the last full week of April 2017?! Our house has definitely been dragging this morning a bit. Benjamin decided to just lay on the kitchen floor as soon as he came down stairs. I sort of feel the same way after a full weekend! I've already had a full morning as well with a photo session and wrangling my beloved toddler (thank goodness for friends who help you with your kiddos so you can work)! 

Inspiration image from the most recent Magnolia Journal

You ready for my confessions? Here we go...

1. Saturday was rainy and plans were canceled so we spent and entire day cleaning out our basement! I know this is probably horrifying to some of you because how could people need to clean a basement for an entire day, right? Well for the last 5 and half years, the basement has been a collect all. I apologize in advance to our garbage collector and the earth but I feel SO much better with a lot of things gone. We took a truck load to goodwill as well! Whew!

2. I heard a quote recently from Winston Churchill that resonated with me, "America always does the right thing, after exhausting every other option." That is a lot of us right?! Trying to do the right thing but checking out all of our options first. (Anyone else watch the Crown on Netflix?!)

3. What good books are you reading friends? I just finished Freefall to Fly by Rebekah Lyons. It was a good read! Book review blog post hopefully coming soon...

4. I confess that I'm digging these light gray jeans with the open hem bottom for spring. What do you think?

5. Speaking of clothing, I am SLOWLY but surely getting back into smaller sizes so I am in a big need of a closet organization and spring is the perfect time. I'm going to check out the latest Magnolia Journal with Joanna's tips on closet organizing (Can't I just trade my closet for hers?! :)  Nothing would fit me but her jewelry but I would love to try ;)

Here's to a great week ahead friends!

Eastern Shore Sunset, Salisbury, MD

Silk Ribbons by @tornandtied (on Instagram)

Details and set up by @mandaweaver and @littlerustyshop (on Instagram)

       This image was just a week ago as I arrived at Providence Farm, Salisbury, Maryland.  I was there for the Seasidebride Workshop hosted by Manda Weaver and a handful of others. It was a great time to get away for the night, make new friends, shoot some styled sessions and think about business. It's hard being both a creative and a business person. I can't speak for all creatives but sometimes the "business" part can suck the life right out of me. I have a long business to-do list, including the update of this very website. In the midst though of all the thoughts about what I need to do though, it was good to just shoot for the sake of being creative. I'm still editing much of what we worked on during those couple days and some things are under wraps awaiting submissions but God gifted us all this beautiful sunset as we were leaving last Wednesday evening! It reminded me of the original creator and how we are in his image. 

"When you're taking on creativity, you're taking on soul work. This is not about what we do - the is about who we are."

- Brene Brown on Magic lessons podcast with Elizabeth Gilbert 

Sunset on the Eastern Shore, April 5, 2017

Monday Confessions, Apple of Your Eye

    I was trying to get in some morning reading yesterday before the morning chaos but it just wasn't happening. I got the kids settled and my first cup of coffee made, only to come across this quote from exactly a year ago on my phone. I don't know who to give it credit for but it was absolutly the most timely words I needed to hear. 

"If you’re running yourself crazy trying to be more and acquire more, to the point where your children are a distraction rather than the apple of your eye, is it worth it?

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:6) "

     I've been thinking this over for the past 2 hours and it's hitting me hard. It's a longer story than a blog post, but wrestling with motherhood, calling and priorities has been a constant in my life over the last 8 years. Even getting away overnight last week to the Seasidebride Workshop, I was wrestling with these questions. The above bible verse seems to be giving me some clarity, in that it is better to have a little less (insert material things, success, etc) than it is to have more of those types of things and be constantly stressing. The whole idea that I could be treating my kids as a distraction instead of the main subject is pretty convicting. It is my prayer this week that I can start to see ways in which I allow this mentality to creep in and pray that I would be shifting more to a heart posture of keeping my family the main focus. I think it's even more meaningful that this is Holy Week, the week of the year where we remember Jesus' last week in human form on earth.

     Obviously all the other things I am responsible for are really important as well, like teaching and this very photography business, but I need to make choices to keep my time well spent and my sanity in tact. Busy mom friends, how have you found ways to keep the correct focus? (I won't even dare say "balance" because I don't think that exists!)  

       Here's a cute iPhone shot from yesterday's egg hunt and Easter bunny visit! (I had all 4 kids there by myself so there was no chance of me having my big camera and chasing!) Hope you have a beautiful week! 

Eater Bunny visit 2017

Odessa, Delaware Family Session

Remember this beautiful wedding couple from 2013? They're old friends of mine and I adore the opportunity to photograph their growing family any chance I get! They're expecting a baby boy in the next month and we had a family session to celebrate. Their sweet Della is preparing to be a big sister and will turn two this summer. How cute is she?!

Newborn, Wilmington, DE

    I know I always say it, but it's such a sweet honor to photograph a family through all of its seasons! Will & Taylor are new parents welcoming sweet Kaleb into their little family. It's an exciting time and one I love being able to capture. The miracle of a beautiful healthy baby is not lost on me. The newborn days are fleeting, so here's to remembering them!

A sweet blue nursery full of adventure details for a little prince!

Such a cute nursery isn't it?

Monday Confessions, Thoughts on slowing down & a few blogs I'm loving!

     It's surprisingly Monday again and honestly, the last few weeks have been a blur of days. I or someone in my home has been sick for three full weeks. I have personally gone through the flu, bronchitis which then morphed into a sinus infection and horrible ear infection. I will spare you the other details of what I have been dealing with but can I just say that I am ready to be well?! The calendar turned to spring this past week so I am hoping the weather cooperates and we can all get healthy. This winter has truly been the most sicknesses I have ever had as an adult in one season. What is all this illness revealing to me? It has been showing me the need for rest.

    I think we all mistake a full, busy life with a life of meaning, which is far from the truth. We "push through" even when ill and think that there's some imaginary award for being tough. I've been forced to try to rest and recover, but it's been a stuggle. I'm really slow to learn on this one. I've read lots of recent books on this topic, yet I haven't put it into practice. So in this season of basically being forced to rest, I am hoping I am learning more of what matters day in and day out.

"If we want to live a Wholehearted life, we have to become intentional about cultivating rest and play, and we must learn to let go of exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as self-worth." - Brene Brown , The Gifts of Imperfection

  On a totally separate note, here are a few blogs I'm loving lately! 

The Small Things Blog - I've followed Kate Bryan for years. I love her personal style as well as her home and other things she shares. I've even made this delicious coffee cake recipe she shared not too long ago! 

Image from Small Things Blog 

Joanna Gaines (of course! Who doesn't love her?!)

Image from Magnolia Home

Young House Love's recent post on lighting fixtures has me itching to do some updates! 

Images from Young House Love blog

One Little Momma - accessible style for moms (although I don't think I would try the overalls thing! It's cute on her but I am just not built for it!) 

Image from One Little Momma blog

Emily Ley's recent post on book suggestions!  

Image from EmilyLey.com

Monday Confessions, Sick Day

(Not my image, not sure of original source but this dog is WAY cuter than me at this point!)

     It's Monday and I have a confession. Last Thursday I woke up with a fever and chills. I took meds and started to perk up so I thought I was OK to go out. Can I just say that if I had to make the same decision again, I would STAY HOME! Seriously, sick people should stay home. I thought that my symptoms would pass in a day but they only got worse and by the weekend it was horrible. I don't know for sure if I have the flu but I didn't necessarily want to deal with a doctor's appointment and test only to tell me that I have the flu and there's nothing they can do for me other than what I am already doing. So I confess that I went out sick and I apologize to the people that I might have exposed. I have learned my lesson! I also have been grateful to my husband for picking up the slack while also not feeling well. Also, a huge shout out to my in laws that helped us with a couple kids, meals and groceries this weekend!  

   This is my kids spring break week and every plan we had has already been altered or cancelled due to sickness and the impending Nor'easter headed our way tonight. I am trying to take the positive spin and not be entirely dissapointed. Thankfully two of the things that got cancelled the kids didn't know about yet so they aren't affected by it. Just hoping we get a spring break re-do after this mess of a week! Stay warm and safe out there! 

Monday Confessions, Current Favorites

Today I thought I would share a few current favorite things I am loving!

1. Zac Brown Band, My Old Man song caught me off guard the other day and I got choked up. The whole song is touching but towards the end these lyrics get me,

"My old man
I hope he's proud of who I am
I'm trying to fill the boot of my old man" 

2. Cold Brew Tea: It brews in cold water in 5 minutes and helps give some flavor if you are just "over" drinking so much water. I basically drink my cup or two of coffee in the morning and then drink water the rest of the day, so sometimes I need other options with a little flavor. 

3. Bringing up Bebe because I need a breath of fresh air from crazy American parenting and pressure. I could actually probably write and entire post on what I've been experiencing with the expectations of modern American parenting. I am sort of convinced that it will send both the parents and the kids to the crazy house.

4. HIIT Class at my local Y: It literally kills me but it's a "hurt so good" kind of pain. I know it's getting the job done and it's making me do things that I might not choose to do myself. It's 45 minutes of different moves and circuits, usually 45 seconds on and 15 seconds off. You never thought 45 seconds was so long in your life until you take a HIIT class! 

5. Overnight Oats: I love this simple recipe for overnight oats and you can get creative with toppings like toasted coconut or sliced banana (I don't usually put the banana in over night personally). Really easy and healthy if you need some options for crazy mornings. I do sometimes warm mine up if it's chilly out and I want warm food in my belly! 

Newborn Baby Girl, Townsend, DE

"She is loveliness itself." -Jane Austen, Emma

    I am always honored to be asked to photograph a newborn baby. The miracle of a precious new child is not lost on me. I think the more I grow in age and wisdom, the more I know that it is truly an honor to get to be a part of this moment in a child's life.

    This past week, I got to meet sweet baby A and photograph her in all her pink, cuteness. As a mom, I know how fast these moments fly and how fast the baby will change. In a newborn session I seek to capture all the little details of the newborn, as well as the story of the family. This sweet family even included some fun, furry members and we didn't miss out on including them in the session! Sweet baby A was just 5 days old here!

Sweet Benji at 18 Months!

       Happy Monday friends! Today I will share a handful of shots that capture my sweet Benji at 18 months old. I shot these last month (because he's already actually 19 months) but I know how the time is fleeting! Matt and I were looking through a lot of old photos and videos over the weekend, which tugged at our heartstrings. It truly is amazing how the days are LONG but the years are so SHORT! We hardly remember much about our twins being babies and welcoming Maxwell only 23 months into parenthood :) We went from no kids to 3 kids in less than 2 years, so we've learned the importance of trying to take photos here and there to remember! 

       When I tell you this kid is pure joy, we mean it! He's busy and never stops, but his laughter is infectious! We are thankful for this little bundle of personality to bring up the caboose of our family. We all love you Ben! And yes...he's already a huge super hero fan!

Taking a taste of Hans solo...

I love his chubby baby hands that are quickly changing...

Thanks for bringing us so much love and sweetness Benji!

Engagement Session, New Castle, DE

Hey friends! I missed yesterday's Monday confessions because it was President's Day and I was crazy with four children at home. We also had a birthday luncheon and then a birthday party so it was a full day! I wish I had magically figured out by now how to be both Mom and business owner in perfect balance, but alas, I have not yet managed that. The lists of things I want to accomplish grow longer instead of shorter, but in the small moments I try to remember what matters. 

In that spirit, love matters! I got to shoot a sweet little engagement session over the weekend with Hannah and Caleb. Their story all began when Caleb's sister, who was a friend of Hannah's, asked Hannah if she could give her number to her brother. The rest was history, as they say! These two sweeties are looking forward to a late May wedding in a beautiful country setting. I can't wait!

Monday Confessions, Recent Reads

    Remember how last week I had all these great plans? Well sickness knocked me down and out along with Benjamin, so our week was altered. I was thankfully on the mend by Friday and enjoyed my birthday very much! Thanks to my husband, family and all the friends who made it a great day. My 35th year is looking promising!

     As for my confessions, today I have been up since 4:30am listening to the crazy wind blowing. It sounded as if the house would blow down multiple times! Instead of my regular confessions today, I am going to share some recent reads with you. I am just sharing my own opinions and if I would recommend the read or not. (Apparently I am still on a pretty big non-fiction kick and sorry if some of these reviews get long! Just skim if necessary :) I realized that I should be posting my winter reads a little more often because there's been so many. Here's a handful I chose and in no particular order, here we go!

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson; This is a non-fiction work by Bryan Stevenson, recalling his work with those found on the wrong side of the law. His stories are varied but almost all heart breaking. His particular focus as an attorney is to help those that can't afford the proper representation. He has fought for many on death row, some who were wrongly convicted. Honestly, a lot of the stories are hard to read. They're full of sad realities but the thread was trying to find justice for all. Mr. Stevenson continues to champion for those who have been wrongly condemned to death. This book forced me to contemplate heavy questions, such as if I even support the death penalty (that's a whole different topic on it's own). He questions all different areas of the law on things from how we should treat children or mentally ill when convicted of crimes. All in all though, I found myself inspired with this read. It's uncomfortable to be exposed to things in our society that need work. I was reminded that these incarcerated people are humans, with their own stories and complexities. I had the particular pleasure to hear Mr. Stevenson speak just a couple weeks after finishing his book. I found his speech just as inspiring as his book, encouraging us all to get uncomfortable and proximate to issues in our community. My rating: a must read

Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance:  I have been hearing bits about this book so I grabbed it at the library. It's the story of a young man being raised with Appalachian hillbilly roots and how he now sits on the other side of having served in the US Marines and  earning a Harvard law degree. His writing is poignant at times and in touch with the white working class poor of America. I could find some common ground with parts of his story, although certainly not to the extreme of some circumstances. When I was 13 years old, I served on a youth trip week where we worked in a small Kentucky town. My crew worked on a dilapidated trailer on a Kentucky mountainside, which was home for a sweet family. I learned a lot about the plight of coal mining families as well as challenges to rural life. So much of what I witnessed as a teenager is exactly what JD describes here.

 There was a line his grandfather said to him that stuck with me. His "Papaw" told him, "Our generation has made our living with our hands and your generation is going to make your living with your minds."  You know I always love a good memoir, as well as a story where the underdog wins. (The timing of reading this right after Just Mercy was also intriguing to me because I has just contemplated the struggles of many poorer African Americans while reading Just Mercy. Following up with reading the similar but different plights of the poor white American population made for good contemplation.) My rating: A good read if you know a hillbilly and like a memoir

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah: This is a WWII fiction work that I really enjoyed. It was a wartime story so there were lots of hard things still, but the resiliency of the human spirit to survive is always something I enjoy. It's definitely a longer book but there were lots of different characters  and stories developing. I learned a few new things as well, which is always a bonus. My rating: A good read, especially if you love history or WWII or France :) 

She Reads Truth by Amanda Bible Williams and Rachel Myers:  This is another memoir but it's interesting because I was written by two authors. Their stories are woven together beautifully along with the truth of God's word.  I found myself so encouraged both by the women's stories and by the lasting truth of scripture. I already loaned this book to a friend but probably will read parts of it again. If you love the bible and a good written memoir, this book is for you! My Rating: great read

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd: This is a historical fiction work set in pre civil war Charleston, SC. It was also a longer read over decades of time so there was a lot of character development. I would say in the end I enjoyed the characters and historical commentary, but it did start to feel drawn out after a while. I guess I didn't realize but I have been reading all different eras and perspectives on the American struggle to get where we are today. I don't alwa My rating: good read

Grace Not Perfection by Emily Ley: This is a great read for women in my stage of life or any similar stage of young adulthood. It's a beautifully designed book and has a bit of a "workbook" style in some sections to help you think through the chapters. I liked her easy and honest writing style but to be honest, the content was similar in vain to some other things I had recently read. Don't get me wrong, it was still helpful and enjoyable read but it wasn't as fresh for me because I had also recently Present Over Perfect and Loving Your Actual Life. My rating:  an easy, helpful read

I am currently in the middle of a few books at once so I need to focus in one them and finish. I get major book ADD when there's so many things I want to be reading! What's your reading style? I can definitely read lots of non-fiction at once, but I guess it's not saying much for my productivity or organizational style is it?! I also always get lots of questions on "finding time to read." I have to say, I really just have to make time like anything else. If I am honest though, if you cut out social media or just "phone scrolling," you can definitely get some books in instead! 

Hope you all have a great Monday and don't blow away out there!

Monday Confessions, February morning

    I woke up to the hustle and bustle of a normal Monday around here, with the exception of the realization that it's my birthday week. I have been all over the place about turning 35 (Hello! It's super, uncomfortably close to 40 right?!!). Some days I am totally fine because it's just a number, but other days I have found myself walking down memory lane wondering just how it has gone this fast?! I was just 30...  It's Monday though, so life goes on and so do my duties! Here goes a few confessions for you...

Shauna Niequist's blueberry crisp was my breakfast of choice!

1.     I had some frozen berries that inspired this berry crisp for breakfast. Plop some greek yogurt on a warm bowl of this and you'll have a heavenly start to your day! I honestly could eat the whole thing myself, but alas, this is not a good idea for 35 year olds :)  This also works as a lighter dessert if you're looking for ideas. (It is considered clean eating too as a bonus) Check out the recipe here on Dinner a Love Story.

2.    I confess I am on my second cup of coffee, but at least the second cup I made was decaf. 

3.    I missed listening to the live stream of IF:Gathering in Austin, TX over the weekend. It's a powerful women's conference full of well known authors and speakers, but that's not all. It's a place for women to be encouraged in their faith and told to live in their own spheres making a difference for Jesus. The messages come not just from those well known people, but every day ladies living for Jesus. Thankfully they are allowing the messages to be streamed through today, so get on a check it out! I had the bluetooth speaker on in my kitchen while doing all my daily duties. I've already been challenged and encouraged while folding clothes and loading the dishwasher!

      I admit that I am often cynical about technology and it's affect on this. Opportunities like this though, make me thankful for all these technological advances! Get on the site and get encouraged today! (Only available through today for free or you can order the digital downloads).

4.   I confess I am thankful for both encouragement and coffee this morning because I am a small business owner in tax season. Can you hear the sigh coming from me? It's no fun, but I try to remind myself that it's a privilege to live in a country where I can own my own business. It's a gift to own a flexible business that allows me to be with my kids daily. So if you find me buried under all these papers and receipts, just remind me of my own words!

5.    How about that super bowl last night?! It was such an exciting game even though I confess I am not a huge NFL watcher. I was rooting for the underdog but those Patriots just kicked it into high gear at the end! I don't even know what to say about Lady Gaga but she sure did put on a show. What do you think? Did you love her performance? 

In a world where you can be a lot of things, lets just try to be kind. That's my goal in life today! A "recent reads" post will be coming on the blog soon as well! Have a fantastic week friends!

Newborn, Middletown, DE

"The most precious jewels, you'll ever have around your neck, are the arms of your children." (unknown)

This is my sweet new niece, Penelope Jane and she entered the world just a couple weeks ago! She was about 10 days new at the session. Enjoy all her squishiness, I know I did! Welcome to the family kiddo! 

Monday Confessions, a January morning

  So I confess that I really feel like I am winning at Monday, although if you saw me still in my PJ pants or my house, you might disagree. I feel like I am winning because I already got 4 children up, dressed, fed, backpacks and lunches packed and got the three big kids off to school all on my own! I was cutting it close on timing but still got everywhere there before the bell! I've also gotten loads of laundry going and a pot roast in the crock-pot. I heard once that if you know what's for dinner by 10am, you will be a lot less stressed and I entirely agree!

My breakfast iPhone shot....

So here goes the rest of my confessions...

1. I have been drinking hot lemon water first thing in the morning and then keeping the lemon water going the rest of the day! I kept reading about the benefits of adding in lemon water to start your day, so I've been doing it for a few weeks. It supposedly helps everything from metabolism, to liver and digestion functions. I am going to stick with it to see if I notice long term benefits! If nothing else, we all know it's definitely good to get your body hydrated first thing after sleep. 

2. As for my breakfast, I've been loving yogurt with granola and berries when I don't have time for cooking eggs. Our town thankfully got an Aldi's within the last couple months and it's been amazing for me to get fresh produce at great prices. (I also love Produce Junction but it's farther away!) 

3. I confess we've been home bodies over the last week because between weather and sickness, it's our only option. I am thankful though that after a busy holiday season, having some time to try to get a handle on things at home is a gift. I spent most of Saturday afternoon with the twins creating their solar system projects for school. I love seeing their creativity come alive! I've really been reminded lately that childhood is often messy and not aimed at productivity like adulthood. This might sound obvious but I think a lot of times we want our kids to act like adults. We should let our kids be kids and enjoy the creative process! (My son is Uranus, ask me how many jokes a second grade boy can make out of that one?!!!)

iPhone shot of kiddos at work over the weekend!

4. We got sucked into an original Amazon series called The Man in the High Castle and it's so good! Matt and I rarely agree on tv shows that we want to watch but this one we both love. Without giving anything away, imagine if the USA had lost WWII and we were all speaking German or Japanese! It's a fascinating concept and extremely well done. We only have a couple episodes left of Season 2 and will have to wait until the fall to see Season 3 with everyone else!

5. Our town finally got our own Y! This has been a great excitement for me because it's allowed me to get back into classes while cute Benji plays with other little guys. So far I have loved Body Pump of course and also been to HIIT and boot camp classes. They sort of remind me that I have a ways to go to get back into the fitness level I was at before having Ben, but we all need goals right?! It's the perfect time of year to get into a routine and it's also nice to have some activities outside of the house. I still have a soft spot for working out at home when I can, but it seems less realistic with an extremely busy toddler right now! (I mean the kid can even turn on the dishwasher so I have to watch him constantly!)