Happy New Year and where's the reset button?

image

Hi everyone! Happy 2013! Holy moly where did 2012 go? We kickstarted 2013 with the stomach flu and strep. So my first official week of the new year starts now, I hit the reset button because last week was just plain awful and we can pretend that never happened.

Now that we've moved on, I have big plans (naturally, who makes small plans anyway?). First big change coming will be to this blog. I"m going to combine this blog with my photography blog because having two just overwhelms me and I freeze and don't post on either! So simplification is the name of that game! Second change...my photography business name is Bow & Arrow Photography after my littles. Boaz is the Bow and Gideon who's name means warrior is the Arrow. So don't be scared when you click on my blog and find something totally different its still little ol me, trying to be simple and combine both blogs into one. It will still be Johns Journal plus one photography session a week, you guys are ok with that, right? Will you still be my friends? I still struggle with people pleasing, despite the new year! Ha! Love you guys and have missed you dearly, need to get back!

Other notable events coming up....my first photography workshop for photographers me. It wildly amuses me that people are asking my advice for taking pictures, but nonetheless it's happening and so I'm hosting a workshop and it will be just delightful for them and me, win win. Then our big second wedding comes this year, stand by for my renewing vow inspirations, beyond excited.

Lastly, this is our last year here in Northern Virginia, so my to-do list of must seen things needs to be made stat. oh bittersweetness.

Hope your new year was full of confetti and big resolutions!

xoxo

maria

I highly recommend going to a National Memorial and having other people take your pictures!

Wow, I've missed you guys! Its been crazy insane for me, but still loving every minute of my little photo biz! Wanted to share some of our pictures from our Christmas card including a few that didn't make the cut! I never hire a photographer to capture my two crazies....case in point picture number one! They just want to run around and be themselves and G had a meltdown right on que! As well as the tourists who were happy to snap some for me, win win!

Here's us at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C

I seriously love this so much. Bo drew quite a crowd and all he kept doing to entertain them was jump off the step! Stuntman.

Gideon was yelling, "Kiss, Kiss" while he capture this moment!

This is me walking to Gideon to show him where to point the camera, good times.

Look who flew by!

B just wanted to run, so I had to be more fun than running around and jumping off stairs so swinging him around was a good option!

Annnnnd these are my absolute favorites....ninja Gideon and all three of them running towards me. LOVE.

There's much I need to catch you up on....like were moving to San Diego! But promise to update more frequently in the new year! Merry Christmas from ours to yours! God bless!

Coming up for air and lots of pictures!

I'm here, I'm here just hanging on by a thread! I've got two weddings down and one to go for the little biz, a first grader, a baby on the run and a husband who made a new rank! Phew, busy busy. Wish I could stop time right now and savor. So this is me attempting to catch up on my neglected blog and checking in with you all because I miss you!

Here's a few snippets from my iphone and fancy camera of our blissful time in Ocean city, Nj and Gideon's 6th Perry the platypus gymnastics party!

And G's 6th birthday!

Hoping to check in at least twice a week, once the weddings are through, but this time of year is crazy photography time! Love you all.

Guess what? We're moving!

It's been a whirlwind week with Gideon's 6th birthday and finding out were moving in a year. Of course we don't know where yet, it's the military remember?!! Either way, I'm a bit sad and excited in the same vein, I kinda love change and I also feel like I need to hit the reset button with my crazy scheduling! Nonetheless I'm enjoying every photo session and playful moment with my boys this summer! We're off to the beach tomorrow for a week then fall madness beings! Deep breath and go.

Overwhelmed.

Right now both boys at home for the summer plus a suddenly thriving photo biz has been kicking my butt in a good and exhausting way! I'm incredibly thankful for the way the Lord has poured favor on my little photography business and I'm scrambling to find the balance in it all of course! Just wanted to update you all that I'm here and missing the blogworld. I plan on getting it together this Fall! Today's G's 6th birthday and I must snap some real pictures of him and will post tomorrow, promise. 

Outside the Christmas card box

Looking for something a little different for your family this year? For us, Fall is already looking pretty crazy so our last summer hurrah at the beach will capture our family picture for the Christmas card too! The idea of finding clothes during the clearance sales right now and not trying to squish family pictures in during the cold and stressful holiday season is a win-win in my book. Plus who doesn't love getting a beach picture in the mail smack dab in the middle of chilly December? 

Here's some other ideas:

Nighttime/Classic-

 It's easy to get caught up in the trends on pinterest but nothing beats a classic black and white and I believe this is shot at nighttime which adds to the drama. Remember in your family photos you'll have it for a lifetime and don't want to look back and say, what in the world was  I wearing?!!

Act natural-

Lifestyle pictures are my favorite. Essentially they are capturing you being you in your home or in an activity that your family would normally do everyday. Pick an activity you can do as a family- fly a kite, play catch, bake, wrestle. You'll find that you get the best candids and your kids will be much more natural and happy in front of the camera, plus your Christmas card picture will be a little more real to life!

Change angles-

Try capturing pictures at different angle other then the standard everybody face the camera standing and smile. Laying down, sitting on a bench, middle of a field, train tracks, or even in between buildings provides some interest!

images here

This is changing the way I eat

I'm a bit of a self-professed foodie, which means to me, I LOVE food. I will try anything for the most part and get excited just thinking about food. My 1 year old feels the same way, but my 5 year old not so much. I blame my food obsession on my Italian blood, it's just in me! My mom says I used to eat tomatoes with zucchini as a baby, too funny!

So when a dear friend starting talking to me about the health benefits of an alkaline diet and how cancer cannot grow in that environment I was all ears. My first year of nursing I worked as an oncology nurse and I barely survived, heavy sad stuff. Then losing my Dad to cancer still shocks me daily. As a nurse for almost 10 years (yikes) I've dealt my fair share of drugs to people and its tiring, trust me. So if we can conquer cancer through the right food we eat, sign me up.  

Your body works to maintain a certain homeostasis requiring a specific ph level. If you eat too many acidic foods you are more susceptible to allergies and disease. If you can favor alkaline foods such lots of leafy greens and fruits you can help you body achieve that balance easier and fight off illness. Resources mentioned a 60% alkaline 40% acidic. Here's a chart to highlight some alkaline foods:

And more of a food list here!