So I tried blogging from my phone and it didn't like it, so I'm a bit behind.
Thursday a friend I've had since junior high was my recipient of my pay it forward. She recently had the two most gorgeous twin boys I've ever had the chance to photograph. And she had to take them to the doc for their newborn follow up. She also has a very sweet lil girl and boy who are a bit older. So I volunteered to watch them. But deciding to take it a step further- I had it set up so Roman and the kids and I could make a week's worth of meals to go home with them.
That is something I always try to do for new moms. My mom did it for me and the luxury of not having to do anything more than heat up a bowl of food was an amazing gift. So that is what I like to do for mommies I'm close with. Especially with multiple children I can't even imagine having the energy to do more than order pizza.
It was fun, the kids were happy and mom had no idea til she came to get them and said lets go figure out what we're doing for dinner.
My hope with pay it forward each week is that it can be something I can get Roman involved in and he can learn from.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Worked Out Wednesday
So here is a HUGE problem I have: I HATE answering my phone. Actually, I'm more afraid to answer my phone.
"Gasp" but how do you run your business if you don't like answering your phone? I do a lot of texting and email and every now and then will answer my phone. My business could clearly be better if I were better at answering the phone.
I don't know when it happened but somewhere between my social anxiety, the convenience of texting and a general fear of the unknown I grew to loathe answering my phone. And I'm even worse about checking voicemail. Which is why the end of all my emails say TEXT ME because I'd much prefer to have a conversation via text. Or in person. I can talk your ear off in person and can make friends with perfect strangers (as long as they're just that-strangers)
After some research there is a thing called phone phobia and is a form of social anxiety. Clearly this is just something my meds don't help me deal with efficiently. It's certainly not irrational and if I need to talk to that person I'm happy to answer. But in most cases I have have serious anxiety about the phone. Don't know where it stemmed from but I do.
So in the spirit of self-improvement here are 4 things I'm going to do to improve this issue:
1. Change my voicemail to say that it is more effective to email or text
2. Make a visual reminder at my work space that answering the phone might be a great new opportunity
3. If I miss a call, text them and tell them I will call them back in ten min, take that time to get composed and return the call
4. Create a form so that I can keep track of the phone conversation and get email address
"Gasp" but how do you run your business if you don't like answering your phone? I do a lot of texting and email and every now and then will answer my phone. My business could clearly be better if I were better at answering the phone.
I don't know when it happened but somewhere between my social anxiety, the convenience of texting and a general fear of the unknown I grew to loathe answering my phone. And I'm even worse about checking voicemail. Which is why the end of all my emails say TEXT ME because I'd much prefer to have a conversation via text. Or in person. I can talk your ear off in person and can make friends with perfect strangers (as long as they're just that-strangers)
After some research there is a thing called phone phobia and is a form of social anxiety. Clearly this is just something my meds don't help me deal with efficiently. It's certainly not irrational and if I need to talk to that person I'm happy to answer. But in most cases I have have serious anxiety about the phone. Don't know where it stemmed from but I do.
So in the spirit of self-improvement here are 4 things I'm going to do to improve this issue:
1. Change my voicemail to say that it is more effective to email or text
2. Make a visual reminder at my work space that answering the phone might be a great new opportunity
3. If I miss a call, text them and tell them I will call them back in ten min, take that time to get composed and return the call
4. Create a form so that I can keep track of the phone conversation and get email address
The Runner
Fastest Mile Time: 6min 56 sec I was 13 years old
I used to run and run for miles because it was fun to me. I could zone out from all the bad by running. I loved it all, sprinting, distance, races and just to get out. When I had my very first apartment I could run 6 intersection lengths non stop.
Then in 2002 I broke my back and stopped running.
Three years later a determined bride I built back up and could run a 5k on the treadmill in 25min. Wedding happened, 6mo later we were expecting a baby. That baby would be quite large and strain my back enough that I didn't want to run.
6 years later, 20 pounds heavier and now with not so strong knees, I'm trying it again. I'm starting slow building up endurance on the elliptical I can do the equivalent of a 5k at the highest cross ramp and medium resistance in 28.5min. My goal is to be back on the treadmill by Sept 1st and then on my birthday run a 5k.
I've always dreamed of running the Boston Marathon, but I'm in Phoenix and 26miles seems like a stupidly long run. But for now a 5k would be great, and maybe work my way up to a 10k. In a year or two the rock and roll half marathon.
But with all good challenges I'm taking it one step at a time and really trying to stick with it.
I used to run and run for miles because it was fun to me. I could zone out from all the bad by running. I loved it all, sprinting, distance, races and just to get out. When I had my very first apartment I could run 6 intersection lengths non stop.
Then in 2002 I broke my back and stopped running.
Three years later a determined bride I built back up and could run a 5k on the treadmill in 25min. Wedding happened, 6mo later we were expecting a baby. That baby would be quite large and strain my back enough that I didn't want to run.
6 years later, 20 pounds heavier and now with not so strong knees, I'm trying it again. I'm starting slow building up endurance on the elliptical I can do the equivalent of a 5k at the highest cross ramp and medium resistance in 28.5min. My goal is to be back on the treadmill by Sept 1st and then on my birthday run a 5k.
I've always dreamed of running the Boston Marathon, but I'm in Phoenix and 26miles seems like a stupidly long run. But for now a 5k would be great, and maybe work my way up to a 10k. In a year or two the rock and roll half marathon.
But with all good challenges I'm taking it one step at a time and really trying to stick with it.
Treasured Tuesday
Treasured Tuesday was a bust :(
This is typical for me, which I find depressing. I even had the day off, sort of.
I spent my morning taking Roman to chuck e cheese- making his last full week of summer kick ass. I spent the middle of the day doing housework, afternoon was a killer shoot with Wade Lee-but it was shot for the magazine and my evening lounging on the couch with Dave because I feel like I don't make enough effort to spend time with him. Most evenings I'm at my computer editing-which does not a marriage make.
I wanted to go to the tattoo parlor and get an estimate on the back piece I want-it's pretty big. I wanted to find a sports bra that didn't make my boobs feel like they were being bound-I've had the same one since my senior year of high school- yeah I know you're doing the math.
I easily put myself last-which everyone tells me I have to stop doing-but I'm not big on getting my nails done (don't think I've done that since my wedding) and setting aside an hour for myself seems like a perfectly good waste of an hour that I could be tending to something else. I'm terrible at making myself a priority, that just happens as we become adults with multiple responsibilities. I hope this is something that I don't teach Roman.
But for what its worth, I'm ordering the sports bra online since I'm not driving across town for it, I'm hoping to have the tattoo consult next week and maybe next Tuesday I can make an appointment for the salon to get some of these gray hairs covered.
This is typical for me, which I find depressing. I even had the day off, sort of.
I spent my morning taking Roman to chuck e cheese- making his last full week of summer kick ass. I spent the middle of the day doing housework, afternoon was a killer shoot with Wade Lee-but it was shot for the magazine and my evening lounging on the couch with Dave because I feel like I don't make enough effort to spend time with him. Most evenings I'm at my computer editing-which does not a marriage make.
I wanted to go to the tattoo parlor and get an estimate on the back piece I want-it's pretty big. I wanted to find a sports bra that didn't make my boobs feel like they were being bound-I've had the same one since my senior year of high school- yeah I know you're doing the math.
I easily put myself last-which everyone tells me I have to stop doing-but I'm not big on getting my nails done (don't think I've done that since my wedding) and setting aside an hour for myself seems like a perfectly good waste of an hour that I could be tending to something else. I'm terrible at making myself a priority, that just happens as we become adults with multiple responsibilities. I hope this is something that I don't teach Roman.
But for what its worth, I'm ordering the sports bra online since I'm not driving across town for it, I'm hoping to have the tattoo consult next week and maybe next Tuesday I can make an appointment for the salon to get some of these gray hairs covered.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
My inner activist
When I was young I thought I could change the world. Encourage recycling, change policy, right social wrongs. Prime example, in second grade I wrote the school principle telling him we should set up recycling bins in the school lunchroom for cardboard juice boxes. He wrote me back saying that while he appreciated my enthusiasm, it wasn't something that would be implemented. But my mom thought it was cute and kept a copy of the letter-which I now have.
In 4th grade I ran for school secretary. And lost to the more popular girl-I quickly learned that it didn't matter my platform, I wasn't popular therefore I wouldn't win.
And then I got older and responsibilities and lack of social status made fighting the good fight less important.
Then when I was old enough to vote, I learned in civics class that my vote while important as a civic duty, really didn't make a difference since it was all up to the electoral college. No matter how much we're told one person can make a difference, every time I tried nothing ever happened.
This week after spending $4000 for my son's kindergarten tuition, uniforms, books and supplies. I come to find out that the state of Arizona has eliminated funding for all day kindergarten and it is only in communities where property tax has been raised to make up the difference. Personally I'm outraged- why in a state where we're 50th (last in the fucking union) are we making full day kindergarten (which has proven benefits for kids) less accessible.
I'm hoping that as my schedule permits and with a few contacts I've picked up working for some political organizations, I can get involved in aiding change in education policy in Arizona. Because there are good schools out there and every kid, not just those of the affluent should have access to them.
In 4th grade I ran for school secretary. And lost to the more popular girl-I quickly learned that it didn't matter my platform, I wasn't popular therefore I wouldn't win.
And then I got older and responsibilities and lack of social status made fighting the good fight less important.
Then when I was old enough to vote, I learned in civics class that my vote while important as a civic duty, really didn't make a difference since it was all up to the electoral college. No matter how much we're told one person can make a difference, every time I tried nothing ever happened.
This week after spending $4000 for my son's kindergarten tuition, uniforms, books and supplies. I come to find out that the state of Arizona has eliminated funding for all day kindergarten and it is only in communities where property tax has been raised to make up the difference. Personally I'm outraged- why in a state where we're 50th (last in the fucking union) are we making full day kindergarten (which has proven benefits for kids) less accessible.
I'm hoping that as my schedule permits and with a few contacts I've picked up working for some political organizations, I can get involved in aiding change in education policy in Arizona. Because there are good schools out there and every kid, not just those of the affluent should have access to them.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Manic Monday
This weekend was not a complete failure, but undesirable at best.
Didn't make it to the gym, but went on a short bike ride
Passed up a great shooting opportunity, but got editing done and was home with the boys
My last minute mini session was a flop, but I've got some new set pieces
Had a really shitty attitude Sunday, but now my bathroom is cleaner than when I moved it
As someone who has struggled with severe depression and managing it with meds since 2005-this is a huge improvement. I used to not be able to find that silver lining in less than desirable outcomes. I also try to be more upbeat and positive so Roman doesn't pick up on my negative nelly habit. Life is so much easier to deal with when you can take things and put a positive spin on them.
Monday's tend to feel like a ton of bricks, I want to come out of the gate 100mph and I feel like I'm leaping over cow patties and putting out fires and get distracted. Sometimes too easily distracted (oh look pinterest) LOL
Today I'm home with Roman who has an upper respiratory virus. I'm balancing work time with activity time and trying not to let him watch too much tv. I'm creating a realistic expectation of what I can accomplish today. I'm being positive,by encouraging his rest today, tomorrow I can do errands out of the house.
And now to heat up some chicken soup and goldfish for his lunch. And maybe even a nap.....
Didn't make it to the gym, but went on a short bike ride
Passed up a great shooting opportunity, but got editing done and was home with the boys
My last minute mini session was a flop, but I've got some new set pieces
Had a really shitty attitude Sunday, but now my bathroom is cleaner than when I moved it
As someone who has struggled with severe depression and managing it with meds since 2005-this is a huge improvement. I used to not be able to find that silver lining in less than desirable outcomes. I also try to be more upbeat and positive so Roman doesn't pick up on my negative nelly habit. Life is so much easier to deal with when you can take things and put a positive spin on them.
Monday's tend to feel like a ton of bricks, I want to come out of the gate 100mph and I feel like I'm leaping over cow patties and putting out fires and get distracted. Sometimes too easily distracted (oh look pinterest) LOL
Today I'm home with Roman who has an upper respiratory virus. I'm balancing work time with activity time and trying not to let him watch too much tv. I'm creating a realistic expectation of what I can accomplish today. I'm being positive,by encouraging his rest today, tomorrow I can do errands out of the house.
30 is freaking me out
I'm just shy of 60 days from my 30th birthday and for whatever reason, I'm not ready. I feel like the kid who has to take A period their last semester of senior year to graduate. At the same time sprinkle in a dash of the Jason Bourne identity crisis.
Aren't I supposed to feel like a grown-up who knows what they're doing by this point? I've tried on lots of hats and while some fit better than others, I'm just as lost as I was a decade ago and I'm so over it.
So here is my journey to discovering who I am and where I'm going. But since I'm human and get overwhelmed I'm breaking it down into a small piece each day.
Manic Monday: how I feel at the start of each week
Treasured Tuesday: One hour dedicated to doing something that makes me happy
Work out Wednesday: taking apart one big issue I fight with
Toss out Thursday: De-cluttering my life and finding organization
Pay it Forward Friday: a day of charity
Self-esteem Saturday: doing something good for my body mind and soul
Successful Sunday: Planning out my goals to be successful for the week ahead
Aren't I supposed to feel like a grown-up who knows what they're doing by this point? I've tried on lots of hats and while some fit better than others, I'm just as lost as I was a decade ago and I'm so over it.
So here is my journey to discovering who I am and where I'm going. But since I'm human and get overwhelmed I'm breaking it down into a small piece each day.
Manic Monday: how I feel at the start of each week
Treasured Tuesday: One hour dedicated to doing something that makes me happy
Work out Wednesday: taking apart one big issue I fight with
Toss out Thursday: De-cluttering my life and finding organization
Pay it Forward Friday: a day of charity
Self-esteem Saturday: doing something good for my body mind and soul
Successful Sunday: Planning out my goals to be successful for the week ahead
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