Decisions, decisions...

This morning has been a bit of a pensive morning.
I have been thinking a lot about the direction I want to take Julia's Focus Photography (JFP).

This may sound a bit silly and a waste of space on the World Wide Web, but, hey, it's my blog, right? *wink*

I have felt an urgent need to do all of those business savvy things like make business cards (my business cards are fabulous! made by my friend Sarah), build a website, promote myself shamelessly... all of which are fine things, but they're not me. I have somehow neglected to remember that God has always taken care of me, and that being faithful and serving Him in all that I do guarantees my success*.


* Let me further explain my view of success so I don't end up sounding like Joel Olstein here: Success is totally a relative term.  And when I say that being faithful to God (and to who God made me to be) in my business venture guarantees success, I just mean that I will be accomplishing my ultimate goal, pleasing my Creator and Savior. And as disappointing as failing at my photography business would be, it's short term. 


All this to say that I've been struggling with the website part of my business. I enjoy blogging so much, and would much rather blog about things that I feel God puts on my heart and mind... about my adventures in motherhood, friendship, whatever... than to spend hours of my time making/ updating a website to promote my business. And the truth is,  JFP surprises me every day! Word of mouth (and Facebook!) seems to be the best promotion anyways.

These are all 'first draft' thoughts, and I would LOVE your feedback!
Thanks for listening.

*And because everyone likes a picture with a post, here's a shot I took of Adam last night.
I'm utterly in love with this man... he makes everything in my life better.

2:23am

Because it's 2:23am and I'm up editing... I get to share.

And this is what the sky looked like as I took this shoot...

...not a lick of editing on this picture!..this is 100% God-colored!

good day...now I must be off for my beauty rest. *wink*

Good Morning!

I've been waking to this image each morning on my computer screen...

It just makes me happy.

So, I thought I would pass it along...

Happy Sunday!

Quick Tip: Ice-box Menu

I saw this idea in a parenting magazine: to use the ice box in the freezer to list 'menu items'.

I thought it was the greatest...

So now we're using it in our home!

It's pretty self-explanitory. But for blog sake I will explain: I just write the main courses (usually meats) on the ice-box door in dry erase marker. I put tally marks on things we have multiples of, and mark them off as we use them. You could really write anything that would be helpful for you to remember: leftovers you have in there, whatever.

It's been nice to just look at the list instead of searching through that ridiculous 'bin' that holds all of the things that don't fit anywhere else...or fall out of everywhere else.

(don't act like you don't know 'the bin'!)

Let me know if you think this idea would be helpful at your home. If you adopt it, send a picture of what your home's interpretation of the 'Ice box Menu' looks like!

Happy time management!

*Photo Disclaimer: We have a 'galley-style' kitchen...(with very poor lighting!:)) I was nearly in the sink trying to get far enough away from the fridge, at a good angle, to get these pictures.

Donuts: part two

This is really a cheat of a blog post...but I promised a 'part two', so I'm staying true to my word!

I was feeling super sick yesterday, but we had dinner plans, and I made a promise to the mother of three of the cutest little red-head boys (two of three pictured below),

that I would bring homemade donuts.

(quick tip: never promise a 'classic' (ie. donuts) on try #1!)

(disclaimer:...not an official 'Quick Tip' *wink*)

So as I went back and forth as to whether or not I felt well enough to go to dinner, I searched for two round things the appropriate sizes for donuts.

(I ended up using a large glass and a lid to some vanilla. Genius or ill-prepared? I'm not sure!)

I fried those bad boys up, tossed them in a (non-measured) bowl of sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon, and we hit the road.

(I did go to dinner...and it was lovely!)

And, I must say, they were surprisingly good for sitting in tupperware for two hours.

I'm excited to eat them next time, straight from the stove top!

Sorry, it totally slipped my mind to get a picture of the donuts all 'dressed up'.

*This picture was taken over the summer when said red-headed boys came over to play

Midday Visit

Earlier this week, we had a visit from baby Landon and his mamma, Danni... it was such a lovely break in our week!

I often wonder what Atticus will be like around a baby, and although I was a nervous wreck every time he went near Landon with a toy in hand, he did rather well. He patted his back as Danni was burping him, and even 'Shh-ed' me a few times (no, Landon wasn't sleeping;)). I must put a disclaimer out there that Landon might actually be the perfect baby, rarely making a sound and laughing at everything Atticus did (even the things that made me jump from my seat). But either way, it was really fun to see them interacting, and it is exciting to think about what great friends they will be when their one-year age difference is irrelevant.

Now, although Landon is fun, Danni was the highlight of my afternoon. She is such a faithful friend to me, and is an encouragement every time I'm around her. Our time together has been much more sparse this past year than either of us had imagined, but there's grace in our friendship, which is a glorious thing.

I'm just so thankful for good, God-fearing friends...It seems that God knows just what he's doing in the way of friendships in my life (imagine that!)...I should really consider letting go and trusting Him in this area, and just enjoying all of the people that come in and out of my life...whatever their 'purpose' at that season..

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

I couldn't resist photographing these 'baby blues'!!

Weekend Wedding

My cousin and his lovely (now) wife had a beautiful wedding this past weekend.

I was not their photographer, (in fact, I felt it my job to NOT take many pictures and to NOT get in the way) but I wanted to post a couple fun images I snapped from their day...

They're 'motorcycle people'!

Lots of fun details...

This picture makes me laugh...my niece, Ava is such a delicate little flower girl *wink*...

Who can resist a toddler in suspenders?

(I didn't end up using a flash, but this picture's lighting turned out so enticing...

surprisingly, just what I wanted! It's fun learning.)

Owen (the groom's nephew and the ring bearer) was so adorable in this little Converses! I loved this family shot of the brother of the groom and his family.

Paul & Rachel, we love you and are SO happy for you!

**pictures are watermarked for copyright purposes only, these pictures were taken by 'Cousin Julia' NOT 'Julia's Focus Photography' *wink*

Donuts: part one

My friend Megan posted a recipe for Buttermilk Donuts last week on her blog and it made me crave some fall sweetness. I remember, as a child, going over to a relative's house and making donuts... it was a lovely fall tradition and it made me want that for Atticus, and for my niece and nephews (and, secretly, I know that donut making will automatically give me the spot of the 'cool Aunt' *wink*).

So Atticus and I got to trying out making donuts...

we only got the dough made today...

things take a bit longer when a 16 month-old is part of the process...

I'll post a 'part two' (hopefully tomorrow) when we get them fried up!

Quick Tip: Intro

So, I read a lot.

I read a lot of blogs, magazines, websites, you name it, I read it...when I find the time. *wink*

So, as I conversed with a BFF, and told her something I had been doing to save time, it hit me: I've collected all of these 'tips' from different places, and I should share them more freely. So, here goes.. I'm going to start a little 'segment' of my blog dedicated to 'Quick Tips'...and it will be called just that. I'll share all sorts of things... some cooking related, some cleaning related, some organizational...just whatever.

Now, let me be the first to say (SHOUT!) that I'm not a great housekeeper. I'm not great at a lot of things that are in my job description as SAHM (stay-at-home-mom)/ Homemaker. BUT, I think I'm continually getting better at it due to tips I stumble on along the way. So, if you have a great tip...please share! I'm always looking to learn!!!

Quick Tip:

About once a week, I put a whole chicken in the Crockpot. Either in the AM, and leave it all day, or I will put in in before I go to bed, and leave it overnight. You could season it all sorts of ways, but I usually put a couple cups of water, and some salt and pepper in there...maybe a bullion cube, and let 'er go! I put that baby in there frozen, to minimize the 'steps' then when she's all cooked up, I will just piece off the chicken (then freeze, make casserole's, whatever). We will often have 3-4 meals off of one (little) bird. These things are so cheap ($3-4), it seems wrong to get so many meals from it! Aaand, if you're up for it, you can also freeze the stock, and use it for soups, other chicken meals, gravy, whatever. Now, let me say that the chicken 'taking apart' is no fun! It can take about 15-20 minutes, and it's a little gross, but it's worth it in the end (I think).

Here's a look at my bird of the day (it makes the house smell all yummy, too):

If you have a 'Quick Tip' to contribute, please leave a comment! I will get in touch with you and I will link your blog here also! Thanks!:)

A Birthday Miracle..

So, I have neglected to give my husband props for the 'Birthday Miracle' he pulled off.

Let me preface with: my husband is a constantly wonderful husband! He's loving, patient, selfless...but *not* a gift giver! This has been something I've harped on through our marriage (like it was my job).

But this year, Adam made it a priority to make me feel special the entire week.

Here is the list of events:

Monday:

Woke me saying "happy birthday week" before he headed to work. (small but mighty;))

Tuesday:

He wrote on the bathroom mirror " happy 2 days until your birthday, I love you!"

Surprised me for a dinner at the Cheesecake factory (my birthday favorite) and had my mom keep Atticus overnight so I could sleep in and have a morning to myself.

Wednesday: (Lunch & pedicure with my mom) Adam cooked 'snack dinner' and we relaxed:)

Thursday (my actual birthday): (lunch with my sister) Arranged for our dear friends to bring over yummy Greek food for dinner...and gave me the greatest little gift!

This is, in fact, a birthday miracle! I anticipate years to come of great birthdays:)

I just wanted to post a couple of pictures of my new necklace, which I just adore.

(Each of the 'discs' is a magnetic top which makes it really like 4 different necklaces..it's from the cutest little Etsy shop , Polarity)

Thanks, AKT, for the best birthday week ever;)

I Love, love LOVE you!