We’re officially back! I have missed doing the Thread over the past month or so and feel like things are really back to normal now (‘normal’ being completely subjective of course). It seems like the holidays rushed right in and in the blink of an eye, they’re far behind us. Another year, full of new goals and exciting growth for this little business of mine 🙂 So let’s get to it!
1. CDP News. Things are usually a little quiet coming off of the holiday season, but not this year! I don’t think we ever skipped a beat moving right on into 2014, already having completed two sessions, editing the remaining sessions from December (mother nature forced us to reschedule several shoots due to all that rain we were getting!), and having TWO workshops organized. That’s right, two! We had such an amazing showing of interest in the February CDP workshop that we opened up a new date of March 22, and that one is nearly completely booked as well! I believe we have one spot available, so please contact me if you would like to join. It is going to be such a fun time, full of camera talk, hands-on opportunities, and of course treats and eats from some of the best vendors around — I really can not wait 🙂 In addition to all of the above mentioned craziness, sessions are in full swing already and we are booking into the late spring, so get on the calendar as soon as ya can! Especially seniors….graduation is coming way too fast (right, parents?) and June will be here before you know it.
2. CO-OPportunity. Troy and I have always been particular about the kind of food we purchase when grocery shopping, especially since I have been making all of Bree’s baby food (and after reading Eating Animals some years ago). Some may call us high-maintenance, but I love being in control of what we eat at home and what I’m putting into my little one’s little body. It has proven to be quite easy for us to buy organic/local/sustainable foods too; it requires a bit more planning and budgeting, but it’s the norm for us now. The main downside though? This type of shopping usually requires many stops at several different stores or farmers markets to collect all of the items that are on our grocery list. You can imagine how challenging (and sometimes stressful) that can be while toting a small baby (who is on the move, teething, and interested in touching everything). Needless to say, we could use some help in that area. Then a few weeks ago, I discovered what I hoped would be the solution to our little issue: joining a food co-op. A food co-op (at least the ones we looked into) is an organization that collects fresh, sustainable and organic foods from local farmers and artisans and provides you with a box/package of the items that you select (based on what’s in season). The best part: it’s all gathered for you and assembled in one place. No more running around town, no more questions about what may be in stock, and certainly no question of freshness and quality. It’s all done for you! I researched a few in the area and we decided on one called Farmhouse Delivery. The major selling point: they deliver to our front door. Ummmm, yes, please! Where have you been all my life!?!? Farmhouse Delivery allows us to receive a ‘bushel’ with a  “carefully curated selection of the best organic food that your community has to offer – along with recipes, cooking tips, and storage advice to ensure that nothing goes to waste.” And, you can even add items to your bushel, like cheese, farm-fresh eggs, and common pantry items to make it a true one-stop kind of shop. Our first bushel arrives Saturday and we are beyond excited — for the convenience factor of course, but also to be able to support local farmers and to try new foods that we may not buy otherwise. Will let you know how it goes!!
3. Dressing Festive. There’s something about having a kid that makes the holidays — every last one of them — the perfect excuse for partaking in cute crafts, cooking something themed, and playing dress up. Bree has had a pre-planned outfit for nearly every major holiday since her birth in June, and we sure aren’t stopping now! I am obsessed with the idea of decking her out in all things red and pink for Valentine’s Day (like this dress or these jammies), and have already started imagining what she will wear for her first Easter and her first birthday (oh my!). It must be a girl thing — girls who have girl babies. I just can’t get enough. Baby Gap and stores aren’t doing much to help me either 🙂  And as if dressing her up wasn’t enough, I have found myself dreaming up a few themed shoots for photographing Bree in all of her festive cuteness. I am not big into studio photography or elaborate props and setups, but the idea of what we can create is just way too exciting! Oh the possibilities… I only hope that my need to dress her up now doesn’t create a complex in her later, one where she hates all things girly or the least bit themed. Surely not….right?? Right. 🙂
4. Remodel. We were bit by the ‘let’s buy a new house’ bug. Troy would probably say that it’s mostly me (truth) and it’s more than a bug, it’s a full-blown attack on my common sense (also truth) and a threat to our finances (don’t worry, Mom; no irrational spending will ensue). Unfortunately, most of the city (and state for that matter) has also been bit by this crazed bug, thus making the market for home buyers insanely competitive and seemingly hopeless, unless of course you have extra money laying around for that hefty over-asking-price chunk of dough you’ll likely have to pay on top of an already high asking price. Wah wah wahhhh. So after a lot of thinking, talking, HAR-browsing, market researching, and talking some more, we have decided to stay put for now. The whole reason we (I) wanted to move is because since having Bree, our nice-sized house has suddenly shrunk thanks to all of the baby gear one accumulates upon becoming a parent. We have a major need for storage and space, and our current home just ain’t cuttin’ it, y’all. Or so we thought. A harsh reality check by way of HAR forced us to consider other, more creative options if we wanted to stay in our current home, and that’s where remodeling comes into play! I use that term loosely though, because we aren’t ripping out walls, adding rooms, or rewiring the kitchen. Our list includes a few smaller (and one or two medium) changes that will help give our home a facelift and allow us to live comfortably for a few more years, or until the market calms down a bit. Ya, like that’s gonna happen. I document everything via Instagram, many of you know that 🙂 so I will definitely share our home improvements with y’all. Stay tuned! This could be a really exciting thing, or…. well, let’s just stay positive 🙂
5. Thread Tunes. I have a few songs that have been on constant rotation in my car lately, and since this is the first Thread of 2014, I figured I can list more than one tune for ya this week to kick things off. First up, Who You Love by John Mayer and Katy Perry. I am kind of obsessed with this song; it’s soooo stinkin’ sweet. Watching the video makes my heart all warm and tingly 🙂 The other tunes I’m blasting are Ellie Goulding’s Burn and Light it Up by OneRepublic. Both are great songs to get you movin’ and groovin’ 🙂
6. Sneak Peek. I will have lots to share with you guys starting next week, so until then, here’s a little peek at what’s about to hit the blog:
Happy happy Thursday, folks!
