My Life
I've been learning alot of good lessons lately about how to do this thing called 'life'. Working hard and resting well. Finding a healthy rhythm to living. Loving the person in front of me. Being present. But if I could sum up the aspirations for the rest of my existence, in one word... I hope to be 'VITAL'. I hope to be vital to my very last bushy-tailed breath!
I turned 35 today. I guess birthdays are a good time to celebrate and reflect. Looking back over the last 12 months I would say I have been experiencing a kind of 'kid life' crisis. It's like standing at the threshold of the next version of myself, not knowing what that version is meant to look like. In the last year I.....joined a gym (and consequently found my collar bones again), realised most of my friends are between 5-15 years younger than me, got a fake tan and went clubbing, bought skinny jeans and converse shoes, and invested in expensive eye cream. But I also... got SUPER excited about getting a proper grown up watch and about systemising my plastic containers drawer, was the crazy parent on the sidelines of every one of my kids school events, dreamt more about sleeping than I actually slept, dished out relationship advice, parenting advice, endless dinners, hugs and band aids.
The big questions is, 'How do I value the impact of 35 years on a body and mind, while still holding fast to a youthful heart?' My hope for 2017 is to OWN my age! Not to be a 35 trying to be 25, or a 35 resigned to acting 45. But to be a bold and beautiful 35, living a vibrantly mature life.
Scrunch each of those toes...
feel every minuscule grain of sand.
The warm, salty wind blows;
time whips through each hand.
The sun will keep count…
leave another freckled kiss.
For each trial to surmount,
there will be a taste of bliss.
So let that long hair down.
Close those hope filled, heavy eyes.
Waves crash…retreat; hear each sound.
Let only the imagination comprise.
- Amanda Martinez
If you are a mum in business (like me) and are keen to help people find you on Google, then I reckon you should come along with me to this FREE workshop! I've been to another one of these, and it was well worth the time!
PERTH MUMTREPRENEURS - SATURDAY 27 FEB, 9.30AM-11.30AM, BELMONT
For our February workshop we are excited to deliver some practical advice and tips on blogging. In this time we will also work on writing an actual blog for your business!
We'll be looking at a range of characteristics of effective blogging as well as making sure you optimise your blogging from a SEO (search engine optimisation) perspective.
Follow this link for more details and to register.
I love how photos are still. They take away the sound, the distractions that surround and let you contemplate the beauty in a person. To notice how they have changed, how precious they are. This is my eldest, my Eden Rose. How beautiful she is.
Joshua and I have been married ten years today! After 3650 sunsets, 20 overseas trips, 4 renovations, 1 relocation and 4 children, he is still the amazing man I married. A little older, a little kinder, a little less hair and a lot more wisdom. He is like good red wine, gaining depth and quality with the passing of time.
But what about me? Four pregnancies later, I have given alot of time to worrying about how my shape has changed, but I think the better question at this nostalgic moment in life is, have I maintained my quality? Am I still interested in the world, invested in my husbands dreams, fascinated by new ideas, eager to learn, expressive in what I wear, opinionated? Do I remember how to have fun, do I know what floats my boat, do I laugh? Am I a secure partner and an inspirational mother?
Reading it on paper, it sounds so self-centred, but...... my husband fell in love with a woman, a beautiful, bossy, crazy, compassionate woman, and if she gets lost along the way, then we all lose. So I'm going to rally myself today... I'm gonna shave my legs, put on the red lipstick, reject the nanna undies and boldly be the me he married!
One of my favourite moments from our trip to Medan, Indonesia earlier this month...This little boy from Living Waters orphanage, was enthusiastically watching my husband (who is a cabinet maker) and the team, building computer desks as part of a project by Loving On Indo which is creating IT labs (including 135 computers) in local kindergartens, a drug rehab, and a primary and secondary school. I love the moment when he realised he could help! I think we all love those moments. When we can find our place in something bigger than ourselves!!!
So here's to the modern day heroes... the foundations of our society and the fathers of our families. The noble and the gentle men, who battle traffic and tedium, emotions and exhaustion, bills and bank balances, mowers and wheelie bins, tantrums and tickles, to raise our children in safety and in love. There is a song that's going around and it says it all, 'You're a good good Father, that's who you are...and I'm loved by you, that's who I am'. Thank you mighty men, and faithful fathers, we are so incredibly grateful for you.
If you are wondering why there has been a lull in activity on the blog, allow me to introduce you to my fourth little bundle of joy... Zyah Stephen Pretorius! He arrived 2 weeks early, weighing in at nearly 10 pounds. We are all delighted he has arrived, but judging by some of the photos, he is not so sure!
The context: It was a busy Saturday morning, and my second daughter Calli Lou was about to go on her first big girl date with Daddy! The house was in chaos, I had a whinging baby attached to my hip and my 4 year old was singing Frozen so loudly I'm sure they could hear it in the Arctic. But I REALLY wanted to capture this precious moment. So I took 5 minutes out.
Here are five tips if you want to get fantastic family photos (in a rush):
1) SET THE SCENE BUT KEEP IT SIMPLE
Adding one or two items for texture and interest can really bring your photos to life, but use what is at hand. We used some old crates and flowers from our garden.
2) GET THE LIGHT RIGHT
For the most part, you want to find a place around the house where the light that is hitting the subjects face is the same intensity as the light that is hitting their background. Having said that, have a play with placing your subject in front of the sun and shooting towards it.
3) LET THEM PLAY
Don't waste your time trying to get them to look at the camera and smile. Rather give them something to do, and talk to them as they are enjoying it. I guarantee the expressions will be much more real and beautiful, and the photos will have great flow (if you want to frame several similar ones together).
4) GET MOVING
Try all sorts of angles. Two of my favourites are getting the camera right down low on the ground, and then directly above the subject (like an aerial view). It totally changes the feel of the photos.
5) GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Don't be afraid to get really close to the subject, and to focus in on a single feature (like freckles on a nose, or eyelashes). Set your f-stop at 4 or below and experiment. The results make you feel like you are right in the moment.
And I know it's corny, but have fun as you do it. The photos ALWAYS turn out better if you enjoy yourself. xxx Anna
