Day 32 | Perfect Moment

Prompt: Tell me about a 'perfect moment' you have experienced. Where were you, who was there, what happened, how did you feel? How does it feel remembering this moment?

Stephanie | When I was in 5th grade my teacher sent me a postcard from her whale watching trip, I had no idea such a thing existed, I thought that was so cool. From that point on I had fantasized about going on my own trip. For my 30th birthday my friend took me on a whale watching tour. It was such an amazing experience, one I will never forget. Everything just lined up perfectly for our trip. We drove up to2.5 hours to Anacortes WA to the tour location. Usually a tour will see either a Humpback or Orca pod. We saw both pods plus a group of Dalls Porpoises that jumped the bow, it was incredible!! They were so close you could probably reach out and touch them if you wanted. I was so giddy, it was so amazing! They were so playful. I will cherish this memory for ever and am so thankful for my friend who made it all possible and shared this amazing day with me.

Annetta | My perfect moments are spent with my best friend. We love going to new places and exploring them. When I am with him I am at my happiest. For our 5th anniversary he took us to Santa Barbara & it was just him and I for four beautiful days, the perfect moments! Our anniversary trips are some of my favorite moments and the most perfect moments spent. They are romantic, adventurous, beautiful & full of so much love and memories. I love being a mom, but my kids will grow up & leave. My best friend stays with me through life!

Day 31 | Mail Day

Prompt: Share what you received in the mail from Mail Call day.

Stephanie | I received so many pretty images from my lovely friend. I am very excited to add these goodies to my walls and accent them in my photographs.

Annetta | My lovely friend knows just what to give me and how to make me smile! I am in love with my super sweet cross stitch heart! So blessed by my friendship with Stephanie as she is really one of the kindest and most giving person I know. Like this cross stitch heart shows, she goes out of her way to be a good friend and love on those around her!

Day 30 | Five Dollars

Prompt: Think of 5 different ways you could treat yourself by spending less than $5. Action: Do one of them this week.

Stephanie | Some ideas on how I can treat myself for only $5: buy my favorite iced coffee, buy a new color nail polish and paint my nails, find clearance fabric at Jo-Ann's and sew a small project, take funny pictures in a mall photobooth, find a creative book at a discount store. 

Annetta | Once I sat down to write I realized how many things I can do for myself for just $5, it just required time which can be harder to find. I've learned the art of treating myself many years ago and is something I practice on a regular basis as it helps me be better. So here are my five:
1. Second hand novel
2. Redbox movie night
3. Coffee & a walk in the park
4. Buy candy at the mall
5. Get flowers for myself

Day 29 | Creative Day

Prompt: What's your inspiration?

*Both Stephanie and I are professional photographers outside of this creative project. Today Stephanie will not be joining me in the prompt as she has a birth to photograph. Instead we have created a few printables for your own journals or inspiration walls.  Please visit DOWNLOADS.

Annetta | Inspiration is another form of being a light to the world. Matthew 5:14

Day 28 | Song

Prompt: Pick a song, a favorite or completely at random and use a line of lyrics as a title of a short story. Write about whatever the lyrics bring to mind.

*We changed to: pick a song that has meaning to us and share in an artistic way*

Stephanie | Set Me As A Seal. I absolutely love this song. I had never heard of it until I was in my high school choir. Once you reached chamber choir level you were allowed to sing it. Not only is this a beautiful song, it reminds me of being in choir. Its the only place where I felt apart of something. I was an outsider, but we all have to be 'one' when we sang. I had my place and I belonged regardless of my social standing out side that room. Choir literally saved my life, I would not be here today is I hadn't been in this class. It was my happy place in my dark and depressed life. During that 90 minute class all of my troubles vanished and I could ,make beautiful music with others. I am so thankful I decided to take choir in high school and all the opportunities that came with it.

Annetta | The song that I chose was 'Happy' by Secrets in Stereo. Before getting to this project I was working on my sons birthday video. For that video and the song that fits our life I picked 'Happy'. We generally do not have happy moments and today was a great day to prove that, but instead we choose to be happy. I also am at my happiest when I'm with my family.

Day 27 | Improve A Relationship

Prompt:  I would like to improve my relationship with (blank) because.... What are the main problems? What solutions can you think of? What are some good points to the relationship? For example at the worst, this relationship may have taught you about how not to treat other people. What would the benefits of this relationship working better be?

 

Stephanie | The relationship I wish I could improve on is with my sister. The problem is this odd and unnecessary feud my mom has put our family in. Since my sister is only 13 and still lives at home with our mom its difficult to have a relationship with her right now. Long story short my sister is still at an age where she is easily influenced to believe things that are not true about me and I am not able to defend myself. It's a loose-loose situation right now, and until she is 18 and able to see things they way they really are and think for herself, there is nothing I can do to mend things. I really miss my sister and love her very much! It kills me that we are losing this time together. I really wish things were different and our relationship wasn't affected by our moms choices and grudges.

Annetta | This may sound silly, but I would love to improve my friendship with my Instagram friends! I've met so many amazing & talented people that I would love to get to know better. I've been trying to keep up with my own family & friends so it's defiantly a goal of mine to broaden my horizons with new friendships & really get to know the people I've started meeting through Instagram. Some days it feels like there isn't enough time to focus on family, work, friendships, house stuff and still reach out to those that I've love to through social media. I now see how balance comes in days in not hours. Every day should have its own task, which includes making time for new friends. 

Day 26 | Karma

Prompt: If all the karma you have earned in your life so far came back around to you today, do you think it would be good or bad? Why? If good, how would you like to be rewarded? If bad, how do you think you could improve it from today onwards?

Annetta | I personally do not believe in karma. I believe in reaping what you sow, but I also believe in forgiveness & consequences to our actions. I guess my parents never taught me about karma. I learned that from watching tv & school. I try to be kind to people, but I'm sure Iv'e hurt some along the way, we all have. The seed that we sow will produce fruit in its own kind. I generally focus on sowing good seed with love & kindness.

Stephanie | I believe what goes around comes around. If you do good, good things will come to you. If you do bad, then bad things come.  I believe I am a good person. I don't intentionally do things to harm others. I do good and I am good. I don't fear karma.  "How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours" -Wayne W. Dyer

Day 25 | Photography Prompt

Action | Choose one of the photography prompts & report back to your journal with your favorite photograph.

Annetta | Shadows: While I was capturing my beautiful shadows in the living room, the sun was quickly slipping aways into a painted sunset of yellow & orange.

Stephanie | Landscape: Landscape photography is one of my favorites. Its what inspired me to become a photographer in the first place. To capture the true beauty in the world.

Day 24 | I Am Awesome

Prompt: At the top of the page write 'I am awesome because...' or 'I am wonderful because...'  Now write a list dedicated to the awesomeness of you. All of your achievements, successes, talents, skills, quirky interests, qualifications, best experiences & proudest moments. Big and small in to particular order just write them down. Going right back to when you were a child.

 

Stephanie | (Some of mine were submitted to me by friends) I am awesome because..... I made the Deans list and the Presidents list my first 2 semesters in college, because I sing loud and off key in the car with my girls, because of my friends, because I am passionate about what I believe in, because I protect those I care about, because I give good advice, because of my laugh, because I am creative, because I love owls, because I am nice and caring, because I am supportive, because of my sense of humor, because I was the first in my family to graduate High School, because of my drunken dance moves, because I am a good listener, because I am compassionate, because I had a c-section and a completely natural labor, because of my odd love for office supplies, because I believe in doing the right thing, because I am a big dork, because of my friendship-trustworthy and respectful, because I laugh the loudest in the movie theater (usually at all the dumb stuff), because my love of the Beatles, because my kids love me, because I was not a teenage mother, because I am a great wife, because I make the best potato salad and spaghetti, because I have a calming presence, because I have an awesome attitude, because of my design skills, because I laugh at my own corny jokes, because I make awesome powerpoint presentations, because of my family, because I love barns, because I think of others, because of my love for my husband, because of my kids, because I am talented, because I can make my kids laugh.

Annetta | I am awesome because…
… I am doing it! The one thing I've dreamt of for years & was never qualified to do I've done. I've been in magazines.
… I have God in my life & He is the point of it all!
… I am a mommy & successful career woman without making my son feel neglected.
… I cook dinner, clean the house, do laundry, play with my son, spend time with my husband, post blog posts, shoot for magazines, & still find time for a nap or cross-stitching and that's just a few things I've listed.
… I am alive after doing a natural birth followed by a c-section plus was still able to breastfeed after not meeting my son until two days after he was born.
… I love myself & think myself beautiful & talented, minus spelling & grammar.
… I graduated high school when I was told I wouldn't or couldn't.
… I love pretty & beautiful things.
… I am a loud & corky kind of girl that can talk too much, scare people with my strong happy personality or I can be a complete clam in big crowds.
… I was the best auntie to my nephew's at the time.
… I hurt for people & feel their pain.
… I'm a fighter & can become a work-a-holic if need be.
… I am debt free thanks to my handsome & awesome husband.
… I married the man I knew was my husband years before he even asked (long story).
… I am me & am loving who I have grown into these past five years since marriage! 

Day 23 | Sense of Sight

Prompt: I am grateful for my sense of sight because....

Annetta | It's a gift! It's not something everyone is entitled to. My sense of sight is something I cannot take for granted as I use it so much! I am grateful because I've been blessed with sight & an eye for beauty. It helps me see beauty where most people won't look. I GET to see things therefore I experience things. It's a gift I do not take lightly & give thanks for. I use my sight for my photography, to make colorful and delicious meals for my family, I use it for my watercolors and to see the beauty that God has given to us, that's just a few things.

Stephanie | I am a very visual person. I have to see  what I am doing, where I am going. I remember things based on how they look, photographic memory. I remember directions based on the surroundings, not the street names. I certainly wouldn't make a very good photographer if I didn't have my sight! I am the type of person who needs to see where I am going when driving, I am always looking out the window, I'll have an anxiety attack if I can't see my surroundings. I don't like being blindfolded or driving in the dark. Anytime my vision is compromised I become very uncomfortable. I would not make a good blind person at all. I am so very grateful that I have my vision, I would rather loose all other senses before loosing my sight. 

 

Day 22 | Best Advice

Prompt: What is some of the best advice you have ever received?

Stephanie | My best advice "Don't compare yourself to others". This sounds a little cliche I know, but this piece of advise was exactly what I needed to hear at the time and was a complete game changer for me. I was at a place where I felt everyone else was great at photography/crafting/blogging/writing/etc, they were just so perfect. They had or gained so many new followers and comments, and I was not. I couldn't figure out why others were being successful at the things I wanted and I was not. I felt very defeated and not good enough. 

It finally clicked when my lovely friend told me not to compare myself to anyone else because everyone is at their own place on their journey. The road to being successful is a journey you take on your own, on your own path, with your own pit stops and detours.  You can only compare yourself to who you once were. Your growth doesn't come from the accomplishments of someone else. 

I felt so free once I stopped comparing myself to others and decided to accept where I was on my journey and work towards my goals. I have dealt with a few things the last couple years that prevented me from growing my business as quickly as I had wanted, but those are things I have to work through. Everyone has their own obstacles to overcome, you just don't always see them. It can appear that others have it so easy, they have a perfect life, and it all just works for them, but that just isn't true. It was a great feeling when I really understood that. Since then I've noticed that I am more excited for others accomplishments and success now, It doesn't feel like a race to me anymore.

Annetta | Someone once told me, "There will be criticism that comes your way… as they come I saw the words (like written words on a page) coming at your heart. The words bounced back as if your heart were of rubber. Your images are not meant to be perfect. Don't allow others to tell you they aren't good enough. What others call flaws, I call character. Perfection is only found in Jesus, so you must choose to let them bounce & not penetrate." The best advise I got was, "Choose to let criticism bounce off you & do not let it penetrate. Perfection is only found in Jesus." Not only was this a advise true and good it was also I who was the harshest critique of all and these words applied to me.

Day 21 | Pick A Quote

Prompt: Pick a quote you like and share it in an artistic way.    *Download available*

We picked "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" -Eleanor Roosevelt

Stephanie | I think this is such a beautiful quote, a great message for all the dreamers out there. I wanted to create something that others could also have to inspire them, in their journal or hanging on their walls, where ever they need that great reminder.

Annetta | Today has been a great day, but a scattered one. I ran from one project to the next leaving my page to reflect my emotions. Despite the chaos everything is put in its place, has a time & prioritized just as it should be. Eleanor's quote has been my favorite this month as it reflects my month beautifully.