thinking ahead...

i do have a vision, but i have to admit, that i don't always have the mindset to plan for things that are months ahead. i've found that in business(and otherwise), it's essential to think and plan ahead, as long as i can be flexible if things don't go exactly as planned. so, this weekend, i tried to at least get things lined up in my mind. they're not all on paper yet, but it's coming. that's my goal for this week. i've turned in photos and creations with deadlines, and now i need to focus on my plan for the loft and photography for the next couple of months. here are some of my ideas....

1. a second beginner's photography workshop. the first one went very well, and there seems to be much interest in another (from folks who couldn't make the first one)
2. a mini book class at the loft. i've been working on the final project, and i'm very excited to finally do this!

3. a more intermediate photography workshop. i had grand ideas for this one initially, so i'll have to get a lot of details pulled together to have it work out in the way i visualize it.

4. mini photography sessions. i've had a lot of clients indicate interest in this. i think it would be a great way to give new clients a taste of what my style of photography is, and according to my current clients, it would supplement their once a year full out family shoots with little ones who change a ton in a year's time. so my thought is, to offer 1/2 hour sessions at the loft for a lower sitting fee rate, and i would get to spend the day at the loft, doing what i love to do, all day!

5. this one isn't for the loft, but i really want to restock my etsy shop after almost a year! i have ideas : )

so those are a few ideas i'm trying to pull together. i hope to have definite dates and details by the end of the week. i'm going to CA at the end of the week for CHA (the craft and hobby association's winter show) i'm looking forward to it so much! can't wait to see friends, new products, and enjoy some warmer weather! such a nice break from the frigidity around here.

update on my spending cutdown goal for this year. i've done really well ( i know it's only january 19...babysteps!), but i caved a little on saturday. tom and i had a really nice day...we shared a delicious greek salad at king kong's (one of our faves) and did a little shopping, followed by seeing a really lame movie(which i'm almost embarassed to admit that we saw....DUMB show!) so, while we were shopping, i drug tom in z gallerie to show him a lamp i had seen the week before (but didn't purchase by sheer willpower!). it was marked down by 25% the week before. so we were looking at it, and a salesperson walked over and asked if we knew there was another 10% off everything in the store! with the discount, it was as affordable as a lot of the lamps at target. (i'm a justifier when i shop) tom is normally my voice of reason, and he actually thought it was a decent buy. 

i have wanted to replace the floor lamp with a table lamp for a long time...i actually moved the floor lamp to the living room, where we desperately needed more light (desperate might be a little strong) anyway, i have no regrets. my main goal with the cutting back on spending was to stop buying without a lot of thought.

crummy photo. it's super gloomy today.

another 09 goal update. i worked out 3 days in a row last week. the only bad thing is, those are the only days i worked out. still, i'm not discouraged. i've been trying to really get refocused and figuring out what i need to be spending my time doing. and not forcing myself to do things through guilt alone.

and since it is martin luther king jr day...here are a couple of my favorite mlk quotes:

If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values - that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

end of quotes. lots of food for thought.

God bless  your day.

Comments

[lisa truesdell]

i LOVE that lamp. love. definitely a perfect buy!!

[susan weinroth]

oh becky... i love love LOVE the lamp and also your quote on the wall... seriously what i needed to read today :)

[melanie]

love the lamp - so pretty!

[Bree]

excited to hear about the advanced classes! looking forward to hearing more!

[Kara Ward]

I want to take a class so bad. I need to just take the drive up one weekend. The new year has brought many good thoughts and a delicious lamp your way. Your home looks so lovely. Happy New Year! Kara

[kris]

thanks for the quotes. I had the day off from work today and never stopped to reflect on why. the quotes you added made me stop for a moment and reflect. thank you.

[Tina]

I'm so sad to not be going to CHA this time. Too many other things have come up. It's really hurting me :)