live and learn

a clarification...

i've received quite a few comments and emails asking if the new site is replacing this one. as far as daily posts, yes, it will. but i will continue to keep "live and learn" up and running for the purpose of directing people to my new site and for photo galleries. at first i wasn't sure how i was going to go forward with this, but i think it will make things much easier to post daily postings in one place. so that place is right here: http://www.beckynovacekphotography.com/

just remember to scroll down past the introduction area for the new post. sorry for the confusion! i hope you will continue to check out what i'm up to! you have all been so supportive here and i don't want to lose the connection we've shared! 

thanks! 

it's official....

i have a new website!

beckynovacekphotography.com

check it out! 

thanks! 

simplicity...

i like the idea of having a less complicated life. i think i've made strides this winter. i'm more laidback and a little less driven. my family has noticed...and for me that's big. trying to savor the process of each day and be less rushed and pushing for "the next thing". life really can be more enjoyable if i take this approach. i know this, and yet there's so much i want to do every day. twice this week, i've lunched with friends and taken my time. it's been nice. i haven't even felt panicked when i realized the time. that is progress friends! it's already friday and i'm not freaked about what i didn't get to this week. just had to share this little milestone.

thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on aging gracefully! so fun to read all your thoughts. lorraine's comment put things in perspective. i thank God every day for my health. and i pray daily for loved ones who aren't in good health. my mom's car accident years ago was the most paradigm changing event of my life, as far as mortality and health issues. i think we all have wake up calls in this regard. since i mentioned my mom, i want to thank you all again for your prayers. she is doing well, still experiencing very few symptoms. she had fluid removed from her chest last week, but she has bounced back from that very well.

last week, i took grey's 6 month photos, right on his 6 month birthday. i love this shot so much.

i love it so much that i already have it framed and on the wall!

 

this one is sweet too-

 

my obsession with baby toes has not subsided!

i finally photographed a couple of layouts i've been working on,  in the few nights that i've made it up to my studio-

i adore jenni bowlin. both her personally, and her products! i'm having fun playing with her new stuff!

   aren't the chair stamps fun? they were designed by my friend denise for my friend kl's kit club kenner road. i love it! not sure if they are available?

i had such good intentions to do a project a month around the house....but it just didn't happen in february. i have continued to sort through and purge throughout the house, so i suppose i could cheat and say that i've done that! i went through the island in the kitchen (which has 4 junk drawers!) and i've done a bit more in the basement, but that's about it. i have spent a good deal of time working on website stuff. i'm a little discouraged about it right now, because i was customizing it even further last night and messed something up royally. i'm working with tech support right now to try to get it fixed up. i am not a techy! but i am really excited about having it up and running! i'll keep you posted! 

here's a quote from "purpose driven life" that fits in well with the changes i'm trying to make:

"when our schedules become overloaded, we start skimming relationally, cutting back on giving the time, energy, and attention that loving relationships require. what's more important to God is displaced by what's urgent. 

busyness is a great enemy of relationships. we become preoccupied with making a living, doing our work, paying bills, and accomplishing goals as if these tasks are the point of life. they are not. the point of life is learning to love-God and people. life minus love equals zero." rick warren.

here's another quote from the book that i like:

"purpose-driven living leads to a simpler lifestyle and a saner schedule. the Bible says, "a pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life." it also leads to peace of mind: "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in You." rw

it's interesting to me, that our church is "full life church".

today is joshua payton, ( known as payton)'s birthday! he is 7 today! he is so tall and grown up. when he hugs me, he's almost up to my shoulders! we always compare our hands and feet in size and he has almost passed me up already! i love my little artist bud.

 

  happy birthday payton!

God bless each of you! have a great weekend!

another *b* list...

this one being inspired by a special issue of people magazine, that i glanced through while at the orthodontist's office a few weeks ago. i'm not writing this from a standpoint of a self appointed expert....i feel more like a pioneer among my friends. they are either much younger, or possibly less superficial than i, and don't really care! i just like to share what i've figured out works for me, as i enter each new season of life. i love reading when others share too...so don't hesitate to share your tips and secrets! i hate to beg for comments, but lately it's been a little sparse! maybe i'm just not posting things of interest? i see lots of people reading though!

*b* list of beauty as you age:

1. inner beauty is real. i know this is cliche, but that doesn't mean it's not so. since i have gotten into photography, i think this statement has become even more real and true for me. i can see this so much more clearly. it's difficult to photograph someone who is lacking inner beauty....their eyes tell the story. fortunately, i can only think of one experience that this was a real issue. typically, i seem to attract clients who have that inner beauty ; ) empty eyes, no matter how superficially beautiful the person seems, don't lie. your eyes truly are the windows to your soul. inner peace, joy and contentment show. if you really want to know how a person is doing, look them in the eye. i think that's why i find older women so fascinating to photograph....so many times, their wisdom, sparkle, and beauty are so apparent in their eyes. they are done playing games. it's real.
2. be ready to change things up. according to an article i skimmed in people, (and i believe it's true), as we hit each season of life, the things that worked when we were 20 (or whatever younger season), aren't necessarily going to work now. i've changed almost everything...from hairstyle to makeup to how i dress. i have seen many people get stuck in an era, when they felt their best, and they can't move on. you know, how the 80's were for some! time to move on!
3. less is more. i remember when i was in my 20s, reading about how, as women age, they should be wearing less makeup, not more. so true. more makeup, just accentuates what you don't want accentuated! recently, someone asked me if i wore eye makeup? at first, i was a little offended...but then, i thought, "maybe it's not such a bad thing, that they're asking?"
4. use makeup brushes. don't laugh. some women may need to read this! as we age, using a brush for foundation is really important. it covers our imperfections (wrinkles!) more efficiently and gives a more finished look.
5. don't skip skincare steps. cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturize. don't skip any of these steps! i mentioned in a blog post recently what a difference exfoliating has made in my aging skin....i use philosophy's microdelivery wash every morning and then aveda's face bar in the evening. the microdelivery wash has made a huge difference in my skin! huge! i used to peel and flake all the time (sorry if that is gross!) and now, my skin is much more smooth and clear. i also use 3 different moisturizers...one for my eye area, one around my lips and another overall. it takes seconds.
6. keep up your haircolor. that doesn't mean that i think everyone should color their hair. but if you do, keep it up. i've noticed the older i get, the more often this is needed. i feel so much better when i keep it up. when i was younger, i could get away with having it done much less often. now, it's much more priority.
7. facial hair. ha! a reality of getting older. be watchful and get rid of it! eek. also, i can't believe the difference it makes when i keep my brows under control. i just have them waxed every time i go to the salon for my hair. the way your brows *frame* your eyes, can make or break you! i never tweezed my brows when i was young. i thought brooke shields looked good, so why not me? ha! now i know how much better i look with nicely controlled brows.
8. nails. because of the work i do with paint, glue and paper, i don't get manicures. i should, but i don't. i do however, use my nail buffing block. it gives me shiny, smooth nails, even if they aren't polished. i do get regular pedicures in the summer. right now, i need one badly! ugh!
9. your undergarments. alright, i hesitate to mention this, yet again, but i have to! undergarments. you must make them a priority! a really great fitted bra is vital as you age! VITAL! if i sound superficial, i'm sorry, but this is important stuff for women to know! no one told me! not until i looked BAD! and if you are dressing in a form-fitting outfit, get yourself some spanx....and if they're too pricey, buy the knockoffs at target. 
10. don't feel guilty about taking a little time for yourself.  don't forget about you. if you are so busy taking care of everyone else and ignoring your own care, you will eventually end up either burned out, or resentful, or both. you will be a better, more beautiful person, if you take a little time to refresh yourself. take a walk, get a pedicure, spend time with friends who make you glad you're alive, read a book, whatever makes you feel refreshed!
11. remember your body is a temple. moderation being key here. eat right, get your rest, and get some exercise. it's not that i don't eat junk food. i do...i just don't exist on junk food. i eat a little here and there.
12. most important of all: live with grace, humility, a clear conscience, gratitude, purpose and joy. cheesy, whatever. i believe it to be truth. i mess up all the time, but if i don't have goals and ideals to live by, i will flounder. i know, because i used to live without these things. i thought that if i was striving, trying to be good enough(not believing in God's grace), faking it, looking for "things" that would fulfill me, but never did... i was a mess. being at peace with the Lord, living with purpose, according to biblical principles, based on God's saving grace has given me more worth and peace than i've ever had before...more depth too. as much as a person's outward appearance starts to decline, the importance of having some depth becomes even more apparent. i hope to age gracefully, so that i become better and not bitter. i want to have the depth that my gram had...and now i see in my mom and aunts. a beauty that is much more multi-faceted and true, than just what you see on the surface.

i'd love to know your thoughts and tips!

i do have some photos to share of a beautiful family! tom and i have known mike since he was in our church's youth group! look at him now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mike has done alright! they bought this cool, spacious log home on a gorgeous plot of ground in the country. so happy for them!

i think i've shared enough for one day! God bless each of you!

i feel it...

spring is around the corner. this morning, when i let sophie out, the air felt different. it feels and smells like spring. and the crocuses are up. the sun is out, and it's supposedly going to be warm out today! i'm not gonna lie, i'm more than ready for spring....and yet, i'm a little panicky, because i know with the spring weather, i won't be getting my indoor projects done, like i would if it was nasty outside. but to get the projects done, i need to be home!

it does feel good to be getting out of my bubble lately. i spent most of the day saturday slicing and dicing. we had a missions dinner at church saturday night. it was satisfying to spend a day with the ladies of our church in the kitchen. interestingly enough, everything really flowed...we all worked together pretty much seamlessly and i think the outcome was outstanding! i'm not patting myself on the back at all, it was pam and chelsea's brainchild. they planned a menu that incorporated international dishes with all-american dishes, and i think everyone enjoyed it. chilean missionaries, matt and kristi kling spoke, and i think they lit a fire in many of us. i have had the desire to go on a missions trip for many years....but it hasn't happened yet! they mentioned that once they are established there, they would love to have a group of us come down and help with a building project. i so want this to come about!

i also got to take some pics of our friend's dave and mary's son and daughter-in-law, dave and becca, who serve at washburn university. good people, just like dave and mary!

 sunday morning, a prison chaplain and his wife, (who also run a halfway house that is Christ-centered) spoke. holy cats, did he preach! it was so inspiring!!!! when the figures were put together on missions donations, our church tripled it's previous faith promises! so exciting!

i also did a family photoshoot this weekend-

 

 

 

 

 

and their beautiful mom-

 

with nine adults, it went really quick!

so, with it getting late, i'm not going to add a *b* list today. i'm still having issues with typepad freezing...so i may be going to a few small posts, rather than one long one. yesterday, i couldn't get in to correct spelling on my post...which is very frustrating! so please bear with me, as i figure out how to address this. i'm still working on a website solution, so i may be changing things up completely very soon.

God bless your day!

a busy day....

so this will be quick! i'm on my way out the door, to get my hair highlighted, etc.... and then off to a fun location photoshoot!

this morning, i noticed that this layout was up at fiskars:

 i love, love, love the upper crest border punch! i have to be carefull not to use it on every project!

no time for lunch today, so i'm grabbing a pear for the road. i am a big fan of pears. if you read my blog, you know that. we bought a bag at costco (a place i'm a big fan of). i could eat a pear every day.

 

have a great monday, and God bless!