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Stirring it UP | my life

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

“What the enemy meant for EVIL, God meant for Good.”

Today started out with my alarm clock going off at 5:20am and of course I hit snooze until 5:44am and then hop in the shower and get ready for work. Well as I was gathering up my things to leave for the day of work….I get a text! A text from my friend Velma that says, I just called work and they said you are working today, what? really? I never got a phone call to tell me that I was called off for the day. Hmm….

He has plans for me today

So I called and yup, they made a mistake and was to call me off. So up the stairs I go and tell my husband that now he can get up and go to work early. He doesn’t have to worry about the kids today unless I get called into work. Which this time of year, he is praying that I don’t :) So anyways, here is hoping that my day goes a bit better. But hey…I did get some things accomplished around the house so far…. the dishes, laundry, breakfast, picked up, now to dust, windex, vacuum, clean bathrooms, sweep the kitchen floor as well as mop it! Just a few things on my to do list today! And if I don’t get it all done….I will enlist my little army to help out when they get home from school :) haha….

I just wanted to say that today I am stirring it up! I am stirring up the gifts that God has given me! So I want you to look at what God has placed in your hands today. What door of opportunity is there before you? Take a leap of faith and stir it up!

“There is great confidence in knowing that God will take the very things that you are going through and turn them around for your good and for His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Live a life of excellence….

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My Vegas Trip | my life

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

“Kiss your life. Accept it, just as it is. Today. Now. So that those moments of happiness you’re waiting for don’t pass you by.”

I thought that I would share with you all my trip to Vegas this past summer. I thought that it might be appropriate since this week is WPPI in Vegas and a lot of my photographer friends are there soaking up lost of knowledge and cultivating their friendships. YES… I am jealous! And remember when I said that I was going to share with you all the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY! Well it is definitely fitting in this post and I will explain the details…

So we arrived to Vegas with my in-laws, and with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and it was great, except our room wasn’t ready! No big deal, just gamble some more, right? The second day is where it gets CRAZY! You see…we eat breakfast and then go out to the pool and hang out. I did get a frozen margarita, but then all of a sudden….I wasn’t feeling the greatest! I kept saying that my stomach hurt! I walked to the bathroom, peed, washed my hands….splashed lots of water on myself and then walked back to where our seats were, but my crew had gotten up and were ready to go back to our rooms. I was seeing spots/white haze. I told my husband that I wasn’t feeling well and that I felt like I was going to pass out as I leaned up against a pillar. And YUP you guessed it! I passed out….I mean I was out cold! Luckily my husband caught me and put me to the ground. The medics came. My brother-in-law says my husband was scared to death! When I came alert again, all I could say was that I kept hearing someone calling my name! My husband evidently was smacking my face and calling my name. Then I drank some water! Got to love that. So the medics thought that I was dehydrated from the desert sun/heat! AND to TOP it all off…MY HUSBAND says, we laugh at people that do this on the show Party at the Hard Rock! Thanks a lot right? So I went back to the hotel and took a bit of a nap! That day I will never forget, CRAZINESS!

The next day I got to meet a lovely photographer Memoree Barrett. She was there from Texas with her husband. So we met up for lunch. It was great to finally meet in person. Got to love that face to face connection!

So that is my Vegas trip in a nutshell and NO we did not come home with BIG winnings, just a great memorable story:)

Here is me before the incident!

And here is me after passing out!

 

Sweet Memoree Barrett

Brint and I out on the town

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Less is more | my life

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

“It is better to have less of what doesn’t matter and more of what does.”

So this past Sunday…

I got the chance to sit and watch some recorded sermons from The Church of the Highlands. And let me tell you…the two that I watched were phenomenal!

So today’s lesson this Valentine’s Day is that LESS can actually be more. You see…. YES in the beginning of my LOVE AFFAIR with Brint, he would shower me with lots of gifts and flowers, but today…not so much. He knows that less is more to me. I would rather spend the money on something else that matters…our home, children, cars, pool, vacations, etc. You get my point, right? We don’t buy each other gifts for holidays, because we would rather spend time together and that is what matters most!

“It is better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Eclesiastes 4:6 This quote from the Bible hit home to me on Sunday! Why do we live in a world that NEEDS more? And does MORE really matter in the end? Our time making our relationships on Earth here is what really matters the most. And spending that time with our family and friends is what really counts!!!

Ask yourself WHAT REALLY MATTERS MOST TO YOU?

You must LET GO of what really doesn’t matter. And FIGHT for what does matter!

You see I want to be that one handful person. So today I vow to change. I will cut back, turn off, and throw away the things that don’t really matter!

Here is what really matters most to me!

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Family Vacation | Thankful Thursday

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

“Whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children, and the one most important of all the things we can give to them is unconditional love. Not a love that depends on anything at all except that they are our children.” ~Rosaleen Dickson“

Today my daughter was sitting on my lap and wanted to see some pictures from our family vacation to Myrtle Beach this past summer. And it dawned on me that I have never blogged about our wonderful family trip. It was our first family trip that we drove anywhere. That in itself was an experience, but the kids enjoyed it and overall they were really good.

I remember being a child and driving to Georgia, Florida, and to Niles, Ohio many times. It is just something that as a child we all need to experience.

As we were driving though, my husband and I said….boy what did we used to do back in the day where there were only maps and no GPS to get us from point A to B? We are definitely spoiled. We did go to Myrtle Beach one way and home another, but hey we managed and got home safe and sound.

On our trip the kids liked the beach but LOVED the lazy river pool at the Anderson Ocean Club and Spa. I guess they didn’t like the feel of the sand??? Really! The boys went shark tooth hunting and found lots thanks to the Children’s Activity Guys.

We didn’t really explore much of Myrtle Beach….just enjoyed the sun, and family time mostly at the resort. Which to me and my husband meant the world. I know that the kids will definitely remember this for a lifetime and I am truly THANKFUL for the time together!

I can’t wait to plan our next adventure!

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Turn Up the Music | my life

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

As I sit here poundering what I should write about…my dog is sleeping on the floor next to me, my kids should be sleeping but instead are talking….and my husband is out playing poker. Well, that is my night in a nutshell. I am tired and ready for bed, but my mind won’t stop thinking….

Thinking of all the cool photography ideas that I have in my head…. props, workshops, friends, blogs, websites, mentors, mentees, pursuit 31, and the list goes on!

and then…

I decide to take a look around me…who would have thought that I would be here! Be where I want to be. Everything is falling into place. Weddings, bookings, my family, and spirtually! I am still working on some friendship issues. (It is difficult with work, kids, husband, and life)!

You know that the music can take you wherever and anywhere you want to go!

Just make sure you turn that music UP!

And make some lemonade out of some lemons:)

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Dreams and Blessings | my life

Friday, January 20th, 2012

“I can’t wait to see the new doors you’ll open, the new friends I’ll make, the new opportunities I will have.”

I have been reading a lot lately and this quote above stuck out to me. I have been praying to GOD a lot lately too and he has been so good to me. He has opened up new doors for me, given me some new friends and I know that there are opportunities out there for me.

If you stay within your faith you will see GOD blossom your life in ways you may have never imagined. This is happening to me as I type. Life, Photography, Nursing, Love, Family, Finances and Friends have all been blossomed because of my faith for God. I know that it is all because of him that things are happening for the better.

I have dreams…. BIG DREAMS.

Dreams to become a better photographer, to be able to just work full-time doing something that I am passionate about and have been for many many years! I have dreams to go around the country. Take my family on a vacation, to visit Hawaii with my husband, to one day be debt free(almost there)! I dream of teaching my children to love GOD more and to take them on a mission trip one day. I have dreams to make lots of new friends. I have a dream to one day educate others about photography. I dream of growing old with my husband, sitting on a porch swing…his hand in mine. My dreams are endless, they go on and on and on…..

Don’t let anyone talk you out of your dreams. Because if you dream it, you can achieve it.

If I wait with confidence, I know that my harvest is on its way. It may be today, tomorrow, a month from now, next year, or 20 years from now, but I know that it is coming. And when it comes it is going to be bigger and better than before!

I know that no-one can keep me from my destiny. So I must continue doing the things that I love and keep on praying.

The difficulties will give me new growth, new potential, new talent, new friendships, new opportunities, and a new vision…..God’s blessings will then be in bloom!

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30 day Challenge | my life

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

“All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it.“~Jean Cocteau

I was once challenged to listen to nothing but Christian music a few years ago and it has changed my life for the better. So I am challenging you to listen to KLOVE (96.9 in Toledo, OH) for 30 days straight. You truly will see a difference in your life. Sure I still listen today to other music, my kids listen to all the new hip music, but when it is me time….I am listening to KLOVE. It is my inspirational dose of GOD that I need and crave. I am going to put you all up for another challenge….When you hear “Hold Me” by Jamie Grace on the radio, text me Hold Me at 419.345.1082 and you could win a FREE $10 itunes card. Here is a quick video from Jamie Grace and one about the 30 day challenge. I hope that you will take this amazing challenge and see your life be changed. AND for all that don’t know me….my all time favorite singer is still TAYLOR SWIFT!

You can follow Jamie Grace at:

http://www.twitter.com/jamiegraceh
http://www.facebook.com/jamiegraceh
http://www.jamiegrace.com/

Here is the video of the song HOLD ME

Here is the video about the 30 day challenge

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Coupons Part 1 | my life

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”~Malachi 3:10

I have gotten a lot of emails asking me how do I coupon. I will let you all in on my secret of success! I will give you all the nitty gritty on the process that I took to start saving. I did a lot of research online. There are a lot of videos that you can google on youtube. I follow these blogs to give me links and tell me where the deals are for the week or day: Hip2Save, Freetastesgood, CouponKatarina, TheKrazyCouponLady. Also follow these 4 on facebook as well. They update it periodically throughout the day, so you won’t miss a single deal! Yes, it does take some time to get used to the whole process, maybe even a little nervous at the check out, but just start small and your blessings will be in surplus before you know it! There is a real science to the clipping of coupons. And a little inspiration from fellow couponers. Just an FYI, my neighbor Joni has been on Extreme Couponers on TLC. She has been my inspiration for making all this happen! It just takes a little bit of your time, but you will be rewarded in the end!

So the 411 on couponing.

You must know the lingo.

OYNO- On Your Next Order

IP- Internet Printable

AR- After Rebate

DND- Do Not Double

YMMV- Your Mileage May Vary

WYB- When You Buy

FAR- Free After Rebate

RC- Rain Check

MQ- Manufacturer’s Coupon

MIR- Mail-in Rebate

DB- Coupon Database

RP- Redplum

SS- Smartsource

PG- Proctor & Gamble

RR- Register Reward (Walgreens)

Ups- +Up Rewards (Rite-Aid)

Coupon Angel- a person who leaves coupons throughout the store for others to use.

Coupon Nazi- a bad cashier that doesn’t like customers to use coupons and will give you a hard time about them.

Stacking coupons- using both a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on one item.

Catalinas- These are the coupons that print from a special machine at the checkout counter.

Peelies- These are the coupons attached to the package. You have to peel off the coupon to redeem it at the register.

Blinkies- Coupons dispensed from a machine located on the shelf near the promoted product.

PLEASE COUPON with respect for other couponers. Only purchase what you need for your family and you are going to donate. We do not want to be the cause for stores changing their coupon policies. It is also best to have your store’s coupon policy with you at all times. (most have them on their internet site)

DON’T be brand loyal. Yes you must try new products. I was an avid only CREST toothpaste junkie, but now have learned that the others work as well:)

Buy at least a few SUNDAY newspapers, or have your family and friends give you the coupon inserts weekly. That way you can stock up when there is a deal.

Remember that BIGGER is NOT always BETTER! Buy the smallest size that the coupon will allow.

Always make sure that you check your manufacturer product boxes before throwing them away. Many times there are coupons in the box or on the inside of the box.

You must be ORGANIZED. I use a Case-It binder with Avery tabs and 100 baseball card inserts.

Make it work for you. Clip the coupons while you are watching T.V. Have your kids help you cut or organize them for you by category.

Make sure you play by the rules! Here is a link to read about Crimes of Couponing.

Stay tuned for Part 2…..

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It’s My Birthday | my life

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”~Psalm 118:24

Well today is my day, yup all about NANCY! You see it is my BIRTHDAY today! I believe you should CELEBRATE everything about you on your special day. So today it is all about ME!

A few things you may want to know about me:

* I love the color puple.
* I love anything that is LOVE!
* I love kids, especially my four adorable ones.
* I grind my teeth when I sleep.
* I married my high school sweetheart. Yup, we have been together for 21 years figure that out! We were 14, yikes! I am still madly in LOVE with him.
* I love mash potatoes.
* I love Cold Stone turtle icecream.
* My first job was at Mr. Freeze ice cream.
* I collect willow tree figurines.
* My new obsession is Starbucks Salted Hot Chocolate Carmel Frappe! Thanks to my friends Zach & Jody Gray.
* I love the show Biggest Loser.
* My favorite movie is Annie.
* I love the smell of newborns.
* I enjoy being at home relaxing by our pool.
* I like to enter contests:)
* I LOVE my DIET COKE!

Make sure you watch the video for a special treat! Also just an FYI… this is the first time in years that I have not woken up to SNOW on the ground. YES…I know it is coming soon!

 

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Pursuit 31 | my life

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

“Who can find a Virtuous Woman for the price is far above rubies.”~Proverbs 31

What is Pursuit 31? Well let me tell you…. It is a community of creative woman in pursuit of walking in greatness through our businesses and our homes for the glory of God.
Pursuit 31 is about making friends, encouraging each other and having awesome conversations :) It was created by a Christian wedding photographer, Karen Stott. It is named/modeled after Proverbs 31.

So what exactly has this group done in my life over the past year? I have came up with 10 things that it has done for my life in general.

1. Faith- It has made me realize that it is now that I need to have faith and serve GOD. No time like the present.

2. Marriage- It has made me respect my husband more and more each day. I am thankful for all that he does. I am there to help him when needed.

3. Mothering- This has been difficult because my older kids are a bit resentful, but I am trying to teach my kids the way of Christ in everything we do. I am trying to nurture them with the love of Christ.

4. Health- I care about my body and want to prepare better foods for my family. This is hard to do, but I am going to continue to try to make better food choices for the family. ( No more making Rice Krispie treats, now that one will be a difficult challenge)

5. Service- I serve my husband, my family, my friends, and neighbors when they need it. This is also something that I have been trying to work on, but with my new found craze with couponing I have been able to serve my family with products that they need for cheap or free. This is a great feeling to help others in need. I am going to continue to work on being charitable.

6. Finances- My husband has a strict eye on our finances, as well as he should. I try to spend wisely on things that we need and I seek approval from my husband. Our finances also have been better this past year, due to my new found love of couponing. This has helped our household out tremendously.

7. Industry- I work willingly with my hands and I do not grumble while completing the tasks of the day.

8. Homemaking- I am a homemaker and I use much hospitality to all those who are invited into my home. I hope to do more of this, this year!

9. Time- I am trying to really use my time more wisely this year. I am going to try to work more diligently to get the tasks of the day completed in a timely manner.

10. Beauty- I am trying to show you all my inner beauty that has come from CHRIST himeself. I am trying to use my creativity and my sense of style to create much beauty in my live and to always live for my loved ones.

So, those are just a few things that Pursuit 31 has done for me in my personal life. I know that this group has done wonders for me, and by no means am I perfect, but hey I am trying to be a better person in all aspects of life. I am thankful that I came across it a year ago and was asked to be a part. The woman of the group are so inspirational and helpful. I have had the opportunity to create so many new wonderful friendships that I may have never been able to create without this group.

It has activated my faith and encouraged me to achieve my DREAMS.

It has also made me realize that the BEST days are right in front of me!

So if you are a photographer and you want in this awesome group, let me know so I can invite you to join. Also they are having a Pursuit 31 Conference in October that you should check out. If my finances are right, I will be going to it. It has done so much for my personal life and business life, that I don’t want to miss this opportunity of a lifetime to learn more to better myself.

Love,

Nancy

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