Ice is falling all around- NY Capital Region photographer

We had a lovely little ice storm the other night, in MARCH no less.  It really is beautiful seeing everything encased in glass, but winter enough already!  I am ready for spring:)  picture overload coming your way!

BFF - Clifton Park, NY maternity photographer

My dearest friend for almost 7 years is expecting baby #3!  Baby Peter is already so loved by his parents, brother and sister and they are anxiously awaiting his arrival.  Anjanette never went over 38 weeks with the other two but this one is closing on 39.5 weeks and she is ready for him to arrive.  Thank you for letting me capture this beautiful moment in your life!  I can't wait to meet baby Peter :)

9:52

 sneaky little rug-rats hiding in the cupboard :)

Umm seriously we need it to be spring, especially since we are resorting to playing in the cupboard for fun!

musing

I am musing today, please come and say hi!  You might just get a surprise :)

Oh and today is hubby's birthday!  Love love love you Danny, xoxo

8:52 for the love of feet...

I am slightly obsessed with my kids feet, just sayin'

And here are some more I took last week just for fun!

hmmm, my floor always seems to be messy :)

street musing

I am posting over at the Mortal Muse blog today, I would love if you came over and say hi! 

Here are a few more pictures of our walk in the puddles!

7:52

60 degree weather + 2 feet of snow = lots of puddles and one happy 3 year old!

What fires you up???

These are things that I love, make me happy and FIRE ME UP!  I am printing this house to have next to my everyday list so I can look at it everyday and be reminded of these beautiful things!

What fires you up?

And to anyone interested, Lara Casey from Making Things Happen has a tumblr blog that she has been posting challenges everyday to help you make things happen.  It has helped me immensely to get more organized and focused in my everyday endeavors.  Especially as I try to balance motherhood, household, husband and business. 

I would love to hear how YOU find balance in your life.  I know many people who are mothers/small business owners.  Even if you are not, there must be a balance in our lives to stay sane.  Many days I don't feel sane or that I didn't accomplish anything, but I am working on it and trying to create new habits!  A few things that have helped me lately: 

*download and write down 5 things to accomplish each day from my to-do list

* declutter for 10 minutes each day

* no computer while the kids are awake

So what fires you up?  How do you find balance?  I would LOVE to hear from you!

xoxoxo

April :)

6:52

Preschool this week we learned about the letter U.
I had the kids bring an umbrella.
This is what happened 3 minutes after getting out said umbrellas.
BOYS...

Want to win a pretty picture???

My friend and neighbor (when I lived in Utah) started a new blog.  She is a beautiful writer and amazing artist.  She is bribing people to visit her blog by giving away one of her beautiful paintings.

So go and say hi!

5:52

This isn't the best technically sound shot that I took this week but I really love the story behind it.

My little man had his FIRST sleepover with his favorite girl-friend (as opposed to his favorite boy-friend) last night and they had so much fun. How great to have a play date for over 24 hours!!! Mason made sure she had lots of books and stuffed animals to keep her nice and comfy :)

It took a little while for them to get to sleep because they were so excited! And today Mason is a little bummed she left, so he decided to take a nap on "her bed" on the floor!

*I think it is funny 3/5 of my week shots involve sleeping children* I guess it is a time for parents to stop and reflect how much they love their kids (no screaming/crying/running/crashing craziness) Not that craziness is bad, but it is nice to get a break :)

My first texture!

Today I am at Mortal Muses talking about texture, well the fact that I have never done one before...

Anyway it was fun being pushed out of my box!

Before

After

Come over and say HI!

Everyday

During Make Things Happen we talked a lot about what distracts our focus from business, the clutter in our lives and the environment we work/live in.  I realize that distractions, (ie, facebook, google reader, flickr) and clutter are two things I need to try and fix to help me feel more centered and balanced.  I think so far I have done pretty well.  I cleaned off my desk a bit and emptied the book shelf above my desk to reorganize (still in progress)  I have taken time to de-clutter most rooms in my house even if it was only 5 minutes of cleaning/organizing I feel much better.  I also I have cut back on internet distractions, I only check in the morning really quick, 15 minutes, during nap time, and then after the kids go to bed.  Each time I try to keep it brief and move on.  I unsubscribed to alot of useless blogs (people of walmart etc).  I feel so much better about these achievements and hope to continue so I can stay focused and be less stressed.

Also everyday there are 5 things that I know I need to do to feel balanced spiritually, physically and mentally.  I made picture above that I am printing out and framing to put on my desk, one in my room and one in my car.  Why?  So I can remind myself to do it, visually seeing these essential things help me to actually acheive them!

PRAY.  I have been taught from a young age how important prayer is.  In my home we do really well and blessing our food, saying nightly prayers as a family and Danny and I say a prayer together every night before bed.  But I am missing a huge component, personal prayer.  I used to be really good at this especially at the end of high school, through college and when were first married.  I got worse with the kids mostly because I was too tired.  I had a huge epiphany the other day with my son Mason.  He kept whining and grunting for a snack.  I knew what he wanted but I wanted him to use his words and ask me nicely.  Oh my goodness, our Heavenly Father is the same way!  He knows what we want, but we need to ask him with real intent in our hearts.

READ SCRIPTURES.  I feel lately that I am in a spiritual rut, again I am blaming the "tiredness' of having kids but that is no excuse.  I know I need to make time in my day for personal study because it does make a huge impact on how I feel spiritually and my relationships with others (kids & hubby especially)

EXERCISE.  I try and go to the gym a couple of times a week while Mason is at pre-school which is great and feels good.  But there are days when I can't/won't go to the gym but I have other resources.  I have lots of workout tapes and dvds.  Even if I only do 30 crunches or 10 push ups I am going to do some sort of physical exercise everyday!

EAT FRUITS AND VEGGIES.  During December and beginning of January I participated in a Healthy Habits challenge.  One of the components was to eat at least 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of veggies every single day.  I felt so much better reaching for healthy snacks.  The last few weeks I haven't pushed myself to eat as many veggies so I am going to start again!

SLEEP.  I need sleep.  I do not function well.  My plan is to get to bed by 10:30 every night so I can get a least 7-8 hours.  If that doesn't happen I will try and squeeze a nap in.  Either way I am going to give my self enough sleep so I will feel better mentally and be more patient with my kids!

What are things you need to do everyday to feel centered mentally/physically/spiritually?  

If you feel like the 5 things I chose are also for you, you are welcome to print off my everyday list for personal use.  Just click on the picture above and save it to your computer.  I made it as a 5x7, not sure if it will work as a 4x6.

I am in a Happy Place

Since I decided at the end of last year to start my photography business I have been kind of freaking out...

"what do I do now.."

I did some research and found  SO MANY people say how awesome Easy As Pie is written by Alicia Caine.  I took the plunge and it is amazing but I still was missing a major important factor, my business plan!  I kept hearing about that little plan and put it to the side.  Well that smart Alicia put together a Happy Place Business plan and I thought "well it seems like it is important I will take a gander." 

Let me tell you it is awesome!  Not only does she help you in all the important things that need to be considered and planned out in your business, she gives her real life examples that she has already experienced.  I can feel her genuine love for her readers and her authenticity seaping from the pages.

If you are interested in starting a portrait photography business I highly highly recommend everything Alicia has to offer :)

xoxo April

Making Things Happen 2011

Where do I start...

I had the most amazing opportunity to attend the Making Things Happen Workshop put on by Lara Casey.  Honestly I hadn't even heard of her before until I read this post by Natalie Norton who is an amazing and inspiring person and fabulous photographer.  Now I know that Heavenly Father has put them in my path for a reason.  At the end of December I really, whole heartily decided that I was going to start my photography business in 2011.  Shortly after I ran into that post above by Natalie and decided I would do anything I could to go to this workshop, it is what I needed to help fuel me as I started my business.  I Googled Lara like crazy and read amazing things about this opportunity.  I knew I was supposed to go and everything feel into place so I could attend.  Seriously it was amazing.  All of this happened in less than a month!!!

 The workshop was intense, real and raw.  I had to dig deep, discover my fears and put steps in action so I could overcome my insecurities and find it within myself that: I. AM. A PHOTOGRAPHER.  I can do this, I am starting my own business! 

I can have my own business AND be an amazing mother.  

I can own my own business and be an amazing wife to an ASTOUNDING husband.  

I can take care of my home, have order and peace in my life and be a photographer.

I am eternally grateful for my supportive husband.  He is the love of my life and will help me accomplish anything and lift me up to be the best person I can be!  I am beyond grateful for my parents.  It brings tears to my eyes even as I write this.  They are unconditionally supportive of me and what I want to do.  They have taught me from a young age that I can be ANYTHING and that I can DREAM BIG.  They have helped me whenever possible to accomplish all my goals, starting with volleyball and now in photography!  It broke my heart listening to some amazing women and men with loved ones that were not supportive and uplifting.  It made me realize that I need to express my constant gratitude to those around me that uplift me and help me a better person.

I grateful for my friends all over the world, some I  have met and know personally, some I have not but that doesn't make our friendship any less real.  I love my family all living in different parts of this country, I love my friends here in NY, I would go CRAZY with out them.  I love my mortal muse friends, Tammy, Kat, Suki, Mosey, Ashley, Maureen, Kirstin, Christy, Michele and Lucy!  They are amazing, talented, funny, beautiful women who inspire me every.single.day!  I am grateful for my new friends that I made in NYC at MTH.  It was amazing being in a room of like minded people.  It was a surreal experience listen and sharing our fears and wishes and coming up with ways to be successful.  I have a hard time with words so it is hard to describe the experience I had but I am so forever grateful for Lara, Natalie and Gina.

Starting now... I am going to be more Authentic.  I am going to try and bring myself more into this blog.  More journaling  and writing about me, my life, my fears, my PASSION.  This will be tricky because frankly writing scares me, I am not that great at it but that is all part of accepting who I am!

I took off the followers, not that I don't appreciate everyone who takes time to look at my blog, I just got too distracted watching the numbers go up and down.  Starting now I am going to stop caring what other people think about me, starting now I am going to stop comparing myself to others starting now I am going to be me and follow my gut!  I hope you will still continue to share that with me!

I am April.  I am AWESOME.  I am a PHOTOGRAPHER.  And I love you!  Thanks for the support and LOVE!  2011 is going to be AMAZING :)

xoxo

4:52

Oh my silly little girl, everyday you crack me up with your sassy personality. Your new favorite word is "no," you love to bug your brother, and you are really good at running away when know you are being naughty. You love to babble before you go to sleep, dress and undress your babies 1000 times a day, and give hugs and kisses to everyone in the family. I love you. Thanks for being silly. Thanks for sharing your spiciness, thanks for being you :)

3:52 love

I love this little girl
I love that she was in the only spot in her crib, facing the right direction to bring light to her face
I love her wavy red hair and soft little lips
She loves that little piggy snuggled to her face
And her elephant lovey under her chin
And of course she loves her binky lying in wait
I love you sleeping little angel :)

musing :)

This weeks theme on the mortal muse blog is "creature feature"  I am musing on funny animal faces like this giraffe that I met at the Hogle Zoo in Utah.  Come on over to the Mortal Muse Blog and say hi! 

And just for fun here are some other creatures the kids and I met while we were visiting in Utah :)

Dear winter

Snowflakes

Snowflakes spill from heaven's hand
Lovely and chaste like smooth white sand.
A veil of wonder laced in light
Falling Gently on a winters night.

Graceful beauty raining down
Giving magic to the lifeless ground.
Each snowflake like a falling star
Smiling beauty that's spun afar.

Till earth is dressed in a robe of white
Unspoken poem the hush of night. 

by Linda A. Copp

2:52 moments

I think my theme for the year, not only in my 52 week project but in my photography business and life in general is to capture moments, real, raw and lovely! I want to create these moments with my family and capture the little details of my children so that we can all remember them down the road.

Today my little man was crabby to say the least, it didn't help that he was fighting his nap big time. I finally gave in and told him he could play quietly in his room, and if he got tired he could take a nap on his bed or on the floor, I didn't care. That seemed to calm him down. A little while later when I got my daughter up from her nap, I found him here laying half way in his room, head sticking into the hallway. I thought it was so cute and man he was crashed! I opened up all the window in both kids room, walking around him and snapping pictures and he never woke up!

rusty musing

This week I am musing on monochromatic color... how could I not choose to feature all the lovely red hair flying around my house!  Come on over to the Mortal Muse blog and say hi :)

Happy Sunday!

1:52

I have seen quite a few people participating in 52 week project which seems right up my alley! I am going to have fun with it, low pressure and try to capture moments of my family that I want to remember. Some of these groups have themes and such for the week which I might also try out but I am not going to stress my self out too much because I got a little burned out with the 365.

This picture is funny because the boy is wearing a pair of baby girl shorts. My husband had to take the kids to a meeting and he had an accident. I forgot to prep the car with emergency clothes but my dear husband being so resourceful grabbed some clothes in the back that were meant to be donated. These shorts as his undies and some 0-3 month old girls pants that he squeezed on him as shorts. It was SO funny, I couldn't stop laughing and my little boy that it was hilarious until he tried walking up the stairs in super tight pants!

I love this picture because it captures their innocence and playing in their favorite spot, mom and dad's bed!