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When Life Comes at You at Top Speed

January 23, 2013 by 2 Comments

I am thrilled by the opportunities coming my way in the next couple of months. Seriously, I am. I enjoy sharing my love of photography, writing, connecting and storytelling and knowing I get to do that by speaking at a few engagements is a blessing. I learned quickly you have to be careful what you ask for. You will most likely get it and it may come in abundance.

Life coming at you quickly can be overwhelming and I find it helpful to take a few moments to ground yourself. Meditating does not come easy to me, but I do take a few moments during the day to get quiet and center myself in the moment. Another helpful thing to do is to not accept anyone else’s chaos into your life.

For whatever insane reason, I believe some people enjoy living in a state of panic, complaint and chaos. And,they like having company. I don’t get down like that and avoid these types of situations and people as much as possible. I will listen and help out where I can, but I will not allow it to stress me out. That is not quality living.

In the coming weeks, I am focusing on building a new business, preparing for my speaking engagements, preparing for many work engagements and being a momma to my children. All of them take time and all of them bring their own forms of stress. All of them come at me at top speed, but I am not afraid. I welcome how each situation challenges me to be better and see the good in every situation.

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Making a Few Lifestyle Changes for Myself and My Family

January 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

On the second of January, I completely altered my diet. I have pretty much adopted a vegan diet since then and I intend to stick to it for at least another week. Why? Spiritual reasons, physical well-being and because it is restorative. Since exploring the world of vegan eating, I have tasted one of the best portabella sandwiches, found a new appreciation for eating organic produce and my energy level has improved.

Normally, organic foods cost a fortune in the grocery store. Not anymore. Since the cost of everything I normally purchase has gone up, adding more organic foods to my family’s diet is financially possible and makes sense. My children and I have become more conscious of what we put in our bodies. They have stopped eating Cherrios and Goldfish Crackers because they have GMOs in them. My children decided to stop doing this on their own, but I know they would not have had I not decided to be more conscious of the foods I bring into our home.

Believe me, I am not knocking anyone for what they choose to eat, I just know for me and mine, we needed a change and it has been a good one. We are cooking at home more (my oldest found a recipe for a one serving cupcake) and enjoying exploring new dishes and experimenting with our crock pot. For us, this is about making a lifestyle change that includes healthier eating, exercise and spending quality time together preparing our meals. It’s fun and I am glad to make a commitment to improving things for us.

I have a question for you. Have you made any lifestyle changes that have impacted you and your family? Share in the comments. I would love to know.

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How to Start a Photo-a-Day Project

January 2, 2013 by 2 Comments

So, you want to start a 365 day, 52 week or monthly photo challenge? Here are a few tips to get you started:

Join a group.

When starting any kind of long term photography project, joining a group is a great way to stay motivated and inspired. I have mentioned my Flickr Self-Portrait Experience group before and I welcome you to join if you like. There are a lot of creative people out there shooting and I enjoy trying new techniques myself.

Pick a Theme.

For the rest of the year, I am going to shoot and post at least one portrait of myself. Other themes you can choose are gravity, flora, or nature. Pick something that interest you and photograph it frequently. This year, I think I want to do a jumping series, too. Those look like fun.

Find a Partner.

Shooting photos with a friend is a great way to start a photo challenge. You and a friend can shoot a photo at the same time everyday and post it. Both of you will be surprised by what you share and it is a great way to stay connected.

Share your photos.

There are a lot of platforms you can share your photos on. Flickr is great for organizing and there are lots of groups to join based on your interest. Tumblr is a simple blogging platform you can use to share or you can use a phone app like StreamZoo (iphone and Android) to share. You can find me on StreamZoo as lucrecerbraxton.

Stick to it.

If you forget to shoot one day, it is okay. Show yourself some grace and just keep on shooting. Life catches up to all of us and there are going to be those days where you simply forget to shoot. Definitely do not give up or become frustrated. The worse thing you can do is compare your photography to someone else. We all see the world differently. That is what makes our art unique to who we are. Just stick to it and have fun.

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Picking a Calendar for the New Year

December 19, 2012 by 2 Comments

I love selecting a calendar for the new year. I have not decided if I am going to personalize one or just pick something out that strikes my fancy. In the meantime, here are some calendars I really like for 2013.

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Great to see old books being upcycled and used as calender. This one sells for $15 at Pickle Dog Designs.

 

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I love the concept behind the Invisible Calendar. It is designed to encourage creativity. This calendar sells for $15 from SashaPure.

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For all my zombie and Walking Dead fans, this calendar is for you! The Build-a-Zombie calendar sells for $14.99 from Geek Alerts.

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How fun is this puzzle calendar. I think it belongs on my desk at work. I found this one at Paper Source for $12.50.

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This is such a fun calendar. I like the handwritten look.. I found this calendar at MessyBed Studio for $14.00.

Don’t forge to sign up if you would like to receive a postcard from me next year. Who doesn’t like to receive some mail love?

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#MacysThanksPinning - Follow My Boards and Like My Pins!

December 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I have been a supporter of the Hearts of Haiti and Rawanda Path to Peace products since they came out. For one, the products are absolutely beautiful and secondly, they support a good cause.

Heart of Haiti is a “Trade, Not Aid” initiative that was launched by artist and social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy’s. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and despite the devastating earthquake people there are filled with hope and a desire to improve their lives through employment. By creating one of a kind pieces – such as bracelets, metalwork, paper mache, and wood work - the Heart of Haiti initiative provides artists with an opportunity to make a living, feed their families and pay their children’s school fees.

Rwanda Path to Peace is a healing journey and a source of sustainable living that utilizes the incredible skill of weaving that is passed down by generations of Rwandan women. The sale of the baskets through Macy’s has given these women a source of sustainable income and pride. The project and the income it generates has improved the lives of at least 18,000 children, providing access to education, health care and more.

I have created a board on Pinterest sharing some of the photographs of the beautiful items I have in support of both causes. I would greatly appreciate your following my board and liking the pins. Also, support the causes and the artisans who have created these beautiful products. You will not regret it and I would greatly appreciate your support.

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