Music, Magic and More

Yesterday I was the photographer for the Music, Magic, and More Fundraiser.
I had so much fun capturing all of the adorable children
(and the families) giggling, dancing and playing!
Click here to see a slide show!

Out of Focus... and coming back again

If you have read my last post you would know my life has been so crazy busy lately,
I have been burning the candle at both ends, so to speak.
Coincidentally, at the blog Lens*Us* Together this week the topic was "Out of Focus",
which was so exactly how I felt about myself in my own life.
Just focused on doing, doing, doing and not being...
like a little machine from morning until night, day after day.
So I posted the above picture, a self portrait, for this weeks Out Of Focus topic,
on Lens* Us*Together with a post about my crazy busy life
and how I felt (sadly) out of focus with my own self.
As I was writing it, I was shocked I was writing it about myself and my own life.
It made me stop and wonder why I am creating this for myself?
The answers I have for most of the things were pretty good
(I felt driven to create and succeed in my businesses and love what I do),
but for some of the things I have scheduled there is no good reason other than
simply just saying "yes" to too many people.
I told myself this is it, from here on out I won't put anymore on my plate.
I am running 2 businesses, I have a 1 and a half year old at home with me (where I am blessed to work), I also work at a Montesorri school,
AND I am taking online college classes...
So I told myself, "OK, no more...Start saying No."
Ironically, within the hour I got a phone call for a request for me to give a massage...
yes, I am also a massage therapist! (make that 3 businesses!)
I don't really advertise, so I normally don't have much business unless I promote myself or do chair massage at events. This person had bought a gift certificate awhile back,
so I had to say "yes"!
My hubby heard me scheduling the appointment and when I got off of the phone he told me enough was enough.
He said that I needed to tell D's school to have someone else teach the art program.
We went back and forth about it. He said aside from his busy work schedule that is not flexible enough to take care of G while I teach it, I am not taking care of my own needs and self and just keep taking on more stuff.
I argued with him, but in my heart I knew he was right.
Teaching art each week plus taking the art teacher training was a lot...
and now I had no one to watch G.
I hated having to tell his school I couldn't do it, but they were understanding, I was so relieved! And I reminded myself D and G will be in school for YEARS to come,
plenty of time for me to volunteer!
***
I must say from the moment I said no to the school, doors are already opening for me,
like a reward for going in the right direction, following the right path.
And in return I am able to breathe again and have a clear mind.
I am back IN FOCUS in MY OWN LIFE! Yay!!!
I realize,my heart just wants to do too many things, but I am only one person, and I am finding out I am not super woman, and its starting to be stressful and yucky, and no fun.
Life should definitely be fun, right?!?
And anyway, most importantly, I want to be a fun mom, not a grouchy mom!
(And wife too!)
I am so, so, so grateful for all I have!

Anyway, if you are still here with me, thanks for reading!
Click here to visit Lens* Us* Together.
Have a great weekend!
xoxo Shell

Ending The Summer At The Lake

Hi Everyone! Gosh, I feel like such a stranger in the blogosphere lately!
Please forgive me for being absent from this space for awhile. I seem to have a lot on my plate, with not just my kindergartner's new schedule, my 1 year olds needs, my art and card biz, and my portrait photography biz, house care duties, my online class that I'm taking, as well as working at a Montesorri School on Fridays, but now I have added more by volunteering as the art teacher in Dylan's school!
It will calm down here eventually... I think...

Anyway, I just found these fun pics that are a little under a month old,
and wanted to share them with you.
We live about 5 minutes from this beautiful lake and we love it!
Its been such a hectic couple of weeks and looking at these truly makes me smile.

{Being spontaneously wrestled, even while trying to take a picture of the lake, is just part of life being the only girl in a house full of boys. And YES, that is my shirt he is gnawing on!}


{Gavin + Dylan + Me + open space = happy boys and Mom!...and dad too!}

{I also get spontaneous cuddles as well!
This just melts my heart seeing that chubby little hand on my knee!
and If this looks familiar its because I posted it on here on Lens*Us*Together on the first of this month.}

{Dylan practicing his Jedi moves. He is VERY much into Star Wars right now}


{Ideally I'd like him to be looking at the camera, but its nearly impossible with this active little guy.
I took so many pics and they are mostly of the back of his head running away! So I am happy I at least got this!}
{And this too!}

Playing "Leap Gavin" a fun past time in our family :)


{As you can see, he likes it too!}


{Patiently waiting for the hot dogs to be done cooking.}


{Ready to play at the park!}

{I love this last shot :)
It just sums being a kid!}

I miss all of my blog peeps and I promise to visit you soon.
the meantime, Happy Fall!
xoxo
Shell

Ojai Women's Business Social

Here are just a few shots from the Women's Business Social
I attended and photographed a couple of weeks ago.

Can you believe all of these amazing women all in one spot sharing coffee and connecting?
I was thrilled to be the photographer, and I am so excited to now be a part of it.

September's social was held at Papa Lennon's

Jodi Womack, the creator of the Women's Business Social!

Aren't these name tags fun?

colorful plates and mugs adorn the rustic wooden tables

Kasey and Amber Lennon serving up some delicious goodies


Lots of lovely ladies!

Lots of smiles, chatting and exchanging over coffee and pastries,
networking has never been so fun!


Click here to find out more about the Ojai Women's Business Social's
upcoming events and newsletter!

Latest Head Shots~Jodi Womack

I was honored to be the photographer for a monthly event for the Ojai Women's Business Social put on by this gorgeous women here, Jodi Womack. I love that what she has done for the business women in this community!
I was there capturing all of the beautiful connections made by so many lovely women who wish to network with other like-minded women. I had so much fun!
I was also able to miraculously grab Jodi and wisk her off to a quiet corner for a few head shots.
She has a great newsletter that comes out each month called No More Nylons. Click this link:
http://www.nomorenylons.com
For more info!
PS This last event was held at Papa Lennons, a beautiful and cozy family owned pizzaria, that has the yummiest food and drinks for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

If you, or anyone you know needs photos done for business materials or website,
you can contact me here or e-mail me at shelldransart@yahoo.com

******

I would love to post pics I took of the Women's Business Social event,
but I am not sure if I can do that without permission from people in the photos.
Maybe I will post the photos with out people in them? (Seems kind of silly, right?)
Any advice?
Have a great rest of your week!

(and forgive me lovely blog friends for not visiting your blogs this week, I have been swamped! But I will visit soon!)

I love this boy!

Do I have my hands full with this one! Oh boy, he is just full of fire, I tell ya.
He's either getting into everything, laughing at me when I tell him no, or throwing tantrums.
But I love him.
There is literally NEVER a dull moment right now.
This little guy continues to keep me on my toes.
He loves to try/eat anything, which includes whatever he finds...
and he manages to find things in the most amazing way.
For example, if I am holding him at the beach, in what looks to be clean sand, I find him chewing on a disgusting cigarette butt... How???? I am holding him!
He loves to eat healthy things as well, like all of our red cherry tomatoes off of the vine...cleaned the poor plant dry...
and then ate all of the green ones too :)
I also caught him guzzling down my lukewarm coffee... (so that's where my cup went...)
Which was so gross because he had terrible coffee breath after that,
and not to mention, the kid does not need caffeine!
If anyone around here needs more energy, its me to keep up with this rascal!
He has been a bit of a stinker to his older brother, who is 5.
In fact, now D, the 5 year old tattles on G for being mean to him (which is kinda funny)... let the fun begin...

I will leave you with the lovely image that I had to deal with today.
I was folding laundry while my boys were watching a movie, when G comes in completely naked and smiling in that mischievous way as seen in the above picture.
I ask him where his diaper went, and lean down to give him a kiss on the forehead.
Just as I lean in he sticks out his pointer finger in my face and wiggles it going, "miii-miii-miii-miii" to the finger wiggle movement, and I see he has a brown glob on the tip of it that he is gleefully animating.
AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! I am yelling as I recoginize the brown glob and put it all together with his diaperless bum.
You can imagine what is going through my head, if you read the above information about him eating everything you could probably aslo guess how freaked out I am.
THANK GOODNESS, the finger animation was as far as it got!
I researched everything (the house, his mouth, and any other eveidence) and it turns out,
he was proud and came straight to his mama with his new discovery.
(He is going to kill me when he's 18 for writing this, but hey, I don't get paid for this job, so re-telling it is for sanity purposes.)
Did I mention he's only 1? Oh man, I think I have a long road ahead of me...
But I do love it all the same.
Wouldn't change it for the world.
:)
*****
Its 11:30pm, so I need to get to bed!
Got to prepare what lies ahead tomorrow,
you just never know!
Nighty night!
xoxo Shell

Baby Miles Sneak Peek! Get ready for some serious cuteness!

Check out this cutie-pie!
~He is 6 weeks old and such a sweet little guy~

Isn't he so handsome!?!
When I showed up early Saturday morning I had something completely different in mind for Miles' photos.
I envisioned wrapping Miles up in some gauzy fabric and photographing him sleeping in a bundle.
He never went to sleep :)
But
I had brought this basket and scarves, and we went out into the backyard and took these spontaneous shots.
I am so happy how the colors turned out!


I love the baby in a basket surrounded by wildflowers!
*****
Then in the front yard they happened to have this great rusted trailer.
I was thrilled!

I love the truck shots, a whole different way to celebrate "boyness" without having to use the same old blue, sports, or other typical baby boy theme you usually see.
I had so much fun!


Baby feet!
My favorite!

He was so good!
He was tired and hungry,yet he let me capture all of his adorableness!
Here are a few more...

(By the way, for those of you that may worry seeing baby by the tire...
this was an old broke down trailer, completely immobile
so baby was safe!)

Can you believe this view? This is in his grandma's backyard!
******
Thanks Anne for thinking of me for your baby birth announcement photos, and to Miles' grandma Carol for the great yards and props, fabrics... and coffee!
******
Happy 9-9-09 everybody!
xoxo Shell