lagoon.

So today we're headed to the long anticipated, saved up for, exciting Lagoon Day.  The kids have been saving their money with the plan that we would go to Lagoon before we left for Clover, South Carolina.  The last time we went was about five years ago when Emmett was six years old, Emma and Miriam were 2 and Gracie....well, the little missy wasn't here yet back then.

So it's off to funnel cakes, rides, more food, and me in my swimsuit today (this is not a sight I wish on anyone at this point...the things we do for our kids...).  To keep with being consistent we will be walking for about 10 hours straight.  I think I'll be logging at least 5-7 miles today around the park.  To make it really count I'll be making sure I don't pig out on every good smell I walk by...

I haven't been to Lagoon in so long I have no idea if they've created any type of non-fattening food...haha.  We aren't bringing a cooler because the kids have saved their money with the plan of eating in the park.  So here's to trying not to gain 10 pounds today!

fun. LIFE.

progress.

Our builder, Matt Swyt of Alluring Homes,  is building our home in record time and the quality is wonderful.  He sends us a picture every week of the progress.  The picture above is the one he sent us at the end of last week.  The pictures below are the ones he sent us in the middle of this week.  He just sent us an email saying that the rough plumbing and HVAC are being completed. 

At first we were on a time table to have our house sometime in October.  Then it moved up to September.  When we received our contract info it said that our home was going to be done at the end of August.  We talked to Matt a little later and found out that it will be done at the beginning of August. 

I'm so excited to get to be part of the process from a distance with Matt sending us pictures each week.  Our house just seems to be going up so quickly, it's fun to see!

I can't wait to get out there and see it in person.  We're moving from an 1800 square foot house to a 2700 square foot house with a sitting room upstairs and all kinds of fun stuff.  The land is a 1/2 an acre mostly filled with a forest in t he back, which is just what we've wanted in a yard for the kids. 

fun. LIFE.

working out in an new place.

How many of you leave on a trip only to get completely out of the habit of eating well and working out?  It's so easy to do and you think you'll get back into the flow of things as soon as you get home.

Do you bring your tennis shoes and workout clothes only to leave it in your suitcase the whole time you're gone?

Here are a few tips to make sure that you exercise while you're away from home.

*Bring your shoes with you and a plan.

*Figure out a time in each day that is free time or sleeping time for everyone else.

*While I've been away I've gotten up at 7am and gone down to the pool, sat and written in my journal next to the water (so that turning on lights wouldn't bother everyone else still sleeping), and then worked out in the fitness center.  After working out and sweating like crazy I went back out to the pool, took off my shoes, put my feet in the cool water, felt the breeze on my skin, and looked at the sky.

It's been a wonderful time of the day....you'll love it!

real. LIFE.

fun. LIFE.

Here are some clues about where I am and what I'm doing here:

*I'm not in Utah

*I had to fly to get there and it didn't have a movie on the flight

*I'm staying at one of the nicest hotels ever

*The details here are wonderful...fruit flavored water, notes, robes...oooo! I LOVE it!

*I see water

*I'm with some of my favorite people

*We're up to something super cool....

Tell me your guesses in the comments.

angela. gerado.

I knew that my time with Angela and Gerado was going to be fun but I had no idea how wonderful it would be to hang out with them all day.  When the end of the day came I was sad to see them go.

We talked all day long covering so many topics.  They have 4 girls...and they don't want to miss any more time with them.  They've been shooting for over 10 years, in business for 5 years...but officially for one.  They have bookings coming in like crazy but they've lost their life somewhere in the middle of it all.  After looking over their questionnaire and some emails back and forth we decided that what would be best is a day all about taking their business and making it work better and more efficiently.  Their work is beautiful and they've really been getting gorgeous lighting into their portrait work.  We wanted to cover their website and portfolio but not do an actual shoot.  And it's so good we decided that since we were still talking business by the end of the day (and could have talked even more business). 

We went into detail doing a website critique and talking about branding and helping everything to be cohesive and sending the message that they want to send through their art and studio, financials, studio management, workflow, client information gathering, a studio bible, payroll, the hiring process and how to hire a great team, having a beautifully organized studio space and workspace, working with a team, balancing business and home, organization systems that free you to enjoy yourself when you do get to be home...getting it all out of your head, and enjoying the process of it all.

I'm so grateful for the time I got to spend with Angela and Gerado.  I'm so excited to hear from them every time they complete some thing from their 14 step program that we came up with just for them, their life, and their studio.  I'm looking very forward to hearing about where they are at in 6 months and a year from now!  It's going to be amazing! (At the end of the day Angela asked if they could do another Day with Davina after I move to NC...I would love to see where they are at then!)

Angela and Gerado left me these notes:

Wow Davina!  Every penny was totally worth it.  Thank you so much for  your time and talent and your willingness to share it with us.  Not many photographers go so in depth in the subjects you covered.  We know that we will implement the ideas you've given us to help our business grow, but more importantly to keep our family together and grow stronger.  We certainly feel we found an answer to our prayers when we were able to do this session with you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! -Angela.

I learned the importance of managing my time, that I can become a better photographer but more important a better dad and husband.  And it is ok to give responsibility to others to help me.  Davina, thanks for everything.  We love you tons. -Gerado.

(to schedule your Day with Davina contact the studio at info@davinafear.com .  we are almost full before leaving Utah and are already booking for when i arrive in nc.)

learn. LIFE.