real. LOVE.

I love this movie.  We watched it as a family on Christmas eve.  Maybe I'm just a sentimental person but every time I see it I'm moved by the impact that George Bailey has had on the world.  The things he did and the things that may not have happened if he hadn't come into the world...it always makes me wonder what kind of love I'm leaving...what I'm giving...and what I'm not giving. 

George Bailey changed the world...his world.  He changed the world of the people just right around him in Bedford Falls. 

George wanted to go out in to the world and make his mark, see things, be things...he never did.  You spend a portion of the movie wondering if George Bailey will ever make it out of Bedford Falls.  You wonderful if he'll ever get to do anything...if he'll ever get to see the world.

And then you see that the world would be a very different place with out George.  His seemingly small life, his seeming ordinary-ness was really in a word...extraordinary.

I love this time of year and for the chance to see George Bailey and be reminded that our lives do indeed impact the people around us....what we say...what we do...it changes us and it changes that people around us.

None of us need to travel the world, have a lot of money, or be famous.  In our small, seemingly ordinary way we can be extraordinary to our parents, our brothers, our sisters, our children, our spouse, our friends, our neighbors.  We want to help the planet, the person in Africa, or South America.  When the truth is that our strongest influence and biggest mark can be felt by the person right next to us.

Thanks, "George Bailey...the richest man in town."

real. LIFE.

one step.

So many things encourage major life changes.  Huge steps.  A complete overhaul. Sweeping changes.  Innovative approaches.  A completely new way to do things.

What I've found, and what the book I just started reading (One Small Step Can Change Your Life by Robert Maurer) says, is that small changes can have huge impact. 

I've now lost 20 pounds.  This didn't come because I made a major change, had surgery, cut major things out of my diet, or jumped on the latest diet craze wagon.  I made small and consistent changes and those changes, over time, have yielded wonderful results.

I decided I would start getting some kind of exercise for 20 minutes a day. I just wanted to get my body moving.  I made a small change in the amount of food I ate by taking a smaller portion and then leaving a little bit of food on my plate at each meal.  Small things.  I didn't decided to cut sugar or carbs or protein from my diet.  Just to eat a little less.

Over time that little bit, those little steps, that 20 minutes have helped.  In fact, they've made a big difference.  I feel better about the way I look, my body is stronger, my muscles are leaner, and my heart is healthier.  I love it.

What small step are you going to take?

small. STEPS.

one day late.

A friend of mine sent me this totally anti-healthy/anti-watch-what-you-eat-for-the-holidays email. I'm going to post it here because I got it on Move it Monday and I thought it was very inappropriate. (lol) or appropriate...which ever way you want to look at it.

This time of year is a really tough time to start on a new healthy eating program. If you're already on one it's tough to just stay on it. For all of you trying to stick to your guns right now I hope the following email makes you laugh...just don't give in to the ideas! :) And to everyone who wants to get started...I won't make you get healthy at the hardest time of the year. I will say to make sure and check back at the beginning of the year, though. We're going to get some motivation going with prizes. (So make sure to tell me what would motivate you to get your booty shakin' in the comments and I'll see what I can do to make it a great prize in January.)

And...I am posting this funny look at NOT staying healthy but make sure to read to the end to see how you can avoid packing on the pounds over the next couple of weeks.

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost.. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

And now...Here are some ways to keep those pounds at bay during the holidays...if you're interested!!

-Take a walk with family members.

-Organize a tour of the neighborhood lights.

-Go to a fitness gym with a friend.

-Organize a family outing like skiing, skating, ice skating, horseback riding, etc.

-Eat only one of those cookies or chocolates and then walk away from the plate.  Just walk away.  Nothing to see here.

-Have only one helping of Christmas dinner.

-Eat whatever you want just have a very SMALL piece of it all...(okay, not sure that that one works exactly but if you were going to eat some of everything in large quantities then having a very small amount of it WOULD be more healthy the then possibility, right?)

Have fun!!!

good. LIFE.

Day with Davina.

I will be scheduling Day with Davina sessions for a limited time. You can register now for sessions that will begin in April. See below for more details on what we might cover in a custom session for you.  You can also Click here to learn more.   Contact the studio soon at info@davinafear.com

or click here:

(when we receive your payment we will call to schedule)

Some of the things that may be included in your customized Day with Davina:

the details of how I’ve organized my studio.

my workflow.

tracking clients.

how to hire staff.

working with a staff.

organizing files.

creativity in shooting.

balancing life and business.

establishing your style and lovemark.

organizing your business so that you can have a life.

critique of your business organization and branding.

getting to know your clients and essence of who they are and helping them to take risks.

inspiration: How and where?

critique of your online work (website and blog).

anything else you want to chat about.

it's all fair game.

To get your Day with Davina scheduled just let the studio know a few dates that will work for you. A retainer fee of $500 will get you on the calendar. Full payment of the balance will need to be made at least 2 weeks before your session. Can’t wait to spend the day with you!

COMING SOON!!!

GET TO KNOW YOU QUESTIONNAIRE KIT  (update:  now available.  click here.)

Later this week I'll be releasing for the first time my Get to Know You Questionnaire.  It has been used by 100s of photographers to get wonderful, fun, relaxed, passionate, real images of their clients.  Now it's going to be available!  I've been working on this for quite a while now and I'm very excited to putting it out in a new and improved format.  Be watching and keep checking back...it's coming soon!

To get on the first-to-find-out list contact the studio at info@davinafear.com

learn. LIFE.

Fun tradition.

Note:  I've posted this before but I think that it's worth posting again.  I've added a few things...

Every year at the beginning of December we put together a Christmas chain.  We make a list of all of the things we'd like to do together and for other people and each link gets an activity.  The links count down the days until Christmas and every morning the kids race to see what will be the activity of the day. Each of them wants to be the first to take a link off of the chain.  It's a big part of Christmas for us and the kids look forward to everyday.

So far we have:

Gone to the resuce mission twice.

Gone to a matinee movie.

Eat dinner by the tree while we watch a Christmas movie.

Make gingerbread houses

Go Christmas shopping for each other.

Play a Christmas game (we make a family Christmas game and book each year).

Go get our Christmas tree.

Decorate the Christmas tree.

Ride in the car and look at Christmas lights.

Made little hats for newborn babies in 3rd world countries.

Make toffee for school teachers.

Make a Christmas game.

Go to Salt Lake and meet up with Louis Palos and his sweet family for Temple Square lights, dinner, and hot chocolate.

Take soup to the homeless.

Make a Christmas book.

We've made gingerbread and had a gingerbread making party with each of the kids inviting a friend.

 We've done some of these things this year already and we're going to be doing quite a few things on this list.  After reading "The Soloist" it has renewed my desire to help the homeless in our area.  We've got some plans for doing some work in Charlotte.

Here are some other ideas you may want to try:

(Some friends and I came up with a lot of these so I can't take all of the credit.):

Make up survival kits for the homeless. Include things like:  toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, bandaids, Neosporin, washcloth, blanket, etc.  Take them around after dark when people are settling in for the night.  They are easier to find.  You can also ask local churches where to find the highest concentration of people who need your help.

Go to McDonald's and buy 100 jr. hamburgers and take them around to people settling in for the night.

Make soup and take it warm on Christmas day with warm bread.  Doing it on the actual holiday is important.  There are a lot of people who give Christmas dinner the day or week before Christmas.  Most organizations aren't able to do anything on the actual days of Christmas and Thanksgiving.  When you arrive on Christmas you'll it will look like Christmas in their eyes.

Discreetly give out cash to those you feel inspired to give it to.

This doesn't even have to be just for homeless people:  Walk around just giving people $5 while you're shopping (or more!  Secret Santas have been going around Charlotte handing out $100 bills.  They've given out over $30,000 now!).  Or keep a $50 or $100 in your bag and pray for the wisdom to know who you  need to walk up and give it to as you're out and about.

Never pass the Salvation Army bell ringer without putting something in the bucket.

I want to hear your suggestions!  Please put them in the comments so we can all benefit!

enjoy. LIFE.