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.

love the day. love the dress. love the couple.

I have to say that Sajini and Joshua's wedding was so exciting and full and fun.  Sajini had planned the day to the hilt so that everyone from every age would have a great time.  In the morning little girls dressed with big girls and even got to put on makeup!  Sajini's mom looked so beautiful.  All of the wedding party was dressed in the most colorful and perfectly jeweled colors.  The smell of all of the bouquets was heavenly.  I loved to walk by them and get a little whiff of those aromatic peonies!

Sajini looked amazing with her long, lace veil and her hair down around her shoulders.  She met her family at the church for a touching traditional prayer.  I love the picture of her Grandpa blessing her.  The Pastor said so many things about love.  One of my favorite quotes of the day was to Sajini and Joshua. Looking at Sajini: "You are marrying a flawed person."  To Joshua: "You are marrying a flawed person."  To both of them: "But you have a perfect God to help you through it all."

After the ceremony we speed walked to the Union League where every detail was covered.  Name cards with jewels and peonies everywhere, a cupcake cake, and perfect little favor boxes...Sajini thought of everything...I can't even get it all here on the blog!

Not only did we eat delicious food, Sajini had rented a trolley for her wedding party to go around Philadelphia in.  We stopped at a broken glass art gallery that would take your breath away.  The way the light hit all of that glass and reflected everywhere was just crazy!

That night there was a very relaxed, fun, dancing, food, and kids party.  Not one minute of the whole day would you have wanted to miss.  It was all wonderful!

perfect. LIFE.