love. LIFE.

Hello Friends!

Over to the left you'll see all of the categories that you can check out.

If you're a photographer make sure to check out the For Photographers page.  I just launched the new Family GTKY kit and the NEW Insight Kits Blogsite!!!  Click here to see the new site!

    LOVE. LIFE. TIPS.  These posts will help anyone who is trying to keep or get back all of the things that they love in their life and/or business. The tips are packed with ways to manage a hectic life, kids, business, meaning, love...and more. Also, make sure you check out the new Women and Business series! (Click here)  Also, see how Day with Davina can come to you. (Click here)

My favorite pricing guide (that I wish I had when I started my business over 8 years ago).  You need this guide!

 

Easy as Pie.  Click here to visit Served Up Fresh. (affiliate link)

Thanks for stopping by...and don't forget to leave a comment...or two...I want to hear from YOU!

And make sure to TELL A FRIEND!

 

Entries from March 1, 2011 - March 31, 2011

Easy As Pie.

Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 11:22PM by Registered CommenterDavina in | CommentsPost a Comment | References5 References

 

pricing made easy.

Pricing is probably one of the most stressful, brain taxing, mysterious aspects of running a photography business.

Well,  it doesn't have to be.

Some of you photographers have probably heard me rave about Alicia's Easy As Pie Pricing Guide.  If you've wondered how to work out your pricing your products and services...no easy task since there's all kinds of things to consider.  Cost of goods, overhead, travel, mileage, home studio, retail studio, digital darkroom time, prop costs, education costs, software, computers, cameras, lenses, photoshop, albums, prints, canvases, cards, client care, organization, office supplies, packaging, furniture...and the list goes on and on when considering the costs of running a business and then running a successful business means it needs to be profitable. 

All of these things need to be considered when pricing your products and services...that is if you want to be running a business as a professional and not as a hobbyist. 

Enter Easy as Pie pricing guide.  I wish this guide had been around when I started my business 9 years ago.  Over the years pricing has always been difficult with no set industry standard.  I've talked at length with many photographer friends, taken courses, attended professional industry workshops, and reworked my pricing time after time.  I love Easy as Pie because the math is simple (just what I need).  Basically, all I had to do was fill in the blanks.  Alicia explains the advantages and disadvantages of carrying certain products, keeps things simple in her explanations, products, and approach. One of the best parts is getting to see the evolution of Alicia's own pricing over the years.  I keep trying to think of something that would have made it better and nothing is coming to me. 

If you've felt unsure of your pricing, don't know where to start, or feel like you just keep taking a stab in the dark, are serious about getting your pricing and collections on target, and and need someone to hold your hand then you'll love this guide as much as i do.  After hearing so many people have issues and questions about pricing; I think all of the answers are finally in one easy, fun, juicy place to read.

Get it.  Love it!  Easy as Pie Pricing Guide.

 

ETA (04.01.11):  The Easy as Pie Pricing Guide AND Happy Place Guide are on sale for today only at 1/2 price.  Wohoo!!

Interested?  Click on the icon below:

 

Log House.

Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 10:41AM by Registered CommenterDavina in , | Comments2 Comments | References2 References

it's pretzels.

I'd like to say this idea is all mine but really...I got it from Martha.  If you haven't signed up for her craft of the day and you're into crafting...it'll get your craft juices going.

This is a fun project especially if you're in the middle of teaching your kids about the civil war, Abraham Lincoln, etc.  Plus, there's lots of peanut butter and pretzels involved.  As you can see...there was a lot of finger licking and crunching going on.  Some of it made it onto the houses.

Supplies:

A milk carton from school

peanut butter

pretzel rods, squares, and those little sourdough fat rectangles (completely forgot what they're called)

wheat thins

a graham cracker

Spoons for spreading

It's super easy.  Spread the milk carton with peanut butter and build your house with the pretzels.  You can use the squares for a window or a front door mat or a sky light.  Build your dream house...or a house you want to eat.  Either way.  Fun times.

 

yummy. LIFE.


Watch your Garden grow.

Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 10:03AM by Registered CommenterDavina in , | Comments2 Comments | References2 References

it's a beautiful day.

So...you say you're having a gorgeous spring day?  It's time to break out the soil, some seeds, and bulbs (or some plants...I'm all about instant gratification when it comes to gardening).

This project is always a hit with my kids.  They get to get dirty and they have a quick reward for their work.  The terra cotta planters are usually only $2 or less at the store.  Just make sure you soak them in some water before using so they don't rob your plant of all the drinking they need to do.

If you're starting from seed you'll want to get some starter soil.  If I'm keeping my plants indoors (which I love to do at this time of year when the rain likes to show up for days at a time) I usually just use potting soil.

Pick plants that can endure shade or plan to put your tulip bulbs near a very sunny window.

After a long winter it's nice to bring the outside in.

Have fun!

new. LIFE.

Read-a-thon and more.

Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 07:58AM by Registered CommenterDavina in , | CommentsPost a Comment | References5 References

what to do.

I don't know about you but the weather has really been teasing us around here.  We'll have a gorgeous day one day and then the next 3 days will be completely miserable with rain. rain. rain.   Even Cocoa doesn't like it.  She doesn't want to get wet.  (And I'm thinking to myself..."you're part Labrador! You're supposed to love water."  Apparently rain doesn't fit into the water category for her.)

So here are a couple of fun things for you and the people you love to do if you're in the middle of weird spring snow storms or April Showers.  For us we're having a totally gorgeous day today (yay!) but the next at least 5 days are all rain in the forecast.  So we'll be doing some of these bits of fun.

Have a read-a-thon. 

Go to the library, stock up on some books, come home, get cozy with blankets, and pillows.  Here are some ideas for a read-a-thon at home:

1. Decide on a charity that would benefit from your read-a-thon.(Ronald McDonald House, Reach Out and Read, and more.)

2. Choose the guidelines for your read-a-thon.  How long will you read?  Will pledges from family and friends be based on minutes?  What will be donated?  Money?  Books?

3.  Cuddle up with some books for the day for the benefit of children in need here in the U.S. or half way across the world.  The gift of a book can make a huge difference in a child's life...

4.  Collect for your pledges and then purchase new books for kids in need or send your contribution straight to the charity to do with as they need.

Create a family game time.

We all have a closet full or shelves stacked 10 deep of games and puzzles.  Are you playing them?  Now is the time to pull those dusty things from the closet and set up a marathon game day.  Play Connect Four, Clue, Monopoly, Mancala (love this one!), Phase 10, Apples to Apples, Pictionary, Pick up Sticks (don't poke your eye out), Guesstures, Cranium....

Have fun just playing games or as a nod to the NCAA playoffs set up a tournament.  The most important part is the chance to relax, stay inside where it's warm and dry...and, of course, don't forget the treats.

One of the things that I learned from my college major was that happy families play together.  It's easy to forget to play when life is so hectic and there are so many things to run to, put together, plan, be to on time, remember, drive to, schedule, etc.  It seems like we're trying to keep up with some invisible clock somewhere.  Ocassionally, it's nice to put the brakes on in the middle of regular day and just stop and smell the brownies bake while you play a couple of games with the people that really matter.

playful. LIFE.

 

Project Launches Over the Weekend.

Posted on Monday, March 28, 2011 at 11:22AM by Registered CommenterDavina in | CommentsPost a Comment | References2 References

hint: new series.

 

I am super excited about the project that went out over the weekend (that's been in the works since the beginning of the year) to a select few who will be the first people to receive it.  (If you are one of the people in this exclusive group you can get more ideas here ...and more will be coming through out the week as well as some other exciting announcements...be watching your email box!)

 

coming soon. LIFE.

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