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 May 1, 2009 - May 31, 2009

Women in Business: Stay tuned.

Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 12:29PM by Registered CommenterDavina | Comments4 Comments

Hey Everyone!  With the school year winding down we're taking a little break this week.  Stay tuned though!  We'll be back...

Be watching for Melanie Mauer's interview!

Gracie's Birthday. Part III

Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 09:43PM by Registered CommenterDavina in , | Comments9 Comments

party time.

You're probably wondering if I'm ever going to be done posting pictures from Gracie's party...I can't promise anything. :)

The girls made princess crowns with jewels and flowers and all kinds of fun little sweet things.  They each planted flowers because that's what Strawberry Shortcake does...she grows a garden.

She also bakes like crazy so each of the girls decorated their own little cake...with as much frosting as humanly possible. 

And then when knocked Strawberry Shortcake silly...because she was a pinata.

I love the look of surprise when the candy finally started to fall out...and the scramble for candy.

Gracie loved the party tht she planned.  "It was the best day."

fun day.

*tell a friend*

 

 

I LOVE: The Artist's Way.

Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 10:39AM by Registered CommenterDavina in | Comments4 Comments

I'm doing the 12 week course in "The Artist's Way".  (Has anyone done this 12 week course?  What did you think? I would love to hear...)

Paying attention is one of the things Julia has talked about so far that has given me something to think about.  Julia Cameron writes, "The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight.  The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention."

I'm also reading, "A Return To Love."  I've only barely begun it.  It's given me new perspective on love and fear.  It's so easy for us to come from a place of fear in almost every aspect of our lives...relationships, career, taking a risky step, trusting yourself, and so many other ways.  Marianne suggests a change in perspective and coming to everything from a place of love instead of fear.  It's been making me see things about myself and my little world differently.  And that's a good thing.

I've been drawn to a few women photographers and I think it's because they embody the ideas in these books.  Sheye Rosemeyer, Elizabeth Messina, Melanie Mauer, and Stephanie Nielson also known as NieNie (I know that's she's not an official professional photographer...I'm awestruck by her anyway).

These women draw people to them because of their warmth, humanity, and their ability to pay attention, to see the beauty in people and the world, to see the simple as extraordinary, and to take refuge in love and it's ability to carry them in difficult times and into the hearts of others.  They pay attention and they seem to come from a place of love.

I've been inspired by what I've read and by these women and so I've started keeping a little Book of Love.  I want to pay attention.  In it, I'm keeping all of the things that I see...all of the things that I love.

Delight.

I'm on a quest.  If you're wondering where all of this is coming from...I'll share more about it...soon...

For now I'll leave a little list I've made.

 

I love...

*Fresh, red, ripe strawberries just pulled from the vine that have been warmed by the sun.

*The way the sky looks on a stormy day.  The clouds fluffy and gray and ominous while I drive in my car.  A couple of days ago there were fluffy white clouds and blue beautiful sky floating along lazily behind clouds that were stormy and dark and moving fast.  It was  such an odd and fascinating thing.  It was beautiful and I loved the contradiction...I've never before seen them like that, stormy with a gorgeous sky floating behind it, in the same piece of sky.

*An ice cold bottle (yes, bottle) of A&W Rootbeer after being in the sun.

*Tight hugs from Gracie that about pop my head from my neck, with deeply heartfelt "I love yous" whispered in my ear.

*My blue eyes.

*The wild chatter that goes on at the dinner table.

*The way each of the kids burst through the door at the end of a day at school.

*The quiet house in the morning just as everyone is very sleepily waking from dreaming.

*The sound of the rain starting to fall and hitting the leaves on all the trees in our backyard.  I love having the windows opens that I can hear it while I sit on the couch or when I'm at the sink in the kitchen or lying in bed.

*I love the way my kids find a newly washed pile of laundry irresistible for jumping in, cuddling in, and burying themselves in.

Move it Monday.

Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 at 08:38AM by Registered CommenterDavina in | Comments13 Comments

Quick reminder!

This month I'm giving away a Lowe's Gift Card for $75 because flowers and spring and sunshine and blue skies are upon us...and I love to see flowers spring up everywhere.

For May give me something crazy! Have fun! Do a self portrait (or have someone take it) of your crazy self doing some kind of crazy exercise. Send it in to me at davina at davinafear dot com and I'll post you on my blog! At the end of the month we'll all vote for our fave crazy exerciser.

funny. LIFE.

LOVE. LIFE. TIP. #19

Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 11:00PM by Registered CommenterDavina in | Comments9 Comments

 

I want to do it myself.

I'm sure you've heard this 100 (million) times, too...

Grace had planned out for a long time what dress she was going to wear the day of her party.  The whole time I'm thinking she's planning for her princess dress.  I'm thinking, "How hard can that be?" 

The day before her party, I found out she had a specific plan to wear her favorite skirt/jean/shirt combo when she woke up.  She would be wearing that "party dress" (her words) in the morning.  When the party was going to start she would change into her princess dress.

The picture posted above is her version of being ready for her Strawberry Shortcake princess flowers and butterflies party.  I didn't know princesses wore pioneer bonnets, but apparently this one does.  When she came down sporting this outfit I said to her, "I thought you were wearing your princess crown."  She said. "Nope."  And acted like this outfit was nothing short of fantastic and who wouldn't wear this fantabulous outfit to their 5 year old birthday party?

So.  That's what she wore.  No cajoling from me.  It was her party.  Her outfit.  Her plan.  And I wasn't getting in the way of fashion.

This morning my sweet little missies and I made a ginormous breakfast for ourselves while the boys were away on a camping trip. 

Miriam made the french toast from beginning to end, Emma made the bacon and got the strawberries ready for our yummy Strawberry and Whipped Cream French Toast, and Grace made the scrambled eggs with cheese...yes, all by herself...at the stove. (yes, I was a little nervous)

So as we're all working in the kitchen Miriam says, "These are the best looking French toasts I have ever seen."  Grace says, "These eggs are going to be soooo GOOD!"

Once we sat down to breakfast, Emma said, "This bacon is awesome."  And proceeded to eat most of it before anyone else even got to have any.  Grace said, "These eggs are sooo yummy!"  And Miriam said, "This is the best french toast I have ever had in my whole life!!"

I was talking to a friend about the idea of letting your kids do grown up things themselves.

Some of the things that my kids do on their own (including my just turned 5 year old):

Sweep the floor.

Set the table for dinner.

Help make dinner.

Pick out their own clothes to wear.

Clean the bathroom toliets.

Dust the house.

Vacuum.

Clean up after themselves.

Make brownies.

Plant a garden.

Make their own lunch.

Get their own snack.

Decorate their room.

Divide the laundry.

Go out to the woods together.

Plan their own parties.

Make invitations.

Write thank you notes.

Create art projects.

Plan summer projects and field trips.

Make their beds.

Make powerpoint presentations on the computer.

 

Okay...so this list is sounding like I had kids so they could do all my dirty work.  Maybe I did.  Don't judge me. :)

Really, though...I think kids derive a great deal of confidence from doing grown up things, learning how to do something that is hard, and being proud of the ability to accomplish something that some one older than them can do.  I believe in empowering my kids, giving them choices, letting them facing the consequences, allowing them to express themselves creatively, and giving them opportunities to gain the confidence that they can do hard things.

I also want my kids to understand that in a family everyone has a responsibility to make our home and family a safe, fun, clean, loving, and happy place. 

So even though I would love to tell my kids what to wear every day...(because, let's face it, they'd look a darn lot more put together and cuter if I chose their outfits).  I really do let them go to school in their favorite-shirt-that-I-had-to-sneak-into-their-room-and-put-in-the-wash-after-they-went-to-sleep-before-they-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-put-it-on-again or the skirt-and-jeans-combo (yes, I did write sKirt)  that's become Gracie's signature look. 

Even though some of their outfits are a little off the wall or don't match...I love those crazy outfits!  I love them mostly because I know it's my kids expressing themselves, showing their independence, and feeling good in what they're wearing.  I also love it because I think they look like kids should look...like they picked out their own clothes.  Some of my favorite pictures are the ones that show my kids in crazy outfits that they came up with...and yes, they are in a public place...yes, where the world can see that, yes, their mother let them out of the house looking like that...(and ohmiheck!  there is their mom!  what was she thinking?!)

I love that I can walk around my house and see one child laying on the couch completely engrossed in a book they've chosen from the shelf, 2 others kids up at the art table creating some fascinating project, and another outside with friends trying to figure out how to finish a teepee.  All of these things their own ideas.

I can't say I've never had a child come to me and say those two dreaded words...."I'm bored."  (To which I usually reply, "That's you're own fault.")

When my kids ask if they can help with something my answer is usually, "Yes."

I want them to hear that phrase a lot:  "Yes, you can."

Yes, you can choose your life.  Yes, you can make decisions.  Yes, you can see the consequences.  Yes, you can learn to do something difficult. 

Yes, you can be you.

empowered. LIFE.

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