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Becky Novacek Photography bio picture

welcome to {beckynovacekphotography}

hi, i'm becky novacek and i'm happy you are checking out my website!

i have a passion for photography...particularly capturing people (you!) as naturally as possible. i'm a natural light photographer...and my style has been described as funky, artsy, modern, real and creative. i am based in fremont,nebraska, and i have recently leased a loft in our quaint downtown area. the loft is above a wonderful antique store called uncle sam's and you may even smell popcorn from downstairs while i'm taking your photos! as much as i love the loft, i do love to get out and do location shoots too.

it's my intention to use this blog to share my photography, both professional and personal, as well as some of my creative endeavors and opinions.

 

no more secrets…

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Posted in photography

at least for now! a couple of months ago, i was asked to team up with kelly noel (who i’ve met in real life and adore!) and elisha snow (who i’ve not yet met, but would like to) to write a book all about improving your portraits! the book is going to be available through ella publishing in april! i have to say that it has been a total pleasure to work with this stellar group of ladies! today, an article that i put together on upgrading your camera equipment will be featured on the ella blog. when they asked me to write this article, i knew right away what i wanted to cover. so, if you are thinking of upgrading or have recently started to become more interested in photography, you may want to check it out! to my sweet blog readers, i would love it if you would say “hey”. 

the model featured in the article is *my girl* lauren. she is one of my favorite models-thanks lauren! she is always willing to go with my ideas and just goes with it.

one of the shots in the article is a shot with lauren next to an electrical outlet. i could have edited that out, but sometimes i find the quirky everyday things add something that makes an image less “fussy” and more real. another image that i mention is a shot of a bride and groom in front of an art gallery with a garden hose in the shot. i thought about editing the hose out, but in the end, loved that it was there!

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megan and dave are among my favorites to photograph too. they are so full of life! and they are expecting a new little pink bundle very soon!

another shot that came to mind that i love that i initially didn’t think was a keeper-

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a shot like this is a good example of not being too “delete” happy when you first look through new images. i love that donna is in the background with her faithful suburban! i like the reality of the messy road and ditch, as well as jared’s hand helping to hold beth’s dress up.

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i love the focus on this one AND the glad bags at the bottom right of this shot. it’s real.

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the dumpster in this image is sort of fun, i think.

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this is a little different take…but sort of quirky in it’s own way. i love that grandma is sitting watching her babes. isn’t she adorable?

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there were a few shots of lauren that aren’t in the article, but that i really, really like.

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and last night i finished editing haylee’s 3 year shoot and this one just grabbed me-

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my idea for the backdrop turned out okay on this one. i actually think it’s more than okay!

i hope you enjoy the article and find it helpful!

the new jbs gallery is up. check it out. holy cow i love being a part of this team.

tomorrow and friday i will be taking a plus class on wedding photography. i am nervously excited! we received a list of what we need to bring, so i stayed up and got things put together and i think i’m ready!

have a wonderful week, God bless!

by admin

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another *b* list…

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Posted in *b* lists, photography

today’s list is one that i mentioned a while ago about readying your house for drop-in guests. but first, i want to share a couple of other things. surprise, right?

my friend becca is hosting her annual crop for a cause on saturday april 17! not only do ALL of the proceeds go to jdrf, but it’s a great time with lots and lots of perks for everyone who attends. even if you aren’t a scrapbooker, you can bring your knitting, your quilting projects, stamps, whatever! it’s a good opportunity to spend the day with a friend/friends and maybe accomplish a little something that you’ve not made the time for! plus your dollars could make the difference in finding a cure! it’s become increasing obvious to me that when you invest in others, the benefit comes back. i believe it’s because you reap what you sow. so go sign up for the crop for a cure! i’ll be there!

remember the “secret” photography project that i mentioned i was working on? not the wedding magazine cover, but the other one? tomorrow before i leave for wppi, i will link you to an article i wrote, sharing tips on buying or upgrading your camera equipment. that is the one thing that i think i receive more emails about than anything else. folks asking advice on what to buy when they are ready to upgrade. i think the article will give you some great basic info. the link and an announcement that i’m super excited about - tomorrow!

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this little collection of vintage stamps and paint sets are some of my favorites. the stamps were in a throwout pile and the paint tins were each $1 at an estate sale a few years ago. i love the sentiment on the tin-*happiness on every page*. love it.

my lunch yesterday was so yummy. i had to snap a pic-

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i drizzled a touch of market fresh asian sesame ginger dressing over this and gobbled up every bite. the beauty of this dressing is that a touch of it is LOADED with flavor, so you don’t need to use much. so good. i am already wanting to share an updated list of adult lunch ideas. i’ve been making lots of fun yummy stuff lately and i’ve seen some great ideas in blogland too.

speaking of blogland. a couple of weeks ago, i challenged a group of my oldest friends to each start a blog. really, it was more than a challenge. i sort of forced the issue and dared them. i even had ideas for each of them. i told them even if they were “a one post wonder”, they needed to do this! i even gave them a deadline. ballsy, huh? so friends, if you’re reading, you have 4 weeks until the big reveal! i’ll be linking 7 brand spanking new, never before read blogs. some will be funny, some will be inspirational, some will be practical….but i love these girls so much, they will all be amazing! i can’t wait to share my friends and all they have to offer with you!

ten minute spruce up *b* list

  • keep one area tidy most of the time. duh. but honestly, this was a huge revelation to me. if you have the luxury of having a larger home, i would suggest keeping your front room tidy. my house is set up perfectly for this. my family room can be a disaster (and often is!) but since it’s in the back of the house, i can have drop-ins come into my living room and not be mortified. here’s something that i really feel strongly about: don’t make the mistake of being so into what others think, that you don’t even start or ever do anything creative, because you don’t want to deal with the mess. especially if you have children at home. let your house be messy. it’s so worth it. it makes me sad when appearances matter more than experiencing creativity or life in general. i find some messes to be beautiful. for example, a kitchen alive with activity in the midst of baking or cooking something fabulous!
  • clutter collection room. another luxury. if i’m in the middle of a messy project and someone calls, i grab my laundry basket, throw things in the basket and put it in my laundry room. i shut the door and deal with it later. awww. freeing.
  • stack it. i’m a book and paper person, so instead of throwing all my paper treasures in the laundry basket, i simply make as tidy a pile as i’m able. when my guests leave, i’m usually motivated to deal with my stacks.
  • make your bed. just get in the habit. so simple. words of wisdom from my gram. one thing that makes all the difference in how your  bedroom looks.
  • get rid of overflowing trash. when i’m cooking, i have the habit of throwing all the trash in a small bag hanging in front of the sink. when i’m done cooking, i take that one small bag out. but, it does look pretty gross if it’s not dealt with pronto.
  • spray your sinks with bleach or vinegar mix. this is so simple, but makes a huge difference. i learned this little tip from the same lady who i learned the dusting trick (spraying a damp rag with dusting spray, rather than spraying every piece of furniture…the best cleaning tip ever!). when i was in the cleaning business, i would arrive at her back door, and walk into her kitchen to a clean smelling sink that was freshly sprayed. it saves on actual scrubbing time too.
  • disinfecting wipes. i don’t use these on a regular basis, but they are handy if you need to quickly spruce up a bathroom or kitchen.
  • deal with mail immediately. this has been life changing for me. when tom brings the mail in, i immediately throw out the trash mail. i file everything else right then. it takes seconds and i don’t have to handle it again.
  • vacuum or swiffer. i only have one room of carpet on the main floor, so i can vacuum that room in about a minute if i have to. if you have wood floors and you don’t have a swiffer, go out and buy one today. huge time saver.
  • be real. accept that perfection is very unrealistic. unless you choose to live a very superficial life. if appearances outweigh living, then i guess i’m wrong! most of my close friends know me, and most likely i wouldn’t even bother to do this quick spruce up if they were stopping by. since i run a business from my home, i do need to try to keep things somewhat orderly, but i think i’ve found a balance that i’m comfortable with….at least for the moment!

thank you so much for reading. i am feeling very grateful right now. knowing that i’ve basically been able to build a photography business because of all of you.  i just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart!

God bless you!

by admin

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the sun is shining…

Monday, March 1, 2010 Posted in crafting, decorating

and this winter, that is not to be taken for granted! before i go on, i want to say thank you to everyone who took the time to comment on friday’s post about morgan. your kind words and thoughts meant a lot to us. the grief is still hitting in waves and i’m sure that will continue. it has really been making me appreciate scooter and sophie. i know my days with them, especially sophie are limited, so i’m particularly aware of their presence in our home. i can’t imagine life without my little sidekicks.

this weekend, i rented 3 movies to watch as i worked on 6 assignments that were due today. i watched post grad (with alexis bledel of gilmore girls), love happens, and time traveler’s wife. i didn’t have high expectations of post grad, but i did enjoy it. i like alexis bledel and with carol burnett, jane lynch (from glee!) and michael keaton…how could you not enjoy it at least a little? love happens was a good rental and i’m not sad that i didn’t see it in the theatre. in my opinion, time traveler’s wife would seem really strange if you hadn’t read the book. i wasn’t as huge a fan of the book as many of my friends, but i liked it okay. i don’t know that i would have liked the movie at all without the knowledge i had from reading the book. so 3 movies equalled 6 projects all turned in! here’s a little peek at one of them-

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my home project did not go so well. my brilliant idea was not so brilliant, it turns out. i am not particularly fond of the brick in our family room. i wanted to paint it, but tom is not at all for that idea. so i came up with the thought of covering an inset of corrugated board with wallpaper. my plan was to use spray adhesive and give it a shot. there were so many ways that this went wrong that i won’t even bore you with the details. although it won’t work as an inset for our fireplace and built-ins, i’m thinking with a little work, it could be a fun backdrop for photos.

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i spent some time cooking over the weekend too. i used my le creuset to make classic roast beef (simplified beef bourguignon) and ina’s corn chowder. the chowder recipe makes a HUGE amount, so i took some to my parents and to a friend who wasn’t feeling well….plus tom and i ate it and we still have tons leftover. when it called for 10 cups of corn, i should have known. no regrets on my investment with the le creuset, it really does make a difference. as we were eating the roast, tom said, “why is this soooo good? is it really that pot?” yes, i think it does make that much difference.

one more thing. my butterflies are getting stronger, as wppi gets closer. i rarely EVER get nervous about traveling or attending events like this. no idea why i am having such a reaction. last night, i made a list of all the things i want to show tom and things that i want us to remember to check out. i have 12 places listed. as i was researching things, i noticed that the social house at treasure island seems to be non-existent. has anyone been there recently? that was one of our favorite places to eat when i went with the autumn leaves girls. i am going to be really sad if it’s gone. has anyone eaten at mix at mandolay bay? any other must-see or must try things you would suggest in vegas? i’d love to hear your ideas!  i’ll be busy, but we’ll have more downtime than i’ve ever had when i’ve been there. i can not wait!

i almost forgot something very important. my sweet payton turned 8 on saturday. this boy is so sensitive and at the same time funny, such an artist and yet such a boy. i just love him to pieces.

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have a good monday and God bless!

by admin

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she was loved….

Friday, February 26, 2010 Posted in pet photography, photography

morgan-018-weband she loved us back unconditionally. morgan sue.

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today is a difficult day for our family. brooke and josh got morgan before they were married 9 years ago. she has been a faithful, loving member of their family. she forever has a piece of my heart because of her loyalty to my children and grandchildren. the kids could literally climb on her and use her as a backrest as they watched sesame or dora, and she didn’t get annoyed or act put out. she would just allow them to do whatever. payton will be 8 tomorrow and he has never known life without morgan. none of the kids have. we are all such animal lovers, particularly fond of dogs. she was such a special, sweet tempered girl. we will miss you morgan. i pray that all dogs really do go to heaven.

by admin

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redundant much?

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Posted in decorating

i feel like i need to apologize. i have been like a stinkin’ broken record lately. maybe it has something to do with not getting out much? on a positive note, i guess redundancy does indicate authenticity….like i’m saying it so much, i must mean it, right? i can definitely laugh at myself. eye-yi-yi. so rather than saying blah, blah, blah…i’ll keep it short today.

jen asked me recently in a comment how i find out about local estate sales. well, i am on a mailing list, so i receive a flyer whenever my local estate sale group holds a sale. before i got on the list, i would usually just find sales when i was driving and happened to see a sign. sometimes i find out about sales through our local newspaper. since i started my blog, sometimes people locally will email me or call and ask if i know about a sale. i love that. one time a year or so ago, i got a call from someone i barely know, asking if i was aware of a really great little old lady’s garage sale. i dropped what i was doing and drove straight to the sale! it was fabulous, full of all kinds of things that you find ONLY at 90 year old lady’s sales. my favorite. i actually have quite a bit in common with 90 year old ladies : )

i found this gorgeous book at the sale last weekend-

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at $1 i couldn’t resist. plus, my sweet mama’s name is peggy.

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my little peat moss with colored pencils continues to make me smile.

i’m still anxiously waiting for a big box of “wedding essentials” magazines with phil and monae on the cover. yesterday, i was corresponding with a couple of brides i’ll be meeting with to discuss photographing their weddings and it occurred to me how bonded i feel with couples when i shoot their weddings. they may not even fully understand how connected i feel with them. i’m like a silent cheerleader as i hear how their lives are going…i rejoice in their happinesses and mourn when they experience losses. yesterday i found out that another of “my” brides is pregnant! she will be having a little pink bundle in about 5 weeks! so, that makes 2 couples who are expecting! so excited for them both! i also found out that one of my brides lost her father yesterday and my heart aches for her, her husband and their family. i woke up at 5 this morning and she was the first person i thought of. her dad was just a great guy….and so young. it hits me how fragile life is. i just really feel for them. maybe it’s because i am involved in such an important time in their lives, but i think it’s also all the time i spend looking at them while i edit their images. i just have such an unexplainable connection with them.

hug your loved ones and tell them that you love them.

God bless!

by admin

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so many ideas….

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Posted in *b* lists, children, photography

the change of seasons has it’s benefits. i think being couped up so much has sparked something in me that wants updates and changes. i have all of these ideas for my home and the loft, and yesterday i actually did something about it. one of my ideas for a new backdrop worked beautifully! you will definitely be seeing it in some upcoming shoots. it’s not original, but it is based on something i’ve loved for a long time, so i do feel some ownership.

my other recent idea was a home decor project. i was so pleased with my DIY plan…..but alas, it did not work out as planned. tom isn’t as keen on home improvement projects as i am, so i was concerned that he would think that i should give it up. but this morning he called me and thinks he has a solution that will work! i’m so thrilled that we are going to figure out a way to make it work. i can’t wait to show you when we get it in place. i am not the most patient when it comes to projects, but i’m trying!

i also came up with an idea for setting up the loft more efficiently. it’s definitely a hodgepodge of furniture right now. as i was looking over some home decor magazines, i came up with a plan that i think will work at the loft….now i just need to save for the pieces i will need to make it happen. i will also need another trip to ikea.

all these ideas and my drive to constantly make things and update has me thinking….there is a fine line between being content with what you have and not just settling for things the way they are. i never want to settle. i find such joy in updating my space, even if it’s just adding a new little shadowbox i’ve made or filling the silver compote with pretty seasonal candy. it’s my bliss. i just need to keep myself in check that i’m not obsessed with it in an unhealthy way, ya know?

my list today is very random…but there is a basic theme : )

*b* list of things to think about:

  • the aging process is hopefully learning to live with less regrets. i’ve been thinking about how many regrets i used to have. it’s not that i don’t have any regrets now, it’s just that i have learned a few simple life lessons that i don’t compromise on and it really lessens regrets. i think perspective has a lot to do with it too. plus, taking risks is not as scary, the older i get. i don’t want to live a life of mediocrity…in any aspect.
  • “we are shaped and fashioned by what we love.” johann wolfgang von goethe
  • i’ve never regretted a single penny i’ve spent on photos or art. i know that is a very biased statement considering that’s my living….but i’ve also never felt anything but joy for my clients who purchase photos of their loved ones. i am confident that they will never regret it either! the way we spend money is comparable to how we spend time, in my opinion. a person who thinks they have no money for one thing, but will spend countless dollars eating fastfood is baffling to me. or a person who says they have no time, but watches everything on t.v., is also baffling to me. we all get warped ideas from time to time on things that are too close and we have no perspective on. and speaking of art, i just found out that my cousin nick’s son cody has this going on: cody brown artwork. so excited for him! here’s a quote i love: “gazing on beautiful things acts on my soul”. michelangelo.
  • i need to stay humble. i experienced a sleepless night recently and as i was praying for God to show me what i was so restless about, He revealed something to me about a relationship that i was totally offbase on. i thought i was respecting this loved one’s space, but really i needed to reach out and invest in that person. just when you think you are getting smarter, bam! i realize that i know very little.
  • if you could take a year off, what would you do? this question was posed at a recent Bible study i attended and it really caused me to pause. i really don’t want to take a year off, because life is good, but there are some things that i know i want to make more time for. i’m still working on balance and priorities.
  • “moderation in everything, even in virtue” dr. suvi. just food for thought. i’ve been pondering this quote for a while now. i read this quote in the context of someone refusing to take a drink of alcohol, even for medicinal purposes. sometimes, i think we can get too wrapped up in rules. rules are good and keep us safe, but when the rules are our only focus, we miss out on other important things.
  • “we ourselves have both the task and the pleasure of organizing and shaping our lives for the good of the soul.” thomas moore.

i just wanted to give you some food for thought. if we never think about these things and just keep our lives full of activities, i think we limit our happiness and fulfillment.

yesterday, i had the opportunity to photograph haylee in honor of her 3rd birthday. i took her first photos when she was only 24 hours old and have taken many more in her 3 years! since i love, love, love newborns, hope let me watch her from time to time her first 8 weeks. i can’t believe she’s almost 3!

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thanks for having me take haylee’s photos hopey!

have a great day everyone and God bless!

by admin

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kicking in again…

Monday, February 22, 2010 Posted in crafting, photography

this week, as i look at my calendar, i see that the photo shoots are starting up at a more regular pace again. it’s very typical for january and february to be a little slow as far as actual shoots go. especially given our lovely weather in this area. i love doing snow shoots, but i haven’t had a lot of clients who were willing to brave the cold and messiness of snow. i am so thankful that this winter may have been slow as far as shooting, but business was not slow. lots of high school seniors placed orders in the past weeks and i kept suprisingly busy with photography and scrapbooking assignments. much to be thankful for. i don’t take it for granted AT ALL! since i haven’t been shooting as many photos, i have had an opportunity to sleep normal hours and even reorganize many areas of my home. that feels good. brooke and i plan to have the granddaddy of all garage sales this spring! so, as the winter starts to ease it’s way out and spring is close (i hope!) i’m refreshed and ready to get back to shooting! i’m chomping at the bit! i am taking haylee’s 3 year photos today and i have so many ideas, it’s crazy! i just need to pace myself. i’m going to the loft early to work on a backdrop idea and tom is going to join me for lunch at the loft.  the loft has been a little neglected recently, so i need to focus on freshening it up. i went to an estate sale this weekend and found a pair of vintage wooden chairs for $9! i also found a cabinet to use to display photography products (at the loft).

in the past week, i’ve been enjoying the winter evenings in my studio. that is one thing i do like about our cold winters. it’s perfect for staying in and making stuff. here’s a little peek at a project i made for the jbs inspo blog-

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you can see the whole layout, plus another later today here.

if you are a fan of design aglow, like i am. check out the “sweet 16″ giveaway here. you have until tomorrow to comment and have a chance to win!

i have the sweet 16 template and love it!

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you can see a snippet of one of my personal “sweet 16″s. i see that the version they are giving away is “sweet 16 fleur”. very pretty!

next week, tom and i will be taking off for vegas to attend wppi. this will be my first time attending and i am soooo excited! and also a little nervous. i know that i will learn a lot and that’s what i really want. so i’m sure it will be a great experience….it’s just a little intimidating!

one more note as a reminder to seniors: this week is the deadline for the local paper graduation section. let me know which image you would like in the paper and i will send your digital file. the digital file is going to be much better quality than turning in a wallet. thanks!

another note to clients: i have approached a few of you (whose homes i’ve been in) about photographing your photos and how you have used them as art in your homes. if you are willing to let me photograph your home and share with other clients how you’ve incorporated your photos in your home, let me know! i’d love to stop by and snap a few pics for an upcoming idea brochure! i’m VERY excited about this! thanks for considering this.

have a great monday and God bless!

by admin

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sweetness….

Thursday, February 18, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized, babies, children, cooking, crafting, food, photography

my friend pam and i share a love for jane austen. she belongs to a real jane austen book club…so i feel free to talk about jane austenish things any time i’m with her. i told her that i had forgotten about the new “emma” series until about an hour into it. i was so sad. a couple of sundays ago, she brought “emma” dvds to me. i just finished watching and i wasn’t disappointed. after seeing a couple different adaptations, i was prepared for it to go either way. i thought romola garai was a fitting emma. i just realized that she starred in “i capture the castle” (which i read a year or so ago and enjoyed). now i want to find it and watch the movie! i also liked dan fredenburgh as mr knightley. yes, indeed.

now a confession. if someone asked me what types of movies i like, i would definitely answer with movie titles that you would expect. however, i have a dark side too, when it comes to movies. i enjoy super sophmoric humor. movies that are basically against everything i believe in and yet the humor sucks me in. really bad movies.  in fact our family has a sort of twisted sense of humor.

we all quote these movies….

“i think i’m missing a tooth?”

 ”i look like a nerd hillbilly” (my personal favorite),

“what’s a liger? it’s pretty much my favorite animal, it’s like a tiger and a lion mixed….bred for it’s skills in magic”

“build her a cake or something”

“why are you so sweaty? i was watching COPS”

okay, so now you know. i’m FAR from perfect!

as i watched the last segment of emma, i made a super simple scrapbook page. i’ve already done a lovebird page of jared and beth, but when i saw the adorable chipboard birds on a limb from KI, i knew that i wanted to make another lovebird page. i think i’ll put the two pages on a spread together. i do love when a simple single product inspires a page. simple as it is. 

feb-17-10-006_1-web i just rented disc 4 (the last one) of season one of glee. sooo, i’m sure that i will be motivated to do some crafting assignments soon.

i’ve been saving my birthday and Christmas gift cards and cash for something special. i know how easy it is to blow through cash. usually my tendency is to use it for books or camera equipment….but this year i had another thing in mind.

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i was planning to buy a smaller one, but i knew that i would probably regret it, so i splurged. no regrets. unfortunately, when i was looking at it again last night, i noticed a slight crack…so i have to take it back and exchange it. i can’t wait to make something in it!

i have some sweet images to share today. i met up with sarah and travis (our niece and her husband) and their two adorable kiddos last saturday for gavin’s 9 month photos. 9 months is one of my favorite ages for photos. my all-time favorite photo of molly is one from her 9 month shoot. it still hangs on our wall. tom calls it “the photo”. i hope that sarah and trav look at these of gavin and see one that will be “the photo”. both gavin and ella are soooo precious!

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he is scrumpcious, no?

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as is his sister.

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i’m lucky that i get to photograph them. yes, i am.

tonight, is girl’s night out. i’m looking forward to a night of good food, great conversation and lots of laughs. the birthday girl is kathy (my friend with endless funny stories….the unicycle date, the target bathroom mistake, annie’s resurrection….), so it’s sure to be fun!

have a great day and God bless!

by admin

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*b* list of challenges…

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 Posted in *b* lists, beliefs, crafting, photography

because i know that i can be motivated by a good challenge, i thought maybe it would be fun to throw a few challenges out to you…and some that i need for myself as well.

first, i need to remind all of my high school senior clients to let me know which image you want me to send to the local paper. just email me: bnovacek@aol.com. don’t scan your photos! let me send the digital files please and thank you!

if you are a high school junior or you are the parent of a high school junior, it’s not too early to book senior photos! last year, i had to turn a few clients away because it was too late and i was booked. so don’t procrastinate! let’s get it booked early rather than too late!

*b* list of challenges

  • make 8 (or one for each family member)scrapbook layouts for your albums using the same basic “sketch/design”. since i have a scrapbook for each of my 8 grandchildren, this works well for me to do a layout for each child. so i would challenge you to do at least 4 layouts for this challenge. if you only have 2 children, i would challenge you to do a layout about the adults in the family too. here are the particulars:

            1. create a basic layout using products you already have. no shopping for new products…using what you already have is the really gratifying part of this challenge! most of us already have more than enough products!

           2. find a topic that you really want to either document or convey to your loved ones. i came up with a topic that i am passionate about (more about what inspired me in challenge 2)and then used the same basic journaling on all 8 layouts. that saved a lot of time….and the message was exactly the same for all 8, so why mix up the wording?

          3. keep the basic design the same, but try to use different embellies on each one. i always find boy layouts more challenging….because of my love for all things ruffly and girly : )

here are my 8-

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for those of you who work in the craft industry, you know the pressure we feel to do something really great every time we make something…..that’s what you have to let go of with this challenge. these layouts are not masterpieces, but by making them with no pressure, i feel my creativity surging. i don’t know how that works, i just know that it works! try it!

  • read something inspiring. my friend sandy handed a book to me last summer during a Bible study we were going to. i hardly remember what she said about it, other than it was really fresh and that she thought i might like it. well, i just got around to reading it and i must say that she was right! i’ve been reading it as i do my cardio and it actually makes me want to work out! i’m only on page 86, but i am finding this little book to be very inspiring. it’s called, “pray & watch” and it’s written by neal and judy brower. i had no idea who they were or where they were from, although i think sandy said that she had heard them speak. so after reading a chapter i found particularly relevant, i brought the book upstairs so i could check out their website. i was surprised to see that they live within an hour of me! i emailed both neal and judy and have their permission to share a quote. i chose a quote from the chapter (which inspired the layouts i made above) called, “the ONE thing”

“the one thing that matters most is people finding Jesus. this ONE thing matters above all else in life”.

i realized as i read that, that i spend so much of my time conveying my own love for my family and friends, but i really haven’t spent enough time expressing how passionate i am about sharing my faith and belief in Jesus and the Word with them. that is what inspired me to create the layouts that i made for all 8 of our grandchildren. i want them to know without a shadow of a doubt what i believe and what my hope is for them. to make their faith their own. i won’t always be here to talk to them. i found it interesting that i wrote my journaling as if i were already gone. of course, i’m hoping that they see humility, peace and joy in my life and want to make their faith their own based on that. here’s another quote from the book that i find so refreshing:

“God has always used broken people who are humble. we are all broken and there is no greater demonstration of our humility than when we come to the Source in open-handed prayer.”

“He put His light in us to shine through us. that has nothing to do with good behavior and is sometimes better exhibited in the grace applied to our bad behavior. it is the good work of surrender that allows that light to shine out of us. guilt, duty, obligation, inadequacy and fear are on the verge of passing away!”

i hope this has made you curious to read more. it’s life changing, refreshing, eternity focused stuff. there is only one resource right now for neal and judy’s books-check out the resource section of their website here. thanks to sandy for giving me this book!

  • try a new recipe. if you read my blog, you know that i am on a new recipe kick! btw, roasted veggies have changed my life! last night i roasted all the veggies in my fridge-including roasted brussel sprouts (tomorrow is grocery day) and put them on my half of a homemade pizza (tom had hamburger/onion pizza). i didn’t use pizza sauce either, i just topped my half with a little cheese, then the veggies, then more cheese. yum. i’m having a slice for lunch today.
  • step up your workout. i hadn’t been pushing myself at all on my workouts…until i caught a few bits and pieces of biggest loser and realized that my workouts have been totally lame. i was just going through the motions. i’ve been trying to add more intensity to my cardio for the past couple of weeks and i’m adding more crunches every workout. my abs hurt and i like it!
  • do more for others. i’m working on this one. i am consciously thinking about getting my eyes off myself and my goals (i’m pretty driven, ya know?!) and find ways that i can give. i shared that i am volunteering my time and photography skills for “royal family kids camps”, which is a brand new local organization that i believe in with every fiber of my being! i consider it an honor to be able to do this. if you are in my area and want to help in any way….time, fundraising, donating….let me know. i can put you in touch with the right people.
  • change one vignette in your home. some of us get in a rut. it is amazing how a little change can improve our attitude. i shared a new little vignette in my home yesterday and plan to share a tour of my entire home soon. things are getting in order!

one more thing that i want to share. i get quite a few emails about photography. probably the number one topic is “what should i buy/what camera/equipment do you recommend?” well, i recently put together a simple article (with photos) answering these questions and more. this article is associated with some exciting happenings that i wrote about, but couldn’t share details about, a while ago on my blog. the secret will be out soon and i can’t wait! i am particularly excited about the images. lauren and i had a GREAT time and she looks amazing!

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i can’t wait to share this article soon!

God bless your day!

by admin

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right now.

Monday, February 15, 2010 Posted in decorating

as i sit editing photos at the far end of our family room, i often have the tv on, but i’m not necessarily “watching”. if i hear something i’m interested in, i may stop and pay attention. lots of times, i’ll have the tv on sirius radio and be listening to the gospel or r & b stations. but i must admit that i am somewhat addicted to hgtv. a few days ago, i had the tv on “dear genevieve” on hgtv. i wasn’t paying much attention at first, but as they were talking i had to look and see what was going on. this couple had put an addition on their home 10 years ago and had never finished it. they hadn’t been able to agree on a plan for decorating it, so they were living every day with a completely unfinished bedroom. i was appalled….but then i started thinking about the things i’m living with in my own home that aren’t finished. sure, the show was to the extreme, but i couldn’t help but think about the ruts that i’ve gotten into and don’t even see anymore. it made me realize that i need to see my own projects to completion. not with an instant gratification mindset, but with a plan to see my vision through.

all this makes me think about something that i try to live by always….but don’t always succeed at. i intend to live each day paying attention to little details that mean something to me. i don’t want to live my life on hold “until this happens or that happens” and then i can start living. i get lazy sometimes and don’t take time to live intentionally. but when i do, i find myself frustrated and don’t really know why. so i am going to be mindful today….lighting candles, playing good music, having an afternoon cup of tea in my favorite antique cup, etc….those little things make a huge difference to me. PLUS, i’m going to make a point of finishing up my unfinished projects. this really motivates me to get my house in order. not just decluttered, but set up the way i want it. not putting off what i can do RIGHT NOW. there are so many things that we can do right now and then move on.

last night, i did finish the last of 8 layouts for a scrapbooking challenge i gave myself. i did this last winter and found it to be extremely gratifying. it was even more gratifying this year! i can’t wait to share the details with you tomorrow!

this past weekend, tom and i went to one of the local antique malls that we enjoy perusing. i love that tom gets the way that i am about antiquing. i don’t like to talk a lot when i’m looking. plus, i like to be sort of a loner as i look. it’s a real escape for me. i like to be able to think and process how i would incorporate the things i see in my own home or art projects. i am easily distracted, so i don’t like to chitchat continuously. i enjoy shopping with others in the sense that it’s fun to come together after looking around and share ideas and get input from tom or my friends. so i’m not a total antiquing loner!

i found some really fun things friday and saturday! i’ll be sharing photos when i get them cleaned up and in place. i did make the time to get these beauties where i wanted them yesterday-

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oh how i love them! i am thrilled when i find something so simple and inexpensive that makes me this happy!

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i think it fits in really well with my other collections. i do have collections.

here’s something that is so simple, but i don’t always take the time for-

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this winter we’ve been eating a lot of oranges and grapefruit. plus, i’ve been using lemons and limes in many of the new recipes i’ve been trying, so i try to use the “ends” for my drinks. i always wash the whole fruit super thoroughly with my fruit/veggie wash. depending on the restaurant, i will or won’t ask for lemon or lime in my drink, because of my paranoia about the cleaniliness….as much as i love a good citrus twist.

one more thing. this weekend, i did a quick happy valentine’s blog post and shared that we had seen the movie- valentine’s day. the day after we saw it, tom and i were talking about it and i shared how much ashton kutcher still reminds me of jared. in the opening scene, when ashton’s character gets out of bed and has on sports shorts and a t-shirt, it blew me away! his casual attitude, easy smile and mannerisms remind me soooo much of my boy! makes me like ashton much more! when brooke was young, we had a summer when everywhere we went, people thought she was drew barrymore. so i guess both of my kids have a celebrity twin!

tomorrow, i’ll be sharing my layouts with a challenge for you as well as a *b* list!

have a great monday!

God bless!

by admin

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