Back-To-School time is truly one of my most favorite times of the year... I L-O-V-E the organization that the school year brings to me and my family. I am a planner at heart and having school in session means a routine. Don't get me wrong, I relish lazy mornings and days with my children during the summer, but a routine keeps our lives moving forward.
To get ready for school this year, we did our back-to-school shopping during the sale days a few weeks ago and I organized all that we purchased into bins and designated spaces for our children.
The spaces are our launching stations for the kids' school supplies, including school bags, coats and shoes. It makes getting ready for school a snap! Organization is key to get 3 kids off to school each day!
We even created a fun and great way too keep our daily events organized with a fancy chalkboard in a central location in our home.
To make it even more fun, I bought color chalk markers. Each Sunday night, we figure out what is happening for our week and get ready - sometimes mentally and physically (any of you other Moms have to stretch before the week starts, too??). I have had a fabulous summer and look forward to a fabulous new school year starting next week.
Find out more about how I am “Capturing Life’s Beautiful Moments” in my All Natural Light Studio and On Location for newborns and families in Augusta, GA; Evans, GA and Martinez, GA; Aiken, SC; Edgefield, SC and North Augusta, SC by visiting my website www.MaryBethsPhotography.com
I admit it... I am an outdoor girl at heart. There is something so tranquil about the beach to me... the sun, the surf and the carefree nature being on the shoreline does to me. I really feel like I am living a country music song about finding true love and living in the moment the second my toes touch the sand. There is something so intrinsically natural and relaxing when I am in a pair of sunglasses, with warm sunshine caressing my skin, a nice breeze cooling my toes and the smell of salt water putting my mind at peace. Just typing this, I can feel my shoulders starting to relax!!
So, it was with so much joy that my family and I agreed to spend a week with my sister and her family and my Mom and Step-dad at a Duck, NC beach for a week this summer. Because even a photographer needs a break to refresh, most of the photos I captured were with my Iphone (you can take the professional camera away from the girl, but you can't take the photographer out of the girl!). I couldn't help but fall in love all over again with watching my children play with their cousins. I couldn't help but fall in love all over again with how much I appreciate my sister and Mom. And I couldn't help but fall in love all over again with what the beach does for my soul. Beach time - it should be mandatory every year!
Find out more about how I am “Capturing Life’s Beautiful Moments” in my All Natural Light Studio and On Location for newborns and families in Augusta, GA; Evans, GA and Martinez, GA; Aiken, SC; Edgefield, SC and North Augusta, SC by visiting my website www.MaryBethsPhotography.com
After a summer filled with travel to places all along the East Coast - literally, my family and I traveled from Florida to Massachusetts with many stops in between from June until last weekend - I had to take a moment to appreciate what I have been enjoying this week... HOME!
Don't get me wrong, we had a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S summer filled with so much love, joy and adventure, but as Dorothy says during her final adventure in Oz, "There is no place like home".
Sweet Georgia peaches from our local farmstand and home grown tomatoes from our garden taste even better when sitting around our dining room table with my family chatting about the news of the day.
I couldn't believe how excited I have been to simply look around at all the handy work my husband has been doing, some of which I hadn't stopped to appreciate while we were traveling. How incredible to cuddle up with the family in our bed to watch a movie and lean against the hard work of my partner-in-crime and best friend who made our headboard, my husband, Brett.
I have admired our front door this week so much and I think that might be because the most important treasures in my life find so much comfort behind that door and so do I.
My crock pot was actually hugged this week when we returned home, because I have missed making meals in it for my family and I have chosen to stop and smell the roses - literally and figuratively - this week because they were blooming so beautifully and I needed to catch my breath as I got caught up on life in our home.
And last, but not least, I forgot how much time, effort and love was put into choosing our wall display portraits and I have loved snuggling on the couch with my children, my husband and our dog and looking over to see the most important parts of my heart and soul staring back at me. Life is so good and I am so thankful.
Find out more about how I am "Capturing Life's Beautiful Moments" in Augusta, GA; Evans, GA and Martinez, GA; Aiken, SC; Edgefield, SC and North Augusta, SC by visiting my website www.MaryBethsPhotography.com
