Our Newest Venture

Evan and I are really excited about our latest venture with the business. We are opening up a one-stop-shop for anything to do with weddings. We are also opening a studio at the same place. It's a big house in downtown Reno and contains a wide variety of vendors that are amazing. We are going to have an official Open House the beginning of December so if you are interested in stopping by and seeing it, keep checking back for the date. Until then, we have a Facebook page and a blog so become a follower or "Like" it. Here are the links:

Blog

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Let us know what you think!

Week 42

*For explanation of The Happiness Experiment" go HERE .*


Secret #83
Enjoy the ordinary.


"You do countless things in the average day that can be labeled as chores or can relabeled as enjoyable. Walking the dog is something that has to be done, yes, but while you walk the dog you get some pleasant exercise, some time to think, and a chance to see the neighbors and the neighborhood. Enjoy what you do every day."


If we make everyday a special day it will make it a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning. Instead of just thinking, "Today is going to be just another regular day."


"In a study of over thirteen-thousand people, 96 percent of subjects rated their satisfaction with life typically no higher than "fairly positive." The satisfied life was not one of extremes but of steady, generally positive feelings."


Secret #84
Focus not on the world's tragedies, but on the world's hope.


"Many sad things happen in our world, but rather than focusing on them, have hope for the future. Think of the world's potential. Perhaps the future holds the curing of diseases, the end of violence, the amelioration of poverty and hunger."


I'm noticing more and more as I go through this book, that positive thinking is a HUGE part of being happy. Ignoring all the negative feelings out there and focusing on the good. Keeping yourself positive will lead to happiness.


"Over nine in ten Americans are uncomfortable or worried about aspects of the world and of society. The difference between more and less happy people is what they do with that discomfort. Less happy people wallow in the problems they see, while happier people focus on potential improvements in the future."

Week 41

*For explanation of The Happiness Experiment" go HERE .*


Secret #81
Be conscientious.


"Finish what you start. Care about what you are doing, and do it right. Although being conscientious is not as easy as slacking off, we feel better about ourselves when we do a good job."


This is so true. I do feel better when I finish a task and when I do a good job. I admit I am kind of a slacker and will whole-heartedly agree that slacking off is WAY easier than focusing on the task at hand and getting it done. So this will be a good challenge for me this week.


"Research on adults reveals that a tendency to be disciplined, deliberate, and dutiful has an 18 percent positive effect on happiness."


Secret #82
Don't dwell on unwinnable conflicts.


"Move on. The problems you spend your time and energy on should be both important and improvable. Otherwise, you are better off moving on to things you can change."


The book puts it best saying that we are all like Sisyphus, always pushing a boulder up a hill just to have it roll back down before we get to the top. It's pointless. "The beauty of real life, though, is that our boulders are of our own creation and will disappear if we just stop pushing."


"Many people experience conflict in balancing their time between work and home. Studies find that people who want to spend more time in both settings wind up feeling decreased satisfaction at home and at work. Those who recognize that their limited time is a conflict without a readily available solution are one-fourth more likely to feel comfortable with themselves than those who do not."

Growing Up

After going through my "to post to blog" photos, I thought I would post these and start posting more after that. So now for your viewing pleasure...my kids. I have very mixed emotions about how fast they are growing up.

Iris loved her fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar that we found while we were at Grandpa and Grandma's.

These are all photos from a little photo session we did with the kids. Sometimes they cooperate for photos and sometimes they don't.

This is how Iris has started smiling when we tell her to smile for the camera. Where do kids get that?

I hardly ever comb his hair. Actually it's almost never this long, but he does look handsome with it all slicked down.

Donevan has a slight obsession with his belly and belly button.

Another obsession.

 Rare photos of them both looking in the same direction. So hard to get them to look at the same time.

Even harder to get them to look and smile at the same time!

Precious!

My world!

Now that I have posted these, I need to go through the rest of the photos and get more on here. 

Just to fill you in on what is going on here with us:

I only have 10 more weeks until #3 comes. I am constantly questioning whether I am ready for 3 or not. I don't think I'll ever be ready, but she's gonna come whether I'm ready or not.

Business has exploded this year. That's one of the biggest reasons for lack of posts. I am really busy with editing photos, making albums, and of course being a mom. But I have made me promise to myself to post more and let everyone know what we are up to.

My garden did great this year. I wasn't too sure if I was going to get anything because it stayed cold for so long and I got everything in so late, but I was able to get a ton of wonderful produce this year and I am already getting excited for next year. I did take pictures so hopefully I will get those on here soon.

Iris started ballet once a week. She loves getting dressed up in her leotard and tights and spinning around and being beautiful. We are also doing preschool once a week with other moms and both kids like it a lot. It is our turn to host next week and we are focusing on the letter "c". Should be fun.

I know there is a lot I am leaving out, but I don't want this post to be too long. So I will try and keep more up to date as I post more pictures.

Week 40

I can't believe it is already October! This whole year has gone by so fast!

Secret #77
Use your job positively.


"At its best, work gives us a sense of purpose and enhances our appreciation of our life outside of the workplace. Appreciate all that your job gives you, and it will help you appreciate what really matters."


I guess if nothing else your job and having to go to work can help us remember how good it is to go home and be with our families.

I found this next statistic very interesting.

"Research on over 1,500 mothers found that working outside the home increased life satisfaction 5 percent and contributed to a feeling of equality in the family"


Secret #78
Don't forget to have fun.


"Every day leave yourself some time to enjoy, to be silly, to laugh."


I think it's a little sad that we have to schedule in silly time. But it's even more sad how true it is. Sometimes we get so caught up with life that we forget to live. Why can't we be like the kids we used to be? We didn't have to think about having fun. We just did it.

"Regularly having fun is one of the five central factors in leading a satisfied life. Individuals who spend time just having fun are 20 percent more likely to feel happy on a daily basis and 36 percent more likely to feel comfortable with their age and stage in life."


Secret #79
Believe in ultimate justice.


"That there are many problems in the world is obvious to anyone, but take comfort in the notion that eventually good prevails. Whether your focus is on the criminal justice system or a spiritual system, realize that those who have wronged the world will eventually pay some price."


"Regardless of the experiences subjects personally dealt with, whether they had personally been the victim of a crime or known someone close who had, those who believed the world is ultimately just retained a 13 percent higher level of life satisfaction."


Secret #80
Reminisce.


"Think of the happy times you, your family, and friends have had together. Recalling happiness of the past has the powerful ability to bring us happiness in the present."


I love love love remembering the past and all the wonderful times I've had with family and friends. It is so much fun recalling all the silly times and all the fun happy moments. I've heard a quote before that goes something like this: "A happy memory is the ability to gather roses in winter." So true. I happy memory can brighten any gloomy mood.

"When people consciously choose to think back on their past, over 80 percent tend to focus on very positive memories."


I've been working on the folder of pictures that I have to post on this blog, so hopefully I will somehow get the motivation to get them on here. Can anyone ship me some motivation? I'll pay for postage.