13 Unconventional Instagrammers You Need in Your Life

Whattup Humbletakes Fam?

Quick holla to my May MMS'er! You guys killed it and I love ya. June is such a beautiful time of year for pictures. I can't wait for my June MMS dates! Book below:

June 3rd: BOOK HERE

June 11th: BOOK HERE

June 24th: BOOK HERE

As y'all well know I'm full on obsessed with Instagram. I am constantly amazed by all of the creative people in the world! I am inspired by many different mediums. Drawing, cookie decorating, painting, sculpture, planner organization, hand lettering...all of it unconventional for what you would think I'd be in to. Here are my top 13 unconventional instagramers, for now...

1: @paperboyo

I love him because: his perspective makes me look at things differently

2: @edgar_artis

I love him because: using objects for high fashion gown design blows my mind

3: @suzanneheintz

I love her because: her humor is tongue in cheek and a bit cheesy; she makes fun of herself and society

4: @sean_charmatz

I love him because: his animations always make me smile, always

5: @graymalin

I love him because: his work is bright and fun and makes me daydream about vacationing

6: @herhazeleyes.studio

I love her because: she makes words more interesting

7: @hol_fox

I love her because: her cookies are more than cookies, they're art

8: @tanaka_tatsuya

I love him because: uhm...miniature dioramas using unconventional items, nuff said

9: @scarymommy

I love her because: I am also a scary mommy

10: @humansofny

I love him because: his feed reminds me that everyone has a story

11: @lowcheekbones

I love her because: her satirical take on society, fashion, and social media pretty much gives me life

12: @theawkwardyeti

I love him because: my organs relate a little too much

13: @fjamie013

I love him because: he is wittier than me

My Instagram feed is always evolving. I love that about Instagram, you're the curator of your social media experience.

Who are some interesting or unconventional Instagramers you love?

Shoot ya Later :)

4 Ways I Manage Mompreneurship

Hey Humbletakes Fam,

I hope all of you lovies are doing amazing! Spring in Colorado is so amazing. It's putting up a fighting chance for my favorite season. Who am I kidding? Fall will never lose it's place. Book your bright springtime MMS below :)

April 22nd: BOOK HERE

May 6th: BOOK HERE

May 14th: BOOK HERE

May 27th: BOOK HERE

I have been thinking a lot lately about the feeling of overwhelm. How easy it is to get lost in all of the to-do's and should-be's. I realized that everyone's list is different but we're all busy. We're all trying to make our way through a productive and fulfilling life.

Well to any of my stay-at-home or entrepreneur mammas out there, I get it. I feel you, sister. I want to share four things I do, to lessen the overwhelm in the hopes that it will help you too. These are just a few things that always help me gain perspective and, frankly, calm the hell down.

1: Stretch

This sounds weird. Don't judge me. This is a safe space, right?

Stretching for 15-30 minutes before bed while listening to my most mellow playlist is one of the absolute best ways that I know will help me get a better nights rest and give my mind a break. I try to tune out my lists and worries and focus on me. On my body.

Giving my body a little bit of attention and love for working so hard for me throughout the day. When I stretch I always sleep better and wake up with less aches and stiffness (chronic back issues). After stretching my mind seems to race less and falling asleep is easier.

Pro tip: After stretching I will not look at a computer screen or my phone. I will get a drink of water and immediately crawl into bed. I don't want all of the relaxation I just earned to go down the drain when I see the emails that need to be answered or get sucked into the Instagram black hole or am reminded of how early in need to wake up the next day.

2: Check-in with myself (and my hubby)

This may seem obvious but I feel like I learned to really "check-in" with myself (in the last three or four years).

What checking-in means to me, is using reason and logic to understand why I'm feeling what I'm feeling. Overwhelm, stress, anxiety, restlessness, laziness, whatever-ness. I bust out my analytical chemist side and treat my emotions or reactions like a scientific problem. Usually, after thinking through what I have going on or talking with my husband about what I am feeling I can usually pinpoint the why I'm feeling a certain way.

Once I understand the source of my overwhelm I can gain some perspective about how serious a problem actually is. Hint: I can blow things out of proportion sometimes. Quick example: blog posts. I can get so bent out of shape about needing to write a blog post to stay on schedule that it's all I can think about but can't fit into my schedule, yet (planning, see #3). Before I know it I'm freaking out that my to-do list is getting out of control and I just can't breathe.

See, it all started with a blog post. And this is just ONE example. My point is, if I can get a handle on the fact that my stress about writing a blog post has sprung me into stress induced hives I can make a plan of attack to do what I need to do.

3: Make a plan. Prioritize.

I structure my days into time blocks that are reasonable and doable for having a curious one year old staggering around, climbing on everything, and eating charcoal out of the fireplace.

I plan my day around babysitting swaps and nap times. I figure out what I feel is the most important (or what is causing the most overwhelm) and have it written down. This way, I stay on task and utilize my precious work time wisely.

I take smaller chunks out of big projects and bust out small projects, Planning it out a week at a time.While I'm working on Monday I won't be thinking about everything I'm not getting done that day. If I have it on the schedule for Wednesday, I don't have to think about it on Monday. I just handle Monday.

Pro tip: Treat yourself as you would your child, or someone you care about deeply. Be flexible with yourself, your schedule and how you prioritize and you'll feel way better!

4: Cut yourself some slack. You're doing your best.

You really are. You are doing your best to manage everything on your plate. We all are. We're all fighting different and equally challenging battles. And we're doing it beautifully, in stain covered pajamas, with no makeup, and eating out of a can. But, hey, we're doing it. We're working our asses off for ourselves and our families.

*fistbump*

I'm always on the hunt for creative ideas to help manage, life. What are some of your tips and tricks to keeping your perspective and overwhelm in check?

Shoot ya Later :)

3 Easy Ways to Have a Flawless Photo Shoot

Hey Humbletakes Fam,

What's up, my clan?! Are you guys loving this Spring weather? The landscape is becoming a prettier and prettier backdrop for my April Mini-Mini Sessions! Book yours now (dates and links below)!

April 9th: BOOK HERE

April 22nd: BOOK HERE

May dates coming soon!

I can not EVEN count the number of times I've heard the following phrases:

"I HATE having my picture taken"

"I'm not photogenic"

"I hate pictures of myself"

Well. I am not havin' alla that....mostly because it's bullsh$t. I hate that I have to been so direct with y'all but sometimes mama just has to pull out the big girl words. You guys, how many people really love having their picture taken? I mean, except for, like, the Kardashians...and teenage girls? But let's be real. We're all a little self conscious about SOMETHING. Our eyes are too small, ears to big, nose protrudes too much, chin doesn't protrude enough, my love handles show I'm reeeeaaallly loved, my arms jiggle, my hair doesn't fall right...and on and on and on. Me, for example..I have a double chin that just won't quit.

There are super simple, almost microscopic, changes that can make a huge difference in pictures. Here are the three tips that I use whenever I have my picture taken (headshots, family pictures, selfies, snapshots at family events...whenever)!

Posture

Posture is everything. Anyone I photograph will hear, "stand up nice and tall...not like you're in the military, but shoulders back and down, belly tight, chin up a tad". I have said that sentence almost verbatim over 13,205 times. I counted. Fine, I didn't really count but you get my drift.

Check out this family. Everyone is standing tall yet comfortable. Picture perfect!

Lifting your chin (in moderation)

When people smile they have a tendency to lower their chin. Doing this puts the features of your face out of proportion. Forehead looks bigger, chin looks smaller and often it gives some semblance of a double chin. It's just not good.

Lifting up your chin very slightly can make your face look thinner and is more flattering. It's like the fastest weight loss plan ever. Don't get crazy lifting your chin to the sky can make you look like a crazy person searching for UFO's.

This is my favorite tip because it's so minor and people don't feel awkward with this tiny pose "correction".

Here's yours truly at my branding photo shoot. The difference in my face is so obvious but my change is posture was so slight.

Dress for your body

Wear something that you feel like a million bucks in! Don't squeeze into something that you and heaven knows does not fit well. Don't try to hide your body with baggy clothing, either, it will only make you look heavier and frumpy. There are amazing flattering clothing styles for ALL body types and sizes!! Do some research if you don't own anything that you love wearing. Clothes should makes you feel amazing, especially on photo day.

What are your favorite photo taking hacks?

Shoot ya Later :)

A Day in the Life

Hey Humbletakes Fam,

How are you? I'm happy you're here! Quick Note: you can still book your March MMS at Bear Creek Nature Center! The available dates (and links) are listed below:

March 4th: BOOK HERE

March 12th: BOOK HERE

March 25th: BOOK HERE

Can’t wait to see y’all!

Now that that’s out of the way, on two different occasions within the last week and a half someone asked me about my process, working with a little one running around, and slamming his hands on my keyboard, while managing a business. As I was explaining a typical day, I realized that my day is probably not unique but that it may resonate with a lot of you other hardworking mamas.

I want to give a quick breakdown of my average day.

Disclaimer: there are always those extremely chaotic and slap you in the face with a chair kind of days, but this is just a "normal" day here at Humbletakes:

5:15-6:00 am (Yes. I said "A.M."): Wake up with Lil' Sweetcheeks. Cuddle. Try to hold him down while he fights my cuddling efforts. Give up cuddling him and feed him first breakfast (yeah, there are two). After breakfast he plays while I lay mostly lifeless on the floor or couch making sure he doesn't get *seriously* injured, but, like, with only one eye kinda open.

7:00-ish am: Put the tired lil dude down for, what feels like, the shortest nap known to man. During this time I will either go back to sleep, work, work out, eat breakfast, etc. It just depends on how "go-getter" I am feeling that morning.

8:00-8:30 am: Wake up again with Lil' Sweetcheeks. Attempt cuddling again. Fail again. Feed him second breakfast. This is when he is up, like, for real. He is all systems go. It is physically impossible for me to work during this time. Instead, I do household stuff that I can work on while he's following me and tugging on my yoga pants. Laundry (he helps, by wearing my underwear like a turban-see below), dishes, vacuuming, grocery shopping, bank trips, you get the idea. I sometimes have my Godsend angel friends watch him in the morning for a couple of hours so I can meet photo deadlines if necessary. But this is usually my favorite part of the day; when I get to hang on the floor with him. We sing, read, play chase, and climb all over the furniture. It's just the best. But then I also want to be done playing because work.life.deadlines.

11:00-ish am: We do lunch, trips to the park, play-dates, etc.

12:00-1:00 pm: And finally, the time has come. Nap time. It is a glorious and exciting time. My dude goes down for his afternoon nap. This is typically a big one so I take advantage and I usually work. But sometimes that whole 5:15 am thing I mentioned earlier really gets me and I go right down with him. #adulting

2:00-2:30 pm: Up and at'em! Snack time, play time, possibly errands but I'm usually not up for toting him around much more. We play, and play, and play, and wait for Daddy to get home! I start prepping for dinner (heellooooooo crock pot!) and finish up any household responsibilities.

5:00-5:30 pm: Daddy is home and it is TIME for Wrestlemania 2017!!! Lil' Sweetcheeks lights up the moment Sweetcheeks gets home. It makes my heart explode with joy. They wrestle and I finish dinner. After dinner, we play as a family. For me, this is also a wonderful part of the day.

6:15-6:30 pm: Bedtime! Teeth brushed, story read, I take Lil' Sweetcheeks to his glorious bed. Then it's adult time. Not, like, "bow-chicka-bow-wow" adult time, just, like, "let's talk about life and hang out" adult time. We use this time to reconnect after our long days.I love this. Sweetcheeks is my favorite big person so being with him recharges my batteries. We get to hang out for an hour or two.

7:30-8:00 pm: Sweetcheeks needs to study (full time student) and I need to put my entrepreneur hat on again. I work, work, work.

10:00 pm-2:00 am: Depending on my workload my bedtime varies wildly.

Rinse and repeat.

Welcome to my full, busy, and overwhelmingly wonderful life. Let me know about your full, busy, and overwhelmingly wonderful lives! I would love to hear about your schedules, babes, and how you manage being a mompreneur!

Shoot ya Later :)