Open Heart. Open Mind.

I woke abruptly at 1:50am hot and thirsty. I threw off the blankets and reached to my nightstand to discover I had forgotten my glass of water. I stumble into the kitchen drink my water at top speed and then use the green glow from the stove clock to refill my glass. I crawl back into bed and that's when it started....the thinking.

I went into yesterday's Spread the Love seminar with the mindset of an Open Heart. Open Mind. I booked this seminar back in November not knowing what to expect but knowing it was something I needed and wanted to do without doubt. And as life would have it, the timing couldn't have been better.

I had full intentions of spending today reflecting, writing, and immediately implementing some of the ideas and challenges put before me from yesterday. But instead...I awoke in the wee hours to then spend the rest of the night thinking (with some tossing & turning thrown in) I was processing the abundance of information and even started coming up with my own ideas & even a couple of light bulb moments....yep who knew wee hour thinking could be so productive.

5am I hear Kristen's alarm go off and I realize I've been awake pretty much the entire night but I realize I'm okay with that. I can catch up on sleep anytime, but this seminar was an experience of a lifetime for me. I'm excited and on fire for this next step, this next adventure. 

Justin & Mary....thank you. Your desire to help others, to give them permission to 'fail forward' and the permission to be yourself has already been worth it's weight in gold for me.

This is me yesterday on the way to Toronto for the seminar. I didn't take any photos while there because I was just too caught up in everything else. Super excited & anxious but definitely worth it :)

It's Summer Time

Our summer so far in a series of images....

 

 

I love summer

Appreciation Giveaway

Happy Canada Day! 

I hope my fellow Canadians are enjoying the day off and my American friends are gearing up for July 4th on Monday.

As mentioned in my previous blog post today is an appreciation giveaway!!!

It still surprises me that a small group of people are actually interested in me and are true fans cheering me on to accomplish the dreams I have in life.

To qualify for this appreciation gift, you must comment here on this blog post or on my facebook photography page with who or what you appreciate right now...today...this moment. I'll do a random draw out of all the entries and the winner to be announced on Monday.

What's the giveaway you ask?!? Well...as a little hint of more changes happening this summer, I'm going to giveaway something that I love....lotion!

Yep I love it all...the pretty smelling lotions, potions, shower gels and body sprays....especially if it has a berry or vanilla scent to it.

The lucky commenter will receive a Cherry Vanilla Gift Set from Bath & Body Works....yum!

So get to commenting my lovelies.....this giveaway is definitely something you'll want to add to your summer scent selection :) And guys feel free to comment too...it would make a great gift for that special lady in your life.

Life Right Now....

It's been a week since Kristen started a new job after working at the same place for 12.5 years. Life's daily routine has changed dramatically but we're doing very well. Jesse & I are adjusting to Daddy's long days and have a new morning routine of being able to get ready and out the door without his help.

Surprisingly the transition wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, I think the main reason was that we were already in a mind-set that major change was going to come to our lives this year....even more specifically this summer....and because of that things are going smoothly...for now :)

I especially have to thank our babysitter Tonya who's been so amazingly accommodating and supportive of the fast changes and longer days that have been thrown her way....you're not just Jesse's daycare provider but a dear friend to me and the rest of the family....we appreciate you so much!!!

On that Jesse note....he's talking up a storm...or at least attempting to talk up a storm. He has a current obsession with all things transportation like heavy equipment, dump trucks, planes, trains and buses. Trucks he calls da-dum, trains are too-too, buses are bye, and planes are pean. I love being able to see how he's growing up and changing every day.

On a photography note, my Facebook photography page has reached just over 200 LIKES so a giveaway is definitely in order!! I can't express how much I love & appreciate you my blog readers and facebook page "likers" (is likers a word??....if not I just made it up....lol) because the reality is without you there'd be no Christa Hann Photography.

On a baby note, I've started nesting and preparing for the arrival of Baby Hann...just over 3 months away! I'm feeling really good and so far the swelling of my ankles have been to a minimum. By this time during my pregnancy with Jesse I was a swollen puff-a-lump...no joke! Otherwise I am finding the pregnancies VERY similar in how I feel and how my body is shaping. And for those of you bugging me for belly pics, here's a quick one that I managed to take on my ipod tonight.

On that note....I wish you a Happy Wednesday and don't forget to check back on Friday for the appreciation giveaway. And maybe even more surprises if my evenings are productive when Jesse is down for the night.

Life as of today....

Back in February I wrote this post called Making Plans

I was discouraged, and scared of the new path our lives were headed.

Life as of today is exactly as expected. 

Some changes have already occured, some are in transition and there's many more to come.

But since that post I feel differently.

I've prayed a lot and thought a lot about this phase of both mine and Kristen's lives and this awesome journey....and God has given me complete peace about all of it.

I no longer feel scared and discouraged but I am now excited and looking forward to the things that are coming our way. I have faith & confidence that everything will work out just as it should.

And just to show you how fabulous everything is going to be...just check out this oh so gorgeous photo of Carmaline & Thomas from this Saturday's wedding.

Smile

All you have to say is "Smile" and this is what you get.......

What a character....I wouldn't change him for a second :)

Go Ahead...Make My Day

She told me she was proud of me....

...then continued on to say that she's enjoyed watching me succeed and even likes to read my blog with her breakfast.

I'm not quite sure what I said, I might have said thanks, I might have looked at her in disbelief and said really?! But I do know that I talked, and rambled on in true Christa fashion. Speaking for the sake of speaking and speaking just to hear my own voice.

The truth is I didn't know what to say because as good as her remark made me feel, I wondered in my head what success is she talking about!?!?

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Then there's days like today, when baby hormones and self doubt sneak in, okay well maybe mostly self doubt and a little bit of baby hormones...and I'm an emotional mess. A day where the lump in my throat refuses to subside and there's a moment when the tears spill over and I'm trying to hide them from others.

But as always, the unexpected happens. I get not one, but three separate emails telling me to stay positive and that they believe in me. Huh....go figure :) 

I don't think we realize how perfectly our timing can be sometimes when we're saying that one nice thing to someone. I don't think we realize the impact our words, whether spoken or written can have on the outcome of one's day.

It really could make it or break it. 

So my friends....it's not too late, go out and make someone's day today!

Tell them you believe in them, tell them to keep their chin up, and even tell them you're proud of them.

And if you're the recipient of the kind words....don't talk like I did, but do what I should have done...

which was to simply be silent and hug her so she could feel my gratitude and appreciation for the kind words she had spoken. She made my day!

Loving Right Now....

Adele

There's just something about her voice, love her and this song!

 

 

 

Take a Baby Step...Today!

Right now...this moment,...it's yours.

Take it all to yourself. There are no significant others, no children. You have no worries about bills, what to make for dinner, that cobweb you keep seeing out of the corner of your eye, or worries about what to wear.

Imagine this...if only for this moment, that your finances are better than ever, in fact, you're quite wealthy and on top of that have abundant amounts of free time on your hands to do whatever it is you please.

At this moment, with this new found freedom, where is it that you picture yourself? What's your deepest, and most honest hearts desire, right now?

Maybe you're picturing yourself walking along a beach?

Maybe you're in France, learning about and of course tasting the fine french cuisine.

Are you a stay at home mom who's just finished slicing up oranges for your child's soccer practice?

Maybe you're on a farm, getting your hands dirty at the crack of dawn as you help with the cattle.

What's your dream?

Did this 'new found freedom and wealth' allow you to feel fearless and adventurous? Did this idea of the perfect circumstance stir flowing of desires that every day life pushes down and dehydrates from your spirit?

I want you to know that being "rich" doesn't keep us from those desires. We do....

If we just decide and act, then we can have the life we truly desire....and here's a secret...most of the time it isn't 'stuff' that we want, it's people and relationships that we desire more than anything.

This post isn't to depress you today my friends. Nope, in fact it's to ENCOURAGE you.

Today I want to encourage you to take a baby step.

Yep I want you to take a baby step today, tonight, right now towards making one of your hearts desires a reality.

It may require you to get out of your comfort zone, but then maybe that's exactly what we need to do if we haven't obtained that dream thus far?? Maybe it's time to think outside the box and try something new?

 Who knows, maybe the end result will be exactly what we've been wanting all along.

 

 

 

Today I'm taking a baby step towards one of the desires I have for my life and that's to simplify.

 

I've become completely overwhelmed with trying to update blogs, facebook, websites and client galleries, oh and let's not forget keeping up with that inbox.

So I'm simplifying...I'm taking baby steps towards consolidating where I can. Taking away the websites that do not benefit me or drain me rather than help me. 

I have a huge idea of the simple life I want to live but this is the baby step I'm taking today.

I'd love to hear what step you'll be taking :)

Sock Monkeys

 I love Angela, she's sweet, funny and quite talented.

Angela is my Cousin Ken's wife...

One day while on Facebook I saw these "sock monkeys" in one of her albums and was immediately smitten.

I just LOVED them!

Not only were they cute and oh so adorable.

They were homemade,....Angela had MADE them.

I then proceeded to add up how many kids were on my Christmas list this past year and placed an order.

Really what a better gift,...they're homemade, customizable, made with very few products so in my opinion that falls under the environmentally friendly category and honestly...they're just all around awesome!!

See for yourself, this is Jesse's version

All the kids, and the parents too, loved them. 

Thanks again Angela for helping me give an actual thoughtful and unique gift this past Christmas.

To see more of Angela's talent, check out her blog The Daily Turtle.

Today

Today I am grateful for....

-Rainy nights that make my house feel more cozy
-dairy free chocolate cake
-the amazing people in my life that although might only be classed as "acquaintances" are still a positive influence in my life.
-for these same people that I cherish & do not take for granted
-Lovemarks.... The book I'm reading now :)

What are you grateful for today?

Already Awesome

Did you know that you are already awesome?

You have a unique vibe that's all your own.

Let's appreciate who we are RIGHT NOW! Curves, lack of curves, straight hair, curly hair, blue eyes, brown eyes.....it doesn't matter. Let's embrace our individual selves.

YOU are an original mold of you! And that....well that simply makes you awesome.

Now that you know you're awesome...what's next? Own it!

Go out and be that fabulous person. Don't dream any longer, act! Just BE!

Never a Dull Moment...

With a 19 month old in the house I've realized there's never a dull moment....

Yes that's wet spots all over Jesse's outfit....

Yes that's Boone's water dish tipped over on the floor.....

And yes it all started with him dunking his sweatshirt in the dish, where obviously it all progressed from there.

Oh and I did not miss the little "saying" on his shirt that day either....eeesh! :)

Neighbours

Kristen & I have the best neighbours.

No really....we do.

In fact in the early stages of our relationship I moved a lot. The first 7 years of our relationship I actually moved 7 times, 4 of those within a 6 month window when I had finished college.

Of everyone that we had living next door, we never quite felt connected, or would even consider them friends. With the exception of maybe two old neighbours, we have not remained in contact with any of them.

Since moving to this house we have had and have the BEST neighbours.

It's the perfect blend of social-ness and mind your own business-ness....I don't think that's a word but you get the point.

One of the houses closest to us (and are my favourite neighbours ...shhh don't tell the others), is a couple who travel quite extensively, especially to Korea since the wife half of the couple is from there. Upon returning from one of their latest trips, they brought back a little goodie bag of treats. 

One of them being chocolate....did I mention I have the best neighbours?

Kristen isn't much for chocolates but he actually kept taking these and eating them, much to my dismay!

We would almost compare them to Skor bars and they were DELICIOUS :) 

Thanks Neighbours!!

Thin Crust Buns

I'm a self professed foodie.

I really could spend a day cooking up a scoff or simply watching the Food Network

It's also not lost on me that with this warmer weather BBQ season is in full swing.

Last week I tried some thin crust multi grain hamburger buns and I'm in love. 

Who knew they'd be better than regular buns!?!? Yum!!

Today I Am Grateful For....

Today I am Grateful For....

1)     Kristen – my awesome husband who actually supports yet another crazy idea that I have

2)     My Midwife – who advised me at yesterday’s check up that all is healthy and well

3)     Perfect timing - I had yet another sleepless night and while lying in bed thinking this Bible verse came to me

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...‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’  ~Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

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Then this morning I get the daily devotional email from Joel Osteen with THAT very verse.

I know God is telling me and trying to get it through my thick skull that everything has already been all worked out. I need not worry.

4)     The Justin & Mary – 30 Day Challenge. Amen to positive thinking and being grateful! They are such sources of inspiration.

5)     Jesse and my new favourite photo of him

An Un-Traditional Life

Highschool, ahh the memories. Overall it wasn’t a bad experience for me. Sure it had gaps filled with awkward and insecure moments but really, if it didn’t, it wouldn’t have been the true definition of high school life. Upon leaving school I headed out into the “real world” and started doing exactly what was expected of me. I got a boyfriend, I went to college, I got my first job, my first apartment, first car, you see where I’m going with this....

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 It wasn’t until my late 20’s that I started questioning why I was doing what I was doing.

Why was I going through the motions that society expected me too and not making decisions for myself? Why wasn’t I deciding how I should live my life, spend my waking hours, spend my money. But influences up through the years (family, friends, and the almighty TV) had already programmed me to believe that the average/normal way to live was the right way.

I’ve since realized that the normal average way of life isn’t the right way to live for this very much average woman. I crave an un-traditional life.

Sure I agree with abiding by the laws of the land, I am traditional in the sense that I do believe in the bond of marriage, having a family, the importance of spirituality and an overall stability to a daily life. However the routine of a daily life is what I question....

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These questions are really pushing me to decide how I want to LIVE my life. Not survive it. I get one chance and I don’t want to screw it up. I don’t want to be 80 and wishing I had done this, I had done that. THIS is the time, THIS is my chance. So what if I try and fail. It’s really not the end of the world. People quit and start new jobs every day. People sell their homes, move across the world and decide to move back every day. So why am I such a chicken? What’s holding me back? Life really doesn’t end over a failed adventure. 

And honestly with the amazing family, friends and support system that I have, IF I chose to leap I don’t think I could fail, because these people are so amazing I know they’d do everything they could to help me succeed.

So now I’m left with decisions, decisions on how to obtain the lifestyle I truly want. How I do that when everything in our daily lives support the 9 to 5, Monday to Friday grind. But I’m not afraid, I’m excited, eager to learn, take the chance and figure it all out.

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Please... I’d love to hear your experiences and stories where you’ve decided to go against the grain to follow your heart. What chances have you taken that weren’t a failed adventure but the most rewarding risk you’ve ever taken?

You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of"  ~Jim Rohn

What I'm Reading Now....

Yesterday on the way to the library (to return yet another book I had for weeks and only managed to get half way) I received a call from my bride for the day's schedule e-session to find out both she and fiance were sick :( So we'll be post-poning until they feel better.

I picked up the books I had on hold, returned the due books and decided to take Jesse out with me to run some errands since the day was absolutely beautiful.

I got home and started reading the book that I had borrowed...Rich Dad, Poor Dad

I'm already over half way through the book.

I would describe this book as an educational 'new concept' financial book. 

Honestly if you're not in the right frame of mind, you will not enjoy this book. If you're wanting to look at money in a different way, give it a shot. I'm really liking the different perspective thus far.

6:09am

Jesse decided that 6:09am was the perfect time to get up this morning.

You know on Saturday when we can actually sleep in a little. A normal weekday we're fighting to get him up before 7am and get him fed, changed and cleaned up to head to the sitters.

So already today I've been grocery shopping, taken Jesse to the park, put Jesse down for a nap and now trying to get a bit of work done before this evening engagement session.

Busy but productive, my favourite kind of day. Not to mention the weather is perfect :)

For now here's another photo of Steph from her Punta Cana wedding to hold you over until my next post.

Happy Saturday & Have a great weekend.

Living in the Now

This past winter I was forced to stop.

To literally take a step back and do nothing.

I was mildly depressed and exhausted.

I was in bed most nights 10-15 minutes after Jesse would go to bed, whether it be 8pm or 10pm.

But I have to admit it was a blessing in disguise.

You see, Kristen & I are expecting our second child....yay :) We’re very excited to say the least.

The first 3 months of my pregnancy were an experience that I hadn’t had before. While pregnant with Jesse my energy levels stayed exactly the same. My mood was better than ever (no PMS.....lol) But this pregnancy came along and kicked me down. I wasn’t sick like I was with Jesse but I was definitely down and out. I didn’t have the energy to do blog posts, to do housework, and I got by on the bare minimal of just about every aspect of life. Honestly sometimes I think Kristen has to be a saint to even endure life with me.

However as mentioned, this past winter was a good thing for me. I had time to think and re-evaluate what’s important. I made time for family and nothing else. I was so caught up with where I was going and where I wanted to be that I wasn’t living in the now, until I wasn’t given that choice anymore....because this past winter all I could do was live in the now, with them...Kristen, Jesse & Boone.

Thankfully as the middle of March came along, accompanied by daylight savings time, warmer weather and a visit from my parents I started getting my energy levels back and feeling like good ‘ol Christa.

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And now with a much needed vacation under my belt, I feel re-energized with a new outlook on living in the now and how THAT will take me where I want to go and where I want to be. I have a new focus, I have renewed my passions and even obtained a couple more.

I’m filled with a desire to help others, in any way possible, whether it be through my photography, my blog or a simple conversation over a cup of decaf coffee (you know being pregnant and all....wink, wink)

I’ve decided, as mentioned in this post, that I’m tired of actually caring what people think of me, and trying to go by the ‘rules’ I’ve decided that being myself is enough. That you can take me or leave me, cause truthfully I already have everything that I need.