Happiness Archives - Page 25 of 70

The 2012 Crazybananas Holiday Card!

December 12, 2012/1 Comment/in Fun, Happiness, Photos /by Megan

This year, since my favorite family photographer moved to Denver, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to get a great shot of the kids, Trent and I for a holiday card. We can be (ahem) a bit difficult to work with, and I knew the stress of it all wouldn’t be worth it this year. I was browsing the all knowing Internet for a solution, when I found the awesome Etsy Shop, Local Honey. The artist, Kelly Christine, is a photographer from Texas who moonlights as a pretty fantastic illustrator. She will take photos of your family and draw a custom portrait just for you! I contacted her about wanting to do an illustration for our holiday card and she was totally on board. Didn’t it turn out adorable?! I love it so much and have the original hanging in our home.

(Click on the image above to see a bit larger)

On the back side I used a few Instagram images I love, Tate riding in the wagon at the farm, Trent and I in New York City and Lucy at soccer. I wrote a little note detailing our year (which pretty much everyone knows already due to this here blog) and thanking our friends and family for being so amazing. We used Minted this year for our cards (read more about why here) and I love the quality.

Warmest Wishes, from the Crazybananas Crew!

I Belong With You, You Belong With Me

December 11, 2012/4 Comments/in Happiness, Tate, Videos /by Megan

A lot of people have been asking me what the best part is about my new schedule and getting to spend more time at home. At first I wasn’t really sure what to say, I mean, it’s only been a week and my real schedule doesn’t start until January. But yesterday, when I sent Lulu off to school and Trent off to work and sat down on the couch with my sad little boy (he doesn’t like it when Daddy and Lulu leave without him), I think I figured it out.

This little dude hasn’t received too much one on one time with me in the past. Like most younger siblings, there is always someone else around who needs me at the same time as him. So he waits, sometimes patiently and sometimes very impatiently, until I can get to him. Until Lulu was four and a half (and I’d venture to say even since Tate was born), we have always been a little duo. We look alike, act alike, and we spent a lot of time together. She has always been my little buddy, my partner in crime. While of course I love my kids the same amount, Tate never had the chance to be a part of the duo. And I’ve never had the chance to have him as my partner in crime.

But this last week, we have had hours of time together, just the two of us. He is changing so much every, single day, and I get to watch it in real time. Yes, of course, I have had moments of total breakdown and have thought I should go running back to a full time job. But those moments are so much less often than the ones where I look around in disbelief at the life I am getting to lead now.

I know when I start my new job in January, things will change again, but for now, I’m enjoying this little ride. The video below is something we shot with my phone yesterday right after Lulu and Trent walked out the door in the morning (please note the bed head and PJs). I was trying to distract my sad little guy, so we started taping ourselves. Tate’s favorite lullaby is a super-butchered Megan version of The Lumineers “Hey Ho,” so I started singing (I’m sorry for the audio assault…there is a reason I’m not a singer) and his reaction is just perfect.

I love that boy. This is the reason the whole thing is worth it.

Finding My Path – Part 9: I’m a Quitter

November 27, 2012/14 Comments/in Finding My Path, Happiness, Work /by Megan

When I started my Path Finder journey in April of this year, I wasn’t sure where it was leading me. I knew I was unhappy, and I needed help. I wanted someone to guide me forward, toward a life better lived. I really thought it would be a magic bullet. I figured after the 30 day course I would know what I wanted and how to get there. Of course, as any sane person would know, that wasn’t the case.

The Path Finder course invigorated me, encouraged me and woke me up…but it did not give me an answer. And I don’t think that was its purpose. Its purpose was to show me what I loved about the life I already had. You guys, I had a great life. I still do.

I love being with my children. I love taking photos that show how wonderful the world can be. I love writing. I love blogging. I love being creative with my hands. I love making things. I love sleeping more than four hours per night. I love living on my own schedule. I love making other people smile. I love spending time with my husband. I love being proud of my work.

I don’t love long meetings. I don’t love writing dry, government proposals. I don’t love sitting at a desk for 10 hours a day. I don’t love my kids being overwhelmed because they are exhausted from 10+ hours of school/daycare per day. I don’t love feeling like my brain is made of scrambled eggs because it’s too overloaded. I don’t love saying no to things I want to do, because there is a long list of things I have to do.

I worked hard all spring, summer and fall, building up my freelance client base and finally (FINALLY) making this blog a priority. I had been writing here for seven years before I ever really attempted to promote it using social media, friends and family. I was afraid of my work…embarrassed really, and stepping out of that little cocoon I’d made for myself was not easy. All of a sudden there were “real” people reading here. People liking my work on Facebook. People re-tweeting my posts. It was terrifying. What if I’d made a mistake? What if I wasn’t good enough and everyone could see it? What if, what if, what if?!

Right when I was at my breaking point, I stumbled upon Andrea Scher’s Cultivating Courage class and I knew it was the right move for me. For 30 days I made a habit of being brave and sharing with a supportive group of people who were my virtual cheerleaders. These people, and Andrea, have made my world a brighter place. I did things I never thought I’d do. I stood up to an unsupportive family member. I asked people to help me. I admitted my failures. And my most recent brave move?

I quit my full time job.

Yep, I did it. And, oh my goodness, it’s f’ing scary. We are losing my income, our stability and my routine. I am going from a full time working mom, to a part time working mom / part time stay home mom…and that’s something we’ve never envisioned for our family. I will be working for Trent’s company 20 hours a week, staying home with Tate and Lu, and continuing the work I’ve started here, on this blog. For my husband, it’s a step toward making his company a bigger force in it’s field. For me, it’s a chance to be free, a chance to build my creative endeavors so that when he sells his company I will be able to make a leap forward into a real creative career. Like I said, scary. And wonderful.

I want to say thank you. Yes you. Thank you for being here and reading along as I write my life story. The next chapter begins soon…

(See my entire journey, here.)

Our Thanksgiving

November 26, 2012/1 Comment/in Family, Fun, Happiness, Photos /by Megan

Our family Thanksgiving in my hometown was such a fun, long weekend of family, joy, gator rides, good food, wine and more fun. I sing the praises of my awesome family quite a bit on this blog…so this time I’ll just let the photos speak for themselves. Hope you all had a relaxing weekend as well!

Thankful

November 22, 2012/0 Comments/in Happiness /by Megan

I’m thankful for my wonderful family. My husband who loves me despite my slight obsession with Matt Smith, my daughter who thinks I’m totally embarrassing, and my son who is probably yelling at me about something insignificant as you read this.

I’m thankful for the nine wonderful years I got to spend with my dog before she passed away last week. I’m thankful we saved her from her sad life and gave her one full of happiness and lots of table scraps. I’m happy she died as a loved being.

I’m thankful for my extended family, who have served me so selflessly this year. They have been my cheerleaders, my confidants and my late night phone therapists.

I’m thankful to be starting a new era in my professional life, one that will hopefully lead me beyond my dreams.

I’m thankful for every single person who encouraged me this year, whether on purpose or not. I’m thankful I sought out wisdom and took good advice. I’m thankful for my Pathfinder and Cultivating Courage courses.

I’m thankful for good friends, who have stood by me through every tear and sadness, and cheered as I celebrated successes.

Most of all, I am thankful for clarity, joy, hope, peace and the ability to forgive myself. I’m thankful for the decision to be brave. I’m thankful for my confidence, humility and grace. I’m thankful to be able to identify what’s good about who I am, and not be ashamed to say it out loud.

And I’m thankful for you. You, who has read my silly online blathering for way longer than I ever could have imagined. You are helping me build a life for myself that is beyond what I ever could have hoped for. Thank you.

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