Steady as she goes . . .

This woman is BUSY! My daily life is basically dragging my ass out of bed at the last possible moment, rushing my oldest off to summer school, getting in the shower and doing things as fast as possible (I could win a speed leg shaving contest, no cuts and smooth as butter), driving off to work safely yet speedy, having my day here where I do my thang, going home for my half hour lunch, where I speed eat and zip back to work, coming home at 4 where the children greet me, getting ready for either a workout at the Y (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays there -- Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays I run from home) or getting the kids ready to go to the park for a walk, eating a quick supper, bedtime routine (CRAZY STRESS!!!), Facebooking/social networking (is that still a "term"?), working on pictures, and heading to bed by 12:30 or so.

I have been insanely busy with photoshoots, but this is a good thing. This summer, I have done lots of senior sessions and have found that I am really the most passionate about that. I still love family shoots. It's crazy, I have done probably close to 80 shoots over the past few years and I still get nervous for them. Then once I'm there, I get into my groove, and the only way to describe it is I'm almost in my own little world. I interact with the people but I feel like all the stress of the world leaves me and I just aim for that happy place. I am a little perfectionist too and if I am not feeling something right where the subject(s) is standing, I will have us move. I need perfect lighting and that magical light this time of year happens around 5:30. Other photographers will know what I mean. Mmm, it just paints the subject.

Workout-wise, I am kicking ass. Let's just be honest. I am up 3-4 pounds from where I was 2 years ago, however, I lowered my body fat, lost 3.5 inches off my waist, and people are finally starting to say, "wow, you are ripped". Now, I know what "ripped" means, and I am not there nor am I willing to commit to a diet that a fitness model would have, but I know I can celebrate that I have come far from where I was and I can say that I am stronger. I can do 3 sets of 10 of 85 pounds on an overhead press and ain't no shame in that for a female. I'm doing the 30 pounders (free weights) for my standing curls, as well as for lunges and squats and all my legwork. Working out is my one escape -- the one thing I can do where nobody is demanding things from me. I set the pace -- I aim for my goals -- nobody is going to ever take my STRENGTH from me. I also am keeping up with the running -- 4.5 months in now. I recently did an 8:06 minute mile on my (treadmill) 5K. I would love to do a "real" 5K in the fall.

The first pic here is from October of 2012, just as I joined the Y.

The second picture is from June 27th, 2014, so about a month ago:

 

The kids are really doing great -- besides our crazy (think late nights and a frustrated mom) bedtime routine, they're at the age where they're relatively easy. I am still nursing (gasp!) Elise (4.5) and Jameson (almost 3) -- never intended to go this long but a little antibodies/stem cells never hurt. I hope they wean soon and it will most likely be a gradual, self-weaning type thing.

I think that's about all I have as far as an update goes! I'm still kicking, just busier than I ever thought I'd be.