The last few days I’ve actually been doing creative things. Crazy, I know! I finally got the chance to repaint this mirror that I bought during my trip to Asheville in December. Much better, don’t you think? Now to add it to the pile of things that need to be hung!

I also broke out the toaster oven and my stash of Shrinky Dink sheets and started playing around. I’m not entirely sure where things are going but I’m going to keep playing until something comes together. I’ll be sharing my progress over the next few days. Any feedback is appreciated!

1. Cutting out templates for use in artistic endeavors.

2. Ruby thinks that other baby in the mirror is pretty cute.

3. A most romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.

4. Kickin’ it old school before heading to bed.

I’ve always been kind of very anti-White Castle. After all, it doesn’t have the best reputation for fine cuisine now does it? But after Heath came home from work one day and announced, very exitedly I might add, that White Castle was taking reservations for Valentine’s Day I figured, Why Not? Why not ensure my nomination for Wife of the Year? Hahaha. I thought this might be kind of fun, at the very least a nice change from doing absolutely nothing, our usual Valentine’s Day plans. Initially I didn’t plan on telling Heath about the reservations and I would drive us there that night and be all like, SURPRISE! But unfortunately the broken ankle and the inability to drive changed that. I told him about our reservations and he thought it was “cool”.

Upon arrival to our neighborhood WC we were greeted by three employees one of which took us to our table adorned with a crisp white table cloth and pink and red cloth napkins. There balloons, flowers, and a special Valentine’s Day menu. We dined on a feast of 10 sliders, 2 fries, and large drinks (Ruby had ham and macaroni and cheese) followed by chocolate-dipped cheesecake-on-a-stick. I didn’t care for my sweet potato fries but Heath’s cheese fries were pretty good. And although I’ve had better cheesecake (red velvet cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, anyone?) the cheesecake-on-a-stick was tasty. Everyone dining around us seemed to be having a good time and one employee even talked about how much he enjoyed the chance to get to interact with people in a different way than usual.

After our fine dining experience we came home and watched Masters of Horror on Netflix. White Castle, a broken ankle, child in tow, and horror movies. Ahhhhh, romance!

Being laid up for 8-10 weeks isn’t so bad. (I say that now…) It means that I will finally get around to some editing that I’ve been saving for “someday”. Like this wedding from last November! Kelly and George’s wedding out at Fasig-Tipton was my final wedding of last year.  It was the first time I’ve photographed a wedding where the bride wore a short dress and I was super exited about it. The dress even had….wait for it…pockets! (Okay, yes, I know I am a dork) Her necklace and shoes were killer as was the amazing vintage Rolls Royce that the groom’s father surprised them with at the end of the night. Many thanks to Angela Shay for having me on as her second shooter and a big hello to Sally from Urbaniste, who I had the pleasure of meeting that night.

1. My splint. Down and out for 8-10 weeks!

2. Sandwich down!

3. Oliver, my lap buddy.

4. Oliver sleeping. Just noticed that he’s missing a claw!

5. My view this morning.

Thanks for the idea and Joy! If anyone is interested in following along on Instragram my username is disquogirl77. Look me up, I always enjoy seeing others perspectives!

Not exactly what I was planning for myself for the next few months but does anyone really ever get to plan for this kind of thing? Long story short Ruby fell into a lake (pond?) and I jumped in after her. Over a 4ft railing. How I did that I don’t know but I’ll probably never be able to do it again. So much for my career in hurdles. Thankfully, oh so thankfully, Ruby is fine. She wasn’t under the water very long and there were several people who came to my aid, stripping Ruby of her wet clothes and wrapping her in a warm fleece coat. After I dragged myself out of the water (I knew something was up with my ankle immediately) I took her from one of the good samaritans, held her tight, and cried. She was pointing at the duckies probably totally oblivious as to what had just happened to her. Holy shit I have never been so scared in my life.

I thanked those who helped me but I wish that I had gotten their names so I could send them a letter. I just didn’t think about it at the time. (there was a lot of not thinking…just DOING)

Very serendipitously Heath’s parents happened to be meeting me and they came only a few minutes after everything happened. Off to the ER we went where Ruby was checked out first and was given heated blankets and a clean bill of health. Eventually I also got the heated blankets, some dry clothes (thanks to Heath who arrived very prepared), x-rays, a diagnosis of a distal fibia fracture, and a splint. Oh, and some Percocet, which did not agree with me. Thankfully the break will not require surgery only 8-10 weeks of healing time after which there will surely be a Laurie-shaped butt print in our couch. Hopefully a Laurie-shaped butt print that has done at least something productive, like teaching herself to knit. No matter how productive I am in the next few months, all that matters in the end is that Ruby is okay. I really hope that this is something that doesn’t repeat itself in the future but if it does I’ll jump right back in again!

So if I haven’t been making art, what have I been doing? Obviously family/life responsibilities is a huge part of that but other than that I’ve still be working at my job at T.arget. I hit  my 14 year mark last November (Gees. That’s insane). I’m working part time on the best team in the store. I’m happy that I can say that I really do enjoy my job there.

In February of last year before returning to T.arget from my maternity leave I started interning with a local non-profit art organization here in town called the Lex.ington A.rt Lea.gue. When I started the internship it was really the first time that I’d been involved in the art community since graduating the year before. Being at the Loud.on House and exposed to art again felt SO so good. I mean, I knew that I missed art but I didn’t realize how much I did until that point. I felt rejuvitaed. Something had been missing in my life and I had found it.

During the internship I learned about processing entries for shows, researched national art fairs, participated in educational programming, worked at gallery events and more. Seeing how the wheels turn at a non-profit organization was interesting. I have mad, mad respect for all of the staff. They work so hard and they pour their hearts into it every day, no matter how overflowing their plates may be.

Eventually, in August, the intern gig turned into a very part-time job as studio manager. I was (and still am) super, super psyched about doing this. When I got my business cards and my official name tag I just about couldn’t contain myself. I was also a little freaked out, but only because I put enormous pressure on myself to be super awesome and not fail or let anyone down. I helped find artist to fill the studio spaces in the house, take care of any issues that may arise, all in exchange for a space of my own to work in. Having the opportunity to work with so many other artists and to interact with patrons is really priceless. I am beyond grateful that I can do that!

Confession: It’s been a while since I’ve made any art. I’ve thought about it-a lot-but have spent little time actually making it. Well, I guess I shouldn’t say any but the artistic output has been low since graduating in May 2010. I guess that’s what antepartum and postpartum depression get you. And adjusting to being a parent.

The past year has been really fun but very frustrating for me. I was blessed with a child who slept 12 hours a night after 8 weeks of life, has a happy, laid back disposition, and is pretty low maintenance. Because I “won the baby lottery” I really felt as though I should be able to get my shit together, get a routine going, and pick up life just as it was before, only with an adorable little girl to tag along for the ride.

Ha!

Like millions of  people I could probably write a book on the trials and tribulations of adjusting to parenthood but I’ll just say that getting the new routine up and running has been rough. Trying to cram everything that I feel I should do into my day feels virtually impossible. Work, pumping for milk, household responsibilities, maintaining a marriage and friendships, going to the gym, making art……sleep.  Glorious sleep. Add in some lingering depression, an (unhealthy) dose of perfectionism, and a lifelong case of Being Too Hard on Oneself and, well, I’ll just reiterate, it’s been rough.

I’ve spoken to some who’ve said that the best thing to do might be to chose between making art and being a mother. I admit that in some ways the thought of giving myself permission to not make art for a while would be very freeing, but at the same time I feel in my heart that it is NOT what I want to do. I want to make art. I want Ruby to grow up seeing me working hard and creating beautiful things. I feel like there is something inside of me that is yearning to be set free and I have a feeling that creating is the only thing that will release it.

(This is what progress looks like, my friends)

So in order to do that, to free whatever is inside of me, I am working on adjusting schedules, streamlining processes, and creating new habits. Less time on the Internet, more time at the gym. Less time watching TV, more time making art. This week has started off quite well. I’ve worked out 3 times and spent a couple of hours working on some of my little cells and brainstorming new ideas. I know that every week may not go so smoothly but even if they don’t I will feel better just knowing that I am legitimately putting in the effort to try and make it happen.

Here are a few photos from another wedding that I did with the fabulous Angela Shay. Enjoy!

Earlier this year I had the privilege of working with Angela Shay, a wonderful photographer who also happens to be one of my best friends. We did several weddings together this year (more on those later) the first being Chris and Tara’s wedding in Louisville and Southern Indiana. Here are a few of my favorite shots of the day.