Tuesday: Nervous

The usual thoughts ran through my head. Did I pack the right things? Was my panel prepared? Would my family fare well while I’m gone? Could I get through all of the work I needed to do, before I had to leave?

Wednesday: Eager

I had prepared as much as I was able, and it was time to go. I was on the very first panel at the first Alt Summit in 2010, and I watched the summit via twitter last year, sad to be missing out but too pregnant to travel. I was excited about going back again, and looking forward to it. This was going to be fun!

Thursday: Reaffirmed

Alt came this year, for me, at the tail end of a lot of work. I’ve been doing more than ever, trying to juggle my blogging commitments with my family life, taking on too much at times, and having to put my head down and work. Being surrounded by my peers though, so many passionate, hard-working, and successful bloggers, reaffirmed that I’m heading in the right direction. I’m fortunate to have a job, unconventional as it is, doing something I love. I want to see Making it Lovely grow, and realize all of its potential.

Friday: Happy

Jordan, Kelly, me, and Maggie spoke about Growing a Readership. I’ve put together a recap of the Twitter conversations that happened throughout our panel, which was one of the most well-attended! My weepiest moment of the day came as Ben, the co-founder of Pinterest, gave a particularly inspiring keynote and received a standing ovation. His infographic feels especially relevant right now.

The entire conference was amazing; everything I’d hope it would be and more. Thank you to Gabby, Sarah, and Kate, and to all of the people who help make Alt the blogging event I most look forward to each year.

Saturday: Delayed

And homesick. De-icing the plane, flying against a strong headwind, and landing in an airport that was under construction all contributed to my plane landing two minutes after my connection left. I was placed on standby, with a confirmed seat on a plane for Monday afternoon. I spent the night in the hotel closest to the Pheonix airport.

Sunday: Scared

The next day, while other passengers lost their tempers and berated airline employees, I was able to get a confirmed seat on a plane home in the late morning (it’s always better to be nice). We were delayed though, and spent an hour sitting on the runway before takeoff due to weather conditions back home. We were finally given the OK to fly into Chicago, and I arrived home approximately 25 hours after first leaving the hotel in Salt Lake City. I then picked up the kids and immediately turned around to go to my mom’s house because we were supposed to be there for a birthday party.

All of that made for a very long day, but it wasn’t the reason I was scared.

Brandon lost his job. He had found out on Thursday, but he waited to tell me until I had finally arrived home with the kids late Sunday night, after we had put them to bed.

Monday: Hopeful

Our dream has been to reach the point at which Brandon could leave his job. While we had assumed it would be in a planned, responsible way, we will have to embrace our new circumstances.

Do we go all-in on the blog? I’m not making enough to solely support my family, but we have to look at the numbers and see if I could get it there. How long would it take if we were devoting all of our time and energy to it? (Six months? A year? Longer?) Should we do something a little crazy, like buy a store? It has never been a goal of ours, but if you’re one that believes things happen for a reason, the universe seems to be aligning in that way. Or does Brandon look for another steady, 9-5 job? He has been the rock that has made it possible for me to get to the point I’m at today. While the benefits and stability that come along with traditional employment are reassuring (especially with a family and a mortgage), I’d love for him to be as fulfilled in his work as I am. These are all things that will be weighing heavily on us, and we need to figure out our next direction.

I’m hopeful. But I’m still scared, too, to be honest.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as A New Direction | 211 comments

I never know how to pose for pictures, let alone pictures of me in my roller derby gear. Angry face? Tried it. I’m not tough! So a wink it is. *Wink!*

I’m such a dork.

That’s me and my little sister, Ashley, circa 1990.

My Uncle Ray used to be a professional photographer, but this was just a quick snap that he got of us on the back porch of his old Chicago-style bungalow. He has since moved (many years ago now), but the photo still hangs in his dining room. Poster-sized.

It’s one of my favorite photos ever.

p.s. My Uncle Ray is the reason we chose Ray for August’s middle name.

Outer Focus Photos

Sinclair

Preston

Also, I think sleeplessness agrees with me. I got about two hours of sleep the night before I took these photos. (Having a newborn will do that to you.)

* update: I’m being sent a pair of each, yay!

A few people have asked for some maternity and nursing fashion help, so I’m going to put together a little guide and I should have it ready next week. Oh, and here’s a nice side view for you. I love the stripes peeking out!

© 2011, published by Making it Lovely as Huge | 110 comments

Thunk goes the camera!

I determined that brownies are better with words stenciled in powdered sugar.

We celebrated Eleanor’s first birthday in the spring with lots of love and lots of pink.

I put together a video montage of Eleanor’s first year. It makes me teary. And happy.

On our sixth wedding anniversary, James Julius met up with Brandon and I to photograph our family.

I started thinking about food differently, which led to me losing the baby weight plus an extra twenty pounds.

Of course then I went and got pregnant again. (Welcome back, baby weight!) We’re having a boy this time.

I did pretty well on my 30 Before Thirty list. (And oh yeah, that means I turned thirty!)

And for Halloween, a little craftiness mixed with a store-bought dress added up to Eleanor’s cute Olivia costume.

It was a good year. 2011, you have some big shoes to fill.

And I was leaning towards these from See (I stopped in there yesterday). They’re similar to the Fillmore frames from Warby Parker, but a little more flattering on me. Still geeky though.

I really wanted the Fillmore style to work (remember, I included them in August’s style post?). I was hoping they’d be geeky-cool, but I don’t know if they work for me.

My shop assistant Erika tried them on and when I told her I liked them on her, she was incredulous. Her exact response: “Really? This is like the ‘before’ part of a makeover!”

So then I tried the Japhy frames because they come in pink, but I had to try them on in black because they aren’t sending out the limited edition colors to try. Yay? Nay? I think they’re nice, but a little average. Getting them in pink might fix that though.

And now I’m thinking I might like the Harper glasses in green, but I didn’t select those for my home try-on. Then of course, there are the free glasses… You know, the ones I’m already rocking. But where’s the fun in that, right?

I have to send back my trial glasses tomorrow, so I’m trying to make a decision. Seen any other cute glasses I should consider? Or do you like one of the pairs above?

I wore a white silk dress by Watters & Watters. I also wore red lipstick, my hair in a bun with my mom’s veil, simple stud earrings, and a big sparkly brooch on my dress. Brandon wore his suit with a pink tie and a lily of the valley boutonniere. My bouquet was made of pink peonies, lilies, old-fashioned roses, and lily of the valley.

© 2010, published by Making it Lovely as My Wedding Dress | 55 comments