Let me come right out and say it…I blame The Secret.

I am all for the power of positive thinking, but only when there is some honest work attached. Sitting on my couch mentally emitting fabulous photography thoughts is not going to get me anywhere. It is not going to get me a new camera and it is not going to earn me the respect of people whose respect I value. I do have a vision board though as I think it is often hard to remember what I am working so hard to achieve. Especially since the good stuff usually takes a long time. The board is not just covered with material goods, but also words that represent more intangible goals I have.

As far as the material stuff goes, I want the Nikon D4. I will allow myself to desire it, but I don’t expect anyone to hand it to me for free. I am also not going to just go out and drop a cool SIX GRAND on it because I think it is AWESOME. I have a camera and four years on, it still works well. Sometimes companies do contact me to work with their gear. If that happens it is because I have been working my shutter finger off at photography since I first picked up a camera in 1984. That’s right, overnight success (officially called myself a pro in 1995 when I took my first paying  jobs) has taken me years. And I still have to earn my way. Daily. I am all for that though and I am doing something I love so I enjoy the process.

The thing is, I am finding it very hard to raise kids in this climate of ask and ye shall receive for-not-a-whole-lot-of-effort-on-your-part-other-than-the-asking-bit. See, Gemma wants an iPod Touch. She has plenty of things…toys, electronics, circus class, vacations, daily meals, education, health, etc… We are very fortunate and Alec and I are aware of that. But there is always something new…something more. So, we have decided that if she saves enough money she can buy an iPod touch for herself. It will cost her about $200.00 and that is A LOT of money to save when you are seven. Sure we could just buy one and share it or give it to her for a Christmas present, but we have decided that would not help Gemma learn the value of all these things she wants or already has. Plus we don’t think she needs an iPod Touch, but if it is her money, she can have control over how she spends it. It is tough not to blow the cash on little bits and pieces along the way. Also, it is really hard to keep the faith when you can’t see the goal or how far you have come in the journey. To that end, we made her a wish jar as she is nearly to the finish line. Hiding her money away in a opaque piggy bank was not enough of a reminder that she was making progress.

Here is what you will need and a few photos of the process.
Clean jar. We used a pasta sauce one, but you can buy them from the craft store as well. This was more fun to recycle something we had on hand. A slit can be cut in the lid to deposit coins, but we did not bother with that.
Picture of what you want. Gemma cut the iPod Touch and price out of the store circular. (We glued it to white paper so it would look neater from the back.)
Contact paper or packing tape. Aussies LOVE to cover books with contact paper so we had some in the house. You can easily use thick clear packing tape. The image is going on the outside of the jar (facing in) so you can see it when looking at the money collected.
Gemma likes to keep track of her money the old fashioned way with a pen and paper, but I also keep a log of her earnings in an app on my phone. Otherwise, we would be counting it daily.

Despite saving for nearly a year now, Gemma still wants to buy the iPod. Waiting has just deepened her desire and I am hoping will extend her time using it once she actually has one. It is harder to lose interest in something that is so hard won. It is how we are getting the kids to try different vegetables. We are growing them in the yard. Something that is difficult to obtain has more value to them and since they grew those veggies, they are proud and excited to eat them. Everything comes with a snap of the fingers today, but the best still comes to those who wait.

Next up, my D4 jar.

She is mysterious and always intense.

My children give me new ideas for portraits of them daily because they are always changing.

That is why I love to photograph clients as well, their stories are always different from my own and from one to the next.

People are endless inspiration.

It has been go go go go go since we got here.

next up, horse farm and wedding!

off we go again.

This past week I have written a few blog posts for Digital Photography School about the things from my film days that I bring to my digital photography of kids. Have a look at the series starting here.

Also, Click! is only at the sale price until the 19th of October and if you have already bought it or buy it before that date, you are in the running to win a DSLR and lens combo! Just hit the banner below to go right to the page where you can read more about my eBook on kids photography and get your own copy!

because i have this girl and her little siblings to entertain me

i am ready for school to start again, but i will miss my willing model.

While the toys are enjoying time by the pool

the biggest child is spending the start of her school holidays sick on the couch.

Totally not fair. Oh and our internet is out. Again. Classic example of how it has happened over and over since we moved here. We were fine this morning and then the internet goes out just at the same time another internet company is seen on our street apparently fixing the shared lines for their customer. I am not kidding, this has happened so many times where one company comes out to fix the lines and just unplug us or cut through our lines and leave…They need to stop doing that or I am am going to start yelling. Louder.

But a big thank you to our dear friends who brought a care package by today with treats for Gemma and a nice hot latte for me. Too bad they had to stay outside the front door and could only wave to the little patient lest they take home our germies. It is amazing what a little thing like that can do to lift spirits around here.

more magic and wonderment in my own backyard with these guys. just 18 sleeps, little ones. the boy journals his backyard adventures in grass-stained hand prints.

Will try to blog from the road using the new tablet!

A few more days for you to vote (daily) for my blog here!

it is where we will someday finally get that little suburban “farm” i so want. i have the book on how to do it beside my bed and i have willing helpers…i think

i know there are a lot of you out there who have had great success with your own project. please, leave me links so i can get even more inspired! we have olives, now to fill the space they ring with some raised beds. i plan on drawing the line at chickens, i really do.

edited with the new city lights action in the up coming spring cleaning set.

i was not kidding about her hula hooping dreams. she will start her circus classes in the next school term
and until then, we will be her audience.

edited with a selection of my new spring cleaning action set.

dress :: Mini Rodini Balloon Dress RED Bellini courtesy of STYLE MILK SHOP
hair and (uh-hem) makeup :: Candy Hair
leggings and shoes :: Gemma’s own

Jen from Style Milk has opened a great online store. She has gorgeous lines for Women, Kids and home decor. A wonderful selection and beautiful photography (no, not mine), stop on by.

Apparently Gemma asked for blue eyeshadow. Maybe I should actually start wearing makeup so that she does not get her makeup ideas from Barbie. Before anyone leaves a snarky comment, we do not let our girls do the makeup thing on a regular basis…this was done at a birthday party before our little shoot. No spray tan or hot rollers were harmed during the shoot.

growing up fast and getting cuter every day.

all of them.

my beautiful mess.