Photography Class by ABM

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I'm all ready for class! Yesterday, I signed up for the online course being offered by A Beautiful Mess called Mastering Your DSLR! It's being taught by Emma & Elsie's pro photographer friend Candice Stringham and it looks amazing. I've known for a while that I needed to jumpstart the process of learning to use my camera by taking a class. This particular one appeared on my radar in the spring, but by then it was too late to register. Thankfully, it's being offered again for the summer and it worked right in to my schedule! I'm so excited! Would you like to sign up, as well? We can be classmates!

-Song

To-Do Lists

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Clementine just used the word "undizzify." :)

Today I'm sharing something that has "unstressified" my life. I'm a to-do list kind of person. My brain is constantly bouncing from one thing to another, and if I don't have a written reminder of what I'm supposed to be doing, I don't get anything done. But, for a while, I was experiencing a lot of depression whenever I looked at my to-do list. Every day felt like a failure because I never got everything checked off and just rewrote most of the previous day's list each morning. Do you know the feeling? There's something almost hopeless about writing a daily list of tasks when you know you won't accomplish them all!

So, at the end of last year, I decided to try writing a weekly list in 2014 to see if it affected my mood at all. I'm here to tell you, it is a much more effective approach for me! I usually have everything done by the end of the week and I don't feel nearly as much pressure. I keep tally marks for things I do every day like exercising or devotions, and I focus my attention on priorities before moving on to tasks that could get done later in the week. And there truly is a change in my mood. Who would've thought something so simple could make me happier...I'm realizing that any little thing that promotes peace and calmness in life is important.

How do you handle the stress of your to-dos?

-Song

Family Reunion...

This is where I spent the weekend! Isn't it gorgeous? The reunion was in West Virginia at a little camping lodge in the mountains. These get-togethers only happen once every two years, and it had been that long since I had seen some of my family members. Reconnecting with everyone was such a blessing! Four generations of cousins...it's amazing. It was simple, wild, outdoor family fun crammed into a day and a half.

Here are a few snapshots from my trip:

How was your weekend?

-Song

6.6.14

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I'm off to a family reunion in the mountains! It's my mother's side of the family, and there are a ton of people. Her mom and aunt married her dad and his brother. Two brothers married two sisters = double the cousins. We'll be eating a lot and doing a ton of activities. I have no idea what else is planned, but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone! :)

Be back soon!

-Song

6 Reasons Why Pinterest Is A Must-Have

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What a resource Pinterest has become! It's hard to remember what it was like before we were pinning every photo, recipe, diy and outfit we came across online. It can lead to hours of addictive fun! But, there's more to it than fun. Here are 6 reasons why you should be using Pinterest if you have an online presence or a product to share.

1. If you blog or use pictures in any kind of digital publication, you're missing out on a great tool if you don't pin! As long as you track down the original source of the photo you want to use, it's the perfect way to find images.

2. When working online, visual is everything. If you have a brand, the images you choose to pin can do a lot to give your customers, clients or employers a strong visual of who you are and what they can expect from your work. 

3. Pinning is one of the easiest ways to keep track of online articles and blog posts. They're all in one spot! Pinterest will even let you have secret boards, which makes it easier to keep your public boards clean and styled according to your brand. Just pin all the useful/messy stuff in secret!

4. I can't tell you how many times I've had writer's block, started digging through Pinterest and been saved. There are a ton of inspirational ideas and pictures. It's like a vat of creativity.

5. When you want to spread the word about your own photographs or work, Pinterest is one of the first places you should turn to. A good photo or concept goes viral in no time!

6. One of the biggest reasons I have for recommending Pinterest isn't directly related to business or blogging. It's something I'll probably talk more about later because it truly has made an impact on me... Not only can you pin images, you can pin words. There are boards on Pinterest filled with quotes and verses; thousands of positive messages all in one spot. That's powerful. I'd advise you all to create a board of words that build you up and to visit it frequently. Here's mine. 

-Song

How to Wear the Holly Necklace

Would you like some tips for wearing my Holly Golightly inspired necklace this summer? It's one of my favorites! In my opinion, it looks best with a simple neckline like a crewneck or a scoop. And unless you plan to layer it with multiple necklaces, I would keep the rest of your outfit simple and delicate. The first look is entirely reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn's Holly, but very summery. The second one is casual and perfect for summer right down to the Ray Bans. In addition to pearl, the Holly necklace comes in pink opal and black onyx.

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-Song

Druzies for the Bridesmaids

After taking this photo, I realized that I arranged my druzies like they're in a band photoshoot. Ha!

I was so happy when a bride-to-be asked for a large order of my gold druzy necklaces for her bridesmaids. I'd love to give them to my own bridesmaids one day cause they're sure to add some glitter to the ceremony. I just wish I could get pictures of them being worn by my client's bridal party! :)

As you can see, I've been busy at the jewelry bench. A nice chunk of time gets taken up by online things, and it's always refreshing to finally tear my eyes of a screen and start working with my hands.

And on that note, I've been working on a new online means of keeping up with Banana Grove Designs! I shall be putting out a bi-monthly newsletter with special offers, sale announcements and more. If you're interested, you can sign-up to the right in the sidebar under "Join the Mailing List"! I wanted to give you a peek at part of it, so I took a screenshot. :)

-Song