If life wasn't crazy enough with working on our home, Ryan and I getting used to living together after having opposite schedules, trying to figure out my place in the photography world, enjoying our adorable lil' nephews Evan, Forrest, and Levi plus Vivian, our adorable niece... Ryan and I also have a puppy or at least is the size of one, Jack, who is a Jack Russell mix! How fun and YES, and a little crazy, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Forgetting about Julie

As summer usually goes, its been super busy! From the 9 to 5 to wedding photography... the basement renovation to being somewhere besides home every weekend, I'm lucky to get a breath in edgewise... but it has took a major tole on me.

Me in every way has been lazy. I can't say I've given a 100% on anything this summer. Excuses have been my crutch. As I internally struggled with becoming 30, I thought that drive would come out in me. I'm sad to admit it but in all the hustle and bustle of the summer, I've forgotten about myself. I've not exercised since May... I've drank more than not drank... I've struggled focusing... and have felt exhausted.

With summer coming to an end along with a lot of the craziness, I'm making a pack to myself to again care about myself! Putting myself first will again help me get my life back on track and successful! It's not going to be easy but I know I have to or I'll  be heading down a dark road which would be hard to climb out off. I look forward to the new season and the climb to becoming a happy healthy, mentally and physically, 30 year old!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Summer Fun in Grand Marais

As summer is rolling to an end, I finally snuck in some time to edit a few photos from our trip to Grand Marais back from June.

As a child, my parents and grandparents would go to Grand Marais to enjoy its charming quaintness and its abundance of fish. These days it is still very quaint but the fishing isn't what it used to! In fact, these "cigars" were few and far between. But its more than the fishing and the town that we enjoy... its also the beauty of the UP that keeps us busy during the day!
 This trip, Ryan's first, we ventured over to the mouth of the Two Hearted River to reminisce with grandma and grandpa there time years ago when they came up there fishing as a new married couple. Also to get an idea where Bell's Two Hearted Beer got its name from! :D With that, we were able to see destruction caused by the Duck Lake Wildfire, which was humbling. We also did the "tourist" thing and took the boat tour to see Pictured Rocks, another first for Ryan.
All in all, being up there was just as wonderful as I remember and relaxing. Just crossing The Bridge, I could feel the weight lifted of my shoulders! Ryan enjoyed it just as much as I, and hopes to make it an annual tradition!

Might I also let you know, after maybe 10 years of sitting on the shoreline, I finally got my pole back in the water! Growing up with two master fisherman, it was easy to learn the ropes, but fishing wasn't the "cool" thing to do, so I stopped. My parents boast to Ryan about the skills I had! We'll, on this trip it was either sit and watch board on a pier for hours, or jump right back in and catch me my own "cigars"! And that's exactly what I did! It was just as natural as if I was born with the skills... and by the 2nd night, I was back to casting my own rod and baiting my own hook with no one telling me how or what to do! Despite my amazement in picking up a pole again... I also, which I haven't done in years too, age some of my catch! Nothing is better than fresh whitefish and scrambled eggs for breakfast around a picnic table! Makes me hungry thinking about it! :)
I'm so glad I got to share this wonderful place with Ryan and I look forward to next years adventures there! Already on the list of things to do is Tahquamenon Falls! Also, it was wonderful to get to go on vacation with my grandparents! Growing up I've got to go many places with them and camping wouldn't be the same if they weren't there with us!



***Side note... this will now be my "personal" blog! So no more pictures... least not the portfolio type... I have created Julie Lynn Photographer as a place to show of my work for potential wedding couples to hire me as a second! :)