EDUCATION GUEST POST ASHLEY FROM: The Stork and the Beanstalk

This week’s guest post on Education comes from Ashley from The Stork and the Beanstalk. Not only is Ashley an amazing Mumma to two gorgeous boys, she is a talented photographer. I can spend hours just looking at her stunning images. Make sure you pop over to Ashley's blog and Facebook page and give her lots of love.

Hey guys. I'm Ashley and I write over on The Stork & The Beanstalk. Special thanks to Julie for having me today and much love to all the women out there. 

When my husband and I first started dating, his cousin was just a young boy. So young that he used to color me pictures, presenting them with big red cheeks and a shy smile. He's starting college this year and despite my desire to think of him with those big rosy cheeks and crayon colored picture in hand, he's beginning the path to adulthood. And with adulthood comes that daunting question of what to do with your life.

Deciding what to do with my life always felt like more of a burden and less of a freedom. I didn't come from a family that pushed their expectations on me and, at times, I wish I would have (although now I can clearly see that leaving it up to me was absolutely the best direction they could have given me. Pushing their expectations on me would have been grossly detrimental). 

I spent much of my college days floating about.

I remember the conversation I had with my dad when I told him I wanted to major in Humanities. You could hear the unsung worry in his voice as he cautiously asked, "what are you going to do with that degree?". I commend my parents now for always using open ended questions when dealing with my still-maturing brain. Asking what I was going to do with a degree in Humanities placed the responsibility back on myself and was much more helpful than hearing, "there's not much you can do with a degree in Humanities". 

I earned my bachelors degree in Humanities from San Francisco State University. And as soon as I graduated, the worry as to what I'd do with it was mine, and mine alone. And with that diploma in hand, that worry became real. 

I spent the next year really and truly just being young; making mistakes, pretending to be an adult, trying to support myself. I signed up for some photography classes at San Francisco City College (I had taken a photojournalism class at SF State my senior year that made me want to change my major entirely). I spent those days in the dark room, developing film, and trying not to get parking tickets.

I worked as a gymnastics coach.

Every now and again, I'd come back to that daunting question of what to do with my life. And when it hurt my brain too much, I'd find something new to keep me busy.

I spent some time in France and worked as an au-pair for an amazing family; A family I still keep in touch with and even visited a few years back in London.

I travelled. A lot. Thailand, India, Malta, Morocco, Egypt, Singapore, Guatemala. A road trip to Louisiana and back.

And somewhere in it all, I decided more than anything I wanted to be a mom. And thus, I became a nurse (because hello three shifts a week). And now, I'm 32 and I have the best of all the little pieces... A humbled beginning, a loving husband and two beautiful boys, a career in nursing, a photography business, and memories that remind me constantly that life is not always best planned out or dictated by others. I celebrate often that my life is my own. 

The story is long, much longer than I'm sure you care to read about here, but the message is short: The journey is the destination. All these little pieces of the puzzle have made me who I am. Each step off the path was not a deviation, but instead a part of what is now the whole. 

I have no advice for others. Rather, I trust that we all find our own way and on our own terms. Autonomy is a beautiful thing.

Please Note: Images and words are Ashley's unless otherwise indicated

LOST CREATIVITY

With packing, moving, Justin being away for a month, and my obsession with getting the garden established in the new house, my sewing machine has been forlorn and abandoned. I get inspiration for a garment, then Jarvis or my tired body draws me away, and yet again it is left sitting gathering dust.

I finally bought myself a desk to replace the one Justin borrowed (stole), but I think part of the issue is that my new sewing area lack inspiration, it is just plain and out in the open. The white wall, a dirty window, and (honestly) a bit of a dumping ground for my sewing stash, all of this does nothing to inspire creativity.

In my head I keep thinking if I make the space more 'me', I will feel the desire to create. But the double conundrum is, I am not inspired to decorate the space as it has no personality.

However, true to the blogging world Jane at Fight Platform Living gave the nudge along to set up the machine and put it to work with this post. All I made is one cushion at the start of Jarvis's nap. But fingers crossed this is the first step back into my sewing obsession.

Any suggestions on how to turn a plain area into a creative zone, when your own creative energy is missing? 

“Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things.” - Ray Bradbury

DIRT AND GRASS

On Friday I think Jarvis thought he was in heaven. What is better than a garbage truck or the postie to an almost two year old boy? A dump truck full of dirt and a semi filled with grass.

This guy looked like Santa to Jarvis.

Delivery was meant to occur around eleven. Yeah I guess that sounds like 7am? Lucky for me the dirt and grass was delivered onto our driveway and I had to cart it all up to the back of the house and lay it. 

Around 11am, Dad came to the rescue and came over to help. Who knew grass was that heavy? We had to get it done by the end of Friday as it was blocking in my car. Note to self, move car first next time.

The grass was laid, and I learnt a few things. When I lift heavy weights I am an old lady grunter. Do not allow an almost two year old loose with the hose on a huge pile of dirt. Wet dirt is even heavier than dry dirt. Laying grass is hard for two OCDers like Dad and I, grass must be neat! And do not lay down on new grass when you are the only adult home, a small child will not pick you up and carry you into the house and put you in the shower. He will however jump up and down on you as if you are the new yard toy.

 They could have left some on the truck, or at the very least carried up for me?

Jarvis stood waving to the empty semi for ages, long after it had driven away. 

EDUCATION GUEST POST MARIANNE FROM: Esme and the Laneway

This week’s guest post on Education comes from Marianne from Esme and the Laneway. The lovely Marianne and I share a love of vintage, oh if only to spend one day in her wardrobe! I would be in vintage heaven. Marianne also gives some great advise on her blog about wearing and owning vintage clothing. Make sure you pop over to Marianne's blog and Facebook page and give her lots of love.

I didn’t get to know my grandmother all that well but I’m glad I had the chance to know her at least a little bit.

Born in England, she moved to South Africa in her twenties, returning to the UK in her sixties when I was about 8 or 9. I think she lived with us for a while but I can’t really remember; perhaps she just stayed with us for a week or two or perhaps it was longer. It’s all a bit hazy and quite a long time ago.

And while I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with her, I did see our similarities. She had dainty hands and feet and was a foot model in her younger years. I, too, have small(ish) feet, and while I’ve neither posed nor pointed these tiny tootsies for the camera and have no pressing desire to do so, I am more than comfortable to expose my peds to the world – no small feat (ha!) in a world where we are so often shy of such apparently straightforward things. But there’s no foot shame here! They say things skip a generation and hey, I’ll take it!

But moving from one country to a very different one after growing used to a certain lifestyle for almost a whole lifetime is not easy. Adjusting to a new home and a new set of circumstances – and, from what would be a very old memory, the cold weather! – is a big deal and my grandmother seemingly just... dealt with it. In a practical, no-nonsense way, she simply got on with it. Of course, being a child means you aren’t privy to a lot of things and there would have been good times and bad times, but there was an overall attitude she radiated of just getting on with it.

There could have been a hundred things she could have taught me, but she gave me a most important lesson: play the hand you’re dealt.

I don’t have any photographs of her, but I like to think of her and thank her for setting such a good example and being a strong, female role model in my formative years. And, well, yes, for the neat feet, too!

Image sourced by Marianne off pinterest

Please Note: Images and words are Marianne's unless otherwise indicated

43/52

Father, Brothers, Uncle, Nephew. The Ma men, all so similar in so many ways.

Jodi over at Che and Fidel has inspired me to pick up my camera and turn the focus inward. Since I already take 100s of photos of my children each week, so I thought I would twist the idea a little. What I never seem to get is group shots, images of the family together, whether it is my two children, Tamika and Jarvis, or me with the kids, or shots of Justin and I. So I am going to challenge myself to get one image of "my family" per week.

42/52

My final catch up in the 52 series!! Tamika adopted a new kitten, so thought he should make the family portrait. We are actually babysitting? Catsitting the kitten this week-end, I am serious worried for it near our cat. Hmmm any hints on how to keep the kitten and Tira in the same house without fighting? 

Jodi over at Che and Fidel has inspired me to pick up my camera and turn the focus inward. Since I already take 100s of photos of my children each week, so I thought I would twist the idea a little. What I never seem to get is group shots, images of the family together, whether it is my two children, Tamika and Jarvis, or me with the kids, or shots of Justin and I. So I am going to challenge myself to get one image of "my family" per week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN

In my mind Justin is still a boy. When I first met Justin he was a soft gentle soul, in his early 20s. A baby compared to me. Justin has always seemed so young. He even got asked for ID at a pub when he was 29. I had to go to the bar and buy his drink. Yes the heavily pregnant woman bought the scotch for her toy boy. 

Even last year when Justin celebrated his 30th in Paris. I still thought him so young. But this year we both were walking around saying 31!!! WHAT? How did that happen so fast? Where did the last year go?

Justin's birthday was a easy day. Waking to presents. Taking Jarvis to his first movie. A yummy lunch. Full body massage for Justin. Then out to dinner, Justin, Tamika, Jarvis and I went to an "All you can Eat" ribs restaurant. Hot Chocolates for desert and Jarvis's first baby chino.

Nothing over the top, but it is the quiet days with my family I like the best.

What ever age he is, I am grateful to spend another birthday with him. Even more so this year as his birthday fell in the week in between his two weeks in Cambodia and his two weeks in Hong Kong. 

As a late birthday present, why don't you pop over to his blog (Yes I have a partner who blogs!!!) Justin Ma Photography or to his Facebook page and give him some love. Well a like will do!