(Holiday) Monday Motivation - Freelance Love Edition

I've been gone for a month!  WHAT?  Where has the time gone?  Why does everything just move so much faster in the Summer?  I hit the ground running when we got back from New Orleans with a bunch of different projects and am struggling with the balance thing.  Oh, the balance thing.  That said, today is a Holiday Monday here in Ontario and I'm having one of those days where I feel so grateful that I get to live a life where long weekends are irrelevant.  Working from home can be filled with pitfalls (so much mom guilt, so many yoga pants) but it is also a lifestyle that affords me dizzying freedom and creative outlets of every kind.  Right now, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

So, what have I been up to?  Other than staying up way too late and obsessing over this Jay Z video?

I had the opportunity to work as a Staff Photographer at the Toronto Jazz Festival this year.  So much fun, you guys.  So much fun.  You can see all the pics here.

I've been continuing my jazz writing as well, over at Torontoist.

I had the absolute pleasure of getting to know Nicky and Art and shooting their wedding photos.  I love shooting weddings.  It's a lot of responsibility but there is so much inspiration there and I get such a thrill out of getting to know my clients, especially during this special time in their lives.

I've been keeping super busy with my Social Media clients and invite you to follow The Tim McCarver Show on Twitter and Facebook and Butterball Canada on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.  If you're curious about some of the other projects I've been working on in this area, let's hook up on LinkedIn.

So, the moral of the story? I love ALL of my jobs!  I'm so grateful that I get to wake up every morning and have breakfast with this girl before I make the commute upstairs to my home office.

I've got a lot more that I want to talk about coming up including some great recipes, great shopping and great reads!  I've also met a few new babies (there will be pictures) and The Robeau's record is almost done so there will be a lot to share about that.  You know, with all that spare time I've got.

Saturday Zen

Coffee in Harvard Square

I shot this Monday afternoon while I was in Boston on business (!!!) Hey, life list, come on over here, I've got something to cross off of you.

The Art of Knowing

There is an art to knowing where to start.  And how to start.  And when to start.  I know there must be.  I also know enough to know I have not mastered that art.

There have been big changes happening for me.  Remember the job that I used to sometimes talk about, but not that openly?  The one I would sometimes mention only to say that I loved it or to show you some great pictures I had the opportunity to take there?  Well, eight and half years later, that job is over.  I've moved on and I'm in the midst of "finding myself" professionally.

Gag.

Don't worry, I hate me for saying that too.

The truth is, that I'm finding my way to professional freedom.  I'm not entirely sure what that looks like yet, but I'm getting there.  I'm finding my way towards working with people and places on things and ideas that excite me and I'm using all the skills in my tool belt to do just that.  It sounds crazy, but it feels like the minute I made up my mind to do this, all of the pieces have started to fall into place.  Am I still worried that someone is going to come along and pull the rug out from under me and that I suddenly won't be able to pay the mortgage?  That everyone will realize that I'm as much of a fraud as I fear I am in my darkest moments?  Of course I'm worried about that.  But mostly I'm optimistic.

I'll be launching my new website Miss Social Media soon to let you all know about my Social Media Consulting business. Already I am working with an AMAZING client (more on that later) and I can't wait to expand. 

I'm also really excited to give Tracey Nolan Studios the time and focus it deserves.  Pop by the website to see some of my recent sessions.

Lastly, I'm hoping to find time to write more.  I'm not sure how this blog will evolve as my professional life does, but that's kind of the fun part, isn't it?  You never do know where life will lead you.