Taking Inventory of 2018: Accountability, Goals (Written and Unwritten), and More!

Sticking with my mantra of accountability, it's time to update the blog! 

So, did my 2018 Goals fly or crash? Let's find out!

(Click HERE if you would like to see them in full.) 

Continue blessing our Compassion International child, Beatrice. 
SUCCESS! 

Have a backbone. 
Do not put up with bullies. 
Be strong and courageous, as it says in Joshua 1:9. 
Do all those things to be a better example to my daughter. 
WORK IN PROGRESS! 
I reviewed this with my friend a few days ago. 
She thinks I did pretty well. 
I believe I can do better. 

Remember that I do not walk through challenges alone. 
This was also based on Joshua 1:9. 
SUCCESS! 

Be kinder to those who are kind to me. 
Be kinder to myself. 
WORK IN PROGRESS!

Read More. Write More. 
BUMMER! 
I read a few great books, but not as many as I wished to. 
Writing really slacked in 2018. 
I stayed on track with my deadlines for River Hills Traveler, SchoolJournalism.org, and JEA Digital Media. 
When it came to writing for ME, aka for MK Designs, I bombed!  

Don't enter art shows and have work in a "gallery" to validate myself as an artist. Do it when I feel compelled to, and only if I have the time. 
SUCCESS! This was a HUGE leap for me in 2018! 

SIDE NOTE: One of the few shows I entered, I actually WON! 
Maybe that's a sign to only enter ones I can really FOCUS on. 

Find some plant-based foods that don't make me gag. 
FAILURE. 
By August I gave up. 
I felt like I was wasting time, energy, and money on stuff that just made me sick to my stomach. 
I will keep trying to find a way to sneak more veggies and fruits into my diet, but vegetarian/vegan, I am not. 
Just look at that steak I grilled! 

With all that said, I now want to focus on the goals I accomplished that I didn't write down. Those are some ones that I am exceptionally proud of. 

In my personal life, there were some serious changes. Those changes drove me to save, save, save. I am not just saving for a rainy day, but for a storm that could be coming at any second. 

On a whim, I bought a book and took a lettering class! 
I enjoyed it and hope to do more things like this in the future!

I photographed some beautiful souls. 
I think I did some of my best portrait work in ages. 

Granted, I don't have a line of people begging me to take their photos, but I have had some people tell me they WISHED they'd booked with me once they saw their typical run-of-the-mill portraits compared to my work. 

 

I am willing to try new places, various lighting techniques, and even a smoke bomb or four!

I branched out and did some work with babies, moms-to-be, and even a wedding in San Diego!

I think because I do not take on a TON of clients, that helps me focus on attention to detail. It also helps me find new ways to approach subjects that have been photographed many times in their lives. 

The work I did for people in 2018 is work that I am very proud of. I feel it helped me grow more in the area of portrait photography. 

We got a turtle. 
Yep. Even though I said I never wanted one.
While getting a pet turtle was far from a goal, it has become my goal to keep that turtle alive! 

My daughter loves Sparky and I do, too. 
You can even find him on Instagram. Click HERE. 

It's also come to my attention that I am at my happiest when I see others succeed. When I can help elevate people to a level they didn't expect to reach, that's amazing. 

I don't want to bask in their glory. I just like standing to the side and cheering them on once they've reached their goals. 

Maybe that is why teaching is such a blessing in my life and has been for over two decades. 

Also, I have to toss in the fact that we found a dumped cat on a hiking trail, fostered it for over 20 days, and saved its life. 

"Vladi" is now living a dream life of being a VERY SPOILED boy with his new family. (Nope, we didn't keep him. We already have three cats and a turtle, folks!) I plan to share more about this experience soon!

While I ponder what to goals to commit to in 2019, I hope that this post finds you content, blessed, and at ease. 

I recently heard a message that I connected with deeply. I have taken the liberty to elaborate upon it as a post on my Instagram and Facebook. I will leave that with you today.

I am hopeful your 2018 was a good one, and look forward to sharing more blog posts with my thoughts and photography with you in 2019! 

M of MK Designs Photography: Fine Art and Portrait.
January 1, 2019. 

Balance? What's THAT!?

2017 was supposed to be the year I got off my a$$ to walk and explore more. Up to the end of August, I was really doing well.

Then, it happened.

Heat and long work hours conspired against my best efforts.

I am hopeful to turn that around sooner than later. I feel more sluggish and less balanced without my time outdoors. 

In other news, I caved and my daughter finally won her hard-fought battle to dye her hair. I have to be honest. I love it. 

I think it's fun to watch her develop her own style. She recently asked me to order her a few shirts (see the picture) from an artist she likes on YouTube. WalkingMelonsAAA is an artist that my daughter really looks up to.

I have found some time to read, though. I find the act to be quite relaxing because I am not reading off a glowing screen. I find PAPER books to be my fave!

I just finished an interesting book titled An Unfinished Marriage. While it's not my typical read, I enjoyed this passage:

"We must be careful not to lose sight of our dreams in favor of the stability of day-to-day life. What's more, we need to hold back a portion of our days for each other, not just meal times."

Granted, I am not married, but this passage really hit home with me because lately I am feeling very unbalanced in my life. Work is dominating my world. I need to not forget my dreams and I must make more time for those I love (daughter, parents, etc.) beyond a quick bite to eat. 

While I know this juggling act is not easily mastered, lately I feel consumed by work. Something has to "give" soon. 

Hopefully the next time I post, I'll have some great "getting off my a$$" photos from a day (or weekend) of exploration!

Until next time, 
M of MK Designs

October Update: "There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir." ~William Bliss

My "mantra" for 2016 is this: 

"I want to become a woman who overcomes obstacles by tackling them in faith instead of tiptoeing around them in fear."

Since May, I have had many moments of "fear." 

I have fears about my health, my career, finances, and more. However, at the end of the day, I am trying my hardest to meet them with faith and the belief that they will only strengthen me; not leave me defeated or broken. 

When I originally decided to focus on facing obstacles in faith, I didn't even think of adding health, finances, or my aging cats to that list. 

Yet, I am still sticking with the original list and plugging right along... 

Cooking. I have been cooking a lot more in 2016 and using my grill more often. I can grill a skirt steak that is out of this world and Karlene says I am mastering "oven-fried taters." Yes, we say "taters" in this house! I have also gotten better at preparing scallops and other foods that I typically only trust a "professional" to cook!

Watching. My latest veg out on the couch guilty pleasure is "Lakefront Bargain Hunt." I am impressed by not only the beauty of the homes, but by the fact they are more expensive than the one I live in. These are on the "bargain" list?!

A movie that I watched a few weeks ago that moved me deeply is "Unconditional." You can find it on Netflix. It is based on a true story and has a powerful message. Check it out! 

Reading. I cannot get over how many books I have read so far this year! If you visit this LINK, you'll learn more about some of them, as well as my mission to read more in 2016. 

Below are photos of all the books I have checked out since I have last updated this blog. 

NOTE: Two of them, Libby & Dying Out Loud, were highly recommended by my Grandma. 9 out of 10 times when she recommends a book, I end up loving it!

Finishing. Karlene and I figured that it was time to get back to work on our stepping stone project and we tackled that with beautiful results. We were able to add three more stepping stones to our outdoor collection. 

I also finally finished the mosaic I started YEARS ago. It's all Soulard Mardi Gras beads. It's only fitting that the final product was juried into a show at Soulard Art Gallery this past month! Below, you can see details of it in the lower right hand area of the photo collage. It's 16X20 and available for sale. Contact me if you are interested. 

Uplifting. I have received a lot of positive feedback about the Journalism Summit that I was able to help bring to Franklin County. Learn more HERE. I felt incredibly blessed to be a blessing to others that day. 

On another note, I love the bracelet I wore that day. My friend Jen is a KEEP designer and I love their jewelry with an uplifting message! 

Karlene and I also just finished our two Operation Christmas Child boxes. Additionally, we are both excited that our Compassion International Child, Beatrice, has been sending us letters! It's amazing to learn more about her life and how God is working in her life. 

Expanding. I have to admit that in this area, I am drowning in learning about women's health issues and how to deal with insurance companies. I am going to leave it at that. It wasn't on my list of new things to learn about, but "it is what it is" indeed! 

Last but not least, I want to brag about my child. 

She recently won First Place (again) in the annual Fire Safety Week poster contest in Washington, Missouri. 

Her poster goes on to the state contest this spring. 

If you can...  I want to toss this out there as a challenge for you today and every day.

Until next time,  

M of MK Designs 

October 2016

Fall Can Start... Anytime!

You may say Global Warming isn't real, but I don't think the first day of Fall temps should be in the 90's. 

I am ready for crisp air, colorful leaves, beautiful drives, and bonfires! 

The forecast calls for cooler temps soon, to which I say:

Last Sunday, it was in the 80's (muggy), but I had to get out. 

I loaded up Karlene, my camera, and hit the road for Robertsville State Park. I cannot stress how important it is to get out and explore the natural world. I am blessed to live in a state that values parks and public lands. 

Oh, and the light was beautiful. 


Enjoy these images:

Do you have a favorite? Feel free to comment on this blog post or on my facebook page. I love feedback!

Anxiously Awaiting Fall, 
~ MT of MK Designs
mkdesignsphoto.com 

Inspiration and a Clean Camera: an Afternoon Spent on MDC lands and Country Roads is NEVER a Waste of Time!

I have lacked inspiration to do much with photography lately. 

Yes, I have still been shooting and writing articles and entering shows, but I've had to drag myself through the process. 

This afternoon felt different. 

The air felt lighter, the sky was blue... around 2:30pm I was (dare I say) PERKY.

My daughter is the one who suggested the drive to MDC lands. I grabbed my recently-cleaned camera (thanks to Creve Coeur Camera) and decided it was time to give it a test run. 

The weather was perfect and my heart felt pretty light once we were on the road. 

We made our way 14 miles south of our home in Union, MO to Chouteau Claim Access. It is where the Bourbeuse River and the Meramec River meet. Karlene and I saw many people out enjoying the day, but it was the scenery that stole the show. 

After we finished exploring, we decided to drive 5 more miles to River 'Round Conservation Area. This is a unique area on the Meramec when viewed on a map. Its name makes perfect sense. 

We explored some areas near the river. I was still inspired to shoot. These are a few of my favorites from that spot:

As we were driving out of the area, we saw an old road that is now a foot trail that we want to go explore at a later date (preferably not during deer season). 

Overall, the afternoon was an enjoyable one. We had dinner in Union and even stopped by the Union Access on our way home. It was a quick stop and our third MDC land of the afternoon. I left my camera behind for that moment and instantly saw some sights that made me regret not having it. 

Creative slumps, feeling down in the dumps, and overall just unmotivated is NOT a fun way to be. I am thankful for this afternoon's burst of inspiration and energy. It has me thinking of one of my favorite verses:

Until next time,
M of MK Designs

PS My website has had an overhaul! You should go check it out: mkdesignsphoto.com