The Quarantine 15

What did that title make you think?

Fifteen pounds?  Yup... that's what I think, too, when I say it, hear it, or read it.

But what are some other things that you've learned about from these past 65-ish days, either about yourself, that you've learned to do, or that you've discovered in your relationships?

Here are mine.

1.  I finished 3 classes online in this past semester.  I'm on my way to earning my marketing degree.

2.  I definitely need to lose weight because school has been so smushed together.  I've done a lot of sitting down to study.
3.  I've started doing photo restoration again.  I really love doing it, because I feel like I get to know the person on whose photograph I'm working. 

4.  I've expanded to slide and negative transfer to digital.
5.  I really love answering essay questions in homework assignments.
6.  I'm much stronger than I thought I was.
7.  When someone asks for prayers, or has told me they are going through a hard time, I actually do something different.  I place them in my heart and light a candle for them.  I feel like the energy from that helps that person, and me.
8.  I miss my friends, but I'm so grateful for modern technology.  It makes social distancing a little easier to handle.
9.  My mom is still my rock.  I got to see her for the first time in 3 months last week and I hadn't been so emotional like that in years.

10.  I've reconnected with a few friends and caught up with them over Facebook.
11.  My son turned 22 and we couldn't celebrate together.  I took him my older Kitchen-Aide mixer and baking supplies and ingredients for his birthday, as he has his own apartment now.  His photos of bread have been amazing.
12.  My cats really really love me.  Especially Bonnie.  She has been especially snuggley these past few weeks.  She keeps me on my toes, and herds me back into my office to work some more.

13.  Learning how to manifest things in my life, like abundance and prosperity, have been life-changing.  I've had many good lessons in this.
14.  Networking has taken on new meaning with learning how to navigate on Zoom.  That has been a lot of fun, and interesting.
15.  I'm looking forward to seeing how others have turned things around for them to make these new unprecedented times work for them.

From My Mom's House

My mom, my sister, and I are at the two-year mark of moving my mom from her home of twenty years with my stepdad, to Oak Crest Retirement Community. 

Have you ever had to help your parent clean out their house and decide, from all of the comfortable and cherished items, what's good for her to keep, for you and your sister to keep, and what to sell and donate and toss?

I'm talking multiple generations of collections.

Pink and gold china.  Blue and silver china.  Cooking utensils.  Glass dishes and cake platters and decorations and furniture.  These are all things that you associate with growing up.

Since our world situation happened, I've been finding new uses for the things that I received from my mom, to actually USE.  She gave me several silver plated platters and dishes.  I've put my glass jar candles on them, and it looks so pretty with my crystals.  An antique wooden thread box now houses office supplies.  Crystal sugar bowls contain every day items such as individual lens cleaning packets for our glasses, and other sundry items.  I have a cute little glass bowl on my desk that has memory cards and bobby pins. 

Here's the thing.  If I have it put away for a "special occasion", I'll probably never use it.  That's why it's so important to me to use it; then I see it, and it reminds me of my mom.

My mom is 82 years old.  I had the opportunity last week to drop off groceries to her at Oak Crest, and they have a very strict drop-off procedure.  My  mom told me she'd come down, but when I got there, I thought, there's no way they'll let me see her any closer than across the street.  Well, not only could I get 2 feet away from her to look at her well-worn, beautiful face, but we got a photograph of us together. 

It was really emotional for me to see her.  When I left, I pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store down the street, and I cried for 20 minutes.

I miss my mom.  I know she misses me and my sister.  However, I'm grateful for the strict protocol and procedures that they have at Oak Crest, and I'm grateful for the 5 minutes that I got to spend with her.  And I'm grateful for the things that I have from her house.

Bee in love with the heartwork of your life.

Are You Looking For Something a Little Bit Different?

Are you sporting a new look?  Did you just lose some weight and get toned up and you want to celebrate your beautiful figure?  Are you looking for a boost to lift your spirits and discover the real beauty you possess inside and out?

Honey Bee Photography Presents Starlet Sessions.

This is a transformational experience that you'll always remember.  Every time you look at your photographs displayed, your confidence will soar and you'll smile, knowing that you look as gorgeous today as you did the day of your Starlet Session.

What's a Starlet Session?

A Starlet Session is a fun, dress-up kind of session for adult women who want to have photographs of themselves that are fun, flirty, fashionable and show off your personality.  Done from the waist up, you can bring in several tops in which you can change your look.  Ladies bring a variety of clothing:  evening wear, something sexy, favorite tops, or they prefer the bare shoulders look.  Sometimes they'll bring a little bit of everything, and also change their hair a little to go with their outfits, add different accessories, or change their lipstick.

In the camera room, I'll help you pose, dance a little, shake your shoulders, and make you laugh.  If you have long hair, we'll give you a little bit of wind.  If you are figure-conscious, I have all kinds of tricks in the camera room as well as in post-production to help you look your best.  I can promise you, we'll have a LOT of fun.

When you get to see your photographs, you'll be amazed at your transformation!  You'll choose your favorites, which will be all of them, (of course!), and be thrilled with your selection.  The anticipation of what comes next is hard to bear.

The next part is the best, though.  When I deliver your artwork to you, you'll be dazzled by your prints.  Whether you choose beautiful Metal Portraits for your home, an album, a Treasure Box*, or one of my many other products, you will enjoy these for years to come.  It's like a holiday morning when you get to open your gifts to yourself!

Are you excited about the possibilities of seeing yourself in a new light?  I'm excited to help you! Give me a call at 240-436-2169, and let's talk about you and what you are up to.  I'd love to hear your stories and help you find out what's most important to you.  Then we'll get to work, and prepare for your session.  I have some hair and make-up artists to whom I can refer you.  

Let's do it!  Let's uncover your true beauty, inside and out.

For an example of a Treasure Box, please visit here:  http://www.honeybeephotography.com/thehiveblog.html?b_blog=P4O9d+kaqNjaCwUadkW9rtWnMvVIYW7a2l8TS/sddeEgOJlFjyYAk+tcwYcZA8Y=

Celebrating Life With Her Favorite People

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have a severe, rare disease?  The only cure is an organ transplant.

Even then, there are complications.  It isn't perfect.  Every day is a gift from God.  Every moment spent with a beloved family member or friend is cherished.  Within each of these is a great miracle.

The miracle is love.  The celebration of life can be any moment that you choose to do so.  You make memories with those whom you cherish.  Every details of the moment is caught up in your memory:  the way the light plays on the leaves and the shadows below; the infectious giggles of your children; the tight cuddle from your spouse as you kiss him; the loving embrace from your mom whose job since the moment she gave birth to you was to keep you safe, happy, and loved.

The common denominator here is the miracle of love.  This beautiful woman has been given another chance by medical experts who were able to save her life.  This session was done to help her celebrate this miracle.

Please share this with all of your friends and family.  Life is so precious.  So is family and so is love.

One more thing.  I know that this is a hard thing to think about, but it's so important to remember and to talk about with loved ones.  Please consider organ donation.  It's very easy to do.  Life is not ever predictable.  Organ and tissue donation is one of the most important legacies a human being can leave behind.  Please visit http://donatelife.net/for more information.