January: Optimistic for a new year, finishing up photography for KHS Powerlifting which is an amazing opportunity for me to get to know some of the high schoolers and their parents. Can we say Senior sessions?! We also went and visited my mom so she could spend time with little man who was just 3 months old. I headed back to work after my maternity leave, but knowing little man had such a good sitter I was able to make that transition back very easily. Thank goodness!
February: Getting used to juggling work and mommy life. Spending time getting used to mommy life all together.
March: Decided I needed a new "mommy version" of me, chopped my hair off, got it styled different, dyed it blonde, and got little man's footprint tattooed on the top of my foot. Thinking I had found a new me at this point ~ not so much. April: The Suck Zone. The tornado of 2011 left quite the path through my city. For some reason we are spared (it literally hit the next street over, went back up for our street and dropped again on the next) other than the garage and shed (which was thrown/rolled 3 houses down). People's houses were completely destroyed. Garages collapsed on vehicles. I don't know why we were spared but I'm so grateful. Watching my town rebuild it's self for a few months would be hard. I guess I need to stop and explain something. I love tornadoes, my favorite movie is twister, and for about 2 years I contemplated going to Kansas to chase them. Sitting in the basement with little man just 5 months old hearing everything crashing and smashing outside I've never been more terrified in my life. The sound (which I had heard in movies) is NOTHING like what you hear when you know that's your life being destroyed and you are powerless to stop it.
May: May was a quiet month. The town is still rebuilding, people are still sorting shingles and siding from belongings. Little man is 6 months old and I can't believe how fast it's going. He's getting teeth and more independent, but with all that comes teething and sleepless nights. I also won a HUGE giveaway on facebook with over $2,200 in prizes. It was the most amazing feeling to be given the opportunity to work with some amazing vendors on facebook.
June: June I decided to make a life changing move. I joined Scentsy. I remember the night we decided (I say "we" because Don is the one that told me to just go for it). I bombarded poor Aleigh with a million questions, the first being "I can't sell stuff to save my life, can I do this?" The rest of the months are a blur for Scentsy, but the answer is YES I absolutely CAN do this.
July: Throughout June, July and August I am doing some amazing photo sessions, working with a lot of different people and having a great time finding my spot in that world. However the constant wonder of "Am I any good?" still plaques me. I need to stop second guessing myself and aspire to be better with each photo. Looking back from 2 years ago to now, there's a huge improvement. I can't wait to see what the future brings for me. As far as Scentsy goes, I earn the shooting star enhancement kit, the monthly sales award, and become a CERTIFIED consultant. YES, I CAN do this!
August: August I am still working on getting a handle of this Scentsy business, which appears to be like crack to some people. I earn the "Inspire" incentive warmer for my sales in July and August. I find some great new friends in this journey, but best of all I reconnect with old ones. I also now have a team of 3!
September: In September I earn the monthly sales award again, as well as become a LEAD consultant. Little man is 10 months old and we are amazed at everything he is learning. Photography is doing well, and I'm growing as a person from that. September was a very uplifting month for me.
October: My team grows to 4 for Scentsy, Don turns 26, we celebrate our 5 years together and we countdown the days until little man's first birthday. I also shoot my first BIG wedding I signed myself, and book one for November. Exciting times.
November: November is UNREAL. I shoot my first wedding, solo, scared out of my mind and it's amazing. My Scentsy team jumps to 8 and I earn the monthly mentor award. At this point I'm starting to realize just what I did on June 28th, I made the best life decision I could have. My little man turns 1, while I turn 26.
December: Whew! We made it! I celebrated a lot this month, but also have some sorrows. I have been at my current job for 4 years now, I decide to take a month off of photography to find myself in that ring, while working on the Scentsy business. Speaking of Scentsy, my team grows to 10, and I become a STAR consultant! Scentsy has given me so much this year, and I know as I head toward SuperStar consultant, my drive towards Director is that much more. I am pushing hard to be able to write "I became a Scentsy Director" in my 2012 year in review. I make a leap and get an iPhone, which I am addicted to. The worst event of December? Putting our dog of 16 years down. I miss her and my family does too, but I find comfort in knowing she is happy.
Top 5 things from 2011:
1. My little man turns 1
2. Scentsy gives me a new life opportunity
3. Don and I celebrate 5 years
4. Don gets a promotion at work
5. I ease back into the working scene with little to no problem. And only about 20 minutes of tears!
2012 Resolutions/Goals:
1. This blog. Finding myself. Rebranding myself.
2. Being better at balancing my checkbook
3. Reading to little man EVERY night.
4. Weight loss
5. Become less boring in the relationship department.
6. Become a Scentsy Director
As we count down the seconds to a New Year tonight, I'll be counting down to a new me.
i love this post! and it really looks like 2011 was quite good to you. :) also resolve to be thankful for what you have.. a lot of people have much, much less. you are amazing and i know you will continue to improve on yourself! life is such an amazing journey. :) its hard sometimes, and it should be.. so we are truly grateful for what we have.
ReplyDeletehmm..
i was going to say something else but i lost it when i climbed up on my soapbox. haha. OH! how to tell you're a good photographer (outside of advertisement... because that is SO expensive ugh)- people keep coming BACK to you. i do basically NO work, but i turn down quite a bit (sadly i have no desire to settle into a business here, i want to move ASAP so.. i feel its a waste of my money to invest in anything.. but i plan to take st. thomas by storm!). anyway, you seem to have a lot of business when you're doing your thing, so thats how you know. :)
i can't wait to read more! and, if you need a cheer leader (or a preacher, hahahaha) you know where to find me. and you can tell me to STFU, too... or you can preach right back. i'll take it all. <3 have a nice day, kym!