life lately : balance

i wrote a post awhile back about working from home and finding balance. like all seasons of life things have changed and my routine looks completely different. i very often get ask "HOW do you do so much?" "WHY do you do so much" and am always given suggestions like " you should cut something out"  or  "work less" ... while all questions and suggestions are welcome i realize no one really knows whats going on but me. of course ryan is in tune and helps keep me in check but there are still many moments in a day were i feel completely alone. 

owning and running a multifaceted business at many times is complicated but i wouldn't trade it for the world. i thoroughly enjoy screen printing, photography and graphic design. there are times i want to cut out one but can't wrap my head around it. 

today while screen printing multiple custom orders i realized i am able to offer a variety of services and enjoy each of them is because i need each of them to keep me focused and on track. even though i enjoy it, i don't think i could be out in the screen printing studio for 8+ hours a day. same goes with photography and graphic design. by doing different jobs that are very different from each other i get excited about working on each one. i don't get burned out and i look forward to each new client.  

i've always struggled with the ability to stay on track. school was a challenge. offering different services which allow me to work with my hands and interact with people brings me great joy and gives me balance. 

with baby #3 to arrive in october, i will be fine tuning each of the services i offer to best fit our family but no single one will be deleted. stay tuned for those updates!! 

summer vacation // garner state park // tx

we recently returned from our frio river trip to garner state park in the hill country of texas. this place is magical. the park opened in 1941 and is the most visited state park in texas.  the cool clear waters of the frio river run through the park which is a reason why this place stays really booked so planning way ahead is essential to getting a spot for the summer. 

we were surprised how many people were there and how family friendly it was. during the summer, the park has a nightly dance for the guests. tons of teenagers, adults, and kids dancing together and having fun! annie and jane had a blast and were completely blown away with the music, the number of fire flies buzzing around, and the amazing atmosphere of laughter on a hot summer night. 

on the second day we decided to rent some tubes and go on the short river float ( 1 1/2 hr. ) we rented our tubes through the park and they trucked us to a drop off point outside of the park. we tided our tubes together so we could stay together and off we went. the river was flowing pretty good we didn't have to get out and walk in too many places. annie thought going over the "waterfalls" (rapids) was pretty cool. jane was a trooper, no complaining. it was so relaxing and a great way to see a lot of amazing scenery. 

there is no doubt we want this trip to become a family tradition. we recently purchased a used small 19 foot camper that is going to see a lot of use this summer and in the coming years. we do no media on our trips and the kids absolutely love it. something about the outdoors calms my mind and brings me back to a very peaceful happy place.  

happy campers // lake murray // memorial weekend

i made the announcement last week about our little family growing into a family of 5. baby hager #3 is due Halloween 2016. the first 4 months were pretty ruff and i was extremely discouraged with life and work. don't take that the wrong way. i have to be honest and say that everything isn't always easy ALL the time. i love my family and my work and God has truly blessed me with wonderful clients and amazing children. 

something i decided when we found out we were expecting was a little cut back. i have been giving myself no down time. i was working every weekend and on my days off (sunday & monday) the first thing i'm cutting back on is weddings, i will no longer be shooting weddings. i am finishing the weddings i have in contract and then that will be it. bittersweet because i love all the emotion and happiness that comes with weddings but i know in my heart it isn't the right fit for me. 

i also added a wonderful creative entrepreneur to the store to help me out with the hours. her name is Alison with Lily & Sparrow Designs, she hand letters and is an amazing artist all around. so if you stop by and don't see me, more than likely it's her! i know 4 days a week seems limited to some but this store isn't the only thing i do. i have to make time to screen print, run errands, and be there for my family. 

with that, i am determined to do more of what i love and what fuels my creative side, CAMP! we bought a little 19' camper and it's amazing. we went on our first trip memorial weekend, it was less than 24 hours but i can already tell we are all going to love it. lake murray is in oklahoma, about 1 1/2 hours from wichita falls. it's spring fed, clean, and so much fun. i tried to relax and not focus on capturing every moment. i couldn't hold back when we woke up monday morning and the kids couldn't resist the water. the kids are hooked. we leave this weekend for another camping trip! here's to summer, water, family, and happy little campers. 

and here's a little video of our morning on the water. at the very end annie is trying to get Ryan in the water, don't be fooled the water freezing and it was 9am. we couldn't hold them back.

puddle time

north texas received a beautiful rain yesterday and then the sun came out and it was the most peaceful evening. i knew i didn't want to spend time inside so i told the girls to grab their rain boots and get in the puddle. our driveway is like a mini lake when it rains. 

it doesn't bother the girls one bit. jane lost her balance a few times and fell right in the water. once she realized i wasn't going to be upset and that i was allowing her to get muddy she was all over it. so happy and filled her boots with muddy water. 

texas skies, big mud puddles, and my girls means i am a very happy mama. i am so thankful for this life. 

i would love to book a lifestyle session like this. posed family pictures are important but so is the simple meaningful moments you live everyday. if you are worried about having a session in your home because you don't want to clean, the house is too small or to dark, lets get together and play in a puddle or in your backyard and capture wonderful memories for you and your family. 

52 // week 8

i almost most missed it again. here is week 8!!

we went on a little adventure this week to some family land near the red river. i love getting away and letting the kids run around, get dirty and have fun. this space never disappoints and it's such a good opportunity for me to clear my head and breathe some fresh air!

week 8 // annie // jump baby

week 8 // jane // always on an adventure

so, that last part  when jane ate the dirt and then got made it me for trying to help her get it out of her mouth. that explains how strong willed she is. when she refused the help, i took pictures to make her more mad. 

#momoftheyear 

52 // week 7

i really need time to slow down. the days FLY by!  my world has changed so much. 

the new schedule of home vs. store hours is great but it sure makes my minutes of each day  F L Y! 

my mondays at home with the girls is a day i look forward to. this day fuels my soul and makes me stop and appreciate these little beings. i stay strong to this day off because i need to be home to just be with them, to play, laugh, dance and be silly. i love how they remind me to slow down, love them, and have patience for my dreams. they come first. 

week 7 // annie // ms. story teller

week 7 // jane // oh christoph

52 // week 6

week 6, you came and went fast. i snatched these last monday when the sun was coming up and the air was crisp. 

annie is getting quite the attitude as of late. hence the no smile, "mom i'm over this look"

week 6 // annie // over it

week 6 // jane // hair in yo face

52 // week 5

february is here and the girls were feeling it this week. i think jane has been feeling bad which explains why she's being so lovey toward her sister. i caught them snuggling on the couch and had to capture the sweetness. 

week 5 // annie // bubbles in your face

week 5 // jane // feet in your face

i really enjoy being apart of their crazy energy and childhood. being their mom is such a blessing. 

52 // week 4

week 4. january is almost over and we are looking forward to february! 

annie // week 4 // jump

jane // week 4 // hands

newborn hospital // gibson meets parker

ok guys, brace yourself for how sweet these moments are. i am so thankful my friend sarah ask me to capture these sweet memories for them at the hospital. ms. parker has a big brother named gibson that is absolutely and genuinely in love with his new sister. being a witness to their introduction was amazing. 

when i was pregnant with jane i read and researched the best way to introduce jane to annie. i didn't want annie to feel replaced or have any cross attitude toward her new sister. i combined many different articles and came up with a plan. said plan worked beautifully in my situation and i knew i had to share with sarah. i have only captured moments at the hospital for first borns so being able to be apart of a new baby and sibling introductions was a win win. 

i know this plan may not work for everyone or you may think my ways are crazy but here was my plan and i will continue to use this plan as suggestions for clients, family and friends who are going though similar situations. 

start by lining up a sitter for the toddler(s). once you are in labor the focus should be on the baby and successfully bringing the baby into this world safe and healthy. our hospital allows for an hour or more of skin to skin time and my husband i used this time to bond, feed and observe our little blessing. once we moved to postpartum we called the sitter ( in-laws ) and ask them to bring our toddler (s) to the hospital. i made sure the baby was swaddled and snug in her bassinet and i sat on the bed alone while my husband went to get big sister from the waiting room . i read that the toddlers first reaction isn't going to be excitement to see the baby but anxiousness to see their mommy. i think it's important for no one else to be in the room when new family introductions are made. there is already so much going on that extra people and distractions aren't necessary and could take away from such a beautiful moment.

this was so true in my case and in sarah's. when gibson walked in the room he instantly looked at his mom and ask how she was with sincere concern. then he remembered parker was there. he crawled up on the bed to look at his new baby sister. gibson was in awe. in the sweetest voice he said, " she's beaituful " ... " good job mommy". once he starred her down and kissed her he ask if he could hold her and this is when it became all about the baby. he watched her and observed everything about this new little person.

it was so amazing and emotional to watch. gibson, so young and innocent, truly appreciated his mom, dad, and new baby sister. he brought her a toy and talked to her like she could understand. 

i think it's important for the "big"  to feel a sense of ownership over their new sibling. i remember telling annie jane was hers and to this day ( two years later ) annie calls jane HER baby sister. she protects her and let's her know she is her big sister and best friend. 

i left this session with so much affirmation that i am on the right path of doing what God wants for my life. my heart was so full i thought it could burst. i may not always have the chance to capture new moments like this but i believe the everyday moments we live are just as important. 

welcome to this world ms. parker. you are so loved. 

52 // week 3

these were taken on saturday which is technically last week 2 but great moments not to share and mark as week 3 favorites. we had the fluffiest snow flakes last weekend! 2 hours later it was sunny and in the 40's. north texas weather, you are weird. 

annie : fiersley cold. // week 3

jane : snow babe // week 3

52 // week 2

here we are week 2 of the year. 

the kids usually wake up and watch mickey mouse and today the routine was broke. flash lights and coloring it was. 

create away my loves.

View fullsize

jane : color queen // week 2

View fullsize

annie : flashlight wonder woman // week 2

be better.

i'm not much on new year resolutions but i do believe in finding ways to better myself and my current state of house, home, life, faith, etc. 

here are the things i am going to work on, which will make life less stressful and will provide more happy days in 2016:

- say "no" -- learning that i don't have to say yes to everything

- give more time to the ministries i'm currently involved in at church - not adding to what is already on the plate but give more fully to what i HAVE said "yes" to. the things that truly fulfill me are the things i don't do for myself but that of which i do for others and my parish. 

- be a better example - understanding that the voice and language that i use is what i should expect my kids to see and use. need to work on more calming and less .... crazy.

- focus on my health - thankfully we live out in the county and we don't eat much fast food but i want to cook better meals. drink more water and find more time to exercise. not to loose weight but to actually feel better. i can tell my muscle strength is far weaker than it was after i completed the hotter n hell this summer. i have let my work take over and pushed my health to side. i'm going to work on it. 

- keep dreaming - i need to slow down, stop getting frustrated when things don't go my way and look to the future. dream on and don't give up. 

- set goals - not just think of them but actually write them down so i can reflect next year on where i am and how i've worked to accomplish these goals. 

-go on vacation - haha, i feel silly having to write that down but true story, i'll book all my weekends if i don't start planning. family camping and beach trips are in our future!

of course i have more but all stem off of what i've listed here. good luck on your resolution/dreams/goals if you made any! if you haven't, i encourage you to think about all the things that make your life crazy and stressful. then write down all the ways you can work on making your life more simple and stress free. good luck and happy new year!

52 // week 1

one goal for 2016 is to snap a picture of each of my children each week, to capture the moments and memories which reflect their current. since i didn't get a chance to blog last week's 52 i will be posting two this week. my hopes are that this series helps me see the beauty in everyday moments. i am so guilty of letting my 'busy' life take over my thoughts and daily encounters with my beautiful kids. that stops now. 

breathe. see. enjoy. capture. 

ANNIE // WEEK 1 // BUBBLY BEARD

JANE 1 // WEEK 1 // BATH EYES

2 0 1 5 // thank you for being awesome

taken by: @avisionrevealed

wow, i seriously can't believe 2015 is over. this was a big year for me and my family. in january i made the launch to rebrand myself and change my business name. what was little h prints became little h creative. as much as i loved learning and working in the oil and gas industry i was miserable trying to balance being a creative person at home and sitting at a desk all day in front of a computer. 

in march i took a huge leap and financial risk attending the wildflower workshop with joy pouty in austin. this workshop was intimate and provided me with much needed advice on how to take my career seriously.  i met some amazing women whom will always inspire me to be better and to live my dreams. 

in april i made the leap to leave my full time job in oil & gas to become self employed and work from home. i also opened my booth space in the alley cat vintage mercantile. 

may was wild. jane had tubes put in her ears and i had a golf ball sized lump removed from my thyroid. the entire experience was painful and scary. i am so thankful and blessed that the lump was cancer free and with half a thyroid my bodies hormones are functioning perfectly therefore i do not have to take medication. 

summer is a blur. we took a much needed trip to the beach and ryan changed careers to work for my brother's company. since i design, plan, and print my own products i have to start designing each line months before they are released. 

fall was very special. in october i had the most amazing experience to shoot my first wedding. november was a game changer for me. i was presented the opportunity to attend the bloom bash workshop in seattle, wa. being around such a variety of creative entrepenuaers was amazing. i'm still trying to wrap my head around all the amazing information we were provided. inspired doesn't begin to touch how amazing it was. 

workshops are so important. they give you purpose and reason for why you do the things you do while providing tools to help you in the path you choose. 

a couple local creatives and i are teaming up to bring a workshop to wichita falls. a much needed experience for the ladies of this town and surrounding area. please check out our website for more information. click here ----> the found workshop

i also was apart of christmas magic for the first time. spending so much on a booth space was scary but i'm so happy i took the leap and trusted my gut. being around my customers and sharing my passion and products is what inspired me to find a store front space of my own. 

december is when my new adventure began. i am in my new store front space, offering new design and photography packages. i am excited for the path i am on. God is holding my hand and i pray he never let's go. i couldn't do my work without the love and support of my family, friends, and customers who believe in me. 

// adventure // a new store

where to start? most of you have noticed or seen that i have moved from the alley cat to a new store location. i have been with julie at the alley cat vintage mercantile for a long time! years! i love her and her treasure of a store. multiple things led me to move and get my own place, being self employed and working from home has been great. i was able to have a retail booth space in town while doing photography, design, & print at home. 

this worked for a little while but honestly it's been a little crazy. our house completely got taken over with product, an online store and my dining room table became an office. for someone who doesn't like mess or clutter it became a little much to handle. 

i had a booth space in November at christmas magic and it was so great to have a client/customer interaction. i put a lot of thought and time into my designs and the process of printing all of my own stock. i am very attached to all of my work, it is apart of who i am and i wouldn't do it if i didn't love it. that goes with photography and design as well. 

i now have a place sell my products with hopes of expanding by this summer, a place to meet my clients and i have a small wall for studio space. i won't be doing props. i will still be shooting outdoor and natural light photography but hopes of doing a very simple series of portraits. 

this store space will hopefully simplify my life. before i was running around delivering orders all day and working extremely long hours at home. we are now adjusting to me being away from home again and having to work a store but i truly believe this was the best move for our family. 

the girls will be with me on occasion and other days i will use the time at the store to get work done. thank you for those who have stopped in and said hello. i will be having a grand opening after the first of the year so stay tuned! i encourage you to get out and explore our downtown. it's a gem and there are some really great shops down here. 

our address is : 530 7th street, set. 102 - wichita falls, texas // come see me! Hours : 10-3 Wednesday thru Saturday

lifestyle sessions // why? when? where?

lifestyle sessions mean so much to me. they are real. not staged. no begging to smile. not struggling to keep attention. it's a normal day, reading books, eating dinner, playing with toys and just being you. some of my favorite images of my kids are at home, with they are not looking at the camera, just playing and being completely into what they enjoy. 

i am now booking a select number of lifestyle sessions for 2016. lifestyle sessions take place in the comfort of your home. think of it as a " a day in the life of ..." when we decide to start and stop the session is completely up to you. i have plenty of recommendations but i want to do what fits your family best. 

this session comes with signature book. not only do you receive the edited images of this session to have forever, you get a book that tells YOUR story.  please feel free to contact me with questions or read more about pricing. 

and it's good to know not everyone wakes up on the right side of the bed. our jane is a hot and cold personality. she's either happy or mad. you never know what you are going to get. i am so happy i grabbed my camera on this day because i caught her brief happy and then her mad. 

november // i've been waiting for you

november has been the month on the calendar for me for MONTHS! it's here and i couldn't be more excited. i am so thankful for those of you who follow along! i've had a full schedule with designing, photography, screen printing, fundraising, and ... LIFE. 

i started designing my fall line of clothing and home goods in July and started printing in August/September. everything is designed, printed, priced and ready to hit the shelves! my online store is up NOW!  i encourage you, if you are local, to come to christmas magic this weekend. i will be there all day friday thru sunday. i will be introducing all of my new goodies this weekend at christmas magic and then they will be available at the alley cat vintage mercantile (900 Indiana wichita falls, texas 76301) starting November 9th and 10th.  

i've also been busy with mini sessions that started in September and i finished up last night.  i have a good number of full sessions this month and i am so excited to spend time with families, to learn about them, and to tell their story. 

November, i am so happy you are here. i can't wait to get all the boxes of stock out of my house and onto the shelves. this is what my basement has been like for MONTHS! boxes stacked on boxes. i've got big dreams of having a space for all of this. 

i am excited to breathe and to put more focus on my family. i am ready to give thanks for my business and my wonderful clients. 

on another note, halloween was a hit this year. annie and jane were trick or treating fools. the weather was perfect. 

inspiration

what inspires you? what makes your clock tick? 

for me : inspiration is a lot of different things. for my work i have to get inspired on a daily basis. inspired to get out of bed, dress myself and the kids, eat, make coffee, and work. on a given day i have ( or feels like ) 100 different things to do. 

for day to day tasks i find inspiration in the little things. the color that surrounds me in my home & outside, the roof over my head, water in my house, faith in God and knowing he is always near. 

my best work comes when i am free.  whether it be with graphic design or photography, being TOLD what to do or how to do something makes me anxious. i am a self employed individual because i like making decisions, i like working hard, i enjoy creating and delivering beautiful things to people, i care about each and every one of my clients. my work is very personal to me. when i create something through a design or session it is apart of me. i am giving each person i engage with my best work. 

passion is one thing but turning that passion into solid work is my job.  i'll blog more about the recent workshop i attended soon but going and being around a lot of creative entrepreneurs is what inspires me. my challenge now is figuring out how to continue to be inspired. at home // in my zone. 

one major thing that gives me inspiration is working with my hands. screen printing, cooking, feeding our chicks, and playing with my kids keeps me inspired.  

i encourage you today to think about what inspires you. the more inspired you are the more you will accomplish today & tomorrow. 

traditions : oktoberfest

i am of german decent. polka music, sausage, sauerkraut and beer are a part of me. my family started going to Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg, Texas about 8 years ago. i've had to miss one or two years but other than that ryan and i have been every year. we know polka better together than we two step. we started going before we were married and before we had kids. now that we have kids the dynamic has changed a bit. we don't stay as long, we don't go to the wineries, and we don't shop the town. we rent a house out of town, wake up to the kids, brew coffee and relax. we try and save all energy for the festivities. 

friday night is a lot less crowded so we try to get our dancing in then. saturday starts with face paintings... this is a big thing for us. this was annie's third year getting her face painted. she patiently waits in line (anywhere from 45min - 1 hr 1/2) it's crazy but for our kids, worth it. it's the first thing we do. once the faces are painted we are off to snag a seat and polka the night away. the girls love to dance, hop around, and do the chicken dance. 

we end the weekend by getting one of every pastry at the old german bakery in town and then attend mass as a family. the pastries go fast so we wake up early to claim our sweets. life is good. this trip is short but l leave so happy and excited for the years to come. 

we stayed at river road ranch, mini's house, this year. it was a first for us and it was great. the pedernales river is really close so we fished and canoed during the day. the kids especially loved this part.