I have many items on my bucket list and one of them would be attending a calligraphy workshop! One of the best in the industry, Laura Hopper Calligraphy was going to be in the Boston area so I decided to sign up! Luckily a creative group I’m a part of posted the event and a few of us went together. It was a three hour workshop and we learned how to write calligraphy. Yes our wrists and hands were tired. I was surprised because it was more relaxing than I had expected. I thought I was going to get really frustrated real easily. It’s such an art!
Enjoy a few pictures I was able to snap at the calligraphy workshop. If you are interested in learning more about Calligraphy please check out Laura Hooper website here. I’m off to practice writing calligraphy freely (not using the templates)! It may come in handy one day!
Thank you to all of the vendors that made this workshop a success!
Yes you, the one working the full time job, running a business on the side and balancing your time with family and friends. Stop making excuses and just do it! Less talk and more actions. Yes Jen that is what I said! Stop being the one who is constantly struggling and second guessing yourself. Let it go! Be Confident! Stop always wanting what others have and make it happen for you! You can do this! It’s going to be a lot of work, blood, sweat, tears, happiness, frustration, contemplating and goal achieving. This is not just going to appear one day, you have to create the path yourself!
The struggle is real! If it wasn’t real than everybody would be doing this; this is a marathon, not a sprint. Cutting corners and stepping on toes will not get you there sooner and will cost you valuable colleagues along the way. Slow and steady wins the game! Be true to yourself and who you are! People will notice you and it will make you stand out from the crowd. Be the words you had picked for 2016: Authentic and Adventurous! Bring that spark you have to everything you do and touch and see. Don’t sit back and not attempt to chase your dreams!
Throw away the fears and concentrate on the positives! Surround yourself with positive people and get rid of the negatives! You are worth it and you will make a difference! You will one day achieve your dream goal! Consider this a love letter, or more of a tough love letter, to motivate you to keep at it. Read this when you are feeling down or unmotivated. The best of the best were once here where you are today. I can’t wait for you to read this post in a few years and to reflect how far you have gone. Remember to stay grounded, authentic, celebrate the small victories and always appreciate the connections you have made through your business. Don’t forget them! They helped shape and build your business. Jen, you got this Latina girl! Like Taylor Swift says “Shake it Off, Shake it Off” and get back to it. If you need to blare some TSwift and dance it off, DO IT! You know what? Throw some Pitbull on, that always make you dance it out and be silly! Be yourself and things will work themselves out. Keep smiling and laughing like no one is around you! Keep chasing those dreams of yours!
Sincerely,
Jen as of 5/25/16
Since the beach is my happy place I thought it was best to post a view of where I will be spending my weekend! xoxo
On the blog today I will be talking about a New England Fall family photoshoot. Who doesn’t love Fall? It was a crazy busy time, but I was lucky enough to photograph this cute little man. If these pictures and that smile could talk, I imagine you’d all be able to hear him say “Hi I’m Lil Drew and we are photographing my first holiday card with the best parents ever!”
I met up with the Mackay family in Northboro, Andrew, Joanne and Lil Drew. Joanne wanted to get some photographs to use for their holiday card, and to celebrate Lil Drew turning six months old. Our original plan was to photograph their session at a tree farm. Once we arrived we found it to be a little bit crowded so we found a location close by that worked out great for us. There was no one around us, just three adults trying to make a six month old laugh, smile and look at the camera. I’m laughing as I write this because it’s funny to relive that experience and these pictures. We had so much fun together while Lil Drew was eating blankets and laughing with Mom and Dad. There is no better sound than a baby laughing!
Even though I’ve known you for years, I still can and can’t believe that you both are parents! What I do know is you both are amazing parents and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Lil Drew. We all know he is in the Mackay family so playing football is in his near future! I cherish every moment I spend time with you guys! Enjoy some of my favorites!
Xoxo Jen Araya
If you missed Joanne’s maternity shoot last spring check it out here!
I will be starting a new series at the beginning of each month, GOALS! Yes you read that correctly. If you know me, you know I’m all about goals! I love creating and achieving them. I thrive for To Do Lists, and nothing feels better than crossing an item off on that list. It makes me a little bit more motivated to get things done, and helps me to hold myself accountable each month and be sure I stay on track. My ultimate Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) is to one day become a full time photographer. In order to do that I need to stay on the right track and keep working hard when I’m not at my full time job. It’s exciting to me to think about the bigger picture and the journey to get there by making sure I’m setting myself up to succeed..
Below is the start of my To-Do List for the month of April. I will hopefully be able to cross off a few of these items each month and of course add to it. Cheers to this new journe!
Business Goals
Transfer website to Showit 5
Finish my bridal guide, including final proofread and purchasing copies
Purchase and mail Bridal Guide to all of my 2016 couples
Tackle 1 class for my certification (more than halfway done, 4 more to go!)
Create blog calendar for the month of April and May
Update expenses and track mileage
Create email templates
Change/transfer software programs
Finish Pricing Guide, order, final proofread
Personal Goals
Organize 2nd bedroom so it’s usable
Workout 3x a week OR reach 10,000 steps a day
Plan all meals for the week
Spend an evening with my husband with no interruptions
Start organizing the basement
Wash and clean the floors
If you love goals just as much as I do, I would love to hear about them and what you do to achieve them. Maybe we can become instant BFF’s and share tips! Leave a comment below and I will be sure to reach out to you and maybe grab a drink to discuss!
Alex Riddle-Such a good idea to put your monthly goals online like this, certainly motivation! I think I’ll start doing the same.ReplyCancel
April 21, 2016 - 5:59 pm
jenaraya5@yahoo.com -Hey Alex! Yes do it!!! I hope it helps you xoxoReplyCancel
May 3, 2016 - 5:05 am
Smithd529-I do agree with all the ideas you have introduced for your post. They are really convincing and can certainly work. Still, the posts are very brief for newbies. May you please extend them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post. cbgdecdcekaedcfcReplyCancel
April 13, 2016 - 2:04 pm
Andi -What a great idea to sort goals and be more accountable! Good luck !ReplyCancel
Karly-Gosh, I am right there ‘high-fiving’ you on this post. I am in the midst of getting geared up for 2016 wedding season and being organized is always something I’ve struggled with. I think I’m going to sit down and put some paper to pen and make my list too! I’m smack dab in the middle of a new bridal welcome guide too!ReplyCancel
April 21, 2016 - 5:58 pm
jenaraya5@yahoo.com -Hey Karly! I’m right there with ya creating a bridal welcome guide! It’s tough and I know for myself writing it down is a lot easier for me! You go Girl!!! 🙂 xoxoReplyCancel
June 14, 2016 - 11:27 pm
DennyGGustis-Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group?
There’s a lot of folks that I think would
really enjoy your content. Please let me know. CheersReplyCancel
June 15, 2016 - 5:19 pm
OdellDBoze-I enjoy it when individuals gather and share thoughts.
Great website, make it up!ReplyCancel
June 17, 2016 - 8:23 pm
DickJCassion-Hi there! I understand this is somewhat off-topic however I had to ask.
Does managing a well-established blog such as yours take a massive amount work?
I’m completely new to running a blog however I do write in my journal
everyday. I’d like to start a blog so I can share my experience and views online.
Please let me know if you have any kind of recommendations
or tips for brand new aspiring bloggers. Appreciate it!ReplyCancel
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.jpg "A Laura Hooper Calligraphy Workshop")
.jpg "A Laura Hooper Calligraphy Workshop")
.jpg "A Laura Hooper Calligraphy Workshop")
.jpg "A Laura Hooper Calligraphy Workshop")
.jpg "A Laura Hooper Calligraphy Workshop")
.jpg "A Letter to Myself | The Struggle")
.jpg "A Letter to Myself | The Struggle")
.jpg "A Letter to Myself | The Struggle")
.jpg "A Letter to Myself | The Struggle")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "New England Fall Family Photoshoot | Northborough, MA")
.jpg "April Goals | Jen Araya Photography")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
.jpg "A New England Family Portrait Session | Natick")
Shannon Grant - Love this snaps!