MARCH RECAP
And there we have it, another month has passed at supersonic speed. Just a woosh and it is April. This recap of the previous month is part of an ongoing series where clients can get to know me a little bit better as I document life through my ramblings and observations.
PISMO BEACH:
It felt so good to escape to Pismo Beach with just my husband for a couple nights. We did what we love to do when we are together: eat good, take long walks (these were on the beach), explore, and most importantly savor one another’s company. I find it interesting that after almost two decades together we still find things to talk about. At some point one would think we would have exhausted every topic, but that doesn't seem to be the case and I find comfort in this. The trip was a belated birthday gift for me and getting alone time with my forever boyfriend is a treat. He has finally learned to trust me to find us some tasty and/or unique restaurants and things to do. He has also learned to be patient (most of the time lol!) when I find an antique store. He does have a request if any antique shop owners happen to be reading this: he would love it if you would provide a bench for bored husbands. This way they can sit and mindlesslyscroll on their phones while their wives shop. Please and thank you! I have also learned that if I can find an authentic pub or brewery for him he will be happy as Pismo clam sitting on the beach.
As I mentioned we had some pretty memorable meals. Our first night we savored one of the best meals I have ever had at Novo Restaurant Lounge: diver scallops served on a crispy pork belly with a bacon-apple chutney. The meal was decadent, the scenery perfection and the service was impeccable. Novo is located in the quaint and bustling downtown of San Luis Obispo and is situated along a creek. I requested a stop at the Madonna Inn before our dinner reservations for a drink. It had been years since I soaked up all the borderline gaudiness and Pepto pink. The Madonna Inn takes kitsch to a whole new level with the gold cherubs and Pepto pink dining room. It's almost as if they took their design inspiration from It's a Small World. The size of their Aperol spritz is no joke and it left me wondering how I was going to finish it before we headed off to dinner. Somehow I managed 😜.
For St Patty’s we went into Arroyo Grande for the afternoon. Their downtown in just a fun little gem that I had no idea existed. Because we have officially reached that age where we love pulling up to a bar for a light meal, cocktail, and good conversation with one another and the bartender Mason Bar was the perfect choice. One thing to note about Arroyo Grande: there are wild chickens, which was a huge bonus for me. My obsession with chickens runs deep.
Our final memorable meal was at Cracked Crab. We weren’t hungry enough for the large pot of seafood, but I can tell you that the crab sandwich still makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Craked Crab was bustling and had a steady stream of diners rotating in and out. It is a Pismo staple. Links to our hotel and restaurants are below.
MARCH READS:
March was a pretty successful reading month for me with eight books completed. Three were audio and the other five were read. My TBR list is so long I have turned to audiobooks during my walks, workouts, car rides, and getting ready for my day. I use the Libby app for this and it has been great! To see my book reviews head on over to my Goodreads page by clicking HERE and if you feel like discussing a book I have read send me a friend request or leave a comment. I love discussing books!
My March reads:
- Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
- The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven Pressfield
- Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too Busy World by Eve Rodsky
- Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
CEO DAYS: MY NEW FAVORITE THING
My photog friend and I have been spending some time working together. Our days vary from scouting new locations to library dates where we tackle the myriad of behind the scenes tasks. I am loving this because running your own business while working from home can feel lonely at times and akin to the movie Groundhog Day. These work dates not only give me an excuse to put on real clothes and makeup, but they’re also a chance to talk shop with a live person, fuel my need for a little human interaction, focus on specific tasks, and brainstorm ideas. There is tremendous energy in women working together with other women in a nurturing, innovative, and holistic environment.
Our work days are a reminder to me how the library is truly the heart and soul of any city. This hub is bustling with activity from study groups and work sessions to children learning to read and new residents tackling English as a second language. The library is rife with the echos of voices as they ricochet off the walls with the sound of life and community.
THE WISE MOMS
I am fortunate to have a group of moms I met when our boys became friends in elementary school. Although their friendships have drifted ours has only strengthened over the years. Our lunch this month, like the previous months, was spent catching up, sharing stories about our kids, seeking advice and parental guidance, a musing over life. It's the kind of stuff that fills the soul. Years ago we joked after lunch where some sage advice was shared that we were “wise moms”. The moniker stuck. These women provide me with so much. Every time we depart I am left with a smile on my face, my cup feeling full, and wishing we had more time to talk. That is always the sign of an authentic and rewarding friendship and I am grateful for theirs.
Often I am reminded that the number of friends is not important, but rather the quality of those friendships. When people show up to support you through both those glorious moments and the crappy ones, when they genuinely care about you and the welfare of your family, how they make you laugh until stomach hurts and the tears are rolling down your aching cheeks, and when you can share your thoughts, struggles and dreams without worrying about what they will think. We all need our group of wise moms.
SPRING AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES
With the lush natural grasses blanketing the landscape and hillsides I can tell spring is beginning to wake up after a long winter slumber. I am greeting her with open arms after so much cold and dreariness. The tree blossoms along my walks are a happy sight.
In addition to the beginning of spring, another bright spot in my month was Bober Tea is a place that I have been wanting to try for awhile now. It looked irresistibly cute with its Insta worthy decor. It is that level of photo worthy. Also, it gave me an opportunity to support a local business while investing time with one of my clients for her style consult as we prepared for her senior portrait session. You can find Bober Tea by clicking HERE. In addition to boba they offer donuts which I will never turn down.
I am also indebted to my senior client, Emma, who helped me navigate their order kiosk. Remember when I mentioned I was old? I wasn’t kidding. It was a humbling moment where I felt like my mother lol!
SPRING MEANS LACROSSE SEASON
Lacrosse season is in full swing and games have begun. Games have taken us from Danville to Menlo Park. You can often find me sitting on the sidelines away from everyone else doing my quiet little golf clap. I love to watch my son play, but have found all the yelling to be overwhelming. My mama heart and over stimulated brain can’t take all the noise so I now sit in solitude off to the side and it really helps. Honestly, I worry it makes me look snobby or antisocial, but the truth is games are a lot when you’re an introvert. So if you see over to the side stop by and say hello, I promise I enjoy the good one-on-one conversation 😉.
SILVER LININGS
As May approaches I will be wrapping up the first full year of my rebrand and revised pricing. This was a huge step for me in a variety of ways and in all honesty the transition forced me to dig deep and do some major shoul searching. It was to the point where I found myself questioning whether photography was something I still wanted to pursue professionally. I had to face my money blocks, my irrational fears, find my worth, and set boundaries. All of these things are hard for me to tackle and my issues with self worth were and are deeply engrained to the point that they need to be teased out of my mind with the help of a therapist. As Glennon Doyle says, “we can do hard things” and boy am I doing the hard things.
I have my business coach and coaching group encouraging me and holding me accountable every step of the way and that has been a tremendous asset. I have my therapist and countless self help, business, and "woo woo" books. However, there is a silver lining in this business change that I didn’t expect: how much joy the investment of additional time with my clients would bring me. As I made an increase in my pricing I also wanted to provide a stellar client experience. I wanted our space together to feel nurturing. I am in the business of building relationships and creating a safe space for my beloved clients. After all, they let me into their lives and that is a privilege that not only needs to be acknowledged but honored with respect. What I didn’t know is how much happiness this would bring me.
I am an introvert at heart. Most people don’t know that because years of working in customer service have taught me to step outside that box and have an extroverted exterior. When clients see me I am smiling, welcoming them with open arms, and full of rainbows and unicorns. However, what they don’t see is me before we meet. The worry, the stress, and the pep talks within my mind. It’s an odd juxtaposition, the introverted extrovert. Ultimately I value how people let their guard down when they are in front of my camera. It is a vulnerable feeling, much like how I feel before we meet or before a session. But what I am finding is that with these session consults, style consults, and session reveals I am getting to spend a lot more time building this relationship with my cherished clients and I am loving it. It has become fulfilling for me. Who freaking knew?!? Often our style consults end up lasting longer than I anticipated because we spend a lot of time just talking. By session day we all are more comfortable with one another and have a solid foundation to build on. It has been rewarding in ways I never anticipated because I now get to see so many friendly faces in my community. Sunday brunch or my Friday date night now come with a warm embrace when I see them in town. Driving down the street now brings friendly faces and waves as I see them walking down the street. Do you know how amazing it feels to wander around your city getting hugs and smiles from people you have lovingly invested time in? Let me tell you friends, it sparks a ton of joy. I never thought these business decisions would be so impactful on my life in this way. I am grateful!
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FAMILY PHOTOS
Looking for a family or senior photographer in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Santa Clara County, or the San Francisco Bay Area? I would love the opportunity to get to know you and work with you to capture your family’s unique story! My clients come from all over the Northern California and the Bay Area - Pleasanton, Fremont, Danville, Dublin, Walnut Creek, Castro Valley, San Ramon, Livermore, Lafayette. Book a consult with the button below so we can get to know one another and start planning your family’s bespoke portrait experience.
Cheers until next month!
xoxo
~ Yvette
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