Enjoying the Small Things began in 2007, shortly after my first daughter Lainey was born, as a way to combine my writing and photography hobbies.  It since has evolved to much more, providing not only an outlet for creativity (without which, I'd go nuts), but a home for the gratitude I feel for all of my inspirations, and most importantly, the moments we share as a family. 

Van Gogh used paints to portray what inspired him... Me?  I like photos and words.  I invest in this blog not only because I love the art of weaving words and images together to tell a story, but because, in doing so, I find myself looking more deeply for the beauty in life and consequently finding it in more places.

This January, we welcomed our second girl, Nella Cordelia, and were stunned to learn, upon her delivery, that she had Down syndrome.  My world was rocked to the core, and I was sure life as I knew it was over.

How wrong I was.  Between the outpouring of love and support we received, some hardcore life analysis and therapeutic insights I made on this blog through it all, I have arrived at the very beautiful place of Life is hard.  But it's also amazing, and I will rock the hell out of it.

I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.
-Dawna Markova

I live in Naples, Florida with my husband Brett, his two boys, Austyn and Brandyn, and our girls Lainey and Nella.  After three years of teaching 5th grade, I closed the doors of my classroom to explore other loves in life which include my photography business and writing, not to mention wading in a huge pool of other interests--many of which I pretend I'm good at.  I love, in no particular order, family Sundays at Isle of Capri, baking with my girls, wearing really cute shoes, playing with make-up, pretending I can cook, drinking coffee with my friends, finding amazing golden light, planning birthday parties, and dreaming of the many places I'd like to take my family. 

I think there are millions of amazing people on this planet and I love knowing that inspiration is a two-way street.  I hope to inspire and if I do, it is only because I am connected through a creative circuit to the constant flow of energy I draw from others who are far more amazing than me.