If you live in Corpus Christi and haven’t visited Matilda Blue, you’re missing out on something fantastic!  As you all know, I love coffee more than just about anything.  So, when Steve heard that a Marine wife was opening up a coffee shop on The Island, we had to check it out.  The coffee is absolutely scrumptious but the fresh, homemade chicken salad is to-die-for.  Apples, celery, walnuts, chicken, red onion, well, I can’t give all the secrets away but it is a crisp treat for any foodie.  Ever since my first visit, I have had the chicken salad every single time I’ve visited the shop since then.  Of course, she also has homemade soups, enormous wraps, scones and cookies made in the morning, and gelato.  With a full service espresso machine, Jacki is ready to make any fully leaded concoction you can dream of.  Stop by, say hi, and stay for a short while.  It’s located right inside the “Mail n More” on South Padre Island Drive.

Check out just a few of Matilda Blue’s delights…

I clean the kitchen before I cook.

I make terrible food.  I strive to eat unprocessed foods, which also spoil easily.  So, frequently I make food based on the logic that it needs to get eaten and it’s good for me.  The other day, I made a smoothie with two apples because we had 14 and if I didn’t start being resourceful, they would go bad.   The apples didn’t blend well and it was like eating bland soggy oatmeal.  It tasted terrible and wouldn’t even suck up the straw. But I ate it anyway.

I get crabby because it takes me forever to get to work in the morning when my office is only 3 steps down the hallway.  Why?  Because, I force myself to make my bed before I can start working for the day.  But, it doesn’t stop at making the bed.  I need to eat breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up.  I have chosen to eat eggs, which I loathe, on the premise that they’re good for me and will help me to be the lean machine that I want to be.  However, I have to clean the kitchen before cooking and eating my not-so-delicious breakfast. What a motivating morning?!?  It’s not shocking that I dislike getting out of bed.

I own 4 coffee makers and still go to Starbucks because I haven’t figured out how to make it right at home.

I despise grocery shopping.

I only read books about business because I thrive on learning but never read anything for fun.

I don’t have any hobbies.  When I got inspired to learn how to play the drums, my obsessive to-do list shadowed guilt on any time that I spent doing rudiments.

I don’t know how to relax because I fill all my time with projects.  It isn’t weird for me to want to fold laundry on a Friday night.  Not because I like it but because I actually feel guilty when I have things that I “should be” doing.  IT NEVER ENDS!  I’m never bored because I’m plagued with an obsession to get things done and checked off the list.  It’s exhausting.

The other day, I was inspired to do something.  I had a great idea and was passionate about how it would bless the world.  Then I told myself that I had to get my accounting done before I could work on that project.  Well guess what?  Accounting took the whole day.  Then, I needed to get referral cards sent out, then filing my sales tax, then answering emails, then working on images that I had to get done….the bottom line is that I never did it.

How did I get here?

The truth is, I know how wrong that whole thinking process is on the path to success.  You can never succeed in business if you’re so busy working IN the business that you never work ON the business.  If I ignore the passion and inspiration because I obsess about the daily grind, I can never succeed at becoming something that everyone else is not.  I thrive emotionally on making a difference in other people’s lives.  How can I do that when I’m so busy working on things that don’t matter?

I know this.  It makes me unhappy.  And yet, I still haven’t made it stop.

I could blame the Marine Corps and use the excuse that it’s just me trying to control the few things that I can in my life when everything else is out of control.  I could blame my childhood because I grew up in chaos and now I’m compensating.  I could choose any excuse in the world and go on living like this.  But, I know better.  Making excuses doesn’t fix anything.  In fact, it makes us worse.

I am in charge of my own life.  In spite of all my faults, I’m going to change.  The power to control our own thoughts is more valuable than we understand.   It isn’t enough to observe and make resolutions.  I need to take action.

So, today, I’m going to run 6 miles and attempt to paint a replica of this Picasso painting that I’ve been loving.  And tomorrow, I’m going to take a windsurfing class at 11:30.  Cheers to less work and more play in hopes of being happier and, in turn, more productive.

Joy

Joy

]]> http://www.modernjoyphoto.com/blog/2012/01/a-personal-journey-to-change/feed/ 0 http://www.modernjoyphoto.com/blog/2012/01/the-marshman-family-round-two/ http://www.modernjoyphoto.com/blog/2012/01/the-marshman-family-round-two/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:25:08 +0000 Joy http://www.modernjoyphoto.com/blog/?p=1732 To say that every session plays out perfectly like the Nutcracker performance on Christmas eve would be an extreme overstatement.  Sessions involve real people, unpredictable weather conditions and usually….children.  My job as a professional photographer is to not only capture priceless images but to create an unforgettably enjoyable experience.  Snacks, games, iPhones playing “Backyardigans Theme Song” and a whole lot of improvisation go a long way with 1 year olds.  We shot some great urban images of the Marshman Family for their Christmas card.  However, Owenn wasn’t sharing her biggest smiles.  The urban location created too much interest for her and she was not interested in hanging out with the fam.  So, we scheduled a re-shoot in a slightly less constricted environment and more open spaces that were conducive to family interaction.  Check out a few of the images we captured that day.

This is when the fun really began.  I couldn’t stop laughing.  Eric was wildly entertained by the birds swarming for Owenn’s cheerios.  Heather was in sheer terror that she was going to get pooped on.  I was laughing so hard I almost couldn’t take this picture.  What a great day!  Thanks Heather, Eric and Owenn!!!

Take a peek at some of my favs and BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE WORLD’S COOLEST CHRISTMAS CARD at the end of the post.

Here’s the world’s best Christmas card…

Here’s the full design file if you want to read the words…

Jacki is the adorable Australian who owns the coffee shop, Matilda Blue, on the Island.  Other than making amazing coffee and to-die-for chicken salad, she’s a wonderful wife who booked a shoot as a surprise birthday present for her husband.  We went to the beach with her son, Jack, and their dog, Matilda.  Oh, what a delight.  They even played Go Fish and collected sea shells.  I couldn’t share the photos until her husband had seen them but I’m so excited to share this with you now.  Check it out and leave comments!  Enjoy!