Yearly Archives: 2015

Ok ya’ll… I’ve been HINTING at this!  In fact, I think I’ve just flat out talked about it before but let’s just come out and really say it right here at the risk of repeating myself… yes friends, I’m re-branding and it just feels so good!

I love Bonnie, from B is for Bonnie Designs.  I can’t even begin to put into words what working with her has truly done for my heart and my soul. I met Bonnie at Creative at Heart in March.  Her talk on what it means to authentically brand from the heart rocked me to the core! I had been thinking of a brand refresh, something that could reflect some changes in my business.  Those of you that have been following me for a now probably already recognized a bit of a shift and growth in both my work and also in my focus.

When I started in this lovely/crazy world of photography, I just loved it all!  I wanted to shoot everything that I could and anything that anyone would allow me the honor to capture (because friends we always have to remember that it IS an honor when individuals allow us to capture them in front of our cameras).  But of course, as the way it is with most things with time, I started to find my place and I found where my heart truly lies… children and families.

I came to find my heart and I wanted everything about my “brand” to reflect what I was feeling!  

This is where Creative at Heart came in.  We really didn’t have the money to spare for me to go, but Tuck said do it… and I went.  I went to gain some insight on how to better plan for this new shift in business.  I went so I could understand how to better serve my clients when I had this much heart tugging behind at the strings and well Bonnie just “got me”.

It sounds so silly,  but when she spoke straight from her heart about her belief on branding and authenticity, he moved me so much that I cried.  I knew I needed her and so I contacted her right away when I got home.  (Right away meaning, I said hi hubs… it was amazing but let me tell you about this amazing girl and sorry but I have to get on e mail while I chat with you!)

My experience so far working with her… OH MY GOSH YA’LL.. It’s not just about my business, it’s also been who I want to be within my business!

Every time we talk, I just feel at peace and honestly that is a part of our vision:  peace!

We set out to really create a brand that is real, raw and endearing!  Those were my three words that I wrote down at creative and that I want to carry with me in everything I do.

I also wanted a sense of peace; something that when you see it you just exhale!  Exhale out all the day:  your tasks, your ‘to-do’s’, your ‘ I shoulds’s’,  and inhale your family, your moments, your gratitude, and your story!

I want colors in my life that just induce a sense of calm!  These days, especially as mommas, we are running around at a fast pace.  Life is fast and we are expected to carry out numerous roles and tasks each and every second.  I want a space where the moments can slow down.  I want a place to appreciate the seconds we have and where we can relax in them, where we can just breathe into them.

I want those moments to be real moments, not rushed ones that need to be something that they truly aren’t.  I don’t want perfect moments… I want real moments and real moments happen and can be appreciated when we can let go of ourselves!

We can be real and honest with ourselves, when we can truly let our guard down and be vulnerable.

I wanted colors that reflected a sense of safety so that maybe we can all embrace our imperfections and realize that when we drop off focusing on what isn’t and focus on what IS, we can feel free and grateful!  We can start focusing on others and love with a love that is more unconditional.

Here is a little sneak peek of our mood board!!  To be honest.. I had NO IDEA what a mood board was until Bonnie created this for me!  It’s a combination of the pins that inspired me and ya’ll, I truly want to frame it!

I love all the natural tones:  deep blues and grey’s!  The ocean and waves are so important to me and they are deep rooted into my childhood.  It’s only fitting that those beachy tones fold into my new brand.  If you aren’t convinced (especially since I fought these tones for so long) just take a walk into my house and you fill find they are everywhere, surfboards included on the walls!

We are far along and will be having a BIG REVEAL so so sooo soon!  Not only has Bonnie created an entirely new BRAND for me;  but she is also working on a website and blog!

Soo keep checking back as I will share some more elements next week (sneak peeks rock) and we will be revealing REALLY SOON with a few instagram give aways (who doesn’t love those!) and some launch week goodies and some local love!

Thank you Bonnie… for just being everything you are, heart and soul!  I wish the world had more beautiful souls like you!  I wish I could carry you with me and give everyone a Bonnie.  I think if everyone had a Bonnie, we would all have healed hearts!

 

 

Hi ya’ll….

Just a little Tuesday inspiration!

Do you guys just ever wake up and think… Ok.. I need to shake it off (Thanks Tay! ) and get up again (on the right side?!)

That’s what happened to me this morning!

I’m in a bit of a funk because we are trying to get super healthy here in this fam… but healthy I mean like clean up shop!  We are a pretty healthy family but my family history and genetics are a bit wonky… so every now and then we do a bit of a deep clean if you will.  So right now we are doing the Whole 30, and ya’ll I’m just not gonna lie, it’s hard!  I wake up for the first few days and I’m a total grumplestiltskin… BUT you do just have to pull yourself together and wake back up on the right side.

Remembering all the things I’m grateful for and all the amazing people I have in my life help me turn my mood around… always!  I’m a big believer too in feeding the soul!

So here’s some fun for you today…

 

 

It’s true my friends!  What fuels your heart and soul?!

What are you going to do today that brings your heart peace and makes you happy?!

  • September 23, 2015 - 4:24 am

    Katie - Just wanna say – I love you and YOU make me happy!!!
    xoxoReplyCancel

    • September 23, 2015 - 11:40 am

      brooketuckerphoto@gmail.com - I Love YOU!!!!ReplyCancel

HI!!!

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

This one felt short and sweet for us!

Tuck came home on Friday and we just enjoyed a few moments together before picking up our little man from pre-school! (who was exhausted to say the very least!)

Friday was one of those funny nights because Linc was just soo incredibly tired that there was nothing at all he wasn’t overly emotional about!  Linc… do you want to go home and watch a movie?!  NOOOOO… I want to go home and watch a movie… but I don’t want to watch a movie!  I want mommy to take me out of my car seat, no I want daddy to take me out of my car seat, nto you daddy… I want mommy… mommy don’t touch me!

It’s one of those nights where we just all have to laugh because it’s just craziness and you feel so bad because you know your kiddo is exhausted, yet at the same time you want to strangle them because they make no sense and there is just no winning or no peace until they are fast asleep!

Saturday I spent the day shooting a wedding while the boys had a pretty epic “boy day” as well call them at our house!  HIGH FIVES FOR BOY DAYS!

These days are pretty cherished around here and I love that my two best boys get to spend quality time together one on one.  They were able to go get a few errands done together and then spend a great time outside enjoying the nice weather.  They played in the dirt, played some baseball and were even able to go for a great bike ride!  They were having such a blast, Tuck said that they didn’t even notice the dinner hour creeping up on them!

Yesterday we spent the time celebrating a special 3 year old in the morning/afternoon and then came home to just plain rest as a family!  Linc watched a movie and Tuck and I tried desperately to rest on the couch with him and possibly carve in a nap or two!  We hoped, we always hope, but naps just aren’t Linc’s thing!

As always… here are some fun little things learned and events that happened over the week!!

  • 9 round!  So I joined 9 round and if you haven’ t heard of it, you should absolutely go online and start researching!  OR I can just tell ya!  9 Round in a nutshell is a kick boxing style circuit workout!  OK…. so maybe I’ll just give you a little back ground info here!

A bit of information you might not know about me!  I LOVE boxing!  I actually love anything to do with kickboxing, martial arts, MMA… anything of the sort!  My dad was a golden gloves and he fought with Sweat Pea Whitaker.  I think that’s one of the reasons I am so overly obsessed (still) with the TV shows Alias (heck yea Sydney Bristow) and Burn Notice (Fiona).  Those female characters are seriously bad-ass but also super feminine too.  Anyway… that’s beside the point.

When Tuck was deployed, I actually signed up at a gym, like a legit boxing gym.  I was serious about learning how to box and fight the right way.  This wasn’t a workout for me, I wanted to learn to box and I was ready to take it seriously to the point where I was going to learn and then actually fight…in a ring with another opponent!~  I’m betting that shocks some of you that know me well.  Sadly, the day I was supposed to start, the gym owner had some challenges and the gym is now no longer in operation.

A year and some change later, 9 round has found it’s way into my life!  It’s not boxing and there are no rings and I won’t be scheduled to fight anyone… but the workout is still there!  A super satisfying workout!  It’s quick (30 minutes), it’s empowering and it’s sweaty!  I say it’s sweaty because oddly enough, I usually don’t sweat, not even when I run but at 9 round I sweat so much I drip!

You come in when you want (as long as it’s 30 minutes before closing) and you join in at a circuit that is open.  There is always a trainer ready to motivate you and trust me… they will!  The circuits are nothing complicated or crazy!  Some have bags and some don’t!  Some require you to use your own body weight and some require you to wrap your hands and use your gloves.  I will tell you, for me… there is nothing like the sound of that bag being hit!  I leave feeling totally lighter than when I left;  I leave smiling and laughing and also feeling like I could totally kick some ass!  And that speed bag… oh that speed bag, it’s like the most beautifully challenging dance I have ever been asked to dance!

Ok so enough about 9 round… go check it out if you are interested in learning some more!  The first workout is on the house!!

 

  • Reese!  Ok so I love Women’s Health magazine!  I don’t get a lot magazines but the two I always get and will always pick up:  Clean Eating Mag and Women’s Health!  This month on the cover of Women’s Health is my girl forever and ever Reese Witherspoon!  I just adore her, always have and always will!  No matter what magazine it is, if she is gracing the cover or has a feature article, I will always pick it up!  She’s beautiful and she’s smart!  This article specifically talks about the 5 most important characteristics you should have if you want to be a game changer in your own life (at least that is how I personally read it).  The cover says ” own your power) but when I read this specific article, to me it speaks more about depth of character and personal growth.  Some of the traits she talks about are qualities that I feel I haven’t really even thought about or really come to know the real truth about until now in my 30′ (more specifically what she says about support and grit).  It’s an amazing article, which of course it wouldn’t be anything short of with Reese as the subject!  If you see it on your next trip to the supermarket or to Target, pick up a copy, or give her article a peek while you wait!

 

  • Bath bombs!  GUYS… last year I went to Disney and they had this store where I bought bath bombs and they were amazing…until I forgot about them.  I went on with my merry life forgetting all about the amazing world of luxury baths, until I saw them again at Target!  Hallelujah for Target!  Can we all just applaud how amazing Target is and agree that their hashtag target does it again is really so appropriate!  I bought lavender ice cream scoops in the bath section and ya’ll…. I’m absolutely in love!  Yesterday, I was able to sneak upstairs and enjoy a whole 30 minutes of blissful lavender bath time soaking all to myself and it was heaven!  Seriously friends, I think you all need this in your life!

So that’s all I have for you right now on this dreary Monday!  It’s kind of a weird Monday here in Virginia Beach… I hope your weather is much better than ours.  Although, I guess I should throw the caveat out there that it all depends on where you are in VB… right now I’m sitting under a very weird rain cloud… one minute it’s pouring, the next it’s a black kind of sunny.  What’s odd is that here in VB… you could live across the street and not be under the same rain cloud I am under!  It could be all blue skies for you!

So what’s it like for you today?