It's a New Year lots of New things to come

It's a New Year and time for lots of New Blog Posts...

Photos of myself over the passed few years 

For many years now I have been blogging here and it all started with an outlet for my creativity or passions. I was so inspired by so many other bloggers that I wanted to share the things I loved with others even if it only reached a few people or maybe it inspired one or two other ladies. I love to save money and never started blogging to make money or to get free things. I started blogging because I had been so inspired with other ladies blogs and by their amazing style, creativity and content. Having a blog coming up with fresh new content always isn't easy. Sometimes you get caught up in the day to day social media posts of outfits and next thing you know your blog revolves around those selfies and the creativity that first drove you and inspired you sometimes becomes hard to find or see. 

My Creations when I was running Dliteful Creations & Designs, my own party/event planning, decor and home design business.  I not only made cakes and decor but was doing a lot of events, home decor and design work also.  Started totally on my own and had never made cakes or had any training in fondant or cake making.

After being ill for some time and going through some times I was not wanting to deal with, with drama I wouldn't wish on anyone by strangers I learned I had to get back to what I love. Sharing my love for fashion, decor, adventure and photography. I am over my selfies and want to take my photos to another level. I would love nothing more then to have my hubby be this amazing photographer who can spend hours taking photos for me and the outfits I style but he works a job 60 hours plus a week, and he isn't really into photography so on his free days he isn't wanting to shoot endless photos of me in outfits I styled traveling around the area looking for great places to shoot. I have been lucky to meet many photographers,  hair stylists, makeup artists, other stylists and consultants, shop and brand owners and we have all discussed working together but when you are a mom of two girls basically raising them yourself when your spouse works so much it isn't easy. My oldest daughter is talented she is super artistic, creative, loves to draw and paint, makeup and doing makeup. I can persuade her to do my makeup and shoot some photos for me, and even have my 9 year old behind the camera. 

More Creations I made myself from cakes to my famous adult cupcakes infused with alcohol for grown up parties and of course regular cupcakes with fun recipes and combinations of flavors.  Dliteful Creations and Designs photos.

For years I have been talking about my desire to move to NC and the mountains. I have a heart that is in the mountains and craves adventure. Being stuck in one spot living a scheduled almost broken record day to day life Monday through Friday I dream of the day my oldest graduates and I can sell our home, hit the road in our camper, purchase land in the mountains and have my youngest taking online school, teaching her from traveling, sharing my love for art and history with her exploring new places and showing her this amazing country eventually traveling all over the world. It has been a long time dream but settling down young, getting married at 21 having my first child by 22 and then second one at 30 the real boredom vibe and every day life not being what I want in life really hit me around 33. I tried to persuade my hubby to move then but he has a great job. 

Photography has been a long time hobby of mine and when traveling or exploring I always have my camera as well as a macro lens for fun closeup photos.

Sometimes in life you have to give up things to support those you love so I made a compromise with my man, I told him I have been supporting you and the girls for years once our oldest graduates, because I didn't want to pull her out of school and away from her friends mid high school, that once she is close to graduation the house will be put on the market for sale and we will make our plans. My youngest is excited for her adventure. I have had to convince my hubby of it because he feels she will be lonely without daily interactions with children, but she will still have that maybe not daily but she will have even more interactions with people, animals, the world, nature , etc. I feel she will flourish and really be able to become who she is set to be with experiencing so many new places, people, and life experiences. She is also artistic like myself and my oldest theses adventures and  life changes will make it easier for her to explore and network in these fields. 

For many years I debated and even played around with starting my own photography business.  I soon realized that photography was more a hobby and creative outlet for me, I do still take family and portrait photos for friends and family when asked since I have amazing camera and lenses but I love to just take photos of nature while exploring.  I have had many of my photos featured on social media sites, Instagram pages, Clicking Moms blog and IG, and on other blogs that feature photography from IG and FB.

I'm so excited and yes I have a year almost till the adventure will start and we will be looking for a new home, packing, selling the home I thought was our forever till retirement home 9 years ago when we bought it. Till that time there is nothing worse then an idle creative mind, idle hands and an idle heart that wants to roam , craves adventure and new places but I am going to work hard on sharing the things I love the most, mini adventures and travels to share with you all, and launching a new blog with my oldest before she breaks away and starts her life adventure. Hope you will continue to support and visit my blog. Again I love sharing and always am so inspired by so many of you and other bloggers, social media influencers and friends I have met over the years. I want to really bring my dreams to life her and share with all of you. 

I have a portfolio of my photos, canvas prints and framed art of some of our favorites.  I love to be out in nature exploring and stopping to capture panoramic or amazing scenic views or spending some time getting up close and personal with some of natures beauties with my macro lenses or Lens Baby Macro kit. A few of my photos in the collage were taken on my iPhone using the OlloClip macro lens also.

I don't blog for followers, fame, free things, to push products etc, I only review products I am sent and always honestly, some have not gotten reviewed before because I just didn't like them or couldn't find content or inspiration to write about them. Please keep in mind I was working full time, a mom to two who are very busy and have a hubby working all the time so for the last few years I have had very little free time for blogging, producing content that I really truly got to invest the time I so badly wanted to and started to become more a photo collage, sharing my favorite fashions and styles, bargains I found and photos I loved. I have so appreciated everyone's support, kindness, patience, and love. 

I use Nikon D610 and Pentax camera for a lot of my scenic and longview photos, I also have used the Nikon D3100 and some of my vintage cameras too.  iPhone photos are also always mixed in because believe it or not there are sometimes when hiking I have chosen to leave my camera behind to not be weighed down with gear climbing to waterfalls or hiking mountain trails but then have some amazing moment I have to capture and I have found my iPhone takes some amazing quality photos when needed.  I hope to share more of my love for photography, design, decor, crafts and of course fashion this year while spending more time on my content of blog posts.

Excited for growth, changes, sharing my journey with my health, motherhood, my first born graduating and heading off to college, taking my youngest out of the school system and taking her into nature to learn with me. I know it's a year and few months away but I can't wait, till then I have so many new ideas to try and things I want to share with everyone. Thank you for visiting my Cr8tive Wanderlust of decor, photos, fashion and more. If you would like to guest blog or want to swap guest blog stories with me contact me, I would love to share more with others as well as have stories from ladies all over, mom's, wives, grandmothers, stylists, bloggers, influencers, marketers, photographers, writes, designers, boutique owners, entrepreneurs and more.  Let's collaborate, let's support one another, let's empower other women, and let's raise young women that are creative, authentic, kind and future entrepreneurs. 

Peace love and light to all. Xoxo 

Melissa 

All photos taken by me. 

Sunday sunset

Was going to include some of the photos I captured with my iPhone when we went to take photos of the sunset Sunday evening in my last post but forgot. I also took some amazing shots with my Nikon D610 but have not uploaded any of them because I have been so busy cleaning and organizing my house this week. 

Below are a few shots, please do not steal or repost my photos without my permission. I like to share my photos but don't like to find them being used by others without being asked or acknowledged. 

Thank you and enjoy this stunning sunset from our amazing Everglades national park. 

I was excited to have a few pages feature my shots. It has been hard to get as many features with my Instagram set to private but hoping I will be able to remove the privacy setting soon. 

It was such a stunning night with the sky starting out pastel colors and as the sub lowered turning to red and orange bright colors. Was so lovely. Will have more to share once I upload my camera shots but wanted to share a couple of t favorites. 

Please share your blog link or photos with me along with leaving comments. I love to hear from everyone and please remember keep it kind. 

Always be you and be happy 

Xoxo

Favorite pictures from summer vacations and Keys

Little collage and a few photos from my Keys vacation. Check out my photography blog at Cr8tiveExposure.blogspot.com for more photos:).

Sad to see summer coming to an end. We had a wonderful summer with our annual summer trip to the mountains, last year we did Tennessee side and this year North Carolina already have plans for a fall trip:). Then we did a short trip to Orlando, my mom, my daughters and myself and it was relating:). Had a lot of fun three generations of ladies from my family. Finished off with an amazing week in the Florida Keys and a trip down to
Key West. It was a great end to an amazing summer, bittersweet to see it end and have my youngest start kindergarten. She is excited and I am super excited for her just sad cause we have spent a lot of time together the passed six years and she is my partner in crime:).

Time for mama to pursue her career and passions while my girls go to school and learn. Excited to hear bout interview and if I got a position. They had three huge interview days with tons of local photographers all applying. August 16 is the date they said they would be in touch to let me know. I applied for photographer and assistant photographer, I want to learn as much as I can from others so a assistant position sounds good also. Both pay good and the hours are amazing, most important it is portraits an working with kids on location:). I want to pursue portrait photography doing family photos, newborns, children, teens and events. Being a second shooter for weddings is fun but I really want to do family and portrait sessions, plus love being outdoors.

I must say I have gotten really into landscape photography and when I am not working to learn more about portraits and family photography I spend my spare time taking pictures of the beach, flowers, insects, animals and anything outdoors. I have a few amazing shots I plan to frame:). Enjoy my photos and happy snapping

Interview then vacation

Tomorrow I have an early interview with a photography company that specializes in child photography and events. Excited and nervous, looking to learn hands on and build up my experience. Right after we are heading out of town for our last summer vacation. Orlando was fun and relaxing nice to go and not do the parks. The Keys are calling me and can't wait to lay out, fish, swim and take pictures:). Fingers crossed my interview goes good. Interviewing for a assistant photographer, second shooter position and photographer position. Figure I need to start somewhere, I enjoy working for myself but I want to learn as much as I can and what better way then working with someone who has been in the business for over a decade.

Taking appointments for sessions now and working on rates. I have filed my forms with the city and county then have my client paper work and forms printed, business cards and been taking pictures of everything and anything I can to work on editing and skills. Also been working on my cakes and party planning business a lot now that my cousin is back in Florida and I have a trust worthy partner to help me out. I got overwhelmed with orders and had to turn away a lot of business but still have been making my creations and photographing it all:). Lots of photos coming soon and I have a FB page for my photography now. Already had one for my party and event planning along with baking. Want a place to put my photos and work out there, Facebook got me a lot of business with my cakes and party planning plus I met a lot of great connections and people:). Will update tomorrow how interview goes when we are driving to the Keys. When it is meant to be it all falls into place, so I believe if this is the path chosen for me it will happen if not something better is around the corner. Either way I am pursing this dream and goal one way or another:). Good night and enjoy the weekend, only two weeks till school starts here and I know I am enjoying every day and second I have with my daughters home.

Happy clicking,

Www.facebook.com/DlitefulCreations
Www.facebook.com/melissaseptienphotography

Be sure to check out my FB pages and like them for me and click on my other blog links to see my work:).

Lifestyle and event photography

I have been addicted to photography since getting my newest camera. At first while I was learning how to use my camera I was big into landscape photos and of course my kids. I'm aspiring to be a lifestyle and event photographer. I am trying to learn and absorb as much as I can. Online has tons of courses you can take and forums to learn from other photographers.

I printed awhile ago my business plan and slowly been checking off stuff. Right now I am learning a lot about lighting, editing and everything needed to have your own business. I have an existing home office we added on awhile ago, I used it for my party planning and crafting along with storage of all my seasonal and holiday decor. During Christmas this year it became a huge mess, storing all my craft stuff from making wreaths and floral pieces, my decor and some unwanted furniture while I was updating our home.

I sold the old stuff and things I didn't need, have tons of bins for storage ad now am working little by little every day to clean, organize and set up my home office. I purchased some discs, and a couple flash drives to remove old photos from my MacBook to make room for uploading new photos and my photoshop, Lightroom and other cool software for photography.

I already have an amazing huge glass top desk I got off Craigslist and two desk chairs, some white cabinets for storage and I have a cute silver old fashioned lamp, desk top organizers and more. I have OCD so I have tons of organization stuff. I got a cute sign that says success is the best revenge to hang over desk along with a cute old mirror I turned it to a message, cork board.

I am excited about transforming my home office. This will give me a desk and work area for editing, printing and working on photos. The room is very long so I have another area that currently has a Murphy bed that looks like a cabinet along with a chair and table for lounging, I plan to turn this area into a mini studio. I want to get backdrops and make a frame for backdrops so I can take photos in my office. Already have some lighting and props I have saved or made, I want to be able to use this space to take photos that I wouldn't be on location for. I think for now it is the perfect size and place.

I'm excited to be able to capture families special moments and capture them in creative ways that they will be able to cherish forever:). I have always wanted to be able to capture engagement, senior, newborn, children, family, and event photographs. Since my first daughter was born and we had her photos done I have always been one who invades the photo studio with my ideas and took over the shoot. Not every photographer liked this but I always had ideas of how I wanted the photos to look. When we did our first family photos I had so many ideas the photographer told me I should consider buying a camera and trying photography myself.

A couple years ago I did some pinup style photos for my hubby as a Valentine's day present and was so impressed by the studio, the way they had everything set up from makeup, wardrobe, and props I decided this was something that I really needed to get into. For now I am excited to just be learning, getting experience and taking amazing photos of my own family. I do hope to one day have an amazing business and be able to share my passion for photography with others.

Below are just a couple photos I took recently. I have had a lot going on since I got home from our vacation in NC and haven't been able to be fully focused on everything but I am not ready to dive in. Hoping to finish the office in the next two weeks before we go away again, then when the kids start school I plan to take several classes learning photography and editing. My goal is to by the holidays have my business up and running fully. For now I am always ready to take photos, I carry my camera with me almost everywhere and am taking my kids on outings to places I can capture amazing memories. I have enlisted my family and friends to be models for me allowing me to photograph their families or events, this way I get lots of practice. I have already had several occasions that have taught me a lot about what I need and what I had not thought of or been prepared for.

I will be posting a lot of photos to my blog that I started that is focused on photography, and I will update here often. This blog is more geared towards fashion, trends, home decor and my baking/crafts or design stuff. I don't want to drift away from that too much so that is why I decided to start the other blog.

Enjoy and hope everyone is having some sunshine where you are, it has been gloomy and raining here all week so far.

Quote

Posting a quote I saw on FB and had to copy:). Loved it, nothing is going to throw my focus off me pursuing my dreams and goals in life.