2013 Book Recap - October to December

As of September 2013, my year to date book total was 26. 

In the last 3 months of the year, I read 9 more books, which brought my 2013 year end total to 35 books. 

Much lower than my 2012 total of 65, but I actually met my 2013 goal exactly. I wanted to read 5 business books and 30 fun books for a grand total of 35 books in 2013. In actuality, I read roughly 8 or 9 business books and 26 or 27 fun books, but the total is the same - 35!.

In October - December 2013, I read:

October:

Eventide by Kent Haruf - This was one of my Book Club books. It was beautifully written and I felt like the characters were people I'd known forever. It wasn't a book with a super happy ending, which left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I LOVE a good happy ending in my books and movies, so the fact that I felt sadness and sorrow after this book was over kept me from loving it. I did like it though.

November:

Midwives by Chris Bohjalian - This book was fantastic! It was part of Oprah's Book Club once and I picked it up at our library's book sale. With my nursing degree and birth place training, it was interesting subject matter for me. It was also a book that kept me wondering and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. I highly recommend it!

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld - I scooped this book up from some young adult books my sister was giving away to charity. I was struck by the title and the saying that was on the front: "In a world of extreme beauty, everyone normal is ugly." SOLD! I'm in! It's mostly based in normal life, but it's futuristic so there is some future technology that was fun to think about. What if it's really like that in a few hundred years! The way the kids talk is also different and I found myself thinking about their vocab when I wasn't reading. I might have even used some of their terms in my real life, haha! I was even more thrilled to find out this was the first book in a series, because I LOVE series! 

Mrs. Mike by Nancy and Benedict Freedman - This was another of my Book Club books. It's an old book that many people have read in grade school; it's a classic. I had never heard of it so I downloaded it off amazon for my kindle app and read it on my ipad. [The third book I've ever read on my ipad!] It was an interesting read about a young girl who marries a canadian mountee and moves to the rural wilderness of northern Canada. It was funny, happy and sad. The way it was written was a little choppy and not all that sophisticated. But it was written a long time ago and really, I'm not that sophisticated. So I didn't mind. It was a fun read and made me glad that I don't have to live in that time period, in that climate!

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld - Book Two in the Uglies Series. Just as good as the first! This series had a way of turning the loyalties of the characters around so you are rooting for one person one time and then pretty soon, you like the other one better and want them to come out on top. Such an interesting series!

Specials by Scott Westerfeld - Book Three in the Uglies Series. Again, loved it! It was hard for me to believe this is a young adult series. The author tied in so many relevant and important issues like environmentalism, the way the media manipulates our perception of beauty, genetics, government etc. The book is layered with subtle controversial topics that would make for such great discussions! I wonder if high schools are having kids read these books? Or junior high maybe?

December:

Extras by Scott Westerfeld - Scott Westerfeld intended the Uglies Series to be a trilogy. But it was such a huge hit and his fans bombarded him with so much fan mail that he wrote a fourth book. It's set later, with a different set of characters. But it tied in the original characters too, which was great. I was left still wanting more, even after this fourth and last book was finished!

Merry Christmas, Cowboy by Janet Dailey - For Book Club in December, we were told to read a Christmas book. I browsed the shelves at the public library and came across this one. It was a lighthearted, fun, romantic read - exactly my type of book! I plan to read more from Janet Dailey. I think she writes a Christmas/cowboy inspired book every year, so I'll have plenty to read.

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams - I put my name on the waiting list for this book in the summer. There must have been so many people on the list before me, because it took me 6 months to get it. It was a beautifully written book, set on the east coast. It flips between two time periods, in the 1920's and 30's, I believe. It's the same characters, just at a time in the past and in the present. Each chapter flipped back and forth which drove me crazy sometimes, but the book was truly incredible. Beatriz Williams has written at least one other book which I added to my To-Read list. She's a fantastic writer so I'm sure her other book will be great too.

And that's a wrap! My 2013 book reviews - all 35 of them!

If you want to look back on the rest of my 2013 books, here are the links:

January - May 2013
June - September 2013

Stay tuned for monthly recaps of my 2014 reads! My 2014 goal is 8 business books and 40 fun books for a grand total of 48. Somewhere in the middle of my 2012 and 2013 totals. It might be a bit of a stretch, but I am determined! 

Ready, set, let's READ!

Did you read anything incredible in 2013? Let me know if you have a new favorite book or even better, a series! I'm adding to my To-Read list!

The Baker Family | Brainerd, Minnesota | Family Photography

On a bitterly cold and windy day after the New Year, I met up with the Baker family for a session at their home. It was -10 or colder with at least a 15 mile an hour wind. It took three minutes outside for my fingers to go numb inside my gloves, and as a whole, we only lasted maybe 15 minutes outside. Those fifteen minutes were enough though, for the Baker family's joy and beauty to radiate and for us to be able to capture some great photos.

Thank you, Baker family, for toughing out the frigid tundra with me to create some awesome photos! Your poor dogs were even troopers in the cold. Enjoy! xo, Laura

A Heartfelt Thank You, 2013 LRI Clients!

My heart is bursting with gratitude for the people in these photographs.

Each of these people, my 2013 couples, families and seniors, had an impact on my life because of their patronage and their kindness.

I am grateful for each and every one of you that I was blessed to work with in 2013. Seeing your excitement about your babies-to-be, meeting your little ones, watching you interact as a family, and seeing your love blessed me in so many ways.

My sincerest hope is that life gets even better for you in 2014. I look forward to watching your journey if we're connected on social media, or if we're paths cross again sometime in the future. Please know that you have blessed me deeply by being a Laura Radniecki Images client.

Thank you.

Erin + CJ - Engaged! | Brainerd, MN | Engagement and Wedding Photography

Erin and CJ met in college in the south. CJ is from Florida and Erin is from Minnesota, and they are planning a wedding for 2015. While home in Minnesota for Christmas, they decided to take advantage of the snow and have a winter engagement session.

They, along with their two dogs, were great sports with the 10 degree weather and blinding white snow. It was the perfect winter afternoon, complete with golden sunshine. Throw in a great blanket which amps up the cuddle factor and the result are amazing winter photos that highlight Erin and CJ's affection for each other, and their excitement to get married.

Thank you for toughing out the cold with me, guys! It was fantastic to meet you and get to spend the afternoon with you. Good luck with the rest of your wedding plans and send some of your warmer weather our way! We need it! :) xoxo! Laura

December 2013 - in Instagram Photos

Aside from the warm summer months, December is my most favorite time of year. I adore Christmas and everything that comes with it.

Usually though, December is insanely busy with Christmas preparations, the photography season wrapping up, and winter hitting us with full force.

Because I knew that we would be spending a full week of December in Florida over Christmas, I set a very deliberate goal of slowing my life down and squeezing every list bit of Christmas cheer out of my life before we left for Florida. I didn't want to return from the trip and think "Sad, Christmas is over and I barely got to enjoy the season!"

I pulled a few early mornings/late nights of work in the very beginning of the month and finished my photo work ahead of schedule. I DVR'd as many Christmas movies as I had room for, and spent many afternoons crafting in the living room while the TV played a Hallmark or Lifetime movie and Remy snoozed beside me.

We continued with several of our cherished Christmas traditions like cookie baking with Matt's family and ringing the Salvation Army Bell with my dad.

And then, we boarded a plane and escaped the brutal, frigid cold for a week spent in balmy Florida with my sister and brother-in-law over Christmas. It was a glorious vacation.

I only snapped a few photos during our trip because I was really trying to make an effort to truly be present. In addition to what the photos show, we walked the beach, found sand dollars, hunted for shark's teeth, visited with my aunt and uncle, went to the most beautiful Christmas Eve mass ever, and played many rounds of Joker.

It was a snowless Christmas but to be honest, I loved it.

Usually, I comment on how fast time passes and how I can hardly believe it. While December did pass fast, for once I actually feel like I was able to be intentional about my time and truly enjoy all of the parts of Christmas and December that I love so much. Plus, have a new experience and new memories of a Florida Christmas.

It was a very, very good month.

Hello, 2014!

Today is January 2nd, 2014. 

I spent this afternoon working through my PowerSheets, revisiting my list of 28 things to do before I turn 29, as well as the additional business goals I set for myself for 2014. 

I feel focused, happy, excited and a little melancholy today.

I spent a little while journaling today, reflecting on 2013 and all that happened in my life. Overall, it was a beautiful and happy year, full of exciting things like getting our little love Remy, and traveling to California and Florida. Yet, it was a tough year in many ways too. Losing my Grandpa was obviously the hardest, as well as saying goodbye to my sister and brother in law as they moved permanently to Florida. It was a year of change, despite the blessings.

Now though, we are given a fresh slate; a blank canvas. 2014 will no doubt hold ups and downs, maybe even extreme ones, for many. Maybe even for me. But there is also a lot of possibility in the days ahead. I love this time of year. 

It's no secret that I am not a winter fan. Spending a week in Florida over Christmas was like life-giving nourishment to my soul. It was hard to leave.

I'm using photos like this as motivation in the days ahead. Motivation to work hard and chase my dreams and goals. Motivation to stay present. Motivation to make it through the winter, because warm days like this WILL return to us frozen Minnesotans again. They always do.

Did you set goals for 2014? Personal or professional ones, or both?

If you'd like to share them with me, I would love to hear them. I will be talking more about my goals and my hopes for 2014 in the days ahead, so we can hold each other accountable.

Goodbye 2013. Hello, 2014!

Giving Back - Made Possible by 2013 Laura Radniecki Images Clients!

Every year at this time, I reflect on the happenings of the past year. The weddings I photographed, the families I worked with, the memories I captured. 

I am often overwhelmed with gratitude and this year is no different. I met incredible people, created some of my most favorite work yet, and made new projects happen. 

Because of the loyalty and business of my clients, I was once again able to give back with the help of World Vision. This year, Laura Radniecki Images donated:

1 Goat, 4 Chicken and 5 Ducks

- which will help feed hungry families and supply them with much needed income.

Image from World Vision

I couldn't have done this without you.

Thank you, to every single Laura Radniecki Images client for your generosity, trust, and loyalty this year. Thank you to every Laura Radniecki Images follower/cheerleader/supporter who helped make this year a success. 

I am so grateful for each one of you. There are so many photographers to choose from, and there are so many places online to read and follow; it means the world that you chose me.

May your Christmas Season be full of laughter, traditions, and new memories with your loved ones this year.

xoxo,

Laura