Lessons

It's hard to be a writer in New York City.

It's even harder when you don't have a cushy 9 to 5. Still, my inspirational writing teacher has had her byline slapped on major publications like the New York Times on a regular basis,while managing to get married, raise two babies, and sustain.

If you don't live in New York City, then translation: near impossible, people!

What gets to me the most -- she told me that many times she was asked to be hired on staff, but she refused every time. She refused because she said nothing seemed more "delicious" to her than the idea of raising her babies and giving it everything she's got.

But I don't get it, I told her.

Then you're not ready, she said.

Our conversations are always so honest that sometimes it takes me days to really accept what she tells me. In fact, sometimes I spend weeks thinking about it. About letting my byline go, about starting something new. About potential post-Apple depression. About wrong timing, about right timing, about knowing the difference.

Today was our final meeting day, and she said not to get so wrapped up about what that part of the future holds, whenever it will be held. Instead, she left me with some of the best writing and life advice I've gotten in a long while:

Don't take no for an answer. Take every assignment in life and prove yourself. Be creative. Be easy to work with and be can-do. Pick somebody strong who will go to bat for you. Have all your wits about you. Don't get rattled by anything.

Papa-paparazzi...

Run for cover.

Ever since Superman armed me with the amazing camera of my dreams, I can't stop pressing the shutter button.

Growing up I had an old school, humungous, actual film camera (Kodak would be so proud). But when one-hour photo went out of style, I felt like I lost my edge.

Enter Superman saving the day. The year. The next I-don't-even-know-how-many years. The leisure snaps are now turning into my hobby on steroids. And I love it. I've been taking on photo projects for our FRG, a few photojournalism pieces, started up Lara [----] Photography, started a "Lara Loves Travel" photography collection...

And here's the kicker...

I just booked my first wedding!!!!

Paper

I know it's been a while since I've updated (...and there is so much to update on...). Superman is away for training and I've got the week to myself. But tonight, all I can think about is paper.

That's right, paper.

In a little over one month, Superman and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary. And while that's soooo exciting, it's also daunting. Perhaps because I'm trying so hard to stick to the traditional anniversary gift theme of "paper" for a first wedding anniversary.

I want to be simple, yet creative. I want to take paper to a whole 'notha level. I want Gutenberg, Paper Source, Post-It, Hallmark, oak, pine, and cedar to have nothing on me. But instead, all I got is a headache. 

What do you think about anniversary gift themes? Are they cute? Or should we give that tradition the boot?

Change

I have an incredible fear of change.

I know it may not seem like it since I'm continually changing states, changing hairstyles, and heck, I'm even married to the military, which brings about change faster than we can blink sometimes!

But every so often I stop to think about the changes that are happening all around me that I can't control and I experience a terrible bout of anxiety - even if they're happy changes.

Trigger for this conversation: My cousin just had a baby. While I'm totally ecstatic that my family is growing, I think about how often we used to see each other (all the time!).  And how we made our first music video together. And then I think about the last time I saw her -- 2 years ago. And how much is changing and much I'm missing. I think about how fast life is passing by and how important it is to keep ties with family and friends.

My family is changing, my friends are changing, and all I can think about is how much I'm trying to keep track of it all and understand that we're not going to stay young forever. But I also think about how much I'm trying to stay involved in all this change, but it's tough to keep up!

I know it's just unreasonable to think that everyone and everything won't change, and we can all just be the "way we were." But I haven't been able to shake the fear the change. I've been feeling this urge lately to just travel across the country to visit all of my family and friends that are somewhere else. I want to keep us all together!

Do you have a fear of change? How do you quell your fear?

Stir Crazy

I'm convinced there's no such thing as a lazy Sunday. At least not in this Super household.

Lately all we've been able to look at is this:

I thought after taking the GREs I'd never have to touch one of these ever again. And I didn't, for a while. Every assignment in grad school had me thinking outside the bubbles.

But now, we only think in bubbles. We own more #2 pencils than pens. And every question has multiple choices.

 It's yucky out today so that motivated us to hunker down and focus. But after being couped up for 5 hours in bubble land, we started to get stir crazy.

So stir crazy in fact that I walked in on Darcy's plant (that we're plant sitting), reading the paper in the bathroom. (Sorry Robert Palmer!)

Dear Apple, stop raining. We need out. Now.

Culture!

Two words popped into my inbox yesterday. 

Kermesse. Tata. 

When I screamed out Tata in sheer excitement, Superman told me to keep inappropriate comments to myself. 

And that's how Superman was introduced to Armenian pop culture. Welcome, Superman. 

I hope the Bean street fairs are equivalent to the amazing Apple ones -- which I happen to frequent... let's just say... frequently.

Lara Loves Travel

Earlier this year when Superman was getting ready to deploy, I started a photography "ramped-up hobby." a.k.a. -- business.

My primary business goal was to cater to military families whose loved ones were deployed. I really wanted to make sure to capture the moments that a loved one couldn't be there to see. There have been so many great opportunities that have led to some really great shots...

And while I continue to work with military families (and love every minute that I do!), I've started a more public collection of prints to sell called, "Lara Loves Travel."

So, in the next few days, when you're sitting in your office, or in class, or in your room... counting the hours... and instead, wishing you could be here:

Or here:

Or hangin with him:

You can. Through the "Lara Loves Travel" collection. Some are on Etsy now! More to come.

Reflection

There's alot of silent reflection going on in the Super household this month. There is so much we are thankful for, alot to be hopeful for in the coming months, and alot of decisions to be made in between.

So this month we're fasting, to reflect on our blessings and stay disciplined in our goals.