The Perfect Drinking Glass

Could such a thing really exist and is it possible that I, Janna Tenney, have found it?

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Can I be so bold to say - YES!!!!

Prior to our move to our current home, I started searching and making lists for all the home essentials for the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms. My main priority for the kitchen was solid glassware and silverware that would last. Although I haven’t found the latter, I have found the first and have been dying to tell you all about them!

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We have been using these Mexican hand blown glasses for almost 2 months. They have been absolute perfection and are exactly what I was looking for. With a slight green tone, air bubbles only hand blown glass has, and a thicker body than most kitchen glassware these are by far the best kitchen glasses I have ever had. Pair them with some glass straws and and you will have a ridiculously satifying experience every time you drink your favorite beverage.

Sometimes you need a positive sensory experience and that combo will for sure give you what you need to start the day of well. Promise.

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Styling up -

these babies are the easiest in the world! Check out THIS POST for a bit of entertaining tablescape inspiration.

Summer Soiree

Summer Yard Picnics

Creating the perfect soiree/party doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are a few tips to keep things simple yet absolutely stunning.

1. Pick a color palette /theme - Color pallets and themes help you minimize decisions. In this case I chose “Cottage Garden” - There was definitely a feeling I was going for. Comfortable and warm. So I chose natural fabrics for the linens: a striped cotton table cloth I thrifted along with Herb Tea Towels I used as large napkins I found over @Joahnns . I pallet help myself when they went on sale. They are most likely on clearance now so if your obsessed - RUN!

2. Choose your dining wares — I use a Costco brand of plateware that I have really loved along with the perfect glass. (To read more about the glass click here.) The silverware were hand-me-downs however I do plan on finding the ultimate set and sharing it with you all when I do.

3. Add the details. — This usually encompasess candles, florals and some sort of detail either on the napkin or dinnerware. I chose to stick with my outdoor garden cottage vibe and used a basket with a bowl of ice to keep the wine cool all while keeping it out of site and adding texture to the table. I placed a branch that complemented the arrangement on each table and added a few used pillar candles for some interest. Using what you already have in your home instead of going out and purchasing new things is a sure way to keep things simple.

   
   And there you have it. Nothing crazy extensive. Just using what I already had at home to set up a fun girls night that will be full of warmth, beauty and conversation.

3 Steps to choosing the cabinet color right for you and your home.

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When we first moved into our new rental I was a bit disheartened by the kitchen cabinets. They were original. yes but 60 years or wear and tear left them drabby and in such need of a paint job. No amount of scrubbing was going to help clean them. I managed to convince the owner to let me paint as soon as she mentioned she was thinking about it. Woo!

So here is a look at the before and after along with all the details you need to know in order to understand why I chose the paint and finish I did.

THE BEFORE

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1. DECIDE ON THE FEELING - It may sound ridiculous but EVERY COLOR HAS ENERGY. Understanding how they translate to your mood and ambiance is important. My go to place Is, as you well know by now, is Pinterest. After creating a mood board, I decided that I wanted the kitchen to feel clean and warm. Knowing I wasn’t going to use multiple colors in the kitchen and understanding that the cabinets were large and would take up a lot of the prime real estate - I decided on a color that had both warm and cooler undertones - resulting in a color choice that would match almost any color pallet I would later decide to attach to it through accessories.

2. UNCHANGABLES - We were working with a rental, so changing floors and countertops was out of the question. Finding a paint color that matches your unchangeable is PARAMOUNT. This is why I found a cutting board that was similar to the colors of the floor and set it on the counter along with all of the color swatches from our local LOWES. Narrowing it down to a few colors became a lot easier and I had a fairly solid idea of what I was trying to achieve

3. BRING IN THE DETAILS - I had ordered hardware prior to painting. It may be the biggest piece of advice I have for you. Order your hardware and faucet, if your changing it, now. Before you choose the paint. That way you have all of the details in one place and can then move forward knowing you love how all of the details look together. NOTHING is worse than spending all this time sanding and painting your cabinets only to find out that they are slightly too cold or warn to work with your door handles. These are the ones I picked Champagne Knobs , Antique Bronze Drawer Pulls , Brushed Brass Kitchen Faucet.

Im sure your wondering what color I ended up choosing. My perfect fit turned out to be a grey/beige color names GRACIOUS GRAIGE. which is the lighter, warmer color on the far right. Visit LOWES for your samples or and snag a few colors. I usually go wide and narrow down my search at home so that I know Im covering all my bases. Sometimes the paint you choose will surprise you and that isn’t a bad thing. Bold or simple, painting a space makes a HUGE impact and Im glad that your on this journey with me.

I want to know what home projects you are working on this summer! Share with me all the things! with a design background I’d hope I can be of assistance to any questions you may have, so feel free to show send me all the things!

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Painted walls and reading nook spruce

Ryan, my amazingly patient husband has learned in the 8 years together and 5 moves we’ve had - that any space we live in will get fresh paint. We moved into our latest rental about 2 months ago and you better believe there was going to be projects involved. No,we do not own this place, yes, out landlord allowed it and yes, I do most projects on my own.

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Through all the moves and painting jobs I must say that I’v come to the conclusion that most of your interior problems can be solved with a bit of paint.

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For instance, The living room had two white walls and two very dark dark green walls. The color itself was DIVINE and if we lived in a space that had more light in the living room I would actually keep it. But alas, this living room only really has this reading nook to keep me alive with light.

So in order to fix the “darkness” I opted for a waaaaaay lighter and a bit warmer green to give a little happiness back into the space. I have since added a few things that actually block a lot of this green on the main portion of our living room wall, but that’s for another post.

To be completely honest I wasn’t super confident in the color when I first started. But sometimes you just gotta go for it and see where the paint takes you. lol

I ended up very happy with the finished product in color and moved onto the next order of business. THE CUSHIONS.

I headed over to one of my favorite stores. JOANNS. 10 years ago I would have laughed at that sentence but creating my own custom apholstry for the house has become a seasonal thing. I usually will create pillow cases to match the color pallet I decide on for the season but this time my focus was on the sitting cushions the original owner of this space had made for her. They were a checkered American Indian print not many homes would be able to blend with any part of their decor. Least of them being me. So naturally JOANNS is where I went.

I usually go straight to the clearance and last call section because the upholstery can cost and arm and a leg and I usually can find the most fabulous fabrics around that fit my project perfectly. I usually go every few weeks to see what they have on the floor any sometimes even buy for future seasons.

Here are the fabrics I chose for the nook. The simple grey will be the perfect base for the seating area and the thick green lined linen will make for the most amazing neutral and structured pillows.

And this is where I will leave you for now. The seating cushions have been made and look great! The pillows, I haven’t gotten to yet but are on the agenda for the very near future. I can’t wait to show you what It all looks like once this little corner is finished!

As always, I love to read your comments.:) What do you think? would you have chosen a darker color? Would you have opted for a beige or painting it all white? I know I have been choosing more colorful options lately but I compared to our all white beach cottage/apartment, I felt like this little home nestled in the oak trees deserved a bit more intentionality and customization.

The power of the perfect woven basket

Lets talk morning routines:

Gym. Devos. Matcha. Laundry. If those things go according to plan I’d say the rest of my day will be quite successful. I’v created hacks for the first three and until recently I hated doing laundry. It would pile up and then I would never really catch up.

Then I thought “How can I romatisise this to start loving it.”

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For me, the scent or texure of something plays a huge role in how I interact with it. Laundry being no different. Ive always been obsessed with baskets of all kinds and so I decided to go on the hunt for the perfect laundry basket to pull dry clothing into. Instead of a hard boring plastic bin I opted to find a wooden basket large enough for a load and beautiful like the ones women used back in the day when drying their clothing out on lines in the yard.

Low and behold, it took two trips to a thrift shop to find the perfect basket. Simple, woven, stirdy with a sprinkle of romance. Now I can wear a dress, put on an apron and do my laundry like the girls in my period movies do. Yes, Im playing my own version of make believe as a grown 30 year old. You should be too. This is how I choose to find joy in the mundane tasks we ladies are charged with doing on a daily basis.

I don’t know about you but I day dream a lot so when Im folding laundry - I teleport myself elsewhere.

In this case middle of folding my whites I was inspired to create a little creative scene to share where my head really goes. Little Mila graced me with a happy attitude for the most part. :)

What’s one thing you can do in order to take a lothed task and make it more bearable, dare I say, enjoyable?

Think about it, comment and share with a friend.

Monday Spruce - Spring showers bring May flowers

Walks through the neighborhoods of Amador County always end with picked wild flowers in hand and a full heart. On Mondays my usual local coffee shop is closed so I have had to shift the usual morning routine of sitting on a leather couch, journaling, to a cool sunrise walk along the beautiful hills and my favorite Oak tree filled landscapes. I really couldn’t tell you which one I prefer.

Once home I put my apron on and get to work cleaning the home to set myself up for a productive week. Am I Perfect with this? No. But setting myself a weekly schedule up is prepping myself for success. And so far this has worked wonders.

MONDAY SPRUCES — have become a staple in our household and wild flower pickings always make it in to a vase of some sort and are displayed for the week until they wilt away. Yes they don’t last long but they bring me joy and I’ve figured out a how to make them last longer than most.

How to make your wild flowers arrangement

1. Pick 3to 4 varieties of flowers/greenery - think about texture and chose complimentary colors

2. Use filtered water - Most of us have heavily chlorinated or mineral filled water, changing it up to filtered gives them an extra reason to stay alive a bit longer for you to enjoy

3. De-stem/de-leaf your flowers- Leaves touching water will make the water go rancid in a matter of 24 hours. De-leafing your stems will help keep them fresh. Leaving 3/4 inches of a clean stem usually is the way to go.

4. Start with a green base - use it to create your general shape and move on to placing your flowers in one my one. Don’t know where to place them? Think “If I were a flower, where would I grow? Look for an appealing spot and just go for it.

There really is no right way to create a wild flower arrangement. Some florists would disagree. Maybe you do too, but ultimately, they have just gotten a lot more practice in understanding placement. No wild flower ever looks out of place on a hillside so the “Where would I grow?“ has been a simple but effective approach to creating something pleasing to the eyes.

A new arrangement with a pop of color and texture will bring new energy into any space. This week we placed it in the kitchen and Im loving it.

Id love to see what you do for your Monday Spruce this week! Tag me on instagram @jannatenney and use the hashtag #MONDAYSPRUCE

Found Treasures & Second Chances.

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Lets talk second hand

Iv been a squeamish person most of my adult life when it comes to second hand things. I wasn’t one to go thrifting or rummaging through garage sales for treasures. But as you can see I’m speaking in past tense.

Thrifting has become a newly found soul filling adventure for me. Here are 3 reasons why Iv grown to love it so much.

1. Cheaper - obviously

A lot of us are currently on a tight budget and spending enormous amounts of money on home decor is just simply out of question. As you know my family and I finally got our own place after almost 2 years in California. Our new rental owners have been amazing and have allowed me to paint and do a few things to update our space. However furnishing the space is proving to be a long process. I am using facebook market place, estate sales, antique shops and thrift shops to fill my home with found treasures.

2. One of a kind.

Iv always hated trends - most of the time I really just can’t get behind what is the status quo. Maybe its my personality but I also love a space full of unique things. I have this life-long friend who’s home is full of them, everywhere you look you are greeted by an interesting vignette- a collection of things that are as special together as they are apart. Which brings me to my next and final point.

3. The Story

Ooof this is my favorite part. Old things have stories and I am able to give it a second chance at bringing joy to those who behold it. Whenever something is made it is usually out of necessity or inspiration and that makes it live and breath on its own. I LOVE THAT.

Currently I have my eye on a very special piece of art work in an antique shop. I didn’t have my card on hand so I couldn’t purchase it then. But we meet again, it will be forever and we will have a story that is even more exciting. Meant to be. It will become a new treasure with a second chance at life. And instead of a dusty garage shelf covered by a towel it will be hanging in my living room, no doubt a part of a lovely vignette.

When was the last time you went thrifting? Does it give you a icky feeling or an excited one? I know thrift stores have the stigma of being dirty hand me downs but you really never know what treasure you may come across. This weeks challenge. Instead of going to a TJmax, Homegoods or Target - try an antique/thrift shop instead.

Much Love,

Janna Tenney

2021 - Autumn Pallet and Inspiration - style

We live in the upper woodlands of Califonia and Iv been inspired by the life so many people lead here. Some are farmers, while others hold horses, hunt or just tend to their mountain homes. Mix that in with my absolute favorite movie genre - British drama and you get a mix of old world, slow, comfortable yet fashionable living. So today Id like to share 3 of those things with you.

1. Vintage Ralph Lauren blazers - I have started quite the collection over the last few months and can say i’m a proud owner of 5 or so stunning wool/tweed blazers. Ralph Lauren has the colors and patterns I have been absolutely enamored with. Paired with a silky blouse a warm blazer gives warmth and sophistication its perfect for a coffee date and/or meeting. Slip on a snuggly cashmere jumper and Im ready for a stroll beneath those stunning oak trees that are currently turning leaves all around us.

2. Duck boots - I found the perfect ugg pair at a local Norstrom rack and they have been by far my most used shoe this season. Paired with any weather, jeans and some thick wool socks - the become the epitome of any ‘pumpkin spice”girls go to. The fact that they are lined with real sheepskin and are waterproof gives them the ultimate 5 start rating from me.

3. Ultra High waisted - NON stretch jeans. Im at a point where I have broken up with stretchy jeggings and probably will never go back. The more structured and firm fit of jeans have been a game changer for shape and support. As mamas we don’t love the underbelly pooch or what now goes by“fupa” - recent discovery. Button up, stiffer jeans have been a new love. And the plus side is they are usually not ripped up. Iv definitely become a fan of a more clean, tailored and elegant look and ripped jeans have either been tossed or died black - as that’s the only way I will wear them now.

Autumn Oak motif

By now we all know that I can’t help but taking my floral cutting sheers on the road with my every time I decide its time for a bit of a change in our living space.

Usually things means I’ve found sometime that inspired me and want to bring a bit of the out doors in.

This Autumn we took a trip to Bend,Oregon. We all decided (two families worth of people) that if children are coming, it’s a trip, if it’s only adults it’s a vacation. You can only imagine what that 10 hour drive was like with a 2.5 year old. - moving on. I was inspired by the colorful mountain scapes. The oak trees popped from the evergreens creating the type of scenery people usually only see via the Internet. I wished we could see the same in our woodlands. I hadn’t remembered oak trees turning anywhere near my home.

BUT THEY DO!!! - Shortly after that trip Ryan and myself took a bit of a getaway for our 7th year anniversary. On our way back through our own evergreen mountains I noticed there were a ridiculous amount of Oak trees in our area and THAT WAS IT. I had to bring that feeling inside. And so of course I did.

I created a bit of an oak and evergreen garland with a touch of pinecones for some added texture on the console table from world market, a wreathe and placed a branch on the hand turned end table next to my beloved down cushioned couch. Here is a bit of a peak into what the bedroom has looked like for the last few weeks.

Throw pillows that last - 3 Things you need to know.

PILLOW SWITCH UPS

A Seasonal Refresh always means a change in pillows. Why? Minimal effort but HUGE impact. It’s the perfect way to bring new energy into a space. Here is what you need to know to make sure the task really is easy.

3 Things you need to know about our ever beloved throw pillows

1. Have a Grate Base.

   Pillow inserts will make or break a pillow. Foam or microfiber filled pillows are not ideal. They are light, don’t form the way you want them to, and won’t last in high traffic areas of your home. Thick duck feathered pillows are my suggestion. The ones I purchase are on amazon. Clink here

2. Purchase Pillow Covers - Reuse inserts.

   The fun part is finding, purchasing or sewing your own pillow covers to switch out whenever your heart desires. I used to spend SOOO much money on pillows and would end up tossing them because there was no way to get the insert out. You can find lots of mom and pop shops on etsy or even name brand stores that have covers available for purchase. Support small businesses when possible, or learn to make your own!

   HINT** - When purchasing pillows always make sure they have a real zipper so that the insert is easily accessible.

HINT **

Combine different types of upholstery fabrics to create layered and interesting looks.

3. Remember, Texture is EVERYTHING.

Understanding fabrics is a big part of knowing what is going to fit well in your space. Upholstery fabrics hold their shape and handle wear and tear much better than fabrics that you clothing is made out of. My suggestion is to familiarize yourself with upholstery fabrics.

Go through Pinterest, even better, go to a local fabric store to really feel the difference so that you understand what your purchasing online. It take some time but that extra bit of knowledge will help you make an informed decision.

Use the steps we just spoke about to get yourself of the ground and running. I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with. Follow me @mycandorhome for inspiration and all things seasonal refresh.

P.S. Seasonal refreshes don’t just mean for the home, they’re for wardrobe as well.

3 reasons I create a mood board every season.

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Its a VIBE

I’v been creating mood boards intentionally since I was about 14. At first it was just a collection of things I loved but after 15 years of mood/vision boards I have come to find there are reasons and methods by which I create them every season.

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1. Mood boards identify what’s important.

   Sometimes we don’t know where to start when thinking about seasonal refreshes so we end up randomly picking up decor or clothing items at target instead of having a plan. Mood boards help you create a plan by identifying what’s important. Colors and items you gravitate towards will then help you narrow down shopping lists for your home or wardrobe.

   Hint** Create a scratch board with all the things you love on Pinterest and then a secondary “Final Draft” later to help you really decide on items you love.

2. Mood boards narrow down a color pallet.

   With seasonal changes come color pallets. There are trendy colors your eye will gravitate towards and that’s great! Rule of thumb is pick two trending colors to add as accents into your interiors or wardrobe to create a classic but dynamic pallet.

3. Mood boards create visual lists

   Whether its items for your home or wardrobe, locations you’d like to visit or an activity you’d like to do this season - a mood board will create a “highlight reel” that you can print out, stick on your wall. Its personal my favorite way to remember what I dreamed most important and I execute my life accordingly.

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Here’s a quick look at my vision board.

This season I used words to help me make a list of whats important and blended photos of interiors, moments and overall experiences I’d love to create and envision myself having this summer. Yes these are my inspirations, I know that our visions don’t always come to fruition but having a visual of things you’d like to achieve make them even more front of mind than having a list with words. There have been so many studies on this subject.

Collaborations, Routines Projects & Connection is what is most important to me this season and having all of these things with imagery gives me the encouragement and determination to make them a reality. Now its your turn. Take some time this week to really think about what youd like this new season to bring.

Warmly,

Janna Tenney

Roots vs Petals

Why is it that growth happens in the dark before the light?

We don’t think about the very beginning stages of growth as something to be admired. If you think about the root system compared to the budding flower or towering tree, it isn’t something to behold. I personally would rather look at the beautiful colors and textures of a flower or leaf than the rough and mixed up mess of a root system. They root system isn’t pretty, doesn’t seem to have any sort of rhyme or reason to it, yet it holds the foundations of every natural plant in the world.

I’ve been thinking about my journey lately. My many years of “failures”. Trying to get one business off the ground just to start another after self sabotaging it or just understanding that it’s just not the right time. I do think that all things happen for a reason and life comes with its ebs and flows. The seasons of “unfinished” projects is hopefully coming to an end as Im learning more about myself, how I work, what motivates me and what scares the ish out of me. I feel like I know myself, I understand my limitations and the fact that I will need to grow out of them. And that is what this season of solitude has encompassed for me.

I needed some time for self reflection and boy did the pandemic help with that. We had it rough but we are still so so blessed. And through it all I am reminded that its ok if now one sees your growth or if its a jumbled, mixed up mess. Its growth. And when the timing is right, it will give life to something so so beautiful.

This post is my reminder to not mind the ugliness of the mess I see - when my internal being is going through growth. But instead, to embrace it knowing that the longer it takes to grow in the dark the more beautiful and long lasting the tree will grow.

The thank you letter we should all write to ourselves.

“ Some women are lost in the fire, others are build from it”

Thats a loaded little quote isn’t it?

Strong women, where do they really come from? I fully believe that they are not born, but are made. Formed by their life experiences, heartbreaks, their successes and their failures. We as women must become longsufferers in order to get to where we want in life. And usually our roads are long, strenuous and ultimately never really end. It sounds rough but have you ever met a woman who captivated you from the moment you saw her? Even more so when you got to talking to her? She would proceed to tell you that she “just went for it and figured it out along the way…” She would tell you she made adjustments based on whatever the next step was and that she always knew to be flexible with herself and the process.

When we think of this woman we want to be her. To be her we need to walk life with intentionality and courage. Think of the woman you want to be. How would she speak? What would she say to you, in this season of life you are in?

Everyone knows that written exercises are powerful. So I decided to really think about it and came up with this letter to my future self and it turned out better than expected.

The Heart: This exercise comes from a place of grace. Grace for yourself. Grace from God - knowing that we are enough where we are at. That the things we want out of life already have our names on them. That all we need to do is rest and take in the grace we do my best to extend to others.

I hope you can take this letter and use the beginnings of each sentence to guide you into self reflection.

“To my future self.”

Thank you,

For allowing yourself -to make mistakes, learning from them and pivoting when needed.

For embracing - the seasons of solitude and leaning in when they came.

For running towards - the things that scared you, they became the doors that opened up freedom.

For refusing -to live life in a negative metal space and always finding a way out into the light.

For loving - the people closest to you with intentionality and kindness.

For doing your best to - rest and work hard when the time called for it.

For keeping your gaze - on things above and seeing light in all things. For never forgetting - that you are not of this world.

After I wrote this out it is I realized that everything I wanted to hear someone tell me and to remember - was all right there. Sometimes our loved ones don’t have the words. They don’t know the deepest parts of us, really. But God does. And if we prayerfully do this exercise I really believe there will be a pressure that releases. Life is hard sometimes and little activities like this can help us reset and focus us on the things that matter. This exercise isn’t about pride - but created to give you a little credit if you are feeling worn down by life or uninspired. If you are in a great place, its to encourage you to keep going. To keep doing good knowing that you are at your best when you understand who’s you are.

If you’d like to share this with your friends - Here’s an image you can share on all platforms. :)

Signing off for today.

Warmly,

Janna Tenney

It's NOT postpartum - its a faulty connection

Struggling to connect.

We all love our children, we all hear stories of post partum depression, about the mom struggles of sleep deprivation, the this that and the third. What no one told me was that is was possible to have an emotional/physical disconnect between you and your child. It happened to me and I felt ridiculous thinking that I didn’t know if I loved/was attached to my baby girl likeI should be.

Wait, but that doesn’t sound like unconditional, motherly love/connection. There are plenty of people that love their children without being enamored with them - which is where I feel like I have been for a minute. All I can say that all of it takes time. that sometime you won’t know the cause of the disconnect until a bit later (months or like me, years ) when you can look back a patterns you didn’t know existed at the time.

History

A bit of a back story on my family history - Im second oldest of a six child household. My mother was an early childhood edjucator, had a childcare turned center for most of my life. There is not a time I remember that I wasn’t surrounded by children. And I loved it - I would have much rather hung out with children than people my own age most of the time.

First Year Of life

Fast forward to my experience with my daughter, Mila. I did not experience euphoria or any crazy emotional changes (other than the regular hormone balancing out post birth and when my cycle returned) when she was first born. My husband Ryan cried and I went right into responsibility mode the moment she arrived. That was my perspective moving forward. She was now my responsibility and being someone who was around children I pretty much knew exactly what do. And time went on with me being completely unaware of the lack of personal obsession/connection with my child. It wasn’t bliss. She was a hard kid, had colic, cried a ton, would hate it if my husband watched her. She wanted to be held but not cuddled. It seemed she herself didn’t want physical affection - which to me is a love language. The first years was a blur of beautiful and very difficult moments and all the while I felt nothing. Like she was a God given human that was now my responsibility but I didn’t need particularly need to like in order for her to grow in our family for the next extended period of time. Sounds…. not the healthiest, I know. But before you judge -

Patterns

I am a strong willed human by nature and due to my perspectives as a first generation American - I saw and understood the struggles my family went through and fully comprehend that everything good comes with a sacrifice of some sort. So I took the first two years of her life as a challenge. In that time we went through a global pandemic while living on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean- Oahu, Hawaii, lost our jobs, lost our home, moved to states and now have finally come to a point of steadiness in the mountains of California. It wasn’t until I moved here and experienced a new friend being so innamered with her two children that I realized something was missing.

Looking back I realize that I disconnect myself emotionally from things/people that don’t serve/fill my positivity tank. I have what you could call a no BS brain and because I knew Mila wouldn’t be particularly “happy/positive” 90% of the time - I cut off my receptors to her. I saw her as a separate human who I was to take care of and nurture. My thought was “Just because I needed to be around her 24/7 doesn’t mean I needed to be effected by her in any way.”. It was how I dealt with my adult relationships prior to and decided , albeit subconsciously, that it was how I was going to continue. I did this in order to protect myself from going crazy the first year. If I gave into all of my frustrations I would have lost it on her sooo many times. I would have completely fallen apart. So I decided keep my heart separate for that time as security.

Something Changed

Mila Is now turning 2 and I can safely say that I miss her when I leave - I didn’t before and now I do. WHY? I think her starting to communicate which helped a lot. Communication gave us a common ground where before there was frustration on both sides. Over the last few months she has really developed her character and although stubborn and difficult she loves to laugh, dance and gets so much more excited about things. She is now a Positive presence in life for the most part and that is why I connect with her on a emotional level. - It could be a shameful thing to admit but we are talking candidly and I know that Im not the only one who likes their kids more as they have gotten older. The age and cognitive leaps play a big role in the way both parties relate to each other and that is not something to be ashamed of. We as moms are doing our best - We all have diffe4rent dispositions and personalities and will always have different experiences. Yours may not be mine. But to the woman reading this and nodding - I pray that you give yourself the time to grow into love with your child. It may take some time but I promise you, there will come a point when you feel that connection. You may not be aware of it happening but one day your heart will catch up with your head. Until then, do your best to love and be kind to your little and yourself.

Things you can do to help your mama self:

1. Take one evening a week (minimum of 4 hours ) to be on your own. FIND A WAY - i’m two years in and still haven’t gotten there.

2. Create an evening routine after the little is asleep - also haven’t gifted that one out but i’m working on it

3. Find small things to indulge in.

4. Don’t get frustrated with yourself when it doesn’t happen. But understand that if there isn’t a release then there will be difficulty keeping it together.

Warmly,

Janna Tenney

Muir Beach / Stinson Beach, California

As Photographers/videographers my husband Ryan and I love finding beautiful new places to travel for sessions with our clients. So when we were asked to drive down a bit over three hours to a little beach town for engagement photos with an engaged couple we were beyond excited.

We had originally decided to go camping, not thinking much of reservations because we had assumed it would be relatively easy to find a place. Boy were we WRONG we drove around an extra 2+ hours trying to find a camping area that wasn’t booked. We ended up on a tiny dirt lookout where only an off roading car would dare to park - in our Toyota Prius. The wind was insane so we opted out of setting up our tent and slept in the car for the night. Not an experience we would like to recreate at any point in the future as my husband and I are large people.

Once it was morning we had decided to drive back around to a little town we found while we were exploring the day before. Because it was still a bit early the sleepy town only had one breakfast spot open. Looking at customers plates on the patio as we drove past made us realize it would be the best option, and it was. If your ever in Stinson Beach, California stop by Parkside Cafe - @parksidecafestinsoncheach We both couldn’t help but get the Egg Benedict and added a side of San Francisco bacon to top things off. The perfect way to start to a beautiful day. While we were waiting for our breakfast I noticed they had a little marketplace/bakery so I decided to take a look inside. it was my kind of shop. Small and cozy but full to the brim with effortless character and treasures for anyone who walks in. My only regret is that I didn’t end up purchasing a coffee table book to commemorate our little getaway which I will do from now on.

A few hours later we drove back over to the designated location - Muir beach where we took our client photos. The experience of shooting with clients has always been amazing for me. But now I get to do it with Ryan and I can’t tell you how amazing it is to work on projects together. The last 3+ years have been quite the learning curve on communication, work styles, and sooo much more. We are at a place now where each of us knows how to work together to create a fun experience in person and solid workflow for getting projects edited and finished at home.

To view this client gallery click here.

Heres a little peak into our weekend:)