Cheryl Navalinsky Photography

For those of you who have been reading you may have wondered where I have been... Well, I have started a new blog for my new photo business. I would LOVE if you went to Cheryl Navalinsky Photography: The Blog and poked around some. Let me know what you think and maybe follow me there. Although I am still going to be working on the crafty end of things my main focus will be on photography. I have realized that I truly do miss it. I may not have all the technical aspects down yet but I am getting my eye back and the cobwebs are clearing.
I want to love what I do and I love doing this. So if you have any friends close to Durham, NC send them my way!
If you are curious you can find my website Here.
I am also on Facebook. Just search for Cheryl Navalinsky Photography and don't forget to 'LIKE' my page.
Thanks!

When I Grow Up

Here I am, 41 years old, and still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I've considered being a photographer and a writer since I was a little kid. I got my first camera when I was 7 and don't know if I have put one down since.
Writing has also been a favorite. In third grade I had a teacher, Mrs. Dennis, that would have us write short stories every week. She'd pick the best ones and the class would vote on their favorite. I almost always had one in the top three and even won first place a couple of times.
In the last couple of years I have discovered the world of Indy Crafting. I love to make things and the people I've met have been amazing. It makes me feel like one of the cool kids when I wander down the aisles at a craft show and know the amazing artists who are taking part.
So what's my problem? Obviously I want to do something creative. That seems to be my calling. My problem, as is the problem with a lot of creative people, is that I lack focus. I need to get myself trained to concentrate on one area and actually WORK on that one area. Any one have any tips for this?
What's the best way to make something a habit when you are busy and often don't know if you are coming or going? How do you create a private space for yourself AND convince the kiddos that you need them to stay out of your way for a bit? How do you work through the creatively dry times and not lose your momentum?
All suggestions are encouraged and will be VERY appreciated.

CH-CH-CHANGES...

It's been a busy summer for the Navalinsky family. First we had to pack up our house in Arlington. We had been there for almost 7 years and had two kids while there so there was a lot of stuff! Dave had to leave in early May to head to the Illinois Shakespeare festival where he is the TD. The kids and I stayed behind while Clyde finished up school.Anyone want to buy a house in Texas?

Upon leaving Texas I went on a road trip with the kids to meet up with Dave in Il. We love our summers in Il. We have such great friends there and love the Bloomington/ Normal area. The Shakespeare festival is pretty darn cool as well.

Best Buds!

Also... Best Buds!

After 2 months in Il. we headed out again... This time WITH Dave to our new home in Durham, NC. Dave got a teaching job at the University of North Carolina in the theatre dept. It's a bit daunting to be in a new place but, as luck would have it, we have gotten closer to friends from our past! A friend from I was young (and much more hip) actually works on the UNC campus. A friend from the Illinois Shakespeare Festival has just moved to Winston-Salem to go to Grad school (Yay, Ashley!) Some of our best friends that we were almost inseparable from in Arlington for 3 years live only an hour away.
You would never know they had been separated for 4 years.

PLUS I was fortunate enough to meet a great woman named Ann on-line who helped me in my house hunt and happens to have a son the same age as Clyde who will be going to the same school. To make matters even BETTER some of my oldest, bestest friends from Ohio may be moving to Charlotte which is not that far at all when you compare it to the distance we had to travel to see them in Ohio. I really think this move was meant to be and am excited to see what it holds for all of us.

Clyde and Claudia in the kudzu.

Thursday Thirteen: 13 things I will miss about Texas.

I thought it would be appropriate to do a list of things I will miss about the place I've called home for the last 7 years. Mind you... I am going to miss the people most of all but I figured that was a given so here are the other things in no particular order.

Each one is linked to the individual websites. Just click and you will be taken there.

1) The Fort Worth Stockyards

2) The Nasher

3) Key Elementary School

4) Etsy817

5) Arlington Early Childhood PTA

6) Funky Finds events

7) The amount of parks for the kiddos to play at

8) El Arroyo

9) The Fort Worth Zoo

10) The Dallas Zoo

11) Museum of Nature & Science in Dallas

12) The Fort Worth Children's Museum

13) Big Tex & The Texas State Fair

HOUSE FOR SALE!!!

2614 Forest Ridge Ct.
Arlington, TX 76016

No secret. My House is for sale. It's a great house. More than a house... It's a home. It's the only home my two kids have ever really had. It's been there through holidays and parties. First steps and first days of school. This home holds so many memories. It's going to be hard to leave it but hopefully some other family will move in and make their own memories. Show it some love. Make it their home.

3 bedroom/ 2 Bath. 2 car garage. Privacy fence. Small herb garden. Close to Key Elementary School. 1500 sq. ft.

Open living room and dining room
is great for entertaining

Kitchen and dining area includes a pantry.

Master bedroom has plenty of room for king sized bed

Great back yard with storage building.

If you would like to see the listing click here----> http://bettyfry.com/listings/forest-ridge-ct-2614/listing.html

Or contact Betty Fry at (817)572-5500
Viewings by Appt. only.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!!

I've Missed This Blog

I have been gone for a while. I went to a new blog and tried to focus on one aspect. It was way too stressful. I missed being here. i missed my bloggy friends that I met here. I missed my memes that I was a part of so I am back.There have been big changes happening here. The biggest is that, after 7 years, we are leaving Texas. My husband accepted a position at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. We will be Tar Heels! This is very exciting for us but also a little scary.
Both of our kids were born here and I have made so many great friends here. I am sad to leave all that behind. Thankfully there is Facebook and cell phones so no one will be far in that regard but still... Who will I call when I just need to get out of the house with Claudia? My moral support is going to be much farther away. I am going to miss my 'Mommy Friends' most of all. I have known some of these youngins all their lives. I am going to miss seeing them grow up in person.

Then there's work. I will have been with Barnes and Noble for TEN years this summer and the majority of that has been with this store. I work with a great group of people. They know me and are accustomed to my sarcasm and snide comments. Now I'll have to retrain a whole new group! Thankfully it seems I will be able to transfer so that is a plus.
In the past few months I have met a great group of local artists and have finally been feeling a part of the art community here. I am sad to be leaving them. They truly are a fun group of talented folks. Google Etsy817 to see what I mean!
On the plus side Chapel Hill seems VERY cool and more than a bit more liberal than good old Arlington, Texas. It is very much more a college town which is something I love. Nothing beats that feeling of community. There is also the promise of old architecture and bountiful trees and plants. This is more than a bit exciting to the photo bug in me.
My husband and I have both discovered that we have people from our pasts living in the area as well. Good people... Not scary exes or anything. I think that's going to help a lot. We also have some of our best friends living only an hour away in Greensboro. I am so excited to be able to see them and celebrate some holidays with them like we used to.
We will also be a much shorter trip to our families in Ohio. That's pretty cool. I have nieces and a nephew that I have never even met! I think the families are happy about this... More for the grandkids than Dave and I I'm sure.
All in all I believe that this is going to be a very positive experience for us. Yeah, I'm a little nervous. OK, A LOT nervous but this will be good for our family and I'm sure that I will meet even more fantastic people. That whole "Make new friends but keep the old" kinda thing.

In the meantime... Anybody want to buy a house? ;)

A New Blog

I just wanted to let you all know that I have started a new craft blog called Funky & Feisty. You can find it here http://funkyfeisty.wordpress.com/ I hope that you will stop by and check it out.
This one will remain active but I wanted to start one with more of a focus.

Hope to see ya there!
Cheryl