Taking Stock

| Follow me on Instagram at @agirlnamedleney | 

 Inspired by Bridget, who was inspired by Sydney, who was inspired by Pip.

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making: new pretty spring/summer things for the shop. cannot wait to share with you all soon!
cooking: kale. hello new love affair.
drinking: peanut butter and banana smoothies. can't get enough.
reading: love does by bob goff. everyone should read this book. no really. do it.
wanting: to see the baby cheetahs at our zoo already! i mean they're teenagers now. i need to see them before they're all big and old and not as cute.
hurry up: any time i finally get to go to the beach. i am so ready.
looking: for the perfect kimono. because, despite the infatuation i have for this one, i cannot afford it.
playing: these podcasts. love love love them.
wasting: isn't something i feel like i'm doing much of lately.
sewing: nothing at the moment. but i'm thinking about adding some leather things to the shop over the summer...
wishing: i could justify getting this dress
enjoying: time with family
waiting: to see how long all these plants i keep buying are going to live... #blackthumb
liking: this video
wondering: how people just don't eat donuts
loving: coconut oil. who new all of it's miraculous ways? not this girl.
hoping: i can stick to the early hour i've been waking up at this week. because it feels pretty fabulous.
marveling: at new beginnings 
needing: the newest best coast album on vinyl
smelling: rosemary
wearing: grey sweatshirts (i have like... 4... that's okay right...)
following: the adventures of julia and yuriy. always.
noticing: greenery and flowers popping up overnight. so much happiness.
knowing: the the mamas & the papas record i picked up at a vintage shop today will be playing on repeat for a while
thinking: about bleaching my dark blue converses. anyone done this before?
bookmarking: this post. for forever. such a heap of good words. and wonderfulness. please go watch the video that's mentioned here as well.
opening: a bag of banana chips cause these things are the best
giggling: at baby cheetahs. always.
feeling: anticipation 

Core Values

Photo Cred: Meagan Abell

So today I'm sharing my core values with you guys!
I posted them one at a time last week on my Facebook page, but I wanted to do a post with them all together here on the blog.
This is something I've been wanting to do since the beginning of the year so it feels really good to finally have these all written out. It also has just helped me a lot already in staying more focused and motivated when I do any sort of work for my business, I only wish I'd made them sooner!

I've mentioned this before, but I figured I'd go ahead and share this again for you first time readers, I think it's really important to have core values.
Not just for your business, but for your personal life as well.
It helps remind you why you do what you do and keeps you motivated when things get crazy.
Mine end up encompassing a little of both my personal and work life.
Partly because what I do is so much a part of my life, and partly because I put so much of myself into my business and it really is an extension of who I am in so many ways.

They're a little lengthy, but hey, why not be as specific as I want to be, right?
So, without further ado...

// My Core Values // 

1. Do everything with Passion. 
Do my best in whatever situation I'm presented with. 
Stay tremendously interested in things. 
Above all point back to my creator in all that I do because He's the source of all things good. 

2. Be in a state of constant Exploration. 
Seek adventure not just in traveling. 
Challenge myself. 
Always be willing to learn new things. 
Observe the world around me. 

3. Love.
Fall in love with people. Their stories. Their uniqueness and individuality. Love them where they're at, wherever that might be. Fall in love with work. With what I get to do for work. With the process of things. 
Be in love with my life. 
And above all: Remember what love is. 

The simple. The routine. The ordinary. Because there's beauty in all of it. 
Live in a state of thankfulness. Have it be a part of my lifestyle, not just a list. 
Collect moments not things.

5. Create. 
Whether that's knitting a sweater, taking a photo, building a new relationship, or learning how to make really amazing guacamole. 
Make more. 
And in the making, don't be afraid of failure. 
Remember that no great thing is created suddenly. 

6. Dream fearlessly. 
Do not let the world's standards or definitions of what's possible define who I am, what I want to be or where I want to go. Have vision and drive for doing and being better. 
Never settle. Aim high. Go confidently. 

7. Inspire. 
Help others discover their dreams and passions by simply pursuing my own. 
Pursue excellence. 
Encourage and motivate others to be the best that they can be. 

8. Be Leney.
Authentic. Confident. Unique. Genuine. Whether that's the donut obsessed Leney, the avid picture taking Leney, the never not knitting Leney, the Leney who likes to dance to cheesy pop music or the Leney who likes getting on buses alone to find a new adventure at the other end. 
Remember that comparison is the thief of joy and to not let my vision of who I want to be obscure my view of who I actually am. 

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What about you?
Do you have any core values? 
Whether they're personal, or for your own business, I'd love to hear them!

Megan & Joel | Engaged

Meet Megan and Joel.

This couple initially contacted me about doing their wedding because they loved all the pictures of Richmond that I've been taking lately and, being in love with this city themselves, they wanted their engagement and wedding photos to reflect that.
And, if I may say so without sounding too conceited, I think I'm definitely the perfect person to help them achieve this. Because if there's one thing I love, and that I love taking photos of, it's this city of mine.

We weren't able to shoot at the old GRTC bus depot, like we originally wanted, so we opted for walking around The Fan instead and shooting at pretty spots we found along the way. 
I could not be more in love with the results!
Of course this is mostly attributed to these two being so stunningly gorgeous together, but of course it helped too that I got to shoot in one of my favorite places.
Inspiration always strikes more frequently when you're in surroundings you love.
And oh RVA how I love you.

Can't wait to shoot your wedding Megan and Joel!
Thanks for choosing me to be a part of it.

♥

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Check out more here.
Interested in getting some portraits of your own done?
Email me for more info: by.leney@gmail.com

Recipe | Kale Chips


So I made some kale chips yesterday.
And they were delicious.
And because a few of you asked about it, I thought I'd share the recipe with you today!
It's so easy it doesn't even really need a recipe.
Disclaimer: I am by no means a cook/chef/baker of any kind, but I have been getting better at 1. Eating healthy as I resolved earlier this year and 2. Actually practicing my cooking skills/make things from scratch more often.
I have to say it's been a lot of fun and I really have been loving learning how to make new things and experimenting while I make them.

So here's a recipe for kale chips.
I combined a few of the recipes I found.

| You will need |
Kale
1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt (I used this kind)
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Parchment paper 
Large bowl
Baking sheet


1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Mix ingredients in a large bowl
3. Tear up kale into whatever size pieces you desire and put them into the bowl
4. Work the ingredients into the kale with your hands until they are good and covered
5. Spread evenly on the parchment paper covered baking sheet
6. Put in the oven for 12-15 minuts
7. Take out when they're done and good and crispy (they'll be dark green, a little brown in some places. You might need to put some of the leaves back in for a bit if they are still floppy)
8. Let them cool
9. Enjoy!


I think my next venture is going to be Quinoa... 

Whitney | Portraits

Meet Whitney.

She's a creative brand strategist here in Richmond and she contacted me recently about doing some fun updated head shots for her new website!
I have to say that I definitely had way too much fun shooting with her. We instantly hit it off and I'm pretty sure we are just going to have to get coffee at some point because she's adorable and excessively talented and heaps of fun and just the cutest ever and I'm determined to be friends with her.
Oh and she can sing. 
Yea, no big deal.
Plus, I mean, hanging out on city rooftops at sunset? 
Count me in any day.

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Check out more here.

Interested in getting some portraits of your own done?

Email me for more info: by.leney@gmail.com

RAW: Natural Born Artists

Last night I went to check out the RAW showcase at the Hippodrome theatre.
I met heaps of very cool and talented artists, some of whom are mentioned below so be sure to check them out! 

RAW: Natural Born Artists is an indie arts organization all about highlighting the work of local artists and creatives in the city you live in. 
They have shows in 78 cities across the U.S. as well as in Australia and Canada. 
Their Richmond showcases are every other month and if you're a Richmond artist of any kind you should definitely check it out and look into submitting! It's a really great way to gain a little bit of publicity as well as meet other artists in RVA.
They have everything from fashion, photography, jewelry, visual art, film, music, hair and makeup, performing art and other artsy things. 
Even if you're not an artist, you should go check it out anyway because it's just a fun event to be a part of!

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Check out more photos (and tag yourself!) here.

Artists pictured:


If you see your work pictured and I didn't give you a mention, it's just because I didn't get one of your cards! Leave a comment below and I'll add you to the list.

Travel Inspiration

| Follow me on Instagram at @agirlnamedleney | 

A few travel related posts I've been in love with lately.
Because, you know, when am I not thinking about traveling?








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Do you have some favorite travel related posts?
Do share.


“We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again — to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.” -Pico Iyers

Do Ya Have A Question?


Photo Cred: Meagan Abell

Hey friends!
So I'm considering doing some monthly or bi-monthly Q & A videos (or maybe just blog posts because me on video is pretty awkward...), what do you guys think?
I get lots of emails and Facebook messages from you all with various questions, and while answering them individually is definitely doable, answering them all at once might be more efficient and beneficial for everyone!

So what do you think?
Would you have any questions you'd want me to answer?
Whether Etsy related, knitting related, photography related or anything else related? 
Let me know!
Post any questions you have here in the comments, or feel free to shoot me Facebook message or email: 
If I get enough feedback, I'll do a post early next month with some answers!


P.s. Thanks Janel for giving me the idea to do this. ;)

Maddie & Taylor | Wedding Part 3: Reception

As promised, here is the last post of some more favorites from Maddie and Taylor's wedding!
Sharing these with you guys is like living this beautiful day all over again.
Still so very excited for these two and their life together!
So much love.
♥

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Be sure to also see their...


And their gorgeous wedding video, by Josh Reid here
Interested in getting some portraits of your own done or having me shoot your wedding?

Email me for more info: by.leney@gmail.com

Maddie & Taylor | Wedding Part 2: Ceremony

Finally getting around to sharing more of this beautiful wedding!
I know it's been quite some time since I posted the first part, but I couldn't just not share the rest of these.
So here are a few (or more) of my favorites from the ceremony.
I'll be posting part three tomorrow!
(I did warn you that this wedding was going to get an extra blog post or two than the rest. But I mean, that's what happens when your high school best friend gets married)

Be sure to check out part one here.

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Be sure to also see their...





And their gorgeous wedding video, by Josh Reid here


Interested in getting some portraits of your own done or having me shoot your wedding?

Email me for more info: by.leney@gmail.com