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📷 Kids, Animals & Those Who Love Them
Capturing connection, personality & today's priceless moments
👇🏼 Choose to Be You

Did you know there’s another pretty big part of my

Did you know there’s another pretty big part of my life that you may not know about? 🏈

I’m a Certified Athletic Trainer — and I’ve been one for 30 years. 😳

Tonight I’m on the field with the amazing staff and student athletic trainers at Santa Barbara City College, getting ready for tonight’s home football game.

Photography is a huge passion of mine, but my other passion has always been sports and helping people. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to spend nearly four decades working in sports medicine, learning, teaching, supporting athletes, and being part of some pretty amazing teams and experiences along the way.

And honestly… I love that these two worlds of mine can coexist.

This morning I was walking the She Is Beautiful Santa Barbara 5K, surrounded by women, friendship and empowerment. 💕
Tonight I’m on the football field doing what I’ve loved for almost four decades. 🏈

A very full day. A very me day. ❤️

Now I’m curious…

How many of you actually knew I was an Athletic Trainer?

And have I worked with you — or someone in your family — through sports medicine or photography over the years?

Tell me which chapter you know me from! 👇

This morning was one of those mornings that fills

This morning was one of those mornings that fills your cup. 💛

I walked the She Is Beautiful Santa Barbara 5K with friends, surrounded by inspiring words, beautiful people, sunshine, and the ocean—and I found myself reflecting on more than just the miles we walked.

We stopped along the way to read the quotes, take photos, laugh, hug, and remind each other of the women we are and the women we want to become.

I was especially grateful to be supported by my friend @darlabea, motivated by @jennyschatzle, and to share hugs with more friends @mariasfacepaintingsb and @kaithamilton_— amazing women representing women-owned businesses right here in our community.

And then there were the unexpected little moments… seeing friends I’ve known since growing up, reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting new friends, and running into clients along the way. ❤️

It reminded me how much our lives are woven together.

Individually, we each have our own stories, dreams, challenges and goals. But together? We can encourage each other, lift each other up, and sometimes simply remind one another to keep going.

A beautiful morning by the beach, a few miles with good people, lots of hugs, and plenty to think about.

Who are you becoming?
And what mindset will help you get there?

Today, I’m choosing connection, gratitude, courage and a little more intention about the woman I want to be.

And I’m pretty sure that’s worth celebrating. ✨

#SheIsBeautiful #SheIsBeautifulSantaBarbara #SantaBarbara #SantaBarbaraWomen #runsheisbeautiful WomenSupportingWomen WomenOwnedBusiness WomenEmpowerment CommunityOverCompetition MindsetMatters ChooseYourself KeepGoing SantaBarbaraLife SBLocal WomenInBusiness StrongerTogether

I missed Motivation Monday this week. 🙈 But appar

I missed Motivation Monday this week. 🙈

But apparently… people noticed. ❤️

I recently found out that not only do my daughter’s friends follow along for a little Monday inspiration, but my mom has friends who follow me for that same little bit of encouragement and uplift in their lives.

And honestly? That made my heart pretty happy.

So here we are… a little late, but maybe right on time.

It’s been a WEEK. 😂

Labor Day kicked off the week, we’ve had 90° and 100° days with humidity, practices have been cancelled, schedules have been shifted, and life has just kept moving right along.

Which feels like a pretty good reminder that we don’t have to have everything perfectly timed or perfectly figured out to keep moving forward.

And THIS Saturday, I’ll be doing something that fills my cup every year:

💗 She Is Beautiful.

I’ve got my race bib, I’m excited, and I’ll be there before 8:00 AM—this year walking with friends AND meeting new ones.

The photo I’m sharing is one of the inspirational placards from last year:

“Be yourself so the right people can find you.”

I love this one so much.

Because that’s what this event feels like to me.

Women supporting women.
Girls seeing women believe in themselves.
Friends showing up for friends.
Strangers becoming friends.
And all of us reminding each other that there is so much possibility ahead.

As we walk, jog or run, take a minute to read the placards along the way. Let the words sink in. Take what you need. Maybe one will be exactly what someone beside you needs to hear that day.

And let’s uplift our daughters—by showing them what it looks like to show up, believe in ourselves, encourage each other, and carry that optimism with us long after the event is over.

I’ll be there Saturday morning before 8:00.

Will I see you? 💗

Come say hi if you see me! Let’s share some positivity, celebrate each other, and take a little of that She Is Beautiful energy with us into the rest of our year.

#SheIsBeautiful #SheIsBeautifulSantaBarbara #WomenSupportingWomen #GirlEmpowerment #runsheisbeautiful MomsSupportingMoms BeYourself Inspiration Positivity UpliftEachOther WomenEmpo

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” — Dol

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” — Dolly Parton 💛

This quote feels especially meaningful today.

Dolly Parton was so much more than an incredible singer. She was a dreamer, a storyteller, a businesswoman, a philanthropist, and a woman who showed us that you could be unapologetically you while still making the world a better place.

And maybe that’s why her words resonate with so many generations.

To the girls figuring out who they are…

To the moms who sometimes wonder who they are beyond all the roles they carry…

To the women reinventing themselves, chasing a dream, starting over, or discovering a new chapter…

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

Keep learning who you are.
Keep becoming.
Keep growing.

And when you discover something that lights you up, something that feels authentically YOU…

✨ Do it on purpose.

I recently found out that my daughter and her friends actually read my Motivation Monday posts (who knew?! 😂), and honestly, that makes me love sharing these little reminders even more.

Because whether you’re 14, 40, or 80, I think we all need someone to remind us:

You are allowed to be yourself.
You are allowed to dream bigger.
You are allowed to evolve.
And you are absolutely allowed to take up space in this world exactly as YOU.

Thank you, Dolly, for the music, the wisdom, the laughter, the kindness, and the reminder that being authentically yourself is a pretty spectacular thing. 💕✨

What is one thing you are learning about yourself right now? I’d love to hear it below. ⬇️

#MotivationMonday #DollyParton #ThankYouDolly #BeYourself #WomenSupportingWomen GirlPower RaisingStrongGirls MomsSupportingMoms KeepGrowing AuthenticallyYou WomenEmpoweringWomen FindYourPurpose DreamBig

Monday reminder: You don’t have to have it all fig

Monday reminder: You don’t have to have it all figured out today. 🤍

The schedule is changing. The kids are growing. The to-do list is somehow reproducing overnight. And you’re trying to keep everyone—and yourself—moving forward.

So this week, let’s try something different:

✨ Progress over perfection.
✨ Your path over someone else’s highlight reel.
✨ Small wins count.
✨ Give yourself credit for how hard you’re working.
✨ And remember… you’re allowed to be proud of yourself right now, not just when you reach the next goal.

Maybe today’s win is booking the appointment.
Maybe it’s getting everyone out the door on time.
Maybe it’s finally drinking your coffee or in my case hot chocolate while it’s still hot or make it a win by make it an amazing cool drink with what’s left! ☕️😂

Whatever your win is—count it.

Keep going. You’ve got this. And if nobody has told you lately, I’m proud of you for showing up. 💛

What’s one small win you’re celebrating this week?

#MotivationMonday #MondayMindset #MomLife #MomOfTeens #WorkingMom ProgressOverPerfection SmallWins MomSupport YouveGotThis WomenSupportingWomen SantaBarbaraMoms SantaBarbaraPhotographer ImagesByValerie

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