Happy New Year!
As we step into 2024, I’m reflecting on a year of calm and refocusing. This year was definitely deliberate when it came to my Bay Area and Gold Country photography business (had to throw the #keywords there… hustling small business owner here… SEO is good for you, you know).
This past year my inner world on the other hand is a different story. Feels like years of growth happened in the last 6 months. I’ve worked on a few exciting projects and raised 4k in photography session fundraisers. I continued homeschooling my girls with a tremendous success… We became “ideal docents” at the Columbia State Historic Park where we spend a lot of our time.
The heart of 2024
The heart of 2024 was the Summer. First, some of my family members arrived, for a month filling our home with home-cooked Polish food and Polish music beats.
I don’t remember eating so well since I left my mom’s and dad’s house a VERY long time ago.
We had an amazing time reconnecting, traveling, having cheese parties, playing Rummikub and Cornerhole.
My stomach was full for sure but my heart was even fuller.
Then, my kids and I embarked on a grand adventure, following my family’s footsteps across the world. In those short 5 weeks 2 of them we spend on a trip around Poland. We probably visited more Polish land than most Poles in their lifetime.
One is for sure, I have enough castles for a while!
Closing of a chapter: Stepping down from Morgan Hill Children’s Business Fair
In the middle of it all, I also ran the 4th Children’s Business Fair and made a grant decision to part ways with this event. Old things have to go to make room for the new. So here we are 2025 is my closing chapter for this adventure.
Since the very first year in 2021, MHCBF has grown to a family-oriented community event that many families look forward to each year.
I can produce a very long list of the things this event helped me in my growth journey for sure! But I’ll save that for another post.
Over the past few months, I’ve been fortunate to connect with a wonderful group of parents who share my passion for this project. They’ve generously offered their time and talents to ensure this event continues to thrive. This incredible support is rewarding and a true testament to the value this event brings to the Morgan Hill community, a place I was able to call home for 7 years. Seeing this level of community engagement truly warms my heart. I will always aim to bring that feeling and vibe with me no matter where I go.
A New Chapter: Education & Creativity
KidBiz Hub – where youth creates a start-up and runs with it.
It’s obvious to me that I struggle with some sort of syndrome and should be highly medicated for that. I can’t work on one project at any given time for my dear life. As I’m stepping down from the role of the host and organizer of the MHCBF I am already involved with Gold Country Youth Business Fair in the Gold Country – where my new home is. So 2025 is a year of two Kids’ Business Fairs, not one.
Educational content through Santa Clara Libraries System and other organizations in the Bay Area and in Gold Country
This year, I’m thrilled to be expanding my offerings beyond photography. I’ve already done it to some point in previous years. I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience, and I’m now offering a variety of in-person and online workshops covering topics such as:
- Photography: From beginner to advanced techniques, including iPhone photography for teens and adults.
- Videography: Learn to create practical videos for your business using your smartphone.
- Homeschooling & Parenting: Explore the exciting world of AI in education and how it can enhance learning, homeschooling practices that helped me thrive as a parent and home educator, tools and resources for local homeschooling communities.
- Entrepreneurship for kids: As my old baby is leaving the nest (Morgan Hill Children’s Business Fair) I decided to bring another baby to life: KidBiz Hub where young people learn about and practice entrepreneurship.
Revitalizing 12 year old blog
This website has some history in it. Today it became a hub for all my passion projects. And I have a few.
The website is not perfect. I lack time in pampering it up. I just love the fact that my two daughters are now main writers for that website. Check it out if you need more reading… 😂
Publishing a Goal Setting Workbook
I published a book and then told no one about it. That’s how the marketing efforts are going with this one. 😂
It’s available on Amazon as a paperback.
It’s also available for purchase in a printable PDF form.
The Present and the Future for my Bay Area and Gold Country photography business
Had to throw another #keywords just for the sake of making it stick and searchable… So, pardon me, ignore that part.
While I’m excited about everything happening in my life, my commitment to providing high-quality photography services remains unchanged. I’m still available for headshots and corporate events, family photos, graduations and of course, school portraits. I will definitely be more delibare with the projects I take on in the Bay Area.
My big goal for 2025 is to focus on transitioning my photography business to serve the Gold Country.
To all my clients who have supported me in 2024 and before that: Thanks to a steady flow of work I don’t feel like I have to hustle nonstop. And that is awesome!
Thank you for making running my business so easy and chill!
I know this is a very heavy on information post. So thanks for scanning it. Check back for more info about all these projects.
Feel free to contact me with any questions about my workshops or photography services.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and creative 2025 Year!
Upcoming In-person Workshops
Gilroy Library, February 8th – you can find the links to both workshops on the Gilroy Library events page
- Smartphone Photography for Adults & Teens – 10am
- Level Up Your Marketing: Smartphone Videos Made Simple – 2pm
Morgan Hill Library, February 15th – you can find the links to both workshops on the Morgan Hill Library events page
- AI in Education: Revolution in Learning – 1pm
- Level Up Your Marketing: Smartphone Video Made Simple – 3:30pm
Stent House, Classes start March 4th – you can find the link to the workshop on Stent House website.
- Teen Photo Lab – 3:30 pm
- more workshops to come…
Online Workshop
Take Your Best Shot – Intro to creative self-expression through smartphone photography. You can get the self-paced course right here
🤜🏻🤛🏻
