liamarielucas

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January 21 2025

3 Ways to Connect With Your Kids in Under 10 Minutes

liamarielucas Kids, Work Life Balance family, kids, tips, work life balance

3 WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR KIDDOS IN UNDER 10 MINUTES

Staying connected with our kids can sometimes be a challenge in the busyness of life. Work has a way of sneaking home with us, taking over our thoughts. Even if parenting is your full-time job, it’s so easy to get ultra-focused on moving the day forward—getting to the next meal, nap, or task—that you forget to actually connect with your people (there’s a big difference between “co-existing” vs. doing life together).

When I catch myself drifting into work mode during family time or hustling through the day, it helps to pause and engage in an activity that prioritizes the people in front of me. Here are 3 simple ways to connect with your kids in under 10 minutes //

1. DANCE PARTY

Nothing resets the mood quite like a mini dance party. Put on our child’s favourite song, and crank up the volume. Bonus: it’s a great way to shake off stress. Here’s a link to our go-to dance party music: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO4nGfER

During the Christmas holidays the Aunties and Uncles put on a Kid Rave for the little ones, kid-friendly Club music included.

2. ART PORTRAITS

Set a timer for five minutes, grab some crayons or markers, and draw each other. Be prepared to see a version of yourself you never knew existed – the beauty of crayons in the hands of a 3 year old. Scroll down to see the flattering portrait my son “Ole” drew of me. (His name is Leo but apparently order of letters doesn’t matter when you’re 3)

A portrait of me by Leo.

3. SNACK CHAT

One of my favourite activities? Snacking. So why not hit two birds with one stone. Share a quick bite with your young ones and talk about something goofy or inconsequential – a dream they had the night before, their favourite person to spend time with, their favourite food.

THE BIG TAKEAWAY

Connection doesn’t have to take hours or involve elaborate plans. It starts small. Being intentional and carving out short moments of connection shows kids (and people in general) that they matter, even on the busiest of days.

The next time you feel your mind wandering back to work or rushing through the day’s checklist, try one of these simple ways to reset. You might be surprised how much joy you find in those 10 minutes—for both you and your kids!

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January 3 2025

My Favourite Hack For Staying Creative As a Parent: Restful Output

liamarielucas Work Life Balance family, kids, work life balance

HERE’S MY FAVOURITE HACK FOR CARVING OUT CREATIVE TIME AS A PARENT WITHOUT SACRIFICING PRECIOUS MOMENTS WITH MY KIDS

Parenthood is an adventure filled with love, laughter, and a never-ending to-do list. For many parents, finding time to rest or nurture creative pursuits feels like an impossible dream. When we get a moment to ourselves, we often default to “input” forms of rest—watching TV, scrolling through social media, or diving into a book—only to wonder where the time went. What if there was a way to feel truly rested and fulfilled? Enter my favourite hack: Restful Output.

WHAT IS RESTFUL OUTPUT?

Don’t let the word “output” scare you off. Restful Output is about intentionally choosing a gentle, creative task to unwind instead of passive forms of rest that encourage your brain to “turn off”. Think of it as engaging in an activity that lets you create or express, like crocheting, paper crafts, doodling, or writing without purpose. It’s a way to rest your mind while gently stimulating your creativity.

When I realized how often I felt drained after zoning out in front of a screen, I decided to experiment with this idea. The results were transformative: time seemed to slow down, and I left those moments far more refreshed and fulfilled.

Here’s how you can embrace Restful Output in your own life //

1. CHOOSE A GENTLE CREATIVE TASK

Pick an activity that feels light and enjoyable, not something that adds pressure or a sense of obligation. Here are a few ideas:

Crochet or Knitting: The repetitive motions are soothing and meditative.
Paper Crafts: Try origami, scrapbooking, or making handmade cards.
Drawing Without Purpose: Let your pen or pencil wander without worrying about the result.
Journaling: Reflect on your day or jot down thoughts and doodles.
Music: If you play an instrument, this is a guaranteed de-stresser. Feeling creative? Write a song!
Cooking: But just for fun.

The goal is to engage in something that allows our mind to rest while our hands stay gently active. This scratches an itch because, after a long day of serving others, we’re working on something just for ourself.

2. SET THE SCENE

After your kids are asleep, create an inviting atmosphere for your Restful Output:

Dim the lights and light a candle for a calming ambiance.
Play soft music or enjoy the quiet.
Put away your devices to avoid distractions.

This intentional setup signals to your brain that it’s time to wind down and focus on something restorative. If evenings aren’t it, try during nap time, on a Saturday when your partner is home or call in the cavalry and get a babysitter to take the kids out of the house for a bit.

3. Notice the Benefits

When you choose output over input, some really cool things start to happen:

Time Slows Down: Engaging in a creative task makes you more present, and you’ll feel like you’re savouring each moment.
Deeper Rest: Unlike passive activities, creative tasks often leave you feeling mentally refreshed rather than overstimulated.
Creative Renewal: Even gentle creativity can spark inspiration that carries into other areas of your life.

THE BIG TAKEAWAY

I can’t count the amount of times I’ve said “I just need to turn my brain off”, especially after an overstimulating day. But rest doesn’t have to mean zoning out. By intentionally choosing Restful Output, we’re not just recharging our energy—we’re also nurturing our creative spirit and creating moments of genuine peace. In the busyness of parenthood, these moments can feel like a lifeline, grounding us and helping us show up more fully for ourself and our family. What’s something you can do to engage in Restful Output this week?

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October 2 2020

Gold Family Photoshoot on the Shuswap Lake

liamarielucas Photography family photos, photography, photoshoot

Levi and I have known the Gold Family for years now and each year they amaze me with their kindness, their generosity, and their authenticity. If you’ve ever wondered what real community looks like, the Gold’s are it. A table full of friends, good food and laughter.

Just past the best thrift shop in the world (Church’s Thrift Shop in Salmon Arm, BC – where you can still buy things for under a dollar) there is a beautiful little trail that meanders along the shoreline of the Shuswap Lake. The Golds and I headed there for a surprisingly warm October afternoon photoshoot.

Originally we had planned for a morning shoot but fog had covered the entire town like a blanket. So we had to postpone. Lucky for us at around 1:00 the sun came out and completely burned off the fog leaving a beautiful sunny afternoon behind!

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September 9 2020

The Ultimate Day Trip Itinerary For Penticton BC

liamarielucas Photography, Travel

Penticton has quickly become me and my husband’s favourite vacation spot. It all started with the food – because if food is a love language then it’s definitely ours. That being said, our many trips to the “Greece of the Okanagan” have resulted in a few family faves.

If you’re thinking about visiting Penticton and want a taste of the best they have to offer in a single day then read on! I’ve put together the Ultimate Daytrip Itinerary for Penticton BC.

9:00AM – BREAKFAST AT WAYNE & FREDA

Simple. Aesthetic. Colour pallet that makes you want to go home and redecorate your house immediately. And good food to boot. Wayne & Freda knows what’s up. We got there right at opening and I’m glad we did because it quickly got busy.

Inside scoop:

“The Bacon” breakfast sandwich is perfection on toast
Lots of great seating outside and a big garage style opening to the interior (fresh air!)
Their latte art had the crispiest rosette I have ever seen – it was like 3D

10:30AM – KETTLE VALLEY RAIL TRAIL

If I lived in Penticton this is where I would go to exercise. It’s kilometers worth of flat trail with an incredible lake view the whoooole way. Not only can the whole family enjoy this activity (think little kids on bikes) but the scenery kicks ass.

Great pay off with hardly any effort? Sign me up.

Inside scoop:

Parking is at the end of “Vancouver Street” which is literally just a normal neighbourhood. Might seem weird but you’re in the right place!
There are little trails heading off from the main path that give you an even better view of the lake, but be careful with little kids because the drop off is steep.

1:00PM – LUNCH

The food options here are endless. There are so many good places to eat that I decided to make a “lunch list” of my favourite restaurants in Penticton. Take your pick for today and keep coming back until you’ve tried them all!

Favourite lunch spots

Tratto Pizzeria – guys like if you want bang for your buck they have the most amazing $14 margherita pizza
The Bench Market – conveniently located near The Kettle Valley Rail Trail. I am absolutely in love with their Avocado Toast even after finding out I have a sensitivity to avocados. Worth it.
Patio Burger & Ice Cream Co. – I added this one cause it’s such a chill option right on the waterfront. Only outdoor seating, but the patio is high qual.

3:00PM – WINE TIME

K, you cannot visit Penticton without going to a winery. Actually, that’s not true, I have on multiple occasions. But popping into one of the many vineyards in the area for an afternoon wine tasting is seriously relaxing.

Inside scoop:

If you don’t want to actually go into a winery I recommend driving Naramata Road. It’s literally just vineyard after vineyard and it’s very beautiful.
Book ahead. Tastings fill up fast in the summer. If you had to book one thing on your day to Penticton, I’d probably make it a wine tasting.

6:00PM – BAD TATTOO BREWERY

I feel like Penticton gives off a “wine town” vibe, but lucky for me they are also home to some great breweries. Cause I love me some beer. Bad Tattoo also serves some amaaazing thin crust pizza. It’s like classy pizza and beer guys. You must.

Inside scoop:

They don’t take reservations so just go and hope for the best I guess!
Try the flight. All their beers are SO different, it gives you a good idea of what to order next 🙂

8:00PM – THE PEACH

It’s not a full day unless you cap it with dessert. A block towards the water from Bad Tattoo you’ll find a weird looking peach on the beach. Don’t be alarmed – they serve incredible, precariously balanced milkshakes and ice cream cones. Finish your day with your feet in the sand and an ice cream cone in hand.

Inside scoop:

My motto in life is “Waffle cone or bust”. They DO serve waffle cones here.

And so concludes the ultimate daytrip itinerary for Penticton BC. What were your favourite things to do? Anything I missed? I’d love to hear from you 🙂

Looking for more content? Check out the family photoshoot I did for the Numan’s on their family farm!

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August 29 2020

2020 Grad Portraits at Salmon Arm Bird Sanctuary

liamarielucas Photography

2020 has been a crazy year but I have to say, our 2020 grads had it rough. Thankfully the lack of a graduation ceremony didn’t stop Tanissa and Claire from donning their grad dresses and caps to commemorate this special season in their lives.

We went for a classy and simple shoot at the Salmon Arm Bird Sanctuary – a traditional location for the grads of SA to capture their final moments as a High Schooler.

Summer time photoshoots are the best. I love how to leaves in mid June are such a beautiful shade of green and there’s so much time in the day to shoot. I think we met up at around 6:30pm for this session and you can tell the sun is juuuuust on it’s way down – but not even close to setting!

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August 23 2020

Magical Family Photos on Grandpa’s Farm in Armstrong BC

liamarielucas Photography

Earlier this year Miranda reached out to ask if I would do their family photos. We’d done a family session last year when their youngest (Heidi) was still a newborn & it was definitely time for an update!

Everything was scheduled for a beautiful Spring shoot when something none of us could have expected happened. Little Heidi had an accident that left her with burns across her face, chest & arm. For weeks the Numan’s stayed in the hospital with their little girl – hoping & praying she would be okay.

The healing was slow, but finally Heidi was able to leave the hospital and rejoin her family at home (albeit with a doctor’s mandate to stay out of the sun – difficult for a little girl with 2 older brothers!). As the months passed, miraculously the redness faded from Heidi’s skin and Miranda reached out again to see if I would be interested in doing family photos. I was all too happy to accept!

Check out the results of this magical family photo session at grandpa’s farm in Armstrong BC. It was the perfect spot to capture such a special, miraculous moment in time.

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August 8 2020

Estrella’s Backyard Bridal Shower in the Okanagan

liamarielucas Photography

Wedding planning in the middle of a pandemic has its challenges but nothing is going to stop Estrella from marrying the love of her life this year! Originally Matt & Estrella had planned to marry earlier, but were forced to postpone due to COVID-19. That is until they decided to just roll with it and plan a small, intimate COVID wedding for them & their immediate families.

Of course this means ALL the typical wedding events change slightly – less people, fewer vendors. But I think if you use words like “intimate” & “personal” you’re on the right track. And Estrella’s attitude is seriously the BEST.

Take a peak at her gorgeous backyard Bridal Shower at her cute little place in the Okanagan.

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