My prince...

....comes riding in on a - lawn mower?



In the summer, Scott is so busy with work and golf that he doesn't have a lot of free time. So when we makes an effort to do chores, like mowing the lawn, it makes me oh so happy. I know there are a lot of other things he'd rather be doing with his few free minutes.

Plus, he looks quite handsome up there on the lawn mower ;)

To Do Lists.

I have a love hate relationship with 'to do' lists. I love to make them and cross things off when completed but I hate when I don't get things finished and crossed off and I also hate when the lists are full of things I really don't want to do.

Like clean the kitchen. It's been on my list for, oh, 3 days now. Seriously, tonight it's getting crossed off.

I tell myself that I make these lists because I love to be super organized and such; but, I am starting to realize the real reason for these lists is that I will completely forget to do anything if it's not written down. Short term memory problems? Uhhh.... where was I going with this? Yeah, definitely not me.

I've been quite busy this week and it seems my lists this week just keep getting longer and longer with less crossing off. But this new pen I bought is so wonderful it makes writing more things down almost enjoyable. Almost.








That's all I've got for today, a random glimpse into what's on my mind right now.

Wish.

Remember when you were young and made wishes on dandelions? Closed your eyes up really tight and blew as hard as you could until all the little wisps took flight, carrying your wish with them.....

Wouldn't it be nice to go back sometimes, to a simpler time, when the wish you made on a dandelion was the hardest decision you made all day?

I think we all need to do that every once and while, not take life so seriously, and close your eyes - make a wish - and blow.

Reflections: Month of May Challenge

Wooo hoooo!! I actually did it!! A full month of blogging every weekday :)

I am actually quite proud of myself that I made the time each day to post something - even if it wasn't that inspired of a post, at least I did it! It also forced me to take photo's that I normally might not have made the time for and I loved picking my camera up more.

All month I recieved such positive feedback which has been so encouraging! I am going to do my best to keep posting more often, although it most likely won't be 5 days a week - hopefully at least 2 or 3. There were definitely times where I really had to search hard for something to blog about, so I think 2 or 3 a week is much more manageable.

I still have a long way to go with improving my writing and photography skills but I am excited to have jumpstarted my blog into a place where I can share more of both.

I love...

... my 50 mm 1.4 canon lens. Why? Because it can do this.



As in, it has such a low aperture that it can totally isolate the subject from the background and make that leaf look like it's floating.



Or just have one small point of the railing of a walking bridge in focus and the rest blur away. (those are technical terms right there)



Yup, I love this lens. Ever since the first time I used it, I was hooked. Best investment ever.

Adventures in Sewing.

I like to think of myself as a somewhat crafty person; however, it has been years since I've sat in front of a sewing machine. It's just like riding a bike right?

Ummm... a incredibly difficult to ride bike that comes with no instructions and has teeny tiny holes that you have to thread string through. Just like riding a bike.

My adventure started when Scott asked me to let out a pair of his dress pants. 'Sure, no problem hun - I can totally do that for you.' 2 months later, I finally got up the courage to attempt it. First of all, I borrowed Scott's mom's sewing machine and then I started with the easy part - taking the pants apart. Ripping seams? I can handle that no problem. No seam ripper? I'm resourceful, bring on the scissors. Finally all seams out, pants pinned to the right length, pressed, ready to go. My grade 7 home ec teacher would be so proud.

Now it's time to tackle the beast and thread that sewing machine. I go up and through and down and around and finally thread the needle. Bobbin in, check. Practice on scrap fabric - epic fail. My method of problem solving - call mom. After a 20 minute phone conversation where she walked me through all the possibilities of why it was not working correctly and her googling the Brother sewing machine manual, we got it figured out. It worked!

An hour later, after 7 1/2 actual minutes of sewing, mission accomplished.










Epic Fail.


The finished product :)

Backyard Beauty

Last year, our backyard was lined with raspberry bushes and raspberries are my favourite. I just love them - so, imagine my excitement when these raspberry bushes yielded a TON of berries! We had so many we couldn't eat them all fast enough nor could I pick them all from the branches fast enough.

This year unfortunately we are in a different house with no raspberry bushes. I don't know what I'm gonna do to get my fix! So, for now, I will reminisce about the abundance from last year - never take anything for granted right?

First Photo Shoot Ever.

Since I haven't done a new photo shoot recently, I thought I would keep with the theme from yesterday's post and show some pictures from the first real 'photo shoot' I did right after I got my SLR. Everyone has to start somewhere right?

These two kiddos (and now their little sister) are my the loves of my life. Such great kids, such a great family. This definitely won't be the last you see of these two cuties on the blog. You might recognize them from here, or here.

They are so big now compared to these pictures - why do little ones have to grow so quickly?

Hope.

It has been two years since I bought my first SLR and I have been looking back through the pictures I took that first summer with my little friend. I was very lucky to have good friends who allowed me to practice on them and their children; but, I have to say that most of those pictures aren't really great. At all. However, I did find a few pictures from each session that stood out and gave me the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there's hope for me and that maybe, just maybe, I was meant to do this.



Taken July 2009

He Loves Me.....

.....and it makes my heart melt with happiness. Especially when he does something really sweet to show me.




I came home to this change in decor the other day - isn't he the best?

Inspiration

I am not exactly sure what I will end up doing with my photography - weddings, portraits, families & children, or just as a hobby for myself. At this point in my life, I really have no idea where we (Scott & I) will be in the next few years. And I mean that I have no idea in what country, province/state, city we will be living - it could be any number of places and that idea excites me and I am more than up for the adventure.

So, for now at least, I am doing this because I enjoy it and it inspires me to look at life a little differently.

Speaking of inspiration, I thought I would share my favourite photography blogs that I look to for inspiration and to see what might be possible for me in the future.

First, and foremost, my own wedding photographer Genevieve Renee. I am lucky not only to have her to capture my wedding day, but to call her a friend. She is simply amazing.

Now, the rest of these people I do not know personally but I do love to look at their pretty pictures and read their blogs.

Jasmine Star, Melissa Jill, Justin & Mary, Jamie Delaine, Katelyn James, The Youngrens, Jessica Claire, Kelle Hampton (this blog is about her life and her words along with the photo's of her family are beautiful)

I realize these are all primarily wedding photographers, and it may be because that's where I'd like to eventually end up, but there is something about all of these photographers that keep me coming back for more. And, maybe, that's the quality I'm most drawn to and want to strive for the most with my own photography. To stand out, be myself, and keep people coming back for more.

Back Button Focus

The biggest photography 'ah ha' moment of my life happened the other day, when I finally figured out how to use the back button focus on my camera!

I had heard a lot about this illusive focusing technique but had yet to put the time and effort into figuring it out for myself. I was still using the half compressed shutter button as my way of choosing my focus point in my pictures. Well, maybe choosing isn't the right word - every time I halfway pushed down that button I was hoping and praying my camera would figure out what I wanted to be in focus. Which could become exceptionally frustrating when me and my lovely camera were not on the same page, focus wise.

Now, I simply press the * button on the back of my camera and viola - I am actually in charge of what the focus point is! I still have a lot of practicing to do in order to become comfortable and confident with this change; but, I am sensing a lot of good things to come of it.

And what's a blog post without a pretty picture!



I first found out about this amazingness here.

J'aime Paris.

In November of 2009 my sister and I were in Paris. It was amazing. I love travelling and have been feeling the itch lately - a craving for travel - and so in lieu of any trips planned for the immediate future, I have been going through my many photo's from Paris and have decided to share some of them. I can't decide if looking at the pictures quench my thirst for a new place to visit or just make me want to go somewhere even more. I'm leaning towards the latter.

Anyways, it always make me happy to look at these because we had such a great time in such an unbelievable city.



















Oh, I cannot wait to get back to Europe one day.

Cutest video ever.

I saw this video for the first time last Friday, and have probably watched it 20 times since then. It makes me laugh every. single. time. Something about the innocence just gets me, these kids are way too cute.

Simple joys....

....make my heart happy. I have always been an easily excited person - a new shirt is worthy of smiles all day, going out for sushi usually comes with a little jumping up and down and numerous rounds of 'I'm so excited!!!!', and spotting a deer from the car is always followed by pointing and clapping and 'ooooooo LOOK, deer!!!! - oh and I just might have a problem with overusing exclamation marks. In case you hadn't noticed!!! But; the one big upside of being easily excitable, is that it really does not take a lot to make me happy.

When I found this wonderful blue suitcase at the thrift store I let out an 'oh!' clasped my hands together and felt my heart jump into my chest. Excited? Oh, just a little. I had no idea what I would use this treasure for but I know that I needed to have it - not wanted, needed. So for the large price tag of $2, it came home with me and I think that it makes the perfect addition to our cozy little living room. I love everything about this suitcase - the shiny buckles, the colour, the worn handle, the white stitching.

Now every time I walk past and catch a glimpse of my pretty blue suitcase, I can't help but smile and feel a little happiness in my heart.


We added a scrabble board I found at a garage sale last year (opening it was Scott's idea - I'm so proud of him!), a bird cage given to my by Scott's Aunty Minny, and a frame full of wisdom given to me by my cute little grandma.










We laugh a lot around our house, so I thought it was a very appropriate word to display.

Child Photography: Cole

You might recognize this handsome little man, he's not even one year old yet and this is his second photo shoot! I have to say, the camera definitely takes well to him. He has the biggest brown eyes and the longest most beautiful lashes and the worlds most adorable smile. It also helps that he has the sweetest personality and is just such a joy, really it's impossible not to fall head over heels for this cutie. I am so blessed to know his mama and to be a part of their families lives.

I dare you to look at these and not say "awwwwww"












Seriously, those eyelashes! *swoon*