THE THREE AMIGOS

** WARNING**

What you're about to read sounds like a late-night-can't-sleep infomercial.

When grandparents talk about their grandsons and granddaughters collectively, they would say their 'grandchildren".  The same goes for parents, instead of calling upon their sons and daughters they would just say 'children' or 'kids'.  But what about aunts and uncles?  There is no word to combine niece and nephew, so we say just that - we don't have it easy like the other two.

When I was still in high school, my sister had a baby boy and I suddenly went from having two nieces to two nieces AND a nephew.  I found my self talking about them all the time constantly saying, "Oh, my nieces and nephew" and one day I just had enough and realized that something needed to be done.  But what shall I call them?  Grandchildren are so grand because they are the children of your children, but what would I call the children of my siblings?  Yes, that's right - if you catch my drift - I claimed the term  "Grandsiblings".  My life has been made easier ever since.

So here are my grandsiblings, cute as can be. 

I told them to all look at their favorite person.  Bailey looked at Jade, Jade looked at me and Maisie looked at herself.

Meet Rocky.  Don't ask me how I got her to sit so perfectly pretty for this, it just happened - like magic!
 

Keep being yourselves you wonderful things you.  You're lucky enough to be different, never change. 
xo

101 IN 1001 DAYS

I came across this idea, 101 goals to be completes in 1001 days, quite a few years ago.  Since then, this idea has been circling in my mind and I thought it's about time to make it official and just put it out there!

I have always been a fan of lists.  Going to the grocery store? list.  Cleaning? list.  Packing? list...and the list goes on (ha! see what I did there?)  There is just something about making a list that keeps things organized and neat.  It's not full of you only live once type things, but also includes business goals, things I have been procrastinating and of course, a few thrown in there just for fun.  So there you have it, here's mine :)

Disclaimer: this list is not complete. For one thing, I wanted to get it down before I started checking things off it! And another, a lot can happen in nearly 3 years and I want to be open to how the Universe moves in my life and allow for new goals to be added.

 
Start date: Friday, September 26, 2014
End date: Friday, June 23, 2017

1.  Launch a portfolio website that I am proud of and reflects my brand
2. Launch a new blog that is in line with my new website
3. Second shoot at a wedding  - completed October 23, 2015
4. Book my first wedding - completed October 23, 2015
5. Develop and define my style and brand
6. Read all the books on my classics bookshelf (6/62)
7. Find a Pen Pal
8. Buy/create custom stationary
9. Develop a routine
10. Travel to Holland + Ireland
11. Buy letterpress business cards
12. Buy a new iPhone
13. Go on a cross-Canada road trip
14. Do something that scares me
15. Find buried treasure
16. Purchase Canon 5DMIII
17. Purchase Replichrome presets - completed October 23, 2015
18. Read every Jane Austen novel (3/6)
19. Be conversational in Spanish
20. Make friends with a stranger  - completed October 23, 2015
21. Throw a dinner party
22. Place first Anthropologie order
23. Reach the point in my business that I can quit my "day job"
24. Move back to Vancouver
25. Buy my own apartment
26. Get an image of mine published online
27. Get an image of mine published in print
28. Organize all files and folders on my laptop
29. Re-organize itunes and ipods
30. Spend the night in a haunted house
31. Sleep in a castle
32. Spend a weekend at the Madonna Inn
33. Make cheesecake from scratch
34. Learn to play chess
35. Grow my own herb garden
36. Make my cat and I matching pjs
37. learn to make pasta from scratch
38. Attend a Jasmine Star Workshop
39. Sort through/print photos of mine and frame them for my walls
40. Aim to create branded and signature images during photo shoots 
41. Connect with local wedding vendors
42. Get involved with the local photog community
43.  Attend at least three photography workshops that will push me to be a better photographer and business owner
44.  Update product packaging
45. Finish Rubik's Cube in under 2 minutes
46. One year, make all handmade gifts for Christmas
47. Learn the dance to Thriller
48. Watch all the seasons of LOST, in order
49. Get class 5 drivers license
50. Go to Disneyland for the first time 
51. Finally buy an Ona camera bag
52. Finish all the books I've been putting off for forever (0/5)
53. Watch the sun rise and the sun set in the same day
    
54. Hike to Circlet Lake
55. Create better blog posts for my ideal client
56. Create an inspiration board in order to better define my brand and my ideal client
    
57. Blog each item I check off my list
58. Purchase slide show software to showcase photo sessions online - completed october 28, 2015
    
59. Sleep under the stars
60. Attend WPPI in Las Vegas
    
61. Read 5 business books (0/5)
62. Visit the east coast of Canada
63. Create a sample album of my work
64. Purchase the 35mm 1.4L lens
65. Purchase the 50mm 1.2L lens
66. Purchase the 85mm 1.2L Lens
67. Have Christmas gifts bought and wrapped before December comes
68. Set up a movie theater in the back yard 
69. Find the perfect nude lipstick - completed october 28, 2015
70. Find the perfect red lipstick
71. Go to New York and watch a Broadway play
72. Buy a film camera and some film and shoot the old fashioned way (completed Nov.05, 2014)
73. Clean out my closet and donate everything I don't wear
74. Knit a sweater for myself
75. Shoot my first engagement session - completed may 04, 2015
76. Organize all my books
77. Drink more water
78. Start doing yoga regularly again
79. Do something different with my hair
80. Get new bedding
81. Purchase BlogStomp software - competed october 28, 2015

Status: 9.5/89 complete

That's it for now. Feel free to check back (and hold me accountable!) as I work my way through :) Any suggestions for things to add? Do you have a list? Leave a comment and/or link!

Until next time, xox

PORTRAITS: MY BEAUTIFUL NEICE JADE

Life has been absolutely cray this past month (hence the lack in blogging) but with the colder weather comes a slower pace and I'm finally able to get caught up on the little things and put my chaotic life back into order.  

About a month ago, my oldest sister moved here to Campbell River and is currently staying with us until everything is sorted out.  So with her plus her adorable daughter, that makes seven - yes, SEVEN - people living in our house.  Now do you see why life has been so crazy lately?! 

So one night, when I was feeling particularly bored, Jade (my niece that just moved in) and I decided to play dress up and took some pictures in the back yard - sometimes having so many people in the house isn't such a  bad thing.  And I have to say, she is the perfect little model. :)

PAINTERS LODGE: MOTHER + DAUGHTER PORTRAITS

Ashley will be heading back for her second year of University this September, and what a way to celebrate than some mother/daughter pictures before she leaves for yet another year.  I've known Ashley for three years now, and over those three years, we have become great friends.  She is seriously one of the funniest and most caring people I've ever met, and her mother, Leah, is just the same.  It's hard to not see the love these two have for each other and I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a couple tears while editing these. It's just absolutely beautiful to see the love shared between them, and I am overjoyed they chose me to document it for them.

Prior the the photoshoot, I asked Ashley and Leah what they were looking for, the only thing Leah said was that she wanted was ONE nice picture of the two of them together.  Sorry to disappoint you Leah, but I didn't get one, I got plenty. :)

PINTO FAMILY PORTRAITS

Holly, a very good friend of mine, had her baby girl just over a month ago!  Little Miss Haddie Mae.  She  is the most precious thing.  One look at her sweet round face and your heart begins to melt.  Seriously.  So, with the addition of a new baby in their family, a new set of family photos were in order.

1 o'clock in the afternoon.  The heat trapped within the trees.  It became real muggy real quick, but that didn't stop this family. 

Darren, Holly, Emrick, Easton + Baby Haddie.  Thank you so much for giving me your time and for letting photograph your gorgeous family, it really means a lot. 

Take a look into our wonderful adventure below. :)

Since it was so hot that day, we decided to end the day with ice cream.

And we couldn't resist, we had to get a picture of the three of us together.  It is almost our one year anniversary of Yaya book club after all.  ;)

FLEMING FAMILY PORTRAITS

Ahh, summer.  I never want it to end.  Early mornings, late nights and so much sweet tea it makes your belly ache.  I'm going to soak this up for as long as I can.

A little more than a week ago, I had a couple mini photo sessions down at Miracle Beach, and I was lucky enough to capture some photos of my sister and her little family.  I have to admit, it started off a bit akward 
(I guess it's weird when your little sister is telling you what to do) but after a while everyone began to relax and the laughs and their crazy sides began to shine through.

Thank you Jamie, Michelle, Maisie + Bailey for coming out, I had so much fun and I can't wait to do it again!

#CheersToAnotherDay!

Last Sunday I had a family photo day at Miracle Beach and I was able to shoot two amazing families: the first one being my sister and her family and then later on the day, my friend Holly showed up with her husband, two little boys and her baby girl.  It was such a joy to be able to shoot these two amazing families and I will try to do a blog post on them with in the next couple of days!  I just feel like I'm trying to learn so many things at the same time and it gets exhausting.  I find I don't have anytime to be doing the things I should be doing like writing my blog posts and taking pictures.  I suppose it all just comes in time, and right now, I'm just trying to take it one day at a time, even if I'm a little slow at first.  Here's to many more photo shoots and learning of what's to come, because really, it has only just begun.

Keep smiling and stay beautiful. xo