March 31, 2011

Hello Spring, I've missed you so!

Everyone was out at lunch today snapping photos of the gorgeous cherry blossom trees lining the sidewalk. It was such a beautiful day. The last photograph reminded me of a painting I did last year. I hope this means I can finally pack up my winter coat for the season. Six months of that coat, day in, day out. It's time to say ba-bye! 

March 30, 2011

Jacques Robert Savin

Today the world got a whole lot better. Jacques Robert Savin was born. Our dear friends Alex & Alicia have had a tough year, with the sudden death of Alex's father Jacques. I am absolutely positive that baby Jacques is a little angel in a onesie. I love the radiance in Alicia's face - such a happy, natural glow. I can't wait to meet the little fella. A beautiful boy born into an amazing couple - he has no idea yet, but he's won the lottery. 

on the promenade

It was a drizzly night. (What else is old?) But I love how the rain drops have a way of adding a pretty blur to the lights. 




March 29, 2011

It's time to stop beating myself up

I really have to learn to champion myself instead of being so hard on myself. Are you your own worst enemy? It's definitely easy to live in the future instead of being present. I'll be happy when......I find someone....I get the right job.....I lose ten pounds......I've paid off my house.......I have children....I retire....I *meet* Javier Bardem...... I beat myself up all the time for dreams I haven't yet achieved or those ten pounds that I haven't shaken off yet. (They keep clinging on for dear life!) The more we can live in the present and savour all of the delicious moments with friends and family, the less we stress and worry about all of the 'what if's' down the road. The only thing I know for sure is that life flies by. Try your hardest to stay present and walk away with great moments from each day. As cheesy as it might sound, some people keep a gratitude journal to write down three things they are grateful for from each day. You'll find that soon enough, you're seeing more positivity in your days and becoming more present in your daily life. I find that this photo project helps me stay present. Each day I try to be creative or look for some small standout detail in the day. Tonight, I tried to take a photo that represents me beating myself up but instead it looks like I'm kicking myself in the boob. Pretty funny. Take that boob! I won't beat myself up for not getting the photo quite right. :)

March 28, 2011

KAPOW!!!


KAPOW!!! Take that Monday!!!

March 27, 2011

today is brought to you by the colour blue


Isn't it always a good day when the sky is blue and you aren't?
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! It was another great weekend full of visiting friends and working on the baby room. For the nursery, we're going with the philosophy, "if you build it, they will come." We also caught the film, The Lincoln Lawyer - it's definitely worthy of seeing - a court room drama full of enough twists and turns to keep you entertained. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's nice to see Matthew McConaughey use his acting chops again, which I haven't really seen since his role in ATime to Kill. One thing worthy of noting, I think Matthew must have it written in his contract that he has to have at least four scenes per film in a white tank top. But I'm not complaining. 

March 26, 2011

point bob


I just got home after spending a lovely night away catching up with my girlfriends Kerry and Cathy in Point Roberts.  Kerry and her husband Scott have spent countless weekends renovating their beautiful home (pictured above). The upper deck has a gorgeous ocean view. I can just imagine what it will be like for them in the summer, sitting on that upper deck, glass of wine in hand, soaking in the sunset. Pure bliss. We took her sweet daughter Sydney for a beach walk and shared some valuable facetime catching up. It seems like no matter how much time goes by since we've seen each other, we pick up right where we left off. This is an exciting time of life for so many friends, I'm thankful to share in it. 


the quiet spot


This is my friend Kerry's dog - Pepper.  I didn't notice until I uploaded the photo that her collar says Quiet Spot, a perfect label for her corner of the deck.

For Mar 25th's 365.

March 24, 2011

For Japan

Let's not let distance keep us from helping the Japanese. We are so fortunate and they need our  help. Please make a donation. It's as easy as clicking here for the Red Cross.


**The 365 photo for March 25 and March 26 will be posted on Saturday, March 26.

March 23, 2011

Little Campbell River, BC

Sometimes the best route from A to B is a long and winding one. You get to experience more along the way.

March 22, 2011

the ghost in you...she don't fade

"Inside you the time moves and she don't fade. The ghost in you, she don't fade." 
Click here if you want to have a listen to The Ghost in You by the Psychedelic Furs, one of my favourite bands from the '80s. Their song inspired these photos today. Remember how passionate you were about music as a teenager? I remember when our bus trips were planned around record store locations. I need to dedicate more time to music again. Do you have some current favourites you can recommend?

March 21, 2011

hush hush, keep it down now....voices carry.....

I was attempting to try a ghostly portrait and the result reminded me of one of my favourite songs growing up, "Voices Carry", by 'Til Tuesday.  Click here for the video. I think the song still holds up after all of these years,  but the actor in the video is not so timeless.

March 20, 2011

Burns Bog

It felt like Spring today. It was one of those beautiful days where you could feel the sun's warmth and everyone was out enjoying it. We went to Burns Bog, one of favourite places to walk Molly. Inside the forrest, we came across a tree, beautifully decorated by a family who had lost their 19 year old son. It was very touching to come across such a pretty dedication in the middle of the woods. One of the many reasons I love being a dog owner is that we get to explore all of these great spaces together and get to see that happy expression on her face at the end of each walk. Bliss. 




purple reign


For March 19, 365
We have had a wonderful day celebrating our friend Scott. Tell someone you love them today. xo 


March 19, 2011

bottoms up!

For March 18, 365

We were out celebrating the launch of the hubby's new game. I hope you had a great night!
Happy Friday!! Cheers!

March 17, 2011

Happy St. Paddy's Day!


I'm starting a drunken brawl today with the first person who stereotypes the Irish.

Happy St. Paddy's Day! As the Irish say, "May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead!"

March 16, 2011

chai love you

One of my favourite fleeting art forms.

March 15, 2011

Happy 100 Grandma!

Today I had an awesome afternoon at my grandma's care home celebrating her 100th birthday. I was deeply affected watching everyone line up to hug her - she makes a lot of people happy. There was a couple ballroom dancing together so beautifully with big smiles on their faces. Grandma told me they are married, but she has terrible Alzheimer's. He takes care of her and she is full of joy when they are dancing. He absolutely adores her, it was heartwarming to watch him care for her.
 A few years ago I gave her a journal to write her story out for me, so that I'd be able to share her tales with my children one day. Here are some of my favourite tidbits.  She grew up in Alsask Saskatchewan. She rode horseback to school. Ironically, her horse was named Gerry, the same name as her future husband. She had seven siblings and they grew up on a farm in a two bedroom home. They owned cows, horses, chickens, pigs and turkeys. She had four brothers and three sisters. She has outlived them all. They had a coal oil stove and spring well water. They survived the Depression by selling cream and butter from their farm to the local town. She won all the running races in her town. She cooked for a family of 7, three times a day to earn money. When they moved, they travelled with their farm animals by train. When her family moved to Fort Francis, she met my grandpa at a wedding reception and knew immediately that she loved him. He asked her out that night and they were together ever since. They bought a bakery in a small town called Emo and lived in the two rooms behind it. Eventually, my grandpa was suffering too many bouts of pneumonia, so they headed to BC for warmer weather. They were married for over 50 years before my grandpa passed away from cancer in 1990. Their only child was my mom. My grandma has endless stories of neighbours she's helped, people she's taken in; she is one of the most giving people I've ever met. One of the most touching things she told me was that she never expected to outlive my grandpa by 20 years (they were 80 when he passed away). She thinks about him everyday and misses the life they shared. But she said she's thankful for my mom, our family and books, because that is her world now. It just really made me realize, it's all about the people we build stories with.  Time flies, we really have to cherish every shared moment.

March 14, 2011

building the dream

Our neighbours are building a massive new home. The site inspired me to dress up like a '50s housewife, building the traditional dream. 

March 13, 2011

grandma's 100th


We had a family celebration today for grandma's 100th birthday (which happens on March 15th). She has seen more changes in her lifetime than I ever will. She is truly a remarkable woman. I love that she still has a twinkle in her eye at 100. She is everything you wish for in a grandma. I'm so happy that my brother's children get to know her too. Every memory growing up with grandma is great - from helping her pick fresh fruit and veggies from her beautiful garden, learning how to play cribbage, pool and darts, going to the strawberry patch and helping her make jam, riding the train in stanley park, watching cheesy shows like the Love Boat together every weekend, sitting on the counter and watching her do laundry by hand, endless bowls of porridge with her and grandpa, hundreds upon hundreds of cups of tea we've shared over the years, her incredible baking, putting her hair in rollers, or simply holding her hand - I adore every wrinkle, every smirk, she's amazing. 




March 12, 2011

sweet dreams are made of this

This is a living wall on our neighbourhood library. The swirling plant patterns reminded me of a dreamscape.
Happy weekend everyone!  

faster than a speeding train....


Before meeting up with friends, I picked up Craig from work earlier tonight on White Rock Beach. While waiting in the parking lot, I snapped a photo of a lit up tree. Within seconds the train came whizzing by.  I left the shutter open for a full minute and was amazed at how the train appears as nothing more than a brightly lit streak streaming past the tree. I felt lucky to be there, experiencing the beauty of that fleeting moment.  

For March 11 - 365