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The view from where we were having dinner the other evening. Pretty cool as the fog rolled in. Two minutes later, it was gone.
“Approximately every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood.” - Canadian Blood Services
Yesterday morning, I excitedly walked into the blood donation clinic, spoke with the friendly receptionist, watched with curiosity as my blood was tested for iron levels, and after filling out some paperwork and going over a questionnaire with a nurse, I finally leaned back in a chair and relaxed as the staff made their preparations. Yesterday, I officially became a blood donor.
Donating blood is honestly something that I’ve wanted to do for a while and I feel so proud that I finally did it! My sister, Joy, was also a first time donor a couple of weeks ago and we both pledge to continue to give.
Do you have it in you to give? I bet you do!
Canadian Blood Services - Victoria Clinic
3449 Saanich Rd.
Victoria, B.C.
Call 1-800-236-6283 to book an appointment
I’ve always been a dreamer.
I remember at the age of seven dreaming of becoming a doctor. I had a little toy medical kit that I played with endlessly and I loved wearing the plastic stethoscope around my neck. My baby sister, Joy, was always my patient :)
I remember at the age of twelve dreaming of becoming a model. I proclaimed this fact to my god-sister and she just laughed at me because I pronounced ‘model’ like ‘yodel’.
I remember at the age of thirteen dreaming of becoming a photographer. I poured over countless fashion *and* bridal magazines. I wanted to take apart my mom’s Polaroid camera just out of sheer curiosity about it’s inner workings.
I remember at the age of fourteen dreaming of becoming a volleyball superstar. I watched the University of Winnipeg’s Women’s Varsity volleyball team play a match (while I attended the university for a week!). The women were smart, athletic and looked cool in their uniforms and I wanted to be just like them.
I remember at the age of fifteen dreaming of becoming a jazz musician. I played piano in my schools’ jazz band and practiced and practiced and practiced like my life depended on it.
I remember at the age of sixteen dreaming of becoming a musical actress on Broadway. I bought the Miss Saigon soundtrack on a Monday, fell in love with it, played it over and over again, and learned all the words to all the songs by Friday.
I remember at the age of seventeen that I still dreamed of becoming a doctor.
I remember at the age of twenty that I still dreamed of becoming a musical actress on Broadway.
I remember at the age of twenty three dreaming of becoming an Ebola researcher.
I remember at the age of twenty seven dreaming of becoming a scientific forensic investigator.
Today…I’m still a dreamer. Little did I know that I would be here today doing one of the things I love and feel passionate about. I’m a photographer, but still very much a scientist at heart, a jazz music lover, an avid fan of Broadway musicals, and a pretty decent volleyball player after all these years. That aspiration of becoming a model was a very minute blip on my radar, but I do like to indulge in ANTM every now and then if that counts :)
I’ve had quite the year…inspiring, exciting, tiring, heart-breaking, frustrating, full of doubt, full of hope, full of joy, full of love. But looking forward, I simply aspire to keep dreaming, to keep doing all those things that I love, to keep being true to myself, and to continue sharing a part of me with you.
To dream is to live.
~ cjs
My husband and I have this on-going inside joke about RAM…
“Awww man…you got more RAM than me!” ::spoken in a geeky, slightly high-pitched whiny voice::
Yup.
Anyway, I had a pretty uneventful day…although I did have a great meeting with a nice couple in the morning (hi Lina & Steve!). Much of the day was spent cleaning, walking/playing with/feeding the dogs, surfing the net, *and* installing RAM! Oh, did I mention that my day was uneventful??
Here’s a little photo booth proof.
It was kinda nice to tidy up in my office as well since I was starting to feel like a pig in a sty. For real. Dog hair rolling around in clumps, dust layered on my speakers, empty boxes strewn about, paper spilling off my desk/printer/shelves, miscellaneous cables and wires snaking around under my desk…so irritating!!
After tidying up, I had every intention of doing a dance class drop-in, but nah, I decided not to go. I think my body needs rest after the ridiculous amount of exercise I’ve been getting these days.
So yeah…nothing too exciting going on around here. Oooh, although I did find out on Friday that my sister-in-law is having a baby girl!! Congratulations, Kimberley :)
Alright…I gotta have some dinner.
peace.
cj
The fact is…I already spend so much time on my computer that I can’t be bothered by social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, etc. I’m sure they’re fun and have their place, but I honestly find them too impersonal and just a huge distraction from life in general.
So why Twitter then?
Well, I actually signed up for Twitter well over a year ago, but I just decided to start using it. I realized that it’s fun, but also that it doesn’t take up obscene amounts of my time to update and check up on. It’s a distraction…but only a very small one :)
So…if you curiously want to follow along and get updated on…
- what I’m doing at the moment
- where I’m going
- where I am
- what’s for dinner
- the number of times I get my hurt on at the gym
- what silly things my husband says or does
- why my dogs are annoying sometimes
- why my dogs are the best office companions ever
- what makes me laugh
- what ticks me off
- nothing of real particular importance
…then check out www.twitter.com/cjscott.
Cameron and I decided to go for a hike last weekend and it was fun! The hike up Mt. Finlayson was pretty quick, and while I could barely catch my breath (still haven’t completely gotten over my bronchitis…and the climb gets steep quickly), I still had a great time. Here’s a shot from the top…
(Of course, we were nowhere near the elevations that my sister experienced recently by scaling Mount St. Helen’s just last month!! YAY Joy!!)
My favourite part of the hike was when we ascended up from the forested area and began scaling the rocky areas. Oh, and I quite enjoyed running most of the way back down…although my knees just got over it a couple of days ago.
Another amazing sight was of the numerous bald eagles soaring through the air totally eying up the salmon swimming upstream. So incredibly beautiful and breath-taking.
It was a small adventure, but an adventure just the same! Even more awesome is the fact that I got to experience it with my husband. Honey…I totally look forward to more adventures with you :)
Since Cameron and I had busy schedules the evening of our anniversary (soccer practice and dance class), we met up for a nice sushi dinner at one of our favourite places.
We exchanged cards filled with sweet words and in my card, Cameron included a small info sheet…he was sending me to the spa the following morning! I was thrilled!! Working hard like I’ve been lately while dealing with bronchitis has been difficult at times and it was so nice of my husband to give me permission to take some time off to relax a bit.
So the next morning, I drove out to Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa, changed into a comfy robe, relaxed in their lounge by the fireplace with a mug of hot green tea, and was ushered into the first treatment room where I received the most heavenly facial.
Five hours and a divine goat cheese and prawn salad later, I happily drove home and immediately called Cam at work to tell him how wonderful my spa treat was and he was happy for me.
As for my gift to my husband, it was a bit more on the practical side. Admittedly not very romantic but super useful!! He has been using a dingy old little 4-cup Mr. Coffee coffee maker since before I started dating him. I really did hate it. I’d scowl at it in the kitchen, clean up the leaks it would leave on the counter, and I’d fail miserably at my repeated attempts to scrub it back to it’s original bright white colour.
So…I had had enough and went out and splurged on a new bad-ass coffee machine. A towering 12-cup beast with a shiny stainless steel exterior and a built in bean grinder and a hopper on top to hold the beans. Ummmm yeah…so not romantic. *But* because it’s completely programmable, I save Cameron five minutes every morning, basically a half hour every week, two hours and month, and twenty four hours in a single year…at least! I got it for him not only because the last machine was a piece of crap, but more because I know that he likes his sleep and wanted to save him time in the mornings before work.
Well…he wasn’t as excited as he would have been if I wrapped up say…a flat screen HDTV or something like that, but I think he still appreciates the gesture.
Yesterday evening, we upped the romance factor a bit and continued our wedding anniversary celebrations by going to Camille’s for dinner. The appetizers were excellent, the mains were awesome, and dessert was decadent! After dinner, we went back home to relax and watch the Presidential Debate that we pvr’d (Obama so won that debate). Oh, I also gave Cameron a facial/scalp massage and he was so relaxed that he was almost falling asleep on me!
So yes…another year with my honey and looking forward to many more!
Cameron,
I’m so incredibly happy to be celebrating yet another wonderful year of marriage with you. I look forward to us continuing our life-long journey together…along with the silly nicknames, warm embraces, tender kisses, hot making out sessions, and abundant laughter.
I would choose you all over again.
I love you, honey.
ceej
I’m still *cough*…coughing! Can you believe it??? *cough* Since August 27th, in fact. You should hear the gurgling noises emanating from my lungs when I’m laying in bed and just trying to breathe. *cough* So gross!! Definitely a respiratory infection, but of course I haven’t gone to the doctor (in case they try to prescribe some useless antibiotics). I swear that I’m getting better though. *cough*
(not sure why I chose a graphic of a coughing dog)
Anyway, I’ll be back tomorrow to share a special post :)
. peace .
cj
- I think I’ve ingested more lozenges in these past two weeks than I ever have in my life…this cough won’t go away!!!
- Hip hop dance class last night was fun and I’m thinking of returning to classes two evenings a week
- I can’t stand spam…it just continues to invade my inbox and it drives me crazy!
- It’s so hard to edit while it’s nice and sunny outside. The weather has been fantastic!!
- The latest Batman movie…what did ya’ll think? I personally thought it was awesome.
- I’m going to enjoy some lunch right now!
Here’s a shot I took of Cameron chillin’ the day we went crabbing with friends from a couple of weeks ago…
Not only am I super slammed with work…I am now fiercely battling a cold :(
This monster invaded my home via a brown-haired, spectacled, cutie pie of a husband, and despite Cameron’s efforts to not pass on the bug, I caught it…like a sweet fly ball zoning into an outfielder’s open mitt.
Not only do I deal with the usual symptoms whenever I catch a cold, but my lungs also take a beating and I feel like I’m **fighting** to keep my airways clear of predators!! Ever had a respiratory infection that kept you coughing straight for four months? Yeah, it sucks. Those days of chronic bronchitis are long gone, but when a silly little cold bug hits me, I’m weak prey for sure.
Aside from taking my regular multivitamins and omega-3 capsules, I’ve also been taking mega doses of vitamin C, soothing my sore throat with lozenges and easing my sinus pressure and congestion with various other over the counter meds. I’m on a break from the gym while I get better and I’m sleeping like a bear in hibernation. Being sick while I shoot an important wedding this coming Saturday is *not* an option. Oh, and I wanna be able to taste my food when I eat!!!
So…please send all your good thoughts my way and pray that I beat this bug into submission!
peace and love,
cj
I’m heading out to Kamloops this weekend…let’s just hope I don’t melt in the extreme desert-like heat there!
If you need to reach me, please feel free to call my cell number. I’ll be back in the office on Monday, hopefully sans sunburn.
Peace.
cj
The Cult of Cherry pre-launch party was awesome! The store was seriously jam-packed with ladies just anxious to get a glimpse of M.A.C’s Fall ‘08 line-up.
There were chocolate martinis, chocolate cherry desserts, plates of cherries, and other hors d’oeuvres being passed around and it was all so fun! Cherries in basically everything! Loved it!
Of course, being the loyal M.A.C fan that I am (yay for cruelty-free makeup!), I purchased some Cult of Cherry goodness in the form of eyeshadows, lipstick and lip gloss. Upon my return home from the party, I tried on everything for Cam and he loved it all. Yes, I know…my husband rocks :)
Oh, and *hollllla* to one of the M.A.C makeup artists, Mel. She’s a fantastic MUA who also happened to do the makeup for my last two brides, Kristen & Erin. If you need a great MUA for your wedding, I’d highly recommend that you give Mel a call. I’ve got her contact info for any interested brides out there.
Holla as well to another awesome M.A.C MUA, Suzie, who happens to be in NYC this week. Can’t wait to see your photos!!
Alright, I’ve got to gather my gear for a portrait shoot this afternoon. Of course, I’ll share soon!
Gotta love the Clipper ferry that takes me from downtown Victoria to downtown Seattle…especially when the waters are calm and you’re sitting beside a super friendly couple from California :)
I arrived in Seattle on Sunday, met everyone at the mixer, and spent the entire next day in the workshop. It went late…I think I finally got back to my hotel room at around 2 am and I’m still catching up on all the sleep I’ve lost.
Anyway, here are few shots I captured…
These first two are virtually straight out of camera. The first shot in a diner and the second in a stinky alley. The shots were taken during the daytime even though it doesn’t look like it. Cool huh?
Probably my favourite shot of the day of workshop hottie, Doug…
While I was already quite familiar with all the tech talk and have worked a bit with off-camera flash, I still managed to pick up a few tips and tricks. It was also really nice just chatting with the other photographers and getting to know a few of them.
Anyway, if any of my fellow Onelight peeps are reading this…I hope you had a great time and I totally look forward to crossing paths with some of you again in the near future.
Cheers,
cj
Okay, I just got back from the movies where I watched Mama Mia with my mum-in-law. You’re such a good date, mom!
Yeeeaaaah…just a few thoughts about the show…
1. I hate to say it, but I so don’t dig Abba.
2. Meryl Streep is a waaaay better actress than a singer.
3. I never *ever* want to hear Pierce Brosnan sing again. Never. Ever.
On the upside, Greece looks so beautiful and I wanna go!! [honey...how about anniversary numero ocho...wouldn't that be so cool??]
***
For some reason, I’m also reminded of something I saw the other day that I thought was so amazing…Fred Astaire dancing in ‘Sunday Jumps’! I especially love the part where he dances so effortlessly with the coat rack.
***
Hmmm…since I’ve brought up dancing, how about Katee & Twitch on SYTYCD?!? Uh-mazing! Even my mum-in-law caught it on tv and said she thought it was a fantastic routine.
***
Stay tuned for some fantastic upcoming weddings!
Cheers,
cj
Dexter - Season 2 is coming soon on DVD and I can’t wait!!! Cam and I are hooked and got many others hooked as well! Dexter, you kook - looking forward to seeing where your craziness takes you.
We also fell off the CSI wagon but are back on, going through the old seasons on DVD as well. I know a lot of people are so over CSI but seeing as my undergrad studies were in forensic science/biotech, I’ll never tire of such shows. Gil Grissom rocks the house…even if he is leaving mid-way through season nine :(
Ummm…allow me to geek out here for a bit……
I always keep my binder of notes from my forensic molecular biology class close by…it even sometimes rests in a basket with my numerous fashion and wedding magazines. The very first page in my binder shows my DNA profile (heterozygous at the nine loci I tested…in case you were wondering…lol). I also have an envelope containing a bunch of latent prints I lifted during a CSI class (also amongst my wedding magazines) and I think they’re just so cool to look at every now and then. Is that kinda weird??
Oh and how about this guy?!? Jack Bauer…you are one bad-ass dude and I *can’t wait* until January 09!! For real…it has been waaaay too long. To my other 24 peeps out there…11.23.08…two-hour prequel…24:Exile. Exciting!!!
Courtesy of my *really old* Canon p&s…I think I’m rockin’ 3.2 mp here…
Millenium Park (four years behind schedule finally opening in 2004…lol) is really amazing. There never seems to be a lack of things to see and do there and we were fortunate enough to visit it quite a few times.
The-really-cool-thing-that-every-person-with-a-camera-flocked-to…Cloud Gate aka The Bean
A trippy photo from directly underneath The Bean…
Interactive public art…
My most favourite thing that we saw on our trip to Chicago…the totally awesome Crown Fountain!!
Hotel Burnham resides within The Loop in the heart of downtown Chicago and our stay there was fantastic!! It’s a historic building boasting beautiful architectural elements and it’s simply stylishly modern and sophisticated. It was all so beautiful that I really couldn’t help but take photos of our room, the corridors, the details, the lounge, and our meals!!
Just feeling a bit sentimental today. Thank you…
Cameron…for being such a wonderful husband, partner, provider, cuddler, and teller of bad jokes that never cease to make me laugh out loud. I love you, honey.
Joy…for being such an amazing sister. Never stop dreaming big, sis…I believe that all good things will continue to come your way!
Jeannie and Elisa…for hanging out with me the other day. It’s awesome sitting around and chatting with my girlfriends about important things and stupid things over a big plate of nachos with hot wings on the side.
Reilly and Miranda…for having me shoot with you! A special shout out to Luna…one of the cutest lap cats I’ve ever come across.
My mother-in-law…just for being so wonderful. Looking forward to strawberry picking, mom :)
Ellen…for being such a good cousin. I always have a great time whenever we hang out.
Okay okay…to all those asking…I *promise* to post up more Chicago photos soon!!
From the top of the Sears Tower on the fourth of July *hollaaaa*…
Amongst the many other tourists pressed up tightly against the windows, I managed to get this shot…
The Picasso in Daley Plaza…
…and the kids belly-sliding and tearing around it…lol…
More images to come!
…and feeling very well-rested! I didn’t realize just how much I needed some time away from work! I’m glad to be back though :)
Some highlights…
- seeing dad receive his Masters degree
- seeing fireflies for the first time ever
- ice cream at Graeters in Ohio…twice!
- sexy red Cole Haan’s my husband bought me
- Central Library in Indianapolis
- staying at Hotel Burnham in the heart of Chicago
- hittin’ up the Taste of Chicago ‘08
- Crown Fountain in Millennium Park
- Michael Coleman singing the blues at Buddy Guy’s Legends…uhmmm…incredible!!
- watching Fourth of July fireworks from atop the Sears Tower
- sailing with our new fab friends, Matt and David (special thanks to the wonderful Joe and Sea Esta)
- A ‘Wicked’ show at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre…OMG!
I’ll be back with images soon :)
Tomorrow, Cameron and I fly out to Ohio to watch my father-in-law convocate from graduate school. He is receiving a Masters degree (amongst the other degrees he has!) at the cool age of 60. YAY Dad!!
Cam and I will then hit up Chicago for a week…exciting! Even more exciting is the fact that we’re staying right in the heart of downtown Chicago! So looking forward to this much needed break!
Things that have made me happy:
- a very unexpected invitation to participate in a high end wedding publication!!!
- knocking jobs off of my editing list (soooo many photos left to edit!!)
- vegetables from our garden
- Scott-style backyard croquet with family
- MAC’s charged water (so refreshing!)
- soothing aloe vera gel on my face and neck (did I mention I’m majorly photo sensitive? weird huh?)
- mugs of jasmine green tea
- organic milk chocolate
Things that have not made me happy:
- feeling like I’ve been chained to my computer
- having to slather on the aloe vera gel on my poor face and neck
- having to re-do my french manicures often because the polish chips or cracks by day three
- not making enough time to read lately
Things I’m looking forward to:
- completing all my editing and album designs before I get caught in the storm again
- a visit from my sister (dude..when are you coming???)
- checking out JazzFest Int’l later this month
- making a visit to the spa soon
It was so nice to get away this past weekend! Cam had to play in a soccer tournament on Salt Spring Island so I tagged along to watch some of his games and indulge in some rest and relaxation.
Instead of sitting in my studio staring at my computer screens, I was face to face with this view from our cozy little cabin…
Now I’m staring at this image as my desktop wallpaper *sigh*.
**
Oh…stay tuned for images from Karen and James’s awesomely fun engagement session!
Cheers,
cj
…is painful. My head hurts. A big shout out to my awesome accountant (hi Todd!) who is working some mad hours these days.
I googled taxes, and this is what came up…pretty funny! (btw, did you know that the word ‘googled’ is now a transitive verb in the dictionary?)
Happy Monday ya’ll.
cj
by the travel bug and I sooo want to go somewhere…anywhere.
Cameron and I are still talking about it, but we’ll either go somewhere overseas (for a good deal) or we’ll take a more modest trip and possibly visit sun-shiny California…maybe San Francisco or San Diego…where some of my favourite photographers happen to live…ya’ll know who you are :)
Any suggestions?
I’ve been patiently waiting for our cherry trees to blossom…
My not-so-small puppy, Sophie…
My little-senior-dog-who-looks-like-a-puppy, Vixen…
Random images of stuff around our yard…
Earth Hour…did you participate yesterday evening? We did, although I think some of our neighbours might have forgotten about it and turned off their lights half way into Earth Hour. Oh well, at least some remembered and cared enough to join in :)
We turned off all our lights and lit up candles (if you know me, you’ll know that I already light candles often), I shut down my computer, and we unplugged all small appliances and lamps. I even operated in the kitchen using a crank-powered flashlight…lol. Anyway, it was fun and the hour passed by quickly!
Captain George Vancouver perched outside Vancouver City Hall in the dark (the clock is usually brightly lit up amongst other building lights)…
The Telus Sphere (I’d still rather call it Science World) sitting along False Creek…looks like a lot of other light were on though in the surrounding areas :-/
Anyway, if anything, I just hope that it helped to make people more aware of our wasteful tendencies and that it also helped to shed some light on the issues of climate change.
Oh my gosh…I can’t believe I shot these 16 years ago! *sigh* Old school film on a crappy little Fujifilm p&s. I was 15 years old and on a french exchange trip to Quebec. A lot of the memories are a bit foggy, but I still have my images. I remember constantly lagging behind all the other students on this trip because I just wanted to take my photos. After I got my film developed, I excitedly showed my mom my images. This is exactly how the conversation with my mom went down…
Me: Mom! Got my pictures back!
Mom: Oh okey…let me see dem! *she flips through the stack*
Me: Isn’t it so beautiful there??
Mom: It’s nice…but how come you hab so meny potograps ob da buildings and trees and horses on da street? Oh…and peechures of people just walking??
Me: Because that’s what I wanted to capture! Cool huh?
Mom: Ay nako (filipino expression)…it’s like you were not eben there! You hab no peechures ob yourselp!
Me: Yeah…and?
Mom: So how do I eben know dat you were there??? Ay…talaga naman itong batang to… (exasperated filipino mother saying something along the lines of ‘oh…this child!’)
*rolled my eyes and continued to unpack*
I’m soooo excited because one of my long-time friends, Jeannie, is going to be visiting me this weekend! We met in high school years go and have done so many things together over the years…went to college together, gardened, built stuff together using real nails and hammers (hahaha), skiied and tubed down mountains, cooked together, cried together, talked hours on end about boys, were there for one another through break-ups, and despite the fact that we kind of lost touch a couple of times getting wrapped up in life, we’ve always picked up where we left off.
Jeannie - you’ll be so proud to see our garden! Remember when we were younger and I just never understood why you enjoyed the whole gardening thing so much?!? Now I totally understand!
Anyway, happy Friday ya’ll :)
Images from my trip to Paris back in 2006…
Just outside our door the other evening…
I spent the last few days hanging out with my brother and sisters and as usual, it was wonderful. We *always* have fun and laugh a lot whenever we’re all together.
Quite a major occasion occurred as well…
…I helped my sister buy her very first car!!! Here’s Joy hugging her new vehicle that she affectionately refers to as ‘Bunny’. I’m so happy for you, sis! You deserve it :) Oh…and you can thank me by visiting regularly, making Ikea purchases for me, and cleaning the house gutters over the next year.
My youngest little sister, Mae…often referred to as my ‘mini me’. Check out the new punk rock pink she’s sporting!
Rommal…seriously the most wonderful brother ever. What 17 yr. old teen aged male in his right mind willingly hangs out with his three sisters for the weekend and enjoys every minute of it?
Joy probably laughing at something she said…lol…
The loves of my life…
Re-enacting some charades from the previous night…
Joy, Mel, Mae…come visit me on the Island again soon! Pop 5 and Taboo again next time…and whoever isn’t on my team is going down!
Hugs and kisses…love you bunches.
~Ate~
Another year has passed…and what a wonderful year it has been. I can’t wait to see what 2008 has in store!
Our NYE festivities included a nice dinner with several friends at Bon Rouge (awesome food!) and drinks at a friend’s place. Cameron and I hung out until 11:00 pm then decided to go home to quietly ring in the new year together :) We also watched an episode of our new favourite show, Dexter! For Cam and I, it’s right up there with 24…seriously addictive to watch!!
Today, we got up, rounded up the troops (my SIL and her dog, my MIL and her dog, and Vix and Sophie) and went for a nice walk around Thetis Lake. It’s a pretty nice trek through the trails and it was nice to see a lot of other humans and dogs hiking through today. As usual, Sophie is spent and lazing in her basket and Vix is just happy being indoors.
I’ll leave you with a few random images I took recently while Cam and I were out walking the dogs on a nice sunny day in our neighbourhood. We’re so lucky here on the Island with such mild weather!
Happy New Year everyone!
I really do love this time of year, but it’s hard to believe that another year end is upon us! As is the case with most other years, this one went by really fast.
Tonight, we have a family dinner then we have our Christmas family dinner tomorrow for which I am in charge of cooking the turkey! The day after that, Boxing Day (which isn’t a holiday for my American friends), I turn 31. Beautiful number isn’t it? I can honestly say that I’m going through some of the most exciting times in my life thus far and I feel absolutely blessed. Even more exciting is the fact that there is still so much to look forward to in life! God is good.
Anyway, I hope that you all enjoy your families, dinners, presents, cookies and everything else wonderful this holiday season. Merry Christmas everyone!
Peace and Love,
cjs
December 1st arrived with a bang as the first snowfall hit Victoria this morning! We woke up early and took the dogs out for a walk as the tiny snowflakes drifted down slowly and softly. It’s so cute how Sophie happily trudged along while occasionally shoveling some snow into her mouth.
Afterwards, we stopped by my mother-in-law’s place for mugs of tea, coffee, and fluffy apple pancakes covered in dollops of whip cream….sooooooo good! It felt like we were eating dessert instead of breakfast!
Anyway, here are a few fun shots of our dogs taken this morning :)
We walked into the SPCA, saw her, and immediately fell in love.
Our new nine month old puppy, Sophie, is an Akita/Black Lab cross. She weighs in at a whopping 75 pounds (quite a bit heftier than our little 16 pound Vixen). She’s extremely playful and full of energy. She gallops around enthusiastically whenever she knows she’s getting a meal. She loves picking up sticks (err…more like thick fallen branches) during a walk. She hates the vacuum, the broom, and my camera in her face. She’s already incredibly loyal and whimpers whenever we leave. She can be a handful at times, but she’s such a sweetheart overall!
I’m sure you’ll all be seeing more of Sophie on my blog :)
The eggnog is now in the dairy aisle at the supermarkets. Cards, decorations, holiday chocolates and candies are stocked on vendor shelves. Familiar festive tunes are now playing on the radio. I don’t know about you, but it sure feels like Christmas to me!
This past weekend, Cameron and I staked out our spot on Government St. to watch the annual Santa Claus Parade. Of course, we situated ourselves right in front of one of my favourite stores - Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory! Before the parade started, we made a bee-line for the chocolate counter and chose our regular treats…a milk chocolate cashew mogul for Cam and a milk chocolate caramel square for me. Alright alright…my usual treat of choice is one of their big ass caramel and chocolate covered apples. It’s utterly sinful, so I had to go with the more sensible option this time around. I’m sure I’ll indulge another time :)
Cam also braved the storm in Starbucks and happily came away with an eggnog latte. I’m not even really sure what eggnog is, but I think it’s disgusting so I steer clear of it or anything remotely like it . Did I mention that I don’t drink milk?? Bah!
** Okay…I Googled ‘eggnog’ and it’s a concoction of milk, cream, sugar and beaten eggs flavoured with cinnamon and nutmeg. Barf. **
Anyway…with treats (and umbrella) in hand, we waited for the festivities to begin! Luckily, the rain stopped just as the parade began. Awesome!!
**
We’re going to get our Christmas tree in about a week and I’m so excited!!! I grew up decorating trees of the plastic variety, so when Cameron first mentioned the idea of buying a real tree a few years ago, it totally weirded me out.
Me: Why would you want to deal with the mess of a real tree *and* pay for that mess every single year?
Cameron: Because real trees are beautiful and they smell great!
Me: Well fake trees are cool because you only have to buy them once…and they’re perfectly symmetrical! Who the heck gets a real tree anyway??
Cameron: Well…we’re going to buy a real tree and trust me, you’re going to love it.
Anyway, this Christmas is going to be our first living on Vancouver Island and it’s going to be awesome!!! Cameron and I even have our first Christmas present of sorts…our new dog, Sophie!!! More on her to come :)
He’s beautiful. He’s soft-spoken. He’s helped me to open my eyes and see the world just a little bit differently. Get out of habit and into experience.
Jesh De Rox held his Life As An Artform workshop in Vancouver last week, and I was one of the few privileged who attended. It was intimate, informative, and life changing in many respects. We shared, we laughed, we cried…we held nothing back. I’ll never forget the experience.
A little belated birthday cake for Jesh who recently celebrated…being alive :)
A workshop photo shoot with one of Jesh’s awesome couples who flew in from Edmonton…
***
I came home from the workshop, only to return to Vancouver less than 36 hours later to shoot an crazy fun Persian wedding with Lori Miles of Sweet Pea Photography. Wow…what a celebration of love that wedding was! It felt so great to be a part of it all…especially since I was already feeling so warm and fuzzy after the workshop! I definitely felt different shooting that day in a most amazing and wonderful way.
Thank you for having me, Lori! You know I had an awesome time shooting with you :) Laura…so great to see you again, friend. You’re doing such an incredible job and I see great things for you in the future!!! Thank you also to Shirin and KC…your love is beautiful and I’m so happy that I was there to document it! Persian weddings are DA BOMB!!
Cheers,
cj
…they’re so cute. Especially the little ones! I saw a little chicken in my neighbourhood awkwardly crossing the street with mom and dad in tow and momentarily thought to myself how awesome it would be to have a little chicken of my own…eventually.
Well…no scary movies last night…or much in the way of candy (a good thing!), but I did have a nice sushi dinner and also treated myself to more late-night editing. Exciting huh?
Hmmm…I’ll probably post a few more boudoir images since it seems to be quite popular here…most viewed entry on my blog to date!
Happy Thursday folks.
cj
On Monday, our family had a little pumpkin carving get-together and it was fun! Here’s my pirate skull…
He’s pretty cute hey?
Tonight we feast on candy and watch a scary movie or two :)
I am thankful for many many things…my husband and our wonderful marriage, my health, my geriatric dog, my closest family and friends, plentiful laughter in my household, my paid-off car, candy apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, peaceful and productive mornings, warm mugs of tea at my mother in-law’s house, clean air and water, plush down duvets, sushi, beautiful orchids, music, my wonderful thriving business and wonderful clients…I could go on. For all that I have in my life, I am thankful.
My mother in-law is having a dinner at her place tonight complete with home-made pumpkin pie…we’re all looking forward to it. Thank you, mom, for always taking care of Cam, Vix and I so unselfishly. We sincerely appreciate everything that you do for us. We love you.
Aunt Barb & Uncle Rick…we wish you were here. You are in our thoughts always. We miss you heaps!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
To the rest of my friends (photographer friends included) and family…thank you for all that you are. Thank you for your support, words of encouragement, advice, inspiration, hugs, funny e-mails…I feel blessed. Best wishes to you all!
Much love,
cj
Two years ago I married the love of my life on the most perfect day.
Before Cameron headed out to catch a ferry to Vancouver for his class tonight, we met for a nice brunch at Bon Rouge…a cute little French-inspired bistro and boulangerie downtown Victoria.
Since we both knew he would be in Vancouver today and back home tomorrow evening after work (only for a short while because he has to run off to soccer practice!), we exchanged small gifts yesterday…a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me and a yummy box of chocolates for him! We’re also planning on indulging in a romantic getaway this coming weekend which we’re both looking forward to!
Happy Anniversary, honey. Looking forward to your return home. I love you.
A little over a week ago, I flew to Kelowna to shoot a wedding with my friend, and great photographer, Jeff Ow. Arriving just minutes after him at the airport, we packed our gear into our rental car and drove straight to the salon where the bride was getting ready…and a truly stunning bride she was.
From the salon, to the bride’s parent’s house, to the ceremony, to the reception…the day went off without a hitch. Along the way, Jeff and I met some amazingly wonderful and kind-hearted people. The kind of people who immediately make you feel comfortable and the kind of people who you want to bend over backwards for. It truly was an amazing day.
Fast-forward through the evening…the wonderful dinner, the touching speeches, the games, the dancing, and the crazy fun candy bar…Jeff and I were so thankful to be part of Kristin & Derek’s beautiful celebration, but we were also ready to crash after another day’s work. After hugs and goodbyes, we happily drove off to the Manteo Resort where Jeff’s wife, kids, and comfortable beds were waiting.
Sandy answered the door and whispered her greetings as the little ones were fast asleep. It was kind of odd meeting Jeff’s wife for the first time at midnight…in Kelowna…at a lakeside resort…but it was still wonderful to finally meet her nonetheless. After Jeff and Sandy introduced me to their sleeping kids (lol), and putting down my bags in my room, I followed them to the kitchen. Then a light bulb went off.
Did you grow up in Winnipeg? Under the fluorescent light in the kitchen, she suddenly looked familiar. Sandy raised her hands to cover her mouth to show her utter surprise, and after recognition set in, we both squealed with delight and threw our arms around one another. Jeff laughed in disbelief as Sandy and I began to chatter with glee.
Sandy was a childhood friend and the memories came flooding back.
The next morning, I met the rambunctious Matthias, the adorable Alessandra (a clone of her older brother), and the sweet newborn, Nathaniel. I stared in wonder at my childhood friend and her beautiful family as we spent chunks of the day catching up and sharing stories about our lives.
Oh, Jeff also showed off his impressive culinary skills as he cooked every meal during our stay…sweet and fluffy French toast, maple-glazed grilled Okanagan peaches, strawberry balsamic salad, hearty grilled steak, pasta with parmesan and fresh cherry tomatoes…and more!!!
It was truly a wonderful weekend. Thank you Jeff and Sandy for the awesome company, as well as the stellar meals and great talks. Sandy…it was especially amazing re-connecting with you. What a small world. I look forward to spending time with you all again :)
Big hugs,
cj
Alright…I disembarked the Victoria Clipper six hours ago and I still feel like I’m on the water…hahaha! Just a wee bit of vertigo action going on right now. It was a bit rough during some portions of the Clipper ride, but the stay at the W Seattle was verrra nice!!! The weather was also fantastic and the wedding was great!
More images from a few fantastic weddings coming very soon!
Cheers,
cj
I’ll be out of the office for a few days folks. I’ll be heading down to Seattle to shoot a wedding on Friday, returning home just long enough to sleep and recharge my batteries, then I’m catching a flight to Kelowna to shoot another wedding and a day after session. I’ll be back home on Tuesday the 4th, gone again to shoot in Winnipeg on the 6th and back home again on the 10th. Oh…and toss in a few trips to Vancouver in the weeks following that for good measure :)
Cheers,
cj
I’ve been tagged by my friend and photographer extraordinaire, Jen Bebb :) I have to list eight facts that you may or may not know about me and the game goes on as I tag eight other bloggers. Here goes…
1. When I worked at B.C. Cancer (in my previous life), my boss made me cry once during our weekly meeting. Something about not using the right vial of Taq polymerase. Ha!
2. Also while working at B.C. Cancer, I made frequent visits to the maternity ward at St. Paul’s Hospital…to collect umbilical cords from fresh placentas stored for eventual disposal. I know…gross. Really cool at first, but the novelty quickly wore off. I was harvesting endothelial cells from the cords for the lab’s experiments. You should have seen how big some…err…never mind…
3. I once dug up an old gem of a dress from my mom’s wardrobe when I was 14, thought it was way cool, then wore it out to the mall. It was bright green and orange and honestly, not really that cool at all.
4. My god-sister and I used to waste a ton of time recording ourselves on cassette tape. We just talked stupid, sang a lot, and even created a bunch of jingles. I’d kill to have one of those recordings right now!
5. I used to play competitive 9-ball. I had a professional grade pool table at home (complete with a ball return system..oooh), and played in tournaments a few times. I once practiced for nine hours straight. I actually got pretty good and played consistently and considered at the time joining a more serious competitive women’s league.
6. I have been using Pantene Pro V shampoo religiously since the age of sixteen. I’ve used other brands here and there (either because I ran out of Pantene or had no other options), and my hair never feels the same. Not too long ago, a woman commented on how nice my hair smelled and proceeded to nuzzle my neck and sniff my hair. Yes. A complete stranger.
7. I often times wished that I had the super power of teleportation. Is that kinda weird? I think it would be awesome!!!
8. Cameron and I absolutely enjoy grocery shopping and most visits, we have to walk down every aisle.
So…there you go folks. More random (and kinda useless…lol) information about me :)
While some of these photographers have probably already been tagged, I’m tagging them anyway…