let’s just pretend I haven’t missed three months of blogging.

let’s just move on like there’s no time passed.

let’s not dwell on the things we haven’t done and just focus on what we’re doing now.

 Spring… breath. it. in.

the blossoms are all out and they look beautiful.

i have photos but my camera is waaaay over there. and I’m here. and i’m comfy and so far

i’m proud of myself for just writing this message

(patting myself on the back while typing)

and i wouldn’t want to overdue it or anything.

i’m no show off.

It’s an exciting time around these parts because

Miss Emma is heading to New Orleans in a couple of days with her high. school. band.

NEW ORLEANS!!

I went to Edmonton, woot.

which don’t get me wrong, was amazing but that was when I didn’t know that other kids went to New Orleans.

oh man… the fun she’ll have.

We started packing tonight and i loved her energy. it’s a bit nervous, totally neurotic (she made me smell 5 different perfumes with my eyes closed so I could truly tell which was prettiest) and fabulously excited.

I love the ’2 days before leaving on an adventure’ timeframe, it’s all still ahead …the packing, the adventure and all that anticipation.

oh it’ll be so much fun and I can’t wait to hear all her stories.

i love her. and i will miss her.

and i will look forward to my super cool New Orleans present.

can’t wait

So much happens in December and I LOVE it!

Truly, I love December.

The #1 trick?

Don’t spend what you don’t have.

so simple and so true.

Nobody wants family or friends to go into debt all in the name of a Christmas gift.

(credit card overuse is scarier than Darth Vader walking through my front door in the middle of the night)

Also, and this is very important to me,

I don’t want anyone stressing out about what to get me.

If you see something and it screams Tracy, (like a fully trained boxer puppy with a big red bow) then by all means!

But if it’s Dec. 23 and you have beads of sweat dripping down your forehead because you don’t have a gift…

then friend, go grab a cup of hot chocolate and relax!!

I feel pretty certain that all of the people in my life feel the same way.

I want this month to be lovely, full of friends and great food.

I want to laugh and watch Christmas movies with my family.

I want to put up Christmas lights and decorate our Christmas Tree.

I want to take pictures and bake things.

I want to buy local and I want to buy handmade because people are SO talented!

This month is lovely and beautiful and full of hugs and red bows and visits and

hot chocolate and candles and mitts and laughter and parties and

my birthday and Truck Light Parades.

and here’s a little gem.

and by ‘gem’ I mean 2 mins of me proving I don’t know how to video.

Truck Light Parade

my brother and niece drive by and I get really excited. like… really excited

and I’ll warn you, my voice is horrible.

seriously at one point there’s a high pitched squeal and also my video skills are nil and after all that, you can’t even see my brother.

but it’s still fun!!

 and now it’s time to head outside and put up our Christmas lights!

sound the horns and put your lip gloss on

because mini sessions are back!!

Here are all the details which are meant to be read in one long breath

here goes…

This Sunday November 25/75$/20 minute session/Beacon Hill Park/6 high res photos/weather permitting/from 10am-3:30 every half hour/photos given to you within 10 days/ and I am so excited I don’t know what to do with myself.

and exhale.

you may be asking ‘why mini sessions’ and the answer would be:

they are quick and easy, not as time consuming as a full portrait shoot which is a blessing to busy little kids and grown up husbands and they’re just in time for Christmas AND they’re fun.

Interested?

well cool, very cool!

Either send me a facebook message or an email at tracyatstudio202@shaw.ca

letting me know what time would be best and I’ll make it happen like a photography ninja.

it’s time for me to go back to editing and enjoying my chai tea latte.

i said yes to ‘whip’ today because, well… tis the season!

in 2 days, it’ll be the American Thanksgiving.

which means, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be on.

which means, it’s our OFFICIAL start to the holiday season!

woot woot!!

happy dance in my slippers on the kitchen floor.

I know it’s still too early for many people, but in our family,

it’s perfect.

***

and if I’m going to be 100% honest, I might as well get this out in the open.

brace yourself. (especially you mom)

I’m even ready totally hoping for a bit of this lovely stuff…

no. i cannot go on pinterest. no i cannot visit etsy. and i most certainly cannot find myself on google reader to catch up on my favourite blogs.

because i’m in editing mode and when i’m editing it’s like i’m an editing ninja.

but if i were to go online, i’d likely go to Kal Barteski’s site and head to her ARTshop and simply stare at this beautiful polar cub print named BEBE ours.

so beautiful, it’s worth a look.

ohhhh how i would LOVE this for Christmas… just putting it out there Santa.

okay back to my ninja style editing

(which basically just means i’m on the couch in my pyjamas looking at pretty pictures of a beautiful family).

enjoy wednesday night my friends

 

If sitting on the couch with a laptop on my lap and working on my website for hours at a time was a good workout…

I’d be the fittest in ALLLLLLLL the land.

I’m guessing it’s not though because…… I’m not the fittest anything. anywhere.

(as I put another chip in mouth and TOTALLY enjoy it)

BUT

I do have a fancy new website that I have fallen head over heels for!

It really needed an update and I guess even I get bored of procrastination so I finally did it!

and sigh… I’m happy.

There are still a few things I need to finish but it’s so close. close enough to share it with all of you!

So take a peek, look around and I would LOVE it, if you let me know what you think!!

and to reward myself for all this ‘quality work time updating my website and never rarely getting side tracked by things like facebook or pinterest’

I think I might just spend a few quality minutes on Pinterest now because my sweet friend Cheryl and I are planning a

‘let’s get together and make some holiday gift tags while chatting and laughing and solving all the worlds problems’ kinda night

and I just know there’ll be lots of great ideas for us on there!!

but before I lose myself in a sea of pinterest beauty…

I wanted to share this gem of a photo I found again.

It’s from our honeymoon and it’s in Florence, Italy and it makes me want to go back. now.

like I could very easily just pack a quick bag and head to the airport without a second thought.

dreamy.

 

Today was a lovely day, it was bright, blue sky and crisp and cold. I liked it!

i had lunch with two of my favourite ladies, Cheryl and Pili and we laughed and we ate and nobody spilled food on themselves. this time. Having great friends is one of the biggest things I am thankful for… along with my new slippers. seriously, these slippers make my feet feel like they’re in foot heaven.

FOOT HEAVEN. they’re super soft and super warm and super cute and 30% off to boot… hopefully I can say adios to my cold feet and then Jonathon’s inner thighs can stop bracing for the worst!

So the moral of this blog post is to always make time for your friends and pamper your feet because they are all worth it!

Time to enjoy Saturday night with my husband, a bottle of wine, pyjamas and a movie.

perfect.

 

 

I just got in from a very inspiring photography coffee chai tea date with a few very talented ladies. I love spending time with people who inspire and encourage me and these ladies did just that so I say to them (and you know who you are) THANK YOU!!

and it’s a great time to remind all of you to spend time with people who lift you up, who inspire you, who listen to you and who make you laugh… life is way too short for anything else!!

and because of all this inspiration and laughter… I’m pooped! It’s bedtime but not before I share a few photos of a couple very pretty peacocks I hung out with on the weekend during a family photo shoot. And even without their flashy tail feathers… aren’t they so pretty?

good night my friends…