Back to School Photo Tips...

First day back to school and amidst the mixed emotions, I was on a mission to capture some "First Day" photos to show on my TV Segment tomorrow (Breakfast Television Tuesday @ 9:30am).

Justin is not always eager in front of the camera, but he does tolerate me as long as I don't embarrass him so I did his photos before we left home! The first was a neat idea I got from Creating Keepsakes Magazine where you have your child hold their photo from last year so that you can see the changes since last year!! Justin definitely looks different this year with his cool "fauxhawk" and funky glasses! And then I used my telephoto lens to capture the daily routine of my hubby walking to the bus stop with the kids... it's a great bonding time AND I can't believe I haven't thought about capturing it in a photo before this!!!Now Lindsey is always eager to cooperate so we had fun with her friends hamming it up in the school yard, I captured a hearty laugh between her and a good friend using my telephoto lens (converted to black and white so the photo focuses on the emotion) and then snuck into her class for a "desk shot" before anyone else arrived (shhhhh.... don't tell the teacher, but I stood on the desk next to Lindsey in order to shoot down at her!).

I also do the "typical" shots and of course buy the school's annual "mug shot" of my kids, but it's so much more fun to capture some of the behind the scenes back to school stuff in a unique way! It helps me take my mind off the fact that my babies are growing up so fast :(

Purpose driven life...

I had a lot of "think" time over this past vacation... always a great time to evaluate life and what is truly important (and what isn't) and regain perspective and priorities!

This photo carries so much meaning to me... my LOVE LOVE LOVE of photography, my LOVE LOVE LOVE of these three amazing people in my life and my LOVE LOVE LOVE for God and the reasons He has placed me here on this earth (you can't see the beauty I saw on this vacation and not believe that God designed it and has a purpose behind it ALL!).

I am giddy over all the photos I captured and will show more soon, but just had to share this one that touched my heart the instant I saw it today!

We're back!!

Sorry for the delay on posting... we just got back from a "superiffic" camping vacation that took us from Calgary to Vancouver then down the Oregon coast (all the way to California!!) and back up through Sand Point Idaho (a favourite beach of mine... think "blue speedos"!) I'll post some vacation photos soon once Mt. Washmore has been conquered!

Meanwhile, two awesome things to share:

1. For those who still don't know, we are staying in CALGARY and building a new home in Quarry Park which is only about 2 minutes south of our current home! So no to Sweden or Detroit and YEAH for Calgary... we are so excited!!

2. Creating Keepsakes Magazine asked me to pass on an awesome opportunity to WIN a Tamron zoom lens!! Click HERE to see their blog and enter to win before August 28!! And don't forget about my own CHA GIVEAWAY a couple posts below... it ends at the end of August!!

We're MOVING!!!!!!!

Well, I mentioned awhile ago that there's been a HUGE family decision simmering in our lives over the past few months...  we researched, prayed, discussed it at length with the kids, prayed some more and it's finally now official!!!

We're MOVING!!

We signed the papers so I guess there's no going back!!   We're terribly excited though!!

Have some fun guessing WHERE we are moving to!!  

And if you already know, humour us by not revealing yet!!

I'm heading to Clipperstreet in Vancouver!

One of my favourite things about hosting cross Canada events is getting to meet so many wonderful people!

Deanna Hutchison was one of our top instructors chosen for our last Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians and she is now the proud new owner of Clipperstreet Store in Vancouver!! And I get to teach there this weekend! I'm so psyched to do my "Lights! Camera! Action!" class and as a special treat, each lady is going to get their choice of an exclusive "travel" themed layout kit designed by the oh so talented Christy Riopel from www.MondayNightClass.ca!! (3 shown here!)


AND... I will be at their "Tropical Crop" event where I will get to reunite with some fellow Crop and Cruisers and share the exciting details about our sister event called "Crop Tropical" taking place at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun Mexico next February!! Just imagine getting away for this dream escape!! Bring the whole family as golf is FREE and kids 12 and under stay for FREE!!!

Meanwhile, you can still enter my CHA blog GIVEAWAY (see below) until the end of August!

Calgary's newest scrapbooking store!

A huge welcome to Calgary's newest scrapbooking and cardmaking store!! Pam's Photographs and Memories is owned by local Calgarian (Pam!) and is located at 7204 Fairmount Drive SE (across the street from Cravings Marketplace).

This week is their grand opening and in addition to tons of giveaways, Katharina Doyle, editor of Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine will be on site Thursday from noon - 2pm so be sure to drop by!

AND we made the BEST OF BREAKFAST TELEVISION today! Click HERE to watch my segment introducing Pam's store and playing with a new favourite product... Flower Soft!!