347/365 today I am loving...

~ this life line. my day has consisted of coughing, whining, sleeping, coughing and then a little more coughing. I am not overly impressed with being sick as this is the busiest week of my year and I have a nagging little feeling that this may turn into something very nasty...hopefully not & even though I usually just soldier through sickness, this time with so many nasty bugs out there I am trying my hardest to kick it with lots of sleep & vitamin C.

~ the Obama White House Christmas Special hosted by Oprah

this special had 3 good things and 1 bad thing (I am a big fan of the Obama's, the White House and Christmas but not of Oprah) as the good things were the majority I have weathered my annoyance with the host and watched with great interest & enjoyment.

~ hot chocolate, no mommy's little helper due to all the cough medicine, but still a Sunday favourite

340/365 today I am loving...

~ This face. It totally describes my feelings about this weather. ~ Scott and a borrowed snow blower. I have never been so happy to see a piece of machinery in my life. As long as we have no more snow, I think I am going to be able to get out of my garage now.

~ this time of year...

in between preparing for the holidays (which I also love) it is the time to prepare for Kaeden's birthday party. I had a little wind knocked out my sails when he declared he wanted his party held at Gymtastics as we have always had themed parties at home. I was thisclose to just buying cards from the store but I got it together and have made some kick arse invitations. I will share in a bit - there are a few people who read this that are invited and I want them to get the full impact when they open it.

~ the blizzard. ok ok, I know I have done nothing but complain about this weather for the last few days BUT I got a lot of stuff done (read 2 books, made Kaeden's invites, worked on Christmas gifts) that I probably wouldn't have if I could have moved my car.

319/365 today I am apparently loving...

smiles and food.

~ Miss McKenzie and her infectious laugh

~ this toy clock. It makes me smile every time I walk by and see its goofy smiley face

~ gifts of banana bread. Yes, I take Starbucks and homemade banana bread as payment for photos. SO GOOD (Lisa, I even ate it with the Pecans, delicious).

~ my new favourite treat. If you like lemon meringue pie then this pudding is for you.

312/365 today I am loving...

~ the return of the polar bear cookie from Starbucks ~ putting a little colour in my wardrobe.~ my wardrobe consists of one primary colour, black, but once in a while I live on the edge and add in some grey or brown. Today I picked up some of my favourite pants, a grey sweater, a black shirt and a couple black tank tops from Banana Republic (the brand new outlet store in Deerfoot Meadows) and could not resist this turquoise cardigan.

~ finally catching up on my editing. I still have a few small sessions left and a couple of people waiting for me to email them pictures from the past few weeks but I have finished my fall sessions which is a great relief.

~ having a morning of Starbucks and friends tomorrow. First, meeting up with a friend/client for coffee and a quick visit to give her the presentation folder from their family photo session. Then off to my friend Julie's house for a quick catch-up visit.

305/365 today I am loving...

~ these lashes. these eyes. this boy. ~ this birthday boy

~ dads who make unbelievable cakes for their boys. Aubrey made this car cake for Eli's 4th birthday (from scratch! He is an artist and said it was really just like doing a piece of sculpture, just with a different medium). The little details (including the license plate) were really great.

~ after many templates, I have created a folder to present my finished project (pictures/memory stick) to my clients. I am really happy with the end result.

* the inside will hold a few of my favourite prints

* the flap on the right will fold over and will have my business information and a thank you message to my clients

~ the front will be a personalized montage of photo's from their session

~ all tied up with a bow and the memory stick.

I am really close to finalizing a brand for my company.

I have the colours (turquoise and black), my philosophy and this presentation folder...the sticking point is a name. It has been hard as every name I come up with has been taken (Oh Snap, DC photography, Click, Just a Girl with a Camera, Fresh, just to name a few) I thought I had one but have had second thoughts, so back to the creative drawing board. Once I have the name, I can finish a website and business cards.

~ the extra hour today, even though I still feel there is not enough time in the day.

~ finishing my grocery shopping for the week and just about done my menu plan

~ a new month. I can NOT believe there is only 60 days left in this year. It has gone by very very fast.

~ that all my chores are done and I am off to put Kaeden to bed and then off to dream land for myself!

298/365 on Sunday I was loving...

~ having the opportunity to have a weekend way, it was a wonderful relaxing time and I am very thankful my family supported me going away. Even though Scott is not sure I did much crafting between my massage, playing roulette and watching the hockey game!

~ my very messy workspace, note the very important Starbucks travel mug, the chocolate supply and of course my box of hot tamales (needed at every big crafting night)
~ winning one of the main prizes. Hello, who does not love free goodies. I actually thought I had just won a new bag, I had no idea it was chalk full of goodies until I got back to my work table.~ being out in the mountains, however, as seen in this self portrait it was very very windy (and cold, but no snow!)~hanging out with a longtime friend (Starr) and making new ones. This next picture is NOT a project 365 as it was taken by one of my new crafting friends. I do not have a group photo of them but our seating assignment had us sitting by some wonderful, rowdy, shooter happy, crazy, staying up to the bitter end craft soul mates. Starr and I had a great time with them.

~ dinner at mom/dad's. It is the last weekend for they take off for their wonderful 3 week cruise.

~ my Maksie wearing a Flames hat (his dad is a big time Oiler's fan)

~ taking a small little break from my blog to spend time with my family and be in bed by 8:30pm

291/365 today I am loving...

~ this picture.It is from a photo shoot today that I had with our friends Jon, Tara and their awesome girls, Avery (3 1/2) and Sophie (13 months). They are always such a fun and energetic family to have a session with! See the next post for a sneak peek. The above picture may not be everyone's taste but is a favourite of mine because it has been an idea rattling around in my head and I finally got to execute it!

~ that we are a canon family and there is never a shortage of camera lying around.
~ my third Thanksgiving feast, it was so good. My mom makes the BEST sweet potatoes!
~ celebrating a few birthday's (my dad, Aidan and Scott)
~ this herb bread my mom makes, you will just need to take my word for it as even if I had some to share I am not sure...I am nice but this bread is soooo good!
~ that my brother used the phrase "now tree planting, that is honest work". Seriously dude are you 80 years old? I am not disagreeing with what he said but that isn't a phrase I have heard in forever and he said it in such a "grandfather way"

~ Shelby and Matt finding me another Barack "Jones" soda for my friend Charmaine. I had no luck finding it but they just seem to know the correct 7-11's to hang out at!

~ that I was very fortunate to spend the weekend doing the things I LOVE (photography sessions with awesome people, spending time with my family and eating great food!)

~ creating my first business card and finally finding a name for my photography business, it was very tough, sort of like naming your children! I will reveal more in the upcoming days, weeks, months!

277/365 today I was loving...

~ Sunday Pancakes ~ a rockin birthday celebration for Maya and Sophia (5 years old), held at Chuck E. Cheese which doesn't really fall under the "loving" portion of the program for the adults but the kids had a great time.

This next statement may not win me a mother of the year award anytime soon BUT it has saved a little bit of my sanity. I have Kaeden convinced that Chuck E Cheese is only open 2 hours every other Sunday, every other month. He still believes this "little" white shade of the truth as he commented when I told him about the girls party "whew, we are lucky it falls into a time that it is open" me: oh boy, are we ever!

~Shelby driving with a little bit of help from 3 year old Eli

~ Kaeden the kamikaze driver

~ remembering oh how times have changed...Krista and Scott with their hard earned "I partied with Chuck E" balloon.

There was actually a line up to get into the building and we were laughing over the fact that a few years (ok like 10 years ago) we would be lining up to get into a loud rocking bar and not a kids ear piercing, headache evoking play place

~ the first weekend of our Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Extravaganzas, we have 3 in total. Tonight was a beautiful and delicious dinner at Nicole and Pete's. I had every intention to take a picture but apparently I was so excited about my first turkey dinner it totally slipped my mind until we were driving home

~ watching Kaeden and his little cousin, Jordan play. Kaeden is so good with kids, well other than his need to pat anyone shorter than him on the head. When we are out at the lake he is the youngest by 7 years so it is nice that he has a chance to play with someone closer to his age and be the older one for a change.

270/365 today I am loving...

~ seeing the men work, while we girls sat in the sun soaking up the rays~ this blue sky, not a cloud in the sky
~ our camping group this weekend
~ the changing of colours, fall is by far my favourite time of year.
~ the sunset as we drove home, especially the clouds that look blurry but that is exactly how they looked in the sky.

263/365 today I am loving...

~ this beautiful baby, Peyton ~ celebrating Peyton's very special day (his Baptism) with his parents
~ this kid (yes, this is him at church), at least I was able to get him into dress pants and a vest.
~ a winning Flames game, only 3 games into the pre-season and I have been able to see 2. A very good and lucky start to the happiest season in my world.

256/365 today I am loving...

~ Kaeden taking up our family sport at a birthday party

~ that it is a good thing Kaeden can't get his license for another 10 years, he is a CRAZY driver & has some difficulties reaching the peddles.~ this pretty girl~ this cute boy

~ Kaeden "reading" to Maks. Kaeden is just learning to read so he makes up quite a few words, but as Maks doesn't know any better it all works out well.

~ celebrating two birthdays with a DQ ice cream cake

~ our 96 year old nana, who does not look a day over 80!

~ the birthday girl and boy