I’ll still be keeping this old blog. Partly because then I don’t want to import it into my new blog and partly because, well… the memories! I want to be able to look back and remember my very first blog! Remember where and how I started!

So anyways… thanks for following and reading. I appreciate you all! I hope you love the new blog as much as I do!

Cousins Caleigh and Laura were there (we shot these are their home) and snuck in a couple snuggles with Caris too!

The Buhler’s are a fantastic bunch of people. I first met them all at Jon + Kim’s wedding back in the summer of ’10. Since then, I’ve kept in touch with Amy, a successful realtor in Abbotsford, who’s got a heart of gold and the friendliest personality you’ll ever meet. When she contacted me about family photos, it was an easy YES, of course, I’d LOVE TO! When we met up one Saturday morning, Debbie greeted me with a big hug and a cup of hot chocolate! They came prepared with a big thermos full, and a bunch of snacks. How awesome We had a great time just hanging out and laughing… and I hope it shows through these photos. Thanks for a great session you guys. Take a look, enjoy!

Now I look forward to my late night editing sessions… surrounded by soft light and beautiful Christmas smells, mmmmm!

As I was listening to this song tonight while editing… I was thinking back to when I was a kid, a teenager, a “highschooler” with the entire world ahead of me. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was the typical question always asked. My answer? Without a doubt, every time – “if I’m lucky, an artist, a graphic designer, a photographer – anything to do with art and I’ll be happy.” (well, ok, with the occasional dolphin trainer or WNBA player thrown in there… ha!).

Now… I’m a full time graphic design coordinator and a photographer – I’m basically “living my dream!”. Don’t get me wrong, there are days I feel completely overwhelmed and have no idea how I can manage the two, and wonder if this is really the right path for me. But even in those moments, I always remember how extremely blessed I am to do two jobs I love, that both allow me to use my creativity all day long, that I have the most amazing colleagues and clients ever, and most of all – I have jobs that make me happy. Nine times out of ten, my day ends with a big smile looking back on the “art” I’ve created for others, and that… that alone is worth it.

The lyrics of this song are a bit fitting to what I had to say today… I love these words. I wish every child… every teen… could read them – they’re so calming and uplifting to me. And I hope you too are doing something that you love; something that brings a smile to your face at the end of every day

Forever Young. By Bob Dylan.

This one was super easy, super fast, super big (which meant a couple extra lunches for Jesse boy!) and bonus – I had almost all of the ingredients at home already! So here it is – my “Greek-creamy-chicken-pita” meal.

Things you’ll need:

- 2-4 Greek pitas

Greek Salad

- 2 green peppers

- 1 red pepper

- 1 red onion

- 1 large cucumber

- 1 container feta cheese

- about a cup of Kraft Italian dressing (I usually make my own with oil and apple cider vinegar, but I had the dressing already… I’m taking the easy route, remember?)

- olives + tomatoes are optional. And disgusting.

Creamy Chicken

- 1 can of cream of chicken soup

- 4 chicken breasts (I used fresh, not frozen)

- 1/2 white onion

- 1 tbsp minced garlic

- 1 tbsp honey

- 1 tbsp vegetable oil

1. Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a large skillet. Then add the chick breasts and fry until cooked and brown.

2. While frying, chop up all the veggies for the Greek Salad and place in bowl. Add the feta cheese already if you want… it’s yummy to nibble on

3. Add the half chopped up white onion to the chicken and let fry a bit longer…

4. Turn down heat and add 1 can of cream of chicken soup, minced garlic and honey. Stir and let thicken, flipping chicken every so often.

4. Take out a couple pitas and spray / brush lightly with oil. Pop them into the oven and warm just to a slight crunch!5. Go ahead and add the dressing to the salad… stir it all together, mmmm! Don’t forget to check on your pitas in the oven!

6. Once the pitas are warmed, and the chicken is nice and creamy… dish it on your super expensive IKEA dinner wear, and voila! DONE! Yum, yum, yum.

Sondra and Brent were my very first engagement session. Ever. WOAH! Sondra married a lovely fella named Brent about a month after Jesse and I tied the knot. And now… at the end of September, they welcomed their first born – a beautiful baby girl, Caris Evonne (the rest of her newborn photos are to come!). I was lucky enough to capture a few memories for them and their baby girl to look back at years from now… I give you mom & dad and their “beautiful baby belly”