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All We Need Is Love :: Life As A Wife {Week #14}

August 31, 2010

Maybe it is just me, but it seems like there is a lot of hate in the world late. At least that’s the impression I get from the news this past week. So I want to step back and change the tone, if for no one else other then myself.

So this week’s L.A.A.W if about things I love. I already talked about my siblings earlier this week, here (both of whom I love very much). I love my whole family, but can’t take photos of them all; they are too far away (which sometimes makes me sad). That said, it is pretty easy to keep in touch these days, and just the other morning I had my first video chat with my cousin Alison, who lives in Utah.

One person that I love, and can take photos of, is my wonderful husband Kevin (the whole reason I am able to do these L.A.A.W posts!).

And I love our new dog Charlie – even though I sometimes want to strangle him ( I would never actually do this) – most of the time I just want to eat him up with a spoon. He is too cute to stay mad at very long. I have also found that as long as I stay calm and don’t freak out he behaves much better, so really he is training me to be a better person!

I love food in general, especially pizza. And Charlie loves to watch me eat it.

And to finish off this week I love that I can kick back with my husband, dog and pizza and watch a movie!

Who or what do you love?

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Life As A Wife {Week #13} :: Chasing Charlie

August 22, 2010

My new little monkey is actually asleep on my lap, and therefore at his cutest. He is cute all the time, but when he is asleep I know he can’t get into any trouble and it puts my mind at ease; because Charlie can get into a lot of trouble. Though, to be fair, most of it is my fault, or Kevin’s. Our little man is just too young to know any better. Or know anything at all. So this week my life as a wife was ruled, and I mean ruled! by our new dog. Sleeping in. Over. Getting anything done. Over. Feeding Charlie. A lot. Playing with Charlie. Even more. Taking Charlie out to go to the bathroom. Like every 10 seconds. That said, I did introduce him to a bunch of people – gotta work on that early socialization! And all in all we had a lot of fun together. So this weeks L.A.A.W is all about Charlie, cause my life literally was all about him.

He has mastered his name (I think) he comes when called – as long as he is not distracted by something, like a delicious shoe. 

Charlie got so much love this week. I didn’t get photos of everyone, but this shows a good portion of the people who oohed and ahhed over him.

Charlie also met Oliver (who is only three) and they had a fun time ripping around the yard together. Oliver was a good dog and played nice with Little Chicken Butt. Once he gets bigger Charlie will be pestering Oliver non-stop.

Charlie also met McGregor, but Mr. Grumpy had zero desire to play with Charlie and spent most of the time trying to find a place to hide. Poor McGregor had to put up with Oliver growing up and he has had enough with little puppies.

We are working on crate training Charlie, and this was one of the few times he volunteered to go in. It has been a bit hit and miss with the whining. The best thing to do it wear him out then stick him in to sleep. 

(Photo by Karen McNeil)

How can you resist such cuteness!?

Meanwhile, this is how I felt on more than one occasion this week.

I love my new addition to my family, and though I love his little puppy cuteness, I am also really excited for when he grows up into a real dog and I can stop worrying about him.

If you are interested in Frenchtons (Boston Terrier, French Bulldog mixes) we love the breeder we got Charlie from and they have tons of information here.

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Life As A Wife {Week 12} :: Meeting Steve and Charlie for the first time

August 16, 2010

This week was overshadowed by two events: meeting Steve Nash and picking up Charlie. Oh, and I started the week off in California and ended it in Oregon, with a stop in Victoria in betweeb. In other words I was busy, doing a lot of traveling and smiling pretty much non stop.

Monday: I did a photoshoot with Marina, winner of my “Show Me the Love” blog contest.

Tuesday: was my first ever belly shoot with my cousin Betsey – she is due on Labor Day – which I think is perfect.

Wednesday: was a post wedding shoot with Gillian and Paul. Love wedding dresses and rivers.

Thursday: I traveled home.

Friday: I slept in, unpacked and then repacked for Sunday.

Saturday: I shot a wedding with Kelsey – and Steve Nash was in attendence – and I must becoming more Canadian cause I recognized him before Kelsey did, though at first I could not figure out why he looked soooo familiar.

And finally Sunday was a travel day to pick up the newest addition of my family – Charlie – the cutest little Frenchbo I have ever seen – and rest assured you will get to see TONS of soon. As it was pointed out by one person Charlie is “weapons grade cute.” I couldn’t agree more. As a new mama I also think he is pretty well behaved and appears to already be responding to his name, but then again his ears perk up to just about anything.

Go Bears! I had fun walking around campus and up the hill to where I used to live.

For two years I climbed these steps almost everyday.

Spent a lot of time on public transit in California. And what do you know it works!

Are you Steve Nash!?

Oh, you’re Steve Nash!

On the ferry from Victoria, BC to Port Angeles, WA. Too early I might add.

Kevin and I figure Charlie is suffering from Stockholme Syndrome at this point of our relationship. We are both his captors and best friends.  At some point we hope the captors part will fall away and we can all just be friends.

Kevin and Charlie in a random cornfield.

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Life As A Wife – In California {Week 11}

August 12, 2010

Lat week was a bit all over the place. Literally. Woke up Monday in Sacramento, went to San Francisco to wander around (and eat) then headed down to Santa Cruz for a bit t hang out with my mom, step-dad, sister and step-sister. Then Saturday I made my way back to Oakland and the Bay Area. So, I was all over the place and so are my Life As A Wife photos for the week. So here we go:

After a bit of tense driving trying to find this place, Kevin, Meredith and I walked around the Presidio and enjoyed big letters made of hay. Kevin and I learned a lesson in conflict resolution: we are both equally bad/good at being the navigator for the other.

Kevin had to get on a plane and head home, but I went down t Santa Cruz to spend some time with my Mom. And I went to the boardwalk for the first time! Ever. Lots of fun. And LOTS of screaming (mostly by me).

Friday Night was Date Night at my Mom’s house. I was the third wheel on a date with my Mom and Step-dad. Mere had the only “official” date in the house. But we all saw the same movie. Hmmmmmm. 

Spent most of Saturday afternoon redecorating Kristen and Todd’s apartment. This is me post shoot: a hot mess, but at least I have a glass of wine in hand. Took 2 hours to wrap everything about about 30 seconds to unwrap it all.

I know I am super late posting last weeks L.A.A.W, but traveling throws a wrench in my schedule. Big time.

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Swingers and A Wedding {Life As A Wife – Week 10}

August 2, 2010

This week was a big week! My cousin Gillian got married to a good man named Paul (photos are coming soon). But before we headed to California, Kevin and I practiced our swings; me on an actual swing and Kevin with a golf club. Once in California though Kevin and I had an epic BC Day Long Weekend, oh wait, wedding weekend. Friday were the bachelorette and bachelor parties. All I will say is Kevin and I ended the evening doubling home on a custom made Wacko bike. Oh and we got rejected admittance to one bar because apparently they don’t accept BC driver’s licenses. Saturday was a family float down the American River. An important part of river trips is that “Howdy” can mean hello, but can also mean “pass a beer over.”  Sunday was the wedding. And it was a perfect wedding! Gillian and Paul got married on a beautiful working farm in Winters.

Congratulations Gillian and Paul.  And Gillian you are only 10 weeks behind me in your life as a wife!

It is harder to swing and photograph than I expected.

Kevin gave me a hand on this one!

And he tried to teach me to swing a golf club (again) but I hit way more air than ball.

Taken on the river (in the river actually -Thank You AJ for the camera).

I set up a photobooth at G+P’s wedding. This was one of my favorites.

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Find the Light in Your Life {Life As A Wife | Week 9}

July 25, 2010

Had a good week this week, despite a lot of face time with my computer. A lot. Had some editing that needed to get done and some loose ends  (that still aren’t all tied up) to get to before I take off for California. When I wasn’t in front of the computer I went out and found the sun. Whether this meant doing to Thetis and swimming, or just finding a spot of sun to sit in at home, I am all about loading up on my Vitamin D. The added bonus of this is that it can make for some interesting photos – there is even a name for this technique of using high contrast light and shadow in art – Chiaroscuro - and it is one of my new favorite techniques to play with.

If I look a little unhappy in these, I swear I am not! This is just the best squinty – looking – at – the – sun – trying – not –  to – go – blind  face I can pull off.

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Life as a Wife – Week 8

July 19, 2010

This last week was pretty painful. Literally. And it was my own stupid fault. I was doing some location scouting on Wednesday and as I was walking around looking for a boat, which I discovered no longer exists, I was trying to climb over a big branch and rock and just as I jumped up to get over the thing, the part of the branch I was holding onto disintegrated and back I went. I didn’t even realize I was bleeding til I got home about an hour later, but my back has been bother me since. Grrrr. Probably the worst part of the whole thing was I was wearing flip flops and ended up just walking in the water (a mere foot away from where I fell) around the log. Why going in the water didn’t occur to me right away is beyond me. Maybe the fall knocked some sense into me. The good news is the location scouting was a success, boat aside, and Kelsey, Kevin and I created some AMAZING photos for a slightly belated Trash the Dress shoot. I also had the joy of photographing a wedding on Galiano and Gossip Island for the amazing newly-weds Kristian and Heather. Kristin Ferris (who came and shot the wedding with me) and I ended up having to spend the night on the island, due to the ferry schedule,  so we stayed through the wedding reception, partying with the bride, groom, some new friends and our old teacher. I have never been invited – by the grooms parent’s no less- to do shots at a wedding, any wedding. What  a week!

The week started a bit slow, but loving that I could wear a sundress pretty much all week!

This hurt, yes sir!

But it was worth it for these:

Yes, Kevin gets his own watermark, and I love the photos he is taking.

Oh, I almost forgot. I am working on a lil video for a competition that Chase Jarvis and Jasmine Star are throwing. This is a still from it. The final product will be done soon. And making the video has taught me that I do NOT like talking to a camera. I prefer stills!

And then there was the wedding. This is testing out the photobooth I set up for Heather and Kristian and their guests (the wedding photos can be seen here).

And this one Ferris took. I am about five drinks in. Can you tell? Ferris is too, which may explain why this isn’t sharp. One word for you Ferris : autofocus!

And that was the week!

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Life as a LAZY Wife – Week 7

July 11, 2010

This past week I was lazy. Very. I am going to go ahead and blame the heat that finally found it’s way to Victoria for the onset of slothfulness ( I also took an official afternoon nap this week – first one in a loooong time – and a sure sign of summer in my book). So, I thought what better way to celebrate laziness than with photos full of just how lazy I was.

This week:

I didn’t get up at an appropriate hour, or bother making my bed once out of it.

I didn’t clean the bathroom. Cleaning toilets grosses me out.

I didn’t clean the floors, or get out of the way. The Dog Whisperer is just too enthralling.

I didn’t do the laundry (and actually I almost never iron anyways; Kevin knows how to iron his own clothes and I make a point of buying clothes that don’t need to be ironed, or dry cleaned).

I  certainly didn’t wash my car…. I have a summer reading list to get through!

And I didn’t do any dishes, but damn those cherries are good!

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband. He puts up with my sloth and allows me to lounge around the house, taking naps and eating all the food in the house. Kevin, I love you and promise this week is your turn to be lazy. I still won’t clean the bathroom, but I promise to pick up after myself.

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Happy Birthday Countries! {Life As a Wife – Week 6}

July 4, 2010

I am not 100% clear if July 1st, Canada Day is technically a birthday (I blame my ego-centric American schooling for that one). According to Kevin  though, (and backed up by Wikipedia) July 1st celebrates  the enactment of the British North America Act, which unified united two British colonies and a province of the British Empire into a single country, Canada. But Canada was still part of the British Empire, so it really isn’t a birthday, at least by American standards. But today is the Fourth of July, and I know that one is a birthday! The fourth celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Both holidays are celebrated with fireworks, which I love!

So for this last week, in addition to fireworks, my friend Amanda came up to Victoria for a visit. We wandered around town, and the island. I love playing tour guide; and I got to see some new parts of the island, namely Merridale Estate Cidery. And what a gorgeous place to get married!

So, without too much more blabbering on, my week in photos:

Jesse Holland Photography

Red doors may be the best color for door, “Paint it Black” lyrics aside.

And yes we are both too cool for school, even though Amanda teaches Biology to High School kids.


Jesse Holland Photography

Amanda’s self names bat-shirt. I like the effect.

Jesse Holland Photography

I think this kid was more in awe of the fireworks than I was. I also realize I should have brought a tripod.

Not surprisingly Dan was wondering what the heck I was doing taking photos in his bathroom, so here you go, Dan.

Jesse Holland Photography

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Life as a Wife – Hair Affair

June 28, 2010

I went to a mixer on Friday (Girls Night Mixer, hosted by Veronique da Silva) and had a great time. Veronique had put out a bunch of quotes for us to look at and there were a few that really stood out to me; so I thought I would share them:

“Don’t be sad that it’s over. Be happy that is happened.”

- Dr. Suess

“It’s not that it is hard that you don’t try, it’s the not trying that makes it hard.”

- unknown

“I think that the most important thing a woman can have – next to talent, of course – is her hairdresser.”

-Mae West

The last quote is most pertinent to this post, but all resonated with me. Now, I don’t know that my hairdresser is the most important person, I’d like to think my family fills that title, but I do have a damn good hair dresser! Amie, at Carreiro Studio, you are the best!

So without any further ado. My hair in 6 parts:

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