Tami & Mike engagement shoot

So, here is my first official photo shoot - and engagement shoot with Mike and Tami. These guys were fun to work with - a little camera shy at the beginning, but with some persuasion and compliments, they really warmed up to the camera and me. I think we got some great shots....these are some of my favorites (and sorry, but I can't just share a few so, WARNING: lots of pictures ahead!)







































Leah:)

new hair

I CHOPPED my hair off a couple weekends ago. Why? I don't know, I think I needed a change. And boy, did I ever get a change! Thought I would share some pics of my new hairdo.

Leah :)

Lately

I have been a BAD blogger of late. And why? What have I been up to, what's my excuse? NOTHING! I am just lazy I guess.

Lately has consisted of:

-Got my hair cut SUPER short a couple weeks ago - I will post pics later. At first it really scared me and I liked it one day and then didn't the next. But now, I think it has grown on me and I think it may stay a while. Dylan says we are now officially ready to have kids - married (check), dog (check), and now the Mom haircut (check)!

-I re-decorated our master bedroom (again pics will come later because I am waiting to get a new lamp and a clock). I did it in all white....walls white, furniture white....the only color is shots of a light blue-green in the bedding, the lamp shade and some paintings that I did. I am looking for a cute alarm clock.....I have looked at homesense and winners.....any ideas anyone??? I am thinking I want a retro looking little table clock in white or silver.

-I think Sadie is FINALLY house trained. Fewf! She has accidents here and there but she knows to go pee pee and poops outside now, so we are elated.

-I have been humming and hawing about my career and where I want it to go. As most probably know, I work in commercial real estate / development downtown in a position that I always thought would be my "dream" job but in the last couple months I have realised that what I was brought up to be (a hard-working, career driven, success-minded person) is not who I want to be. I am a VERY creative person (painting, scrapbooking, interior decorating and photography are what I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE) and I feel stagnant and like I am in a creative black hole in this job - most importantly I am not happy. So what to do? I don't know and this is the problem. Where does one find a job that is a creative outlet, that I enjoy and that I get paid for? I have been taking a whole bunch of photography courses and really trying to expand my talents in that division so I am seriously thinking about slowly making it into a career. First I need subjects......anyone want FREE family, baby, or wedding photos? Just ask! Anyway, I need advice! What should I do, what should I pursue NOW so that I do not go insane.

-I am in a photography course right now so the other day I took some pics of my neice and nephew. We were just in their house so not the greatest backdrop, I know, but here is what I snapped:

Leah :)

I'm a big girl now!

Well, its official, as of last Wednesday I am a UofA graduate! I was done my degree in December but now I have the paper to prove it. After a long 4 1/2 year road I graduated with distinction and a BA in Sociology and Human Geography (essentially urban planning). I am glad I went to my convocation because it felt like a real closure to my years as a student, and, not to sound all prideful, but I was proud of myself. I worked my butt off for 4 1/2 years so I felt like I deserved to walk that stage and hear them call out my name followed by "with distinction". Man did it ever feel good!

Looking back now I am so grateful that I was afforded the chance to go to university. I am grateful for the many ways that my education expanded my mind, matured me, and truly morphed me into the person that I am today. I am definately glad that it is over, but grateful for the experience. Once in a while I find myself missing being a student because I miss challenging my mind to the utmost on a daily basis, but then I remember that now I do not have to come home and study until I go to bed, and then I am glad to be a working girl. I think one day I may go back to school - possibly law school or to get my MBA - but right now I am content and ready for the new chapter in my life.

Here are some pics from the day.

Leah :)

Kailey's Grad

This past weekend my baby sister graduated from highschool. The thing is, she will always be my baby sister to me, so seeing her graduate was kind of sureal for me. I know that life is a progression and we all get older but its been a hard adjustment for me to see Kailey as an adult - not because she doesn't deserve it, because she does, but because I have always mothered her, and felt a sort-of duty to look out for her (could be because of the 5 year difference in age). Seeing her as an adult means giving up part of my identity as big sister, role model, icon and that is wierd for me because I have been all that for so long. You know, I am okay with it though. I am excited for her to grow into adulthood so that we can strengthen the bond of friendship between us. So that we can grow as adults together.

Well, the day was great, and I took on the role of photographer extraordinare. Dylan says that I like photography because it allows me to boss people around (one thing I love doing) while doin another thing I love. But I think my bossiness paid off - I got a lot of great shots. These are just some of them, I am still editing a lot so, more to come!

Leah :)

Kickin' it with Braddock

The other night I babysat my 5 week old nephew Braddock. We had so much fun together. I love this little guy so much. He is such a good baby so he didn't fuss at all for me - he just chilled out on the couch, bed, and in my arms. I decided not to let the perfect opportunity for a photo shoot pass me by so we had a glamour shoot for a large portion of the night - he was a great model. Here are some of the shots that I took.... I have just started getting into photography with my new camera so, I am pretty happy with them.

Leah :)

Sadie

About two months ago, we added a new member to our family named Sadie. Her purpose was to curb my recent baby cravings......didn't really work. She is a cock-a-poo (cocker spaniel / poodle mix) and an absolute bundle of energy! We laugh because she totally decieved us when we were at the breeders picking a puppy - she was so calm, so cute, and so submissive - that wore off about a week after we brought her home. This dog is MENTAL! We litterally think she is posessed by the devil. She likes to bite and fight things, most of all hands, and when we tell her NO, she makes this wierd growling/whining noise and jumps around as if she is telling the devil inside of her "no, don't bite" but the devil is saying "yes, do it" - its like this wierd internal battle that she is having. And sometimes we will just be sitting watching TV or something and out of no where Sadie will get up and start sprinting, and I do mean sprinting, around the condo, darting from the living room to the kitchen to the spare bathroom to the master bedroom to the ensuite and then back to the living room to do it all over again, all the while barking and growling. So funny! She also steals everything from you - food as you are bringing it to your mouth, clothes as you are putting them on, toilet paper as you are tearing it off the roll....anything and everything! We love her though because she is such a smart/unique/intuitive dog. She is the only dog I have ever met who will stare you in the eyes and not break eye contact. Like when she wants something or feels sorry about something she will make direct contact until her point has been proven.

All in all she really is a bundle of joy. She makes us laugh all the time. She also loves me more than Dylan so that makes me happy. She follows me everywhere I go and whines when I go too far away from her. Here are some pictures of our little Sadie

This was the first day she was home with us, when her toy was as big as she was!

Bathtime with Bella! hehe I LOVE this picture.

She has blue eyes which is pretty unique for a dog. I have never seen it before.

This picture kills me - this is her 'I'm in trouble, please forgive me' look.

See, she trys to steal everything, even my camera.

Leah :)