Share the Love!

Hello loyal Readers! I haven't given you much to follow along with lately have I?

Okay, here I go...

Long Weekend!

We had a fantastic long weekend for thanksgiving this past weekend. With an extra day off, I was able to stay in my pjs all day on Sunday and still have Monday to prep for the week. We ate too much, got to visit with a lot of different friends we don't always have the time to see, and we did 2 photoshoots! Pretty good hey?! We did all that, and I still felt relaxed and rejuvinated.

On saturday we took some newborn shots for a friend of the family, and we got a little cuddle time in with baby Bronsyn as well. A newborn warms your heart, doesn't it?

After this weekend, I got to thinking...how grand would life be if every weekend was a 3 day weekend?! I always thinks it's horrible that most people go through life just waiting for the weekend to come. Because honestly, how great is the weekend? It's only 2 days! If I could do math, I would tell you how small a fraction of our week that is! I would really like to start loving every day of my life. I know it has a lot to do with going to work, and waking up, and being told you have to be somewhere. So wouldn't it be grand if we loved what we did so much that we didn't stare at the calendar all week waiting for Friday? That's a goal of mine, to start loving what I do with my day, every day.

Love

Ever notice how we're grumpiest with the people we love? Why is it that we take out our bad moods, our frustrations, and our anger on the people who really don't deserve it? My guess is that it's because they love us anyway so we feel safe to vent our true feelings. But that sucks for them, doesn't it?!

Ever notice, as well, how little we compliment the people we love? How often do you think in your head that someone looks great, that they're doing a great job, that their house is amazing, that you're proud of them? Why do we keep these thoughts in our heads so often, and yet let out the bad stuff? Why do we feel safer being negative than letting it out and telling someone they're fabulous?

Let's make sure people know they're fabulous!

Start telling people when you think nice things about them. Let them know you're lovin on them!

Have a fabulous day!

Shauna xox

SNOW DAY!

Hello! It seems like I have been neglecting this blog for 2 days now! Seriously?! That's horrible! I've been busy the last couple days, but that's no excuse now is it?

I have officially already been to the gym 3 days, 4 times this week! Yay for me, since I only went twice last week. I just got back from a lunch weights session, which was awesome. I think I deserve some extra gold stars because...dun dun duuuun....

it SNOWED!!!!

It's def not all pretty like this, it's more mushy, slushy, 15 car pileup on the whitmud kind of weather. Luckily I went to the gym this morning so I avoided all of the traffic and chaos.

I have realized why I love going to the gym at lunch. It really makes me feel like I have accomplished something in the 9 hours I have to be at the office (1 hour mandatory lunch). In a job where I don't feel productive most days, this is prety important. So I shall continue to kick my ass there most days to give myself a break from stale air and sitting at a desk.

Why big question is-what motivates people? What makes the person who goes to the gym religiously different from the person who goes, then doesn't go, then goes. Why is only one of them steady in their commitment? I'm going to look into it!

Gareth and I have been busy with lots of photography shoots. We're having a blast, learning so much and I think we just keep imporoving, which is awesome! Check it out on Gareth's blog.

We have some more photoshoots coming up this weekend so let's hope the weather cooperates. Either that or I shall wear 10 layers and buy out the hot chocolate at Tim's!

Have a great day, and take your time gettin to where you're gettin to.

Shauna

Dreams Can Come True...Right?

As I have eluded to in the past few posts, life has changed a bit for Gareth and I. Okay, okay A LOT in the past little bit. For one thing, we got MARRIED!

Another change is that we have been getting knee deep in photography work. YAY! Gareth's #2 passion is photography (because I better #1 right?! hehe) and he is amazing at it. I have picked up a camera and I am slowly learning from him. He's a pretty great teacher, but I can be a cranky student. Alas, I learn, just maybe a bit slowly!

There have been some circumstances in our recent lives that have derailed us a bit-I'm not going to go into all this as I can't really-and has taken off of the course of a lot of our plans, and goals and dreams. Things such as going skiing, the same as every winter, going out for dinners, and the big BIG one, going to New Zealand for a year in 2010. Now, I'm not saying this stuff isn't going to happen, because we're going to make every effort to make them all happen, but it's going to be a bigger challenge now. We are going to have to work just a bit harder, plan a bit more, and maybe depend on some good luck as well.

this is what I'm working toward...doesn't it look worth it?

I can get a little down when my plans go awry, because the older I get the more I love a good plan, and our plan for New Zealand was a huge thing for me to look toward, look forward to, and give me something to dream about. When I told my mom I was mad this may not be happening any longer, this is what she had to say to me:

One day at a time. Hold onto to your dreams, they won’t happen if you put them on a shelf.

Ummm, hello?! Is it really that simple? Am I really going to be okay if I hold my head up, still think of these dreams as plans and to keep striving towards them?

Well, maybe not. But maybe. And they definitely aren't going to happen if I start pouting in a corner and just give up. So...we are still planning on going to New Zealand. We are still planning on going skiing this winter. What we have to do is make these things a priority and make the necessary sacrifices to make them happen. Dreams don't come true for free. There is a cost for everything.

Are you willing what it costs to make your dreams come true?

Shauna

September in Review

Hey everyone...HAPPY FRIDAY!! Boy do I mean that. I haven't been so happy to have a weekend come along in a while.

Yesterday was October 1, and Gareth asked me how I thought my plans & intentions for the month had gone. WELL I realized that I should do a recap and review over here on the blog-aroo! So here we go.

1. Cook a completely new ethnic food, including shopping in an ethnic store-
We did this! Well, FINE, Gareth did this. He made butter chicken, shrimp curry and naan bread all from scratch for my dad's bday. Good job babe!

2. Try a new recipe at least once a month-Again, with Gareth being home I haven't cooked much at all. So I shall try this month to try out a new recipe!

3. Rediscover Edmonton-Have tourist days-We didn't have a "tourist day" persay, but we have been wandering downtown to find some photoshoot locations, and Gareth has been wandering around the farmer's fields taking lots of pics.

4. Weekend getaway/discovery trips in Alberta-This...well, this kinda happened. We went up to the lake! But alas, no discovery trips. And it won't be happening for a while I'm afraid.

5. Date nights twice a month (one for each of us!)-again, I suck! Gareth made me a wonderful candlelit dinner this month. I had "plans and intentions" for some date nights, but the weather turned to crap and I've been so busy this month. No excuse!! Maybe I will have to do 2 in October.

6. 1 photography day a month-We have been doing wonderful with this, as we have been doing lots of photoshoots. I really made this one for Gareth as this is his passion and I want him to nurture that passion and allow it to grow, and he's been taking pictures nearly every day! Good job babe.

7. Write in the blog 3 times a week minimum-I have been exceeding this! Nearly every weekday. I love it!

8. Workout minimum 3 times a week-This is the first week in ages I am only going to get to 3 days of workouts. Again, this was a crappy week for me. No excuse, but on the whole I've been doing well.

9. Try a new restaurant every other month-We don't eat out much, and last month we didn't eat out anywhere new at all, so this hasn't happened. Might not be happening for a while.

10. FINALLY go on the hot air balloon ride Gareth booked as his proposal idea-This is booked for Monday morning!! Keep your fingers crossed for us that we can go up, and we don't freeze.

11. Skydive-This is a long term kinda goal. Hasn't happened yet.

12. Don't make too many plans!! Have days to just be-Oh man, this DID NOT happen this month. I was lucky enough to play model for a friend who became a professional makeup artist (YAY Nicole!) and that took up some time. And I feel like I've been trying to catch up with people who I didn't see before the wedding because I was so busy. BUT I only have plans one day next week, which is a good-bye party for a friend, so next week looks promising to not be crazy busy.

13. Be nice to people (truly nice)...you get what you give-This is going to be a constant effort, as it shoud be for everyone. I think I'm pretty good at it though :).

14. Get published!-Welllllll...no publishing going on here yet. BUT I did land a freelance editing job! So that's pretty cool, right?!

15. Write a list of what makes me happy, and make sure I do/have one thing on that list every day-I did! I did! I need to look at it more though.

16. Read, Read, Read-Pretty good for the month. I read on the elliptical in the mornings when I go to the gym, so I haven't read much this week, because I haven't been to the gym. Back to it!

So there you have it. Not all of these goals are weekly, or even monthly. Some are for everyday. But it's nice to look at them like this and see where I need to work on things (like date night, sorry babe!).

We have some fun, exciting plans for the weekend, including...dun dun duuun...THREE photoshoots! I just love to do these as we get to hang out with fun people, be outside, go to new/different places and just generally have an awesome time. It is tiring though so we don't have too many plans for the evenings. Movies maybe?

I might be back today as I am working on a longer post. If not, you'll see it Monday!

Have a happy weekend!

Shauna xox

October 1

Happy Fall everyone!

I woke up this morning...TO FROST!! It was -2 (celcius!!) when I left the house for work. It was +33 a week ago!! Only in Alberta I tell ya. I'm not happy about this change as I hate being cold, and yet I spend the majority of the year wrapped up in scarves and sweaters and fleece blankets. WHY?! Trust me I don't plan on living here forever. But here is where I live now, so I will enjoy it, and share with you what I love with some photos I'm stealing from my hubby's blog:

(isn't he talented?!)

It is a beautiful season with beautiful colors and a certain sense of coziness. That is, until you have to go outside to gusting winds and frost and icicles. EW! If the wind dies down and we get a couple pretty, warm days in the next bit, I will be grateful. We have a few photo shoots coming up and we would love some good weather.

This being October 1, it feels like a new start in many respects. A new month, a new season, the opportunity for a new start! I think I need to change my attitude, as I have been under the weather the past little bit, so why not use this new month as that beginning?

We have some fantastic opportunities coming up, photo shoots (mostly for Gareth, but I have fun with them too!), freelance work (mostly for me, but Gareth will be helping I'm sure), fun things that will help advance us! I need to get my head wrapped around the good, as there is so much to be thankful for! (Just in time for Thanksgiving too!)

I would like to note for the record though, I WILL NOT have a good attitude about this weather! Sorry, but until I get to go skiing, it aint happenin.

I will leave you with another photo of Gareth's, since he's so awesome at what he does!

Shauna

xox

Grump Alert!

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel like pulling the covers up over your head, staying in bed for the day and not coming out?

Ever had one of those days when you should have?

I've had both today.

I was awesome this morning, I was up early, my gym bag was packed and I was off to the gym. Then, at about 5:45 am, my car died. I was pretty far away from anything that resembled help. After unsuccessfully trying to wake my hubby up with repeated phone calls (love him to death but he sleeps like a rock) I called my daddy and he came and rescued me. Back to get Gareth. Back to the car. Couldn't get it going, so we had to call a tow truck. Wait for the tow truck. Go home, shower and get ready and all that stuff that I do at the gym in the morning, and got to work an hour late.

That DRAINED me! So annoying, so unnecessary, and so exhausting.

Now, after pumping myself full of coffee and chocolate (don't judge me, I'm back on caffeine) I tripped at work and landed hard on all fours-to the point that there are marks on my pants.

I'm just reminding myself that everyone has bad days, and someone has had a worse one than mine. Having a bad day? I probably just made you feel better!

Is it time for bed yet?

To better days ahead,

Shauna

Post Wedding Blues

Hello friends! Happy Monday.

How was everyone's weekend??

Mine was pretty good. Sadly, I don't have my camera with me, so no weekend pics for you! Gareth and I did have an engagement photo session on Saturday though (Gareth is a photgrapher, I pretend to be too) so I will share some of those once they're finished and edited.

This does mean that some more plans & intentions were followed through, as we have been having lots of picture days! Gareth has been taking photos nearly every day, and he's even commited to sharing a picture a day for 365 days on his blog. I love it! I think others will do, as he's pretty awesome.

Check out some of Gareth's work at his blog. He's pretty amazing at it!

I seem to be in better spirits this weekend. I think for the past little bit I have had a bit of post-wedding blues. I didn't think I was the kind of girl to suffer from something like this, because I wasn't all crazy about things being perfect or anything. But I think it's because I had a pretty big day lined up, arguably the biggest day of my life, and I had something really big to look forward to, to work towards, and to prepare for. And preparations there were, a plenty.

Now...I don't have something specific to look forward to. I'm so happy with the way the day went, and I loved every minute of it, and I wouldn't trade anything for the world. I just think that after having the majority of my time focused on this one event, there is a let down going on now because it's come and gone and now I have a lot of free time on my hands. Free times that has filled up very quickly with plans and friends and commitments I neglected leading up to the wedding, so it's a bit of a tradeoff I suppose.

Gareth thinks we need to plan a trip to Mexico or Costa Rica for this winter to have something else to look forward to. I won't complain ;).

This is me on our honeymoon...perhaps I'll look like this again soon??

Anyway, I think I'm getting over this feeling. I had a nice weekend, it was really chilled out and I was okay staying in my pj's all day on Sunday. And why not, right?? I think it's pretty normal to have these feelings after the wedding right? I know it's all about the marriage and not the day and la de da, but come on, who isn't going to feel a bit lost after months of being busy every single night after work, ordering flowers, going to dress fittings, finishing invitations and mailing them, and anticipating the happiest day of their life so far? Now that I've had it, I'm so happy and I feel so lucky to have Gareth, but back to real life it is, and sometimes that can be scary and the unknown can be frightening, not fun and exciting.

C'est la vie, take every day as it comes. I'm just excited to be living it with my man :)

Shauna xox