- The World of ElleSee -

Come on, Vogue

2012-03-06T07:48:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I picked up my new glasses from the optometrist. I have never had glasses before, but I knew that I would eventually reach a point in my life when I would need them. I found out last Tuesday that I would need them for night driving and other low-light situations. Well, I don't really need them, but they definitely make a difference when it comes to seeing words that are far away -- like street signs.

I chose a cute pair that are a redish-brown colour, and are of the Vogue variety. So I decided to do some Voguing -- allbeit very horrible Voguing -- to show them off.

Here I am sans glasses.

Here I am avec glasses.

Sans.

Avec.

Well, you get the picture.

Birthday Preparations

2012-03-04T08:22:00.000-06:00

My little boy is now 11 months old -- as of March 1. It is so crazy to think how quickly this time has gone by, and how many memories and amazing developments we have witnessed from this little being that only 11 months ago was incapable of staying awake for longer than one hour.

He is now able to stand and walk with the help of chairs or our hands -- though he is unable to keep his pants up for lack of a bottom. He can also communicate with us and understand what we are saying to him. I often fondly look back at the moments when he was sleeping on my chest, or watching the world in wonder. He still watches the world in wonder, but now a lot of things aren't new to him. He doesn't have that seeing-it-for-the-first-time wonder. But I'm trying to cherish every moment with him while it is happening, and look forward to the developments and adventures that will happen in the future.

In one month from today, we will be celebrating his first year on this Earth, and I just wanted to share with you a few of the items that I have for his party. I have big plans that are going to be awesomeeer, and I can't wait to post photos of his party for you -- but that will not be until April.

I sent the invitations out about three weeks ago because I made them myself and, well, I was just so excited about them and the party. I haven't heard back from everybody yet, but I'll hunt them down.

I found these straws at a shop called Hey Yoyo that is filled with fantastic goodies! I also picked up a few little paper bags for goodie bags. I'm not going to tell you my plans for the goodie bags because don't want to spoil the surprise, but I'm sure you can figure out what we'll be using the straws for -- spoiler alert: they're for drinking.

Last year, I bought a friend of mine a mustache from Whisker Works for her birthday -- I had so much fun playing with it that I actually gave it to her early. I want to have a little photo booth with fun props set up for the guest at the party, and I immediately knew that I would be going to that same shop for the mustaches. They are too much fun!

A little while ago, I saw this fantastic tutorial on Julie Ann's blog for a DIY wedding centrepiece. I knew it was something that I wanted to do, and I just-so-happened to have the exact frames that she used in the tutorial. They are such incredibly crappy frames that never want to stay standing up that I knew this would be a perfect use for them.

Then, a little while later, I saw this tutorial for decorating chalkboards and using them as frames for art on the blog Creature Comforts, and knew I had to do that one too. So, I combined the two tutorials to make my own little project. These little beauties will be greeting the guests and telling them what to do -- a-la Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Those are all of the secrets that I'm going to share. You'll get the bigger picture in about a month, don't worry :)

Just My Eyes: A Saturday Self-Portrait

2012-03-03T08:06:00.000-06:00

I really enjoyed doing the self-portrait last Saturday, and I just couldn't pass it up this week when Dana requested that we all take photographs of our eyes. I love my eyes. They are my favourite part of my body because they are so unique. I have yet to come across someone that has yellow in their eyes.

I currently have my bangs cut asymmetrically. I used to have all of my hair cut asymmetrically with the left side being a little bit longer, and my bangs just kind of flowed with the entire haircut. But, I grew tired of it and cut it all back to normal -- except for the bangs, as you can see. It's time for another haircut; I am growing tired of this one too :)

There! Now you can see both of my eyes. I kind of take issue with the left-eye because the eyelid is a little bit lazy, and likes to hang out a little bit lower -- to help you out a little bit, you should be looking at the one to your right. If I'm not conscious of it, it can often make me look a little bit drunk -- I actually took my drivers license photo probably 10 times because of this reason.

What I learned:

- To be conscious of the natural light that I am using. Just because you are by a window, doesn't mean your photos will look good. Curtains make the light a lot softer -- even if they are white.

- Also be aware of the fact that your husband may have recently used the camera and changed the setting to "Auto". That can also get you some photographs that you aren't too happy with.

Happy Birthday, Little Shop!

2012-03-01T07:55:00.000-06:00

Today is the official first birthday of my little SHOP, and I just wanted to share with you the evolution of my shop: from the very first items that I listed, my first shop banner, and my horrible photography, to the shop that you see today.

Like a lot of people out there, I thought to myself: "How hard can it be to have an online shop? Just throw some stuff in there and people will come running!" Boy was I wrong. I still have so much to do and learn, but I am proud of what I have done with my shop so far.

I had no idea what branding and marketing were -- and still struggle with what they are. I don't remember if I had a banner right when I opened up the shop. If I did, I have no idea where it is, but I did find other banners in which I tried to be creative and showcase my items, but they don't have the same impact as the banner that I use now.

They're not awful or anything, but they sure don't look anything like what I use now, and I do realise the importance of creating something that is simple yet memorable and easily recognised. I think this one does the trick.

As you can see, I've always had a similar layout and idea, but the one that is in use now is definitely more streamlined.

Another area that always requires a lot of work is photography. You'd think that being a budding amateur photographer would put me ahead of the game, but it did not. I was anxious about getting my items up for sale right away, and because I was still working, I ended up taking a lot of photographs at night with the flash -- a big no no!

I have been very spoiled being able to take product photographs during the day while my son is sleeping, something that I will not be able to do come April. I will have to get over the want of putting an item up for sale as soon as possible, and get the best photographs that I can on the weekends -- and maybe some summer evenings.

The shots of my first items don't look absolutely awful, but there's something to be said about using natural light. I eventually started taking photographs in my bedroom, using the sheer curtains as my backdrop. This was fine, at first, until the Sun started getting lower in the sky and I just couldn't take the same photographs anymore -- they weren't very consistent.

I liked the softness of the curtain behind the frame, but it just didn't give anyone the right idea of how it would actually look on the walls of their home. The glass in the frames also started causing difficulties with reflections and what-not, but I read somewhere to take the glass out and that helped a lot.

I ended up placing the frame on a piece of paper to make it look like it was on a wall with funky wall paper, and took out the glass to avoid my reflection peering down at it while I took the photograph.

I no longer sell photographs in the shop, instead I am focusing on my little art prints and my small greeting cards. I wrote about that here if you're interested in find out why I'm no longer selling my photography.

The first art prints that were available in the shop were three abstract art pieces that I did -- that are no longer available. I slowly added more, including the "Odd Bird" series that I later just simply renamed "bird illustrations" -- original, I know.

I added the little monster series during the summer months, but let them expire because there wasn't a lot of interest in them -- although I think they are pretty cute. I'm actually thinking of bringing a few of these guys back into the shop. Stay tuned!

I have added several other prints to the shop since opening it a year ago. Many of them are of little animals like birds, monkeys, and cats, while others are of trees and flowers. All of them are quite simple, and I love them.

My little prints have also made quite the evolution. At one point I was selling 8.5"x11" prints, ACEO (art cards), and little prints, but I made the decision in January to no longer sell the large art prints or the art cards. I couldn't be happier with my decision. I have never been a fan of giant art -- save for the paintings that I have created for my home -- and figured that there would be other people that feel the same; there are!

In May, I added stationery to the shop. At first I was creating my own cards, but then I noticed that I was getting lazy and the cards weren't looking as nice as they were when I first started. I ordered cards from a cute little shop and absolutely loved the paper. I had been looking for a way to add my drawings to the cards, but my printer wouldn't allow it, and the paper that this shop used was the perfect size for my printer. I ordered up some paper, and added the new cards to the shop in mid-October -- Christmas was right around the corner.

Before switching to the new cards, the old cards were photographed several more times as well. This one is much brighter with the natural light, but do you notice the edges of the classy white piece of paper that I used to put the cards on?

Once I got my little hands on the new paper, I was creating cards like crazy! I now have 44 cards -- and counting -- available in the shop. I like coming up with new ideas, phrases, and little drawings for new cards. I shared my card making process recently with you -- here.

Like all the other photography in the shop, the way I photograph the new cards has also changed, although I still include the head-on shots so that people can get a good look at the card. I know that the photography aspect of the shop will probably never be done, but I like how clean and streamlined everything looks now. That seems to be my theme, doesn't it?

I thank you -- and applaud you if you read through this entire post -- for following me through the evolution of my shop. It has been such an interesting journey filled with many happy moments, and lots of frustrations. I look forward to what new paths I will take during this next year!

Cheers!

So Chocolatey!

2012-02-28T07:56:00.000-06:00

A little while ago, I tried the recipe for the best chocolate chip cookies ever that the lovely Julie Ann shared on her blog. They were so unbelievably chocolatey, and pretty easy to make.

The only thing that made this recipe a little more difficult than the regular chocolate chip cookie recipe is the fact that I had to cut up all of the chocolate. I'm thinking that I cut it all up a little too finely, but the cookies were still super chocolatey. They just weren't chunky chocolate super chocolatey -- had enough of the word "chocolate" yet?

After the initial cutting up of the chocolate, the recipe was very straight forward and easy to follow -- Julie Ann's recipes are usually pretty easy to follow, though. I was very excited while cooking this recipe because it was the first time since being pregnant that I had made chocolate chip cookies, and I finally got to eat the cookie dough -- yummm!

Once I got my healthy spoonfuls of dough spread out onto the cookie sheet and cooking in the oven, I couldn't wait until I could get the first bite of one of those gooey, chocolatey cookies!

They were most delicious! I will definitely be making this recipe again :)

10 Things I Like

2012-02-26T08:51:00.000-06:00

I was tagged by the lovely Steffi over at Maedchen Zimmer to share 10 Things I Like with you -- you can check Steffi's 10 Things out here.

1. Water - I love how the feel and the sound of water make me feel so relaxed -- like sound of the waves lapping at the shore of the lake, and the encompassing velvety smoothness of the water on my body as I do a back float.

2. Fashion - I love fashion, and, more importantly, shoes. I don't have as many shoes as most women, but I do enjoy them and how they can complete, or destroy, an outfit.

3. Art - This one is a given. I guess it's not safe to assume that all artists enjoy art, but it would be in my case.

4. Coca Cola - I have share this fact with you a few times, but this goes to show you how much I really do enjoy cracking open a can of Coke. Mmm...I want one now...

5. Flowers - I love the smell of flowers. I love the feel of a flower's petals. I love how they make a room so much brighter. How could you not enjoy flowers. They make my world happy.

6. Christmas - I absolutely love Christmas. It is my favourite holiday. I like how it makes me feel inside when I start buying gifts, putting up the Christmas tree, and sending out the yearly letter. The baking isn't too bad either :)

7. Books - I haven't been paying as much attention to my books recently, but I do enjoy reading. I love when a story envelopes me and takes me on an adventure somewhere that I will never be, or have the chance to be -- I love historical fiction.

8. Animals - I love animals: horses, dogs, cats, hedgehogs...you name it, and I love it -- I especially love little goats. Sooo cute!

9. Naps - I am really enjoying being able to have naps right now. My son is currently teething, and naps are the perfect way to help me get through the day. This will be much more difficult when I go back to work. Booooo...

10. New Girl - I absolutely adore this show. I look forward to watching it every week, and actually get a little depressed when it takes a break. Seeing it leave for the Summer is going to break my heart -- and then I will take my son to the park :)

Just Me: A Self-Portrait on Saturday

2012-02-25T08:38:00.001-06:00

I discovered the Self-Portrait Saturday series over on the blog of the lovely Wonder Forest, and decided that I would give it a shot -- no photography pun intended...well...maybe. She started the series as a way for us bloggers to become more comfortable with our cameras and our bodies.

It's been a very long time since I've done an intentional self-portrait -- not holding a purse or showing off a necklace -- and having been recently pregnant, I have been having a lot of issues with my body, but after seeing myself in these photographs, as well as recent others, I can see that I don't look as awful as I feel.

I'm very pleased with myself that I only took a total of eight photos. It is incredibly difficult to know what you look like in front of the camera until the photo has already been taken. Then you say to yourself: "Okay...I need to face the window to get more light because the bags under my eyes are very prominent in this photo." or "Hmmm...I need to find a different place for my arm because my elbow looks gigantic." or "Wow! My eye is really smooshed against the pillow in this one. I'll try again and be more aware of not keeping my face so close to the pillow."

It's those little things that if you were behind the camera yourself, or had someone watching you telling you what to do with your face and arms, would be corrected the first time. Just part of the learning process, I guess, and yet another reason to have more than one of yourself.

Darby O'Gill and My Card Making Process

2012-02-23T07:51:00.000-06:00

For those of us with a wee bit o' Irish blood, or those that are looking for an excuse to drink green alcoholic beverages, St. Patrick's Day is a fun day -- mostly because it allows me to dress in green and prance around like the leprechaun that I am. I actually wear a button that says "World's Cutest Leprechaun".

To help spread the love for this festive little day, I wanted to share with you how I sketch out my cards, and show you one of the newest cards in the shop.

The first thing I do is pick-up my pen and my sketchbook. Sometimes I am able to write out what I want a card to say perfectly the first time, and other times it takes several tries before I get the layout and my cursive exactly the way that I want it. The "happy St. Patty's Day" you see above, sadly, did not make the cut -- well, not sadly, I'm actually glad it didn't make the cut; it looks quite horrid.

As you can also see, it usually takes me at least a couple of tries to get the perfect little drawing to go on the card as well. Again, sometimes I'm able to make it awesome the first time -- like the shamrock -- and other times it takes a little work -- like the hat.

Luck of the Irish card

After I have sketched out exactly what I want, I scan it all, and take to Photoshop where I crop everything down to size. After all of the images and words/phrases are saved in a special folder, I open up Word while I say the magic word: "wuuurd", and plug it into a special little template that I have saved. Then I print it off, and -- voila -- what you have is the card that you see above.

I usually write out a bunch of words, or phrases, and draw a bunch of little things before I scan it all in. That way I'm not scanning every single second. Sometimes an idea comes really quickly to my head, and other times I might sit on a drawing or phrase for a while because it just doesn't seem right when I first put it on the page. Some drawings and words make it all the way to the final stage, and other times they will never be more than scribbles on a piece of paper.

p.s. I have changed the comment section. It is now a pop-up window and you don't have to prove you are not a robot. I am finding it really difficult to read those verification words, so I assume that others are as well. Peace :)

Breaking the Habit

2012-02-21T07:42:00.001-06:00

Chewing your nails: if it's habit that you have, it's something that you so badly want to break, but, like any bad habit, it's tough. I don't know how many times I tried to stop chewing my nails. I remember there were points in my life where I would let my nails grow for a week or two, and then I would just chew them right off. I don't know where the habit came from, or why I continued to do it, but it took me a while to finally stop myself. It has been such a very long time since I have chewed my nails, and I want to share with you how I broke the habit:

It started with a single nail: my pinky nail -- or what I called the sacred nail. I was not allowed to chew on my pinky nail, ever. All other nails were open to be chewed, except for that single nail. Over time, that nail grew quite long, and I was very proud of myself. Eventually, I decided to do the same thing for the pinky nail on the other hand, and so another nail joined the wolf-pack of sacred nails. It took a couple of years, but eventually all of my nails became sacred nails.

I would be lying if I told you I never chewed my nails again. I definitely had moments of weakness, and they usually were coupled with boredom. The last time I remember chewing all of my nails, I was 19 years-old. I was not happy with myself that day. I have recently had moments where I might nibble at my nail if it has been chipped or broken when I don't have access to nail clippers -- like on an airplane. Let me tell you, as soon as I land, I am on the hunt for a pair of nail clippers -- nothing annoys me more than a broken nail that I can't fix. But, I am proud to say, that I have not chewed my nails since that day when I was 19 years-old. Long nails for life!

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Delightfully Delicious!

2012-02-19T08:50:00.000-06:00

A little while ago, I made the most delicious cookies that I discovered here, on the fantastic blog of Little Brown Pen. I knew immediately that I had to make these cookies, and they turned out so well. They were very easy to make, and such a simple recipe to follow -- you just need a little bit of time because the dough needs to harden in the fridge for about four hours.

The dough was simple enough to make, and looked like little donuts when rolled into little

balls and smothered in confectioners sugar :)

The cookies taste just like brownies!

It's Time to Take Some Responsibility

2012-02-18T08:19:00.000-06:00

*This is often a touchy and controversial subject on which there are many opinions that differ greatly. These are my thoughts:

I'm tired of people blaming the mainstream media for how the children of today act. It seems like parents will do anything to not take responsibility for the actions that they take that affect the lives of their children.

The reason why children curse is because they hear their parents curse, not because they hear a word once in a song on the radio. This is something that I personally need to work on. One of my worst fears is my son going to school and cursing when he drops something on the ground.

The reason why children say racist or cruel things is because their parents say racist or cruel, not because a character in a show on the television says racist or cruel things. This one is a tricky one. No one is perfect, but we can certainly take note of the comments that we make about other people and other cultures in our daily lives, and perhaps realise how cruel we really are.

The reason why children dress provocatively is because their parents dress provocatively, not because they saw a woman in a music video in a low-cut top and hot pants. Who do you think is buying the clothes for these children anyway? It's certainly not mainstream media.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: you are the example for your children. If you don't want them to curse, say racist or cruel things, or dress provocatively then don't do them yourself. All children want to be is a little version of their parents; they look up to us more than we ever think that they would.

When will we stop trying to find a scapegoat to blame for why our children are the way they are, and finally take responsibility for what we have taught them.

Loving Matt & Nat

2012-02-16T08:57:00.000-06:00

I made a trip to Winners the other day, and found the most fantastic Matt & Nat bag. I have always wanted a Matt & Nat purse, but they are just out of my comfortable spending zone. Imagine my excitement when I found one at 50% off the original price. I just had to scoop it up!

This bag is a dream! It is true what they say -- that "you get what you pay for" -- because this bag is beyond any other bag that I have ever owned; it just feels expensive.

What's fantastic about Matt & Nat -- that I have since discovered -- is that their products are completely vegan, meaning they are cruelty-free and free of animal by-products. Another interesting thing is that the lining of each bag is made with 100% recycled plastic bottles.

Pretty cool, huh? Not only am I going to look fabulous carrying this bag, but I can feel good about what I have done for my world at the same time!

Great (Valentine's Day) Expectations

2012-02-14T08:32:00.000-06:00

When I was a young girl, I had all of the romantic notions that tend to come with Valentine's Day. I always day-dreamed that a boy that I liked would give me a valentine and profess his love for me, and that, when I did find the boy of my dreams, we would spend Valentine's Day eating chocolate while giving each other gifts and cards, and eating dinner by candlelight.

I had high expectations for my poor husband in the first few years of our Valentine's Days together, and I was always disappointed -- the guy never stood a chance. I always wanted him to take me out to dinner and buy me flowers and shower me in gifts -- he gave me the flowers and gifts, but I never got the dinner -- and for some reason, I always felt empty on Valentine's Day, like the flowers and gifts weren't what I really wanted.

It wasn't until a few years later that I would realise that I didn't need Valentine's Day. I know it sounds cliche, but I'm not a big Valentine's Day person. I no longer expect flowers and gifts, because what I really want is to spend time with my husband every single day of the year. I love being with him; going to movies with him; driving in the car with him; talking to him. That will always be enough for me. I need nothing more.

In our earlier years, my husband would always give me gifts and write me poems -- he still writes me poems, but not as often as I would like. The other day, I was going through a special box where I have stashed my most precious letters and photographs, and found a poem that he had written for me as a gift on our very first Valentine's Day. I had given him a ring as a gift, and he apologised in the poem that he had no gift for me, save for the poem. I have no idea where his ring is, but I still have the poem.

Here is a small excerpt:

"The love of one another, is shown on this special day
This day is very happy, not at all grey
You are with the one you love, for as long as you can be
I know for sure with all my heart, the day will be perfect as long as you I see"

The Simplicity of a Handmade Valentine

2012-02-12T08:44:00.000-06:00

A valentine doesn't have to be complicated. It could be as simple as a couple of pieces of paper, a paper doily, and some baker's twine. I actually used little extras that had been used as packaging for items that I had purchased on Etsy -- smile for recycling -- and some bits of paper that I had left-over from other projects.

Now, heaven forbid you shouldn't already have a valentine for your special someone, but hopefully you have some little extras hanging around your house so you can quickly make a valentine. Sure, cards are nice -- and I appreciate you buying one from my SHOP -- but there's nothing quite like a handmade valentine to give to the one you love most.

Peace and love :)

Decorate to Dream: Some Added Elements

2012-02-11T08:44:00.000-06:00

Last year -- wow -- I shared with you what inspired me in decorating my son's bedroom -- here. We didn't find out the gender of our baby before he arrived, so I decided that the colour green would be a good choice, and I am still in love with it -- although it needs a little love from all the nicks and what-not. Recently, I finally got around to hanging up the rest of the art and photographs that I have been meaning to put up on the walls for quite a while now.

From left to right: 1. This amazing cross-stitch picture of the months of the year with the loveable Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends was done by my Godmother, and was a shower gift for my son. 2. The photographs of my sweet little boy were taken at his newborn session with Cindy Moleski Photography. 3. The little bi-plane is a drawing that I created with him in mind and is also available in the shop -- here. 4. I found this little print from Sugar Fresh just before giving birth and thought it was perfect for either a little boy or girl.

I know that I have a lot of things hanging from the ceiling in my son's room, but I had to add one more! Right above my son's window, I have hung the most wonderful little fabric bunting imaginable. I think it adds a little something extra to the room. I found it in the cutest little shop called A Fete Beckons.

The most important element, and the most recent, that I have added to the room is a little wicker chair that my grandparents gave to me when I was a little girl. I have already sat my little boy in the chair several times to get some cute photos. He actually quite enjoys the chair, and has even used it to help himself stand up. I look forward to the day that I walk into his room and he is sitting in the little chair reading books. *Sigh*

Shop Update: To Valentine's Day and Beyond

2012-02-09T09:12:00.000-06:00

It has been a fantastic first Valentine Season in the shop. I added a lot of Valentine's Day cards to the SHOP at the beginning of January, and I'm quite surprised and excited about how many Valentines that I have actually sold. What I really like about a lot of the Valentines that are available, is that they don't have to be just for Valentine's Day. They are perfect for telling someone that you love them, or how grateful you are for something that someone has done for you, any time!

You're Sweet Love Card

Right now, I am getting ready for Easter, and have some fun little ideas for cards that have already been put down on paper -- and some that are still swirling in my head. I am also working on a lot more everyday cards, and cards for other special occasions -- like baby showers.

The Dandelions limited edition art print

I will continue to keep adding little art prints to the shop, and have even introduced a few limited edition art prints. I will be adding more in the coming months. There will only be 50 of each print available, making them a little more rare than the other prints available in the SHOP.

Patiently Waiting 5x5 photo print

Lastly, I have decided that it is time to phase out the photography. Not only because there wasn't much interest in my photographs -- there are many, many way more fantastic photographers than myself selling on Etsy -- but because I have realised that they no longer fit in with the SHOP. I have a certain direction that I am taking, and my photography is not going to help me on this part of my journey. I am grateful because my photographs have brought a lot of different people to the shop, and they are, in fact, one of my main reasons for opening up the shop. But, like everything else in life, we must be willing to grow and let go of the things that are holding us back.

Dear Valentine...

2012-02-07T09:32:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day is right around the corner! There's still a bit of time left to find that perfect Valentine for your Special Someone. Check out these cute Valentine's Day cards from some really cute online shops:

From left-to-right: 1. Just for the Record from Doodle Love 2. Love Pear from The Languid Lion 3. We Go Together... from Sapling Press 4. I Love You... from Pistachio Press 5. Do You Like Me from Sweet Harvey 6. Home Is Wherever Im With You from Julie Ann Art 7. Darth Vader... from Dingbat Press

The Story of How I Met Your Father

2012-02-05T09:32:00.000-06:00

It was December 28, 1999, and my best friend, who was here for a visit during the Christmas holiday, and I somehow convinced my mom that she should drive us over to a friend's house so that we could hang-out with him and a group of his friends -- that we had never met. My mom was a bit anxious about the fact that she had never met this group of friends -- especially because we had mistakenly told her that one of them was a bit of a trouble-maker. We had loads of fun, and there were a couple of guys there that I had my eye on, but -- little did I know -- there was one guy that had his eye on me as soon as I walked through the door.

My 18th birthday celebration in 2001.

That was the night that I met my husband, and I didn't even know it. Literally, I didn't even know he was there. Years later I would look at photographs of that night and see that he was there the whole time, but I didn't remember him at all. He was such a shy boy to the point of invisibility, and he is still quite shy to this very day. I continued to hang-out with this new group of friends, even after my best friend went back home, and slowly began getting to know this guy a bit better.

We began emailing, and talking to each other on the phone -- a real phone -- and he eventually worked up the courage to ask me out to a movie; I said yes, thinking, for some reason, that it was going to be a group of friends, and not just the two of us. After we hung up, I realised that it was going to be a date and quickly told my parents about it because I had never been on a date before, and knew that it was part of the rules to ask their permission first -- lame, I know, but I always played by the rules.

At my best friend's graduation in 2003.

Clearly, my parents gave their consent, because, on February 5, 2000, my husband and I went on our very first date! We decided to go to a movie called The Talented Mr. Ripley. Neither of us could drive at the time, so my future mother-in-law dropped us off at the theatre, and then picked us up and took us to McDonald's to get some food -- yes, we were spoiled. After the movie, he asked me if I would like to be his girlfriend and I said "yes" -- my husband actually got a raise in his allowance because he had a girlfriend.

Our friends were supportive, but behind our backs they had made a bet that our relationship wouldn't last more than two and a half weeks -- we sure showed them! It was at about a month that I wasn't really feeling it anymore; this was my first relationship, and so I obviously had no idea what to do or expect. I let it be while I went away for a week on a school trip, and while I was gone I really started to miss him. It was then that I decided to stay in the relationship, and, although we have had our rough patches, I wouldn't trade my experiences with him for anything.

Fun with a photo-booth in 2003.

Top left: Unsure about when the photo will be taken

Top right: Okay...now we know when it will be taken

Bottom left: Kiss shot. He thought the photo had been taken

Bottom right: Okay...linger until we know it's been taken :)

Today, it has been 12 years since our first date, and neither of us forget a single moment of the day. I actually just realised that we are going on a date to a movie today. I hope it's better than The Talented Mr. Ripley, but I know that it will be with the love of my life!

In Love with Art

2012-02-04T08:47:00.000-06:00

I can't get enough of art! I have had to hold myself back a lot recently and really think about the pieces that I want to have because I know that I would end up with more art than I have wall space.

I finally have all of the new art that I have purchased from fantastic shops on Etsy framed and up on a wall in our hallway. I have been accumulating these pieces over the last year, and I finally got around to purchasing the last frame. Unfortunately, it doesn't match the rest, but that's okay because I think it gives the collection even more of an eclectic feel than it already has.

It is so very difficult to take a photo of a wall in a hallway...

1. Yellow Ranunculus, Paris from Little Brown Pen

2. Tiny Fox Embroidery Hoop Art from Little Gray Fox

3. Bird on a Wire from The Little Shop of ElleSee

4. Drink Me from Collage-O-Rama

5. My Favorite Book is Blue from Trafalgar Square

6. Twin Tulips from Sonja Caldwell Photography

I am in love with this wall, and it makes me so happy to be able to look out of my office and see these pieces happily looking back at me.

My 10-month-old Boy

2012-02-02T09:27:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, my little boy turned 10 months old. It is hard to believe how quickly the year has gone by, but I have enjoyed every minute of being at home with my precious boy. Knowing that I will be going back to work in two months, I would not trade this year for anything in the world. I have enjoyed all of the special moments that we have shared from reading books to learning how to crawl.

Playing with the mustache we got in the mail for his birthday party.

I am amazed at all the things that he is now able to do:

He loves turning the pages while we are reading a book.

He loves to dance and clap to music -- any kind of music.

He is able to stand by himself and walk with a little help.

He can now crawl over things -- he is a small guy, so this is a big achievement.

There are also so many more things to love about him because of the interaction that we now get with each other. Don't get me wrong, I loved him from the beginning, but it was a different kind of love than what I feel for him now. He is able to giggle and play with me, and I feel like our personalities are perfect for each other -- for now at least.

I look forward to the next two months with each other before I head back to work, and before my little boy turns into a one year old boy :)

Right now, he loves September by Earth, Wind & Fire.

We discovered them on Ellen's birthday show.

Photo-a-Day Challenge: The Last Three Days

2012-01-31T14:22:00.000-06:00

Well, that's it. January is officially over at the end of the day, and so is my Photo-a-Day Challenge. It has been so much fun, but I don't think I'll be doing it for February. It was a good creative change, but I fear that if I were to continue it would just get repetitive and I would begin hating the project. Although, I will probably do the Quick Challenge that Fat Mum Slim has introduced because it can be done any time, and it's only for one day. And with that, here are my final three days:

Day 29: In My Fridge

My husband's favourite condiments.

Can you believe we have two jars of Cheese

Whiz because he forgot we already had one?

Day 30: Nature

This is the little Paper Birch tree

that we planted in our backyard last

October in celebration of the birth of our son.

Day 31: Me...Again

I am feeling particularly happy

with my hair today!

Adieu, January!

My First Blog Award

2012-01-29T12:06:00.000-06:00

The lovely Steffi of Maedchen Zimmer has bestowed upon me the Awesome Blog Award. I feel so honored -- She is too sweet :)

First, to answer a few questions that Steffi has asked:

1. How long have you blogging?

I have been blogging since the Summer of 2005. I used to have a blog as "whiteorchid", but eventually grew out of it, and stopped blogging until March of 2011. I'm glad to be back at it, I have met a lot of wonderful people so far.

2. How did you get into blogging?

I started blogging as a way to share my photography and poetry, and then, as I became more comfortable with sharing myself, I started doing self-portraits and writing about myself. I also dabbled a bit with vlogging -- video blog posts.

3. What's important to you at your blog?

I guess the most important thing for me right now with my blog, is sharing a bit of myself and my thoughts with the world. Now that I am a mother, I want to share my experiences and the things that I do in the hopes that another mother will stumble upon what I have written and learn something new.

4. What is your favorite song at the moment?

Right now I am always listening to my son's favourite songs of the moment -- which happen to be The Tummy Song from the new Winnie-the-Pooh movie and September by Earth, Wind & Fire. I enjoy those songs as well, but my favourite song right now has got to be Coldplay's Every Teardrop is a Waterfall. I am madly in love with Coldplay!

And now, to pass it on! Steffi is intending that the blogs to be given this award should be blogs that are not necessarily well known, to share blogs that we enjoy and get them out there a little more. Here are my three choices for the Awesome Blog Award:

1. Lowercase Letters - Memory is such a fantastic writer. She knows exactly how to suck you in, and she is so wise for her age. I am in love with her blog!

2. Tuckoo and Moo Cow - Sarah is an absolutely amazing artist and person. She is always sharing how she creates her miniature pieces of artwork, and her thoughts on Etsy, hipsters and everything in between. I love visiting her blog, and she always makes you feel welcome :)

3. Joanne Bee - I first met Joanne through the Cold Hands, Warm Hearts blog swap. I really enjoyed getting to know her, and she always has fun little thoughts and snippets of her life to share.

Photo-a-Day Challenge: Week 4

2012-01-28T15:44:00.000-06:00

Wow! We are now done the fourth week of January, and starting to look forward to February. If you have enjoyed my photographs for the Photo-a-Day Challenge, Fat Mum Slim now has the list for the February Photo-a-Day Challenge available. You should check it out. I've had so much fun doing the challenge for January. It's been like a homework assignment that I look forward to doing, and it's really made me think and be creative in a different way than I normally am -- working on cards and drawings for the SHOP.

1. Day 22: My Shoes - My Toms that I am currently wearing around the house to try and stretch for Spring.

2. Day 23: Something Old - This is the oldest thing that I know of :)

3. Day 24: Guilty Pleasure - I love me some Gushers candy!

4. Day 25: Something I Made - I can't take all the credit for this little guy, but I did do half the work :)

5. Day 26: Colour - My little boy's toys are so colourful!

6. Day 27: Lunch - There's nothing that I love more for lunch than left-over tacos!

7. Day 28: Light - Because of our South-facing windows, our home is filled with natural light.

Around the Table as a Family

2012-01-26T11:20:00.000-06:00

There are a couple of really important things that I have noticed since my son has started eating table food:

The first thing that I have noticed is that my husband and I have started eating a lot healthier -- we are incredibly picky people and would often only eat rice for supper...I know. Maybe it is just because I am at home all day, and can start making supper in the afternoon, but we have been eating a lot more home cooked meals -- even if they are just tacos, or pork chops with rice and vegetables. I know how important it is for our son to get protein into his little body, and so I make sure now that we have protein at every meal -- and vegetables. Wow! Were we ever horrible eaters.

The second thing that I have noticed, and this is probably even more important than eating healthier, is that we have been eating around the table. Before my son started eating with us, we would often feed him, cook-up our food, and make our way into the living room to eat while watching television. Now that he is eating with us every night, we are actually sitting down at the table as a little family.

Eating supper as a family every night was always very important in my house while I was growing up, but it never really felt the same when I ate at the table in my own home. I don't know what it was, but it almost felt awkward, and I didn't enjoy it; it wasn't the table that I had grown-up with. But now that I have my own little family sitting around the table with me, it doesn't feel awkward anymore. That little boy of mine has changed everything.

Thoughts: Getting that Crampy Feeling...

2012-01-24T15:01:00.000-06:00

*Warning: This topic may make people a little uncomfortable.

It's been a very long time since I have had a monthly visit from my old Aunt Flo, but she finally got settled in for a good visit this past Sunday, and I have since noticed a couple of things. Let me start at the beginning:

Everyone knows that when you are pregnant, you no longer get your period -- one of the blessings of pregnancy. After giving birth, it seems as if you are menstruating for a good 2-4 weeks, but it is really just your body getting rid of everything that was protecting the baby -- so I don't really count that as a period. Let's just say that I pretty much have not had to worry about this for almost two years, and it has been absolutely fantastic -- and there were no hot flashes involved.

Getting that crampy feeling...again.

I really thought nothing of not having Aunt Flo for a visit for such a long time. I mean, it was at the back of my mind that someday she would come back, but I didn't really know when. I guess my body is pretty much done the process of repairing itself after having a baby, and now is the time. Which is why I have noticed is that there really may be something to this PMS thing -- you know, that getting our periods makes all women bitchy. I guess I never really noticed it because it was happening every month, and it was just a part of life. But, now that I have had such a huge gap between visitations, I have noticed that I am getting very upset with my husband over trivial little things:

Case 1

On Sunday, I wanted to learn how to use Google Documents for accounting purposes -- besides using a notebook and pen -- and I blew up at him for something that he may or may not have said that made it so I had to input the information all over again.

Case 2

Yesterday, my order from Dorothy Perkins arrived. I was so excited that I immediately put one of the shirts on, but my boobs are still too big, and the shirt got stuck. I asked him for help, and he gave me a funny look and took what felt like forever to put our son down on the ground to help me out. I blew up and had a mini panic-attack because he was taking too long to help me take a shirt off that I so desperately wanted out of.

Now, that isn't to say that I don't ever get upset. I'm human, and that is what I do. Sometimes these kind of situations frustrate me, but the degree with which I got upset is not normal of me in the past year. That is why I think there's something to this PMS thing, which I never really thought much of before.

The other thing that I have noticed is how much I really don't like having my monthly visitor -- nobody does, and if they say they do, don't believe them. But after not having it for so long, now I really don't like having it; getting it this weekend was like someone laughing at you after they punch you in the face.

POW!

Swept Away by Ballet: My Love for Swan Lake

2012-01-22T10:04:00.000-06:00

Source

I loved the ballet Swan Lake from the moment the curtain first lifted. Many years ago, my mother and I saw an advertisement that the National Ballet of Canada was performing the ballet that very same night, and, at the last minute, we rushed to the theatre to purchase tickets.

We were seated in one of the very back rows on the main floor, and we were entranced the entire evening. That was the first ballet I had been to in a very long time, and I have been to many others since, but every time Odette and Odile make their way back to our stage, my mother and I immediately buy tickets for one of the first few rows. No experience has come close to the very first performance that we saw, though; we were swept away by the beauty and the wonder that is the music and movement of ballet.

Photo-a-Day Challenge: Week 3

2012-01-21T14:27:00.002-06:00

It is almost unbelievable that I am posting Week 3 of the Photo-a-Day Challenge. I know we still have 11 more months to go before this year is over, but it's amazing how quickly these past few weeks have gone by -- see Week 1 and Week 2.

1. Day 15: Happiness - Happiness is Ivan jumping through all of the snow drifts and growing a little snow beard :)

2. Day 16: Morning - My morning starts when my little alarm clock wakes me up, asking me to get him out of bed.

3. Day 17: Water - Every morning, when my son and I get up, I fill-up a glass with water. I try to drink as much as I can...when I remember.

4. Day 18: Something I Bought - I haven't bought much recently for myself, but I did order this sweet little carrot brooch from Nuff Nuff Toys on Etsy because I love carrots!

5. Day 19: Sweet - I looove cupcakes! They are probably my most favourite treat to bake :)

6. Day 20: Someone I Love - My husband of almost 8 years! Yes...we were babies. And yes, I still love him.

7. Day 21: Reflection - Simple enough...the reflection of my wooden drawing model practicing ballet.

My Little Silhouette Necklace

2012-01-19T15:29:00.000-06:00

My little boy will always be with me!

A little while ago, I found this wonderful tutorial about how to make a silhouette necklace over at papernstitch. I knew immediately that I had to make one of my son, so I went to the craft store to buy some Shrinky Dinks paper -- which I have since fallen in love with -- and set to work.

First I had to find a photograph that shows a profile of my son -- luckily I had a couple because I knew that trying to pose him for a specific photo would definitely not work. It was so much fun looking through all of the photographs again to find the perfect profile shot.

Then I set to work with the Shrinky Dinks paper. My computer screen was my light box because the profile photo is on the computer, not my phone. At first, the paper was proving quite difficult to draw on, but I pushed really hard and the pencil lines started showing up. Once I was done tracing his little head, I tried to begin colouring, but the pencil crayon just wasn't showing up like it did in the tutorial. I looked at the instructions again and found out that I was, in fact, colouring on the wrong side of the paper...

After I cooked up the little head and the little heart, I set to work making my necklace. As simple as it is, I absolutely love it. I now have my little boy everywhere with me when I wear this necklace :)

Breastfeeding Update: It Gets Easier

2012-01-17T10:39:00.000-06:00

A little while ago, I shared my first experiences with breastfeeding, here, and I just wanted to give you an update:

I am fortunate enough to have one year off for maternity leave -- a gift that many women here in Canada are able to have. If I didn't have the entire year off, I probably would not have continued breastfeeding, as having to pump during the times that I couldn't actually feed my son myself would have been quite difficult. I don't see how some women do it, and if you have done it, kudos!

All of the difficulties that come with the first stages of breastfeeding are completely gone. I do not have to put cream on my nipples anymore because they are no longer chapped, cracked and dry; my son is able to eat in as little as 3 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes, and, the tales are true, you do lose weight by breastfeeding! We also didn't have to start paying for his food until he started eating solids, and that has helped the budget a lot.

Me and my son -- just 4-days-old

If you are having trouble with breastfeeding, I beg of you, please do not give up! Talk to a lactation consultant, talk to your doctor, or talk to a friend who has gone through, or is going through a similar experience. It's still the best way to guarantee you will get your baby back from those snugglers that want to steal him away, and to get some special bonding moments :)

Five Things About Me

2012-01-15T09:24:00.000-06:00

A close-up of me and my pup.

1. I was the sports editor for my university student news paper during my last year of university.

2. I chewed my nails until I was 19-years-old, when I was finally able to break myself of the habit.

3. The reason why I like raisins in my porridge so much is not only because they make it taste good, but because my Grandad used to put them into the porridge he made for us when we were visiting, especially for me :)

4. I have a scar on my upper lip from being bit by a dog when I was 16-years-old.

5. I was an English major in university, but I didn't read all of the books that were required of me. I even wrote an essay on a book that I still have yet to finish. My secret: going to class, taking notes, and using what the professors said in my essays. There's something to be said about not skipping classes :)

Photo-a-Day Challenge: Week 2

2012-01-14T11:19:00.000-06:00

As mentioned in Week 1, I have discovered a photo-a-day challenge here. I have been having a lot of fun with the challenge. It's homework that I really enjoy doing.

1. Day 8: The Sky - I took this photo while we were on our way to my in-laws for brunch. The sky was amazing, and reminded me of a painting.

2. Day 9: Daily Routine - There are so many things that I should do everyday, but if something in my routine is different sometimes they don't happen. Make-up -- no matter what I do differently -- always gets done :)

3. Day 10: Childhood - I loved these little record players when I was little, but never actually owned one, so when I saw that they had brought them back, I pounced on one for my son...or myself :)

4. Day 11: Where I Sleep - I have a daily nap on the sofa while my son sleeps. I like falling asleep with the television chattering in my ear...

5. Day 12: Close-Up - I love this one! It reminds me of that game from a childhood magazine where they showed you photos of an object really close-up and you had to guess what it was. Guess what it is!

6. Day 13: In My Bag - In my bag lives a little blue mouse. This poor little mouse is blue because there are no blankets, and he is trapped in the bottom of my bag forever...or at least until I clean out my bag.

Day 14: Something I'm Reading - I do not read for pleasure much anymore, and what I do read for pleasure is usually an article or short story. Right now I'm focusing on helping my son to learn about the pleasure of reading.

In Comparison

2012-01-12T09:44:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling quite anxious about this post. I am opening up in a way that I never have before -- sharing a dark part of myself -- and I hope that I have expressed myself properly. I don't ever like to hurt people, even people I don't really know. I have read and re-read this post to make sure that it will accurately portray what I'm trying to say. I'm still not quite sure, but here goes...

It's hard not to compare yourself to others. It's what we do. Jealousy is the biggest leech that keeps sucking away at your life, and it will only get bigger and bigger. I fear that there is nothing that we can do about it. Absolutely nothing. We are human, and it is what we do. It's easy to tell yourself to be happy with what you have and what you do, but that's not enough. Jealousy will always be at the back of your mind, lingering, waiting. It will never go away. Ever.

The reason I bring this up is because of this post I found on a blog called E Tells Tales. In it, she talks about how there is jealousy in the blogging community, and that bloggers are always wanting a larger readership and more comments -- we "answer to the ticker". She has decided to no longer show how many followers she has, and disable her comments. She wants to set her priorities straight to be with her family -- especially because of something that happened to her in the past -- and I commend her for it. Not many bloggers out there would have the guts to do something like that. In a way, it's too bad: She's got a way with words, and that's probably why she has so many followers -- she's also been blogging since 2009. I literally just found her blog, and I'm disappointed that she's taking away the comments.

What I'm leading up to, is that I have a confession to make to you: I have these jealousy issues. It didn't start with this blog though; this is not my first blog. I have been blogging since 2005, and even then I had jealousy issues with other bloggers. Some of them had amazing stories and photographs, and I was a newbie -- a lot of them had been blogging for quite a while, and had been there since the beginning of that community. But something happened to that community, and now those blogs no longer exist. So, I moved on to the next community, and the next community, until I took a break. I don't know if I felt like I didn't have anything to say, or that I liked the freedom from the pressure to be as good or better than those other blogs, but it was nice.

Then I opened my SHOP, and decided to start another blog to help promote it. Here I am, once again, watching the stats and paying attention to how many followers and comments I get. A lot of my followers I only got from taking part in giveaways on other blogs -- shows you how interested most of them must be. But I have those followers that I so desperately wanted. Don't I?

One of my realisations this year was that everything must happen organically; you can't force anything to happen. I can't force people to follow me on my blog, Facebook, or Twitter, and I certainly can't force them to comment. But as I'm leaving everything alone, I'm noticing that people are starting to find me, and that they are responding to what I have to say. It's difficult, but maybe it will help curb those jealousy issues for a little while.