Workin' it

I want a new self portrait. I would like a few posed shots, and a few candid shots. I set up the camera on the tripod yesterday and out of 2 dozen shots, this one was one of the only ones I liked. I'm going to try again on the weekend. I get my hair done on Friday so I'll look even better. I discovered one eye is bigger than the other, or at least more open than the other, less is more when wearing make up, holding the camera myself and taking a picture results in my eyes crossing. I made a few cards in the last week or so. I don't think I posted them yet.

Not your normal Valentine's colours.

I got the inspiration for this right from a layout in the Stamper's Success magazine.

A little foxy thank you.

This vintage set wasn't my first choice but after seeing some samples made with it, I decided to get it and now I love it!

I love the font in the Well Scripted set.

So the sets I used in these cards...

I {heart} Hearts

Well Scripted

Vintage Vogue

Fox & Friends

...are all SU's new Clear Mount Stamps. I was leary, I'm a wood block lover, but I figured I should see these up close and personal. I ordered all my new Occasions Mini sets in Clear Mount. I have not put the label stickers on the stamps, I heard it lessens the cling ability. I like them, they are less expensive, take up less room. Do I love them? Eh...I can see myself losing smaller stamps. Also I don't have enough clear blocks yet. I'm working on that.

The following were also used and are from the new Occasions mini...

Sweet Pea Stitched Felt

Small Heart Punch

Scallop Trim Corner Punch

Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder

And the Scallop Trim Border is from the Sale-A-Bration mini, you can earn it for free!

Enquiring minds want to know...

This is Randy "The Natural" Couture.(born June 22, 1963) is an American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion and a two-time light-heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Couture is one of only two UFC fighters to have held a championship title in two different divisions (heavyweight and light heavyweight; B.J. Penn, with his titles at welterweight and lightweight, is the other) in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as the only five-time champion in UFC history. Couture has competed in 15 title fights, a record. Couture is a member of the UFC Hall of Fame and many consider him to be the most popular fighter in MMA history.[3] Randy is also the oldest man to win a fight in the UFC being 46 years old.
This is right from Wikipedia.
He's no Georges St. Pierre. He's Canadian. He beat out Sidney Crosby as Canada's favourite athlete, 64 to 34 %. He's a hottie. He's awesome. He's yummy. He makes me drool.
That's right from Kellipedia.

Daily December Nearly Complete

As mentioned before, this was harder than I thought it would be. I've got all the pictures in it, and many more embellishments, but I still need to work on the journaling, I'll wait until I'm having a good penmanship day, could be awhile.

Yes, it is backwards, but it took me forever just to figure the slideshow thing out.

Monday Blahs...

...not here. What better way to get rid of the 'back to work blahs' {insert snicker here} than to have pizza and impromptu fight night.

No pictures of it as I can't quite figure out how I would get a good picture of a poorly lit room full of people ogling a large tv with half naked men pummelling each other to death. I'm working on it.

Conversation between me and my dad tonight...
Dad: He reminds me of a young Randy Couture.
Me: Ya, he does look like him.
Dad: You make me so proud!
Me: Wha...what'd I do?
Dad: You know who Randy Couture is!

I've always been a daddy's girl.

I'm on to them.

I picked up a good photography magazine yesterday and one of the things it mentioned was that even though winter isn't prime photo taking time, a person should not let their skills get rusty and should get out there in the winter and take pictures. So when Kerry was planning his mountain biking today, I asked where they were going and he said Knox Mountain and that it would be a nice bright open place to take pictures. I said I'd go too. He called my dad, and they made plans for me to come. Little did I know, I was an integral part of the plan, I became shuttle master. Which means they jump out of the truck, make sure I don't get stuck in a snow bank and off they go. I then drive the BRT, big red truck, squeaky wheels and all, down to the bottom of the hill. As soon as I got out of the truck with my camera when I dropped them off at the top and Kerry said "Oh, are you going to take pictures now?" I knew I'd been had. He mentioned that the bottom of the hill would be better.

So I drove down, I parked, I walked and I walked. I took some pictures. You can see the new bridge in the distance. I called them on the cell to find out where they were and where I should be for the best shots. I walked more than I had to up that hill in the snow and ice. And then I had to turn around and walk back down. I got less than a dozen shots, I think we took longer to get coffee at Tim Hortons and to drive home than they took to ride down the hill. Well, at least they get to say "January 10, 2010 we got to ride our mountain bikes!"

And I got to get out and use my skills instead of letting them rot while I played Super Mario Brothers.Emily brought home her recipe for Cheese Pretzels and we made up a batch, it only makes 4 much to Kerry's dismay. They were really good. And easy.

My parents came over last night and the guys watched Moto Cross, the girls hit the scrap room. Mom made her monthly layout, Emily read and painted a gorgeous water colour picture, and I tidied up. I've really been purging stuff and not useful stuff, but things I like to keep and will never use again, like the greeting cards, short tiny pieces of ribbon, bubble wrap...you get the idea.

some things with pictures

I'm still working on my Daily December album. I took pictures almost every day, a given, and I did not write anything down. It will be a long time before this album is finished, but I can see myself doing another one next December, only maybe I'll start in September.
Here are some of the photos (SOOC) I took. Christmas is always bittersweet when it comes to taking pictures. I have no control over the type of lighting in other people's houses, hence my push for a new 50mm lens. I did take my flash but I still don't love it. I also have no control over what they wear, next year I'm pushing for everyone to only wear purple, grey, and white. I did insist that Kerry and the kids get new shirts. The boys did, Emily didn't 'need' one as she put it. Arg. This was everyone playing 80's Trivial Pursuit at Kerry's brother's place. Guys against Girls, oddly enough Guys one, but Girls kicked their butts at Mad Gab. Kerry does not have his new shirt on.

Emily spent almost all of Christmas day under the tree, she ate there, she read, she played her DS. Emily does have new pjs on.

She drank her Pop Shoppe pop there too. This was more reminiscent for the grown ups, as the kids weren't around when the Pop Shoppe was.

At my Grandpa's, letting go of the lack of control of lighting here, and the fact that there is so much going on. I did manage to get my aunt showing everyone her 'octopus'. Kerry does have his new shirt on here, and somewhere Shaun is sporting his new shirt. My aunt is wearning a purple top and would fit in perfectly.

Amanda laying out the cards for a Japanese card game our Grandma taught her and some of my younger cousins, I don't remember her teaching me. Amanda was with the program and had purple on.

Swiss Cheese crackers, one of Emily's new favourite finds.

The computer is back, the power supply fan has been replaced, and it didn't cost an arm and a leg.

It's Friday, Shaun and Jenn are making dinner. Kerry came home from work early, and Emily is grounded off the computer still. Although she has been trying to 'earn' her way back on, it's not working.

I'm not sure what the weekend plans are, but I do know this... babies are coming, lots and lots of them. Kayla and Shea had their baby girl, Aleighna, I believe her name is and she was about 3 weeks early. And twins are being born as I type this, and Anna Z. is having her baby at the coast today. I wish them all the best!

Stevie Wonder - Someday at Christmas (Cover)

I have never heard this song before, and I found this on a photographer's blog. I love it. If I could sing and play the guitar, I'm sure this is not what I would sound like. I can dream.

Backed up!

Soooo...my poor computer has been sitting at London Drugs and no one has even looked at it, as of 5:30 pm last night. I understand they might be busy but what's the point of having an appointment?
Thankfully, I've been able to use Shaun's laptop. It's quite nice, it's upstairs, I can do the dishes, bake and go on-line.
I watched Oprah yesterday, I don't normally watch it. But they had a follow up to the other episode of Hoarders that I watched and it was interesting to see what happened after. It seems families split up after there houses get cleaned up. One woman wanted to keep an old Slurpee cup on the episode last night. I kind of get it, but she had also lost her kids due to the messy house, for me, it's Slurpee cup or kids. Kids would win, but for this poor woman, it was the cup, she never got her kids back and had to move her 1400 boxes of stuff to storage. Her and her husband split up, he got the son, they didn't say where the daughter was. Very sad.
But I also see that as cluttered as I think my house is, it really isn't that bad.

Without a computer

I'm using Shaun's laptop because our computer's power supply fan kicked the bucket. And if that wasn't enough, the washing machine sprung a leak, which wouldn't be such a big deal if the laundry room was in the basement. But it's upstairs, so any water that leaks out uses gravity to flood the rest of the house. So now that Kerry has fixed it, I'm a bit afraid to use it again. The last time it flooded the house, Kerry fixed it left to go back to work and I did another load and the hose fell off the machine again.
So laundry is not on the top of my list of things to do now that I can't waste all my time reading blogs. Baking is on that list, Emily's so picky that her lunches are getting smaller and smaller. Cookies aren't the best choice, but the homemade ones are better than the store bought ones. Although the triple chocolate ones I just made might not be healthier.

I may just update this post as the day goes on...
without easy access to a computer a person can get a bunch of things done.
I made my cookies, did all the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, bleached a bunch of things, found out the bathroom sink plug thing isn't attached to anything, pulled it out, cleaned it, then I decided, and this comes from watching Hoarders, that my 'card' collection needed attending. I've only watched a couple episodes of Hoarders because most of them gross me out, Kerry can't stand the show. So Monday's show was pretty tame and we watched it. Anyways, I have a collection of cards, not ones I've made, no, that's a different problem. My dirty little secret is that I've kept every single greeting card we've ever received. Remember that card you gave me for my 31st birthday, I have it, the cards from Shaun's baby shower, I have them, all of them. I think it comes from my childhood. My mom had a green garbage bag full of cards that she kept in the bottom of the closet and I loved to go through them as a kid. I remember some of them, one was from my baby shower, it had a plastic baby bottle attached to front of it. So in my efforts to never become a hoarder, I have sorted all the cards, and they are out of here. I did keep a pile of 'special' ones, like the one where Emily says I'm the best mom ever, and she likes me. I'll probably need that card later, she had a bad day yesterday and is without computer privileges for a long time.

Silly Neighbours!

This is what was staring back at me tonight! Karla and Vinnie, probably mostly Vinnie, made it for me! We love our neighbours!

Monday blahs are magnified when it snows and one has to go to work.

This is how I've been packaging the cds from my photoshoots. A cd envelope is adhered to the inside.

Karla, from my New Year's day engagement photo shoot, had a birthday before Christmas. We have an ongoing joke that she knows Oprah, but she left off the H from Oprah one time and I haven't let her forget it. Opra (me) sends her birthday cards, and Christmas cards, but I (Kelli) didn't send her a birthday card and got hassled about it. So I told her I had something bigger and better than a card. I had made this trifold album ages ago, knowing that I was giving it to Karla after the photo shoot, but we had to wait for snow, and that took forever to get here.

Snow came, photos were taken, and I got them in the album and gave it to her yesterday. She was thrilled and said it will be put on the guest book table at their wedding. And that I made it in their colours. Silly girl doesn't remember me asking her weeks and weeks ago about what her wedding colours were.

I kind of wanted to keep it, I loved how the black and white photos looked in it. In other New Year's news, my mom, 3 of my aunts and I got together to make sushi, chowmein, salmon and a bunch of other good eats. The only problem is that by the time we are done making the stuff and the big dinner time rolls around, none of us are hungry. Personally, I don't care if I eat sushi again for months. I'd like cabbage rolls instead.

We went to see It's Complicated with my parents yesterday. They had tried a couple times over the holidays to see it but couldn't get in. So yesterday we made it in the building and as we were about to order our popcorn, some kid pulled the fire alarm and the whole mall was evacuated for about 20 min. I was pretty sure my parents were destined to not see the movie. After deciding to wait it out, we saw it and it was really good, very funny. Jim Krasinki, from The Office, is hilarious. I've always thought Steve Martin was cute, but you know you're getting old when you find Alex Baldwin cute too although he's a little too thick and hairy.

2010!

I took pictures today, there aren't many other ways I can think of to spend the first day of the new year. Besides, no one else was at home.

We'd been waiting for snow and we finally got it, so Karla, Vince and I headed out to the park to get some engagement photos. They live across the street from us, we've known Karla for about 11 years. It's hard to believe she's getting married in the Spring. They are such a cute couple, it was a treat to take their pictures. You can view all the pictures and the ones from Kayla and Shea's shoot at my smugmug site, just click the link to the right of this post. I'm still processing photos from today, I have to learn to shoot less, or process faster.

The dogs love the snow. Sally can't eat enough of it. Linus just likes running, laying and digging in it.

sweet

I got the chance to shoot a friend's son and his girlfriend. They are expecting their baby girl in 3 weeks and the photo shoot was a Christmas present to them from his mom. It's a 2 parter, we'll get together after the baby is born too.

These are probably my favourite. I love K's face in both of them. These were taken outside on the far side of the garage where the lighting is awesome because it reflects off both houses.We did the indoor shoot in my living room, which isn't the best for lighting, today would have been better with all the snow outside reflecting the light into my living room, oh, well, we can't always have what we want.

K wanted the black and white with the bow in pink. This is a test of my photoshopping skills but Grandma says she loves them.

I hope everyone has a great New Year's! Stay safe!

Validation

I saw this on Cathy Z's site and thought it was great. It's just over 16 min. of your life that you won't get back, but I'm sure you won't mind. It's a great feel good clip.
You...You are AWESOME, thanks for letting me share the last year with you!

Shut UP!

I can't believe it! I just got an email confirming that I won a prize in the Yokohama Spirit of Performance photo contest. I won a fleece jacket. Here's the link to the picture, http://www.flickr.com/photos/spirit_of_performance/4029843773/
I didn't have my zoom lens at the time, I could have taken much better photos if I did, and then I would have won a set of Yokohama tires. Oh, well, next year!

2 more sleeps

He's had it, he's done with shopping, done with the housecleaning, the wrapping, the baking and the picture taking.

As I do every year, I try to get a couple of perfect shots of the kids in front of the tree. These two took longer than usual this year, Linus didn't want to sit next to Sally, he's scared to, he looks proud, and maybe a bit aloof but really he's scared poopless to be there.

These two complained about how long it took to get their picture taken, but then Kerry pointed out that if they just sat still and didn't touch each other, I'd be able to get that one good shot faster. I also had to compromise. Note the t-shirts. Karen Russell said something on her blog the other day that summed up my Christmas and pretty much every other event where I try to photograph the kids...'expectations reduce joy'. It's true.

I expect them to enjoy being photographed.

I expect them to dress in co-ordinating outfits, regardless of their age.

I expect them to make sure there are not feathers in their hair, food on their faces, or dog hair on their clothes.

I expect them to do what I say.

Give me dogs any day! At least they listen to me even if it is only when I have a carrot in my hand.

It's cold today, but sunny. I want snow. But I guess if I can't have snow, cold and sunny are better than dark and rainy.

Gifted

I was browsing the newsletter we get from the ES, Exceptional Students Program. Emily asked what it was, I told her it's the letter we get because she's gifted. She says no one told her that and I told her she was gifted, but it's not our fault she never opened that gift and used it. Good thing she has a sense of humour. We know she's exceptionally smart, she always has been, she could read when she was about 3 yrs. old. She can spell just about anything. But she's also a tad lazy.

It doesn't look like we will have a white Christmas this year. It never feels quite right when there isn't any snow on Christmas. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the forecast will change.

I've got a few last minute things to pick up, bake and wrap and then I'm done.

A week before Christmas

Kerry's Christmas party was last night. I have always had a problem with motion sickness. Nothing has helped, short of being doped up with Gravol. So when Kerry's boss told us that a limo would be picking us up to take us to and from the Christmas party, we were pretty excited, neither one of us thought about motion sickness. Turns out the 'limo' was a 32 foot long Ford Excursion that seats 14 people. I originally sat where Kim sat, she's the one with the champagne. Sorry about the crappy pictures but limos are not well lit. I had to get out at each stop we made and have a breather. After we picked up Ivan and Bev, they are the blurry people at the front, I was told I couldn't sit in front with the driver because there isn't a passenger seat up there. So I had to sit where the door was, which was one of only 4 seats facing forward, problem with that is that it's at least 20 feet from the front of the vehicle and I need to see where we are going in order to not regurgitate my meals.All in all, we had a good time, awesome meal at Summerhill Winery, here's a couple of pictures I borrowed off the internet of the winery.My dad was given a Snuggie for Christmas but he has his favourite blanket that he always uses so he gave the Snuggie to me. I would have given it to Emily but I think she might be getting one for Christmas. The tree was decorated by Kerry and the kids while I was at a photoshoot, getting paid to do something I like! I tried to pare down the ornaments but it's hard to decide which ones get to stay and which ones go.

Emily, Kerry and I played with sparklers earlier this week, which means I had to learn how to use my flash. It took a few tries, the hardest part was getting the timing right on the lighting of the sparklers and the pushing of the shutter button, and making a heart wasn't exactly easy either. It looks more like an apple.

Long time no blog!

Kerry's been on holidays all week, hence the minimal computer time. We've been shopping. Every.
Single.
Day.
I hate it. I'm okay if it's in and out and it's to buy me something, like a lens, a book, or a treat. But when I don't have a decent list, or idea of what I am getting, I get a bit grumpy, although I have to admit, I haven't been that grumpy. But I did get a big zit on my chin for the Christmas party tonight. Which by the way, we are going to in style, in a limo.
I've taken pictures mostly for my slow, and sad, Daily December album, but I'm too tire to get my camera and upload the pictures. I have an engagement shoot next week, and a maternity shoot the week after, with some new born shoots to follow. Very exciting!

The house is clean, won't be for long, decorated, all the shopping is done, I hope, the baking is pretty much done, if we don't eat it all between now and Christmas. Now I just need to stock up on my rest!

It's a small world.

I never really thought much about who Linus's dad was. We met his mom, and some of his siblings. We know that his mom died from food poisoning about a year ago. We know that one of his brothers lays exactly like he does when he does the frog or the Superman. But today, Emily says one of her classmates owns Linus's dad. It's not hard to figure out he really is Linus's dad, seeing as how no other Golden Retrievers have been born tailless, ever it seems according to the internet, and he was named Rowan at birth, which isn't something we had told Emily, but this classmate knew this. So like an episode of Find My Family, we have located them, but doubt we will be meeting under the Family Tree for a reunion.

Linus turns 3 in January. This is a magic number, everyone says Goldens get better with age. Apparently you start to notice around 3. I have noticed in the last month that he isn't tormenting me as much. Although he has developed a liking for the bathroom garbage can. I think Sally might agree with me, Linus doesn't seem to bug her as much either.

Brrrr....It's Cold!

It has warmed up a bit, it's only -11. But it's so bright and sunny that a person could be deceived into not dressing appropriately and then heading outside and then freezing her butt off. But not me! I don't plan on leaving the house.

I had my first maternity photo shoot on Sunday. The couple was super nice and their dog was such a sweetie. I think it went alright consider it was my first indoor shoot. I've got to get the hang of using my flash though. I have other people lined up for indoor shoots and am going to need to use it.

This is one of my favourites.

The house is decorated, the tree is up, and I'm not any closer to being finished my shopping.

Dec. 4

Panic has set it. I realized the second Emily said "Where's my advent calendar?" that I had forgotten to get/make the kids their calendars. I had grand plans, not to be mistaken with grand illusions. I was going to make the calendars using the little watch maker tins my aunt gave me for Christmas last year and I was going to fill them with different things, chocolate, knick knacks, candy, and money, when I ran out of ideas. And then December came rushing in!

So a trip to the Superstore netted me 2 Kindersurprise calendars and 1 Marvel Superheroes calendar. Kerry doesn't need the Kinder toys, but does need daily chocolate, even if it is made mostly of wax.

We were discussing where to put the tree this year. Kerry said 'over there', meaning anywhere not infront of the tree. I said "Let's move the tv and put the tree in the corner."

To which Kerry replied very seriously "No body puts TREE in the CORNER!"

Which is one of the very few lines any of us can remember from any movie. Why does it have to be Dirty Dancing? No body puts Baby in the corner!

As I try to do every year, I will try again this year to get that perfect family photo by the tree. I have given up on my dream photo of the kids and dogs sitting in front of the glowing tree, wearing co-ordinating clothing, and smiling at me. Instead I will settle for the tree standing up right, kids in clothes and not pjs, and no dogs eating ornaments. I mean really, can anything top this...

Dec.1

Holy smokes! It's coming faster than I thought!
I just remembered my Daily December album. What to do? It's only the first day and already I'm stressing about it. I've got an idea, the sun is shining and I'm taking a break from prepping tonight's class.
I may not take pictures and blog the album every day to show you, I might do every once in awhile and then the whole shebang at the end. Or maybe not, we'll see how it goes.