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Thursday 15 December 2011

the photo I did not take...


I love this image! Its from a recent shoot with a lovely little family of 3. The only problem? I didn't take it!! yep! that's right! my talented sidekick strikes again! haha :) still, I shouldn't complain - it's good to have help worth taking along.What I love most is that the full story isn't obvious right away. If you look just to the right of that fantastic bit of lens flair (jealous much?!) you can just about see me taking pictures of mum and dad! Nice shot babe!

Sunday 4 December 2011

Friday Decenber 2nd: Dad's Christmas do! :)


So once a year my lovely Dad, pictured below takes us and Jus n Sean out for a meal along with my Aunty Nora. Lucky for us Dad has great taste so its always a meal to look forward too, and I really do. This year was no exception although it was quite a drive to The Swettenham Arms and I felt car sick both on the way there and on the way back which wasn't great!




I didn't take too many pics. You know how it is, classy joint - don't want to be waving your camera phone around like a loon / tourist too much ;) but I did get one of Sean with his amuse-bouche ;)


Saturday 3 December 2011

Welcome, December!

So in line with my goal to blog every day in December, here goes! better late than never right?!

Well, as usual December crept up on me in the usual sneaky fashion. I thought I at least had the important stuff covered, but, no! The evening of the last day of November saw me in the loft, hunting for Dave's advent calendar which was...at work. At least I had the chocolate to give him!

I did place this little guy on my desk though, to add a little festive cheer. I am hoping to keep it alive and decorate it through December ready to give as a gift, just for fun :)




As it was the first of December and Dave was at meetings I headed here after work for a bit of christmas shopping! Had to be done right?! ;)




And lastly after 4 or so years of having this book in my possession, this year I finally remembered to start reading it on the 1st of December!! Go me!!!!


not a bad start to the month given how far from organised I am!

Monday 14 November 2011

white flag...er....monday!

Took these in the spring... its past time they saw the light of day!...







Wednesday 19 October 2011

As promised...

... white flag wednesday :)









having beautiful friends really helps in my job! :)

Monday 17 October 2011

WHITE FLAG WEDNESDAYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!!!!!!

... as is keeping up with this blog, getting the new website up and running and revealing some big changes around here!
Its been a tough year if I'm honest. Not that anything really terrible has happened, but I think we all have those years - the ones that just feel harder, for no apparent reason. I feel like I have learnt a lot about myself, things I am excited to change and put into practise. I love this time of year anyway, but this year I am feeling it a little more, relief to close out 2011 and dive into 2012 with at least some sense of direction. I know what I want to do with my life, the business and everything else. Now its just down to me!

and I have a TON of images to share! :)

I had wondered whether to just let the white flag wednesday concept die quietly, in the spirit of moving onto new things. But I think I'll let it live a while, except, I'm not sure I can wait until Wednesday to reveal the pics of this weeks cute couple! Maybe white flag wednesdays will just be lost in the avalanche anyway!!....

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Working on the weekend...

Well, I'm always working, but I had to spend some time at the Practical office Saturday just gone. I say 'some time' as dinner time whooshed past me, the folks at home sent me this...


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Monday 1 August 2011

This SO made me laugh today...


now get off that computer! :) just kidding!

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Today's White Flag Wednesday...

.... Will be posted tomorrow or Friday! Sorry!! I know that's completely cheating but I don't feel so well. Back on track ASAP!




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Wednesday 15 June 2011

White Flag Wednesdays...

I am so tired that I am really struggling to get this post down. But if I don't, it won't be Wednesday anymore and this is long overdue! I feel like for so long I have been trying to fit enough work for two lives into just one - mine. I'm usually very careful with client work - I will push myself to the absolute limits to abide by self imposed deadlines etc. but then there's another side to things. The side my friends and family see. the little extra I try to give to them because, well, they rock :) but they are the people who know they can wait forever to see me complete what I started for them. I appreciate their patience so much but its time for it to stop - I need to pull myself out of this hole!
   I made a list just less than a year ago.A list of things to do before my 30th birthday. Most of it is gonna have to be binned, but the one thing I intend to stick by is seeing each and every one of those 'friend' jobs crossed off. So, if you have received an email / message from me directing you to this blog post, then there's some cause for optimism - white flag Wednesdays are for you!! Every Weds I will preview some of these 'lost in the endless queue" shots. when you see yours, you know the job is done and they are on their way to you. There will be at least one white flag post each weds - I hope most days multiple posts.Who will it be next week??? it might be you! :)
so without any more jabber here is a mini offering to kick off White Flag Wednesdays...



Chrissie and Natasha, I will be in touch in the next few days to arrange getting these files to you! :)

Tuesday 17 May 2011

a picture is worth...


enough said!!!

Wednesday 11 May 2011

The view from here

I was going to post some stuff. All-sorts. But I got sick. Nothing contagious, just migraine brought on by me stressing over having to face or be reminded of the things I can't change which are really getting to me right now. But it's a long time since I had it that bad. I seem ok now but I'm already worrying about the possibility of a repeat this weekend. I geuss we'll just have to see how I handle it. Whilst I attempt to catch up, here is the view, as I lay on my back with the cats feet in my face!...







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Wednesday 27 April 2011

The break through...

Some people may be wondering what happened with the diet. After 2 days of hyper enthusiastic posts... nothing. Well, one or two random unrelated images but not another word on the diet. Well, you see, the truth is...

... I actually stuck to it!! ~No, no, please don't die of shock! sit down a moment, you'll be fine! I actually found the Body Blitz plan much easier to follow than I thought I would. The book promised a weight loss of around 7 lbs in return for sticking to the plan and throwing in around 5 half hour sessions of some form of exercise (not necessarily anything too strenuous) each week for 2 weeks. Well, I almost stuck to the plan (other than the accidental honey and lemon drink, one packet of maltesers and a packet of crisps when I stayed really late at the office one night and one or two stolen pieces of potato when dave was having some), skipped the odd meal when I was too busy or not hungry (but never deliberately to starve myself), skipped a portion of the snacks (because I just didn't need them), did no specific exercise...
and lost a grand total of 7.5 lbs!!!
   It was so much fun to watch Pam, my Weight Watchers leader almost hit the deck when I stepped on the scales. Any loss would have amazed her after the last few weeks!
The observant among you may have noticed that I have only claimed 7 lbs on the chart at the top. That is because that is what I measured at home.


So, what now?? well, since that little triumph I have eaten waaaaaaaay too much chocolate! So today I am trying to rein it back in a little. I'm not after a big loss this week - a small loss or a stay the same for the next 2 will do nicely and then it will be back to another 14days on the plan to see if I can crack the stone!


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Monday 25 April 2011

Happy Easter...

He lives! and because he does, so can I... forever... with these nuts!....


I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living head.
He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above,
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears,
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives, all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly friend,
He lives, and loves me to the end,
He lives, and while He lives I’ll sing,
He lives, my Prophet, Priest and King.
He lives, and grants me daily breath,
He lives, and I shall conquer death,
He lives, my mansion to prepare,
He lives, to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Saviour, still the same;
O the sweet joy this sentence gives,
“I know that my Redeemer lives.”

Tuesday 19 April 2011

So, I'm pretty sure my neighbours think I'm crazy...

and that was before they saw me with Naomi and Joe today in the front garden, cooing into the flower beds...



Oh, well!

Sunday 10 April 2011

Day two in the diet house...

I was sick today and stayed home all day in my pjs inhaling menthol and trying to breathe! so other than the diet I really have nothing else to talk about!

SO, day 2. managing better than expected so far.

I started the day with an egg and rye bread soldiers. I realised that since I NEVER eat this I don't have egg cups - untill I remembered the one I had as a kid. I didnt want to throw it away for some reason, so I stashed it in my craft cupboard, so that was fun! the egg was a bit of a disaster though - I followed the instructions and it came out practically hard boiled. Have to try that again!



For lunch I tried the 'lemony leeks, chicken and barley. It was the first time Ive tried barley like that and it came out quite nice. the chicken stock and lemon flavour meant it totally didnt taste like diet food and texture wise, it was kind of like a risotto. It was fairly filling and as it was quite late on by the time we ate it we ended up skipping dinner! Hoping I will be a size 8 by next week (hahaha) i did pinch a pit of the pork I had been cooking for dinner, but bearing in mind that was in place of a whole meal, it shouldnt cause a problem!
I had one snack - ryvita and peanut butter and drank water & diet coke all day. The only time I did slip up was the honey and lemon drink I made myself in the morning, since honey isn't allowed. I realise half way through but finished it since I was only drinking it because I am sick!
total points today: 24 out of 29

Friday 8 April 2011

confessions of a serial dieter....

... oh yes! that's me! I have tried them all, pretty much, including the mayo clinic one where you have to have grapefruit / grapefruit juice before every meal, never mind that I HATE grapefruit! I spent about 2 weeks consuming tons of the stuff, only to be disappointed with the end result, as always! During recent years I have found that the only plan that really works for me is the Weight Watchers plan. And yet, despite knowing that is does work for me, and knowing that I really do want to finally lose this weight, I am having an insanely hard time sticking to it. I'm always either comfort eating to try and fill some emotional black hole, suffering from a cold or other sickness, or over working myself, getting no sleep and eating just to keep from dropping dead! Something has got to give and I am determined that this time it will finally be my waistline!! So enter Anna Richardson and the Body Blitz diet (as recommended by my mother-in-law).









I spent a good few weeks dragging my feet and pouting about giving up stuff like bread and potatoes before eventually setting a start date of today. I figured I should at least try it.

My starting point is 165.2kg and a total of 153.5 inches across various places....

so, Day One...

Breakfast : Pan fried bacon, mushrooms & tomatoes
lunch : the beef and horseradish sandwich but replacing the rye bread with 3 ryvitas
dinner : Prawn Balti with steamed courgette & babycorn and a little drop a dress size dressing.
Snacks : fruit with 2 tbs soya
              hard boiled egg.
Drinks : water, diet coke
no excercise as such although I had to do the shopping so there was some walking there.

I'll admit, I feel a little hungry, or maybe I'm not- maybe I am just aware that I can't have stuff. The great thing is that right now the enthusiasm to try new stuff and see some reults is keeping me going. I know that will run out at some point. I have enjoyed everything I have tried so far though, so thats good!

*edited to add: that works out at 21 points on WW and I'm supposedly allowed 29 a day!! So I should lose weight!
the egg wasn't technically on the list of snacks but with sticking to it so closely, I figured if thats what I wanted it couldnt do any harm.
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Thursday 7 April 2011

coming soon...

I have this massive list of little jobs here and there that people are waiting for. But, before I move on to that I HAD to post something from Saturday! These guys were too fab!



Naomi, if you go over, I will post a few more to pass the time! :)

Wednesday 6 April 2011

on this day 21 years ago...

 

...I became an aunty.  And roughly 8 years later, I took this picture. It could be argued that this was indeed my finest moment as a photographer, back before it all started, just for the amusement that has come from this one image. To everyone except poor Matt that is! :)
so, some things you should know about this picture...
1. It is NOT, and never was a dodgy ad  for french fries! Matt IS wearing swimming trunks and the rest is, well, just unfortunate for him!
2. Matt hates this picture! no, REALLY!
3. Shortly after this holiday I gave my youngest nephew an album with one picture of each member of the family from this holiday, This is the picture I picked for Matt.
4. Matt removed the picture from the album and ripped it up. Little did he know, it was just a copy. Mwahahaha :)
5. On Matt's 18th birthday I used this picture to make Matts gift tag, and gave him his gift (a multipack of french fries) whilst he was sat with his girlfriend (now wife).
6. Although the thought did cross my mind, I haven't had this picture enlarged to a stupidly large size to display anywhere today. So Matt, you are safe untill your 30th at least! :)
7. If he has found this blog post, he has almost certainly disowned me by now so I may as-well say it quick, Happy 21st Matt! We LURVE you!!! x






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Tuesday 5 April 2011

The Secret Garden...

Ok, so, it isn't really a 'secret garden', but I know I couldn't find my way back to Woodbank Park again even if I tried! We visited together in the autumn of 2010 to shoot their engagement session. They showed me around the important places, the settings of their story. A lovely story - you can read it here at their blog.
We reenacted the magical moment and they smiled and posed for the camera as a bunch of kids looked on (who had kindly moved aside to allow us space) and eagerly fired questions at the happy couple about what they were doing and when they would be getting married. To me, it was much like any other park, trees, grass, a play area. To them it is where they used to 'hang', a place to go on dates and where Matt chose to propose. For them it will always hold too many sweet memories to be 'just another park'. Maybe it really is a secret garden.

Monday 4 April 2011

Once upon a time...


...they met on a youth camp. They continued to hang out, eventually swapping contacts. Almost a year later they admitted they liked each other and went on a few dates...

"So, we had been boyfriend/girlfriend for a a year when he left to serve his mission. Initially we split up so I could date other people but not long after I decided I wanted to wait. This was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. I learnt and grew alongside Matt as he served the Lord. I wrote to him faithfully twice a week and he also never missed a week! There were hard times and good times and I can say that I am a stronger person because of it. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to wait for a missionary.

Then on the 18th August 2010, he came home. My missionary returned an RM. The first couple of days were a blur, but it was natural. It was at times, like he'd never left. I was definately a happy lady :)



5 days after he returned on our 3 year anniversary, Matt asked me to marry him....
 
Tomorrow I will post some stills from their shoot...

Saturday 2 April 2011

Checking out...emotionally.



I'm in a strange place right now. It's kind of hard to describe. If you knew someone was going to punch you, you'd duck. But I'm learning that sometimes when life throws one at you, you are expected to stand there and take it. I feel like I'm waiting for a crash, waiting for the pain to set in. I want to duck, but that isn't what is expected of me, so instead its like I can feel myself emotionally checking out. I'm not really there. I walk around doing the things I do but it's not me. I'm somewhere else, I don't know where. Thats not to say that there aren't some good and encouraging things happening in my life. Some fantastic blessings I should be grateful for, and I am, really. But beneath it all, all I can feel is the pain, gloating, because it's turn is coming. Fast. I'm in the tunnel, I see the lights, but I know they aren't the end. They're the train!


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Wednesday 30 March 2011

Happy Birthday....

...to the bestest niece EVER!






And the bestest pre birthday dinner buddy...






















and the bestest concert buddy ever...




Hope you have the BEST birthday! (present and card will follow, maybe by weekend - but hey! I did take you out!! ;) x


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Thursday 24 March 2011

Green... is the new black...

...apparantly!
And this is where I admit to being a total bottle geek! It all started back in February when dave requested a new lunch flask on his birthday list. (yes, clearly he is a bit of a bottle geek also!!)
And so, after much searching, enter this baby...




Well it arrived and I almost considered keeping it for myself! (yes I am that sad!) Its pretty, the top is really convenient - everything is attached so you can't lose any bits but the flip top folds back and stays back (ie. it doesn't hit you in the face when you take a drink). The mouth piece is, well, perfect - no dribbles but easy to clean. Its dishwasher safe - so that means we get to buy a dish washer next right? ;) shatter proof, aaaaaaaand its bpa free - so its good for the environment AND good for me. oh and did I mention it fits in the gap in the fridge below the water and ice dispensor perfectly? no? really??
anyhooo, amazon do them in lots of sizes and designs - just search aladdin water bottles. Or don't, whatever!

Well, now I got that off my chest, normal service can resume! :)
thanks for listening!



Thursday 17 March 2011

Happy belated birthday to a certain new Momma...

Sunday 13 March 2011

neeeeeeeeeeext!

I've been pretty busy recently, my list of things to do just keeps growing. I have a massive back-log of stuff to post here!
So heres a tiny taste of whats to come - our latest studio visitor!

Thursday 10 March 2011

perfect!

so there was no picture with the last post, simply because nothing seemed to fit! Then a freind posted this to their pinterest board:

Love it!
print can be bought here
more info from designer here

Tuesday 8 March 2011

As far as the thing that troubles me goes...

avoidance isn't working. avoidance can't last, and can never be complete- I just won't be allowed to get away with it! so, I am going to rub my face in it, perhaps not excessively, but thats what I am going to do. Surely there comes a point where it can't feel any worse right? well, bring it on, I think I'm ready!!

Friday 25 February 2011

Had a visitor to the studio today...

...don't think he was impressed though!




More from him soon!!

Wednesday 26 January 2011

One year ago today...

... I came home from work, and she wasn't waiting on the couch where I thought she would be. And she didn't greet me at the door. I searched the house growing more distressed with each room. Until I found her, upstairs, and then I cried.


She will never be replaced.

Monday 24 January 2011

Dear Grandma Alice,

Happy birthday. Today you would have been 100 if you were still here. I miss you. I wish I had realised that I would when you were here.
We wanted to celebrate your birthday by going to the pub for a mixed grill, but sadly I have a lot of work that needs finishing. So I picked some fish and chips up on the way from work and ate it at the computer with a glass of sugary Ribena and lemonade. I know you would approve!




Tomorrow on my lunch brake I will take you some flowers to the cemetery and make floppy oatcakes and eat them with butter.
Happy birthday grandma, no longer another year older, but one less till we meet again x

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Wednesday 19 January 2011

Sacrifice...




That's MY nice warm snuggly blanket, or it was!! On the positive side though, it seems to have magical calming qualities. That's the only reason I am even remotely ok with this!

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