Happy New Year!

Well, the holiday season has come and gone and 2007 is being rung out tonight. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this year so wonderful for me: my clients, my blog readers, and my friends and family.
I'm excited to start 2008 with a bang, I'm starting a new year-long promo called Fresh Ideas. I'll be giving you the full scoop in the next couple of days!

This gorgeous little baby was one of the many Christmas presents that I was lucky to photograph this December. I had tons of fun at the session, it's fabulous when the parents are willing to try anything, and have some ideas of their own - which this shot was one of!

Happy New Year everyone! (don't forget an Advil and tons of water before bed tonight, lol)

Christmas comes this time each year

Whew, what a hectic couple of days!
I managed to sneak out this morning for some Boxing Day shopping at Holt Renfrew, (Merry Christmas Brandy, Love Jimmy Choo) and now I'm back on the computer to proof some more sessions. I've been so crazy busy lately, I haven't blogged as much as I've wanted to, I have tons of sessions that I haven't shared here. Maybe my New Year's resolution will be to be a better blogger? ;)
I hope everyone had very, very Happy Holidays and you all got what you wished for. My girls cleaned up like bandits, but I really need to buy more for the baby and less for the 4 year old. A bit of a lopsided Christmas here due to Second Child Syndrome. (ie, she gets the shaft, lol)
I'm just going to quickly share a few from some recent sessions, and more in the next week as I try to catch my breath!

.miracle.

This tiny little one is such a miracle to me. She's gone through so much in her short life and her parents completely amazed me with their strength and passion for their daughter and life itself. Thank you so much for inviting me into your home and making me part of this beautiful story.

The sweetest holiday gift

This new family has just welcomed home this little sunshine. One of the most peaceful newborns I've had the pleasure of meeting, she was just a total doll throughout the whole session. She was so patient with me, letting me play with some of my brand new and exciting newborn wraps. I'll be previewing more from different sessions this month, I'm excited to add this new look to my newborn photography. Congratulations again Mom and Dad, and enjoy your first holiday season as a family.

Holiday Deadline is this week!

To get your prints in time for the holidays, I need all orders placed by 12:00pm on Thursday, December 13th.
Anything ordered after that time will be available after January 1st.
This is a great opportunity to do some easy Christmas shopping.

Another cool thing I keep forgetting to mention, Calgary's Child is having their annual Parent's Choice Awards. You can win a weekend for your family at the fabulous Sheraton Eau Claire. (Or have a night away from the kids, which is what I would pick today, lol)
You can vote HERE for your favorite local businesses.

I met this wonderful new family last month, and as what usually happens at my newborn sessions, the baby didn't want to sleep.
Of course parents are usually mystified, because baby ALWAYS sleeps. Except when I come over. LOL!
I'm cool with it when babies don't sleep, I love to see their gorgeous newborn eyes, and I know if we all have a little patience, that baby will get sleepy and we can get those scrunchy shots that we all love.
Now, it's easy for me to say, because having patience usually involves mom nursing baby, while I sit and chat and drink coffee and socialize. Fun job, right? ;)

Having patience does work though, because even though most of my clients feel worried that it's only their baby that is awake and/or crying, I'm here to reassure you that it happens. A lot! :)

Pregnancy never looked so good!

I had the pleasure of photographing this gorgeous mom-to-be a couple of weeks ago.
We had rescheduled the session due to snowy weather, and I'm so glad we did!
We had the beautiful backdrop of Eau Claire and while it was chilly, it was nothing like a normal November afternoon.
One of the best parts of this shoot was that mom-to-be was so stylish, she had a TON of awesome maternity clothes that I got to pick for the photos. I totally want to raid her closet if I ever get pregnant again.
Thanks for a great day you two, I had a blast.

Uh, sorry about those shelves . . .

So once in awhile I do stupid things at sessions. One time I was joking around with a family and told their mother:

"you're just not a pretty face".

Oh. Dear. God.
I meant to say "you're not just a pretty face". I'm pretty sure I heard crickets after that comment. And a couple of tumbleweeds bounced on through the room.

So today was another entry in the my own Hall of Shame. I sat on a shelving unit while taking photos of the baby.
Not realizing the shelving unit was bolted INTO the wall, and not actually on the floor like I thought. So when the whole thing came crashing down, me included, I could have died. It's too bad someone wasn't taking MY picture at the time.

So again, to my fabulous, wonderful, amazing clients: forgive me. please. I'm an idiot.

Hey, at least the shots were great today! ;)

Honey, I'm home!

We're finally back from our trip to Disneyland. We had a great time, but now it's back to the camera and the computer!
I have a lot of blog posts to make, so stay tuned this week as I catch up!
Here are just a few shots from our trip, the weather was wonderful, and "it's a small world" is still pretty good after the 10th time. :)

Awake and Sweet

This little guy was wide awake for this session, but he was one of the most peaceful and relaxed babies I've ever seen.
No matter where we put him, or how we moved him, he was just mellow and happy. Congratulate yourselves Mom & Dad, I think you've got a keeper! :)

In a cabin in the woods . . .

a little deer at the window stood! LOL. I've had this song running though my head while editing these photos. A gorgeous B&B recently turned into a home, in beautiful Canmore. I'm still dreaming about the view they have from their bedroom. Ahhhhh.
Here's one more because I am just in love with their bathroom. It probably would have been weird to ask them if I could take a bath, huh? :)

Cool Families

So I always say I have the coolest clients.
Today was no exception. I often leave sessions feeling like I just hung out with friends for an afternoon instead of working.
My session today was exactly like this, except we even stood talking at my car for another 10 minutes after.
I felt like I was on an awesome playdate, except I had no kids with me, haha.
Anyway, thanks for the fun session today guys. and here's a little sneak peak!

Oh, and Cheryl, if you are reading this, your gallery is almost up and ready. :)

Happy

Isn't she just the sweetest thing? And mom was seriously worried because baby didn't get much sleep.
Speaking of not getting much sleep, I'm back from Las Vegas - unfortunately without my passport.
I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off the past few days trying to make sure I can get a new passport before my trip to Disneyland in 2 weeks. You do NOT want to tick off a 4 year old with a princess fetish.
I'm also hard at work on proofing and getting up your galleries, so never fear! Hopefully things will be back to normal by the end of the weekend.
:)

Fresh Sugar

Where do I even start with this session? Dad is hilarious, mom is super nice, brother is absolutely gorgeous and baby is super sweet and a great sleeper to boot! I had a wonderful time at their home, and am so excited to edit these photographs.
Here is one sneak peek, I was completely in love with their cool kitchen drawers with CANDY in them!
Thanks again for a rockin' session guys.

Sugar Shack Cakes

My daughter Charlotte turned 1 years old last Saturday. Since she is a charter member of the Second Child Society, I procrastinated and neglected almost everything about the party. But from procrastination comes great things!
It was too late to get a cake from my usual place, so I tried something new that I saw at the Calgary's Child fun fair this spring.
Sugar Shack Cakes was absolutely awesome. Not only is the name great (heh heh), but the designs are so cute and the ordering system is extremely easy to navigate. Of course, the proof is in the puddi - er, cake. It was bar none the best cake I think I've ever had. And I am a cake snob. I like cake, and since I don't like frosting, it must be gooood cake. Well not only was this cake delicious, but the frosting was really yummy too!
Next time you need a cake for any reason, check out Sugar Shack cakes. You won't be disappointed.

New Music Tuesday

It isn't the first post about new music on the site, and it surely won't be the last.
The latest song is by Blessed by Brett Dennen.
It's a happy, upbeat song and the girls love dancing to it. I was thrilled to receive permission to share it with you all on the Fresh Sugar website. It's the second track. Enjoy!
(if you love what you hear, you can buy it on iTunes)

New Birth Announcements

There are some beautiful new birth announcement samples on the website under "stuff".
Here is a sneak peek!

More Rolls Than A Bakery!

This little cutie had the most roly-poly little body. She was a complete sweetheart, and very, very serious.
I just wanted to pick her up and cuddle her the entire session! We were also able to go outside yesterday for this session - which was surprising to say the least! Thanks very much to this family for a fun Sunday morning!

Back From Kelowna

Whew! We made it back! We had a great time in Kelowna (or Westbank, more accurately) but I think I need a vacation from my vacation! Good thing I have a girl's trip to Vegas next month, lol!

I thought I'd share a few highlights from our trip before getting back to work. Tomorrow everything starts again, so all your questions/orders/galleries will be taken care of. :) Tonight it's some pizza, and some vegging.

I'll start with the photo that makes me laugh the most, and it's my husband Dave on the kid's playground in Kelowna. We went down to the lake to see the Dragon Boat races, but ended up at the wrong park. So of course we had to play before leaving!





We went to the Mission Hill winery one afternoon. We ate lunch at their outdoor restaurant with spectacular views.
Since I could not for the life of me figure out the menu, I had a salad and Dave had a pulled pork sandwich which of course was to die for. The wine was Merlot.





After lunch we went on the tour and tasting which was pretty fun, even though I'm not a huge wine fan.






We also spent some time at the pool and the beach. We heard it snowed in Calgary while we were gone. Brrr!







Charlotte fell asleep in the pool:



It was a great trip though, and it was really nice to try to recharge creatively.






And here's the whole family the morning before we left. Wouldn't you know that 20 minutes into the drive home Emma throws up all over herself in her carseat, and has been sick ever since. At least we're home now. :)

Tag, I'm It!

The fabby fab Central Alberta photographer Ashley Skjaveland tagged me in a game of blog tag. It's kind of fun!

The Rules.

Post the rules before you give the facts. Post eight random facts about yourself. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag eight people and list their names. Leave the people you tagged a comment on their blog, letting them know that they've been tagged.

#1. I am not a good cook. Actually, I am not a cook at all. I love to bake, but something about spending all that time making something that will disappear in 15 minutes depresses me. I buy a lot of easy to make meal - tortellini and sauce, spaghetti, lots of crockpot stuff.

#2. I am a television junkie. I watch everything I can, and when tv season starts, I have a set schedule of watching every night. Thank goodness for DVRs! Best invention ever! My favorite show ever was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, second was Veronica Mars. I really like shows that get cancelled. LOL! Right now I've been catching up on Heroes on dvd, and I have to say - this show is rivaling LOST for me. It's really gripping, imaginative television. There's still time to catch up on all the episodes before season 2 starts!

#3. I am a bit addicted to technology. Any new kind of gadget, I need to have. Which is why we have a Media Center PC, a laptop PC, a MacBook Pro, and an iMac. You bet I'll be getting an iPhone when they come out in Canada, even though I have two iPods and a Sidekick phone. I waited for hours in the -25 weather for my Wii. If it's new and electronic, I want it.

#4. Guitar Hero is the best game ever. I am a video game junkie. I have every Nintendo system ever made, and I play my DS all the time. But Playstation kicks butt at "cool" games. I first got my PS2 so I could play Karaoke Revolution. (awesome game series, btw), then I got Dance Dance Revolution (my husband's better at it than me) but now it's basically a Guitar Hero Machine. We have face-offs, and everytime we have guests over, we bring out the guitars. Everyone loves playing this game -from my 4 year old to my mother-in-law. I can't wait for GH3 to come out. We got the 80's game, but were disappointed on how few songs there were. And no, I probably won't be getting it for the Wii in a few months. Why? Playstation rocks it!

#5. My favorite soft drink is Dr. Pepper. My favorite fast food is a Mozza burger from A&W. My favorite candy bar is a Wonderbar. My favorite candy is Sweetarts.

#6. I say "zee" instead of "zed". Candy bar instead of chocolate bar. I don't spell neighbor with a "u". I went to school in Los Angeles, California from kindergarden to grade 3 - where I learned the alphabet, how to spell and the only celebrity I ever saw was Elizabeth Montgomery from Bewitched. But yes, I *did* go to school with "Blossom", but we haven't spoken in years and years. Actually I did look her up about 6 years ago, and we exchanged a couple of emails and that's it. I think she was studying neuroscience or something like that. True story.

#7. I think Anthony Wiggle is hot.

#8. I am not afraid of much, but I am deathly afraid of rats. I love that Alberta is rat-free. I can never move away! It's not just rats though, I fear any rodent. And rabbits. I fear rabbits. And birds. Huh. Maybe I am afraid of a lot? LOL!

So now for my 8 blogging coolcats:

Alicia Price Photography

Dooce

Moments Cherished Photography

Life With My X-Men

Bowes Photography

Jenna Slomp Photography

Phreckles Photography

Kylie Banks Photography

Another Recall

It seems like I'm posting about this a lot lately!
Mattel announced another recall today - including a Geo Trax Engine and some Barbie accessories.
You can read more here: Mattel Site
CNN thinks this will not be the last recall we hear about this year due to lead paint, and I have to think they're right.
:(

Rock On!

Haha! This little cutie is gonna be a rockstar, I just know it. I had the pleasure of meeting this very fun and easy-going family last weekend. As what happens sometimes, the weather just didn't want to cooperate with us. Rainy and dreary outside, their kitchen nook had great light. So out went the table. Out went the chairs. Everyone sat on the floor and played with Mr. J. He had a blast, and I think we all did too. :)

The Look of Love

I'm a bloggin' fiend these days!
It's because I'm proofing so many session in so little time, just trying to get everyone their galleries out as soon as possible.
This little guy was feeling a bit under the weather at our session, but was still a trooper, giving me lots of smiles and grins.
This shot is my favorite though, his mama was whispering in his ear, and the expression on his face says it all. Pure contentment!

***Oh, and September is almost completely booked up for weekend sessions. There are only two left! If you want some fall portraits, book now!

Sleepy

I've been really lucky lately, and been getting some super sleepy newborns. It helps when the heat is cranked up in the house, (to the point where we're sweating), and the baby is less that two weeks old. When they get a little older than that, they are more aware of their surroundings and not so keen to be poked, prodded and moved. This little guy stayed pretty sleepy, waking once in awhile to nurse. Perfection!

Best. Hair. Ever.

Can you believe all the hair this little man from today has?
I'm uploading the photos onto the computer and had to grab this one to share with everyone.
It cracks me up - his hair is longer than my 10 month old's!
Thanks for a great afternoon today guys, I had lots of fun.

On a completely different note, Fresh Sugar is having a policy change. Effective immediately, galleries are online for 1 week after posting. An extension of 3 days can be provided under extenuating circumstances. After that time, all gallery images will be archived OFF my main computer, and will require an archiving fee of $50 to be paid to repost the gallery for 3 more days.

I have several galleries tying up valuable space on my computer right now, and with my recent crash, I don't want to hog unnecessary resources. I want to keep things as streamlined as possible, and help everyone through the ordering process.
Please send me an email if you have any questions. Thanks!

New Music

If you keep your speakers on while cruising the site, you probably have noticed that I like to change the music up every so often.
I love finding artists who give their permission to use their music, and my latest find is Ashley Gramins. She has a beautiful voice and such a funky style. You can listen to her version of Rainbow Connection on www.freshsugar.ca, it's the 3rd song.
If you love what you hear, and I'm sure you will - you can purchase her cd Mama Rocks on iTunes.

Book now to secure one of the last evening sessions!

Just a quick update today, evening sessions are only available until the end of September, and are booking fast.
If you are interested in grabbing one of these last few dates to get some nice evening light photos (my personal fave) then check the website for the schedule and email me!

I'm still looking for teenage models for my new site, and need more guys - so if you know any, please tell them about the deal.
Free photo session, a cd of websized, watermarked images perfect for Facebook or MySpace, and 50% off prints.
Also needed, anyone who is interested in "trashing" their grad dress. Check out Drown The Gown to get an idea of what I'm talking about!

Finally, my computer should be ready for pickup today. I've been lost without it. For those waiting on newborn/maternity sessions - I am going to be working 'round the clock the next week to make sure your galleries get up in a timely manner. Thank you all so much for your patience.

Oh, and I've got some new additions to Fresh Sugar's product list. I'll be posting some photos soon! New birth announcements and new collages! Stay tuned!

(and the photo is random, but I can't post an entry without a pic! This is one of the only photos on my laptop, taken with our Canon point and shoot camera. It's Emma's first day at camp, at the wonderful Butterfield Acres)