Grad 2012 :: Kaitlin in Pink

So now i have a work permit, i officially have now done two photography jobs... and loving it! Love that i can now do it and get paid! Exciting times!

Nothing like a grad shoot to kick start things, and a STUNNING dress and a grad that isnt put off by rain!

It was so much fun, we even ended up going for a mcdonalds after the shoot. We were hungry from all the creativity!

Here are a few sneek peeks of the shoot!

Thanks kaitlin for being a rockstar... you look beautiful in all of them!

WORKING WOMAN

Yes, finally, after nearly six years, i am allowed to work in Canada. I am married to my canadian husband, and have my canglish (1/2 canada, 1/2 english) baby and its only now that i was approved for a work permit and now just waiting on my permanent residency.

Its is very exciting. I now get to officially launch my photography business. I can't wait to get the website up and running and get advertising!

I love being a mummy, and that for me is my primary focus, but a little creativity... paid creativity will be nice.

yep, there it is, in all its glory! FREEDOM!!!!!!! We are all very happy, as you can tell.

Thank you canada for finally excepting this english girl!

5 DIY Gift ideas for Fathers Day

Fathers day is on June 17th this year, and while i was thinking of what to do for the hubby from our baby boy on his first official fathers day, i came across some ideas that inspired me to customize them as gifts for the occasion.

I have yet to choose which i will pick. Here are some things to get the kids involved in gift giving and loving on their dad!

The CREATE CHALLENGES are a little more tricky or time consuming but an idea to push forward with a little more creativity. one for every suggestion.


1.  PERSONALIZED COFFEE MUG

Go to your local dollar store and pick up a white mug and a sharpie. You could write "I love Daddy" on it, or a favourite quote that your child says, or "best dad in the world". Or why not try and be a little more creative.

CREATE CHALLENGE: Trace around your childs hand, or do a set of six mugs all with different things that the child loves about their dad

Use a sharpie and bake in over for 30 minutes at 350 to set in the ink.
If you use ceramic paint, just check the instructions on the pack.

2. HANDS ON T-SHIRT

Easy peesey lemon squeezy.... buy one white tshirt (walmart for a basic tee about $5 and some fabric paint.
Child/children's hand print on the front.

CREATE CHALLENGE: Take your tshirt outside and let the kids go mad splattering paint all over to make a funky graffiti style t-shirt for the daddykins 


3. POP!


This is in no way my idea, i totally saw it on pinterest and thinks it adorable. It caught my eye because my husband loves A&W root beer.
Grab a pack of root beer and print off this free downloadable label that says "Your an A&Wesome Dad"

click here to download this free printable

CREATE CHALLENGE Maybe take a fathers day walk to an A&W and present him with it there... make a trip out of it and give the gift of time as well!


4. MOVIE NIGHT


Make up a little coupon that says "One Movie Experience". Im thinking something like star wars, or some great action manly film. Buy the Dvd, or use one that you already have and put the coupon on top and a ribbon around it.

CREATE CHALLENGE: Go hardcore and make it a real experience. Grab a basket from the dollar store, and pop your dvd in there with your coupon, then add a bag of popcorn, some pop and some candy. Maybe even a voucher for some fast food. The let dad have the night of his life.


5. CLAY ALL THE WAY

Whenever i go down the craft aisle at the dollar store i always see the little packs of clay. Ok, so they may not be the best quality clay in the world but when your dealing with little ones, they don;t know the difference, and lets be honest, dad probably wont either.

Make a bowl with dad drawn into it and paint it up as a quaint homemade gift from the kidlets.

CREAT CHALLENGE: Sit the kids down at a prepped table, hook them up with an apron and let them sculpt their daddy. Follow kit instructions for oven/drying times.

Bucket List Wall

It has been sooooo long, too long since i have written a blog post! I love to do it, but i want to post only when i truly have been inspired or really felt creative or want to share. It would be boring if i just posted for the sake of posting.

I am working on a promo video right now for a worship night in the city i live, and while i sit here editing and changing things for the umpteenth time i get distracted. Looking at pinterest, planning the jubilee party for next weekend.

While on Pinterest i saw this photo that just had written on it "Have my father walk me down the aisle". That was all it said. It reminded me of one of my bucket list dreams "have my grandma be one of my bridesmaid".

I made a bucket list probably when i was about 16 years old. Its unfinished as im always adding to it, but i have had the priviledge of crossing some off that i have done.

(oh, and by the way, if you don't know what a bucket list is, it is basically a list of things you desire to do before you die).

If you read my post a few months back about my hair going completely baby pink, that was one thing i have wanted to do since i can remember, so i did it! LOVED IT! and crossed it off my list.

Crossed off having my grandma as my bridesmaid! She made a great honorary bridesmaid. She didnt believe i would ever actually do it... but we did! and it was a dream come true!

and there have been some other things that i keep in a file and need to find the photos of.

So a picture came into my head... i love to hang things on my wall, and i love photos.

WHY NOT DO A BUCKET LIST PHOTO WALL?! I can keep adding to it the more i tick off my list. And i think when the hubby gets home from work tomorrow evening, i will suggest he makes a bucket list too and we can start adding his on the wall too!

There is something about making lists... it helps me be more accountable to them. I want to see the sun set and rise in the sahara, and the more i look at my list, the more likely it is that i am going to do it.

Oh and i must add before i go, of course having children and getting married were right at the top and praise the lord, i have a great man by my side, and one baby in heaven and one 7 month baby in my arms. Hallelujah!

WRITE A BUCKET LIST.... GO ON! ITS FUN!

Ultimate Blogswap :: Featuring Jami Leigh from Saving By Making

Today I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Swap. You’ll find me posting over at Saving By Making about Mirrored Wall Art, and I’m excited to welcome Jami Leigh from Young Wife's Guide to 12 Stone Dance

Jami is the proud young wife of awesome Hubby Jason. She dreams of the day that they start their family and welcome little ones into their home. In the meantime she is busy learning as many things as she can while she has the time. Jami has a heart for hospitality and making her home an inviting place that reflects Christ. She loves sewing, scrapbooking, cooking, baking, decorating cakes, decorating her home, reading and taking bike rides with her husband.

Easy Chocolate Mousse Cups {A Tutorial}

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I love making fun and creative desserts for parties and events. I think there is something very sweet about a homemade treat over one that is picked up at the store on the way to the party. 

Whenever possible I try to make a homemade dessert to bring to someone’s house, even if it is something simple. I love to make these chocolate mousse cups and they are so simple and easy to make. 

• Buy or make the Chocolate Cups

Personally, I make the chocolate cups myself. They are easy to make, as cheap as buying some chocolate, and super yummy! I make milk and dark chocolate cups. 

To make your own: Buy a chocolate cup candy mold. I bought mine at Michaels but any craft store will carry them. Amazon is a great place to get them as well. 

This mold makes a round chocolate cup. I also have one that makes an oval cup. Order yours HERE!

Buy some melting chocolate (candy melts) from any craft store or Amazon and follow the directions on both the mold and the chocolates. 

• Make the Mousse

You can make any mousse you like. The recipe I used for these cups was a standard chocolate mousse but a raspberry mousse would be really good as well! 

• Top with your favorite fruit and you are ready to serve.  You can also skip the mousse and just make chocolate fruit cups.

Thank you Jami - they looks delicious!!!!! Make sure to checkout her blog, to save by making!

Visit Life Your Way to see all of the Ultimate Blog Swap participants!

Magazine feature

When i was asked for the first time at school when i was 5 years old what i wanted to be, the answer was a writer. When i was 7, 8, 9 and into my teens the answer remained the same. I have always wanted to be a writer. My bucket list has wanting to write a book before im thirty a priority. 

At 15 and 16 i had two poems published in a compilation book, and i remember that feeling of achievement when i saw my name and work in print.

My first real experience writing was a column for 4 years in the local newspaper here Saskatchewan. I love it. Every week i would write my column. It began about me being an english girl in a canadian world, and the ups and downs and confusions, in humour of what that was like.

I had gone to university to study english so i could eventually come out with a degree that i could use to go into journalism. I dropped out at the age of 20, and it is sometimes hard to think of what i could have achieved if i had of stuck it out. But i know God's timing was for me to not be there, and i would not have come to canada with my parents had i have still been at uni.

So to put it bluntly people have told me out blunt that i would never be a writer because i dropped out of uni. Well to that, i honestly saw SCREW THAT! You have to pursue your dreams, no matter what qualification may be needed. You have to try harder to prove yourself, but its worth it. You have to open doors and windows that may looked closed, but you keep trying if you know its what your supposed to do.

I have recently had the opportunity to start writing for a new magazine called "Fine Lifestyles" and last week was the first time i have seen my name in a glossy magazine, and i have to say it is quite exciting.

I got to write about two local businesses in town, that appeared as double page spread. I am looking forward to more in the future.

I  believe God puts desires in our hearts, not to tease us, but to show us that he believes in us and he is willing to walk with us if we would only be willing to trust him.

I do not need a degree to prove myself. I just need to trust the lord, and who he created me to be.

I am proud of what i am accomplishing but not in a prideful way if that makes sense. i believe it wasn't possible without God. So i celebrate this achievement thanking him for putting these desires in my life and fulfilling them.

the bios in front of the magazine!

the double page spread with both of my articles.

Looking forward to the future in writing.

Choose Life :: Video Project

about 5 years ago i came across this movement called BOUND4LIFE. It blew my mind. It was not a traditional pro life movement, or an angry abortion protest, but a what they call a 'prayer siege'. You may have seen the red tape with LIFE written on it across peoples faces on pictures. This is that movement.

Groups of christians get together and pray outside court house & abortion clinics, wearing this life tape. Reading the word. Praying. Praying for God to break through the mindset that a baby in the womb is not classed as a valued life.

I know this sounds a little heavy for a blog, but it is something i am passionate about. Even more so when we lost our first baby, Joshua, at three months pregnant. I believe my son was a live inside of me from the moment we conceived. I believe God had a purpose and a plan for my baby, even if it was for just three months, and his face remained unknown to us. He was ours. He is God's. He will always be my first baby.

Now a year later, a hold my second son, Finley-Stephen (means courageous one). I saw his black and white picture on an ultrasound at 12 weeks pregnant. He was alive. heart beating. Body forming. It was life. Life staring at me straight in the face.

When he came into the world, i could not believe this precious life was mine. I was so happy, so joyful.

The second day in the hospital, my husband put on some worship music, and i started to think of my first baby.  That tiny 12 week baby in my belly, would have looked a lot like the baby i was now holding. Finley started out just that small too, and here he was, a strong healthy baby. With purpose.

No matter how bad life can be, or what the circumstances are, that little life is life. it is joy. it is the promise that God loves us. That God is creator.

When i borrowed Mr J.L's camera, i took a couple short clips of Finley just on the floor playing, and when i looked back at the footage, i couldnt help to think of those babies that were created and never given a life on this earth. I am not a protester of abortion, i am pro life. Pro God.

Here is a little video i put together. Simple. Nothing too flashy. Hope you enjoy. Press link to view.

https://vimeo.com/36431678

CHOOSE LIFE.