What a cold cold week its been, just freezing and I so hate the cold, love the snow but add that cold wind and I’m done. I have always hated wearing socks and wore my sandals til November if I could, but this year, I have worn socks at home for the last couple of months, that is so NOT me!!! I even took off my toe ring and last night I swear I needed 3 blankets just to get warm and don’t think I didn’t consider wearing my socks all night long, but unless I’m 2 ice cubes shy of a slushie I will not wear my socks to bed. Sorry, just had to rant for a bit. My brother counts down the days to spring, something like 83 days left, and I for one CAN’T WAIT!!!

Now that I’m done ranting, I want to share more of the Christmas shoot I did with Agata and her family. I know they took the train to T.O. from Ottawa and I so want to do that one day, so next year, I think we’re going to Ottawa and then I can do a shoot with them on the Rideau canal, another place I’ve wanted to visit as its a huge canal that freezes over and makes for one enormous skating rink.

We had a lot of fun here at cityhall though and although our skating rink is a bit smaller and a bit more crowded, it still made for an awesome local. It helped to have such a cute looking family as well, and I just had to share more from this session. Thanks again Agata!

It was freezing cold out but nothing could stop me from puttinng on my pretty black dress and curling my hair and doing my nails and going out in that freezing cold weather to celebrate my best friend’s engagement.

The party was held at Omonia, a lovely greek restuarant on the Danforth, and not only did we eat and laugh and drink and dance, but we cried too. It was an overwhelming night, filled with love and joy and anticipation for the couple’s upcoming wedding in July.

I was asked to be the photographer for her wedding but I declined as I really wanted to enjoy myself and party. Of course this does not mean I won’t bring my camera, just the opposite, I plan on taking TONS of pics but I won’t feel rushed or pressured and I won’t be “at work” instead I’ll be in the bridal party walking down the aisle right before my best friends walks down that same aisle to join hearts with the man she loves. Proud to say I introduced them to each other as well.

I have only edited a few, but Stella is gorgeous in all the pics, and I couldn’t be more happier and can’t wait to stand beside her on her big day.

I have been wanting to do a shoot like this for a while now, winter time, outdoors, rosy cheeks, cute hats and scarves and mits, Christmas cheer all around and the cold crisp air that reminds you that Christmas is near.

I love that they were up for the idea of going downtown to city hall, there is a big skating rink there and a huge Christmas tree and it just makes you smile to be down there at this time of year. If you haven’t, I highly suggest, bringing your skates (you can rent them too) and have a go around the rink, it will be a memory you will not soon forget.

I had the pleasure of photographing Agata and her family who came down all the way from Ottawa, well not just for me, but to spend time with their families for Christmas as well,lol. They have the cutest little girl and she was like a pretty little fairy, always flying around enjoying her surroundings and barely standing still for a minute. When she did sit still, my camera was extremely happy as she makes for one beautiful little model. Her parents aren’t too bad either,lol.

We had such a nice time, enjoying downtown and even the cold weather, we walked and talked and had a lovely session. I know I wasn’t suppose to edit any images before Christmas, but I just couldn’t wait, and I wanted to give them a little sneak peek as a Christmas gift, also as a thank you for driving me to my hubby’s work afterwards, which was mighty kind of them.

I really enjoyed our time together Agata, thanks again hon, hope you have a wonderful stay here in the city, enjoy your Christmas and hope you love the sneak peeks.

I have baked so much lately that my arms feel like they are going to fall off,lol. Some things turned out better than others, but its always fun baking at Christmas time. My sons both helped out a bit and they really love to cook, or help make a mess at least,lol. I think they enjoyed making the chocolate chip cookies the best.

I tried a new recipe and although the pic for it is not that great, the taste more than makes up for the bad pics,lol. It was light and sweet and yummy and I really enjoyed it, I will definitely make it again, SOON.

Along with everything else, I made chocolate chip cookies, toffee cookies, the traditional greek cookies(kourabiedes, melomakarona, biscota), then I made chocolate peanut butter squares which my husband won’t share with anyone,lol and my favourite item so far, coconut cake. I also made a hot spinach dip for the first time, and I must say I LOVE it, I’m used to the cold spinach dip, but this was cheesy and delicious, definitely another fave. Below are a few pics, forgot to take pics of the greek cookies, will try to tomorrow.

I’m so looking forward to Christmas, its such a wonderful time of year, and I love spending it with my family. I can’t wait to see the kids faces in the morning, its such an awesome blessing.

I wanted to thank everyone for all their love and support, without all of you I’m nothing, and I wish you and your family nothing but the very best this blessed holiday season and a very prosperous, fun, and wonderful new year.

and just had to share a pic I took a couple months back in October of George. He has since cut his hair because it was getting too long, I have yet to take a pic of his new haircut, but plan to soon.

Editing, ordering, packaging and now baking, cleaning up, and getting ready for Christmas which is in a week!!! I can’t believe its only a week away.

So much to say and hopefully I can remember everything,lol. I have the last of a session I did and didn’t get a chance to share more from that shoot, so I will post a few of those. Then, I have a couple of pics of my mini accordians and a few pics of the 40 or so painstaking ornaments WE made, I say we loosely, as George was all for helping me but by the 5th one, he was tired and pretty much left the rest up to me,lol.

Still have some more baking and haven’t even started wrapping, hardly got any Christmas shopping done yet even, but will get to that.

Looking forward to Sunday as we have been invited by our friends and George’s classmate to attend an intimate Christmas party, a few kids, a few adults, a few yummy things to eat, gingerbread, painted faces, tattoo and a special appearance will be made by Jolly ol saint Nick himself. Can’t wait for this party, should be fun.

This session was so much fun and there was so much creativity going on, both are artists and very talented and they both had ideas about poses and artwork that they wanted on top of the pictures. The client himself did the artwork on top of the images and I love what he came up with, the final results are absolutely beautiful. They purchased many of these in large wall print sizes and they are breath taking in person.

Mini Accordians

Christmas Ornamments

This is bittersweet as on one hand, I’m happy to be done editing this beautiful girl’s session but on the other hand I’m sad as there was something about this session, the pics jumped off the page, definitely one of the most fun sessions I’ve had.

I am struggling with how many images to post, as I love sooo many and I edited more than usual as a special request to the Krystal, there were just so many she liked,lol.

Enjoy…

Lots going on lately, Christmas is around the corner and there is an endless list of things to do,  as I slowly get things done, I wanted to share just a few more of Krystal as I know she’s just waiting for these, I’m half way done editing her session, so you will see more of this girl, I just love the way her pics came out, and I think she loves them too which makes me even more thrilled.

I have so much I want to talk about right now but I’m crazy busy with orders, editing, packaging and waiting for things to come in from one place or another, its that time of year when everyone scrambles and tries to get as much done as quickly as possible. I have barely even started my Christmas shopping even, but that’s another story.

I must say that I’m so excited about this Christmas though, my boys who are 6 and 3 are bursting with joy in the anticipation that santa is coming (although our oldest George has asked me if Santa is really real, I have avoided answering, I want him to remain a child for as long as possible, he can wait a little longer to find out the truth about santa). Although santa is fun and gifts and cookies and all that stuff is awesome, we always talk about the real meaning behind Christmas so they know this isn’t just a commercial holiday. I feel so blessed this year, and so thankful, God is good and I am so looking forward to Christmas day.

On a side note, George got back his report card and I know he’s only in grade one, but he got all A’s and B’s across the board, and A+ for reading, he loves to read, my boy, we are so proud of him.

I usually wait to surprise family and friends with our Christmas card, but I can’t wait this year, I’m telling you the excitement inside is bubbling up,lol. So here is the card I made from scratch for this year.

Sadie was such an angel and I loved photographing her and I have been wanting to post more from her session for a while, but its been crazy busy and only getting around to posting the last few of this baby girl today. Here is a link to the first sneak peek of Sadie. http://mphphotography.net/blog/2009/11/5-days-old/

and a couple of birth announcements that I made for her…

I so loved photographing this family and I really loved the location too, can’t wait to go back there again when the weather is a bit warmer.

I posted a few sneak peeks for them a while back http://mphphotography.net/blog/2009/11/to-the-islands/ but been meaning to show more shots from my session with Beth and her beautiful family, so here they are.