Did a random number generator and I have to say I’m really pleased at the results, I think this person will get the most use out of these books and I look forward to see their business up and running soon.

And the winner is ….. Mandii Mae!!

If you could please email me with the address to send the books and treat, that would be fabulous :) And I will leave you with some cute sleeping kitty photos from my iPhone.

So I bring to you: The Good, The Bad, and The Crazy.

• All the nice people who work for Swim BC, you all made me feel welcome.
• Chocolate – the cure all for all panic attacks.
• Well made sushi. Had a celebratory dinner at our local Japanese restaurant. Love sushi? Would love to meet you there, totally recommend it.

• The Heat. I was out for an hour and a bit on Sunday and yet I still managed to get sick from it.
• Hormone induced panic attacks. Enough said.
• The scale K and I just bought to start our weight loss challenge. You lie my friend.

• I swear transit hates me. This whole weekend has been full of crazy transit rides including waiting for half an hour, going back and forth between two different bus stops and missing each one by a few minutes, where we could have walked down to where we want to go in less that time.

I want to know what was your ‘Mount Everest’ in your life or business and how did you overcome it. Please comment with your story and a winner will be announced next Wednesday. Don’t read business books, they make the perfect gift for that perfect entrepreneur.

And don’t forget to join my Facebook page.

Like usual in these epic situations I feel the need to talk about how I feel and create something heartfelt. Like pride, happiness or how Neala keeps getting in my way as I write this. But seriously I’m just relieved that my branding is officially done. Now I can concentrate on getting clients.

A business cannot launch without a giveaway check back tomorrow for our second ever giveaway!

A few things that have changed with the blog:
1) The design has changed to match the website
2) Categories are now – personal, photography, goals and Friday Finds
3) Viewing images – instead of scrolling vertically, just click the arrow buttons to slide through the photos
4) You can now share the blog post through Facebook and Twitter

And the all important news – the website is now launched! Go take a look and don’t forget to became a fan on our Facebook page!

I’ve been people watching. There are only three people (including me) who have ordered and sat down. One of them is on his blackberry. The others have ordered and walked on to continue the rest of their day. What really surprises me is the amount of people not willing to park, but sit in their fancy cars to drive through to get their coffee fix.

Now the second guy sitting has his blackberry out.

People wonder why we have become a selfish race. How can someone be unselfish when we don’t take the time to relax from our busy schedule and even with our busy schedules we don’t relate to people face to face. What happened to the old days with the dinner parties, the lunch meetings, or heaven forbid the phone where you ‘ring’ someone?

When was the last time you spend an hour relaxing away from the world of technology?

There is something so deep and meaningful about an old black and white photo. Maybe it has something to do with my inner history buff or my exterior family tree nut, but I collect black and white photos of my family like a squirrel storing for winter. I was doing a major clean of the office in preparation of hitting the ground running on June 1st with my business (and it desperately needed it) and I came across my folder of old prints.

I don’t know why this one stood out to me, maybe it’s because I’m a huge traditional Christmas fan. With divorced parents and being an only child I never really had that. Don’t get me wrong the Christmas’s I had were fantastic, but there is something inherently beautiful of having a huge family decorating, wrapping, eating all around the Christmas season.

My parent’s divorced when I was eight years old and I remember before that having the grandparents together, an aunt or uncle would show up, my Dad would cook the most delicious mouth watering food, including bread stuffing and shortbread that cannot be topped today. On Christmas day after the stockings had been unwrapped, the French Toast eaten, more gifts unwrapped; my Grandparents would take me to visit all their local friends. I have glimpses of eating lunch by a fire, having tea around a round kitchen table and getting cute little gifts like a pants full of Smarties labeled ‘Smartie Pants’ and how could I forget the craft fairs my Grandma took me to every year!

All that went away when my parents divorced, my Grandparents got older their friends past on, the arthritis set in and the crafts went away. I’ve been slowly capturing that feeling with Kevin’s Mum. I was going to be by myself on our first Christmas together (two months of dating) my Mum was working and my Dad/Bob were off to Victoria. With open arms she invited me, re introduced me to the big family dinners, the stockings, the little gifts to everyone and she had barely even known me before I had a little cute stocking with my name on it, waiting for me.

That’s why I like lifestyle/journalistic photos – the chance to be yourself, nothing posed, to show the world what your story is. One of my favourite photos of my friend is of her tilting her head back laughing away. Flattering? Not really, but captures her spirit perfectly.

This gem of a photo is small, exposure a little off – but it shows a clip into my Dad’s family, what their Christmas mornings were like. The clutter of wrapping paper strewn about and opened boxes everywhere. It shows me what kind of tree they got and how they decorated it, but most importantly a glimpse into what my Grandpa was like. I never met him. He was a taxi driver, picked up a customer that stabbed him in the back of the neck. He died when my Dad was very young.

But when I look at this photo, I feel like I can dive into the moment. Hear my Grandpa speak in deep tones to my Uncle Mike, Uncle Fred, and Auntie Sheryl. I wonder what they are talking about. I wonder where my Auntie Rose and my Dad are, is my Dad still a babe? Is my Grandma cooking away the breakfast in an old fashion kitchen? Can you smell fresh bacon and hear the sizzle of eggs? Was Elvis or the Beatles singing softly in the background or were the grandparent’s more conservative in their choice of music?

I never knew my Grandparents, I never knew what it was like to have all my Dad’s siblings together in one room, I never knew what Christmas’s were like in the 60’s, but one small photo has the power to bring me answers to that, has the ability to capture a moment in time and bring back memories.

That’s why I love photography.

This week is my last week to complete my business plan. On Thursday I have one on one’s with my Financial and Marketing teacher and on Monday I submit my rough draft to my business advisor; then a week after that I submit my six final copies and soon after I have my Community Review Committee presentation.

It’s only four weeks to go and already I have two networking stories that I am so proud of. My parents used to call me a “Klingon” since at parties I would always stay by their side and hated asking any strangers a question; even now I dislike ordering on the phone.

Friday I was walking with my Mum down the main drag and came across a new tea shop, it serves meals with nice pots of tea. A sign expressed that they were serving High Tea for Mother’s Day and without stopping to pause, I gave her my Starbucks (second of the day) and walked into and was able to sneak in due to a cancellation. After a five minute conversation, I talked to the two girls who are willing to put up my photos on their wall under commission and a place to show my business cards.

Today I was talking to a teacher about how impressed I was and she asked me if I would like to photograph a fundraiser her company was holding on Mother’s Day for Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters, called The Miracle of a Mother. I’m to help out and take photos of people and they will be offering the digital copy of the photos for $10 to go towards the fundraiser. I will also be submitting a free photo shoot towards their silent auction.

Score for Heather
.

a) Indo Bay Textiles – I love the simplicity of these block printed fabrics.
b) Hi Guys – I’m normally not a wreath person, but this is kitschy cute.
c) Flowersun – This is such an elegant dress that I would love to do a photo shoot with.
d) Roundabout Designs – An elegant simple leaf necklace, reminds me of LOTR.
e) Piperblue – Can you imagine going on a date with these cute birds in your ears?
f) Kinies – I think I LOVE book bags.
g) Blue Sun Emporium – Stunning elegant clips.
h) Blended – Some funky colours in a funky necklace.
i) The Zakka – A cute spring time money purse.
j) Susanna Najarian Art & Design – I really like her block ceramics, I would love to hang these in my kitchen.

Some people don’t understand that and they just get angry, but then you hit that rare few that just understand. I hit that moment in a stranger when I was at my worst and it just made me sigh with relief that someone can be so understanding and kind. Thank you.