vacancy

Vernon, B.C. Canada

Taking time to stop and look at something that might not always be appealing to the eye at first, can surprise you. Many times we are so busy with our lives we overlook a piece of the past thinking it is nothing.  Taking the time to notice your surroundings allows for beauty within something to shine though. 

walk on water

Okanagan Lake, Vernon B.C.

There is nothing like a peaceful glance at still water.  What if you could walk on it? Staring at a body of water that looks like glass. Maybe if you were at light as a feather and could sway your way right across. 

 This shoot was inspired by an abandoned hotel along the lakeside that I came across.  The feeling of knowing at one time this lakefront was full of life and kids playing, and now, years later nothing but still, silent, water and an old building boarded up quietly. 

Bubbly Tuesday!

Running doesn't always have to be serious.......you can definitely have fun with it! Trust me. 

Completing physical activity releases endorphins into the body causing a feeling of well-being. In order to have a Bubbly Tuesday,  go for a run, hike, bike ride :) and get those endorphins flowing through your body and mind!!!!!!

I want to see what you are doing on your Bubbly Tuesday so link up below!!

Sunday Afternoon

There is nothing like a Sunday afternoon walk to refresh your mind for the week.  

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are now refreshed for your fabulous week. 

DONT FORGET!!!! TOMORROW IS BUBBLY TUESDAY! GO OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF TOMORROW.  TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOU. aaaaaand, WHY DONT YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE DOING TOMORROW FOR YOUR BUBBLY TUESDAY AND LINK IN BACK HERE SO I CAN TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR AMAZING DAYS!!!

xxoo

be you.

Read this slow and take in every word:

I first heard this being read to me over the phone by a friend.  I was having one of those rough weeks, going through my quarter life crisis..... thinking the world is passing me by and I am just a fly on the wall. (any of you felt like that?) SOOO, She called me up and said, "listen to what I am going to read and don't say anything until I am done." Well when she had finished reading I didn't have much to say.  This quote to me is powerful enough in itself that it says everything for you. 

My good friend Ashley over at  The Shine Poject, challenged her readers to answer a question based off of confidence. 

IF YOU SAW A MOTHER TREAT HER DAUGHTER THE WAY YOU TREAT YOURSELF, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT MOTHER?

 As soon as I read the challenge this quote popped immediately into my mind.  Struggling with confidence is something I believe almost everyone feels at least one time in their life. Probably more often than once. I know I have my struggles with it!  It is how you as an individual decide to handle this battle that makes the difference.  

Read this over and over, if you don't believe it the first time, read it again.  Life is not always black and white.....the choices you make can be. If you feel your confidence slipping away stop, search deep inside until you locate it, then use it to SHINE! 

 you are one in a million so believe it.

Have a fabulous weekend!

xxoo

life's simple pleasures

Lately I have had a bunch of time to myself.  TIme can be a dangerous thing, just you and your thoughts together.... you really get to know yourself! I have taken this time to ponder on what seems to make my days a little brighter.  

Here is a list of some of the simple pleasures I have been enjoying:  

ice cold glass of water with lemon.

the color orange. 

my wonderful Nike running shoes. 

beautiful churches. Free People sundresses.

a bright blue sky with puffy clouds. 

homemade Oreo and peanut butter truffles. 

None of these pleasure are anything too extravagant on their own, but used in the right way can really put a big smile on my face!

Today I challenge you to take a moment, stop, look around you, and find a simple pleasure for your day. 

picking strawberries

I went to a strawberry farm and picked my own fresh strawberries!

Strawberries are usually the first fruit of the season to ripen, and are just perfect in the spring and beginning of summer.  Since this has been an unusual summer up in Canada,  they still ripening up until the next few weeks.  

I think strawberries are so yummy!! So when I found out there was a farm near by I had to go check it out!

 fun facts about strawberries:

* Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.

* There is a museum in Belgium just for strawberries.

* Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium

* In medieval times, strawberries were served at important functions to bring peace & prosperity.

* Strawberries are a member of the rose family 

* Strawberries, as part of a 5 a day fruit & vegetable program, can help reduce the risk of cancer & heart attacks.

 GO OUT AND EAT A STRAWBERRY TODAY!!

lazy summer days.

.......there is that in human beings which rejoices in the long sweet light of summer.

Today is June 21st, 2011, according to the calendar the official first day of summer!

and lucky us, it is also BUBBLY TUESDAY!

blue skies. sand. long days. swimsuits. lifeguards. flip flops. green grass. white lace sundresses. the color yellow. wakeboarding. road trips. friends. BBQ's. houseboats. suntan lotion. flowers. 

Take this season to really look deep into yourself and discover what makes you happy.  It tends to be easier when the sun is shining, and the days seem to never end, BUT what are you doing for yourself to keep smiling?

And don't forget today is Bubbly Tuesday, a day where I am challenging you to get out there and do something that makes you happy.  Whether it be lunch with a friend, afternoon swim, taking pictures, going for a run... anything that makes this Tuesday one of the best days of the week for yourself. Why don't ya take a picture of yourself and link it back here so we can all see how your Bubbly Tuesday is going :) I would love it. 


xxoo

Happy Father's Day!

My Daddy and I on our morning hike.

We walked thought Kal Provincial Park down to Cousins Bay.

We spotted a little black bear to follow. 

hope all the fathers out there are having a wonderful day!

rain rain go away...

It has rained non stop since I have arrived in the beautiful Okanagan on Wednesday night.  I thought I spoke to the Arizona weather and ordered it to follow me....guess it did not want to listen.  Well I refuse to sit inside and be grumpy, and since most everyone I know in town is working I went to the park by myself to see what I could discover.  

Vernon, British Columbia is probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  (and I have been to some amazing places) 

I went downtown to Polson Park and walked around the creek and fed the ducks in the rain.


look how pretty this rose is.  the shade of pink is beautiful.


polson park creek.


dancing rain drops.


i played with donald duck.


rest and relaxation.


okay, now that I have worked on my photography skills in the rain, (everything does happen for a reason) can we please get some sunshine around here?!?!
xxoo

walk in the rain

Just as I thought, RAIN! I arrived in Vernon expecting sunshine.....ended up with a little rainy day!

Thats okay we made the best of it! 

This precious little puppy is Toby.  He belongs to my sister and her boyfriend and I am absolutely in love with him.  

Refusing to sit inside on the first day of my trip, I picked up Toby and headed to the horse tracks.  A little exercise is a must for both myself and the puppy!