moving day!

I'm a little sad right now.

It's not that I don't like Blogger, I just am ready for a change. An upgrade, if you will.

So long, Blogger. You are like a comfy pair of boots that I've had for years. But the hole in the sole and the worn down tread leave me cold, wet, and wanting more. Thanks. It's been real.

Now you can find me at http://fowlerama.wordpress.com/

snow day

We had quite a bit of snow today, and it was unexpected which made it even better. When we walked out of church (which was the children's Christmas program...) the ground was covered and more was falling. So of course as soon as we got home we took Lola out to play in the snow. It was so fun! I've also downloaded a few new actions and textures and enjoyed playing around with them in Photoshop. Then we took a nice walk in the snow and ended the day having dinner with friends at Coza! So I'd say it was a good day all around. :o)

3...2...1...

DONE!

I've been "disciplined" and avoided the internet for the past few weeks because I've been working hard on wrapping up the wedding photos from my friends' wedding in October. I'll post some on my photogblog soon.

Also, just a heads up, I have decided to move my blog to Wordpress.com I love Google, probably always will, but Blogger just doesn't have the kahones that Wordpress has. Plus, I can consolidate my blogs, having a common dashboard and central location for checking/updating blogs.

Also, only four days until we head south for Christmas! :o) I've already watched Elf 3 times... and I may or may not be watching it right now as Buddy calls Miles Finch an angry, South Pole elf.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

So I spent about 6 hours today scrubbing my bathroom and kitchen. I had my rubber gloves on so long my hands smelled... not so good. For almost the last four years I've been trying to find a cleaner that actually gets/keeps glass shower doors clean. I think I found that today. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It works quite well and thought I'd share that with you.

I also thought I'd share another way that Brian and I (but mostly I) have been keeping our lives a little more organized. I've never been one for planning. I.e. in school, if the teacher asked for an outline, I would write the paper and then give them an outline from that. For some reason it's hard for me to sit down and map out thoughts. But I forced myself over that hump (it took a good hour the first time) and started making weekly meal plans. From there I can make a very good grocery list, making sure I have every little thing I need.

Here is a link to the meal chart I made. I also included a place to keep track of my water, coffee, and soda intake and my exercise.

And here is a link to a blank grocery list I made. (There are two blank lists on one page.) It's organized according to the layout of the grocery store I always go to, but you could make your own according to how you like to shop.

Do you have any tips or tricks that make your life easier? I've been eyeing these recipe jotters thinking I could easily make may own version...

Thanksgiving

We had an awesome time celebrating Thanksgiving this year! I even got to watch part of the parade! Our wonderful friend's family hosted Brian, me, and two of our Canadian friends for the Big Meal. It was a mini project reunion, minus the other half of our team from this summer.

Here are some photos from Turkey Day:
Megan cooking pancakes for us.



Megan and her jersey from Hjorring Fortuna. (I know I didn't spell it right... I don't speak Danish.)



Brian getting familiar with the rules before they dove into Uno Madness.



Let the Madness begin!

Megan freaking out as the tiles popped. They don't call it Madness for nothin.

The delicious spinach salad with pears, parmesan, and homemade vinaigrette.
And some reading material about Fortuna.

Tim was ready for the man food.

Laura, our hostess, showing off the beautiful sweet potato pie. (She did the marshmallows, Fred did the rest.)

Fred carving the bird. It was so good. He's quite the chef. I won't tell you his secret for getting such a juicy bird. ;o)

Megan diving into the goodies. She cleaned her salad plate first, so I suppose it's okay.

Thanksgiving Eve

I know it's been a long time since I blogged, and I know you've been checking here everyday for the past month crying, waiting for us to check in, desperate for news from the Great White North. Well we're back! Alright, enough of that. ;o)

These past few weeks have been busy but good, sorting through things and figuring out life together. The rain has set in. It's dark by 3:45. I feel like a bear getting ready for hibernation in my cave. But I'm so excited about Turkey tomorrow! For the last 3 years I haven't celebrated Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving. And worst of all, I haven't watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!!!! But I will tomorrow. :oD

I've updated my photogblog so you can check that out. Also, you can check out my Flickr site any time to see what we've been up to in pictures.

Also, life update, we got Blackberries. Was it a good idea? We'll see. But so far so good! I always have my calendar at my fingertips and don't feel the urge to respond to every single ding. Plus, it has BB Messenger which means I can text anyone with a BB for free any time.

That's all for now. It's date night and we rented Four Christmases. :o)

Quinoa Recipe

In an effort to be healthier, we are making some lifestyle changes including daily vitamins, exercising more (okay, that's just me), and changing our diet to include more natural, whole foods. Part of this diet change is to incorporate more protein in every meal and snack. I have been searching for good recipes for home made granola bars, oat meal, and general recipes with quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah by the Canadians), millet, and kamut. Those last three I hadn't heard of before a few weeks ago. Well, I have a good recipe for quinoa and thought I'd share it with you. I adapted it from a pasta dish I used to make.

Ingredients:
1 C quinoa (rinsed and lightly toasted in the pot you will cook in)
2 C water (vegetable stock or chicken stock would be good too)
1 C shredded cheese (parmesan or cheddar would be good)
1 large zucchini, chopped into bite-size pieces
2-3 roma tomatoes, de-seeded and chopped into bite-size pieces
extra virgin olive oil
S & P to taste

Directions:

1. Rinse quinoa and toast on medium heat, stirring until it's dry and slightly brown. Add 2 C of liquid and bring to a boil. Cover with lid and simmer on med-low heat for about 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
   
2. Chop zucchini and tomatoes and place in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with e.v.o.o. until coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (I like to use Montreal Steak seasoning sometimes).
3. Spread the zucchini and tomatoes on a baking sheet (preferably one with sides) and broil until they are brown and look nice. You may want to oil the baking sheet with Pam or e.v.o.o. on a paper towel.
   
4. When everything is done, add the vegetables and cheese to the quinoa and stir until the cheese is melty throughout. Enjoy!
   

enlightenment and cortisol

I had the most enlightening and helpful doctor's appointment yesterday afternoon. I left my naturopath thinking, "I wish I knew this 5 years ago. I wish everyone knew this!" You may not know, but I've been dealing with health issues that flared up this summer and have been going to a naturopathic doctor since we got back in September. It feels so good to finally know what's behind all of these symptoms that I didn't think were related. I'm going to be a little more open in this blog than normal because I feel like it's beneficial for you. Over the past few years, pretty much since graduating, getting married, moving to Canada, and starting a new job, I've had various different health issues that were wearing on me. I have been having irregular heartbeats, suffering with depression that was set on from seasonal changes, feeling quite sick/nauseous a lot more than a normal person should (but I wasn't pregnant), feeling tired and weak, lack of clarity (can't think of words or put my thoughts into cohesive sentences so much so that I knew something was off in my brain), sleeplessness at night, extreme anxiety, cuts and bruises seemed to take longer to heal, and I just didn't feel like my normal, generally positive self.

My doctor determined that I have "21st Century Stress Syndrome." In other words, I have adrenal fatigue. You're probably familiar with the phrase, "fight or flight." Well, in our culture we can't fight or flee from most of our stressors so we're stuck and our body takes a beating because of it. When you experience stress, your brain sends signals to your adrenal glands, which are located on your back over your kidneys. Your adrenal glands then release cortisol. When enough cortisol reaches your brain, you experience the, "Okay, everything will be okay. I'm going to figure this out..." feeling. But if you've been under a lot of stress consistently or a major stressor (like unemployment or being in a job you hate, death of a loved one, major life changes, etc.), your adrenal glands can't make the cortisol fast enough and your body begins to feel the effects of it.

Cortisol does a lot for your body other than helping you feel calm. It regulates your blood sugar levels and sodium levels, helps maintain a healthy white blood cell count, makes you feel awake, helps your immune system, helps you remember things, acts as an anti-inflammatory (it reduces histamines so if it's low or missing, you may feel like you're having allergy attacks that you've never had before), and more stuff that I can't remember. (Ha.)

I feel better already, mentally that is, just knowing what's going on. I have started taking some supplements and have talked with her about lifestyle changes including diet and exercise which should help. It's good to know that I'm not going crazy and it wasn't all stuff that I just had to live with. I will get back to normal soon. :o)

If you want to read more about it, here's a good article from Project Aware. If you read it and feel like it's describing your life, talk to a professional. I had never heard of a naturopathic doctor while living in the States, but perhaps there are more out there now. Their goal is to get you back to good health naturally, not just treating the symptoms but taking care of the root issue. Seriously, I feel like my life was a piece of paper full of dots and she connected them all and now I have a picture of a flower.

what do you see?

when you see this blog, do you see chocolate?

wedding photos

So I officially completed my first wedding as a paid photographer. :o) I learned quite a bit and am still a little sore, but I had a great time and am so thankful for the opportunity. Here are a few of the things I learned:

1. Most importantly, I could not have done it alone. Beth, you are awesome and I'm so glad to work with you. hmm... something about FowlerFisherFotography has a ring to it. ;o) Perhaps it's the hunter-gatherer part of me that likes the name.
   
2. I will wear my Uggs next time.
   
3. Professional wedding photographers must have their own special work out routine which includes lots of squats and other such awkward poses.
4. In order to be a healthy photographer long-term, I will have to learn some hand stretching techniques. Seriously, I had "the Claw" by the end of the night. ;o)

I'm planning to post some of my favorites of the bridal portraits from a few weeks ago now that the Bride is officially married and the Groom has already seen the dress. You can check them out on my PhotogBlog: http://carolinaphotography.wordpress.com/

bridal portraits at the mental hospital

This past weekend I got to shoot my friend's bridal portraits. It was quite an adventure! (I would post some pictures, but I don't want the groom to happen upon them before the wedding, so I'll wait until after they're married.) We wanted to get some shots at River View Hospital in Port Coquitlam. It used to be a mental hospital but has not been in service for over 20 years. According to Brian, that was my first mistake, going to an abandoned mental hospital. But it has such beautiful landscaping and architecture. There are actually brick buildings with white columns; a rarity in these parts. Here's a collection of photos to give you a feel for it.

Well, the bride was all decked out in her dress, hair done, vail on, shoes shining. We start walking to a building and a security guard comes out of no where and in broken English explained that we weren't allowed to take pictures on this part of the property. When we asked where we could take pictures his response was, "Maybe down closer to the hospital." Sign number two that this might not work out.

So we drove a bit further into the property and parked near some cottages just above the hospital (where they are filming something... I have a feeling they're filming a scary movie or Smallville or something). We walked over to the cottage, found some nice shade, and snapped a few pictures. Then as we were walking back to the car, two more security guards pull up, one behind my car and one beside my car. Sign number three. One guard steps out of his car and is wearing rubber gloves. My camera is already in its bag and I'm putting it in the back seat of my car. But I think to myself, "He's either going to take my camera or make me delete the pictures... Oh boy." But the bride was very amicable, explaining that she had spoken with so-and-so in the offices about taking photos and was under the impression that it was okay. The guards were both kind, but firm, explaining that it was not allowed. "This is a private property. There's no harm in walking around, but you're not allowed to take photos." Our reason for being there was very obvious, which wasn't for the bride to take a stroll or break in her dress. So with a "Congratulations, but you're not allowed to take pictures..." we got in the car and drove off, camera and pictures in tact.

It was a fun day with beautiful weather, albeit a bit harsh for portraits but great for capturing the beautiful landscape of BC.

That's another thing that makes me happy, when I can see all of the beautiful mountains around here, capped in snow, against a bright blue sky. :o)

I would be kicked out of the Optimists' club.

I am not an optimist. I used to be. I am not any more. I believe the digression from Optimist to Pessimist started after the finale of the final episode of Gilmore Girls. Since then I have realized life doesn't wrap up nicely all the time. We may get the outcomes we want, but struggle quite a bit getting there. Not that I consider Luke and Lorelai's relationship (I wish I could say marriage, but we'll never know, thanks Warner Brothers) or anything about that show to be an accurate reflection of life. I just hated the ending.

All that to say, since I've realized I'm a Pessimist, I'm going to try to make a mental list every day of things that made me happy. For instance, I let the fact that I have to return my yoga ball for the 3rd time really get to me (I was ready to break something). Instead of continuing to list frustrations, I am going to list happy things.

1. I was able to run on the treadmill for over 25 minutes without stopping! (That's huge for me.)
   
2. I think Lola is finally learning her name! (She looks at me when I say it. But I think she would look at me if I made any sort of noise to distract her while she is resting.)
   
3. The weather is becoming chilly--which means we're closer to Christmas and Christmas cups at Starbucks!
4. I got my jeans repaired (after leaving them on the floor of my closet for over a year) and it feels like I'm wearing a new pair! Without the cost!
5. My sister will be here one week from today! (*Hoping for good weather.*)
6. I had sushi for lunch!

See, already I'm in a better mood. What made you happy today? Share it with me :o)

I'm So Proud

Yesterday was Brian's first home game with his new team, Delta United. I'm so proud of him because he scored the game winning goal to defeat West Vancouver 2-1! (This was shortly before he got whacked in the face and went down for a minute.) West Vancouver is the top team in the league--last year they won everything, league cup, Proventials, and Nationals. (He also had an assist earlier in the game for the first goal. Just thought I'd throw that in there.)

It was a gorgeous day, cool but sunny. There were plenty of fans watching, way more than would come out for his games last year with North Van. And there were actually other wives/girlfriends! I'm normally the only wife in the stands. We also had other friends from church with us. It was quite enjoyable having friends to sit with. One of our friends, Dave, is a Scotsman and a true football fan. No matter where Brian's games are across the Greater Vancouver area, there is usually at least one European man in attendance who can't hide his passion for the game. And yesterday it was Dave. Ah, I just had a good chuckle remembering Dave yelling at our forward to "get his wee self back on side."

*Side note: Never able to understand offsides in soccer? Check out this article. I'm proud to say that after three and a half years of marriage and a life filled with soccer, I have come to understand this and can effectively explain it. :o) I'm quite proud of myself.

Anyway, just thought I'd share a bit of joy with you today. Go Brian!

almost!

We are almost Canadians! Today we went to the border to complete the year long process of receiving our permanent residency! Basically that means we have a green card. We can travel into Canada more easily (hopefully) and can work or take classes or pretty much do anything but vote. It has been quite the lengthy and pricey process but I think it was worth it. Next: getting a Nexus pass.



All of our free time lately has been spent either watching Lost (which I have to pay attention to) or doing soccer-related things (which I should pay attention to), so I apologize for the lack of blogging.

Water For Life

One of the many ministries under our parent organization is a ministry called GAiN. That stands for Global Aid Network. This summer I got to hear a bit more about the work they are doing, especially in Africa. I've written before about our fellow co-worker and friend, Albert Martens, who did the Marathon Des Sables across the Sahara. He partnered with GAiN again this year at the Marathon Des Sables, but did not finish. You can read his story here.

I was moved to tears after watching this video clip from GAiN. I just thought I'd share it with you today.

09.09.09!

Happy 09.09.09!!!

We should have a party.

2nd blog

I decided to create another blog where I can showcase my recent/favorite photos that I've been taking. As much as I love Flickr for its photosharing abilities, it is not very user-friendly for browsing and, let's be honest, it doesn't look too pretty either. So you can check out my new blog here:

http://carolinaphotography.wordpress.com/

Hope you enjoy it!

2/11 days

I have accomplished so much! I am quite proud of myself (and Brian) as I look around our place. So neat and tidy. I'd say it's been a very productive long weekend. And I still have tomorrow to relax. In addition to tidying and purging our place, I acquired a new lens for my camera. :oD It is the Tamron AF 17-50mm f/2.8, which I purchased from a friend. So excited to play with it! I've loved my fixed 50mm f/1.8, it takes great pictures, but I'm tired of running backwards because I can't fit the whole subject in the frame. I'm also excited about taking pictures for my friends' wedding in October! I love shooting people. (With a camera.) And my bunny. Any sort of portraits and candids really.

Now I'm off to watch some more Lost. :o) Jill, we must meet up soon so I can borrow season 2. And perhaps we could get bbt! It's been a long time since I had some... probably May.

Now I'll leave you with a relaxing image from our wonderful vacation so you can kick back and relax too. Bo)

Oh, if you're wondering what the title is about, 2 days until I can own The Office Season 5 on DVD and 11 days until The Office season premier!

LOST

I'm officially a fan of Lost. I know what you're thinking, how could I stomach a tv show that is about a plane crash when I'm on a plane every month. Well, during the first episode or two I did cringe and look away a little, but I got hooked! I started watching season 1 when we were at home and only made it half way through. I need to know what happened! Claire just came wandering back into the cave and I don't know what happened to her or her baby! If any of you have season 1 and wouldn't mind letting me borrow it, let me know! ...but in the mean time, don't spoil anything for me please :o)

And thanks Jill for lending me the next few seasons... I'm hoping to catch up before the last season starts in 2010.

So much to figure out...

We've been home for just under 24 hours. Piles of things have moved all over the house, shrinking and growing as we unpack, de-clutter, and clean up our stuff. I've restocked our kitchen, made enough spaghetti sauce for at least 10 more meals (thanks Debbie!), and purged our closets of unused/unwanted clothing. I'd say I've about as much work as I would have done had I actually lived here this summer! Ha!

But enough thinking about the stress this year has brought; it's over and done. I'm looking forward to fall and winter so much! I love the cold weather, change of seasons, change of wardrobes... just a great time of year. I'm also looking forward to NOT seeing my suitcase again for a few months. Seriously.

I also have lots of mini projects in mind for the next little bit... we'll see how they span out. There are lots of seashells to be bleached, pictures to be organized and printed, new recipes to be tried. I'm also going to try to be more consistent in my blogging. I have been MIA in the electronic world for a while. Kind of nice.

Well it's time to wind down and warm up my sheets. :o)