Getting Ready

Here's just a sneak peek of the ornaments I bought recently.  This past weekend I bought a white tree for Ben and I.  Tonight I told myself I was going to set it up, all 5'1" of me versus a 6 foot tall tree.  What the hell could go possibly wrong??

Instead, I'm being entranced by the time vampire that is the internet.  I'm attempting to Christmas shop, upload photos, listen to Mumford and Sons on repeat, and scarf down some Lebanese take out.  I am the epitome of A.D.D. right now.

I have some fun news and goals coming up for the new year, one main goal involving a long time friend and I.  I can't wait to reveal it!  I know it's not for another month and some, but I'm already beginning to make new year's resolutions.  I'm normally cynical about these sorts of things, but there's a lot I want to accomplish in my 27th year of existence.  Travel, pushing my creative limits, you know...all that kinda jazz.  Oh, don't forget exercise...it's a bitch but necessary.

Anywho, I just thought I'd update you cats on what's happening here.  I'm attempting to plan out some DIY's too when I have free time.  It's tricky, but it'll get done.

So, that's my life!  Busy little bee right here.

Later gators!

~E

Dreamy Holga

 

If you haven't heard already, I'm giving away a Holga camera on Freckled Nest!  I'm so excited for this give away.  I already own a Holga and really didn't need another one, so I'm hoping to give it a good home to someone out there in the blogosphere! (Possibly a Christmas present idea?) Eeeep!

Out of all my Lomo cameras, the Holga is my favourite.  It produces a sweet vignette and gives its images a really dreamy feeling.  As well, I love being able to use 120 film. 

I wanted to share with you guys some of the photos I took with my Holga.  I freaking LOVE it!  I'm considering getting a 35mm back for mine soon.

Fun, right?  I carry mine in my purse on a regular basis.

To learn more on how to win this baby, click here.  Good luck!

~E

A Month & Some

Just over a month ago I jumped ship to work for a national broadcaster.  So far things are going great!  The people are awesome and so professional to work with.  I edit features on a daily basis and actually had one go to air nation wide which was a thrill to have happen.

So, if you've noticed my posting amount slowing down, that's why.  I've become pretty busy lately, more busy than I had anticipated.  Back at my old job I had a lot of down time to catch up on blogs, think up different posts...hell, I even learned Photoshop from all the free time.  This whole blog design you're currently looking at was done with that free time. Now it's GO GO GO.  News editing = tight deadlines.  There's times I'm given a short story with minutes before it has to go to air.  I absolutely love that rush though, I wouldn't change it for the world.

I thought I'd share some photos from my last day at my old job.  I'm still friends with my former co-workers and try to visit them when I can.  I miss the crew, they were fantastic to work with.  

That's Dawn.  She baked me the cake!

My bud Martin. We still need to get beer and pho.

My sweet lady friend Jess.

My friend Alice.

The guy in the above photo is my buddy Mike.  He left the company a few weeks before me and was employed for 10 years.  Insanity.  

As for the underwear...it was there when I came back from Maternity Leave.  It hasn't moved since.

I'm always curious about other people's work places...where do you work?  Do you like your job?  What's your dream job?  Ultimately I want to work on documentaries and be the main videographer for them as well.  

That's it for now.  I promise I'll try to post more.  I miss the blogosphere.

Later gators!

New Guy In Town.

So, I've alluded in a few posts that I'm seeing a new guy.  I should probably make it official on here.

His name is Raimund.

His family is from Germany.  He moved to Canada when he was 5.

He's a talented drawer.

He loves digital photography.  (I love film photography.)

He can quote any Futurama episode.

He loves spending time with my son and I.

I'll keep you guys posted on how things go.  So far so good!  He's a pretty awesome guy.

Later gators!

Kodak Hawk-Eye

A few weeks ago while at my grandparent's house Raimund and I were given my grandma's Kodak Hawk Eye camera.  It was hers as a child in the '50s and she said it was still in working condition.  We decided to test it out.

We threw in a roll of 120 film and went on a photo walk.  It was only after wards we realized we needed to get a 620 spool.....long story short, the Hawk Eye took 620 film.  It's the exact same as 120 film, only with a slightly different spool.  120 spool = no no for camera.  Derp.  The secret is to re-spool the 120 film on the 620 spool.  I'm now on eBay searching for a few spools. 

Ok, enough spool talk.  (such a weird word when you type it too many times, right?)  Here's the outcome of those photos.

They almost have a dream-like quality to them.  For a test roll, not bad!  Raimund's going to attempt to take the camera apart to clean the lens.  Hopefully the photos will come out crisper after that.

I'm completely in love with this camera!  Hard to believe it was my grandma's and now it's mine.  Maybe in a few years it'll be Ben's?  Who knows!

Later gators!

Oh Instagram...I'm Addicted To Thee.

Just some shots from my life, if you're interested.  I love this app.

Pro-Tip: check out Doodle Booth if you have an iPhone.  It's hours of entertainment.

 

I keep these at my work.

Ben and Great Grandpa!

 

Guitar cases = Good for sleeping.

And that's all she wrote.  Oh, here's a secret:  I'm doing another giveaway soon.  It involves Freckled Nest.  Oooh!

Later gators!

Fun Fact #10

FUN FACT #10

Today is my birthday!  The big 2-7.  I was suppose to be born on Halloween, but I held out for a few more days.  I was born in the evening, and right after my mom had me she had a burger.  Way to do it, mom!

I'm techinically an only child but I have a half-sister who's 10 years younger than me.  She's rather entertaining but we don't get to see each other too often.

Also, there's no snow outside here.  I think that's the first time in a few years there wasn't snow on my birthday.  HUZZAH!

Later gators!

Fun Fact #9

Thought I forgot about today's fun fact, eh?  Nope!  This morning was slightly hellish as my son didn't want to sleep through the night.

Speaking of my son, he's the subject of today's fact!

FUN FACT #9

I named my son after a teddy bear that I had growing up.  YES, YOU READ RIGHT.  You see, I had this bear I adored that I named Ben.  I'd always liked that name, and to me it sounded like the type of name a friendly and loving bear/person would have.  (I don't know many jerks named Benjamin.)

Low and behold I became pregnant in 2008/2009.  I was stumped for a name and then it hit me out of nowhere -- Benjamin.

And that's how my boy got his name.  I think it fits him perfect.

Later gators!

Fun Fact #8

Fun Fact #8

I HATE ONIONS.  To my core.  I can't stand the taste of texture of them, and yet....I like onion rings.  Go figure.

My mom is the exact same way.  I think the reason is because my grandma tends to cook with onions a lot, and we just got burnt out.

via

So, yeah.  If I ever coming knocking at your door to be fed, make sure there's no onions involved please.

Do any of you hate any veggie for any particular reason?

Later gators!

Fun Fact #7

Fun Fact #7

I was raised by my mom and grandparents and I'm still extremely close to them.  My grandparents acted as Mom #2 and Dad because my real dad didn't get involved in my life until I turned 18.

This was taken last spring.  As you can tell we're all rather short.  How delightful!  My grandma is the reason why I love thrifting and crafting, and my mom got me into playing guitar.  I miss the fact that I don't see them often enough.

My son and grandpa have a pretty special bond.  Whenever we take a drive out to the country and I tell Ben he gets excited about seeing "Grandpa Papa."  I love it and I hope there's many more years ahead of them to be together.

So that's my fact for today.

Later gators!

Fun Fact #6

Fun Fact #6

I absolutely love swing music.  In high school I use to play trumpet (very well I might add) and that was my favourite genre to play.  My new guy and I plan on taking swing dancing lessons soon, so I'm pretty stoked about that.

via

Here's a few tunes you might enjoy and recognize.

Some pretty crazy beats, right daddy-o?

Later gators!

Fun Fact #5

Happy Saturday!  It's sunny here and not a lick of snow yet, mwahaha!  I LOVE IT!

Fun Fact #5

I love astronomy!  Bet you didn't know that.  I grew up in the country and there were many winter nights my grandma and I would walk the dogs and I would gaze up at the stars.  I loved being able to see Orion and the Big Dipper, and attempt to identify the other constellations as well.

via

I'm sad that we didn't really get to learn about astronomy in school.  We did one unit in Grade 6 but it was more like connect the dot worksheets and learning about constellations.

via

I'm kind of a nerd and love watching shows about the planets and stars and how they came to be.  Wouldn't it be awesome to be the one to discover new solar systems?  Maybe I should've gone into astronomy.  Or archeology, but that's a whole other story. 

via

Later gators!

Fun Fact #4

FUN FACT #4

I have a thing for old Soviet Russian stuff.  Old propaganda posters, the clothing, anything involving a red star symbol I love.  That started back in high school when we learned about Russia.  Needless to say I want to take a trip around eastern Europe and Russia one of these years.

When I spotted this Soviet hat on Etsy last winter I was sold immediately.  Yet another knick knack to add to my ever growing collection of things and junk. 

Are any of you into anything strange like my Commie fixation?

Later gators!

Fun Fact #3

Fun Fact #3

I have a fear of elevators.  It sucks.  My fear first manifested itself when I was around 4 or so.  We had to visit my grandma in the hospital and when leaving my mom took me into the elevator.  I started freaking out.  There's just something about being in a tiny closed in space going up in the air that freaks me out.  I always think that I'm either going to get stuck or plummet to my death.  

Like the picture I photoshopped?  This is elevator hell.  My friend Vanessa and I use to joke around that there were elevators gods that would either let you have a safe trip or be assholes and make you want to crap yourself.  It was usually the latter for us.  Keep in mind we were 15 when we came up with that one.

So...that's today's Erin Fun Fact.  More to come!

Later gators!