Sweet Little Thing..

Today has been wonderful so far!

I've spent my day at home, keeping warm and busy! I woke up this morning with Josh and walked the pups. I was really sad when he left for work :( I don't know, I know I shouldn't be so dramatic...but he really is my best friend. Without him around, nothing is the same. SO generally, to avoid feeling too sorry for myself, I like to keep as busy as possible.

So this is what I did.

I started my day by spending some time outside with the babies (my dogs)! It's still pretty cold out, but today the sun was shining nice and bright! It felt a tad bit warmer than usual. They had a blast, just running around in the snow.

Then I wandered the internet for a couple hours :) Caught up on my favorite blogs! Once I wasn't feeling so lazy, I decided to get up off my butt and do something productive! I played bass for a while, did some laundry, cleaned the house...then attacked my kitchen!

I started off by making these cute little apple pops for my dogs. I am trying my best to give them healthy options for food..the same way I would want. I don't think it's fair that dogs and cats go their whole lives eating junk..I mean really, do you know what your dog is eating? Look it up! I want to at least try to do better for them, it's the least I can do! The recipe is very simple and human friendly. I don't add sugar though, I keep it as natural and simple as possible :) The stick piece is raw hide.

Once I made the puppy pops, it smelled so amazing (I even tried a piece of the fritter! haha! yum) so I decided to make some people versions. I did add sugar to these! & honey, and Cinnamon. Once they were done, I rolled them in this amazing Epicure sugar that I was given (as a gift from a client, thanks Mrs. Cox!!!). The sugar is Lemon Chiffon/Berry flavored (I mixed a bit). They look kind of strange, but taste soo yummy! I don't really know what to call them, they are a close version of my baked donuts, so I guess they are kind of sort of like apple fritters!

Then, I started my home made beef and barley stew. I am making this to freeze in containers for work lunches. I made it all from scratch! Beef, Barley, fresh herbs, garlic, fennel, onion, red

pepper, and spinach too! I LOVEEEE Soup like you would not believe! We always go for beef in barley at the supermarket, so I decided to make a home made version. This is my first attempt and I am 100% satisfied with it! I've let it cook slow, and low, all day. Yummzville!!

THEN, I decided to pre-make Josh's breakfast for tomorrow. I've already packed his lunch up. So to go with his yogurt (topped with honey, granola and fresh black berries) I made him a cute little egg sammie! I've never poached an egg before, let alone shape one! It was fun, simple and quick! I don't make breakfast in the morning when I have to go to work as well. I am just too tired...it takes me a while to wake up.

In between all of this Dave and Liette stopped by for a little bit. I walked the dogs again and continued my laundry. AND guess what? It's only 5:00pm! haha! So now I am about to start my first try at jambalaya! I can't wait until spring/summer. I want to use food that I have grown myself in my dishes. It's getting closer!!

Life is good. I really can't complain. In fact, I should do more of the opposite as much as possible. I am in a happy and healthy place. Thought I don't really know what the future holds for me, I can truly say I am living my life the way I want. When I was a little girl, all I ever wanted was to grow up and get married. I wanted to find love, even when I was little. I don't know if my family will ever find this blog..I love them all, but I've always felt very alone. Half of my family, the half that would have taken care of me, does not even know (or ever will, for that matter) the hardships I have faced. Now that I am an adult, and have moved past those difficulties, I am figuring out who I am and what makes me happy. What makes me happy, is the small things! Like taking care of my little family! Being the best person I can be! and loving with all of my heart!! :)

Life is, very, good!

I've had a good day and I can't wait for Josh to come home from work!! Now back to my kitchen I go! It's Jambalaya time!!

Until next time!

XoX Shara!

TEA FOR TWO

:)

All smiles.

Josh is asleep on the couch, he's had a very long week, I decided to be a creeper and take a picture of him. Scully was licking him and he didn't even budge! I wrapped him up in my R2D2 blanket and have been sitting at his feet with Dude, reading and planning!

I have been so inspired lately! To just, create! Today I made a Menu for the week. I didn't include breakfast because I have to prep some things on my day off. For future reference! This is what we will eat/have eaten for the week of March 6th 2011 :)

MON.

LUNCH; Roast beef and swiss sub sandwich, garden salad, apple & fruit snack.

DINNER; Hawaiian skewers (pork, pineapple, onion and a gala apple!) , rice and brussel sprouts (we LOVE them!).

TUES.

LUNCH; Tuna wrap, orange, yogurt with fresh berries & fruit snack.

DINNER; Jambalaya, rice creole.

WED.

LUNCH; Roast beef & Cheddar sub, home made barley soup, apple & Fruit snack.

DINNER; Rainbow trout, salmon souffle & asparagus.

THURS.

LUNCH; Turkey and swiss sandwich, spicy lentil soup, fresh various veggie slices & orange.

DINNER; Lemon cream chicken, salad & mashed yams (also a HUGE staple for us!).

FRI.

LUNCH; Home made beef & barley soup, tuna sandwich, apple, sliced banana & granola yogurt.

DINNER; Gnocci in a rose sauce, salad and garlic bread.

I don't plan weekend meals because Josh loves to cook! and he is more of the spontaneous nature! Plus, we never know where we will be or what we will be doing. I eat a few bananas a day, they are my favorite snack. On my day off I am going to make a couple batches of home made soups and some breakfast 'bits' for our early mornings! We have started taking Yoga in the evenings together. Who knew an hour of yoga burn would be sooooo darn difficult! I can't wait until I get to the point where I can actually do ALL of the moves.

This weekend I worked. I still had a wonderful time though! Friday night Nic and Char came over. We hung out watched some Spartacus and played Kill Zone 3! Talk about FREAKY stuff. I need the volume on low with that game, it's too spooky! haha. Saturday evening we went to their house instead. We had a sleepover..which I know sounds hilarious. 25 years old and I still stay up late and act all silly. We had a few beer, made INSANE burritos, and played COD Black Ops. We brought our two pups with us to have a play date with their two Aussie's Dodge and Ozzy. They are all so funny together! In the morning Josh dropped me off at work, again. He hung out with Tim and we did groceries at the end of my shift. Then we went to Tim & Krystal's for some dinner (vodka chicken, interesting and tasty). Right when we got home, Josh walked the pups while I packed us each a lunch for tomorrow. We cuddled and he passed out like a little baby on the couch. It's about 11 now and I am starting to get a little doe eyed. I've been a busy bee this weekend with work. My photo shoots have been going very well. I've met some great families this weekend and got to see quite a few milestones with my regular clients. Like little Josh (shares the same name as my love, so you know he's a cutie!), today was his first birthday! I've been taking his portraits every month since he was born and today I saw him walk for the first time. It was beautiful! It feels pretty darn neat to see these families come together, progress and grow! I'm a lucky lady :) My elderly buddy Mr. S brought me some Turkish delights and Mrs. M (the cutest nanny ever) brought me some coffee! I can't complain, even if I have to work all weekend. I get to hang out with cute kids and come home to my little family that I love with all my heart.

Shara, out! ha

I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way.

HIYO!

I've had a wonderful week! A bunch happened, that I don't have time to talk about right now. I will say, I went to my first knitting club meeting the other night at Lise's house. It was so much fun! Just hanging out with a bunch of nice girls and doing something silly and fun. It was my first attempt at knitting! I am making a coffee cozy. I

already hand stitched a patch, that says PWN'D, to put on it!! I also made a felt wallet (while on break at work yesterday), it's lined with red felt and the outside I sewed little black piano keys with a satin bow on the top corner!! I feel so inspired lately :) and I love it!

Today was a nice day. A very good day! I had a great morning with my man and pups! An easy peasy day at work (I even got out early). A nice little trip to the comic

shop (I bought this great graphic novel called Dirty Rich). Then turned into the domestic goddess I can be, and cleaned the house, walked the dogs, threw in some laundry, made dinner (London Broil; which is ground

pork wrapped in bacon then wrapped in steak, with a fresh salad and our fav. mashed sweet potatoes). Then Joshy came home, we ate together talked about our days etc. After dinner I made some zuchinni muffins for snacks and made a whole bunch of dog biscuits (AGAIN! only this time meat instead of peanut butter! I used three different flavors of baby food and formed each flavor into a new shape..and let me tell you, they smell so good! You can see the photo in front of the new Zombie head cookie jar). Now I'm in my PJ's watching Lie to Me with the hubby while we await the arrival of his brother Nick, and Nick's wife Char :)

If you ever find this blog Josh....

all I have to say is;

I love you!

&

PRO-BONO!

Again, I will leave this post with some photo's!

Yummzville!

Dear internet,

I love you.

It's only been a day since my last post. Interesting! So, last night, after Josh got home from work...I made a big chicken dinner, and we had company! After dinner I was in create mode..Josh & Nick busted out the Marvel Vs. Capcom while I made homemade doggie cookies made with peanut butter and pressed into a little mini skull form (they lost their shape a fair amount, but Dude & Scully don't mind at all!). Which they LOVED. After I made the babies something yummy, I made homemade maple cinnamon donuts served with vanilla frozen yogurt (Krystal & Tim made it just in time!). Holy smokes, the donuts were amazing!! Sooo amazing! Next I am going to attempt woopie pies (aka wookie pies)!! Ooo & Krystal dropped off my GIANT zombie head cookie jar (which is now full of those yummy peanut butter skulls!).

I can't believe how big the thing is, haha, but I adore it (It's hard to tell with the photo, but it literally fits on my head with plenty of room..lol).

Tomorrow I will be working in the studio all day and then off to the Chicopee tube park to photograph a company get together. It should be fun, but cold :) So I am going to bust out my purple leopard print leggings and whatever other layers I can possibly throw together to keep cozy. I am dragging my sister Rae out with me for company.

Jeff & Josh are up in the attic jamming, and I love the way the music caries itself throughout t

he whole house. It gives me the

best feeling to hear the drums and guitar and Josh's amazing voice.

I really feel like I am home.

& I don't ever want to leave this place, this feeling and this love.

I am the luckiest girl.

Don't spend all your time and money, on syrup & honey. 'Cause i'm sweet enough.

Well, well, then.

Yet another day off of work :) I don't have too much time to update this blog on my work days, they are busy enough! Let me walk you through what we do every day!

Josh and I wake up at about 8 in the morning (6 days a week!), where he immediately likes to go sit on the couch to "wake up" haha. He always needs time in the morning, he moves slow at first! I usually let the pups out back first thing and put on a pot of coffee. We sit for about an hour together while slowly getting ready and chatting. Then it is go time! Josh drives to a city near by (about 30 minutes away) for work. He works for a smaller computer business doing IT and is the companies head of marketing. He likes his job and the people he works with. Myself, I leave shortly after he does to catch a bus, since we only have one car right now. I actually really don't mind the bus at all. I just pop in some head phones and smile at the early morning sunshine. When I get to work, I have to set up my studio. I am a photographer and I manage a portrait studio. I am lucky, and I get to work with children all day! I usually work by myself, since we have two other photographers who only work for me part time. I close up shop at about 7 in the evening, which is when Josh is just heading back into town. He picks me up and we are home by about 7:30 or 8ish in the evening. When we get home we cook a full dinner (no microwave meals for this family!). Then proceed to do various chill out kind of activities until we are ready for

sleep, which isn't usually until about 1 or 2 in the morning! This is our life on work days! We still manage to visit our closest friends and family about 4 or 6 times a week. We bring our pups along with us as much as we can, to be sure they have as much interaction as possible. Weekends and "Days off" are a whole other unpredictable story. I can't even begin to give you a daily view, since we are always up to something different.

SO! Today, my hubby is at work while I am at home alone. I was going to take a quick run uptown to check out this cute little boutique called Delerium (they specialize in more offbeat kind of styles), but the winter weather here is pretty persistent. It snowed a little more last night, so I am not sure if I am going to brave it yet. Instead, I will probably just veg. I have a few chores around the house that are still awaiting my attention, and the little fur babies are fast asleep. I've taken out a whole chicken for dinner and might bake something to pass the time! ALSO, we picked up the new Call of Duty game, Black Ops, which I am really excited about playing. So that will probably help me procrastinate, and push back the whole chore thing a little longer!

Last week, we celebrated Krystal's birthday! The big 26!!!! Yeah! It was fun and silly. We all had a little too much to drink and were a bit worse for wear the next morning! I got her some stretched canvas (she is an amazing painter, and we often have painting dates after work), some zebra printed photo frames and a cute little biker jacket. I also baked her some cupcakes with silly little hedgehog cut outs on top! It was fun times. See photo below! Birthday girl & I!

I also had my hair done! I am no longer a raven haired lady. Instead, I am red. It was the lightest they could go for me, for the first try. I am naturally baby blonde and had been dying my hair black for the last 7 years! I was fairly nervous about getting it done, thinking my hair would fall out or something silly like that. I love it though, the change. I am happy for something new! I feel like a different me :) a more confident, fresh me!

Another highlight of my week, I got a message from an old high school acquaintance. He is a web developer and graphic designer that has previously made me some beautiful business cards. Since I am internet challenged, he is going to help me build a professional site and make me some graphic oriented things (banners, signs, more cards...etc). I am so excited to work with him, he is VERY talented! He lives across the country now, so we will be corresponding via e-mail. I can't wait to get this going! Once it is ready, I will add a link to this site :)

Hmm..what else has happened since I wrote last.....I painted a big piano key painting and a big one with some jelly fish, and that was fun! I worked with the band a bit and wrote a couple keyboard bits for a couple songs. We got a new guitarist (well, a second guitarist I should say), so that is exciting too! Between hanging out with friends and family, I am not sure how much detail I can recall. It has been a very busy few weeks here!

I have decided, I am going to try to take my camera out with me more often. Every day is an adventure, so why not capture it? Well, we will see how long this lasts! haha! I am going to finish this up, drink my tea! Catch up on my favorite blogs and then get to cleaning.

Au Revoir!

Here's to square pegs in round holes.

Hey look a fourth post! & no traffic! haha!! This is fun.I called in to work this morning, this cold is beating me up. Tomorrow my day is already fully booked and I will be working by myself, so I thought since I was feeling really crappy I would use a sick day. I hope I feel a little bit better tomorrow morning, so that my day isn't too crazy.

SO.

Since my house is clean, my hubby is gone, my dogs have been walked and it is still early! I am going to entertain myself via the magic land of the internet & lurk some blogs that I enjoy! AND make myself an egg sammi for breakfast, & maybe a second cup of that nice green/jasmine tea I just drank.

The life & times or a normal person! haha! Exciting right?

So this blog entry will act as my formal introduction.

*My name is Shara! I am a 25 year old girl from Ontario, Canada. I work full time as a photographer for a local studio, which I also manage. I do various other photography jobs as well, but the studio is my steady day job, which I happen to LOVE.

*I live in a wonderful house, close to downtown, with the love of my life Joshua! Everything with Josh started when I was about 17. He is one persistent dude. We have now been engaged for about 6 months of our relationship. We plan to wed in September 2012. Since that is a distant date, you will be reading more and more about my plans for the big she-bang.

*We have four little babies here as well; two cats-Sukura (or Suki for short) and Magellan (aka bikini man, since he is all black, but has these

hilarious triangular white spots-two across his chest, and one below the belt.). As well as our two dogs-Scully (yep, named after Dana Scully..she is the all black/brindle) and Dude (after a Jeff Bridges character we adore...the first picture, pooch with white).

*When I am not working, I love pursuing my own photography adventures for fun! I take a LOT of pictures.

*I love my long board. When the weather permits, Josh and I frequent the trails around here and there happens to be an old road (used as a connection between towns in war time) that has been paved and is used as a trail throughout the whole city.

*I love a good hot beverage...tea and coffee are my biggest vice(s).

*I like to read! I am in the middle of a great novel called Return of the Quetzacoatl by Daniel Pinchback. I love graphic novels more than anything and you can find me downtown at the comic shop on most of my days off. Jeff Lemiere is the most amazing author. I also REALLY love the work of Ashley Wood!! The Maxx RULES.

*I collect Star Wars memorabilia, because I am cool like that yo. I have a ton of goodies and am not ashamed of my insane NERDiness. I've got replica helmets & sabers, toys, blankets, clothes...etc. etc.

*I love when I emberass boys with a higher head shot count.

*My favorite food would have to be

sandwiches. Which I know sounds pretty vague, but stuff it between bread and I am there. Pancakes are a close second.

*I don't smoke cigarettes. I don't drink too much, but I will have a beer or two when I feel like it!

*I love to sew, paint and draw...and am not too good at any of them! ha.

*I have three sisters and a brother who rock the show. I also have three nephews who I love with all my heart! My mom & dad were never married, so I get a pretty kick ass step mum with the whole package too.

*I am fairly anti-social. Not on purpose, but again, I am boring and I stand out...we can just leave it at that! I do have a few people that I cherish! One being my best lady from high school, Krystal. We have been friends for years, she is my main girl. Or just my main partner in crime, in general!

*I like try to be a doting house wife. As silly as it sounds, there is this immense feeling of satisfaction knowing the one I love the most is taken care of :) Josh is the chef in our house! If I am cooking us a meal, it is because I have the day off work and am home before him. Which is seldom. He usually takes over or has it covered before I can even blink. He is awesome like that! Our friends love to come over for dinner, as much as possible, just to enjoy his crazy creations! For example, a whole chicken stuffed with a seasoned pork loin, seasoned under the skin of the chicken and then wrapped in bacon. SO. SO. SO. GOOD.

*I like to dabble in music. I say dabble, because I wouldn't really call myself a musician yet. I have been graciously accepted into From Lambs to Lions as their bassist. I play a little bit of piano and guitar too. My bass was a gift this past Christmas from Josh and I love it! He is for sure the master musician in this house! He is incredible.

*My favorite band is called Lucero. They are nothing like the rest of the music I listen to!

*I love tattoos, and have lots.

*I like educational programming, but have not had cable since I was 17! I am never know what is new, or on television on a daily basis, so I can not be included on such discussions. We do watch A LOT of movies though!

My favorite movies are; Episodes 4, 5 & 6 of Star Wars, The Big Lebowski, the Chumscrubber..and way more than I can think of right now! We are into Ricky Gervais at the moment, so we just finished the whole BBC Office series and are moving onto Extras, then we will watch the Ricky Gervais Show. Score for box sets :)

*I am happy with simplicity. The sun coming through the windows in the morning. The kettle going off. The warmth of my blanket. The insane amount of attention from my guy. My sleepy little puppies. Purring kittehs.

I know I am different, and stating a few facts off the top of my head, won't give too much away. You will just have to get to know me to understand :)

Everything about every day life makes me so in love.

Rise & Rise again, until LAMBS BECOME LIONS.

Well, I guess it's been a while.

Today I had the day off work. Now, by that I mean, out of the studio...because I sure as heck did not sit on my butt all day. I got up with the man this morning to have coffee with him before he left. Afterward I began a day of chores. I cleaned the whole house, did countless loads of laundry, walked the pups, hung up the mandolin & ukulele, built a shelf to store our movies, etc. etc. Including a salmon dinner all by the time he got in from work.

I have had a sudden wave of inspiration. I just want to sew and cook and learn how to knit & just make a few random things. Maybe it's because I am finally organizing around here & feel relieved (as silly as that may sound). I have been getting through the cold days with thoughts of summer. I know it is a long ways away. I just can't wait! To hop on my long board & just ride downtown for a cup 'o joe. To go camping! & hopefully on a road trip out West. To fish all day. To hike with the puppies. For BBQ's & bonfires. For SHORTS & Dresses! & sooo much more! The most exciting thing I am looking forward to is gardening. My biggest goal and challenge this year is to build a large patch in our back yard to harvest some of our own food. We also want to build a fence to stop our little Dude from running through the bushes out into the street. We already have several mature fruit trees/bushes/vines which I am so excited for.

Which reminds me.....

I have been doing a few things around the house to make it more "ours". I hung up candid photo's of our families and friends to line the wall going upstairs. I am really happy with how much something so simple can make me feel the little twists of happiness every time I see them!

The day I after I put them up we went out to buy groceries. When we came home, as I was putting them away, my Mr. came over and thanked me. He is the sweetest, best guy, in the whole world! Honestly. Not just because he was saying thank you, I guess I should finish that...he said he was thankful that I make him feel like home. Like our life together is his home and is everything to him. He thanked me for always taking care of all of us. <3>

Can you tell I missed him? haha.

I caught myself thinking, about this blog today. About how I don't really talk about it, so the people I care about are not reading it, that much I know (since they have no way of knowing it exists). What I was really thinking about was, that maybe in the future, someone might want to get to know me & potentially, I may not be around. Like future children or something..which I know sounds 100% bonkers!! I thought, wouldn't this be the biggest surprise? To see how someone you might miss became who they were? To hear about how they grew to be the person you loved? Crazy right?

Maybe I am just trying too hard to justify my writing here. I don't know! haha! Whatever, I don't need a reason! It feels nice to have this secret little place where I can say anything I want!I have no intentions to please anyone, I write in this for my own purposes. My own outlet. My own place to say what I want, when I want and how I want. With no worries of who I may offend. My belief is writing forces you to organize your thoughts, which helps you to gain control over what is happening around you. It releases stress. AND to be honest, I really feel like I am boring! Most 25 year old girls are NOT at all like..me. As cheesy as it sounds, I am different. I have accepted it! Most girls my age probably don't want to have a conversation with me about crocheting or canning. Minus a few that I have picked up along the way :)

Onward ho!

We both have colds right now..icky. Night time is so uncomfortable when you aren't feeling well. I have to work at 9 tomorrow & it is 9:30'ish in the evening. The puppies are both sleeping on my legs while the boys are upstairs jamming their new From Lambs to Lions tunes. We are heading off to a birthday party shortly for my girlfriends fiancée (who happens to be good friends with my guy too!). Where we will probably talk about our up-coming weddings and will have to focus on not being anti social. I would love the opportunity to pass out as soon as possible. I am tired today...and I have a feeling it will be the re-occurring theme of my weekend, since I work both Saturday and Sunday (& every day after until next Friday).

I am excited for next weekend to come though! I am getting my hair done. Which again, I sound like such a crazy chick, but I am really nervous about! I am naturally blonde and have been dying my hair black for 8 years :S It is long and I want it to stay long! I know my hair stylist will try to force me to cut it. I just want to be back to blonde for my wedding. So I am starting the process as early as possible! I am going with Josh's mum, her gift to me! Which is so sweet of her. She is going to stay with me all day and get pampered herself.

I'll leave you with a photo!

I like the two instruments there...One of these days I am going to post my own home tour..since I love lurking so many on the internet! but we live in a super old house in the downtown core of our city. We have two music rooms, one is a space just for the drum kit and the other is more of a studio space, it is where we keep our Mac, mic, electric kit, midi keyboard, tons of guitars, various amps and all kinds of other music related stuff. We leave a few lying around other places in the house and I wanted to find ways of cleaning them up since we have them everywhere! You can even see the two poochies on the couch!