Well, it’s that time of the year again! Time to go a-vacationing! ROAD TRIP!

Graham and I love (I mean LOVE) to go on road trips! We’ve done two major ones in the past couple of summers and covered almost the entire span of Canada. Two years ago it was the Maritimes (we’re in da Meritimes buy-ie - think pirate’s accent… I know, inside joke!) and last summer it was out west to Alberta and B.C. Both trips were pretty outstanding and now, watch out America, we’re coming your way!

We’re looking to visit the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. of A! Think DC, NYC and the New England states (maybe not all of them). We’re also hoping to do some camping in the Adirondacks on our way back up to Ontario. How much time do we have, you ask? Two weeks! We’re pretty fierce road warriors and Graham’s trusty sidekick Protege is pretty kick-ass and roaring to go!

I should be able to blog along the way considering we’re a mobile communication centre complete with laptop, air card, Blackberry (w/GPS), power inverter and power bar. It’s a pretty killer set-up! See you on the road!

Pretty accurate depiction (except that Graham’s car is silver, not blue, and it’s not the size of New Jersey)

Happy start to vacation!

Cathie and Ashley (Graham’s mom and sister) came a-visiting to Toronto for the past few days and we had some time to hang out with them. Also tagging along on the trip was Waylon, Graham’s three year old nephew (Ashley and Scott’s son). This kid is absolutely adorable! The eyes and the curls! Let’s just say he was so cute that when we pulled up to a coffee shop, the woman working there couldn’t resist but offer up free mini donuts for him!

It was a really nice time spending some time with Graham’s family. We went out for dinner on Tuesday night with impromptu reservations by Graham at the 360 Restaurant at the top of the CN Tower. Mmm… yummy food + great company = good times! The best part about it was that Waylon had such a blast on top of the world and Ashley had never been up the Tower before, so it worked out brilliantly! I might have gotten a little carried away behind the camera but with Waylon around… I couldn’t resist!

Ash and Cathie, I hope the drive back up to the Soo was a safe and fun one! It was really nice seeing all three of you. You should come down more often! Lots of love, Jenne.

Really? Could you resist those baby blues, not too mention the lashes?!

Ashley is one beautiful mama! I’m loving her new haircut!

Dessert can get a bit messy but it’s a serious task that requires the utmost concentration!

This may be my favourite photo from the entire series… 346 metres up and he is fearless!

I really do love this photo too! (That would be Graham, Waylon and the ginormous Tower)

Thank you, thank you, thank you UPS driver!

I’ve been waiting for this all week, tracking the delivery as it made its way from Seattle, WA to Hodgkins, IL to Livonia, MI where it spent the weekend hanging out with all the other parcels in the great big UPS waiting-to-be-delivered room. Finally, yesterday, it touched down on Canadian soil in Windsor, ON at 8:34 am (I told you I was tracking it… you didn’t believe me?!). From there, onward to Concord, ON where it sat waiting patiently (more patiently than me I’m sure) overnight to be picked up at 5:18 am this morning by the kind UPS driver. Oh the adventure!

Fast-forward to 1:38 pm: I’m waiting with such nervous anticipation for my parcel and the doorbell rings! Trying very hard not to show my utter excitement, I open the door to be greeted by the nice UPS driver (she was really nice!) and a brown cardboard box. The end of the trip, the final destination… my loving hands.

So, what is this thrilling parcel? Well, I’d like to introduce… (drumrolllllll…) my Boda Bag! What is a Boda Bag, you ask? Only the bestest lens bag that I’m going to have so much fun with!

I know, I know (for those of you rolling your eyes at the magnanimous buildup to this ), you’re thinking, "It’s just a bag. What is the big deal?". Oh no, it’s never JUST a bag. For those of you who know me, you know my bag fetish… I love bags! It doesn’t matter if it’s a purse, school bag or camera bag, I love all bags equally (though I might love this one a little bit more!). The more pockets, the better! This bag has pockets, pen holders, hidden sleeves… and it carries my camera gear! What more could a girl ask for?

I’ve included some photos below that I literally just took… couldn’t resist! If you want a great review, check out Armin de Fiesta’s awesome extensive review on this bag here. You can also check out the Boda Bag site.

Happy, happy Tuesday!

Jenne.

I met Susan a while back while taking the supervisors’ photos at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic for the Grad Formal. She is a naturopathic doctor and a clinic supervisor at the teaching clinic at CCNM. She also practices privately in two external locations, soon to be three (wowzers!), and has an interest in sports medicine!

We got to talking then and it turned out she needed updated photos for her website, Naturopathicliving.ca and for future promotional items. Just my luck! I had one of my newly printed business cards for her and she told me she’d keep in touch. We finally touched base a month ago and after a bit of rescheduling and whatnot, finally got together with her to shoot her session!

It was a pretty hot and sticky day and the forecast was calling for thunder showers all week but this shoot was so meant to happen - it was sunny and so worth it! Susan, it was a blast and I had an awesome time! Thanks for the opportunity to get to know you better! If anyone out there is looking for a naturopathic doctor in the Toronto area (I don’t have my license yet! ), give this fabulous woman a call!

Here’s a look at some of my favs!

This one is my fav from the entire session! Such a beautiful smile!

I have yet to visit the ROM after the huge renovation that was completed last year but I have driven along Bloor Street many times and passed along the landmark that is so predominantly featured for everyone to see. Trust me, you can’t miss it.

The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal was completed last summer and was so named on behalf of Canadian billionaire and philanthropist, Michael Lee-Chin, for his contributions to the further expansion and development of the ROM. This oddly-shaped, yet fascinating structure was designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind.

I have to admit that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the project as it was being built; it was quite skeletal and looming with its steel beams and all during its infancy. Upon its completion, however, there is definitely something quite svelte and majestic about this gem that overlooks Bloor Street. It has now come to be the familiar face of the ROM in its renaissance. Yet one more landmark to re-visit around Toronto this summer!

Happy Wednesday!

Jenne.