Monthly Archives: February 2014

2014 KW Polar Plunge Fundraiser for KidsAbility

It was a brave crowd that came out for the third annual KW Polar Plunge on Saturday February 22nd, 2014. This fun and dramatic community event is the pride and joy of founder Greg Lehman, who started it three years ago after losing a bet. Participants including Greg collect donations from sponsors, and then dress up and jump into freezing water to support KidsAbility.

This winter has been the coldest on record for many years, and those who took the plunge deserve a lot of credit for boldly jumping into a COLD kiddie pool on a day that hovered right around zero degrees. The rest of us were awfully grateful to be bundled up in boots, hats and jackets that were a bit more appropriate for the middle of winter in Canada. I think every one of us in Waterloo Town Square that day was glad that the event was rescheduled from the original January 25th date due to dangerously cold temperatures. Zero Celsius is pretty cold– but it could have been worse!

The jury is still out on the final total, but word has it that this year’s event raised over $7000, all of which will go directly to the KidsAbility facility in Waterloo. KidsAbility is a terrific organization that “empowers children & youth with special needs to realize their full potential through life-changing therapy and support services”.

As always, it is the volunteers and community sponsors that made this event such a success. Thanks to Nom Nom Treats, Hogg Heating and Air Conditioning, KFUN 99.5FM, Spike Creative Solutions, Bre Creative, Bright Water Services, Boston Pizza, Beertown, and everyone else that contributed to this year’s KW Polar Plunge.

Our fearless leader, KW Polar Plunge founder, Greg Lehman.

Thanks to Nom Nom treats and volunteers Keirra Reid and Charlotte Armstrong for the delicious custom cookies!

Bre Creative always makes time to volunteer for community events.

The delightful team that organized the 2014 KW Polar Plunge.

Fun Lister Family Photos on the Beach in Oliphant

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It feels appropriate to share these portraits with you today, on Family Day.

When Mr. and Mrs. Lister asked me to document all three of their sons and their families, I was pretty pumped. I was their grandson’s girlfriend, and we had gotten to know each other well in the seven years since Todd and I began dating. GGA and GGB, as they are known to the Listers are just lovely people, always smiling and optimistic. I wanted to create a fantastic series of photos that would capture the essence of their family throughout three generations.

The first Lister shoot was done early in the summer, and a few months later, we assembled the second family on the beach at their home for their first ever full family portrait session. We went with a red, white and blue theme, to celebrate both our Canadian and American ties, and also because there is a strong nautical tradition in the family.

The landscape you’ll see below is in beautiful Oliphant Ontario, just a few kilometers from Sauble Beach. Generations of the same families have grown up on these shores. Years ago, a boy named Gord fell in love with a Michigan beauty queen named Priscilla when she came to spend her summers just two cottages down from his. They were married, and eventually purchased a third lot just a few doors down from both of their parents. Over the years as their family grew, their cottage also expanded and about 10 years ago they sold their home so that they might enjoy Oliphant year round. Needless to say, this beach and this view has a huge place in the hearts of everybody in the family.

We took these photos on a hot and hazy day during Labour Day weekend of 2013, and a few months later at sunrise on Christmas morning, Todd asked me to marry him. That means that these people are officially going to be my family! I couldn’t be happier, because they have welcomed me with open arms from the very start and I already feel like part of the family. I love you guys, and I can’t wait to celebrate our wedding day with you and make it all official.

Happy Family Day!

Styled Portraits with Twin Two Year Old Ballerinas

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I’ve loved these two little girls since before they were born, and I think my heart grew three sizes the day they walked into my studio in their brand new ballet outfits.

This styled session began with a vague, vintage middle school dance kind of theme, but the tutus and L & M’s wonderfully unique personalities brought it to a whole new level. When their mom walked in she clapped her hands and said, “It looks like the prom!” I styled the set with authentic vintage gloves, oversize pink marshmallows, apothecary jars, my grandfather’s vintage camera, and homemade cupcakes. Our shoot was timed to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but I have a feeling some of these images will be on display year round!