The year of yes

2009 was the year of yes. I was sick and tired of saying no. Turning down opportunity, turning down fun, and not making anything happen for myself. I needed to change my thinking from, "no I can't" to "yes, I can!". My no's were almost always for one of two reasons- I couldn't afford it, or I had no one to go with. I decided that to make things happen for myself, I needed to start believing that I HAD enough money, and I CAN do it. And I wasn't going to wait for people anymore, it would be just ME. I really needed to focus on myself, clear my head and get to know myself again. There were so many thing I had been wanting to do, so many things to learn and places I wanted to visit . My 2009 brought me so much goodness!! I said yes to my health being first, I went for steams and the rec center and tried out a far infrared sauna. I did a lot more meditation. I bought a bike and took long bike rides, I started taking yoga classes, I took spontaneous road trips by myself, had a picnic and ran around in my underwear at Dry Island Buffalo Jump! went to a props workshop in Calgary, met some amazing people with my amazing friend Mandy and learned hula hooping and poi!! well... kinda learned poi.. But I learned hula hooping!! I took a spanish class, attended a sweat lodge, a photography retreat, a music festival where I slept in my van and took a mud bath by the river! I took a leave from my job and spent my time chilling at the farmers markets as a vender selling Cloud 9 for a friend. It was relaxing, fun, and I still managed to bring in some cash! The best part of the year was, my amazing 25th birthday party! All I wanted was a fire in the backyard, great food, sangria, and all the people I love the most!! To top it off I planned some live entertainment by my ever so talented friends and family! Mandy sang a song just for me :) Jared and Oksana danced. Tess did some poi, and we all hula hooped! It was a fabulous evening, and I couldn't have imagined it better! The only thing I would've changed was, my brother, sister in law and niece and nephew weren't able to make it :( It was a fantastic year and I will continue to say yes! I will not wait around for people. I will go places by myself, and do things by myself and ALWAYS have the money to do so!

What I hope 2010 brings for me is more yes!! And a continuing transformation in my life. My head is clear and focussed and I feel Im becoming more and more me :) I hope this year bring the opportunity to make more changes in the way I wish to live. I hope to wear more natural fibers and support MORE local MORE often. Try to switch over ALL, not just some of my food. I want to grow things! wonderful things in my garden! More yoga, more meditation, more bike rides! more spontaneous roadtrips, I want to go to powpows, listen to singing and dancing and drumming. I want to learn how to make a drum, and moccasins, and bannock! And maybe, just maybe, I can take a trip this year :) And so with that, I say goodbye year of yes, and bring on year of me! Thank you to everyone who helped me along this year in one way or another! Love you all and happy new year!!!

Mackenzie

Congratulations 'D' family! Yet another beautiful little girl to model for me!

Sharleen

Too Cute!!

Beautiful Motherhood...

Crystals and Indigos

"If anyone is dysfunctional, it's the systems that aren't accommodating the continuing evolution of the human species. If we shame the children with labels, or medicate them into submission, we will have undermined a heaven-sent gift. We will crush a civilization before it has time to take roots." http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/CrystalChildren/id/21350

THE INDIGO CHILD

The majority of the Indigo Children are between eight and thirty years of age. Starting as a trickle some thirty-five years ago, the number of Indigos being born peaked at a high percentage of children born in the 1990’s. Some estimates that indicate that more than ninety percent of the children born in the middle 1990’s were Indigos.

As the 20th Century closed, the Crystals began to rise out of the Indigo evolution. Many children born in that period have a blending of characteristics of both Indigos and Crystals. Many people use the term "Cusp Children" to describe these children. One defining physical characteristic is the color of the aura. The Indigos, as their name implies, often have a dark blue aura. The indigo hue of their aura contrasts with the opalescent coloring of the aura of the Crystal Child.

Whether Crystal or Indigo, these children share a strong sensitivity to many impurities in their external and internal environment which can cause allergies and behavior problems. This sensitivity to environmental issues is especially acute in foods. Chemical additives, pesticides, food coloring, hormones and processed foods should be avoided. Organic foods that are as close to the source as possible help to significantly reduce the impact of food on these highly energetic and sensitive children. The highly purified regimen should also extend to the external environment with good Feng Shui principles and a strong awareness to reduction of exposure to EMF pollution.

These gifted children are a treasure and conscious creation of an environment safe from chemicals and other pollutants is paramount. Additionally, a diet free from wheat, corn and dairy, organic or not, may be of great benefit to these children. These gifted children display common traits as defined by some (listed below) that may indicate that the child is an Indigo.

THE CRYSTAL CHILD

Sharing many of the clairvoyant and physic abilities of the Indigos, the Crystal Children have not experienced as many conflicts as the Indigos. They have a more loving and peaceful disposition. Generally born since 1995, the Crystals are quite often speech-delayed up to age four.

This characteristic of late speech often leads Crystals to be misdiagnosed as Autistic. A definition of Autistic is someone who does not communicate or connect with others. Although verbally delayed, these delightful children have no difficulty in communicating in non-verbal ways including telepathy. A dramatic increase in the number of autistic diagnosis is an indicator of the flood of the crystal children that are now arriving on the Earth.

In addition to delayed speech, insomnia is common among Crystals. Because they are sensitive to energy, they respond well to various energy healing modalities including 5th dimensional. The combination of a diet free of caffeine, white sugar, and chemicals plus an energy healing modality can greatly reduce insomnia in Crystals. Many Crystals are attracted to meditation, which can be an effective tool in calming the energies of these higher vibrating children. Using Feng Shui principles to reduce the energy in the children’s bedrooms can also be very helpful in creating a peaceful and harmonious rest space for Crystals. Conscious creation of an external and internal environment is a key to allowing these wonderful children to unfold to their potential.

An article written by Diane and Brad Masters on Crystal Children was published in Kansas City Wellness Magazine, August 2005.

http://www.mastersinstitute.org/indigo.html

This site also provides FAQ's and common characteristics of the Crystal and Indigo children. I knew a bit about these types of generations before but it wasn't until just recently when I heard about a young mother wrongfully assuming her beautiful and intelligent 3 year old daughter who speaks well and learned baby sign at an early age, was autistic that I realized, there is so much that people don't know. Sooo much miseducation, I thought it would be nice to share some of this information for those who are interested. Take it or leave it. And its not just about believing in Crystal children and Indigo children, but more so about thinking outside the system! I have felt for some time now that disorders should be thrown out the window. They have no use for us now other then to make us more sick! Children are not being accepted for who and what they are. ADD, ADHD, and much much more (oh, there is one now for kids who don't go outside enough, Nature Defict Disorder!) are being diagnosed as such, and then numbed with pills. Instead of creating an accommodating environment for those personality types to thrive in. Oh, and I say personality types, because in my opinion it is what some refer to as a "personality". rant rant.... oh and don't even get me started on the school systems!! oops, was that the indigo in me coming out? haha

Heres a few new tunes for all you ladies from this weekend!! enjoy!

DLS oldtimers weekend retreat

I had the privilege of spending the weekend with six phenomenal women, four of whom I had just had the pleasure of meeting, at Pigeon Lake for the DLS oldtimers retreat :) I am so happy to have connected with these six ladies over the last two days in the most perfect chalet ever imaginable for this special little getaway! Hope had planned out a scavenger hunt for us and an activity where we had to describe each person what we thought of them, in a one or two words and take their picture without anyone seeing the word written! We had delicious food, delicious drinks, games, laughs, stories, AND WE EVEN WATCHED SOME P...retty cool documentary on a photographer :) Here's my weekend!






The word is innovative. I felt a cleverness.. a witty, talented, creative woman who knows hers stuff. And it showed in her work. Yes, I think innovative is a good word for Lisa!



I don't believe there is anything this woman cannot do. I see a strength and willingness to get her self through anything no matter what. Unshakable feisty personality with a sparkle. And in this photo... she seems to have an angel on her shoulder ;)



I don't know what else to say about this one. To me, strength speaks for itself. I did not get to talk a whole lot with Lariena, so choosing a word was a bit difficult. This word I choose was based entirely on the energy I picked up from her. I get a sense that there is willingness and dedication in all aspects of her life, as a mother, a wife, a friend, and a photographer and everything else that she is!. :)



Amy is energetic and full of life and certainly lights up a room when she walks in! I had to go with my instinct on this one. She could have been a many words...To me, she seemed to breathe confidence. Her vibe was determined, positive and, self assured. And I got a sense of compassion from her, towards everyone around her. :)




Brilliant and inspiring. Need I say more? I will anyways.. Hope has been and incredible friend and mentor. Her passion is inspiring and keeps me motivated to keep going when sometimes I don't feel like I can. And it takes a really considerate (lovely, shimmering, fantastic, treasured) person to share such a wealth of knowledge. Thank you for sharing your brilliance with us all! Some many more words I could have wrote....




Everything about this woman says, 'beautiful'. Her looks and her talent, her kindness and warmness, and especially her soft radiant pregnancy glow!! I choose this word to describe her because it summed up all of that into one.

Weekend photography retreat at Pigeon Lake

Angela & NIck

Banff weddings are so much fun! This is the second I have done in the mountain, but the first time I got to shoot in the Banff Springs! And I've always wanted to do so. yay!