Earth Hour 2013

What did you do? We did the cool thing and played crib by candlelight.

Cross Country Skiing

View of Kananaskis Lakes from Blueberry Hill

Ever gotten back into something that you used to do a lot?

Upper Kananaskis Lake – Looking toward the Point and Forks Campgrounds

Cross Country Skiing is that for me. As a kid, we used to go fairly frequently and then I went sporadically as a teenager and adult. However, in the last month, I have gone three times. Mr. Bean and I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade our gear so we’re no longer using secondhand stuff from the 80s. It definitely helps!

It can be so peaceful skiing through the snow covered trees and seeing things like this creek… Plus, now that I’m used to my new skis, I can snowplow with greater control and don’t do the “ahhh!! I’m going to fall – goodbye balance!!” dance while going down hills. Am I the only person who does that?

I am so grateful that I live so close to the mountains and have the opportunity to go out and enjoy them – does it make me weird if I want this warm weather to go away so it’ll snow so I can go skiing?

No twigs or pine needles in my eyes – my safety glasses did their best to replace my broken sunglasses.

Last weekend my mom and I headed out the Peter Lougheed Park and skied up to Blueberry Hill. It was a beautiful and warm day and lucky us got spoiled on the way back – what an amazing sunset to end a fantastic day!

I tried to adjust the colours so they looked similar to what I actually saw – still is nothing close to the real thing!

Have you gotten back into something after not really doing it for a while?

2012 in Review

Decorations for the Baby Shower I Threw for a Friend – Inspired by InkObsessionDesigns

It’s already almost the end of January and 2013 has already started to pick up, so 2012 almost seems like a faint memory despite it being less than a month ago. Such is life, I guess.

Newborn Shoot for a Friend

2012 was definitely a year full of firsts, challenges and triumphs. I also apparently took way more photos than I thought – as can be seen with the accompanying collages (look at alt-text for descriptions!) I also finished my Photography Certificate of Achievement through SAIT – go figure that procrastinating me has yet to submit my form to get the actual certificate.

Annual Field Trip

In 2012, I got my first “Real” job, watched one of my siblings get married,  Shot a wedding as the Primary Photographer, climbed a 10,000ft Mountain and sent out a Christmas card and letter. You know, small things like that.

House my Family let for my Brother’s Wedding

My Brother and Sister-in-Law’s Wedding

First of all, I learned a LOT at work. Not just technical stuff, but things about myself like how I am more capable than I think I am and that I can survive through embarrassing situations where I wish the floor would swallow me up as have fun to boot!

Okay, I’ll fill you in – at the end of August, I went up to Fort St. John on a field trip and I was so out of it on the first day that I dropped my glass of water on the floor (and all over myself) while at the client’s office. Go me! Despite being super spastic, I ended up having fun, but it could also because I have a tendency to get incredibly hyper when I’m really, really tired. I’ll keep believing the former as it makes me feel better about myself.

Summer Fun at the Cabin

Mr. Bean and I also spent a fair amount of time at the cabin having fires. I ate waaaaaay too many s’mores, but I justify it by saying that I’m making up for almost 12+ years of not eating them. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Vancouver Island

I also learned that I need to be better at taking care of myself. There was a period in June and July (before I went on a glorious vacation) that all I did was work, ride my bike to and from work, eat and sleep. I had no desire (or time) to do anything with other people. Not exactly the best example of enjoying life to its fullest. Or at all.

Friend’s Engagement Photos

While shooting my first official wedding, I gained even more respect for wedding photographers – everything happens SO quickly and you can really only hope that you’re able to capture everything and that it looks good. I was so happy that Mr. Bean helped me!

Friend’s Wedding Photos

I did manage to do a bit of hiking in 2012 – first I went with my parents to Mt. Lipsett in Kananaskis, Piper Pass in Kananaskis with my family while my sister was visiting, the Plain of the Six Glaciers in Lake Louise with my mom (where we saw a huge chunk of ice fall off a glacier – very cool) and to Pocaterra Cirque with Mr. Bean during the height of the larch trees. I LOVE larch trees.

Hiking in 2012 – Mt. Lipsett, Piper’s Pass/Elbow Trail, Lake Louise – Plain of the Six Glaciers, Pocaterra Cirque

My mom and I also went on a backpacking trip into the Skoki area in behind Lake Louise ski hill in Banff National Park. There, we climbed Mt. Richardson – take that, fear of heights! – my first 10,000 ft peak. We had a few issues with weather (hiking in the pouring rain isn’t the most fun), with our camp stove, forgetting sunscreen only to realize that there was some in the care after we went back to the Lake Louise townsite to get more and thinking that sunscreen was lotion, but we still had fun. We also ate delicious dehydrated meals, similar to our previous meals. The area was so beautiful that I convinced Mr. Bean that it would be a good idea to head to Skoki Lodge for our 5th wedding anniversary this year (in the same cabin that Will & Kate stayed in when they visited in 2011!)

Annual Backpacking Trip with my Mom

The year ended well and poorly – we celebrated a wonderful Christmas with both sides of our family and I baked a lot. Unfortunately, shortly after Christmas, I got the flu which eventually morphed into viral Bronchitis. I guess it was okay – it’s only because I was sick that I made all these storyboards!

Night Photography

What are the best moments of 2012 for you?

Power of Prayer

Prayer is more powerful than I’d like to admit. It’s scary and seemingly dangerous but it does make the best and most difficult things happen.

What I write in my journal this morning. Apparently, I’m afraid of things majorly changing.

101 in 1001 Conclusion

…105 days late, but that’s apparently the way it goes now that I’ve started working. Some of them have been completed in the last little bit, but I’m okay with that as I’m happy that at least I’m doing something with this. Interesting how one’s expectations lowers when they don’t have time.

Start Date: May 16th, 2009

End Date: February 11th, 2012

Creativity

1. Make a Tiered Cake Finished June 2009 in the Wilton 3 class.

2. Complete all four Wilton Cake Decorating Classes (4/4) Finished July 2009. See my cakes here.

3. Create my own cake recipe from scratch that my whole family can eat It wasn’t directly a recipe from scratch, but I made a version of this carrot cake for my brother’s wedding that was gluten, soy, dairy, egg and cinnamon free and wasn’t mush. Win! Complete May 2012.

4. Create a mini recipe book of my favourite recipes using photo in press. I made a mini recipe book for my grandpa, who is a celiac for Christmas 2009 using Staples printing centre. I want to make another actually using photo-in-press or blurb.

5. Make a complete meal from my Cretan Cookbook – Hasn’t been done.

6. Get a light to help take food photos at night with It’s not an actual photography light – it’s a full spectrum light my mom gave me behind a large piece of paper. The idea is that the paper makes the light source larger, which results in a more diffuse light, which is better for taking food photos. It’s not perfect, but it definitely beats using my kitchen lights!

7. Learn how to use my dSLR camera completely on manual Proficient by October 2010.

8. Print and hang one of my photos November 2010 -  Some of my photos are hanging in our bedroom.

9. Do a photoshoot with someone (bridal, wedding, family, etc.) August 2010 – took photos of a vow renewal at my parent’s church. Since then, I have taken many photos for friends, my brother and I have been asked to photograph my friend’s wedding this summer. Exciting!

10.  Arrange a bouquet of flowers and give it to someone

Home

11.  Clean and sort storage under the stairs Completed October 2010.

12.  Buy new shelves for our office Completed July 2010, courtesy of IKEA. Pictures to come.

13.  Keep clothes off the floor of my closet for a month (0/30) Hahaha. Yeah, hasn’t happened.

14.  Donate a bag of clothes to Goodwill once a year (3/3) Donated one bag in August 2009, another in July 2010 and another sometime in fall 2011.

15.  Vacuum once a week (0/143) (4/58) Yeah, this definitely didn’t happen.

16.  Decorate our living room We got some more shelves, added some pictures and organized the shelves to display things better and got rid of things that were messy. That’s decorating enough for me.

17.  Re-grout bathtub Mr. Bean did this sometime Spring 2010.

18.  Dust once a month (0/32) (1/13) Definitely also didn’t happen. Apparently I’m terrible at cleaning (unsurprising!)

19.  Keep my plant alive for at least a year (0/365) Grow Herbs/Plants on my deck and keep them alive all summer – I totally did this! I was sad when winter came and I didn’t have any fresh herbs anymore.

20.  Buy a chair for our living room I have not done this as I’m not convinced that there is space.

Body

21.  Keep weight under 163 lbs. Success! I am currently ~156 lbs. The Daniel Fast and starting to see a personal trainer has definitely helped.

22.  Get my food allergies/intolerances retested Hasn’t happened. I tried to figure out what I was allergic to myself but I haven’t been dedicated enough to do a full elimination diet. Maybe soon?

23.  Do a cleanse I bought a week long herbal cleanse thing only to realize that it has licorice root in it, something that I am allergic to. I am going to consider my Daniel Fast as a Cleanse as it essentially was that. Completed February 2011.

24.  Stop having to take medication (0/2) Nope, still on them!

25.  Get my eyes retested Hasn’t happened yet.

26.  Get a physical Completed June 2010.

27.  Get a massage Even though I now have benefits, I haven’t done it yet. How embarrassing.

28.  Get a facial I haven’t done this as I don’t want to exacerbate my acne issues.

29.  Take my vitamins everyday for a month (31/31) Completed January 2011.

30.  Be a vegetarian for a week I went vegan for three weeks during my Daniel Fast. Completed February 2011.

Physical Activity

31.  Replace bike tires I got a new bike – I think that’s one way to replace tires.

32.  Participate in a bike race I didn’t do a race, but I did do a sweet bike trip in the mountains.

33.  Go cross country skiing Completed December 2009.

34.  Teach Mr. Bean how to play golf We did do some golfing in Radium Hot Springs in May 2009 and on Vancouver Island in June/July 2009.

35.  Golf at least twice a year (3/6) We went twice in 2009 and once in 2010 – I haven’t done it since. 

36.  Go hiking at least 3 times a year (8/8) I’ve gone hiking with Mr. Bean to the Ink Pots in July 2010, up the Stanley Glacier Trail with my sister in July 2010, went on a backpacking trip with my mum in August 2010. I did tons of hiking in the summer of 2011. 

37.  Attend a Calgary Flames Game (not in the nose bleed section) Hasn’t happened. Maybe if they were better? haha.

38.  Take Social 2 and 3 ballroom dance lessons (We took Social 2 this last year. It is debatable whether or not we will go to Social 3 as the instructor kind of took the fun out of it.) Continue to take social dance lessons year round (7/7) Took dance lessons at the YMCA almost all year round since then.

39.  Swim 40 laps Completed September 2009.

40.  Do 50 pushups in a row I can do 50 pushups, but not in a row. I can do two sets of 20 and a set of 10. I’m working on it.

Soul/Faith

41.  Finish counselling Nope – I still need to go and get benefit from it.

42.  Read my bible everyday for a year (0/365) I try to read my devotionals everyday, but I’m not always successful. 

43.  Take a day to relax four times a year (1/11) I took a lazy day with Mr. Bean February 12, 2011.

44.  Meditate every day for a month (30/30) I did this spring 2011. 

45.  Share the Gospel with someone Done at CUPS January 2011.

46.  Be brave and give a testimony at church I’ve done it twice! Once in August 2009, and once in June 2010.

47.  Start a prayer journal and write in it for a month (0/30)

48.  Write a devotional

49.  Attend a prayer vigil Completed August 2010 in the 21 Days of Prayer.

50.  Read 5 Christian books (1/5) The Good and Beautiful Community by James Bryan Smith

Relationships

51.  Have a date night every month (17/32)

52.  Have lunch/coffee with my best friend at least once a month (32/32) Honestly, I didn’t keep track, but we have done something pretty much every single month since then. 

53.  Host a dinner party Completed June 2010 – We had some friends over for dinner for Mr. Bean’s Birthday.

54.  Throw a birthday party for someone Completed June 2010 – see number 53.

55.  Write a letter and send a CD of photos to my Russian pen-pal I haven’t, but I did connect with her on facebook, which is essentially the same thing.

56.  Have a girls night out every second month (16/16) It may not have been on this exact schedule, but we have gone out dancing a fair amount and have had movie nights and clothing exchanges. Fun!

57.  <private>

58.  Invite both sets of parents over for dinner (0/2)

59.  Watch 10 of Mr. Bean’s favourite movies (8/10) 1. Transformers (1984), 2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 3. Blazing Saddles, 4. Young Frankenstein, 5. Batman Begins, 6. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 7. Star Wars Episodes 3-6, 8. Robin Hood Men in Tights, 9. Logan’s Run, 10. Tron.

60. Write a letter every 2 months to our sponsor child (12/16) Hasn’t really happened, but I do my best.

Career

61.  Complete my Chemical Engineering degree Completed April 2010.

62.  Join Apegga I joined applied to join Apegga as an EIT at my iron ring ceremony and was accepted after my convocation.

63.  Update my resume yearly (3/3) I got a job with my updated resume in December 2012.

64.  Attend a one-on-one resume writing session September 2010.

65.  Take a career aptitude test Nope.

Money

66.  Put 10% of income into savings (19/32)

67.  Open an RRSP

68.  Tithe 10% of income (32/32) We’ve been quite good at this.

69.  Create a budget and follow it for at least a month (0/30)

70.  Spreadsheet expenses like Mr. Bean for a month (30/30) I tried to track expenses for a month and then failed.

71.  Join bank accounts with Mr. Bean

72.  See a financial planner

73.  Open a safety deposit box

Life

74.  Write a will Completed February 2010.

75.  Change my name on my passport Completed February 2010.

76.  Something exciting that is yet to be determined

77.  Not get pregnant (note: I do want to have kids, just not in the next 1001 days)

78.  Get my engagement ring and wedding band soldered together Completed January 2011.

Travel

79.  Visit my German exchange partner Completed May 2010.

80.  Go on a “minimoon” with Mr. Bean We’ve gone to Field for a few weekends

81.  Go on a camping trip I went backpacking with my mom in August 2010 and August 2011.

82.  Visit Mr. Bean’s family back east Completed August 2010.

83.  Go somewhere in Alberta I’ve never been to before Completed August 2010.

84.  Go somewhere in Canada I’ve never been to before Completed August 2010.

Community

85.  Volunteer outside of church 4 times a year (12/12) I volunteered a lot in 2010: I have helped in ENGG Week, at the career fair, and at CUPS a few times a week since November 2010.

86.  Invite bible study group over for dinner

87.  Volunteer at Inn from the Cold

88.  Volunteer at a stampede breakfast Completed July 2009.

89.  Donate $100 of supplies to CUPS I haven’t donated supplies but I did volunteer there for almost 8 months, so that almost counts.

Culture

90.  Attend a Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra symphony

91.  Attend a wine tour

92.  Buy 10 classical music CDs and listen to them (7/10) I am now the proud owner of 5 CDs that contain all of Beethoven’s Symphonies and 2 CDs with Mozart’s “greatest hits” on them. Mr. Bean can attest that I really enjoy all of them!

93.  Visit a museum I’ve never been to The motor museum in Motala, Sweden in May 2010.

94.  Watch ten international films (0/10)

95.  Go to ten restaurants I’ve never been to before. 1. The Belgo in Downtown Calgary, 2. Una Pizzeria in Calgary (with delicious gluten free pizza), 3. The Bella Notta in Motala, 4. The Smaka in Gothenburg, 5. Dom Trappulen in Uppsala, 6. & 7. Two Restaurants in Fussen that I don’t remember what they are called, 8. The Restaurant at the Steigenberger Hotel in Frankfurt 9. Melissa’s MisSteak in Banff 10. Brewsters in Calgary

96.  See a play/musical Saw Beauty and the Beast in December 2011.

97.  Read 10 books (4/10) 1. Healing the Shame that Binds You, 2. The Boundaries Book, 3. Sarah’s Key 4. Pride and Prejudice 5. Who turned off my brain? 6. Have a new husband by Friday 7.

98.  Spend an afternoon in a coffee shop

Geek

99.  Redesign my blog appearance. Completed October 2010.

100. Read a textbook or scientific journal for fun

101. Learn how to use CAD or a similar design program I learned how to use photoshop. I don’t think I’m going to learn how to use AutoCAD as I’m now an engineer, not a drafter.

Completed 60/101 by May 26, 2012

Not bad, especially considering that I kind of forgot that I did this for a long time!

Did you do the 101 in 1001? How did it go?