.Cyber Monday (& Tues) Sale.

My entire .PhotoSho. store is 30% off on Nov. 28th & Nov. 29th with:

  code - cybermon

Here are some of my favorites that are in the shop:

Canoe for Two 

In The Field

Where the Land Ends

Bright Beautiful Open Trail 

Koala

You can also purchase any photos that are on my facebook page that haven't made it into the shop yet!

Happy Shopping!

.happy thanksgiving.

Today at work I got to interview an American who was also going to celebrate Thanksgiving this evening, this made me smile a little bit. It's nice knowing that Dave and I aren't the only American in this town, even though I suspected it, its good to finally know. 

Dave and I celebrated without a turkey, cranberry sauce, or pumpkin pie, but we were able to find some substitutes such as BBQ roasted chicken, cranberry raspberry jello, and chocolate cake. We plated our meals and ate our feast while watching Head of the Class & Golden Girls!! Today, Dave started a new tradition of Thanksgiving Love Proclamation and Thanksgiving gifts. All I can say is that I am such a lucky girl to have found him and kept him in my life.

There are many things to be thankful for, I could go on and on and on and on....on and on, with all the things I am thankful in life. Most of all I am thankful to be living this life, learning new things, being loved and supported, and being able to dance when the beat takes over. 

Enjoy some pumpkin pie for me and watch a little football too!

ALSO, have fun on Black Friday!!

..it's Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday...

.5 years.

Carol Jean Hammond

Recently I was watching FRIENDS, the whole gang was gathered around after stuffing themselves silly from Monica's Thanksgiving Feast. The discussion of topic was who has had the worst Thanksgiving, Chandler thought he took this category because it was when his father came out and was 'spending time' with the house boy, Monica was in the running because she accidentally chopped off Chandler's toe and brought a baby carrot to the hospital instead of the toe.  While watching this episode, all I could think over and over again was..nope, I have them beat. I am winner of the worst Thanksgiving ever.

It was the morning of Thanksgiving 2006 when  laying with my mother in her hospital bed she took her last breathe. As soon as my father had woken me up with a gentle poke on the shoulder, I knew exactly what had happened. It was only 3 weeks earlier that she was diagnosed with colon cancer. When she was diagnosed the cancer had spread so far that they couldn't do much for her and only gave her half a year to a year to live. When first hearing that I would only have a year with my mom, I couldn't handle it, I thought she may not be at my wedding or meet my future children, but she can watch me graduate college. Now, what I wouldn't give for the extra 11 months with my mom. The three weeks went by to fast and I never was able to see her outside of a hospital room again. 

May 2009
Only picture of the WHOLE family (husbands included)
&
First time Dave met my family!

My mother was 53 years old when she passed away, I was 22 years old. I felt far to young to lose the most important person in my life, the one person who raised me and never stopped loving me. In our short time together, I learned so many things from my mother that I will carry with me always and hopefully pass on to her grandchildren. Some of the things that my mother taught me (and many others) are: how to be a strong, independent woman, love unconditionally, smile and laugh, assist others in need,  and family & friends are more important than all the riches in the world. I think one of the things she hoped would have stuck is how to be frugal, write down purchases, and save more money!!

I love this smile!!

Every year on this day I go to Long John Silvers for supper. This was one of mom's and I favorite treats, I rarely went with anyone else. I remember the exact conversation we had in March 2006, which was the last time we went together. She surprised me at college to take me out to lunch and hang out with me, we went to LJS and I told her about how Dave and I were officially dating & that I was going to Seattle for Spring Break (only 2 days away!).  

Today I will be getting fish and chips from our favorite place, Scotties, and eating them at the beach.  Then I will be taking a little bit of her ashes and letting them go into the ocean. She was always supporting me and helping me make my dreams come true, especially in taking adventures, when she only left the country once.  When my father and mother moved to Alaska back in the day, they drove through Canada, this is the only time I believe she went out of the country.  So now it's my turn to help her see the world. She supported me 11 years ago on my first trip to Australia and only feels appropriate that she is here for the second trip. 

.love you & miss you, mom.

Our last Mother's Day...we had no idea. 

Today  hug someone you love.

Let them know what they mean to you, 

because we never know what the future holds.

.Pinned Photos.

Happy Monday/Tuesday! Usually every Monday I bring you some of my favorite photos from the week prior. However this week I was in a little bit of a funk and only took maybe 3 pictures this whole week...eeepp!

Instead I want to share you a few photos that I have on my pinterest boards. Do you have pinterest? If so we should be friends and you can follow my boards!

5 Generations by: Maree Turner

This picture is so beautiful and moving. 

Think of all the history and hope that runs through each palm.

Source: unknown

This picture is filled with childhood wonderment and curiosity!

Source

Source
I LOVE old buildings and barns!
I have always wanted to do my own photoshoot with old barns!

If you don't have pinterset yet, I highly recommend you look into. It is filled with wonderful inspirations, craft projects, beautiful pictures, food delights, and information. Just be warned an addiction to pinterest could be in your future!! 

Happy Pinning!

.disposable.

Before leaving on our trip I got a great travel package from a friend that included an old disposable camera. The expiration date on the camera was in the year 2007 so we had no idea how the pictures would turn out, which was the joy behind it all. For the first few months I carried the disposable camera with me to capture ordinary every day activities and little adventures with Dave.

Future is so bright we need shades

Newcastle Harbor at sunset

.Grin.

Kanagroos 

Shed with guard peacocks

After developing the film, it was obvious that I have not used a disposable camera in a long time and didn't really know when to use the flash! However overall the pictures turned out pretty good, I love the grainy look of them, it adds a character that digital film can never give you. 

.Blue Mountains.

Dave and I took a quick 24 hour trip to the beautiful Blue Mountains. This is a MUST see if you are in New South Wales or Sydney. We took the train from Sydney to Katoomba (2 hours) and found ourselves in a great small town, surrounded by natures beauty. The most famous landscape in the Blue Mountains are The Three Sisters, which are only about a 20 min. walk from town. When planning your trip to Australia give yourself a day or two to head to the bush and see Australia's answer to the states Grand Canyon!

Three Sisters

Katoomba Falls

Cliff Overlook

Three Sisters: from Echo Point

Wanna see more pictures from our trip to the Blue Mountains? You can find them here on my facebook page...don't forget, to like my page and keep updated with photos and stories!

I'm on Team....

Oye! This week I have been totally MIA.  I wish I had a good excuse for it, but really I don't. This week was just wonky with me working and then sleeping and then watching tv.....see not a good excuse at all!

But I have made a pretty big decision within the last week. As you may know, I have been conducting "research" and reading all the Twilight books to see what the phenomenon is all about. Within the last three weeks I have read ALL of the books and watched ALL of the movies, even Breaking Dawn(!!!!). Man, I did not think that I would become so obsessed with all of this research, but when a book grabs you it really does grab you! After all of this "research" I am ready to make my decision, as to which team I am on. I have been thinking long and hard about this while reading each book, will I be Team Jacob or Team Edward?

I have joined TEAM...

In Katoomba, our hostel was on this street...HELLOOOO..total sign!

I think the best thing about reading Twilight is getting lost in the story of Edward and Bella, I'm a sucker for a love story. The thing though is that their love story is one that we all can have. I truly believe that Dave and I have a love that would make Bella and Edward blush, yep it's SOOO grand it would make a vampire blush! Dave has saved me from death, he has provided me with a love that will last forever, he is my best friend, and we would die to save the other....just like Bella and Edward, but we are fragile little humans. 

Have you read the books?

Which team are you on?

Favorite Photos of Last Week

At the beginning of each week I share some of my favorite photos that were taken the week before. This little snap shots of the week remind me of what is important and share a little bit more of who is this Sho behind .PhotoSho.

What a stud!

this just makes me laugh!

perfect after work remedy

Thursday Nights: eating Indian Food, watching Beauty & The Geek
This week I also got a cupcake with sprinkles!

Being silly in the Blue Mountains

His expression says it all!
He hates heights but for me he went up a cable way and a skyway!

Taking in the beautiful view.

In Step Together 

The 3 sisters

.Weekend Plans.

Three Sisters

Cable Car in the Blue Mountains! 

Tomorrow morning Dave and I are getting up early and heading out on a little adventure! We are both really excited to be getting away for the weekend, it has been a month since we have left the city for more than a day and it's long over due. We plan on getting the bus & rail for a 4hr. journey to the Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains. We plan on doing some hiking and sight seeing (and reading Breaking Dawn...I'm SOOOOOO addicted!).  It will be interesting to see how Dave handles the Cable Car, he is deathly scared of heights, he at times can't even look over a railing in the local mall.

Hope you have a great weekend!!!

Five Things Friday

1) My favorite line from The Outsiders is, " They call me Cherry cause of my red hair." I have no idea why this is my favorite line, maybe it's because I really wanted red hair when I first watched the movie.

2) I sometimes enter shops or boutiques based solely on the music that they are playing. If a tune catches my ear I am more likely to enter than if I like a few items in the window display.

3) When I was younger, I hard a hard time finding my birth mark (it's really tiny). My mom told me I was alien because I didn't have one....I believed her for FAR to LONG!

4) I got my ears pierced in 4th grade. I really only did this because I had short hair and was sick of people thinking I was a boy, I thought having your ears pierced truly showed I was a girl.

5) I sleep when I am mad, sad, and of course tired. Sleep is my getaway/ my way of not dealing with things I really need to deal with.

.Inspiration.

You may know that recently I have picked up running again. This time I have ran more and further than I ever did before and I hope to become a runner for life. I found this video to be so inspirational, I hope to keep running and keep losing the lbs!! I don't know if I will ever do Iron Man (probably not) but I do know that one day I will run a marathon. And then I will run another and another....the elementary - college self of me is going to be SOOO impressed that now I can do something I never imagined before. 

Another month down another 10 lessons learned

When a month of living in Australia passes us by I think it is important to reflect and see what little lessons the world has provided us with. You can find month one and two, here and here! Now onto the next 10 lessons learned since arriving in this wonderful country and city!

1. People from your past can come back and make a great difference in your life.  When I posted about Getting Healthy and needing help with being accountable one of my best friends contacted me to help out. She and a few friends from high school email weekly and help each other with struggles and being accountable and they welcomed me into their group with open arms. I haven't talked to these friends for y.e.a.r.s. and I realize how much I missed having contact with them and how they are helping make a difference in one of the hardest areas I struggle with. Without their constant support I don't know if I could be as successful in getting healthy. So thank you ladies, I can't wait until we can have a mini reunion when I get back to the states!

2. How not to be obsessed with "cool".  During my first month here I found that I was OBSESSED with trying to be cool and what did that even mean, etc. Now that I have made a true effort the last months to not be unconcerned with what others concept of cool is and how I fit into it, being cool doesn't really cross my mind. I don't look at others with envy wishing I was that cool. I now just put my best foot forward and stay tuned to what I like, want, and don't really worry about anyone else. I don't even say the word "cool" anymore, which is shocking because it was in almost every other sentence when I first arrived here. 

3. I want to have my own little bookshop/music shop in the future.  Dave and I have always talked about having a secondhand bookstore when we retire, but after working at the bookshop I want this more than ever. When I work I feel so content and happy, I could be there for hours doing little things with the books and talking with customers. It will be years before I have my own store, but during that time I will be doing LOTS of research and saving my moola! I think I want to call our little shop, SHOAVE'S. hee heeeee

4. Dave & I have come a long way during the last year.  A year ago both Dave and I were going through our own personal hells. I can't speak for Dave (because that would just be rude and wrong of me) but for me, I was deeply depressed. I was having a hard time after my father-in-laws passing, it brought up a lot of things from my mothers passing 4 years earlier, I was emotionally drained due to going through my own things, helping Dave with his path of healing, and putting a brave face on at work day in and day out. This depression lasted for at least half a year, and when things were bad Dave and I would say to each other, "Don't You Wish You Could Go Surfing?", always thinking about how the escape to Australia would be. A year later, we have dealt with our little hells, we have grown as partners, and now we are loving life and all the little challenges and adventures it brings us. I'm SOOO proud of us for coming this far in our lives, together I know that we can take on the world. 

5. Not to walk out the door not feeling good about how I look.  I have made a vow to myself to never walk outside the front door not feeling good about how I look in.  When I do this I find that I am more self conscious about everything and how people look at me. When I wear an outfit that I feel good in, I find that I have more self confidence, I don't worry about how I look all day, I smile to people more, and I feel like the world is mine. Why would I want to leave the house and not feel this way?

6. Mexicans - Not Just People born in Mexico.  Dave told me this little bit of information that I thought was very interesting. People of the state New South Wales refer to residents of the state of Victoria as Mexicans. Why do they do this? Because Victoria is south of New South Wales and they relate the term Mexican to mean below the border/state line. Interesting, no?

7. If you could bottle up the joy of child has while playing on the beach, you may never be joyless again.  Nothing beats watching kids running around playing in the waves, building sandcastle,hearing their little giggles, and seeing their huge smiles. NOTHING.  

8. Some Aussies pronounce the letter 'H' differently.  Dave and I learned this by watching, Beauty & The Geek, as known as "research" for Australian culture! So after hearing how some people pronounced the 'H' on tv, I did some of my own research (a.k.a. asking my co-workers). Some people pronounce 'H' as "hech", I was told it was because they went to a Catholic school...I'm not sure if it is true, but it's what my findings are!

9. Books hold keys of wisdom.  A lot of the books I have been reading the last two months have me thinking about life, the future, and have inspired me. I believe that almost every book has a piece of wisdom in in, all we need to do is take the time to read it and see what it unlocks in our hearts, soul, and mind. 

10. I am ready for change.  I have been wanting to be ready for change, but change can't happen until you are truly ready for it. I am happy to share that I am FINALLY ready for change, I have my arms open to it and can't wait to grasp it.  Everything has been working together for this moment and oooooohhhh am I ready for it!

That is 30 lessons so far since landing in Australia!

What lessons have you learned lately from living this crazy thing called life?

.What I Want: Relationships.

September was my month to figure out who I wanted to be, October I worked on getting healthy and November is going to be all about working on relationships. I even have my playlist ready for the month with a friendship theme!

What I Want...Relationships:

• To be an engaged and active member of the community
• To continuously nurture and grow the relationships I have
• To be someone that is trusted and relied on
• For my love never to be doubted or questioned
• To find my "tribe"
• To be open to new experiences and new people
• To control my anger and not push others away
• To feel 100% comfortable with myself and with others
• To give love so deeply that it hurts at times
• To be vulnerable

My gansta wedding party

From the list above I am going to be focusing on: To Continuously Nurture & Grow the Friendships I Have. If you ask any of my friends you will find out that I am not the best person at keeping in contact with others. I don't call (.ever.), write emails, text..I always seem to get wrapped up in my own life and just assume my friends are also wrapped up in theirs, so I never put the effort in. But that needs to change because my friends are truly like family to me, they love me and accept me as I am...that is a HUGE thing and they deserve more love and respect from me.

I plan on doing this by:

• writing e-mails at least twice a month to say hi and check in!
• Sent surprise gifts or snail mail to let them know I have been thinking of them.
• Open myself up more/be more vulnerable with them...really tell them how I am doing and when I am struggling.
• express how I feel about our relationship and what it means to me
• build a relationship where we can challenge and hold each other accountable when needed
• be honest
• make time: friendships are as important as other relationships in my life

To be honest, I 'm really really excited about this month and working on my relationships! I know this is going to be both rewarding to me as well as the others I hope to reach out to! I will keep you updated on how things go during the month!

Does anyone else struggle with this?

How do you keep connected with friends?

FPW: Oct. 31st

Drying my clothes outside makes me happy and smile. 

.this is typical.

Work: I love being surrounded by books!