Those daddy moments...

Enjoy your day, you deserve it.

Love is in the Air

Spring Weddings are now making room for Summer Weddings, so we got together with our friend Wendy from Thimblecakes recently.  She does a fantastic job with cupcake towers and wedding cakes and she's at the top of our list of favourite neighbours!

A friend of mine has a lovely vintage engagement ring and graciously let us show it off a little in a photoshoot.  She will be marrying her man later this summer, and will be using the simple and sweet flower, shown above, in her bouquet.  Thanks for the inspiration L.

More photos to share from this later in the summer....

Exciting news!

I've been back in Northwestern Ontario now for almost a week.  I love that I sometimes travel working as a full-time photographer, and that I can go to my hometown for a semi-vacation and meet great new clients or meet again with others, but this trip home is especially exciting.  My brother and his wife were expecting a baby girl!  They had her 2 days before I arrived, so I was just in time for some photos of her first day at home.

I couldn't resist posting a photo, even an unedited quick one.  Check out the facebook page for a few more!

This is the first grandchild for my mom.  She's adorable and I can't wait to spend more time with her.  While the new parents get used to their routines I came to Dryden for some time with family and friends and also some sessions with new faces, and with one of my favourite clients.  It's been a great time so far, even the time spent moving plywood and painting and somehow managing to get a sunburn on a super cloudy, rainy week.  It's been great being back home but I will be off to see my niece for some cuddle time very soon! 

Here's another quick one of that sweet little newborn niece of mine!

While back in Northwestern Ontario I'm offering a special rate of $125 for my brief visit.  My lifestyle sessions are usually about an hour and a half, which gives us some room for locations, and fun activities for little ones. I will be heading to Thunder Bay on Saturday and making time for only a few more sessions while I'm there next week.  Send me an email at natalielyle@me.com to inquire about a session.

Love to your Mother

What gift could a mother love more than photos of you?

Starting this weekend, we are offering a special to introduce our Gift Certificates online.  

For this one week you can pick up our $200 Gift Certificates for only $150, perfect for our Lifestyle Session.  

Our $100 gifts are also available for $85 and $50 gifts for $45.

The certificates can be used for any of our services and products and will be mailed out within 24 hours of ordering.  

Plan early for wonderful family photos in the sunny seasons ahead.  

Our special pricing ends next Sunday, May 15th.

Enjoy your weekend and hope every mother gets some time to themselves, some time for hugs and some time to be spoiled!

Time for change, Canada!

Election Day is here!  Darcy and I both love the voting process.  We get all geeky excited about it.  It's one of the most important things we could do and I really do feel like expressing our opinions by voting for what we value can and does create change.  If I didn't, or couldn't vote,  well, I can't even imagine how I would feel.  

If you're unsure how to vote consider this article, by Margaret Atwood.  However you feel about which candidate and party best suit your idea for a stronger Canada, one that fits your values and beliefs, go out today, and vote for your choice.  

‎-Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.- George Jean Nathan

You have a voice, and you can use it.  As Ms Atwood says, "People elsewhere are dying for it".

Find out where to vote at vote.ca and at elections.ca

Natalie

Our MP and Foreign Affairs Critic, Paul Dewar  with Ambassador of Japan, Mr Kaoru Ishikawa 

 

Spring is coming, really, it must be....

I have a backlog of blog posts to share with you.  For now I'll just say a little hello!

Well I think this week flew by, meanwhile I'm still enjoying how great last week was.  First, I spent some time connecting with some incredible women. There were visits with Wendy from Thimblecakes, Kate from Flights of Fancy/Bombshells Closet, and Aria at the newly opened Gypsy & Co.  We have a few fun plans in the works with some of these ladies and a few more we met at Cherry Pie so you'll be hearing more about them here in the next few months.  It's going to be busy and I can't wait!

Finally, last Saturday was the show that Darcy & I had been waiting for since Feb....  Pixies!!!!  Touring the 20th anniversary of the Doolittle album, they came to Ottawa for the first time in 7 years.  We had never seen them live but they're played quite regularly on our ipods.  I was so excited and even after the show, I'm still excited.  They completely blew me away.  Kim Deal, I am so in awe...

That's our news for now.  Thimblecakes has some adorable and tasty Easter treats for you this weekend!

The Hope Fundraiser in Images

Two weeks after the devastating news from Japan, the people of JETAA and CJSO, with the help of friends, organized an event that raised over $30 000.  With the tickets alone (at only $40) they raised $10 000.  With their combined efforts word spread quickly, offers were generous, the turnout incredible and the evening a modest, refined and elegant way to bring people together in grief and hope.  

The performances were moving and powerful, the speakers even more so.  Current JET participant Gemma Villanueva spoke of her experience there during the events and Ambassador Ishikawa spoke of our need to remember the impact this will have, especially on the children, not just 6 months from now, but years from now.  He brought with him an image and haunting story of children in a school that sat above the affected area but provided a view of the tsunami's impact surrounding them, where their mothers and fathers may be lost forever.

Among the guests were City Council members, His Worship Mayor Jim Watson, several MPs and MPPS, members of Order of Canada, and many members of the Japanese Community in Ottawa.  Throughout the evening what stood out were the remarks that such an event was pulled together so quickly and came together so well.  One thing I noticed especially was the graciousness from Ambassador Ishikawa. He was usually seen conveying his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to those who helped make the event happen and to those who came in hope of helping any way they could.

Donations are still being accepted and can be made here http://www.redcross.ca/jetaaottawa/

Auction items and Ikebana being arranged by Yumiko Tsunakawa Toma

L-R:  Ikebana, JETAA Ottawa President Lisa Mallin with author Jack Nakamoto,
Handmade Tamari donated to Auction, His Worship Mayor Jim Watson 

L-R: H.E. Mr Kaoru Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to Canada speaking with MP Paul Dewar,
Order of Canada member Don Newman, CTV's Stefan Keyes as Master of Ceremonies

L-R: Current JET Participant Gemma Villanueva, Soprano Noriko Hashimoto
H.E. Mr Kaoru Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to Canada

Please Give if you can.

Natalie