go confidently in the directions of your dreams! live the life you’ve imagined. ~thoreau

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I don’t know about you, but I have been doing a lot of dreaming lately. I don’t know if it is because it is a brand new year? You know, that whole FRESH start, thing. I am not sure. All I know is that I have been doing a lot of thinking, along with all of that dreaming! It feels good to work towards my dreams. I highly encourage this! Even if you do not want to do a vision board, write down all of your dreams. Keep adding to them. Please never stop dreaming!

Another fun way to a vision board would be with Pinterest. I am a big Pinterest fan! You can check out my boards. And believe me, I have MANY boards. As an artist, I love to see things, as I am a very visual person. Pinterest is the best thing for a visual person who likes to stay organized.

For over a year, I have been trying to create a large vision board. I had the large blank, white poster board. I had the glue. I had lots of clippings I had been saving in a box. On Saturday I decided that I am JUST GOING TO DO IT! So, I did. I invited my husband to made one as well. I am totally happy with it, and I have it sitting beside me in my office, so I can look at it often.

For those of you who do not believe in using a vision board, I have a little story to tell you. I had a bright green plastic folder of clippings from home and design magazines that I loved for our home/for the dream home…not a vision board, but a dream folder of ideas. I had it categorized by rooms, and spaces. (I love feeling organized!) I had it hidden away in a moving box. When we were moving back to Langley last June, I found my green plastic folder. In amongst those clippings, a particular art piece that I loved from a design magazine. You see, when we moved to our second to last house, (not this home, or the last…the previous home…yes we move a LOT) the owners of that home had a beautiful large art print hanging in the upstairs niche area in the upper hall. I mentioned to our realtor, and to my husband just how much I loved it, and how beautifully it fit in the house. So, I thought nothing more of it. Deep down I couldn’t picture anything else there…On move day, we received our keys, and we walked into our new home, and immediately I looked up and saw the beautiful art piece located upstairs. It was still there! Surely it was left behind…a mistake…but NO, our lovely realtor GIFTED this art piece to us (she bought it off the current owners, for us!)  It was a beautiful surprise! Anyways, to finish my story, when I looked inside that green folder as we were packing to move back to Langley…THE VERY SAME framed art print was one of the tear outs in my green folder!

My vision came to life. In living colour. That print is still with us, and and has followed us from house to house, and is now settled into our hallway. I love it even more, because of the story behind it.

Do you have art, or photos that have a story? If not, I would LOVE to help you create a beautiful piece of art for your walls.

Cathy xoxo

p.s. A wee studio tour, and a reveal session up this week on the blog.

“It is when you lose sight of yourself, that you lose your way. To keep your truth in sight you must keep yourself in sight and the world to you should be a mirror to reflect to you your image; the world should be a mirror that you reflect upon.” ~ C.JoyBell C.

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It is hard to believe that 2011 is almost over! I hope everybody had a happy holiday season! I am going to take the next, and last few days of 2011 to reflect back on the past year. So many changes, and so much to be thankful for. I very am excited about for my life and boudoir photography business in 2012!

On Saturday, January 14th I have four mini boudoir sessions available in my brand new boudoir studio located in Langley, BC. If you have made it your new years resolution to have your boudoir or beauty portrait with me, now is your chance! Come check out my new langley boudoir studio! Contact me if you wish to book a mini boudoir session. Just in time for Valentine’s Day! The sessions are $350-plus hst. Let’s start 2012 off RIGHT!

What was the best part of 2011 for you? Let me know if the comments section.

Thinking beautiful thoughts for 2012! Make it your best year ever!

Cheers!

Cathy xoxo

HELLO, gorgeous!

Happy Friday! Welcome December 2011! These weeks are flying by too quickly! How did December get here? Seriously?!! I have a lot to do to prepare for Christmas!

This Saturday I had an amazing boudoir session my brand new Langley Boudoir Studio! The day was fabulous! I will share some images soon, I promise. Thank you all who are sending lots of inquiries my way, and also to my gorgeous clients-to-be for booking your great reveal-utions with me! I adore what I do! If you want to see what I am up to, I spend a lot of time over on Facebook! xoxo

I wanted to do my Friday Five today! Things I am excited about, and thankful for this week:

1. The bright beautiful sunshine! It feels so good to see the sunlight streaming in through our windows!

2. Milestone weight loss week for me! This week I have officially lost 21.8 pounds! I have 43 pounds to go!

3. My grande decaf non fat no whip mochas from Starbucks. I know I talk about these a lot, but I LOVE them. I call them my “no fun mocha” but really they are awesome!

4. I am so thankful to have a warm house, healthy and happy kids and a wonderful husband.

5. Supportive friends! You all are my world.

Have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy the sunshine wherever you are! I am excited to find the “perfect” tree with my family tomorrow, hit up the local downtown Langley Christmas parade. After that, have some family over for coffee. The kids will be decorating a couple of gingerbread houses together, while the adults catch up in some merriment.

What are you doing for fun this weekend? Let me know in the comments section below.

Cheers!

Cathy xoxo

p.s. You want some fun postcards? My “HELLO, gorgeous” postcards are now for sale as seen in the photo above. Let me know if you need some? Make a girlfriend feel good by letting her know she is absolutely gorgeous! PASS it on, please. One postcard is $2 and five postcards are for $9. When you are a client of mine, you get them for free. ;D

“Don’t just count your years, make your years count.” ~Ernest Mayers

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I have been hiding a bit, trying to enjoy the last few weeks of my 30′s, for tomorrow (October 7th) I am starting a new decade! I turn 40!

I am not sure how to feel about my age, how I am changing. How my wrinkles are developing. A few grey hairs popping up. How I am getting well, older. It has really a hold on me! I am not sure what do with what I feel today? I guess I will “grow” into this number. After all it IS just a number. But to me, I am trying to remember all of the wonderful things that happened to me in the last decade! SO many great things, including finishing my family, a trip to Disneyland. A first trip to Las Vegas. Meeting blog friends. Starting my boudoir business! SO many wonderful memories and opportunities that I am so very thankful for.

So, tonight as I go to bed, I will repeat my new mantra, that age is only an number. Inside I still feel 20! I am thankful that I am able to do some running, that I can go to Jazzercise. I have a loving family that supports everything I set out to do! I am going to remember that in my 40′s it will be very different. From raising babies, to raising pre-teens and teens! Some of my kids will graduate in this next decade. Wow. I don’t want to think that far ahead!

I have decided that my 40′s will be all about reaching my personal goals and dreams. Many of which have been on the back-burner. Now that the kids are getting older, I will have a bit more time to dedicate to myself. I might have to get a bit “selfish” for a bit. So, yah. Most of my goals are health and fitness related. I really want to run a marathon STILL. I know I tried back in 2009, and injured myself. I wanted to run a marathon by the time I was 40. I didn’t get to do that, but there are so many other wonderful things that happened in the process! I have met wonderful, supportive friends who cheer me on when I need it most! I am so thankful and blessed! I know it will happen, all in the right timing!

Tomorrow I am going to start out my morning with an early Jazzercise class, and then an evening run with friends. And then out for dinner with them all! I hope they don’t put 40 candles in my piece of cake! Goodness…too many to blow out LOL.

We also have our Canadian Thanksgiving coming up on the weekend! I am looking forward to spending time with my family, and celebrating other birthdays in my family! October is a really busy month around here! My Dad, and my little sister all share the same day! SO yes, triple the fun! I love sharing my day with both of them! It is really special! I want to wish My Dad and my sister Amy a happy birthday too! (And a special shout out to my sweet little niece, Abby! She has a birthday on the 10th!!) Yay!

So cheers to a happy, happy long weekend my Canadian friends!

Cathy xoxo

I am so excited to share my brand new dedicated boudoir studio space with you all. I am in love with the space, the details and the GORGEOUS natural light. Hardwood flooring! One vintage couch, and a new grey tufted fainting sofa being picked up tomorrow morning! Yay!

I have picked out the perfect paint colour for the space, and just getting the little details sorted out! I am hoping by September/October to be up and ready for my clients that wish for a dedicated boudoir studio. Of course, if the studio setting is not your cup of tea…on location sessions are still available of course! If you have girlfriends, how about a fun boudoir party?! You, with a few of your closest girlfriends! Something for all of you gorgeous women!

I am happy to share that there will be some introductory boudoir session pricing going on! Contact me for more details! Get them before they are gone!

It is so good to be back!  As promised, I am so excited to share a few “before” boudoir studio photos!

One side of the space. Please note the large window, and window seat! I am swooning over the natural light we get here!

A nice card from my Mom and Dad! It is SO great to be back in Murrayville!

The other side of the studio!

Brand new wall sconces on either side of the fireplace. There is also air conditioning, to keep you cool if you get too HOT!

Happy Friday! I am so thankful and grateful for SO many blessings in my life. Tonight, a sunshine-y maternity session, tomorrow another maternity session. And Sunday, headshots and a couple of magazine cover shots! I hope you all have a great weekend!

Cathy xoxo

Since then, I have enjoyed photographing hundreds of women, and learning from each and every session I shoot! I do also realize that I never want to just be OK with where I am. I don’t was to just be good. Good is not good enough for me.  I am a perfectionist at heart, and I want to get better as an artist. With each, and every session I do. I NEVER want to stop learning and growing!  So, along the way I have taken some professional classes, and workshops. To keep my skills up.

For the past six weeks I have been taking an online boudoir workshop by the amazing photographer Christa Meola. This particular week, we have been learning all about shooting, and creating story lines. So, in order to grow, and learn I decided to go back and refer to some older images (last year) and look at possible story lines. So, I decided to create a Facebook album called  ”Almost ready for the tea party” on Facebook. I decided I wanted to share my images that I edited, and created a story line just for me. I have always loved to share details of my sessions, but I always haven’t shared these. So, here we go! I hope you enjoy! It feels great to create a fresh story, and to share.

And to learn, more about me and what I love to do.

I would love to create a Reveal Story just for you. It can be really simple, or it can be super elaborate. That depends on you! If you are ready for your Great Reveal-ution let me know!

Thank you Christa for sharing your knowledge with us all. Seriously, I am so grateful!

Enjoy,

Cathy xoxo

On Thursday, there was some excitement at our home! I will blog more about it when everything is ready!

The sunshine is here, and it feels like summer! Enjoy the weekend, and GO CANUCKS GO!

Cathy xoxo

Me, as photographed by my friend here in Chilliwack, Kim Mallory.

Me as photographed by by husband after they requested to see my back!

True to you Tuesday is BACK! It has been busy around here! I have to tell you! I also haven’t heard from Dove. I am feeling like I am not going to be picked, and I am totally OK with that. And truthfully I didn’t feel like I would be picked as I am maybe a bit too heavy in appearance. i.e. the extra 50 pounds I am carrying around like a weight. Maybe I have too many wrinkles. Maybe I am too old, or I have too many moles all over my body? Maybe it is my flappy upper arms? Or my back fat, or loose skin on my stomach. MAYBE my eyes ARE too close together. Maybe it is because I have no upper lip. Or maybe they don’t don’t like fake blondes? I am not sure.

Without answers my head spins. I think of my EVERY flaw. And then I become hard on myself. I don’t feel good enough! Do you do that to yourself too? I have to stop doing this to myself, and change my thought process. This all goes a long with being beautifully different. I am ME. There are lots of my family and friends who love me just the way I am and I am so grateful and thankful for everybody in my life. And those who accept me for who I am. Weather I am skinny or heavy. And all of my other flaws that I mostly see more than my family or friends might not even notice.

A quick self portrait of myself.

Today, as I continue to wait…I have decided to think about some positives about myself. I have great skin, I rarely break out. Most people peg me for somebody about 10 years or more younger. THANK YOU! I have arms that hug, and a big smile to cheer up and encourage my family, friends and clients. And hips that have birthed my six kids. And hips that have held children. And strong legs that allowed me to run 32 km. And shoulders that keep me walking proud, tall and strong. And eyes that see the beauty of beautifully different women that step in front of my camera. I am so blessed!

I encourage you to do the same, create your list of why you are beautifully different!  Create a list on a piece of paper, or in your computer. And you can always click on the side bar of my site, to get 10 ideas right now to feel better! Or if you want to get some online help, check out the TRUE TO YOU 2011 page on Facebook. I would love to have you there! It is a great place to work on yourself! Please friend me, and I would love to add you in to the group!

Take care of yourself today, and know that you are more beautiful than you think!

Cathy xoxo

I am so excited for her! If you have it, take a look on page 74! It is on the magazine racks!

Here is a photograph of the latest Best Health Magazine.

For over a year I waited patiently to see this magazine with a half page of my beautiful client Lise inside it! She is one of the reasons for changing my whole site.

To me, Lise is the perfect example of Beautifully Different.

She rocks her look!

On page 74, a half page image of Lise on a two page spread all about her, and living with her alopecia diagnosis.

She came to me to capture her beauty. I loved meeting Lise, and of course photographing her! I took her to a beautiful place new my home. The sunlight was amazing, and I just loved this session!

In the magazine Lise shares with Best Health Magazine how after her photo session with me,  she had a whole new sense of self!

A photo session is powerful, and truly can help you feel beautiful!

And there she is, on the left. I am so thankful to her, and her beautiful story.

When she first walked up to me, I said to myself, she is so amazingly beautiful. She has the perfectly shaped head! I couldn’t picture her any other way!

And there is my very first photo credit.

It has been very exciting! Thank you Lise for sharing your beauty, and your story with me, and with the world. You are the whole package, and you are rocking your beautifully different!

Cathy xoxo

If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.

~Mary Engelbreit

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Happy Friday! Happy April 1st!

Did you play any good April Fool’s Day tricks today? Did anybody prank you? SO far, I think I am safe from them this year! As I sit here, and look outside the window all I see is rain, and dark clouds. Surely, warmer days are ahead, no? Until then, I will dream about beautiful sunny summer days.

I have been busy here, working on a lot of stuff, and trying to catch up now that the kids are back in school. That leaves me with my two littlest kids at home. It is a lot quieter during the day, that is for sure! I am enjoying, and savouring these last years with my kids at home. I know that time flies, and so I try to make the most of every day with them when they are still young.

I am so thankful and grateful for so many things in my life.

My incisions are almost healed over, just the tiniest bit of stitch left on my right incision now.

I have been enjoying some different and unique photo shoots lately. And a few more on my plate in the next few weeks!

I have now lost almost 6 pounds in the two weeks. Only by eating healthy, recording my  calories and daily exercise.

I was able to RUN a couple of times during my walk and it felt great!

On Tuesday, I start the second part of my leg journey/fixing. I start sclerotherapy. I am so thankful and grateful right now that my legs have more energy, and so do I! And this next part is going to make my legs look better! (although the healing is weird, no running or anything to make me sweat for the first 5-7 days after) and my leg will have to be wrapped up tight. No taking bandage/stocking off. That will be interesting, and challenging for me. I just know the payoff will be some beautiful, healthy legs.

If you are wanting to lose weight, and feel healthy again. I totally encourage you to join our True to You 2011. Our group is so supportive, and encouraging. Motivating. Caring! I seriously couldn’t have done this without them. Let me know if you want to hang out with us on Facebook. Please friend me! We have almost 100 women in our group! It is amazing to see all of the positive and happy changes happening in there! It is never too late to begin. Remember, you are perfection.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cathy xo