Angel Hair for Kids

The degree of separation between you and the person you know with cancer is certainly less than six degrees. It seems like everyone I know know someone who has cancer. It doesn't discriminate any race or age. Each year approximately 889 children and youth under the age of fifteen are diagnosed with cancer in Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada). Some will lose hair during the course of treatment.

For the last couple of years, I've been growing my hair with the intention of donating it. It wasn't easy - the daily washing and drying - it takes a lot of time. But it was a small task (sacrifice) compared to people undergoing daily treatments for cancer.

I decided to send it to Angel Hair for Kids which is part of A Child's Voice Foundation. They provide quality wigs and hair replacements to financially disadvantaged children. The program seems really good.

What attracted me to this organization is the special treatment each kid gets.  The children should be referred by their doctors or social worker. When approved they get an appointment at a salon which is pre selected by the foundation. The salon then walk the child and their family through the process of selecting a wig, they are then fitted and styled specially for that child - making it their very own.

The cost for making a wig is around $800 to $1,000. If you want to donate, visit their website: http://www.acvf.ca

I donated 12 inches.

Under Water

Our dinky, point and shoot Olympus water camera took some decent under water photos.
This is way better than the disposable ones.

Alvin diving into the abyss

Coral Garden - the sun rays seep through the water kissing the corals.

These blue lips protect pearls.

Sun rays beautifully reflected under water.

Everyone in the water.

This is my favourite spot. No one there but us. In the water, all you can hear are the birds chirping, bubbles in the water and the person next to you breathing. One will really feel connected to nature.

After a long day of swimming it's really nice to stand up, walk and rest.

Winter at Lake Simcoe

Lake Simcoe is the 4th largest lake in Ontario. It's about an hour and half north of Toronto. It's bustling in the summer with cottage folks spending warm summer months along its shores. It's good in the winter as well. The lake freezes and people enjoy ice fishing, hockey, snow mobile rides and cross country skiing on the lake.

This is taken along the shore of Lake Simcoe which is now frozen. Careful as some parts where water from in the inland flows to the lake is not solid. I can only guess how this sharp ice formation came to be.

Frozen waves

I call this the lonely willow tree.

Black and White version of the lonely willow tree.

The sticks mark the play/picnic area leading to the lake. With the lake frozen and the ground covered in snow, it's hard to tell where the water starts and the land area ends.

Cross Country skiers.
You can enjoy winter without the extreme sports like snow boarding or (hill) skiing. Cross country skiing and snow shoeing can be just as fun. 

Is this rock in land or on frozen water? Hard to tell eh? Taking this shot, low on the ground, I got scared as I heard a sound from under my feet. (Water gargle or bubble) I had no idea how deep the water under is, so I decided to walk back on safer grounds.

The sun sets on Lake Simcoe

Outdoors in the winter is beautiful! Enjoy it. Bundle up and keep warm!

Trading In

Since I started owning an SLR (some ten years or so ago), I try to use it at all my outings, even if it means hauling an extra bag weighing about 10 pounds of equipment - camera body, lenses, batteries and at times, tripod! I for some reason dread using dinky cameras - the point and shoots. But lately, I've been using a camera even smaller than my dinky camera - my iPhone 4s! And I hate to admit it, I've been using it more often than my DSLR and I am lovin' it! It's handy, fits my pocket, takes descent photo, have free photo editing applications and multi-purpose!

My friend, Bernadette from down under visited us and we're grateful she got to experience Canadian Winter!

Snow Shoeing with Alvin in Collingwood. While waiting for our snow mobile tour,  the operators took us to a snow shoeing tour.

Snow shoeing photo, edit on iPhone - crop and add a filter using Instagram.

Berns enjoying the walk on fresh, fluffy snow.

It was great that there was a significant snowfall, 24 hours before we got there!

It was winter wonderland. Border and feathering on the side using Instagram.

Can you feel the cold?

Snow shoe trail

And of course, in town (Toronto), we did some skating at Nathan Philip Square.

Photo cropped and horizon adjusted on Photoshop Express. 

One nice feature of the iPhone camera is the HDR function. This is taken with HDR function on. This photo is as taken, no enhancement made in the post.

I think the photos are good. It's actually better than my dinky camera. I'd trade in my dinky cam with the iPhone. But I am keeping my DSLR.

On New Borns

Taking baby photos, let me rephrase that, taking new born photos is a huge challenge for me. I was excited to do it but I was not comfortable at all. I had the parents present and had them move the baby in different positions. I was afraid to move her.

I had so many ideas in my head but I failed to execute it. The baby either cried, needed feeding, pooped, needed changing, then our time was up!

Learnings from this shoot -

Timing is important. Talk to the parents, ask when scheduled feeding would be (as I assume the baby would sleep after that). Work with the baby's schedule not yours.

Just like on adults, if you're getting new clothes, make sure it fits. You don't want the baby swimming in the clothes. 

If you're DYI-ing your props, do it properly. I created a headband with little flowers. It was cute laid out on the bed but wrapped around the baby's head, the flowers were not properly placed! Thank you Photoshop, I cloned one of the flowers and I think it came out okay.

Keep your eyes open. There are moments, unposed that could be interesting. I took this photo while mom held the baby, trying to soothe her.

Use pop of colour. Step away from the usual black or white. Play with focus.

Don't leave out the big sister/brother.

The shoot was fun. Will I do it again? Yes, but only with people I know well, who will be patient with me.

Due

My dslr has been gathering dust (yet again).  I always knew that I'd pick it up again and take it out in due time.  That time came couple of weeks ago.  Off I went (with Alvin) and forayed into maternity photography. My sister-in-law was supposedly due in a week then. 

The shoot was fun and though a bit rusty, we managed to get some decent shots. The whole family was a good sport and we all had some fun.

Here are some of the photos.

The fun and wacky side of everyone was evident in some of the photos.

Big sister is very excited and has been patiently waiting for the baby.

She promised to take care of the baby and volunteered to change diapers.

Soon, there will be tres Marias.

C&T

My sister got married earlier this year, thankfully without the reality TV drama. 

I wish I had taken photos that day, but I was the gofer and the secondary videographer (and after, the editor). It was still a lot of fun! 

For the video, I picked Train's songs - "Marry Me", as I thought it suits the couple's personalities, and "Soul Sister", just because I like the song :)

Side Story:  Upon their engagement announcement, I made it clear that I didn't want to be the bridesmaid. Let me be clear, not because I was avoiding the potential horrible bridesmaid's dress but because I thought it would be best to be the gofer, to relieve the bride of some stress. For the first time, I'll be the "yes, ma'am" girl to my eldest sister. It was funny that for the entire time leading up to the big day, I was more stressed than her. She had everything in her head and I have to have the list. 

All That Jazz

You've got to love summer in Toronto. It continues to sizzle - with the rising temperature (up wards to 40C), the lakeside, the patio and weekly free events for families.

This weekend, Torontonians are once again treated to beautiful music at the Beaches Jazz Festival.  Here are some snapshots.


Lisa Haley and the Zydekats at the Kew Beach -

God Made Me Funky 

My favourite will be the big bands.

There are more happenings in Toronto. This weekend, Caribana. So get your flip flops, put on some sunblock, wear your sunglasses and hat! Step out and enjoy summer while it lasts.

Medicine, not a source of relief

In hopes of finding some relief from a really bad case of colds, I went to see a doctor to get a prescription for something that will suppress the coughing and help me sleep.  Well, the medicine didn't help.  Not because it wasn't effective but because I didn't take it!

I went to get the medicine at Shoppers Drug Mart on King and Blue Jays Way.  Before taking the medicine, I read the label, good thing I did, otherwise, I wouldn't have caught a hair floating inside the bottle!

Can you imagine my disgust? So, the coughing was not suppressed, and now annoyed, the more I didn't get a good night sleep either!

I encircled the hair.
You might have to squint a little to see it

It's disturbing that a pharmacist will let this happen. You would think that cleanliness is top priority.
It makes me wonder what other particles could be in my asthma medicines. (Scary thought)

I went back to Shoppers the following day, I asked for the manager/owner to file a complain. But she's not there. I asked for them to call me, three days later, nothing!  I just wanted to get reassurance from them that system will be put in place to make sure this won't happen again. And who's fault is it - the pharmacy or the drug manufacturer?

Shoppers charges one of the highest if not the highest dispensing fee but since it's convenient, I get my medicines there.  But after this incident, and the poor after service/complain, not anymore!

Winter is Here!

Well, it has been for a while.  It's just that all we have had are the freezing temperature and a little snow dusting, until today. Toronto had a good snow fall.  A lot went out to enjoy it including moi!

After a good walk, ' stopped for coffee at Sense Appeal.  It's a relatively new coffee place on Spadina.  Coffee looked and tasted good, pastries -- yummy. (In my haste to take the first sip, I forgot to take photos)  Similar to Starbucks, you can create your own coffee but thank goodness, it's simpler (and no gazillion choices).  The staff (who I believed are the owners/partners) were very nice.  They engaged the customers and were happy to explain the different coffees.  Customer service: two thumbs up.  The only downside is that the space is small.

Comfort before fashion, why? When you can have both. Stay warm and look good. Replace your toque with nice hats from Big It Up!

Out for a ride.

Enjoying the snow downtown before it turns to black.

   

Hats Off

Last week was somber for the Jays fans as Cito Gaston hangs his shirt one more time as the Jays Manager. The pre-game ceremony was emotional, full grown men holding back tears, fans bursting to cheers, claps and giving Cito standing ovation several times. Gaston earned the love and respect not only of his team but the crowd as well.









About 33,000 people were in attendance. A good turn-out considering attendance for the Jays games has been really low. If not for the pending game, Gaston would have wanted to linger and savour more the honour. The team saluted him by sporting fake moustaches and of course winning the game.








Even a non-sports fanatic like me was sad. It was the last game in Toronto for the year, the end of baseball season marks for some people including me the "real" end of summer. For maybe the last time this year, I sat inside the Rogers Centre, the dome open, crisp breeze drafts through as the clear blue sky fades to black. Couple of weeks from now, hockey season starts, screaming the inevitable arrival of winter.