Mocking Bird » Christmas

Magical Canadian Experiences

Amanda — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:28:07 +0000

One of the best things about living in Canada is the time spent experiencing new things and ones that I dreamt about as a kid. Wandering around a Christmas tree farm, all snuggled up in our winter coats and boots is a fairytale kind of existence, if only for an afternoon. I guess when you grow up with it, it doesn’t seem so special but for me it was one of those purely magical moments that I will treasure forever. The same way I’ll remember my first muddy tromping through a pumpkin patch and my first play in real snow. I guess I’ll always be a kid at heart and I’m ok with that. We all need magic in our lives, no matter our age.

Of Imagined Trees and Twinkle Lights

Amanda — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:00:28 +0000

I’m Dreaming of a Christmas Moments List

Attend the German Christmas markets in Germany and Vienna.

Ice skate in Central Park.

Drink eggnog out of Griswold style reindeer cups.

Spend the week before Christmas in New York.

See Silent Night performed in Austria.

Ride in a sleigh. The horses must have bells.

Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone.

I hope your weekend is filled with lots of joy, laughter, presents, hugs, cookies, love, wine, family, carols, shared meals, snuggly socks, bon bons and kisses under the mistletoe.

And to all my Australian friends, I’ve got my fingers crossed for sunshine and warmth. It’s been a rather unusual rainy December this year.

Merry Christmas!

Amanda xx

Favourite Christmas Things List

Amanda — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:30:23 +0000

I could tell you that part of the great Winter Embrace of 2011 is really getting into the spirit of Christmas too but for this merry one, Christmas needs no encouraging. It has always been my favourite time of year and there’s really nothing about it that I don’t love. Christmas in Canada is oh so perfectly Christmassy and the experiences I’ve had have already lived up to so many childhood dreams. Rather than making a Christmas gift list this year, I’m making Christmas experience lists. That’s what it’s all about for me…the anticipation, the decorating, the smells, the moments shared with loved ones. So here’s my Christmas list of merry moments.

Favourite Things to Do at Christmas List

Cutting down our own Christmas tree. I’ve done it once and would love to do it again.
Wandering the streets with family looking at Christmas lights.
Decorating the tree and house till I can decorate no more. Ours is rustic and eclectic with treasures from my childhood and travels.
Baking Christmas cookies. I’ve been slack the last few years and have let my sister do it but this year I will bake!
Visiting a Christmas tree farm and wandering the rows whilst drinking hot chocolate. I’m yet to do this with hot chocolate. I must remember to visit at night next year.
Smelling our tree as I walk in the door.
Continue my grandmother’s tradition of lighting the family Christmas pudding with brandy. We’ve done it every year all my life. It’s always a big deal because it often never lights properly on the first go, so we all cheer when it does.
Listening to the Charlie Brown Christmas album. I heart you Vince Guaraldi.
Sending Christmas cards across the seas. I have had these Rifle Design postcards for a couple of years and decided to use them instead of cards this year. They are too cute!
Listening to my Mum read The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve.
Christmas drinks with friends.
Watching Christmas movies, even though I’ve seen them all as many times as I have had birthdays.
Making our yearly Christmas wish in my mum’s Christmas cake batter. We get to stir three times and make a wish. I never eat the fruit cake, but the smell of it cooking is pure Christmas to me.
Attending the German Christmas market in Vancouver- this was a first this year. It was worth going just to see the wooden stalls all decorated with greenery and lights.
Wrapping presents whilst listening to carols. I love wrapping gifts as much as I love giving them.
Shopping for a new decoration for the tree.
Finding a treat at the bottom of my chocolate stocking. Yes, we have separate chocolate stockings.
Watching The Year Without a Santa Claus and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Seeing Christmas trees strapped to the roofs of cars.

And that’s just some of the things I love to do at Christmas. How about you?

Come back next week for my Ultimate Christmas Experience Dream List.

Find The Beauty

Amanda — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:00:58 +0000

And a ho! ho! ho! to you…

Here’s something a little different for me. I’ve been teaching my Shoot By Design course participants to step out of their comfort zones and I really should practise what I preach, right? So here I am with some darker images with no natural light in sight. I didn’t completely step away from my usual thing but just took one element that is stylistically me and did the opposite. Do you step out of your photography comfort zone often?

Winter 2011 is the year that I embrace rather than retreat. For the past 2 years I’ve whined and grimaced at the darkness of the winter months here in Canada. I’ve spent every wet and miserable day pining for the light from my homeland and I finally came to the realisation that it was a really stupid choice to make. I can sit and wallow and be depressed for 7 months or I can embrace it and find the beauty in the situation. Being that I grew up in a land where the light was never an issue and sunshine was always around the corner, moving to Vancouver (where it is literally one of the greyest places on earth) took a lot of getting used to. I had no idea how much it would affect me and last year was particularly tough. I knew that I couldn’t let it beat me this year, so I’m trying my hardest to embrace it with open arms and find the beauty.

And it’s amazing…ever since I made the decision to adapt, I’ve actually been enjoying it! I’m seeing the fog and the mist as an atmospheric canvas, I’m taking long walks in the forest, I’m seeing a new beauty in the murky light, I’m delighting in wearing boots and scarves and coats, and I’m carving out a new way to take photographs. I’m even shooting a personal project which kind of has me giddy. More on that one soon.

Embracing, yo! <— Jesse Pinkman has a lot to answer for.

Christmas Tidings and a Photography Workshop Opportunity

Amanda — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:00:56 +0000

As the year winds down, I’m finding myself caught up in a lot of mixed emotions. As you may have heard around the traps, the first draft of our Polaroid book is done. I am quite exhausted but very relieved to have come to this point. It’s been an emotional journey but one that I’ve loved being part of. We are happy to be at this point and ready to move on with the next step. Between now and then we have a little time to relax and spend some time with loved ones.

I’m finding that living in another country means I have to let go of some of my usual Christmas traditions. Vancouver is very Christmassy indeed and I love having Christmas in a wintery place. It just feels right. However, I’m away from my family and the usual Christmas happenings are not as they always are this year. One thing I’ve noticed is that going to look at Christmas lights is far more comfortable in 25 degree (celcius) weather. The Canadian tells me that feeling like your toes are going to fall off is all part of the experience. I’m not convinced.

The trees here are what Christmas is all about. I have felt like I was walking through a scene in a Christmas movie many times in the last month. Real Christmas trees in Australia come in one variety and choice is mostly about how tall you want it and which one has the smallest hole. In Vancouver, we have Noble and Grand Firs, Nordic Spruces and Scott Pines. So many to choose from. I am partial to the Nordic Spruces but we went with a fat little Grand this year because she smells so sweet. I absolutely adore my little tree despite her lack of decorations and garland which we are slowly collecting.

I’m spending the next few days catching up on Christmas movies, wrapping presents and making cookies. If you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and for those of you that don’t, I will see you back here next week.

As it is the season of giving, the lovely Irene Nam has asked me to host a give away. Irene is teaching a photography workshop called Simple Soulful Photography starting January 3rd. Along with some talented people, I will be sharing some of my experiences with photography in the workshop. Irene is giving away one spot in her amazing workshop to one lucky Mocking Bird reader. The class runs from January 3rd to January 29th.

From Irene…

The Simple Soulful Photography workshop (January 3-30) is a four-week online course complete with lessons, exercises and interviews that will inspire you to grow creatively, give you tools to achieve your vision and encourage you to express your authentic self. In a supportive and like-minded community of professional, aspiring and every day photographer, you will explore the connection between creativity and self-care, learn basics but essential techniques on composition and lighting as well as tips to help you discover what you can do with your camera and how to create the images that you want. The weekly lessons, exercises and interviews will also help you work the delicate balance between periods of growth and more challenging times, and encourage you to do what you love, and in doing it, to embrace, cultivate and express your most authentic self.

I’m beyond excited and honored that Amanda has accepted to be one of the guests for the January session, and happy to give away one registration spot to one of her readers.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me one reason why you would like to take a photography course. Leave your comment by Wednesday December 29th as I will announce the winner on the 30th. Thank you to Irene for offering such a wonderful opportunity to the Mocking Bird readers. Good luck!

EDIT: This offer is now closed. Thanks for entering! I will announce the winner tomorrow Thursday the 30th December. Stay tuned here and on twitter.

Gift Ideas For The Camera Junkie

Amanda — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:00:41 +0000

Hello for another week, all. I thought I’d share some gift ideas for the camera junkie in your life as the season is fast approaching. Photography lovers are so easy to buy for because there is always something we need whether it be equipment or accessories.

I’ve had these 2 camera bags in my sights for quite some time now and yes, they are designed for women but there are lots of great bags out there for guys too. Photography books are always a great idea for camera lovers. I found this Polaroid book by Chloe Aftel at Blurb but there are literally thousands to choose from in your local bookstores and on Amazon. Do a search for ‘Polaroid’ on etsy and hundreds of items will appear. I’ve had these post it notes in my favourites for a while now.

1. The Polalithic Era by Chloe Aftel :: 2. Polaroid Post It Notes :: 3. Digital Harinezumi Camera :: 4. Kolo Photo Books :: 5. *emera Quilted Camera Bag :: 6. Tokyo Dreamer Camera Strap :: 7. Kelly Moore Photography Bag :: 8. Fuji Instax Wide Angle Camera :: 9. Impossible Project Colour Push Film :: 10. Polaroid Notes

What’s on your wishlist? I’d love to take a peek!

Happy 2010!

Amanda — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:39:56 +0000

The Canadian proclaimed that 2010 is going to be the year of Sean and Amanda. I’m not sure what he means by that as I feel like every year since we met has been the year of Sean and Amanda but it certainly made me feel happy.

2009 was definitely a big Sean and Amanda year as we started a new life together in Canada. It may have been the year we moved here but I still don’t feel like our new life here has truly started yet.

I’m not one for resolutions. It’s nothing to do with being cynical but more to do with not knowing where to aim next. I also hate the feeling of not achieving a goal I’ve set for myself and am happier when an accomplishment happens more like a surprise. Oh yeah, I did finish that damn 52 Weeks project; I did actually get my polaroids published in something actually being sold in a bookstore; I did have a photograph published in one of my favourite magazines (albeit a book version) and I did actually leave my job and get the guts to move across the world for love.

I have a few things I’m already excited about for the coming year, but mostly I have no idea where my life will be at the close of 2010. For the first time in my life, I don’t know how this year is going to play out WHATSOEVER and that is kind of exciting!

I hope your start to 2010 is full of happiness. Do you have any plans for the coming year?

Happy Halloween!

Merry Christmas Kids!

Amanda — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:17:43 +0000

Have a very enjoyable Christmas with your loved ones. I will be back in a few days to likely report on new Christmas discoveries and to share some Christmas photographs. Merry Christmas!!

Reflecting on a New Christmas

Amanda — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:41:03 +0000

No matter how homesick I may get a few days before Christmas, my mood can always be lifted by popping on the Charlie Brown Christmas Album. There is something in those piano notes that just cheers me up and forces me to take a good, hard look at myself.

Spending my first real Christmas away from home makes me realise what I really want from life and how I want my Christmases of the future to be. No Christmas as an adult can ever live up to the Christmases your parents made so full of merriment for you as a kid, but somewhere inside of me, I’ve never let go of the magic of Christmas.

Late last week I received a Christmas package from my Mum and as happy as it made me, I know it was hard for her to have that be all we have this year. She told me that she has put some presents for Sean and me in our stockings at home in Australia and I absolutely love the fact that even though we can’t be there, our stockings will be hung just as always.

Being with my Canadian sweetie at Christmas is the best thing I could hope for and getting hugs from him at this time of year are always extra special. I love that he is able to show me his Canadian Christmas and all the magic of a time that he has grown up with. I really am oh so blessed to have him in my life and tomorrow he is taking me somewhere magical and snowy.

I will hopefully be back here again one more time before Christmas. I hope you’re enjoying your holiday week!

Christmas Tree Varieties: Spoiled For Choice!

Amanda — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:00:50 +0000

Here I sit, warm shortbread has just come out of the oven, the fire log channel is singing to me and keeping me warm while I dream about going to my first Christmas tree lot.

At home, we have real Christmas trees but they are usually just stacked in someone’s yard and are pretty much the one variety. Your choices come down to whether you want a short one or a tall one.

I don’t know how I will possibly choose between all the firs, pines, spruces and cedars! I got to visit a nursery the other day and discovered a winter wonderland that I never knew existed. The little Aussie was quite giddy with excitement. I didn’t have my camera with me, so I will be going back again.

Aussies, they have real wreaths here and real holly! It’s quite magical.

So what does one choose for the first time? The fir trees had that beautiful Christmas tree scent. I like my Christmas trees fat and full!

What kind of Christmas tree do you like? Do you do a real tree or go for artificial?

Oh By Gosh, By Golly