Peterborough Pride Love

Good evening! Just a quick few snaps to share from this year's Pride celebrations. What a beautiful Saturday afternoon with my girl. I love days like these, my friends.

PS. That squirrel hoodie is going to pop up for this week's Small Style. Hold tight.
PPS. Sorry for the text at the end of that vid. Apparently Reel Director used my settings from this video. Oopsy.

"I'm Going To The Parade, Everybody!"

Is what she yelled as we left the cafe this morning to claim our sidewalk spot for some Canada Day parade watching. She's such a sweetheart.







She really didn't want to smile for this one... no dice, mama.






My little one is now enjoying a very late afternoon nap (pushed back two hours by our sunny outing). I'm considering letting her sleep as long as she'd like, and treating her to fireworks tonight. Not sure she'll be able to stay up that late, but she'd certainly enjoy it.

I suppose we'll play it by ear.

Hope you're all enjoying your Canada Day, lovelies. Enjoy the sun, stay safe & be wonderful.

PS. Last two pics taken by daddio.

Parade Night 2010

I really love family traditions, especially during the holiday season. We've created a few of our own so far... putting up the tree early, while sipping egg nog, watching the fire(place channel) and listening to Christmas music... driving around to enjoy all the twinkling lights on the homes in our city... and attending The Santa Claus Parade.

In 2008, I was (very) pregnant and watched the parade from the window of the soap shop I was working at. In 2009, the boy & I took Gretchen to that same spot to watch the parade outside (with trips inside to warm up), much like Parade Night 2010.

2009

2010 

Both years she loved the parade, and both years we were very, very cold. Thank goodness for snowsuits & hot chocolate (& very fuzzy hats).

Did you watch any holiday parades this year? What's your favourite part?

Canada Day & My 1000th Post

Yesterday was Canada Day & so of course we made our way downtown to watch the parade! Fun fact: Gretchen has been to every single Peterborough parade since she was born. A tradition I hope to keep up as long as possible!

Chantilly (aka My Girl Thursday) and her daughter Georgia!

Gretchen spent most of the parade completely enamoured with this dog.

Happy belated Canada day to all of my northern friends -- and a happy early 4th of July to those of you southward!

Enjoy the long weekend in whatever makes you the happiest! Be good to each other & stay safe!

PS. This is my 1000th post on So Fawned! Thank you so much to everyone who makes writing such a pleasure. You are my inspiration & I feel the love, every single day. Thank you.

The Santa Claus Parade

Last night we braved the chill & took Gretchen to the Santa Claus parade. It was so fun to see all those little kids bundled up along the streets downtown, waiting for that last float -- and enjoying all that free candy that comes with being a parade onlooker.

We parked ourselves in front of Simple, the soap shop I used to work at, and ducked inside to warm up a few times. We also enjoyed some FREE hot chocolate (which always tastes better than the kind you pay for).

Gretchen laughed and clapped and waves as the floats went by -- I also think she recognized some of the Christmas carols from watching hours of the fireplace channel. (Our satellite has a fancy pants HD fireplace channel, haha. We've been watching it nonstop!)

My hands were too chilly last night to take many pics, but this blurry shot of G & Ryan makes me giggle, so I had to share it.

I hope you're all having a fabulous Sunday afternoon, mes amis!

Bye for now!

PS. Tonight I'm meeting up with a few friends whose wedding I'm shooting next summer. I can't wait!

Parade Love

This afternoon I took Gretchen downtown to see her first parade. She definitely slept in her CuddlyWrap through the entire event, but it was fun all the same! I love parades & I hope she will too. The next one I take her to will probably be for Canada Day. She'll be a little older for that one & hopefully awake.

She's such an adorable little sleeper (though I'm not sure how she managed to sleep through all that noise).

What a little sweet pea.


My sleepy little parade goer.


I was a little nervous about these girls being tossed around. I was paranoid that one would hit the pavement.


This girl is a horse girl at heart. I just love them.


I heart downtown Peterborough.


She even slept the entire walk home.

It was so nice to have such a wonderfully sunny day today.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

What did you fine folk do with your lovely Sunday afternoon?

Our Cheeks Are Nice And Rosy

The Santa Claus parade took place this evening downtown & I watched from my shop window while sipping hot chocolate. It was adorable in all sorts of ways & made me think of watching the parade when I was a little girl (since I've lived in this city my entire life). The float for Santa hasn't changed in my whole lifetime, nor the lifetime of my coworkers. It was all very nostalgic & sweet. I even ate a candy cane today, with my hot chocolate. I love this time of the year.

What are some of your favourite holiday memories?

This year will be all about making memories & less about consuming. This is our last holiday season sans bébé and we will enjoy it together, being thankful for what we have and the family that we are about to start. I hope that we can create traditions for our family around the holidays that don't involve manic spending & stressful shopping sprees. I want our child to grow up in a family where the holidays are all about quality & not quantity. Presents? Yes -- but not the towers of gifts that my mother worked so hard to give me. I am grateful for everything she did for me as a child, but she stressed so much & I wish that she would never have to feel that way. I'm so thankful that my close circle of friends and I are all starting to make this kind of a switch in our holiday thinking. Handmade vs. purchased, green & eco friendly products -- love, family & friends instead of spending, stressing & all of that worrying. Who needs it? I would much rather enjoy what we have, give meaningful gifts (even if this just means spending time with loved ones) and to make the holidays a stress free time. Ahhhh. All of this is putting me in a fabulous mood & I think I'll be off to enjoy my tea, which I'm certain has finished steeping by now.

Have a lovely, snowy evening. It's been snowing here for almost an entire day & I love how everything outside is sparkling right now. This is the part of winter that I adore.

ps. By some miracle of the earth we now have internet at our new apartment! Ah, what a relief. I'm pretty sure the boy made a rather forceful phone call to the company which sped things up (since they'd already made three mistakes with our move order). However, I don't care how it happened -- I'm just glad that it did.