Author Archives: Nicole

Finding the Words

My blog has been a little light on words lately. Not that I don’t have a lot to say (I ALWAYS have a lot to say), I’m just finding it difficult to put all of my thoughts into one coherent  sentence (or 10). So, to help remedy, I present you with an unashamedly random list of the things that come to mind on the drive to work, in the shower, in my dreams…

  • I’m back on the exercise bandwagon. I’ve been going to the gym 2-3 times a week and am trying to be more active in my day to day life. It’s taken a couple of months but I have finally started feeling it paying off this week. Not that my clothes are any looser, just that I feel more energized.
  • Question posed to Thomas last night: If you could be any food, what would you be? Answer: “The hottest pepper in the world because then no one would want to eat me.” He’s a smart kid.

  • I’ve starting posting more photos to instagram in an effort to capture the everyday. And then I got all crazy and set up a new Tumblr account to act as my instagram photo gallery. I know…nuts!

  • I’ve also been trying to pick up my big camera more often so I can develop as a photographer (pun intended). The dark winter days have made finding inspiration difficult but I am determined to try and take at least one photo a day. I mean, it would be a shame to miss capturing a moment like this.

 

    • We recently upgraded our cable so I have started watching The Daily Show again. Hands down, one of the best “news” shows on TV. The only problem is that it makes me angry about the number of misinformed, stubborn and crazy people in this country I have chosen to call home. Good thing it makes me laugh at the same time. Best quote from the show that summed up my feelings this week: “You’ve confused a war on religion with not always getting everything you want”.
    • I’ve been looking at flights to Australia for a trip we have planned in a couple of months. It’s nice to have a holiday to look forward to, even if it’s still a few months out.
    • I secretly hate myself for liking this Taylor Swift song (I’m not a big fan). I feel better that it’s on the Hunger Games soundtrack (cannot wait for the movie!).
    • Really enjoying my job right now. I think it’s a combination of finding a little more balance between work, family and me (exercise) and the fact that I find myself laughing at least once a day. Oh, and I’m nearly done with a major project that has consumed me since the beginning of the year . Yeah, that may have something to do with it.
    • I’ve been cooking more and Thomas declared dinner the another night to be one of the best ever (it was gourmet meal of chicken stir fry) and said that I am an awesome cook. Now that’s the sort of positive reinforcement I could get used to.

Finally, if you made it to the end, congratulations! As thanks, please enjoy this little piece of daily life that was spotted on the wall at daycare. You’re welcome.

A Big Weekend for Six

I think, if you asked Thomas right now, he’d say being six is great. Take this weekend, for example.

Friday – came home from school with an unexpected report card that shows how great he is doing in both Japanese and English classes. His strengths are Math (which he loves) and speaking Japanese. We’re so proud.

Saturday – Thomas had just jumped in the pool for the beginning of his swimming lesson when he held out his hand to me containing a baby tooth – his first to fall out. I was a little relieved because he already had his big tooth growing up behind. Well, I was relieved after I was able to get past the grossness of being handed a bloody tooth. Earned another mother stripe.

Why does no one tell you that having a child may involve having to find a bag small enough to hold a teeny tiny bloody tooth so that narrowly missed being lost at the bottom of the pool? (thanks for the help, LeeAnn). I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if we’d lost it or, worse, if Thomas had swallowed it – which was apparently a close call. So here’s my tip for mothers of six year olds everywhere – bring a spare little plastic baggie or two wherever you go for the next couple of years.

And, in case you’re wondering, the tooth fairy’s going rate is $1.

Sunday – Just your everyday, ordinary birthday party at the movie theater to see STAR WARS EPISODE 1!!! Thomas tells us it was pretty awesome – particularly the pod racing part.

That’s one big weekend for one small boy. No wonder it was so hard to get him out of bed this morning.

 

AWARD WINNING Video Re-Link

Here’s a new link to my AWARD WINNING video. OK, it’s no Tarantino or Scorsese but some people (aka: my Mum) said they couldn’t watch it at the other link so I’m hoping this one works a little better. I’m really not trying to shove it down your throat (or set expectations too high), but it’s pretty good for a corporate video created on a shoestring budget, if I do say so myself.

Watch it here.

And because I can’t have a post without a photo, and the video is called “Blue Sky Thinking”, I leave you with a picture of a pretty blue sky. I’m clever like that.

An Ishida Production

On the weekend, Thomas and Samuel treated us to a very special play. I’m not sure what it was called but let’s just say that it involved Super Hero figurines, a blue dinosaur and lots of catching bad guys. There was even a little audience participation where we were invited to come up on stage and find the bad guys. Needless to say, it was awesome!

Thomas and the…uh…dinosaur setting up for the big show.

Tickets have been collected and we’re ready to begin – right after one of the audience members pulled back the curtain. Please take note of the poster that was stuck on the wall to advertise the play. In fact there were many, many posters – I counted about 10. No one was missing this show!

One small complaint… the lighting for this show was terrible… and very orange.

A lot of the play involved watching the stars play with their superhero toys. At this point in the story, the good guys had managed to round up the bad guys and conveniently position them so they were all facing the audience. That’s some good direction.

Breaking the fourth wall…

Then the good guys gathered for the big finale, although I’m not sure who was keeping an eye on the bad guys.

Finally someone (it may have been a member of the audience) suggested that it was time to get ready for bed and that perhaps the play should wrap up, but not before the talent took a well-deserved bow.

They even cleaned up after themselves, although the posters remain many days later. I think they’re planning an encore performance.

A big two thumbs up for this production.

Someone’s Got A Case of The Mondays

Too many things on my plate today for a meaningful post so I’ll just share a few recent instagram pics from my new Tumblr account. I set up the account so I could easily share these pics through Facebook and Twitter – and keep them all in one place. It’s so convenient and easy to use and I’m hoping it inspires me to take more photos with my phone. I have been on a bit of a photography dry spell lately and I need something to get me out of this creative rut.



  1. Samuel (and his football) greeting me at the daycare fence.
  2. Window shopping on Mississippi
  3. Beautiful blue skies in Portland
  4. Ice covered car window in Bellevue
  5. Cool office lighting
  6. A storm descending on Seattle
  7. Sunset
  8. The blue tongue ring pop side effect
  9. Snow day humor in Bellevue

Here’s to a sunnier outlook for the rest of the week – literally and figuratively (apart from my dentist appointment on Wednesday – two fillings, ugh!).

P.S. I started this post a couple of hours ago and, since then, have had the opportunity to celebrate a little award (Best Interview Video) I won for a work video I produced last year. Cheers to that!

Today’s Photo of a Rainy Day Activity

My house is being invaded by Lego. The only time they are completely put away is when I have the cleaner scheduled and I warn the boys that tiny Lego pieces and Vacuum cleaners don’t get along.

The 2012 Lyrebird Images Desk Calendar

It started in 2010 as a fun end of year gift for my co-workers and grew in 2011 into a solution for the large number of teacher/family/friend gifts that I need to cover.

All it took was the time to sift through 12 months of photographs and choose 12 seasonally-appropriate favourites(!), some gorgeous templates from Paislee Press (because I’m too lazy to design my own) and a wonderful local photo printer that produced quality prints at a reasonable price before they, sadly, closed up shop at the end of the year. (I’m devastated).

PLEASE share suggestions for equally great and reasonably priced printers in the Portland area in the comments!

The best part about this project is that it provides me with the perfect opportunity to get my photos off the computer and share them with family and friends. It also gives me a chance to reflect on my photos from the past year and see where I need to improve (take more photos of “things”) and how I can make the calendar even better in 2013.

So, here it is, the 2012 Lyrebird Images desk calendar.