So, I’m a bit of a health nut. I run almost every day; Phys Ed was my favourite subject in school. When I was in university I worked at a camp and I can remember my boss laughing (in the nicest possible way, of course) at my flax bread sandwich as he chowed down on his Harveys hamburger next to me. I grew up with a vegetarian mom but it wasn’t until I read the book Fast Food Nation that I cut beef out of my diet, and another few years when I was working in England and walked by a neighbourhood butcher shop every morning and watched them unload whole carcasses off the trucks that I cut out all other red meat too. The thought process for me in making these decisions was basically this: If I can’t come to terms with how it gets on my plate, should I really be eating it? So now the only things left are chicken and fish, and sometimes I wonder what the next “big thing” will be that sends them out of my diet as well? I’ll let you know :)

Striving to being healthy is something that I truly believe affects my whole life. I think the exercise thing and the eating right thing are all about putting good things into my body that will help it run smoother, boost my energy levels, put me in better moods, and overall help me to have a more positive outlook on life. I was kind of joking about being a health nut. I drink lattes probably more than I should. When we go to the movies, I always have to buy a big bag of candy – like, enough that my tummy hurts afterward! But I think that it’s all about balance. How often do we tell our kids the phrase “Garbage in, garbage out?” I think it’s so true. I don’t know about you, but life’s short and I want to contribute something during my time here that’s worth a little bit more than garbage. And I want to feel good while doing it!

So that’s my soapbox :) I try to be healthy and eat right and exercise because it makes me feel good. And in light of that, here are a few healthy things that have made me smile and encouraged me on this past week for this Monday’s edition of sweet mondays. I realize that I’ve been lagging behind a bit in my normal blog posting routine, but I hope to get back on track this week – I have a few shoots I’m looking forward to and will have a lot more photos coming your way soon!

1. The Kitchen Shrink. Dave and I lived in England a couple of years ago and I can remember buying this book while we were there. Funny enough, it wasn’t until last week that I really sat down with it at the kitchen table and really read through it and wow. Yes, it is a recipe book that contains healthier meals. But it’s so much more than just a health cook book. It talks all about eating more balanced combinations of foods and how the foods you eat, when you eat, and how often you eat actually do affect things like how well you sleep, how stressed you are, how much energy you have, how depressed you feel, etc. The biggest thing I got from the book is creating meals and snacks that are balanced – and seriously, I’ve been doing it for a few days now and am already noticing the difference. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, I couldn’t recommend the book highly enough – check it out here.

2. The Food Revolution. My mum and I first fell for Mr. Oliver when he was a scrawny kid with his own show called the Naked Chef who’s accent reminded us of one of my mum’s brothers back in England. I keep up with Jamie on twitter and have been watching his mini-series on revolutionizing cafeteria food in the US school system and I couldn’t be more on board with his efforts. Biggest take home message for me: chocolate and strawberry flavoured milk contain just as much sugar as pop, and yet it is being served to elementary school kids for lunch. As Jamie says, if plain milk were the only choice, they’d drink it. Totally agree. Kids need the best start possible in life. They deserve it! Please check out Jamie’s website and be a part of the revolution for better food for our future generations by signing his petition.

3. Frozen Bananas. I have so many in my freezer it’s almost embarrassing. But I have a thing where I can’t eat a banana that has a brown spot on it. Bananas that haven’t quite turned from green to yellow are ideal for me. So we end up with a lot of bananas that Jenn can’t eat in the freezer. Is this healthy? I think so – now I have an endless supply for my delicious Strawberry/Banana/Milk/OJ smoothies!

4. Office Desk Setup. This is not healthy. With the warmer weather over the past few days/weeks, my computer has been having little panic attacks whenever I try to do anything more complicated than surf the internet, so I’ve set up this big honking fan next to it to prevent it from overheating and deciding it needs to shut itself down (which has happened twice now). Surely there’s got to be an easier way??

Have a happy, healthy Monday :)

I had such a renewing weekend. It started off with a very sleepy time out with friends on Friday night, but evolved (with the help of two mornings of glorious sleeping in) into something beautiful. A comfortable, renewing, stretching the bones and connecting with what matters kind of weekend. I think I’ll have to gather my thoughts and save it for another post, but for now, here’s my weekly look at a few things I’ve found in life and over the wonderful world of the interwebs that have made my life a little bit sweeter this past week – enjoy!

1. Etre Touchy. Someone on my twitter tweeted a link to this company that makes gloves specially for those of us who choose to live in near-arctic climates for most of the year – what a great idea! How many times am I fumbling with my camera settings wearing big gloves, or freezing to death when I have to take them off. The timing of this discovery, however, could have been better. Almost makes me sad that winter is over now. I take that back. Cool gloves, but there’s not a lot that could make me sad that winter is over! Check them out at their website: http://www.etretouchy.com/ (And there’s always next year!)

2. My New Shoe Laces. Bought new shoes this past week as my old ones had a lot of mileage under their belt and they came with these crazy bumpy laces – THAT DON’T COME UNTIED! Seriously, who was the genius who came up with that? I want to give whoever they are a hug.

3. A Thing For. I found this blog this past week and have been going back for hits of inspiration…let me try to explain: inspiration boards + beautiful photos + colour palettes + evoking different moods and atmospheres = love. Or maybe I should just let the photos do the talking… http://athingfor.blogspot.com/

4. To Do Lists. Every Sunday night/Monday morning I sit down and make a list of things I need to – and want to – accomplish in the week ahead. It totally makes me feel prepared; makes me sleep a bit easier at night; makes me feel like I’ve got a game plan, a challenge – the challenge is to complete the list! And there’s nothing better to me than crossing things off. Maybe I’m just an organizational freak. But it works wonders for me.

And speaking of my to do list….I’d better get to get to it! Wishing you a great week……xx

Had so much fun this weekend almost forgot I had a blog! Nah, just kidding…but the weather was just so nice that I couldn’t help but soak it all in…that’s the thing about living in a country like ours with four distinct seasons – that first stretch of gorgeous weather after winter tends to send everyone in a bit of a tizzy, myself included! And it’s not bad when it happens to fall on a long weekend too! Hope you all had a lovely weekend out in the sun enjoying time with family and friends. Here’s a special “Easter version” of my sweet mondays post…hope you enjoy it too!

1. Easter Lilies. I’m trying to train my husband to buy me these flowers every Easter…we’ve been married for three Easters now and he’s kind of getting the hang of it…I say “kind of” because he did buy me Easter Lilies this year…but he bought them a little last minute last Saturday when the shops were open. We’re almost there, ha ha ha :) (I’m such a big teaser – sorry hunny!) These flowers are my favourite – they smell so good and the scent just fills up the room!

2. Homemade Hot Cross Buns. There are a few (very few!) things out there that I am confident I can bake well. Hot Cross Buns are one of those very few things! I made these on Sunday morning and I’m thinking it might become a bit of a tradition around the Stark household. (I think with that last sentence I might have just made up for my teasing in the previous paragraph…) I made them for the first time while we were living in Britain – therefore the recipe is scribbled out on a cue card and I have no idea where the original recipe came from or I might tell you where to find it…

3. Mum’s Homemade Lemon Curd. Delish – thanks Mum!

I realized this weekend that I have a hard time sitting still. We (somewhat on purpose) planned to have a chill, low-key weekend at home with no commitments on the calendar or places to go or people to see. And somewhere between having my parents over for a last-minute lunch and Dave marking student essays on Sunday afternoon with the rain pouring outside, I got bored. Very bored. Like, kind of had a bit of a meltdown-bored. Oh, I had things I could have done. But they were work things. And it was our weekend of low-key-ness and I was trying to make it a point not to work. I guess this is what happens when you do what you love and get to call it “work”. I miss it when I’m not doing it. I actually look forward to doing it. So I say bring on the spring, the warm weather, the days of getting out and doing things, of engagement sessions and weddings and camping with friends and going through photos til my brains fall out…and to winter/cold/grey skies/staying in all weekend, I say this: I am so finished with you. Please go away now.

So, here’s to the beginning of another work week with another installment of a few sweet things I’ve loved over the past week. Enjoy!

1. Live Inspired. I love this little reporter’s journal I got a while ago – so much that I’m scared to “ruin it” by actually writing anything in it! The company who makes them is Compendium (based in Seattle) and they have a whole line of inspirational journals and greeting cards which I just love – check out their website at http://www.live-inspired.com/

2. Flickr. Ok, I know Flickr has been around for ages now and everyone’s heard of the site, but I just had to say that I recently discovered that you could join groups on Flickr – groups like Wedding Photography Critique, Starting a Wedding Photography Business, and 365 Days. Join a photog community or browse some pretty pictures at http://www.flickr.com/

3. Paper Lantern Lights. I love love love this idea for a wedding reception outdoors under a big tent – you could have a few dozen of these hanging from the roof. Funny, I grew up with one of these paper globes on the ceiling light in my bedroom and never really liked it. Go figure. Ikea sells these under the name Regolit – buy it online at www.ikea.com

4. Toms Shoes. For every pair you purchase, Toms donates a pair to a child in need. And I need new shoes for the spring. And they are so cute. Win win for all :) I’m just a little hesitant about buying shoes online without getting to try them on first…hmm what do you think? Have a peek at http://www.toms.com/

5. 500 Pizzas & Flatbreads. One of the first meals Dave and I mastered was the pizza. Old university roommates can attest to this fact. We make the dough from scratch and everything (it might sound impressive, but…it’s really not that hard at all) . We love this recipe book which has tons of different ideas for doughs and toppings – had the pesto sauce pizza with tomatoes and mozzarella last night and it was just heavenly. Buy your copy here.

Next up this week – a fun engagement session from the pre-blog days – just posting it now! Have a great week everyone!

Is it just me or did that week go by fast? It’s Monday again and I’ve got a busy week ahead but before it gets rolling along, thought I’d share some things I’ve seen/found/loved this past week with you all. Enjoy and here’s to a productive/fun/inspired week ahead for everyone :)

1. De-Cluttering. I filled up an entire recycling box full of old notes from high school and university the other week. I mean, really, what was I holding onto notes about statistical analysis and electrical circuits for? Try it. It is so liberating. (PS – in the spirit of full disclosure, I did create a small box full of notes worth rescuing, like my OAC English essays and some articles I had written for our school newspaper…because some things are worth holding onto, and I’m kind of sentimental like that).

2. Fruit Beer. Friends of mine had a “beer tasting” evening this past weekend – everyone brought a random selection and you got to try samples of beers that you’d never heard of before and wouldn’t risk buying yourself without knowing what it tasted like. It was a fabulous idea and I learned two very important things: On a blind taste test, I hated the beer I was most likely to order at a restaurant (Stella Artois); and I found and discovered this wonderful Belgian-made fruit beer called Floris Beer, available in all kinds of fruity flavours for all those non-beer drinkers out there (like me!).

3. Best Supporting Actors. Last year I ranted and raved about the movie Vicky Christina Barcelona, telling people they absolutely had to see it, if for nothing other than to witness Penelope Cruz’s stunning performance which earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar that year. This year, that movie is Inglourious Basterds and that actor is Christoph Waltz, who won Best Supporting Actor a few weeks ago. We saw the movie just recently and the whole time while watching after each one of Waltz’s scenes I would say to Dave “Wow. This guy is amazing. He better have won Best Supporting Actor for this.”

4. Softsoap Exfoliating Coconut Scrub. I smell delicious. Smell delicious too and buy it here.

5. March Madness Upsets. [photo credit Greg Nelson/SI] I’m not that big into watching sports on TV, but I’ve been hooked to NCAA College Basketball since I was in the ninth grade and my team beat my gym teacher’s team in the final game (1998: Kentucky over Utah). I missed watching a lot of the opening round games this year but couldn’t believe it when the team most people picked to win (myself included) lost in the second round on Saturday night. I absolutely love upsets and always cheer for the underdog – watch Northern Iowa beat Kansas right here.

Been kind of a weird week. I’ve been in a bit of a funk as it’s been a while since I’ve photographed anything and I miss my camera and I miss having people in front of my camera. I understand why people don’t want to get married in March…but…I wish they did. March, why couldn’t you be just a bit more beautiful?

Hope you enjoy a few sweet things that have made me smile this past week on this dreary, mid-march Monday…xx

1. Balance Disc by PURathletics. Think exercise ball but smaller, more disc like, that you stand on. Such a good core muscle workout. This took a lot of searching, but I finally found mine a few weeks ago at Canadian Tire (http://www.canadiantire.ca) and have been happily standing on it ever since.

2. My new Nikkor 20mm 2.8. Ooh so in love already. Test shots coming later this week. Ordered it online from this sweet little place called B&H Photo in the States (http://www.bhphotovideo.com) and they had it here two days later. Nice one!

3. The Sartorialist. Dave got me this book for Christmas and I could barely put it down. I get so inspired flipping through this book’s pages…If you’re into photography/urban settings/fashion, you’ll want to check out this guy’s blog – http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

4. Benjamin Linus. I’m a bonafide LOST addict and Ben has got to be one of the best characters on TV. He’s been rocking it out in this LOST’s final season, and although the writers have a tendency of killing off my favourite characters, I was glad after last week’s episode that Ben made it through to live another day. There are only 9 episodes left (!!), check it out at http://abc.go.com/shows/lost

5. This Crosley Retro Alarm Clock. The Starks are a bit behind the times and lack a docking station for our iPod, and I think this would be the coolest thing ever. Available at Urban Outfitters for a temptingly low price. Check it out (or buy us a gift!) here.

BONUS POINTS this week go to one of my favourite little photo blogs out there – http://www.theimageisfound.com – for having a rocking endless playlist (including “most beautiful girl in the room”) running on their portfolio homepage! WIN.

You may remember from last week that I did a post where I shared a few things that I’ve been loving lately…and so to start your Monday off right, here is this week’s installment of “sweet monday”! Grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy these lovely things…

1. 13 Mountain St. I ate at this restaurant in Grimsby a few weeks ago and have been dying to share it with someone ever since. The restaurant itself is inside an old converted home – inside all the original walls have been left standing, so you are actually seated around a table in separate dining rooms, as though you are just over at a friends house who happens to have a wait staff and cordon blue trained chef in the kitchen. To top off the experience, the food was amazing. Make a reservation right here.

2. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Oscar dress. In a night where the two hosts fell completely flat, some crazy lady stole the mic from the winner of best documentary short, and most of the girls had to carry their skirts by the fist-full to make it across the stage, I simply adored Ms. Gyllenhaal’s dress. So. gorgeous.

3. Sun in March. Seriously. It is currently 11 °C and there’s not a single cloud in the sky. I went for a run earlier this morning and was seriously sweating up a storm. Maybe spring is right around the corner??

4. Tree & Kimball. I’m absolutely in love with this vendor I found on Etsy. Vintage shoes and necklaces & earrings made out of lace. So pretty, different, simple…I’m smitten. AND they showcase their items online atop old hardcover books! What could be more perfect? Fall in love with their stuff right here.

5. Roll up the Rim! It’s baaack and it’s doing a brilliant job at filling the void left by the conclusion of the Olympics in Vancouver last week. Because what’s more Canadian than this, right? AND I won a coffee on my first try of the season. Sweet!

Wishing you the sweetest of Mondays everyone!

I love reading the “favourite things” section at the beginning of magazines. You know, where Oprah and Rachael dish on cute little things that they (or their magazine editors) have come across, like antique plates with cool designs and paperclips in the shape of elephants. And the people who are behind the cute little things that are featured on the pages of these magazines jump for joy over being published and cross their fingers that Oprah and Rachael’s endorsement that their cute little thing is one of their favourite things is enough to send flocks of people over buying their products.

Well, I thought it would be nice to share with you some of my favourite things that I’ve come across. Because I like to share cute little things. Not always products, and not because I think you should necessarily go out and spend your money on them (but you can if you want. No one’s paying me to share these products with you, I just happen to think they rock!)…just things that have made my life a little bit sweeter.

So I’m calling this feature “Sweet Things”. And because I’m the kind of girl who looks forward to Mondays (Mondays are always sweet here at starkphotography), I hope to do these kinds of posts on a regular basis, say, every Monday. So, hope you like it, you’ll see more sweet things I’ve found throughout the week here next Monday…here it is, Sweet Monday Things:

1. Gorgeous Light. I love this spot. I want to do a photoshoot here, at the south-east corner of Yonge & the Esplanade in Toronto. And there’s cheapy cheapy parking a few steps away too. Bonus!

2. Hershey’s/ManuaLoa Macadamia Nut Kisses. My parents recently brought these back for me from Hawaii and I am in love. Milk chocolate kisses with a macadamia nut inside = Heaven. Buy a bag right here.

3. Small is the New Big by Seth Godin. Seth writes a very popular daily blog and this book is a compilation of a few of his posts from 2005-2006 era. Most of the content is still relevant to today; each is only a few pages at most, sometimes only a paragraph, but each “post” is so densely packed with awesome insights you’ve got to read it over twice and then make notes. I’ve been eating up the pages of this book for the past few weeks and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in the business field interested in kicking it up a notch and standing out from the pack. Don’t borrow it from the library like I did, this is one that needs to be owned. Buy the book right here. Or take a read through Seth’s blog. Linchpin and Purple Cow are next on my reading list…if I ever finish this one.

4. Hot lunches. Going back to working from the home office a few weeks ago has meant many hot lunches and I love it. This is my favourite hot lunch. Beats a granola bar and bruised banana, hands down.

5. My blue Ceramic Teabag Holder. Dave bought this for me while we were in Niagara-on-the-Lake the other weekend because he can’t stand it when I leave teabags on the counter. But we don’t even have a nice counter, Dave. He says, no, but one day we will. We bought ours from a cute place called Greaves Jams & Marmalades and I love it. There are tons of different shapes and colours – you can buy yourself one right here.

Wishing you a sweet Monday everyone!