Articles by: allison

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Well… this is awkward.

So awkward that I’m not entirely sure how to start. And I always know how to start.

So, let’s go with: “Hi! How are you? It’s been awhile”.

And it’s true. It has been awhile. An embarrassingly long while. A since October 18th kinda while. I guess I just ran out of steam.

And now I’m here to reflect on 2012 and to think about 2013. And to warn you that it is going to continue to be kinda quiet around these parts for the next little while. You know that “quitting your job to start your own businesses” thing that I’ve got going on? Well, apparently your own businesses can wring out your heart, your soul, and every spare second of your time until there is not much left.

We’ve had an … interesting … couple of months. The kind of months that we couldn’t have even imagined when we started on this journey. The kind of months that I don’t wish on anyone, ever. It’s been tough. And I’m exhausted. Don’t worry too much: despite being tired, I’m ok and the hubs is ok, and our product is growing into something really awesome. But our business needs every ounce of my all for the next couple of months, which is why it’s going to stay somewhat dark in these parts. If you miss me (and you are interested in tax) I am going to have my tax tips blog launching at simpletax.ca/blog sometime this week. Woohoo!

And on a positive note, 2013 is looking promising. We’re going to release our product. (And it is really good). And wedding season kicks off immediately after tax-season with Heather & Gavin’s wedding and runs right through to September 1st with some pretty great clients in some pretty awesome spaces.

Throughout wedding season, I’m hoping to take a “tax-break” and finish up all sorts of things that are as yet un-done around our place (we still need a bookcase, I need to reupholster our awesome armchairs, we need art in the family room, the half stripped kitchen table needs a lot of love, we need a headboard, our world’s ugliest dresser needs a facelift … the list goes on). I also hope to come back to my beloved blog, and you guys (if anyone sticks around until then!)

And despite the rocky end to the year, 2012 was quite possibly my best year to date. It started with the wedding in Uruguay, which was quickly followed by Antarctica. And this. (If you haven’t seen that yet, click through, you won’t regret it). Three months soaking up the atmosphere in Buenos Aires got us all charged up and ready to take on our next adventure. My first season photographing weddings in Vancouver was a great success — I am so happy with my work and where it is going this year, and then as wedding season wound down, I dove head first into SimpleTax. And I love it, and I care so much about it, I’m pouring my heart and my soul into it. I feel like in 2012 I took my life and steered it towards the direction I ultimately want it to go.

But guys. I’m tired. And I’ve got a big couple of days (and months) ahead of me. So know that I love you, and I miss you. And I hope to be back again before not too long.

And because what’s a blog post without some images, here’s a few shots from our snowy snowy Christmas in Ottawa.

December 31, 2012 2 comments Read More
hello! & pumpkin seeds

hello! & pumpkin seeds

Hello friends! I’m sorry I’ve been remiss in posting lately. Lots of you have checked in to see if I’m ok, and I am! I’m awesome! I’m just more busy than I’ve ever been.

Maybe that’s not exactly true, but I’ve certainly had a bit of an attitude change.

I’ve been this busy before, but somehow working for myself changes things. Where I used to find solace in taking some time for myself to write a blog post, I now find stress. Since all of my time is now spent for myself, minutes that aren’t spent on my businesses (three at last count) cause me a bit of panic. The minutes where I need to stop, because I no longer have the brain power to do it, I can only sit on my ass and watch mind-numbing TV.

That being said, I need balance. I can’t only work. I’m learning that. So today I’m back with a short and sweet blog post about the first of two delicious things I did with this pie pumpkin. You might be able to guess about what the second will be.

These pumpkin seeds were the world’s most delicious. (Or at least the most delicious I’ve ever had). The secret? Frying them in butter before roasting them.

Healthy? Not so much. Insanely tasty? You bet.

World’s Best Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients

  • Seeds from a pumpkin, pie or otherwise
  • Butter (about 1/2 tbsp for a pie pumpkin’s worth of seeds, this is an art, not a science)
  • Some shakes of salt
  • Some grinds of pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 275F.
  2. Rinse all the orange gunk off pumpkin seeds and let dry until mostly dry.
  3. Melt butter in a saucepan (if you are extra crazy, try browning the butter), add pumpkin seeds, salt and pepper and fry for a minute or so until well coated.
  4. Spread on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes (or until browned). Keep an eye on them because you want them crunchy but not burnt!

October 18, 2012 0 comments Read More
birthday goodness

birthday goodness

If you are wondering about how I fared in my 30-before-30 post, head on over the the 30-before-30 page, where I’ve just posted an in depth update! In other news: I had an awesome day yesterday.

I woke up at 6 (I’m a morning person, yo) to the best card and gift ever from the hubs.

Then I got to pull one of the “30 Things We Like About Al” from the gift my parents gave me! Yesterday’s thing? That I’m an Excel guru.

After about an hour of work at my computer, I was off to use my free birthday drink at Starbucks. I got a Venti.

I also stopped at Cobs and at the grocery store to pick up ingredients to make myself delicious french toast.

I then sat down and coloured for a few hours while I waited for the hubs to wake up.

When the hubs woke up, I made him some french toast while I opened the card from my grandparents, my in-laws and my brother. They were all so good!

After about an hour more of work, we set off on #fallwalk2012. (Each year we do a long walk in the fall. This year: 25.5 kms, a record even by fallwalk standards!)

We crossed the Burrard St. bridge, did the seawall all the way around the West End, Stanley Park, and Coal Harbour, crossed through Gastown to meet up with the seawall again before Science World, took a detour onto Granville Island, and then back to Kits.

We had planned on going for a nice dinner – likely to Vij’s – but by the end of fall walk we were plum worn out. So we stopped for beer and wings (and dry ribs and bugers) on the patio of our favourite local pub. This was extra good because we had just spent a dry September, where not only did we not drink, but we didn’t eat things like pub food.

Then we picked up a Safeway pumpkin pie for $2.99 and ate it while watching the reminder episode and the season premiere of Revenge.

I was in bed by 10:30, my preferred bed time.

So all in all, I had a perfect day.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends, I’ll be back on the blog on Tuesday!

October 6, 2012 3 comments Read More
Thirty

Thirty

Today I’m thirty. And I’ve never been more excited about where I am or where I’m going!

You knew this day was coming, because I’ve been keeping you up to date with monthly posts on the state of my 30-before-30 project! (I’ll update you on the state of that project, and what I’m doing next, tomorrow.)

I woke up this morning, and like with every birthday, I pretty much felt the same as the night before. I’m the same girl. With a few more wrinkles than I had 10 years ago. But a number isn’t going to change me.

On the counter was the perfect card and the gift from the hubs (since he never gets up as early as I do, he had set it out the night before).

I have an awesome gift-that-keeps on giving from my parents (30-things-we-like-about-al) so I got to pull out and read one of those things today!

I’m about to head out the door to go pick up my free birthday starbucks coffee and some fresh bread and fruit to make french toast. I’m having whipped cream on my french toast. Awesome.

Our website launched yesterday so we’re going to take the day off and go on “Fall Walk 2012″.

I’ll get the chance to visit with my mom and dad later today, and then the hubs and I are going for dinner.

Tomorrow some of our closest friends are hosting a thanksgiving dinner, to which we’ll bring ice cream cake.

Yesterday I was thinking about turning thirty and I realized I couldn’t be in a better place.

Seriously.

October 5, 2012 7 comments Read More
Photo A Day

Photo A Day

Well. Today is the last day of my 20s. It’s also the last day of both my 30-before-30 and the photo-a-day project I was doing as part of my 30-before-30 project. I can’t really believe it!

Here’s what a year in pictures (minus about 60 days, represented by coloured boxes) looks like. For bigger versions, see my tumblr!

October 4, 2012 2 comments
the other side of the office

the other side of the office

Several weeks ago I talked about the pretty new handmade barnwood desks in our office.

But I didn’t show you what the rest of the office is looking like. I completed the entire office redecoration project while the hubs was out of town at a wedding in mid-August. When he got home, we had undergone a big transformation.

I love the other side of the office.

The third desk is for the two days a week Justin, our code overlord at SimpleTax, comes to work from our place. We’ve got handy things like a fan and a whiteboard (made from a free glass Ikea tabletop I found on craigslist). Our free craigslist couch lives over here. As does some art made out of old school maps donated to me by my mother-in-law, a $9.99 globe from the Salvation Army, and some paint chip art.

I love it.

Considering we spend so much time up here, that’s a good thing!

October 3, 2012 0 comments Read More