Mozi Magazine Feature

I am super excited to announce that I have been featured in the Family/Child Issue of Mozi Magazine. Woo Hoo! The amazing cover image is by Orange Anchor Photography and below that, you can see the tear sheet of my feature.

If you go to my Facebook page, I am giving away a free digital copy of the magazine!!! Here is the link to go and enter: http://tinyurl.com/ormazgt It is a wonderfully done issue filled with amazing pictures and articles. Worth checking it out ;)

~ Dana

Friday's Favourites -- The Fault In Our Stars

In the periphery of my life, I heard the hype about this book/movie. I knew that I couldn't see the movie with other people because I am pretty familiar with myself and I know that I would be a huge sobbing mess. So, I opted for the book. I read it in 2 hours. I am not joking. 2 hours. I read it through huge heaving sobs for about an hour. I don't think I have ever cried so much in a book.  I will hold off on seeing the movie for a bit...even though, I am seriously chomping at the bit to see it. I adored the book. In part, because it was so raw and honest.

The soundtrack is pretty darn awesome. Birdy does two songs on it. I have loved her since I heard her version of Skinny Love many moons ago. So, here are the links to the two songs. So perfect for this story.

Throwback Thursday--Two Years Ago Today

I thought I was prepared. Turns out, I was wrong. Turns out...it is something you can never truly prepare for.

Two years ago today, my father...our papa... passed away. His was a hard fought battle. There had been a period in his 50's where we were certain we'd lose him. We didn't. He was stronger than that. But, two years ago, he struggled to stay here with us and, in the end, he lost.

The past two years have taught me so much that I could never put in words. About friendship, parenthood, marriage, life, death, but mostly about myself. It is a surprising and wonderful side affect of grief. Grief is like a fog that follows you around...and, then just when you think it has left for good to let the sunshine permanently, it arrives again. As time passes, the stretches where the fog stays away are longer. Life goes on. The sun does shine again. But some days, there will be fog. When you walk out of the fog, you are truly changed. I am so far from the person I was two years ago it isn't even funny.

I will tell you this. I wish I had more photographs. I'm not just saying that...it is so very true. I'm a photographer who failed at documenting that part of my life. I still do in ways. Older people don't always wish to have their photographs taken, so I don't. Out of a misguided respect of their wishes. It is truly misguided. I should have taken more photographs of him. Of him and I together. Of him and my kids. I have no idea why I didn't. But, I know the importance of these photographs now more than ever. This father's day, when you are hanging out with your dad--take a photograph with your iPhone. With any camera you have on hand. Just do it. You will never regret it, I promise.

This is a photograph of Jack and his Papa. Jack was my dad's first grandchild. And, in a lot of ways, they are very similar. Jack gave him his 'papa' name and the other kids made it stick.

My dad died the day before his birthday and a few days before Father's day. Odd timing that. It feels like this is his week in some ways. Tomorrow, we will celebrate his 70th birthday without him. And, then on Sunday, I will quietly remember him as we celebrate my husband. My dad LOVED dairy queen. Just LOVED it. Well, truly, he loved any sort of ice cream. At his funeral, we served Dilly Bars. We just picked up a box to enjoy this week. Georgia burst into tears in the car when we did it. Breaks your heart that...watching your children grieve. But, it was short lived because who can be upset while they are eating a Dilly Bar?

So...that's my throwback Thursday. Hug your family. Tell them you love them. It all goes way to fast.

~ Dana

Friday's Favourites--Ned The Phone Monster

I was backer number 3 for this Kickstarter. Just saying...

I think this is an INCREDIBLE idea that my good friends at The Happy Family Movement have come up with. It's not that I hate technology. No...it's definitely not that. I truly think that we as a society are just in the 'learning how to deal with the invasiveness of it all' phase. I can see it in my friends and own family. The way the handheld devices affect us. And, if I'm totally honest, I have seen it in some of my family sessions. We all need to put down our phones more. Email can wait. Facebook can wait(it really can)...but your kids will not wait. They are getting older and you are missing out every time you check your phone. This isn't meant to guilt you...I know sometimes you HAVE to check it. But...sometimes you have to leave it behind. No job in the world pays you enough to be on call 24 hours a day. Okay...maybe being Beyonce...maybe that job, but there are very few openings. Why not make it a fun little game with Ned The Phone Monster. Because I call tell you that the best thing I have started doing is leaving my phone behind sometimes. It annoys my husband(and probably some of my friends) when it takes me a while to answer a text message, but I am truly not bothered by it ;) Patience is a virtue after all.

So...go support this awesome kick-starter and get your very own Ned. I can't wait to get mine!!!

~ Dana