Wow...#thatshowyouwedding...

Well, what can we say...you guys know how to giver' at a wedding!!!

We want to thank you all SO much for coming and for sharing that day with us...it was seriously all we were hoping it would be-including a lot of laughs and stories (some questionable ones STEPHEN MCGOVERN), and tons of tears-but all happy ones.  Luckily I (Bri) have stopped crying...that was CRAZY during the ceremony! I didn't know if i'd pull it together or not....


Anyways, this will be short but sweet because we want to get you guys to the first set of photos we have ready-the photo booth! THey are hilarious so thanks to you all for getting in there and taking part-we were laughing so hard it hurt when we went through them.

Obviously, please feel free to download,share,tag, etc.

We also wanted you to know that we'll be keeping up with this blog over the years...when we look back at it, it's just a sweet memory of all the lead up to the wedding, so we thought it might be funny for you guys to also hear about how the 'newlywed' life, and then 'grumpy old couple' parts go too! So feel free to check in every once in a while...

We also wanted to thank you all for your incredibly thoughtful cards and gifts-we were overwhelmed by how much love and support we got over the past few months and we have to say just how rad each and every one of you are!  We'll be sending out proper thank-you's in the next few months, but here's an early one too... THANK YOU FOR BEING AMAZING!


OK now stop reading, and go look at these photos! They're hilarious....

Also, anyone up for a kick ass 1-year anniversary party next year?? We're serious...we've already started planning....

To see the rest go to: http://garybremnerphotography.zenfolio.com/thatshowyouwedding 

The final countdown...

So this is it...we are now officially 9 days out from the big wedding day which means we get to see many of you in less than a week!

Yesssssssssssss.

Now, apologies in advance for the shortness of this post, but we're in a mad dash to get the last few touches of our reno done as best as we can before next week. We're not going to have all the finishing touches done, but we'll have a beer drinking deck and our couches back in the living room which means, no matter the weather, we have places to sit and catch up with everyone which is what we're most concerned about!

SO a few final notes/reminders for everyone:

1. PHOTOS ARE STILL NEEDED!
If you have any photos you'd like to contribute to the wedding slideshow, please send them our way ASAP! Our amazing friend Carrie will be creating the slideshow for us, so any photos sent in are simply transferred into a dropbox that she can access and take images from. We want to be sure we have a variety of shots from all different stages of our life, so keep em' comin'!!!


2. BRING WARM CLOTHES
So...being the Yukon, you never really know what the weather is like...unfortunately we've had a bit of a wet/cool spring, but at the same time, next weekend it could very well be +20.  So we suggest bringing some summer clothes, some rain clothes and some sweaters for windy days, and that way you'll be all set! We're really hoping to have an outdoor ceremony, so just be sure you have a jacket to bring for that just in case. The good news is, being the Yukon, you get to go by 'Yukon Formal' dress code which means it's actually 100% ok to wear a down jacket to a wedding....comfort is key people.

3. ITINERARIES
For any guests flying in from out of town, please send us your flight info!! We want to be sure we're there to get you at the airport, so send us your info and we'll see ya there!

4. SCHEDULE
Of course we want you guys to enjoy your time here, so see our previous post on activities for ideas...We are also obviously happy to give you suggestions once you get here, and are totally open to doing some basic hikes (bring hiking shoes and we can get you to the top of a mountain in less than 2 hours to see incredible views just 10 min out of town), bike riding, or coffee shop hopping.

REMINDER FOR THE WEDDING:

Ceremony: 3pm Saturday June 16th
Potluck dinner reception: 5:30/6pmf

Ok, back to painting, but we'll see you all soon!!

Bri and GB

39 days and counting...whaaaaat???

So....I just freaked myself out. Counted on the calendar and there are only 39 days left until the big day...

Now I know what many of you are thinking: "Oh they probably are feeling stressed because there's so much to do for the wedding! Oh i hope they're not getting cold feet!" But have no fear...i'm here to tell you that neither of those things are an issue.  We've got the planning under control, and whenever I check in with Gary to see how he's feeling about the whole thing he simply replies with a: "HA! You're stuck with me until i'm an old man who farts all the time and says inappropriate things in public! You're not getting rid of me now...AND i'm probably going to live until i'm 100...just a warning"
He's such a romantic...how could a girl resist??

SO....needless to say, no worries on that front either... What i'm more concerned about is this lovely RENO we decided to do! Although it's on schedule and coming along great (we get drywall and painting done the next week and a half!!), it's still a bit nerve wracking to be a month out from a wedding and not even have the ability to do laundry, let alone get the house respectable enough to have you guys come see.  (I'd like to take a moment to give a huge shout out to my Mom for letting us use her washer/dryer and continually feeding us...yes, all of that is true...she is amazing.)  BUT i've been assured by both Gary (who is still working on electrical even though it's 11:05 pm on a tuesday night) and the contractors (who's business name is STUD construction) that everything will be complete by the time you arrive.  SO it'll be like a magic trick! You guys will never know what a disaster we are living through right now...you'll never know that you can barely see our floor through the dust and piles of boxes, or that Bill Murray has somehow been on a diet of dry wall chunks and wood for the past month...AND you'll never know that we're both so fried from working so much between the jobs and the renos that our brains have stopped working and the level of sass in our house has gone up exponentially.

For example...I'd like to let you in on a little convo we had the other night as i was struggling with a Kobo e-reader:

Me: "I don't get it...if you have to plug it into the computer to charge it, why do people say it's so great for when you go travelling? Who takes a computer with them when they're travelling?"
Gary: "Well you just have to get a power adapter so you can plug it into a wall.  It's just an accessory you can get when you buy it in the first place."
Me: "UGH I HATE things you have to buy accessories for in order to make them work!
Gary: "Well you sure wouldn't like WOMEN then!"
Me: Little streams of fumes begin to waft from my ears...
Gary: An "ohhhh that was a good one" laugh followed by a duck as an object went flying at his head from my fist. (Don't worry Janice, it was a soft object...I promise not to harm your son.)

Communication is breaking down people...this is how our lives are right now....

BUT, back to the point...because we ARE so busy right now, we do have a little favour to ask of you all. Being wedding photographers, we've seen a lot of these things, and one of our favourite parts which never seems to get old no matter how many people do it, is the slide show. Seeing the bride and groom from their younger days, should be a requirement at all weddings in my opinion as it's a chance for everyone to remember good times, and to embarrass them as best they can.

SO here's our call for all of you to gather any photos you may have of us and please scan them/send them to us at the following email address:

brianne@garybremner.com

That way we can put them all together (or have one of our friends put them together so that there's no way we can cheat and leave out any ugly ones) and you can all laugh at our expense on June 16th...doesn't sound fun?

And to get you in the mood....

Gary, Sean and Cliffy Circa 2006 entitled "Boy Band 4 Life"

No comment...

AND finally, we wanted to post the basic details one more time to make sure everyone has it since there have been quite a few changes since the invites went out:

WEDDING DATE: Saturday, June 16th
CEREMONY: Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre (Down on the waterfront outside) 3:00pm

RECEPTION: Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre (Same building but inside) 6:00pm
*Please begin to drop off all potluck dinner items at about 5:30pm.  Again, our friend Lyndsey will be there to help set it up/advise you on where to put everything.

To stress or not to stress...that is the question.

So lately i've been getting a lot of questions about our wedding plans..."Did you think of this? What are you doing here? What time, what order, etc. etc", and I suddenly found myself starting to hyperventilate a little bit....You see, we started off this whole wedding thing promising ourselves that this would not get stressful.  That really, we just want to have a celebration with all of the people in our lives that mean so much to us, and that the little details like colour schemes and napkins shouldn't matter in the least...

The problem is, when you listen to everyone's questions (all well intentioned of course) it can be really easy to all of the sudden start to question your decisions...I mean i really HADN'T thought about 90% of the questions that were asked...should I have!? Is our wedding going to be lame!? My heartbeat started pounding and my breath got fast...Gary what do we do!?!?!?

Gary's reply: "We're gonna have food, booze and a sweet dance party. What more do you want?"

So there you have it folks! Wedding planning complete! I should have just handed it over to him MONTHS ago!

Now in Gary's defence, he sort of has a lot on his mind.  Here's why:



Now a normal couple planning a wedding might think to themselves: "You know there's a lot of details to one of these things...lets just take the time to plan ahead, and that way come the day, we won't have anything to stress over because it's all been done!  Let's take the time to ENJOY this experience and really drink it in."
ANd well, we did say that in the beginning...but then we decided that it would also be a good idea to do this:

That's right, over the 2 months before our wedding we decided to also take on the biggest house reno either of us have ever lived through (at least we hope we live through it). We ripped off our roof, and are building a new floor on top, which when complete is going to be a wicked new photography studio!!  Which, in theory is a great idea...we just somehow didn't really think through what a  terrible choice of timing it would be seeing as how it's the same 2 months we're supposed to be organizing a wedding!

SO...needless to say the past two weeks, and the next month and a half are going to be the most hectic and stressful ones that we've had basically ever.  House renos, wedding planning, OH and i forgot to mention that i've also just went part time at my Gov't job, so we're adjusting to working together from home 1/2 of the week as well.

Can anyone say relationship test 101???

SO the other night, at about 1am after we had moved our entire garage into our living room, bedroom, and partially into our kitchen, after I had a bit of a mental break down, (I literally just burst into a fit of giggles when Gary told me we had to move the entire contents of our garage after dinner...It was such an absurd statement to me that I went into a crazed laughter and didn't stop for about a 1/2 hour) we sat down on the couch (the one piece of furniture not piled high with boxes) and cracked a couple beers.  And it was in that moment of pure exhaustion, that we re-made a promise to each other.

Let's not get caught up in the "how a wedding is SUPPOSED" to go craze that is bred by TLC and Pinterest...let's have the wedding that we've always wanted which is simple.  That highlights parts of the Yukon and parts of our lives that we love.  Let's do it the way we want, whether it makes other people nervous or not. Because, at the end of the day, as long as our friends and family are there to share stories, have some laughs and do some ridiculous dance moves late into the night...we're gonna have a successful wedding.

SO we hope that you all can join in on our promise-to not get stressed, don't worry about details, and just enjoy your time with us this summer.  Some things are going to be done a bit differently: we're doing a potluck dinner, we're going to have two people officiate our ceremony, we have no colour scheme, and we would rather come with you guys to do some unreal outdoor activities and see the sights of the Yukon than spend the days before our wedding making decorations.  But in the end, we'll get married, you guys will see it happen, and then we'll spend the night eating, laughing and dancing our pants off...it'll be a blast!



POTLUCK


NOW don't worry, we do have some details to give you. (i'm really not as disorganized as this post sounds, as Gary always reminds me...Realistically, I have been making little pieces of decorations for over a month and have our music picked down to the last detail...really, i'm just spazzy and am excellent at worrying)

The thing that most people have asked about is our decision to have a Potluck wedding! One of our favourite parts of the Yukon is how many potluck dinners we have had over the years...In fact the ritual wednesday night potlucks at Ryan's house was how Gary and I first really got to know each other...so it only makes sense to have that be a part of our wedding too.

AND there's also the fact that we both loooooove food. And the best part about a potluck is how everyone brings their own 'speciality' and you always end up with a huge variety of foods...

So we hope that you all will join us in our potluck dinner after the ceremony.  There will be enough time to go and get stuff/prep it as we'll be off getting our photos taken.  And we're not delegating who brings what for a reason...I stand by the fact that potlucks are meant to be a mix of foods-whatever people feel like making, and that's why i love them so much. There's always something new to try...so you get to bring whatever you feel like!

Now this is exactly one of the parts that we don't want you to STRESS about! Obviously, those of you from out of town won't have a kitchen to cook in, so if you're able to bring buns from the bakery, grab a cheese and cracker platter from the deli, or even a bag of chips with salsa that would be great!

We already have people here in town who are offering to do the 'mains' to ensure we've got some hot dishes like turkey, ham, etc. So we're guaranteed to be well fed.

If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask!  In fact, i'd like you to meet Lyndsey:

Lyndsey is one of our best friends here and has been AMAZING at helping us organize things (I actually never have to worry about details not being ready...this girl made a spreadsheet to organize my bachelorette...a SPREADSHEET people!) So if you have any questions at all about the potluck, need suggestions on what to bring, or want to know more about how it all works, just send her an email at: hamilton.lyndsey@gmail.com

Ok, i'm off to do some photo editing and Gary's calling dry-wallers so we better run! Can't wait to see everyone together in just a few short months now!

Bri and GB

There's so much room for activities!!!

Okaaaaay. I admit it...i've royally sucked at updating this thing lately!  So here's my attempt to make up for it...a blog post dedicated to to the EPIC activities you can take part in this June while you're here to visit, or if you live here and just never go and do this kind of stuff...So here we go:


One thing Yukoners know how to do better than anyone else is how to take advantage of our amazingly long summer days!  After those long winter months, as soon as the sun comes out again, this place starts buzzing with activity and it's not uncommon for people to be burnt out by end of July because they've been going non-stop since April...BUT there are many who know the fine balance of work and play, and we've decided to feature them right here in our blog...


We've compiled a list of some of our amazing friends and family who are experts in a wide range of activities that'll keep you busy on the non-wedding days of your trip.  They know how to plan the most epic of days, or how to relax the hardest, so pick and choose as you will, and be prepared to never want to go home. (seriously...it happened to Gary about 8 years ago now...)




*Please note most of the people i'm listing below know they're being offered up as 'guides', but some don't.  For those of you reading this thinking "Whoa i didn't know i was signed up for that!" I say to you...surprise! And thank you kindly....




OK so let's start with the adventurous side...seeing as how Gary and I officially met at the bottom of an ice tower, it seems only fitting to start here....






First, let me introduce you to Mr. Ryan Agar, one of Gary's groomsmen, and one of the main perpetrators of setting us up in the first place...

Ryan at the infamous Black Dress Party

He's pretty isn't he?....


During the first two months of knowing these boys, they had me dangling upside down from an ice tower flailing ice axes, threw me off the side of a cliff the very first time i agreed to rock climb, and had me tenting in a snow storm sans sleeping bag to 'teach me a lesson' of never forgetting my gear....Romantic isn't it? They sure know how to treat a lady...


Anyways, Ryan has so graciously agreed to be your Climbing/Rapelling and coffee drinking guide.

Did I mention Ryan and Carrie have a climbing wall in their basement?

He's a certified climbing instructor (Him and Gary have nerded out for hours over knots and rescue scenarios), and I kid you not, has a serious coffee addiction....the guy has an adapter for his coffee grinder that he uses when car camping. He is also one of the most generous people I know, so if you're up for a challenge, and looking for a safe way to test your fear of heights-Ryan is the guy for you.
Or, you can also do what I often do, which is go for a few climbs, then spend the rest of the afternoon laying on a crash pad in the sun drinking coffee or beer, while the rest of the crew climb themselves to death! (I've mastered the relaxation part of adventure over the years, trust me!)






Now, Ryan's partner in crime is Ms. Carrie McClelland.  Carrie will probably be along for the climbing trip, but after that, she'll go home, put up some dry-wall, fix the fence, volunteer for a few organizations, go to a skating practice and then be up the next day to take you paddling!  In other words, this girl cannot be stopped, and she's your key to paddling trips in the Yukon!  Seeing as how she's participated in the Yukon River Quest, a gruelling paddling race-715km or 444 miles from Whitehorse to Dawson City, she's a fantastic person to feel safe on a river with.


As you can see in the photo below, she makes her paddling partners feel very comfortable (that's my 'canoeing with Carrie' position).  You'll also note her 'birding stance'...she used to work as a Wild life viewing technician, (now is the biologist), and can tell you all the different species of animals you see as you're drifting down the river....

Another hard day on the water...

OH and I forgot...she literally has a degree in Camping. Ask her about it-she loves it when people do that....






Now Ryan and Carrie know how to relax with the best of them, but Mr. Charles Stewart on the other hand, needs some lessons in that....

A rare moment when Charles was captured standing still...

Charles, another one of Gary's groomsmen, cannot be seen inside his house during any part of the summer months. If he's not mountain biking, climbing, hiking, paddling, or camping, he's sleeping. There are no other options. Charles is an instructor at Yukon College and teaches the Outdoor pursuits program so he's literally certified to teach you all there is to know about Yukon outdoor activities.  And of course, Charles also has a partner in crime-Jen Eakins. I'd like to say Jen knows how to relax more than Charles but her version of relaxing is working on her Masters, or planning their next great adventure...so, I guess i'd be lying.  But their ambition and thirst for knowledge, is exactly what makes going on adventures with them so amazing-you always feel safe (between the two of them i think they're certified in every outdoor sport possible, or at least have intro experience in it), and you're guaranteed to have a great time. We've been climbing, kayaking, back country skiing and camping with them and it's always some of our favourite trips we've had.

These two have been a huge part of our lives here-Gary lived with them his first summer up here and has been trying to keep up to their energy levels ever since. (although we now have given up, because it's humanly impossible).  They've agreed to be the mountain biking/hiking tour guides (cause let's face it, they'll be out doing it anyway!) so if you'd like to try either, they're the ones you've got to get a hold of!
Charles also has a lead on a place to rent mountain bikes, so no need to bring one with you... We have world class trails here, so for sure try to get out if you like biking!







And you can't talk about adventure without talking about the infamous Christopher Gishler. Gish and his lovely wife Ellen are owners of Equinox-an outdoor adventure/learning company that does Ziplining, rock climbing, team leadership, kids camps, etc. and was the place of Gary's first job in the Yukon! He worked there his first summer here, and has been great friends with Gish and the fam (all 7 of them) ever since!  Located out at the Takhini Hotsprings (a natural hot springs located a 20 min drive from downtown), you can head out to do some zip lining and climbing, and then pop in for a relaxing soak in the springs! Check out his site at: http://www.equinoxyukon.com/ for details on pricing!

The Gish...

Ok...now for those of you thinking "I want nothing to do with any of that"...well, first off at least check out the views you can see while doing it....

Now that's a good view....

This is pretty ok too...

Buuuut if that still doesn't convince you, don't fret...we have a few other more relaxing and colourful options for you too:


1.  Do you love wine? Well, you're in for a treat, because we just so happen to have a group of connoisseurs that not only know their wine, but always look fantastic while consuming it.  It's my book club!  That's right-ladies who love to read, drink wine, and eat cheese. What more could you ask for?  We'll hopefully be hosting a meeting the week of the wedding you may be able to get a special invite to...

2. Love live music? Enjoy a good art show? There are two ladies in town who will always know what's going on...Ms. Fiona Solon and Tara McCarthy (also our MC), are the ones to ask about what's going down the week of the wedding.  Also members of wine (and by wine i mean 'book') club, they will be able to give you tips on where to go and who to see.
You can also check out the Arts Centre site at: http://yukonartscentre.com/

The first night Fi and I met each other...as you can see, we got along swimingly...

T and I over a glass of sweet sweet Yukon Brewing...

3. Enjoy a good story? All true of course? Talk to my grandpa-He's been living in the yukon for over 60 years. He's travelled all over the small communities during his work for Northwestel and owns a ranch about an hour out of town we used to spend all summer at, riding horses, building forts and playing in dirt like kids should! I wouldn't be the person I am today without that experience, and he'll be more than happy to tell you stories all about it.  Bears, horses, wolves, hunting-he's got stories on all of them! In fact, you should ask him about the time the "wind was so bad, there were whitecaps on the peanut butter!"...that's one of my favourites...

My Grandpa and Grandma out at our old cabin.

4.  Looking for a GoldRush Tour?  This one might not be the kind you had in mind originally, but it's guaranteed to leave YOU with some stories to tell...Head on down to the GR, our favourite local bar, where you're guaranteed to Find Ben Mahoney.  Just yell out his name as you walk in-someone will point you in his direction. Sit down at his table, and drink it in...the man's a legend.  Also a great spot to check out some local blues.


5. If you like to run or jog, we have some amazing trails right around town that you can hit up...And you can always call my running inspirations, Jada Kwok and Loralee Martin, for info too! Every year we participate in the Klondike International Road Relay-a running relay race that goes from Skagway Alaska to Whitehorse! We've spent many a hours meeting up to go for runs, doing laps up and down the "black street stairs" and encouraging each other to keep on running, even when we'd rather sit down and eat some of Loralee's amazing baking...

Jada and I at the finish of the Dome Race in Dawson City...Note I DO NOT recommend this one-it's straight uphill the entire way...(it's also in July)

Loralee and I last year at the finish of the 1/2 Trail Marathon

For a walk/run that's easy and right down town, i'd try out the Millennium Trail...It's a 4km paved walking/running/biking trail along the Yukon River that starts at the SSKlondike and winds through the trees, looping back around to the boat.  Don't miss the eagle's nest situated along the path in a tall tree along Robert Service Highway (aka South access).  If you can't see it, just ask someone.  Everyone knows where it is.




AND finally, if you want to wander around sans guide, here are a few more options for you that I stole directly from Jada's wedding site give or take a few! (We love to share...)

Short Trips (2 hours or less...) 1. Miles Canyon - just 10 minutes from downtown and you've got some of the most breathtaking scenery to soak in!  A bridge across the canyon is a great photo op and there are lots of trails to explore as well.  Enjoy the pristine tourquoise waters and sunny breeze at special little yukon gem. We like to go at least once a year! 2. S.S.Klondike - Can't miss it!  no literally, if you don't see it while you're in Whitehorse... you must be blind! It's the huge boat sitting pretty much right down town along the river.  Info centre on premises. 3. Yukon Wildlife Preserve - a short drive from town and yo'uve got all yukon's wildlife in one area!  I just went there for the first time last year!  It's definitely worth the drive.  open 10am-6pm (7days/wk). You can take a bus tour or walk the 2.5 or 5km tour yourself and enjoy the endless daylight!  Adults $22 Youth $10, $50/family. 4. Waterfront Trolley - almost didn't put this in but it's a relaxing way to get around downtown i guess... runs from Rotary Park (close to SSKlondike) to Spook Creek Station (right by Earl's restaurant), you can get on or off anytime.   5. Museum Tour: MacBride Museum of Yukon History (Where my friend Heather and I worked for years, dressed up as "Sam McGee"), Yukon Transportation Museum, Old Log Church, Beringia Centre. 6. Brewery Tour at Yukon Brewing-a DELICIOUS local micro-brewery that has tours and taste tests....we'll also be doing daily tastings at our house. (as we normally do)... Day Trips 1. Skagway, Alaska - not an option.  you gotta do it!  Just a  2 hour drive from Whitehorse and you're there!  Super touristy location but lots to do and see. Located right on the coast, there's tons of little boutiques and jewellery shops, but what you really go there for is the best Thai Rrestaurant in the north!  Remember to bring your passports and your camera! Can't wait to see you all soon!! Write us if you need any more info/details and we'll be sure to post more often now that it's coming up fast!!! Love Bri and Gary

Valentines day is bunk...

Yes i said it...and I will make NO apologies!
Sure, probably not the type of post you'd expect to see on a wedding blog, but I felt this is the best way to share my true feelings with all of you who we love so much.

First let's go back in time to find out why i'm not such a fan:
1. I still haven't gotten over my "pig" valentine.  That's right...my first boyfriend in high school only gave me gifts related to pigs...Pig stuffed animals, pig cards, pig candies...cute if you like pigs i suppose, but i never said anything about liking them.  I remember my sister pointing out how weird it was one day and at the time and I, (thinking i was madly in love and how dare she question him) was so offended...then a month later when our everlasting love fizzled (aka he dumped me) I thought to myself...who gives a girl pig gifts!? What was he trying to say?
2. Cinnamon hearts-they remind me of the taste of fireball ever since my 1st year university (homecoming weekend to be exact) and I haven't been able to stomach them ever since.
3. The pressure of planning an epic night and impending disappointment.  (aka it's New Years Eve's little cousin)  Every February the marketing world barfs pink and red all over everything and tells you if you don't have a romantic night of pure relationship bliss, there must be something wrong you both...But how are you supposed to have a nice romantic date night when everyone else is scrambling out to do the exact same thing, breathing cinnamon heart down your neck?
4. Working in a flower shop all through high school and university.  You have no idea how many cards i've had to fill out because a dude 'couldn't think of what to say' or how many of them come in at 5:55 when you close at 6.  You have all year to plan for this man! Get on it!

SO to avoid all of this valentines related drama, Gary and I did our own Valentines day thing this year.
And by avoiding, I mean we both forgot about it and were so stressed out from a  crazy busy work week, that we bombed the idea of celebrating before it was even a notion....

Here's how it went down:

I got back from yet another tragic Air Canada travel experience on my way home from a work trip to Ottawa (don't worry i'll spare you all the details, but let's just say it reconfirmed what I already knew oh-so-well), and gave Gary his present (a blue sweater replica of his favourite that disappeared in to the abyss a few months back.)  As I handed it to him a light-bulb went off in my head and I exclaimed "hey! Happy valentines day"...then i looked blankly at him crossing my fingers behind my back in hopes that he wouldn't realize that it actually had no connection with valentines day at all and was merely a well-timed present buying coincidence.  His reply: "oh thanks...ahh i'm so sorry I didn't get you anything yet."  Ohhhh SNAP I got away with it!  My reply: "Oh it's ok, i honestly don't care about that stuff anyway-seriously...." Moment of truth....Gary now thinks to himself "oh god is this one of those girl traps...does she actually care?? Do i go get her something? Do i have anything in the house i can re-fashion into a present in the next 5 min???" Solution: he just goes on with his day and forgets about it.  Nice moves Gary...nice moves.

The day proceeds to go by normally with us working like mad, Bill Murray getting into trouble (more socks have vanished but will probably turn up in the backyard 'bathroom' soon) but at about 8pm we decided to shut it down...  We've been so crazy busy between me travelling for work and evening and weekend shoots that although we've been in the same room, we hadn't actually spent quality time together in a really long time.  It's funny how busy you can let life get if you're stuck in a home with two perfectionists and a newfoundlander.

So we turned off our computers, our iPhones, and our iPad (gross, i know) and committed to spending the night just hanging out...and i can't remember the last time we did that.

We cooked steaks on the BBQ, ate all the chocolates my parents and Grandparents gave us (3 boxes total and the one thing I do really love about Valentines day), and cursed all the northern light photos that were appearing all over Facebook. (They're beautiful and everything, but we're both jaded by "yukon cliches"and are probably the only two photographers in the whole territory not out shooting them that night-which when written down makes me thinks we're just turning into the two old men off the muppets who just complain about everything...maybe we need a vacation...)  ANYWAYS, we then topped it off by playing a game of scrabble over 2 bottles of wine...2 crazy kids eh?

So you might be thinking to yourselves: "well that actually sounds really nice (except for the you two being grumpy bastards part)...what's she complaining about? Why is Valentines day bunk after all?  Wouldn't that change her mind?"

But alas...although Valentines day turned out to be pretty darn fine, I still had to wake up at 7am the next day to go to work...and if you scroll back up to that whole "2 bottles of wine" line, you'll realize why I still, stand by my original position...Valentine's day is bunk.

Us at a recent fundraiser...and yes, that is a leisure suit Gary is wearing...

FLIGHT DEAL ALERT!!

OK big news everyone...there's a price battle a brewin' on flights right now because Westjet just announced two days ago they're now flying here! (whooooooaaaa you have no idea what huge news this is for the Yukon!)

BUT WAIT! My favourite airline in the world, AIR NORTH is going to price match! So you can still get some awesome local service for a sweet deal! (I still will always fly them as my first choice because they are UNREAL, friendly, and make me feel 100% safe even though i'm a nervous flyer...)

If you're able to book your flights from Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton now, there's a $99/each way sale on. (tax on top of that of course) which is a steal of a deal!

So go to:  http://www.flyairnorth.com/?promocode=BREMSTER ASAP to get your tickets!

Or, if Westjet is easier for you, I suppose you can also come via them too... ;)

OK GO!

BILL MURRAY SUPPORTS AIR NORTH!

Side note: Please don't watch the movie "The Grey" before your flight...my maid of honour wrote me saying she might not get on a plane ever again  after seeing it which reaaaaalllly puts a damper on things...stupid Liam Neeson...