I was telling them all about Leonard's amazing, did I say AMAZING Florentine cookies and how they must try one! Of course Lindsey knew all about them. They are the most delicious mix of sweet and salty, with a mixture of Sliced almonds, honey & chocolate. um yummmmy!
I love the story of Leonhard's. Alexandra and Axel came to Canada from Germany to learn to speak much better English. The German couple has been caught in an amazing whirlwind of change since Alex, as most people call her now, came to Prince Edward Island in 2007 for a short visit to improve her English speaking skills.
Since then, the two have moved from their home country Germany to Charlottetown and have become a fixture at the local farmers market and have even opened a cafe and bakery in the downtown core. They opened on November 24th [2008] and have been loving it since that time. The Leonhard's have filed for permanent residency and hope to make PEI their home. "If we were to fly to Germany today, I would get homesick for PEI.," Alex says. "We'd be looking forward to seeing friends and family but I couldn't imagine staying longer than a few weeks."
I promise you that a visit to this beautiful little cafe will be a good one. The atmosphere along with the charm of Alexandra & Axel will leave you thinking about your return or maybe buying something else for the road!
Ok first let's give you a little background on Jodi & Dav-o (pretty sure his name is Dave, but Jodi calls him Dav-o, and now I do too!).
I met Jodi when we were matched up to room together in Las Vegas last year for a conference. I had booked a room for myself and at the last minute I was going solo. I mentioned to some cool photography friends I know in Ontario that I was gonna be by myself and was checking to see if anyone needed a roommate. They were all booked and had the rooms set and full. Sooooo I just left it to fate to help me out. At the last minute, little Jodi Klassen appeared from Winnipeg reaching out to the same cool photography friends in Ontario. Jodi was now also looking for a roommate. It seemed like we were meant to room together. Soooo we became roommates and fast friends!
Jodi has her own photography business in Winnipeg photographing weddings, families, and babies. Jodi is the type of soul that will turn her self inside out to help someone if need be. I am very happy that the universe has brought her to me and that my cool Ontario girls shared her with me! Dav-o is totally in love with Jodi; I can see the love and respect when he looks at her. I asked them a million questions about how they met and love; i wanted to hear everything. I cannot wait to be in love and have fun with each other just like these two!
In October of this year, Jodi and Dav-o were coming to PEI to explore my beautiful island. I decided they would stay at my place on their visit and would not take no for an answer. Since it was fall and such a gorgeous day we did our shoot on one of their last days here. So suited up with our outfits we had purchased the day before at Value Village, away we go!
Awesome photo shoot!! Great choice on the outfits too!!
(12.09.10)Oh my word Rachel! Gotta love how my cousin smiles at Jodi who holy moley looks like a total hotty fashion model here! Awesome pictures!
(12.09.10)UUmm OMG Jodi you are so gorgeous. Love the pictures, they are awesome!!
(12.09.10)Love these!!!! What a great idea, love the outfits!
(12.09.10)Davo says: Thanks Rach. Tell the Bearded skipper I said a friendly hello
Jodi says: Oh my freaking word. you are so talented. such a perfect memory from our east coast trip! Thanks.
Very cute couple! Love her dress! :)
(12.09.10)I love these photos. I love the people in them and the person behind the camera. Jodi you look gorgeous!!! The Scarecrow doesn't look bad either. I'm so glad you two hit it off so well - would have made sharing a room very awkward otherwise!
(12.09.10)Great pictures! Every new blog makes me so excited for this summer!!
(12.09.10)Love them, and the outfits....they are totally Model material!!!! CUTE MUCH?????????
(12.09.10)Grand pictures! I was waiting for him to do the whole Clark kent/Superman thing and whip off the glasses...and well, you know the rest.
(12.10.10)I love these pictures, the colors are beautiful:)
(12.10.10)love them, Jodi is my daughter and I always love seeing the pictures she takes what a treat to see her and Dave in pictures together. You do a gr8 job
(12.10.10)Great pics as always! :)
(12.10.10)The outfits are fantastic!
(12.10.10)Love this post...all that soft light...and I must say I think your great for donating to the upper room out of your own pocket. That is great. I wish more people appreciated all that they had and shared with the world like u do!
(12.10.10)What nice pictures! The settings are really nice too.
(12.10.10)Beautiful pics!!
(12.10.10)That dress is too sweet, love all the pics!
(12.11.10)how come when i go shopping at Value Village i never find great stuff like this... maybe i just need a stylist! super cute couple! look forward to one day meeting davo-the guy with the incredibly adorable wife!
(12.11.10)Fantastic pictures,color of the dress is amazing.fantastic couple
(12.12.10)
The first time I did hot yoga was at the Moksha Spa on the waterfront in Charlottetown. I could hardly do the yoga. I was horrible at it. I drank 3 bottles of water in one class, and was dripping with sweat. Sounds attractive right? But that is the funny thing. No one cared. I didn't even care. When I finished the class I felt amazing. Anyone who knows me how hyper I can be. I could hardly talk after this class. Talking is not permitted once you enter the Yoga room, and that is awesome. I left slurring my words. I think it was the first time, my mind had stopped for that long in a long time. I felt so relaxed, ease and inspired all at the same time!
It is such a welcoming environment for someone who has never done something like this before. The facility is all green created with environmentally friendly products such as cork studio floor, VOC free paint, energy efficient washer/dryers, filtered showers and faucets & natural mat disinfectant among many other things. So for anyone who has the same unsettled mind as I do, this is something that might be for you to try.
So sad that I didn't get to use my one month membership as much as I thought I could. It is wonderful there. Everyone should check it out. Pictures are awesome, as always.
(11.17.10)I've practiced yoga on and off for about 10 years but after only 1 hot yoga class at this studio, all I can say is that it was the BEST yoga experience I've ever had!! I will for sure be going for more classes!!
(11.17.10)This place looks amazing!
(11.24.10)Oh hot yoga how I love thee!
(11.24.10)I have always wanted to try yoga, maybe this is the spot to check it out!
(11.24.10)Beautiful photos Rachel!! I've been to Pure Spa a few times already and absolutely LOVE it!! Going to try the hot yoga for the first time tomorrow!!
(12.07.10)Great Shots! Isn't it beautiful?
(12.08.10)
Nataschia and I did quite a bit of touring around the Niagara area yesterday. We talked business a lot and she showed me a lot of the regular shooting areas around Niagara, and some local venues, and venders. One such vendor is Vintage Design Co in the Niagara area. Vintage Design is owned and operated by Jennifer Elliotson. Jennifer is amazing and was a pleasure to have met. When we entered the work area it smelled divine! Of course on a Friday things were in full motion, with many weddings to work towards covering this weekend.
Vintage Design has been published in many well know wedding magazines such as Wedding Bells, Niagara Weddings & WedLuxe. Their work really speaks for itself with attention to detail and with a love for what they do. Having a passion for your career really makes a difference in the quality of work that many of us adhere to.
OH Wow, Beautiful arrangements!
(06.12.10)Gorgeous! I love them.
(06.12.10)I can almost smell them, I love those Peonies!!
(06.12.10)Gorgeous! Jennifer is the best of the best. You're not so bad yourself, Ms. Peters. Beautiful flowers and photos. LOVE the grapes in the flowers..
(06.12.10)
The shop (Gusto Patisserie) is owned by Adnan & Pinar Paputcu. They moved here in April of 2009 with their two sons from Istanbul, Turkey. The couple noticed that their were few restaurants in the area for the type of foods that they missed from back home. They thought about opening a business. Pinar knew what she wanted in a business, fresh quality ingredients, clean surroundings & kitchen and a comfortable place to relax and sit. They looked around Charlottetown for places to rent and decided to renovate a building from top to bottom, and after 2 months they were ready to open.
I for one am glad they did. Oh my goodness, you have to try it all out. Between 3 girls, we must have tried one of everything they had to offer. The menu changes throughout the day and their is always something new to try! The prices are awesome, the food is awesome & surroundings awesome! So I guess I will sum it up by saying that Gusto's is awesome!!!!
Oh yum! What a quaint little spot. I will remember this on my next visit.
(03.22.10)Awesome job on capturing the atmostphere there Rachel!! This place is definitely worth checking out!! I can't wait for the next time i go there!!
(03.22.10)mmmmmmmm MMMM Yummy! Can't wait to try this spot.
(03.22.10)You find the sweetest spots. Can't wait to try this one.
(03.23.10)I am not sure what that strawberry delight is, but I want it. I may need to go there today.
(03.23.10)So nice of you to highlight little shops in your area, these photos really sell the spot. Hope they do well in business.
(03.23.10)Way to capture a Wonderful little Spot, can you take me there someday Rach? Yummmmmy
(03.23.10)Gusto is awesome !!!!!!!!
(06.29.10)
Yum yum YUM. Now I need to get there again soon! Everything is so yummy!
(12.13.10)Sounds and looks like a lovely spot. I'll have to check it out the next time I get to the Island. :)
(12.13.10)ummmm forget the hot chocolate!!! I want one of each of those treats!
(12.13.10)I love florentine cookies!!! My grandmother makes them.
(12.13.10)I am not entirely sure I really know where PEI is but I do know that I love your pictures and that those cookies and treats look delicious.
(12.13.10)Those chocolate croissants in the back of the case look awfully good as well.
(12.13.10)Okay I have been to this place and ABSOLUTELY love it!! That cookie is by far one of the best things I've tasted. Thanks for making me buy one Rachel. Such an adorable little shop. A Must see for sure.
(12.14.10)Yummy! I will definitely have to chec this place out on my next trip home to PEI!
(12.14.10)YUMMY, promise me you'll take me tehre when I come to visit you Rachel?
(12.14.10)Oh, florentines! I love you Leonard's!
(12.14.10)