I knew we would be perfect candidates for Canon’s “Your Second Shot” project. (you know that cute ad with the couple going back to Barcelona? that camera! that project!) Last year, our camera settings were off in the fading day of Halloween, creating a horrid gold cast that ruined all pictures where Doug & I are posed with Harrison. I eventually converted them to a basic black & white, but you miss the amazing color that popped from the mums last year, or the pink tail of Harry’s mouse costume, or how I painted my nose with hot pink lipstick.

The entire moment wasn’t lost, but the full story isn’t told. I hate it when that happens.

Canon graciously sent me the new Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS & I knew the perfect moment to capture – Halloween 2011 in full color. We carved pumpkins & watered mums & spread fake spiderwebbing & purchased a Captain America costume, all to create a memory that would last forever on film.

But.

Life got in the way. Family crisis & pouring rain left me alone with Harrison on the coldest, most dreary Halloween I can remember since my own childhood. The day grew darker & darker as rain pounded from the skies & we waited for Doug to get home. After Harrison crawled into bed, his third Halloween spent without a costume & trick-or-treating, I sat down on the floor in frustration. The project, lost. The evening, forgotten. Just like last year.

Doug came home & we turned off the front porch light. Some nights call for champagne & lingerie & music, but we put on comfy tshirts & crawled in bed with mugs of coffee & cider. The leftover Halloween candy was eaten as we laughed over episodes of One Tree Hill on the iPad (my Netflix choice, much to his dismay). The room was lit by one small 40-watt bulb, but I pulled out the Canon PowerShot & snapped this self-portrait, full of love.

It’s not the Halloween picture I planned or hoped for. You cannot always capture the moments, but when you capture it for a lifetime? These tiny moments? They are so much sweeter.

So thank you, BlogHer & Canon, for helping me create a Halloween memory that wasn’t orchestrated, but is so adored.

This picture made possible by Canon’s incredible new PowerShot ELPH 300 HS. With its 24mm ultra-wide lens & HS System, it is perfect for capturing low-light images without ruining the color or clarity of the shot. We own the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS & love it, so I was thrilled to test out this newer version. Verdict? It is amazing. I cannot wait to show you even more pictures that are better planned. It is also so slim & light-weight that it’s perfect for a diaper bag or clutch, to carry around as the go-to daily camera.

Canon & BlogHer supplied me with the new camera, as well as compensation for my time. They’re awesome, but the opinions & photography are mine.

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