document life now

a new project

2013-05-16T05:31:00-05:00

Because I don't have enough ongoing memory keeping projects, I decided to redo my Disneyland album (a bound book which fell apart within weeks of me receiving it). I am loving pocket scrapbooking at the moment, so why not use the amazing Project Mouse products?

Here's what our first full day at Disneyland looks like (at least one side of it):

So much fun to revisit those photos and think about how we loved that trip... and what we want to make better next year.

a few portraits

2013-05-15T05:49:00-05:00

Part of my Mother's Day gift was just getting out of the house to take some pictures. By the time we were done, I was a sniffling, sneezing fool (stupid allergies) but it was a fun time. I missed just having my camera in my hand. The more photos I take, the better and more comfortable I get.

She loves her school issued iPad. The school board is debating whether she can keep it over the summer. She doesn't need to keep it, but she does love that thing.

Finals week is in full swing. We might survive it.

Loves her friends. Loves.

She's just gorgeous, isn't she?

I was playing with backlighting. Totally blew out the background, but I think I still like this.

She's such a goof.

Yup, I've got three. Brady managed to get in one picture.

Happy Mother's Day to me!

2013-05-14T05:32:00-05:00

As we prepare for summer, I started to think about our plans, and how I wanted to capture all the fun things we would be doing.

I realized after Spring Break that I was using my iPhone for almost all my photos and I spent some time reflecting on whether this was just going to be the way I went for documenting our life, or whether I wanted to make an effort to use my good camera. Once I decided I wanted to use my real camera, I thought about why I hadn't used it once over Spring Break.

It came down to size. I have a camera bag for it that I love, but it's just huge. I have carried it as a purse in the past, but it's heavy and it hurts my shoulder and it's annoying.

I started looking for a smaller camera bag. After all, I don't have a dSLR. My lens is always attached, so there's no need for extra lens or filters or hoods. Just a camera, and I don't need a huge bag for that.

I fell in love with an Etsy shop that was both affordable and cute. I sent a link to the shop to my son (because my husband both doesn't have email and doesn't shop Etsy). My son actually followed through, picked a bag for me and managed to get it from the mailbox before I did, so it was a complete surprise.

Here it is:

It's small and soft, yet sturdy. It will be perfect for carrying my camera, plus a wallet and phone. It's from HayBugDesigns on Etsy and they appear to be super fast with the shipping and Brady really enjoyed his transaction with them. It is small, so if you have a lot of equipment, it's not what you want. But if you have a larger point and shoot like me (some of the Canon PowerShots and Panasonic Lumix cameras), it's perfection.

I also got frosted sugar cookies (in the shape of flip flops) from my favorite bakery. Cuz my family rocks my socks.

Project Life 2013, week 19

2013-05-13T05:16:00-05:00

Seriously? It's already week 19? This year is flying.

Last week was a super fun one. Brady and I did the Color Me Rad 5K, it was National Scrapbook Day, and then the week ended with my whole family surprising me with Mother's Day gifts.

It looks like this in my Project Life album:

Left side:

Right side:

Supply list:

Julie Billingsley LIFEtime Templates 
Nettio Designs Bits & Bytes Journalers Graphic
Cathy Zielske NSD Freebie
Ali Edwards Rounded Corner 3x4 Number Cards Brushes and Stamps
Barely There Papers by Micheline Martin
Paislee Press Presscards No 23
Brittish Designs Say Cheese Journal Cards
Brittish Designs Say Cheese Papers
Cathy Zielske Basic Journaler
Nettio Designs Bits & Bytes Instalove 3x4 Cards
Nettio Designs Bits & Bytes Journalers Paper Love
Miss Mint Digital Washi Tape v 01
Brittish Designs Say Cheese Elements
Big Bang by Gina & Jacque Larsen
Ali Edwards This Photo Circles Brushes and Stamps
Ali Edwards Life In Pictures Brushes and Stamps
Ali Edwards Hello Family Outline Banners Brushes and Stamps

some random thoughts

2013-05-08T05:30:00-05:00

As of today, two weeks of school left for me. I'm actually working two weeks in June, but right now I'm just looking forward to some time off to rest and recharge my teaching energies.

Why do I need to rest? Cuz I'm still sick. Stupid, stupid allergies. I'm very tired of being sick and tired.

My children finish school a week from tomorrow. All of them. College, high school, middle school... they all finish the same day. Their task will to be my house sparkly clean by the time I get done with school.

I'm craving pan pizza, hot from the Pizza Hut oven. I rarely eat pan (I'm a thin crust person) but I want it right now. Get in my belly.

I think this summer's show to watch on Netflix is going to be Criminal Minds. We've had the summer of NCIS, the summer of Bones, and the summer of Psych. This year it's looking like a Criminal Minds summer. We'll subscribe to Netflix once everyone's out of school and we've settled into a summer routine. I predict Kiah may venture into some Say Yes to the Dress or Toddlers and Tiaras or something like that. She likes light and fun. I like dark and bloody. We're such a good match.

Hate to post a entry without a picture, so here's Kiah in her personalized state forensics shirt:

Project Life 2013, week 18

2013-05-07T05:54:00-05:00

Last week involved multiple doctor visits, kicked off with a visit to the zoo, and as I look back at the photos, it looks like we ate and drank a lot. Seriously, I was jonesing for a fuzzy pepsi. Or a coke slush. Or whatever you call it. And as I type this, I could go for one all over again.

So here's this week's spread:

Left side:

Right side:

Supply list:

Julie Billingsley LIFEtime Templates Set 2
Layered Journal Cards No. 01 by Cathy Zielske
Micheline Martin 365 Journal Cards
Project Life Jade Edition
Nettio Designs Bits & Bytes 4x6 Labelers
Ali Edwards Rounded Corner 3x4 Number Cards Brushes and Stamps
Barely There Papers by Micheline Martin
Ali Edwards Today Rocks Freebie
Kate Hadfield Coffee and Cupcakes
Cathy Zielske Everyday Life No. 01 Brushes and Stamps
Bella Gypsy In Real Life Day 2 Day Flair

Color Me Rad

2013-05-06T05:52:00-05:00

I'm overweight. And generally, I lean towards the "lazy" side of the dial. I do try to get out and walk daily, but I'm mostly walking because I don't want to be completely lazy and I firmly believe there's a deep connection between mood and exercise.

However... color. Gah. I love color. And turning myself into a canvas? I wanted. I wanted very much.

And Color Me Rad 5K? OK, I'll do it.

Originally Kiah was going to walk with me. Then state forensics was that weekend and I guess she should go to State Forensics rather than walk a 5K. So I signed Brady up.

He was thrilled. Thrilled, people.

It was freezing during the race. I'm not exaggerating much. We're talking low 40s. And it rained. That was awesome.

It was great fun. I loved it. I want to do it again.

I took this self-portrait after our second dowsing of color. A girl literally took a pitcher of yellow liquid and poured it down my front. Did I mention it was cold and rainy?

Before

After

Again. Again again again.

Happy Scrapbook Day!

2013-05-03T12:05:00-05:00

This weekend is National Scrapbook Day or International Scrapbook Day or whatever you want to call it. It's a holiday to celebrate scrapbooking and it spawns all types of new products and sales. I love it.

I've been blessed to get to work with some designers new products before they were released and I made these very fun layouts. Two of them are for my 2009 Annual book (I'm working backwards with to get my photos in album Project Life style) and one was just for fun. Here's what I've got:

Using Jacque Larsen's Project Fairy Tale cards

Using Lori Whitlocks 3x4 and 4x6 card templates and her Lazy Summer Days kit, both of which can be found here

Uses Sahlin Studio Down the Lane cards (and a few bits from her emphera and backgrounds in the same line)

Uses Emily Merritt's One Hundred Percent journal cards and Thumbs Way Up labels

I am loving using all this fun new stuff to get my older photos in albums. It's given me a ton of creative energy... which I'll need tomorrow for my first 5K!

sick leave

2013-05-01T05:07:00-05:00

I have been hacking and coughing and sneezing and blowing for over a week now. Allergies, I said. Just allergies.

I still think that's it, but I went to my doctor on Monday and I was running a fever... which I guess you don't do with allergies. So now I'm taking a Z-pack and have some good cough medicine and took a sick day to stay home and get some rest. Except at the same time I was going to the doctor, I was running Kiah to her specialist for a six month check up, which spawned a whole new slate of tests needed. So I had to take her to those tests and it's not like I really got to lay in bed and watch Criminal Minds all day.

The point of this story is that I have no blog posts. I'm medicated and sleepy and may be waking myself up snoring (it's the dog, I swear!) and this just isn't a priority. I'll get back to it next week. Promise.

Zac Brown Band insert --- Project Life

2013-04-30T05:47:00-05:00

I had enough photos from the concert to do a full insert (in addition to including some photos of us at the concert and an instagram I downloaded from our local newspaper that were on my weekly layout). I really wanted to add the lyrics to the song they sang to open the show. We've heard that songs a couple of random times since then it just takes me back to that moment when the arena is dark and the notes ring out...

I simply love music and the way it can bring memories back into sharp focus.

I also tried to go for a beach-y feel since ZBB sings so much about islands and water and sun. It turned out like this:

Supply list:

Lori Whitlock Life Templates
Splendid Fiins January Card Kit
Katie Pertiet Coral Charm Paper Pack
Fonts are League Gothic, Lobster and 2 Peas Dinosaur