We spent the last 4 nights sailing the Gulf of Mexico with Micky and company! The Disney Wonder wasn't bad for a first cruise, although I think the hubs could have used more adult activities. I, on the other hand, love all things Disney :)

One good (or bad) thing about being at sea is lack of connectivity. To the internet, that is. And sometimes a break is a good thing.

Here's to a safe and wonderful new year! See you in 2014!

Merry everything

December has seriously flown by. We have less than one week in 2013! I am super thankful to be spending the rest of the year with the ones I love the most.

The old blog has been sorely neglected this year. I am not quite ready to give it up, yet also don't have the commitment to it like I have before. We'll see how it goes, I suppose!

Happy 2014!

project life | week 43

{Oct 20-26}

title card

full spread, part one

Another fun week full of family, friends, and fun!

left side

Joe went out of town to visit his parents and actually took some pics so I added those. I like having his point-of-view in the album, as it is supposed to be "our" project life, not just mine ;)

right side

We started our Halloween celebration on Friday of this week. And I absolutely adore that heart filler card.

full spread, part two

We continued our Halloween celebration on Saturday and I took so many photos that day, I decided to make just another full spread instead of limiting myself to an insert. If a photo doesn't make it into our Project Life album, it just stays on the computer so I don't mind having extra pages. But I think I am going to need to start making digital pages soon - otherwise we will have to add another room just for scrapbooks...

left side

Seeing the hubs and his new bestie dressed up as bananas is just about the funniest thing ever.

right side

Our friends threw a costume party and I helped set up the photobooth, so naturally wanted to include as many shots as possible. Using collages was a great way to add them all.

project life 2013 | weeks 41&42

{Oct 6-12}

title card

Um, how can we be already in the thick of December? I guess there will be a lot of PL sharing over the next few weeks!

full spread

This was a normal week. I am doing my best to use up all the stuff I have, instead of hoarding it for the "perfect" time. The perfect time is right now!

left side

One thing I noted - our life is full of friends and little boys. I adore those little boys.

right side

I'm doing my best to record random tidbits of life - the good as well as the bad.

{Oct 13-19}

title card

full spread

Much of our October was spent getting ready for Halloween. We love to dress up :)

left side

All photos taken with my phone.

right side

And I have been taking photos from my sister's IG feed to add more moments of the boys' life.

This project brings me so much joy - I can't really explain it. Taking time to stop and appreciate the little moments in your life makes you realize how much you have. Even when things are "bad," they really could be worse. Gotta love this life we've been given.
ox

Happy December!

As the holiday season begins, what I want to remember is to take every day as it comes, let go of unrealistic expectations, enjoy time with friends and family and have some fun!

One of my yoga friends left these darling blocks on my bag after practice. So sweet and they made me smile!

We put up the tree on Thanksgiving (having an artificial, pre-lit one is 100% easier than getting a real one, although I do miss the smell of fresh pine) but I didn't get around to decorating it until yesterday. Now it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

My December daily this year is simply going to be part of our Project Life album. And I also plan on participating in Journal Your Christmas, with more writing than photos, which will be made into a 6x6 mini album. This year I have only bought a holiday roller date stamp; otherwise everything else is coming from my stash. I am doing my best today not to shop on Cyber Monday, but not making any promises!

project life 2013 | weeks 39&40

{Sept 22-28}

title card

full spread

Project Life is awesome because I now record random moments that would be otherwise forgotten.

left side

That said, I don't take as many photos as I used to. Not because I don't love photography, but I think I am getting a bit burnt out. Trying to be creative with how you take photos takes a lot of energy!

right side

And when I do take many photos at a single event, I try to include as many as possible in the album; otherwise they will be just left on the computer for no one to enjoy :)

{Sept 29 - Oct 5}

title card

full spread

I have also been keeping my pages VERY simple. Cards from either one of the many core kits I have (it's an addiction I can't seem to stop, especially now that I can use 40% off coupons to buy them!) or the random Studio Calico kits I have purchased. I add little stickers/labels here and there and stamps or digital brushes to liven things up but I want my pages as flat as possible so I can fit more in one album!

left side

The hubs will take random photos, which I try to include as much as possible, since the album is definitely more EE-centric.

right side

I also like to mix up full pocket-sized photos as well as photo collages. To me, that makes it easier on the eye to take everything in.

As we wrap up the year, I am thinking about how I want to document 2014. Got a few ideas brewing but nothing concrete yet. Will keep you posted!

project life | weeks 37&38

{Sept 8-14}

title card

I have been remiss about posting PL layouts, but as of yesterday, I am caught with with 2013! Go me!

full spread

This was the week that everyone and their mother (well, maybe not everyone, but anyone interested in reading this post!) participated in Ali Edwards' Week in the Life. I have a separate 8.5x11 album that houses the past 2 years, but this year, I just wasn't feeling it so I just used photo collages in Project Life instead.

To add continuity to the pages, I used striped filler cards from different core kits. Definitely love the way this looks.

left side

Ali's digital brushes came in handy to label the photos and the rest of the page was kept pretty simple.

right side

I did bust out the big camera everyday, which is something I also plan on doing in December. Said this before and I'm sure I'll say it again: the iPhone is great for convenience and ease of taking photos but nothing beats the quality of the good dSLR pic.

{Sept 15-21}

title card

full spread, no insert

This was a fun week, full of food, family and friends, just the way we like it!

Lots of the Blush edition and digital templates were used on this spread.

right side

Looks like I've been focusing on taking people photos these days instead of things/details photos. But aren't people the reason we do this memory keeping for?

full spread, insert right side

We drove up to Dallas this weekend with some friends to see Depeche Mode!

close up of front and back of insert

Our friend got us pretty good seats - the show was amazing. Dave Gahan sounded great and while they played a lot of new songs that we didn't know, they sang tons of old favorites as well.

full spread, insert left side

One of our favorite parts about our mini vacation was reconnecting with old friends.

right side

Two of said old friends have been busy making minis! Z is such a doll and I can't get over how much hair he has (unlike his daddy). Our friends make such beautiful people :)!

If you made it to the end, thank you! How are you doing with your PL?

Got more to come soon!

ox

a little obsessed

I've been experimenting with the more interesting ways to take photos with the iPhone. I think I've finally figured out a way to get a bit more depth of focus into my pictures, although some might say the photo is just blurry. I kind of like it!

TGIF

The old blog has been sorely neglected as of late. When something is a habit, it is easy to do; but once the habit is paused, sometimes getting back into it is hard. Baby steps!

Are you as glad as I am that Friday is finally here? And it's Halloween weekend - we've got some festivities to look forward to over the next week :)

Life lately

October has been a fairly ordinary month. Lots of friends, family, food, fun and of course, yoga always! The temperatures have been pleasant, especially this weekend. I'm thinking I may need some more candy corn...