We Just Click

I love using various shapes on my projects and circles are by far my favorite!!  When I saw the chipboard circles in the Wink Wink Scrapbook kit, I knew I wanted to play around with them to create a page of round circles, punched paper circles and the chipboard elements!

I began the page by layering the paper circles on my background and then my photos.  I moved them around a little to get a good balance of patterns and text.  Then I added in the chipboard pieces, some journaling typed onto vellum and an acetate "2".

Pages like this really are so simple to create, but since they are little different than the typical "square photos" and square corners, they seem a little more complex and involved!

So what about you??  Do you love using circles on your pages?  If you've never stepped out of the "square" box, you just have to try them out! Grab your favorite circle punch and get crafty!

Around Here

Around here we are starting to feel the beginnings of fall and we are in love.  Around here, Anna is tracked out of school so we are enjoying some time off from work and school.  Around here, I am redecorating and purging and reorganizing every single thing in our house - no room is safe.  Around here, I am making daily trips to Goodwill with loads of boxes and stuff that just takes up space.  Around here, I'm making everything white and clean.  Around here, we're searching for pretty sunsets and chasing light.  Around here, we are visiting family, making memories, and counting down the days until Thanksgiving!

September in Photos

12/30

That toothless smile, though...

All heart eyes for this little lady.  She looks so grown up now with her front two teeth missing.  She has a smile and laugh that can light up the world.  

13/30

This is what our weekends look like these days.  Lots of soccer games and lots of soccer practice.  Both Anna and Drew love playing soccer together in our backyard or garage, but they are both so timid and reserved during an actual game.  There's lots of encouragement, pep talks and "bribes" of doughnuts during the game.  :)

14/30

A quick glimpse of our playroom walls.  Layer upon layer of drawing, painting, cards and crafts.  My two love to create - wonder who they get that from?  I love watching their skills develop and their pictures emerge onto paper.  We have lots and lots of dinosaurs and mermaids hanging around our walls (if you follow along with me, I'm sure you're not surprised)!

15/30

Pure silliness.  That's what this sweet boy is.  He's funny.  Like really funny.  Like sometimes I feel like I laugh a little too loud or too much at something he says or does.  What I wouldn't give to be a fly on his fraternity room wall in about 16 years.  He will be the life of the party, I'm sure.

16/30

Fresh flowers make me so happy.  Unfortunately, I have the brownest-thumb every known to man and can kill just about any live plant, so....I have to resort to picking up fresh cuts from the store and farmer's market.  One day I'm gonna grow something pretty in my yard.  Hoping my mother-in-law will show me the way (Hi Susan!!).

17/30

My labor of love this week.

Love working on my Project Life albums and this one takes the cake as the favorite so far this year! Can't wait to share more of this beauty next week!

September in Photos

4/30

Sometimes I find myself inside too much.  It's easy to get caught up in the everyday craziness at home - laundry, meals, work, projects - and forget about all of the amazing adventures right outside of our door.  Drew and I decided to play hookie one afternoon and snuck off down to the nature park. It was pretty hot, but walking through the trails gave us some shade.  Love spending time with my little adventurer.  Note to self: go outside more.

5/30

Saturday thunderstorms call for an extra cup of coffee.  I like my coffee super hot and black - no cream or sugar ever since I started Whole30 in January (which has now kind of adapted to "Whole-life" since I love it so much).  And random, but I kind of love blurry photos (this one I made blurry on purpose).

6/30

My sweet girl talking to her dolls.  She's not much on playing with her toys alone, so when I hear her playing in her room solo, I run to grab my camera.  She's never been much into the typical "girl" toys - barbies, princesses, Calico Critters, etc.  Books and legos (and playing with her brother) are her favorites.  You can't really go wrong with any of the three.

7/30

We had one of those weekends that feels so full, but not full enough.  We were here and there, running errands, cleaning and all of that other "stuff", but we needed to get out and laugh and connect.  So while Scott worked, I piled the kids in the car for some ice cream and playing at the park.  It was just the three of us there and we played car races on the slide.  This little lady laughed her head off at my commentary (which was pretty funny, btw) and her laugh just put us all where we needed to be.  Together + laughing = the best Monday ever.

8/30

I'm trying to take more time out to do what I love.  Being a momma and working takes up a large majority of my time, so it's easy to "forget" about myself.  I'm not much on shopping or going out, but I do love good books - especially photography books.  This book, Capture the Moment, by Sarah Wilkerson, is my new favorite.  The photos themselves are pure eye candy and the "assignments" are well structured and are explained very well.  Taking photos has always been a passion of mine, but lately, it's come back in full force.  I love recording our days with my iPhone, but playing with my "big" camera takes the cake.  

9/30

This little guy sneaks in right next to me almost every single night.  Some nights I wake up and he's there, and other night he climbs right over me to snuggle in (so I definitely know he's there).  He's a snuggler and wants to be as close to me as possible.  I love his cuddles, but man, could I use a full night sleep.  

10/30

Taking a mid-day "bake" break with my sweet boy.  He loves to cook and help in the kitchen.  Not sure how we ended up with marshmallows here, but we did...  

He's going to make someone an awesome husband one day (that is if I ever let him grow up).

11/30

To some, this is just a messy box full of random art supplies.  For me, it melts my heart.

The kids were drawing this morning and when I looked up, I saw Anna had written "Anna loves drew" on the side of the box.  There's nothing better than that in the world.

Summer in Squares

I have another fun Project Life spread to share with you today!!  I'm obviously obsessed with our life in squares and on any given day, I usually have a handful of square photos lying around.  I love to print them out and hang them up in my room.  I love reliving those memories - both big and small!  

For this spread, I really wanted to use the 3x3 pieces that were included in the Studio Calico Pop Art Project Life kit, so I decided to use a 12x12 October Afternoon page protector trimmed down to 9x9. 

I grabbed some of our summer photos and popped them right in the pockets.

In the other pockets, I added in the 3x3 cards and shapes from the Pop Art kit.  The heart card was single sided, so I ran it through my typewriter to add a few lines of journaling.  To finish this spread, I adhered a rubber lemon wedge (how cute is that thing, btw) and then a few of the chipboard pieces onto the outside of my page protector.  

Such a quick and easy spread to put together, but so different from the normal style!!  What's your favorite pocket page design?  Have you ever tried the 3x3 square pockets?  I love them!  

September In Photos

After completing my photos for Week in the Life, I set my camera down for a few days.  I "thought" I was done with my big camera for a while, since it had pretty much been attached to my hip 24-7.  But I missed it.  I missed taking photos. I missed getting that one shot that took my breath away.  I missed seeing our day through the lens.  I have high hopes of doing a 365 photo challenge next year, so I figured I would get warmed up with a September photo challenge.  It's basically one photo a day, for the month of September.  I'm challenging myself to see our "normal, everyday routine" in a new light and from a different angle.  I love the energy and excitement I feel from taking pictures. I love seeing our life in a still moment.  It reminds me of all that we have, and it reminds me to stop and be thankful for this life.  

1/30

In her favorite spot, doing her very favorite thing.  She's a book-a-holic for sure.  Currently, she's reading all of the Emily Windsnap books (which I kind of think "might" be a little too old for her, but she won't listen to me).  Most nights, we catch her sitting up in bed reading waaaay after she should have turned her light off.  I hope she always has this love for books and stories.

2/30

Oh man.  This dog.  We have a love-hate relationship for sure.  He loves to eat my fingers and chew on socks.  And he loves to run from me in the yard.  I hate it.  I hate his messes and his puppy craziness.  Oh - and his sharp, sharp teeth (most of which just fell out this week....about time)!

But then, he has moments where he can be so cute and so sweet that I kind of forget about the chewing and the sock eating....until that next time. 

3/30

"And she loved a little boy, very very much - even more than she loved herself."

Such a sweet quote from one of my favorite books.  And that's exactly how I feel about my boyfriend.  I'm so thankful and grateful for the individual time with him.  He makes me laugh and smile almost all day long.  He's so easy going, so sweet, and just so awesome.

The Best Storyteller Ever

Dad takes the cake for best storyteller in the family. No lie.

I can't even come close with my stories.  They ask me all the time to tell stories like dada, but it just isn't happening.  

I caught these two giggling in bed a few nights ago and couldn't resist snapping a few photos of their story time (aka giggle party followed by crying because no body likes to live a good party).

I hope both Anna and Drew remember these stories, and all of the giggles.  They sure are lucky to have such an amazing (and creative) dad.

Week In The Life: Sunday Photos

I'll be sharing the highs and lows from each day throughout the week:

Sunday highs:

Scott cooking breakfast, getting organized for the week, soccer in the backyard, morning family walk, finding Anna reading Drew books, the sound of kids laughing and playing, washing, folding and putting away all of our laundry (high five for that), the best watermelon ever, family that lives close by, day date with Scott, walking around downtown, The Pit, Rye, outdoor concerts, sneaking closer to the stage, singing at the top of our lungs on the drive home

Sunday lows: looming deadlines, no creative motivation, most of the places being closed downtown, staying up too late

Week In The Life: Saturday Photos

I'll be sharing the highs and lows from each day throughout the week:

Saturday highs:

family breakfast, yummy Americano, Anna's outfits and her love of boots, morning walk down to the farmer's market, cool breezes, Lara Bars, drawing and coloring, Coconut Charlies, the kids changing back into their pajamas after we got home from a walk, homebodies, hanging with friends, walking downtown Wake Forest, Lafayette Village for dinner, kids running around, umbrella lights and fire pits, camp outs on the floor, happy kids

Saturday lows:

farmer's market closing early, 

showing up for a birthday party that is next weekend (womp womp), having to work on the weekend, chasing Chase around the backyard when it was time to leave, lines at the food truck festival

Week In The Life: Friday Photos

I'll be sharing the highs and lows from each day throughout the week:

Friday highs:

it's Fri-yay | 

no line at morning carpool | quiet work time in my office | morning shower | finding all of our names spelled out in scrabble tiles on the couch (by Drew) | lunch date at Gonza's with my boyfriend | chips and salsa | Jumpin' Beans | Anna's first soccer practice | dinner at a new restaurant | hangman | Christmas pajamas | potty dance for Anna | jumping on the bed

Friday lows: sub-par meal at Gonza's | no cash for the photo booth | craziness at dinner | kids acting like crazy kids | running out of printer ink | forgetting Anna's shinguards for soccer practice

Week In The Life: Thursday Photos

I'll be sharing the highs and lows from each day throughout the week:

Thursday highs:

running with Chrissy | yummy salad | lunch duty | Scott home | afternoon coffee and chat with Chrissy | hydrangeas | 

family "fancy dinner night" | chicken tacos | 

evening lake trip | finding "fools gold" and magic rocks | walking sticks | Blue Jay Point Park | summer sunsets on the drive home | awesome neighbors | preseason football | quiet time reading my book

Thursday lows:

carpool lines | heat and humidity (it's getting ridiculous here in NC) | Anna crying when I left school after lunch duty | sandy kids and dog and sand all in my car | piles and piles of laundry that need to be done | deadlines

Week In The Life: Wednesday Photos

I'll be sharing the highs and lows from each day throughout the week:

Wednesday highs:

half way to the weekend | 

iced coffee | no line at Target | new make-up | 

taking Chase to doggie daycare | playing with paper | more texts with Marcy |

 legos, legos and more legos | my staple lunch: sausage, eggs and avocados | sweet comments on Instagram | watercolors | 

being 15 minutes early to pick Anna up | monster drawing from Anna | swinging at the playground | quick trip to the library | 

dinner with Mimi & Poppy (high five for not having to cook) | forehead kisses from Drew | tired pup after doggie day care | hot baths | Scott coming home today

Wednesday lows:

Chase running after the neighbor's dog bright and early | the rush of the morning (even if I feel prepared and ready, it's always, always hectic) | Scott being gone | trash day | hitting my knee on the side of the chair | live chat problems | work craziness | black watercolor paint everywhere | messy craft room | out of this world humidity (so much for drying my hair) 

Week In The Life: Tuesday Photos

I'll be sharing the highs and lows from each day throughout the week:

Tuesday highs:

pretty morning light | Anna super excited and easy to wake up this morning | a great workout with my neighbors | taking a shower before work | playdate for Drew during my work call | productive morning | carpool line by myself | loud music | instagram break | iced coffee at the gym | texts from Marcy | Drew getting so excited over legos | power kale salad from Panera | Drew holding my hand | evening bike ride with the kids | bubble baths | Drew coming in and singing to me after I tucked him into bed "I've been loving you, you've been loving me, in my sweet heart" | a quiet house | making dinner plans with the bestie 

Tuesday lows:

creative drought | Drew getting sick when he wasn't with me | back pains | camera focus issues | Chase pulling on the walk like a crazy dog | pouring rain on the way to gymnastics | no umbrella | white pants and mud puddles | traffic on the way to pick up Anna | stinky trash | Chase stealing all of our socks | Drew's boo boo | Scott gone for the night | drying my hair | humidity 

Week In The Life: Monday Photos

I totally didn't plan on doing Week in the Life this year, but...

I have loved every single photo, detail and memory I've captured in my previous WITL books (

2014

,

2013

,

2013 Project Life

,

2011

), but I'm not sure I've got a whole week in me this go 'round. 

I think there is a lot of pressure when it comes to documenting AN ENTIRE week of your life (at least there is for me).  I get all stressed out....like I might miss something, or forget my camera, or maybe the photo won't tell the story like I pictured it in my mind.  I talked myself out of recording our days this year because I just wasn't sure I would get it "right".  But somehow today, I found myself reaching for my camera trying to capture our moments.  I originally told myself I would try to do ONE photo of the day - that can't be that hard for a picture-taker like myself, right.  I obviously couldn't stop at just one, though.  How do you choose just one?  So I gave myself the freedom to snap away without the worry of what kind of album I would create, or even if I would print these photos. 

I challenged myself to just see our life through the lens.  And like always, I am so glad and so grateful that I decided to pick up the camera.  I don't think I will ever tire of documenting and recording our days.  I do it all the time anyway.  There shouldn't be any pressure or expectation or comparison.  You shouldn't have to worry about albums or pockets or filler cards.  It should be just as it sounds - a week in your life....documented.

I'll be sharing the highs and lows from each day throughout the week:

Monday highs:

TCX | sunny skies | Drew excited to go to the gym | tea parties | Anna starting a diary | Chase's ollies in the yard | crepe myrtles and their bright flowers | brussels sprouts. lots and lots of brussels sprouts | grilled chicken salad | reading Me Before You | Drew's naked belly | playing vet doctor with the kids | giggles | evening walk with just Scott and Chase | photo editing

Monday lows:

leftover homework | carpool line | Drew's messy room | potty accidents | Anna's meltdown during dinner | unloading the dishes | Drew's ouchie 

Around Here

We are trying our best to enjoy every single minute of every single day.  Life gets busy, but making time to be together and laugh and giggle is what feeds our soul.  The weather has cooled down, just barely, really - but enough for us to want to go and hang outside.  Our favorite is taking the pup down to the lake to splash and swim.  We usually always end up with two wet kiddos too (oops, mom, I don't know how that happened...).  We've enjoyed a few summer concerts lately and have a few more on our schedule.  Live music + outside = amazing.

Hope your week has been awesome.

xoxo

B is for...

B is for...boyfriend.

That's for sure.  This little guy is just that.  My sweet boyfriend.  We spend A LOOOOT of time together, and by a lot, I mean a LOT!  He is about as sweet and kind as they come and he can truly make me laugh like no one else.  How can a four-year old really be funny?  

This one, though, he is.  He has my heart for sure. 

I put this page together using a grid of papers from the awesome Studio Calico Pop Art main scrapbook kit.  I just love the bold colors and designs in the papers this month! 

I stitched all of the pieces into place so I could lift up the edge a little for texture.  Then I finished with one of the letters and a few lines of journaling.  Such an easy page to make!  I am all about easy these days, can you tell??  

Memories

For some reason or another, I gravitate towards hidden journaling and interactive elements on my pages.  Heck - I even put together an entire class about adding interactive elements into layouts, Project Life spreads and mini albums over at Big Picture Classes!!  

I just love tucking a card in here or there, or creating a lift up flap to store extra photos or memorabilia of some kind.  

Over on Maggie's blog today, I'm sharing, yep, you guessed it - another interactive layout of some of our summer memories.  Creating a page with multiple photos just got easier!  Check out her blog to see more!!

xoxo

Yes To This

Yes to hugs and kisses.

Yes to day dates with my boyfriend.

Yes to monster tea parties with lots of candy.

Yes to making lego cars and lego castles allllllll day long.

Yes to hot summer walks in the park.

Yes to morning snuggles.

Yes to messy crafts galore.

Yes to just being.

Yes to this.

Captured

A grid of photos and letters??  Big surprise there, right? I swear that all of my page are starting to look exactly alike - I guess it must just be the phase or mood I'm in right now.  I'm all about the photos, so the more on a page, the better!

The Studio Calico Pop Art kits are BOLD and vibrant this month!  The papers in the main kit really are so much, so if you are subscriber this month, get ready for a pop of color!  And if you aren't, then what are you waiting for??  :)

As soon as I opened my main kit and saw those big black letters, I knew I wanted to create a graphic title on my page and pair them with black and white photos.  I printed my photos to be roughly the same size as the letters and then backed a few of the photos with some of the colorful papers from the kit.

I originally had all of the "spots" on the page filled in for a complete grid, but I decided to remove a few of the papers/photos and leave some blank space on the page.  I sprinkled in a few of the transparent circles in the empty boxes and then tucked a few of the larger circles under photos and letters. 

It really was a fun page to put together and it was a great way to utilize a few photos on one page!!  I'm always trying to put as many photos on a page as I can, lol! :)

Around Here

Oh summer.

You are still going strong and my brain is being pulled in two different directions.  I have one in school with homework, and one still sleeping in and pretending it's still summer vaca.  One who needs a lunchbox packed each day and folder checked each night.  Another one who is ready for our next day-date adventure and is slowly destroying my house with his messes.  We are all over the place, which is probably evident by these very random "around here" photos.  We're trying to get back in a groove, but it's hard to pretend like it's not summer when it feels like we live on the sun.  Did I mention I was ready for fall?