by the sea

{Project Life 2012 - Week 4}

I can't believe I'm a month into this - and that there are still stories to tell! I have to admit, part of me wondered if even a weekly layout would be too much. The one thing I don't want is for this project to become something forced - something where the stories are being manufactured to fill pages. I want it to be real and accurate. So far, so good.

Week 4 found a bit more documenting of the "normal" parts of life - food, computer time, our weekend trips to the coast...just the everyday stuff. Kristin getting her learner's permit was the big event (she actually got it a few weeks ago, but just got the "real" one instead of the paper temporary permit this last week).

Kristin with her learner's permit...me after work checking email and relaxing - all the "everyday" stuff. I took a picture of dinner prep one evening, as we have embarked on a new, healthier menu around these parts, and I wanted to put a bit of that story in the book, too.

Brad playing games on my iPad, Kristin practicing guitar for the Acoustic Showdown she competed in last night (that'll be on this week's page), a picture of the bread Kristin and a friend made for a school project, and some pictures from the weekend visit to Cape Perpetua and the Spouting Horn.

Items used this week include the Project Life kits and then random other accents from Jen Wilson Designs, Designer Digitals, Digital Design Essentials, and Ali Edwards.

 

Thanks for looking - have a great week!

{Project Life 2012 - Week 3}

Well, to say this was an interesting week is putting it mildly! I'm a little behind the curve ball - sorry about that! I should be back to normal posting on Sunday.

Anyway, on to the pages!

Things started out pretty slow - I actually have several pictures that didn't make it into the final page that just show "everyday life" kinds of things. I'll be using those on future pages. This week turned into a very event-filled one!

We kicked off the week with Kristin's 16th birthday! I can't believe she's 16 - not sure where those days went. The journaling talks about going out to dinner (a family tradition) and then coming home to realize that not only was the ice-cream cake she chose for her birthday cake frozen hard, I had forgotten candles! (Insert mother-of-the-year award acceptance speech here).  Hopefully that won't be the big thing she remembers about turning 16!

We didn't have a big party this year beacuse she chose to have a "sweet 15" party last year before we moved from Idaho so she could celebrate with her friends from there. I know she missed them a lot on her birthday.

As you can see...the rest of the page is taken up by photos of the front of our local newspaper and a picture of Brad and Kristin playing Settlers of Cataan - one of the many board games we love playing as a family. We spent quite a bit of time playing games this weekend as the flooding went on around us and we weren't able to get out much.

This side of the page shows some of the photos from the flooding - some of which I took, some which Kristin took, and the aerial shot from the newspaper. In the journaling box, I listed some of the facts and figures about the flooding - things I didn't want to forget. Having been around flooding rivers before, I've seen the damage they can do - but this has been surreal. According to all the local news - the last time it was even close to this bad was in 1996!

We are still on flood watch this week - another storm has been raging since last night. We are hopeful that we won't experience anything like last week...but with as wet as things are, who knows? We'll just make sure we're stocked up and ready, I guess.

As far as products this week - I mostly used the Clementine Project Life digital collection, with a few random elements thrown in. Several Ali Edwards brushes (love how they add just that little touch of hand-made to a page), a few bits from Flergs, Sugarplum Paperie, Digital Design Essentials and Designer Digitals elements as well were used. I don't really know what I'm going to use when I start out except for the kit itself - I just add bits and pieces as I go along.

Well, that's it for week 3 - we will see what week 4 brings! I can't believe I'm almost a month into this already!

{Project Life 2012 - Week 2}

Wow... I had a feeling it was going to be a week full of pictures, and it was.

Here are the pages side by side - for this week, I used an 8 1/2 x 11 template and one of the 12x12 ones from the Project Life digital templates. I flipped the larger template sideways to accommodate my photos. I like being able to change it up like that.

This was a fun weekend, too - my friend Cori invited me to join her and a couple of her friends (I can't believe I didn't get a picture of Sheila) at a cabin in Hood River for a girl's weekend away. Cori and I met years ago through scrapbooking - and it's been fun to live a bit closer to her now. I absolutely adore both Beth and Sheila and am happy to have two new friends!

We got to do something I've never done before, too...then again, neither had Cori or Beth! Beth is a HUGE San Francisco 49'ers fan...and of course it's the playoffs. So, the three of us went into Hood River to a sports bar to watch the 2nd half of the game. I've been to watch games with Brad before...but going with a couple of girls was really fun! It actually turned out to be a pretty darn good game, too (I'm a college football nut, but I was a San Francisco fan when I was younger, so it was fun to cheer them on, too!)

This side of the layout talks about the other stuff going on this week - the college students in the house all went back to school! I didn't have a photo of Brad, so I used the OSU logo. I figure that's as close to memorabilia as I can get in a digital page, and honestly, I'll take it!

Have a great week - we'll see what this week brings!

{Project Life 2012 - Week 1}

Project Life week 1 for 2012 is in the books (well, almost - I still have to print them, but I will do that at the end of the year.)

I'm pretty pleased with how well it all came together. I am doing the album using the digital designs and, at least for now, the templates as well. I like how quickly everything works - and it was fun to add some personal touches as well. I've got a nice selection of digital designs to work with, too, so that makes it easy to find something perfect.

Enough of the chatter - on to the pages!

Here's the layout as it looks side-by-side:

For this spread, I used mostly products from the Cobalt collection, with a couple of other pieces thrown in - the "at the beach" is from Ali Edwards and the number line is from Art Warehouse (both available at Designer Digitals for anyone wondering).

This seemed to be a week full of firsts for us - the first time ever we spent New Year's Day at the beach (and got to call this place home!) - Kristin's first half-hour show at a restaurant here in town (she's such a natural on stage!) - new glasses for both Kristin and I (a first for both!)

It was also a week of fun things - new photos of Adam, who is way taller than any of the rest of us now (he was the boy who was sure he'd NEVER be tall - go figure!) and a day spent in Newport today playing tourist and doing silly things like going to the Wax Museum and such.

I'm really enjoying documenting this way - I don't think I could do a daily album because frankly, I think we'd ALL get bored. A week, though, is perfect - enough variety that there are stories to tell and pictures to go along with it. I've already noticed that I'm more aware of things I should photograph that perhaps I might not have before - just for the sake of the story.

 

That's what it's all about.

I'm excited to see what next week brings!

 

Project Life

So, as I mentioned before, my word for the year is 52.

One of my goals this year is to scrapbook again on a consistent basis. In a former life, I spent a lot more time scrapbooking, including some moderate success in the industry with publications and teaching. I stepped away from it all in 2006 (which turned out to be a milestone year for a lot of reasons) and in many ways, I stopped scrapbooking then, too. I dabbled in some digital scrapbooking and made a few pages traditionally, but for the most part, I had given it up.

Well, maybe given it up isn't really the right way to put it - it just wasn't the season, if you will.

I've missed the creative outlet of it, though. Photography does help fill that space, but for me, a huge part of what makes photos special are the stories that go with them. That's where scrapbooking has always been important to me - it allows me to tell those stories.

Enter "Project Life" - a concept and a product designed by Becky Higgins, that allows you to tell stories simply and quickly. I've done a traditional version (which isn't finished because of that whole "season" thing) and really liked the idea.

 

This year I decided to give the digital version a try. For the scrapbookers out there, I picked the Clementine kit with some of the stuff from the Cobalt collection mixed in. I'm going to do a weekly layout, rather than daily ones. I think that will work for me and our family the best. I'm planning to share my pages here - hopefully that will keep me on task and accountable! :)

Anyway, here's to another 52 milestone on the way to being accomplished!

Bring on the scrapbooking!

52

First of all, Happy New Year! I got to spend 2012 at the beach, which is, as anyone who knows me knows, a perfect place to kick off the new year!

It was gorgeous:

Most people have, I assume, heard of the concept of picking a word to define your next year's goals. I've been doing this for a while now. I gave up making actual resolutions years ago - too frustrating, and usually too extreme to be based in any sort of reality. I like the concept of a word - it's more liberating, and has a wider range of applicability, too.

Last year my word was "breathe" - which, in retrospect, was the perfect choice. I had a beyond-hectic last semester at school, trying to balance 18 credits and a 40-45 hour work week and still somewhere in there have time for a family and myself. Read the post before this one and you'll see how much "breathe" really did apply. I needed to consciously remember to stop and take it in sometimes, because it was too easy to just run crazy.

I've been thinking for a while about what I wanted to use this year. I decided that my word this year isn't really a word at all - but a number.

52.

Go with me, here.

There are 52 weeks in a year.

52 weeks of possibilities - of choices I can make, of changes I can accomplish. 52 weeks to define however I want to.

For me, 52 defines how I want to spend this year - not wasting a minute of it. Not taking a day for granted. Making the conscious decision each week to do something. Whether that's choosing a week to get more exercise, go on a photo shoot outing, scrapbook, read my Bible...whatever it is, that's something I'm going to choose each week.

So, we'll see how it goes, and we'll see how it looks at the end of 2012. 

52.

Here we go!

Twenty-Eleven In Review

Well, I sort of fell off the face of the earth for a bit, but came back just in time for a year in review. Aren't you thrilled? :)

To say this has been an eventful year...well, that's just about the biggest understatement ever! I'm not quite sure how 2012 will live up to it. Maybe by being NOT so crazy? That would be good.

So, as a recap - here's the highlights of 2011 in picture form (what else did you expect?)

 

JANUARY

Coincidentally, that's the same look I had when I realized my baby was turning FIFTEEN?! Holy heck, when did that happen!

 

FEBRUARY

My insurance rates just skyrocketed. Coincidentally, so did the amount of grey hair  I have! Could be the two are related....

 

MARCH

Kristin and I come to Corvallis so I can go to a job interview. We fall in love with this place and the rain, immediately. The Applebees, however, not so much. We much preferred the lovely Italian dinner we had the last night we were here.

 

APRIL

Adam's senior year is winding down. He has served as the "Fun and Games" editor for his high school newspaper, and wins an award at the state Journalism Association banquet.

 

MAY

After two years of crazy, non-stop schedule shuffling, I graduate from Boise State University! Somehow, I managed to not go completely insane while working full time and going to school full time and still kept up my GPA enough to graduate Magna Cum Laude! It was a GREAT day when I finally had that diploma in my hand!

The very next week, Adam graduated from high school! Admittedly, there were moments along the way we worried about him....but what parent doesn't? He pulled it together and worked really hard his Senior year, though, and we were VERY proud to watch him get that diploma!

We had two celebrations the day of Adam's graduation - Samantha also turned 20! Yes, you read that right....TWENTY!?! How on earth did THAT happen? She also completed her first year of college and we couldn't be prouder of her!

May definitely was the craziest month! We have a tennis player in the house - Kristin joined the team at her Jr High this year, and did really well! This was at the City Tournament, where she placed in the top ten singles players city-wide. She can't wait for the 2012 season!

 

JUNE

June began with goodbyes, yard sales, and packing...and then I spent many hours driving with this as my view as we headed for Oregon and the place we would call home for the next three years!

The BEST part about our new home - undoubtedly this!  This was the first place we took off for once we got things settled in in our new home. We spend MANY weekends at the coast, and it just never gets old!

 

JULY

I will never be satisfied with fireworks anywhere else except on the ocean, I think....we spent the day in Newport  and topped it off with the amazing display over Yaquina Bay. There's NOTHING quite like it!

July also found us with some time to discover some of the things that are uniquely Corvallis - namely "DaVinci Days". It was so much fun to see how clever and creative people can be!

 

AUGUST

August was full of visits and vacations! Kristin's good friend from Idaho came to stay with us for a few days, and we got to take her to the beach and do a little impromptu photo shoot. It's been hard for Kristin to have left all her friends in Idaho behind, but having one come to stay with us definitely was a highlight of the summer for her!

Brad's family also had their annual reunion - and lucky for us, it's just a hop-skip-and-a-jump now to get to the house they rent for it! I was only able to go for the weekend due to my work schedule, but I hear there was lots of fun to be had the whole time, and I was glad to be there for what I was!

 

SEPTEMBER

Back to school time! Kristin started her Sophomore year at her new high school, Adam started his first year at college, Sam started her second year at college, and Brad started his second year at college, too! It felt a little strange to be the only one NOT going  back, that's for sure!

 

OCTOBER

We got to keep a promise to the kids that we made before we moved...and took them on a whale watching tour! We were fortunate enough to see several whales - it was awesome! I loved being back out on a boat on the ocean (Brad and I went last year for our 20th wedding anniversary)!

We also got to experience our first fall in Western Oregon - and wow! The colors lasted well into late November. Everywhere you looked, it was breathtaking! I spent a LOT of free time with my camera in my hands...

 

NOVEMBER

As you can imagine, many, many photos have been taken this year of the beach, the waves, and our adventures there. November was no exception - and I feel like I've finally found where I belong. I made the decision to "re-open" my photography business, focusing solely on my favorite subjects - seascapes and landscapes. This one was one of my favorites captured this month.

We also celebrated Thanksgiving - and while I don't have any photos...we had (and still have) so much to be thankful for. This year has been nothing short of unbelievable.

 

DECEMBER

Ahh...Christmas time. After years of wanting to do it, I finally did a beach themed Christmas tree. It felt right, somehow - more right than it would have anywhere else, I think (except actually AT the beach!).

As if the fireworks on the 4th weren't magical enough....the lighted boat parade in Newport was definitely a highlight for me! It sounds so silly to say that I got choked up, but I did. I think it's just the fact that for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to live here....and the reality of it really hit me standing there, taking pictures of the pretty boats.

Of course, Christmas Eve at our house wouldn't have been the same without the traditional new pajamas for the kids! We had a low-key holiday, which was perfect!

 

Now, here it is, New Year's Eve 2011.

As I look back on the year, I'm amazed. I can't believe sometimes we made it, and yet, here we are. It's had it's challenges, for sure...but I can truly say I'm glad we did it. I'm glad we took the leap.

What will 2012 hold?

Heaven only knows.

I can't wait to find out, though!

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

perspectives...

Ever notice how easy it is sometimes to lose your perspective? To forget what the short term means in relationship to the far-off goal?

That happens to me many times. Have a bad day, and it's even worse. You begin to feel like nothing will ever change - that it's "ALWAYS" going to be just like whatever that bad day was about in the first place.

Sometimes we're like toddlers in that regard - or teenagers, if you will. Life becomes all about that moment, that event.

Maybe it comes with age...or experience, or what, I'm not really sure. But I'm starting to recognize when I am in one of those moments before they get too crazy, and I'm realizing the value of putting it all in perspective.

For me, it usually takes something meaningful to shake me from that Eeyore kind of mood. Something bigger than myself.

I had one of those days yesterday, when it felt like everything was going wrong, and by the end of it all, I had completely lost perspective.

Thankfully, this scene did the trick:

...and suddenly, I remembered why I am where I am, doing what I'm doing.

It's so that I can be near this place - the one place on the earth that takes my breath away. The place that puts life in perspective for me. The place where everything makes sense.

I love that.

It's why I'm here, doing what I'm doing.

Even on the days that aren't so great.

It's all about perspective.

even the rain...

Whenever I mentioned to anyone from my former home that we were moving to Western Oregon, the first thing I heard was,"You know, it rains there ALL the time!"

It's true.

On the first visit my youngest and I made here, it rained the entire time, hence the hounds-tooth umbrella:

Didn't bother me a bit. I loved it. I fell in love with this place the moment we pulled into town.

Actually, I'd fallen in love with this area years ago.

I love that one of the first photos I have of any of us here is with an umbrella.

Since we've been here, it's rained. Many times. It doesn't stop people from doing things.

Things like drawing pretty chalk pictures on sidewalks:

Nope, it doesn't really seem to stop anyone from doing anything. They gear up for it, put on a rain slicker (or not), grab an umbrella, and head out into the world.

I love that!

There are wonderful side benefits to all this rain, too.

Gorgeous flowers that seem to bloom forever:

Scenery that looks lush and beautiful even into the "dry" season:

And, if you wait long enough...gorgeous fall colors that take your breath away:

Nope, I don't mind that rain one little bit.

Compared to 100 degree summers and mountains of snow in the winter, rain sounds heavenly.

Plus, with this less than an hour away:

...even the rain can't put a damper on that.

So yes, tell me it rains here all the time.

I'll tell you I don't care.

The benefits FAR outweigh the drawbacks, as far as I'm concerned.

easy does it...

A couple of super-simple and yummy recipes to share:

World's Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups peanut butter (chunky is best)
• 2 eggs

Mix well. Drop by rounded spoon-fulls onto lightly greased baking sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Perfect with a glass of cold milk.

 

Mama's Blackberry Cobbler

 

Made this today with fresh wild blackberries - I love Western Oregon! Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. butter, melted
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. flour
• 3/4 c. milk
• 2 c. fresh blackberries

Directions

• pour melted butter into 8x8 baking dish
• mix flour, sugar, milk.
• pour over butter in dish
• add blackberries on top
• bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until top is browned and cobbler is bubbling

Hope your weekend is happy!