Memory Keeping Monday

Hello. Today I'm sharing some lovely digital scrapbook layouts using some of the hot, new products from the talented designers over at jessicasprague.com.

Dani's Just Stay Little kit immediately made me seek out a photo of my children taken at a local orchard during Pumpkin Picking Season. This photo is so near and dear to me. It was taken over 7 years ago, when my Two were just wee little things. They weren't afraid to kiss, and hug, and show their love for each other. (Note: If you have wee little ones that do this type of mushy, lovey-dove stuff on a regular basis, cherish this moment in time ... it doesn't last forever; at least not in my house). My Two are in middle school now ... and hugging and kissing just does not happen.

Just Stay Little Dani Mogstad
Just Stay Little kit
Splendid Fiins
@ the office supplies 1
Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1

TIP:  My son was actually wearing an orange shirt on this beautiful fall day. At the time I thought I was so clever putting my children in autumn hues like golden yellow and orange to match the scenery. Fast forward 7 years, and here I am trying to match this photo, not to an autumn layout, but to a layout that is so much more meaningful; remembering yesterday and the way they were at that very moment in time. Sooooooo ....  to help the color scheme of the page come together, I tweaked it to a red tone to coordinate with the digital kit. Come back to the blog later this week and I'll walk you through how I did that quick shirt color change in Photoshop.

Next up is a scrapbook page using photos that were taken on day trip to a small local zoo that rescues animals when the big zoos do not have a use for them anymore. :( We love to come here to help support these animals as they live out the remainder of their lives. They are all beautiful creatures. This layout is a grid layout, but without the typical square or rectangle as the dominant shape. I like to change things up a bit ... and this is what I ended up with.

Lovely Day
Lori Whitlock
Masking Templates Set 3
Fresh Air Collection

Dani Mogstad
Chasing Rainbows Complete Kit
Softly Falling Complete Kit

Liv.e Designs
Bubbling Over Stamps & Brush Set
{Click-The Elements}

Pink Paislee
Caught On Camera Elements

Other: Anna Aspnes
Stitched by Anna 12 x 12 Borders No. 1

And last up is a digital desktop calendar for 2013 made using Lori Whitlock's 2013 Calendar templates. I just expanded the size a bit and added some customizations. I saved my layout as a PSD file in Photoshop and now I can quickly go in and change my photos on the desktop calendar to match my mood, the seasons or a paticular holiday. Easy Peasy. And I feel so ahead of the game!  

2013 Desktop Calendar
Lori Whitlock
2013 Calendar 8x10 Horizontal
Autumn Afternoon Collection
Happy Day Collection
Fall Masking Set

Echo Park-
Everyday Eclectic Full Collection

Pink Paislee-
Spellbound Element Pack

Frame-Jessica Sprague Template A

That's it for today. Happy Monday!

What's for Dinner Weekly ... my menu planner

When the kids went back to school on Sept 5th, I decided to finally, whole-heartedly pour myself into a commitment to eat better and lose some of the weight that has been sneaking on over the last three years. I've talked myself through this so many times recently and have failed, but this time ... it felt different. I felt like a little switch had turned on. I felt like I could conquer. I read through the Eat Clean Diet book,  made notes on the basic principles, and organized my favorite recipes. Then I went shopping. And as I pushed that cart around the grocery market with all the lovely veggies, fruits, whole foods and organic goodness ... I knew I was not looking back. For the first time in my life I started drinking black coffee (half -n - half is a no-no). I haven't touched a sweet treat (I do allow myself a very small bit of dark bittersweet chocolate about once or twice a week). I've removed sugar from my diet almost completely (I'm not perfect ... I don't cook with it or add it to any of my home cooked recipes, but it is in a few of the items I buy.) A big part of my success is staying on top of my weekly menu. I prepare the week's meals and a shopping list ahead of time. This way I always have something healthy to make and do not resort to take-out or last minute whims. I can take pretty much any recipe and tweak it to fit the Eat Clean principles as closely as possible. The family is loving the attention to meal time and the new recipes. In case you struggle with What's for Dinner, I decided to put together this week's menu with links to the websites' that have posted these yummy recipes. Please know that I am not claiming these to be Clean Eating recipes. You will have do your own research on the principles of this way of eating and tweak as necessary. I'm just hoping you might find a new recipe to add to your meal rotation every now and then. Bon Appetit!

Sunday: Soba Noodles | Simply Reem
simplyreem.com

Monday: Pasta with Zucchini, Tomatoes and Creamy Lemon-Yogurt Sauce | Ezra Pound Cake
ezrapoundcake.com


Tuesday: Slow Cooker Roast Beef with Veggies & Whole Grain Noodles
(just a recipe I have in my arsenal)

Wednesday: Lentil Soup with Chickpeas and Quinoa | Souvlaki for the Soul (and Caprese Paninis)
souvlakiforthesoul.com

Thursday: Leftovers
(it's a fact of life)

Friday: Mushroom Stroganoff | Skinny Taste
skinnytaste.com

Saturday: Crockpot Chicken Tacos | Chocolate Therapy
mychocolatetherapy.com

Construction, Junction ...

Hey there.  Just popping in to say that I am working behind the scenes to spruce things up, change things around and really make this blog come alive. I have lots of ideas racing through my head for how to freshen up my little nook of the web. So if things look a little funky or don't seem to be working correctly ... please know this is temporary. 

Just like these funky pants that I found over the summer at a flea market (Which mind you, I did NOT buy. I just thought they were so crazy I had to snap a photo with my iPhone.) ... I've known this blog is a bit outdated and in need of some tender.loving.care. So excited to share with you the changes I have planned ...

Hope you'll stick around for the journey!

And hey ... since you're here, please tell what you think of my new blog header? Thanks!

One Little Slip ... The Story Ends {on a happy note!}

So yesterday was the one year anniversary of my son's fall from a rope swing. That one little slip, left him pretty banged up (you can read last year's story here: http://prettyinposies.blogspot.com/2011/10/one-little-slip.html) ... 3 trips to the OR, 8 weeks of missing school, numerous x-rays & Dr. visits, a CT scan, radial nerve palsy, a dynamic splint, an arm brace, and 5 months of PT/OT ... and we can report that all is well!

I've finished documenting the big moments in this year long journey on this two-page digital layout. It matches the first two-page spread, with some new papers and elements thrown in from Pink Paislee and Dani Mogstad. (The first LO below is the one I did in Oct 2011.)

In the Making Designs:
Foto Template Pack
Gourmet Paper Pack
La Storia Elements Pack

Dani Mogstad:
Pumpkin Spiced Latte Complete Kit
Softly Falling Complete Kit
Take Me Away Complete Kit

Pink Paislee:
Caught On Camera Elements
Caught On Camera Papers

We had our last Dr. visit yesterday. While the Dr. sent us off with a clean bill of health, we presented the Dr. with a framed digital layout showing how far K has come & all the things he can do now, despite his injury.  The Dr. was thrilled was his recovery and pleased to receive this gift. He had his partner come in to take photos, and of course I snapped a few myself! 

Such a great ending! Here is the layout we did for the Dr.

The little "doctor" related elements were created by me, using clip art from the internet. They looked "finished" after popping them into Anna's adorable wood frames.

Anna Aspnes
FotoBlendz Album Template No 5D
ArtPlay Palette Socialize
ArtPlay Storm Solids
KardStock Neutrals No 1
Woodshop Frames No 1

So, yeah ... all is good again!

xoxo jenn