A month? Really??

Wow, almost an entire month and I have not blogged anything?  Not that our life is all that exciting...but I don't usually go that long without posting something?!?  Well, here's what we've been up to since Halloween:

I got the heck out of dodge and went to Florida for a few days with the McKee side of the family.

 

It really was SO much fun, even though I was only there for a hot second. 

...my check liver light definitely came on this weekend.  

Got home on Tuesday, then had to sit through Zac Brown Band on Thursday...poor me.  :) :) :)

We had amazing seats right on the floor, so it really was a great show!

 

Friday and Saturday was Beneath the Tree.  It was Ah.MAZ.ing.  I think I might talk Dan into letting me host our home next year.  It was THAT cool.

First snow...kids were pumped!

Bryce had his first solo play date with a kiddo from pre-school, so Syd and I went on a little date for lunch then Barnes & Noble.  

Sesame Street Live!

 Dan took me out on a date for my birthday so I picked Breaking Dawn Pt. 2...sooooooo good!  Dan LOVED it!  (ha ha ha)

Turned 32.  yippee. 

Decorated for Christmas outside...because it was almost SIXTY degrees in the middle of November!!!!

Busted my hump to try to catch up on Project Life before the end of the year!  More on that coming soon!

 

Got crafty with our Thankfulness!

 

Got a shout-out from THE Rhonna Farrer on Instagram Follow Friday #heyrhonna  If you don't follow her IG feed...you totally should.  She is beyond inspiring!

and finally, we went on our annual Christmas Tree adventure with the Spaniolos to find and cut down our tree.  

So that about sums it up.  That's what we've been up to the last few weeks!  Thanks for stopping by!

Thankful Heart Thursday

                                                      

This sounded like a great link up to try today.  Renee over at The Simple Moms has started up a weekly link up on Thursdays to share something she is thankful for.  So often, I find that I am caught up in the craziness of life with two preschool age kiddos, that somehow it is so much easier to remember the bad at the end of the day.  

I was so excited to see this post because it is just one more reminder that I need to SLOW DOWN, thank God for all the good that I have, and just BE thankful.  Thank goodness for camera phones.  I have proof that my children can behave, and actually like each other (on rare occasions)

I love this screenshot that I took last week from Instagram.  Great reminder!

...and since we all know I love my iphone, I had to download this cool app as soon as I heard about it. (mine is for iphone, not sure if there are other options).  It's called Gratitude Journal.

 Click here for more info and pics.

                                                 

(not my photo...just took it from the website)

This app allows you to write down things in list format, and add photos of things you are thankful for each day.  It stores them in calendar form, so you can flip through them and remember things that were pretty great from the day!  

I'm linking up at  the Simple Moms today, so click over there to read more thankful thursday stories!

...and the obsession continues.

When I find something I love...I tend to get a little obsessed.  Like, I want to share it with anyone who will listen.  That is how I felt when I found, and started doing Project Life a few years ago.
Too bad they don't pay commissions, because I think I talked a million ears off and even got a few people to get started.  :)

Anyway...
My ongoing obsession is Instagram.  I'm sure you've heard me talk about it before.

Why do I love it you ask?  Well, not only can you take and make cute little "retro" looking photos, the creative possibilities are endless.  The apps, and fonts I use have turned my phone into a "mobile scrapbooking station" if you will.

Also, you can subscribe to follow lots of people.  Some you might know, others you may not.  Personally, I enjoy it MUCH more than facebook.  (i.e. no old high school aquaintences you have not seen or talked to in 10+ years.)  Instead, I follow several people who are specifically interested in the same things as me.  Lots of talented ladies on design teams for well know scrapbook companies, and other super crafty, funny, inspirational people.

One of these above mentioned people would be Rhonna Farrer.  Haven't heard of her?  Click here.
As soon as I discovered her Instagram Feed...it was ALL OVER.  I am so completely inspired by the way her creative mind works.  She is crazy talented.

Earlier this summer, she took her love of instagram, and created digital elements that could be used right on your phone!  GASP!
                    

See this tutorial for more info. and instructions how to download and use.

Here is an example of some of the fun I've been having with her Insta Lovin' Kits.

Are you kidding me?  Like I said, the possibilities are endless.  I have used so many of these Instagram Shots right in My Project Life Album.  (Lots of Digital catching up going on here and here)   (I wrote up a post in february linking up all my favorite iphone apps for photos.  I've added more since then, but click here to view post.)

 So Dan...if you are reading this...now you know "what I'm always doing on my phone"!!!!

#febphotoaday on instagram

I can't remember how I came across this Instagram user (@fatmumslim) but she has put together the coolest monthly photo challenges.  I didn't start playing along until February, but this has been a fun little project.  I've gotten so much use out of my filters and apps.  See this post for links to all the apps.   If you are on Instagram, you should check her out.  Maybe even play along!

Here's what I have so far this month:

Still a few days left in February, but the March challenge has been posted.  I'm thinking of printing a collage and incorporating these instagram photos in my PL album???  

Just thought I would share.  Enjoy :)

My favorite iphone apps for photos.

I have spent (way too much) time scouring the app store (and some awesome IG-ers) looking for fun ways to add something extra to my photos. I've seen lots of cool photo effects through instaram, and would not rest until my pictures looked equally awesome.  So...here I give you, my top 10...wait, I just counted and there are actually 8...OK, my top 8 apps for making your cool photos even cooler, right on your iphone!

My first favorite app is Instagram. (Free)  If you have an iphone and you have not signed up for instagram, you must live under a rock.  Go get it NOW.

I've been having so much fun with this app, not just for the cool photo effects, but because it allows you to "follow" your friends, or others and keep up with their photos too.  Love, Love, Love.

Next is Camera +  ($1.99)

I take every single photo on my phone with this.  I feel like the photos are better quality has better options than the regular camera.  It allows you to zoom, it even has a timer so you can take cool shots like this:

For putting text on my photos, I love to use Phonto (Free)

This app allows you to take a photo, or upload one from your phone and just start typing text.  You can change font, size, color, and tilt.  There are a ton of fonts to choose from, and I love that you can make the text opaque for a cool effect.

Another must have for adding text is Label box (Free)

This app creates fun labels like the photo above that can be left blank, or write text on.  I love the label maker tape in red and black...

While we're on the subject of cute labels...Masking Tape is pretty much ridiculous. ($.99)

It looks kind of shady when you first open it up and look through it, but I promise you will not be disappointed.  There are a million color/pattern choices for the tapes you can create:

I mean, seriously??  How much cuter is this picture with a little masking tape behind your text.  I know what you are thinking...Holy Crap Sara...you must have way too much time on your hands.  I really don't, I just ignore everyone and everything and spend obscene amounts of time doing "monkey business" on my phone.  Mother of the year.  I know.

Diptic ($.99) gives you several different ways to lay out your photo to create a collage, or add multiple images.  For example:

Do you love the "bokeh" effect and the look of lens flare?  Check out LensLight.($.99)  It is way too fun.

...and finally my go-to app for photo editing, and adding some fun effects with minimal effort is Pixl-r-omatic. (Free)

It has lots of filters, lighting options, and frames built right in.  Along with many other apps, you can upgrade for an extra fee and "unlock" more options, but it has a great amount that already come installed.  

I have a handful of other apps I use for frames and such, but these are the few I use daily.  If you have found some great ones, please share!  On second thought...don't.  My husband already gives me the stink eye whenever I am on my phone.  Which is all the time.  So, whatever...tell me anyway!