Project Life Update: Week 14

Last week was spring break, so we kind of laid low around here.  We had the cousins over for a sleepover, then Dan and I took off for a wedding in New York on Friday.

I also tried something new this week.  I downloaded the Vine app and joined.  At first I wasn't sure if I liked it or not, but I think I will be using it more for documenting rather than "sharing".  The concept:  It allows you to record six second videos...either one consecutive video, or quick snips of videos all looped together.  It's like IG, but all videos.

 I gathered my videos for the week and put them all together into one using Windows Live Movie Maker , then created a QR code (Left side).   Photos are great...but playing back video and hearing those little voices makes me melt.  Here is my first attempt: (there is no music...just the audio from videos)

Moving on...here is the full spread:

Left Side:

Right side:

There are weeks where I go back and forth about how I feel doing 100% digital.  Some weeks, I really miss the tangible cutting and assembling.  Others...not so much.  This is one of those weeks where digital just worked.  This layout came together very easily.  I love being able to include screen shots of the route we took to NY, the QR code with video, etc...However, I have a few things I wanted to include in an insert (wedding invitation, and photo strips from the photo booth at the wedding)

Front:  I'm going to use design J and cut it down to hold a few wedding shots and the invitation.

Back:

In case I didn't mention before, I'm still printing everything out at Costco and inserting the photos into pockets for my Album.  Rather than printing everything as a photo book, this allows me to add extra things if needed, and I have the flexibility to use inserts.  (I've had a few people ask :)

I'm linking my PL update over at the Mom Creative.  Thanks for visiting!

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!

one last hoorah!

Dan suggested we go camping one more time before the summer was over.  No one was using the camper, so Dan's parents were nice enough to take it out to the campground and get it set up for us.  We stayed out there Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Up on the roof of the 5th Wheel making sure everything looked OK.  (in bathing suits...and bike helments...that's how we roll.)

The weather was perfect and we were able to have lots of great campfires.  I'm still washing the smell out of my hair.  We even cooked dinner over the fire two nights.  (Hobo pies and hotdogs)

We went for a walk down to the lake to see the sunset, but the kids couldn't resist the amazing waves.  

Love these two silly kids.

The kids loved hanging out with their cousins.

(well...at least Sydney did)

We made some cool sand sculptures...

Played lots of cards...

...and just chilled out.  

We may or may not have bathed our children right in Lake Michigan a few times.  I will never tell.

It was a nice way to end the summer.  Now it is back to school time!  Tomorrow is our first day!

Girls Weekend!

I completely forgot to post anything about my amazing, relaxing, restful yet packed full of activities girls weekend I took in July!!

These lovely ladies and traveled up to Suttons Bay/Traverse City/Leelanau Peninsula area for the weekend.  Dan and I usually go up to the Old Mission Peninsula area when we are there, so this was great to see all different wineries and restaurants.
Since we met up in Traverse City, ate right downtown at Red Ginger.

  I've been by this place several times, but hadn't tried it before.  I'm not a big "Asian/Fusion" fan, but everyone else voted, so I went along, assuming I would just order a filet.  Boy was I wrong?!?

After a giant Mojito, I was feeling adventurous and decided to try Sushi.  O.M.G.  This was soooooooooo good.  It was called a Dynamite Roll.  Between the spicy sauce and the avocado, I was in heaven.  I really need to step out of my comfort zone more often!

The next day was jam packed with stuff to do!  We started with a little wine tasting.

 Then some more wine tasting...

then some more wine tasting...

 followed by more wine tasting....

Once we were good and tipsy, we figured we might as well kayak float down the river.

Its amazing what you can accomplish with no kids and a little wine.

All business right here.

Us on the other hand...we just ran into trees and drank our boxed margarita.

After making it down the river in one piece, we stopped by the Sleeping Bear Dunes Overlook.

I really need to stop taking our amazing State Parks for granted.  I have not been here since I was a kid!!

Lake Michigan.  Breathtaking, as usual.  This picture does not even begin to show how beautiful this day was.

Um...hello?  Can we say crazy?!?  Those tiny specs...people climbing up a 90 degree wall of sand. No thanks.

This was such a great weekend, with some amazing ladies.  I felt so recharged and relaxed when I got home.  Just what a girls weekend should be like!