From Pinterest to Reality {Sketch Scrapbook Page}

I think I need another board for my pins...I love Digital Scrapbooking, almost as much as I love Pinterest!! I am a huge fan of templates, it allows me to focus on my pictures and my journaling. I am not the best photographer, but I love using my pictures to tell a story. I am pretty much self taught--following tutorials here and there. I made a book for Elle last year documenting her first year(I am a little behind this year)... And when I pinned this, I knew I had to try it.

From Pinterest:

Via Daily Digi via Pinterest

To Reality:

... a page from our mini vacay to Ouray. I downloaded the free action mentioned on the tutorial and read the other tutorials, I still haven't figured out the blending mask(I used a template that had one) and coloring the background of my original picture so it looks like a sketch directly onto the page. But I like the effect. It definitely adds something to a page! It took me about 30 minutes playing with the action and sketch picture and then another 30 minutes using the template to make my page.
Materials: Jenn Lindsay Temp Blends 3 plus 1 template, Ronna Penner's Express Yourself Kit(part of Digi Files)

Scrapping Our SD Trip

Months later...Our South Dakota Trip!

SimplyTiffanyStudios_52_Template_19 and A Perfect Day Kit by designs by Anita

Scrapping our Durango Trip

Template: Tiffany Tillman Simply Tiffany Studios 52 Template 7
Papers and Elements: Tiffany Tillman Pink Snow
Fonts: Smiley Monster and Pea Alesea

A Weekend Getaway

So we all headed to Durango, CO this past this weekend. We left in the afternoon, so luckily Elle slept through most of the drive--which involves some beautiful scenery but 3 mountain passes where there is too little guardrail for my comfort. I was worried that I would have to come up with ways occupy an increasingly mobile 9 month old in a hotel room most of the day but it was a great weekend. Here is what we did...

we got up and got dressed (in one of our many Auntie shirts) and headed out for breakfast. Elle then crashed for a morning nap (an hour and a half!!) which allowed me to finish 1 book and start another and then grab some zzz's myself. We then bundled up and headed out to walk around town. We got some books and book recommendations at a cute book store, wandered through a baby boutique, and then hit the candy store for my favorite...

Non-pariels, which I can't find anywhere in Grand Junction(if anyone knows where I can find some let me know, or more importantly let my husband know!) Unfortunately, the drive back over the previously mentioned 3 mountain passes was a white knuckle, blizzardy experience in which we had the heater blasting and my candy melted into one soupy mess:(.

We headed back to our hotel room where we made some calls...

we played with Sally the Seal...

and then crashed for an afternoon nap..

and so did mommy. I can never seem to nap at home, my mind races with all the things around the apartment that need to be done or put away or finished, the recipes to file, the papers to write, the outgrown clothes to go through, etc--so much so that I sometimes get paralyzed and do nothing. My husband of course can fall asleep at the drop of a hat and is always after me to nap. When I told him I took 2 naps that day, he cheered. Mini-vacations are so calming--my mind doesn't race because there is nothing I can do but nap!

Blog Challenge: Day 21

Picture of yourself--after hiking to Delicate Arch


After feeding Elle in the parking lot and having misread the park brochure we set off on what we thought was an easy 1 mile hike, we discovered it wasn't. We climbed slick rock and hiked for almost an hour to get here. We were committed though--feeling like we couldn't leave Arches National Park without seeing an arch. When we got back to the car it was almost dark and very cold. Elle wasn't too happy with us. I looked at the brochure to discover it was a 3 mile roundtrip. But we did it and have the pictures to prove it!

Blog Challenge: Day 17

Back to regularly scheduled programming--that week before Thanksgiving was rough, getting ready for our trip and all.

Something you are looking forward to:
Taking Elle to Disneyland someday!


Until then--just looking forward to heading to CA for Christmas with my family!

Blog Challenge: Day 8

A place you have traveled to
I couldn't pick just one so I will share my 2 favorite vacations!
Our family Alaskan Cruise--we went for a week on the Norwegian Pearl from Seattle. We stopped in Juneau where we took a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier and went dogsledding. We stopped in Ketchican where we went on a zipling adventure. And we stopped in Victoris where we took a horse drawn carriage ride. And of course we had way too much fun on the ship!






And our Jamaican Honeymoon--we stayed at an all inclusive in Negril with a beautiful beach. We went to Rick's cafe to watch the cliff divers and a beautiful sunset, Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios, kissed a dolphin, rode horses in the ocean, and just hung out a lot together--so nice!

Show Us Your Life--Favorite Vacation Spot

Kelly's Korner is spreading the joy around with a show us your life series, join in!

Although I absolutely loved Jamaica and can't wait to take another beach trip--St.Lucia is on our list.

My favorite vacations have been the family trips we took growing up...

Lake Tahoe



Mammoth: where we went every summer from about 6th grade to college--we hiked, went up to the top of the mountain, went to the Ghost Towns, and just hung out as a family.



Maui--we went when I graduated from college and spent a week snorkeling, boating, parasailing, driving around, and just hanging out as a family--all my pictures aren't digital and my scanner is acting up so here is a professional pic!

Camping Weekend!

So a little variation on the staycation, we camped at a state park in our hometown. Hung out with Kevin's cousin, Laura and her dog, Willie, made smores, watched fireworks, hiked Devil's Canyon, drove through the Colorado National Monument, tried to stay cool in the blazing sun by dunking the dog and ourselves in the Colorado Rive--ice cold!

I heart google maps!

I am at a technology conference and I went to a session to learn about google maps, we learned how to make our own maps and include our pictures in the placemarkers to share with friends--very cool. Click on the placemarkers for more info and the pictures! Here is my first attempt with our trip to Jamaica!

View Jamaica--Ya Mon!! in a larger map

Jamaica Pictures--Adventures we had

Did the dolphin touch at Dolphin Cove Kevin also snorkeled with sting rays. It was so worth the 3 hour drive to Ocho Rios to be able to have this experience.

We parasailed through the resort--our camera only had 1 picture left. After being picked up on our dock we floated in the boat for about 30 minutes as they ran out of gas and we had to wait for more. It was so awesome to be up in the air as the boat sped along the coast of the beaches of Negril.

We went snorkeling through our resort, very cool--we ended up being the only 2 going out that morning. They gave us bread and the fish would eat right out of your hand. The guide also took us over to a sunken cannon and anchor.

We also climbed Dunn's River Falls so amazing. You start at the ebach and with a guide climb to the top. Our guide Tami was amazing she took everyone's camera and paused at several times along the route to pose us for pictures. Definitely a unique thing to do if you go to Jamaica.


We also went horseback riding at Rhode Hall Plantation. We went up a mountain and then along the beach, they then resaddled our horses and we swam with them in the ocean--it was pretty amazing.


We also went to the world famous Rick's Cafe and watched the cliff divers and beautiful sunset.

Shared photo book from Amy

My computer is too old to load software from blurb or MyPublisher or any other digital scrapbooking program I found but having used Shutterfly in the past I knew I would get a good quality book. Now they have these scrapbook type layouts that make it so easy--prompts so I knew which pictures would fit and allowed me space to journal our trip!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Jamaica Pictures--What we Packed

A great collection of sundresses from Ann Taylor Loft, Loft Outlet, and Gap outlet

Bikini and cabana dress from Victoria's Secret and not pictured here a great bikini and tank suit from Land's End



My fair husband had 3 of these UV Skinz to protect him from the sun. I also had one in pink--these shirts rock. If you are going to be in the sun, you should consider getting one!


A small selection of sunscreens--these small wipe on ones from Neutrogena rock!
more to come tomorrow...

Mini Vacation

Heading to Pagosa Springs via Durango!
Hubby has a engineering test in Durango on Saturday, so we will drive down Friday. I will have to find something to occupy myself for 8 hours while he is taking the test(I have 6 library books and plan on window shopping) before heading to the relaxing hot springs!

Can't wait for a little adventure.