Summer Bucket List and my Favorite Fonts

Every Year we make a Family Bucket List.

At the beginning of Summer we are so excited about the possibility of all the Fun things there are to do....and by the end of Summer we are usually disappointed that we didn't do any of them. 

Although there is something to be said for just chilling out, relaxing and doing nothing.

(Note:  need to put more of that on our Bucket List)

Plus - I'm a List Maker - so this project is perfect for me.  It's a big pretty List that is displayed out for the entire family to view.

I used a 8 X 10 white picture frame and added some paper flower embellishments (hot glued) to the corner.

Pink - Orange - Turquoise - Lime Green - they make me Summer Happy!

Our list of Summer activities includes simple every day things we can do without much planning.  Each one is listed in a different happy Summer Color and typed using some of my Favorite Go To Fun FONTS:

Have you seen the great colors that Dry Erase markers come in now?  

Don't forget - they work on Glass too (not just white boards). 

Go ahead and mark up your Summer Fun List.  Check off things once you have done them, Add notes about when you want to do them, Draw pictures, Doodle...

It can all be easily wiped away.  Just be sure to keep the Dry Erase markers separate from the Sharpies (lesson learned the hard way - OOPS). 

First thing on our Summer Fun Agenda....make Fruit Popsicles.  

DONE!  Strawberry Lychee and Pineapple Coconut.  Y-U-M

What's on YOUR Summer Bucket List for this year?  

Project Life 2014: Cover Page

I am excited to be starting Project Life again this year. 

This time with some revised - more realistic - expectations. 

You can read more about my plan in the Project Life Tab above.

2014 COVER PAGE 

I used family photos taken for our Holiday Card.   Since we were wearing Red and Grey, that became the color scheme for the Cover.  

The card inserts are mostly from the Midnight Edition Core Kit as well as pieces from the Studio Calico Monthly Project Life kits

I wanted to embellish with Black Numbers and Letters, but I didn't have any.  My solution was to modify some existing chipboard numbers/letters. 

The ones I used had an antique map print.

I temporarily stuck them to a leftover piece of plastic packaging.

Then I squeezed on basic black glitter glue.  This is not scrapbook glitter or glue - just plain craft glitter glue that you get in the kids craft section.  

It goes on very goopy, but have no fear.  You don't need to spread it out evenly when you apply, it dries perfectly flat.  I did go back and add some extra in spots where the beige showed through.  

The finished Black Glitter chipboard letter.  

I think it's a great transformation.  You would never know it was the same brown letter I began with. 

One of my favorite parts of the cover - was actually my Least favorite to begin with. 
 

I added this blank (Happy Thoughts) card because it gave the right amount of both grey and white to balance the page, but I had no idea what kinds of Happy Thoughts to include.  

I ended up including a few thoughts that I want to be the focus of our year of 2014.  Like a little Mission Statement for our family.  A simple reminder of some simple things to keep us (and by US I mean ME) on track.

It's only Tuesday - and I've already gotten Week 1 done as well.  I'll be posting about that next.

I'm off to a good start - fingers crossed it continues this way.  

Box of Sunshine

We Live in Sunny California

My Nephew is away at school in Chilly Pennsylvania

I remember when I was in college how exciting it was to get something in the mail - especially a package.  I also remember never having anything fun to eat, how hard it was to get to the local store, and not having much money to spend on anything that wasn't a necessity.

So I decided it was a perfect opportunity to send my Nephew a

Once you start looking - it's amazing how many YELLOW snack food items you can find.

My Box contained the following:

Lays Classic Potato Chips

Velveeta Mac and Cheese Cups

Kraft Cheese in a Can

Wheat Thins Crackers

Slim Jims

Primgles Potato Chips

Mr. Goodbar Chocolate

Bumble Bee Tuna Snack

M n M Candies

Dried Pineapple Bits

Everything sweet, salty and completely bad for you that a College Student could ever want.  

There were so many great food choices.  

I was like a crazy woman wandering around the grocery store grabbing anything I could find that was yellow.  Once I realized I would have to SHIP the package....it helped me edit my selections.  
Nothing too heavy, or breakable, or easily smashed.

But if I were delivering this to a local friend....Ohhh the possibilities.  

I filled the shipping box with yellow paper shred and tied yellow bows around several of the boxes.

We wrote a personal message on the back of a Large Sun cut from cardstock and patterned paper.

A few more suns were made from circle and scallop paper punches.

  There was even room for a little light up stress ball animal.  

And then it was all shipped off for my nephew (and his room mates) to enjoy.

This would be a great pick me up for someone who is feeling under the weather and could easily be tailored to the Lucky recipients tastes.   

Who do you know that could use a little Box of Sunshine to brighten their day?

Back to {Middle} School

We are in the second week of school here in California.  

So Far....So Good
(although I don't want to jinx it)

The transition to Middle School has been a good one - for Both of Us!

~ In Years Past ~

~ Like So Many Families Across America ~

The First Day of School was filled with Mom rushing to get the Perfect Picture (followed by child grumbling and groaning)

Last year I finally got Smart - and started doing a Dry Run Sunday.

Little K get's to try out her First Day of School Outfit - and I get to take all the pictures I want.

No Rush

No Hassle

Everybody is Happy

This year - Little K actually asked ME first - if we were going to do a photo shoot before school started.

Aaah - after years of training - I've finally got her requesting that pictures be taken. 

There is One downside to my plan.  I ended up with over 200 shots.  Many of them were really good.

How will I ever choose my favorites

What a difference it makes when my child is relaxed and happy (and mama too).

She was willing to pose anywhere I suggested - and I was willing to try HER  suggestions too.

This shot was on a wall about 12 feet off the ground.  She had to climb on my shoulders just to get into position. 

Oh what the neighbors must think of us.

Time to be a little Goofy

And a little more Serious

And maybe a little Cheeky

So how was the First Day of School in your house?

I have a feeling this is going to be a Great Year. 

I Think I Could Live Here

We just got back from an amazing few days in Santa Barbara.

We stayed at a beautiful hotel - right on the beach.

Our room faced the ocean and you could hear the waves pounding throughout the night.

I've never slept better (maybe the down bedding and chocolate mints on my pillow helped a bit).

I'm not the only one who wishes we could live here.

These girls could stand and stare at the ocean waves for hours.

That's Little K and her Best Bud (that we stole away for the weekend).

Our resort was simply Glorious 

(the most over used word of the weekend - but the perfect way to describe everything around us).

I'm in love with the Spanish architecture and details.

Look at those beautiful tiles in our bathroom.

Notice the bath spigot? The water just flowed out of the wall...like magic.

Did I mention the overhead Rain Shower?

The Hotel grounds there were filled with secret gardens, lush flower filled planters and trickling fountains tucked around every corner. 

Sigh

More of those hand painted colorful tiles. Yes Please!

Check out this gigantic tree. We named him Ferdinand - because a tree that fantastic has to have an equally powerful name!

We did venture out one day to go Horse Back Riding.

This was my horse.  His name was Chief - Scout - Major - Commander - or something that means person in charge, I never could remember. 

Maybe that's why he didn't listen to me very well?

Hubby and Me - looking kind of spiffy after spending several hours on the back of a horse.

The weekend was also filled with...

Refreshing Drinks

Pillow Fights

Breakfast on the Veranda

...and lots more time frolicking on the beach!

Yes - I definitely think WE could live here in Santa Barbara. 

(some day)