AE Story Kit | Gatherings Layout

The day after Christmas, I signed up for Ali Edwards' Story Kit subscription, intent on making at least one scrapbook layout a month this year.

In January/February, I made two layouts using Ali Edwards' "Firsts" kit.

This month, I created a Christmas tree page using the second story kit. It features papers/chipboard stickers/thread from the "gatherings" kit. (Exceptions: The star is from the am/pm kit, and the red ribbon with pom-poms is from my stash.)


At my dad's family's Christmas gathering last year, I hung a simple photo backdrop outside (thanks, Preston, for your help with the streamers!), and set out some paper props on a nearby table.

Brian helped encourage everyone to get in front of the camera. Even my dad posed for a picture!

As you likely guessed, I was behind the lens for most of the photos, but I couldn't pass up the chance to pose with a few of my favorite female family members, even if I did look like Rudolph in a few of them.


From the beginning, I knew I wanted to include both a TON of pictures and A LOT of journaling in this layout. To do so, I glued all of the photos to a piece of red 12x12 card stock and then trimmed it down. From there, I adhered the red card stock tree to the kraft card stock, but only at the top.

That allowed me to flip the tree up, where I added word art cards and journaling.

Journaling:
For the past 25+ years, we've gathered either in the Sacramento area or the Bay area to celebrate Christmas together. What started as the "Sabel" Family Christmas now includes the Keys, Kovarik, Harless, and Meredith families. We generally gather the Saturday before Christmas, but this year (2014), we celebrated at my parents' house two days after Christmas. No matter when or where we gather, we have a great time! There's always food, presents, picture-taking, and lots of chatting and hugs! I SO LOVE these gatherings!

At many of the Christmas gatherings in the past, we've taken a group photo of everyone in attendance.  This past year was no exception. On this layout, in the area under the tree (on the kraft-colored card stock), I'm planning to display a group photo from 2014, along with any others I can find on my computer or obtain from family. (Mom & Aunts: If you have access to any group Christmas photos from the past, will you please send them my way?  Thank you!)

What gatherings have you documented lately?

Christmas 2014

Seeing this photo instantly takes me back to Disneyland, where I was kneeling on Main Street and shooting up at this gorgeous Christmas tree.

Disneyland is so magical, especially when it's all decorated for the holidays.    

Not only am I a fan of Disneyland, but I love good bokeh, too!

Because I wanted the lights to be out-of-focus, I switched the lens I was using (a Canon 50mm f/1.2 that I rented from Borrow Lenses) from auto focus to manual focus. Then, I turned the focusing ring as far as it would go to completely blur the lights.

I was shooting in manual, and although this image was shot at f/2.2, it probably would have been even better with a larger aperture (smaller number) such as f/1.2.

In post-processing, I made a few simple edits in Lightroom and then used RadLab in Photoshop to boost the color saturation and add contrast.  Lastly, I sharpened the image using a free action from MCP.

It's seriously super simple to capture holiday light bokeh! Here's an easy tutorial and some great tips if you want to give it a try.

Last December,I learned you could customize your bokeh, creating nearly any shape. I made a hood (out of black card stock) with a heart shape, took a few shots, and shared this image on my blog.

If you're interested in making your own unique bokeh, here is a simple tutorial.

Whether you find yourself behind the lens, in front of the lens, or a combination of both this Christmas, here's hoping your heart is filled with peace and joy.

Blessings,

Currently | December

Around here, I'm...

drooling over Straight No Chaser's rendition of Carol of the Bells. Think crazy good a cappella harmonies! It instantly brought to mind Boyz to Men, but instead of four guys, there are 10 performers. (Thanks Pandora for introducing me to this awesome group.)

submitting two photography articles to Improve Photography.   

editing photos in Lightroom from our San Diego trip.

buying shot glasses. (Oh yes, you read that right. I don't drink, but I'm planning to serve homemade eggnog in them.)

listening to The Carpenters Christmas Portait album. If I had to pick ONE Christmas album to play over and over again, this is it.  

hanging framed scrapbook layouts on my office wall, all the while reminiscing with an ear-to-ear grin.

splurging on an inkjet photo printer. (Merry Christmas to me!) 

watching A Charlie Brown Christmas with Brian and Noah.

enjoying Brian's homemade chicken soup. Yum!

draping an electric blanket over my lap while I write downstairs. (Brrr...it's cold!)   

running on the treadmill (after a much-too-long hiatus). Feels awesome!

loving Melanie Burk's Instagram feed, which is full of inspiring quotes and gorgeous handwriting.

reading High Five (like Highlights magazine, but for little ones) with Noah. His favorite part? The Hidden Pictures puzzle! 

getting excited to see my sister Kate and her husband Preston.  #itsbeenayear #only10moredays #ineedakatehug

smelling our fresh Noble Fir Christmas tree. (Thanks to Costco for another steal-of-a-deal!) 

looking forward to riding the Polar Express train with Noah, Zoey, Brian and our good friends, the Liotine's, tomorrow.

What's happening with you currently?

 

Rubber Stamps For Sale

 

In an effort to make a little cash for Christmas (and let's be real, clean up my downstairs office), I'm clearing out the last of my used rubber stamps.  

First up is this set of nine Christmas stamps (pictured above), which would be perfect for holiday cards, tags, mini-albums or scrapbook layouts. Seven of the nine stamps were produced by A Muse Artstamps.  

Secondly, this HUGE lot of miscellaneous stamps would be ideal for crafters who make greeting cards for all different occasions--Father's Day, graduations, St. Patrick's Day, anniversaries, Mother's Day, Easter, etc.

I also have five sets of Stampin' Up! rubber stamps for sale on Etsy:

Just Celebrate

Friendship Blooms

Botanical Blooms

For a Friend

Happy Harmony

If you're interested in purchasing any of these stamp sets, check out my Etsy shop or email me directly at brianandjennieadopt@gmail.com.

I'd love to find new homes for these stamps soon.   

Thanks for looking! 

ETA: A big thanks to my cousin who purchased every.single.stamp I owned. You're the best, Chris!

What to Buy for a 2-Year-Old Boy

In April 2013, just a few months after Noah turned one, I wrote a gift guide for 1-year-olds. Now that Noah is two, I thought it would be fun to pen a gift guide for 2-year-old boys. (Although I specified "boys," most of the items on this list are appropriate for girls as well.)

Here's what I'd recommend: 

1 | Bike
Noah's big birthday present was a Strider balance bike.  I thought he'd take to it right away (because he loves riding his trikes), but he didn't. However, Noah is now nearly 29 months old (Yes, I had to count the months in my head because I don't keep track anymore!), and he rides his bike every day.  

2| Kitchen
Noah loves "cooking" in his kitchen, especially when Brian is cooking on the stove top nearby. The only downside about this kitchen is that it is more compact than I thought it would be. A larger kitchen would work better for two or more kids.

3 | Workbench
We purchased a workbench for Noah at Costco, but this one on Amazon is very similar. Right now, it's in our family room and Noah uses it often. He even flips it over and pretends it's a car!

4 | Musical Instruments
For months, Noah has shown interest in playing musical instruments--in particular, he's quite fond of the guitar. So for Christmas, we bought him this guitar. We've already had to change the batteries--that's how much he plays with it! Smile.

5 | Backpack 
My sister and brother-in-law bought Noah a personalized Pottery Barn mini backpack for his birthday. It's the cutest thing!  Noah loves wearing it, and it comes in handy when we go to the park for a picnic lunch. I pack it with our sandwiches, fruit, and snacks. In one of the outside pockets, I carry a water bottle.  In the other, I bring along a small tube of sunscreen.

6 | Books
Noah is still a big fan of board books, but he's also interested in reading books with paper pages.
Here are some of his favorite paperback and hardcover books right now:

Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born
Someday
A Blessing from Above
A Pocket for Corduroy
What Do People Do All Day? (We've read this one over and over and over again!)

7 | Puzzles
This Melissa & Doug vehicle puzzle is a favorite because the pieces make noise.


8 | Indoor and Outdoors Tools
Like most 2-year-olds, Noah loves to help with both indoor and outdoor chores. Here are a few kids' tools that we are thinking about buying for Noah, so he can use them alongside Brian or me. 

Broom  
Mop

Rake
Set of tools, which includes a garden rake, leaf rake, spade, and hoe.
Leaf blower (Noah refers to it as the lawn blower.)

9 | DVDs
I'm not a big fan of screen time, but Noah watches television or a DVD while I get ready in the morning and occasionally, while I'm making dinner in the evening (that is, when Brian is at work). Having these DVDs on hand is helpful, just in case Noah isn't interested in watching the program currently playing on the Baby channel.

John Deere Tractor DVDs

Bob the Builder DVDs

Elmo DVDs

10 | Clothing
Buying clothes for a toddler is popular, but it can be tricky.  What size does the child wear?  What types of clothing does he or she need?  It's best to check with the child's parents to determine if they need or want clothing. (If you buy clothing, please be sure to include a gift receipt.)

11 | Shoes
Because kids grow so fast, shoes are almost always needed. Check with the child's parents for his shoe size.

12 | Gift Cards 
Some people think gift cards are impersonal, but I love them because it gives the child (and parents) the ability to hand select a gift.  Suggestions include: Target, ToysRUs/BabiesRUs, Lakeshore, or iTunes (for children's music).

13 | An Experience
One of the most meaningful gifts, I think, is to provide the child with an experience. Instead of buying material goods, purchase tickets for the child and his family to visit one of the following places: a nearby children's museum, exploratorium, railroad museum, indoor playground, trampoline center, water park or aquatic center. Perhaps, you could even join in the fun, too!
 
14 | Themed Gift 
Lastly, let the theme of the party be your guide. For instance, we were invited to a train party recently, so naturally, I bought a Thomas the Train toy for the birthday boy. Noah's cousin, Sammy, had a dinosaur party, so I purchased a dinosaur shirt and a few dinosaur books for him.

And one more thing...
Ask the child's parents if they've created an Amazon wish list.  I set up a wish list for Noah when he was born and ever since, I've added items he needs or things I think he'd enjoy. Not only do I add Amazon items to it, but also goods sold on other websites.

Having an up-to-date Amazon wish list is really handy--especially when Christmas or Noah's birthday approaches (he's a January baby), and people ask me what Noah would like. I can simply share his list with them via email.   

What is your favorite thing to buy for a 2-year-old boy? Please share in the comments.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links.  What does that mean?  Simply put, if you click on a link in this post and purchase that item, I earn a small commission, which helps to support this blog.

Christmas Letter | 2013

 Photo Credit: Mindy Newton Photography

Hi!

It’s Noah here, with an update on our family.

2013 has been a really fun year—for Dada, Mama, and especially me.

 Photo Credit: Mindy Newton Photography

The three of us went camping twice in our trailer—once near Foresthill where Dada spotted a bear in a tree—and the other time, in the Bodega Sand Dunes, where I played in the warm sand and the ocean. 

We also visited Lake Tahoe twice, once in the winter and once in the summer. In February, we snowshoed with our neighbors; their son’s name is Aaron and he’s about my age.  He calls me “Nona” and I love going for hikes with him. In August, we spent the day at Meeks Bay, but the water was so c-c-c-c-old that I didn’t want to go in. Dada buried the lower half of my body in the sand, and then drove a tractor around my feet.  I thought that was so funny!    

We also hit the zoo (where I loved watching the little monkeys), and the county fair (where I got to sit on a tractor), and a miniature indoor city called BusyKidz (where I vacuumed, weighed fruit, and talked on the telephone). 

About a month ago, I flew on an airplane to Texas. Auntie Katie (TT) and Uncle Preston got married, and Auntie TT looked so beautiful in her wedding dress. I wore a tuxedo, and everyone kept saying how cute I looked.  (Being cute is a good thing, right?) At the reception, there was a guy playing a guitar (gee-tar), and I sat down right in front of him and watched him play. Uncle Preston’s sister, Noelle, also played a guitar and sang really pretty.  

 Photo Credit: Mindy Newton Photography

Mama, Dada, and I have a lot of fun at home, too. Mama stays home with me, and in the mornings, we go to the library to play with puzzles or to gymnastics where I slide down into the foam pit (wee!) or to the park where I play in the sandbox and go down the slides (more weeing!).

Mama sings to me, and I sing along sometimes, too.  One of my favorite songs right now is "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."  You know that part where Santa says, “Ho! Ho! Ho!”?  I pretend to be Santa and sing those words.  

 Photo Credit: Mindy Newton Photography

Daddy works at the fire station and I miss him when he’s gone.  I say, “Dada?” and Mama tells me he is at the station. Then, I say, “Woo, woo?” and Mama responds, “Yes, Dada drives the fire engine.” When we visit Dada at the station, he hoists me up into the driver's seat and I hold on to the steering wheel.  It's the best!  I don't want to leave.  Ever.  When Mama says it’s time to go, I cry and cry. 

But then, when I hear Dada’s truck come up the driveway, I run to the window and Mama lifts me up onto the windowsill. Dada steps out of his truck and I wave and say “Hi! Hi! Hi!” with the biggest grin on my face.

Dada makes me the best shakes--always with frozen blueberries (my favorite)—and the best pancakes with oatmeal and bananas.  Dada also pushes me around on my outside trike, taking me for walks in the neighborhood. Going for rides in Dada’s truck is fun, too.      

My doggies, Lucy (Luce) and Rudy (D), are the best!  Lucy just turned 10 and Rudy is 8 now.  Mama and Dada give Luce two shots a day because she has diabetes (tees).  I sit on the rug nearby and watch.  Mama always says, “Good girl!” to Lucy when she’s done, and I say, “Good girl!” too.        

I also say "Oh, no!" a lot.  Like when I drop my fork off the dining room table.  Or when I put my foot in the dogs’ water bowl.  Or when I accidentally throw an iPhone into the bath tub.    

My other favorite words are: cool and okay and please (pwease) and thank you (ank-you) and football (b-ball) and helicopter (copter).  And, of course, guitar (gee-tar or tar).  I'm obsessed with guitars. In fact, I’m really hoping Santa will bring me one for Christmas! 

In addition to being a guitar nut, I have a thing for vehicles…you know, trains (choo-choo) and trucks and tractors.  Pretty much anything that goes.  Oh, and my trike.  I ride it as fast as I can around the house: Through the kitchen and around into the living room, then whizzing past the sofas in the family room and zooming into the dining room.  Dada calls them hot laps.  Don’t worry, though, I wear a big football hat (a gold Notre Dame helmet) when I ride to protect my brain (ain).   

Mama, Dada and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,

Noah

(Age: Almost 2)

December Daily: Days 18-26

Woohoo!

I just finished my 2012 December Daily album.

Before I share the remaining pages of my album, here's a look at the title page: 


This photo, taken at Picture People last week, works perfectly as the first page in my album.  I just pulled the photo into Photoshop Elements, added a few words, and printed it at Costco.  (Yes, we had our holiday photos taken AFTER Christmas!  Initially, I was just going to get Noah's first birthday photos taken, but then thought, Why not do holiday photos, too?)

And now, here are days 18-26:

December 18: I made grasshopper mint chocolate bark for the first time, and it was SO easy and SO delicious!  Here's the recipe, in case you're interested in whipping up a batch. 

December 19: We're lucky to have a persimmon tree in our front yard, which produces fruit every December.  This year, Brian picked 20 persimmons off the tree!

December 20: The three of us drove to Nevada City for the day.  There, we browsed some shops, bought three Christmas books for Noah, and feasted on a slice of pizza and a calzone at Pete's Pizza.  Noah ate a bit of the pizza AND some of the calzone, too!

December 21: Our cousin, Christa, treated us to lunch at her place.  It's always fun spending time with her, and her enchiladas were awesome.  Even Noah thought so!  

December 22: We celebrated Christmas today with my dad's side of the family.  Noah loved playing with all of his cousins!

December 23: I actually took this picture on another day, but wanted to include it in my album.  Although they are rare--especially during the holiday season--low-key days, where we stay in our pajamas, play with toys, read books, and listen to Christmas music, are so much fun.   

December 24:We celebrated with Brian's family on Christmas Eve, exchanging gifts, eating, chatting, and just enjoying being together.    

December 25: After 8:00 am mass, we drove down to my parents' house where we opened presents and ate brunch before my dad left for work.


I just love this picture of McKayla in her Santa hat.  Can't believe she's in the fifth grade!  

Unfortunately, Katie and Preston couldn't be with us this Christmas.  We wanted to let them know we were thinking of them, though, so we snapped the picture above and sent it to them via text message.

Later on that day, we opened gifts with Brian's family and then headed home for dinner and more present opening!  Noah loved ripping open his gifts--once he got the hang of it.  And now, he loves ripping paper of any kind.  

December 26: Although I started brainstorming ideas for Noah's birthday party early on in December, I kicked my planning into high gear the day after Christmas.  I found so many cool ideas for the party on --where else?-- Pinterest.  There, I created a "secret" board, where I pinned my finds.  I'm planning to write a separate blog post on Noah's party soon.

I'm really happy with this super simple album.  I love that it's small.  I love that it contains lots of photos and some journaling.  I love that it documents our December days as well as Noah's first Christmas.

Here's hoping you had a magical December, and that your new year is off to a wonderful start!

 

December Daily, Days 10-17

Hello there!

I'm back to share eight more days from my December Daily album.  (If you missed Days 1-9, click here.)  

December 10: Rather than share a picture today, I decided to do a bit of journaling using the "loving" prompt.  I stamped l-o-v-i-n-g using a Studio g alphabet stamp set and Stampin' Up! ink.   

December 11: Noah still loves to ride in his swing, so when it's not raining, we bundle him up in a sweatshirt and/or jacket and head outside.  

December 12: I placed the overlay on top of my photo in Photoshop Elements and had it printed at Costco.  But as you can see, I must have done something wrong because the overlay and journaling are cut off on the sides.  After Christmas, I plan to fix it and reprint it.        

Journaling reads: Peek-a-boo is one of Noah's favorite games right now!  He loves to crawl underneath the tree stand, hiding until we say, "Where's Noah?"  Then, he peeks out, smiling and giggling.  I respond enthusiastically, "There you are!"  and he disappears again.


December 13:  You might notice that Noah has the same pajamas on as he did in the previous photo.  That's because I took both photos on December 12!  I couldn't decide which one I liked better, so I included both--one for the 12th and one for the 13th.    

Journaling reads: Noah loves pushing this toy cart around the family room, dining room, and kitchen.  He's also fond of moving dining chairs, his high chair--and even a side table--around, too.  It's so much fun watching him cruise around, gaining more and more confidence with each passing day.

December 14:  On this day (and in subsequent days), my thoughts and prayers were with the people of Newtown, Connecticut.  This quote from Mr. Rogers is a perfect one to acknowledge the tragedy, while reminding us to look for the good, for those who are helping others.  A big thanks to Cathy Zielske for offering this free printable on her blog. 

December 15: I mailed our Christmas cards today!  Thanks to CardsEtcetera for the card design, and Vistaprint for printing all 70 cards, front and back.

December 16: I sat down at my computer and typed for five minutes, writing whatever came to mind as I thought about Christmas.  With the words I generated, I created this word cloud using Wordle.  It was fun to change the font and color of the text, as well as the shape of the "cloud."  If you want to create your own word cloud, click here.  Keep in mind: If you want a word to appear larger than the others, be sure to include it multiple times in your text.   

December 17: Noah had a fun day hanging out with his cousins, McKayla and Zoey! 

I'll be back after Christmas with Days 18-25. 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Ham and Cheese Appetizer

Here's a quick and easy appetizer that has been a hit with family and friends.

Ham and Cheese Appetizer

1 cup of cheddar cheese (grated)
8 ounces of cream cheese
3 slices of ham, chopped up finely

Mix it all together, stick it in a dish and bake it at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

This appetizer can be eaten with Fritos Scoops or any other type of chip you desire.

We doubled the recipe and enjoyed this yummy appetizer on Christmas Eve with Brian's family.

J

P.S. Thanks to the Liotine Family for sharing this recipe with us!

Death by Chocolate

Note: I may have already posted this recipe on my blog, but I'm sharing it (again) because it is one of my favorites to make for family and friends during the holidays.

Death by Chocolate

1 box brownie mix (21-23 ounces), prepared according to box directions and cooled
1/4 cup Kahlua (or Starbucks Frappucino Vanilla)
1 (4 serving) box of instant chocolate pudding
1 1/2 cup cold milk
1 (8 oz) container of Cool Whip, thawed
4 SKOR or Heath toffee bars, broken into pieces


Once the brownies have cooled , use a fork to poke holes into the top of the brownies.

Keep in mind that you can bake the brownies the night before. It's especially helpful to do so if you don't have much time in the morning or want to sleep in like I do. :-)

Pour the Kahlua (or Starbucks Frappucino Vanilla) over the top of the brownies and set aside.


In a medium bowl, combine the pudding mix and milk and stir with a wire whisk until thickened.
Fold in half of the whipped topping and set aside.

Break up the brownies into small pieces (using a fork) and place half in the bottom of a large bowl.

Cover the brownies with the entire bowl of pudding mixture and half of the candy.


Place the remaining brownies on the top and cover with the remaining whipped topping.


Sprinkle the remaining candy over the top.


Chill for at least two hours before serving.

I can't take any credit for this recipe; it was given to me by Brian's cousin, Gina. Gina's mom, Aunt Nonnie, loved to prepare this dessert for family and friends. She is greatly missed by all who knew her.

J

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas.



Digital design credit goes to Less Ordinary Designs.
Picture credit goes to Mindy Newton Photography.

Hope you have a blessed day!
J

The Reason for the Season

It's easy to get wrapped up in the hustle-and-bustle of the holiday season (the shopping, the wrapping, the card-writing, the social engagements, etc.), and completely forget the reason for the season.

If you're having one of those days where your to-do list is a mile long and the stresses of the holiday are mounting, take a few minutes to watch this clip from A Charlie Brown Christmas:



If you're like me, you'll be glad you did.

J

Advent Calendars

Advent is now underway.

What is advent? It is a Latin word meaning "the coming." One of the ways Christians prepare for the celebration of Jesus' birth is through the use of an advent calendar.

Each December when I was a young child, I looked forward to opening a window a day on my advent calendar, and discovering a small treasure inside.

This week, while perusing a handful of blogs, I found these make-your-own creative advent calendars:

Advent Boxes by Ali Edwards

Advent Calendars

Toilet Paper Roll Advent Calendar by Heather Johnson

This photography garland would be fun to make, too.

While I don't plan to create any of these handmade beauties this year, I wanted to post them here on my blog in the hope that they will inspire you, and so that if I decide to create my own Advent calendar in the future, I will be able to easily access these wonderful examples.

J

Welcome, December.

The house is decorated.

Our Noble Fir tree--from none other than Costco--is covered with colored lights (thanks to my hubby).

And tomorrow, we'll hang our Christmas ornaments from the tree's branches.

By the way, I know you must be wondering about the photo above. It is a picture of our Christmas tree; I purposely whipped my hand around as I snapped it. I wasn't fond of any of the traditional tree shots I took, so this artistic one will suffice for now.

And one more thing to celebrate today: December Daily has begun.

Soon, I'll share a page or two from my book.

J