Showing posts with label jennie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jennie. Show all posts

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Goodbye & Hello


Change is definitely in the air around here. 

We've been saying goodbye to some things and hello to others.

One of the biggest changes has been moving Noah from his crib in the nursery to a twin "big boy" bed in my former office. 

It took Noah a week or more to get used to sleeping in his new bed and new room. During that time, he repeatedly asked to sleep in his crib for naps (and occasionally at night), and we allowed it, wanting him to make the transition at his own pace. (Luckily, we had that luxury since there wasn't a baby needing the crib.) Now, a month later, the twin bed, outfitted in a construction-themed sheet set and comforter, is where he lays his head each afternoon and each night.

Noah's room is still a work-in-progress, but I plan to share photos of it once I'm finished decorating it.  
As I alluded to earlier, my office/craft room is no longer in our third bedroom upstairs. It's now downstairs in the fourth bedroom. (A big thanks to my hubby for setting up my new office!) We were able to reuse the tables and drawers from my original office; they are just configured differently. (I'll post a picture of my new set up soon.) 

Because I don't have as much space as I did before (I was totally spoiled for four years with a huge bedroom!), I took a good look at what I was using and what I was no longer using. I also reflected on where my creative interests lie right now, and what I want to focus on more in the near future.

I then sorted through my scrapbooking paper and rubber stamps and other supplies and sold or donated quite a bit.

Purging always feels so good; it's cathartic for me.

Being in a new space is also exciting. I've enjoyed thinking about how to organize my materials and supplies, so that I can easily access them.  I've scoured Pinterest for ideas. I've also reflected on what worked in my old office and what I want to do differently in my new office. 

I still have some work to do, mainly decorating the walls and emptying a few more small boxes, but I'm really pleased with my new space. Perhaps, my favorite feature is that I have a desk with drawers where I can store (ie. hide) Post-it notes, paper clips, my stapler, scissors, etc. I love having these items within arm's reach, but tucked away and out of sight.

I've learned over the years that the cleaner I can keep my desk (and office), the more I tend to get done.

And not only do I have a new office, but I also have a new camera!

After shooting with Nikon cameras and lenses for five years, I said goodbye to Nikon and hello to Canon.

I'm now the proud owner of a Canon 5D Mark III. Yeah, baby! 

I'm slowly learning my way around the 5D with the help of the owner's manual and the Adorama Learning Center.

And when I start to feel overwhelmed or frustrated, I'm gently reminding myself that there is a learning curve anytime I move to a new camera--but even more so this time because I've changed brands.

Tomorrow, my family and I are heading to Oregon to spend time with Brian's family. We'll be leaving Noah's big boy bed and my office behind, but you can bet, my camera will be with me.






Thursday, June 19, 2014

Throwback Thursday | Birthday Edition


While I don't usually participate in #tbt (Throwback Thursday), today is my birthday, so I thought I would share a childhood birthday photo.

Granted, it's not the most flattering photo of me--my eyes are closed and all--but it made me smile.

There I am blowing out my younger sister Nichole's candle, probably because I was four and Nik was one and my parents asked me to do it.  (Sometimes, I wish pictures could talk and tell you all the little details surrounding the event.  Oh wait, that's called video! HA!)

Clearly, I had already blown out my candle and I'm sure I was game to blow out another.

I love Nichole's wide eyes and joyful expression.

I love that we're both wearing our pajamas. (I'm not sure if this was in the morning or evening.)

I love that we're celebrating together.  (There were many years where we had joint parties because our birthdays are only eight days apart.)

I love that the cupcakes are homemade. (Man, a cupcake sounds really good right now!)

I love that this photo screams '80s! (It was taken in 1982.) From the couch to the table to my hairdo. The graininess makes me cringe, of course, but it certainly adds to the "antique" (or should I just say "old?") feeling of the photograph.

Both of my younger sisters were born in June. In fact, we're all born within 10 days of each other. (Yes, apparently my parents had a mating season! HA!)

Happiest of birthdays to you, Nichole and Katie!

As for me, I'm grateful for 35 trips around the sun, and looking forward to the year ahead.





Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Peru | April Sketch Challenge

I just can't get enough of these sketch challenges!

Here's my Peru layout for Scrapbook Circle's April sketch challenge:

The sketch had two pictures in it, but I wanted to include more photos from our trip to Peru in 2007. I ordered six photos from Costco (I sized them to 2x 2 and placed them on 4x6 canvases in PS before ordering), but only incorporated four into the layout.  (Just for fun, the other two pics are on the back!)

Photos from top to bottom: View from the top of Amantani Island looking out at Lake Titicaca | Brian and me watching the sunset on Amantani Island |  Eating alpaca ravioli...yum | Eating soup


Although I used the sketch as a jumping off point, I didn't follow it closely like I usually do. And because I was in a rush to complete this layout by the deadline, for once I didn't overthink what papers to use and where to place everything. Grab, glue and go!   

Journaling:
Machu Picchu | Eating cuy (guinea pig) + alpaca | Homestay on Amantani Island | 5.9 earthquake in adobe house | Scrabble in espanol | Bus rides | Crazy taxi driver | 2 weeks | Magical

It's so much fun to scrap photos from a vacation so long ago because all of my memories come flooding back.  It's like traveling without leaving home, which satisfies my wanderlust appetite. Just perfect for this phase in my life when international travel is not in the cards.



Friday, December 27, 2013

Favorite 2013 iPhone photos

Three weeks ago, I upgraded from an iPhone 4 to an iPhone 5S.  Big smile.

For the record, I purchased said phone solely for the camera.  I'm serious!

For the record, I used gift cards to pay for it (a BIG thanks to Todaysmama.com and Blue Shield's Healthy Rewards program). Woohoo!

And for the record, I did a happy dance as I walked out of the Verizon store, clutching my new phone.

The night before I bought the iPhone 5S, I transferred the last of my iPhone 4 photos onto my computer.  And for some reason, after the upload was complete, I started viewing all of my old iPhone photos.  A trip down memory lane, if you will...

Some of them made me smile, others made me laugh out loud. Most of them reminded me that Noah is growing up so fast.

Since 2013 is rapidly coming to a close, I thought I'd share nine of my favorite iPhone photos--in this polaroid frames template I found online.  

If you follow me on Instagram (jharless), you've probably seen most of these photos already.  But a few of them (like Mr. Lion reading) never made it into the social media world--that is, until now.

Here is a little backstory on each. 

Left to right, top to bottom:

1 | February: First snow for Noah at our home.  It wasn't much of a snow storm--mainly freezing rain--but it was exciting nevertheless. 

2 | February: I took this shot in our master bedroom closet, while Noah cleared nearly every shoe off the shelves.

3 | September: We celebrated our first family birthday with dinner at BJ's. 

4 | August: The three of us spent the day at Meeks Bay in Lake Tahoe.  For me, it was one of the happiest days of the summer.

5 | February: The photographer/artist in me loves this shot.  Noah still loves to slide his blocks in the window track.

6 | November: I was cleaning up a few items off Noah's bedroom floor, when I looked over and saw Noah looking at a book on the chair with his Mr. Lion hat on backwards.  I thought, That's funny, and pulled out my iPhone to take this shot.

7 | October: Although you can't tell from this shot, Noah loved riding in this car at the grocery store.  In fact, the reason he looks so distressed is because I had stopped pushing the cart to take a picture.  I'm sure if he could talk, he would have said impatiently, Let's go, Mommy!

8 | March: This is one of my favorite iPhone photos of Noah.  I can't help but grin every time I look at it.

9 | September: The lighting was gorgeous that evening (it was during the magic hour), so I snapped this shot of Noah sporting his Notre Dame jersey and putting his arms up in touchdown fashion.



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