One Little Word 2013

Just like I did last year, I’m taking Ali Edwards One Little Word class through Big Picture Classes. I loved, loved, loved the class last year. I got so much out of it by the end of the year. It really seemed to guide me in a positive direction, which felt so good.

If you haven’t heard about the class before, it’s basically a way to set some monthly goals for yourself based on one word instead of coming up with a New Year’s resolution or resolution(s) that you don’t end up keeping even through the month of December, let alone the entire year. I highly recommend it!

Last year my word was nourish. It was perfect! I focused on my mind, body and soul all year long. I started a regular exercise routine. I made better food choices. I started to learn meditation. I made time for myself. I could go on and on. I tried my best to keep my word in the front of my mind as much as possible. I completed the album and was so satisfied with the outcome. Although making a book is part of the class, I definitely think you could take part and not create a book. Keeping a journal would be just as gratifying.

This year I picked open as my word. I want to be open to new possibilities and to have an open mind and an open heart. I want this to be my best year yet because I’m open to anything! I started my book with the January prompt, but haven’t yet. When I do, I’ll be sure to update my post.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out Big Picture Classes website here.

It’s not too late to start, and it’s a great way to do something positive for yourself.

Tashia

Instagram Obsession

I’m totally obsessed with Instagram. But, really, who isn’t?! It’s where I share most of my photos on a regular basis. I rarely share photos on FB and have never posted one to twitter; although that may change if things work out with my new blog. Anyway, I digress, my whole point was to share some of my favorite Instagram photos from the past few months. I plan on adding my feed to the sidebar eventually, but until that happens I’ll post them!

Happening Now

Wishing for warmer weather…hurry please

Eating lots of Cuties/clementines

Training for a 10k with the Run Keeper app on my phone

Loving the new Seafoam Project Life kit

Watching Dawson’s Creek on Netflix (obsessed all over again!)

Working on products for an Etsy shop

Finishing my December Daily album way later than intended

Praying that the stress in our lives eases a bit and soon

Trying to live my One Little Word for the year (more on this later)

Designing our 2012 family yearbook on My Publisher

Spending lots of time reading photography articles

Focusing on what’s really important

Starting to experience some MAJOR cabin fever, anyone else?!

Learning to go with the flow and know that everything will be alright

Feeling proud while watching the Inauguration

Mini Album-Big Sur Trip

I didn’t always like the concept of a mini book. I thought they would be hard to store on display because  and I wasn’t sure how they would hold up over time due to the fact that they don’t typically have page protectors and are not usually housed in binders. However, after seeing Elise Cripe’s summer mini book, I decided to give it a try. I am really happy with the finished project and wanted to share it with you.

So here is the mini album that I put together to document our trip to Big Sur this past summer. It was my first time making a mini book ever, so I wasn’t really sure where to start, but I quickly got in a groove and it turned out to be one of my favorites. I don’t think it’s something I will do often, but I enjoyed putting it together and will definitely make more in the future.

All the photographs were taken with my Nikon D3100with just the standard lens or with my iPhone.

I still have a few small finishing touches I need to add, but it’s pretty much done. Love it!

Tashia

Getting Started

Getting started on a new blog, on a new server, is harder than I thought it would be. I’m still learning. Slowly. Hopefully this will eventually be as easy as blogger. I’m also still trying to decided exactly what direction I want to go. I know I want to add my photography, memory keeping and a sprinkling of everything else. But, with that being said, I’m not sure where to start, so maybe I’ll just start.

Here goes nothing. I guess I should let you know a little about me. I’m currently a stay-at-home mom to two little ones. Hudson is my 3-year-old son and Harper is my 18-month-old daughter. They are quite a handful right now, but also a ton of fun and in my opinion, super cute! My husband’s name is Jeremy. He’s awesome! We just celebrated our 5-year-anniversary last August with a trip to Big Sur, California. Loved it! I’ve always loved art and photography, so it just made sense to get into the photography business, finally. I’ve wanted to be a photographer my entire life, but never felt confident enough until now. I’m working hard to get things going and finally be able to photograph clients.

I think it was my love of photography and art and that got me into scrapbooking at the ripe old age of 14. It was my freshman year of high school when I started my first album. I was in love! I made scrapbooks for each year of high school and college, as well as graduation, cheerleading and vacation scrapbooks. I took a break after college though. I felt burned out and uninspired. It just wasn’t fun anymore. Then I had a baby and suddenly I felt the urge to document his life in that special way that only a scrapbook can, so I started up again. I was finally starting to enjoy it again. A year later I discovered Project Life by Becky Higgins and I knew I absolutely HAD to document our everyday lives with this awesome system. The more I did, the more I loved it. I started off just doing it the simple way, but have evolved into adding more embellishments and inserts. I can’t even tell you how much it’s changed my way of memory keeping in the best way possible.

I made my first mini album to document our Big Sur trip and loved creating it. I used Elise Cripe’s summer mini book and it was perfect. I can’t wait for the right time to put together another one, only next time I think I’ll make my own mini album!

Along with the scrapbooks, Project Life and mini album, I also create family year books every year. I started in 2009, so I have three so far, but I just started adding 2012’s photos to MyPublisher in order to get started on our 2012 yearbook.

As you can tell, memory keeping is incredibly important to me and a huge part of my life. It’s my quiet time, and without sounding too cheesy, my way to focus on all the little blessings that life has to offer. It’s awesome.

I also love to run, cook, craft and am working on slowly updating our home. Which means I will most likely be adding blog posts about all of it. I love spending time with family and friends as much as possible, but I also enjoy “me” time with a cup of coffee and a good book or peaceful meditation, which I’m very new at and have a ton to learn. I’m convinced I would be best friends with Reese Witherspoon and Ali Edwards if ever given the chance to meet the. What you don’t think so?! Ha!

My guilty pleasures include anything with chocolate, all kids of cheese, and a good glass of red wine, oh, and Instagram.

And last, but not least, my favorite shows (because who isn’t interested in knowing my favorite shows?!) are The Walking Dead (obsessed!), Parenthood, Modern Family, Revenge and 30 Rock. Does anyone else watch The Walking Dead? Isn’t it like the best ever?!

So that’s pretty much it for now. Talk about rambling! That went on longer than I planned, but I hope you’ll come back again for another visit!

And just to end things on a cute note, I thought I’d add a couple of photos I took of the kids when we actually had snow on the ground.

Hudson

Harper

Have a great weekend, and I promise to get my stuff together and figure this whole thing out!

Tashia