A Blurb about our trip to Hawaii

As promised, here are some photos from our Maui vacation.

I've always been a hoarder of photos meant to be showcased in my half completed scrapbooks.  Who has the time? I admire people who can keep up with all their family photos and create amazing keepsakes.  I have boxes upon boxes of photos from Max's childhood. When Ethan came along, everything switched to digital. This made it even easier to produce thousands of digital photos. It gets out of control.  My good friend, Lourdes, has given me several beautiful hard covered photo books from when she and her family visits. I treasure those books and flip through them often. What a priceless gift. 

So, I decided to make one myself.

When we returned from our vacation, I quickly (and easily) made a photo book via Blub. This hard covered book turned out beautifully.  Even my Instagram photos (lower resolution) are fantastic. The process was easy once I got used to all the editing options. My proverbial hand was held through each page, step, and process along the way. The book arrived in about one week. It is a keepsake that will bring us back to this specific vacation each time we look at it.

Our Maui Vacation
February 2012

Blurb allows you to share your books as well as make them available for purchase. Thinking outside the "family photos/vacation" box, you can create personalized (or general) storybooks for kids, books showcasing your work or photography, personal planners, custom notebooks, and cookbooks. You can also make Facebook photo books. You can essentially create and publish anything using your own photos. How cool is that?! I love it. Oh, and this book only cost $36. A personalized hardcover book for under $40. Now that's awesome.

Use this code [15OFFBLURB] to get 15% off of your Blurb book | Offer expires 3/31/12

*Since I really think Blurb is the bomb, I have become an affiliate and do get paid should you purchase via any Blurb links on my blog. If you decide to give them a try, I'd appreciate it if you'd consider doing it through me/my blog. Contact me if you want to learn about coupons or special promotions. I'll send them your way.

Sun, surf, and sea turtles - OM [one moment] meet up

At what point do you get excited about a vacation? Is it when you book the flight and hotel? Is it as you begin planning your itinerary? Or is it when you pack?  For me, it's when I'm on the last leg of my flight, no turning back.

This week, I began packing for Maui.  Four bathing suits, numerous halter dresses, and flip flops later, I decided that I really didn't care what I was packing.  If I only wear my swimsuit and sit on the beach all week, that's okay with me. I just want to see the four of us smiling and relaxing.

I've been dreaming of this vacation for many years. It's one that we had planned to take right after C's residency. However, moving from one coast to the other was enough excitement for us last year.

So, the blog will be on haitus next week. I know you'll understand.  Aloha.

The Journey - by Crafted by Lindy - Fab Finds from Etsy

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. Fine Art-"Keep Off the Tracks" 8x12 HDR Photographic Print - eleven12design

2. Vintage envelope seals - postage stamps repurposed - Brinner

3. Mustard Womens Cloche Hat With Peacock BlueFeather Accent - bethanylorelle

4. 60s Brown Green Patent Pumps Bow Smartaire 7.5 B - BlueRoseRetro

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

5. Full Aline Red Womens Skirt- IslaNewYork

6. Camera Kodak 1950s Pony 828 51mm Vintage Leather Case - salvagelife

7. Vintage Travel Photo - "Take the Long Way Home" - missquitecontrary

8. retro afghan - missoni inspired chevron stripes - FlumeStreet

[Lindy lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, son and daughter. Besides blogging, she enjoys running her stationery business and creating new designs for her Etsy shop. You can read her own blog here]

Back from Reno!

I'm back from Reno.  We actually got in on Monday evening.  I didn't expect to go "off the grid" at all let alone for as long as I did.  Must have been what I needed.

We had a wonderful trip.  We wandered, aimlessly, exploring Reno and its surroundings (Truckee, CA and Mt. Rose).  We went to a minor league ball game (Reno Aces), visited our new home (boys first time),  shopped the schools, drove all over the city, ate great food and interesting restaurants, got to know new friends, went skiing (two of us, and not me), bonded with each other, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  We are all the more excited for our big move in just 2 months.







My back is much better proving that I overdo things at home.  It took a solid month of taking it easy to feel close to normal.  I certainly don't want to experience that pain again.  I will have to relearn how to do things in moderation which will be difficult as I've always done things in overdrive.

So, what's next?  We are dotting "i's" and crossing "t's" on selling our current home and buying our new one.  I can't wait to share pictures of our home in Reno.  I don't feel like I can yet until it's officially ours in early July.  I will say that it will change the way we live.

I'll edit some more pictures to share with you in the coming days/week.  I'd love to hear what's going on with you.  What have I missed since I've last tweeted, blogged, or facebooked (we've gotta come up with a proper term for fb)?

Next week is Spring Break for the kids

Popping in today to let you know we are heading west next week. The kids are on spring break next week, so we are heading to Reno to see schools, the house, and take care of some business with C's new job.  Hopefully, I'll also get to see Angie of Angie Allen: Wedding & Event Stationary.  I'll still blog next week, so be sure to stop by.  I'm sure I'll post something about our adventure.

Back from vacation!

Hello! We're back and working hard to transition from vacation mode. The kids are back at school, C is back at work (and is on call) and I'm trying to wrap my head around all that I need to do (unsuccessfully, I might add). We had such a wonderful vacation with the family and have come back w/out any broken bones from skiing.

As we were staying with family in Park City, Utah, it is odd to have so much quiet around me this morning. For the last week we had a house full of kids (my own two boys, my niece (14 mos.) and nephew (3 yrs), two dogs, and 5 adults...and a partridge in a pear tree. So, even E found it difficult last night to go to bed without the fond chaos.

M & X on one of the walks with the dogs.

Little Miss C, as adorable as can be!

Bailey (top) and Parker, good dogs!

Now that I'm back, I have to get caught up on my blog, as well as others'. I do feel a bit out of the loop. I need to catch up on a few orders and get myself organized for spring.

I would love to hear what is going on with you. Anything new and exciting happen while I was away?

the devil's books

the devil's books, originally uploaded by barbera*.

I recently came across this when looking for inpiration photos. I had searched for bricks. I love that these are books!

Today, we head to Deer Valley Ski Resort. It will be my first day skiing with the boys (they've been in ski school all other times). The weather has been perfect here with blue skies and warm air. We're having a great vacation.

What's going on with you????

On the grid but just a little...

Although I'm back from vacation, we now have some good friends visiting us from Chicago. Picture a house full of 5 kids (including the two oldest who were born on the same day and were best friends for the first 6 years of their lives). We are cramming years of catching up and great laughs.I still have one more week of summer vacation with the kids next week, then off to school they go. This summer flew by, didn't it?!

So, enjoy the weekend. I hope to be back to my usual online obsession next week.

Oh, and stop by my friend and fellow Arts in RI teammate's blog to wish her a happy birthday! Happy birthday, Kristin!

Leo birthday card, by Kristin Crane

Going off the grid...well, kind of

I'm getting ready for some much needed rest and relaxation. Family members are slowly beginning to come into town and we have friends who will also be visiting in the coming weeks. I've debated whether or not to simply put my blog on vacation as well. Truth be told, I'm addicted. It is hard for me to imagine not blogging for a full 12+ days. So, I'm going to try to kick the habit but don't be surprised to see me pop in and out over the next week and a half. I may even re-post some older topics.

So, I bid you adieu for now. When I return, I will share some of my adventures with you as well as feature a new giveaway! Enjoy!

Heading west to discover new territory

I'm not posting my inspiration/interpretation weekly feature today as I'm heading to San Francisco. I'll be back by the middle of next week. I have scheduled some posts in my absence, so please continue to stop by.

Why San Francisco? Each year I've taken a solo trip with one of my oldest and dearest friends from college. These trips started as a semi annual girls getaway (mostly to places where we have mutual friends to mooch off of), but has now become a yearly must do. I don't like to be gone from the boys (hubby included) for too long, but it is so nice to get away and rejuvenate. This is especially nice for me as I'm mostly surrounded by flatulence, dirt, odors, and general boyness. I love my boys dearly and never thought I'd have anything but boys. However, I do like to get out and nurture my inner girliness at least once a year. I recommend a solo getaway to all moms even if it is just spending the night at a downtown hotel.

This trip is also going to be an exploration of the SF area. As C begins his 6th year of residency (more details here), he will soon begin looking for work. Although my local friends don't like hearing about it, I have to keep my options open (believe me, this is harder for me than you). For the last 12 years I've lived at the mercy of medical school and residency. We've been fortunate that everything has always worked out for the best. However, for the first time in all these years, we actually have a say in where we want to be. While many factors have to fall into place, we do have to look at the big picture (job opportunity, schools, community, lifestyle, etc.). I'll report back with photos from the area.

Love this photo I found on Flickr:
Salt ponds in SF Bay, by Kevin Kemmerer

I'm baaaack!

I'm back from Seattle! What a great trip. I have much to report but will officially blog again on Monday. You know you've had a relaxing vacation when it's hard to go back to work.

Have a lovely weekend!

I'm heading to Seattle for some R & R and a little business. I may post in the next week, but don't be surprised if you don't hear from me. I'll be writing about my trip upon my return. Here's a little teaser - a meeting with Amazon, new contacts, follow up with my current client, Clover, will be included in my report as well as cool shopping finds, and fun adventures.