Keepsake Trophy Display

A few weeks ago my mom and I were talking via FaceTime, when we chat we usually take the time to show each other the projects we are working on. During our last call she was explaining that her and my Dad were cleaning out the attic (to which I replied again?! I swear they are always cleaning out the attic haha). Anyway, they had come across some old toys and keepsakes of mine and my brother's.

Of my brother's things they found an old block set and all of his trophies from high school. My mom knew these items in their current state were just taking up too much room, but she also didn't want to just toss them. So, being ever creative as she is, she put together this amazing piece combining the vintage blocks and his trophy plaques.




Supplies

• Building blocks
• Plaques from the front of a trophy
• E6000 Glue (can be found at Home Depot for sure, even in Canada, Europe I have nothing for ya yet lol)
• Paint colour of your choice (I would go neutral though so it is a timeless piece) my mom used a cream colour
• Hanging kit

1. Lay out blocks in the pattern of your choice. 
   
2. Once set glue them together using the E6000.
3. Let dry.
4. Paint the blocks with the paint colour of your choice.
   
5. Using the E6000 Glue again or a hot glue gun glue the trophy plaques on to the block background you created. 
   
6. Once dry, turn the blocks over and install the hanging kit.
   
7. Hang and enjoy!

I really love finding unique ways to preserve old memories. What is your favorite memory?

D is for....Diary

I know what you are thinking...diary? Diary? Who the heck keeps a diary any more?! Well, I do...

This whole blog, given it's name is a diary of sorts...I am always telling y'all what I'm planning for the week, what sort of projects I'm doing, and where we are goin'! But, I also keep a few other diaries and encourage my teenager to as well.

Writing, can be very therapeutic...it allows you to get out your thoughts and feelings privately. I know for me, I over react about EVERYTHING so keeping a written journal allows me to get out what I am currently feeling and evaluate if I am misinterpreting the situation or if it is indeed something I need to bring up with the offending individual. It also allows me to record exciting events and read back on them later, as time goes on those events may fade in my mind but I am almost always glad I wrote them down. It is also a place when we have a big decision to make I can take a few days and write about it and see where my feelings take me, that usually helps to make decisions.

I also keep a separate dream diary. I keep the separate because believe it or not I have woken up and written in it during the night and not have remembered doing it when I wake up..I don't usually find out until a morning or two or three later when I go to record a dream. It doesn't happen often, but my writing is usually not the neatest as I am usually in a hurry, or not really awake it some cases so I like to keep the separate from my regular diary.

The final diary I keep is a gratitude journal with my husband. We started it over last thanksgiving and still use it. 

I find it helps us to focus on the positive in one another, especially during stressful times when he is working long hours, or I am PMS'ing (haha). I feel like this is a bit of our own romance novel and we get a small peek in to what the other is thinking.

Do you keep a diary of any sort?

A is for Albums

A couple of months ago, back in February I read this article posted by another blogger. He tells us how the generation of children coming up, in roughly 10 years will have NO pictures! WHAT?! How can that be?!

My daughter has picked up scrapbooking here and there. In about late 1999 scrapbooking became a big deal with the popularity of Creative Memories or whatever that company is called. However, I was scrapbooking long before that. My mother started creating formal picture albums with the sticky sheet albums and decorating the covers beautifully (well, for the time, it was the 80's ;))

When I was in high school I kept two scrapbooks, one was just something for me to throw ticket stubs in, pressed flowers, little memories like that. The other was a formal picture album which I used card stock and construction paper and stickers to decorate the pages. To date I have finished roughly 9 albums. I should have a lot more but I have slowly fallen behind over the years.

The article written by Mike Yost Photography has really re-inspired me to make sure I get these pictures preserved for future generations.

I wish I had all of my albums with me to take photos and show you how I have preserved our memories over the years but I sent them to my mother to store for us, but I am here to share with you two albums I have made and am working on recently.

The first is a digital scrapbook that I am creating and sending off to someone special very soon! I took off all the identifying details because the person the gift is going to will most likely read this very post and I don't want to give it away, but once it is received I will share a few more photos and who it was for. The idea behind this though was to give a keepsake gift for a milestone they will never forget.

Creating a book on Shutterfly or any similar website is very easy.

First, you just log into your account and go to the gifts section. You then choose the type of album, page numbers (don't worry, you can add pages as you go along), then start uploading photos to the album! I found the easiest way was to upload them to the photo strip and then drag and drop them where they belonged. This way I could manipulate them to a certain degree to have fewer on one page and more on another.

Front cover.

As you can see you can easily select different layouts, embellishments, and backgrounds. You can even get layout ideas, which can be a real lifesaver if you are having a creative crisis.

Once you are done you finish it up and order it. It can be printed and sent away. I found this a particularly easy gift to give still having a US bank account it was easy to pay and ship directly to her door!

I will say though that creating a scrapbook like this did not give me the same pleasure as a paper scrapbook I put together with my hands. I would do this again for a gift, but for my personal scrapbooking I prefer to make paper albums, like the one I am working on now.

I found this album at Paperchase in Amsterdam, I felt like it summed 2014 up in a nutshell: luggage! We moved and traveled a lot last year and since all of last year's photos will be going into it, I felt it the perfect story starter.

To do paper scrapbooking you can get really super fancy or keep it really simple. I have found the simpler the better. I used to have a die cutting machine, which I loved but not necessary. You can use fancy papers, but again, not necessary.

You should be mindful to use acid free paper, writing utensils, glue, and embelishments as they can wear down the photos over time (although I do have one scrapbook I made on construction paper when I was a child and it is fine, the paper is just faded.)

So..here are some sample pages...

This was my first layout for London, I used some stamps and a stencil to create little plaques for journaling.

These layouts had so much in the pictures I kept them a bit simpler so you could really focus on what was in the photos, too much embellishment would be distracting and make the page too busy.

This is the intro page to our Hawaiian vacation. I used some letter cut outs from the Flow Book For Paper Lovers and I cut out a sign of one picture to create a piece of authentic embellishment. To create a journaling plaque I just framed a piece of card stock with some washi tape.

This is my favorite layout in the whole book so far I think. I love how I framed the photos on the left with washi tape, use photo corners on the right and more washi tape and letter's from the Flow Book For Paper Lovers to tell where we were. I then used all the blank space to tell a really humorous story from my time there. I won't go into detail but it does involve me thinking a solid 50 fake spiders were real. :P

How do you preserve your family's memories? I would love to hear more in the comments!

That Time I Learned to Drive...

I have a 14 year old...she is about to turn 15. Normally, in the US this would mean we are preparing for the driving permit. She would have a book and be studying just waiting for that 15th birthday when she can get that little permit in her hands. However, living in a foreign country where you cannot drive until 18 she knows this won't be happening. The subject comes up every now and again and so that got me thinking about when I learned to drive. It was all pretty comical really...

I didn't actually start driving until right after or right before my 17th birthday, I think...I don't remember exactly when I just know it took me a while. When I turned 15 I was gung-ho about driving and got my driving permit shortly after turning 15. However, the first time I went out with my mom she yelled at me for driving too close to the side of the road. The 3rd time my dad took me out he took me around so I had to drive up the only hill in all of Jacksonville, FL. Of course this was at like 6 or 7 in the evening so there was traffic, so I had to stop at the stop sign. Then someone rolled up behind me. Close. I was in a manual car...which I still stalled out...often. After much yelling, me almost hitting the woman behind me, my dad wound up driving home because I was so paralyzed by fear. I still hate hills to this day. 

After that I didn't drive again...for a while...like months and months. So, my 16th birthday comes and goes and I am still catching a ride from people. Well, summer  going into my 11th grade year a friend says I NEED to get my license. So, coming home from the mall he has me drive his car. I didn't want to but he insisted it would be fine and promised to tell me when to go at the horrible four way stop by the mall. Wouldn't you know he says, "GO" I go, next thing I hear, "STOP!" ...and we got hit....by a woman who was in a "rage" and had completely blacked out. Awful. I never wanted to drive again.

Well, a month or so later my 11th grade school year starts, my BFF is still driving me to school and I talked to my counselor and decided to graduate from high school a year early. This means I need to take classes at the local college. Mom was not happy about taking me to college. Kind of laughable right. I was told I had to get my license. Mom couldn't teach me, Dad couldn't teach me so that left my brother. He was very relaxed pretty much let me drive how I wanted and so I did it.

My 17th birthday comes around and my dad takes me to the DMV. I ran a red light on my way there. Dad was not happy. Not sure what all I did wrong but it had something to do with me not putting my seat belt on fast enough, not turning the lights on quick enough, and I could have possibly done a U-Turn after being told I missed a turn during the test. So, I failed. Miserably. Go to another DMV...I failed again. No license for me that day. 17 and couldn't drive.

A few weeks later I go take the test again...I finally passed. 

I drove around what my friends and I coined the "brown turd"-a 1986 Pontiac-T1000..Hatchback. Had a lot of fun in that old car...couldn't keep a stereo to save its life, but had a lot of fun..even when I used a battery operated mini boombox for my musical entertainment! ha! 

After reliving all these hysterical experiences it is no wonder I don't like to drive and much prefer my walking/biking/transit using lifestyle!

So, how do you get around? What was your first car?

Thankful Thursday...Throwback Thursday....maybe both??

It is almost Thursday here, as we prepare for a huge adventure in our lives I find little momentos here and there that make me smile. There are just some things that you cannot get rid of. One of this things for me is this:

It's such a fun little retro item isn't it?! I believe it was given to me by my Grandfather, he died when I was 3 but I still vaguely remember him. That or I just saw so many pictures of him and my mother and Grandmother told me so many stories I just think I remember him. 

This item though brings back so many fun memories. I remember being in elementary school and by Florida standards I remember it being freezing cold and my mother didn't often bring this set out but she made my breakfast in this set: hot cocoa with marshmallows (good ones too not the crappy ones In the Swiss miss packet lol), toast, and oatmeal. I have no idea why I remember that, but I do. I hope my daughter has memories like this when she is my age. Heck, I'm sure she will have memories of this set...I fed her with it often when she was little.

Here is an unedited version of the set:

Do you have any thing like this? What is one item for you that brings back warm, fuzzy memories?

September Blogging Challenge: Memory

This is the final post to finish up the September Blogging Challenge! I can't believe I covered every single one (almost) lol. 

Today's prompt asks us for a special memory. There are so many to choose from; there are smaller "insignificant" memories that really have a big impact to more significant ones such as the day I got engaged to my wedding to the day my daughter was born. The one I am going to share though I think is more of a "neutral" memory and really incorporates how much people cared about me and really signifies my growing up. It also made me realize just how small the world is! 

I don't have any digital pictures to go with this memory, although it takes up a good majority of one of my scrapbooks. I was 19, my daughter was 3 or 4 months old, hubby had just graduated from boot camp and was in California. We had not even been married a year yet so I didn't want to have to live apart from him any longer than necessary. Plus, I'd always wanted to live in California, so we decided to use what little money we had for me to get on a train with our 4 month old and come on our to Cali. Now mind you I'd never left my home state without a parent, so this was a HUGE deal! My mom and I had quite a fun time organizing everything I would need for four days of non-stop travel with an infant. My mom was a basket case (obviously, what mother wouldn't be lol) so my dad took me to the train station. I remember feeling like something out of a 1950's movie getting on the train. I also remember having to kick my father off as I was pretty sure the train was going to take off with him on it and not that I would have minded, but I was scared he'd be arrested for not having a ticket! LOL Oh the joy of being naive lol!

The train takes off and I spent a few hours just enjoying watching the scenery go by and exploring the train. I had never been on a train so that was super fun. There were a lot of interesting people to meet and talk to. At dinner I sat with an older couple in there 70's who had been married like 40 years or something insane and had quite a bit in common with them so that was really nice. After that evening I was walking through the train and saw a girl I had gone to high school with! She was going to Texas to meet up with her husband at the time. I was flabbergasted! I could not believe that was happening. I was grateful though because after 24 hours on a train with an infant I needed a small break so she kindly watched my daughter for me while I took a washroom break and cleaned up and reorganized my bag. We then met back up within the hour for breakfast together. It was so nice to see her and visit and catch-up. We were just acquaintances in school, but it still meant a lot. 

After a few days of travel and spending hours in the scenery car I arrived in Los Angeles, 8 hours behind schedule! I was so stressed out, but quickly learned that the train that went from Los Angeles to Lompoc was a commuter train so I got on one no problem. The older gentleman from the couple I had met lived in Los Angeles so they helped me gather my belongings and helped me to my next train. That was such a relief to have some help like that! I arrived in Lompoc and found my way to the AF Base. It was quite an experience and one that really helped me grow up. It also helped me realize the importance of community and how many different types of communities there are, permanent and temporary!

This sure was a fun month sharing quite a few things with my readers that I normally would not think to share! What is one of your fondest memories??

September Blog Challenge: Favourite Photo

Whew! Fairly busy day yesterday (unexpectedly when our cheer carpool let us know they weren't in the country lol), so I didn't get around to writing today's post! Well, here I am now, getting it done. My favourite photo this is going to be a tough one since I love pictures and have a TON!  Seriously, the amount of pictures I take is a little excessive. I have tried to tone it down in recent years, but with digital pictures I seem to be worse than ever lol But, here we go...

I'm going to go with a more recent photo. This isn't necessarily my favourite photo of all time, but my recently most favourite photo is this one:

It is from us kayaking over the summer (obviously given the paddle in the back lol). We were having a great time and we were trying to get a "selfie" of us together while getting some of the scenery in the background. I think it really embodies the two of us and just how goofy we are! :P

Here is another favourite:

I know I showed this one earlier in this same series, but it's the first photo of our little family and is so sweet! :) <3 p="">

I have others, but sadly they aren't digital lol Gosh, sometimes I think I sound so old! hahaha

Sunday Social #5-Childhood

Well, being a kid was tons of fun...what about being a kid isn't tons of fun?! So, here's a little about my childhood...

1. What do you miss most about being a kid?

Absolutely no responsibility. Playing outside until dark, and some days even after when we'd get a good game of flashlight tag going. Getting hurt and not being embarrassed about it. 

2. Dd you have a nickname growing up? What was it?

Katie was what everyone called me, mostly. My uncle did call me Katerbear a lot though. 

3. What was your favorite thing to do at recess?

Play on the see-saw and get "bumped" on it lol

4. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher mostly is what I can remember. Once I got into high school I remember wanting to go into advertising....

5. Did you participate in any school activities?

Not really. I was in drama club at one point and the yearbook committee, but otherwise I wasn't too into after school sponsored activities. I danced 4 days a week outside of school and did aerobics and walking at home so those were my "fun" things. :P

6. What is the funniest thing you did as a kid that your parents still remind you about?

Ummmm....I don't really know. I know one time I went to bed mad & they got a picture of me sleeping with my arms crossed, and when I was 3 I bit my bother's nose (he's 8 years older than me) lol

Well, that's a little bit about my childhood in a nutshell. What is your favourite childhood memory?