Project Life – Week 5

Here I am again with another edition of Project Life 2013! =D I’ve been having lots of fun with it! Just wanted to share my week 5 spread. I’ve noticed that I don’t take too many pictures during the week, but take tons during the weekend. I still manage to fill 2 page protectors and have leftover pictures. I showed my son the new pages and he loved them (as shown by all the giggling… let’s be real, he just loves seeing himself on pictures).

I put together the 3×4 week days cards on PSE. I just wanted to have 3×4 cards where I can do a row of week days with highlight moments. I also put together the “Hello February” card, but this time using a PL Seafoam kit 3×4 card as a base. I particularly love the faux letterpress heart over the 14. I think I’ll continue doing this type of card every month.

I can already tell that this album will become a family favorite!

Project Life – Week 4

I might be a bit (or a whole lot) obsessed with Project Life. Absolutely love the process and the results!!! Here’s the spread for week 4.

Something I adore about Project Life is that it has pushed me to pay attention to my family life in a different way. I’m journaling our family. I’m taking more pictures. I’m documenting it all! I really didn’t think we did enough “cool” things during any given week to fill out the weekly spreads… but I was wrong! I’m taking notes of things that are important and special to us. I’m just enjoying this completely.

Enjoying Citrus Lane

Citrus Lane is another monthly subscription service we’re receiving! The boxes you get are called “care packages” and are targeted for baby (and mom/dad). Check out what a CL August 2012 box contained! What I like the most about this service is that it is customized to age and stage of the child.

Check out what we got on our January 2013 care package (*I’m providing Amazon links for all the products*):

• Zoo Lunchies from Skip*Hop (elephant) – So adorable! We already own the owl one and love it!
• Soothing Creme + Playful Wash Packet from Episencial
• Nibly Fingers from Ella’s Kitchen (strawberries and apples)
• To-Go Disinfectant Spray from CleanWell
• Bear’s Busy Family from Barefoot Books

Awesome selection! I love that the box doesn’t include just toys, but a thought out selection of items. We’re enjoying all the products (especially the book) and looking forward to the next care package!

Project Life – Week 3

This is my PL spread for week 3! I already have a good rhythm going and can organize all the pictures and text pretty efficiently (following the process I shared last week).

Now I need a better set up for taking pictures of my layouts. I work on this project during the night time for the most part… not a good time to take pictures. So, I’ll be looking into low-light digital photography and/or a DIY light box and/or taking pictures by a window during the daytime (check out Ali Edwards’ post about this).

Week 4 is all ready good to go. I’ll be printing tonight, so hopefully I can share tomorrow.

Since I am the one taking the pictures, I rarely appear on them… gotta change that! My goal for week 5 is to appear on at least 1 picture! =D

Also, I just bought the Project Life Baby Edition for Him digital kit. I’ll be using this kit to make Antonio’s scrapbook. I have so many pictures that I think PL is the best solution to finally have all our memories on one place (not hidden on a computer). I’ll be using my PL process to put this album together. I will probably also include some traditional layouts. Stay tuned for more on this ginormous project!

My Project Life Process

Today I will show you how I put together my Project Life layouts. I’m a PL newbie, but this is what works for me, so far. My layouts are pretty simple. I’m sure I will get more adventurous as the year goes by.

1. During the week (I go from Monday to Sunday), I take pictures with my cameras or iPhone 5 and take notes using the Day One app (which I love!).

2. I made a simple Photoshop template of the page protectors that I’m using (Becky Higgins PL Photo Pocket Pages Design A). This is what it looks like when I open it on PS Elements.

3. On PSE, I open all the pictures that I want to use for the week and size them (4″x6″ or 3″x4″). Then, I start arranging them on the template.

4. I leave the top left 4×6 spot empty for a title (date) card. I bought the Seafoam PL digital kit (which includes all the cards on the “regular” printed kit and the digital papers that coordinate with the collection) and think is worth it.

5. I fill any other slots with filler cards. My layout then looks something like this…

6. When I’m happy with the order of the pictures and cards, I add any text (if needed).

7. Then, I print everything at home. I use an Epson Artisan 730 printer (it prints my pictures beautifully).

8. I add any little embellishment that I can come up with (I designed the circles and arrow tags using the Silhouette Studio and cut with the Cameo) and slide all my pictures and cards on their respective pockets! Super simple!!!

I like my method because I can get a pretty clear idea of what the end product will be without having to print tons of pictures. I just print what I need. Also, it goes super quick! I can have my digital template complete in a matter of about an hour. Add another hour or so for printing, cutting to size, embellishing and sliding cards on the page protector. And that’s it!

I truly think this the perfect solution to document our lives. I love that you can make it as quick and simple or long and complex as you want! I will be starting my little guy’s baby book using this method (will be buying the baby boy digital kit soon!).

Hope this helps get you motivated to record all those daily life memories (big and small)! =D

Welcome 2013!

Here I am… trying to bring the little old blog back to life. Well, let’s try this blogging thing again on 2013!!!

Today, I’ll share some of my (big picture) plans for 2013.

1. One Little Word (click on the link to go to Ali Edwards blog… that’s where I first read about this movement). My word for this year is MELIORA!!! It means ever better (love that!). Meliora is the University of Rochester (where I got a couple of degrees ) motto. I saw it on a poster at the airport on New Year’s Eve… it aligns perfectly with my goals for this year. Striving to be ever better (for myself, my family, and all aspects of life)!!!
2. 2013 Focus - As a family effort, we’re planning to use this year to better our home… truly make it the Marrero-Sanchez home. I’m not saying we’re gutting the house and redoing the whole thing… we just want to make it great for us! In order to do that, we need to continue watching our finances (maybe be even more careful). There are some projects that are way overdue… can you say painting?!
3. Of course, making is an ongoing thing around here. But, it is always important to bring it up and remind myself of why I love making so much… be it food, quilting, paper crafting. I enjoy the process, but I love when my family loves the end result. There’s nothing like a loud “mmm” with lots of emphasis from the little guy when he likes something I made for dinner (it happens often… he’s a good eater… it still makes me oh, so happy every single time).
4. Vacations!!! - The hubster is extra busy working towards his doctorate, so every moment together counts. We are planning a couple of fun vacation trips (one during Spring and one during Summer). I’m super excited about it all!
5. Document it all. I’m doing Project Life for the first time this year! (Thank you Becky Higgins for an awesome system that allows me to document my family life!) I completed the first week already. I will have a separate post with more details about my process. This is the first look at it.

That’s it for now… see ya later!

It’s apple season!

You can already feel the crisp air of autumn in Upstate New York. That can only mean that apple season is upon us!!! What better way to enjoy apples than by making apple dumplings? Yeah, that was dinner last night! They are scrumptious! (Is scrumptious more delicious than delicious? That’s what I’m going for.)

I only took a picture of the final product because there are way better pictures with the recipe already.

 

Gotta love love love Cook’s Country, Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen! Their recipes are just a breeze to follow and they just work!

I’m a runner now!

Exactly one week ago, I completed my first 5K (and with obstacles), the Dirty Girl Mud Run! It makes me feel so proud. By the way, they’re not kidding when they say the run is dirty! From start to finish is dirty, but oh so fun! Let me just say for the record that we completed the run in approximately 90 minutes… it was hard. It felt like we were going uphill most of the time, but when we went downhill it was super steep and we had to “lock” our knees. It was a whole new experience that I share with two awesome gals. Can’t wait to register for another race.

Check out the pictures…

BEFORE

ALMOST AT THE END

AFTER

Good times!

Yes, I’m running a 5K!

I like to think that I’m a runner… but I’m not… but I love the idea of it. Thinking this way is not good for me. Here’s why… see… my friend suggested we do the Dirty Girl Mud Run… a muddy 5K with obstacles (happening in just 2 weeks). I said: “I’m in!” and registered. Then it hit me… I’m not a runner or very fit for that matter (but my brain thinks I am even against all of my body’s indications of out-of-shapeness)!!! Note to brain: losing weight (I’m up to 35 pounds… not too shabby) doesn’t mean you can do exercisey stuff at the drop of a hat! Now I gotta show up and do it… but it’s ok! It’ll be an adventure that I’ll share with two of my bestest girlies in the world! And did I mention that we’re all donating some money to an awesome cause?! A very deserving organization, the National Breast Cancer Foundation! So, if anything I’ll put myself on the line (and have fun while at it) for sisterhood and to help save the tatas. How about it? I’ll make sure the husband takes pictures so I can share all the hilarity that I’m positive will ensue.

 

 

Sweet Cherries are the best!

This season, sweet cherries around here have been delicious… more like still are! So in a very spontaneous kitchen move, I made Skinnytaste’s Cherry Custard recipe. It is very fast and easy to put together. I didn’t have white flour and used whole wheat instead… I’m sure that changed the flavor a bit.

It took longer to bake than the 25-28 minutes suggested. I’ll be getting an oven thermometer to double check my temperature. It took my custard a good 40 minutes in the oven to set.

 

But it was delicious and worth the wait! It tastes like rich bread pudding but with cherries!

The Skinnytaste website has tons of delicious recipes… go visit it! I have made a good number of recipes with great results. Really, my go to website for delicious Weight Watchers friendly recipes.