by Sarah | Oct 24, 2011 | Giveaway, Holidays, Reviews
I don’t know about you, but this year just totally flew by in our house. One minute it was February, and now it’s suddenly the end of October! Christmas is coming up fast and I feel totally unprepared for it. I just bought the first couple of Christmas gifts Friday night. Compared to last year at this time when I had it ALL done…I’m grossly unprepared.
One thing I know I’m going to be using to my advantage is Shutterfly.
For the grandparents there are a ton of options. We can dive into the photo gifts shop. There we could find coffee cups, t-shirts and even necklaces that we can add images of their much-loved grandchildren to.
But, I think in the end the best grandparent gift ever is a calendar. 12 months of their precious grandchildren? What grandparent isn’t going to love that?
If they didn’t all read my blog I’d tell you what I am going to end up getting 🙂
For the first time ever this year I’m taking a big-girl step. I’m getting Christmas Cards together. I saw this style at Shutterfly and knew it would be perfect. I had so many great photos of the kids from our photo shoot back in June, that this card let me use a lot of them. And feature all three of the kids without leaving anyone short changed.
Now that I’m finally set on my cards, how would you like some help with yours?
I’m giving away THREE codes for 25 cards from Shutterfly! Put your pictures from this year to great use and get some FREE cards!!!
All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment here telling me what your favorite part of the holidays is.
That’s it!
With three prizes to be won, there’s no need for extra entries!
*Giveaway CLOSED
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*For my post I was received free cards. My opinions are my own.
**Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here: http://goo.gl/DDw7Q
by Sarah | Oct 23, 2011 | Paper Heart Camera, Photography, Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Simple Things, Weekly Winners
All taken w/ Canon Rebel XS.
As the lead-in states it was a see-saw week. Very cold temperatures to start, ending with a gorgeous couple of days. We took advantage of one of the days to go to the zoo. You’ll have to go to my Flickr account to see ALL of those pics – only a couple are here.
1. Words
Words are things; and a small drop of ink,
Falling like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.
~Lord Byron (Don Juan)
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More than Words
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2. Under
I’m eighteen years behind in my ironing. ~Phyllis Diller
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It’s my ironing board. Yup. Figured it would make for some interesting lines and shadows. Only light is daylight and a flashlight used to cast shadows for fun.
3. Orange
Orange is the happiest color. ~Frank Sinatra
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We fancy men are individuals; so are pumpkins; but every pumpkin in the field goes through every point of pumpkin history. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
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4. Fly
I had a picture of a bird, but I didn’t want to go typical. I loved the jellyfish…floating and soaring through the water on pure instinct alone.
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Another one for a-typical. A leaping lemur mid-flight. I have a much better one in my archives, but I didn’t want to dig this week.
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5. Always look on the bright side
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose desire for things beyond your reach. ~Lyn Yutang
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It was cold, dark, and rainy outside – but bright, warm, and cozy inside.
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A Simple Thing:
I have two simple things this week. I simply could not chose. First is my girls – who asked me to take a picture of them at the zoo and posed so beautifully for me. The second is a zebra picture I took. It’s almost SOOC – I just had to adjust the exposure a tiny bit. Otherwise, no cropping or anything. It makes me so happy at it’s gorgeous simple complexity that I had to add it into my simple things.
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You can find more pictures over at my flickr account.
Scavenger Hunt Sunday is run by the beautiful Ashley. Head on over to see more Hunters.
by Sarah | Oct 20, 2011 | All About Erik
I’m sure you all remember Archie. My husband of 9 years now.
He’s been a little absentee in mentions lately here on the blog (our anniversary notwithstanding, of course). Not for lack of events revolving around him – just the opposite, actually. He’s going through a few changes of his own. In deeply personal and dark struggles of his own.
For those that didn’t know, Archie struggles with severe depression. For most of his life he’s been on medication for depression or bipolar disorder.
Every medication has side effects. Many medications are addictive. Some medications make the anger part of depression go into extremes. Some just make you more depressed then when you began. Others still give you horrible hallucinations until you’re sure you’re going to go insane. Many medications eventually lose their effectiveness. Especially for someone that has always been on meds.
Recently Archie went in to see about finding a more effective medication. In a now familiar pattern he was weaned off one, and started on another. The new medication is one that’s very new on the depression scene. The side effects listed were a bit scary, but from everything we read it seemed a 50/50 shot that he’d get them.
Unfortunately, he did.
All of them.
The worst was the nightmares. Nightmares so extreme he didn’t sleep for 3 days.
One night he woke from a nightmare only to continue in it with waking nightmares – hallucinations so severe I was terrified for him.
That medication was immediately weaned off and we’re onto another one.
The constant change is painful to him.
Physically painful. Stressful on his body.
On his mind.
On his soul.
Struggling to get through until we know if the meds will even help. To be “normal” so that the kids don’t see the severity of his pain…and sometimes failing. If he has a bad day, the guilt layers on top of what he goes through.
He’s hurting.
I know he is, and I know there is nothing I can do for him. Except continue to love him, and be there when he needs me. And wait by his side for the upside down to become right side up again.
by Sarah | Oct 19, 2011 | All of Us, Crap, Random
I’ve never done well with change.
I like to know what’s going on, and unknowns really get under my skin.
But life is about change. Growing. Accepting. Living.
All of my kids are in school now. Only half day for one, but she’s my baby and by this time next year it will be full days of quiet.
The quiet time is nice. I get more done. Not all day every day. But more.
This week has been a week of sticking my neck out.
I put in a job application. It’s for a job I really, really want. It’s so close to home I could walk to work (nice weather permitting). The hours are excellent. It’s in a library. And me and books? Well, we get along so well. Thing is, I haven’t had a job in about five years. Part of me doesn’t want to go back to work. Another part of me is excited at the thought. A bigger part of me knows that me NOT working is no longer an option. I have to.
I submitted some writing to several places. Hoping it gets accepted and printed. It’s not a lot, but I’m trying to get myself to where I write more than long novels and try to get my name out there.
My oldest is a teen. He’s asking for facebook. Looking at girls. He’s already had his first heartbreak.
The girls are getting bigger. Expanding their circle of knowledge and friends. It’s led to some difficult situations, some behavioral problems. But they are changing every day.
I’ve started going to PTO meetings. Me? I’m not a PTO mom. I never have been. I just think that I need to be now.
In this fall season it feels like things are in a state of flux. Changing and shifting before I’ve given them permission. Our days are full and it’s so difficult to sit down and absorb anything.
Just for a little while I’d like to sit back and watch the colors change.
by Sarah | Oct 15, 2011 | Photography, Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Show & Tell, Weekly Winners
All taken w/ Canon Rebel XS.
I was pretty much elsewhere in my head this week. I got most of these at the absolute last minute…like tonight (Saturday night). Hoping for a much more creative week next week.
1. Abstract
What is a weed? A plant whose virtures have never been discovered. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Counsel woven into the fabric of real life is wisdom. ~Walter Benjamin
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2. Round
Music is the harmonious voice of creation; an echo of the invisible world. ~Giuseppe Mazzini
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I had a few ideas for round. My headphones were my favorite. I wear them all the time when I’m writing. They’re also my salvation when hubby is watching horrible scary movies.
I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars. ~Og Mandino
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Our end table lamp is so perfectly round I had to use it. I wish I’d been able to get my camera high enough to get the outer ring too. But I love that the bulb is a circle within the circle of the lampshade.
3. Fire
If you don’t light fires, smoke won’t get in your eyes. ~German Proverb
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From a little spark may burst a flame. ~Dante Alighieri
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4. Faces in Unusual Places
This is another one I struggled with. Then tonight in one of her fits, Angel decided to hide her face IN the couch. It hit me, that was a face in an unusual place. Yeah, it’s a stretch, but really…I had nothing.
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5. Stars
Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars. ~Henry Van Dyke
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When it is darkest, men see stars. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
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A Simple Thing:
My simple thing for this week is my Riley. The girls is a future model. The camera loves her, and every time it’s pointed even close to her direction, she posing. This was at Brandon’s last cross country meet. She saw me with the camera and it was five minutes of constant motion, posing and turning, and posing again.
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You can find more pictures over at my flickr account.
Scavenger Hunt Sunday is run by the beautiful Ashley. Head on over to see more Hunters.
by Sarah | Oct 12, 2011 | All About Erik, All About Marriage, All About Me
He was the first to ask US on a date. He included my beautiful three year old on our first date. He thought of us before he thought of me. He took us to an appropriate kid-friendly place. He talked to Brandon, he made Brandon laugh. And when dinner was over, Brandon looked at Archie and said, “Are you coming home to see Mimi and Papa?” The deal was sealed…he was special.
I held back, afraid to give up my heart. I couldn’t tell him I loved him…I was terrified of my past repeating itself. But once I was able to make that step, everything fell into place. Engaged and a wedding date planned before we’d hit the six month point. A fall wedding, as I’d dreamed.
There wasn’t a doubt…WE would be married. Not just Archie, and I…but Brandon, too. He asked Brandon permission to marry me, and he had Brandon give me the ring – sending my mother into a fit of tears. The ceremony would involve Brandon, and we’d be announced as a family.
And so we were. Our small family embarking on new territory. Making a path none of us was too sure how to follow. But we trudged ahead and forged it together.
The first year was tough as I pursued roles in Community Theater as well as marriage and mommy-hood. But from there, community theater was put on hold to focus on family.
We’ve had our struggles…financially, and emotionally. But we’re now at nine years and stronger than ever.
He’s the one that’s supported me, no matter what my dream or desire. He believes in me when I’m not so sure I believe in myself. He tells me daily that I’m beautiful, or a good wife, or both. He is proud of me as his wife, and as a mother.
So Archie, thank you for nine years of wedded bliss (and miss)…our struggles made us stronger…and your love makes me better.
For the grandparents there are a ton of options. We can dive into the photo gifts shop. There we could find coffee cups, t-shirts and even necklaces that we can add images of their much-loved grandchildren to.
