A Matter of MemoriesA Matter of MemoriesA personal blog about a working moms everyday life as well as her scrapbooking and photography pursuits. Also includes a weekly scrapbooking meme or challenge. Articles
Sunday Spur on hiatus this week...
2007-06-17 18:02:00 Considering that I have not been at home during waking hours for more than 5 hours this entire week with my conference in RC and Czech Days, I just didn't have time to prepare a Sunday Spur. Please forgive me and stay tuned for next week. However, I do hope to be sharing a pictures from Czech Days later today if I can keep my eyes open long enough!! I do expect this to be a truly LAZY Sunday! More About: Week , Hiatus
Czech Days kicks off tonight in Tabor, SD!!
2007-06-15 00:35:00 So, I just got home from my conference in RC last night at about 8 p.m. (long drive home), have been at work again all day today and tonight will kick off the beginning of a VERY busy weekend!! It's CZECH DAYS in Tabor, SD! It's my hometown celebration and it's a BIG deal...especially for someone who is 100% Czech! Toni ght they start off with a baseball game and fireworks and the next two days More About: Days , Kicks , Kick
Recommended: Firehouse Brewing Co. in Rapid City, SD
2007-06-12 15:47:00 I'm in Rapid City , SD for a work conference right now. My coworker and I arrived at about 7 p.m. last night and checked into our hotel. We booked late and in the height of travel season over here, all they had left were whirlpool suites...ahhhh shucks! Definitely took advantage of that last night after we went out for dinner at the Firehouse Brewing Co. I had chicken fajitas...a little spicy, but More About: Comm , Ouse
Serendipity Kits June 'Focus on Photography' & 'Layout' Contests
2007-06-10 19:59:00 One of my photos, which I titled "Spring is Here," made it into the final judging stage for the June "Focus on Photography " contest over at Serendipity Kits ...very exciting!! This photo was taken at the very end of April on a day we went out to take advantage of some FINALLY nice weather to pick some dandelions and feed the ducks. I love the crop on this pic and the sense of motion...one of my More About: Contests
SSFS #20 - Photography Inspiration
2007-06-10 16:03:00 This week's Sunday Spur will hopefully inspire you to take advantage of the summer weather and get outside to take some pictures! Here are a few of my favorite sites to go to for photography inspiration. They are all amazingly talented and give me ideas for composition, color combinations, locations, and much more! Of course, my favorite is the Children's Gallery in each, but there is great More About: Photography , Inspiration , Graph
A Review of Paper Crafts Magazine
2007-06-09 02:27:00 A review of Paper Crafts Magazine . Amazon Description: This magazine is directed at the woman crafter seeking excellent original design, full-size patterns and complete accurate instructions for how-to projects in general crafts, needle crafts and floral. Its included instructions will guide readers through trendy and traditional techniques. The project ideas and designs are supplemented by More About: Review
A rainy day and a pink umbrella...
2007-06-08 05:18:00 I have been wanting to get some pictures like this for quite some time...and I finally got the 'umbrella' shots!! I think Kaitlin thought I was a little off-my-rocker when I actually told her to go walking around in the tall, WET grass. It's all in the name of a good picture, right! Recognize this one?? It's my new header pic! This is definitely one of my favorites. Love the sprinkling of More About: Pink , Umbrella , Ella
How to know when the shoot's over when photographing young children:
2007-06-06 02:27:00 Photographing children can sometimes be quite challenging. In the beginning, they can be so cooperative...sometimes... and you might catch a cute shot of them in play... or a sweet smile in an all-too-brief moment at rest... but, then, they can quickly become distant... or cold... and the smile is gone... and is replaced by grumbles... and grimaces...and before you know it... it's all More About: Children , Young , Graph , Shoot
A Review of Creativity Tips for Scrapbookers
2007-06-05 01:54:00 A review of Creativity Tips for Scrapbookers by Tracy White (Editor). Amazon Description: Featuring the "best of the best," this 288-page book gathers scrapbooking ideas and tips on creativity, design, and organization from two years of Creating Keepsakes magazines and special issues. Here you'll find tips on everything from how to find more inspiration in the things around you to how to stretch More About: Review
SSFS #19 - In the Land of Typography
2007-06-03 15:14:00 I remember a time when it seemed almost every scrapper's favorite font was Comic Sans. Yes, I admit that much of my own early scrapbook pages were covered with it...title, journaling, captions - the whole shabang! I am certainly happy to say that those days are over. In fact, I can't remember the last time I even used Comic Sans - on anything. So, why is typography important in scrapbooking? As More About: Land , Typography , Graph , Typo
Chris Daughtry at the Sioux Empire Fair, My Becky Fleck Page Maps Debute an
2007-06-02 01:58:00 I actually have quite a lot to cover tonight, so here it goes: #1 - I love my sister. Yes, I do! My sister Lynnie, with all of her awesome workplace connections, emailed me today that she got FREE TICKETS for us to Chris Daughtry's concert at the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls, SD on August 9th. I am so pumped!! I haven't been to a concert since I was in college (we won't discuss how long ago More About: Page , Maps
Google Alert from Penguin's Igloo: Life's Little Notebook-The Scribbles
2007-06-01 00:31:00 Google Alert s are great! I got an alert today that I (more specifically, my blog) was mentioned somewhere on the web. I followed the link to find that I am listed in someone's top 10 favorite blogs (Penguin's Igloo: Life's Little Notebook -The Scribbles). I am not at all familiar with Window LiveSpaces (like, never even been on it before today) and wanted to leave a thank you to the author in More About: Google , Crib , Google Alert
Kaitlin's first swim lesson...
2007-05-31 02:43:00 ...went swimmingly! Last night was the first session of preschool swimmers and there was no fear. Sure, she loves her baths and the 'kiddie pool' (which gets no deeper than 1 1/2 feet), but I was wondering how going into a 'BIG' pool was going to go for her. I was just happy to see that falling into the Missouri River at almost 2 years old hadn't scarred her for life. This is her teacher, Travis More About: Swim , Less , Lesson , Esso
Memorial Day at Ponca State Park...
2007-05-29 21:30:00 Photos from a Memo rial Day picnic at Ponca State Park in Nebraska: I have never been to PSP before...but now that I have, I really hope that we can go back as a family sometime and camp there. It is a beautiful area!!
Sunday Spur for Scrapbookers #18
2007-05-27 15:02:00 This week's spur is a list of 10 "10 Lists." These are great to use as prompts if you're in a journaling rut or want to create an 'all about me' layout (which can be tough for some). 10 things I learned in school that were NOT in the curriculum10 of my very worst ideas10 of my absolute worst pet peeves10 people who are alive today I would love to meet10 biggest fears10 things I would do if I won More About: Sunday
A Review of The KODAK Book of Scrapbooking Photos of Your Children: Easy &a
2007-05-25 01:37:00 A review of The KODAK Book of Scrapbooking Photos of Your Children : Easy & Fun Techniques for Beautiful Scrapbook Pages by Kerry Arquette and Andrea Zocchi. Amazon Description: Here’s expert advice on the subject that inspires more scrapbooks than any other: kids. From creative ways to embellish layouts to enlightening advice on journaling, this collection offers more than 100 fantastic pages More About: Kodak , Review
Look at my little 'mini-grad'!!
2007-05-24 02:16:00 My little girl graduated from preschool on Monday night! Sniff, sniff...she is growing up way too fast, that's for sure! I use the phrase 'growing up' loosely, mind you - case in point: Do you see my little munchkin? Yup, she's the one in the purple dress, waving at you! In case you didn't notice, she's also about a head shorter than every other kid in her class...this picture doesn't show her More About: Mini , Look , Litt
Grey's Anatomy season finale and "Keep Breathing" by Ingrid Michaelson
2007-05-21 22:10:00 I watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy the other night (yes, I realize I'm a little late in commenting...it's been a busy weekend). I think some fans are pretty worked up over it, beings it didn't have the usually 'happy' ending and all. On the contrary, I really liked the show...although I'm not sure I can wait four months to find out just who will be back next season and what they are More About: Season , Finale , Mich , Thing
Reader's Choice...expandable posts?
2007-05-20 23:18:00 You may have noticed that I recently switched to expandable posts in which you see just the beginning of the post and can click on 'Read more...' if you wish to read the rest of the post. This is nice in some ways, in others, not. I am wondering what you think - after all - you're the ones reading my posts. Do you like the expandable posts or would you prefer I go back to having the full post on More About: Choice , Posts , Choi
Sunday Spur for Scrapbookers #17
2007-05-20 14:59:00 Today's spur for scrapbookers is a lesson in color inspiration...or as the website states it "an interactive experience of color communication and color symbolism." This has certainly got to be one of the most unique websites I've ever come across and is just simply a lot of fun. It can also be extremely useful. Have you ever wanted to convey a particular emotion through a layout and not known More About: Sunday
No tulips, but still a fun-filled day!
2007-05-20 02:11:00 We left at about 8:15 a.m. for the Tulip Festival yesterday and made it home at about 9:15 p.m. It was certainly a full day for Mom, Kaitlin, and I. One of the first things we found out upon arrival were that the tulips were gone...well, mostly...due to some of the bad weather they had had recently. There were a few patches here and there that had survived, but even those were looking pretty More About: Tulips
Recollections of a rainy day photo with Big Bird
2007-05-18 03:28:00 Tomorrow Kaitlin, mom and I are off to the Tulip Festival in Orange City, IA. I have been there only once before. My older brother was once the Prince of Czech Days (our hometown celebration) and because of that, we had to travel to several of the area celebrations that year so that he could ride the float in the parades. I don't think that I remember it personally. What I vaguely remember is More About: Photo , Bird , Big B , Coll , Big Bird
Emeril or Rachel Ray any day...who needs SpongeBob?
2007-05-17 03:00:00 Kaitlin has developed a strange obsession to cooking shows...in fact, if given the choice between a cooking show and a cartoon (yes, even Sponge Bob), she will actually choose the cooking show! I think the Food Network is her new favorite channel! I'm not quite sure what to think of it. Sure, everyone knows Rachael Ray and Emeril Lagasse, but I'm actually beginning to recognize the names and More About: Rachel , Rachel Ray , Needs
A Review of Out of Bounds: Scrapbooking Without Boundaries
2007-05-16 04:32:00 A review of Out of Bounds : Scrapbooking Without Boundaries by Jodi Amidei and Torrey Scott. Is it over-the-top intimidating or out-of-the-box inspiring? Read on to find out... Amazon Description: *Full of prompts and challenges to get the reader thinking in a different way, Out of Bounds is the first creativity-centered, how-to book on this topic. *Features 60 stunning sample pages to instruct More About: Review , Aries , Booking
Sunday Spur for Scrapbookers #16
2007-05-13 16:25:00 Website design can be an excellent (and virtually endless) source of inspiration for layout design. Haven't you ever found a website that you just loved the design of...perhaps even perused simply to 'look' at it? I know that I tend to shop more at online scrapbook stores that have an attractive (and effective) layout of their website? How 'bout you? It's no different with scrapbook layouts. More About: Sunday
Lee needs a date book?
2007-05-12 01:50:00 My younger brother, Lee, is a Senior (finally!) at SDSU and is working towards a degree with a double major in mechanical and industrial engineering. So, he's a smart kid, right? Sure, when he wants to be. My folks just went up to Brookings last weekend to pack him up and bring him home for the summer as he is going to be doing an internship with Kohlberg-Pioneer in Yankton this summer. They all More About: Book , E Book , Needs
No, I didn't get sucked up in any tornados...
2007-05-11 05:49:00 ...but it has been a while since my last post, for sure! I believe I already mentioned my 'I-don't-want-to-go-in-the-house-ever-aga in!' issue with my daughter now that the weather has gotten warmer. Every afternoon when we get home, she wants to go right back outside to play and if the neighbors kids aren't out yet, she'll wait...or yell for them from the edge of our lawn until they come out to More About: Tornado , Suck
Living in tornado alley...
2007-05-06 16:15:00 I have only one strong memory of a tornado during my childhood. It came through our hometown in the spring of 1985. I would have been about 8 years old at the time and my younger brother, Lee, was about 8 months old. I distinctly remember the two of us sitting in the living room watching TV. My little brother was sitting up on the living room floor playing with some toys and I was making More About: Living , Tornado , Ving
Sunday Spur for Scrapbookers #15
2007-05-06 04:33:00 In honor of National Photo Month, your challenge this week is to play...play with your photos that is. In Thursday's post, I gave a list of online resources for taking better pics as well as ways to enhance them. For an example, here's a photo of my daughter I took back in February: Now...here are six variations of the same photo that I created Photoshop Elements 4 using four filters included More About: Sunday
It's National Photo Month!
More articles from this author:2007-05-03 19:24:00 May is National Photo Mont h !! What a perfect time to focus on taking more and better pictures...I definitely have some photo shoot ideas in mind for Miss Kaitlin this month! I've come across some great photo tips and resources online (like here and here)as my interest on photography has developed. Some principles might seem 'basic' (the rule of thirds, use of natural light, etc.), but it never 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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