Featuring Kelly Purkey Shop │ July Shop Release

Hello everyone, I'm so excited to share with you the three things I have made, so far with the latest Kelly Purkey shop update. The update was filled with so many great themes and the main kit Breakfast Favorites is perfect for anyone who loves breakfast and the Travelers Notebook kit is perfect for all the book lovers out there. Lets jump in so I can share my projects with you.

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My first project was a Travelers Notebook spread using my favorite stamp set this month called Dive In. This stamp set was designed by Tina Aszmus of LifeLovePaper and it was an extension of her people stamp sets. 

I adored the vintage vibe of this stamp set and it paired perfectly with one of the pages from the Travelers Notebook kit, it totally reminded me of a beach towel when I saw it.

My next project was a full size layout using the Breakfast Favorites kit. I haven't made a layout in awhile but I didn't really have enough photos for a pocket page spread and I had too many photos and cards to use for a Travelers Notebook spread. It was fun working on a layout for a change and it definitely gave me tons of room to move things around.

I loved all the phrases in the stamp set.

My last project was a travelers notebook spread using the Bookworm Travelers Notebook kit. This kit was also designed by Tina Aszmus of LifeLovePaper and I new right away that I wanted to document all of the books I'm reading this summer.

I created by own little book with a little bit of digital scrapbooking magic using the printable papers and kit cards that Kelly offers each month with the kits. It was so much fun creating this little book to hold photos of the books I've read this summer.

Here are the pages so far, I left some room since I'm counting all the books I read thru August as a summer read.

I know the two main kits sold out quickly but there are still plenty of cute stamp sets available and I have at least one more project planned so I can use them. This Summer Fun stamp set is so cute and it's perfect for documenting a family dinner we had right before 4th of July. I can't wait to use it.

I hope you grabbed all you wanted and more this month! And I hope the rest of your summer is amazing as well!

Take care,

Five on Friday

Okay, I'm so late, I almost totally forgot to post today, here's another edition of Five on Friday

1.  I subbed twice this past week at preschool, one day for the 4 year olds and one day in Simone's class.  The four year olds are all so cute and since this is the third time I've been in their class they know me now so they are super friendly and lots of fun to be around.  I happened to be in Simone's class for Share Day.  It was a blast listening to them them talk about the item they brought in.  It's also really fun watching Simone interact with her friends and be a 4 year old.

2.  I got a super cool new app called GifRus, it works great with Instagram.

3.  I bought a new book this week, it's supposed to be super funny.  Can't wait to start it.  I may wait for a trip I'm taking next month but we'll see.

4.  Making sock puppets is super fun.

5.  So is Red Velvet Ice Cream.

Five on Friday

I realized I had a few things to talk about today so I'm trying something new.  But before I do and because I can't have a post without a photo.  Here's a shot of some serious hail we had last night.

Here are the five things I wanted to share today;

1. I found this recipe on Pinterest awhile back and just made it for the first time this past week.  It was seriously one of the best dishes I've ever made from Pinterest.  Try it, you will love it.  My husband bought Mini Hawaiian Sub rolls and they worked perfectly.  My roast was only 2.46lb. so smaller than the recipe called for but it still fed 8 people.  I cooked mine on low and it needed the full 10 hours before it would shred.  I kept the rest of the recipe measurements the same and didn't change anything.  I really can't wait to make this again it was that good.  I think I'll try cooking it on high next time.
2. I'm traveling down to Berkeley tomorrow for two classes with Kelly Purkey.  I haven't been to Scrapbook Territory in awhile so I'm really excited for some crafty good times.  I need to get up and out the door pretty early since the first class starts at 10:00am.  After the two classes I'm meeting a friend for dinner before I drive home.
3. As I mentioned in my Project Life pages this past week I read this book recently.  I ended up staying up until 2:30am reading it because a) I didn't feel tired and b) I really couldn't put it down.  It's a lovely book about the birth of a child that unexpectedly had Down Syndrome.  I'm not gonna lie, I had a box of Kleenex at the ready and used quite a few.  Like I mentioned to the author the book moved me in places I never knew I had.  I count my blessings everyday for a healthy child and have to hope that presented with the same challenges I would face it with as much grace and love as she has.
4. Totally cannot get enough of this song lately.  It's got a super cool retro sound that I just love and he sounds a bit like Bowie to me.
5. Totally want to get one of these so I can make these in the very near future.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!  Looks like the rain, thunder and lightening will be clearing out and we'll be in the 70's this weekend!  Hooray!

Favorite Books

Thanks so much for the book suggestions, I will certainly add them to my list of possibilities.

When thinking about my list there are several that pop into my head right off the bat.  Here's that list.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

My favorite book, I've read it at least 5 times.  Ayn Rand is a brilliant writer and tells such an amazing story.  It's amazing how this book can transcend time and how even today I see some of the topics raised in this book playing out in real life.  If you haven't read it, pick it up, I promise you you'll love it.

The Fountain Head by Ayn Rand

Ayn's first book and the first one I read of her's.  Also amazing in its own right but I've only read this once.  Atlas Shrugged is my favorite but this also deserves a spot on my favorite list.

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

This book affected me in ways I can't describe.  I could care less if parts of this story didn't turn out to be exactly true.  His writing is beyond brilliant and his style is so unique.  His story needed to be told regardless of whether it was all 100% real of not.  Everyone can learn from this and become more humble from reading it.

My Friend Leonard by James Frey

A follow up to A Million Little pieces and equally brilliant.

Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey

This book follows many different people in Los Angeles, some intertwine some are only talked about in one chapter.  It's a very interesting story of the different paths and hardships of the people in this town.  I love how he told the history of the town between each chapter.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Oh how I wish I was a smart and creative as J.K. Rowling.  Absolutely the best kids series of all time and so brilliantly written. 

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I think I've expounded enough lately of my love of this series. 

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

A really great fictional biography of Ernest Hemingway's first wife and their time together in Paris.  A wonderful story and beautifully written too.

The Kin of Ata by Dorothy Bryant

My husband turned me on to this book a long time ago.  He read it in a college course and I had to order it from the publisher because it was out of print.  I'm happy to see it is available for purchase without difficulty.  What a great story, at the end you wonder was it all true?  A quick read as well.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

This was the first book I read on my Kindle when I got it a few years ago.  The whole story is told from the perspective of a dog.  A bit sad in some parts but so very good too.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

The Hunger Games

Four days ago I knew very little about the Hunger Games.  I had seen all the buzz and I knew everyone was waiting for this movie to come out but it wasn't really something I was focusing on.

Fast forward to tonight, 11:25pm on Thursday and I just finished book two.  I cannot wait to see the movie this weekend!  Thanks Christina for pointing me to this series, its really a great read and has my attention.

May the odds be ever in your favor...