Project life - 25 days of Christmas

I love scrapbooking. I have been scrapbooking for years now...I grew up watching my mother scrapbook back in the 90's however what scrapbooking was back then to what scrapbooking options, ideas and materials have become today is like night and day.

I am always on a new scrapbook project...whether it is making recipe/scrapbook hybrids or more traditional album scrapbooks...

My most recent project? A cross between Ali Edwards' Project Life and type/style of scrapbooking which tries to simplify the process of documenting every day moments. Thank you Thuy for introducing me to this idea. She and I decided that although we live in two different states, we are determined to stay connected.

We constantly text each other pictures of little passions that we both share...whether it be a win (however short-lived) on the penny slots while drinking hot cocoa or pictures and craft/sewing projects and scrapbook layouts that we recently completed.

We initially attempted to stick to three pictures a day to try to simplify things...HAHA, you can see how long that lasted with my Project Life 25 Days of Christmas.

Thank you again Thuy for inspiring and motivating me to get this project done! Check out Thuy's blog here.

I am so happy with how this project turned out!!!

Project Life

I have so many scrapbooking supplies that I challenged myself not to buy any new scrapbook Christmas paper but rather to utilize the abundance of supplies that I already own. This push resulted in some resourceful surprises, like using my sewing machine, saving Christmas and holiday cards, finding thicker card stock from packaging material etc. 

I love how this confetti sleeve turned out!!! Oh glitter, how festive you are!

I did buy the chevron album, one package of photo sleeves and some of the white decal stickers...but much to the pain of having self control I stuck to those necessities only and refrained from the eye candy and tempting holiday themed everything at the craft store!!!!

I am in love with this little paper Christmas tree! It's so Darling!!!!

I had so much fun with Ben and his parents at the Natchitoches light festival! It was wonderful showing them where Ben proposed!

I'm so glad that I thought to include some of the Christmas cards into this book! 

Christmas Eve service program.

So glad that my penmanship turned out on this truly "Blessed Life"

Capturing a family moment

I love capturing family moments!

I love photographing children in particular because they are less self-conscious and more carefree, wearing their emotions on their sleeve for all to see and this rawness translates beautifully through the lens. A huge thank you to the Collins' for entrusting me to capture your beautiful family.

A New Beginning

Every year I like to pick a descriptive word that will motivate or be projected over my year. A new year, a new start, new opportunities, new possibilities and growth opportunities.
...my word for last year (2014) was ADVENTURE and it certainly lived up to my expectations.

So, what word did I choose for 2015?

BEGINNING

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines as followed:

be·gin·ning

 noun \bi-ˈgi-niŋ, bē-\

: the point or time at which something begins : a starting point

: the first part of something

beginnings : an early stage or period

Full Definition of BEGINNING

1

:  the point at which something begins :  start

2

:  the first part

3

:  origin, source

Thank you Webster!!!!

2015, a New Year and a year of beginnings. A year of moving, becoming a wife, more adventures and challenges, moving forward and who knows what else. The possibilities so far have been endless and thank goodness!

My biggest project for 2015 besides getting married and likely moving again, has been to do 356 days of drawings...these can be in-depth or as simple as a mindless doodle, but I have been putting something to paper and documenting it. I haven't decided if I will post weekly or bi-weekly or monthly... we will see how it goes. I love this idea so much. I love that it is a commitment and a bit daunting. I also know that I am capable of it and I am very intrigued to see the results or to see how long they last.

What are some of the biggest beginnings that you plan or have set in motion for 2015?

Vegetable Noodle "Pho" Inspired Soup

I finally got my Veggetti noodle maker!!! I LOVE it! It has become one of my new favorite kitchen utensils and I have been putting it to good use...almost to the point of overuse (if there is such a thing with veggies). I have been making stir-fry and spaghetti with a lot of success but my most recent success was a veggie noodle "Pho" inspired Thai coconut curry soup that I thought I would share with you.

You will need:

1 Veggetti noodle maker

1-2 zucchini

4 cups of broth (College Inn Thai Coconut Curry for this recipe)

* optional* 1/2-1 cup of water (if desired...its all about taste preference here)

1/2 onion thinly sliced

Olive oil

2-4 cups fresh spinach shredded

extra veggies (I used 3/4ths of a yellow pepper and 1 tomato that I had lying around)

Ground black pepper

Basil fresh or dried

Minced garlic or garlic powder

This recipe took me less than 20 minutes from start to finish.

First, dice your onions and combine with a little olive oil in a pot to brown the onions. When they begin to get translucent, add your broth *and a little water. As the onions are browning, begin to chop your other vegetables.

Turn the heat up as needed to simmer your broth and add your herbs and spices. Once the broth is heated/simmering add your chopped veggies (but not your zucchini noodles) and cook for a few minutes.

 

Distribute your zucchini noodles into your soup bowls and pour/ladle the broth and vegetables over your zucchini. Let stand about a minute to blanch/cook the zucchini a little and enjoy!!!!!

I would say that one zucchini makes about 1-2 servings of noodles.

This soup is perfect for a cold wintery day. It warms you up but doesn't sit heavily or make for a food coma moment.

 

Eat happy!