instagram photo strip bunting.

I love my instagrams.  But they stay on my phone.  I've printed out some of them using PostalPix before but wanted to come up a way to display a whole bunch in a smaller space.  I got to thinking that photostrips would be way fun!   And they definitely were the right way to go!

 I started making a template in photoshop but I got frustrated that it was taking so long.  So I turned to  my friend google and found these awesome templates from Blush and Jelly. She just happened to post these the very day I was making mine!  It was fate! Plus, I'm not gonna lie I love that people share their talents so my projects are so much easier!

Using her awesome templates I made ten strips of photos.  Then in photoshop I opened a new 5x7 document and lined up my strips.  I resized each strip a little bit bigger and fit 5 strips on my 5x7 template.  If you need help with math that means I made 2 5x7's.  I'm so glad I made them a little bit bigger because the pictures are way smaller than I imagined.  But I like the itty bitty-ness of them!  Since I was headed to costco I uploaded my two 5x7's to their photo site so I could pick them up there.  A 5x7 at Costco is 39 cents.  So for just about a dollar I was able to make a photostrip bunting!

Once I unloaded all my groceries from Costco I cut my 5x7's into strips using a paper trimmer.  Then using bakers twine and some clips I already had I hung them up on a window I have propped in our front entryway.  I stop and look just about every time  I walk by because its such a fun way to display our memories from this summer so far!  

How To Save Pinterest Photos To Your Phone

Ok so this is kind of a fitness tip too.  I exercise first thing in the morning, you know before I actually am awake and can think a normal thought. That way I can't talk my way out of it.  But I do like to stretch and do a few exercises in the evening, especially if I'm watching TV.  Thats where my handy Pinterest app tip comes in handy.  If you have the Pinterest app you can save photos to your phone, like one of those exercise things you see, so you don't have to go digging through Pinterest for it. 

Open up your Pinterest app and choose explore.  It will pull up a list of topics to search through.  For this I'm going to look in fitness.  You can also search things like exercise, abs, leg workout...

Scroll through until you see an exercise you might want to try.  I think that lean legs pyramid looks pretty good so I want to try that.  Sigh, since that is the area I need the most work on!

Tap the photo you want to take a closer look at.  You might have to scroll down a bit but see that button that says More?  Tap that.

It will pull up this screen.  Check it out, you can save it to your camera roll!  Tap that button.

After you finish checking out all the other fabulousness on Pinterest you can go see your photo in your camera roll.  See my Instagram photos?  And yes I am kind of considering homeschool.  But thats besides the point. There is my lean legs pyramid at the end.

Now I can get lean legs while watching 30Rock and the Office.  Oh geez this looks tough.  I hate jumping jacks!  

Pretty snazzy eh.  Now you can have exercises within reach instead of reaching for the cheetos!  Want to know something terrible?  When I was nursing Ivy I would watch the Biggest Loser and eat cheetos.  She was literally sucking all the fat off of my body so I felt completely justified.  At least they were the natural cheetos... just sayin.  

Level Up Photography Workshops {Giveaway CLOSED!}

WINNER!!  Kristen You are the lucky lady today!  I'll be emailing you shortly to get you all set!!

Hey guys I have a giveaway for you today!  Ooooh Lucky!

Did you get that new DSLR camera you wanted for Christmas?  Its March now, do you know how to use all those fancy settings to get the most out of your camera?  Well Darin wants to give away another spot in his upcoming Intro to Photography class on March 31st!  The Intro to Photography class is just right for you and your new DSLR.  You will learn how to use your camera and what the heck things like aperture mean, and why you need to know that so you can take awesome photos!

Remember when I was saying I didn't want to link to some of my older posts because I was kind of embarrassed about the pictures I used to take.  Well I have been the guinea pig for his lessons and look how much better I've gotten!  I only have to take a couple pictures to get it right instead of 20.

Level Up! Photography workshops are a great way to expand your photography skills whether you are a momtog or a professional.  To be entered to win a spot in the upcoming Intro to Photography class, visit the Level Up! facebook page and like it if you haven't already.  Then come back here and tell me how much you are looking forward to learning how to use your camera.  

Good Luck!  A winner will be chosen Tuesday March 27th.  

Don't want to stress about not getting a spot in the class if you don't win?  Go ahead and register for the class!

The Icing On My Cupcake

  The card is always the best part.  

Those two, Ivy and Darin, they are the jelly to my peanut butter...

The cheese to my macaroni...

The strawberries to my shortcake.  

Loving them and having them love me is the icing on my cupcake.

Insta Friday!

hello insta friday!  I missed you last week so here's a double dose of what's been going on around here...

Jam makin day.  We of course made our fave Blueberry Ginger.  I think last year someone asked me what crystalized ginger looks like.  Well here you go,  crystalized ginger.  Better late than never.  Ivy also requested strawberry.  We ended up with 30 half pint jars of jam.  Hope they last!

I just don't think cousins can be better friends than these two.  Finishing each others sentances, and getting along.  All the time.  Rare for 4 year olds.  That is the very reason we decided it would be best for our family to move here.  

Thanks to Mel I caved and got an old fashioned ice cream maker.  Our favorite so far has been Rocky Road from the Our best Bites cookbook.  Seriously the best cookbook, besides my trusty BHG one.  

I got a new photo app {thanks for the tip, Mom!} called Pocketbooth.  It takes four pictures in a row and spits em out like a photostrip.  My nephew Wyatt has the best cheesy grins.  

My baby girl had her birthday last week.  FOUR years old.  Oh man.  I spent an hour ruffling up some streamers.  I'm not a huge crepe paper crafts fan but these were actually super cute.    The things we do for little girls... 

Baby girl's birthday was fabulous.  Daddy date to the free movie and lunch.   Mommy date to the bookstore which is hours of reading but this time she got to pick a book of her very own. She chose Ladybug girl.  Mama also snuck Blueberries for Sal out the door for her blueberry girl.

The day after your birthday is always a bit of a downer don't you think?  We spent the afternoon glamping in Ivy's tent.  Whipping up batches of pretend cupcakes and cookies.  And of course reading piles of books. Its her favorite past time besides swimming and I'm always happy to indulge her.

I checked this book out from the library.  I have only read the first 5 chapters but it has made a huge difference already.  I highly recommend it.  Even if your child isn't that spirited. Although I can't think of a three or four year old that isn't.

  

I just love this picture.  This is our summer days exactly and we wouldn't have it any other way.  {If you haven't tried the tilt shift in instagram you need to.  its my favorite feature}

Art in the park.  Butterfly wings and a fairy crown compliments of our friend Karly.   Our wings were barely making it so new ones definitely brightened this butterfly girls step.  

My brother and his fiance' rolled in to town this past weekend so we loaded up the bikes and headed to Walla Walla for some cruisin and some ice cream.   This picture is exactly how I feel when I'm riding my bike.  I love it more than anything.  Especially with my family on gorgeous tree lined streets. 

My little brother and Shanari, ahhh.   Darin took their engagement photos while we were in Walla Walla.  I'm thinking they should use these.  I can't tell you how happy I am to see my brother so happy.  And Shanari is a doll.  Yay for new sisters!

I've got my bracelets all wrapped up and ready to go in the mail to my bracelet swap partners.  We had over 100 people sign up, and I can't wait to see what everyone came up with.  

Happy Camper.  

This tells you two things.  She does not like to get her hair done.  As in I have to threaten her with cutting it off every time we comb it.    Braids are optimal for swimming every day by the way.  And two she does not like me to take pictures of her wearing stuff I make for her.  Little stinker.  

Happy Insta Friday!

InstaFriday {can it be summer forever?}

Happy InstaFriday everyone!  Here's a glimpse of our eventful week through phone photos.  {Just so you know, breaking down and getting a phone that takes good pictures is one of the best things I've done lately.} 

These peonies were at the farmers market last Friday.  I really hope she is going to be back today cuz I need some of these beauties to brighten up my home this weekend.

Last weekend was Grandma Camp.  Darin's mom hosts it every year and everyone comes for 2 days of fun. There is tin foil dinners, a pajama fashion show, Christmas in July, S'mores {my favorite part} and story time.  And thats just the first day!

Our friends Rob and Stacy came in to town for the 4th of July so they came out to Grandma camp too.  My in laws live in the country a little bit and they always have the MOST gorgeous sunsets.  Perfect lighting for Stacy's maternity shoot with Darin.  It doesn't get much prettier then wheatfields in the evening light.

On the second day of Grandma camp we have a family friend bring horses for horse rides, water balloon launchers, homemade ice cream in a bag and an obstacle course.  This year the last task was to eat one of those huge marshmallows with no hands.  I think all the kids got sick. 

After Greenies closed on Saturday we headed out to Portland to spend the 4th at the beach.  The original plan was to go to the coast both Sunday and Monday but you can't count on beach weather in Oregon.  Even in July.  Since it was rainy at the coast we enjoyed an actual sunny day.  Right in Portland.  In all my life of living in and visiting Portland I have never been to Voodoo Donuts.  We stood in line for 30 minutes. I guess its a newly renovated locatation.  The entire building was painted with glitter.  I loved it.  

It was really good.  My favorite was the Voodoo Doll.

Luckily we had good weather for the 4th.  We hit up the Cannon Beach parade.  Ivy didn't think it was that great until everyone started throwing candy at her.  Then she def warmed up to the idea.

We got there in perfect time to explore the base of Haystack Rock {you know, the Goonies rock} when the tide was out.  The rocks are covered in starfish and mussels and barnacles and all kinds of crazy sea life.  Next time I'm taking my bike.

We came home and had a night out on the town with Darin's siblings.  They convinced us to go to Olive Garden.  Last time we went there was probably 6 years ago in Denver.  It was seriously like the Denny's of italian food.  The chairs had casters on them.  Luckily this was a much better experience.  Fancy even.  Yay.

Then it was back to our regular routine of pool, sleep, repeat.  Why do goggles make everyone instantly nerdy.  And super cute at the same time?  

How was your 4th?!

{ps... you don't have to use instagram to link up.  Any ole camera pictures will work.  Won't you join me?}

Lil Sweetie

There isn't much that can get my lil sweetie to smile more than a cupcake. Especially one with yummy pink frosting. There isn't much that can make me smile more that my lil sweetie. 

{p.s. Do you know any kids that actually eat the cake?  Or do they all just like the frosting?!}

DETAILS

::Dress...Perfect Party Dress Pattern modified by me.

::Cupcakes...The Sisters' Patisserie

::Photos... Darin Warnick Photography

::Photo Template...Pugly Pixel

Hippies And Hearts

Hello everyone!  I am so excited to FINALLY share our "Hippies and Hearts" photo shoot with you.  I was able to help with the styling and made a few things.  You'll see them as you watch the video {which I highly recommend it is gorgeous.}  Pretty things like my Burlap Wreath, my wood+glitter heart, and some other little things here and there.  Thank you so much FotoNovella and Darin Warnick Photography for letting me be a part of your amazing project.  

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{If you follow me on twitter you saw that our Hippies and Hearts was featured!}

As Seen on 

Borrowed and Bleu

Hi Fi Weddings

Wedding Wire 

One Stylish Bride


Forget Me Knot Weddings

{and a few more waiting in the wings!}