Mini Mini Travel Scrap Album // California Coast // DIY Gifts

Happy Monday friends! I hope that you all had a great weekend! Here the weather was a little cooler... but still very warm for this time of year, and KC and I were productive! We've also been binge-ing Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries... so that's been good! :)

I wanted to share a video of a gift scrap album I made for my friend Mariana for Christmas. If you've seen my PL album videos, you'll notice that this one is a bit different! This does not have any page protectors, binders, covers, etc. It is truly made from scraps!

This type of album is quick and easy to make (from your scraps! very little supplies needed!) and makes a great, heart-felt gift!



Check out my video to see the flip through and the details of each page!

Supplies:

Jump Rings (I used 1-inch silver)
Hole Punch
Scraps of paper, PL cards, stickers, washi tape, etc. that fall in your color range
Photos (I used 6 4x6 photos, and 4 3x4 photos)

Process:

1) Print your photos and gather your supplies. I went through my stash and chose scraps of paper, cards, stickers, washi tape, etc. that fell into a teal, turquoise, white, and silver color scheme. That way everything matched well enough right off the bat. - it's a small album, you want it to look like it goes together.

2) Start playing around with the order you want to include the pictures, and how they fit onto papers and cards to make the shape of your pages and book. You can see that I used mostly horizontal rectangular shapes for my book. They are not all exactly the same size, but close enough that it flows well.

3) Once you have an order for your pictures and pages, go ahead and adhere those together. (remember to leave a side open if you want to make a pocket for a tag or more photos!) Paste down the photos and any pages back to back that need stuck together. (if you do some of this as you go, that's fine. You can also work page-by-page and re-order as needed!)

4) Add journalling, tape, tags, stickers, etc. to make it a little more personalized. Try to stick with similar elements throughout the book. I used a lot of glitter stickers and white alphas which helped it look more consistent throughout.

5) Once you have completed your pages and order, line them up how you like, and punch the holes. Then add the jump rings and you are done!

I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and flip through!

Other Scrapbook Posts: Houston & Galveston PL Pages, San Francisco PL Pages, Georgia PL Pages, Nashville PL Pages, and Vegas PL Pages. Check those out!

Happy Documenting!

XO,

Alexandra

Have You Heard? // Kaleo - "All the Pretty Girls"

Happy Friday friends!

I hope that you had a great and productive week! I'm so glad it's the weekend again. I can't wait to spend more time with Baby Moore! :)

I heard this song recently, KC got out of the car to run in somewhere and turned it up and said, I think you'll really like this one. #swoon - he was right. This song is so good. Nothing like the other Kaleo song I've heard, but I like them both!



What do you think?

What are you up to this weekend? Anything fun?

We are headed to visit my sister and her little family! I'm hoping to also keep unboxing. I keep getting through a few boxes at a time, but I can't wait to be done!! HAHA Anyhow, progress is progress. I've also been wanting to do some baking and more cooking for the week... we'll see what there is time for. I'd also like to read a little more. Because reading a book that you don't love isn't super fun... especially when you are distracted by a baby on the way. hehe So I'm hoping to finish Where'd You Go Bernadette this weekend and move on to something that I love more! (I got both the 2nd and 3rd Throne of Glass books on Kindle daily deals! GAH!) :)

Other Posts This Week: I'm An Aunt! & A photo heavy love letter to Baz Luhrmann movies.

Posts that are rocking my world this week: 7 Ways I'm Minimizing Decision Fatigue in My Daily Life and Flight Anxiety. (I don't have flight anxiety, but I do have major dental work anxiety... so I felt a lot of encouragement reading about her struggle and progress!)

Have a great weekend! 

XO,

Alexandra

Can We Talk About Baz Luhrmann Movies?

Le sigh. Baz Luhrmann creates the most visually stunning movies.

They aren't for everyone, sure... but goodness are the expertly done.

The costumes!

Feathers? Yes! Sequins? Yes! Beads? Fringe? Yes and Yes! Over the top? Always!

The music!

Great singing, great dancing, great soundtracks!

The sets!

So elaborate! Candles? 10,000. Flowers? Thousands. Lanterns? More than 10,000 please. Rooms? Luxurious.

The parties!

Confetti! Glitter! Music! Drinks! Dancing! Merriment! "Take off your hats!"

The terrific humor!

Nicole Kidman! Shirtless Hugh Jackman! Awkward Paul Rudd in spaceman's suit!

The drama!

Death, love, tragedy, these movies have it all folks!

I love it all. :) & I grew up watching the first two over and over in high school.

Romeo + Juliet (1996):

Highlights: Young Leo & Claire Danes. Ugly Crying. The post-ball pool scene. The nanny. Anytime Tybalt or Mercutio does something ridiculous! The modern day ('90's...) adaptation of the classic.

Moulin Rouge (2001): 

Highlights: Nicole Kidman's hilarious elephant scene, Elephant Love Medley... the tango... all of it?! Any time Ewan McGregor sings...

Australia (2008):

Highlights: Australian history, outback setting, civil rights, Hugh Jackman water scene. Makes me LOL every time! :P

The Great Gatsby (2013):

Highlights: The scene with all the orchids, any of the party scenes... the soundtrack. Leo again...













I haven't seen Strictly Ballroom yet... but otherwise I'm totally ready for new movies. Please, Baz. Please! :)

What do you think, do you love any of these?

What are your favorite movies from high school or college?

XO,

Alexandra

I'm An Aunt! // Baby Love

Hi Everyone!

I'm so happy to start off this week as an aunt!

Late Friday night my sister and her husband welcomed baby Darrick into the world. He ended up being a c-section, but everything went well and everyone is healthy!

I've been able to snuggle him several times, and he's the sweetest thing. Also the calmest, quietest, stillest baby I've ever seen. :)

Here are a few photos!

uncle KC :)

we needed a lunch break ;) 

There you have it! I'm so excited to spend so much time with this little guy in the future and to watch Jess and her husband be parents! :)

Hope you guys had a great weekend!

XO,

Alexandra

Have You Heard? // Father John Misty - "Real Love Baby"

Happy Friday Friends!

We've made it another week into 2017!

I'm still waiting on my little niece or nephew to make his/her debut. :)

This song is so dreamy. It's almost got a vintage-y hippie vibe to it. It's so happy, it reminds me of a slow sunny day when you take a drive. You know?

Anyhow, it's lovey... and it's Vday week so I couldn't help it!



What have you guys been listening to?! Anything I should check out?!

Other Posts This Week: 2016 & 2017 ECLP Comparisons, and 2017 Travel Goals.

This weekend I'm hoping to do some more unpacking. Seriously, last weekend was the busiest...and we didn't get quite as much done as I was hoping to! Also hoping for time to read, start a new show with KC, and mayyybe do some work on my 2016 project life album, and the baby to make it's appearance!! EEeeee!

What are you guys up to this weekend?! - I hope you have some time to take it slow!

XO,

Alexandra

2017 Travel Goals

Hi Friends! Happy Wednesday! (I hope that you had a lovely Valentine's day if you enjoy such things, if not I hope that you had a lovely Tuesday!)

This year is kind of an odd one. Obviously things were off with a bang, and we've since moved into my in-laws house for part of the year to save for a home. We usually travel 4-6 times in a year, but this year it will be a bit different. We'll be traveling less to save more money, but I hope to still fit in a few little getaways.

Here's what we have planned:

NOLA (take 3)

If you read this blog... you probably know that my love for NOLA knows no bounds. So we were jazzed (har) when our friends Brittany and Tyler suggested a trip there (after all 4 of us deliberating and changing our minds on where we should go... heheh). Warm and lively NOLA sounded like just the ticket for the spring. I can't wait to 1) travel with them, they're so much fun, and good friends even since they're move to Boston! and 2) visit NOLA again! Of course!

This time I hope to do a jazz brunch, see some old favorites, visit the Frenchman night market, and catch some live music. :)

See NOLA Trip 1 and NOLA Trip 2.

NYC 

photo via pinterest

We're so excited to be headed to NYC this fall! We've never been, and are so excited to see what the city has to offer! I'm admittedly not a lover of BIG cities, but I am hoping to love NYC anyhow. We don't even have our flight booked, but I cannot wait!

We bought tickets to see Anastasia on broadway! YAYAYAYAY! - a childhood favorite comes to life! I would like to see at least one more show too... but there are so many options and it's a bit too far out right now to see tickets. I definitely want to hit the Met! But it is overwhelmingly huge! I'd love to do a food tour, and hit a lot of bookstores too. I'm sure we'll do the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, even though we are not usually fans of touristy stops. :) If you've been I'd love to see your posts and hear you favorites and recommendations!

What I hope to slip in... if I'm sneaky and extra budgety.... 

Short Summer road trip.... 

We have three weddings this summer, and two are huge! My SIL's and one of my BFF's. This will be awesome, but I am sure that we will want a bit of a unwind afterward. I'm hoping that we can take a quick road trip in late July or sometime in August. I'd love to visit the great lakes again, or maybe go down to Gulf Shores, AL. I've never been to Alabama!

Geeky Tag-along Trip

image via pinterest

KC is into MTG, and sometimes he and his guy friends like to travel for tournaments. There are some fun locations this year... so if it works out... I'd love to tag along (perhaps with some of the other ladies...) if it works out. If not, that's ok too... but I'd be really excited to go. Portland... I have my eye on you!

Further into the Future!

image via pinterest

Before the move and the big plans we had hoped to go to Europe or possibly Taiwan this year... along with a few US trips... so we'll see how things go post 2017.

image via pinterest

But I'm always excited to see what will happen! I'd love to visit at least one of these places in 2018! :)

What are your travel plans this year?

Have you been to any of these places? If so, I'd love your recommendations!

XO,

Alexandra

2016 ECLP vs. 2017 ECLP (neutral version) // Planner Addict

Happy Monday friends! I'm still waiting on my niece/nephew to make her/his appearance!! :)

I have been focused pretty solely on moving so far this year, but I'm still using my planner and enjoying trying out the new 2017 ECLP (neutral version)!

I filmed this video at the very end of 2016 or beginning of 2017... so there wasn't much in my new planner yet, but I'm always interested to see how planners change from year to year. Check it out to see what kinds of changes Erin Condren has made to her ECLP and ordering system. Pros and cons folks, pros and cons.



What are you guys up to?!

Any planner revelations I should know about?!

Are you doing anything exciting for Valentine's Day? (or do you hate it?!)

Valentine's Day Posts: DIY Watercolor Manicure, Valentine Comic, Around the World Romantic Movie Night.

Thanks for being my bloggy galentines! If I could invite you all to brunch Leslie Knope style I would! :)

XO,

Alexandra

Have You Heard? // Young the Giant - "Silvertongue"

Happy Friday Friends!

What a strange week it's been. Quiet compared to the last few, and I've read three books so far in February!!! (hallelujah!)

This song keeps coming on the radio, and it's very very catchy. I'm singing it all of the time. I hope it brightens your day, especially if you are in the office. :)



This weekend I have a morning salt preserving date with my friend Rachel. She's got skillz. She's always doing neat homestead-y or homemade things, and so I'm tagging along on her food preserving challenge this year. Last month we made prickly pear marmalade, this month we are doing a salt preserved soup starter and also a citrus salt. I have no idea how to correctly use either of those things, but hopefully she'll share some suggestions! (if you're interested in suburban homesteading, food preserving, crafting, foster parenting, living with Fibromyalgia, or backpacking trips definitely pay her blog a visit!)

Also, we're officially on baby watch! I want to meet my niece/nephew SO BADLY! We'll be hanging out at some point for my mom's birthday (whoop!), and if the baby makes an appearance... I'd be happy! If not, it might be next week! Her official due date is the 18th! So close!!!!!!!! (not excited or anything....).

In less great news... I'm feeling allergy-y and sickly. I think it's the crazy weather changes. High of 66 one day, 38 the next. Ick. I'm all sneezy. If I get sick and the baby comes I will be one very very sad aunt. - all I've really asked Jess is if I can hold the baby... and she keeps saying yes. LOLOLOL Less likely if I'm sneezing in it's cute little face.

Other than that I hope to do another big unpack/organizing session and read more! YAY reading, I missed it so much in January! Currently working on Where'd You Go, Bernadette for Erin's 6.0. All of the characters are insipid, but I like the format and the idea behind the book. We'll see how it goes.

What are you guys up to this weekend?!

Other Posts This Week: December & January Reads and Snapshots of Tulsa, OK.

XO,

Alexandra

Snapshots of Tulsa, OK // August 2016

Wayyy back in August, KC and I + my friend (and ex-roomie) Jessica headed to Tulsa to see Coldplay. (see the concert recap, here.)

This was a bucket list item for her, and I really wanted to see them again, of course.. just a few weeks later they announced a show in KCMO... which would have been easier... but oh well! :)

We spent just a day in Tulsa, but we had a few good meals and lots of fun!

The BOK is the COOLEST looking arena!! 

see?!

Eat: We had dinner at El Guapo's a Mexican restaurant downtown. It was really good and had a fun atmosphere. A bonus is that it was a short walk to the BOK center for our concert. The prickly pear margaritas were great! We had breakfast at Dilly Diner which was GREAT and had HUGE pancakes. I loved the retro (yet modern...?) vibe in there! It was farm-to-table too which was a plus.

See: Downtown, BOK Center, Philbrook Museum of Art (& Gardens).

Shop: We really didn't shop much. We stopped in the Philbrook gift shop. There is a HUGE used bookstore there (Gardener's) .. .but we did not stop... 1) time, and 2) book ban. : / 

Do: See a concert at the BOK. Visit the Philbrook Museum of Art.

Favorites: Coldplay, prickly pear margaritas, the garden view at the Philbrook.

New Experiences: Traveling with a friend, a lack-luster airbnb experience.

Have you been to an arena concert?

Have you seen Coldplay live? See my recap of the concert, here.

Do you travel with friends or in groups?

Happy Travels!

XO,

Alexandra