gifting

photo books – personalized valentine’s day gifting (part 1).

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Every new year one of my resolutions is to get our family memories (photos, videos, menus from those special restaurants, tickets from our trip to the zoo, etc.) organized and every year I fall short or really long. :). BUT this year I’m using Valentine’s Day as a great excuse to start tackling the 30,000+ photos on my iPhone.

I took all the special photos for each kiddo from 2018 and made them into books. Even though I’m more of “a flip through a set of prints type” gal, I thought that books would be the best option for them and of course they make a great gift.

My goal is to do this every year. For it not to be so overwhelming next Valentine’s Day, I am saving (at the end of each month) all of those special photos of them/ for them to separate albums that I have created for each of them on my phone.

For creating and printing the books, this year I used the Shutterfly ap because I had already downloaded some of the photos there while making some projects for family members over Christmas. However, for the few photos I have printed in the past years I have done so with Artifact Uprising, Mpix, timeshel, and Chatbooks.

One of my favorites was the Chatbooks book below I did of my pregnant belly – what a special time. I love the quality of the photos (even though they are all Iphone) and the quality and matte-like finish of the cover.

(sorry for the detour)

Let’s hope the kids will be happy with some memories to hold onto- literally. I had so much fun looking back at this past year. Hopefully they will to. Now onto to tackling the remaining 29,800 photos! 😉

(They are also being gifted part 2 – see “name” chocolate post. Just in case they may not be as excited about the photos books as their future self might be.)

L O V E + T A C O S – a “spicy” valentine.

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I was trying to come up with something simple yet useful to give to a few of my favorite gal pals for Valentine’s Day. As I was making some taco seasoning for our family one day last week, I thought why not “spice things up” for them as well. Smile. It’s something that can be put to good use and oh how I love anything that I can put in a small jar.

I’m sure most taco seasoning recipes are fairly similar but I’ve used the one in Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain – Meals Made Simple cookbook for the past couple of years now. I love the authentic taste of it so much more than the prepackaged seasonings I used to buy.

Danielle’s Taco Seasoning Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sea salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon ground dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 to 3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl and store in a jar for up to 6 months. Makes about 1/2 cup.

XOXO!

three simple yet sweet non-candy valentines – free printables.

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. . . or maybe not so sweet (because no candy). hehehe.

Anyways, here they are. ENJOY!

#1: Nerdy Valentine

This one is fun for everyone! It was my son’s school valentine a few years ago, but it would be great for teens or coworkers as well!

After printing, the only thing left to do is place a small hole above the top of the pocket to place the pen cap in. I used the manual hole punch and hammer from this kit that I’ve had forever, but anything that has an extended reach will work. I also trimmed down the top, bottom and sides a bit more. So the final size is more like 4.75 by 6.5 inches.

#2: Coffee Cup Valentine

This one is for your coffee loving friend! It requires just a little more work than the first.

After printing, use an exacto knife and a straight edge (I used a small ruler) to cut slits along the sides of the coffee cup about 2.5 to 2.75 inches long. These will be used to slide the wrap through so that it hugs the sides of the cup.

The wrap is also attached in the coffee cup printable below. There are two wraps per 5 x 7 inch page. For the actual valentine, I used white 100lb card stock and for the wrap I used a thinner kraft card stock that I had gotten from the local craft store.

Once you have your slits cut, gently pull open and slide your wrap into them. Then flip your valentine over and fold the wrap so that the ends overlap in back. You may want to cut down the ends before securing the wrap with glue or tape. Turn the valentine back over and place the gift card within the wrap. You can secure it a little more by placing a piece of tape on the back of the card – especially if you will not be putting the valentine in an envelope.

#3: Ribbon Valentine

Again, so FUN for everyone! For the first example, I made a little holder for some Burt’s Bees lip balm. Get it – “BEE MINE”. 😉 In regards to the holder, you can find several different tutorials online for these or you can purchase them. I used this leather ribbon to make it and it worked really well. Instead of a large ring (like what I used here) you can use a swivel clasp with a ring for a more substantial design.

After printing, I placed two small holes within the small heart on the ribbon. Then, with some string, I secured the holder and lip balm in place.

OR by following the same steps above you could secure a honey dipper in place. And for someone extra special – place the “Bee Mine” valentine with the dipper in a clear bag with a small jar of honey. Love this idea!

coffeecup.pdf

nerdyvalentine.pdf

ribbon.pdf

(all in 5 x 7 inch format)

P.S. – And just one more for the littles (or littles at heart). Glitter slime for your Valen-slime! One of our favorites from last year.

Happy Heart Day!!!

if santa were to ask . . .

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(wink, wink)

Or I wouldn’t turn away these or these. Cozy and beautiful! And these would also be lovely!

And of course anything handmade, homemade (especially if it were by a certain nine or twelve year old), or thrifted trumps all of the above!!!

And the “sugar on top” would be a mango bubble tea from our local Vietnamese restaurant or maybe a cup of the peppermint stick flavored coffee that is for sale at ALDI these days and that I ran out of yesterday. I seem to be craving both right now. 🙂

Naturally dyed market tote

Noonday Salinas stud earrings

Twisted bow velvet headband

Beautycounter foundation

Simple Crossbody Bag

Contrast cashmere scarf

Bandana

Whitney Winkler home state mug

Wool socks

tween girl. big and small “under the tree” gifts.

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Here are just a few “fun” things I found while searching online for my younger tween. Enjoy!

Photo #1 (first nine photos):

“You Do You” Banner

Custom Oval Initial Necklace

These sheets are no longer available but these and these are fun also

Milo’s brush and chisel tip markers

Crosley Deluxe Portable Bluetooth Turntable

Mug

Yellow Duffel

Cardigan

Alarm Clock

Photo #2 (second nine photos):

The Puffin in Bloom book collection

Gold Shelf

Sleeping Bag

Patagonia Sherpa Pullover

Lip Balm Making Kit

Canon Mini Printer

Caboodle Toiletry Case

Henley PJ Set

Soft Magnetic Letter Board

And I’ve heard this set of books is great!