Nihao, Cupcake!

Thanks for stopping by! To see past FAMILY x 12 Posts, go here.

Apr 10, 2013 4:00:00 AM | Five People x 12

March 10, 2013

FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop - Two Year Anniversary!

Hello! And welcome to the March 10 FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop. We are a group of bloggers who are committed to taking one photo a month of our families. For accountability & inspiration, we share them during our monthly blog hop. This project was originally inspired by Tara Whitney. If you'd like to join us, please send me an email (link on my blog sidebar).

Today we are celebrating the SECOND ANNIVERSARY of our beloved blog hop!

In honor of this special occasion, I thought I would take a little walk down memory lane. This is our latest family photo taken last month in Northern California on a family hike at Tomales Point.

Notice how tall all three boys have become! Especially, our oldest, Reece who is the tallest person in our family! The kids are literally growing right up around us.

Now rewind almost two years to February 2011 and look how small the boys were back then! Paul and I still tower above all three.

Just. two. short. years.

Or maybe I should say two. TALL. years. Ha!

I would like to thank the lovely ladies who play along with me each month. It is because of them that I stay on task and accountable and I remember to take these photos EVERY month of my entire family. Without their consistency & support, I know I would forget and I wouldn't have these priceless photographs.

I used the mosaic maker at Big Huge Labs to put together a quick grid of our family photos from the past TWO YEARS. (Please excuse the poor cropping of some of the photos.)

To see all the photos (without poor cropping) in one place, go to my Flickr Photo Set, FAMILY x 12 Photo Collection.

Isn't it amazing to see them all together in one place? I love it. Don't you want to have the same collection of photos in two years? Think about joining us next month - send me an email and join us!

Now on to the rest of the participants:

Next is Patricia.

March Blog Hop Participants

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog/

Patricia http://patoliveira.wordpress.com/

Ruth http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com

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Mar 10, 2013 8:00:00 AM | Five People x 12

February 10, 2013

Family x 12 Blog Hop - February 2013

If you were thinking to yourself that this photo looks as though it is missing someone, you'd be right! Our oldest son was away for the weekend for a school trip! Of course we are sad that he missed out on this milestone for our youngest, but it was too good of an opportunity with all of us dressed up not to take a photo. And we have some good opportunities to get all of us together this month and next! Fingers crossed, I remember to take advantage.

Next on the list this month is PATRICIA.

FEBRUARY Blog Hop Participant list:

Carol Ann http://www.scrappingthoughts.com

Ruth http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com

Blog Happenings this week:

* I'm doing my best to get my Project Life layout for Week 5 done and posted by this evening (or Monday at the latest).

* Plans to share my first project of my 24 Projects in 12 this week.

* A post on my Valentine's Day plans. (Check out my Valentine's PINTEREST page for inspiration.)

* And hopefully a recipe from my Try One New Recipe a week challenge as well as my Green Smoothie recipe.

Feb 10, 2013 7:50:00 AM | Five People x 12

December 11, 2012

FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop - December 2012

Dear friends, the end of the year is fast approaching! But despite the busyness we (the FAMILY x 12 Blog Hoppers) are pausing briefly to share our monthly (almost) tradition of sharing with your our family photo(s) from the month.

My photos this month are of my Japanese "family." I have known this family for 17 years. We are about as close as two families can be who are separated by the entire Pacific Ocean! We lived in Japan for more than 2 and a half years and it was then that we met and grew very close. I taught English to their girls and many of their neighbors' children. Yukiko (the mom) and I spent hours chatting over green tea and manjyu pouring over our dictionaries both learning each others' language. We spent many meals over at their house as well as some exciting Kyoto restaurants. The most memorable was probably the Fugu restaurant which serves the poisonous puffer fish! We all survived - luckily! I am pretty sure I even cooked them as much of a Thanksgiving dinner as I could using their old small kitchen in their traditional Kyoto home.

We even took a long weekend trip together to the Southern-most Japanese island visiting traditional Japanese resorts, zoos & amusement parks. It was their treat. The girls were only 7 & 9. Kotono (the younger one) & I were partners on all the roller coasters. Ayane, at the time, didn't like roller coasters so she watched from the ground.

When my husband and I were married, the girls were our flower girls at our wedding in California!

Yuji & Yukiko visited us every time after we had a new baby. They brought us a very large traditional gift that is given to families (by the grandparents) every time a couple has a boy after I had my first son. I'm sure they would have brought us the traditional girls gift if I had ever had a girl!

Late this past summer, the girls, now young women, came to California for the first time on their own to visit us. It was a wedding present to the oldest "girl" from their father, Yuji. It was so wonderful to reconnect with them as young women. I don't think they really remembered us all that well. They knew us, but not like we remember them. After their week with us, we became close with them as well. I feel like I have two new friends just like their mother. They are so like their mother in different ways.

Last month one of my sons and I made the trek to attend the oldest daughter's wedding. It took a 12 hour flight, a ten hour layover in Beijing, a three hour flight to Osaka, a 45 minute limosine bus to Kobe, an overnight bus to the island of Kyushu, a 45 minte train ride to Saga, a ten minute walk to the hotel and then a 45 minute ride (with bride, mother & sister) in a van to make it to the traditional Buddhist ceremony at a small temple in the mountains. My ankles were swollen for three days from all that travel, but it was worth every moment! The night of that ceremony, we rode the bullet train back to Kyoto and the next day we had the privelege to attend the wedding reception in Kyoto. Amazing! It was so special being there.

A full cirlce moment for me. Even when the girls were just 6 & 8 I always wanted to return to Japan to attend their weddings. Their mom & I used to talk about it. I can't believe it actually happened. I treasure this family's friendship so very much.

So even though it isn't my family by blood, my photos this month are of my family nonetheless. My son and I represent our side of the American part of the family.

Now on to the rest of the blog hop participants this month... RUTH is next.

December FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop Participants

Dec 11, 2012 12:42:35 AM | Five People x 12, Future Scrapbook Page, Travel

November 05, 2012

October 5 FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop

We were so happy to restart our annual tradition of picking our pumpkins at a pumpkin patch. This photo is at a farm only 30 minutes or so from our home. This is our third year in a row (minus the past four years in China) visiting this farm. The kids love it as it has a petting zoo, corn maze and veggie picking.

Here is our whole family on Halloween. Our kids insisted everyone dress up this year.

I wrapped myself in a spider covered shawl made from distressed cheese cloth. It's hard to see all of my pet spiders resting on my shawl in this photo. I also splurged on a $5 set of spider earrings & ring (complete with semi-semi precious purple stones made from plastic). I also adorned a silver necklace with large fake spiders to complete my outfit.

Our oldest made his own costume, voodoo doll, from scratch. He designed it and made it. His inspiration was a character in the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremonies. The costume evolved from there. His original vision wouldn't work so it morphed into a voodoo doll. I'll spare you the details of how it got from point A to point B. I was impressed with how diligently he worked on the project. And he won his school's scariest costume category.

Our middle son knew exactly what he wanted to be... Finn, from Adventureland. He found instructions on how to make the pieces of his costume from felt, complete with patterns. Then I started to work! It was fun. It had been a long time since I sewed anything. And he enjoyed his costume immensely. So many people on the trick or treat route called out to him and responded to his question, "What time is it?" "Adventuretime!!"

The other two costumes were purchased from Walmart & Target and both were great quality and got positive reactions of their own. The black cloaked fellow (my husband) had eyes that faded in and out so fascinated many trick or treaters!

Thansk for stopping by! Next on our FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop is Ruth.

Nov 5, 2012 4:20:27 PM | Five People x 12, holidays

October 05, 2012

October 5 FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sept 10th (usually on the 5th of the month) FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop when we all share a photo of our families each month.

We are a small group of bloggers who share the same goal - to get more photos of our families (all together) throughout the year. So, we all join forces on the fifth of every month (except this month) and share our one (or more) family photo for the month!

My two photos this month are from early in September when our dear friends from Japan were visiting. These two "girls" now young women, were the flower girls in our wedding 15 years ago! Here we are at the County Fair.

This is the first time they have come to visit without their parents. We had a great time doing all the touristy things. And here we are at one of the kids' favorite froyo places- Yogurtland. Nothing beats serving yourself!

It's a small group for the blog hop this month. But that's OK! Next on the blog hop is RUTH!

Oh! Before you go, I should let you know that for the next 30 days, I will be posting daily. I know amazing, huh, after so little posting from me over the past six months or so! I meant to start on October 1, but it came and went without a dedicated blog post, so I started yesterday. Better late than never! My theme will be FAVORITE PHOTOS from my ARCHIVES. Some will be from several years ago and others will be more recent. I'm totally indulging myself, but please stop by if you'd like to see!

Now, off you go for more FAMILY PHOTO inspiration!

OCTOBER 5 Family x 12 Blog Hop Participant List

Oct 5, 2012 5:55:00 AM | Documenting Memories: Strategy, Five People x 12, Personal/Family Update, Photo A Day

October 04, 2012

Snips & Snails & Puppydog Tails... My 31 Days of Blog Posts Begins Today!

Last October I posted everyday or close to every day. I had joined in a 31 day challenge with a group of over 700 other bloggers. I had hoped to do the same again. Not joining a blog challenge, but simply posting every day in the month of October. My idea was to post one photo every day. Very simple. But then October 1st came and went and I never did the pre-work. I could let that stop me, but I am not going to, so my 31 Days of Blogging starts today, Thurs, Oct 4!!!

I have gone through my photo archives and identified more than 31 one of my all time favorites. I will share one a day here with you!

This first one is my two oldest boys posing at the top of a volcano in Lassen National Park. My oldest was only 3 at the time and hiked the entire way by himself with no stopping! And no food! (Until reaching the pinnacle.) I think it was something like a 3500 foot incline. We were major hikers back then. What endurance he had!! My younger son had been up most of the night before with a bad cold. We were camping and decided to head home a day early and wanted to squeeze in one hike before we left. It was an amazing view so it was definitely worth the effort even though the rest of the trip was plagued by Murphy's Law!

Thanks for stopping by and come back tomorrow for my monthly FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop when a group of us all post our family photo(s) for the previous month. If you have a family photo to post, stop by and link to your blog post in the comments! Or email me and join us next month.

Oct 4, 2012 8:04:17 PM | 31 Days Series, Five People x 12, Personal/Family Update, Photo A Day

September 10, 2012

September FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sept 10th (usually on the 5th of the month) FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop when we all share a photo of our families each month.

Since we skipped our blog hop last month, I have three photos this month. The first one above is our family at The Getty Center which overlooks the LA Basin. The views are AMAZING!

This photo is from August and is taken in my in-laws' beautiful swimming pool.

This photo is taken at the Arizona Sonoran Desert museum, one of our favorite places to visit while in Arizona. I have lots of photos of the kids at various ages sitting in this exact same location. Amazing how fast time flies.

Now without further ado, it is time to visit the rest of the hop partcipants. But before you go, visit my previous blog entry and leave a comment to win a spot in Tracy Clark's Big Picture Classes class at BPC!

Next on the hop is Jo.

The rest of the participants are as follows...

Monica http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

Carol Anne http://www.scrappingthoughts.com

Sep 10, 2012 8:41:03 AM | Five People x 12

July 05, 2012

FAMILY x 12 July Blog Hop

Welcome to the July 5th FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop when we all share a photo of our families each month.

We are a small group of bloggers who share the same goal - to get more photos of our families (all in a group) throughout the year. So, we all join forces on the fifth of every month and share our one (or more) family photo for the month!

This month my family's photo was taken at my middle son's 5th grade "Moving Up" ceremony. I think that is another way of saying "graduation." We rode our bikes to the event and were rained on, not to mention the humidity of Beijing was upon us so we look a little sweaty around the edges.

Next on the hop is RUTH.

Monica http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

Jul 5, 2012 9:00:00 AM | Five People x 12

June 05, 2012

June 5 FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop

Welcome to the June 5th FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop when we all share a photo of our families each month.

This month we went out to a nice Mother's Day brunch at Capital M just south of Tian'anmen Square. Not the greatest photo, but that's what happens when you ask the waitress to take the photo. As you can see the wall behind us is in focus, but we are not! But a good memory captured and we love Capital M! Do those of you who live in Australia know this global chain of restaurants that started in your lovely country? It's such a lovely restaurant and food is delish!

Before you head off to the next blog, enter my give away. I have an Ella Publishing eBook bundle on Photography!

I'm trying out a contest widget that is new to my blog. It is easy and lots of fun to use. Give it a try! Contest ends on June 6 - any comments made on my blog where the EPC Photography Bundle rafflecopter widget shows up will be entered into the contest. I will announce the winner on my blog by June 8 and I will notify the winner by email so be sure you leave me an accurate email address.

Thanks for stopping by! After entering the giveaway, head on to the next participant on the blog hop...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(if this widget doesn't work for some reason, head over to this POST and enter there).

The next person on the blog hop is Carol Anne.

Carol Anne http://www.scrappingthoughts.com

Monica http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

Jill http://jillconyers.com

Claire http://www.clairesmillie.wordpress.com

Jun 5, 2012 6:00:00 AM | Five People x 12

May 05, 2012

May Blog Hop x 2: {FAMILY x 12} + {Project Life}

We interupt this blog post for the following special message...

HAPPY iSCRAPBOOK DAY!!

There are a ton of deals out there as well as so many fun challenges. Plenty of blogs are listing links to all the fun and there is even more information via Twitter. There will not be enough time in the day to do it all. So, if you are reading this, I THANK YOU for stopping by this blog, when there are so many others calling for your attention. Without further ado, on with our normally scheduled blog post:

It's the 5th of the month so that means TWO Blog Hops in ONE post...

First off is the FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop: A small group of us support each other each month in getting a family photo. If we don't make a point of doing it every month, then too many days, weeks, years pass and we forget to take photos of our families all together. How many photos have you taken this year of your family?

Since we didn't remember to have anyone take our photo early in the month when we were doing something fun, we did this at the last possible moment. It was two hours before my husband had to leave for the airport. You may be able to tell that it was after the sun went down so we didn't have much light to work with.

And if you have been visiting often for these FAMILY x 12 Blog Hops, you know that we have more than one photo of our family on that distinctive red sofa. So, to add a little spice this time around, we decided to take a photo of ALL TEN of our family members.

You may remember this photo above. I used the exact same technique. To read about HOW I did it, go to this post, Top Ten Self-Timer Madness Photos.

Don't forget to continue on to all the other participants for more family photo inspiration! If you are interested in committing to one family photo a month, send me an email (link on sidebar) and join us next month on the 5th. It's fun and you'll have some great photos of your whole family.

If you want to check out the PROJECT LIFE Blog Hop, keep on scrolling down through this post, and then don't forget to head over to JO's blog to see her lovely family photo for the month.

Here are all the May 5 FAMILY x 12 blog hop participants in case you should get lost along the way, come back here and find your way:

May 5 FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop Participant List

Margie <--- You are HERE.

Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com <--- Go here NEXT.

Jill http://jillconyers.com

Moncia http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

Lois http://loishouston.typepad.com/thoughts-along-lifes-highway/

PROJECT LIFE BLOG HOP

First of all, THANKS to Jill for hosting the montly Project Life blog hop even though she was too crazed this month to participate. So nice of her not to cancel.

Unfortunately, I, too, am not ready yet! I am furiously working on my Project Life post, but I will not have it ready on time. I have to run out and then I'll be back to publish. Please check back in a few hours.

EDITED: It took me two days to get my pages finished, photographed, published (our internet has been slow as molasses here in China lately) and posted, so I created a totally new post, HERE. Sorry for the delay!

But in the meantime, you can check out all of my other PROJECT LIFE posts here or please don't let me stop you from checking out the rest of the amazing Project Life inspiration on our hop. Next on the list is DEVON.

Margie You are HERE.

Devon http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com <--- Go here NEXT. Nikki www.inkyart.com.au

Laew www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com

Helen www.helen-mills.blogspot.com

Jennifer http://vogtstories.blogspot.com

Brighton www.dearbrighton.wordpress.com

May 5, 2012 6:00:00 AM | Five People x 12, Photography, Photography Tips, Project Life

April 05, 2012

It's the 5th of the month and that means Blog Hop x 2...

It's the fifth of the month so that means TWO Blog Hops in ONE post...

First off is the FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop: A small group of us support each other each month in getting a family photo. If we don't make a point of doing it every month, then too many days, weeks, years pass and we forget to take photos of our families altogether.

Our went to Xi'an for the weekend to see the Terracotta Warriors. Another fun thing to do in the city is rent bikes and ride all the way around the city wall. It takes about an hour. The perfect activity for our family.

Next on the hop today is PATRICIA.

The complete list of FAMILY x 12 participants is below:

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com

Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com (she will post late, so be sure to check back)

The second blog hop is the PROJECT LIFE blog hop hosted by Jill.

Here are a few spreads from last month. I'm still using the greyscale photos I print out using regular paper as holders until I get my prints ordered - usually once a month or so.

In this sleeve I included a business card from our store that delivered some groceries to my home that day. I also brought home a brochure from a restaurant and cut out the back in the shape of a journaling card and wrote on that instead. Then I included a Valentine that a friend gave us to represent the animated Transformer DVDs my youngest has been watching lately.

My favorite photo is the wrinkled toes. His toes were still wrinkled from swim team practice even after he rode the bus home from school!

The logo from the school event came from an email. I saved the image on my computer and printed it out so it would fit on a journaling card. I also love that I took a photo of my son's weekly math homework - learning area & volume.

This week was St. Patrick's Day so I used a lot of green journaling cards this week.

I'll have more spreads next month. Spring is very busy with lots of visitors, travel and kids home for break.

Next on the blog hop is Natalie (I am waiting to get her blog link - will update ASAP).

The rest of the participants are below. Be sure to hop around to see all of the amazing Project Life inspiration.

Jill http://jillconyers.com/

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com

Natalie

Sarah www.documentingchaos.wordpress.com

Devon http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com

Brooke http://everysnapshot.com/

Helen www.helen-mills.blogspot.com

Alissa http://lifeonlakeland.wordpress.com

Jennifer http://vogtstories.blogspot.com

Arlene http://craftymomma-ph.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-life-2012.html

Apr 5, 2012 6:00:00 AM | Five People x 12, Project Life

March 05, 2012

March Blog Hop x 2 {FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop } and {#ProjectLife Blog Hop}

Another double blog hop day! Welcome!

Every month on the fifth, I host a blog hop for people who want to take at least one photo of their family each month. It's amazing to realize how few family photos we take, unless we take a moment to notice. Thanks to this blog hop, I have gotten much, much better about making an effort to take family photos on special occasions and not so special occasions. Like this month!

Here is our photo for the month. Truth is, we cheated! I didn't manage to get a photo in the short month of February (even though we had the extra day), so this was taken last night before everyone headed off to bed. When I knew I was going to be cheating, my idea was to get a pajama photo. Not everyone is in their PJs, but we are all in our lounge or comfy clothes, so I suppose that is close enough. I'll do better this month! A late photo is better than no photo and by the end of the month, we will have at least twelve family photos.

If you are interested in joining us next month for the FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop, send me an email (in the subject line of your email put April 5 FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop) and I'll send you all the details.

If you are here for the Project Life blog hop, keep scrolling down, otherwise it is time to continue on the FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop...

Next on the hop is Monica.

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog

Moncia http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com

Jill http://jillconyers.com

PROJECT LIFE BLOG HOP

Thanks to Jill for hosting the Project Life Blog Hop every month. This is lots of fun.

This month I have quite a few weekly spreads to share. I had hoped to share my Project Life photo work flow, but I've run out of time again! I have all the screen shots ready, but I need to upload my photos and compose my explanations. I will post it soon, I promise!

The black and white pictures are not actually photos. They are place holders until I order my prints. I wait until I need 100+ photos and then I place my order.

The pictures are just fast quality printed out in grayscale on my printer. Nothing special at all - quite the contrary. But it allows me to keep moving forward on my Project Life layouts.

To save time I have used coins to cover up the faces of people who are not in our family to preserve their privacy. Isn't that tricky?!

Sorry about the bad quality of the photos. I didn't take my photos until the sun went down. There is so little time in the winter for decent natural light, isn't there?

In this layout, I took a photo of the book I read for book club. And we kept a wrapper of a treat that my son picked out from the store in our apt complex.

I saved tickets and advertising materials from a literary festival.

More wrappers and photos of things my kids are into and up to these days. My youngest LOVES jumping rope every day after school and my oldest competed in his first swim meet on Saturday.

I'm also linking up here:

Thanks for stopping by!

Next on the hop is DONNA.

Here is the list of all the participants in case you should get lost along the way:

Jill http://jillconyers.com/
Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com

Donna www.joyfullydonna.blogspot.com

Tamara http://tamarasscrapping.blogspot.com.au/

Natalie http://dalys2012.wordpress.com

Devon http://www.youhadmeatneurotic.com

Alissa http://lifeonlakeland.wordpress.com/
April http://capturethememories.blogspot.com

Noelia www.noeliaevangelista.typepad.com

Sharon http://projectsofmylife.wordpress.com/

Jennifer http://vogtstories.blogspot.com

Sarah http://documentingchaos.wordpress.com/

Arlene http://craftymomma-ph.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-life-2012.html

Mar 5, 2012 5:28:49 AM | Documenting Memories: Strategy, Five People x 12, Project Life, Scrapbooking

February 05, 2012

Blog Hop x 2: {FAMILY x 12} + {Project Life}

Today is another busy day at the blog! It is the 5th of February which means it is time for our monthly FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop.

Do you take enough pictures of you with your whole family? Neither did I until I started the FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop! We support each other in taking at least one photo of our whole families during each month. We then post them on our blog and visit each other to offer support and encouragement. Does this sound like something you would like to do too? If so, email me (link in sidebar) and I will email you the details.

(If you had emailed me in the last month and I didn't get back to you, please email me again as I had some problems this month and couldn't locate all of my emails. Thanks.)

Here we are enjoying our very favorite winter activity in Beijing, ice chairs. Our local park (only two large city blocks away) offers these to rent only a two or three short months out of the year. The little lake freezes over and out come the wooden ice chairs and the big dangerous looking stakes you use to stab the ice and propel yourself across. The boys had SO MUCH FUN! We hope to do it again once more before the ice begins to melt. We wanted to go today but it was too warm. Maybe next weekend if it isn't too busy.

To see everything FAMILY x 12 on my blog, click here.

Monica is next on the hop. She always has some cute photos to share of her lovely family.

Feb 5 FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop Participants

Margie http;//xnomads.typepad.com/blog

Monica http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

Jill http://jillconyers.com

PROJECT LIFE

And now it is time for the Project Life part of the blog hop.

This is my latest spread. I am posting my current photos every Monday and then the following week I plan to post my completed layout on Tuesdays. I did not do that last week, so I am now a week behind. But I will catch up.

I do not print my photos at home. I do not like the quality compared to using an outside lab and it takes up so much ink. Living in China, printer ink is outrageously expensive and high quality photo paper is non-existant, actually photo paper is non-existant, so if I run out, I'm out of luck.

Luckily, Snapfish is here in China and delivers high quality, matte finished (my fav) photos free to your door. That is the service I use but it does take a few days for them to get here. THerefore, I typically can't finish my layout until my photos arrive. That was until I came up with an interim solution!

This week I started printing out photos in low quality black and white on regular printer paper to use as place holders - hurray! Pressure off ordering the photos and I can still do most of the work.

Here is the other side of the spread. The label on the bottom right photo I placed on top of the page protector. The other labels/cards I plan to add directly to the photos, I will do that when my photos arrive (obviously). I usually staple them on or use adhesive depending upon my mood or what is available.

The Kavli crispy thin is a new cracker my oldest son has recently discovered that he loves and is actually fairly healthy (he typically only likes things that are really bad for you!), so it warranted being included! I do want to add journaling about that, but I have to figure out where - perhaps right on the back fo the packaging but it won't be visible. Or I may just leave it as is.

The number journaling card is a free download from Becky Higgins from three or four years ago. It is the original Project 365 KOTM design. AFter it was sold out, she was able to give some of the journal cards and other date cards away as free downloads. You'll see more showing up in my PL album in weeks to come.

I was hoping to share screen shots of my work flow for PL - mostly my photo work flow from camera, to blog & album, but I ran out of time. I think I will plan that for next month and start getting my screen shots now! So watch for that next time!

Thanks for stopping by! How are you doing with your Project Life album? Are you doing a 366 project or a weekly overview or an altogether different approach? Are you finding it easy to stay "caught up"? What is your best tip to stay current with your album?

Thanks Jill for hosting. I can't wait to see all the other Project Life eye candy on the hop today!

To see everything Project Life on my blog, click here.

Next on the blog hop is Donna B.

A complete list of participants is below in case you should get lost along the way.

Jill http://jillconyers.com/

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com

DonnaB http://donnasprojectlife.blogspot.com/

Sharon http://projectsofmylife.wordpress.com/

Noelia www.noeliaevangelista.typepad.com

Jen http://vogtstories.blogspot.com

April http://capturethememories.blogspot.com

Brooke http://everysnapshot.com/

Lynn www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com

Donna www.joyfullydonna.blogspot.com

Did you see that the instructors for True Scrap 3 have been announced? It's going to be another awesome event! Go check it out!

Feb 5, 2012 3:55:47 AM | Beijing Life, Five People x 12, Personal/Family Update, Project Life

January 05, 2012

FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop {January 5, 2012}

Welcome to the first FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop of 2012!

Every month on the 5th, a small group of us have a blog hop to keep each other accountable in our efforts to take more family photos throughout the year. Our goal is one family photo a month.

How lucky that the blog hop landed on a Thursday because not only do I get to use my photo for the blog hop, but I get to use it as my link up for EMBRACE the CAMERA at The Anderson Family Crew Blog. I love participating and try to as often as I can.

The goal of both events is to encourage ourselves to get in front of the camera with our families and loved ones so it is a perfect match!

My family photo this month was taken on our family holiday in Purgatory, Colorado the week before Christmas. It was my husband's idea. My father was born and raised in Durango (25 miles from Purgatory) and loved it. He took us every other summer when we were growing up. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1989 and I have only been back once. My husband had never been. It is a gorgeous place and definitely holds a very special place in my heart so it was wonderful to see it again. It has changed alot, but it is still the quaint, charming town I remember. Now, we hope to go back again but this time in the summer as there are even more things to do there at that time of year, as there are in the winter. I can't wait to go camping, hiking, jeeping and finally ride the narrow gauge train from Durango to Silverton.

Here's a bonus photo of me with my kids and mom in downtown Durango in front of the historic Strater Hotel where my father worked as a bellboy in his youth.

A nighttime view of Durango all decorated for Christmas.

And another family photo in Zion National park on our way from Durango to Northern California to be with family on Christmas.

GIVE AWAY

Before I send you off on the blog hop, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you I was having a HUGE giveaway on my blog right now! I have one space in Ali Edwards' ONE LITTLE WORD class at Big Picture Classes to give away. Comments are open until 9 PM PST tonight. Read the giveaway post for more details.

CLASSES

Anyone else taking any classes this year? I am! Right now I am doing TWELVE. with Stacy Julian at BPC, Reclaiming My Time with Karen Grunberg, ONE LITTLE WORD with Ali Edwards, 12 Days of Christmas with a bunch of teachers at BPC and have just signed up for my very favorite...

LOAD!

Anyone else doing LOAD? I have been participating since 2008 and haven't missed one yet. It's intense, but so much fun. What is LOAD? It stands for Layout A Day - so basically you produce one layout a day for a month and Lain supplies motivation, prompts (optional) and even video inspiration for the first time!

OFF YOU GO...

Now on with the blog hop! Next on the list is Ruth. If you should get lost along the way, there is a complete blog hop list and the end of the post, so you can return here to find your way.

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog <--- You are HERE.

Ruth http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com <--- Go here NEXT.

Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com

Monica http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

Carol Anne http://www.scrappingthoughts.com

MORE STORY BEHIND THE BLOG HOP

The reason I started this hop is because I realized after a trip to Singapore and then a trip to Kyoto, Japan, that I never took a family photo during either amazing trip! How could that happen? Then, I saw a post on Tara Whitney's blog last December that she made a goal to take a family photo once every month in 2010. Her photos were wonderful. Many are just her family hanging around the house. I don't think any of them are formal and posed but they are all very fun. I was so INSPIRED and knew I had to try this. I was lucky that some blog friends wanted to play along. They have guaranteed that I won't forget my goal. And the month when I did forget, I cheated! As long as I take a photo at a time when the month hasn't ended some where in the world, my photo still counts.

Because the most important thing is that we get more family photos. The time that our loved ones are with us is fleeting, so capturing ourselves together as we are now, is priceless.

Jan 5, 2012 6:00:00 AM | Five People x 12, Future Scrapbook Page, Travel

December 05, 2011

December FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop

Hello All! And welcome to another FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop. When did we start this tradition? I can't remember now. Perhaps it was March. I will have to check. Regardless, we are at the end of a calendar year and despite it being crazy, busy for some of us, we are here sharing our photos.

Unfortunately, our family does not have any super special photo to share this month, in fact, we cheated again and took this photo tonight just in time for the blog hop. Can you believe that? If you'll notice, I am still wearing my winter hat. Belive me, you would not want me to take it off. My bangs (fringe) were completely STUCK to my head. I've been wearing that hat all day. I left yoga this morning, walked briskly home (more than a mile), rode my bike to the kids' school, back again and then walked half a mile to the mall and was frightened when I looked in the mirror. So back on it went! I hope you don't mind.

Even though this photo is nothing special, I love it just the same. I love that our family takes a moment just about every month to gather together and take a photo as quick as it might be. We had some grand plans for this month's photo, but they didn't happen, so this quick self-timer-on-the-couch photo will have to do. After all it is better than no photo, right?!

If you ever would like to join along (we do this on the 5th of every month), please send me an email. We'd love to have you!

To see everything related to FAMILY x 12 on my blog, click here.

Now, on to our other participants for the month. Jo is next.

Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com

Melissa http://www.melissagross.blogspot.com

Monica http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

Dec 5, 2011 5:50:56 AM | Five People x 12, Personal/Family Update

November 05, 2011

FAMILY x 12 November Blog Hop {31 Days of Inspiration: Day 30 - Fun Family Photo Idea}

Here is our photo for the month. Notice anything strange about it? I'll explain how I did it in an upcoming blog post. Unfortunately, I don't have time do it today!

Next on the blog hop is Melissa. Don't forget to continue on to all the other participants for more family photo inspiration! If you are interested in committing to one family photo a month, send me an email and join us next month on the 5th. It's fun and you'll have some great photos of your whole family. I'm so glad we've done this because now we have lots of choices for this year's Christmas card photo.

Here are all the blog hop participants in case you should get lost along the way, come back here and find your way. Thanks for stopping by.

Don't forget to stop by Patricia's blog. Carol Anne's is a little late so you may have to come back here to find Patricia.

**Jo joined in a little late, so she isn't linked from Monica's blog, but please stop by her blog to see her photo too! Thanks!**

Margie  http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog <---- You are HERE.
Melissa  http://www.melissagross.blogspot.com <--- Go here next.
Carol Anne   http://www.scrappingthoughts.com

MonicaB http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/

Jo http://mrsbeee.blogspot.com/

Come back tomorrow when I'll be posting a story for storytelling Sunday called "The Broken Plate."

Nov 5, 2011 5:55:00 AM | 31 Days Series, Five People x 12, Photography

October 05, 2011

31 DAYS OF CREATIVE INSPIRATION: Day 5 {Family Photo Fun} & Blog Hop

This is the 5th post in a 31 Day series: Creative Inspiration. Check out all the posts here.

Xnomads' Blog

Every month on the 5th of the month I host a FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop. The purpose of the hop is to support each other in taking at least one family photo per month.

(To read the story behind this blog hop, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

Here is my family photo for the month:

Our family takes bike rides just about every weekend. So I thought it was fitting for us to take a family photo with our bikes.

Just before one of our rides, I made sure to remind my husband that I was going to be doing this (hoping he would remind me as well as be mentally prepared for all that a family photo entails) I remembered to bring down the tripod, set the self-timer to take ten photos in a row, and we were done. I ran the tripod back up to the apartment and off we went!

SELF TIMER TRICK

Whenever I use the self timer for a family photo and it is daytime, I turn on the flash so everyone can tell when each photo has been taken (even though it was too bright out and the camera was too far away for the flash to make a difference in the photo). This really keeps the kids' interest and gets them to effortlessly look at the camera. One of our best family portrait sessions, was at the Great Wall when I first discovered this trick. At that time, each time I set off the shutter button, I changed the number of photos the camera would take which kept them interested and engaged. It became a game and they looked straight at the camera with bright smiles on their faces.

THE HABIT OF TAKING A PHOTO EVERY MONTH

Besides the obvious, taking a photo every month helps keep, in the forefront of my mind, the importance of taking informal family photos. This guarantees that I don't forget to take family photos at other important times like graduations or holidays. Or on exciting family vacations (see my blog hop story below).

And as we all know, time is fleeting and we can never have too many photos of our whole family together.

Anyone can participate!

If you want to join us for the blog hop next time - November 5th - please send me an email and I'll email you details along with a reminder email before the end of October! There is a link with my email on the right side of this blog.

To see anything about FAMILY x 12 on my blog, click here.

There's plenty of more family photo INSPIRATION to go. Melissa is next on the blog hop. The rest of the participants are listed below. Be sure to come back here should you get lost along the way. Thanks for stopping by and come back tomorrow for Day 6 of my Creative Inspiration Series.

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog <--- You are HERE
Melissa http://www.melissagross.blogspot.com <--- Go HERE next.

Monica http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

And watch my 31 Days series for more Fun Family Photo ideas!

STORY BEHIND THE BLOG HOP

Because the most important thing is that we get more family photos. The time that our loved ones are with us is fleeting, so capturing ourselves together as we are now, is priceless.

31 Days of Creative INSPIRATION Series (Links to all posts in the series up until today.)

Introduction

Day 1: Design Your Own Cupcake

Day 2: Storytelling Sunday

Day 3: Scrapbooking (Week in the Life Album)

Day 4: Everyday Photojournalism (Project 365/Project Life)

Day 5: Family Photo Fun - FAMILY x 12 BLOG HOP

Day 6: Self Timer Madness

September 05, 2011

Double BLOG HOP Monday: FAMILY x 12 & Happiness Blog Hop

Hi Blog Readers!

Today is the day of the double blog hop on my blog today. As many of you know, I host a monthly blog hop on the 5th of every month called FAMILY x 12. Our goal for the hop is to support each other in taking a family photo at least once a month.

I also signed up to be a part of Stephanie's Happiness Blog Hop this month which she hosts on the first Monday of every month. And this month, that just so happens to be Sept 5th. That means today you get two blog hops for the price of one! I hope you don't mind.

If you are here for the FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop, that is just below and if you are here for the HAPPINESS BLOG HOP, I hope you don't mind scrolling down to the end of my family photos. Of course, you are more than welcome to join along on both hops should you so desire! The more the merrier, of course!

FAMILY X 12 BLOG HOP

The reason I started this hop is because I realized after a trip to Singapore and then a trip to Kyoto, Japan, I never took a family photo during either amazing trip! How could that happen? Then, I saw a post on Tara Whitney's blog last December that she made a goal to take a family photo once every month in 2010. Her photos were wonderful. Many are just her family hanging around the house. I don't think any of them are formal and posed but they are all very fun. I was so inspired and knew I had to try this. I was lucky that some blog friends wanted to play along. They have guaranteed that I won't forget my goal. And the month when I did forget, I cheated! As long as I take a photo at a time when the month hasn't ended some where in the world, my photo still counts.

Because the most important thing is that we get more family photos. The time that our loved ones are with us is fleeting, so capturing ourselves together as we are now, is priceless.

OUR AUGUST FAMILY PHOTOS

Over the last year or so I have been taking a lot of photos of my family in elevators. I guess many of our elevators here in Beijing have mirrors. Not to mention, living in the city we are in elevators a lot so it happens frequently. This is on the first day of school in the elevator in our apartment building. The elevator is newly refurbished. Don't you love the fancy fakely etched mirror? Very fancy! Ha!

The other photo didn't do it for me as our 'official' family photo, largely because you can't see the face of my middle son. On August 31st after school and before dinner, I set up the camera, we sat against the wall and did the best we could. Of course this was one of those photo attempts where just as everyone was all ready and I was about to press the shutter, a cafuffle broke out... more than once! If I wasn't the one trying to press the shutter as we were losing the light, it would have been quite humorous! This was the last one we took and the only one I like! One is all I need.

I love all the toes!

Some of you regulars may recognize my blouse. I think I have worn it in the last three months of family photos. Can you tell its my favorite summer shirt?

During the July Blog Hop, I was looking forward to sharing several photos from our busy June, but as most of you know, I had to cancel that blog hop due to my husband's sudden critical illness (He is fine now, by the way. He is fast on his way to full recovery.) Then when it was time for our August hop, I was preparing for our flight back to Beijing so I only had time to prepare a couple of them. So, if you will all indulge me, I would like to share a few more from June.

Here we are at a fort in Jodhpur overlooking the blue side of the city.

My husband gets credit for remembering to get this one. He asked the rickshaw driver to take it for us. I'm also glad I am holding the bag from Anokhi. A friend of mine who used to live in India told me about this store and now I am a huge fan myself! I looked for one in every city we visited.

I think we were in a palace in the city of Jaipur. This mirror was very dirty as you can see. Not sure if it was supposed to be that way or not!

An evening swim at our hotel in Jaipur. We asked one of the hotel workers to take this for us. It looked great on the camera but once on the computer, it is obviously terribly out of focus. Such a disappointment as this would have been a cute one.

We came up here to see this view and the sunset on the other side of the plateau. So interesting visiting all of the old palaces, forts and cities.

Part of the school's graduation ceremony is a family photo with the graduate's teachers. There is that favorite shirt again!

Five days later another graduation ceremony. This time our eldest son graduates from elementary school. His school finishes at 6th grade.

Well that's it for June and August. Thanks for stopping by.

Your next stop is Melissa. (Keep scrolling down, if you are here for the Happiness Blog Hop.)

Margie  http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog <--- You are HERE.
Melissa  http://www.melissagross.blogspot.com <--- Go here NEXT.
Ruth  http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com
Jo  http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com

Take a Picture and Remember This

MonicaB http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/

HAPPINESS BLOG HOP

This month's theme for the Happiness Blog Hop is "Contemplate the Heavens." Stephanie has broken that down into three sections this month, (based on Gretchen Rubin's book, The Happiness Project) - Gratitude, Spiritual Master and Childhood Dreams. See her blog for more details.

Gratitude is something that I have been wanting to bring more of into my life. I often have moments of gratitude but I've been wanting to make even more room for it in my life.

One thing that always fills me with gratitude and other warm, fuzzy feelings, is doing anything with my photos. So this month, in an exercise to stir up more feelings of gratitude, I thought I would put together a photo collage of things from the month of August that inspire feelings of gratitude.

I used a free downloadable template from Rebecca Cooper. Word Art is mine.

In August 2011 I was grateful for:

*the opportunity for my kids to catch up with old friends and meet new furry ones

*fun with giant jaw breakers

*kids making good use of cameras by making creative videos

*a belated 13th birthday celebration

*creative games that only happen in summer (wagon becomes go-cart)

*another lost tooth!

*at ten he makes his own breakfast several times a week

*observing dad comfort Braden through his first day of First Grade jitters

*after school walks in the rain for ice cream

*all three kids at the same school!

*Slip N Slide (early birthday gift worth every penny)

The next person on the blog hop is Melissa.

If you should get lost along the way, please return to Stephanie's blog at Scrapworthy Lives, to find your next destination.

A list of all the participants are below.

Scrapworthy Lives

Pie for Breakfast

Scraps & Sass

1200 Some Miles

Slice of Life

Abstracts Mixed with Extracts

Your Memory Connection

Kiss & Tell Scrapbooking

My Creative Days in Beijing <--- You are HERE.

Melissa’s Blog <--- Go HERE next.

Sep 5, 2011 5:52:59 AM | Digital Scrapbooking, Documenting Memories: Strategy, Five People x 12, Future Scrapbook Page, Scrapbooking

August 05, 2011

FAMILY X 12 August Blog Hop

Ok, so my biggest blogging fear came true! I totally blanked on posting this month's blog hop and I am the first blog on the hop!

I think that is a sign that life is more stressful or chaotic than I am admitting perhaps! But, that doesn't mean I can't keep plowing forward and doing my best and publish my post a few hours late. Please forgive me!

Last month I had to cancel the blog hop at the last minute due to my husband's sudden illness, so this month we bring to you two months worth of family photos.

JULY FAMILY PHOTO

As many of you may know, we live in Beijing and for the summers the kids and I come to California while my husband stays in Beijing to work. Most summers he is able to come join us for a couple of weeks but this year there is just too much to do at work. It also didn't help that he missed two weeks of work due to his scary illness earlier in July. This means that our immediate family was not all together at any time during the month. So, instead I present you this photo of me with my kids and my mom. If it were not for the hop, I know I would not have remembered to get a photo of all of us with my mom. So even though it isn't exactly a family photo, it is a treasured photo none-the-less.

JUNE FAMILY PHOTOS

This is our family in Ranthambhore Wildlife Park in Rajasthan, India on a tiger safari. We were lucky enough to see a tiger in the afternoon taking a drink at the watering hole.

Later in the evening the hotel's chef invited us into the kitchen to see the Tandoori oven. He showed us how he makes naan, chicken and vegetables. So interesting!

The next person on the hop this month is Melissa.

And if you should get lost along the way, feel free to come back here to find a list of all the other participants and their blog addresses.

AUGUST FAMILY x 12 BLOG HOP PARTICIPANTS

Margie  http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog <--- You are HERE
Melissa  http://www.melissagross.blogspot.com <---Here next
Carol Anne   http://www.scrappingthoughts.com
Ruth  http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com
Patricia http://patoliveira.woodpress.com/

Monica http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com

Aug 5, 2011 11:11:13 AM | Documenting Memories: Strategy, Five People x 12, Future Scrapbook Page, Personal/Family Update, Travel

June 11, 2011

FAMILY x 12 June Blog Hop

This is another photo that I cheated on. It was no longer June in India but it was still June in Hawaii, so this is going to count. I am so amazed how an entire month can go by even with this challenge such a forefront in my mind and yet I still don't take a family photo all month long!

In the interest of time this one is not edited. I have come down with a case of traveller's stomach flu, I'm guessing. I have a low fever and keep visiting the bathroom. Glad it waited until I got home.

Not to mention I was greeted by major computer problems that I've been working on since last night.

So without further ado, please visit Melissa next.

But before you head off, if you are interested in joining us for this monthly blog hop, please send me an email and you can join us on July 5. To see everything FAMILY x 12 on my blog click here.

Margie  http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog <--- HERE
Melissa  http://www.melissagross.blogspot.com <--- Go here next.
Carol Anne   http://www.scrappingthoughts.com
Ruth  http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com
Jo  http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com
Sharis  http://www.airbs.blogspot.com