Category Archives: Internet Goodness

A Year of Bests photo project – finally!

Posted on by

One sunny afternoon after our friend Annie’s amazing wedding, us 5 soulmates concocted a crazy idea to document the following year together. We each would be responsible for taking pictures one week out of the month and then we would have a crazy fun book filled with our memories the following May 4th!Although we had a few mishaps during the year of documenting, the girls did amazing capturing and sharing pictures from their unique, but amazing lives. We lived in three different cities, added three new kids to the mix, and had multiple fun events all together to include throughout the book. I used the Project Life App on my Ipad to create the pages and then simply uploaded them onto empty photo pages in Shutterfly. It was super easy to do (although the addition of WonderGirl and WonderBoy in my house definitely slowed down my progress quite a bit – kids will do that to even an avid scrapper).
I absolutely loved seeing how our 5 lives intertwined at points (birthday parties/showers) and then showed drastic differences in other weeks. And all in all, I only made one typo and typed 2015 even though technically, that Halloween was 2013 (I’ll make a sticker for that bests – no worries!) – 58 pages and only one mistake that I’ve found so far….pretty good!My favorite pages to complete were the ending page with that fabulous quote from Dawson’s Creek and the teaser on the back cover (sound familiar? I tried to emulate a little Real World intro along with it). Shout out to things only kids from the 90’s would know and care about!
  Many people continue to be amazed that I remain such good friends with my ladies from high school (elementary school to get technical but who’s counting), but it is one of the amazing pieces of my life that I am constantly grateful for. When you have friends that have literally been through the worst (overalls with one strap….really?) and best parts of your life ALONGSIDE you for years and years, it leaves so much room for nothing but pure joy and celebration in each other, no judgement, and lots of silly stories that NO one besides your group cares about (sorry husbands). I hope this book adequately honors this friendship and I can’t wait to look back on it in 10, 20, 30 years to come! Perhaps it might even become a tradition we do every so many years – wouldn’t that be a fun collection to build for the coffee table/bookshelf?!?!

This project/idea could totally work with a family or any group that cares about each other – maybe everyone even just documents the same day each month and you put them all together in a book? You could make it as simple or complicated as you feel comfortable with!

My 1st experience with Trunk Club

Posted on by

I have been watching and researching home shopping services like Stitch Fix and Le Tote (and asking my friends like Mallory to constantly show me what clothes she is getting from these services) to see if it would be a good fit for me. I always felt a bit uncomfortable with the monthly fee so when I saw a friend post about Trunk Club, I was in love from first click. NO monthly fee, 10 items shipped (combo of bags, tops/bottoms, accessories) and the only thing you pay for is items that you keep! This company started primarily as a mens service (I love their mens options as well but I haven’t gotten Scott hooked yet) so they are jumping into the womens’ world of clothes – I imagine they will just continue to grow and grow).First of all, a wonderful stylist basically stalked me for a week on the phone trying to nail down what I specifically wanted in my first trunk. She was so efficient and friendly as I explained my weird sizing needs and that for my first trunk, I was looking for some work casual staples in neutral colors. She nailed it! Here were a few items from my first “trunk”:

I only ended up keeping one amazing Free People grey tunic but I was tempted by the purse and the mint statement necklace. I had requested to not get any items over $100 which was really nice to specify a price point, so I wouldn’t be tempted by items that I knew were out of my budget.  
Another amazing part of this process was that as soon as you give feedback on the app about which items worked for you and which didn’t (and they ask you why for future trunk picks), I could schedule a UPS pick up for the trunk (with return label already provided for no added cost) at that very moment. So easy!!!

If you’ve been hesitant about jumping into the home shopping/subscription game, I see no reason not to start right here with Trunk Club! I love that there are no fees unless you buy the clothes, a great referral system to get money towards future purchases, and you can request trunks with any variety of items in it (need a cute dress for an upcoming event? request an entire trunk filled with options!).

Happy shopping friends!

Goodbye January, hello fabulous February. 

Posted on by

As you remember from my New Year’s post, it is my goal to take a 1-second video everyday – so far so good. Also, the app I am using is FREE for a limited time so take advantage while you can!

February is going to be a big month for Team Brave Dinosaurs – here a few updates to keep all of you in the loop (and to request prayers, good thoughts, general friendship and support) during this time.

At the end of this month, we have a termination trial scheduled – which means WG and WB’s biological mother will be fighting for her rights to the kiddos (which I really can’t blame her for – who wouldn’t want these two little wonders gracing their life forever and ever?). Although we understand and extend so much grace to her, we obviously want to settle into an agreement of open adoption (including visits, letters, pictures) before having to go to trial. This Friday, we get to sit down with WM (Wonder’sMom) and propose some ideas and hope/pray/plead that she relinquishes her rights. Then – no trial, two legally free kiddos, and a step forward in the process to make them our forever family.

Another big event happening this February is our 2-year LIVE-A-VERSARY! We are still cooking up some fun plans to do as a family over the Valentine’s Day weekend but a few leads might include some globetrotters, a drive down to Seattle, and a stay in a hotel with a pool (and hopefully a hot tub). We always look forward to this tradition and I am so happy we started it in month numero uno of our fostering journey. Here a few images from our inaugural trip last February that combined some favorite dates of mine and Scott’s to Friday Harbor and a ride on the ferry!

backup sept 2015 1154 backup sept 2015 1147 backup sept 2015 1171

Updates on these events and more will be coming – thank you ahead of time for your support, love, guidance, all the help you send our way through the good times and the hard ones too.

My January IPSY bag

Posted on by

I have been utilizing this monthly subscription service (only $10!) for about 18 months now and I really love my monthly picks. I did have to go through a couple rough combinations at first but after I started rating products on their website, their picks for me have been on point.

I would label my makeup skills up to receiving these products as basic “7th grade chic” status. I have been using the exact same powder, foundation, eyeshadow and mascara for years and year.  It was definitely time to mature and grow and testing products and colors out through this service has given me the opportunities to do so at a minimal cost. I also appreciate the amount of organic and chemical-free products they mix in every once in a while.

My IPSY glam bag this month: 
First, cute little “diddy” bags each month. Win.   Oh my, this little treat for my lips is my new favorite!!! I also LOVE that for each lip balm purchased, some of the proceeds help fund cleft palette surgeries for children. I will definitely be purchasing more of this product. Also in picture, a severe need for a mani. Wow.
One part of this service that I like is trying new products AND new colors on my face that I might not try when paying full price at the store. I’m quite excited about a date night makeup situation that would call for gold eyeliner!For some reason, I am really picky and annoyed about mascara. Years into wearing makeup and I still can’t find one that I love on my lashes and doesn’t clump (leave your best suggestions here pretty please???). Although this mascara isn’t great, I have gotten a full or mini tube in almost every glam bag and appreciate getting to test different types out along the way!

If you’re interested in receiving your own personalized glam bag each month, click here to learn more and sign up! One more cool part of this service is that you can earn and redeem points for more free products by reviewing the products and referring friends – I love the win-win side of this customer and retailer relationship. Enjoy this little beauty bonus!!!

Looking for a gift for a kiddo?

Posted on by

Look no further…..this gift was by far my favorite that WonderGIRL received this Christmas (thanks Mom!). No one that I’ve gushed over it to has heard of it so I want to spread the news and get these Unicef powerbands on as many little wrists as I can!\unicef wg

It is a a cool, humanitarian twist on the FitBit and just what WG needed for motivation to get some active minutes outside of school (something we’ve been working on since Summer with little to no success). She gets “steps”, then those add up to “powerpoints”, then after a certain number of power points, that unlocks “therapeutic food packets (peanut butter)” to children who severely need a nutrition boost in 3rd world countries.

She has absolutely loved wearing it and counting her points throughout the day. I even joined in the fun to go on a 35 minute walk/run yesterday to see how many points we could get in just one day. Each time you earn a “badge”, the child gets to see a video of the children he/she is helping which keeps her motivation going with the app you keep on your phone to sync her steps (very similar to the Fit Bit app).
 unicef

After completing this mission (you can see from the picture she is almost there at 88%!), you then pay a few dollars to choose specific missions in specific countries. We are excited to choose Haiti for her next mission since that country has such a special place in our heart as a family. This gift really is such a win-win for her and for us – motivation to get moving and stay healthy PLUS needy kiddos getting love and nutrition along the way.

According to the website, they are going to start distributing these in schools to help high-risk school students get active and increase the chances of so many other life benefits that could come along with that. How cool is that? I hope you share maybe an ounce of my excitement or else this entire blog post could be a fail. But maybe you have a 5-60 year old with possibly a birthday coming up and then voila – you will thank me!!!

Right now, there are available only through Target’s website and not as an in-store purchase but click on this link to take you right where you need to be!

 

Ready…set…2016

Posted on by

As a devoted lover of reflection and goal-setting, New Years Eve is a favorite of mine. Definitely not for the overrated party situation, but the time to look back on an entire year and see how much you have grown and thrived in 365 days. This was our second NYE as Team Brave Dinosaurs and my two little wonders love our tradition of hourly games and activities (and getting to stay up super late of course).

I found this free printable online that each wonder completed with their favorite moments and ideas from 2015 and some goal-setting for the next year. My favorite is that WB’s “I always say” is “You’re the best Mama” – we’ll forget for a moment that he says this the most when he wants extra screen time or a granola bar (he’s lucky he’s so darn cute).
wb nye wg nyeOur annual “milk and cookies” toast – cheers to WG learning my Mom’s beloved rice krispy treat recipe. Boo to a sneaky houseguest eating half the batter.

A few favorite gifts from 2015 – my new Cougs hat from my bests and that amazingly HUGE calendar from my HSLP. I was very much looking forward to today so I could fill it out and post it in our dining room.Scott and I got a date night this past week and we took some time to create some family resolutions and goals for the new year. I’m going to post them here to keep me accountable for actually following through (I may also need the assistance of this goal tracker but I’m not sure – I severely lack intrinsic motivation and follow-through – maybe this should be my personal goal – eh, maybe next year).

2016 TBD resolutions/goals:
Monthly – 
Volunteer together
Read-a-thon sleepover
Family hike

Weekly –
Non-screen chill time (board game, reading, coloring, etc.)
30 minute quiet time and scripture reflection

Other – 
Attend a play/musical together
Painting class
Family 5k (insert my instant panic here – yuck)

Happy 2016 to all of my readers – wishing you and yours an amazing year filled of WONDER, JOY, and adventures!

On family photos….

Posted on by

I have to admit…..I have some commitment issues when it comes to family photos in our home. It has been oh…..about 3 years since our wedding and you will not see one wedding photo of the hubs and I anywhere in our house. It’s a bit odd because if you know me, you know I LOVE photos and scrapbooking but something about the finality of choosing a picture and a frame and where to place it in our house overwhelms me. When adoring one of my favorite blogs, I saw some beautiful frames on her wall and went to Framebridge’s website to gawk further (post Thanksgiving self-shopping vulnerability here). 
This website (and company) has made it so easy to pick your favorite photos (mine of course were from my insta account), pick from a number of gorgeous frames, and soon they were traveling over the river and through the woods to our home! 
I used an oldie but goodie Pinterest idea to hang the frames and it worked great!! I lined up the 4 frames on this piece of wrapping paper and marked where the nails should go by putting marker on the backs of the frames. Then, after taping it to the wall, I nailed directly into the paper and tore the paper down from the nails after. The frames were lined up, spaced evenly, and only 4 nail holes in the wall (skeptic Scott approved). I highly recommend this method if embarking on your own gallery wall adventure.
Above is just an up close and personal look at the 4 photos I chose. My favorite photos of my wonders and of course how this little party got started, a picture of me and Scott on our wedding day (finally!).

Framebridge is offering 15% off their frames and products to any friends/family/readers by using the code Patti15 when placing your order. Amazing products, fast shipping, and more family memories up on the wall equal an adulting step forward in my book. Happy framing!

Podcasts I love….

Posted on by


I do a lot of driving. A lot. Back and forth to work, into/home from volleyball, appointments in Bellingham at least once a week, etc. Also, I hate driving. A lot.

Two things that make this driving a little bit better is how much I love Penelope the Prius (my spaceship car) AND that I can stream my favorite Podcasts through the speakers. Listening to these amazing ladies share inspiring stories, interviews, and general life awesomeness really helps make the drive go a bit quicker and aids in some self-care and balance (especially when the bickering little ones aren’t in the back). These weekly shows help me appreciate the here and now of my simple little life and spread some internet greatness to geek out on when I return home in the evening.

  1. Jess Lively hosts The Lively Show. She publishes two shows a week and have yet to be disappointed with content aimed at generally just improving your life satisfaction. Her guests are always awe-inspiring (hello Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray Love????) and I just love her vibe. I so wish I lived in North Carolina to meet her and become lifetime besties.

IMG_3343

2. Many of my scrappy friends know that I have been following my favorite scrapper/blogger, Elise Joy for 10+ years. Her blog content focuses on general homemaking, small business ventures, and Mommy adventures but her podcast generally focuses on small business and blogging. Even though I am not fully engaged in those two arenas, I love her voice and perspective and usually get inspired to be more creative in my daily live after listening to her podcasts. She just had a beautiful new baby girl, so her show is on repeats, but in my opinion, some of these oldies are the best ones!!IMG_3344 3. Lena Dunham’s new “Women of the Hour” podcast is only 5 episodes long but they are long and so worth a listen. She has a variety of hilarious, but uber intelligent ladies on her show to talk about all things women. Her episode on Friendship had me missing and appreciating so many amazing girlfriends I have in my life and her most recent on the relationship between women and their bodies was thought-provoking to say the least. She also has an email newsletter that I haven’t jumped into yet, but am intrigued to start.IMG_3342Podcasts seem to be the next “blog” phenomenon of the social media world so perhaps I will join that party in oh….about 10 years since that seems to be how “on trend” I am in with regards to social media these days. Do you listen to any podcasts? Please share….I’d love to check them out.

The hunt for comfortable flats….

Posted on by

I’m not sure about you, but sometimes I am surprised and delighted to see a few Facebook ads that are EXACTLY what I’ve been thinking about/dreaming out buying. Tiek flats were popping up on multiple social media sites for me so I caved and clicked on the link. Beautiful shoes….crazy price. Hmmm…..what’s a girl to do? I set out to do some research into the blog world to see if they were too good to be true. Many modern ladies swear by their comfort level and this would be a great birthday present from my happy little family right??? When they first arrived on my doorstep, I was in awe of their packaging and handwritten note – I’m a sucker for good packaging.When I wasn’t in love with the color and the fit of my first pair, I called to see if exchanging them was an option. Their website makes exchanging SOOOOO amazingly easy and I had my second pair by the end of the week. THEN being the high maintenance ballet flat wearer that I am (okay….I’m really not a high maintenance fashion anything, but I felt like it when I still wasn’t 100% satisfied), I decided to exchange again.
IMG_3339Aren’t these amazing??? Ooohhh I love them so much I could squeal (and squeal I did upon opening) and they lasted comfortably the entire first day in the life of a busy school counselor (up and down the hall 39.4 times, out to recess, playing some four square, etc.). Even my first grade Character Building class (and lovely teacher) complimented me on my “beeee-utiful shoes.” Done and done….I was sold and my feets were happy as can be.

Be looking for these pretties on my feet for pretty much the rest of my life – Scott said wearing them daily for at least 3 years was the only way we could justify the price of a pair of silly shoes. Challenge accepted dear sir……challenge accepted.